05/28/10: Ready for my Closeup

Being in the photo shoot for the Teen Center was so much fun. It was just like being an America’s Next Top Model Finalist! It was also cool being there for the first time since the roof was taken off because we were finally able to see the sunlight inside the Teen Center. We had to take so many pictures in different poses - all of us felt like models. At one point, the photographer had all of us walk across a small plank bridge, and it felt like we were walking down a runaway. We also had to go under parts that looked so dangerous that we were like, “are you sure you want us down there?” Seeing the photographer hang from one of the CAT machines looked so unsafe, but it was funny trying to watch him balance and take pictures as well. Overall, this was a good experience that I will never forget, even though I didn’t get my hair and make-up done!

05/26/10: LEEDing by Example

Laura, our LEED consultant, has been incredibly helpful and wonderful throughout the whole Green Education project that Jose, Alex and I are working on. At our last meeting some weeks ago, we went through many ideas about how we could best educate teens in the Teen Center on being green. We brainstormed ideas such as interesting looking recycle bins, fun eco-facts displayed in places throughout the building, a huge television screen to show just how much energy the Teen Center is saving (my personal favorite), and finally a projection onto the wall to show nature at its finest next to the effects of global warming.

It was after discussing all these awesome ideas that I realized it's not fair for Jose, Alex, Laura and I to have all this imaginative power to ourselves. We need to share these ideas with the world and open the discussion so other teens can contribute their ideas. Therefore, if you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can teach each others how to be green, realistic or not, we would love to hear them. We want to make this Teen Center innovative and a collaborative effort...so if you have any ideas let us know!

Find out more about Laura Billings, our LEED consultant, and Sage Green Development by clicking here.

05/24/10: Nate Dahl - Man with a Green Plan

One of the most crucial, fascinating and progressive aspects of the Teen Center project has to be our commitment to sustainability and eco-friendliness. From day one we knew that being "green" would be an essential part in creating our perfect Teen Center. That is why we hired consultant Laura Billings to advise us on how to be environmentally friendly and obtain the famed LEED Gold Certification for our building. We have been planning the implementation of solar panels, recycled/able materials, low energy systems and many other physical parts of our building. Yet a huge part of going green has also been our plan to have a green education program and set our building up as a green model for other Teen Centers and new projects. This is where Nate Dahl comes in. While Nate's involvement with our project began through his position in the city planning offices, where he aided us in the permit process, he came to us this Monday as a speaker and visionary for the "green" teen center movement. As a project for his graduate studies in sustainability Nate chose to research our Teen Center project and discuss greening teen centers throughout the nation.
After he told us to imagine ourselves as members of the board of YMCA of the USA, Nate proceeded to give a very professional and creative presentation on starting up "green" teen centers. The presentation brought up ideas of: what buildings to turn into teen centers, what cities are good starting points for the movement, and how to gain funding and the public's good favor. The primary message was that green teen centers function as portals towards a brighter future. Not only can they help retain our planet's natural beauty and resources and maintain strong economies, but they teach our future leaders, the teens, values of sustainability and good citizenship. In turn, this can produce a cycle of a growing commitment to the good of society and our world.
Truly, Nate is the man. I look forward to seeing Nate and these ideas on the big stage where national change may become a reality.

05/21/10: Meet our Contractor

When I first met our contractors, I thought that their job was pretty simple. But now that I have attended several job-walks with Alex, our general contractor from Pankow, I’ve realized just how complicated his job really is. At the job walks Alex took us around the building and talked about what he does. Renovating a building, looking at floor plans, and making sure that everything goes the according to plan is complicated. It’s clear that Alex is passionate about working on our Teen Center, and I'm glad that the building construction is in good hands. I love seeing people who enjoy their job and who are honest too. It’s important that the firm that we work with cares about the project as much as we do and shows real progress. Alex shared with us that if you like what you are doing in your job or career, then it makes your job easy. I hope that in my future I will end up working in a place where I feel comfortable, enjoy my time, and always want to do my best. We’re sure that our Teen Center is being built by the right people.

Find out more about Charles Pankow Builders and Pankow Special Projects by clicking here