The RISD SOLAR team will officially begin building its solar house in three weeks, but some construction at South Water Street began Tuesday with the erection of five "Shadow Pavilions" by groups of students in RISD's architectural design class.
The final Shadow Pavilion will act as the reception center for visitors to the team's solar house at this fall's Solar Decathlon in Washington, an international competition designed to raise awareness about alternative energy sources. Coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Solar Decathlon challenges participating teams to construct a self-sustaining, energy-efficient solar home.
The pavilion will provide shade and act as an information booth, in lieu of the rent-a-tents provided by Solar Decathlon officials. The concept of creating a team-built entryway is "completely unique to RISD," according to Associate Professor of Architecture Chris Bardt.
Professors from the RISD Department of Architecture met Thursday afternoon to begin the critiquing process that will culminate in the selection of one or some combination of designs as the starting point for the final pavilion.
