// We're all starting to pack, getting ready for our big trip to DC! Today we had a logistics meeting and received the polos we'll be wearing on the mall. I'm not going to say the colors because you should have some surprise before you see us.

Now that the houses are on the road, we've been adamantly updating our twitter page. To check it out, visit www.twitter.com/refracthouse

Follow and RT us. Also, we have two new videos on the website about our team, one even features my involvement with the Water Team (the greatest of course)

// Hi, my name's Dan Ruffoni and I'm one of the construction managers and structural designers for Refract House. I first got involved with this project as the structural designer of the house. After realizing what a huge task that was I asked Andrew Smith and Sean Irwin to help out with the structural design of the house. After the structural design was completed, I became one of the construction managers for the project.

It’s amazing to think about the progress of this project in terms of both the physical house and the team. The house has definitely developed into its own identity and will be a huge crowd favorite in DC. But what I am most impressed about this project is the growth of people on this team. This is such a young team and it was originally the most frustrating part of the project. In the beginnings of the project, everything was chaotic and there was no organization, but now everybody has taken a role and their respective responsibilities and have really excelled at what they did.

We are currently packing up the house getting ready for the long trip across the country, so everybody is a little depressed that we have to tear it all down after putting so much work into it, but we all know that it will look a lot better once we get to DC.

Hope to see you all on the National Mall,

Dan

// The crane company came by today to pick up the house we have spent 18 months designing. Although I'm sad to see it go, it was awesome to see our structural design team's work be successful! The house was loaded onto the trucks without a hitch. Sean, Dan, and Andrew rock! We were all high fiving and cheering as each of the three modules was connected, hoisted, and loaded by the cranes. For some cool pictures of the deconstruction and the loading onto the cranes, go to the september photos on our photobucket page.

// The Rain has started coming in hard. We're packing the trucks, the underneath of the house is clear, and we're progressing. Although morale has been challenged by the downpour, we are stalwart

// The house's deconstruction is well under way. All the skin has been removed from the house, and the decking was completely removed as of yesterday. "Above the surface" appliances are being moved out while all of the piping under the decking is being adjusted/moved. I thank all the volunteers and community members who have come to augment the effort at Santa Clara to get this house moving.

As proof to how we all do what we need to in order to proceed with the house, on Friday I helped take down the racking. It was my first time on the roof when I wasn't taking pictures, but I think with the teaching of Vlahos, I did a pretty decent job.

We'd still love more volunteers to come out to the site and help us out. It's at Santa Clara University behind the Harrington Learning Commons (the library). We'll feed you!