Faculty, administrators and students from across the university turned out for the unveiling last May of the student designs for Texas A&M’s proposed Experiment Station in the cloud forest of Casa Verde, Costa Rica.

The students’ designs can be accessed online at http://archone.tamu.edu/~gvv_s06/

Comments on the designs are welcomed. Feedback should be e-mailed to Guillermo Vasquez de Velasco at vasquez@archone.tamu.edu

Collaborating on this multidisciplinary studio were: ARCH 606, 12 students, led by Guillermo Vasquez de Velasco; COSC 440, 11 students led by James Smith; ARCH 660, 21 students, led by Mardelle Shepley; LAND 602, 7 students, led by Chris Ellis; and ARCH 421, 11 students, led by Charlie Culp.

A team led by Vasquez de Velasco and Ellis returned with students to the site for the proposed Texas A&M Center last July to finish surveying the area and hook up with faculty and students at the University of Costa Rica. The two universities discussed the signing of a memorandum of agreement in preparation for joint summer programs.

The survey team, led by Ellis, wrapped up their work despite torrential rains and a few close encounters with the local fauna. Above, students explore the nearby Monte Verde Natural Reserve.

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Students present their designs for the A&M Costa Rican station

Visitors to the design presentation

Guillermo Vasquez-de-Velasco and Chris Ellis in Costa Rica

The team of students at the site of the proposed A&M Center in Costa Rica

Design work by Puduma Karunakaran

Design by Brad Kocurek

3D visualization of the bedroom interiors by Heman Molina, Russ Chandler, and Lucas Garcia

Jennifer Wong's architectural design

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