THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHREYER HONORS COLLEGE

THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY, AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A LIBRARY FOR DISABLED

CHILDREN OF JAMAICA

STEVEN F. MARSHALL

Fall 2008

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree in Mechanical Engineering

with honors in Engineering Design

Reviewed and approved* by the following:

Andrew S. Lau Associate Professor of Engineering Thesis Supervisor

Thomas H. Colledge Assistant Professor of Engineering Design Thesis Supervisor

Richard F. Devon Professor of Engineering Design Honors Adviser

* Signatures are on file in the Schreyer Honors College.

We approve the thesis of Steven F. Marshall: Date of Signature

_______________________________ _____________ Andrew S. Lau Associate Professor of Engineering Thesis Supervisor

_______________________________ _____________ Thomas H. Colledge Assistant Professor of Engineering Design Thesis Supervisor

_______________________________ _____________ Richard F. Devon Professor of Engineering Design Honors Adviser

9-9668-1921

Abstract

Jacob’s Ladder is a caring facility operated by Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) in

central Jamaica. The site is facing the large challenge of caring for 500 future residents on a

limited budget and therefore are pursuing means to introduce sustainable technologies and

methodologies on site which will help sustain the community. In partnership with Penn State

University, MSC hopes to create a site which will be used to educate both the local and

international community about how to apply sustainability to the developing world. In addition

to providing for the physical needs of the site, site planners are developing appropriate sensory

stimulation systems capable of meeting the needs of the many future residents.

After performing community assessments for numerous participants involved with the

Jacob’s Ladder project, a library for use by both the residents and visitors to the site was

designed. The library serves as a building which will provide large-scale sensory stimulation to

the residents by relying upon books and reading. In addition, the building will be used as the

focal point for guests of the site desiring to learn more about sustainability at Jacob’s Ladder. Not

only will the library house educational material about the projects being worked on at the site,

but it will also incorporate sustainable design features including being built from a recycled

shipping container, the addition of a green roof and solar array on top of the library, and relying

upon passive solar designs for both lighting and cooling.

The first portion of the library was built during a trip in November 2008. Plans are in

place to finish construction of the building at which point it will be capable of being used by the

current residents on site. As Penn State begins to implement more sustainable research projects

on site, the supporting and educational material will be centrally located in the library where

visitors will be able to observe and learn more about the future plans for Jacob’s Ladder.

Key words

Mustard Seed Communities, Jacob’s Ladder, Jamaica, sustainability, sensory stimulation, library,

shipping container construction, intermodal steel building unit, green roof, passive solar design

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 11.1 Background Material 1

1.1.1 Mustard Seed Communities Background 1

1.1.2 Jacob’s Ladder Background 2

1.2 Customer Needs Assessment 3

1.3 Project Definition 61.3.1 Problem Statement 6

1.3.2 Summarized Goals of the Project 7

1.3.3 Project Evolution 7

1.3.4 Project Planning 8

1.4 Importance of Sensory Stimulation 81.4.1 Overview 8

1.4.2 Sensory Stimulation at Jacob’s Ladder 9

1.5 Importance of Sustainability 101.5.1 Overview 10

1.5.2 Sustainability at Jacob’s Ladder 11

1.6 Penn State’s Involvement - Demonstration Village 131.6.1 Overview 13

1.6.2 Purpose 13

1.6.3 Location 14

1.6.4 Research Components 14

1.7 Shipping Container Library 161.7.1 Reason for a Library 16

1.7.2 Shipping Container Construction 16

1.7.3 Role of the Library 17

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2. Concept Development 182.1 External Search 18

2.2 Problem Decomposition 20

2.3 Concept Categories 202.3.1 Size 20

2.3.2 Location 21

2.3.3 Foundation 23

2.3.4 Lighting 25

2.3.5 Thermal Comfort 27

2.4 Concept Selection and Combination 33

3. Final Design Selection 343.1 Design Overview 34

3.2 Design Categories 353.2.1 Size 35

3.2.2 Location 36

3.2.3 Foundation 37

3.2.4 Lighting 38

3.2.5 Thermal Comfort 39

3.3 Roof Structure 46

3.4 Interior Layout 50

3.5 Surrounding Garden 53

3.6 Construction and Implementation of System 54

3.7 Book Drive 54

3.8 Bill of Materials 54

3.9 Suggested Improvements 55

4. Conclusion 56

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Acknowledgements 58References 59Image Credits 63Appendices 66

Appendix A: Dimensioned Drawings 66

Appendix B: Customer Analysis 67B.1: Community Assessment - January 2008 67

B.2 Community Assessment - March 2008 69

B.3 Customer Needs Evaluation - Matt Moran 70

Appendix C: Demonstration Village Future Research Components 71

Appendix D: Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Matrix 75

Appendix E: Concept Selection Matrix 78

Appendix F: Wind Rose Chart 81

Appendix G: Roof Frame Design 82G.1 Roof Strength Engineering Calculations 82

G.2 Bending Stress for Visually Graded Dimensioned Lumber 91

G.3 Section Properties of Standard Dressed (S4S) Sawn Lumber 92

G.4 Square HSS Dimensions and Properties 93

Appendix H: Green Roof Design 94H.1 Percolation Test 94

H.2 Green Roof Calculations 96

Appendix I: Week Itinerary and Build Tasks 98

Appendix J: Informational Flyer for Book Drive Organizers 102

Appendix K: Dew Collection Research Testing 103

Appendix L: Detailed Project Inventory and Budget 106

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1. Introduction1.1 Background Material1.1.1 Mustard Seed Communities Background

Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) is a non-profit community development organization

founded in 1978 in Kingston, Jamaica by the Roman Catholic clergyman, Father Gregory

Ramkissoon. With a desire to serve the spiritually, psychologically, and financially poor living

throughout Jamaica, MSC began creating places in which to care for, strengthen, and empower

others. MSC locations quickly began filling up with disabled and abandoned children, homeless,

pregnant teenagers, and individuals afflicted with HIV/AIDS. Currently, MSC operates eighteen

“caring apostolates” located across Jamaica and within other countries such as the Dominican

Republic, Nicaragua, and Zimbabwe.1

Recently, however, the Jamaican government has enforced a law that states that

organizations which operate children’s homes are not permitted to care for individuals above the

age of eighteen because they are no longer considered children. Therefore, MSC had to begin

looking for alternative solutions to caring for their young adults. As there are currently no

facilities set up in Jamaica to care for

these people, MSC began envisioning

the creation of a new site which would

be capable of housing many people from

not only MSC, but other organizations

who are no longer able to care for these

residents above the age of eighteen.

This dream has resulted in the creation

of Jacob’s Ladder. Figure 1: Residents at a MSC Caring Facility a

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1.1.2 Jacob’s Ladder Background

In 2004, the Jamaican Bauxite Institute, a division of the Jamaican government, leased out

102 acres of mined-out bauxite land to MSC in a town called Moneague. Located in central

Jamaica amidst the Blue Mountains, the site consists of large mined-out pits resulting in extreme

topography flourishing with natural vegetation.1 With a plot of land to build their new caring

facility on, MSC began approaching outside institutions, organizations, and universities for help

in planning the overall site development. In 2007, MSC approached the Engineering Department

at Penn State University for aid in furthering the development of the site. With help from Penn

State, a vision to create a model community which demonstrated sustainability emerged. With

the desire to make Jacob’s Ladder economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable, Penn State

professors began recruiting students to help with the overall design.

Since 2007, Penn State engineering professors and students have been working on

various projects throughout the site, including waste water treatment, rainwater catchments and

alternative energy. The ultimate goal for the site is to house 500 physically and mentally disabled

residents along with the necessary staff to care for these residents. In addition, an agricultural

Figure 2: Map of Jamaica and location of Jacob’s Ladder

Jacob’s Ladder

Kingston

Ocho Rios

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development plan will be created alongside the residential village to provide food for the site as

well as generate additional income.

However, there are a few challenges to overcome with the design of the site. As a result

of previous mining efforts, the site is defined by severe slopes and contours. This radical

topography makes it difficult to build homes and infrastructure capable of caring for disabled

individuals. In addition, the site is much more remote than other locations which MSC has

operated. Situated in central Jamaica, Jacob’s Ladder cannot rely on some of the resources readily

available to other MSC sites, because of limited availability of supplies and shipping challenges.

Resources which encourage mental and physical development are limited, and therefore more

emphasis is placed on the caretaker’s ability to entertain the residents.

1.2 Customer Needs Assessment

To identify the current problems at Jacob’s Ladder and to determine the most appropriate

solutions, detailed community assessments and customer needs analyses were performed. Trips

to Jamaica in January 2008 and March 2008 were made to meet with various businesses,

government officials, and MSC participants involved with Jacob’s Ladder. During these trips,

interviews with the following people were conducted to determine current problems facing

Jacob’s Ladder.

Figure 3: Aerial View of Jacob’s Ladder b Figure 4: Cottages at Jacob’s Ladder

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Brother Anthony

Brother Anthony has been the resident director of Jacob’s Ladder since the start of the

site. He is responsible for many of the daily operating decisions and has first-hand experience

with the current struggles that Jacob’s Ladder faces. Based from interviews with Brother

Anthony on both trips, it became evident that MSC’s primary initial concern was to ensure that

the site was capable of providing for the physical needs of the incoming residents. Because

Jacob’s Ladder is just starting up, little attention has been given towards providing sensory

stimulation resources for the residents.2,3

Darcy Williams

Darcy Williams is the director of the MSC site, Jerusalem!, and chairperson of the MSC

Executive Committee. During the January 2008 trip, the Penn State team met with Mrs. Williams

to discuss how a well-established caring facility, such as Jerusalem!, operates. Site planners for

Jacob’s Ladder plan on modeling the community off of the structure established at Jerusalem!,

which has many older residents who will eventually be moved to Jacob’s Ladder. Mrs. Williams

informed the team that an important component of Jerusalem! was providing opportunities for

the residents to socialize with one another. In addition to a large outdoor pavilion where the

residents are gathered for most of the day, a school was built on site for use by the residents and

neighborhood children. With the intention of Jacob’s Ladder housing 500 residents, special

attention will need to be given for creating opportunities for the residents to socialize with one

another, which will foster development.4

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Jack Samwel

Jack Samwel is the lead architect and site planner for MSC. During an interview with Mr.

Samwel on the January 2008 trip, the Penn State team learned more about the future plans for

Jacob’s Ladder and challenges the site faces. With Penn State’s goal of making a model

sustainable community, Mr. Samwel explained the current and future needs of the site. Many of

these issues, including providing water and food for the site, are areas which sustainable

technologies and methodologies can be directly applied. In addition, Mr. Samwel said that many

of the challenges which Jacob’s Ladder faces are ones which many Jamaican families face.5

Along with the information obtained from these trips, phone interviews with MSC

representative Matt Moran were compiled over a period of one year.

Matt Moran

Mr. Moran is the liaison between MSC and Penn State University, and works at gathering

individuals and groups with an interest in sustainability to develop the site. All project ideas are

assessed and evaluated by him. Mr. Moran stressed the need for a way in which to publicly

showcase the sustainability projects occurring at Jacob’s Ladder. By demonstrating research

efforts taking place on site, MSC would be able to attract other organizations and individuals

with a similar interest.6

From these meetings and interviews, the problem statement, design concepts, and overall

solutions were developed for the project. Refer to Appendix B for further information on all

interviews.

MSC

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1.3 Project Definition1.3.1 Problem Statement

This project will investigate means in which to provide sensory stimulation to disabled

residents of Jacob’s Ladder, while simultaneously demonstrating and promoting sustainability.

Jacob’s Ladder is a remote site with the intention of becoming a facility which will house

and care for 500 disabled individuals. Due to the pressing demands placed by the Jamaican

government, MSC must focus on constructing homes and infrastructure as quickly as possible to

accommodate the future residents. This results in little attention being placed on the residents,

and more on the physical construction of the site.

A problem that caretakers are currently facing is the disproportionate ratio of caretakers

to residents. Because Jacob’s Ladder is a remote site, it is difficult for MSC to find enough

caretakers to staff the site. Additionally, as more homes are built, there will be a steady increase

in the number of residents who need care. There is currently minimal focus on providing

stimulation for the children that will help them develop both mentally and physically. Presently,

caretakers group the children together during the day and sing to them, with few other resources

to use with the residents. As the size of Jacob’s Ladder increases, this problem will grow unless

efforts are made to provide resources for the children.3

The second purpose of this project is to demonstrate sustainability and Penn State’s

commitment to designing innovative and appropriate solutions for the developing world. This

project will attempt to highlight sustainable solutions to problems facing not only MSC and

Jacob’s Ladder, but surrounding communities in Jamaica. It will also attempt to create a system

aimed at showcasing multiple design features incorporated at Jacob’s Ladder to the future guests

who will visit the site.

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1.3.2 Summarized Goals of the Project

1) Provide sensory stimulation to the residents of Jacob’s Ladder with minimal reliance on

external sources.

2) Demonstrate and promote sustainability through education.

1.3.3 Project Evolution During the course of a year, the project definition was continually modified before

arriving at the current problem statement. The following chart lists the history of the project

definition and includes reasons for why the project changed.

Modification: A second need for the site was to provide a demonstration home which would show sustainable building designs and Penn State’s involvement at Jacob’s Ladder.

