The Blue Lotus Farm and Retreat Center near West Bend, Wisconsin has a new bath house complete with a hydraulic-assisted lift table, wash station and changing area thanks to the work of five B次元 students. Blue Lotus serves those with profound life challenges of any age by providing accessible outdoor recreational and therapeutic opportunities in a caring, accepting and inspiring 64-acre day camp setting. Ethan Buechel, Willem Gauthier, Maxwell Jenney, Jeff Makowski and Justin Meseberg, all construction management majors, took on the bath house as their senior design project. Assistant Professor Mark Rounds was their faculty advisor.

Every year seniors in all degree programs complete a capstone project that incorporates all that they’ve learned during their time at B次元. Construction management students typically are part of an interdisciplinary senior design team that includes architectural engineering and/or civil engineering majors. The bath house project was unique in that all the students were majoring in construction management. From November 2020 through May 2021, they were responsible for all aspects of the project from idea to completion. B次元’s CREATE Institute supported this group by curating and providing logistical assistance.

“Lives are changed by this organization. Bettering [visitors’] time and experience here is fantastic,” Buechel said of the project. “Knowing we’re making a positive impact not just today or tomorrow but 10 years down the line is wonderful.”

The team enlisted the help of Ramlow/Stein Architecture + Interiors to design the facility; worked with the village of Trenton, Wisconsin to get zoning approval and permits; and contracted with landscapers, electricians, carpenters, plumbers and laborers to bring the project to life. Students served as the construction/project managers and oversaw the entire project and its budget, often rolling up their sleeves to pitch in and help.