< Previous50 UNIVERSITY NEWS AUBURNTIGERS.COM This past spring, students at Rural Stu- dio, Auburn’s off-campus design-build program, were awakened by an emer- gency alert warning of an approaching tornado. Their frantic dash to a storm shelter in tiny Newbern, Alabama — population 133 — gave them a firsthand glimpse of rural life and the challenge of weath- ering a storm in close quarters. While the conditions caught them off guard, the students were already working on a solution: “Mark’s Home,” a one-bed- room, one-bathroom prototype house designed specifically for disaster-prone regions. Student experience on steroids At Rural Studio, which is housed in the College of Architecture, Design and Con- struction, third- and fifth-year architec- ture students spend a semester or more immersed in rural life and design-build projects. These “citizen architects” live simply — sharing meals, attending class on the back porch, harvesting vegetables from the garden and learning to build structures by hand. Founded over 30 years ago, Rural Studio’s research focuses on long-term community wellbeing, including hous- ing access and affordability, wastewater management and healthy living. Stu- dents and faculty have completed more than 220 projects — including homes, recreational facil- ities, a firehouse and a library — for the residents of ru- ral Hale County. Now, under the guidance of Asso- ciate Professor and Extension Specialist Emily McGlohn, stu- dents have designed Mark’s Home, a du- rable, energy-effi- cient structure with a FEMA-compliant saferoom. Built to FORTIFIED high-wind standards, its roof, doors and windows can withstand winds of up to 130 miles per hour. Affordable in more ways than one Rural Studio has long studied hous- ing affordability, but its focus now in- cludes making homes affordable to own — reducing costs for insurers and monthly bills for homeowners. For insurers, FORTIFIED standards re- duce damage from severe weather, low- ering replacement costs. For homeown- ers, energy-efficient features — proper insulation, heat-reflective roofs and effi- cient windows and doors — means lower utility bills and maintenance costs. The FEMA-compliant safe room adds another layer of protection, offering an alternative to the community shelter in a region that’s seen increased tornado ac- tivity in recent years. Homeowner Mark Carlisle, a lifelong Newbern resident and Auburn football fan, will appreciate the ability to shelter in place in his own home. “I won’t say I can’t wait to use it — be- cause that means a tornado is coming — but I’m thrilled to have it in case one does,” he said. McGlohn, who was recently honored with a Women in Architecture Award from industry publication “Architectural Record,” said she hopes to offer this fea- ture to every Rural Studio client. “My last clients asked for one, but we were too far into their project to make it happen,” she said. “I told myself the next house I built would have one and that we would start investigating the easiest way to make it a standard in fu- ture houses.” Mark’s Home will also be wired with a generator in case of power loss during a storm. That feature is just one of sever- al being funded by a recently awarded Creed Grant, a new initiative from the Auburn Alumni Association supporting innovative campus projects that best ex- emplify the Auburn Creed. “Rural Studio’s ‘Creed House’ project touched on almost every aspect of the Creed,” said Will Faulkner, engagement facilitator with Auburn Advancement. “The Alumni Association Board of Direc- tors were impressed by the vision and the good it can do for future generations in the Black Belt region.” McGlohn said enhancing the lives of the region’s residents — while solving challenges facing rural communities — is always the goal for Rural Studio. “The thing Rural Studio does that’s dif- ferent from other housing organizations is thinking up new ideas and finding the funding to make them happen,” she said. “I hope each house we build is always bet- ter than the last one.” UNIVERSITY NEWS BY KELLEY YOUNG NEW HOUSING DESIGN WILL KEEP AUBURN FAN SAFE DURING TORNADOES Auburn football fan Mark Carlisle will reside in the latest home, designed and built by students at Rural Studio. At Rural Studio, architecture students complete design-build projects that benefit communities in west Alabama.52 MEET THE COACHES AUBURNTIGERS.COM Returning to Auburn was an easy decision for outside linebackers coach Roc Bellantoni. “The reason I wanted to come back to Auburn was the people,” he said. “The people here made me feel so special the first time I was here. The relationships I had with the players were special. “You talk about family and if you love Auburn, Auburn’s going to love you back. It’s all true. This is a very special place, and it’s something I held close to my heart. I couldn’t be more