Center for Integration

CENTER FOR INTEGRATION: AN INTEGRATIVE HOUSING SOLUTION FOR REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

by Brittany Doseck B.S. Ball State University, 2013

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Master of Architecture

Department of Architecture In the Graduate School Southern Illinois University Carbondale December 2017

AN ABSTRACT OF CENTER FOR INTEGRATION: AN INTEGRATIVE HOUSING SOLUTION FOR REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

By Brittany Doseck for the Master of Architecture, presented on December 14, 2017 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale Chairperson of the Supervisory Committee: Doctor Michael Brazley

This research seeks to understand the current process by which refugees are resettled in the United States, and conditions in which their integration can be achieved, more successfully, through the built environment. This research is important because the systems in place for refugee resettlement can have a negative impact on the lives of refugees as well as their receiving country. By facilitating the growth and integration of refugees, the country can give those in need a chance at life while also adding a diversity to their urban centers. This diversity can foster a cultural growth, from a global perspective, and in return give refugees the ability to be a part of a community. This thesis hypothesis will focus on the design of a community living center that fosters the integration of refugees, within an existing community, while achieving a LEED Gold Certification. Through the LEED Gold Certification process, the expected outcome of this research is to prove that such a sustainable facility may successfully exist and operate under the anticipated level of certification.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER

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ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………….i THESIS APPROVAL……………...…………………………………………………………….ii TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………..…………………iii LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………………vii LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………….…………………….……ix CHAPTERS CHAPTER 1 – Introduction…………………………………………………………….1 CHAPTER 2 – Literature Review……………………………………………………...3 – What is Integration?...………………………………………...3 – Standard of Living...…………………………………………..4 – Social Integration……………………………………………...4 – LEED Certification..………………………………………..….6 – Case Studies……...………………………………………………....10 – Sorella Housing for Women……………………………......10 – Firstenburg Community Center……..…………………......12 – Bud Clark Commons Homeless Shelter…………….........15 CHAPTER 3 – Methodology……….…………………………………………………18 – Site Analysis………………………………………………………….19 – Site Selection…..…………………………………………….19 – Nashville, Tennessee………………….….. 19 – Hillsboro-West End…………………….……19

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– Bus Route…………...………………….……23 – Site…..……………..…………………………………………24 – Surrounding Buildings…………..….….……24 – Materials………….….………………….……26 – Soil Analysis………….......…………….……26 – Native Vegetation……......…………….……27 – Graphic Analysis.....…………………………………………27 – Site Boundaries……..…………..….….…….27 – Demolition………….….……………….…….29 – Site Conditions and Response Diagrams…30 – Vehicular Movement…….…………..30 – Setbacks………………….…………..31 – Wind………………….…………...…..31 – Drainage………………….…………..32 – Vegetation…………….….…………..33 – Utilities………………………………..34 – Climate………….....…………………………………………35 – Climate Zone….……..…………..….….……35 – Temperatures and Humidity.….……...…….36 – Demographics….....…………………………………………42 – Zoning.………….....………………………………………….45 – Codes Analysis………………………………………………46 – Building Program…………………………………………….49

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CHAPTER 4 – Analysis…………….…………………………………………………57 – Building Design Concept……………………...……………………57 – Massing and Site Development……………………...…………….58 – Massing……………..…..……………………………….......59 – Parking..……………..…..……………………………….......60 – Intersection……………..…..…………………..……….......60 – Security.……………..…..……………………………….......60 – Density..……………..…..……………………………….......61 – Perimeter……………..…..……………..……………….......61 – Vegetation……………..…..…………………………….......62 – Pedestrians……………..…..………………..………….......62 – Building Design………………………………………...……………65 – First Floor Plan…………..…..………………………….......65 – Lower Level Floor Plan.……………..…..…….……….......70 – Second Floor Plan……………..…..………………….........72 – Third Floor Plan.……………..…..…………..………….......78 – Building Sections..……………….…………..………….......80 – Elevations………..……………….…………..………….......81 – North and West….……..…………..….…….81 – South and East….……..………..….….……83 – Structure..………..……………….…………..………….......86 – Building Systems……..………….…………..………….......86 – LEED Certification…………...………………………...……………89

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CHAPTER 5 – Conclusion…………………………………………………………..116 REFERENCES………………………………………………….………...…………………118

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LIST OF TABLES TABLE

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Table 3.2A Commuting Patterns in Green Hills-Midtown (Nashville Next, 2015)……………………23 Table 3.2B Daily High and Low Temperatures (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.)…………………………36 Table 3.2C Time Spent in Various Temperature Bands (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.)…………………37 Table 3.2D Relative Humidity (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.)……………………………….…………37 Table 3.2E Precipitation Probability (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.)……………………………………38 Table 3.2F Types of Precipitation (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.)…………………………………...…38 Table 3.2G Annual Rainfall (Data, n.d.)……………………………………………..……………39 Table 3.2H Wind Speed (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.)………………………………………………39 Table 3.2I Wind Directions (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.)…………………………………………….40 Table 3.2J Wind Directions (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.) ………………………………………..….40 Table 3.2K Snow Fall (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.) ………………..……………………………….40 Table 3.2L Daylight (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.) …………………………………………….…….41 Table 3.2M Solar Radiation Values (Solar Energy and Solar Power in Nashville, TN. (n.d.).….…….41 Table 3.2N Demographics (A General Plan for Nashville and Davidson County, 2015)……….…….43 Table 3.2O Demographics (A General Plan for Nashville and Davidson County, 2015)….…………44 Table 3.2P Building Program (By Author)….……………………………………………………..50 vii

Table 4.1A Rainfall Runoff……………………………………………………..………………..96 Table 4.1B Rainfall Runoff…………………………………………………..…………………..97 Table 4.1C Water Budget………………………………………………………………………..99 Table 4.1D Renewable Energy…………………………………………………..……………..107

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LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE

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Figure 1.1 Project Checklist for LEED Certification (What is LEED Certification n.d.)……………..……7 Figure 2.2A Sorella Housing for Women (Sorella Housing for Women n.d.)……………..………….10 Figure 2.2B Sorella Housing for Women (Sorella Housing for Women n.d.)..……………..……….11 Figure 2.2C Elevation of Sorella Housing for Women (Sorella Housing for Women n.d.)……………12 Figure 2.2D Firstenburg Community Center (Firstenburg Community Center, n.d.)………...………13 Figure 2.2E Firstenburg Community Center (Firstenburg Community Center, n.d.)…………………14 Figure 2.2F Site Plan of Firstenburg Community Center (Firstenburg Community Center, n.d.)…..…14 Figure 2.2G Firstenburg Community Center (Firstenburg Community Center, n.d.)……………...…15 Figure 2.2H Bud Clark Commons (Bud Clark Commons n.d.)……………………………..………16 Figure 2.2I Bud Clark Commons (Bud Clark Commons n.d.)………………………………………16 Figure 2.2J Bud Clark Commons (Bud Clark Commons n.d.)……………………..………………16 Figure 2.2K Bud Clark Commons (Bud Clark Commons n.d.)……………………..………………16 Figure 2.2L Bud Clark Commons (Bud Clark Commons n.d.)…………………………..…………17 Figure 2.2M Bud Clark Commons (Bud Clark Commons n.d.)………………………….…………19 Figure 3.2A Site Location (By Author)……………………………………………………………20 Figure 3.2B Hillsboro-West End Neighborhood Map (Nashville Next, 2015)……………..…………21 ix

Figure 3.2C Zoning Legend (Nashville Next, 2015)…………………………………………….…22 Figure 3.2D Green Hills-Midtown Zoning Overlay (Nashville Next, 2015)………………..…………24 Figure 3.2E Nashville Metro Bus Route for Hillsboro (MTA Hillsboro Map 7)……………….………25 Figure 3.2F Neighborhood Building Context (By Author)……………………………………….…26 Figure 3.2G Neighborhood Materials (Google, n.d.)……………………………....………………28 Figure 3.2H Graphic Site Analysis (Google, n.d.)…………………………………………………28 Figure 3.2I Site Image (Google, n.d.)……………………………………………………….……29 Figure 3.2J Site Image (Google, n.d.)………………………………………………………….…29 Figure 3.2K Site Demolition (Google, n.d.)………………………………………………….……30 Figure 3.2L Vehicular Movement-Current Conditions (By Author)……………………………….…30 Figure 3.2M Vehicular Movement- Design Response (By Author)…………………………………31 Figure 3.2N Setbacks-Current Conditions (By Author)…………………….………………………31 Figure 3.2O Setbacks- Design Response (By Author)…………………………………….………32 Figure 3.2P Wind-Current Conditions (By Author)……………………………………...…………32 Figure 3.2Q Wind-Design Response (By Author)…………………………………………………33 Figure 3.2R Drainage-Current Conditions (By Author)……………………………….……………33 Figure 3.2S Drainage-Design Response (By Author)…………………………………..…………34

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Figure 3.2T Vegetation-Current Conditions (By Author)…………………………...………………34 Figure 3.2U Vegetation-Design Response (By Author)……………………………………………34 Figure 3.2V Utilities-Current Conditions (By Author)………………………………………………34 Figure 3.2W Utilities-Design Response (By Author)………………………………………………34 Figure 3.2X Climate Zones (Residential Prescriptive Requirements, n.d.)………………….………35 Figure 4.1A Concept Sketches (By Author)………………………………………………………58 Figure 4.1B Building Massing (By Author)……………..…………………………………………63 Figure 4.1C Site Plan (By Author)…………..……………………………………………………64 Figure 4.1D Building on Site (By Author)…………………………………………………………65 Figure 4.1E Lobby Perspective (By Author)………………………………………………………67 Figure 4.1F First Floor Concept Diagram (By Author)…………..…………………………………68 Figure 4.1G First Floor Plan (By Author)…………………………………………………………69 Figure 4.1H Exterior Building Perspective (By Author)………………………….…………………70 Figure 4.1I Lower Level Concept Diagram (By Author)……………………………………………71 Figure 4.1J Lower Level Floor Plan (By Author)………………………..…………………………72 Figure 4.1K Gymnasium Perspective (By Author)……………………………...…………………74 Figure 4.1L Common House Perspective (By Author)……………………………………….……75

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Figure 4.1M Second Floor Concept Diagram (By Author)…………………………………………77 Figure 4.1N Second Floor Plan (By Author)………………………………………………………78 Figure 4.1O Third Floor Concept Diagram (By Author)……………………………………………79 Figure 4.1P Third Floor Plan (By Author)…………………………………………………………80 Figure 4.1Q Building Sections (By Author)………………………………………………….……81 Figure 4.1R Building Elevations (By Author)………………………………………………...……84 Figure 4.1S Living House Exterior Perspective (By Author)…………………………………….…84 Figure 4.1T Wall Sections (By Author)……………………………………………………………86 Figure 4.1U LEED ScoreCard (What is LEED Certification n.d.)………………………..…………89

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Chapter 1: Introduction According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), “Refugees are people fleeing conflict or persecution.� (UNHCR, Refugees, 2017).

Reasons in which people fear persecution are because of religion, race, nationality, political opinion, and/or social status (Refugee Admissions n.d.). When fleeing a country, due to the aforementioned reasons, refugees have three options: they are able to remain refugees until their home country is safe to return to, they may obtain citizenship in the country in which they sought immediate asylum, or they may apply to be resettled in a third country. Although most refugees eventually return home, the latter two options are available, to a small number of people, when the home country is still unsafe. These are people who are at the highest risk of violence and torture, those who have physical ailments, are women or children, and those who seek to be reunified with their resettled family members. When individuals, who are subject to these fears and actions, wish to permanently migrate to a new and third country, they are able to register with the UNHCR for resettlement.

When approved for resettlement in the United States, refugees are assigned to nonprofit agencies that provide services to assist with their basic needs for the first 90 days. Beyond those 90 days, these individuals are required to find employment, transportation, education, and housing (UNHCR, Resettlement,2017). Aside from these essential needs that are required of a functioning member of society, refugees must also acclimate themselves to an unfamiliar culture and way of life. With few resources to aid them in their acclimation, refugees find it difficult to integrate into a new community, successfully. When considering the emotional and physical distress these individuals

have encountered throughout their lives, integration and acceptance is the most fundamental and accessible aspect refugees need in order to thrive as new citizens.

Refugee resettlement can be, and certainly is, a life changing opportunity for some individuals, and the integration into a new society is not only important for them and their lives, but their receiving country. Facilitating the growth and integration of refugees gives people a better life, or even a chance at life, and can add a diversity to the country that also fosters cultural growth from a global perspective. This research is critically important in the United States due to the rising number of refugees who seek resettlement. The US has resettled over 3 million refugees since 1975, in all 50 states (Refugee Admissions n.d., 2017). This undeniable need for integration exists at all levels, in every corner of every city and in every state.

Fiscal responsibility is an aspect of resettlement that weighs down the bridge between persecution and safety, and cannot allow for further integration. The UNHCR reported, in an annual needs meeting, that â€œâ€Śthe number of people in need of resettlement far surpasses the opportunities for placement in a third countryâ€? (UNHCR 2016). This is in part because of the fiscal responsibility it takes to resettle even one refugee in a third country. Discovering ways to offset or invest those costs while maintaining these social aspects of integration is key in creating a holistic solution that begins to chip away at the unrealistic ratios of need to opportunity. This thesis hypothesis will focus on the design of a community living center that fosters the integration of refugees, within an existing community, while achieving a LEED Gold Certification.

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Chapter 2: Literature Review What is Integration?

Defining local integration of refugees can be interpreted in three ways through legality: acquiring extended legal rights as a state inhabitant, economy: generating a standard of living in equity with the community, and culture: becoming socially encompassed in a community without fear of persecution or discrimination. This study focuses, more directly, on the two, latter concepts of living standards and social adaptation of refugee integration in the built environment. Through the understanding of these concepts, in refugee integration, a building program will be actualized to facilitate the resettlement of refugees in a community living center (A New Beginning: Refugee Integration in Europe 2013).

