The design for Butler’s Center of Urban Ecology and Campus Farm was greatly inspired by the combination of modern aesthetics but also the aspirations of what it means to be a sustainable urban farm. As a center for children that visit the farm and university it mission was to provide an outdoor learning facility to younger students. The opportunity to work with a client and a program that needed to be both functional and eye catching was exciting and challenging. Working with a budget we were able with a team of 7 students create a space for learning and exploring. We wanted to incorporate alternative energy concepts so show at a basic level to the elementary groups that come to visit the farm. A solar powered fan was installed to regulate the temperature under the blazing sun. We cantilevered a canopy for shelter and a butterfly style roof to collect rainwater to be used on the farm.