excited to be back and experience it again.” A defensive analyst at Auburn in 2021, Bellantoni coached the Tigers’ edge rushers and served as special teams coordinator in 2022 before becoming the defensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic the past two seasons. “When I left here, it was a dream to maybe come back someday. I didn’t realize it would be this quick,” Bellantoni said. “It was a great two years away. I grew as a coach. When I had the opportunity to come back here, I was thrilled to come back.” Bellantoni’s first stint on the Plains positioned him for his second, according to Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze. “He said that I had done a great job my first time here,” Bellantoni recalled. “He heard that from a lot of people and thought that I might be able to come in and contribute. “I told him I really wanted to come in and help him get over the hump. Help this program get over the hump, it’s been growing and growing for two years. I’ve seen that from afar, and I wanted to come in and help him get there.” A defensive coordinator for 17 seasons, Bellantoni offers his experience in support of Auburn coordinator DJ Durkin. “We all have ownership in it,” Durkin said. “When you have guys who have called it before, have been through some battles and have battle scars, it certainly helps.” “I love Coach Durkin. He’s the greatest,” Bellantoni said. “He’s intense and has a purpose for everything we do defensively. Everybody speaks the same language.” From the outside linebackers he coaches, Bellantoni seeks dependability and disruption. “Doing our job, being where we’re supposed to be, being reliable,” he said. “I want us to be violent in the run game and very disruptive in the pass game. “We can affect the quarterback and affect the pass game through rushing the passer, but you’ve got to earn the opportunity to rush the passer by stopping the run. We’ve got to start there.” In 2022, Bellantoni coached All-SEC edge rusher Derrick Hall to a monster season that included seven sacks, an interception, seven quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and one recovery. “The one thing I know about football that I’ve learned over the years is the quarterback cannot throw the ball when he’s lying on his back,” Bellantoni said. “It’s not only sacks, it’s pressures, affecting his throws, getting him off his spot, disrupting the rhythm of the pass game. An elite pass rusher can change the game.” Thirty years after his first college football coaching debut, Roc Bellantoni returns to the Plains, determined to lead Auburn’s outside backers to greatness. “Taking my position group and making them the best group in the SEC, the best group in the country that we can be,” he said. “I take a lot of pride in that. I take a lot of pride in how they play, how they act and how they carry themselves. I think we can be difference makers in this defense.” Roc and his wife, Jenny, a second- grade teacher, are the parents of four college baseball players. “Couldn’t be more thrilled,” he said. “The only thing I like as much as winning a football game is watching them play and excel.” OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH ROC BELLANTONI BY: JEFF SHEARER54 2025 STADIUM MAP 2025 STADIUM MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COMThe Medical School making a difference in our community EVERY DAY ©2025 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. All rights reserved. Please go to www.vcom.edu/outcomes for a copy of our outcomes report. At the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Auburn, Alabama our mission is to train future physicians who are community-focused and ready to make a difference. That starts right here at home. Over the last 20 years, VCOM students and alumni have made great improvements to healthcare in southern Appalachia, but there is still work to be done. We’re inviting you to join us in this mission and make a difference for our community. Learn more www.vcom.edu56 2025 AUBURN PARKING MAP 2025 AUBURN PARKING MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM2025 AUBURN PARKING MAP LEGEND 57 2025 AUBURN PARKING LEGEND AUBURNTIGERS.COM1957 East Samford Ave., Suite B Hoka, On, Altra, Saucony, Brooks, Feetures, OS1st, Duadora, Free People, Lululemon, Turtlebox, Clothing Accesories and more! • Daily Tours •Authentic Artifacts •STEAM Days • Open Year ‘Round CELEBRATING 20 YEARS An Archaeological Museum Exploring Daily Life in Ancient Times in Georgia Voted Top 3 Religious Museums by USA Today 130 Gordon Commercial Dr. LaGrange, Georgia 30240 (One hour southwest of Atlanta) Tuesday-Saturday 10am - 5pm (706)885-0363 BiblicalHistoryCenter.combrightinvestments.com Auburn, AL Memphis, TN Nashville, TN DISCIPLINE DRIVES THE PROCESS. FINDING VALUE IS THE ART. 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