MLAB MISSION STATEMENT


The Mobile Literacy Arts Bus (MLAB) is an artist-run, renovated recreational vehicle that exists as a flexible space open to community members’ proposals for alternative educational and cultural programming.

MLAB is the collaborative effort of the 2007-2008 Social Sculpture class at Syracuse University, comprised of 10 art and architecture students and lead by artist and Director of Community Initiatives in the Visual Arts of Syracuse University, Marion Wilson. Our mission was to transform a used, 1984 Recreational Vehicle Bus into a Mobile Literacy and Arts Bus for use by the Syracuse City School District and the greater Syracuse Community. MLAB serves as a physical manifestation of Syracuse University’s Scholarship in Action initiative, by pairing University resources with community needs in an attempt to address the staggering drop out rates in the Syracuse City School District High Schools. Through the School of Education at Syracuse University, incredible curricula that bridge photography, poetry and literacy currently exist within the public schools-- however due to a crisis of space, the schools don't always have the space or resources to house it. MLAB is this space. The bus serves as a mobile classroom, digital photo lab, gallery space, and community center. As a team, we did it all: demolition, design, and construction.

MLAB is made possible from the generous support of the School of Education at Syracuse University and Entitiative.


Wednesday, November 7, 2007

(lengthy) Lighting Update . . .

So I spent the morning at Edward Joy Elec; but before I get into the different lighting options, I'm gonna mention that the everyone there is in love with our project. Just while browsing I had 3 separate employees come up and ask me about this "cool bus" they just heard about. I actually took Vince's rendering of the interior to help explain what we needed and it ended up helping a lot. So keep that in mind

down to basics:
1 The quick estimate is that for the space we have, we'd need about 500-1000 watts. In other words between 5 and 10, 100 watt lightbulbs, make sense? If anyone is interested in helping to test this out, let me know.

2 We need to decide if we want this lighting to more "general" lighting or "accent" lighting. Accent lighting would fit the system we've designed best. However, accent lighting isn't optimal for classroom space. Is this important? The bus will be primarly used during the day, so do we want to wash out the space with light or not? please post ur option on this. thanks

3 With limited space at the ceiling, it will be hard to have any type of recessed lighting. In addition, to the lighting fixture, we'd need about 6" of space for the can surrounding it. There are some smaller options with Halogen lights (issues with that is high level of heat created).

4 Any type of lighting from behind the arcylic plastic = ambient glow is pretty much out of the question. I know we nixed that last week, but my convo today basically reassured that fact.

5 Our initial idea about low voltage flourscent lights will price out at $750, this is a rough estimate - Ed Joy has a varitey of options which would alter the price. I didn't look very much into it, since I know quite a few people do not want florescent lighting. However, at this point seems to be our best option for a "general" lighting.

6 All the other options I looked at are for accent lighting (meaning under cabinet, cove lighting, track lighting). If you have any ideas for general lighting options other than florescent, please let me know.

7 Top recommendation is for Kichler Linear Lighting (low voltage, strip lighting system). Estimate total price at $1100. Very vestile system, I'll bring more info tomorrow. Basically if we decide after installation that more light is needed, we purchase more of the little bulbs and plug them straight into the track (we need to consider this in purchasing the transformer tho). The lights can be clustered or spread out, and can be changed by anyone.

8 Halogen track lighting. Estimate price (without transformer, etc) $400. Basic track lighting u'd see in residential bathrooms. Issue with heat, need to be careful about distance of materials from lighting, fixture and track is much larger.

9 LED Lighting (strip and rope). Initially I thought this would be our best options. However, I was informed that LED is actually very bad for lighting a space (better uses in signs and x-mas lighting, where your looking at the light) Ed Joy doesn't carry any examples, but gave me a manufactuer they like if we want to pursue that direction.

10 sorry for this lengthy post, just thought I should throw all the ideas out there for everyone.

4 comments:

Roslyn said...

wow! thats some research, thanks for finding out what our options are!

Marion said...

Great job!!
can you print this out and bring tomorrow - we need to discuss/decide as a whole class so let's put it in the first half. it is importnat.
Thanks,
Marion

Anonymous said...

ledgreenpower.com

the best strip lights and a lot more.

Anonymous said...

If you get past the poor management no products in stock, false website that change every other week? Sure! I's a great thing for the environment! And? Good luck getting your order.... That too is tricky business.