Modification: Began to realize the importance of providing a source of stimulation for children on site after talking further with MSC representatives.

January 15, 2008: Creating a dew collection system which will provide water for use on site

March 30, 2008: Utilization of dew to enhance sensory stimulation for residents on site. Modification: Although dew collection was

feasible (refer to Appendix K), the cost would be too high at Jacob’s Ladder. In addition, soon after the March 2008 trip, water was provided to the site by the Jamaican government eliminating the immediate need for catching water.

June 15, 2008: Design of a sensory stimulation system for residents on site.

Modification: The system had to address the needs of all the children and their disabilities and have the ability to grow with the children and continually interest them.August 1, 2008: Design of a library and

sensory garden for residents on site.

August 4, 2008: Design of a library and sensory garden to demonstrate sustainability and foster therapeutic stimulation.

Modification: The scope of the project needed to be narrowed down to focus just on the library, therefore the sensory garden would supplement the final design.August 12, 2008: Design of a library to

serve as the hub of a future sensory garden. The library will be be used to demonstrate sustainability. Figure 5: Project evolution diagram

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1.3.4 Project Planning

The project was structured in the following manner:

1.4 Importance of Sensory Stimulation1.4.1 Overview

Anyone watching children at a playground can recognize the importance of engaging

senses at a young age. For disabled children, this need is even greater, because sensory

stimulation helps encourage mental, physical, and emotional development - skills vital to helping

these individuals cope with and overcome their disabilities.7

In many modern-day care facilities, workers have begun to rely on specially designed

and controlled multi-sensory rooms. Introduced in the 1970s, these rooms (often referred to as

snoezelen rooms) include a wide range of objects, sounds, and smells to encourage sensory

stimulation. The system is designed so that it can either have a single-sensory or multi-sensory

focus, depending on the user at the time. For many, these systems calm and relieve stress, as well

as reduce aggression.8

For individuals suffering from mental disabilities, sensory integration is important

because it allows caretakers to lessen or amplify the amount of sensory stimulation that each

child receives. Dr. Tammi Reynolds notes that individuals suffering from mental disabilities

“often have difficulty coordinating sensory input.”9 Therefore, controlled environments and

interactions help patients develop skills needed to coordinate and process multiple senses.

Mentally handicapped individuals may suffer from either hyperactive or hypoactive

sensory systems. Hyperactive individuals over-process some sensory inputs and are unable to

Figure 6: Project Structure

Community Assessment

Problem Definition

Concept Development

Final Design

Construction Review

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block out certain others. Therefore they

may have difficulty with activities

involving motion, such as climbing,

walking, and spinning. In contrast,

hypoactive individuals are unable to

“amplify signals that should be heeded”

and therefore are unaffected by dizziness

or impairment after activities such as

spinning and swinging.9

For those individuals suffering from physical disabilities, sensory integration can focus

on the senses impaired or on the senses that the individual primarily relies on. Common tasks

which focus on fine motor movements, such as buttoning a shirt or gardening, are often used to

stress common physical functions.10

1.4.2 Sensory Stimulation at Jacob’s Ladder

Jacob’s Ladder provides a unique situation because the children arriving at the site are

mostly coming from well established sites which typically have some form of sensory

stimulation. Other MSC caring facilities have schools, sensory gardens, and rehabilitation centers

which are used with the residents. In addition, many of these facilities are located in relatively

developed regions, which lend themselves to more activity then Jacob’s Ladder’s remote

location.6

As evident by their existing caring facilities, MSC believes in creating non-

institutionalized environments in which to care for their residents.6 During most of the 20th

century, facilities were designed as multistory buildings capable of caring for large numbers of

patients due to technological advances in medical science and building construction. This new

Figure 7: A child interacts with different sensory stimulation techniques used in a snoezelen room c

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trend moved further away from natural therapy techniques such as therapeutic gardens and

horticulture therapy programs. In the last decade, however, it has been recognized that nature is

an important component to holistic therapy and facilities are attempting to reintroduce natural

sensory stimulation back into their programs.11 This new trend is one which MSC has always

deemed important in the design of their caring facilities.

MSC places an emphasis on creating intimate communities for the residents and

atmospheres which promote individual discovery. Jacob’s Ladder is located in the rolling hills of

the Blue Mountains and is surrounded by natural scenery. The resident’s homes are small 4-

person cottages, and residents are encouraged to spend their days outside with other individuals.

This structure will encourage residents to interact with others who may struggle with different

disabilities than their own. In doing so, the systems which the residents interact with must

properly meet the specialized needs of each resident’s disability. Therefore, large-scale sensory

stimulation at Jacob’s Ladder must be capable of addressing multiple types and levels of

handicaps. In addition, the system must be designed such that it can grow with the residents at

the rate in which they are developing.6

1.5 Importance of Sustainability1.5.1 Overview

Jacob’s Ladder also presents a unique look at the term sustainability. The first hurdle one

notices is that the majority of people who will call Jacob’s Ladder home are disabled. Ranging

from those bound to wheelchairs and beds, to those who suffer brain damage and mental

disorders, Jacob’s Ladder includes a significant proportion of community members who are

physically and mentally unable to care for themselves, let alone sustain an entire community.

With this in mind, site planners must re-approach how they view Jacob’s Ladder’s sustainability.

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The term sustainable development is most often defined as development that meets the

needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own

needs.12 How does this concept apply to Jacob’s Ladder?

At Jacob’s Ladder, the current needs are providing housing and care for handicapped

individuals above the age of eighteen. This requires food, energy, water, infrastructure, and

caretakers. The future needs of Jacob’s Ladder will be similar to the current needs, only on a

much larger scale. As a nonprofit organization, MSC relies primarily on donations to fund many

of its caring facilities.3 Site developers therefore cannot rely completely on the generosity of MSC

to provide all the needs for the future generations of Jacob’s Ladder; an alternative approach

must be developed.

In what ways can the monetary needs that MSC must provide for the basic operations of

Jacob’s Ladder be decreased? In essence, how can Jacob’s Ladder be made more self-sustaining?

It is with these questions in mind that Penn State desires to promote and demonstrate

sustainability.

1.5.2 Sustainability at Jacob’s Ladder

Sustainability encompasses all aspects of life and is typically evaluated through

economical, environmental, and social lenses.13 It is within these divisions which the

sustainability of Jacob’s Ladder will be evaluated.

Economic Sustainability

When evaluating the five necessary components to the site (food, energy, water,

infrastructure, and caretakers), site developers must focus on those components which can be

designed in alternative ways. Of the five components, the caretaker’s salary will be the one

category which will stay a constant cost. The other four, however, can be designed alternatively

to alleviate costs. Alternative energy technologies, such as solar, wind, and biofuels, are being

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investigated to provide energy to the site. Large-scale agricultural plots and water catchments

are being incorporated to provide food and water needs for the residents and staff. A portion of

the crops planted can also be sold for additional income, which can help cover the salaries of the

caretakers. Lastly, alternative building methods will be introduced to the site to reduce typical

building costs.14

Ecological Sustainability

Jacob’s Ladder is situated on an abandoned

bauxite mine, which means special attention must be

made to ensure that the soils are capable of large-

scale agricultural production. Environmentally

conscious technologies and techniques are being

investigated for future development, which will help

to provide natural fertilizers to reclaim the soil. One-

fifth of Jamaica is situated on top of reclaimed

bauxite mines, which makes the importance of

developing ways in which to sustain communities on such land relevant to the rest of the country.

In addition, a fraction of the energy needs will eventually be generated by renewable sources to

help reduce the dependance on fossil fuels.14

Social Sustainability

Because the community will consist of residents with a wide range of handicaps,

the overall design of the site must sufficiently meet the needs of multiple kinds and levels of

disabilities. The necessary resources on site must be capable of sustaining the caring process into

the future. In addition, consideration must be made for the surrounding communities and

neighborhoods of Jacob’s Ladder to ensure that development of the site also betters the lives of

Figure 8: Bauxite is primarily strip mined and used to produce aluminum d

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those individuals. The projects and plans put forth at Jacob’s Ladder must not only empower the

residents and caretakers of the site, but also empower the surrounding communities.14

1.6 Penn State’s Involvement - Demonstration Village1.6.1 Overview

To introduce sustainability to

the site, Penn State planners began

developing an area which could

showcase select technologies and

methodologies. After performing

detailed community assessments and

information gathering for Jacob’s

Ladder, it became apparent that the first

challenge that Penn State must address would be the size of the project. Rather than focus all of

the efforts on providing for the entire site, Penn State planners decided to focus their efforts on a

smaller 15 acre portion of the site which would be referred to as the “Demonstration Village” at

Jacob’s Ladder.15

1.6.2 Purpose

The Demonstration Village will be used to:

1) attract future local and international investors by showcasing small-scale pilot projects

aimed at promoting sustainability;

2) serve as an educational and training facility for local farmers and community

members, and;

3) test and develop practical and feasible solutions focusing on the agricultural, energy,

and water needs for future development.15

Figure 9: Overlooking the Demonstration Village

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1.6.3 Location

Located on the eastern portion of the site, the Demonstration Village will be separated

from the residential sections of the site. This will allow MSC to focus on the construction of the

cottages for the residents while Penn State plans the development of the research projects. At the

same time, this lets MSC focus on what they have experience with and are primarily concerned

about - caring for the residents.15 Figure 10 shows the placement of the Demonstration Village

within Jacob’s Ladder and how it compliments the future site layout.

1.6.4 Research Components

The Demonstration Village will consist of numerous small-scale projects used to

demonstrate sustainability in appropriate and practical applications. Both local and international

visitors to the site will be able to walk through the 15 acres and observe technologies such as

Figure 10: Jacob’s Ladder plan for future development

Proposed Homes and StructuresExisting Homes and Structures

Future Agricultural DevelopmentCompassion Tourism Retreat CenterDemonstration Village

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water catchments, biofuels production, sustainable agriculture, and in-vessel composting. These

projects will allow students from multiple universities to work together on developing scalable

technologies for the site. Figure 11 shows the proposed layout of the Demonstration Village and

the various research projects which will be found on the site.16

Figure 11: Overall plan for Demonstration Village

Water Catchment

High Tunnels / Greenhouses

Living Wastewater Filter

Alternative HousingPermaculture (Intercropping, hillside farming)

Mobile Chicken Coops

Indigenous Wildlife Corridor

Rotational Grazing Pens

Composting Facilities

Biodiesel Processing PlantVegetable Oil Holding Containers

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1.7 Shipping Container Library1.7.1 Reason for a Library

After researching various forms of sensory stimulation, it was found that it is most

effective when specifically designed to meet the needs of an individual. Therefore, methods

which would be applied to a child with Down’s syndrome would be different then methods used

for a child with autism. For this reason, a library was deemed the most appropriate first step at

large-scale sensory stimulation because it is capable of addressing the needs of all types of

disabilities. Children and young adults with mental or physical disabilities can both interact with

books by reading them individually or listening to group readings from the caretakers.

A library would also allow for future construction around it in the form of a sensory

garden which could be built by mission groups visiting Jacob’s Ladder and in need of a work

project. A library also reduces the dependance on external resources. Once the library is initially

stocked with books, those books will then be able to sustain the residents for years to come.

Constructing a library on site is a feasible task which could quickly be built and show Penn

State’s commitment to the project.

1.7.2 Shipping Container Construction

After deciding that a library would be the best solution for addressing sensory

stimulation at Jacob’s Ladder, specific designs for the construction of the building were

addressed. A key to green building design is the ability to use recycled materials. A recent trend

has been to use recycled shipping containers for structural support in buildings. In many places,

it is too expensive to ship empty shipping containers back to their supplier. In 2005, it was

estimated that over 700,000 shipping containers were left sitting in U.S. ports alone. As a result,

containers became readily available and relatively inexpensive compared to standard

construction materials, and individuals began using them for buildings.17

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Over the past three years, stockpiles of shipping

containers have declined 25% in most ports. However,

architects had already begun to recognize the benefits of

shipping container construction, primarily for their strength,

durability and modularity.17 Officially referred to as

Intermodal Steel Building Units (ISBU) when used for building

construction, shipping containers are designed to stack up to

10 containers high and can carry an interior load of up to

50,000 lbs. Intended for traveling across seas, shipping

containers are capable of withstanding extreme climatic

conditions, which makes them a suitable solution for Jamaica because they will be able to

withstand hurricane force winds and rain.18

1.7.3 Role of the Library

The shipping container library will serve as the link between the sustainability research

projects at the Demonstration Village and the residential portion of Jacob’s Ladder operated by

MSC. The library will do this by serving as:

1) a building which Jacob’s Ladder residents can go to during the day to read, be read to,

and interact with hands-on learning activities, and;

2) the access point for which visitors to the site will go to learn about sustainable

technologies and procedures.

Guests will be able to visit the library and learn about the various research projects Penn

State is pursuing. Inside there will be educational display boards and material about each

research component found in the Demonstration Village. In addition, the library will include

examples of sustainable technologies which visitors will be able to interact with firsthand.

Figure 12: Shipping containers are stacked together as building blocks to create a multistory apartment complex in London e

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2. Concept Development 2.1 External Search

After determining the customer needs, an extensive external search was performed to

identify current designs similar to that which could be implemented at Jacob’s Ladder. Once

decided upon shipping container construction as the most viable option for the library in meeting

both project goals, existing shipping container designs were researched. Listed below are a few

of those designs critical to the final design selection.

