It’s officially been one month of Rural Studio for the spring semester of 3rd-Years! Our group of 10 comes from a variety of states: Florida, Illinois, Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia. All of us were excited not only to make our way to Newbern, Alabama, for a busy and rewarding semester, but also to see our friends/future team. On move-in day, we chose our Pods, unloaded our belongings, and settled in.

Week one began with convocation, where we learned about Rural Studio’s current projects and teams and began meeting professors, staff, and other Rural Studio students. This taste of Rural Studio left us excited about the upcoming week when we would see these projects in person.

“Neckdown” Week is a time for maintaining past projects and making headway on physical tasks. The week gave us a chance to break in our work boots and jackets while learning shop safety, site protocol, and the expectations for the semester ahead. We met the incredible faculty and staff who keep Rural Studio running and began to understand how the site, community and Studio, Woodshop, History classes all connect. By the end of our first few weeks, we were ready for what we had all been waiting for: getting onto a site of our own!

Mark’s Home Resumes

The continuation of Mark’s Home began not on-site but in the Greensboro studio. Before picking up a single tool, we immersed ourselves in the construction documents. We translated the drawings into detailed 3D digital models to better understand the sequencing and assembly of the project. Every stud, sheathing panel, header, and truss was modeled intentionally.

This process required us to slow down and truly read the drawings as instructions rather than representations. As we modeled each component, questions surfaced. How do the trusses bear on the walls? Where does additional blocking need to be placed? How does the ZIP System® align at openings and corners? By assembling the house digitally, piece by piece, we strengthened our understanding of how it will come together in reality. 

From there, our studio worked collaboratively to create a step-by-step timeline for the semester. We mapped out the sequencing of tasks on site, identifying what must happen before the next stage can begin. Thinking through this process allowed us to visualize the semester as a whole and recognize how each workday builds toward the next milestone. With our models complete and a plan in place, we felt prepared to transition from studio work to the physical construction!

Site Time!

We took a few trips out to Mark’s Home to observe the existing work, take measurements, and double check our construction documents. After thank, the time had finally arrived to get our boots on the ground! We prepared a shared playlist to have while we work on site, and we were ready to go!

We began by checking measurements and moving materials into place, planning our steps of construction for the rest of the week. Our first order of business: the 500-pound storm door for the tornado shelter! After chiseling the opening for the door to the right width, it was time to do some heavy lifting.  It took six people to move the door, but we were able to hoist it into its spot—perfect fit! Our team drilled holes into the concrete blocks for the screws that will secure the door.

During that week, we also moved an laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beam over the front porch of Mark’s Home. After putting up scaffolding, we hoisted the LVL beam into two slots in the wall and screwed the beam into its special brackets in the wall. This beam will help support the roof and the trusses over the porch.

The next challenge we faced was preparing the concrete footings for the columns. We marked the centers of the footings for the special brackets that would come later to hold our wooden columns in place. Now that everything has been verified and marked, we are ready for the next steps!

Woodshop Warriors

In the Woodshop, under the guidance of Lecturer & Design Build Manager Steve Long, the chair project is officially underway. Each group selected a wooden chair designed by a well-known architect that we will study and reconstruct over the course of the semester. 

Before cutting any material, we began with research. We examined the history of each chair, the design intent behind it, and the joinery strategies used to achieve its form. From there, each team created a detailed storyboard outlining the steps required to construct the chair. We identified the order of operations, the tools needed, potential jigs that must be fabricated, and realistic time estimates of each stage.

This process mirrors the planning happening in Studio and on site. Thoughtful sequencing is essential, whether assembling a house or crafting a chair. As we grow more confident with the shop tools and refine our woodworking skills, the atmosphere in the woodshop is becoming more focused and collaborative. Though it is still early in the semester, each group has started translating research into strategy and, soon, will translate into physical form. 

Local History Exploration

In our History class led by Instructor Dick Hudgens, we have visited two historical buildings around Greensboro. During site visits, students practice sketching details and elevations, as well as discovering construction details and historical knowledge to better understand the context of these houses. Mr. Hudgens encourages us to read the floorplans and look critically for clues that might reveal original uses of the house or to uncover how the house could have changed over the years. We are learning what makes these houses so special.

The first house we visited, Glencairn, was a Federalist Mansion built in the 1830s. The beautiful columns and detailed ornamentation around the front door captivated us. During our visit, we walked the perimeter of the house and observed how the house had expanded and been altered throughout its past. Once inside, we saw a beautifully furnished home with antique pieces of furniture and art, most of them original to the house. We learned the historical uses of the different rooms, and what those uses said about society at that time. 

The second home we visited was Magnolia Grove, which had belonged to Spanish-American War Hero and Congressman Richmond Pearson Hobson. It was built in the 1840s in the Greek Revival Style. The large front porch was held up by large doric columns that were carved out of brick by a skilled mason. We walked the perimeter of the house and its adjacent dwellings that once had been for the owner’s slaves. Inside the house was a beautiful self-supporting staircase that amazed the whole class. We sat outside in the beautiful weather and sketched an elevation of the front of the house and an elevation of the kitchen building. 

Student Life: A Meal with Mark

Last Friday morning, our client, Mark, welcomed us to site for breakfast. He grilled sausages and ham, and scrambled eggs. We gathered to share the meal outside in the space that will soon become his home.

It was a meaningful way to begin this semester of work. Sitting together on site, hearing Mark speak about his hopes for the house, and sharing conversation reminded us why this project matters. Architecture here is personal. It is rooted in relationships and trust.

As we move further into the semester, we are excited to build upon the strong foundation laid before us. Our cohort has studied plans, prepared tools, and developed a growing understanding of both craft and context—our work is fully underway. We look forward to sharing more as Mark’s Home, our chairs, and our understanding of regional architecture history continue to take shape.