Thinking outside the box

CLHS team designs greenhouse, class space for school

A team from Clear Lake High School had the opportunity to compete in a hands-on learning experience which could potentially become reality for their school.

Braydon Emerson, Quinton Goeman, Tyler Wolfe and Aaron Kelso participated in the Student Collaborative Design Competition (SCDC), a new venture created by Waggoner and Wineinger Architects in cooperation with area school districts.

For the competition, teams of students  were “hired” to design an innovative outdoor learning space for a client— their school.  The new learning area was to be located on land adjacent to the school and intended to be for multi-purpose use.  The task was to make it both aesthetically pleasing and a functional asset to the school.

The CLHS team worked throughout the fall to identify a project and bring it to life through a written proposal, site plan, floor plan and models.  Last week the team made its presentation to a panel of judges and other competing teams.

The team envisioned a greenhouse and classroom space constructed on bare ground on the north side of the high school building.  The free-standing all-season building would be accessible from two locations in the high school, as well as from the circle drive parking lot at the school.

Industrial Arts teacher Mike Lester said cost estimates have not been made for the project, but they speculate the building could be constructed for under $100,000. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and other costs have not been determined.  Students will continue to study the plan and gather further information before hopefully presenting their idea to the School Board sometime in the new year.

“We see the greenhouse growing produce for the school lunch program, or maybe producing things which could be sold at Farmer’s Market,” Braydon Emerson explained to judges.  “In addition, the classroom space would hold approximately 25 students.  It could be a space for science classes and an FFA (Future Farmers of America) room.

The students suggested the project could involve and potentially benefit Central Gardens of North Iowa.  They would like to see the school and gardeners work together, providing both volunteers to keep the greenhouse growing, as well as a space to nurture young plants.

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The design team included solar power in their design, hoping to reduce energy costs to heat and cool the building.  Additional high-tech electrical systems would control greenhouse climate and watering, they proposed.

The students also considered landscaping in their design and integrated natural elements which would double as outdoor seating.  The outdoor area could also accommodate study halls or lunch crowds during nice weather, they suggested.

In preparation for Friday’s presentation, the design team used a 3-D printer to create elements of their greenhouse and classroom.  Satellite photos of the area were also used in their presentation.

Lester said he was pleased with the thought and preparation his students put into the design competition.

“This exercise was a good one in that the students could relate a project to their school, practice a variety of skills, and then present it publicly,”  said Lester.

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