Hi 83 / Lo 67
|
Hi 83 / Lo 67 |
Student Publications
©1991-2007
Last modified:
Contact:
|
Volume 71, Issue 120,
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
News College of Architecture receives green makeover Plants intended to provide protection
from elements,
by TECORRA BIGGERS
Students who designed, funded, built and installed the "Green Zone," an area used for growing plants near the School of Architecture, are conducting ongoing research for Project Green Roof. The Green Roof is made of specific hand-picked plants that are going to provide continuous, uninterrupted layers of protection and drainage from the sun and water. There are two parts to the Green Roof project: the research aspect and the physical building of the roof. Though the physical project has not started, research began in 2005 when the idea was first brought to campus and developed into a mock roof by UH students. Everyday, one or two students would make notes on the temperature and weather while observing the different plants chosen for the roof. "Right now we have a mock-up, which was built by five specific students who received contributions for all the materials that went into building it," Charles Tapley, professor of the Architecture Merging with Landscape course, said. The Tellepsen Builders, an outside contributor to the project, provided all of the materials for the mock-up, including the concrete base. Tapley's class contributes to a major part of the work that's being done for the green roof. The mock-up sits atop the Keeland Design Exploration Center and will soon be covered in plants that students have been researching during the past year. "It's a steel frame right now, but that whole section of roof from left to right is intended to be a green roof," Tapley said. "The research part is ongoing in that the same plants we have there now are among the same plants planted last June. They've been through the heat of last summer and the cold and windy days of this winter and now they're in spring." There are seven specific plants so far and all are known by their botanical name; Pine Muhly, Gulf Muhly, Heartleaf Hibiscus, Mexican Oregano, Pink Skullcap, Grey Santolina, Blackfoot Daisy and Indian Blanket. "The overall Green Zone intention at UH is for people to relax. It's mainly for students," Tapley said. "It is probably the only place in the U.S that was done so consistently with students being involved. It wasn't some professor that carried it out." Buildings and concrete generate heat from the sun, and a green roof is designed to decrease temperature and provide a safe environment for students on campus. For more information or to join in on the continuing
research and building of the Green Roof contact Tapley at the College of
Architecture (713) 743-2400.
Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu |
To contact the
To contact other members
of
 |