The Community Building

The community building uses passive solar design, which means it has a large overhanging roof angled to maximize heat from the sun in the winter and minimize heat in the summer. It was also designed to be completely accessible. Other features include:

• concrete slab floor for thermal mass
• radiant floor heating
• earth berming for regulating temperature
• frost-protected shallow foundation
• water catchment system to funnel rainwater into a cistern
• wetland area for treating greywater (non-sewage wastewater)

The initial community building design was done by two Washington University architectural design students. It was then modified to meet our agreed-upon needs and financial resources. The final design of the building was discussed and approved by all members of the community. Once the plan was in order, it was time for groundbreaking and spreading the word about our big project.