It's about starting new things. Historically, says Orr, man has been clever but not wise. We need to look at everything we make and ask if we really need it. And if we do, then begin the design with the philosophy that it will be built in accordance with the natural systems. These exercises give students hope that the world is full of possibilities.
People respond to hope and to opportunities and go on to do amazing things.
Many more will be involved in future generations in modifying and enhancing the technologies and design strategies they find here. All can and will take pride in the work of creating an ever-lighter human footprint on the earth. Both the building and the landscape at the center were designed to be an ecological model. The building is elongated along an east-west axis to optimize passive solar performance. A pond and wetland, in the foreground, retains processes and cleanses stormwater and run-off from adjacent areas.