An important principle to note, in the integration of refugees, is the clarification between the terms local integration and assimilation. Assimilation is a term usually associated with the idea of conforming to the social characteristics of a group of people, in this case, the population of the host country that has accepted resettlement. It is widely understood that the UNHCR refuses the expectation of any refugee or immigrant to abandon their own cultural identity to become indistinguishable from the local and national community that they are becoming a part of. Today, the importance of this difference is coming to light and the UNHCR is making strides to incorporate the integration aspect more widely throughout refugee programs. Although providing basic needs to refugees is top priority, the long-term effects of segregation may lead to a lack

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of self-reliance that refugees need in order to become functioning members of a foreign society (A New Beginning: Refugee Integration in Europe 2013).

Standard of Living As a single sub-concept of refugee integration, establishing a sustainable livelihood in housing is necessary for proposing a standard of living. This standard of living should be achieved for the sensitivity of a group that has experienced harsh treatment and has, in turn, put them in such a situation. This standard should also match the standard of living for any native member of the receiving community.

Unfortunately, the stressful transitionary period after initial resettlement and government funded accommodation, requires refugees to find housing and employment in a limited amount of time. They are also expected to obtain housing with little income or rental history, both typical conditions for renting from a landlord or agency. Many refugees must rely on social connections for housing opportunities, and in some countries, social or low-income housing. These options leave refugees in substandard conditions that ultimately may hurt the potential of integration through increased anxiety. These substandard conditions also have an effect on the physical health of refugees, due to housing environments small in size with poor sanitary quality. The health implications, in respect to housing, are important when considering design for refugees. Living in a place that engenders emotional growth and the maintenance of well-being is fundamental in the proposition of a housing community (A New Beginning: Refugee Integration in Europe 2013).

Social Integration

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When arriving to a foreign country, it is difficult for refugees to socially integrate into a society where they have few friends and family or understanding of the culture.

Without these networks, it is common for a refugee to feel a sense of segregation from the receiving population. Overcoming the emotional stress of this transition and employing networks that mitigate those stresses, is imperative in the design of a community living center.

Social integration is difficult to measure and understand because of its subjective manner and relation to emotional response. Social inclusion cannot be simply understood as having a specific number of friends or acquaintances, being an active member of an organization, or playing an organized sport. If these types of situations achieved social integration or inclusion, perhaps this study would become much less complex. Although this is not the case, there are influential aspects of everyday life that have an effect on refugee social integration (A New Beginning: Refugee Integration in Europe 2013).

The barriers that keep refugees from becoming socially integrated with their receiving population has much to do with cultural differences in socialization, psychological limitations, economic status, employment, language barriers, and family separation. Through these obstacles, refugees feel a sense of anxiety that inhibits their ability to form friendships and connections. Socially inclusive networks that facilitate activity for the opposition to these effects include: religious congregation, sports, housing location, school events, age, agency facilities, and volunteer opportunities.

Using these facilitators in the design process will ensure the ability of the community center to become a catalyst for social integration.

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At the core of integration, refugees realistically need a house, but idealistically, need a home. They need a place where they feel welcomed and a part of a community.

Through certain standards of living for sensitive inhabitants, and a socially, inclusive program, a building design for a community living center can become a catalyst for social integration and inclusion (A New Beginning: Refugee Integration in Europe 2013).

LEED Certification In the building of a refugee community living center, the fiscal responsibility of a host community can be quite a burden, economically, for the first 90 days of government accommodation. Beyond that accommodation, agencies spend countless resources on helping refugees through a difficult transitional period of securing housing and employment. Although this thesis will not resolve those financial constraints, it can suggest strategies for agencies and governments to invest their resources into a sustainable building design that can aid in refugee integration (UNHCR, Resettlement, 2017).

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a certification and rating process developed by the U.S. Green Building Council as a model, guide, and standard for ecology centric building design. The goal of this non-profit organization of industry leaders is to generate and inspire responsible energy use in new construction as well as renovation projects. For building owners, this stewardship of sustainable design not only helps reduce their carbon footprint, but also lowers their utility bills for long term investment. The holistic approach to this standard encompasses 8 areas of environmental health in which a building can earn credits: Location and Transportation,

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Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation, and Regional Priority. Through this rating system, points are awarded in each area of practice as a way to define the overarching, category level in which the building has met certification. These levels range from lowest to highest: Certified (achieving 40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points), and Platinum (80-110 points). This thesis will focus on achieving a LEED Gold certification of 60-79 points in the area of Multifamily Midrise (What is LEED Certification n.d.).

Figure 1.1 Project Checklist for LEED Certification (What is LEED Certification n.d.).

The area of Location and Transportation (LT) can be achieved in 3-16 points and is in place for the intention of site selection that promotes appropriate design. Through this site selection, specific points of this area seek to generate physical activity for 7

human health, conserve wildlife, and look past the conventional automobile for more multimodal forms of transportation (LEED v4 for Homes Design and Construction 2013).

Important strategies for being rewarded points in this section include but are not limited to: considering walking and bicycling distances, designing safe walking and bicycling paths, reducing parking capacity to minimum requirements, building on previously developed land, avoiding the disruption of ecosystems, building on economically disadvantaged sites, promoting human health, reducing motor vehicle use, providing bicycle storage, and providing electric charging stations for green vehicles (Chen, 2014).

The area of Sustainable Sites (SS) can be achieved in 4-7 points and seeks to protect and improve site conditions. Whether these site conditions are in relation to pollution, habitats, rainwater management, or microclimates, this area standard will create a foundational bridge between the current gap of building and site. Important strategies for being rewarded points in this section include but are not limited to: preventing pollution, restoration of wildlife habitats, managing storm water appropriately, connecting building occupants with the outdoors, designing vegetated spaces, reducing the heat island effect, and reducing light pollution (Chen, 2014).

The area of Water Efficiency (WE) can be achieved in 3-12 points and focuses on the efficiency of water use. This efficiency can be achieved in specially designed fixtures and fittings within a home, for indoor water efficiency, and landscape design, in relation to the outdoor water consumption. Important strategies for being rewarded points in this section include but are not limited to: reducing indoor and outdoor potable water demand, tracking water consumption, and tracking water efficiency (Chen, 2014).

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Energy and Atmosphere (EA) can be achieved in 8-37 points and targets overall energy performance of a building and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Monitoring, benchmarking, maintaining, and creating energy within a home is a vital aspect of this area. Efficiency, in all realms, including the size of living spaces, orientation for passive design, and performance of the building envelope and fenestration are imperative in this area. Lighting, heating, cooling, and the way they are distributed affect the energy consumption in a home and are also aspects that need to be monitored and maintained (Chen, 2014).

Materials and Resources (MR) can be achieved in 4-9 points and is in place for the encouragement of environmentally responsible building components and life-cycle in which they follow. Although a building may not have direct, physical contact with the sourcing of materials, its components can cause effects of deforestation and other environmentally harmful practices. Reducing or eliminating the use of such materials promotes the durability of products and protection of the environment that this area encourages. By reducing site material waste and using recycled or reclaimed content can prevent this subsequent damage (Chen, 2014).

Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) can be achieved in 3-18 points and focuses on the reduction and elimination of indoor pollutants for the health and well-being of the inhabitants. Causes of these pollutants include combustible gas, radon gas, garage pollutants, tobacco smoke and materials containing chemicals. Designing ways to limit the exposure to these pollutants, such as air filtering, ventilation, and proper distribution of heating and cooling, will help meet the requirements for this credit area. Important strategies for being rewarded points in this section include but are not limited to: 9

choosing low-emitting materials, eliminating contaminants, advocating green construction practices, installing thermal comfort control, maximizing daylight and site views, and installing light fixtures with sensors and dimming controls (Chen, 2014).

The area of Innovation (IN) can be achieved in 2-6 points and seeks to encourage a cross-disciplinary integration of project team members that streamline the process it takes to become LEED certified and to go beyond the current standards and find innovative ways of achieving environmental performance (LEED v4 for Homes Design and Construction 2013).

The area of Regional Priority (RP) can be achieved in 1-4 points and is important in this process to be able to design a building that is regionally appropriate to the geographic environment, social fabric, and public health of the community in which the building will be built. (LEED v4 for Homes Design and Construction 2013).

Case Studies Sorella Housing for Women Project Summary Location: Vancouver, BC Completed: 2014 Architect: GBL Architects

Figure 2.2A (Sorella Housing for Women n.d.).

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Sorella is a LEED Gold housing initiative by Atira Women’s Resource Society, in Vancouver, British Columbia, for potential homeless women and women at risk. This is a notable example of social sustainability as well as environmental sustainability. The facility houses 108 transitionary units for 125 residents.

Figure 2.2B (Sorella Housing for Women n.d.).

Sorella is situated in the historic Chinatown of Vancouver, and is centrally located near theaters, supermarkets, and convenience stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and retail alike. Because of this central location, all living necessities are within a walking, biking, or bussing distance for all residents. This consideration for multimodal transportation helps to eliminate the need for parking surfaces that create a heat island effect. The facility provides 110 secure bike stations and only 15 parking spaces, underground, for the employees of the operations agency (Sorella Housing for Women n.d.).

Figure 2.2C Exterior Materials (Sorella Housing for Women n.d.).

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Sorella is most notably known for its energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and material sourcing. The building uses energy 47% more efficiently compared to its neighbors, partly in due to the mechanisms for heat recovery and radiant floor heating.

The exterior brick and insulation paneling is better for maintaining this energy efficiency rather than glazing, specifically for a colder environment like that of Vancouver. The residents are given exceptional day lighting and views to the city with nearly 4,000 square feet of elevated and roof top courtyard space. The materials used in the building are partially made from recycled content, are free from toxic materials, such as adhesives, sealants, coatings, and paints, and 25% of those materials are sourced regionally, which is helpful for local economies. In the process of construction, nearly 75% of the waste was diverted from landfills and recycled (Sorella Housing for Women n.d.).

Firstenburg Community Center Project Summary Location: Vancouver, Washington Gross SF: 80,982 sf Building Footprint: 60,003 sf Completed: 2007

Figure 2.2D (Firstenburg Community Center, n.d.).

Architect: Opsis Architecture

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Firstenburg Community Center in Vancouver, Washington is a LEED Gold Certified, multi-use facility for community and public services as well as recreational activities. Because of this mix of services that it brings the community, this center houses a diverse group of users of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Figure 2.2E Exterior Materials (Firstenburg Community Center, n.d.).

The community program of the building brings together childcare, lounges, game rooms, and multi-purpose rooms for resources and meetings. The recreation program incorporates swimming pools, therapy pools, a gymnasium, fitness areas, dance studios, and other multi- purpose rooms. This community center became a vital piece of social architecture in Vancouver because of the lack of gathering spaces for performances, community meetings, philanthropy events, and school events.

The site that the architect and community chose for the building was consciously chosen to allocate a portion of the site to a future library branch. One of the first criteria that were studied when choosing the site was the analysis of the healthy portions of the forest. The designers did not want to damage the natural state of the forest. This information, as well as wind direction, solar orientation, and street configuration were all major influences of the site design. As seen in Figure 2.2F, the building is responding to sun patterns, incorporates multimodal forms of transportation, and provides connections to forested walking trails for the promotion of physical health. The community center has

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a central courtyard that creates a connection between the inner workings of the building and nature while creating a passive system for day lighting (Firstenburg Community Center, n.d.).

1 Library 2 Courtyard 3 Bus Stop 4 Future Lap Pools 5 Bike Parking 6 Community Center 7 Walking Trail 8 Porous Paving 9 Forest 10 Future Parking

Figure 2.2F Site Plan (Firstenburg Community Center, n.d.).

Because this building has a footprint of over 60,000 square feet, the selection of materials is important because of the sheer amount that is required for exterior cladding, alone.

Figure 2.2G (Firstenburg Community Center, n.d.).

During the site analysis of the project, it was discovered that many of the on site Douglas fir trees were diseased, and the architect wanted to reclaim the wood in any way possible. The fir trees were harvested and milled locally and were used for most of 14

the exterior and interior wall paneling, screens, and benches. This use of on site material gives the facility an interior echo of the exterior, natural landscape.

Bud Clark Commons Homeless Shelter Project Summary Location: Portland, Oregon Gross SF: 106,000 sf Completed: 2011 Architect: Holst Architecture

Figure 2.2H (Bud Clark Commons n.d.).

Bud Clark Commons is a LEED Platinum homeless shelter in the urban Figure 2.2H. Bud Clark Commons context of Portland, Oregon, striving to serve the city’s most vulnerable homeless. This building not only reaches far above and beyond the ideals of building sustainability, but also achieves a social sustainability of a living standard that cannot be measured because of the importance of human health and safety (Bud Clark Commons n.d.).

This shelter provides permanent apartments to 130 people in a dignified and respectful way, and also houses the services that aid the homeless in finding more permanent solutions for living. This facility functions as both a temporary shelter, with 90 beds, and a permanent living residence, for those who qualify. The key concepts for this facility are to help people, respect the environment, and save money, all through which can be achieved in a holistic, energy saving, and health conscious design (Bud Clark Commons n.d.).

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Figure 2.2I Building Section Divisions of Use (Bud Clark Commons n.d.).

As seen in Figure 2.2M, Bud Clark Commons meets a number of unique, sustainable features, specifically that of their water cycle. The green roof and water management systems are incorporated into the design of the elevated courtyards and not only collect, but create a public form of art that makes the courtyard a more enjoyable space for the inhabitants, (Figure 2.2J-L). The building incorporates a gray water recycling system, low-flow plumbing fixtures and solar powered hot water system.

Because of the beautifully concerted water management system, the building results in zero storm water runoff, a great feat for such an urban context (Bud Clark Commons n.d.).

Figure 2.2J

Figure 2.23K

Figure 2.23L

(Bud Clark Commons n.d.).

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Sustainable Features 6. Solar Hot Water Over 80% of the energy for hot water will come from the sun.

2. Heat Recovery Ventilators Use of hot exhaust to heat incoming fresh air to conserve resources.

3. High Pressure Performance Exterior Envelope Continuous insulation and an airtight skin keeps in heat.

Figure 2.2M (Bud Clark Commons n.d.).