Shipping Container Green Roof

The shipping container in Figure 13, designed and built by

Urban Space Management out of London, is retrofitted with a green

roof which serves as insulation for the building while

simultaneously cleaning the air around it. Green roofs help

decrease sound levels within the building (from outside sources

and rain) and increase the life of the roof itself.19

Shipping Container with Vines

In Figure 14, multiple shipping containers

are connected to create a residential home. On top

of the shipping containers, vines grow over the

edge which serve as insulation for the walls and

enhance the visual appearance of the structure.

Vines growing on the walls serve a similar purpose

as a green roof but often do so less expensively.20

Figure 13: A shipping container modified with a green roof f

Figure 14: A concept design using vines as additional insulation for the structure g

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Hurricane Proof Shipping Container

The structure illustrated in Figure 15 was built

as a research station for scientists in central Australia.

The building is located in the middle of a rain forest

and withstood a category 5 cyclone in 2006. Although

the surrounding trees were damaged from the storm,

the shipping containers proved that they were able to

withstand hurricane force winds and flooding. This

picture also shows the foundation for the structure. In

this design, PVC pipe, rebar, and cement pillars were erected at the corners and the shipping

containers were then placed on top of them. The preparation of the foundation and mounting of

the shipping containers took only a few days. This design ensured that moisture or animals from

the rain forest ground were unable to get into the shipping containers.

Figure 16 shows that shipping containers can

also be designed in ways that redefine what a standard

container looks like. Shipping containers have the

possibility to be professional-looking structures, which

is critical for a library which will ultimately serve as a

location in which visitors are taken to on site.

Atmospheres can also be created which are appropriate

for handicapped individuals and which foster sensory

stimulation.21

Figure 15: An Australian research station built from containers h

Figure 16: Wooden flooring is used to create additional living space in between two shipping containers i

- 19 -

2.2 Problem Decomposition

Before developing unique design

solutions, a black-box model was

created to visualize the inputs and

outputs for the entire system. This shows

what design categories must be

focused on to adequately develop a

proper solution to meet the needs of

the library.

2.3 Concept Categories

Using the categories determined from the black-box model, multiple design concepts

were created for each category.

2.3.1 Size

Shipping containers come in a few different sizes, but the most common sizes are 20’ x 8’

x 8’ and 40’ x 8’ x 8’.18 The constraints which determine which size container would be used for

the library are cost and availability. A larger shipping container will provide more room for

resources and be able to accommodate more people inside. Depending on the level of funding

available for this project and the price of containers at the time of construction, one of the

following options will ultimately be used for the final library design.

• One container at 40 feet

• One at 20 feet

• Two at 40 feet

• Two at 20 feet

• One at 40 feet and one at 20 feet

Figure 17: Project black-box model

Disabled Residents

Size

Location

Foundation

Cooling

Lighting

Sensory Stimulation

Educational ExperienceVisitors

- 20 -

2.3.2 Location

At Front Entrance

The front entrance of the site is located on the southern border of the property. It is a

high trafficked area and thus neatly maintained. There are ten homes near the front entrance

which are currently used for security buildings, staff homes, and storage. Eventually, these

homes will be inhabited by residents of the site. Future plans call for a small market to be built

near the entrance which would attract surrounding community members to that area. Locating

the library at the front entrance would help showcase Penn State’s involvement by placing a Penn

State project in a prominent and visible location. In addition, the ground is relatively level, which

would make situating the shipping container easier. However, because future construction will

continue into the northern portion of the site, the majority of the residents would be unable to

reach the library on a daily basis.

East of Chapel

After the front entrance, the chapel and administration building are the second most

heavily trafficked area on site. All visitors and guests will typically be taken to this area which is

situated at the highest point on site. By positioning the library east of the chapel, the structure

will not obstruct the main view from the chapel which looks northeast towards the rest of the site.

This will also place the library close to an existing clump of trees, which would provide shading

Figure 18: Front entrance Figure 19: Buildings near the front entrance

- 21 -

for the structure. Because MSC desires to ultimately make this location the main contact point for

visitors to the site, the library and surrounding sensory garden would help enhance the area. In

addition, the Demonstration Village borders the residential portion of the site near this location.

After guests make their way to the chapel, they would then travel to the library and from there

directly into the Demonstration Village.

Northeast of Chapel

Similar to the location east of the chapel, by placing the library to the northeast of the

chapel, the structure would be most accessible to the Demonstration Village. An observation

deck designed to be built near this location would connect directly to the library for easy viewing

of the research projects. This location would be in front of the nearby clump of trees so that

shading would not affect the structure.

Figure 20: East of chapel Figure 21: A clump of trees are situated to the east of the chapel

Figure 23: A hill borders the area between the Demonstration Village and residential portion

Figure 22: Northeast of chapel

- 22 -

2.3.3 Foundation

Cement Slab

Pouring a cement slab is a common method used in construction and has been used for

the foundation of the cottages currently built on site.3 If Jamaican workers were to pour the

foundation, they would be quite familiar with this procedure. The process does require a lot of

cement, which is expensive. Additionally, the final slab must be perfectly level to prevent the

shipping container from rocking. This is easier if the ground is relatively level before the slab is

poured.

Cement Pads

This method involves pouring three individual cement blocks at 3’ x 2’ x 1’ and situating

two of them at the front corners and one at the back side of the container. By using three pads,

the shipping container would always remain stable and be unable to rock. This method would

not require as much cement as the slab foundation and can be picked up and moved because it is

not completely anchored in the ground. Jamaican workers are familiar with this process as well,

which would allow them to easily construct the foundation on their own. However, if the

shipping container is supporting a heavy load, large forces would be distributed into the back

support columns, which would create stresses around the back pad. This might cause structural

damage to the shipping container depending on the size of the load.

Concrete / PVC Pillars

Pillar foundations are occasionally used for shipping container construction because the

container is designed to carry heavy loads entirely on its four corners. By using pillars, the

container is elevated off of the ground, which would prevent moisture from getting to the

structure and would allow the container to be built easily on sloped ground. This design uses 18

inch diameter PVC pipes which are sunk 2 feet into the ground. Rebar is placed down the center

- 23 -

of the pipe and concrete is then poured in to solidify the pillar. This foundation could be

completed within two days; however, the concrete should be given time to cure before weight is

placed on the pillars. This method would also be expensive primarily because of the PVC pipes

and would require that the tops of the pillars are perfectly level and spaced the proper distance

away from one another.21

Telephone Pole Pillars

An alternative design for a pillar foundation is to use telephone poles. In a similar

fashion to the PVC pillar foundation, the telephone poles would be sunk 2 feet into the ground

and concrete would be poured into the hole to anchor the pillar in the ground. Depending on the

availability of telephone poles on the island, this method may be cheaper then the PVC pillars.

Figure 24: PVC and cement pillars during construction of an Australian shipping container building j

Figure 25: Concept drawing of telephone pole pillars with concrete anchors

- 24 -

2.3.4 Lighting

Electric Lighting

Electric lighting would allow the library to be used 24 hours a day, and would ensure

that the interior of the building had sufficient light. The system would be connected to the public

utility line upon construction, which would require a monthly cost for lighting. Public utilities in

Jamaica are also unreliable and occasionally will go down for a few days. Eventually, the system

could be converted to alternative energy sources to demonstrate how everyday applications

would benefit from alternative energy, but for the time being it would be dependent upon public

services.

Sky Light

A sky light would provide a direct source of natural sunlight for the interior of the

building. Implementing such a system would be difficult and expensive if the integrity of the

roof needed to remain load bearing. After installation, the sky light would be a free source of

lighting, but would limit the library to being used when the sun was shining.

Southern Facing Windows

Relying upon solar orientation, positioning the container such that windows were facing

to the south would maximize the amount of natural lighting entering the building. Orienting the

long side of the shipping container from east to west would allow for maximum solar gain.

Northern facing windows are also used at times to provide ambient lighting into buildings if

direct lighting is not desired. Because Jamaica is located relatively close to the equator, the sun is

most often positioned high in the sky and would not shine directly through the windows, which

might irritate individuals inside the library due to glare. Window shades may also be applied to

the windows to limit the amount of direct light shining into the building if this would be a

problem.22

- 25 -

Exterior and Interior Light Shelves

A light shelf is an architectural addition to the exterior and/or interior of a building

which allows natural light to penetrate further into a room. A horizontal shelf protrudes from the

wall as shown in Figure 26 and 27 and reflects light into the building. Light shelves can be placed

at any height on the window, as long as there is space for the light to reflect into the building. If

placed midway up a window, the light shelf will also provide shade for the bottom half of the

window. However, the light shelf should be placed above eye level so that the glare off of the

surface does not irritate library users. Light shelves are also desirable because they create indirect

sunlight, which is more pleasing on the eye This is especially important when considering

disabled individuals will be the primary users of the library.22

Interior Design

Proper interior design would help maximize the amount of light the library receives

during the day. If southern facing windows are installed in the library, placing the bookshelves

and educational material on the northern wall will allow the light from the windows to best shine

on them. Depending on the size of the library, obstructions (wall dividers, bookshelves, etc.)

should not be placed in the center of the room to prevent them from blocking light.

Figure 26: The light shelf redirects light towards the ceiling of the building creating indirect natural light k

Figure 27: Exterior light shelves l

- 26 -

2.3.5 Thermal Comfort

Electric Ceiling Fan

Installing an electric ceiling fan would provide a constant source of cooling for the

interior of the building. This system, however, faces the same challenges as using electric lighting

in that it would be dependent upon the unreliable Jamaican public utilities and would cost

money to use. In the future it could be connected to an alternative energy source, but presently

would depend upon unsustainable means.

Heat Chimney

A heat chimney, also referred to as a thermal chimney, is a design which creates natural

air conditioning within a building. There are multiple variations to the design but the guiding

principles remain the same. A chimney (often painted black) is built onto a building. As the sun

shines on the chimney, the air inside is heated up and escapes out the top. This draws air from

inside the building up through the chimney. Along with a heat chimney, a geothermal heat

exchange can be built into the house to provide colder air from the ground.23

Figure 28: Cooling method of a heat chimney with additional geothermal heat exchange m

- 27 -

Roof Pond

A roof pond consists of 6-12 inches of water on top of a structure used for both cooling

and heating a building, depending on the climate and how it is used. For cooling purposes, such

as in Jamaica, an insulating cover would be rolled over the water during the day. As the building

heats up, the heat rises into the roof and remains in the water. During the night, the cover is

removed and the hot water is cooled off by the cold air. Roof ponds can be quite heavy and

require daily supervision to open and close the cover.24

Green Roof

Green roofs are becoming more prevalent in home construction and are particularly

practical for shipping container construction. A green roof generally consists of a waterproof

lining, drainage layer, filter mat, growing medium, and vegetation.25 They can be split into two

categories: extensive and intensive. Intensive green roofs refer to growing mediums greater than

6 inches in depth, and extensive green roofs have growing medium depths of less than 6 inches.26

When used in shipping container construction, extensive green roofs are most common. The

Figure 29: During the day, an insulating cover reflects outside heat as the roof pond absorbs heat from inside the building n

Figure 30: During the night, the insulating cover is removed and the heat from the roof pond escapes away from the building n

- 28 -

benefits of green roofs include their ability to insulate a building from temperature change and

noise, and increasing the life span of the roof.25

Tree Shading

Depending upon the final location of the library, existing trees on site would provide

natural shading for the building. To provide the maximum amount of shading, the trees would

need to be located on either the east or west side of the library. In addition to providing shade,

the trees would help funnel wind directly onto the container to help cool the building.

Light-colored Paint

Painting the exterior of the shipping container a light-colored paint would reflect solar

radiation whereas a dark-colored paint would absorb solar radiation. Because the shipping

Figure 31: Exploded view of multiple layers of a green roof o

Vegetation

Soil

Filter mat

Drainage layer

Root barrier

Waterproof membrane

Figure 32: Concept drawing of trees providing shade for a portion of the day

Figure 33: External objects such as trees can help funnel external airflow onto the building

- 29 -

container will be bought used, it will need painted regardless and therefore painting it a light

color would be a cheap way to help cool the library.27

Shading from Solar Panels

A second Penn State University thesis project by another member of the Jacob’s Ladder

development team will be investigating the use of alternative energy on site, and will be

completed at the same time as the library. This project will rely upon solar panels and will

require a structure on which to mount them. The library could serve a second purpose by using

the roof as the support structure for the solar system. The solar panels would be positioned on a

predetermined angle to maximize the efficiency of the panels based upon the latitude of the site.

By positioning the solar panels on the roof of the shipping container, additional shading would

be created for the library and wind blowing across the site would be funneled down onto the

container roof to help with cooling. Such a system would require additional framing to support

the weight of the solar panels.28

Solar Powered Fan

As solar power became more popular, manufacturers began developing commonly used

products which incorporated solar technology into them. One of these applications was the solar

powered attic fan. A small solar panel (typically 10-20 watts) is connected to a standard attic fan

which is then powered when the sun is shining. Because the solar panel is relatively small, the

Figure 34: Solar panels mounted to a residential home p

Figure 35: Airflow around the solar panels

- 30 -

cost to produce solar powered attic fans is reasonable and quickly pays itself off.29 For

application in the library, such a fan would help provide direct cooling to the interior of the

building.

