Building for the Future in the Dominican Republic

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Farmer to Farmer volunteer Aaron Chevalley is completing the last leg of a Green Building Concepts & LEED Design assignment in the Dominican Republic. For the past week and a half, Mr. Chevalley has delivered presentations and taught a course at Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña's School of Architecture in Santo Domingo on LEED standards. These guidelines provide a framework for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings, structures that are resource-efficient and environmentally sound.

Mr. Chevalley presenting to students
In order to promote measurable community improvement, the class focuses on hurricane and earthquake resistant design, sustainability, and even goes beyond the scope of architecture by touching on community connectivity and cultural sensitivity. The course is no easy A, as it is centered around discussions, which lead into student participation and handouts. Daily assignments are given, including a midterm exam, and the class culminates in a final project in which the students, architects themselves, must research and design a basic structural plan that follows LEED principles.


Mr. Chevalley during a class discussion
Mr. Chevalley earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arkansas School of Architecture in 2007. He is a LEED Accredited Professional and has previously applied his expertise to help improve communities in Peru and Nicaragua.

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