UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HOUSE OF STRAW

Farr Associates is partnering with an innovative group of University of Michigan students to design and build a multi-purpose facility on the University’s campus farm constructed from strawbales, a super sustainable and renewable material.

The Design/Build program is led by Professor Joe Trumpey and is open to students in the Stamps School of Art & Design and the Program in the Environment (PitE). Twenty-five students spent the past semester learning about green building and natural building techniques.

Farr Associates engaged with the group this winter to translate their design intent from ideas and sketches into model drawings and construction documents that were then approved by the University. We also explored design strategies with them on how to increase the facility’s passive solar access.

Client: University of Michigan

Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Year: 2017-2018