DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE

In recognition of current collaborations and partnerships with the construction industry, SARUP is establishing the Design + Construction Institute (DCI). We envision the Institute as a respected academic authority on contemporary issues in construction and sustainable practices and their influence on design and the built environment. DCI will serve as a resource for new curriculum initiatives, pipeline pathway development, workforce training, public symposia, continuing education offerings, and public exposure of student work.

Buildingslandscapescultures Field School

Buildings-Landscapes-Cultures Field School, led by Associate Professor Arijit Sen, is a five-week summer course that documents people, places, and histories in some of Milwaukee’s most undeserved neighborhoods. Wisconsin Humanities will be adapting this model to launch Community Powered, a project that builds resilience around Wisconsin communities.

Summer Youth Build Program

The Design + Construction Institute launched the summer 2022 teen and college design/build program—the NAF Future Ready Scholars Program—in partnership with NAF, UWM College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Milwaukee Public Schools (and Foundation), MATC, All Hands Boatworks, Journey House and Metcalf Park Community Group. The four-week program radically transforms the relationship between SARUP and high school students in Milwaukee Public Schools by bringing high school and college students together to design and build an eco-friendly community shade structure on a city lot on Wright Street. The program’s high school engineering cohort completed a remote solar power station that was installed on the shade pavilion.

Gilbane interns joined the MPS high school students for one day to help install the bays of the shade structure at Metcalf Park community garden. Campers also visited EUA, LaLune Collection, and a JLA multifamily project. Speakers from Habitat for Humanity and Mortenson Construction joined as well.

Mass Timber

Assistant Professor Alex Timmer was interviewed by Wisconsin Public Radio about the latest construction trend—wood skyscrapers. Collaborating with Rivion WoodWorks and the Forest Products Laboratory are working to collect life cycle data for the new mass timber building Ascent. By analyzing Ascent’s embodied carbon and energy, the team will be able to understand the building’s total environmental impact, how much energy is required, and the amount of carbon produced during construction.