The School of Architecture at the University of Illinois hosted Rodger J. Boyd, HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Programs, on February 23^rd and 24^th, 2006.  Faculty, staff and students acquainted Assistant Secretary Boyd on the status of several partnerships between the School of Architecture and Native American groups.  Assistant Secretary Boyd took part in the mid-semester review of Professor Lynne Dearborn’s graduate design studio.  The studio is working with the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi in Dowagiac , Michigan , designing sixteen new single-family houses for phase 2 of the Pokagonek Édawat development as well as a sustainable community education center.  The Pokagon Band’s cultural viewpoint on development incorporates sustainable solutions which limit negative impact on the environment and promote healthy interior and exterior settings for band members and their neighbors.  As a result the students are working to design energy efficient, environmental friendly and healthy tribal buildings which employ passive systems, incorporate green materials, and provide for healthy indoor air quality.  Assistant Secretary Boyd also visited the School of Architecture ’s Building Research Council (BRC) for an update on research and technical assistance contracts with HUD’s Office of Native American Programs.  Jim Anderson, Kate Brown, and Don Fournier discussed the costs of energy in homes in Indian Country.

 

 

 

Student Joshua DeYoung presents his team’s proposal for a Community Activity and Education Center for the Pokagon Band.  The team demonstrated that the building could achieve a silver LEED rating.

 

Students Matthew Rymer and Michael J. Olson present their proposal for healthy, green and sustainable single-family housing for the Pokagon Band’s Phase 2 development.

 

Students and visitors at midterm review: Front row (left to right): Kate Brown (UIUC Building Research Council), Asst. Prof. Lynne Dearborn (studio instructor), Asst. Prof. John Stallmeyer (faculty reviewer), Jeff Fullhart (building official, Pokagon Band), Rodger Boyd (HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Programs), Bob Soderberg (housing official, Pokagon Band). 2^nd row (left to right): Assoc. Prof. Kevin Hinders (faculty reviewer), (graduate students) Michael J. Olson, Matthew Rymer, Kareeshma Ali, 3^rd row (left to right): Charles Madary, Julie Richmiller, Jacqueline Wolke, Nicole Semmler. 4^th row (left to right): Courtney Bowdell, Jen Feucht, Joshua Stewman, Arelys Matias, Joshua DeYoung, 5^th row (left to right): Swapna Parab, Thomas Gabler. Back row (left to right) Dale Green, Chris Horan, John Hirsch, Nathan Funk, Brent Young.

 

 

Rodger J. Boyd, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Programs, gives welcoming address at 2006 NOMAS Annual Conference

  Late in the day on February 24^th, Assistant Secretary Boyd was the honored guest at the NOMAS (National Organization of Minority Architecture Students) national conference taking place this year at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ’s School of Architecture .   Assistant Secretary Boyd gave the welcoming address at the conference that focused on response to disaster.  Assistant Secretary Boyd also visited the UIUC Native American House and met with John McKinn and others active in the UIUC Native American community.