High Desert Data Center
Environmental Desert Cultural Research Center located at 6500' elevation in Northeast Nevada. Ongoing experiments into water collection, remote wildlife filming and the recording of local oral histories and desert hermit manifestos are the current focus of funded research.
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120-volt wiring is complete on the interior of the living quarters. Electrician T. Wright is on the hook for installing the solar collectors, inverter and batteries next on the exterior here.
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Galvanized siding completed, the living quarters appears almost the same size as the water tank. Time to build a bath house.
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Respite from the sun, this tree supplies our investigators with more than cool shade.
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Soon, the old cook trailer is going to head off on a long journey home.
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For quick getaways, we can go chopper.
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The remaining ends of the decking are sawed off later, while the joists are adjusted and capped with two headers of 2”x6” treated lumber. The railing is yet to be determined.
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The installation team chose a hidden fastener, self-tapping system with approximately 1200 connections. Laborious, but the best-looking and lowest-maintenance result.
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The engineers did not feel that the shade from the house itself would be sufficient on the deck, but in fact, during the hottest time of the day (a couple hours prior to this shot) the coverage is plenty and the breeze helps keep this side even cooler. As the temperature drops with the sun in the West, the front of the cabin heats back up for care-free sunset watching.
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Steel siding awaits installation. Fire-resistant and able to be painted, this should be a good desert skin.
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Interior about to be sealed off from the elements. Interior electrical and plumbing begins in September 2012.
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New deck. Redwood has a two-hour fire rating, requires no chemical maintenance, and was less expensive than a composite or Ipe wood.
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‘YOU CAME TO SEE A ROCK SHOW’ 2012 A collection of low resolution images taken over a five-year period near Montello, NV. The disruptive nature of our progress, in these parts hidden by the years and vast, silent landscape, leaps out in an almost humorous way. We wonder if these native creatures are curious or in shock at our Rock Show. Do they want to come on tour with the band, or are they permanently deafened and withering away? The repeating image of the dead tree falling over near the end would imply an answer.
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Camp Cassie, an architectural manifesto non plus ultra by Bill Reid, Chief of Security.
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Headquarters as of September 2011, wrapped up for the brutal winter ahead.
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Resident naturalist, L. McLennan and Chef and Engineer C. Harper examine the Pilot Valley from above. They note for the record that the town of Montello, Nevada below, “Looks lovely from up here.”
