Hemp Voices: Michael Gibson, Kansas State University
Michael D. Gibson, AIA, NCARB, LEED A.P. Associate Professor, Dept. of Architecture Kansas State University
At KSU, I teach environmental systems and design studios; for the last four years, my studios have been focused on designing and building affordable, net-zero housing. I am very interested in the potential of natural materials, particularly low-process-energy materials, to replace petroleum and chemically based materials in our buildings. Hemp is a fascinating material because it can also be grown and processed locally.
What was a win for your organization in the past year? Midwest Hemp Technology and the Kansas Hemp Consortium have been a great supporter of hemp building research at K-State. We made many connections and were able to work with donated local hemp, which got our research program off the ground.
What did you not know about hemp building materials a year ago that you know now? I thought hempcrete was going to be easy to DIY with students. The material and methods of hempcrete take finesse and experience, but that isn't all a negative; like any traditional craft, it takes practice, learning, and you need help from people with expertise. The “people” side of hempcrete has been wonderful and I have learned a great deal the old fashioned way, by talking to people who can share their experience.
What must the hemp building industry do in the next five years to be successful? Hemp and hempcrete needs to show that it is not an exotic, weird material, but something that can integrate with U.S. codes and construction practices. Particularly for building homes, we need strategies for using the material for large scale building efforts, not just one-of-a-kind homes.
Michael Gibson, Kansas State University Manhattan, KS
(785)532-5953
mdgibson@k-state.edu