Summer in Montana
The American Indian Housing Initiative (AIHI) is a collaborative partnership between Penn State and university partners across the nation to pursue sustainable solutions for the housing crisis facing American Indians.
| This summer, the AIHI program completed its largest design-build project to date, a 2,700-square-foot Technology Center on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. This project solicited the efforts of over fifty students and alumni from universities across the country, including Penn State, University of Wisconsin, University of Washington, and Colorado State. Designed by Aaron West of IDG Architects (a Penn State alum), the Technology Center will house multiple teaching labs for Chief Dull Knife College. |  |
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During the summer in Montana, students also helped construct an announcer’s booth for the annual inter-tribal pow-wow, a twenty-foot diameter strawbale Sweat Lodge Shelter, and an arbor in the courtyard of the 2002 AIHI Literacy Center. |
Even with so much work to be done, there was still plenty of time to explore, experience, and most importantly, enjoy the Northern Cheyenne’s land, people and resources. In the evenings and afternoons, construction volunteers and students were able to trail ride on horseback across untamed land, swim in natural spring waters, and camp out under “Big Sky.” Quiet talks around the evening campfire allowed volunteers to discuss history, language, and customs with Northern Cheyenne elders. As a special treat, AIHI volunteers attended the annual inter-tribal Fourth of July Pow-Wow, which seamlessly blended traditional costume, song, and dance with contemporary celebrations: fireworks and a victory dance for soldiers in Iraq. Evening songs, tee-pee raising, and visits to Medicine Wheel and local petroglyphs capped off the two-week trip as truly an unforgettable experience.
| 2005: LEED Gold Early Childhood Learning Center Plans are already underway for the 2005 AIHI project. This year, students and faculty are designing a 4,000-square-foot early childhood learning center for the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. A LEED Gold certification will be sought for this facility, which will include a variety of innovative features and materials, including strawbale construction, evaporative cooling systems, a grey water system, and daylighting. |
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AIHI Continues to Grow
Now in its fifth year of activity at Penn State, AIHI is growing to involve additional AE courses in its projects. Last year, students in the AE 497 Virtual Design course taught by Dr. John Messner helped to develop a 4D model of the technology center. This year, students in AE 597 Sustainable Building Methods helped perform lighting, mechanical and material selection for the 2005 project and prepared the draft of the LEED certification submission. Future courses that will also become involved with the projects include production management, lighting design, HVAC design, and control systems design.
How AIHI Works
Each year the AE program hosts a three-part course series, beginning in the spring, with classroom instruction concerning American Indian culture and history and sustainable building technologies. The purpose of the spring class is to prepare students for a two-week summer-build in Lame Deer, MT, during which students and volunteer partners construct strawbale buildings. During the fall semester, students reconvene to reflect upon and document their experiences. Open to all majors, the course series encourages inter-disciplinary teamwork and problem-solving.
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Join Us! The AE Department would like to invite any interested alumni to join the AIHI project this summer. By joining the on-site team, you will have the chance to learn more about American Indian culture, and work side-by-side with students and volunteers in the construction of the Early Childhood Development Center. Visit our website at: www.engr.psu.edu/greenbuild/index.asp to learn more, or contact us at AIHI@psu.edu or 814-865-3369. |