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SANKOFA BAMBOO GREENHOUSE

DESIGN-BUILD RESEARCH AND INDEPENDENT STUDY
PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR: VICKY ACHNANI
2025-2026

SANKOFA BAMBOO GREENHOUSE IS A COMMUNITY-BASED DE-
SIGN-BUILD PROJECT LED BY VICKY ACHNANI AT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH SANKOFA VILLAGE COMMUNITY GARDENS.
THE PROJECT CENTERS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FULL-SCALE (1:1) BAMBOO PROTOTYPE USED TO TEST AND REFINE THE GREENHOUSE’S STRUCTURAL SYSTEM. BUILDING AT FULL SCALE HAS REVEALED NECESSARY REVISIONS TO MEMBER SIZING, JOINERY, AND ASSEMBLY METHODS IN PREPARATION FOR LOAD AND WIND TESTING, DIRECTLY INFORMING STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE AND CONSTRUCTABILITY.

KEY STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES

SECTION, EXPLODED DETAILS AND CONNECTION STUDIES

[A] GUTTER DETAIL
[B] HUB ASSEMBLY DETAIL
[C] HORIZONTAL BAMBOO BEAM ASSEMBLY DETAIL ROOF ASSEMBLY DETAIL
[D] HORIZONTAL BAMBOO BEAM DETAIL VERTICAL BAMBOO BEAM DETAIL
[E] VERTICAL BAMBOO BEAM ASSEMBLY DETAIL

SYSTEM INTEGRATION PLAN

KEY GREENHOUSE COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS

[A] WATER COLLECTION CONTAINER
[B] POLYCARBONATE PANEL SIDING
[C] INTERIOR BUILT IN SHELVING UNITS
[D] WATER BARREL COLLECTION CONTAINER
[E] INTERIOR GARDEN BEDS
[F] MAIN ENTRYWAY
[G] HORIZONTAL BAMBOO BEAMS
[H] FOOTINGS
[I] VERTICAL BAMBOO BEAMS
[J] EXTERIOR BUILT IN SHELVING UNITS

STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY UNIT

EXPOLDED AXONOMETRICS

[A] 2X4 WOOD PURLINS
[B] CURVED BAMBOO TRUSS FRAME
[C] POLYCARBONATE ROOF PANELS
[D] BAMBOO CROSS-BRACING
[E] TENSION ROD
[F] BAMBOO BEAM
[G] GUTTER
[H] CNC-CUT PLYWOOD GUSSET PLATE
[I] INCLINED BAMBOO STRUT
[J] BAMBOO POST ANCHOR (SET IN CONCRETE)
[K] BAMBOO CONNECTOR BLOCK
[L] BAMBOO ROOF SUPPORT POST
[M] EXTERIOR BUILT IN SHELVING
[N] CONCRETE PIER FOOTING

SANKOFA BAMBOO GREENHOUSE EXHIBITION

ROUND ONE PJ DICK FUNDED RESEARCH EXHIBITION
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