RIC group to live in ‘experimental city’

PROVIDENCE – A new program at Rhode Island College enables students to earn college credits while living and working in an “experimental city” in the Arizona desert.
The students will spend June living and working in Arcosanti, a town designed by architect Paolo Soleri that has been under construction since 1970. It is a prototype town for 5,000 residents based on Soleri’s concept of “arcology,” architecture coherent with ecology.
Arcology’s goal is to “maximize the interaction and accessibility of an urban environment, minimize the use of energy, raw materials and land, reduce waste and environmental pollution and allow for interaction with the natural environment.”
The students will work on construction, cooperative living projects, archival work and sand and metal casting. They will also be required to produce an essay or piece of nonfiction writing based on the experience in order to receive the three English credits for the course.
Registration begins on April 2, and non-RIC students are invited to join the project.