The Learning Barge, a floating environmental education center designed and constructed by University students and faculty, will open to the public Sept. 14.\nThe project grew out of research that Architecture Prof. Phoebe Crisman began with the Elizabeth River Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making the Elizabeth River fishable and swimmable by 2020, said Danielle Willkens, student project manager and University alumna.\n"Basically the project itself is really achieved through student coursework," Crisman said, explaining that the work has been accomplished through a series of classes, design studios and technology seminars.\n"It's not an extracurricular project," she said. "It's been sort of integrated in with courses and it's been going on since spring of 2006 in the initial research phase."\nThe project has been an interdisciplinary effort, Willkens said, as the Architecture School collaborated with the Engineering School to develop systems for the barge and the Education School to develop the curriculum.\n"It's really been everyone, from engineers to teachers to other designers," Willkens said. In addition to the Elizabeth River Project, the University also collaborated with a local naval designer, the Coast Guard and smaller groups and contractors.\nUniversity students and faculty were responsible for the research, including preliminary outlines, design process, detailed development of the design and construction.\n"Literally we were down there yesterday pouring concrete," Crisman said.\nConstruction on the barge is still in progress but will be completed before Sept. 14, Willkens said. The barge was put into the water last week, meaning that fragile items like windows and solar panels can be installed, she said.\nThe barge will consist of entirely sustainable systems, Willkens said, and is intended to serve as a field trip destination for fifth- through eighth-graders. The nonprofit is trying to teach children about changes they can make at home to improve the river's health, Willkens said.\n"When they're on the barge, they're going to learn about everything from sustainable tech to water filtration," she said, "[and] have the opportunity to be on the river, which a lot of kids don't have the chance to do in that area."\nFor the project launch, the barge will be tugged in place to Portsmouth, outside the Elizabeth River Project office, and a large celebration will take place, Willkens said. Environmental Protection Agency officials are excited about the launch, she said, noting that they have come down and filmed the project a few times and that the Learning Barge has been a winner of the national sustainability contest, called P3.\nThough the Elizabeth River Project will own and operate the barge, the University will stay involved with the project after the launch by evaluating what happens during the first year, Willkens said. This will include monitoring the systems that have been incorporated into it, such as energy collection and testing water quality, Willkens said. A grant from the National Endowment for the Arts also will enable Willkens to stay on with the project for a year, monitoring design-related aspects of the barge, backing the children's art and architecture related projects and producing a small pamphlet collecting the art produced on the barge, she said.
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