Starting in the fall of 2007 a proposal was granted to fund a native prairie in the amount of $17,000. The native prairie would contribute positively helping drainage, maintenance, and providing a new aesthetic to the university's environment.
The biocube project was intended to advertise the coming of this prairie by implementing native forbes and grasses in custom designed planters. Such a project would not have been possible without the collaboration of multiple fields of study.
Contributing were, 64 students at UIUC (the grunt work and maintenance of biocubes), the School of Art and Design (graphic design, painting, industrial design), Ecology Department (advisory on plant selection, donation of dirt), UIUC Facilities and Services (biocube placement), Blue Illinois (funding), Red Bison (greenhouse plants), and local businesses/clubs (t-shirts, supplies, donations, and advertisement).
The biocube planters were designed to be secure yet movable if needed. Each planter was constructed from OSB, cinder blocks, screws, industrial staples, wood glue, spray paint, dirt, small rocks, and a combination of 3 forbes and grasses. In total 20 were constructed.
Existing on campus for over 6 months, the conclusion of the project intended to use a cradle to cradle philosophy. The plants were donated to participants, the cinder blocks were reused to create a fire pit, and the OSB were donated to local artists as square canvases.
After a year of hard work and organization, the biocube project was a success in spreading awareness of native plants, giving the community a chance to participate, and additionally leaving the smallest carbon footprint possible.
I hope this description shines some light on what my thesis was all about. Please feel free to look through the blog for all the amazing moments and if you have any questions please feel free to contact me here: raffaele.stuparitz@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Mr. Raffaele Stuparitz
