Tue, Oct 18th, 2011
A group of 10 second-year Hocking College Landscape Management students assisted with the landscaping of the Universal Design Living Laboratory (UDLL) house. Students and coordinating instructor Andrew Freeman installed pavers under the portico of the house, as well as retaining walls in the back landscape.
“The project at UDLL in Columbus is one of a series of projects we are working on to provide the students a taste of different landscape construction techniques and the opportunity to network with other industry professionals. Getting involved and showing the willingness to lead is the key,” Freeman said.
Rosemarie Rossetti Ph.D., internationally known speaker and advocate for people with disabilities with her husband, Mark Leder, are leading the way in home construction. Their current project, the Universal Design Living Laboratory, will showcase to builders and the public how universal design and green building are elements that can be included in all new homes and remodeling projects. Universal design is a framework for the design of living and working spaces and products benefiting the widest possible range of people in the widest range of situations without special or separate design.
Rossetti has been using a wheelchair for the past 12 years, after a 7,000 pound tress fell on her while she was riding her bike. “Thirteen years ago, my spinal cord injury left me paralyzed from the waist down. I came home from the hospital in a wheelchair and realized just how unaccommodating my two-story home was to me,” Rossetti said.
Construction began on the house in September 2009 in Jefferson Township in Columbus. The goal is to teach the public that they can live in a comfortable environment that will enhance the occupants’ quality of life regardless of their circumstance, age or abilities. Some of the features on the house include a step-free entrance with a gradual incline, no conspicuous ramps, wider hallways, grab bars in the bathrooms, various heights of kitchen counters and open knee space under all the sinks.
Currently, more than 170 corporations and organizations are contributing products and services to assist in building this home. The home will be open to tours upon completion, and ticket proceeds will benefit spinal cord injury research at The Ohio State University.
For more information about Hocking’s involvement, contact Andrew Freeman at 740.753.6290 . For more information about the UDLL, visit www.udll.com.
“The project at UDLL in Columbus is one of a series of projects we are working on to provide the students a taste of different landscape construction techniques and the opportunity to network with other industry professionals. Getting involved and showing the willingness to lead is the key,” Freeman said.
Rosemarie Rossetti Ph.D., internationally known speaker and advocate for people with disabilities with her husband, Mark Leder, are leading the way in home construction. Their current project, the Universal Design Living Laboratory, will showcase to builders and the public how universal design and green building are elements that can be included in all new homes and remodeling projects. Universal design is a framework for the design of living and working spaces and products benefiting the widest possible range of people in the widest range of situations without special or separate design.
Rossetti has been using a wheelchair for the past 12 years, after a 7,000 pound tress fell on her while she was riding her bike. “Thirteen years ago, my spinal cord injury left me paralyzed from the waist down. I came home from the hospital in a wheelchair and realized just how unaccommodating my two-story home was to me,” Rossetti said.
Construction began on the house in September 2009 in Jefferson Township in Columbus. The goal is to teach the public that they can live in a comfortable environment that will enhance the occupants’ quality of life regardless of their circumstance, age or abilities. Some of the features on the house include a step-free entrance with a gradual incline, no conspicuous ramps, wider hallways, grab bars in the bathrooms, various heights of kitchen counters and open knee space under all the sinks.
Currently, more than 170 corporations and organizations are contributing products and services to assist in building this home. The home will be open to tours upon completion, and ticket proceeds will benefit spinal cord injury research at The Ohio State University.
For more information about Hocking’s involvement, contact Andrew Freeman at 740.753.6290 . For more information about the UDLL, visit www.udll.com.
