The Red and Black

Issue date: 9/29/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy Michael F. Littleton University students talk with Jared York, owner of J. W. York Homes, for a project in which they will be helping create sustainable designs for an Athens neighborhood, Cottages at Hilltop. [Click to enlarge]

The "Going Green" movement has officially hit the Athens housing market - and University students are helping it go mainstream.

Jared York, president of J. W. York Homes, has been building custom homes in Athens for about three years. His newest project, Cottages at Hilltop, is a 30-lot community within walking distance from downtown.

"The main goal of this project is to develop a small community and have it be environmentally responsible," York said in a telephone interview Monday.

He said Cottages at Hilltop would have more than three acres of greenspace, which he hopes to turn into a community garden.

Cottages at Hilltop will have input from University students in the textiles, merchandising and interiors department. York said he is excited to work with the students.

"I'm so surprised that UGA even had the curriculum," he said.

Anna Averett, a senior from Columbus, is one of the students taking the class as part of her graduation requirement.

Sustainable design is more than just being "green," she said.

"It's universal design," she said. "It's building environmentally friendly [buildings] with flexible space planning that can accommodate different lifestyles and age groups."

Megan Lee, assistant professor in the textiles, merchandising and interiors department, teaches the TXMI senior studio class working on the project.

"It's the first project with a community partner and their first exposure to sustainable design," she said.

Her students, split up into teams, are in charge of designing a possible "spec house" to submit to York for use in the Cottages at Hilltop neighborhood.

Lee said the project consisted of three phases - first, the students begin their design process with schematic drawings; then they create all design developments, including lighting and interior design elements; and finally they finish all paperwork and make sure their plan is within budget.

Continued...

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