Rethinking the modern envelope

RETHINKING THE MODERN ENVELOPE Direct Design Research

by Oleksandra Kazymirska, MArch PP, kazymirs@usc.edu Chair: Gary Paige Committee members: Alvin Huang, David Gerber 2012

STATEMENT Decreasing energy consumption is crucial nowadays. Most countries are energy dependent, in particular fossil fuel dependent. The political and economic situation all over the world pushes architects and engineers to solve this problem. It is not a secret that 80% of energy consumption is attributed to the residential sector.

Energy efficiency became an issue of emergency since the energy crisis of 1972. With technical development, Green Buildings have become very popular.

They decrease carbon emissions and save money simultaneously.

It is possible to increase energy efficiency by implementing effective glaze, insulation, lightening, etc. Almost every country in the world tries to increase energy efficiency and become independent from fossil fuels. The United States of America is not an exception; moreover, this country has made a huge leap in sustainable development. One of the important events that happened in early 1990’s was the creation of the U.S. Green Building Council. In 2000 LEED rating system was presented for public use. Nowadays a lot of countries look at LEED system as an example and prototype for the evaluation of green buildings. Public places have always played an important role in our lifestyle. Most of the day we are spending in public places, such as civic buildings. It is not surprising that huge glaze surfaces increase overheating, especially in the hot climate.

Civic buildings can increase their energy efficiency by implementing performative facades.

METHODOLOGY 1. INVESTIGATION The main goal of this section is to provide literature review and case study of the investigated topic. The topics studied are modern and contemporary facades.

The literature review of these topics is intended to find out the problem of facades, usage and implementation of different skins, examining of performance in different buildings.

Ideas of Modern facade Performance of Modern and Contemporary facade Benefits of contemporary facade 2. SIMULATION Simulation for this research is crucial for the interest of thesis.

Daylight simulation is a commonly used technique for predicting the quality of luminous environments as well as accounting for daylight variability during early design stage. This part provides set of figures and results generated through executing many simulation runs for different skin configuration and panel geometries.

3. DESIGN This part of Direct Design Research is a result which is based on investigation and simulations. New skin(s) will be designed according to sun and wind. There would be also established new interior in order to provide more comfortable space for people in office.

INTENTIONS My intention is to design a building with solar façade system that will be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

The solar facade system will be kinetic in order to get more sunlight.

The project will address the needs for solar facade to be both • Aesthetically interesting and • Provide varying shape of facade to get more energy.

The rigid dogmas of Modernism and standardization have been fundamentally challenged.

You can always renew, reinvent and rediscover things about building.

New production techniques and materials are constantly evolving and leading to design innovations.

Inspiration could be found in new uses, effects and concepts.

UNStudio

Problem of Modern Envelope There are numerous problems with modern envelopes. Firstly, they are not operable. This makes buildings to function with a/c ventilation, which nowadays became very expensive. Secondly, overheat and sunlight is a big problem, that buildings with single glazing facades are facing now. If we would take a look on existing modern buildings most of the windows are covered with louvers or curtains. On the other hand tinted glass increases surface temperature. Consequently this increases temperature inside, which leads again to increasing expenses for electricity (electricity for air conditioning). Moreover it increases expenses on electricity even more. Tinted glass decreases amount of sunlight, which leads to necessity for artificial lightening. When modern buildings were erected they were mostly experimental. New material (at that period of time), experimental technics in constructing as well as unqualified labor leaded to failure.

Taking into account different climate conditions we can find another failure. All facades were treated in the same way. Mostly, in modern office buildings, there are no differences in Northern and Southern facades, as well as Eastern and Western.Tendencies in usage of glass in Modernism were according to the idea to remove the border between inner and outer space. Philip Johnson implemented this idea in his famous private houses in 60s. Energy efficiency of the buildings was not considered as much as ideology did, because of cheap energy.

Lack of necessity in energy savings lead to large number of building with unsatisfactory inner climate all over the world. It was compensated by energy consumption mechanical methods like forced ventilation and air conditioning.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Philip Beesley in his article “Reflexive Textile” expresses the idea of textile not only as a cloth, but also as an idea of interacting quality of fabric which becomes a new space in terms of installations.

Kiefer Technic Bad Gleichenberg is a dynamic façade designed by Giselbrecht+ Partner ZT GmbH(2007). In the article “Keefer Technic Showroom: Architecture Information” Arch. DI Ernst Giselbrecht (Translation: Susanne Baumann-Cox/ Y’Plus) explains the important role of every person inside a building and how it has become possible to control this kind of façade for every user, “In earlier times, façades were characterized by window arrangements and axes…The structure of the façade also determined the ground plan; the greater the number of window axes in a room, the more important the function of the user.” This dynamic façade has become iconic in Austria.

In his book “Genetic Architectures,” Alberto T. Estevez is writing about a new manifesto in architecture based on theoretical considerations of philosopher Alfons Puigarnau. The author argues for responsible architecture, “The architect is continuously bombarded with a high level and volume of responsibilities, which he absorbs or that implicate him. From an environmental point of view, responsibility grows increasingly in significance…” Alberto T. Estevez put in the basis of his course (at ESARQ, Universitat Internacional de Cataluya, Barcelona) the computational paradigm of architecture. In his chapter “Towards Logic of the Natural Environment” he writes about understanding and expressing of the space, “In geometrical space we must differentiate two ways of understanding and expressing: the direct – geometrical intuition, given by the eyes – and the reflexive – logic, arising verbally. These two ways of knowing are different but complementary.”

