Soleri Studios Scottsdale, aka Cosanti, has been buzzing with spring activity.
On Saturday, March 29, it was the site of “The Desert Environment and Urban Sprawl”, a panel discussion with Paolo Soleri, Arizona photographer Jack Dykinga and Arizona painter Bruce Aiken.

The event was organized by alumnus Alex Barragan [right photo].
Opening and closing the event was music by Dennis Yee on cello, accompanied by Pinna Joseph [left photo]. Ms. Joseph is the owner of the event’s co-sponsor, Tempe’s "Changing Hands" bookstore.

The gentlemen, moderated by local architect Vern Swaback, spoke about the necessary ecological considerations that must be part of current city planning.
Instigated by a particularly engaged audience, the artists returned to the topic of a light rail system. And, at the reminding of Arcosanti Site Coordinator Mary Hoadley, there was mention of Soleri’s concept of the Lean Linear City, in which city limits would stream alongside a transportation route. Thank you to everyone who was part of this successful afternoon.

We look forward to seeing you at Sundays with Soleri, an afternoon discussion with Paolo Soleri occurring Sundays at 3pm at Cosanti.

Cosanti was illuminated with familiar faces last Friday, March 21. 2008.
The Cat Cast hosted a quarterly Board of Directors meeting in the afternoon, and an Alumni Reception filled the North Apse in the evening.
Early on, Neil Urban and his wife Monique (both alumni from the late seventies) visited with Sean Leigh (current Agriculture volunteer), and Nelson De La Rosa (current Construction employee).
The celebrated fare for the reception came at the skilled hands of current Arcosanti Cafe Manager, Peter Lindgren.

As night drew on, Cosanti's gallery and the crowd took on the light of the full moon.

Board of Directors Chair, Jeff Stein, welcomed everyone and instigated a round of introductions where it became clear that a good number of roof builders were present.
Thanks to everyone involved for a splendid evening of visiting at the ever-gracious Cosanti site.

This continues 3/24/08 report of interior work on the north facing studio apartment on the first floor of Unit 10 in the East Crescent Complex.
Construction crew leader Melissa Soluski works with workshop participant Colleen Reckow on tiles for the bathroom.
Some of the tiles have to be trimmed at one edge to accommodate the small translucent red tile.

The tiles have been grouted and now a sealer against moisture is applied to the grouted grooves.

The same tile work provides a splash guard for the rest of the small bathroom.
This report will continue as work progresses.

We last reported on 10/3, 11/28, 11/30, 12/3 through 12/10/07 about interior construction on the first floor of Unit 10 in the East Crescent.
Efforts continued on tile installation in the shower. Crew leader Melissa Soluski works on the showerpan with workshop participant Colleen Reckow.

The tiles selected for the shower are a light tan, and for an accent Melissa selected a translucent red tile.

Melissa uses a level to install a wooden guide to keep the tiles on a perfect grid.
This shower is in the north apartment right behind the recreation room [see previous reports].
More on this on 3/26/08.

Landscaping coordinator Ron Chandler invited staff, volunteers and workshop participants to an Open House event with a big barbeque in the courtyard between the cubes.
In the chair right by the fire, Paolo Soleri graced the event with his presence.

Ron remodeled a series of three cubes and added a cube-size addition with french doors, facing the Agua Fria riverbed.
Each cube is a 8 foot by 8 foot living unit, the first living quarters built at Arcosanti in 1970, before any work began on the structures on the mesa.
Ron even installed a fishtank and a little kitchen, unheard of luxury in a cube.
Beautiful job!

After the barbeque and house viewing, the group settled around the fire for some poetry and musical performance.

In October of 2007, the Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) rewarded a Rural Tourism Development Grant to Arcosanti. The grant, worth $50,000, was used to enhance the Visitors' Parking and Access area of the site.
We reported on 12/12, 12/17, 12/19, 12/21 and 12/26 about the first stage of work, installation of new concrete walk-ways and an upgrade of the visitors parking-lot.

We reported on the second stage of work, installation of solar panels and lighting, on 2/18 through 3/3, 3/10 and 3/12 and 3/17/08.
Arizona State University, under the leadership of Program Manager William Shisler, awarded Arcosanti a gift of solar panels from their Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory, to power the light fixtures. [View from Crafts III entrance north].

All of the work on the installation of the solar panels, the electrical wiring, installation of lighting fixtures, was done by Cosanti Foundation crew, with the help of workshop participants and volunteers.
Light fixtures and control equipment for the lighting were purchased from NIGHTSCAPING.
Visitors Center entrance looking west.

We continue our series of reports about the installation of solar panels for lighting the visitors parking lot and the visitors path from the parking lot to the visitors center.
[See prior reports from 2/18 through 3/3, 3/10 and 3/12/08].
The workshop digs a trench for the utility lines along the visitors path.

