Green Wheel- Design Review

Today designbridge gave their final Studio Presentation on the three projects they are working on through the Architecture Dept. at the University of Oregon.

The one we're most excited about of course is the Green Wheel project for a new bike shelter at Roosevelt. We've been through some great

design charrettes, various design meetings, and discussions of budgets but the large chunk of work has taken place in their studio sessions where they have created some amazing models, worked out different

aspects of the design, drawn up some beautiful representations of the project, and created really great visuals to explain the overall vision of the project.

Each time we see more growth in the design it is an exciting advancement from where we were before and today's highlights of the new bench seating (and post/beam mock-up), a "rough draft" of a bike rack made from the old wheel bender racks, and the overall design is no exception.

The next step is to finalize permitting and come spring start in on the building!

The designbridge team has done a great job adapting to their clients needs (that us!) and the current plan to build in three phases still hinges

on finalizing some of the budget issues but with

the amount of energy and professionalism they

have brought to the project so far I have no doubt that some amazing things will happen this Spring!

The Green Wheel team has their own great blog here.

Roosevelt Green Wheels Project

The Roosevelt Green Wheels project is rolling right along!

We are currently in the Fundraising phase. If you would like to help support this great local sustainable transportation and education project please contact:

Shane Rhodes w/4J School District rhodes_sh@4j.lane.edu

Andrew Cusack or Sylvan Cambier w/designBridge: acusack@uoregon.edu or scambier@uoregon.edu

Bike Parking is Essential, Fun, and Awesome

Just got back from the Edison Bike Parking Ribbon Cutting. This was the project that DesignBridge worked on last year and it turned out really well- it's such an amazing transformation of a space. This area was the bike parking area before but designBridge worked with the school, students, and parents to design and then build this new area. There is a wonderful mural, new racks, fun lighting integrated into the mural, and a stylish bench that has become a central point for parents and students to congregate.

Today's event was a nice gathering of folks who played a big part in getting it done over the last two years including DesignBridge, Principal Tom Maloney, OTREC, parents, and of course the kids. The Eugene SRTS program didn't work on this project but it set the model for what we are now working with designBridge on- bringing this type of project to as many 4j Schools as we can. Right now we are in the middle of the Roosevelt Green Wheel project (the design ideas will be posted at the school on Monday) and next year the project might work with Harris/Eastside. We're also looking into more stable funding for the materials portion of the design/build projects. If anyone knows of an organization interested in funding a great sustainable transport, community build, youth and adult collaboration project send them our way!

More photos can be found on my Flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanerh/