Designing spaces
Finlandia students present ideas for KLTBy GARRETT NEESE, DMG Writer
Article Photos
HANCOCK - Finlandia University students showcased their vision for the future look of the Keweenaw Land Trust's Marsin Nature Retreat Center during a presentation Thursday.
Rick Loduha, an associate professor of art and design at Finlandia, oversaw students from a mix of disciplines in his Sustainable Systems class over the semester.
The center, near Oskar Bay, was part of land gifted to the KLT by the late Mary Sinish, including two homes.
"The past year, it's really blossomed," KLT executive director McDonald said of the center, citing community involvement such as B-H-K excursions.
Loduha and his students visited the site several times, getting ideas and taking detailed measurements.
Loduha plans to have classes in future semesters use the pioneering students' work as a jumping-off point.
"As good as these speculations are, I don't think they represent the broad range of could-be's," he said. "And a good designer looks at the broad range of could-be's before deciding."
Students offered up ideas on providing solar power; redesigning the look of the main building, garage and bunkhouse; setting up consistent signage and other ideas.
For the main building, students suggested adding energy efficiency through a wood stove and super-insulated walls. The plan also called for knocking out some load-bearing walls and replacing them with columns, which they said could open up the space of the former house.
One section of presentation included several designs for pontoons to take people from the center to Houghton/Hancock, as well as a floating dock and ideas for powering the boat.
"We've really just scratched the surface of design," said student Brandon Faust. "We've really just looked at the research of it."
McDonald was wowed by the presentations.
"I'm excited, I'm impressed," he said. "You went over the top with this. This is exactly what we need, and what we hoped for, for it to be a learning experience and a partnership."
McDonald found the suggestion of a red brick approach to the center particularly apt, since Oskar is near the kilns where brick was made locally.
Bruce Peterson, who heads the committee on the Marsin Center work, liked the suggested changes to the garage, which he said made it look more inviting, and provided a fitting entryway to the main building.
"It really is an integral part of the whole design," he said.
Garrett Neese can be reached at gneese@mininggazette.com
