STUDIO MIDTERM PRESENTATION
This building is inspired by the striated forms of rammed earth buildings. Looking at the work of Eddie Jones and Rick Joy, long linear rammed earth walls, as well as sloping geometric forms, were developed. The structure is primarily rammed earth, with rammed earth panel clad concrete containing the storm shelter. The resilient design center spans from east to west, following the general flow of the contour lines. The footprint is meant to mimic the layers of rammed earth structures, thus it appears as staggered “layers” of space when viewed from above. Navigating the building itself, it is separated by a chasm of space between the very public gallery and film screening portion of the building, and the more intimate classrooms and work spaces. The fairly narrow passage is flanked on either side by mostly rammed earth with select openings, creating a canyon-like feeling. The design center is also somewhat leveled in section, with the classroom and workshop spaces overlooking a green roof that is on top of the gallery.
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SYNOPSIS of COTE MEASURES
Measure 1: Design for Innovation
The overall sustainability of this building utilizes rainwater collection, green roofs to control storm water and contribute to the lost vegetation during construction, passive ventilation to reduce mechanical cooling loads, large thermal masses which contribute to keeping the building warm, and using sustainable and economical materials.
Measure 2: Design for Community
The building will educate occupants about its sustainable systems and construction process via a gallery that displays the resiliency of rammed earth construction, as well as the upper level spaces having access to several green roofs that can educate occupants about natural vegetation, storm water management, and sustainable building techniques that reduce the negative effect of the building footprint. While the building is located out of the way which reduces the ability for walking or biking, the parking lot will include plenty of green spaces, and will consist of a semi-permeable material to reduce runoff.
Measure 3: Design for Ecology
The construction of this building will attempt to preserve as many of the trees as possible. The green roofs will contain native plants, to reduce the negative impact that the construction will have on the ground vegetation and the blocking of water flow during storm events. The landscaping of the grade will slope in the general direction of the original contours, to direct water to the creek that manages storm water.
Measure 4: Design for Water
The roof of the second level, which contains the classroom, workspace, and conference area, has a butterfly roof that serves to collect rainwater and redirect it to a cistern. This rainwater supply can be used to irrigate the native landscaping, or to flush toilets. Water on the site is also managed during storms by the addition of 3 green roof areas, reducing runoff.
Measure 5: Design for Economy
The use of rammed earth material is relatively cheap. The ability to have consistent and repetitive 8 foot form-work, along with sourcing soil from very near the site, would allow the construction to be rather sustainable and cheap. The rammed earth would serve multiple purposes from structural to thermal control.
Measure 6: Design for Energy
The use of rammed earth in the building seeks to create thermal insulation within the spaces, as well as potentially acting as a thermal mass to assist with heating the building at nights and during the colder winter seasons. Mechanical systems would still be required to maintain comfortable temperatures year round, however the insulation of the earth would maintain a more stable temperature, reducing the cycling of the mechanical systems.
Measure 7: Design for Wellness
Although the building’s walls would be very thick and massive, there will be windows that let in pockets of light to the spaces. A skylight on the upper level would bring additional indirect daylighting from the south. The gallery spaces would have a south facing glass curtain wall that is shaded by the roof structure of the portico to the south of it. The curtain wall will contain rotating panels that are able to open up. Combined with operable clerestory windows at the north wall of the gallery, this would allow passive ventilation to take advantage of the south winds during the warmer seasons.
Measure 8: Design for Resources
The decision to use rammed earth as the primary material in this building was mostly inspired by its resiliency, economy, and sustainability. Due to the composition of soil in Oklahoma, the soil required for rammed earth would be able to be sourced very locally. Small additions of sand and Portland cement can easily be sourced from nearby. The steel that would need to be used could come from the nearby WW Steel Factory, and prefabricated concrete bond beams would come from the nearby Coreslab.
Rammed earth, while rather thick, is easy to construct and has wonderful insulation properties. The addition of a few inches of rigid insulation between two wythes of rammed earth would reduce the need for constant cycles of cooling and heating. The building was designed on a grid of 8 foot increments, with some walls spanning 16 or 24 feet. This consistency would allow for a repetitive and reusable form-work to reduce that material and waste afterwards. Rammed earth has a long life cycle and is not easily damaged, meaning it will last for many years.
