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| Is
the Dream alive and well? |
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Had
character Willy Loman attended a seminar
at the Institute on the American Dream
at Penn State Erie, perhaps his life
would have been less tragic. The "Death
of a Salesman" protagonist committed
suicide when he failed to attain the
success he believed was crucial to the
Dream. "He forgot that the Dream
has other components--freedom and equality,"
noted Charles Brock, director of the
institute. "Had he been willing
to grasp that concept, things would
have been easier."
The institute is a venue that strives
to examine both the bright and dark
sides of the Dream. In a public forum,
a mix of speakers address such questions
as where the Dream originated, how it
works today and its international implications.
Past lecture series have grappled with
such topics as fundamentalism, 9/11
and the "Axis of Evil" and
how they relate to the American Dream.
"These are large concepts,"
said John Vanco, director of the Erie
Art Museum and member of the institute's
advisory committee. "The institute
is a means of engaging those outside
the academic community on such issues."
This fall Brock plans to focus on "Pennsylvania
Dreamers."
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With
help from Penn State experts,
a school in California is designed
to prevent waste. |
Sometimes
the most expensive part of remodeling
is just accessing a system, be it mechanical,
electrical or plumbing. Then there's
the pollution: 92 percent of waste in
the building industry comes from demolition
and renovations, according to the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
Enter Design for Disassembly (DfD),
a building technique that allows for
easy access, repair and dismantling--and
also prevents waste. Brad Guy of the
Penn State Hamer Center for Community
Design Assistance is a champion of
DfD, partnering with different groups
to explore and implement the principle.
In one project, Guy and a team from
the Hamer Center are working with the
Community Housing Resource Center in
Atlanta, Ga., to apply DfD to low-income
housing.
"[DfD]
makes the parts of a building more
easily understood," explained
Guy, allowing occupants to remain
in their homes affordably with do-it-yourself
repairs and adaptations. For example,
DfD suggests that building connections
be simple and that fasteners permit
disassembly.
"Typically those in the lower-income
brackets are not as able to move,"
added Scott Ball of the Community
Housing Resource Center. "They
may have grandparents coming to live
with them or have more children. They
should be able to reconfigure and
remodel their homes easily."
The Hamer Center conducted a workshop
on DfD with the Atlanta organization,
providing details and a generic concept
for the housing.
Guy is also working with architects
in northern California to apply DfD
to a school. "Schools constantly
need renovations and additions, with
technology a big issue. If you plan
ahead you can be cost-effective,"
he said.
The buildings, which are both funded
by the EPA, will be completed this
spring.
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