KU Arch Portfolio

ARCHITECTURE

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Engineering Research and Development Center Studio 804 is a graduate program at the

University of Kansas, School of Architecture.

I was proud to be part of its long tradition of constructing high-quality, innovative, and sustainable buildings. The Engineering Research and Development Center is a student research program run by the University of Kansas, School of Engineering. Their program known simply as the “EcoHawks” focuses on alternative energy for transportation. The similar ideologies and goals of both the EcoHawks and Studio 804 made the collaboration a natural partnership.

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Group Project

STUDIO 804

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Individual Project Responsibilities • Concrete

foundation

details,

drawings,

application

and

• Storefront details, drawings, and fabrication • Entry doors, showroom doors, and operable windows details, drawings, and installation • Interior curtain wall and guardrail details, drawings, and fabrication • Mezzanine glass floor details, drawings, and installation

• Digital file organization • Revit 3D modeling and file backup • Floor plan organization • Construction documents • Project calendar 04

The EcoHawks Engineering Research and

Development Center will aid in the research, fabrication, and refurbishment of electric vehicles.

It is equipped with designated areas for computer workstations to monitor electrical data and highbay fabrication spaces to conduct prototype testing.

Natural daylight floods the shop space due to a wall of glazing on the first floor. To offset high heat transfer and improve energy performance, we developed a system to lower and raise aerogel panels behind the glass façade.

Using passive and active sustainable systems and technologies, the building is intended to be Studio 804’s sixth LEED Platinum building.

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Engineering Research and Development Center

Twenty students, along with our professor,

worked

cohesively

to

agree

upon

the

concept

documents

were

produced

once schematic design and design development were

fabrication and computer monitoring spaces while

I was responsible for 3D modeling and worked with a team to develop floor plans. Since

three has an upper deck where students research and

foundations,

of

“three pods.” Pods one and two are interior

pod three is an exterior experimental courtyard. Pod

develop photovoltaic systems and a lower enclosure where they experiment with synthesis gas energy.

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Construction complete.

my construction research focused on concrete

I produced construction documents

for consulting with engineers and later used them for on-site construction.

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Engineering Research and Development Center

Computer Workstation

An additional responsibility

of mine was researching, designing, and

fabricating

system.

our

storefront

Aluminum extrusions were ordered in 24 foot lengths, then

cut and fabricated at the university warehouse.

The design called for

seamless glazing to span the first

floor, allowing maximum views and light to the inside. The extrusions were also used to make the windows.

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South Façade

Engineering Research and Development Center

STOREFRONT

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Elevation: South

Elevation: North

Plan: First Floor 10

Elevation: West

Three Pod Concept

Engineering Research and Development Center

Elevation: East

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Mezzanine

While designing the interior

curtain wall, source

of

I acquired a re-use

insulated

glass

units

that were obtained from a failed

project in Kansas City. The curtain system was designed based on our structural grid and also acted as a guardrail for the stairs without the need for additional steel.

The

mezzanine

the

handrails

followed

transom lines of the curtain wall, making the transition from handrail to guardrail appear seamless.

The

steel transoms were welded in place while

the

vertical

mullions

were

secured using lag screws. The glass units were set using butyl tape and

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First Floor

structural silicone.

Engineering Research and Development Center

CURTAIN WALL 13

Elevation: Curtain Wall

Section A: West Guardrail 14

Section B: South Guardrail

Section C: East Guardrail

Guardrail Rendering 15

Engineering Research and Development Center

Mezzanine Computer Workstation

Mezzanine computer work-

station tables were made using extra

Studio 804’s LEED Platinum building, Sustainable Prototype in Greensburg, Kansas. I glass from the first

collaborated with one student in a design competition and won the vote

for best table. The detail of using elevator bolts on the table design was carried over to the mezzanine glass

guardrails. I welded the guardrails and table frames at the university warehouse and later installed the

guardrails on site. Extensive effort was put forth ensuring the con-

nection between curtain wall and guardrails appeared seamless.

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Guardrail

Engineering Research and Development Center

MEZZANINE

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The mezzanine glass floor

was challenging while working within the dimensions of the room.

I located the floor joints to align with the curtain wall mullions, then the size of each piece was determined by the room dimensions.

A black rubber sub-floor was first laid, then glass was dropped into place. The panels were held together with structural silicone

between the joints. Glass along the

guardrails

were

custom

notched to appear as though the vertical

Glass Floor

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Plan: Mezzanine

posts elevate through

the floor. The floor also helps to

reflect light up to the computer workstation.

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Engineering Research and Development Center

Canopy Photovoltaics

One of Studio 804’s traditions is

designing energy independent buildings that focuses on sustainable technologies.

