It's also a piece of artwork and a tribute to Dennis Rose, a former maintenance mechanic with the university who passed away last year.
The idea for the birdhouse began last fall, when Rose was looking for ways to cover an unsightly vent stack on the second level walkway at Cypress Hall near Jolly Giant Commons.
Rose began constructing the birdhouse last year, but passed away from cancer before it was completed. In the weeks and months following his death, family members, students and colleagues came together to finish the project, which gradually took on an added meaning.
“Dennis was initially trying to hide the vent pipe, but it ended up being something that cosmetically enhances the university and is good for the environment,” says Ron Rudebock, the university’s Director of Dining Services.
The octagonal birdhouse—which sits perched under a redwood tree—is both functional and artistic. In addition to being a resting place for a variety of local bird species, each of the 24 panels was designed by HSU staff, students and Rose’s family members. The illustrations include a lighthouse, a dragonfly, the redwood forest, a heart and a rainbow.
“It was nice to see our staff come together to do this in honor of Dennis,” Rudebock says. “He was always a very positive and friendly person. This is the perfect tribute to him.”