Tech Topics - Fall 2007 - (Page 36)

Burdell&Friends Soo J. Hong, Econ 03, was a summer associate at the law firm Stewart Melvin & Frost in Gainesville, Ga. Hong is a second-year student at Mercer University School of Law. D. Patrick Jehle Jr., CE 05, has joined the engineering staff of Jehle-Halstead Inc., where his duties will include project design and management in the areas of roadway, drainage, utilities and land development design. Jehle previously worked as a project engineer in highway and utility design with Moreland-Altobelli in Atlanta. Michael Kolodzy, BS Arch 01, M Arch 03, and his wife, Katie, announce the birth of a son, Jude Anthony, on June 19. Jude joins sister Lilia, 2, and brother Lucas, 3, at the family’s home in Snellville, Ga. Kolodzy is an intern architect with Niles Bolton Associates in Atlanta. Charles A. McFeaters, EE 07, has joined Newcomb & Boyd as an electrical engineer. McFeaters was a coop student with the firm as an undergraduate at Georgia Tech and is a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. Wes McIntosh, IE 01, and his wife, Michelle, announce the birth of a daughter, Alexandra Suzanne, on April 24. Alexandra joins sister Annika, 1, at the family’s residence in Willis, Texas. McIntosh is an instructor pilot for the Navy. Kasey P. Mitchell, ME 02, an associate of Newcomb & Boyd in Atlanta, has become a licensed professional engineer. Michelle Moon, IntA ML 07, of Falls Church, Va., was selected to participate in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. One of about 1,200 U.S. finalists, Moon moved to Japan in July to spend one year as an assistant language teacher in Iwate-ken, Hanamaki-shi. Meredith Murphy, ABiol 03, was awarded a doctor of medicine degree from the Mercer University School of Medicine in May and began a residency in psychiatry at Emory University in July. She is the daughter of James D. Murphy III, IM 70, MS IM 76, and the granddaughter of the late Putting the Sun to Work GARY MEEK Alums pitch in to build Solar Decathlon entry By Neil B. McGahee I n a vacant lot behind the Institute of Paper Science building on 14th Street, a half dozen or so Georgia Tech students labored under a hot summer sun they hope to put to work for them. They are constructing the Institute’s Solar Decathlon entry. “We have the floor installed and when the framing is complete, we can install the walls, windows and roof,” said architecture professor and project adviser Franca Trubiano. The Tech team is pitted against 19 schools from the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Spain to design and build the most innovative and energy-efficient solarpowered home possible. Students from the Colleges of Architecture, Engineering, Management and Sciences spent last fall and spring semesters designing an 800square-foot house that incorporates advanced building technologies — translucent walls, structural insulated panels, solar-heated floors, fiber-optic cables and solar collectors and photovoltaic power systems. “Some walls are made of aerogel insulation, a translucent silica and air material The Solar Decathlon team has been working this summer to build an energy-efficient home for a Department of Energy competition. sandwiched between polycarbonate panels, while other walls are made of structurally insulated polystyrene,” Trubiano said. “The roof, a plastic membrane made from ethylene tetra-fluoroethylene that weighs only 100th of an equal amount of glass, was manufactured in Germany. Both products allow transmission of natural light throughout the interior of the home while keeping the elements out.” Alstan Jakubiec, an architecture student whose contribution in July had consisted of working on the roof design team, said, “It feels good to finally get my hands dirty. I’ve never really done any construction. There’s a huge difference between drawing in a studio and actually building something.” As the exterior takes shape, Jason Brown, a doctoral student in the building technology program, tests the ventilation, plumbing and power systems for reliability and efficiency. “In this competition, optimizing energy use yields maximum points,” he said. “For instance, the judges check the ventilation system every 15 minutes to see if the interior temperature remains a constant 72 to 76 degrees.” Architecture professor Chris Jarrett said team members won’t live in the house, but reliable performance in daily chores including dishwashing, cooking and using communication outlets, is a major factor in the judging. Funding has proven to be an obstacle. Every team received $100,000 from the Department of Energy to cover startup costs. Funds to cover research, design, materials and construction costs must be raised by the schools. “We need partners to help underwrite this project,” Jarrett said. “Investment now strengthens the chances for future collaboration between the four colleges.” Several Tech alumni have contributed technical support. From the first day of construction in early June, former Alumni Association president Dave McKenney, Phys 60, IE 64, and his son, John, IE 90, have stationed consultants from their engineering firm on the site, while Brent Reid, CE 02, president of Winter Construction, routinely assigns several employees to give hands-on instruction. “We have experienced several challenges requiring practical or technical advice,” Trubiano said. “And they were there with the solution right away.” In late September, the house will be trucked to Washington, D.C., and assembled with the other entries in a solar village on the National Mall for judging on Oct. 12. Projects are evaluated in 10 categories including architecture, engineering, livability, comfort, power generation for heating and cooling, water heating and power for lights and appliances. In addition, each entry must be able to power an electric car. The winner will be announced Oct. 19. James D. Murphy Jr., IM 48. Ebony Hofler Norflis, IE 00, and Jared Norflis, IE 99, announce the birth of a son, Jackson, on Aug. 23, 2006. Jared is a manufacturing development manager with Miller Brewing Co. The family is living in Hamilton, Ohio. Maria de la Torriente O’Connor, ME 01, and her husband, Ryan, of Pearland, Texas, announce the birth of a daughter, Isabella Maria, on July 19. O’Connor is a health and safety trainer with Air Liquide Industrial. Hunter Ferguson O’Donnell, ISyE 02, and J. Patrick O’Donnell III, Mgt 99, announce the birth of a son, James Patrick O’Donnell IV, on Jan. 17. David A. Reed, ChE 02, practices patent law with the intellectual property group of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP in Atlanta. Reed joined the firm after receiving a juris doctor degree from the University of Virginia in 2006. Amanda Richards, MS ECE 06, and Peter Sahlstrom, CmpE 05, were married June 16. Richards is an assistant engineer with the transmission and distribution group of Burns & McDonnell. Sahlstrom is a senior technical support analyst with IBM Internet Security Systems. They live in Sandy Springs, Ga. Chris Roberts, EE 04, received a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Mercer University in May. Roberts is employed with Scientific Research Corp. in Atlanta. Stephen W. Slawsky, IE 01, has been promoted to director of production for Fodor’s Travel Publications, a division of Random House in New York City. Kristina L. Moores Taylor, ME 00, has become a licensed professional engineer as well as a LEED-accredited professional. She is employed with Newcomb & Boyd in Atlanta. Scott Vasey, Mgt 02, married Meredith Walker on Dec. 16. Vasey teaches mathematics at Autrey Mill Middle School and the couple live in Alpharetta, Ga. Catalina VictoriaMiller, Arch 02, has joined Jaycox Reinel Architects and is responsible for all aspects of design and construction documents. Victoria-Miller and her husband, Tyler, live in St. Augustine, Fla. TECHTOPICS | FALL 2007

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Contents Mail Call Alumni House Historic Renovation 007 Buzz Bash Dazzling Daylilies Living History Cover Story: Key to the City The Hill Tapping Technology Robotics Rivalry No Easy Ride Giving Back Balancing Act Student Life Burdell & Friends Epic Story of Heroism Yellow Jackets Very Good Team Passport to Retirement Real World

Tech Topics - Fall 2007

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