While chatting with CVAP Executive Director Jamie Robinson in May 2010, Design and Computation Arts professor pk langshaw learned that the project was shifting from rented to permanent facilities for the interns and students who travel to Gulu each summer to work with local community-based organizations. The land had been purchased, and construction was being planned.Langshaw immediately saw an opportunity to design a sustainable facility that would limit the group’s environmental footprint. She assembled a team of volunteers, starting with Liam O’Brien, an engineering PhD candidate active in the Concordia-based Solar Buildings Research Network. O’Brien then contacted other engineering students who had worked on wind and solar power research. Design master’s student Andrew Dolan rounded out the team. Three months later, the plans were finalized.The team analyzed the water and electricity needs of the group, taking into account local climate and conditions. In the end, a building relying on solar energy was planned due to the unreliability of electrical grids in Gulu. A rainwater harvesting system for various non-potable purposes was also integrated into the design.“It was a collaboration all around. We developed the plans here in dialogue with CVAP director Jamie Robinson and Ugandan Director of Operations Jimmy Otim. The project had to be viable for long-term use and expansion in the context of local resources and construction by Gulu workers.”The facility was under construction and scheduled to be operational by May 2011, when the next team of students would arrive.Sustainability & Long-Term GoalsThe building became a living system, reinforcing what was stated in Sustainable Design: Towards a New Ethic in Architecture and Town Planning—that architecture gives people the possibility of empowerment to define who they are, to develop consciously and independently (Contal, 2009).The long-term goals of ecology and sustainability were essential to this project and were realized through several innovative solutions in both the building and compound.1. Solar Energy SystemA Photovoltaic solar power system was installed to generate electricity.Power consumption was reduced intelligently by switching from desktop computers to laptops and installing motion-sensitive security lights that activate only when needed.A key objective was stability and safety for international visitors due to the unstable Gulu power grid.Another important goal was to create a self-sustaining power system that could serve as a safe community space in emergencies, while also reducing dependency on the fragile power grid.2. Rainwater Harvesting SystemDesigned to function similarly to the solar power system in reducing environmental impact.Limited the building’s water consumption by collecting rainwater for non-potable uses.Helped decrease reliance on local water infrastructure and lessen the strain on the community’s resources.Multi-Disciplinary Design ApproachThe success of large-scale international projects relies on an enthusiastic, committed team that doesn’t just leave once construction is completed.Collaboration across diverse disciplines is essential, ensuring that local stakeholders (inhabitants, workers, and communities) are directly involved in the project.In Engineering for a Finite Planet: Sustainable Solutions, Peter Davey discusses the current state of architecture and the role of various actors in the creation of a building:“To generate this kind of work, there must be a creative relationship between members of the design team. Such matters are always difficult to analyze, not least because relationships vary from job to job.” (Davey, 2009)The collaborative and adaptable approach of this project ensured its long-term sustainability and impact on both the community and the environment.