Technological University Dublin

Sustainable Shelter Sleep-out for Homelessness

For the last three years, first-year students of the Architectural Technology course at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) have built and slept out in their own shelters to experience the effects of climate, consider sustainability in a visceral way, and raise awareness and funds for homelessness.

They were challenged to create structures, with only a pallet of recycled materials, which could house them overnight, maintain 20 degrees internally, achieve 100 lux daylight levels, and stay dry. They travelled to their encampment, erected their shelters, and braved the elements to eventually raise over €5,000 for Focus Ireland’s Shine a Light charity. Crucially, there was an emphasis on precise measurement of carbon and the structures being deconstructable, so components were reusable next year.

What began as a fun class assignment to bring new college students together, has grown into a design project and public event that instils good learning outcomes for a good cause.

What the Judges Thought

Judges welcomed this innovative community-based activity, providing practical experiences that encourage students to become change agents.

The practical ‘activity for good’ design project within an Architectural Technology course provides valuable experience and learning opportunities for students; seamlessly weaving in multiple SDGs, and also raising money for a charity. Such experiential learning can be easily replicated in many different courses.

What it Means to Win

"TU Dublin’s approach to Sustainability Education works to build wider societal and sectoral capacity to address local and global challenges. Winning this prestigious Green Gown Award celebrates the ‘Sleep out against Homelessness’ project where students translated classroom-based knowledge into real action. This initiative represents the eco-system at TU Dublin where action to advance sustainability education thrives."

 Jennifer Boyer, TU Dublin Vice President for Sustainability

Top 3 Learnings

1. Create design challenges that have real consequences for the learner to help them envisage the impact of decisions on society and the environment.
2. There is always an opportunity to link teaching and learning to fundraising for worthy causes that support and encourage sustainability.
3. Sustainable design decisions usually come from a place of empathy; students develop more empathy from experiential learning.