Solar Futures Media Kit 2023

Woodbury School of Architecture

Woodbury University | Solar Futures House woodbury.edu

Contact: Marina Zakarian

Email: marina.zakarian@woodbury.edu

PRESS RELEASE

Woodbury University students and faculty build the first permitted 3D printed home in Los Angeles.

October 27, 2023

THE SOLAR FUTURES HOUSE was an entry into the Solar Decathlon, a collegiate competition by the U.S. Department of Energy to design and build zero-energy buildings. Students and Faculty within Woodbury University’s School of Architecture completed the design phase the competition in Spring of 2022. Woodbury was named one of 14 finalist teams earning a spot in the Build Challenge and awarded $50,000 to take the design into construction. In the Fall of 2022, Woodbury students and faculty begin construction on this groundbreaking 3D printed home. Within four months, the project had a permitted design set and within six months, the 3D printed house was under construction

“ These are students who are really pushing the boundaries of what a house is, how a house is built, who needs housing, and the good and bad of what this technology can do,” says Aaron Gensler, the Chair of Architecture at Woodbury University.

Since its 2002 inception, the Solar Decathlon has challenged 40,000 college students worldwide to leverage cutting-edge technologies to design and construct zero-energy building—and to consider the clean energy industry as a viable career path. The competition aims to help tackle climate challenges by nurturing a workforce that is well equipped to design, construct, and retrofit a high-performance, low-carbon building stock, and to deliver an equitable clean energy future.

“While labeled a competition, this is really a collaboration. What we learn here will move us closer to the goal that we know is so desperately needed. The ‘winning’ solution will illuminate possibilities and, with the right public support, influence decision makers,” says Kishani De Silva, the Faculty Lead and Chair of Woodbury’s Construction Management Program.

The competition entry is an incredible representation of what students can do when they are equipped with advanced skill, an ethical imperative, and provided resources. The Solar Futures House demonstrates the principle that guides Woodbury University: professional education that is civically minded. The Solar Futures House takes the professional education as an architect and puts it to use in addressing the issues of affordable housing and environmental stewardship.

Woodbury School of Architecture

Woodbury University | Solar Futures House woodbury.edu

“As a student, being a part of the construction process gave me real-world knowledge about the field which is something that a lot of students don’t get to experience during their academic studies,” says Jessica, a graduate of Woodbury School of Architecture. She worked on the construction details and participated in presenting the project for the Solar Decathlon competition. Jessica now works as a Junior Architectural Designer at Jordana Masie Design Studio and shared how this project helped her when applying for this role.

The Solar Futures House is nearing completion, but the University intends to use this project as an academic resource in the future. “My hope is it does not become a museum piece, but rather a living educational laboratory where students can continue to explore different design elements over time. The Solar Futures House has been, and will continue to be, a teaching laboratory for the University,” says Heather Flood, the Dean of the School of Architecture at Woodbury University.

This groundbreaking project demonstrates emerging alternatives on the horizon for making our world a more equitable place. Woodbury University wants to be a part of that conversation.

“Being a part of the construction gives you more knowledge about actual construction in the field which is something that a lot of students don’t really get to experience during their educational studies,” says Jessica, a graduate of Woodbury School of Architecture. She worked on the construction details and participated in presenting the project for the Solar Decathlon competition. Jessica now works as a Junior Architectural Designer at Jordan Masie Design Studio and shared how this project helped her when applying for this role.

The Solar Futures House is nearing completion, but the University intends to use this project as an academic recourse in the future. “My hope is it does not become a museum piece, but rather a living educational laboratory where students can continue to explore different landscaping options, different interior design elements etc. This is my wish for the Solar Decathlon, that is continues to be a teaching laboratory for the University,” says the Dean of Architecture at Woodbury University.

Woodbury University aspires for this groundbreaking project to portray to the public that there are emerging alternatives on the horizon to make our world a more equitable place. Woodbury University wants to be a part of that conversation.

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PRACTICE

Woodbury School of Architecture

WOODBURY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE is distinguished by a broad range of degrees that adress the needs, values, and potential of the built environment. The degree programs include Architecture, Interior Design, Applied Computer Science and Media Arts, Sustainable Practices, and Construction Management. These programs combine to create a holistic school dedicated to advancing the practices of design, the products of design, and the impact of design towards a more equitable and sustainable world. We educate our students as entrepreneurs and cultural builders equally committed to professional practice, theoretical discourse, and technological inquiry. Our faculty comprises active architects, academics, and designers.

OUR STUDENTS

SOLAR DECATHALON PROJECT

SOLAR HOUSE CONSTRUCTION

SOLAR HOUSE CONSTRUCTION

SOLAR HOUSE EXTERIOR

SOLAR HOUSE EXTERIOR

SOLAR HOUSE

Woodbury School of Architecture

HEATHER FLOOD

Dean | School of Architecture Woodbury University

HEATHER FLOOD is a designer of information, graphics, and architecture. Her work integrates the disciplines and techniques of cultural research, graphic art, and architectural design to create experientially dense environments.

