We are indeed fortunate to have Chris Costanza, the designing architect of The Commons, available to interact with our students of all levels. He had a busy day today, starting off speaking with the Lower School Project-Based Learning class of 3rd and 4th graders about being an architect and his past and future endeavors. The students had questions for him to answer, took notes, and then used what they learned to inform their own design plans for their own construction creations. Just being able to have an accomplished architect who has worked on projects from skyscrapers to particle accelerators to Casa Distorta (see the third video below) is exciting enough, but knowing that he is working daily on the creation of The Commons and the sustainability systems is an amazing opportunity for our students!

Here Chris shares how long it may take to design buildings: http://youtu.be/pBLF6zpoVyk

Chris discusses how to make blueprints: http://youtu.be/MQLZPUauU3c

A description of the first building Chris designed: http://youtu.be/lQOo2voy3og

After chatting with our Lower School students this morning, Chris headed over to the Upper School Living Building class to talk with those students and answer their questions. The video clips below show Chris answering questions about the water-heating solar tubes, the rain water collection system and bioswale, and future items to aid student management of the building. A huge thanks to Chris for spending so much quality time with our eager students!

Water-heating solar tubes: http://youtu.be/EHncNk6OGB0

Rain water collection system: http://youtu.be/yZswwYTydgs

Future equipment: http://youtu.be/JP_C7SpVIgs