Who built Rieth Village?

Morrison Kattman Menze, Inc.


Morrison Kattman Menze, Inc., specializes in public buildings such as hospitals, libraries, senior living facilities and schools. Although the firs's architects have previously incorporated sustainable features into some of their buildings, Merry Lea's project is their first opportunity to design a LEEDS building They are eagar for the challenge. Architect Mike McKay, a recently accredited LEEDS professional, describes the Merry Lea project as "a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Hamilton Hunter Builders


Hamilton Hunter joined the design team during the construction process as the general contractor.  They have a long history of building quality homes and businesses in the Fort Wayne Region so they brought expert knowledge of Quality Building Practices to the project.

Conservation Design Forum


Conservation Design Forum is a consulting firm from the Chicago area that specializes in integrating human activities and buildings into the supporting environmental fabric. Their staff of landscape architects, environmental scientists and hydrologists has worked on projects such as the green roof on Chicago's City Hall and the Coffee Creek Center, a sustainable development in Chesterton, Indiana. Landscape architect Marcus de la Fleur says, "We are committed to sustainable approaches to land management, site development and site engineering because we feel that it is our only hope as a society to return balance to our environment." He and the other staff enjoy working in harmony with natural systems to create spaces that are beautiful and that communicate a sense of place.

Eta Engineers, Inc.


Eta is the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet and a symbol commonly used in engineering curricula to denote "efficiency." Eta Engineers provides sustainable designs for building HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems. According to its owner, Alan Chalifoux, this firm believes that "capital" includes all natural resources and ecosystems that sustain life, and this capital is becoming increasingly scarce. Their mission is to design better and more efficiently.

John Todd Ecological Design

John Todd is an inventive entrepreneur with a long list of environmental projects to his credit. He is best known as the inventor of the ecological engine, or living machine--a series of tanks containing plants, microbes and small fish capable of removing wastes from water. Todd's ecological engines are now in use or under construction in eight countries, and his largest can handle 100,000 gallons of waste a day. Todd and his son, Jonathan, are designing an ecological engine for the collegiate facility.

Rocky Mountain Institute


Rocky Mountain Institute is an entrepreneurial, nonprofit organization that fosters the efficient and restorative use of resources to create a more secure and life-sustaining world. Although not directly involved with the design of the collegiate facility, RMI's philosophy and educational resources are part of the framework Merry Lea is building upon. Ben Shepherd and Bill Browning of RMI facilitated Merry Lea's first design charrette in August 2001.

Ancon Construction


Ancon Construction participated early in the design processes by contributing a contractor perspective.