Sommerfeld has blueprint for state, national accolades
Rick Sommerfeld is changing the face of sustainable architecture, the future of his students and, quite possibly, the fate of the earth. Sommerfeld, senior instructor in the College of Architecture and Planning, played an integral role in the University of Colorado’s first-place finish in the 2005 Solar Decathlon, an international event sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The decathlon attracts teams from 19 colleges and universities around the world to design, build and demonstrate the advantages of living in a comfortable, energy-efficient, solar powered home. As faculty advisor, Sommerfeld helped the college bring home its second consecutive victory.
In addition, Sommerfeld and his students took two of the top three awards at the Boulder Human Society’s “Barkitecture” design competition sponsored by Design Within Reach, competing against 11 professional architecture firms. “They were the only students invited to participate,” Sommerfeld says. The sponsor was so impressed that they will display the students’ work at their Boulder showroom between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The work was also displayed at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMOCA).
“The most rewarding aspect of both of these design competitions is the effect on the future of students,” Sommerfeld says.
His students agree.
“It is from educators and practitioners like [Rick] that we can learn firsthand how we ought to design for a more sustainable future,” several of his students wrote.
“I have never before felt good about what I was doing in design, and I never really felt I got good guidance from a teacher,” writes student Cara Albanese. “But [Sommerfeld] helped me to realize my design abilities and potential through his advice and suggestions. I was so proud of my work.”
Sommerfeld has taught computer media, green technology, building information modeling and studio courses, starting as an honorarium instructor in 2001 then as a senior instructor from 2003. He also serves on the college’s lecture series committee and the department’s curriculum and scholarship committees.