Our college is truly the place where student inspiration leads to real-world innovation. Nowhere is this more apparent than in a Columbus suburb where a local couple is building their dream home with the help of students from our college.
Students taking a class in green building and sustainable construction are partnering with the homeowners to design a home featuring the concept of Universal Design. Universal Design is aimed to make living spaces accessible and comfortable for the widest range of people without special or separate design.
Once the home is complete, the couple is planning educational programs and tours to help spread the word about the advantages of Universal Design. In addition, the couple hopes to achieve “green” certification for their home under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
The course from the Construction Systems Management program (CSM 670), offered for the first time in 2009, is intended not only to provide a service to the local community, but also to help students apply the theories they learn in the class to the real world.
Course instructor Victoria Chen said the new class seems to be striking a chord with students.
“Students really want to work in this area and learn more about environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.”
For more information about the Construction Systems Management program at Ohio State, see the Web site of the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering at http://fabe.osu.edu/. To learn more about the Universal Design project, log on to http://extension.osu.edu/news-releases/buckeye-students-assisting-local-couple-build-green.