Founder and principal of F-lab, Heather’s work has been published and exhibited internationally. Prior to forming F-lab, Heather worked in the offices of Murphy, Burnham, and Buttrick Architects (New York), HOLST Architecture (Portland), and Roto Architects (Los Angeles). In addition to her professional practice, Heather teaches design studios with a focus on beginning design pedagogy at Woodbury.

She has taught design studios and visual studies seminars at SCI-Arc, as well as UCLA and the University of Kentucky. Heather has a Master of Architecture degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture where she graduated with honors and received the Henry Adams Medal awarded to the top ranking graduate student.

Education

Master of Architecture | SCI-Arc

Bachelor of Art | Michigan State University

Woodbury School of Architecture

KISHANI DE SILVA

Faculty Lead & Chair

Construction Management Program

Woodbury University

KISHANI has been working in the architecture and design industries for over eighteen years and started her own management consultancy, 2A+D, following her time at Foster + Partners in London, as a project manager.

She is involved with the Association for Women in Architecture + Design, where she spearheads a gender equity initiative—”50:50 x 2020″ and completed four-years on the Board, including President (2015/2016) and Parliamentarian (immediate past president, 2016/2017). She also serves on two other Boards involved with social and environmental justice, one being Fair Trade Los Angeles, where she is leading the strategic thinking effort on making Los Angles a Fair Trade City.

Kishani currently teaches a contemporary practice class which was part of the Architecture 2030’s Curriculum Project pilot in 2016, as well as a Systems seminar and 4th Year Design Studio. She is also currently reading for a post graduate qualification in Major Programme Management at the University of Oxford, England.

Education

Bachelor of Architecture | Woodbury University

Executive Leadership | Cornell University

Woodbury School of Architecture

AARON GENSLER is an architect, educator, and thought leader based in Los Angeles. She is one half of GenslerClipp—an architecture, design, and research practice based in southern California. Prior to forming GenslerClipp, she held design positions at a diverse array of firms from Los Angeles to Rwanda.

In addition to her professional work with GenslerClipp, Aaron is an Assistant Professor and the Chair of the Undergraduate and Graduate Architecture Programs at Woodbury University in Los Angeles. She serves on the National Council for Madame Architect and is a member of the Board of Trustees for California College of the Arts.

Aaron received her Master of Architecture from Cornell University where she was awarded the Alpha Rho Chi Medal and, more recently, was awarded a Robert James Eidlitz Travel Fellowship. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College where she received several accolades from the Middlebury Museum of Art, Chellis House and the KCACTF for her work.

Education

Master of Architecture | Cornell University

Bachelor of Art | Middlebury College

AARON GENSLER

Chair | Architecture Department Woodbury University

Woodbury School of Architecture

HECTOR RODRIQUEZ

Adjunct Professor | School of Architecture

Woodbury University

HECTOR RODRIGUEZ, AIA is an Adjunct Professor of Architecture at Woodbury University and East Los Angeles Community College. Hector founded TECNICO, an architectural practicethat pushes the envelope in the development of residential and commercial works, including middle-scale housing like Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).

As an educator and practitioner, Hector believes that we learn best through the act of doing and delights in actively mentoring the next generation of architects and changemakers. In his spare time, he is the advisor to the Woodbury chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS).

Previously, Hector was the Project Manager at United Dwelling, managing the design, development, and execution of over 30 pre-manufactured modular ADUs. Prior, e was a designer at FSY Architects working on multiple 50+ unit 100% affordable housing projects.

Hector is a graduate of the University of Oregon (M.Arch, Housing Specialization) and Arizona State University (B.Arch) and is a registered architect in California.

Education

Master of Architecture | University of Oregon

Bachelor of Art | Arizona State University

Woodbury School of Architecture

DONATE

CONTRIBUTE TO WOODBURY UNIVERSITIE’S SOLAR FUTURES

HOUSE and join a community of advocates addressing housing insecurity and environmental justice in Southern California. The Solar Futures House is a student-led design-build micro living unit under construction on the Woodbury campus in Burbank. This net-zero home was constructed using 3D printing technology and features a gray water recycling system, fire resistant insulation, a rainwater harvesting system, and an innovative concrete mix that results in increased material sustainability.

The project is 80% complete. We are seeking donations to finance the remaining items such as landscaping, hardscaping, and interior finishes.

Let us put your money to work solving some of the biggest issues of our time. Together we are making a difference!

SUPPORT SOLAR FUTURES

Where Sustainability Meets Efficiency

CONTACT:

SHARON TOWNSEND, DSW, MPA

Senior Director of Development & Alumni Affairs

818.252.5213

sharon.townsend@woodbury.edu

woodbury.edu

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