4. Interior Relites Provides daylight to restrooms, eliminating the need for lights.

5. Fiberglass Windows Low-E and PVC free, with a switch that turns off the heat when open.

6. Green Roof Decreases heat island effects, absorbs and filters rainwater (Bud Clark Commons n.d.).

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Chapter 3: Methodology/Programming This thesis focuses on the design of a refugee community living center, in which does not currently exist in the world today. In methodology, this can pose as a problem as there is no historical information, case studies, or precedents to learn from. Although this may be the case, there are, currently, refugee agencies that oversee the living conditions of refugees and will allow the researcher to obtain qualitative research. This qualitative research may include surveys and one-on-one interviews with agency staffers and refugees alike. This information will be useful in better understanding the current conditions and program of refugee homes and how those current situations can inform the design of a new living center.

Another aspect of this thesis is the LEED Gold Certification. The main methodology for achieving a successful outcome for this thesis will be simulation research. Through Building Information Modeling, the researcher will be able to conduct modeling simulations of the building in order to predict the performance of energy and sustainability. This data-driven process will be beneficial in altering and adjusting design for maximum efficiency and ability to achieve LEED Gold Certification.

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Site Analysis

Site Selection A. Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee is the selected location for the Refugee Living Center due to its efforts in resettling refugees within the United States. There are two major nonprofit agencies that work to resettle refugees within the city, and both are located about five miles to the southeast of Nashville. The current location of these resettlement areas is not in walkable neighborhoods to groceries or stores, and do not have public parks.

The success of this project depends on the walkability of a neighborhood to foster the integration of refugees, and will need to be in a low-density urban area where interaction among residents is more likely.

Figure 3.2A (By Author)

B. Hillsboro-West End The site selected is within the Hillsboro-West End Neighborhood, just two miles south of downtown Nashville, and one of the only neighborhoods in Nashville without a

19

community center. This site is a quarter of a mile from two parks, Fannie Mae Dees Park, and St. Bernard Park. It is also within a 10-minute walk of many local restaurants, shops, and a grocery. These are all crucial factors for a refugee living center due to the financial restrictions for personal, vehicular mobility.

SITE

Figure 3.2B Hillsboro-West End Neighborhood Map (Nashville Next, 2015).

Parks

Grocery

Bus Stop

Shops, Restaurants

The Hillsboro- West End neighborhood is a viable location for this project due to its close proximity to educational institutions and residential neighborhoods. The success of this project heavily depends on the adjacency to Vanderbilt University and

20

Belmont University, as agencies solicit internship opportunities to these students as livein caseworkers and volunteers. In Figure 3.2D, the dark teal areas represent these two institutions; Vanderbilt to the north of the site, and Belmont to the east of the site. The diversity of single-family, two-family, and multi-family homes is also a necessary element for the integration of the inhabitants within the facility. This site achieves this housing diversity.

When zooming into the neighborhood within the Green Hills-Midtown zoning district, Figure 3.2D, the zoning overlays adjacent to the site can be understood as Urban Open Space, Urban Neighborhood Maintenance, Urban Neighborhood Evolving, Urban Neighborhood Center, District Office Concentration, and District Major Institutional. This neighborhood has the best opportunity for urban residential living where refugees are within walking distance to all necessary infrastructures, but are also close in proximity to a bus line for travel within the city (Nashville Next, 2015).

Figure 3.2C (Nashville Next, 2015).

21

Figure 3.2D Green Hills-Midtown Zoning Overlays (Nashville Next, 2015).

22

C. Bus Route As stated before, city transit is a key factor for refugees, due to their inability to obtain personal vehicles, licenses, or driving education during their integration. The Nashville Metro Transit Authority offers bus line 7 from downtown to the suburb of Green Hills.

Hillsboro-West End lies between these two locations and is at the center bus connections to other areas of the city. This bus line is represented as a blue star in Figure 3.2D and Figure 3.2E. Table 3.2A shows the commuting patterns of working residents that live in the Green Hills- Midtown district of Nashville and where they work.

Nearly half of the residents of this district work within the area, which is a positive sign for refugees seeking employment close to their homes in this transitional period of integration (MTA Hillsboro Map 7).

Table 3.2A (Nashville Next, 2015).

23

Figure 3.2E (MTA Hillsboro Map 7).

Site Context A. Surrounding Buildings Because the Hillsboro-West End neighborhood borders the urban district corridor of Hillsboro Pike, there is a linear gradient, along Fairfax Avenue, between the urban development and the historic residential homes within the neighborhood. The historic residential neighborhood is under a historic conservation overlay within metro zoning, therefore the integration of new urban buildings along this district is important for the integration of single-family homes and multi-family homes. See Figure 3.2F. 24

Figure 3.2F Neighborhood Building Context. (By Author).

25

B. Materials Building materials located in the Hillsboro-West End neighborhood vary due to the Urban/Historic gradient that crosses the site. Although this gradient is apparent in building size and structure, the materials are what bring the two together. The urban overlay district of this neighborhood is primarily red and brown brick with a variation of stacked and cut stone foundations as well as accent elements. The historic residential homes are primarily brick, often painted, with some homes incorporating the stone elements as well.

Figure 3.2G. Neighborhood Materials (Google, n.d.).

C. Soil Analysis The soil make-up of the site is considered Mimosa-Urban land complex, having 2-15% slopes with a typical profile of silt loam at 0-6 inches, clay from 655 inches, and bedrock from 55-65 inches. The natural drainage class is considered well drained, with a low class of runoff, and more than 80 inches to the water table. There is no frequency of flooding or ponding, has a nonsaline

26

profile, and a high-water storage availability (9.8 inches). The soil is considered acidic, due to the make-up and this will affect the types of vegetation that thrive in this area (Davidson County, TN, 2017).

D. Native Vegetation There are many benefits of planting and maintaining native plant species on a site. Native species require less maintenance, are more cost effective, do not suffer from die-back, require fewer pesticides and fertilizer, promote biodiversity, restore regional landscapes and native wildlife, and prevent future exotic introductions into the landscape. By designing spaces for native vegetation, this site will become much more ecologically sound. The native plants that will be used on this site will be of native origin, be drought resistant, and will prefer acidic soils (Landscaping, 2017).

Graphic Analysis A. Site Boundaries The site is located along two moderately traversed accessory streets to two major corridors in the Green Hills-Midtown District of Nashville. The site is 2.39 acres, or 104,108 Square feet. Although most of the site is currently vacant, two existing structures will be demolished and salvaged for future use. The site resides at the corner of Fairfax Avenue and 24th Avenue South. This street corner is important because it is at the outer edge of the urban residential district where 24th Avenue divides the multifamily dwellings from the single-family, historic residential homes. The northern exposure to this corner is also important when considering sun patterns. The site also

27

backs up to an alley and shared drive on the southern edge of the site, and the prevailing winds approach the site from the south, with winter winds from the north.

Figure 3.2H (Google, n.d.).

Site Images:

Figure 3.2I Corner of Fairfax Ave and 24th Ave (Google, n.d.).

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Figure 3.2J Front of site along Fairfax Ave (Google, n.d.).

B. Demolition Two buildings on the site are to be demolished for the construction of the community living center. The two brick buildings are currently multi-family apartment facilities. These two buildings are identified in Figure 3.2K, in yellow. The materials from the demolition will be recycled, reused, or reclaimed by third parties, the contractor, or the new community living center.

Figure 3.2K. Buildings scheduled for demolition (Google, n.d.).

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C. Site Conditions and Design Response Diagrams 1. Vehicular Movement There are two moderately traversed accessory streets that border the north and west of the site. These two streets are the main arteries that feed vehicular movement to and from the neighborhood. These two streets are where most of the site visibility is from the exterior and will be the most prevalent edges for building frontage and faรงade. There are also two existing driveways along Fairfax Ave., to the north of the site, and one existing driveway along 24th Ave. to the west of the site. There is current street parking along both accessory streets and across the unused, existing driveways. Shown in Figure 3.2M, the design of this facility will take advantage of the existing driveway to the north and maintain the on-street parking.

Figure 3.2L Current Conditions (By Author)

Figure 3.2M Design Response (By Author) 30

2. Setbacks The metro code states that the â€œâ€Śstreet setbacks shall be consistent with the predominant pattern of street setbacks located within a distance of three lot widths along both sides of the same or intersection street frontages, as applicableâ€? (Municipal Code Corporation, 2006). Figure 3.2N illustrates the current and common setback lines for the adjacent properties. These setbacks will be used to create a build-to zone for both the community center and living center. The consistent front setback is 20 feet, the western side setback is 40 feet, the eastern side setback is 20 feet, and the southern back setback is at 20 feet. This leaves a buildable zone of 81,137 square feet, as compared to the entire lot of area of 104,108 square feet.

Figure 3.2N Current Conditions (By Author

Figure 3.2O Design Response (By Author)

3. Wind The wind in Nashville, TN comes predominately from the south, and in the winter it comes predominatley from the north. Providing ventilation through the

31

southern edge or faรงade is important, but it is important to balance this, as too much fenestration will allow the building to take on more heat. Building an edge along the north of the site, as shown in Figure 3.2Q is important for protecting the building and interior spaces from harsh wind that may affect the capacity at which the heating system functions.

Figure 3.2P Current Conditions (By Author) Figure 3.2Q Design Response (By Author) 4. Drainage The grading of the site has between 2-15% slopes, meaning it is a fairly flat site, but has enough slope to drain water well. The topography, although minimal, drains water to the intersection of Fairfax Avenue and 24th Avenue This drainage is apparent due to the number of storm drains present at the intersection. The current and predominant drainage pattern gives the impression that it is better to build on the southeast portion of the site, where the land is slightly higher in elevation. If any portion of a building is built on the northwestern

32

portion of the site, drainage will need to be taken into consideration in order to protect the structure from the natural water flow (Davidson County, TN, 2017).

Figure 3.2R Current Conditions (By Author)

Figure 3.2S Design Response (By Author)

5. Vegetation The Hillsboro-West End neighborhood is a historic neighborhood with an abundance of vegetation and tree lined streets. This vegetation pattern is prevalent along 24th Avenue and Fairfax Avenue. This pattern gives a visual pressure to the site, allows for a physical buffer between the street and the sidewalk, and also allows for a more pleasant streetscape and comfortable walking atmosphere. The current vegetation along these streets come in many scales of small, ornamental trees to medium and large variations of oak trees.

There is also buffer vegetation that exists between buildings of small brush and shrub plants for privacy. Maintaining this vegetation in the design process is important for preserving the site, and adding more native landscape to this will create a more ecologically friendly site.

33

Figure 3.2T Current Conditions (By Author)

Figure 3.2U Design Response (By Author)

6. Utilities All water, gas, sewer, and electric services and connections to the site are along Fairfax Avenue. In order to create less disruption to the site, and save in utility extension costs, it is imperative to locate all utility connections, within the building, to the north of the site. The waste collection is currently located in the alley to the east of the site, therefore the shipping/receiving area should be located along this edge.

Figure 3.2V Current Conditions (By Author)

Figure 3.2WDesign Response (By Author) 34

Climate A. Climate Zone Nashville is located within Climate Zone 4, in the United States, under the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. Under this zone, there are specific factors that must be considered for the design of the building.

Ceiling R-value minimum: 38 Wood Frame Wall R-value minimum: 13 Mass Wall R-value minimum: 5/10 Floor R-value minimum: 19 Basement Wall R-value minimum: 10/13 Slab R-value minimum, depth: 12, 2 ft.

Crawlspace Wall R-value minimum: 10/13 Fenestration U-Factor maximum: 0.35 Skylight U-factor maximum: 0.60 Glazed Fenestration SHGC maximum: NR (Residential Prescriptive Requirements, n.d.).

35

Figure 3.2X Climate Zones (Residential Prescriptive Requirements, n.d.).

B. Temperatures & Humidity Nashville is a temperate climate, but is also classified as warm and humid. The coldest month of the year is January, and the warmest is July, with temperatures rarely going below 14 degrees or above 96 degrees Fahrenheit. Although Nashville does experience four seasons throughout the year, it does not have a distinct dry season.

The humidity in the city can range from a comfortable 39% humidity to a very humid 92%, the least humidity occurring around April and the most humidity occurring around September. Precipitation in Nashville ranges from light and moderate rain, to thunderstorms and light snow. The average annual precipitation is 47.24 inches, with 119 days of the year experiencing rainfall (Data, n.d.). There is only around 7 inches of snowfall in a year. The prevailing winds in Nashville typically come out of the south, but during the coldest months the wind comes out of the north (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.).

Table 3.2B. Daily High and Low Temperatures (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.).

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Table 3.2C Fraction of Time Spent in Various Temperature Bands (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.).

Table 3.2D. Relative Humidity (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.).

37

Table 3.2E. Probability of Precipitation During the day (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.).

Table 3.2F. Types of Precipitation Throughout the Year (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.).

38

Table 3.2G. Annual Rainfall and Temperature (Data, n.d.).

Table 3.2H. Wind Speed (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.).

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Table 3.2I Fraction of Time Spent with Various Wind Directions (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.).

Table 3.2J Wind Directions Over the Year (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.).

Table 3.2K Snow Fall Over the Year (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.).

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Solar energy is an important consideration for a LEED certified building.

Nashville, on average, has a solar radiation value of 4.92 kilowatt hours per square meter per day. December sees some of the lows at 3.22 k/m/d, and July sees the high of 5.99 k/m/d. (Solar Energy and Solar Power in Nashville, TN. (n.d.).

Table 3.2L Daylight Throughout the Year (WeatherSpark Beta, n.d.).

Table 3.2M Solar Radiation Values (Solar Energy and Solar Power in Nashville, TN. (n.d.).

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Demographics The chart in Figure 3.2N show demographics for Davidson County as well as comparative statistics for the Green Hills-Midtown district that the Hillsboro-West End neighborhood is a part of. Within this neighborhood is mostly household populations, but there are around 9,000 people living in group quarters within the area. Of the 73,138 residents of this district, only 18% are living in a family setting and 52% of occupied homes are owned by the resident. These statistics may reflect the number of students living in the area, and young renters. The travel statistics show that 73% of the working population in the district is driving personally owned vehicles to work, aside from city transit opportunities. This is typical of Nashville in general, by the number that nearly 80% of all working residents in Davidson County drive personal vehicles to work alone.

