Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

U Alabama Trying Out Solar-Powered Pods

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 12/15/21

Shortly, the campus of the University of Alabama will sport a set of small, greenhouse-like structures where students can have private, socially-distanced space for their studies or relaxation. The university is working with SolarFi, a start-up that produces the pods. The Privé, as it's called, is equipped with solar panels, electrical charging points, HEPA air filters, ventilation and cooling systems.

The units can accommodate anywhere from one to 15 people, according to the company. They're constructed from a "highly resistant, fully transparent and safe polycarbonate structure," made from recycled materials and provide UV ray protection.

"I'm looking forward to spending time in the Privé pod. I always sit near the window while studying," said freshman Austin Rilling, an engineering student, in a press release. "To see SolarFi's pods on campus is like Christmas coming early. I get to study, relax in a bean bag and charge up all my devices using solar power in the pods."

"With solar energy and the Internet, we will empower students to study in nature without losing power," added SolarFi Creative Director Antonio Dixon.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Image courtesy of Kahler Slater

    UW–Madison Announces Completion of Morgridge Hall

    The University of Wisconsin–Madison recently announced that construction is complete on Morgridge Hall, a new academic building, according to a news release. The facility opened September 3 at the start of the fall semester, consolidating the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences into a single facility for the first time.

  • Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR

    Preserving Legacy, Designing for the Future

    As historic academic buildings age, institutions face a difficult decision: preserve and adapt or demolish and rebuild. How do we honor the legacy of these spaces while adapting them to meet the needs of modern learners?

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • Photo credit: Elkus Manfredi Architects

    University of Virginia Selects Design-Build Team for New Residential Complex

    The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., recently announced that it has selected a design-build team for a new upper-class residential development on campus, according to a news release. Capstone Development Partners—in partnership with Elkus Manfredi Architects and the Hoar Construction/Hourigan construction team—will move forward with the three-building, 310,000-square-foot housing facility.