We couldn’t be prouder of our DBR | Design Build Research students who have just completed the large-scale installation of ELEVATE, a collection of warming huts for the TED2016 conference. 

Inspired by high-alpine shelters and BC’s backcountry winter experience, the ELEVATE huts provide a special platform and a unique point of conversation for TEDsters to share ideas between various sessions of the conference.

ELEVATE is DBR’s latest design-build course, which kicked-off in November 2015.  Students designed the shelters using Laminated Veneer Lumber (kindly donated by METSA Wood), fabricated the components with CNC technology and installed on site this weekend.

Each DBR project is built to be upcycled and provide legacy uses in our local community, so the ELEVATE huts are not just for TEDsters to enjoy.  After the conference, the shelters will be retrofit by a new class of DBR students, and then permanently installed in one of BC’s outdoor recreation sites.  Here they will serve a new community of climbers, backcountry skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

We founded DBR to offer a new model for design education and research.  The school is dedicated to teaching hands-on design and construction skills to socially-vested designers of all ages.  DBR also offers a research platform with a focus in systemic change in building for climate, environment, disaster and global shelter needs.

For more, visit www.dbr-school.org #DBRelevate.