Brian Novello, of Rockaway Township, Receives NJIT Top Honor for Research
Brian Novello, of Rockaway Township, a graduating fifth year student in the NJIT Bachelor of Architecture Degree Program, has received the third place bronze medal from NJIT for his inventive design to create docking stations in rivers to harness clean energy. The honor was awarded at the NJIT Dana Knox Provost Research Day competition on April 14, 2010.
An earlier version of this design won a prestigious honor for its ingenious use of existing dock space in New York City harbors.
(ATTENTION MEDIA: To interview Brian, a graduating senior, for more details about the project, contact Sheryl Weinstein, 973-596-3436.)
Novello’s mentor was architect Richard Garber, an assistant professor in the NJIT College of Architecture and Design. “Docking stations are a system of modular floating docks that are designed to harness the clean energy produced by tidal action of rivers and tidal bays,” said Novello. They function in order to either power urban infrastructure or to provide a continuous energy source in developing areas.
Docks were outfitted to plug-in either to existing power grids for feedback and/or contain up to three rechargeable batteries. Docking stations attach to the conventional piers or docks of areas adjacent to waterways, extending them further into the river to optimize clean energy generation while increasing public green space and tidal pools for wildlife.
This project was not Novello’s first to attract attention during his undergraduate career. His design for a new kind of solar house helped a student team from NJIT and Rutgers University—New Brunswick take a hotly-contested finalist spot in the upcoming 2011 US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition.