Kansas University hosted an open house to celebrate the opening of its new Center for Design Research on Saturday.

photo by: Richard Gwin

A ribbon cutting is held on KU's West Campus for the new KU Center for Design Research. The building, which showcases many renewable technologies, was built by KU students in the Studio 804 class.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Lucy McAllister, Lawrence, left, gets some information on a fern wall from student Kristen Oschwald, St. Louis, inside the new KU Center for Design Research on KU's West Campus. Oschwald helped with building the new center.

photo by: Richard Gwin

KU Provost Jeff Vitter, left, and Greg Thomas, director of the Center for Design Research, charge a car with electric energy generated by a wind generator on Saturday July 17, 2011 at the Center for Design Research.

photo by: Richard Gwin

KU professor Dan Rockhill, far right, honors all the students who helped build the new Center for Design Research at Kansas University. A ribbon cutting was held on KU's West Campus, the culmination of months of work.

photo by: Richard Gwin

The former Chamney Barn was the center of attention on Saturday July 17, 2011 as interested onlookers and Chamney family members from left, Kate Rockhill, Marilyn Chamney Lee, Patrina Chamney, Li Chen, Clifford Chamney, Janet Wood Wells and Marie Chamney Wood look on during the ceremonies to open the new KU Center for Design Research.

photo by: Richard Gwin

John Gaunt, dean of the KU School of Architecture, Design and Planning addresses the crowd that came to see the opening of the new Center for Design Research on KU's West Campus.