The Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Living

This summer for the first time, CASL will be offering a class for students at the house for credit. Michael Cockram will teach the class, which is offered through the Department of Architecture and Allied Arts. Cockram, an adjunct professor at the U of O, will instruct the design and building process of a new front porch for CASL’s house.

This four-credit class allows students to learn about low-impact design techniques by incorporating sustainable building practices. The students will first conduct preliminary research where they will investigate sustainable land use/site planning strategies, such as: solar, water catchment, waste management, and much more. The students will then collaborate with CASL members to create the ramp’s design plan. Once the details have been established, they will work on site to build the porch and walkway with the help of CASL members.

In addition to designing the ramp, students will work with CASL members and Cockram to review and determine CASL’s future design plans. Students will be able to imagine how the site may evolve over time with innovative sustainable technology.

Michael Cockram has taught periodically at the U of O since 1994. For eight years he directed the Italy Field School, a hands-on architecture/preservation program in Italy’s Ossola Valley. He has done several design-build projects and is one of the founders of Design Bridge. For the last year and a half he worked in the firm of L.M. Holder FAIA in Austin, Texas. Read more about Cockram’s efforts in sustainable design here. 

For more information, please read the official course description.  Also, e-mail casl@uoregon.edu if you have questions about the course.