The new Kansas University (KU) Facility for Collaborative Research in Sustainable Energy officially opened on July 16, 2011. The Center for Design Research will help address challenges and create new knowledge about sustainable practices in fields such as architecture, design, engineering and business. The Center for Design Research is a design-build project of Kansas University’s renowned Studio 804.

The winners of the 3rd International Holcim Awards competition for sustainable construction projects and visions from North America have been announced. A total of USD 300,000 was presented to ten diverse and innovative projects from Canada and the USA at a ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning projects show how greater levels of sustainability can be reached in building and construction through people-focused designs that include simple adaptation, innovative materials, and clever architecture.

The jury acknowledges the project for its particular educative concept and the engagement with issues of sustainable construction illustrated in the program. The in-depth participation of students in the construction process is demonstrated as a successful component in the curriculum, substantially amplifying the learning outcomes beyond the pure experience of being a construction worker. Through the openness of the building’s function, this experience is shared not only with the few students who participate in the project – but is also transferred to the community and future students. The adoption of the building’s approach within the community is grounded by its integrative financial concept.

The planning and construction of the design-and-build Center for Design Research is part of the University of Kansas architecture, design and planning curriculum. In a program that has been running for 15 years, graduate students enter a full-year course that traces the entire process of planning and construction up to realization.