Students at South Dakota State U. Build a Straw-Bale House

The Brookings Register has a story about a straw-bale house that was built by students in McCrory Gardens at South Dakota State University. The 900-square-foot house will be used as a meeting and classroom facility.

Straw-bale building is an increasingly popular construction method, particularly in the West, where the climate is dry. Susceptibility to rot from moisture is one of the main weaknesses of straw-bale construction. Otherwise, the buildings are extremely strong, resistant to fire, and energy efficient.