Another interesting statistic in this district is the number of highly educated residents in the area, as only 15% of the population of 25 years and over did not receive some form of post-high school education (A General Plan for Nashville and Davidson County, 2015).

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Table 3.2N Demographics (A General Plan for Nashville and Davidson County, 2015).

43

Table 2.3O Demographics (A General Plan for Nashville and Davidson County, 2015).

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Zoning The Fairfax and 24th Avenue site is zoned as RM40 for “high density residential, intended for single-family, duplex, and multi-family dwellings at a density of 40 dwelling units per acre” (Municipal Code Corporation, 2006).

“These districts are designed for high intensity multifamily development, typically characterized by mid- and high-rise structures and structured parking.

These districts are appropriate for areas designated in the general plan to have residential development at moderate to high intensities, and along to primary corridors to meet the policy goals of creating transit-oriented communities and diversity of housing choice. These districts may also be appropriate as a transition between more intense mixed-use centers and surrounding neighborhoods. These districts should have good access to arterial streets and public transportation service. RM40-A and RM60-A are designed to create walkable neighborhoods through the use of appropriate building placement and bulk standards and as an alternative to a zoning district that requires a site plan.” (Metro Code 17.08.020) (Municipal Code Corporation, 2006).

The site also has an Urban Zone Overlay (UZO) in which exceptions are made within the metro code for setbacks, heights, and areas. Parking required for RM40 Multi-family building is 1 space per bedroom up to 2 bedrooms and .5 spaces per each additional bedroom. The community center portion of the zoning will require 1 space per staff member, plus 10 visitor spaces (Metro Code 17.20.030).

1 Space/1Bedroom Unit = 1(16 units) = 16 spaces 45

2 Spaces/2 Bedroom Unit = 1(12 units) = 24 spaces 2.5 Spaces/3 Bedroom Unit = 1(8 units) = 20 Spaces 1 Space/Staff Member = 1(16 staff) = 14 spaces 20 Visitor Spaces = 20 spaces Total: 94 parking spaces as a minimum The front setbacks of the site are 20 feet per table 17.12.030 of the Metro Code, but the UZO exception states that, “street setbacks shall be consistent with the predominant pattern of street setbacks located within a distance of three lot widths along both sides of the same or intersection street frontages, as applicable� (Municipal Code Corporation, 2006).

Codes Analysis Building Code Adoption: -2012 Edition of the International Building Code, including Appendices C & D of the International Building Code, as published by the International Code Council - 2009 Edition of the International ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities -2012 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings published by the International Code Council, as amended in this chapter, and Appendices E, F, G, H, and M of the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings.

-2012 Edition of the International Energy Conservation Code

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-2012 International Plumbing Code with local amendments -2012 International Fuel and Gas Code with local amendments -2011 National Electrical Code with local amendments -2012 International Fire Code with local amendments -2012 Life Safety Code with local amendments The occupancy type for the Living House is mixed-use, Residential Group R-2 and Low-hazard Storage Group S-2 with a Type IV construction. The Welcome House is also mixed-use occupancy with Assembly Group A-3, Business Group B, and Education Group E with a Type IV construction. The building will require specific sizes of wood member sizes, per table 602.4, 2-hour exterior bearing walls, 1-hour interior walls, floor construction, and roof construction. Per IBC table 601. For fire suppression requirements, the building will be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system throughout, as well as fire and smoke alarm systems.

The maximum height allowable by the metro code is 60 feet, with maximum 4 stories, and a one story increase due to a sprinkler bonus. The maximum allowable area, per floor, for the Living House is 38,500 square feet for S-2 occupancy (maximum 5 stories), and 20,500 square feet for R-2 occupancy (maximum 4 stories). The maximum allowable area, per floor, for A-3 occupancy is 15,000 square feet, (maximum 3 stories), 36,000SF for Business occupancy (maximum 5 stories), and 25,500 for Education occupancy (maximum 3 stories). The minimum lot area is 6000 SF with a density of 40 units per acre, a maximum FAR of 1.00, and a maximum ISR of 0.75. The rear setback of the building is 20 feet with side setbacks of five feet. As noted before, the front setbacks are determined by neighboring buildings. The maximum height at the front

47

setback line is 45 feet, and there is a slope height control plane of 2 to 1 (International Code Council, 2011).

Other Code Considerations: -2 exits required (IBC 1015) with separation distance greater than 1/3 the longest diagonal length of the building for sprinkled buildings -Dead End corridor shall not exceed 50 feet, exception (IBC 1018.4) -250-foot maximum travel distance to exit (IBC 1016.1) -125-foot Common path of egress travel -Corridor Fire Resistance Rating: .5 Hours -32-inch minimum clear door width (IBC 1008) -44inch minimum corridor width, exception within dwelling units, 36 inches minimum Separation Requirements: -

“Walls separating dwelling units in the same building, walls separating sleeping units in the same building, and walls separating dwelling or sleeping units from other occupancies contiguous to them in the same building shall be constructed as fire partitions in accordance with IBC Section 708.”

“Floor assemblies separating dwelling units in the same buildings, floor assemblies separating sleeping units in the same building and floor assemblies separating dwelling or sleeping units from other occupancies contiguous to them in the same building shall be constructed as horizontal assemblies in accordance with IBC Section 711” (International Code Council, 2011).

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Building Program The community living center will be made up of two separate areas or two separate buildings. Within the center will be a living center made up of three bedrooms, two bedrooms, and single bedroom living units. There are 40 total living units, 12 of each type of unit with four extra single bedroom living units to be dedicated to housing local, live-in, university volunteers. 36 units will be dedicated to housing and resettling refugees. Among all of these units, there will be a maximum of 160 people living in the units, averaging two people per bedroom. This is a maximum and will likely not reflect the amount of people living in the center at one time. Each unit will have fully functioning private spaces with kitchen, dining, and laundry units. With the intention of promoting integration within the refugee community, the living area of the center will have a common house, where families can cook and gather together if they so choose to. This area will only be accessed by the living community and is not a part of the community center. The community center will incorporate those aspects as well to promote an exterior community, but maintain security.

The second area of the living center will incorporate administrative services for the refugee agency that oversees the community with 16 staff members. This portion will also be made up of the community center with classrooms, exercise spaces, exterior courtyard, and exterior playground. These two uses may have some overlap in entries, reception, restrooms, and mechanical spaces, but will maintain some separation.

49

LIVING HOUSE (Building 1) SPACE

ROOM

AREA

QT Y

TOTA L

NOTES

3 Bed Living Unit Entry

16

1

16

Master Bedroom

150

1

150

Bedroom

100

2

200

Bathroom

60

3

180

Kitchenette

100

1

Include 100 Dining

Living Area

200

1

200

Laundry

10

1

10

Closet

20

3

60

Patio/Balcony

40

1

40

Storage

40

1

40

Total SF/Unit

996

Number of Units

8

Total Units Combined

7968

2 Bed Living Unit Entry

16

1

16

Master Bedroom

150

1

150

Bedroom

100

1

100

Bathroom

60

2

120 50

Kitchenette

100

1

Include 100 Dining

Living Area

200

1

200

Laundry

10

1

10

Closet

20

2

40

Patio/Balcony

40

1

40

Storage

40

1

40

Total SF/Unit

816

Number of Units

12

Total Units Combined

9792

1 Bed Living Unit Entry

Total SF/Unit

16

1

16

Master Bedroom

150

1

150

Bathroom

60

1

60

Kitchenette

100

1

Include 100 Dining

Living Area

200

1

200

Laundry

10

1

10

Closet

20

1

20

Patio/Balcony

40

1

40

Storage

40

1

40 636

51

Number of Units

4/16 Caseworke rs

16

Total Units Combined

10176

Common House Living Area

250

1

250

Kitchen

150

1

150

Dining Area

150

1

150

Private Restrooms

120

2

240

Game Room

200

1

200

Computer Room

200

1

200

Storage

100

1

100

Total

1290

Miscellaneo us Vertical Circulation

150

3

450 Exterior?

Entry

400

1

400

Shipping/Receivi ng

400

1

Both 400 Buildings

Janitorial

100

1

100

Mechanical Room

100

1

May not 100 need

Electrical/IT Room

100

1

100

1

Both 100 Buildings

Water Service

100

52

Total

1650

Total Calculations Building 1 Circulation

30876 15.00 %

4631.4 Exterior?

35507.

4

Building + Circ WELCOME HOUSE (Building 2) SPACE

ROOM

AREA

QT Y

TOTA L

NOTES

Administratio n Lobby Entry

400

1

400

Reception

150

1

150

Staff Office

100

10

1000

Director Office

150

1

150

Conference Room

280

1

280

Counseling Room

150

2

300

Break Room

200

1

200

80

1

80

Volunteer Office

100

1

100

Copy/Fax Room

100

1

100

60

2

120

Restrooms

200

2

400

Janitorial

100

1

100

Storage

Supply Closet

53

Mechanical Room

150

1

150

Electrical/IT Room

100

1

100

Total

3630

Community Center Lobby Entry

400

1

400

Reception

150

1

150

Large Classroom

350

2

700

Small Classroom

250

2

500

Computer Lab

350

1

350

Multi-Purpose Room

450

1

450

Kitchenette

200

1

200

Restrooms/Locke r

Total

400

4

Include 1600 Shower

Gymnasium

7300

1

7300

Walk/Jog Track

20%

1460

Exercise Equipment

350

1

350

Exercise Studio

600

1

600

Nursery

250

1

250

Game Room

250

1

250

Storage Areas

150

4

600 15160

Total Calculations 54

Building 2 Circulation

18790 20.00 %

3758

Building + Circ

22548

Totals SPACE

ROOM

AREA

QT Y

TOTA L

NOTES

Total Buildings 35507. Stories 2 4 & 3

Building 1 Floorplate Story 2&3 Parking Garage

17753.7 435

96

41760 1st Story

Building 1 + Parking

77267.

4

Building 2

22548 2 Stories

Floorplate Story 1-2

11274

Total Buildable Bldg. 1 + SF Bldg. 2

99815.

4

Exterior SPACE

ROOM

AREA

QT Y

TOTA L

NOTES

Exterior Plaza Courtyard

2500

1

17000

1 55

Playground

3000

Total

1 ?

104,10 8

Total Lot Size

Landscape

25%

(Rqd 26,027 SF)

Table 3.3A. Building Program (By Author)

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Chapter 4: Analysis Building Design Concept The architectural concept of this thesis is to design two buildings, (A) the community center and (B) the temporary living units for the refugees with covered parking. Between these two buildings will be (C) an exterior spatial void in which activity will be concentrated and the two building masses will be connected.

A. Welcome House: A community center that facilitates social, cultural, spiritual, educational and physical activities for the community to share.

B. Living House: 36 living units in which refugees and their families will live; caseworkers overseeing their well-being.

C. Unity Garden: A central courtyard between Welcome House and Living House in which the center of all activity and unification will be connected.

The three items that will be addressed in the building design: 1. Transparency: open and visible structure that allows people to feel welcomed 2. Creating a Beacon: a structural beacon that heralds the community to this facility 3. Relationship between Public/Private: a delicate relationship for assuring the safety of refugees who have been subject to persecution Below are early design and concept sketches that show the intent of how the two spatial masses and spatial void come together in diagram, plan, and section. Although portions of the concept sketches were revised, the early design concept stayed relatively consistent in form and relationship.

57

Figure 4.1A Concept Sketches (By Author) Massing & Site Development The various elements studied in the site analysis, such as transportation, materials, vegetation, site boundaries, existing building footprints, vehicular movement, drainage, utilities, and climate, were existing factors that guided the massing and site development of the refugee center. Because of the in-depth analysis of these factors,

58

important design features were realized and began to heavily influence and inform the massing and design of the site. Below, these design features and influences are touched upon to better illustrate the design solution of the massing and site plan.

1. Massing The site was studied in five massing models, all of which took the site analysis and site conditions into consideration. The final massing study, shown in Figure 4.1A, was chosen and created from the original concept sketch with two inverted “L” shapes that create a central courtyard. These shapes have a yin and yang relationship that, although opposing, open up to one another and create natural voids and access points.

These “L” shapes hug the perimeter of the lot while being elongated on an 80% angle from the east, predominantly running north to south. Maximizing the northern and southern edges was a top priority considering the site itself is elongated north to south.

This site elongation is not ideal for a passive, solar design, but there are many programmatic advantages to this while continuing to be able to take advantage of other solar strategies. This orientation places the living units along the eastern and southern portion of the site, giving living areas sun exposure for winter heat gain and ample natural light. This orientation also places the community center toward the west and north, where the western sun may be less concerning due to the operational hours. The northern, main façade of the community center will be well shaded and welcoming to the neighborhood with a comfortable, well-lit entrance with shaded areas for sitting and socializing. In order to mitigate some of the direct sunlight coming from the east and west, a mixture of vertical and horizontal shading systems have been designed to reduce the heat intake.

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2. Parking This orientation is also well suited for the entering and exiting of motor vehicles to the parking garage, avoiding as many pedestrian cross walks as possible. In Figure 4.1B, the one-story parking garage is shown below the Living House with vehicular entrances and exits to the major street connections, Fairfax Avenue and 24th Avenue South. This was an important factor in order to minimzie the amount of vehicular traffic across the site and open up a safe and pedestrian-friendly area. Creating covered, yet open, ground-level parking was an important feature in the design for minimizing site disturbances and allowing a well-ventilated space for vehicular pollution.

3. Intersection The corner and intersection of Fairfax Avenue and 24th Avenue South was, early on, a key focus of the design. Placing the entrance of the Welcome House at this corner was important to be able to create a beaconing feature for community members to gravitate toward. This intersection allows all people of the community, whether a driver, bicyclist, pedestrian, or bus rider, to see and understand the importance and prominance of this center as a communal treasure to share and take pride in.