Positioning of Windows

To further capitalize upon the wind on site, proper positioning of the windows in the

library would naturally cool the interior of the building. A meteorological survey conducted at

the site found that wind comes primarily from the northeast (see Appendix F for wind rose

chart). Windows low to the ground on the windward face and windows higher up on the

leeward face would force the wind to blow up and through the container.24

Figure 36: Solar-powered attic fan mounted to a roof q

Figure 37: Interior structure of a solar-powered attic fan r

Figure 38: Staggering the heights of the windows forces warm air up and out of the structure

- 31 -

SuperTherm

For advanced shipping container construction, SuperTherm is a popular choice for

insulation. Originally designed as an insulating thermoceramic coating for NASA to be used on

space shuttles, SuperTherm has now been adapted to be used in building construction.30 It is

popular because it has an R-value of R-28.5 if sprayed on both the inside and outside and blocks

more than 95% of thermal radiation. SuperTherm consists of three ceramics, two which reflect

thermal radiation and one which serves as a barrier to prevent conduction between the two

reflective layers.31 Although extremely efficient, SuperTherm can be expensive and would be

difficult for local Jamaicans to obtain if they were interested in mimicking the Jacob’s Ladder

library.

Living Walls and Green Facades

Recently gaining in popularity, green walls are walls covered in vegetation which can be

attached to the exterior of a building or left freestanding. Green walls serve a similar purpose as

a green roof by acting as an additional layer of insulation for both temperature and noise control.

There are two different forms of green walls: living walls and green facades. Living walls are

constructed from vertical planting panels which contain a growing medium, vegetation, and a

means for irrigation. Green facades are simpler and involve climbing plants, such as vines

Insulation Material R-Value

Perlite 2.7

Fiberglass boards 4.5

Urethane Foam 5.3

SuperTherm 28.5

Figure 40: A 40 foot container insulated with SuperTherm tFigure 39: Table comparing common insulation materials to SuperTherm s

- 32 -

growing up or down the sides of buildings. This form is more cost effective, but not as efficient

an insulation medium as living walls.32

2.4 Concept Selection and Combination

To narrow down the multiple concepts to a final design, concept scoring matrices were

implemented for each design category. First, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was used to

determine the selection criteria weighting based upon the numerous customer’s needs. An AHP

ranks the relative importance of the design criteria to one another. To view the results from each

AHP, see Appendix D.

Next, all the design concepts for each category were given a score from 1-5 (5 being the

highest) for each criteria. These individual scores were then multiplied to the final weighted

values found in the individual AHP’s. These new weighted scores were then totaled for each

criteria and a final value was determined. The concepts with the highest weighted scores indicate

that they were the ones most appropriate for the final design. To view these extended concept

selection matrices, refer to Appendix E. By considering the rankings found from the concept

combination matrices, the final design was selected.

Figure 42: An example of a living wall planted on the exterior of a residential home v

Figure 41: Vines growing up the sides of buildings are a common form of a green facade u

- 33 -

3. Final Design Selection3.1 Design Overview

The final design for the

shipping container library

consisted of one 20’ x 8’ x 8’

container located directly beside

the chapel. Windows, air vents,

and a door were built into the

container. The standard cargo

doors will remain closed upon

completion of the library and the

installed door will act as the means to enter the library. A ramp will be built outside of the library

to accommodate for residents in wheelchairs.

The library relies upon daylighting as the primary source of light, but has plans to

incorporate an electric light in the future. In conjunction with a second Penn State University

thesis project, six solar panels will be mounted to the roof of the library.28 In addition, a 25 watt

wind turbine will be situated behind the library. To insulate the shipping container, a green roof

will be built on portions of the roof. In addition, air vents and windows were strategically placed

to utilize natural breezes on site to help cool the building. A solar-powered attic fan will also be

installed in the wall to provide additional cooling.

For one week in November 2008, six Penn State students and faculty traveled to Jacob’s

Ladder to begin construction of the library. During the week, the container was primed and

painted, windows and doors were cut into the walls, bookshelves were built inside, and the green

roof frame was begun. Due to heavy rains, the foundation was unable to be poured prior to

Figure 43: Current shipping container library at Jacob’s Ladder

- 34 -

arrival of the shipping container to the site. Rather, a temporary foundation was constructed for

the build week and the small cement pad foundations will be poured at a later date.

Several elements of the final design remain to be completed. Within the container,

educational display boards outlining plans for future sustainable development at Jacob’s Ladder

will be mounted on the wall. The electrical components for the solar panels and wind turbine

will also be located on the wall, along with an informational display board describing how

alternative energy sources work. Bookshelves line the bottom half of the container and will hold

books which were donated to the project. Over two thousand books were donated from schools

and churches across the state of Pennsylvania and will be shipped to Jamaica in the near future.

Because the library is built beside the chapel, an adjacent sensory garden and reading

area will be built for the residents. This garden will be capable of expanding as the number of

residents increases. Mission groups will be able to contribute to the project and build small

portions of the entire garden.

3.2 Design Categories3.2.1 Size After contacting Cubic Inspirations, a leading Jamaican shipping container architecture

firm, it was found that there was a current lack of shipping containers on the island. This meant

that the price of containers had increased, therefore limiting the size shipping container which

could be afforded. A 20 foot used steel shipping container was finally sourced from Duane

Marzouca Equipment Company LTD in Kingston, Jamaica. A week prior to the build trip, MSC

had planned for five 40 foot shipping containers to be shipped to Jacob’s Ladder for storage

purposes. This process required them to rent a crane to unload the shipping containers.

Therefore, the shipping container to be used for the library was planned to arrive at Jacob’s

Ladder on the same date as the MSC containers. This eliminated the need for Penn State to rent a

crane to place the container at the proper location.

- 35 -

3.2.2 Location

To provide the greatest accessibility for the future residents and visitors at the site, it was

determined that it was most important for the library to be built in a central location on site.

Future resident’s homes will be built surrounding the administration building and chapel.

Therefore, the library was placed bordering the chapel. The specific location was then given to

the Jacob’s Ladder administrators because they had best knowledge about the current

development and infrastructure on site.

The library was placed adjacent the chapel and connecting parking area. As seen in

Figure 44, the library is located beside the main entrance to the chapel. The northern face of the

chapel will ultimately be made out of windows and will therefore overlook the rest of the site.

Therefore, it was important that the library was placed out of the direct line of sight for the

chapel. Placing the library on the eastern wall of the chapel ensures that the shipping container

does not obstruct the main view.

The library is bordered by a

stone wall on the western side and a

road on the eastern side. A small

strip of land between the wall and

road will eventually be converted

into the small sensory garden and

reading area for the residents.

Future plans for enlarging the

sensory garden will also be feasible

given the chosen location. These gardens will help enhance the surrounding area which will

eventually be the focal point of Jacob’s Ladder.

Chapel

Admin.Building

Road

Wall

Library

Demonstration Village

Entrance

Chapel Entrance

Figure 44: Location of Library

- 36 -

By placing the library at this location, Penn State’s research efforts will be prominently

displayed to visitors who may have an interest in sustainability and would therefore like to get

more involved. The library is situated near the border to the Demonstration Village and will

therefore serve as the entrance point for visitors coming to learn about Penn State’s research

projects. It was also important for the library to be centrally located because it will house an

alternative energy charging station for an onsite electric golf cart. This vehicle will be parked

beside the library throughout the day to charge while staff are working inside the administration

building.28

3.2.3 Foundation

Because of the heavy rain, Jacob’s Ladder staff constructed a temporary foundation

consisting of concrete blocks and steel I-beams to support the shipping container. This temporary

foundation supported the library for the entire build week and plans were made with MSC staff

to build a permanent foundation in the near future.

To replace the foundation, two jacks will be inserted underneath the container to lift it off

of the temporary foundation. Next, concrete pads will be poured underneath each corner. Each

pad will be 2’ x 2’ and sunk 8 inches into the ground. Due to the sloped ground, the back corners

will remain close to the ground while the front corners will be elevated 2 feet.

Figure 45: Due to sloped ground, a temporary foundation elevates the container off the ground

Figure 46: Concrete blocks and steel I-beams were used to temporarily support the container

- 37 -

3.2.4 Lighting

Because electricity costs are expensive, current daily

operation at Jacob’s Ladder is during daylight hours from

6 am-6 pm. Therefore, current use of the library will only

happen during the day and will not need lighting at night.

To maximize natural sunlight, the orientation of the

buildings was aligned so that the main axis of the building

was situated from east to west. This results in sunlight having to travel the least distance (8 feet)

inside the building. Two 5’ x 3’ hinged plexiglass windows were placed along the southern wall.

Unlike many windows at Jacob’s Ladder, the plexiglass windows allow the library to be used

even if the windows need to be shut because of rain.

Because Jamaica is located near the equator, the sun is positioned high in the sky for most

of the year. Therefore direct sunlight into the windows will not be as big of a concern and placing

them on the southern wall was most appropriate. The windows were also placed on this wall

because it is the side facing the administration building and direction which visitors will be

arriving to the library. This allows guests to see inside the library as they are approaching the

building, inviting them to step inside.

Figure 47: Plexiglass windows provide lighting inside the library

Figure 48: The windows and door in the library are facing towards the entrance of the site, which allows visitors to see inside the library as they approach the structure. Also shown are the chapel (beside library) and administration building (far left). Both structures are still under construction.

- 38 -

If Jacob’s Ladder staff decide in the future that they would like to use the library at times

when daylighting is insufficient, then a simple electric light can be installed inside. This light

fixture can receive electricity from the solar and wind powered charging system built into the

library.

3.2.5 Thermal Comfort

Airflow

By situating the library next to a solid wall of the chapel, wind will be forced to blow

onto the container and through the vents and windows. Two 5’ x 10” vents on the windward side

of the building were placed 3 inches from the floor of the container. These vents consisted of two

downward sloping boards permanently attached inside a wooden frame. Plastic mesh was

attached to the outside of the vent to help prevent rain from getting inside the library. On the

opposite wall, the two windows were placed 3.5 feet above the floor. This design forces cooler air

into the bottom half of the container while pushing warmer air up and out of the interior of the

library. Together, these designs help provide airflow over both the inside and outside of the

shipping container. Having a constant source of airflow also removes unwanted smells and paint

fumes which may form inside the structure.

Figure 49: One of the windows along the south wall of the library

Figure 50: One of the air vents along the north wall of the library

- 39 -

Solar Panel Array

Working in conjunction with the second Penn State University thesis project, the library

will serve as a support structure for solar panels on the roof. The 260 watt array will be combined

with 400 watts from a nearby wind turbine to charge the electric golf cart on site. The panels will

be centered on the roof and cover a span of 14’ x 4’. Being slightly elevated off of the roof, the

panels will funnel wind down onto the roof to cool the regions not covered by the green roof. In

addition, they will shade the exposed roof from direct sunlight.28

Figure 51: Upon completion of the chapel, wind will be reflected off of the enclosed chapel wall (represented by white stripes) and funneled into the vents of the library

Figure 52: Inside the library, cool air will blow in through the vents forcing warm air up and out through the windows on the opposite wall

- 40 -

Figure 53: Concept rendering of solar panels attached to the roof of the library

Figure 54: Wind Turbine which will be located behind library

Solar-Powered Attic Fan

To provide cross ventilation within the container, a solar-powered attic fan will be

mounted on the western face of the container. A 20 watt solar panel will be mounted on the roof

to power the fan. The breeze will blow perpendicularly to the wind entering from the vents.

Fan

Windows

Air Vents

Figure 55: Solar Powered Attic Fan fitted inside container wall

Figure 56: Cross ventilation within library

- 41 -

Green Roof

Overall Design

To provide insulation on the top of the container, which will be most directly affected by

the sun, a green roof will be built. The combination of soil and vegetation will act similarly to

standard building insulation. However, due to the weight of the soil, a limited portion of the roof

will be covered. The majority of the exposed roof will then be shaded by the solar array. The

green roof will include an 8 inch border of soil and plants around the perimeter of the roof. The

cross-section of the green roof will consist of a waterproof barrier, drainage layer, filter mat, soil,

and vegetation.

Original plans for the green roof called for 2” x 6” cross beams to be bolted to the roof of

the shipping container. This was because the green roof layers would be placed directly on the

shipping container roof, and bolted cross beams would then provide the necessary support.

However, after obtaining the shipping container, it became evident that due to large dents in the

roof, the cross beams would either have additional loads on them because they would be pulling

the roof up, or would be unable to span the entire distance because the dented roof was

interfering with them.

The redesign of the roof eliminated the need for the cross beams to be bolted to the metal

roof. Rather, ½” plywood would be attached to the underside of the wooden frame on the roof.

The green roof layers would then be placed into these enclosed compartments free from sitting on

the container roof. Not only does this design lessen the loads created on the cross beams,

drainage also became simpler.

Because the roof is dented, rain easily puddles in various spots. If the entire roof were

covered with a waterproof membrane and water managed to get underneath, it would be unable

to escape because it would not be exposed to the sun and wind. The redesign allows for rain to

- 42 -

land on the container roof and does not prevent

puddling. With the center of the roof under the solar

panels exposed to the wind, when water does form it

can be blown off and dried by the sun. Because the

roof is made from corrugated sheet metal, grooves

run along the length of the container to allow the

rain that lands on the metal roof to run underneath

the green roof compartments to the 20 foot sides and

into gutters.

