New Class: Sensitive Buildings

My new Fall 2011 class at NYU’s ITP has just been announced. Students taking Sensitive Buildings will have the unique opportunity to invent large-scale sensor and device networks, and test out their prototypes in a 28-story New York City apartment building. Naturally we’ll be using Building Wireless Sensor Networks as one primary source, and I’m also on the hunt for a useful textbooks that give broad coverage of building systems like heating plants, elevator operations, ventilation and the like. Drop me a line if you have a suggestion. Here’s the class description:

“This is a class is about a big building and the people who live there. Students will conceive and create large scale sensor networks to benefit the tenants of a 28-story, 325-unit landmark building on Central Park South. The property’s owners have invited ITP to develop a variety of prototypes that enhance the livability, ecology and community of their building. Students will learn to use the latest in ZigBee wireless technology to design, build and deploy interactive sensor network systems, with full access to this landmark pre-war apartment complex. We’ll start hands-on, by teaching everything you need to know about wireless networking while developing potential project ideas. During the first part of the class we’ll tour the building to learn about its infrastructure, inhabitants and context. Next, we’ll create fast prototypes that explore your project ideas, installing these proof-of-concepts on site and observing the real-world results. Finally we’ll take what we’ve learned into final projects that have the potential to be deployed at scale and even as sponsored solutions. 240 CPS has been described as, “state-of-the-art green architecture before the term was coined.” Built in 1940, the building’s motto is “Where The Park is Part of the Plan.” A recent renovation has it sporting a ground-floor green roof, various upgrades for energy efficiency and a historically restored facade. We will have full access to any vacant units as well as limited access to several occupied apartments. The owners will also provide us with supervised access to all the building infrastructure from roof to basement including ventilation, plumbing, heating, elevator and energy systems. Students will have the chance to think big and work big with technology to help make this building extraordinary.“

We’re discussing a collaboration with Digi for wireless infrastructure, and I’m also hoping to integrate Tendril devices to teach about load control and smart energy monitoring.