Senior Year
Indoor Farming & Water Research Lab, 2023. For our 401 studio with Mary Hardin Kothke, I designed a three-story indoor farming and water research laboratory envisioned as a collaboration between the University of Arizona and the Tohono O’odham Nation. The project minimizes its presence on native land by embedding the majority of the structure underground, with only a 50x50’ two-story mass timber building visible above ground, nestled within a riparian desert grove.
The above-ground portion is clad in site-excavated rammed earth blocks, blending seamlessly into the landscape and evoking the character of an ancient ruin. By utilizing only 5% of the site, the design aligns with a land-back initiative, leaving the majority of the site available for future use by the Tohono O’odham. The underground construction maintains consistent temperatures year-round, with skylights providing filtered natural light and tree shadows casting dynamic patterns into the interior.
A central sunken courtyard houses a large cistern that captures monsoon rainwater to supply the project’s water needs, including the water quality laboratory and indoor farming operations. Clean overflow water and HVAC condensation are funneled into the Santa Cruz River, contributing to habitat restoration. Locally sourced materials, including hardpan stone and rammed earth, reduce the project’s carbon footprint, creating a design that honors sustainability, native heritage, and environmental stewardship.
Exhbition Poster:
Video Walkthrough: