Phase One: Summer 2001
This initial phase will be devoted to project formation and organization. Project leaders from each collaborating organization will meet to work out project schedule and procedures. Design Alabama and AU School of Architecture will submit project funding proposals to government and private funding sources.

Phase Two: August to December 2001

David Hinson will lead a group of approximately 12 architecture and Building Science students in a seminar designed to develop the design parameters for the design phase of the project and to research project precedents, material and construction technology options, and construction cost data for the project. Design Alabama and Alabama HFH team members will join the class at key intervals to provide feedback and advice. The students will develop a project manual at the conclusion of the term that will contain the design “brief” for the project along with a summary of the research findings for use in the next phase of the project.

Phase Three: January to May 2002

In the Spring Semester, Prof. Hinson will lead a design studio of approximately 15 Architecture and Building Science students in a seven-week design effort, followed by a ten-week intensive construction phase. During the design phase, the students will work in teams (with input from HFH project leaders) to develop prototype designs for Habitat houses that address the goals of the project. After an initial design phase of approximately four weeks, a panel made up of project collaborators and invited guests will review these designs and select a project from among those presented for further development by the studio. The next three weeks will be devoted to design development and documentation, as well as initial construction scheduling and planning in collaboration with the HFH chapter designated for construction of the prototype. Working together with the HFH Chapter, the students will commit the remaining 10 weeks of the studio to construction of the prototype. In addition to direct involvement in the construction of the house, students will organize and coordinate groups of volunteers from within the College of Architecture Design & Construction and the University to assist in completing the home by the end of the semester.

Phase Four: Summer 2002

The final phase of the project will focus on project documentation and assessment. Working over the summer of 2002, the project collaborators, assisted by a smaller group of students, will develop “as built” documentation and construction guidelines for the prototype, as well as a comprehensive project report for dissemination to HFH chapters across the state and region.