Rwanda Institute of Conservation Agriculture

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["b"]],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"How does this project demonstrate the\nexternal benefits and long-term value of architects and design excellence?"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"MASS partnered with The Howard G. Buffett Foundation (HGBF) from\nconception to completion of the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture\n(RICA)\u2014a campus that combines research, education, and extension services to\ntrain Rwanda\u2019s next generation of leaders in agriculture, while supporting\nnational priorities for agricultural development. We worked with HGBF to create\na vision for the project, to produce a capital and operating budget for the\ncampus, to develop the new program\u2019s pedagogy and program for the campus, and\nto design and ultimately construct the project as architect and engineer of\nrecord and as general contractor for the Phase 2 build out."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The design team collaborated with the new university\u2019s teaching\nstaff to develop the curriculum and its needs for programming, conservation,\npreservation, water existing zoning, land use and FAR, urban massing studies,\nsustainable water systems and micro-climate mitigation studies, pedestrian and\nvehicular circulation, public transportation, and mixed-use and high-rise\ndevelopment analysis and testing."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Additionally, the project began with extensive contextual research\non historic development patterns, cultural uses of space and segregation of the\npublic realm, as well as geologic and landform research and analysis, creating\na central platform for design inspiration."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The team, working with local government, undertook over six\ncommunity engagements and umuganda (work day) participations to understand\ncurrent and historical community cultural values, needs and use of the site,\nand existing resources. This outreach identified a range of criteria including\ndevelopment patterns, circulation and transportation corridors, patterns of\nfuel, building materials, harvesting, grazing and water use. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"How does this project exemplify the\nneed for greater research and investment?"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"RICA\u2019s design research included critical case studies of six\ninternational agricultural program campuses, and over a dozen Rwandan\nagricultural university training or harvesting centers. A team of architects\nand landscapers interviewed various \u2018One Health\u2019 veterinarians, doctors,\nagricultural academics, and biologists to understand and identify the\nprinciples and methods which should define a \u2018One Health Agricultural Campus\u2019\nof which this is the first example."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"One Health Principles emphasize the interlinking of ecological,\nanimal, and human health. The campus and curriculum seek to reinforce these\nprinciples by taking an interdisciplinary, experiential approach to learning,\nwith a campus that promotes biodiversity, ecological conservation, and\ncommunity participation. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Our design process relied on extensive site investigation and\nmaterial research from our architectural, structural and civil engineering, and\nlandscape teams. To harvest the buildings from the project site we dug numerous\ntest pits to locate the ideal soil mixes for compressed earth blocks and rammed\nearth walls\u2014the primary materials of the project\u2019s walling. We sourced stone\nat a nearby quarry and developed a structural approach that addressed seismic\ndesign constraints to employ stone foundations resulting in significant upfront\ncarbon reductions. The project\u2019s wood spanning structures are sourced from\nplantations in Rwanda, Tanzania and South Africa\u2014locations where FSC\ncertifications are not available. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"To ensure wood was sustainably sourced we sent project\nrepresentatives to see the sources and ascertain what species and dimensions\nwere readily available - information that fed back into the design process of\nthe structures via the length and strength limitations ultimately dictating the\nspan and details of RICA\u2019s structures. To enable RICA to be 100% off-grid MASS\nworked closely with Arup ID to assess water quality and develop a circular\nwater management system that addresses the supply and waste treatment requirement\nof over 200 RICA staff and students as well as the chickens, pigs, goats and\ndairy cattle. Finally, to offset the dramatically reduced project\u2019s upfront\nemissions (40% of typical construction) MASS worked with Atelier 10 to identify\nthe ideal mix of endemic species to develop an on-site silvicultural\nsequestration plan that can offset RICA\u2019s emissions this decade\u2014resulting in\nthe first climate positive campus in the world."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"How does this project exemplify the\nimportance of building codes and standards?"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Structural foundations employ locally-quarried stone masonry to\ndrastically reduce concrete volumes. Engineers researched and tested on-site\nsoils to create a low-cement mix for site-made compressed stabilized earth\nblocks and rammed-earth walling."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Roof structures use regionally sourced softwoods to catalyze a\nfledgling, low-carbon industry. RICA\u2019s exterior patios utilize locally\nfabricated tiles, which the project engineers used to develop Rwanda\u2019s first\never EPD (environmental product declaration) for a local product."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"By considering all stages of the building process: material\nextraction, manufacturing, transportation, and installation, RICA\u2019s embodied\ncarbon will be 44% less than the global average for institutional works. RICA\nis predicted to be climate positive by 2044, removing more carbon from that\npoint forward than was produced from the campus\u0027 creation and ongoing\noperations."]]],[1,"p",[]]]}