Rain landing in the green roof compartments is then filtered through the soil and into the

drainage layer. Plastic lining will cover the bottom piece of plywood and force the water to run

off into holes drilled into the side support walls. Drainage holes are also drilled just above the

soil layer to prevent water from puddling up on top of the soil and therefore washing out the

vegetation. Plastic mesh lines each drainage hole to prevent the green roof medium from

escaping. These drainage holes then send the water directly into the gutters.

Figure 57: Water will run in the grooves of the roof created by the corrugated sheet metal

Figure 58: Final assembly of green roof with solar array

- 43 -

Percolation Test

After deciding that a green roof would be a critical component of the library, initial tests

were performed during the November 2008 trip to determine the percolation rate of the soil on

site. (Percolation rate refers to the time it takes water to filter through a given amount of soil.)

Determining the percolation rate of the soil being used in a green roof is important because it

allows for precise design of the drainage. If the percolation rate is too low, then the soil is too

clayey and fine gravel must be mixed with the soil. By comparing the percolation rate with

rainfall data for the region, the acceptable percolation rate can be determined. Confirming that

the green roof soil has a high enough percolation rate ensures that water will not puddle on the

roof, especially during hurricanes and heavy storms.

Figure 59: Water falling on the green roof drains through holes drilled in the side boards and into the gutter, while water landing directly on the container roof drains underneath the elevated green roof compartments into the gutter

- 44 -

Using meteorological data obtained by the Jamaican Water Resource Authority from the

Moneague rainfall station, the green roof was designed for a 30 year - 24 hour storm. After

conservative estimations, this equated to a drainage rate of 7 min/inch.33

During the November 2008 trip, soil was taken from a region on site where plants and

soil would ultimately be taken for construction of the green roof. From the percolation test and

observations made by local residents, it was found that the soil would be capable of draining at a

proper rate for the green roof. Refer to Appendix H for the detailed procedure of the percolation

test and involved calculations.

Green Roof Medium Layers

The waterproof barrier was

made from 6 mil black plastic and was

wrapped around the ½” plywood used

as the bottom support for the green

roof. Next, ½” - ¾” diameter gravel

was used for a 1” deep drainage layer.

This gravel was obtained from a leftover pile of gravel on site, originally used for lining the road

and parking lot. The filter mat consisted of non-woven weed control fabric and the soil was

taken from a location 200 feet from the library on the top of a slope, as seen in Figure 60. The

original soil depth of this area was 3 inches. Low growing vegetation from the same area will be

transplanted to the roof in combination with native Jamaican grasses. Grass seed will be

purchased from a local garden center and planted on the roof. Figure 63 shows corresponding

depths for each layer of the roof. A 4 inch soil depth will be sufficient for the grass and low

growing vegetation root structures.34

Library

Soil / Vegetation for Green Roof

Figure 60: Aerial view of location of soil and vegetation which will be transplanted to the green roof w

- 45 -

3.3 Roof Structure

Because the roof will support both the green roof and solar array, an integrated support

structure was designed to brace both loads. Shipping containers are designed to bear all of their

load on the corner vertical supports. Therefore, the roof frame was designed so that it distributed

all the weight on the roof to the four corners. The support frame was built using 2” x 6”’s based

upon calculations to determine the corresponding beam sizes for the total load. (For full

Figure 62: Additional low growing vegetation on site which will be used for the green roof

Figure 61: Soil and low growing vegetation found on site which will be used for the green roof

Figure 63: Cross-section of green roof medium layers

Native grass and low growing vegetation

Soil

Non-woven weed control fabric½” - 1” Gravel6 mil plastic lining

4”

1”

- 46 -

calculations, refer to Appendix G.) A 20’ x 8’ rectangle frame was built around the perimeter of

the roof. Seven cross beams were then used to span the inside of the frame. The five cross beams

closest to the center were spaced 3’6” away from one another and used to support the solar array

and narrow green roof along the border. Two additional cross beams were placed 8” from either

end and used to support the green roof along the 8’ span. To permanently attach the wooden

frame to the shipping container, two cross beams will be attached into the roof with 4 ½” lag

screws where the container roof is relatively flat.

To frame out the green roof compartments, additional 2” x 6”’s were used to create an 8”

border around the entire frame. Plywood a half-inch thick will then be attached to the underside

of the green roof compartments to support the green roof medium layers. The solar array will be

supported by an additional 2”x4” frame which will be built off of the inner cross beams.

Figure 64: Wooden 2” x 6” support frame

8” 2ʼ4” 3ʼ6” 3ʼ6” 3ʼ6” 3ʼ6” 2ʼ4” 8”

8”

8”

- 47 -

The 20’ x 2” x 6” wooden

beams however were not strong

enough by themselves to

distribute the load entirely to the

corners. To provide additional

support, the shipping container’s

20’ rectangular hollow steel side

rail beams were used to support the weight. This will only work however if the wooden beam

and steel beam are touching one another to simulate the two acting as one beam. The corrugated

steel roof of the container is welded to the steel side rails and therefore creates a small weld bead

the entire way along the perimeter. To compensate for this weld bead, small plywood shims will

be attached to the bottom of the wooden frame to ensure that the two beams are resting on one

another.

Figure 65: The support frame was constructed on the ground and will be placed on the roof once the final foundation is complete

Figure 66: Plywood shims attached to the underside of the support frame ensure that the wooden and steel beams remain touching with the weld bead running in between the two

Figure 67: Weld bead on the roof of the container

Weld BeadPlywood Shim

Weld Bead

- 48 -

The final design consideration for the roof was to evaluate the walls of the container. The

corrugated steel used for the walls does not specifically bear any of the load on a container, but

does provide rigidness for the entire structure. By cutting windows and a door into the container,

the structural integrity of the walls was jeopardized. To compensate, two things were done.

First, the frames which were used to hold in the windows and door doubled as a way to increase

the strength in the walls. Second, interior 2”x4” vertical supports were placed along the 20 foot

span directly underneath the steel beam. Because the door frame provided vertical support on

the one side, only one additional vertical support was added on the south side. On the northern

face, two vertical supports were each placed 2.5 feet away from the center of the wall.

Figure 68: Frame of the door acts as an interior vertical support

Figure 69: Two vertical supports along the northern wall provide additional support for the roof

- 49 -

3.4 Interior Layout

Figure 70 shows an aerial view of the inside of the library. Upon entering the container

after its completion, one will immediately see the Penn State display boards on the opposite wall

outlining plans for future development and describing the sustainable design elements

incorporated into the library. On their left, visitors will be able to observe the multiple

components required for generating electricity from the solar panels and wind turbine. This will

include the batteries, inverter, charge controller, disconnects, and breaker box.

The electrical components were elevated above the vents to ensure that rain would not

accidentally fall on them. A poster beside these components will demonstrate how the system

works as a whole. Surrounding the bottom half of the library are bookshelves which will house

the books for the residents. A book shelf directly beside the door will also hold additional books

from floor to ceiling.

Bookshelves

Solar Electrical Components

Air Vents

Windows

Penn State Display Boards and Material

Figure 70: Internal arrangement of library

- 50 -

Because daylighting is used to light the interior, items which will be used most often

were placed opposite the windows so that they would be best lit. This included all of the

educational display boards and material. In addition,

the inside of the container had to create an environment

conducive for larger groups gathering inside to learn

about the sustainability projects. By using the entire 20

foot wall, multiple people are able to gather inside and

read the boards comfortably.

Figure 71: Current status of inside the library, northern wall

Figure 72: Concept rendering of inside the library with books, display materials, and electrical components

- 51 -

All additional space was used for bookshelves for the residents. Because of the large

number of residents, the staff and children will not actually read the books inside the library but

rather take them outside to the attached reading garden.

Therefore, it was not important to create a space inside

where people could read the books for extended

periods. However, a small table and chairs can be

placed at the far end of the library if individuals desire

to remain inside while using the books. Figure 73: Current status of inside the library, southern wall

Figure 74: Concept rendering of inside the library with books along the southern wall

- 52 -

3.5 Surrounding Garden

To provide an area for reading the books to the residents and to help enhance the

appearance of the surrounding area, a sensory garden will be built adjacent the library. Figures

75 and 76 show the current area surrounding the library and a concept of what the garden

surrounding the library may look like in the future. This

sensory garden could be expanded to include multiple

design elements to engage the senses based upon the

needs of the future residents. MSC is planing on

building pavilions nearby the library which will provide

additional space for caretakers to read to the residents. Figure 75: Current status outside the library

Figure 76: Concept rendering of finished library with attached sensory garden and reading area

- 53 -

3.6 Construction and Implementation of System

From November 22-28, 2008, six Penn State students and faculty traveled to Jacob’s

Ladder to begin construction of the library. Prior to the build team arriving at Jacob’s Ladder,

MSC staff constructed the temporary foundation on site on which the shipping container was

placed. This ensured that the build team could begin construction and modification of the

container immediately upon arrival. For the majority of the week, the site experienced periodic

rain showers that made it more difficult to perform certain tasks such as painting. Out of

consideration for the residents, tasks which involved noise were scheduled for during the day.

For a detailed itinerary of the work completed during that week, see Appendix I.

3.7 Book Drive

To provide resources for the library,

multiple book drives were organized across

the state of Pennsylvania. Neighborhoods,

churches, and schools (elementary, middle,

and high schools) were all involved in

donating books to the project. From these

efforts, 2075 children books were collected.

In the spring of 2009, the books will be

shipped to Jacob’s Ladder. Refer to

Appendix J for the informational material

which was used to publicize the book drives.

3.8 Bill of Materials

Appendix L provides a detailed listing of all materials needed for construction of the

library as well as their costs. In total, the library cost ~$3,200 to construct after receiving donated

Figure 77: Donated books are packed in boxes to prepare for shipment to Jamaica

- 54 -

materials from both Mustard Seed Communities and Penn State University. Funding obtained

from the International Journal of Service Learning in Engineering in partnership with the Jimmy

and Rosalynn Partnership Foundation and Penn State University’s the Africana Research Center,

the Schreyer Honors College, and the Alliance for Earth Science, Engineering, and Development

in Africa were used to cover the project costs.

3.9 Suggested Improvements

Because some materials were donated by MSC, the final design of the library was slightly

modified to accommodate the donated materials. For example, the windows which were

donated were originally intended to slide up and down within a frame. However, because the

final design called for the windows to be able to open entirely, the windows were modified such

that the window opened on a hinge. This created problems when attempting to create a

watertight seal around the window. Ideally it would be best to buy supplies and use them for

their original intention; however, with a limited budget and supplies donated from MSC,

modifications to the materials was the most cost effective solution.

After completing the build week, another change which would have been made to the

final design would be to weld metal framing around the openings in the wall and then attach the

wooden frames inside the metal frame. Because the walls are made from corrugated sheet metal,

the window frames do not rest flush against the wall. Rather, small pockets where water can run

are created. For construction of the library, rubber bicycle tubing was used to seal the space

between the metal and wood and then caulk was applied around all edges. The original

intention for the window frame was to allow the water to run in them, but have them designed

such that the water ran to the outside edges. While checking the container after a heavy

rainstorm the night before the build team left, it was found that water still managed to leak

inside. For the time being, plastic lining was placed over the windows to prevent further water

- 55 -

from entering the library. This leaking will be further addressed on the next build trip. In

addition to silicone caulking, applying a spray foam insulation to the window frames may have

helped prevent leaking.

Another problem with the windows was that they ended up using more lumber than

originally expected. The primary reason for using a shipping container was to take advantage of

using recycled materials which would reduce the need for supplies such as concrete and lumber.

However, because the container was being built as a library, a significant amount of lumber was

needed simply for the bookshelves.

Originally, SuperTherm as an insulation option was ruled out because it would be

expensive and difficult to obtain for most Jamaicans. However, using a green roof as the

insulating method for most shipping container homes would be impractical. The green roof was

applicable for the library because not only was it used to cool the building but it was also used to

educate guests about various sustainable designs. The actual effectiveness of the green roof as an

insulating layer will be determined once it is finally assembled during the next build trip. If

shipping container construction were to be used for future buildings at Jacob’s Ladder,

SuperTherm may be a more feasible scalable solution.

Although unpreventable, the constant rain created problems when painting and priming

the container. Because the outside of the container has yet to be painted, ideally this should be

performed when it is not raining.

4. Conclusion

Design and construction of the shipping container library successfully met the two

project goals of promoting and demonstrating sustainability efforts at Jacob’s Ladder and

providing a source of sensory stimulation for the residents.

- 56 -

The library will educate visitors about how green designs such as alternative energy,

green roofs, and alternative building methods can be applied to their own lives, and marks the

first on-the-ground commitment by Penn State to MSC. As more Penn State students and faculty

begin work on projects at Jacob’s Ladder, the library will be able to accommodate the supporting

material for these new research projects. In addition, the library will help centralize Penn State’s

efforts on site and will eventually be the access point from which guests will be able to visit the

Demonstration Village.

The library meets the second project goal by serving as an appropriate large-scale sensory

stimulation system at Jacob’s Ladder. Books can be used as a developmental tool regardless of

the level or type of disability, and are capable of growing and adapting with the residents.

