Photo Attributions

General Project Information

Architectural Credit:

MASS Design Group

Location: Gashora, N/A, Rwanda
Project Substantial Completion Date: 4/13/2023
Program type(s): Education - College/University (campus-level), Other
Total Site Area (gross sq. ft): 148,104,000
Total Building Area (gross sq. ft): 219,045
Project substantial completion date: 4/13/2023
Climate zone: 3C
Project site: Partially previously developed
Project team: 
Client: Howard G. Buffett Foundation
Site Owner: Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture
SMEP, Civil, and Furniture/Product Design: MASS Design Group
Civil Engineering Subconsultant: Arup
Civil Engineering Subconsultant: Transolar
SMEP Subconsultant: Arup
Subcontractor: Remote Group
Subcontractor: Costwise
Contractor: MASS Build
Quantity Surveying Subconsultant: MEW Consultants LTD
Quantity Surveying Subconsultant: Arabella
Specifications Subconsultant: Conspectus
Graphics (Presentations): PEBL Design

Project Overview:
The Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) is a climate-positive campus built with local materials and craftsmanship, guided by a meticulous campus plan for native species restoration.

RICA’s campus emerged from a multidisciplinary research and analysis effort, and includes landscape, housing, academic spaces, barn storage, processing space, stormwater systems, human and animal waste management systems, and off-grid energy infrastructure. The construction used biogenic materials, including rammed earth, compressed earth blocks, wood, stone, and terracotta.

RICA and its curriculum were designed concurrently and holistically to serve as an alternative model for sustainable agriculture, land use, and construction worldwide.

Submission portfolio​​​​​​​