The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Engineering is reaching out to the Lincoln community.
Tim Wentz, an associate professor of construction management, teaches Environmental Technical Systems I. This cross-listed course offers hands-on experience to both construction management and architectural students and gives them an opportunity to engage in service learning.
In the class, students work in teams of five or six to help redesign an existing building in Lincoln. The overall goal is to make the building more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Wentz said he selects buildings that give back to the community
Since 2001, the students have helped change buildings such as the Christ Temple Church, The Meeting Place and the Clyde Malone Community Center.
The students are currently focusing on the Young Women's Christian Association building at 1432 N St. Wentz said they hope to provide a proposal that will cut energy consumption by 30 percent and earn the building a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver rating. The money saved by the reduction in energy costs can be used by the YWCA to focus on its community programs.
"We have the talent. We have the students. We should be working hand-in-hand,"
Wentz said about the college's relationship with the community.
Students started working with the client on the first day of class. Throughout the semester, tests and projects will focus on the client.
"We just finished a milestone where we did a preliminary draft of the floor plan, laying out temperature zones and pressure zones," said Molly Macklin, an architecture graduate student.
At the end of the semester, students will offer final proposals to the client. Wentz said he believes this kind of learning will help the students in the future.
"Students can connect to it better," Wentz said. "It's a lot easier to get a hand on something that's real, a client that's real, an outcome that's real."
The class originally combined construction management and architecture students because of budget cuts, said Wentz. However, teaching the two disciplines in one classroom has had positive effects. Students are exposed to ideas that are different from their own during the semester-long project.
Cory Lyons, a graduate student studying construction management, said he finds the mixture of students to be beneficial.
"It opens your eyes to see another way of looking at things," Lyons sad.
Macklin agreed:
"It's kind of nice having two types of disciplines coming together to work on an existing problem."
saramccue@dailynebraskan.com
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