Design Bridge plants the seeds for Northwest Youth Corps harvest

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Nov. 20, 2007) -- When Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) decided to build a stand-alone greenhouse, development officer Natalie Whitson pictured something like the organization's existing tool shed: a modest unit with no foundation and a slight lean.

The greenhouse is one of seven Design Bridge projects under way by students from the School of Architecture and Allied Arts.

With the help of the University of Oregon group Design Bridge, NYC now boasts a stylish and sustainable 200-square-foot enclosure with electricity, insulation and aluminum cladding.

Northwest Youth Corps' two-acre organic farm, which yielded two tons of produce last year, sits just east of Hendricks Park. The 24-year-old non-profit organization serves 700 teens annually through its residential YouthCorps program. NYC also operates YouthWorks, a summer day program for middle school youth and an accredited OutDoor High School (ODS) for Lane County students.

The seedling greenhouse will germinate plants and herbs tended throughout the year by OutDoor School students and YouthWorks participants. The harvested vegetables feed students in the field and are prepared in the ODS culinary arts program for school lunches. Excess food is donated to FOOD for Lane County. Whitson said seedlings currently are housed inside the school, but proposed renovations forced a move.

Northwest Youth Corps contacted the University of Oregon for guidance on the seedling structure after receiving a $5,000 grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust in 2006. The funding for construction materials and electrical contractor fees was directed to Design Bridge, a volunteer group of undergraduates and graduates primarily from the School of Architecture and Allied Arts, which designs and builds projects for qualified clients in Eugene under the direction of faculty advisors.

UO's architecture students minimized the structure's square footage and incorporated sustainable practices and creative reuse of materials. Generous windows, including two reused units from BRING Recycling, allow plenty of day lighting to reduce energy use. The recycled aluminum cladding lends a splash of color outside. It's created from interlocking printing plates left over from packaging for familiar DVDs and video games such as "Meet the Parents" and "Guitar Hero II." They were purchased from Schnitzer Steel for $2 per pound and formed by hand on-site.

With a grant report due in mid-December, the project has adhered to its timeline thanks to more than 500 volunteer hours, including a visit from the Eugene Active 20-30 Club. Jerry's Home Improvement Center provided extra funding with an additional $1,000 grant.

The greenhouse is one of seven Design Bridge projects under way by students from the School of Architecture and Allied Arts. The group is not only a liaison between the university and the community, said Peter Makrauer, architecture graduate student and greenhouse build leader, but also a link between students and industry professionals.

"Design Bridge wouldn't exist without the energy of students who offer free labor and design," said Eric Churchill, graduate student majoring in both architecture and business and a member of the greenhouse build team. "Some projects will happen or not happen as the wind shifts. It's a function of client leadership. It's an amorphous thing, but that's the beauty of it."

Whitson is pleased with what the seedling greenhouse will offer students. "We're going to be able to both grow our own sprouts and enjoy working in an inspiring place that's bright and airy," she said. "The students can see up close how things are put together, and see what good architecture looks like."

Contact: Julie Brown, director, media relations, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu

Source: Karen Johnson, School of Architecture and Allied Arts external relations and communications, 346-3603, karenjj@uoregon.edu

Links: University of Oregon Design Bridge: http://designbridge.org/
Northwest Youth Corp: http://www.nwyouthcorps.org/

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