Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Waitsfield, Vermont offers over 80 hands-on courses per year in design, construction, woodworking, and architectural craft and offers a variety of courses concentrating in sustainable design. Now in its 35th year, Yestermorrow is one of the only design/build schools in the country, teaching both design and construction skills. Our hands-on 1-day to 3-week workshops, certificate programs and semester programs are taught by top architects, builders, and craftspeople from across the country. For people of all ages and experience levels, from novice to professional.

Monday, May 02, 2011

Common Ground Center

Ever wonder where you can see more than half a dozen Yestermorrow class projects all in one place (other than our own campus)? Check out the Common Ground Center in Starksboro, VT. It's a family camp (Camp Common Ground) and a retreat and conference center. About ten years ago they purchased 700 acres and have been transforming it into an amazing space for people to gather. Yestermorrow has partnered with them on many projects over the years that have helped to build out their facilities.

I was there on Saturday for the Grand Opening of their new Eco Lodge, designed by architect Carol Stenberg (a YM instructor who teaches courses on SketchUp and AutoCAD). It's a beautiful building featuring year-round guest rooms and common areas, with a green roof, nice daylighting, natural clay plasters, wood harvested on site, and many other green features.

While I was there I had a chance to take photos of the Yestermorrow projects there, which include 4 cabins, a composting toilet, a shed for the tennis court, and a pedestrian bridge. Some of the other cabins on the site were designed and built by Yestermorrow instructors Paul Hanke, Keja MacEwan, and Lisa Williams, and the master plan for the site was designed by Bill Maclay, so there are many Yestermorrow connections to this cool place!

The "Sugar Shack" cabin

Two "twin" cabins built in 2003

The "Butterfly Cabin"

Composting Toilet

Tennis Court Shed - built by a Carpentry class, 2010 (with AllSun Tracker in the background)

The "Bridge to Nowhere" built by a 2004 Bridge D/B class led by Josh Jackson and Jeremy Culver
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