CAD sketch of and plan of entry/storage building for Skyview School
Last semester our students completed a master plan for Skyview School that included an entry feature to better define the school, provide a storage place for outdoor equipment and serve as an outdoor classroom. Our summer construction workshop is bringing this idea to life. Building with a variety of alternative materials and under the direction of Associate Director Tom Hahn, this building will be a great addition to the school.
Site preparation was the major work to be ready to pour footings early the following week. The site wasn’t available until after the school graduated so the early part of the week included presentations and a field trip to visit a home constructed with a concrete and foam sandwich. The highlight was a visit with Pliny Fisk who brought an amazing array of new materials and presented ways of thinking about sustainability and materials.
Left to right: Clearing part of the Skyview schoolyard; removing the invasive species hedge from part of the existing fence.
Left to right: Tim Graves, construction manager, explains the process for creating a concrete wall with a sandwiched foam core. This custom designed home also gave students a good look at framing techniques used in many local custom homes; setting the batter boards for the walls and stringing lines to locate footings.
The backhoe donated by a parent at the school arrives to dig the footings. This can be done by hand but as the workshop is only 4 weeks long the equipment was an appropriate use of time and resources.
Pliny Fisk spent a day with the group discussing the design techniques for alternative materials selection and how they affect design.