Measure 9: Design for Change
The building will be embedded into the site and constructed of rammed earth, thus it will be fairly permanent. However, the large hallway that runs east to west down the center of the building would have the ability to extend farther and construct more spaces on either side of its linear circulation. Additionally, the gallery could be extended even farther with additional bays added to it and the green roof elongated.
Measure 10: Design for Discovery
After the completion of this building, the energy used for the mechanical cooling and heating systems would be monitored to see if it performing as well as was calculated. The building was inspired by traditional earth construction that has been around for hundreds of years. Hopefully this building will inspire future construction and inform designers of the potential to use earth in modern construction.
The overall sustainability of this building utilizes rainwater collection, green roofs to control storm water and contribute to the lost vegetation during construction, passive ventilation to reduce mechanical cooling loads, large thermal masses which contribute to keeping the building warm, and using sustainable and economical materials.
Measure 2: Design for Community
The building will educate occupants about its sustainable systems and construction process via a gallery that displays the resiliency of rammed earth construction, as well as the upper level spaces having access to several green roofs that can educate occupants about natural vegetation, storm water management, and sustainable building techniques that reduce the negative effect of the building footprint. While the building is located out of the way which reduces the ability for walking or biking, the parking lot will include plenty of green spaces, and will consist of a semi-permeable material to reduce runoff.
Measure 3: Design for Ecology
The construction of this building will attempt to preserve as many of the trees as possible. The green roofs will contain native plants, to reduce the negative impact that the construction will have on the ground vegetation and the blocking of water flow during storm events. The landscaping of the grade will slope in the general direction of the original contours, to direct water to the creek that manages storm water.
Measure 4: Design for Water
The roof of the second level, which contains the classroom, workspace, and conference area, has a butterfly roof that serves to collect rainwater and redirect it to a cistern. This rainwater supply can be used to irrigate the native landscaping, or to flush toilets. Water on the site is also managed during storms by the addition of 3 green roof areas, reducing runoff.
Measure 5: Design for Economy
The use of rammed earth material is relatively cheap. The ability to have consistent and repetitive 8 foot form-work, along with sourcing soil from very near the site, would allow the construction to be rather sustainable and cheap. The rammed earth would serve multiple purposes from structural to thermal control.
Measure 6: Design for Energy
The use of rammed earth in the building seeks to create thermal insulation within the spaces, as well as potentially acting as a thermal mass to assist with heating the building at nights and during the colder winter seasons. Mechanical systems would still be required to maintain comfortable temperatures year round, however the insulation of the earth would maintain a more stable temperature, reducing the cycling of the mechanical systems.
Measure 7: Design for Wellness
Although the building’s walls would be very thick and massive, there will be windows that let in pockets of light to the spaces. A skylight on the upper level would bring additional indirect daylighting from the south. The gallery spaces would have a south facing glass curtain wall that is shaded by the roof structure of the portico to the south of it. The curtain wall will contain rotating panels that are able to open up. Combined with operable clerestory windows at the north wall of the gallery, this would allow passive ventilation to take advantage of the south winds during the warmer seasons.
Measure 8: Design for Resources
The decision to use rammed earth as the primary material in this building was mostly inspired by its resiliency, economy, and sustainability. Due to the composition of soil in Oklahoma, the soil required for rammed earth would be able to be sourced very locally. Small additions of sand and Portland cement can easily be sourced from nearby. The steel that would need to be used could come from the nearby WW Steel Factory, and prefabricated concrete bond beams would come from the nearby Coreslab.
Rammed earth, while rather thick, is easy to construct and has wonderful insulation properties. The addition of a few inches of rigid insulation between two wythes of rammed earth would reduce the need for constant cycles of cooling and heating. The building was designed on a grid of 8 foot increments, with some walls spanning 16 or 24 feet. This consistency would allow for a repetitive and reusable form-work to reduce that material and waste afterwards. Rammed earth has a long life cycle and is not easily damaged, meaning it will last for many years.
Measure 9: Design for Change
The building will be embedded into the site and constructed of rammed earth, thus it will be fairly permanent. However, the large hallway that runs east to west down the center of the building would have the ability to extend farther and construct more spaces on either side of its linear circulation. Additionally, the gallery could be extended even farther with additional bays added to it and the green roof elongated.
Measure 10: Design for Discovery
After the completion of this building, the energy used for the mechanical cooling and heating systems would be monitored to see if it performing as well as was calculated. The building was inspired by traditional earth construction that has been around for hundreds of years. Hopefully this building will inspire future construction and inform designers of the potential to use earth in modern construction.