Swanson School of Engineering

One thing I think I will remember a year from now is learning about how the Salcheta winery and organic farm were intentionally designed to reduce energy use and their carbon footprint. I found it especially interesting that the buildings were designed to maximize the use of daylight and minimize the use of artificial lighting. The other thing that caught my eye was the vertical gardens on the buildings. I was impressed by the fact that they served multiple purposes at once, improving the appearance of the walls, growing vegetation and, most importantly, naturally insulating the buildings to reduce the need for artificial cooling. As someone planning to work in the construction industry, seeing how sustainability was integrated so thoughtfully into the design was inspiring. It showed me that environmentally conscious construction can be practical, efficient, and something I hope to incorporate into my future projects.