Minnesota moves to adopt Hempcrete and Strawbale into Residential Building Code

On July 15, 2025, a group of natural building enthusiasts and experts presented code change proposals to Minnesota's Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Technical Advisory Group to adopt Appendices BJ: Strawbale Construction and BL: Hemp-lime into the IRC. The proposals were supported and are moving onto the Construction Codes Advisory Council (CCAC) for public feedback and review next January 2025.

This accomplishment of gaining support to move these proposals forward was made possible through extensive collaboration with over twenty experts nationwide and in Canada. Once adopted into MN's next building code cycle, this will simplify the permitting process for Minnesota homeowners, builders, and building officials who plan to use the Appendices to build with Hempcrete or Strawbale for safe, durable, and healthy homes. Without these IRC Appendices, obtaining building permits for natural building construction can take upwards to over a year with added unnecessary costs to this process.

Read more about this process at Hempbuild Magazine MN Moves to Adopt Hempcrete, Strawbale in Residential Building Codes . — HempBuild Magazine

Presenters Pictured: Janneke Schaap, Simona Fischer AIA, Anna Koosmann AIA, Rep. Katie Jones, and Danny Desjarlais.

Not Picture: Martin Hammer and David Eisenberg

Anna Koosmann and Estudio Damgo Program Receives U.S. National Award

 
Architect Anna Koosmann and Foundation University, received a U.S. national award from the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) in 2018 for the research on the Estudio Damgo design-build program. Koosmann used her Fulbright research grant to evaluate the first three Filipino bamboo projects: a rural classroom, a multipurpose hall, and a floating guardhouse. The post-occupancy research conducted on the buildings, as well as input from beneficiary interviews, steered future design-build projects, by guiding Filipino instructors and institutionalizing the design-build program for lasting success. Koosmann worked alongside the University's Research Director, Geraldine Quinones, Architecture department heads, and Estudio Damgo students for five months of field research, earning a national EDRA Core award. Koosmann presented the research findings and accepted the award at the 49th EDRA conference in Oklahoma City, U.S.  View the entire document, 

"Estudio Damgo: Evaluating the Impact of the First, Filipino Design-Build University Program", at https://www.edra.org/page/2018_core_recipients

Excerpt from the EDRA core research document.

Excerpt from the EDRA core research document.

Excerpt from the EDRA core research document.

Signing Agreements between Core Shelter Community and the City of Dumaguete at the official turn-over for the Multipurpose Hall 2015. Pictured Left to Right: Dean Sinco, Johna David, Anna Koosmann, William Ablong, Orlando E. Enquig, and Core Shelter residents.

Soulful Shamanic Healing and Divination

 

It's been quite some time since I posted here. I'm pleased to see that my blog continues to get views even though I haven't been active. So much has changed in the world over the last two years, the pandemic - still continues, swept us off our feet in Feb/Mar of 2020. Governments across the globe issued stay-at-home orders and masking up in public. It's been quite a shift in our ability to socialize, work, and travel. Similarly, my work and life has also shifted due to the pandemic.

After parting ways from my position at the University of Arizona, I traveled to Seattle (my old stomping ground) in August 2019 to enroll in the Level 1 Shamanic Training course led by Michelle McKinney of Northwest Shamanic Healing and Intuitive Arts, spiritual practitioner and trusted mentor since 2006. The decision to enroll was to gain clarity in my career in architecture and community design, and to develop my gifts and interests in healing and spiritual matters. 

Now, after two years, I've received a certificate in level 2 shamanic healing arts. I'm very pleased to share my practices with the greater community, to help others find a deeper connection to themselves and live more soulfully. If this post landed for you, and your interested in how shamanic healing and divination can help you, check out my website to learn more and you can contact me with any questions.

Soulful Shamanic Healing and Tarot

link: www.soulfulshamantarot.com

May this next year bring more clarity and healing for us all. Keep on dancing!

Art Progress 2 0 1 9

First artworks of 2019, watercolor crystals on paper. - Tucson, AZ

Art Progress of 2 0 1 8

st. croix - mother and daughter beach day

acrylic on canvas 12x10

gift

first and last artwork of 2018

artreach st. croix mobile art gallery at marine art fair

ArtReach St. Croix launched the mobile art gallery at the Marine on St. Croix Art Fair this weekend.  The design started in June at ArtReach located in Stillwater, MN.  I teamed up with Heather Rutledge, director at ArtReach, to envision a mobile gallery, art stand, and performance venue to engage communities along the St. Croix river valley as part of ArtReach's mission to "make art accessible to everyone".  After design approval, we hired two steel welders to assemble the steel frame atop a newly purchased flat bed trailer.  Fabrication started in August, meanwhile in September roofers and volunteers finished out the interior for its debut at Marine Art Fair.  Also, featured on the back of the mobile gallery is a signature graffiti art mural by "EROS One73" J.R. Sabasttian. There are some pending items to finish before the mobile gallery is fully operating, but it was great to see it in use at the art fair on this beautiful, sunny, late summer day!

webs:
ArtReach St. Croix
facebook/ArtReach

Architect, Anna Koosmann, and Director of ArtReach, Heather Rutledge, design team! - photo by Susan Koosmann

Heather Rutledge in teal speaking with ArtReach member.

Mobile gallery measures 10'x6'x9' (high). Enough space to step up and walk-in to view art works.

Art on display!

"EROS One73" graffiti art at the backside of the mobile gallery.

st. croix valley mobile art gallery

rendering for the proposed St. Croix Valley mobile art gallery.

On the boards and ongoing collaboration with ArtReach St. Croix in Stillwater, MN to fabricate a mobile pop-up art trailer for a gallery, fresh art roadside stand, and performance placemaking.  The design is being developed and scheduled to launch this September for the performance event "Take Me To The River".  Please help us realize this fun and creative way to bring art to St. Croix River Valley communities.

Donate here: Indiegogo Mobile Art Gallery

links: ArtReach St. Croix