Specialized forms of sensory integration can then be built upon the library, such as a sensory

garden. Because the library will be stocked with donated books and materials, the library will

minimize the amount of external resources needed to meet the needs of the residents.

Although the library was not completely finished during the November 2008 build trip,

plans are in place to finish construction of the building during the upcoming semester. The

progress which was made during the build trip was significant in solidifying the relationship

between MSC and Penn State and will be built upon in the years to come.

- 57 -

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Eric Sauder and Dr. Neil Brown for their continued

support throughout the project and assistance in ensuring that the library was able to be built in

an appropriate and timely manner.

For their support, cooperation, and guidance in developing feasible solutions for Jacob’s

Ladder, the author would like to thank Matt Moran, Father Gregory Ramkissoon, Clyde

Ramkissoon, and Brother Anthony.

For technical assistance and academic supervision on various components of the project,

the author would like to thank Dr. Robert Berghage, Dr. Louis Geschwinder, Professor Andy Lau,

and Professor Tom Colledge.

For their cooperation and eagerness to help construct the library, the author would like to

thank the members of the build team, including Andrew Grim, Andrew McLean, and Vaughn

Climenhaga.

For their support and generosity in donating to the book drive, the author would like to

thank Mr. Robert Swatner and the students, faculty and parents of Hempfield School District,

Connie Grow and Zion Lutheran Church of Landisville, Linda Lobach, and Linda Marshall.

The author would also like to thank the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Partnership

Foundation, the Schreyer Honors College of the Pennsylvania State University, the Department of

Mechanical Engineering of the Pennsylvania State University, the Africana Research Center, the

Alliance for Earth Science, Engineering, and the Development of Africa (AESEDA), and Mustard

Seed Communities for providing funding and donations to physically implement this project.

Lastly, for those who provided support, feedback, editing, and encouragement

throughout the project, the author would like to thank Leah Ruth, Keith Hodge, Kathleen Snyder,

and Lois Abdelmalek.

- 58 -

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24. "Green Building Primer: Passive Solar Design: Passive Cooling." Sustainability at Williams.

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- 62 -

Image Credits

a. MSC Children. Digital image. My Father's House. Mustard Seed Communities. 6 Nov. 2008

<http://www.mustardseed.com/home/myfathershouse/index.php>.

b. Aerial View of Jacob's Ladder. Digital image. Google Earth. Google. 12 Apr. 2008 <http://

earth.google.com/>.

c. Child in Multisensory Room. Digital image. Multisensory Room. Blossomland Learning

Center. 2 Nov. 2008 <http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/blc/multisensoryroom.htm>.

d. Jamaican Bauxite Mining. Digital image. Hydro. 25 May 2004. 1 Dec. 2008 <http://

www.hydro.com/en/press-room/news/archive/2004/may/16555/>.

e. Container City II Balconies. Digital image. Container City Gallery. Urban Space Management.

9 Oct. 2008 <http://www.containercity.com/gallery.html>.

f. Shipping Container retrofitted with a Green Roof. Digital image. Green Energy: Part L

Compliance. Urban Space Management. 9 Oct. 2008 <http://www.containercity.com/part-l-

compliance.html>.

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<http://www.hybridseattle.com/>.

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earthsci.org/education/fieldsk/container/container.html>.

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<http://earthsci.org/education/fieldsk/container/container.html>.

j. Shipping Container Home Foundation. Digital image. Earth Science Australia. 26 Aug. 2008

<http://earthsci.org/education/fieldsk/container/container.html>.

k. Light Shelf Theory Diagram. Digital image. Adapted from Architectural Record. 18 Oct. 2008

<http://archrecord.construction.com/resources/images/0512lutron2.jpg>.

- 63 -

l. Exterior Light Shelf. Digital image. Sustainability at Williams. Williams College. 12 Oct. 2008

< http://www.williams.edu/resources/sustainability/green_buildings/>.

m. Solar Chimney. Digital image. Wikipedia. The Wikimedia Foundation. 28 Sept. 2008 < http://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Solarchimney.jpg>.

n. Roof Pond Heating Cycle. Digital image. Adapted from Passive Solar Architecture: Heating.

Arizona Solar Center. 28 Sept. 2008 <http://www.azsolarcenter.com/design/pas-2.html>.

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<http://www.triton-chemicals.co.uk/prode1.php>.

p. Residential Solar Array. Solar Energy. Heliotropics. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://

www.heliotropics.com/Solar%20Energy.html>.

q. Solar-Powered Attic Fan. Got2BeGreen. 12 Oct. 2008 <http://got2begreen.com/green-

lifestyles/greening-your-home/solar-powered-attic-fan/>.

r. Cutaway View of a Solar-Powered Attic Fan. Sustain Ability. 12 Oct. 2008 <http://

www.sustainabilitynh.com/products.php?product=solar-star-solar-fans>.

s. "Typical R-Values." Chart. Sizes. 9 Sept. 2003. 1 Dec. 2008 <http://www.sizes.com/units/

rvalue.htm>.

t. Shipping Container applied with SuperTherm. Container DOE Report Houston. Eagle

Coatings. 1 Dec. 2008 <http://www.eaglecoatings.net/breakingnews.htm>.

u. Vines Growing on Building Wall. My Life on Craft. 1 Dec. 2008 <http://mylifeoncraft.com/?

cat=5>.

v. Elevated Landscape Technologies Living Walls. Canada Blooms: ELT Green Roofs & Living

Walls. Green Thinkers. 1 Dec. 2008 <http://www.greenthinkers.org/blog/2007/03/

canada_blooms_elt_easy_green_r.html>.

w. Moran, Matt. Aerial View of Jacob's Ladder. Digital image.

- 64 -

x. Plant Growth in Soil. Soil Information Online. Shelby County Soil Water Conservation

District. 12 May 2008 <http://shelbycountyswcd.org/soil%20survey%20online.htm>.

y. Sheep Grazing on Mountainside. Picasa. Google. 12 May 2008 <http://

picasaweb.google.com/>.

*All non-credited images are property of Steven Marshall and Eric Sauder. Computer-generated

graphics were created using Google SketchUp and Adobe Photoshop.

- 65 -

AppendicesAppendix A: Dimensioned Drawings

Figure 78: South face of the library

Figure 79: North face of the library

- 66 -

Appendix B: Customer AnalysisB.1: Community Assessment - January 2008

The first community assessment to gather information and data about current and future

needs for Jacob’s Ladder took place January 2-9, 2008. During this trip, numerous interviews and

meetings were arranged from which the following information was gathered to define the needs

and goals for this project:

January 4: Interview with Jack Samwel

Jack Samwel - Lead architect and site planner for MSC

My Father’s House - Kingston, Jamaica

During this interview, the travel team found that MSC’s next priority is to design and

construct ten more homes to house future residents. However, funding was limited and

construction was delayed until MSC received donations specifically for the project. It became

clear that the cost for the entire Jacob’s Ladder project will be a large concern in the future, so any

ways to reduce the site’s operational cost should be a priority. Mr. Samwel also explained that he

is the primary designer for the cottages used in MSC sites and is in charge of the overall

infrastructure design for Jacob’s Ladder. Any projects Penn State plans on implementing at the

site will need to be examined by Mr. Samwel.5

January 4: Interview with Darcy Williams

Darcy Williams - Director of Jerusalem! and chairperson of MSC Executive Committee

Jerusalem! - Kingston, Jamaica

Jerusalem! is one of MSC’s most well established caring facilities. Because the site is

located in Spanish Town, a heavily populated city just outside of Kingston, a school was built on

site which is used by both the residents and community children in the area. The Ministry of

Education assists MSC by providing some of the funding for teacher’s salaries. After meeting the

MSC

- 67 -

residents of Jerusalem! it became apparent that sensory integration would need to be a priority at

Jacob’s Ladder because residents moving to the new site would be used to some form of sensory

stimulation.

Outside of school, the children are brought out of their homes during the day to socialize

with other residents and to receive specialized training. Those residents who are capable of

physical work are assigned to separate regions of the site (kitchen, farm, etc.). Depending on the

task and individual, varying levels of supervision are needed. Those who are physically unable

to move around the site spend most of their time in the outdoor pavilion and spend time working

with the caretakers and volunteers. The one complaint caretakers have about the pavilion is that

they wish it were meshed in because of the insects. Having large windows and openings in these

structures are key in allowing airflow for the residents, because only one of the rooms on site had

air conditioning.4

January 5: Interview with Brother Anthony

Brother Anthony - Resident director of Jacob’s Ladder

Jacob’s Ladder - Moneague, Jamaica

Brother Anthony is in charge of overall maintenance and operation of Jacob’s Ladder.

This involves seeing that there is enough food and water for the site and overseeing the future

directions for Jacob’s Ladder. While describing conditions on site, Brother Anthony noted that

they receive heavy fog for 5 hours every night. The site never goes more than 2 weeks without

rain, and most of the time the rain comes in heavy bursts.2

- 68 -

B.2 Community Assessment - March 2008

The second community assessment trip took place from March 9-15, 2008. During this

trip, the travel team stayed primarily on site at Jacob’s Ladder to perform surveying, site layout

mapping, and dew collection research projects. The following information was obtained relating

to this project.

March 12: Interview with Brother Anthony

Brother Anthony - Resident director of Jacob’s Ladder

Jacob’s Ladder - Moneague, Jamaica

Brother Anthony explained that the caretakers and residents rely heavily upon two

outdoor pavilions which have been built on site. During the day, caretakers take the residents

outside to the pavilions and sing to them as a group due to a lack of resources. The caretakers

have expressed to him that it is difficult to properly meet the needs of the 32 residents currently

on site and that it will be more difficult as more residents are transferred to Jacob’s Ladder.

Because of this, Brother Anthony has begun to construct a small meditation garden for the

children that currently includes a small path leading to a bench. He thinks it would be a good

idea to incorporate a larger therapeutic garden for the children to help them develop.3

- 69 -

B.3 Customer Needs Evaluation - Matt Moran

Matt Moran - MSC Liaison between Penn State University and MSC Jamaica

Since August 2007, Mr. Moran has served as the MSC representative to Penn State as

students and faculty began designing for Jacob’s Ladder. After the two community assessment

trips to Jacob’s Ladder, project ideas were pitched to Mr. Moran to gauge their feasibility and

appropriateness. Mr. Moran was excited about the possibility of a sensory garden to be built on

site and the ability to incorporate mission groups into building portions of the garden. In August

2008, Mr. Moran relayed the idea of a library to MSC Jamaica planners, including Jack Samwel

and Father Gregory Ramkissoon. MSC staff thought the construction of a library on site would

be beneficial in the future development of the site and would help link the work done by both

Penn State University and MSC.6

- 70 -

Appendix C: Demonstration Village Future Research Components

Water Catchment Research

A large problem facing rural farmers of

Jamaica is the ability to collect water for

agricultural purposes during the dry season,

which stretches from December to April.35 The

typical approach to overcoming this problem is to

build a concrete water catchment. However, for

poor rural farmers, concrete is too expensive as a

building material, and is therefore not feasible to

use in water catchment design. To address this problem, a water catch will be designed for the

Demonstration Village to investigate new materials for lining the catchment surface with the goal

of eliminating the need for concrete. In combination with a solar-powered pump, the water will

be piped to various portions of the Demonstration Village for irrigation purposes.16

High Tunnel Research

High tunnels, similar to greenhouses, are

used in tropical regions to control the

environment by regulating rainfall and

monitoring integrated pest management. Two

30’x100’ high tunnels will be built on site to

research the effect that high tunnels have on crop

yield in Jamaica. An integrated water catchment

will be built for the high tunnels to supply water for irrigation.16

Figure 80: Demonstration Village proposed water catchment

Figure 81: Demonstration Village proposed high tunnel system

- 71 -

Alternative Housing Construction

To monitor the various pilot projects, an

office building will be constructed that will

demonstrate hurricane resistant building

techniques. The roof will harness the building’s

water needs, and a living filter will be used to

treat the wastewater generated from the office.

The building will introduce new and cheaper

methods and materials for construction.16

Permaculture Design

Permaculture attempts to identify the

various components of an overall agricultural

system and observe how the multiple components

interact. For the Demonstration Village fruit trees,

cover crops, and root crops will be planted

together in a polyculture manner. In doing so, the

various plants benefit from one another when

properly planned and maintained. In addition, hillside farming will be investigated to help

develop feasible agricultural solutions to planting on steep slopes left from mining efforts.

Currently, ⅕ of Jamaica has been or is currently being mined for bauxite. Therefore, many small

farmers across the island deal with problems associated with planting on abandoned bauxite-

mined land. Techniques demonstrated at Jacob’s Ladder will be used to educate these small

farmers to help them find practical solutions to their problems.16

Figure 82: Demonstration Village proposed office

Figure 83: Permaculture is an attempt to mimic nature through human endeavors x

- 72 -

Mobile Chicken Coop

To reclaim the soil, mobile chicken coops

will move across the site based upon a fixed

rotation pattern. The chickens will help maintain

the vegetative growth on site and provide natural

fertilizer for the soil. In addition, they will help

control pests and insects in the agricultural plots.

