Learning Barge

>>Floating educational facility travels river teaching about balance between industry and the environment<<

Project Type:
other: ecological design strategy + adaptive reuse

Project Mission/Goal:
improve the human spirit
increase awareness of the environment and/or address climate change
respond to our growing need for clean water, power, shelter, healthcare, education

Project Description:
The Elizabeth River has been used by people since the Chesepian Indians sailed and fished its waters, but it is the naval and industrial uses since WWI that have most strongly shaped the river as we see it today.

In the past, careless use of the river by industry left it barren and polluted, but today the most serious threat comes from urban runoff. Some areas of the river are still devoid of the living creatures that signal a healthy river, but clean-up and restoration have allowed other stretches of the river to flourish again.

The final barge design reflects a semester of collaborative research and design efforts. Each stage in the process represents a synthesis of ideas and research. The first phase involved brainstorming on an individual level, exploring the possibilities of what the barge could be and how it might function on the Elizabeth River.

Each additional phase in the design process involved greater collaboration among studio members as well as critical input from outside sources. Beginning as eleven separate designs, the barge, in its present state, represents the best aspects of all the ideas explored and presented throughout the semester.

Links:
Learning Barge: http://www.arch.virginia.edu/learningbarge/

Project Details:
Location: Elizabeth River, most polluted tributary of the Chesapeake and an important urban river linking Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.
Concept/Lead Architect(s)/Designer(s): Phoebe Crisman
Project Architect(s): Andrew Daley, Adam Donovan, Kelley McConnaha, Michael Petrus, Danielle Willkens, University of Virginia School of Architecture
Year (s): 2005-2010
Client: The Elizabeth River Project, non-profit in Portsmouth, VA
User Client: Schools/Residents/Children of Elizabeth River Watershed
Description and Number of Beneficiaries/Users: The LEARNING BARGE provides interactive K-12 and adult
education about how the river and human activities are inextricably linked.
Project Phase: completed and in use!
Major Funding: the University of Virginia, Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, Dominion, EPA P3
Cost/Cost per unit: ~$300,000
Area (if applicable):
Marine Designer: Eric Matherne
Engineer Leads: Paxton Marshall, Whitney Odell, Farhad Omar
Structural Engineer: Dennis Moler
Shipbuilder: East Coast Steel Fabricator, Inc.
Electrical/Mechanical Engineers:
Contractor/Manufacturer:
Additional Consultants: Altenergy, DTI Solar, Skanska, Yacht Systems Services
Vessel specs: 120'x32' certified Coast Guard Attraction Vessel
Photo/Image Credit(s): Phoebe Crisman, Michael Petrus, Danielle Willkens

Nominated by Elaine Uang and Danielle Willkens

Location