4. Security Security on site was an important feature for the nature of the people living in the center. Because refugees are people who have been subject to persecution, creating a safe environment for them is paramount. This idea of security played a key role in the massing of the building.The Welcome House massing serves as an entry way or gate to the Living House that recedes in the site. Although the Welcome House is transparent,

60

welcoming, and accessible, it has the ability to close off and create a barrier to the Living House where the refugees live.

5. Density The contextual neighborhood of the site is a developing area that fringes on the border between a low-density residential neighorhood and a high-density urban development. This density variation informed the height and massing of the buildings.

Because the Welcome House resides on the eastern portion of the site where the residential boundary is, it has a lower massing density, only having two stories. In contrast, the Living House borders the western portion of the site where the higher density urban development is present. This allows the Living House to be a little higher density, becoming a three-story structure.

6. Perimeter The western and southern perimeter of the site are secondary vehicular drives, the western being an alleyway and the southern being a shared drive with a neighboring apartment complex. These secondary drives are less traveled than the converse primary roads at the northern and western perimeter, and allows for a quieter frontage for the Living House. The alleyway also has an important relationship to the building, as it serves as a municpal waste route. This route was taken into consideration when designing an appropriate location for shipping and receiving as well as waste collection and recycling storage. The southern shared drive also has an important relationship to the neighboring apartment complex directly to the south of the Living House. Because the neighboring building has perpendicular parking, it allows for the site to repeat that

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pattern of parking on the northern side of the shared drive and allow for guest parking outside of the parking garage.

7. Vegetation Vegetation was a notable feature of the site plan due to its ability to enhance the sustainability needed in order to achieve LEED gold, as well as create a comfortable and safe space for people to interact with their environment. The landscaping around the site has an ample amount of native, drought resistant vegetation that requires little irrigation and also provides shade. Small, ornamental trees on the north side of the building create a comfortable street buffer, meanwhile large evergreen magnolias to the east and west provide shade, and deciduous oaks to the south increase heat gain in the winter. Many rain gardens are designated around the perimeter of both buildings in order to efficiently infiltrate and collect water on site.

8. Pedestrians Pedestrian pathways and circulation was another crucial design point that was addressed in the site design because of the walkability of the neighborhood. Because this center serves as a community center, it is likely that there will be more people walking to the site than any other form of transportation. Although the main corner of Fairfax and 24th is considered the main entrance, the courtyard needed to maintain some sort of visual and physical connection to the street. Because of this realization, early on, the Welcome House and Living House have two distinct breezeways, each corresponding with a main road and vehicular entrance to the parking garage. These breezeways serve as gateways to the inner, public courtyard and also allow the site to be closed off during hours that are outside of operation. The close relationship that is

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formed between the Welcome House and Living House culminates in the inner courtyard, Unity Garden, and the breezeways that disconnect the two masses become the passageways that bring pedestrians into the core and center of where integration and interaction is most probable.

Figure 4.1B Building Massing (By Author) 63

Figure 4.1C Site Plan (By Author)

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Figure 4.1D Building on Site (By Author) Building Design Although the Center for Integration is two buildings, the design intent of this project demands an integrative relationship, where the two buildings have a continuous language and conversation. This conversation is not intended to stop at the exterior walls of these buildings, but to create spatial connections and relationships that bounce back and forth between one another. In the discussion of the early design diagrams, these two buildings are often represented as one idea or mass. The physical separation of the two buildings was realized and evolved throughout the design process, but the relationships of spaces between the buildings were maintained.

A. First Floor Plan The first floor plan is made up of five main spaces or zones—a central lobby, an educational wing, a physical fitness wing, a covered parking garage, and a central courtyard. The central lobby serves as a main artery that feeds out into the other four spaces. The lobby has an important relationship to the corner of Fairfax Avenue and 24th Avenue South as it places the entrance in a highly traveled area. The lobby 65

includes standard reception counter, lounge, and refreshment areas, but also includes central support spaces such as vertical circulation, a nursery, and restrooms. The space is entirely storefront on the northern and western walls and creates a transparent, lightfilled, two story space. Directly off of the lobby is a multi-purpose room that serves as a large meeting space for the community. The relationship of this room to the lobby is important for large community meetings that may take place and are easily accessible from the main lobby.

The educational wing to the east of the lobby is made up of two large classrooms and two small classrooms. The educational wing was intentionally separated from the gymnasium because of the expected sound transmission that a gymnasium would create. Between the lobby and the educational wing is a strong axial hall that runs along the interior courtyard and opens up into the gymnasium. Creating visual and physical connection with the exterior courtyard is an important factor for comfort and daylighting of the space. This axial hall becomes a hybrid space between the courtyard and the gymnasium that has a series of moveable glass wall systems that open up and create a free flowing environment. The gymnasium is an important feature of a community center as it provides a large space for physical fitness and community events. On the northern and southern edges of the gymnasium are two fire exit stairs with corresponding hallways that lead to the exterior of the building. These fire exits are important to be able to filter out large amounts of people that may be present at an event. Also on each side of the gymnasium are men’s and women’s locker rooms as well as storage areas.

The aforementioned axial hall, that forms an “L” shape within the building, is the main building connection across the two exterior breezeways to the parking garage and

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Living House. Across these breezeways are parking garage entrances that have accessible parking, as well as preferred parking for green vehicles. The parking garage serves as a structural pedestal for the living units that are located on the second and third floors. Interior and exterior vertical circulation is provided within the parking garage in order to provide adequate connections from the upper floors of the Living House to the parking garage, courtyard, Welcome House, as well as the public right-of-way for fire safety.

The inner courtyard, Unity Garden, that connects both the Welcome House and the Living House was developed based on the interior relationships. A patio connects the interior gymnasium and axial hall to the courtyard. This patio is intended to be a covered, shaded area that adults may relax while children are at play. A play ground is shown just off the patio, as well as garden planters, rain gardens, and a large green lawn. Providing a diverse amount of activities in this space was an important factor as it becomes a backyard for the refugees who call the Living House, home.

Figure 4.1E Lobby Perspective (By Author) 67

Figure 4.1F First Floor Concept Diagram (By Author)

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Figure 4.1G First Floor Plan (By Author)

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Figure 4.1H Exterior Building Perspective (By Author) B. Lower Level Plan The lower level of the Welcome House is the dedicated area for all mechanical equipment, electrical, water management, water collection, janitorial services, metering, commissioning and energy mangement, and storage. The lower level is located under the central lobby space, twelve feet below the finished floor, in order to create centralizization of equipment stemming to other interior spaces. This area is also adjacent to many of the utility connections on the northern portion of the site and allows for shorter distances to main plumbing and electrical lines. This space is only accessible to the staff that manage the utility services of the building and is not open to the public.

The space is accessible from each of the central stairs within the building, and is also accessible to the roof through the center most stair.

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Figure 4.1I Lower Level Concept Diagram (By Author)

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Figure 4.1J Lower Level Floor Plan (By Author)

C. Second Floor Plan The second-floor plan has a similar zoning as the first floor, with a central lobby space and a physical fitness wing, but rather than an educational wing, it incorporates an administrative one. The lobby area of the second floor is open to the lobby below and houses support areas such as restrooms and vertical circulation. The waiting and 72

reception area for the refugee agency is also located in this lobby. The administrative area on this floor is designed to house a local refugee agency in the Nashville area.

This agency suite has ample offices for caseworkers, consult rooms, a work area, storage, conference room, break room and a small classroom. All of the offices are placed at the perimeter of the building to give staff members ample daylight. On the interior walls of the offices are Dorma interior glass wall systems that allow daylight into the core of the administrative spaces. This wing of the building is semi-private with locking entry doors in order to mitigate noise levels and prevent community center users from entering.

Above the first-floor multi-purpose room is the second-floor fitness studio. This studio is somewhat like a multi-purpose room, having a moveable partition, but is intended for fitness classes. Similar to the multi-purpose room, the relationship between the fitness studio and the lobby is important for those who are joining classes and may use the lobby as a waiting area.

Also located on the second floor is a game room and computer lab. These are important features for the community center as they allow for differing activities for families and also give users the ability to take advantage of technology resources.

On the second floor above the gymnasium is a walking track, cardio equipment area, and weight training area that are open to the gymnasium below. Above this area is long-spanning Pratt trusses that have roof framed skylights that bring daylight into the space. The cardio equipment is lined against the eastern window wall and overlooks Unity Garden. This design feature is important to be able to give users a pleasant view

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while using exercise equipment. It also places more eyes on the inner courtyard and promotes security and safety.

The hallways that connect all of the second-floor areas also connect to the Living House on the northern edge of Unit Garden above the first-floor breezeway. This bridge creates a direct connection that allows the agency staff and refugees the ability to move freely from building to building without interfering with other activities.

Figure 4.1K Gymnasium (By Author) The second floor of the Living House consists of a common house, 24-hour fitness room, 8 one-bedroom dwelling units, 6 two-bedroom dwelling units, and 4 threebedroom dwelling units. Two of the one-bedroom units are dedicated units to live-in volunteers that aid refugees in their settlement. All of the units are connected through an exterior metal corridor and stairs that feed down into the courtyard. There are also

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interior fire exit stairs that discharge people away from the building and into the public right of way.

The common house is an area with a kitchen, lounge, games, terrace, restrooms, computer lab, and storage that gives the residents a place to congregate, especially after hours when the community center is closed. The small fitness room also allows residents the ability to exercise when the community center may be closed. Because the living units are not along a double loaded corridor, the entry doors to the units face the interior courtyard. This design solution was implemented as a way to turn resident’s doors toward each other, toward Unity Garden, and toward the community center. This creates a communal “front porch� to the units and introduces another level of integration where each resident is given the opportunity to greet their neighbors and be a part of an inclusive community.

Figure 4.1L Common House Perspective (By Author)

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Although some of the living units vary in size, the dwellings feature, adequate living space, kitchenette, bedrooms, laundry hookups, as well as bathrooms and closets for every bedroom. All of the unit’s front doors face the interior of the complex and most bedrooms are aligned on the outer walls. Each unit has at least one balcony with planter boxes as well as green areas around the front doors for buffering windows.

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Figure 4.1M Second Floor Concept Diagram (By Author)

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Figure 4.14N: Second Floor Plan (By Author) D. Third Floor Plan The third floor plan is very similar to the second floor plan as the living units are set up the same with a common house, game room (rather than fitness room), 8 onebedroom dwelling units, 6 two-bedroom dwelling units, and 4 three-bedroom dwelling

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units—with two units being dedicated to live-in volunteers.

Figure 4.1O Third Floor Concept Diagram (By Author)

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Figure 4.1P Third Floor Plan (By Author) D. Building Sections Section A, shown in Image 4.1Q, is the longitudinal section through the Welcome House and the Living House, specifically through the gymnasium, courtyard, and living units. This section illustrates the low density of the building facility and also the close relationship of the buildings to one another. The 80

gymnasium is shown with long-spanning trusses that create an open two-story space with clearstory, cross ventilating and operable windows shown in the latitudinal Section B. The columns supporting the exterior wall of the gymnasium are protruding from the first level as a safety mechanism. This also creates a shaded faรงade for less western solar exposure in the gymnasium. The Living House section illustrates the concrete pedestal of the parking garage with the living units above and how the exterior metal walkways connect all of the living units. It also shows the relationship of interior living spaces from each side of the building. Section B also illustrates the clearstory, operable windows above the second-story fitness studio as well as the lobby that allows a lot of natural light into the building as well as natural ventilation.

Figure 4.1Q Building Sections (By Author) E. Elevations 1. North & West

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The north and west elevations of the Center of Integration illustrate both the Welcome House and Living House alike, and also the connections between the two buildings. The main entrance to the lobby is located on the northern and western facades and is closely related to the corner of Fairfax Avenue and 24th Avenue South.

This corner has a protruding box-frame element that serves as an overhang for the entrance, signage, a reflection of density as a horizontal feature, and also creates natural shading and setback for storefront windows. This box-frame is repeated along the outer facades of the Living House. Both of these elevations maintain a consistent pattern of window sizes and separation with a mixture of vertical and horizontal shading devices to prevent harsh afternoon sun. Although only the lobby corner of the building is storefront, most of the building is made up of treated rain screen plank and pre-finished aluminum rain screen panels. The rain screen plank will be of a native hemlock species and also used to clad the aforementioned box-frame that is used on both the north and west elevations. The rain screen plank is a sustainable choice due to its minimal maintenance cost, thermal insulation properties, reduction in cold bridging, and prevention of mold growth. Within the box-frames are treated, vertical 2x10 planks used as shading devices to the storefront within. All storefront window systems will be made of pre-finished, recycled aluminum and all glass will be double pane, insulated, with low-e coatings. The western faรงade is specifically unique because of the exposed structural columns that are present along the side of the gymnasium. The gymnasium has an extended column grid to support the overhead truss system, and the first floor recedes in order to acknowledge the safety hazards that structural members pose in a sporting facility.

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The Living Center elevation shown on both the north and west elevations illustrate the entrances/exits to and from the parking garage on the first floor. These entrances are clearly marked with parking signage, maximum heights, and building information. Between the Welcome House and Living House are two breezeways, shown in the elevations, and these breezeways serve as gateways to the inner courtyard. In order to promote safety and security, gates have been designed in order to close off the courtyard at dark.

2. South & East The south and east elevation represent the Living House and the relationship of the first level parking garage to the upper levels that house refugees. These facades were developed with a similar box-frame as the community center faรงade, but rather than spanning one-story, it spans two. This box-frame overhangs the parking garage by six feet and allows for balconies to be intermittently placed. Each balcony is provided with a large planter box that allows residents to be able to plant their own vegetables, herbs, or flowers.

The second and third story portions of the elevations are the same materials as the Welcome house, having treated rain screen plank and pre-finished aluminum rain screen panels. All units have operable windows, all of which are double pane, insulated, with low-e coatings. These two facades also incorporate vertical and horizontal 2x10 plank shading devices in order to mitigate some solar heat intake. The first level of these facades is an open-air parking garage that serves as a pedestal for the box-frame dwellings units above. This concrete structure uses a mixture of gabion and concrete walls, as well as pre-finished metals screens.