A portable fence will surround and move along

with the chicken coop which can be manually moved or attached to a tractor.16

Indigenous Nature Corridor

A separate parcel of land will be sectioned

off and left as the natural habitat so as to observe

the difference before and after implementation of

the Demonstration Village. This plot of land will

also attract the indigenous wildlife of the area.16

Rotational Grazing Pens

Portable electric fences for goat and sheep

will be moved around the site in a rotational

grazing pattern to help reclaim the soil. These

pens will also be located closer to the cottages on

site to enhance sensory stimulation for the

residents. Working in collaboration with the

mobile chicken coops, these livestock will help

control thicker vegetation on site.16

Figure 84: Demonstration Village proposed mobile chicken coop design

Figure 85: Location of nature corridor at Jacob’s Ladder

Figure 86: Goats and sheep will be the primary source of livestock on site y

- 73 -

Composting Facilities

In collaboration with hotels in Ocho Rios,

hotel kitchen waste will be collected and

transported to Jacob’s Ladder. Here it will be

used in small-scale in-vessel composting

operations in which the output can be used to

reclaim the soil. The system will involve

manually rolling drums of organic waste material

down a concrete chute. 16

Biofuel Processing Plant

Cooking oil will also be obtained from

the hotels in Ocho Rios which will then be used

in a small-scale biodiesel processing plant. This

biodiesel will be used to fuel an on-site truck

which will transport caretakers back and forth to

their communities. The biodiesel truck will also

serve as an advertising medium for Jacob’s

Ladder. By working in collaboration with hotels in the tourism district of Jamaica, Jacob’s Ladder

will eventually include a small ecotourism and compassion tourism sector which will help

educate international visitors about the importance of sustainability. 16

Figure 87: Demonstration Village proposed composting facility

Figure 88: Demonstration Village proposed biofuel processing plant

- 74 -

Appendix D: Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Matrix

Size

Location

- 75 -

Foundation

Lighting

- 76 -

Thermal Comfort

- 77 -

Appendix E: Concept Selection Matrix

Size

Location

- 78 -

Foundation

Lighting

- 79 -

Thermal Comfort

- 80 -

Appendix F: Wind Rose Chart 6

Wind Rose ChartLongitude -77.097, Latitude 18.304

Percent of Total Wind Energy (Blue) and Time (Gray):Circle Center = 0.0%Inner Circle = 15.0%Outer Circle = 30.0%

- 81 -

Appendix G: Roof Frame DesignG.1 Roof Strength Engineering Calculations

Wooden Roof Frame

Green roof will be built within the 8” compartments along the perimeter of the frame

Assume all wood to be Hem Fir at Grade 3: Bending stress (fb)= 500 psi*See Appendix G.2 to determine bending stress for visually graded dimensioned lumber

Green Roof: Gravel layer: 1 in Soil layer: 4 in

A B C D E F G H I

J

K

8” 2ʼ4” 3ʼ6” 3ʼ6” 3ʼ6” 3ʼ6” 2ʼ4” 8”

8”

8”

- 82 -

Beams A,B,H,I

x

W

Individual Loads of Components on Roof: Gravel: 105 lb/ft 3

Soil (assume completely saturated with rain): 125 lb/ft 3

Total Load: Gravel: 105 lb/ft 3 * [8 ft * (8/12) ft * (1/12) ft] = 46.67 lb Soil + Rain: 125 lb/ft 3 * [8 ft * (8/12) ft * (4/12) ft] = 222.22 lb Total: 268.9 lbDistributed Total Load: 268.9 lb / ((8/12) ft * 8 ft) = 50.42 lb/ft 2

Multiply by span distance between cross beams (1.75 ft): 50.42 lb/ft 2 * (4/12) ft = 16.8 lb/ft ~ 20 lb/ft

Free Body Diagram:

8 ft

20 lb/ft

RA RB

Determine Reaction Forces: ΣMA = 0 = RB * 8 ft - 20 lb/ft * 8 ft * 4 ft RB = 80 lb ΣFy = 0 = RA + RB - 20 lb/ft * 8 ft RA = 80 lb

- 83 -

Shear Diagram:

V = 80 lb - 20 lb/ft * x

Moment Diagram:

M = 80 lb * x - 10 lb/ft * x 2

Determine maximum moment: Mmax = M(4) =160 lb-ftConvert to lb-in Mmax = 160 lb-ft * 12 in/ft = 1920 lb-inDetermine required section of modulus (Z) for beam using Flexura Formula: Z = M / fb

Z = 1920 lb-in / 500 psi Z = 3.84 in 3

Find corresponding lumber nominal size from Appendix G.3: 2 x 4

- 84 -

Beams C,D,E,F,G:

x

PP

W W

Individual Loads of Components on Roof: Gravel: 105 lb/ft 3

Soil (assume completely saturated with rain): 125 lb/ft 3

Solar Array: 500 lbW:

Total Load: Gravel: 105 lb/ft 3 * [13 ft * (8/12) ft * (1/12) ft] = 75.83 lb Soil + Rain: 125 lb/ft 3 * [13 ft * (8/12) ft * (4/12) ft] = 361.11 lb Total: 436.94 lbDistributed Total Load: 436.94 lb / [13 ft * (8/12) ft] = 50.42 lb/ft 2

Multiply by span distance between cross beams (3.5 ft): 50.42 lb/ft 2 * 3.5 ft = 176.46 lb/ft ~ 180 lb/ft

P: Total Load divided by number of cross beams (D,E,F): 500 lb / 3 = 166.67 lb Beam Load divided into because solar array contacts beam at two points: 166.67 lb / 2 = 83.33 lb - 84 lb

- 85 -

Free Body Diagram:

8 ft6 ft

180 lb/ft

84 lb

RA RB

84 lb

8 in2 ft

180 lb/ft

8 in

Determine Reaction Forces: ΣMA = 0 = RB * 8 ft - 140 lb/ft * (8/12) ft * (4/12) ft - 84 lb * 2 ft - 84 lb * 6 ft - 140 lb/ft * (8/12) ft * (8 - 4/12) ft RB = 198.33 lb ~ 200 lb ΣFy = 0 = RA + RB - 140 lb/ft * (8/12) ft * 2 + 84 lb * 2 RA = 198.33 lb ~ 200 lb

- 86 -

Shear Diagram:

Moment Diagram:

Determine maximum moment: Mmax = M(4) =207 lb-ftConvert to lb-in Mmax = 207 lb-ft * 12 in/ft = 2484 lb-inDetermine required section of modulus (Z) for beam using Flexura Formula: Z = M / fb Z = 2484 lb-in / 500 psi Z = 4.97 in 3

Find corresponding lumber nominal size from Appendix G.3: 2 x 5

- 87 -

Beams J,K

Within container, two vertical supports were placed along each 20 foot wall. For simplicity, assume these supports act as one single support in the center of the wall.

x

PPP P T TPTT

Loads on Beam: T = Reaction force from beams A,B,H,I T = 80 lb P = Reaction force from beams C,D,E,F,G P = 200 lb

Free Body Diagram:

200 l

b80

lb80

lb80

lb80

lb20

0 lb

200 l

b20

0 lb

200 l

b

RA RB

8 in

3 ft 3.5 ft 3.5 ft 3.5 ft 3.5 ft 3 ft

8 in

20 ft

RC

Determine Reaction Forces: ΣMA = 0 = RC * 10 ft - RB * 20 ft - 80 lb * (8/12) ft - 200 lb * 3 ft - 200 lb * 6.5 ft - 200 lb * 10 ft - 200 lb * 13.5 ft - 200 lb * 17 ft - 80 lb *19.33 ft - 80 lb * 20 ft RC = 2 * RB

RB = 330 lb ΣFy = 0 = RA + RB + RC - 80 lb * 4 - 200 lb * 5 RA = 330 lb RC = 660 lb

- 88 -

Shear Diagram:

Moment Diagram:

Determine maximum moment: Mmax = M(10) =563.4 lb-ftConvert to lb-in: Mmax = 563.4 lb-ft * 12 in/ft = 6761 lb-in

Determine the allowable moment for the steel side rail: Left top side rail: 60 x 60 x 3 mm Square Hollow Structural Steel (A500 Gr B) Yield Strength (fy): 250 MPa Z = .755 in3

Right top side rail: 4.5 mm thick “U” welded continuously to 4.5 mm thick angle, both pieces made from Rolled High Tensile Steel (A36 Gr 50) Yield Strength: 330 MPa

- 89 -

Determine allowable bending stress (use left top side rail because of lower yield strength): fb = 0.6 * fy = 0.6 * 250 MPa fb = 150 MPA Convert to psi: fb = 150 MPA = 21760 psi Determine the allowable moment for the steel beam: *See Appendix G.4 to find Z for Square HSS M steel = Z * fb = .755 in3 * 21760 psi M steel = 16428.8 lb-in Determine required section of modulus (Z) for beam using Flexura Formula: Z = M / fb

Z = 6761 lb-in / 500 psi Z = 13.5 in 3

Find corresponding lumber nominal size from Appendix G.3: 2 x 10

However, if the wooden beam and steel beam are in contact with one another across the

entire span, the two beams can be considered as one. It was found that the allowable moment for

the steel beam was ~2.4 times greater than the maximum moment generated by the applied

loads. Therefore, a 2 x 6 wooden beam will be sufficient.

- 90 -

G.2 Bending Stress for Visually Graded Dimensioned Lumber 36

- 91 -

G.3 Section Properties of Standard Dressed (S4S) Sawn Lumber 37

- 92 -

G.4 Square HSS Dimensions and Properties 38

- 93 -

Appendix H: Green Roof DesignH.1 Percolation Test 39

Items needed:

• Coffee Can

• Ruler

• Marker

• Watch

• Nail

• Hammer

• Soil

• Liquid measuring cup

• Bucket

Preparing the coffee can:

• Take the coffee can and make sure one end is

completely open.

• On the opposite end, punch numerous holes

into the bottom. There should be enough holes

that when water is poured through, the can

does not obstruct the flow, but can still support

the soil.

• Take a ruler and measure 4” from the coffee can end with holes punched through.

• Mark this height with the marker.

• The coffee can should now look like the above illustration.

Measuring the percolation rate:

This test will measure the percolation rate of the soil for both dry and wet conditions.

1) Obtain soil from a portion of land undeveloped on site with vegetation currently growing in

it. (This should be similar soil to that which will be used for the green roof.)

4”

- 94 -

2) Fill the coffee can with soil until it reaches the 4” line. Make sure that the soil is compacted in

the can.

3) Measure 500 mL of water.

4) Pour water into soil and let it drain through the holes in the bottom of the coffee can. Collect

water in a bucket and time how long it takes for water to drain through soil.

5) Measure volume of water collected and record.

6) Pour collected water back into soil and let it drain through the holes in the bottom of the

coffee can a second time. Collect water in a bucket and time how long it takes for the water to

drain through the soil for the second time.

7) Measure volume of water collected and record.

Initial volume of water (mL)

Dry RunVolume of collected water (mL)

Time for water to drain (s)

Wet RunVolume of collected water (mL)

Time for water to drain (s)

8) Divide the time for the water to drain by the volume of water collected for both the dry and

wet run. Convert this number from s/mL to min/in.

*Procedure adapted from process outlined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

- 95 -

H.2 Green Roof Calculations 33

0

50

100

150

200

250

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

181204207

150

121125148

220

131

7872

113

30-yr (1951-1980) Monthly Mean Rainfall for Jacob’s LadderRa

infa

ll (m

m)

Month

Design for a 30 yr - 24 hr storm: Between 1951-1980, the highest monthly mean rainfall occurred in May with 220 mm of rain daily. Assume that for a 30 yr - 24 hr storm, all 220 mm of rain falls in a single hour.

Determine corresponding drainage rate: Convert mm to in: 220 mm = 8.66 in Divide into minutes in an hour: 60 min / 8.66 in = 6.97 min/inch ~ 7 mpi *For reference, Hurricane Ike which occurred in September 2008 dumped a maximum rainfall of approximately 50 mm/hr which equates to ~ 30 mpi.40 Therefore, designing the drainage rate of the green roof soil for 7 mpi is conservative.

During the build trip from November 22-28, 2008, two members from the build team

collected soil samples from the location which will be transplanted to the green roof. The soil in

this area was only 3 inches deep before reaching limestone, which would be an acceptable depth

for the green roof. Following the procedure outlined in Appendix H.1, the drainage rate for the

soil was determined for both dry and wet conditions.

- 96 -

Initial volume of water (mL) 500

Dry RunVolume of collected water (mL) 470

Time for water to drain (s) 17

Wet RunVolume of collected water (mL) 440

Time for water to drain (s) 35

From this test, it was found that the drainage rate for the dry soil was 0.07 mpi and wet

soil was 0.14 mpi. These values are too low because the soil was not properly compacted during

the percolation test and water was able to flow through more easily. However, these values do

suggest that the soil is capable of draining at a suitable rate for use in the green roof. In addition,

site directors noted that the site has never severely flooded during heavy rain storms. Therefore

this soil will be suitable for use in the green roof.

- 97 -

Appendix I: Week Itinerary and Build Tasks

Below is the week’s itinerary covering a summary of the main tasks completed during

the trip. In addition to the tasks listed below, soil surveys were conducted throughout the week.

Saturday, November 22

2:30 pm - All members of the build team arrive in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

4:30 pm - Build team stops at a hardware store in Ocho Rios to determine available materials and

supplies for use during the week. Price quotes are taken for all possible needed materials but no

supplies are bought because exact details of the container must be determined after examining it.

