Solarium+Fall+2011

Solarium Planning and Implementation
(Starting Page for Student Work - Fall 2011) Go to Work and Resource links See the building of the Solarium through pictures here: Solarium pictures

Announcements:
November 30, 2011: Friday, Dec.2nd will be our last class date. We'll meet at the campus greenhouse and walk over to the Solarium to discuss signage. Our last contribution to the Greening of Aiken for the Fall Semester will be producing the content for temporary signs which will give a brief explanations about the plantings. After writing your paper and presenting your poster, be prepared to condense your words into a plant 'introduction' for visitors. We will return to the greenhouse and pot up rooted ivy (//Hedera helix//) and basket grass (//Oplisismenus hirtellus//). Finally, we will travel down the road to the Forestry Greenhouse and pot-up rooted purple heart (//Setcreasea pallida//) and licorice plant (//Helichrysum petiolare//).

**Members:**

 * Jamie Pospishile, jpospish@uvm.edu, 617-447-8176
 * Drew Groth, akgroth@uvm.edu, 860-608-3379
 * Dan Hammerberg, dhammerb@uvm.edu, 203-500-6654
 * Molly Bruno, molly.bruno@uvm.edu, 802-356-9032
 * Quin Mann, qmann@uvm.edu, 802-379-5877
 * Seren Bagcilar, seren.bagcilar@uvm.edu, 516-320-4292
 * Colleen Armstrong, Colleen.Armstrong@uvm.edu, 802 656-0465
 * Deane Wang, deane.wang@uvm.edu, 802 656-2694

Bringing the Outside, Inside - The Greening of Aiken Solarium Project
How do you bring the Vermont “outside” inside? The roughly 1800 sq. feet of the “solarium” in the renovated Aiken Center challenges students in the Environmental Science Orientation class with this question. This mostly glass enclosed space sits on the south side of the Aiken Center facing the Oval Drive fringed by the Davis Center, Jeffords Hall, and the Aiken Center. As a prominent and futuristic facade for the building, the solarium has no air conditioning, one small heater, and automated windows. It must employ solar gain, thermal inertia, passive ventilation, and plant life to moderate the environmental conditions of this space.

First year students in the Environmental Science class will learn about ecosystem structure and function in designing the layout and species mix for the greening of the solarium. Several other student groups in the past two years have paved the way by surveying community preferences for uses and features they would like to see in the solarium. They have also developed species lists for open water and wetland aquatic plants, grouped terrestrial plants in larger beds, living walls, and potted plants. Last year they built a scale model of the solarium along with model plants.

On opening day, the budget for the Greening of Aiken Project will not allow all the dreams of the students to be realized (water falls, fountains, vines, art displays, “tree houses,” etc.), but a substantial greening will be accomplished. Evolution of the solarium ecosystem, guided by student projects, along with regular maintenance and management of the plants and infrastructure will require continued investment of funds and student and staff time. This learning experience will be a permanent fixture on the side of the new Aiken Center and will be a signature of the emerging pedagogy of engagement and experiential learning that characterizes the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources.

**Solarium Plant List**
November 17, 2011
 * Solarium Project ||  ||
 * Plant list ||  ||
 * 16-Nov-11 ||  ||
 * Item || Common Name ||
 * Podocarpus henkelii 14" || Buddhist Pine ||
 * Anthurium 6" || Flamingo flower ||
 * Anthurium 8" || Flamingo flower ||
 * Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyersii' 14" || Foxtail fern ||
 * Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyersii' 7" || Foxtail fern ||
 * Zamioculcus zamiifolia 8" || ZZ plant ||
 * Plants at the Forestry Greenhouse ||  ||
 * Botanical Name || Common Name ||
 * Musa sp. 26" || Banana ||
 * Musa acuminata var. sumatrana 26" || Banana ||
 * Phormium species 19" || New Zealand flax ||
 * Chlorophytum comosum 10" || Varigated spider plant ||
 * Setcreasea pallida 8" || Purple heart ||
 * Abutilon x hybridum 22" || Parlor maple ||
 * Bougainvillea spectabilis 22" ||  ||
 * Helichrysum petiolare || Licoroice plant ||
 * Acacia koa || Koa ||
 * Cestrum elegans16" ||  ||
 * To be Purchased ||  ||
 * Phyllostachys nigra || Black bamboo ||
 * Spathypyllum sp. 16" || Giant Peace lily ||
 * Aquatics ||  ||
 * Alocasia macrorhrhiza 12" || Giant Taro ||
 * Xanthosoma violaceum || Blue Taro ||
 * Colocasia esculenta || Green Taro ||
 * Thalia genticulata || Alligator flag ||
 * Cyperus alternifolius || Umbrella Plant ||
 * Azolla ||  ||
 * Salvinia ||  ||
 * Pistia stratiotes || water lettuce ||
 * Thalia genticulata || Alligator flag ||
 * Cyperus alternifolius || Umbrella Plant ||
 * Azolla ||  ||
 * Salvinia ||  ||
 * Pistia stratiotes || water lettuce ||