BeauSoleil: Full Steam Ahead

Solar Decathlon Update: Every two years 20 university teams are chosen, based on proposals, to design an all-solar home and assemble it on the National Mall in Washington DC for public viewing and judging. Check back each Wednesday as the NAV Blog reports on the process of the design and construction of BeauSoleil, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's entry. For more info about the project, visit their website. And check out a short film about the project.

A report from the field:

Last week was great for the development of the BeauSoleil Home. AIA South Louisiana sponsored a skeet shooting tournament that was held this past Saturday. The event was a success and the proceeds went towards student travel for the trip to Washington D.C. in October. Thanks to all students from the BeauSoleil Team and the Business Department at ULL who volunteered as trappers and assistants. Thanks especially to AIA South Louisiana for sponsoring the event!

Back home at the BeauSoleil warehouse everything seems to be going according to schedule (we’re keeping our fingers crossed!). The roof only needs two more panels to be completed and the steel in the transitional porch is finished and placed in the shell. This was made possible by Southern Steel & Supply who donated the steel tubes and labor. Moving the welded frame from outside the warehouse into the shell was difficult, but thanks to the forklift provided by Southern Steel, we were able to get the job done.

Currently we are working alongside Southern Steel & Supply on the “expansion modules”. The fabricators are working very hard to finish the frames as soon as possible. On another front, we are working with Begneaud Manufacturing to finish the design of the transitional porch roof and the solar-fin, water heating system. Communication between the fabricators and the students has been very important and this project is a great opportunity for students to learn how to work with engineers, fabricators and other professionals of the construction industry in general. We are getting excellent exposure to what an architecture project entails in the real world and owe it all to our contributors and sponsors. The next phase of construction is coming-up soon and we’ll have more exciting updates for you! Stay tuned and we shall see what the future holds for the BeauSoleil Home!

Denisse Castro

TEAM BeauSoleil - Instrumentation