This fall, the Architecture Library's Visual Resources Collection (VRC) debuts the Building Material Samples Collection. This new collection, which is devoted to innovative and sustainable building materials, contains samples from a variety of manufacturers who produce sustainable building products or innovative new materials for use in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, or historic preservation.

Most samples are small in size and easily portable. Items in the collection are available for study in the Architecture Library's VRC, which is located in room 117 of the Architecture Building. The samples may also be checked out for four days by anyone with a valid Ball State ID. Records for the samples, along with a photograph of each sample, may be found in CardCat by searching for the phrase "Architecture Building Material Samples Collection," or use this link to go directly to Architecture Building Material Samples Collection in CardCat.

Some of the items in the collection include rubber tiles made from 90% post-consumer waste from tires, translucent honeycomb panels in a range of colors, and paper and resin surfacing material made from 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard. Samples will be added to the collection on an ongoing basis. For more information about the collection contact Cindy Turner, Visual Resources Curator, 765-285-5865.