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Figure 4.1R Building Elevations (By Author)

Figure 4.1S Living House exterior perspective (By Author) 84

G. Structure The selected structural system of the Center for Integration is a hybrid system of concrete and mass timber. The Welcome House is entirely mass timber with a concrete foundation and concrete foundation walls. The Living House has a one-story concrete pedestal with mass timber above. The mass timber structure consists of glulam columns and beams, cross-laminated floor panels, and large Pratt trusses in the long-spanning gymnasium. The Living House also has steel, exterior walkways and egress stairs.

Mass timber construction has many sustainable benefits due to its nature as a rapidly renewable resource and ability to mitigate a building’s carbon footprint. Mass timber is also pre-engineered which cuts down on building cost, construction time, site disturbance, building height, and also creates a warm and welcoming environment.

The timber used in the Center for Integration is a native white pine from eastern Tennessee, and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. This certification will ensure that the timber is being sourced from a responsible forest management company that protects local ecosystems. Many of the structural components will be exposed on the exterior of the building and some will be seen through glass façade components. This not only provides an aesthetic appeal to the façade, but also brings a natural, native, and renewable building resource to the face of the building and neighborhood.

The building is considered a Type IV construction under timber members and has a floor-to-floor height of twelve feet. The structural grid spans in lengths of sixteen feet, due to the eight foot regularly of floor panels, but is often spanning thirty-two feet in

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the Welcome House and 64 feet in the Living House. These structural components can be seen below in Image 4.14S.

Figure 4.1S Wall Sections (By Author) H. Building Systems The mechanical system provided for the Welcome House is a hybrid solution that will efficiently heat and cool the building. A vertical, close looped geothermal system heats and cools water and is fed into an air handling system for chilled beams throughout the structure in warmer months. In colder months, the geothermal system 86

provides warm water for radiant heated floors (with the exception of the gymnasium).

This system allows for a constant air flow, easily controlled temperature, minimization of ductwork, reduction of air pollutants, reduction of maintenance cost, controlled humidity, minimization of noise, and the reduced risk of mold and bacteria growth. Overall, this system will provide energy efficiency as well as a high, indoor environmental air quality.

Aside from the building’s mechanical systems, passive systems will provide the building’s inhabitants with a high quality of indoor air. Many operable windows are placed throughout the Welcome House as a way to allow inhabitants to control the room temperature. Shading devices are used as a way to mitigate solar heat gain, and stack ventilation is used in the gymnasium as a way to prevent humidity build up. All of these strategies are affective for the site’s mixed-humid climate zone.

The mechanical system for the Living House is a ductless, split-packaged system

by Daikin. This efficient system is easily installed, controls temperature, requires no ductwork or central equipment, has dehumidifying capabilities, and costs less to operate than a traditional mechanical system. Indoor units will be provided in every main space of the living units as well as a dehumidifying unit in kitchens and bathrooms. The exterior compressor equipment will be located on the rooftop and screened.

An important sustainable feature in this Center for Integration is the design and placement of photovoltaic panels in order to harvest solar energy. This renewable energy production will reduce the building’s reliance on the grid. The PV panels are located on the rooftop of the Living Center and take advantage of the southern solar exposure. The electrical strategies that are used to promote energy efficiency are complete electrical and mechanical control panels with occupancy sensors and timers,

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adjustable task and ambient lighting fixtures, electrical vehicle charging stations, and building security systems.

The predominant, sustainable plumbing feature in the Center for Integration is the rainwater management system. Rainwater is collected from the site and the buildings to be reused. Other sustainable plumbing strategies include providing efficient plumbing fixtures, fittings, and equipment as well as backing up water closets on wet walls. All potable water on the site will be provided through the main, municipal water supply, and grey water will be provided through the water management system on site.

Waste and sewage will be taken off-site through the municipal sewer system. The sprinkler system will be a potable system provided through the municipal water supply.

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LEED Certification As discussed previously, a portion of this thesis research is to create a LEED Gold certified facility. It is through the certification process and addressing each of the 8 areas and 52 subcategories that the LEED Gold certification may be proven. In order to reach a Gold level certification, 60 points must be met under these 8 categories and prerequisite areas must be satisfied. After a comprehensive self-evaluation, it was determined that this project would receive 67 points under LEED certification, and successfully exist and operate under the anticipated level of certification. Below is the aforementioned self-evaluation with intent descriptions, requirements, and evaluation notes for proving the points rewarded and prerequisites that are satisfied.

Figure 4.1U LEED Scorecard (What is LEED Certification n.d.).

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____________________________________________________________________________________ Location and Transportation (LT) ____________________________________________________________________________________ LT Credit: LEED for Neighborhood Development Location (8-16 points) Intent: “To avoid development on inappropriate sites. To reduce vehicle distance traveled. To enhance livability and improve human health by encouraging daily physical activity.”

Requirements: “Locate Project within the boundary of a development certified under LEED for Neighborhood Development (Stage 2 or Stage 3 under the Pilot or 2009 rating systems, Certified Plan or Certified Project under the LEED v4 rating system). Project attempting this credit are not eligible to earn points under other Location and Transportation credits.

Self-Evaluation: This project does not qualify as a LEED for Neighborhood Development Location; therefore, it is not eligible to be awarded points for this section. In lieu of this, the project will attempt credit in the other areas of Location and Transportation.

Points Awarded: 0/16 ____________________________________________________________________________________ LT Credit: Sensitive Land Protection (1 point) Intent: “To avoid the development of environmentally sensitive lands and reduce the environmental impact from the location of a building on a site.”

Requirements: “Locate the development footprint on land that has been previously developed.”

Self-Evaluation: The existing development of the project is in a residential block that has been previously developed. The existing building footprint of two demolished buildings will be used as the footprint of the Living House on the site.

Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ LT Credit: High-Priority Site (1 point) Intent:

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“To encourage project location in areas with development constraints and promote the health of the surrounding area.”

Requirements: “Locate the project on an infill location in a historic district.”

Self-Evaluation: The existing development of the project is an infill site within a historic district of Nashville, Tennessee called Hillsboro-West End. Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ LT Credit: Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses (2-3 points) Intent: “To conserve land and protect farmland and wildlife habitat by encouraging development in areas with existing infrastructure. To promote walkability, and transportation efficiency and reduce vehicle distance traveled. To improve public health by encouraging daily physical activity.”

Requirements: “Locate the project on a site whose surrounding existing density within a ¼-mile radius of the project boundary meets or exceeds the values in Table 1. Use either the “separate residential and nonresidential densities” or the “combined density” values.

Self-Evaluation: The existing surrounding density within a ¼-mile radius of the project includes 170 zoning lots. 81 lots are zoned as RS7.5 with 4.94 dwellings/acre density. 54 lots are zoned as RM40 with 40 dwellings/acre density. 25 lots are zoned as OR20 with 20 dwellings/acre density. 8 lots are zoned as MUN with 20 dwellings/acre density. 2 lots are zoned as MUL with 20 dwellings/acre density. The average density of all 170 lots is 19.17 dwellings/acre. This number exceeds the minimum residential (12 du/acre) and nonresidential (0.8 du/acre) densities for the average density within a ¼ mile of the project required to be awarded 3 points under this credit.

Points Awarded: 3/3 ____________________________________________________________________________________ LT Credit: Access to Quality Transit (1-6 points) Intent: “To encourage development in locations shown to have multimodal transportation choices or otherwise reduced motor vehicle use, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and other environmental and public health harms associated with motor vehicle use.”

Requirements:

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“Locate any functional entry of the project within a ¼ mile walking distance of existing or planned bus, streetcar, or rideshare stops. The transit service at those stops and stations in aggregate must meet the minimums listed in Tables 1 and 2. Planned stops and stations may count if they are sited, funded, and under construction by the date of certificate of occupancy and are complete within 24 months of that date.”

Self-Evaluation: Within ¼ mile of the site there are two bus transit services. Route 7 runs 220 weekday trips and 28 weekend trips. Route 91 runs 6 weekday trips. Together, there is a total of 226 weekday trips and 48 weekend trips. According to LEED’s Table 1 of this section, this site will be eligible for 3 points with an additional 1 credit for having two or more transit routes.

Points Awarded: 4/6 ____________________________________________________________________________________ LT Credit: Bicycle Facilities (1 point) Intent: “To promote bicycling and transportation efficiency and reduce vehicle distance traveled. To improve public health by encouraging utilitarian and recreational physical activity.”

Requirements: Bicycle Network: “Design or locate the project such that a functional entry or bicycle storage is within a 200-yard walking distance or bicycling distance from a bicycle network that connect to at least one of the following: at least 10 diverse uses, a school or employment center, a bus rapid transit stop.”

Bicycle Storage: “Provide short-term bicycle storage for at least 2.5% of all peak visitors, but no fewer than four storage spaces per building. Provide long-term bicycle storage for at least 5% of all regular building occupants, but no fewer than four storage spaces per building in addition to the short-term bicycle storage spaces. Provide at least one on-site shower with changing facilities for the first 100 regular building occupants and one additional shower for every 150 building occupants thereafter.”

“All short-term storage must be within 100 feet walking distance to the main entrance and long-term storage must be within 100 feet of any functional entry.”

Self-Evaluation: The project’s main entrance is within a 200-yard walking distance from a bicycle network that connects to a school.

The project has 20 short-term bicycle storage spaces which is greater than 4 spaces and exceeds 2.5% of all peak visitors.

The project has 40 long-term bicycle storage spaces which is greater than 4 spaces and exceeds 5% of all regular building occupants.

Showers and changing facilities are located within the Welcome House.

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Short-term parking is located within 100 feet of the main entrance and the long-term storage is within 109 feet of a functional entry to the building.

Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ LT Credit: Reduced Parking Footprint (1 point) Intent: “To minimize the environmental harms associated with parking facilities, including automobile dependence, land consumption, and rainwater runoff.”

Requirements: “Do not exceed the minimum local code requirements for parking capacity.”

Self-Evaluation: 94 parking spaces is the minimum local code requirement for parking capacity, and that is the same number of spaces provided on site, therefore the number of spaces on site does not exceed the minimum, rewarding this project 1 point for reduced parking footprint.

Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ LT Credit: Green Vehicles (1 point) Intent: “To reduce pollution by promoting alternatives to conventionally fueled automobiles.”

Requirements: “Designate 5% of all parking spaces used by the project as preferred parking for green vehicles. Install electrical vehicle supply equipment in 2% of all parking spaces used by the project.”

Self-Evaluation: Of the 94 parking spaces on site, 5 spaces (5.3% of parking) will be used as preferred parking for green vehicles and 3 of those spaces (3.1% of parking) will have installed electrical vehicle supply equipment.

Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sustainable Site (SS) ____________________________________________________________________________________ SS Prerequisite: Construction Activity Pollution Prevention (Required)

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Intent: “To reduce pollution from construction activities by controlling soil erosion, waterway sedimentation, and airborne dust.”

Requirements: “Create and implement an erosion and sedimentation control plan for all construction activities associated with the project.”

Self-Evaluation: Through the integrative design process, there will be an implementation of an erosion and sedimentation control plan throughout the entire construction process. All consultants and sub-consultants will be required to follow this control plan through enforcement of the contractor.

Points Awarded: Satisfied ____________________________________________________________________________________ SS Credit: Site Assessment (1 point) Intent: “To assess site conditions before design to evaluate sustainable options and inform decisions about site design” Requirements: “Complete and document a site survey or assessment that includes the following information: Topography, Hydrology, Climate, Vegetation, Soils, Human use, Human health effects.”

Self-Evaluation: In the Section 3.2: Site Analysis, the information topics mentioned were addressed and the relationships between these site features were demonstrated in order to achieve a credit for site assessment.

Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ SS Credit: Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat (1-2 points) Intent: “To conserve existing natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity.”

Requirements: “Preserve and protect from all development and construction activity 40% of the greenfield area on the site (if such areas exist).”

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“Using native or adapted vegetation, restore 30% (including the building footprint) of all portions of the site identified as previously disturbed. Projects that achieve a density of 1.5 floor-area ratio may include vegetated roof surfaces in this calculation if the plants are native or adapted, provide habitat, and promote biodiversity.”

Option 2: Financial Support (1 point) Requirements: “Provide financial support equivalent to at least $0.40 per square foot for the total site area to a nationally or local recognized land trust or conservation organizations” Self-Evaluation: The entire building lot would be classified as previously disturbed. The lot is 111,000 Square Feet. The floor area ratio does not meet the 1.5 density to be able to use a vegetated roof in the calculation and the total restored area with native vegetation only meets 20% of the lot size.

Because this requirement is not met in order to be awarded two points, the Option 2 requirement will be met by providing financial support to the Tennessee Ornithological Society in the dollar amount no less than $44,400. Through this financial support, the project will be awarded one point.

Points Awarded: 1 / 2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ SS Credit: Open Space (1 point) Intent: “To create exterior open space that encourages interaction with the environment, social interaction, passive recreation, and physical activities.”

Requirements: 1. Provide outdoor space greater than or equal to 30% of the total site area (including building footprint). A minimum of 25% of that outdoor space must be vegetated (turf grass does not count as vegetation) or have overhead vegetated canopy.

2. The outdoor space must be physically accessible Self-Evaluation: The project has an outdoor space equivalent to 40%, or 48,000 SF of the total site area of 111,000 SF. Of that outdoor area, 45% of the outdoor space is vegetated, or 22,000 SF. Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ SS Credit: Rainwater Management (1-3 points) Intent:

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“To reduce runoff volume and improve water quality by replicating the natural hydrology and water balance of the site, based on historical conditions and undeveloped ecosystems in the region.”

Requirements: Path 2: 98th Percentile (3 points) “In a manner best replicating natural site hydrology processes, manage on site the runoff from the developed site for the 98th percentile of regional or local rainfall events using low-impact development (LID) and green infrastructure.”

Self-Evaluation: After using the National Storm Water Calculator for the site, the 98th percentile shows a daily rainfall depth of 2.36 inches with 28% of that rainfall being considered runoff (See Table 4.1A). This means that the site must be able to infiltrate or evaporate 72% of the rainfall. Through the calculator, it is estimated that this site will have 67% infiltration and 8% evaporation, resulting in 75% total site water retained (See Table 4.1B). This exceeds the 72% needed in order to fulfill the 98th percentile.

