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I'm working with Kieran McBride to create an outdoor classroom structure for Rocky Hill. The goal of this project is to create a structure which can be used as part of our school's outdoor education program. We hope it will be able to hold tools and supplies, a space to learn about native species, and grow native plants. We want to leave a lasting structure that can benefit students for decades. This is an ongoing project. We are finishing the design phase and are about to start construction.
What is Rocky Hill?
Rocky Hill is a sacred place on my school's campus. It's the central place to the elementary and middle school outdoor education program. It is home to many native and endangered species. Students will often come to the Hill to learn about Hawaii's ecosystem, and to learn the value of service. Additionally, every year, fourth graders camp for two days and one night atop the hill.
Design Requirements:
An open concept
Wind and rain resistant
Not require frequent maintenance
Materials treated to minimize rot and degradation
Design Constraints:
Limited size from plot of land
Difficult to transport materials
Top soil is soft and is prone to weathering and erosion
Myself, Kieran, and some of our other friends have worked almost every Friday to clear the land of invasive species like Hale Koa trees, California grass, and Night Blooming Cereus. Almost all of the needed land is cleared. We still need to grade the soil and clear the remaining shrubs and stumps.
Before
After
Design 1:
Our first design for the space is about 11' x 7.5' x 12' and made out of 2x4's. It had a lot of design flaws:
Questionable resistance to heavy rain and wind
2x4's might to be heavy and cumbersome to transport
Poor structural integrity
Not much wall space for educational posters
Pitched roof might be difficult to construct
One of the big questions we had was how we were going to secure the posts to the ground. Some of the solutions we thought of are:
Tying the structure down with concrete weights.
Concreting the pillars into a hole dug into the ground.
Burying the pillars deep into the ground.
Design 2:
Design Improvements:
Simple roof reduces construction complexity
Lower height
Using concrete to stabilize the posts
Using 2x2 posts, which are lighter and easier to transport
Walls serve as better protection from wind and rain and create space for educational posters.
Table added for storage, plants, etc.
Design Flaws and Future Improvements:
No floor, which could cause a muddy slippery surface when wet
Possible solution is to create a floor out of gravel
Optimize wall space by creating a peg board to store tools
Concrete could be difficult to transport to the build site.
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