SolAbode August Newsletter
Approaching the Finish Line on Construction
In the past month there have many dramatic changes to the Enmax SolAbode, our walls made of Emercor SIPs and the interior core walls framed with lumber from Palliser Lumber, are now being clad with finishing. We have drywall on the exterior walls and ceiling, with various reveals and light coves ready to be plastered and painted.
The core, which contains most of our interior stick framed walls, has also been transformed. The rundlestone cladding from Thunderstone Quarries is now being installed. This dark stone is one of the most dramatic finishes on the home. Every time the stone is looked at, you will see something different and captivating in each piece. While it may seem a bit crazy to build an entire stone clad module and ship it thousands of miles to Washington, D.C., this is one feature never before seen at the Solar Decathlon and we think it will be a big hit.
Our bathroom, centered in our core, mimics a cave carved from the core rundlestone block. The bathroom will not be a dark cave however, thanks to an innovative keyway designed by the team. This slice of glass has already shed light into an otherwise windowless space. Throughout the day sunlight travels through the house, warming the stone and providing addition lighting. The keyway rises at the home’s north and south doors, and carries across the roof.
Local glass company, Ferguson, has graciously supplied the materials and expertise to help make this innovative vision a reality. Yet another design feature to wow the 100,000 people that will tour our home in Washington, D.C. this October.
For more construction updates, keep an eye on our web-cam at www.solabode.ca/media/web-cam.
ENMAX SolAbode Send-Off Event
The Alberta Solar Decathlon Team will be hosting a send-off event for the media, sponsors, students and the general public on September 10th starting at 10am at the construction tent located on SAIT campus. This event will allow the team's stakeholders a final opportunity to tour the ENMAX SolAbode before the team get's ready to wrap the house for transportation. The team will also be featuring a sample taste of the meal that the team will be serving in Washington D.C from our SAIT culinary students.The house itself will be departing Calgary on September 22nd on its route to Washington D.C.
In the meantime, if you are wanting to view the ENMAX SolAbode prior to the event we would urge that you come out on the weekend's to assist the team in the final stage of construction. No experience is needed to assist the team in finishing off the home.
If you are interested in volunteering onsite please info@solabode.ca
The team is excited to announce that it will be hosting a major event at the Canadian Embassy on October 15th in Washington D.C in partnership with the Alberta Trade Office and the Canadian Embassy. The scope of the event will include a potential morning policy forum focused around renewable energy, a trade show to feature to team's in-kind sponsors and will close off with a VIP reception on the rooftop of the Canadian Embassy.
In addition to the team sponsors, the Alberta Solar Decathlon team is going to be extending an invitation to each of the team's participating in the competition, school official and alumni of the partnering institutions in the Washington area.
If you are interested in taking part in the event please email at info@solabode.ca
Final Stretch for Construction Manager Turc
Turc Harmesynn plays an important role as the team’s construction manager. He has been working on the project since its inception over two years ago. Turc is a recent honours graduate of the architectural technology program with a major in building technologies at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).
“I have learnt a lot from this project and have been able to appreciate the value of hard work and determination”, says Turc, “seeing the Enmax SolAbode being built and now in its final stages has been a lot of work, but it has been well worth it.”
In addition to the working on the project, Turc spends his spare time heavily involved with the sport of skeleton and is currently the President of the Alberta Skelton Association.
Recently, the team had a mix-up with the windows for the SolAbode which involved Turc. When the team called to find out the status of the windows, they were assured that the windows were about to be loaded and shipped to Turkmenistan. The team was confused at first and then realized that the supplier confused Construction Manager, Turc Harmesynn, with the location Turkmenistan. The team was relived when the mix-up was corrected and the windows arrived safely in Calgary this past week.