DOMESTIC SUBTEAM
With housing insecurity and overcrowding as a major problem on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, our talented group of engineers from a multitude of backgrounds and majors began the design of a Sustainable Housing Unit, or SHU. Our goal is to produce an affordable, long-term solution for community members by creating a four-person home with all basic utilities, including a kitchen, full bathroom, and comfortable living spaces. We are currently engineering the home, assessing cost, and designing construction documents for future implementation.
FALL 2019
First got into contact with First Families Now; Had our first virtual meeting with Alice Phelps, the director of FFN, on 11/22/19, where we learned about her organization, the community, its needs, and potential engineering projects that can meet these needs; Worked with them to discuss what we wanted to do and picked out a suitable project
SPRING 2020
First started to design the project; Started as a mobile unit, which was adapted from a previous Domestic project. This stage of the design process was for a 16’ x 8’, single-person trailer home;
FALL 2020
Continued designs of the mobile unit
SPRING 2021
After a meeting with community contacts where we learned more about the need for multi-person, long-term housing, we switched to designing a larger, 24’ x 20’, permanent-foundation home; Connected with professionals (one geotechnical engineer from South Dakota, an architecture/engineering professional from Louisiana, and others); Hosted first kick-off call with CECorps to initiate project
FALL 2021
Began to finalize interior design through iterative process; First Families Now approved interior design; Continued working with various professionals for feedback;
SPRING 2022
Visiting the job site for the first time, planning site evaluation and meetings with community stakeholders; Hosted second kick-off call to transfer project leadership; More work on exterior features of the house; Created a cost estimate to present to community
FALL 2022
Connection with current REIC is established; Continued working with professionals for feedback of housing design for MEP and structural aspects
SPRING 2023
Work Plan is submitted and approved by CECorps; Architectural team begins design on 3-dimensional visualization software; Foundation design is finalized; Bill of Quantities is created
FALL 2023
Wrap up Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing construction sets for approval by professional contacts; Continue designing roof, porch, and other structural components; Create Quality Assurance manual
FALL 2024
Submit deliverables for approval of CECorps; Establish opportunities for construction involvement and New project search!