The site will retain this water through low-impact development and green infrastructure. Rainwater will be managed through 2% of disconnection (directing runoff), 18% rain harvesting (underground cisterns), 10% rain gardens (captures runoff), 5% green roof (temporary storage), 3% street planters (captures runoff), and 62% permeable pavement (infiltration).

Table 4.1A Rainfall Runoff

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Table 4.1B Runoff by Rainfall Percentile Chart Points Awarded: 3/3 ____________________________________________________________________________________ SS Credit: Heat Island Reduction (1-2 points) Intent: “To minimize effects on microclimates and human and wildlife habitats by reducing heat islands.”

Requirements: “Place a minimum of 75% of parking space under cover. Any roof used to shade, or cover parking must have a three-year aged SRI of at least 32, be a vegetated roof, or be covered by energy generation systems, such as solar thermal collectors, photovoltaics, and wind turbines.”

Self-Evaluation: The project has 94 parking spaces, and of those, 80 spaces (83%) are under cover. The roof used to cover this parking is a vegetated roof with solar thermal collectors.

Points Awarded: 1 / 2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ SS Credit: Light Pollution Reduction (1 point) Intent: “To increase night sky access, improve nighttime visibility, and reduce the consequences of development for wildlife and people.”

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Requirements: “Meet upplight and light trespass requirements.”

Self-Evaluation: The project is considered a LZ2 lighting zone as Moderate Ambient Lighting. Under this zone, all exterior luminaires will have maximum upplight emission percentage of 1.5% under the calculation method. In terms of luminaire backlight and glare, luminaires will have maximum vertical illuminance at 0.10 footcandles. The internally illuminated exterior signage will not exceed a luminance of 200cd/m2 during nighttime hours and 2000 cd/m2 during daytime hours.

Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Water Efficiency (WE) ____________________________________________________________________________________ WE Prerequisite: Outdoor Water Use Reduction (Required) Intent: “To reduce outdoor water consumption.”

Requirements: “Reduce the project’s landscape water requirement by at least 30% from the calculated baseline for the site’s peak watering month. Reductions must be achieved through plant species selection and irrigation system efficiency, as calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency Water Sense Water Budget Tool.

Self-Evaluation: After using the Water Sense Budget tool, shown in the figures below, the designed landscape area meets the water budget criterion for the area in which it is designed, and shows a 96% reduction in water use from the baseline calculations. The site meets the prerequisite for outdoor water use reduction.

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Part 1 — Calculating Baseline & Water Allowance

Part 2 — Peak Watering Month

Part 3 — Results Table 4.1C Water Budget

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Points Awarded: Satisfied ____________________________________________________________________________________ WE Prerequisite: Indoor Water Use Reduction (Required) Intent: “To reduce indoor water consumption.”

Requirements: “Fixtures and fittings, as applicable to the project scope, must reduce aggregate water consumption by 20% from the baseline. All new installed toilet, urinals, private lavatory faucets, and showerheads that are eligible for labeling must be Water Sense labeled.”

Self-Evaluation: All public and private toilets, urinals, lavatories, faucets, and showerheads reduce aggregate water consumption by 20% from their baseline calculations and are labeled appropriately. All residential and commercial appliances and equipment meet Energy Star performance and are labeled as such.

Points Awarded: Satisfied ____________________________________________________________________________________ WE Prerequisite: Building-Level Water Metering (Required) Intent: “To support water management and identify opportunities for additional water savings by tracking water consumption.”

Requirements: “Install permanent water meters that measure the total potable water use for the building and associated grounds.”

Self-Evaluation: Water meters will be installed to measure the potable water use for the buildings and will be located in the site storage areas. A commitment will be made to share the water data with USGBC for a five-year period.

Points Awarded: Satisfied ____________________________________________________________________________________ WE Credit: Outdoor Water Use Reduction (1-2 points) Intent: “To reduce outdoor water consumption”

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Requirements: “Show that the landscape does not require a permanent irrigation system beyond a maximum two-year establishment period.”

Self-Evaluation: In the prerequisite of Outdoor Water Use Reduction, it was shown that the site had a 96% reduction in water use from baseline calculations. It is planned that an irrigation system will not need to be used under these conditions because of the native plants that will be use in the landscape design that require little irrigation. In this area, the soil has an acidic property. This acidity was taken into consideration to find native plants that thrive in acidic soil, need partial sunlight, and are considered xeric, or dry & drought resistant, and do not retain a lot of moisture. These native plant species were found in a brochure called “Landscape with Native Plants” by Warner Park Nature Center. By using these xeric species, no irrigation is required, and two points will be awarded to the project under this credit.

Native Shrubs: Black Chokeberry, New Jersey Tea, Farkleberry, Mountain Laurel, and Lowbush Blueberry Native Grasses: Big Bluestem and Little Bluestem Small Trees: Serviceberry and Sourwood Large Trees: Red Maple, Scarlet Oak, and Southern Red Oak Points Awarded: 2/2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ WE Credit: Indoor Water Use Reduction (1-7 points) Intent: “To reduce indoor water consumption” Requirements: “Further reduce fixture and fitting water use from the calculated baseline in WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use Reduction.”

Self-Evaluation: In order to further reduce indoor water use, all public and private toilets, urinals, lavatories, faucets, and showerheads reduce aggregate water consumption by 40% from their prerequisite calculations. The building will achieve this reduction by the reuse of greywater for wastewater functions. By reducing an extra 40%, this project will be awarded 4 points toward certification.

Points Awarded: 4/7 ____________________________________________________________________________________ WE Credit: Cooling Tower Water Use (1-2 points) Intent:

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“To conserve water used for cooling tower makeup while controlling microbes, corrosion, and scale in the condenser water system.”

Requirements: “Conduct a one-time potable water analysis, measuring at least five control parameters.”

Self-Evaluation: There is no cooling tower used on site, therefor the building will receive no points in this credit area.

Points Awarded: 0/2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ WE Credit: Water Metering (1 point) Intent: “To support water management and identify opportunities for additional water savings by tracking water consumption.”

Requirements: “Install permanent water meters for two or more water subsystems as applicable to the project.”

Self-Evaluation: Aside from metering all potable water, the project will also have permanent water meters for all reclaimed water on site as well as meters for all indoor plumbing fixtures and fittings.

Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Energy and Atmosphere (EA) ____________________________________________________________________________________ EA Prerequisite: Fundamental Commissioning and Verification (Required) Intent: “To support the design, construction, and eventual operation of a project that meets the owner’s project requirements for energy, water, indoor environmental quality, and durability.”

Requirements: “Complete commissioning process activities for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and renewable energy systems and assemblies, in accordance with ASHRAE Guidelines for HVAC&R Systems, as they relate to energy, water, indoor environmental quality, and durability.”

“Engage a commissioning authority with appropriate qualifications”

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“Prepare and maintain a facilities requirements and operations and maintenance plan.”

Self-Evaluation: In order to achieve this required section, the building project will go through commissioning processes for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and renewable energy systems and assemblies by engaging a commissioning authority in the process. This commissioning authority will develop and execute a commissioning plan that aligns with the owner’s project requirements and basis of design. The project will also have a current facilities requirements and operations and maintenance plan with pertinent information for operating efficiently.

Points Awarded: Satisfied ____________________________________________________________________________________ EA Prerequisite: Minimum Energy Performance (Required) Intent: “To reduce the environmental and economic harms of excessive energy use by achieving a minimum level of energy efficiency for the building and its systems.”

Requirements: “Option 1: Whole-Building Energy Simulation- Demonstrate an improvement of 5% for new construction in the proposed building performance rating compared with the baseline building performance rating.

Calculate the baseline building performance in accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.12010 using a simulation model.”

Self-Evaluation: The project underwent energy commissioning and made a 10% improvement for the proposed building performance rating compared to the baseline rating.

Points Awarded: Satisfied ____________________________________________________________________________________ EA Prerequisite: Building-Level Energy Metering (Required) Intent: “To support energy management and identify opportunities for additional energy savings by tracking building-level energy use.”

Requirements: “Install new or use existing building-level energy meters, or submeters that can be aggregated to provide building-level data representing total building energy consumption.”

Self-Evaluation:

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Energy meters will be installed in a dedicated commissioning room in the lower level of the community center. These meters will measure the energy consumption for the buildings. A commitment will be made to share the water data with USGBC for a five-year period.

Points Awarded: Satisfied ____________________________________________________________________________________ EA Prerequisite: Fundamental Refrigerant Management (Required) Intent: “To reduce stratospheric ozone depletion.”

Requirements: “Do not use chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-based refrigerants in new heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems.

Self-Evaluation: No CFC-based refrigerants will be used in heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration systems in the project.

Points Awarded: Satisfied ____________________________________________________________________________________ EA Credit: Enhancing Commissioning (2-6 points) Intent: “To further support the design, construction, and eventual operation of a project that meets the owner’s project requirements for energy, water, indoor environmental quality, and durability.”

Requirements: “Implement, or have in place a contract to implement, the following commissioning process activities in addition to those required under EA Prerequisite Fundamental Commissioning and Verification.

Complete commissioning process activities for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and renewable energy systems and assemblies. Develop monitoring-based procedures and identify points to be measured and evaluated to assess performance of energy and water consuming systems. (4 points) Complete additional commissioning processes for the building’s thermal envelope (2 points)” Self-Evaluation: The project will implement additional commissioning services through a commissioning authority to complete enhanced commissioning tasks outlined in the owner’s project requirements as well as the basis of design for all energy systems. Additionally, the authority will develop monitoring-based procedures in order to assess the performance of all energy systems and modifications for better efficiency (4 points). The authority will also complete a commissioning process for the building’s thermal envelope and maintain an on-going plan for future use (2 points).

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Points Awarded: 6/6 ____________________________________________________________________________________ EA Credit: Optimizing Energy Performance (1-18 points) Intent: “To achieve increasing level of energy performance beyond the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental and economic harms associated with excessive energy use.”

Requirements: “Establish an energy performance target no later than the schematic design phase.

Whole-Building Energy Simulation: Analyze efficiency measures during the design process and focus on load reduction in HVAC.” Self-Evaluation: The building, under new construction, will establish an energy performance target early in the schematic design phase, analyze all efficiency opportunities, and demonstrate at least a 29% improvement in energy performance, from the baseline, in order to be awarded 12 points.

Points Awarded: 12/18 ____________________________________________________________________________________ EA Credit: Advanced Energy Metering (1 point) Intent: “To support energy management and identify opportunities for additional energy savings by tracking building-level and system-level energy use.”

Requirements: “Install advanced energy metering for whole-building energy sources and any individual energy end uses that represent 10% or more of the total annual consumption of the building.”

Self-Evaluation: The project will have permanently installed advanced energy meters, for all energy sources in the building, in a dedicated commissioning area in the lower level of the community center. The meters will record in intervals of one hour, remotely transmit data, record consumption and demand, store data for 36 months, and be connected to a local area network.

Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ EA Credit: Demand Response (1-2 points) Intent:

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“To increase participation in demand response technologies and programs that make energy generation and distribution systems more efficient, increase grid reliability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Requirements: “Design building and equipment for participation in demand response programs through load shedding or shifting.”

Self-Evaluation: The project will be enrolled in the TVA-EnerNOC Demand Response program, established by the Tennessee Valley Authority and offered by Nashville Electric Service. This enrollment and dispatch will reduce the building’s energy cost and help protect the neighboring community from rising energy costs.

Points Awarded: 2/2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ EA Credit: Renewable Energy Production (1-3 points) Intent: “To reduce the environmental and economic harms associated with fossil fuel energy by increasing selfsupply of renewable energy.”

Requirements: “Use renewable energy systems to offset building energy costs. Calculate the percentage of renewable energy.”

Self-Evaluation: The renewable energy system of photovoltaic panels, offsets the building energy cost by 1%, therefor earning the building one point in this credit area.

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Table 4.1D Renewable Energy Points Awarded: 1/3 ____________________________________________________________________________________ EA Credit: Enhanced Refrigerant Management (1 point) Intent: “To reduce ozone depletion and support early compliance with the Montreal Protocol while minimizing direct contributions to climate change.”

Requirements: “Option 1: Do not use refrigerants, or use only refrigerants (naturally occurring or synthetic) that have an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero and a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 50.”

Self-Evaluation: Only naturally occurring or synthetic refrigerants will be used in the project with an ODP of 0 and a GWP of less than 50.

Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ EA Credit: Green Power and Carbon Offsets (1-2 points) Intent:

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“To encourage the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the use of grid-source, renewable energy technologies and carbon mitigation projects.”

Requirements: “Engage in a contract for qualified resources that specify the provision of at least 50% or 100% of the project’s energy from green power, carbon offsets, or renewable energy certificates.”

Self-Evaluation: The contract for this project will have at least 50% of its total energy addressed by green power and RECs. Points Awarded: 1 / 2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Materials and Resources (MR) ____________________________________________________________________________________ MR Prerequisite: Storage and Collection of Recyclables (Required) Intent: “To reduce the waste that is generated by building occupants and hauled to and disposed of in landfills.”

Requirements: “Provide dedicated areas accessible to waste haulers and building occupants for the collection and storage of recyclable materials for the entire building.”

Self-Evaluation: The building incorporates a waste management facility, accessible by both waste haulers and building occupants. The waste management facility abuts a loading zone, outdoor waste storage, and alleyway in order to provide a safe and manageable system for recycling materials.

Points Awarded: Satisfied ____________________________________________________________________________________ MR Prerequisite: Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning (Required) Intent: “To reduce construction and demolition waste disposed of in landfills and incineration facilities by recovering, reusing, and recycling materials.”

Requirements: “Develop and implement a construction and demolition waste management plan.”

Self-Evaluation:

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A construction waste management plan will be developed and implemented by a waste management contractor to reduce the construction waste on site. This plan will outline the specific types of materials that are likely to be generated, their expected waste amounts, conditions, and possible contamination. An on-site plan will be included to determine the storage of this waste and logistical plans for collection, delivery, and separation. 5 of the targeted materials for diversion will be timber, wood waste, gypsum board, cardboard, and co-mingled recyclables. These products will be separated on site, stored in provided, clean containers and diverted to local recycling companies within a 60-mile radius of the site.

