This project addresses the critical issue of building energy efficiency within a historic property, the Maplewood guest house, which is currently managed by Ball Brothers Foundation. Ball Brothers Foundation has entrusted the operation of Maplewood to Ball State to provide housing for Indiana University School of Medicine students. This project is an immersive learning experience designed for third-year Interior Design students (Juniors) at Ball State University. The students will conduct a thorough building energy analysis of the Maplewood guest house during the Spring and Fall 2025 semester.
The project will be conducted in two phases, integrated into the IDES 228 Digital Technology 3 and IDES 312 Sustainable Interiors courses. In the first phase (SS 25), Interior Design sophomores will use Revit software to complete detailed drawings including floor plans, ceiling plans, and elevations of the Maplewood building, enhancing their understanding of the building’s structure and systems. In the second phase (FS 25), the actual energy analysis project will start and the students, who drew the plans of Maplewood (they will become Juniors in SS 25), will analyze the building’s energy consumption, focusing on identifying energy losses, particularly through windows, HVAC systems, and appliances. As part of the energy analysis, students will conduct a blower door test, a crucial tool in identifying air leakage in buildings. This test involves using a powerful fan to depressurize the building and measure the amount of air leakage, which helps in pinpointing areas where energy is lost. Along with other tools like thermal cameras and light meters, the blower door test will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the building’s energy efficiency.
The project’s goal is to provide students with hands-on experience in energy assessment and sustainable interior design while directly benefiting the community by proposing improvements that can reduce energy consumption in the historic Maplewood building. The outcome will be a set of analytical reports and recommendations that can guide future energy-saving measures for Maplewood, enhancing its sustainability while preserving its historical significance.