The

entry canopy is made from photovoltaic embedded glass with a thin steel structural skeleton, pinned to the building with massive

turnbuckles. The canopy, in addition to forty-

five roof photovoltaics, allows the building

to be net metered. In order to offset solar gain from lower level glazing, we worked

with several industries to design and fabricate our own insulated garage door panels made from aerogel filled polycarbonate. I

helped fabricate the garage door panels at the university warehouse and installed them

on site. The doors are programmed with a sensor to automatically lower when needed.

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Roof Photovoltaics

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Engineering Research and Development Center

ARCHITECT THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS

Our

building

was

August 2013 edition of Architect Magazine.

The magazine discusses our project’s background and Studio 804’s intent during the design phase. The article goes featured in the

on

to

inform

readers

how

we built the facility in only six

months with all student labor.

It also talks about our LEED Platinum certification and

how

we

injected

sustainable

technologies into the project while staying within our budget.

The article also gives thanks

to our many contributors and donors who made this project possible.

Photography Credits: James Ewing

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Engineering Research and Development Center

University of Kansas Soccer Stadium 24

4TH YEAR: SPRING Individual Project 25

For my comprehensive studio project,

I designed an NCAA women’s soccer field on a vacant lot at the University of Kansas.

The lot was previously home to intramural sports such as ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, and kickball. One challenge I faced was how to take a relatively small site and allow space for both intramural sports and a soccer

stadium. The solution was making the building

thin and linear, splitting the lot in half to

University of Kansas Soccer Stadium

accommodate both fields.

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NCAA Soccer Pitch

Intramural Field

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West Elevation

The small site allowed little toler-

ance for both fields to exist. I designed the building by first splitting the site in half with the soccer pitch to the east and intramural field on the west.

This presented solar gain issues, primarily on the west face. To combat the issues, I first engineered a large roof overhang and then developed large

window louvers. The east solar gain was

University of Kansas Soccer Stadium

reduced by protruding the box seats over

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the general admission seating. The stadium also features landscaped terrace hills allowing free seating on the corners of

the pitch. The hills also help with blinding service areas from public view.

Site Analysis

North Elevation

East Elevation

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Plan: Level 1

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Plan: Level 2

Because the building was relatively

narrow,

the

concourse

challenge

open

while

was

keeping

fitting

the

program

spaces on the concourse level. By extending the rooms out over the intramural field, this

allowed for more open concourse space and utilization of the roofs to be used as balconies.

The white square panels of the

boxes were made from coated metal panel units. The horizontal bands were made from

Japanese technique called Shou-Sugi-Ban. This technique of burning the wood’s surface creates a natural finish wood using a

allowing the wood to weather longer and repel insects.

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Box Seats

University of Kansas Soccer Stadium

Louvers were used to combat solar gain on

the large windows facing west. These louvers were

tested and adjusted based on the hottest days of the year to allow maximum solar blockage while still allowing solar gain during colder months. The box

seats facing east had glass roofs to allow maximum light penetration in order to reduce electricity costs.

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600 Wells Street Towers

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Partner Project

4TH YEAR: FALL

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600 Wells Street Towers offers three

different size condominiums at each level

to promote diversity. A central core shaft supplying mechanical, electrical, and egress runs the entire height of each tower.

The

structure is embedded within the walls of the

corridor hallway surrounding the shaft.

Every seventh level has a communal space of green parks available for the residents’ entertainment. The immense amount of light at each park level acts as natural light wells for the corridors below. The three condo

sizes are divided into (1) a studio, (2) two bedroom, and

(3) three bedroom. Each

condo has two levels with a greenhouse garden overlooking the city.

Shared wet

walls help to reduce project costs due to ease of build.

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600 Wells Street Towers

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600 Wells Street Towers

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Lawrence Arts Center Addition

Individual Project

3RD YEAR: SPRING

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The current Lawrence Arts Center is located

on Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence,

Kansas. The Arts Center is in need of additional art studios, museum spaces, and a theatre. The concept of this project is a cube floating in space surrounded by an oscillating glass facade. Under the floating cube is a cafe. Inside the cube is a 300

seat theatre. As one enters the Arts Center, they travel through open corridors passing artwork created by local artists. Closed door art studios

Lawrence Arts Center Addition

are also available for classes.

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Museum Entry

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To deliver the concept of the floating box and

the structure surrounding it, I made a wood model using a laser cutting machine for precision. The

intricate details of the windows were meticulously glued as well as the structural trusses. This model

allowed for a better appreciation of how the structure would suspend the floating box.

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Lawrence Arts Center Addition

Wood Model

Café Under the Cube

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Wall Section Roof Plan

Lawrence Arts Center Addition

Floor Plans

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A cut away section shows how one approaches and enters

the new museum and theatre. The addition is connected to the old

Arts Center through an upper level catwalk that opens out to a landscaped balcony. One may also travel between the two buildings through the museum gallery which connects to the existing gallery on the lower level.

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MATTHEW BETHEL

ARCH

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