Architects Without Borders Canada

By Lori Penner, Fall 2010

AWB has partnered with Tools for Schools Africa, the Catholic Diocese of Damongo, and UM’s Service Learning in the Global Community program to design and build a new boarding house for girls.

Initial floor plan sketches were developed by AWB’s ED Professor Kelley Beaverford, Lori Penner (BID PIDIM IDC NCIDQ), Larry Wiens (MAA MRAIC), and Professor Jean Trottier with input from a local contractor, the students, teachers and the Catholic Diocese which operates the school.  The new building consists of a study hall, dining room for 60 and a kitchen complete with a wood-fired “mogogo” or clay stove.  Based on this initial sketch and some basic assumptions regarding building style and technique, the Damongo contractor Cladious Bangfo prepared a list of materials and a cost estimate.

Students, with the guidance of a professional team of registered architects from India, completed the pre-design, programming, and conceptual design of a free eye care clinic in South India. The clinic will serve 20-30 lower income rural communities with high quality, cost-effective eye care