Points Awarded: Satisfied ____________________________________________________________________________________ MR Credit: Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction (2-5 points) Intent: “To encourage adaptive reuse and optimize the environmental performance of products and materials.”

Requirements: “Demonstrate reduced environmental effects during initial project decision-making by reusing existing building resources or demonstrating a reduction in materials use through life-cycle assessment.

Option 3: Building and Material Reuse (2-4 points): Reuse or salvage building materials from off site or on site as a percentage of the surface area.”

Self-Evaluation: The construction process will incorporate reusing or salvaging 75% of all structural elements, enclosure materials, and permanently installed interior elements. This percentage will award the project 4 points.

Points Awarded: 4/5 ____________________________________________________________________________________ MR Credit: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization—Environmental Product Declarations (1-2 points) Intent: “To encourage the use of products and materials for which life-cycle information is available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life-cycle impacts. To reward project teams for selecting product from manufacturers who have verified improved environmental life-cycle impacts.”

Requirements: “Option 1: Use at least 20 different permanently installed products sourced from at least five different manufacturers that meet the disclosure criteria. (1 point) And/or Option 2: Use products that comply with the criteria for 50%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed products in the project. (1 point)”

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Self-Evaluation: All products installed will have product-specific declarations and 50% of those products will demonstrate their impact reduction or be USGBC approved programs.

Points Awarded: 2/2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ MR Credit: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization—Sourcing of Raw Materials (1-2 points) Intent: “To encourage the use of products and materials for which life-cycle information is available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life-cycle impacts. To reward project teams for selecting products verified to have been extracted or sourced in a responsible manner.”

Requirements: “Option 1: Use at least 20 different permanently installed products from five different manufacturers that have publicly released a report from their raw material suppliers which include raw material supplier extraction locations, commitment to long-term ecologically responsible land use, a commitment to reducing environmental harms from extraction and/or manufacturing processes, and a commitment to meeting applicable standards or programs voluntarily that address responsible sourcing criteria. (1 point) And/or Option 2: Use products that meet at least one of the responsible extraction criteria for at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed building products in the project. (1 point)” Self-Evaluation: The project will fulfill Option 2 as using 25% of permanent installed products that are responsibly extracted by USGBC criteria.

Points Awarded: 1 / 2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ MR Credit: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization—Material Ingredients (1-2 points) Intent: “To encourage the use of products and materials for which life-cycle information is available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life-cycle impacts. To reward project teams for selecting products for which the chemical ingredients in the product are inventoried using an accepted methodology and for selecting products verified to minimize the use and generation of harmful substances. To reward raw material manufacturers who produce products verified to have improved lifecycle impacts.”

Requirements:

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“Option 1: Use at least 20 different permanently installed products from at least five different manufacturers that use any approved programs to demonstrate the chemical inventory of the product. (1 point) And/or Option 2: Use products that document their material ingredient optimization using the approved paths for at least 25% by cost, of the total value of permanently installed products in the project. (1 point) And/or Option 3: Use building products for at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed products in the project that meet USGBC criteria. (1 point) Self-Evaluation: The project will fulfill Option 2 by using 25% of permanently installed products that show compliance, certification, or benchmarks for optimized material ingredients.

Points Awarded: 1 / 2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ MR Credit: Construction and Demolition Waste Management (1-2 points) Intent: “To reduce construction and demolition waste disposed of in landfills and incineration facilities by recovering, reusing, and recycling materials.”

Requirements: “Recycle and/or salvage nonhazardous construction and demolition materials.

Option 1: Divert 50%-75% and 3-4 Material Streams (1-2 points) Divert at least 50% of the total construction and demolition material; diverted materials must include at least three material streams.”

Self-Evaluation: At least 50% of the total construction and demolition material will be diverted and will include at least 3 material streams.

Points Awarded: 1 / 2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) ____________________________________________________________________________________ EQ Prerequisite: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance (Required)

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Intent: “To contribute to the comfort and well-being of building occupants by establishing minimum standards for indoor air quality (IAQ).”

Requirements: Meet all procedural standards from ASHRAE 62.1-2010 for mechanically ventilated spaces, naturally ventilated spaces, indoor air quality, outdoor airflow, and comply with all system strategies. Residential dwelling units must also meet additional requirements.

Self-Evaluation: All procedural standards from ASHRAE 62.1-2010 will be met for all ventilation systems. Residential dwelling units will be equipped with vented appliances, carbon monoxide monitors, closed combustion water heaters, and radon detectors.

Points Awarded: Satisfied ____________________________________________________________________________________ EQ Prerequisite: Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control (Required) Intent: “To prevent or minimize exposure of building occupants, indoor surfaces, and ventilation air distribution systems to environmental tobacco smoke.”

Requirements: “Prohibit smoking inside the building, outside of the building, and post signage at entrances that indicate no-smoking.”

Self-Evaluation: Smoking of any kind will be prohibited inside and outside of the building and in all communal areas, interior courtyard, and parking structure. Signage will be posted at all entrances of the buildings and on site.

Points Awarded: Satisfied ____________________________________________________________________________________ EQ Credit: Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies (1-2 points) Intent: “To promote occupants’ comfort, well-being, and productivity by improving indoor air quality.”

Requirements: Option 1: Enhanced IAQ Strategies Comply with requirements for Entryway Systems, Interior Cross-Contamination Prevention, Filtration, Natural Ventilation Design Calculations, and Mixed-Mode Design Calculations.

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Self-Evaluation: The buildings have installed, permanent entryway systems, sufficient exhaust systems where hazardous gases may be present, adequate filtration and ventilation systems, appropriate strategies for natural ventilation, and comply with CIBSE ventilation procedures.

Points Awarded: 1 / 2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ EQ Credit: Low-Emitting Materials (1-3 points) Intent: “To reduce concentrations of chemical contaminants that can damage air quality, human health, productivity, and the environment.”

Requirements: “Perform product category calculations and achieve threshold level of compliance with emissions and content standards or use a budget calculation method.”

Self-Evaluation: Project will not participate in calculating low-emitting materials Points Awarded: 0/3 ____________________________________________________________________________________ EQ Credit: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan (1 point) Intent: “To promote the well-being of construction workers and building occupants by minimizing indoor air quality problems associated with construction and renovation.”

Requirements: “Develop and implement an indoor air quality (IAQ) management plan for the construction and preoccupancy phases of the building. Address control measures for applicable codes, storage of absorptive materials, operation of air-handling equipment, prohibition of tobacco during construction.”

Self-Evaluation: During the construction phase of the building process, a construction indoor air quality management plan will be developed and implemented by an air quality management contractor to reduce air contaminants.

This plan will outline potential contaminants, applicable control measure that will be implemented, the protection and storage of absorptive materials, handling of air-handling equipment, and prohibit the use of tobacco on or near the site during this phase.

Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________

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EQ Credit: Indoor Air Quality Assessment (1-2 points) Intent: “To establish better quality indoor air in the building after construction and during occupancy.”

Requirements: “Option 1, Path 1: Install new filtration media and perform a building flush-out by supplying a total air volume of 14,000 cubic feet of outdoor air per square foot of gross floor area while maintaining appropriate internal temperatures and humidity. “(1 point) Self-Evaluation: The project will undergo a flush-out before occupancy in order to achieve one point in this area.

Points Awarded: 1 / 2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ EQ Credit: Thermal Comfort (1 point) Intent: “To promote occupants’ productivity, comfort, and well-being buy providing quality thermal comfort.”

Requirements: “Option 1: Meet requirements of ASHRAE Standard 55-2010 for the design of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems and the building envelope.”

Self-Evaluation: The building will meet with requirements of the appropriate standards for heating, ventilation, HVAC, and building envelope.

Points Awarded: 1/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ EQ Credit: Interior Lighting (1-2 points) Intent: “To promote occupants’ productivity, comfort, and well-being buy providing high-quality lighting.”

Requirements: “Option 1: For at least 90% of individual occupant spaces, provide individual lighting controls that enable occupants to adjust the lighting to suit their individual tasks and preferences, with at least three lighting level or scenes.”

Self-Evaluation:

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100% of occupied spaces within the project will have lighting controls, with three lighting levels, as well as occupancy sensors and timers. Any rooms with dedicated projection equipment will have separately controlled lighting.

Points Awarded: 1/2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ EQ Credit: Daylight (1-3 points) Intent: “To connect building occupants with the outdoors, reinforce circadian rhythms, and reduce the use of electrical lighting by introducing daylight into the space.”

Requirements: “Provide manual or automatic glare-control devices for all regularly occupied spaces. Meet simulation requirements for illuminance calculations.”

Self-Evaluation: Project will not participate in calculating daylight illuminance.

Points Awarded: 0/3 ____________________________________________________________________________________ EQ Credit: Quality Views (1 point) Intent: “To give building occupants a connection to the natural outdoor environment by providing quality views.”

Requirements: “Achieve a direct line of sight to the outdoors for 75% of all regularly occupied floor area.”

Self-Evaluation: 83% of regularly occupied floor area has multiple lines of sight to glazing and has views to flora/fauna/sky, as well as movement.

Points Awarded: 1 / 2 ____________________________________________________________________________________

EQ Credit: Acoustic Performance (1 point) Intent:

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“To provide workspaces and classrooms that promote occupants’ well-being, productivity, and communications through effective acoustic design.”

Requirements: “For all occupied spaces, meet the requirements necessary for HVAC background noise, sound isolation, reverberation time, and sound reinforcement and masking.”

Self-Evaluation: Project will not participate in calculating acoustic performance.

Points Awarded: 0/1 ____________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 5: Conclusion The focus of this thesis was to design a community living center that fosters the integration of refugees, within an existing community, while achieving a LEED Gold Certification. In understanding the current process in which refugees are resettled, the standard of living needed for the sensitivity of this user group, as well as a building program that supports social interaction, it has become evident that a building facility of this nature is an important step for refugee integration in the United States. The need for this type of facility can be found in every corner of the country and it is relevant to not only large cities—like New York and Chicago—but also small ones, like Nashville. This thesis sought to create a building program that brought together refugees and a community, where social integration was possible and probable; to create a building that is a catalyst and facilitator of interaction and well-being. Although this portion of the thesis hypothesis cannot be reasonably measured, it is apparent, through the building program and spatial design, that this facility has the potential to bring people together in ways that no building typology ever has.

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One of the many reasons facilities of this type have not been commissioned, designed, or built is due to the overwhelming, fiscal responsibility a host community may take on in order to house refugees. This thesis focused on the design of a LEED Gold Certification where the financial constraints of refugee agencies may be able to offset the cost of this type of facility through efficient design and environmental responsibility.

Through the 8 areas of LEED credits, it was proven that this facility could operate at the anticipated level of certification. A facility of this nature, with this level of efficiency, could have an immense effect on the refugee population and could, in turn, create an integrative society where refugees are not only welcomed, but accepted with open arms.

Although the thesis hypothesis was proven at a LEED Gold Certification, it could be possible for this research to be developed further in order to achieve a LEED Platinum Certification. The researcher willing to develop this further would need to focus on reducing indoor water use, producing more renewable energy, specifying lowemitting materials, provide better indoor air quality, measure the amount of daylight in each space, calculate the indoor lighting and quality, as well as measuring the acoustic performance of each space. When focusing on these aspects in the design and calculating and revising some design aspects, this design could potentially meet a higher certification and become more energy efficient and environmentally responsible.

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References A General Plan for Nashville and Davidson County: Volume 3 Community Plans [PDF].

(2015, June 22). Nashville: Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County Planning Commission.

A New Beginning: Refugee Integration in Europe [PDF]. (2013, September). UNHCR. Chen, G. (2014). LEED v4 green associate exam guide (LEED GA): comprehensive study materials, sample questions, green building LEED certification, and sustainability. Irvine, CA: ArchiteG. CHK America. (n.d.). Route 7 [PDF]. Nashville, TN: Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Data, U. C. (n.d.). Temperature – Precipitation – Sunshine – Snowfall. Retrieved November 03, 2016, from http://usclimatedata.com/climate/Nashville/Tennessee/united-states/ustn0357 Davidson County, TN [PDF]. (2017, June 20). Natural Resources Conservation Services.

Firstenburg Community Center [PDF]. (n.d.). Portland: Opsis Architecture.

Google. (n.d.). [Google map of 2141 Fairfax Avenue Nashville, TN 37212]. Retrieved June 1, 2017, from https://goo.gl/maps/1qyMhPYxadH2

International Code Council. (2011). 2012 international building code. Country Club Hills, Ill: ICC.

Landscaping. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2017, from http://www.tnipc.org/landscaping/

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References (Continued) LEED v4 For Homes Design and Construction [PDF]. (2013). Washington, DC: U.S. Green Building Council.

MTA Hillsboro Map 7 [PDF]. (n.d.). Nashville: Nashville MTA.

Municipal Code Corporation. (2006). The Code of the Metropolitan Government of

Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. Tallahassee, FL. [PDF]. (2015, June 22). Nashville, TN: Nashville Next.

Residential Prescriptive Requirements – 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). (n.d.). Retrieved November 03, 2016, from https://energycode.pnl.gov/EnergyCodeReqs/?state=Tennessee Solar Energy and Solar Power in Nashville, TN. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2017, from https://solarenergylocal.com/states/tennessee/nashville/ WeatherSpark Beta. (n.d.). Retrieved November 03, 2016, from https://weatherspark.com/averages/29787/Nashville-Tennessee-United-States What is LEED Certification? (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2016, from http://www.everbluetraining.com/what-is-leed

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VITA Graduate School Southern Illinois University Brittany N. Doseck brndoseck@gmail.com

Ball State University Bachelor of Science, December 2013

Southern Illinois University Carbondale Master of Architecture, December 2017

Thesis Title: THE CENTER FOR INTEGRATION: AN INTEGRATIVE HOUSING SOLUTION FOR REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT Thesis Chair: Doctor Michael Brazley

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