ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - A University of Michigan class is constructing the first student-built facility on the Ann Arbor campus, and it’s made primarily out of straw bale.
University of Michigan Art, Design and Environment Professor Joe Trumpey and his team of 25 students broke ground earlier this month.
The 600-square-foot (56-sq. meter) building is insulated by straw bales. Adobe is also used, with an earthen floor inside.
“The key concept here is to use as many natural, local materials as possible that provides a super-insulated building,” Trumpey said. “Being able to use the sun for light and heat as much as possible and minimizing your carbon footprint is the background behind the design principle of it.”
Straw bales that are about 2 feet (0.6 meters) thick can provide twice or nearly three times the amount of insulation compared to a typical building with pink fiberglass insulation, he said.
The building also uses some conventional lumber, windows, doors and a rubble trench foundation.
“It’s the first official U of M building in Ann Arbor that is student-built that I am aware of, period,” Trumpey said.
The straw building will be situated near the UM Campus Farm at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens.
“This building will give the farm a needed social space where they can have class meetings and dining events such as U of M farm-to-table dinners,” Trumpey said.
It’s a public display of a sustainable building and technologies, said Campus Farm Manager Jeremy Moghtade.
Art and design graduate Jack Hyland, 22, said, “Building the straw bale house makes you think about alternatives to building and construction and connecting us to our natural environment.”
The students expect to complete by building by the end of the month.
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