This document describes the Straw-Bale Eco-Center project at Ball State University, which involved students and faculty demonstrating sustainable building techniques. It summarizes: 1) The project involved architecture, landscape architecture, and natural resources students who constructed the first load-bearing straw bale building in the region as a teaching facility. 2) Phase I resulted in the building's construction and a LEED Gold rating, funded by a $10,000 EPA grant. Performance monitoring of energy use and bale moisture is ongoing. 3) Phase II aims to further integrate the building with the landscape through designs awaiting additional funding.

1. Straw-Bale Eco-Center
Demonstrating How to Live Sustainably in the Midwest
Student Team: Student Team Members, Departments, and Institutions: All students working on the project are students at Ball State University.
These include architecture students Matthew T. Amore, Daniel G. Bajor, Geoffrey A. Burns, Evan T. Anderson-Decina, Geoffrey S. Desmit, Lindsey
Eckstein, Todd M. Ernstberger, Merritt M. Ertel, Luke J. Geers, Joshua T. Higginbotham, Brandon M. Hoopingarner, John L. Hudson, Teresa Klingensmith
Haines, Megan M. Leder, Stephanie L. McLeish, Martin A. Merkel, Brian W. Pace, Logan U. Parmele, Wesley W. Perkins, Michael D. Powers, Martin D. Sams,
Bradley J. Singer, Patrick W. Steffen, Chelsea A. Wait, and Nathan R. Ziulkowski. The project team included landscape architecture students Ryan J.
Alexander, Sharon M. Dougherty, Brad R. Faichild, Lawrence T. Fettig, Emily K. Harner, Alisha R. Koester, Bradley A. Kottkamp, Amy L. Lewis, Josh T.
Manwaring, Jason M. Reier, Justin A. Russell, Corey R. Seltenright, and Kelly A. Woodward. The team also included natural resources and
environmental management students Daniel A. Dyson, Kendra Frost; interior design student Alicia A. Hall, political science student
David M. Cain, and pre-journalism student Lauren Kenley.

2. Phase I:
-Resulted in the first built
component of a University
teaching and research “Land
Lab” envisioned for the site.
-Resulted in first load bearing
straw-bale building in Region.
LEED gold rating (phase II)
-Funded with a 10K EPA P3
grant obtained by Gray /
Motloch 2006, 8K for
construction and materials
-Have begun monitoring
performance:
-Energy performance
-Bale moisture content

3. Looking Southeast toward farmhouse
Looking Northwest toward site

5. Mock up and research for
construction of Straw-Bale Eco-
Center began by in 2005, (Gray Arch
417, building tech, special project).
Work used to obtain EPA grant.

6. Design Process
-Identify players / permits req’d /establish schedule for work
-Design began with Gray 301 studio (2 week project)
-Develop / document/ price design with Gray ARCH 498; 4th / 5th year elective

7. Students discovered that architectural expression could exist within creative
manipulation of building systems, materials and assemblies.

9. DIAGRAMS / EDUCATIONAL TOOL
-Help to explain thought process throughout
design
-Relate decisions to USGBC criteria
-Clarify the notion of “sustainable design”
-Not the result of any one thing but
the sum total of smart (and in this
case simple) decisions throughout
the process of design and
construction
-De-emphasize significance of any single
component (i.e. straw –bale) in favor of
understanding sustainable strategies as a
collective and interrelated set of decisions.

19. CONSTRUCTION

32. 2007-2008 Initiatives:
-Complete work on the straw-bale classroom building
-Complete design and implement phase two, integration of building w/ landscape
systems (pending funding)
-Participate as part of campus tour for the 2007 “Greening of the Campus”
Conference at BSU; a bi-annual national conference hosted by the University.
-Begin Delaware County K-12 tours of facility as part of “Christy Woods” nature
tour.

33. Straw Bale Construction

35. Phase II : Integrated site systems

36. BSU Eco Center; awaiting additional funding……………..