Architecture students plan to construct, donate pavilion to Park District

Two students volunteered their time and effort to construct a $2,000 pavilion with a solar-powered cascading fountain near the Carbondale Life Community Center on West Sunset Drive at the Carbondale Park Board meeting Monday.

Tom Poore and Dan Sullivan, both seniors studying architecture, designed and promised to build a two-sided pavilion that would seat roughly 25 children along the walls and fit four picnic tables. Poore and Sullivan have approached Lowe’s for discounted materials and said they plan to approach other area businesses and fundraise throughout the community to donate the structure to the Park District by Aug. 1.

“Most universities that have good architecture programs, and ours is kind of well renowned, had these design and build programs to help out communities that can’t really afford to do things on their own,” Poore said. “We would build it so there’s no labor cost whatsoever.”

Poore said the seating would be comfortable enough for adults, but was specifically designed for children.

Sullivan said the structure would be framed in conventional lumber, but the outside of the structure would be composed of translucent panels to show the architectural design.
“We wanted to give the kids an aspect of the structure,” Sullivan said.

The panels would also allow sunlight inside the structure without increasing heat from the sun, he said.

The cascading fountain down the one entirely solid wall of the structure would be separated from the children with marble or concrete to keep children safe while still providing a cool mist and an enjoyable structure, Poore said.

“Though the site is open, which allows for a lot of wind flow, having a cascading wall of water would create not a strong mist, but definitely a cool breeze,” Sullivan said.

The solar-powered feature would collect rainwater as well, making it more sustainable, Poore said. Back-up batteries would keep the water feature functional in the event of a downed solar panel, Poore said.

The structure originally would have blocked winter winds, but employees at the Carbondale Life Community Center said they needed to be able to see the children inside the pavilion from the center, Poore said. The pair adjusted their plans to accommodate the center’s needs, but said the structure would not be very accommodating in the winter months as a result.

The students’ instructor, assistant professor of architecture Michael Brazley, said the students wanted to gain experience building while helping the city grow.

“This is the first year that we’re doing it, so if we start small and this goes through, then next year maybe we can get a bigger class and do a bigger project,” Poore said.

The board accepted their proposal with gratitude all around although two members, Carmen Suarez and Scott Ollar, will not be in Carbondale for its completion.

“I think this is a marvelous project,” Suarez said. “That would be a wonderful donation as well as a chance to practice.”

President Harvey Welch seconded her praise.

“Not only am I impressed, I’m overwhelmed,” Welch said.

Suarez and Ollar said they plan to step down from the board June 9, following the June 8 board meeting to decide the board’s budget for fiscal year 2010.

Kathy Renfro said the board would appoint Suarez and Ollar’s replacements and would accept letters and applications until 4 p.m. May 8. The appointed individuals would serve a 24-month term, Renfro said.