Rollease Acmeda is proud to present the work of the M. Arch I students at Yale School of Architecture Class of 2022, and looks forward to continued work with Professor Adam Hopfner to provide innovative solutions for shading controls, automation, and to help further the education of innovative thinkers and the new designers of a sustainable future for our world.
The Jim Vlock Building Project is mandatory for all graduate level students enrolled at the Yale School of Architecture in their M. Arch I program. Since 1967, the Yale School of Architecture’s students have embarked on a unique build project. These graduate students work in teams to design building proposals. The project allows the students to interview key stake holders and potential occupants, develop and then plan the build. The plans are then submitted to a panel of judges including the program’s lead architect, Professor Adam Hopfner. When a winning design is selected, it is then further developed into a full project scope. The completed projects serve underprivileged neighborhoods by creating parks, campgrounds, and residences.
The Class of 2022 partnered with Columbus House, a New Haven-based homelessness service provider for their project scope. The goal of this year’s project was to create an affordable residence with a focus on sustainability. The winning team designed a single story two-unit sustainable housing complex in New Haven prior to pandemic-related shutdowns. Each of the units were 550 sq ft. with 1 bedroom, and 1 bathroom.
+ Learn more about Columbus House.
To create environmentally sustainable housing, the student-led team worked together to create a solution utilizing materials donated by various organizations. Rollease Acmeda Contract helped the team reach their sustainability goal by utilizing Texstyle Ambient Renew fabric on the donated roller shades. Ambient Renew is an alternative to traditional PVC solar screen fabric. It is designed and manufactured using 85% REPREVE ® Recycled Polyester to provide an eco-friendly PVC-free fabric solution.
+ Learn More about Texstyle Ambient Renew fabric offerings here.
To ensure accessibility and safety within the units, the team chose the Easy Spring Ultra, Chain Free Lift Contract Specialty shade system. Chain free roller shades ensure the safety of children and pets within the unit by removing the traditional pull chains from the shade.
The Rollease Acmeda Contract team delivered our Contract Specialty series with an open roll to the building project. All About Shades of Hawthorne, NJ fabricated the roller shades and our contract team was able to go on site with Draperies Inc of Norwalk, CT to install the shading systems into each unit themselves.
“The Jim Vlock Building Project at the Yale School of Architecture is fundamental to the education of the architects at Yale. Working within our community to design and build dignified housing for those in need is demanding and rewarding for the students. The generosity of industry partners is essential to the mission of the program. We are so grateful for Rollease Acmeda’s contribution of time, expertise and product.”
-Professor Adam Hopfner, Director, Jim Vlock Building Project, Yale School of Architecture
Rollease Acmeda was proud to take part in this year’s program by supplying complete roller shades to the 2020 build and installing the shades. The residence is the first of two structures being built on this site. Together with the hard work of the New Haven community, local government and Rollease Acmeda, the Yale School of Architecture’s team was able to create affordable housing in the Newhallville neighborhood of New Haven, CT.
The Rollease Acmeda Contract team is proud to share our knowledge as leaders and innovators in the shading industry, with the students participating in this project and future projects to come. This program allows future architects to design and solve real world issues like sustainability and homelessness.