6:15 pm - Build team arrives at Jacob’s Ladder and unloads bags. Next, the shipping container

was inspected and modifications to the overall design were made.

Sunday, November 23

7:30 am - The build team meets with Brother Anthony to discuss plans for the library and to

determine what materials are available on site. Tools and supplies are gathered from around the

site and a work site is created underneath the chapel.

11:00 am - While half of the team constructed a tent over the roof of the container to prepare for

working in the rain, the other members of the team drove into the nearby town of Moneague to

check out supplies available at the local hardware store. Specialty items were not available so the

team drove back to the hardware store in Ocho Rios to buy supplies. A local trucker delivered

the larger materials such as lumber back to the site.

- 98 -

3:30 pm - After returning with the materials

and completing the tent structure, the build

team began cleaning the container surface

from rust to prepare for priming. The roof of

the container was particularly bad and

required lots of work to remove the rust.

4:30 pm - To prepare for installing framing on

the inside of the container, the inside was

primed next.

Monday, November 24

8:30 am - While half of the team begins putting on the

first coat of paint to the interior of the container, the

other half of the team gathers up additional supplies

on site. Brother Anthony showed the team various

donated materials including windows, doors, and

gutters which could be used for the library.

10:30 am - While two members of the team head to

the Moneague hardware store to pick up additional

supplies, the other four members begin cutting out the

opening for the door. The wooden frame for the door is constructed and markings for where the

windows and air vents will be located are marked on the container.

Figure 89: Using tarps, a tent was erected over the container to allow the roof to be painted during the rain

Figure 90: Using both a reciprocating saw and an angle grinder, the openings in the container were cut out

- 99 -

2:30 pm - While the door opening continues to be cut,

other members begin priming the roof of the library.

5:00 pm - The opening for the door is completed and

framing for the door begins. Cutting the openings for the

windows begins next.

Tuesday, November 25

7:00 am - As the framing for the windows are being

worked on, the openings for the air vents begin to be cut.

In addition, the first layer of paint is applied to the roof.

10:30 am - Two members of the team head to the

Moneague hardware store to pick up additional

supplies. Meanwhile, construction of the first

bookshelf and interior support frame are built.

These are built into the window frames to help

provide rigidness for the walls.

2:30 pm - The air vents along with necessary

framing are built after the openings are cut into

the wall.

6:00 pm - Touch-up painting is added to sections

of the roof. In addition, a second coat of paint is painted on the inside walls and ceiling.

Wednesday, November 26

7:00 am- Construction of the air vents continues as the rest of the bookshelves are framed on the

inside. Framing for the green roof support structure is also begun.

Figure 91: Designing the frames for the windows of the library

Figure 92: Constructing the air vents

- 100 -

1:00 pm - Rubber waterproof lining and caulking is added to all openings in the walls. The

outside framing of the windows is then attached.

3:00 pm - The green roof frame is completed and placed on the ground beside the container.

During the next trip, the green roof will be completed along with the solar array and at that point

placed on the roof of the library.

Thursday, November 27

6:30 am - The final bookshelves are built inside and finishing details are made.

9:00 am - The build team took a day off and traveled to Ocho Rios to allow team members to

experience the cultural aspects of Jamaica.

8:30 pm - The container and work site is cleaned and supplies are taken back to the tool shed.

Friday, November 28

6:30 am - Final pictures are taken of the library and a short film is made which will be used to

inform individuals who donated books where the books will ultimately be going.

9:00 am - After a successful build week, the car is packed and the team heads back to the airport

- 101 -

Appendix J: Informational Flyer for Book Drive Organizers

- 102 -

Appendix K: Dew Collection Research Testing

During the March 2008 trip, numerous dew collection projects were performed to

determine the feasibility of implementing a large-scale dew collection system on site. The

following tests were performed and found that low-cost dew collection techniques are not

practical.

Vertical Mesh Wall

A stretch of 12’ x 20’ woven plastic mesh was

stretched vertically between two pillars at the highest

point on site and aligned perpendicularly to the wind

blowing on site. Relying upon wind to blow dew

into the mesh, water then forms on the mesh and

drips in to a gutter situated beneath the mesh. This

technique is used primarily in the mountains along

the coast of South America and relies upon sea breeze

to carry the fog into the dew collectors. Although the test dew collector was situated at a location

with high winds, the system did not collect significant amounts of water.41

Materials Testing

After determining that vertical mesh walls were unable to collect significant amounts of

water, observations were made on site to determine what materials naturally collected dew.

Galvanized steel (corrugated and flat), painted steel (corrugated and flat), car metal, and plastic

were all tested at approximately 45 degree angles located in the same area.

Figure 93: A dew collector consisting of plastic woven mesh stretched between two pillars of the chapel

- 103 -

In addition, a hole was dug in the ground, lined with a plastic bag, and anchored with a

large stone in the center. This methods attempts to utilize the colder temperature in the ground

to attract the dew. After performing these small-scale projects, it was found that car steel and

plastic were the materials most likely to have dew form on them. The plastic dew collector had

the best measurable results and produced 10 ml/ft2.

Ramped Plastic

After determining which materials were most prone to collect water, large-scale dew

collection systems were designed using plastic bags. Two 20 foot wooden beams were angled at

30 degrees and lined with plastic trash bags in between them. The first system was pulled tight

to provide a taught plastic surface, and a second system was left to sag in the center. Both

collectors had a plastic surface area of 36 ft2. It was found that neither collector design were

capable of catching water because the dew was unable to form on the plastic bag material.

Figure 94: Galvanized corrugated steel

Figure 95: Painted corrugated steel

Figure 96: Plastic

- 104 -

Upon completion of the dew collection research projects, it was determined that dew

collection at Jacob’s Ladder is not feasible when relying upon inexpensive materials. After the

trip, Dr. Daniel Beysens of the International Organization for Dew Utilization was contacted to

determine the cost of high tech materials developed for dew collection. Dr. Beysens is working

on two different materials which they have used successfully throughout Europe and parts of

India. The first is a special foil with properties ideal for dew formation and the second is a paint

which can be applied to surfaces to increase dew formation. However, the costs to cover the

entire shipping container in foil would be ~$725.00 and in paint ~$525.00 before shipping costs.42

This high cost made dew collection an impractical solution for Jacob’s Ladder.

Figure 97: Ramped plastic dew collector with sag in the center

Figure 98: Ramped plastic dew collector pulled tight across

- 105 -

Appendix L: Detailed Project Inventory and Budget

Project Materials Quantity Provided by: PricePSU MSC

FoundationCement 16 - 20 kg bags x $0.00Sand .7 m^3 x $0.00Gravel / Stone 1.3 m^3 x $0.00

Container

20' Shipping Container 1 x $2,056.37Trucking and crane service 1 x $493.53Sandpaper 16 sheets x $19.20Sponges 4 x $1.13Metal Primer 1 - 3.9 liter can x $28.62Weatherproof Paint 1 - 3.9 liter can x $28.62Spray Paint 4 cans x $13.84Paint Thinner 3 cans x $17.16

Windows2” x 4” (for frame) 7 -12’ x $70.00Plexiglass windows 4 x $0.003” Hinges 8 x $0.00

Air Vents2” x 4” (for frame) 6 - 12’ x $60.001” x 4” (for angled boards) 2 - 10’ x $15.00Fine plastic mesh 12 ft2 x $0.00

Door2” x 4” (for frame) 6 - 12’ x $0.00Wooden outside door 1 x $0.004” Hinges 2 x $3.39

Entrance Ramp

2” x 4”s (for ramp support) 4 -12’ x $0.00½” plywood (for ramp surface) 1 - 4’ x 8’ x $0.00

Library Interior

1” x 5” (for bookshelf) 13 - 16’ x $0.002” x 4” (for bookshelf support) 8 - 12’ x $80.00Children's Books 2075 x $0.00Metal Primer 1 - 3.9 liter can x $28.62Paint 1 - 3.9 liter can x $28.62

Green Roof

½” - ¾”" Gravel (from site) 3 ft3 x $0.00Soil (from site) 12 ft3 x $0.00Weed control fabric (non-woven) 150 ft2 x $16.996 mil black plastic 250 ft2 x $26.23Blue plastic tarp 20’ x 25’ x $23.75

Grass Seed enough to cover 36 ft2 x $15.00

Low growing vegetation enough to cover 36 ft2 x $0.00

2" x 6"s (for frame) 2 - 20' & 9 - 10' x $126.67½” plywood 2 - 4’ x 8’ x $25.00Gutters 4 - 10’ x $0.00Downspout 2 - 8’ x $0.00Rainhead 2 x $0.00

- 106 -

Fasteners

3” screws 150 x $0.004” screws 2 - 1 lb boxes x $15.782” screws 24 x $1.55¾” screws 150 x $0.001 ½” lag screws 100 x $0.00

Total $3,195.07*Prices recorded as $0.00 were donated materials

Tools Used:

Circular SawPaint BrushRollersPaint TraysHammerDrillScrewdriverWheel Barrow

ChiselCaulk GunWrench SetAngle GrinderReciprocating SawSafety GlassesGlovesSquare

LevelTape MeasureRopeLadderBucket

- 107 -

Vita

Steven F. Marshall1301 Hyde Park Drive, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601

(717) 314-9972 iamspud5@gmail.comwww.personal.psu.edu/sfm5007

Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 2008 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering Certificate of Community Service and Engineering

Schreyer Honors College, University Park, PA, 2008 Honors In Engineering Design Thesis Title: Sustainable Design and Construction of a Library for Disabled Children of Jamaica

The University of New South Wales, Sydney, AUS, 2007 Participant of Energy Tomorrow Study Program

Jacob’s Ladder PSU Development Team LeaderHaddon, Jamaica, 2007 – Present• Designed site layout for 100 acres, including village design of 115 homes for physically and

mentally handicapped individuals• Public relations between Mustard Seeds Community, Penn State, Jamaican Bauxite Institute,

and University of Technology Jamaica • Projects focused on sustainable development, rainwater catchment, alternative energy (solar,

wind), sustainable agriculture (high tunnel research, composting), biofuel production, sustainable building design, wastewater treatment (vegetated sand filter), and sensory design

• Developed public relation materials and project website• Presented Penn State’s plan for future development at Jacob’s Ladder to the Prime Minister of

Jamaica• Traveled to Jamaica three times to perform community assessment, information gathering, and

implement build projects

Environmental / Sustainability Education ResearchUniversity Park, PSU, May 2008 - September 2008• Developed teaching structure for High School environmental educational material revolving

around Zero Energy Homes• Material will be used at a PSU PA High School Teachers Workshop designed to promote

environmental education

Education

Work Experience

Community Assessment ResearchUniversity Park, PSU, December 2007 - October 2008• Created and taught educational material on community assessment to Penn State engineering

students • Material incorporated into class required for engineers pursuing “Engineers and Community

Engagement” minor at Penn State

United Campus Ministry Leadership TeamUniversity Park, PSU, August 2005 - April 2008Vice President (August 2005 - May 2007)Treasurer (May 2007 - April 2008)• Ran leadership meetings and presented organizational updates to supporting congregational

board members• Organized service trip to gulf states for hurricane clean-up four times, 350+ people; extensive

communications and planning experience• Organized a barn dance four times, 600+ people; public relations and planning experience

PULSE Worship Band PresidentUniversity Park, PSU, January 2008 - December 2008• Formed organization as a freshman; organizational and leadership experience

Theatrical Lighting Internship Lancaster County Bible Church, Lancaster, PA, May 2006 - August 2006

• George Settlemyer Fund for International Agriculture Experiences, April 2008• International Journal of Service Learning in Engineering - Carter Academic Service

Entrepreneur Grant, February 2008• Schreyer Ambassador Travel Grant, April 2007, December 2007, February 2008, April 2008,

November 2008• Schreyer Honors College Summer 2008 Research Scholarship, May 2008

• Humanitarian Engineering: Community Engagement Award, April 2008• College of Engineering Dean’s List, 5 semesters• Nominated for Penn State University LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award,

December 2008 (decision pending)

• ”Sustainable Development for Jacob’s Ladder”, Mustard Seed Communities Annual Benefit Luncheon, New York Hilton Hotel, 28 September 2008

Grants Received

Awards

Presentations

Tanzania , Samaritan Village Orphanage Arusha, May 2007– June 2007• Worked with local carpenters to build a cooking facility for the orphanage • Tutored children in elementary grade schoolwork

Australia, The University of New South Wales: Energy TomorrowSydney, Darwin, Cairns & Alice Springs, June 2007 - August 2007• Traveled throughout Australia studying alternative energy, sustainable development, and

conservation

Jamaica, Pennsylvania State University: Jacob’s Ladder Development TeamKingston & Moneague, January 2008, March 2008, November 2008 • Performed two community assessment trips to aid in development of Jacob’s Ladder• Organized and ran a build trip to construct a library out of recycled shipping containers with

the addition of a green roof and solar array

Jordan, Pennsylvania State University: Department of Crop and Soil ScienceAmman, Madaba, Petra, & Aqaba, May 2008• Traveled across Jordan studying the effects that human civilization has had on natural

resources throughout history as well as the impact which natural resources have had on the development of civilizations

International Experience