Construction crew David Ledbetter installs wiring to lighting fixtures along the path from the visitors parking lot to the Crafts III Visitors Center.

Breaker boxes are installed at a distribution point close to the visitors parking-lot and behind the Crafts III building [Brendan Scott and David Ledbetter].
Final report on the AOT grant activities will be posted on 3/19/08.

Today is the opening of our Annual Spring Sale. The sale will be from March 14. through March 22. 2008.
Cosanti Original regular line of bronze bells are offered with a 20 % discount.
[Gallery manager Palma Burdick]

Also offered with a discount is a small selection of regular bells in a range of stunning new burnishes.
This is a good time to buy a bell and to stock up for future gifts, as bronze prices are rising sharply.

ARCOSANTI WILL BE CLOSED FOR EASTER SUNDAY.

We continue our report from 3/10/08, about the installation of a set of solar panels.
Utilities manager Scott Riley instructs a crew of workshop participants to dig a trench for the utility line for the electric wiring that will run from the panels to the new utility shed and to an existing utility line that leads to the back of Crafts III.

Construction crew David Ledbetter and Brendan Scott and site electrician Dr. Sparks install and pull the wires leading to the control and distribution panel and battery storage.
From there the wiring will be connected to each of the lighting fixtures, at the parking lot and along the path to the Visitors Center, as well as along the path from Craft III to the Ceramics Apse.

All the wiring at the panels is complete and David and Brendan tilt the panel to the appropriate angle for maximum exposure to the sun.
The panels were graciously donated by Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory at Arizona State University, under the leadership of Program Manager William Shisler.
[See prior postings from 2/18 through 3/3/08].
This report continues on 3/17/08.

We continue our series of reports about the installation of a set of solar panels that will provide power for lighting in the visitors parking lot and for the visitors path from the parking lot to the entrance of the visitors center.
[See prior reports from 2/18 through 3/3/08].
The frame to hold the solar panels has been completed and utilities manager Scott Riley and crew Brendan Scott install the first panel.

Construction crew David Ledbetter and Brendan tighten the panels to the steel frame.
The top of the Crafts III Visitors Center is visible in the background.
Arizona State University, under the leadership of Program Manager William Shisler, has awarded Arcosanti this gift of solar panels from their Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory.

Our site electrician Dr. Sparks, in an interview with BigBug Canyon Country News reporter Bruce Colbert:
"The real coup was getting the eight solar panels. Arizona State University Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory donated the solar panels to us. The ASU PTL tests the paenls for their wattage capacity, heat and humidity durability and basically put the panels through the wringer to see how they stand up, then they gave them to us."
We send a very big THANK YOU to William Shisler and the ASU Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory.
Report continues on 3/13/08.

Welcome to the March 2. workshop participants:
[from left] Todd Jenkins, Eric Bernstorff, Anuj Dayal and Shara Brown.

Congratulations to the January 27. 2008 workshop participants upon their graduation last Friday:
[from left]
Anna Greenberg continues at Arcosanti, splitting her time between the foundry and the bakery,
Roman Salas, Mario Andres Botero Giraldo continues with in internship in the Arcosanti planning department,
John Mahony,
Erika Sotelo stays on for two weeks as a volunteer in construction,
Colleen Reckow was hired as a crew member of the ceramics staff, and John Knutson stays on as part of the construction crew.

In October of 2007, the Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) rewarded a Rural Tourism Development Grant to Arcosanti. The grant, worth $50,000, will be used to enhance the Visitors' Parking and Access area of the site.
We reported on 12/12, 12/17, 12/19, 12/21 and 12/26 about the first stage of work, installation of new concrete walk-ways and an upgrade of the visitors parking-lot.
We continue the series of reports on the second stage of work [posting started on 2/18/08], about installation of solar panels and lighting.
Reporter Stephen Colbert interviewed Arcosanti site electrician Dr. Sparks and published a story about the solar installing in the Feb. 6. 2008 issue of the Big Bug / Canyon Country News. From the interview:
Dr. Sparks: "We couldn't have done it without Ben Mancini of EV Solar Products in Chino Valley. The lighting system is totally off the grid."
"We've got 16 storage batteries and the system produces about 9 kilowatts per day. Even with a power outage, we can run the lights for 2 - 3 days." [photo: Dr. Sparks with Ben Mancini of EV Solar Products in Chino Valley, picking up the control and distribution unit for the solar panels and lighting].

A sturdy storage shed with interior shelving was purchased from Lowe's and assembled right next to the solar panel frame.

The bank of batteries and the control unit have been mounted in place inside of the shed and site electrician Brendan Scott works on the wiring.
We continue this report on 3/10/08.