design_academic

inForm: Didactic Eco- Conscious Architecture

This development weaves education, work, agriculture and retail. The base consists of restaurants and retail on the ground floor, exhibit space and library on the second floor, school on the third floor and urban agriculture on the roof. The tower floors will be leased to startups associated with sustainability, alternative energy sources and storage, urban farming, biodegradable product development. This project looks at how a mixed use development in a downtown metropolitan area mutually benefit from their association with each other and with the neighboring amenities.

Directly responding to the seismic issues of San Francisco, an expressive architecture may be a tangible illustration of applied physics and mathematics to the students. Users may wonder about the tension cables, chevron shapes, truss columns, and this curiosity is the first step in learning. Rain water collected in cisterns irrigate the urban farming projects of the students, while reclaimed water goes through a purifying process to be re-used for irrigation of the landscape plants and for toilet flushing. Passive strategies to cool the building involve traditional methods such as cross ventilation, stack effect, and shade devices.

The solar array is composed of a reflective concave dish that focuses light to a concentrated point where high efficiency photovoltaic cells are located. The solar energy reflected by the area of the dish is equivalent to the amount of energy captured by photovoltaics of equal area. However, by reflecting and focusing that equivalent energy onto a much smaller high efficiency photo- voltaic cell cluster, the cost dramatically decreases due to less silicon being used - the most costly material in the assembly. Equipped with sensors, the dish tracks the sun's altitude and azimuth increasing the direct exposure to solar rays. The location, shape and orientation of the tower, solar array, and louvers respond to winter/ summer solar studies.

Relief Modules

Quick response is crucial after a disaster. Pre-fabricated parts that can easily be transported and assembled at the site or pre-assembled modules sized to fit on standard trailer beds and hoisted onto precast footings, provide the immediate response called for during a disaster. These modular shelters may be quickly disassembled, easily transported and reused where needed. Structural insulated panels provide good structural strength and stability while a bolted moment frame resists rotational movement. An additional metal exo-structure allows for hurricane shutters, photovoltaic panels with reinforced casing, or a secondary protective system to be attached. These can cover and protect windows and skylights from damage and slide away to allow light and air through. The profile and shape reduces differential wind pressure and lack of overhangs reduce places to lift the roof off. The raised structure minimizes water intrusion.

These modules may be temporary housing, temporary medical assistance hubs, or in this case study - temporary classrooms. The dual structure of the interior moment frame and the supplemental external frame to receive various cladding options allow versatility in response to the climatic needs of the location such as reinforced glazing for high winds, steeper roof pitch for snow, brise soleil to reduce heat gain and allow cross ventilation in humid regions. The modular design coupled with transformable furniture lends itself to many possible configurations. In this case study of a portable classroom, the various modes of teaching and the spaces that facilitate them can be realized. Also the architecture itself may become a learning device in itself.

Zero Energy Home*

The University of Maryland, College Park won Second place overall and first place for people's choice in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, a national competition held every two years. Design goals include creating an open and flexible space, connecting to the landscape, material responsibility & durability, and energy efficiency. Using a series of movable, translucent panels a small house may be transformed into a large space. The modular approach lends itself to both easily housing the green systems as well as constant flexibility of space. Being part of this team of faculty and students confirms that integral design can meet zero energy goals, as well as, provide a comfortable and beautifully designed home.

Indigenous plants are self-watered from rainwater collected from the roof and filtered through a constructed wetlands. The photovoltaic system which spans the entire sloped roof provides 100% of the electrical energy to the home and hot water tubes, and is all monitored by the adaptive control energy monitor system. In addition, there is an outlet to charge an electric car. The most innovative feature is the indoor waterfall - a liquid desiccant wall system used to control humidity. A grey water system also helps the recycling, filtering, and storage of water.

Liquid Desiccant Waterfall removes humidity with very little energy, greatly reducing the job of the air-conditioner (used only for cooling). Calcium chloride, a highly absorptive salt, is mixed into the waterfall, where it captures moisture out of the air. Heat from the solar hot collectors is used to regenerate the desiccant. For optimal energy efficiency, it is desirable to minimize air leaks though the exterior walls of the house. Good indoor air quality, however, requires adequate ventilation with outside air. Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) operate by exchanging stale, interior air for fresh, outdoor air. In the winter, the stale indoor air is generally warmer and more humid than the fresh outdoor air. The ERV transfers heat and humidity from the stale air being exhausted to the incoming outdoor. This transfer is 95% efficient. As a result, less energy is required to heat and humidify the fresh air. In the summer, of course, the opposite is true and the ERV works to reduce the temperature and humidity of the incoming fresh air.

*Photos by UMD Architecture Department; Information above based on research by the UMD Architecture Department Solar Decathlon Team.

academic work

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inForm: Didactic Eco- Conscious Architecture

Relief Modules

Zero Energy Home*