Tag: ecoREHAB

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Assessing Heat Leaks in the 8twelve Target District

Getting heat leaks information of a building is critical in revitalizing the 8twelve target area in Muncie. Traditionally this information is obtained inside the building by a trained thermographer using thermal cameras, which is time consuming and costly. In this project, students from Ball State University obtained thermal infrared (TIR) images from outside without disturbing homeowners during the winter season by using FLIR ONE units attached to students’ own smart phones. These TIR images were integrated with existing online GIS maps to provide both homeowners and the public the heat leaks information of buildings in the target neighborhood of 8twelve coalition.

Faculty Mentor: Jason Yang
Department: Geography
Community Partner: Muncie 8twelve Coalition, ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc.
Students: Austin Berry, Cody Blevins, Elizabeth Carpenter, Alex Darland, Drew Duncan, James Foster, Garrett Fuelling, Mitchell Grime, Olivia Jesse, Kyle Kedra, James Longwith, Kyle Marsh, Tim Martin, Clara Neurauter, Caitlin Stankovich

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Advancing ecoREHAB Through Story and Strategy

Having emerged from a 2009 immersive studio within Ball State’s architecture program, ecoREHAB has long supported real-world learning for students through projects to transform abandoned properties into inviting, affordable homes. As the Muncie nonprofit seeks to expand its reach and reputation, students within Ball State’s College of Communications, Information, and Media developed an integrated, measurable marketing and communications strategy; gathered and shared compelling stories about the organization’s impact through various approaches and platforms; developed a logo and marketing pieces; and enhanced the organization’s web and social media presence and visual identity.

Faculty Mentors: Kate Elliott, Paul Gestwicki
Departments: Journalism, Computer Science
Community Partner: ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc.
Students: Claire Bauserman, Liz DiGennaro, Sarah Foster, Casey Fox, Shannon Greeley, Taylor Groce, Keenan Hutchinson, Lily Jablonski, Grace Koppenhofer, Sydnee Kuebler, Rachel Marquell, Tyler Moore, Kelly Nash, Cameron Nichols, Abby Quigley, Erika Raine, Mackenzie Schroeder, Kaitlyn Sumner, Leslie Thomas

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Spring 2017 Ball State Immersive Learning Projects

Ball State faculty, students, and community partners are working together this spring on a number of immersive learning projects in and around Muncie.

Abandoned Housing Policy Analysis
Community Partner:  Muncie Redevelopment Commission
Faculty Mentor: Chip Taylor, Department of Political Science

Advancing ecoREHAB Through Story and Strategy
Community Partner:  ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc.
Faculty Mentors:  Kate Elliott, Department of Journalism; Paul Gestwicki; Department of Computer Science

Assessing Heat Leaks in the 8twelve Target District
Community Partner:  Muncie 8twelve Coalition
Faculty Mentor:  Jason Yang, Department of Geography

Engaging the Next Generation of Leaders:  Character and Leadership Development at the Boys & Girls Club of Muncie
Community Partner:  The Boys & Girls Club of Muncie
Faculty Mentor:  Peggy Fisher, Department of Communication Studies

Maring-Hunt Community Garden Pavilion
Community Partner:  Maring-Hunt Library, Thomas Park/Avondale Neighborhood Association
Faculty Mentor:  Pam Harwood, Department of Architecture

Minnetrista Neighborhood Action Plan
Community Partner:  Minnetrista Neighborhood Association
Faculty Mentor:  Lisa Dunaway, Department of Urban Planning

Rehabilitating Houses
Community Partner: Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity
Faculty Mentor: Janet Fick, Technology

Story Maps from and for “South-of-the-River” Neighborhoods in Muncie
Community Partners:  Forest Park Neighborhood Association; Thomas/Avondale Neighborhood Association
Faculty Mentor:  Jörn Seemann, Department of Geography

Sustainable Food Production: Integrating Collaboration within the Community
Community Partner:  Muncie Food Hub
Faculty Mentor:  Gerry Waite, Center for Peace and Conflict Studies

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ecoREHAB Studio: Thomas Park Avondale House Rehab

The Thomas Park/Avondale neighborhood has suffered since the closings of multiple important employers over recent years.  To help combat neighborhood decay ecoREHAB hopes to help stabilize the area by improving the housing stock. To initiate this endeavor, ecoREHAB identified an ideal property located 1 block from the Ross Community Center.  In 2014, the house was tagged by Muncie’s Unsafe Building Hearing Authority. Without costly remediation the house cannot be occupied and in its current state it could quickly fall into disrepair and become unsalvageable, leaving a hole in the urban fabric of the neighborhood that may never be mended. Working with Ball State University architecture students, ecoREHAB will rehabilitate this house turning it into a home that is affordable to operate and act as a catalyst for neighborhood improvement. LEARN MORE

Faculty Mentor:  Jonathan Spodek
Department:  Architecture
Community Partners:  Ball Brothers Foundation; ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc.
Students: Craig Adams, Allison Berry, Brian Bracht, Hunter Crews, Alex DeKemper, Jordan Duke, Ana Karen Garcia, Jacob Hurt, Molly Schultz, Taylor Sheppard

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Spring 2016 Ball State Immersive Learning Projects

Ball State students are busy around Muncie this semester!  Here’s a list of projects taking place in our community.

Building Better Health: Developing a Community Gold Standard
Community Partner: Little Red Door East Central Indiana
Faculty Mentor: Peggy Fisher, Department of Communication Studies
LEARN MORE

ecoREHAB Studio: Thomas Park Avondale House Rehab
Community Partner: Ball Brothers Foundation
Faculty Mentor: Jonathan Spodek, Department of Architecture
LEARN MORE | READ ARTICLE

Families for Forward Thinking: Partnering with Parents in the 21st Century
Community Partner: Wee Wisdom Nursery School and Child Care Facility
Faculty Mentor: Stacey Allred, Department of Elementary Education
LEARN MORE

Heath Farm Sustainability Park Planning
Community Partner: Red-tail Land Conservancy
Faculty Mentor: Dave Ferguson
LEARN MORE

Louis E. Ingelhart Scholars and Facing Cancer
Community Partner: Little Red Door
Faculty Mentor: Adam Kuban, Department of Journalism
LEARN MORE

Muncie’s Sports Tourism Potential: Strategies to Make the SportsPlex Serve the Community Better
Community Partners: City of Muncie, Muncie Visitors Bureau
Faculty Mentor: Craig Webster, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
LEARN MORE

Public Safety Committee Interviews and Focus Groups
Community Partner: Whitely Community Safety Committee
Faculty Mentor: Melinda Messineo, Department of Sociology
LEARN MORE

Serve to Learn Youth Development Project and Focus Groups
Community Partner: Whitely Community Council
Faculty Mentors: Dorshele Stewart, Department of History; Melinda Messineo, Department of Sociology
LEARN MORE

Thomas Park – Avondale Neighborhood Action Plan
Community Partner: Thomas Park – Avondale Neighborhood Association
Faculty Mentor: Lisa Dunaway, Department of Urban Planning
LEARN MORE

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ecoREHAB and Ball State Students Rehabilitate Former Meth House

Ball State architecture seniors have partnered with Building Better Neighborhoods and ecoREHAB of Muncie to rehabilitate a house in the Thomas Park/Avondale neighborhood. While ecoREHAB has completed a number of projects in Muncie, this one is unique – the house is a former methamphetamine lab. According to ecoREHAB, “The problems created by the production, sale and consumption of meth amphetamines spells disaster for a neighborhood.  Even when the drugs are gone, left behind are the contaminated buildings where the drug was produced.”

The experience has been unique for the architecture students as well, many of whom are working on a real-life project for the first time. Student Jordan Duke said, “What I’ve learned most from this studio is the possibility of the ripple effect. We’re trying to rehab one house in the Avondale community in hopes that it begins to start a chain of reaction within the community. This house’s success is critical so that it might kick start a movement that will reinvigorate the neighborhood.”

Read additional reflections from students on ecoREHAB’s blog.