Projects
AIHI projects are designed, planned, and built by students, faculty, and AIHI collaborators. To date, our completed projects include four homes, an adult education center, and several small scale testing and research buildings.
2005-06 Project: An Early Childhood Learning Center
This two-year project has been AIHI’s largest and most comprehensive endeavor to date. The 4000SF Early Childhood Learning Center offers the younger generations of the Northern Cheyenne a stimulating, safe, and culturally appropriate learning environment. With a strawbale shell and the employment of environmentally responsible technologies both inside and outside of the center, the ECLC adheres to the guidelines for LEED Gold certification. In addition to its environmental sensitivity, the ECLC is also culturally appropriate. Northern Cheyenne tradition is honored both inside and outside of the building with student-designed furniture fashioned in the silhouettes of culturally significant animals, story murals, and a traditional story circle, among other things.
Final Phase :Sustainable Technology Center
Currently being completed on the campus of Chief Dull Knife College on the Northern Cheyenne Indian reservation, the Technology Center will provide much needed space for hands-on and project-based learning in areas of construction skills, home maintenance, and home repair.
2007- A look ahead!
This coming summer, AIHI will be emphasizing solar energy technology in conjunction with the bi-annual Solar Decathlon sponsored by the U.S. government. The project will be a residence for visiting faculty on the campus of Chief Dull Knife College. In the process of building, AIHI also looks to build upon knowledge and technology. Accordingly, in addition to its environmentally friendly strawbale frame, the 2007 project will also capitalize on host solar heating and energy reservation systems.