Mark David Hosale (2010) in his article “An Interactive Wall” as a prototype for an emotive architectural component explains principles of functioning of interactive wall installation. The two most important parts in this project according to the author were designing interaction and setting up principals of behavior. At the end of the article, the author summarizes as follows, “As interactivity has entered the fabric of public and private domains, the emerging of interactivity in architecture manifests itself as an inevitable evolution of architecture. As the paradigm shifts in the international architectural discourse, emotive and interactive architecture are transforming and revolutionizing our social life and the domestic built environment.” Mark David Hosale thinks that implementation of new ways of usage and designing of space would transfer architecture from static environment to the dynamic and interactive one.

Lever House New York, New York Completion Year: 1952 Site Area: 34,830 ft2 Project Area: 289,584 ft2 Number of Stories: 24

The Lever House was built in 1952 as the headquarters of The Lever Company. The first building to be constructed of stainless steel and glass had 24 stories, and is located on Park Avenue. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill were in charge of creating one of the first glass international style offices.

The buildings’ design consists of a horizontal base lifted from the ground by pilotis, leaving a segregated small portion for the use as a public plaza, to create a threshold between the interior and the exterior. This base serves as the second floor and is the largest in the building, and designed to accommodate the lounge, general office, and medical suite. A penthouse is located at the 21st top floor while the rest of the floors serve as offices. At the top 3 stories the mechanical spaces were fitted, and having an opaque exterior.

The curtain wall of the building is made of stainless steel with heat resistant blue green glass exhibiting an aesthetic and economical design. The facade was made of glass to represent the soap company headquarters, and be easy to clean. The building windows were non operable and the curtain wall sealed to prevent dust and dirt from entering the building. In addition, a windows cleaning gondola system, mounted on the roof, was designed to slide on rails, while the heat resistant windows lowered energy costs.

The Lever House demonstrates a move to corporate modernism in the U.S. the building uses 25% of the area designated by zoning for the structure, while allowing an open space for the public. The office tower tall slab, while occupying part of the site area, is offset by the bases horizontal slab. The base consists of a single story mezzanine, and columns around the perimeter serve as support. To emphasize the geometric relationship between the 2 slabs, the lowest floor was recessed. Later, the steel sub frame, which was deteriorating, was replaced by concealed aluminum glazing channels, and maintained the original appearance.

The Unité d’Habitation

developed by Le Corbusier Collaborator: painter-architect Nadir Afonso Radiant City is the most famous of this set of buildings is located in Marseille, France, and was built in the late 50’s. Constructed of rough cast concrete and accommodates 337 apartments.

A large pilotis suspends the 337 apartments of this building as well as a hotel, and shops. Each apartment consists of 2 stories with a balcony spanning the width of the building, and a corridor runs through the center every third story. The roof accommodates a pool and is designated as a communal terrace with sculptural ventilated stacks. Using a simple structure, individual apartment units were precast slotted into a rectilinear ferroconcrete, like “bottles into a wine rack” as stated by the architect, all of this with 23 apartment configurations to choose from for the versatility of a single person or a family designation.

Inland Steel.

30 W. Monroe, Chicago, Illinois.

Inland Steel is a modern architecture that was built during the post WW-II era. The building has become famous as the first skyscraper to use a variety of new structural materials, mechanical systems, and design features.

An emerging firm named SOM, together with Principal Bruce Graham, took lead of this project it was their first.

The building used external supports, and accommodated curtain walls made of thin steel-and-glass, which allowed for a wide office space without columns. This was a first in skyscrapers as well as steel pilings to replace concrete to be built on. Furthermore the buildings’ service and mechanical systems are located in an attached structure, whereas an indoor parking structure was built underground.

Inland Steel was designated to be the headquarters of the commissioning company The Inland Steel Company. It used stainless steel cladding to reflect the companies’ business. International Style design was the theme of the building, where 7 pairs of nickel-chrome stainless steel clad columns are supporting the building from the outer side of the curtain wall.

Famous for having the widest clear span in a building, accomplished by using supportive girders, 60 feet long, under the floors from each pair of columns at the exterior. Telephone lines as well as the heating and cooling system were installed under the floors too. As such, a grid of removable modules was used as the floor to be able to access these systems.

The restoration of the Inland Steel consists of a green roof, chilled beam cooling system, and a mechanical complete overhaul. In addition, occupants will not change the structure design, but will be able to configure their space using the flexibility of the removable floor modules.

The Seagram architect Mies van der Rohe, in collaboration with Philip Johnson.

375 Park Avenue, between the street No 52 and No 53 in downtown Manhattan New York, 1958

39 floors rising to a height of 157 meters, this building symbolizes contemporary industrial world. The building is supported by piles and has a rectangular shape. The topology in the front consists of columns made of bronze incorporated with steel beams. These columns don’t provide structural support but are designed to merge with the large windows. Concrete construction was used for the structure inside and out. The subtle shape was created using special I double profiles at both ends of the outer wing edges. The architect used welded profiles crafted to be the same as used in the past. Pink granite and travertine marble were also used in this building.

Office spaces were designed to be flexible and followed by luminous ceiling panels. The glass panes made of grey topaz provide maximum natural light as well as sun and heat protection, while venetian blinds with limited positioning’s provided a consistent outer look. On the façade there is a nonstructural metal bronze skin that represents the structural frame. In order to articulate the vertical orientation of the building, vertical elements welded to the window panels provided stiffness and wind loading capabilities.

The grid of the buildings plan was based on an 8.5 meter grid with accuracy dictated by Mies. The back of the building all windowless accommodates the elevator core. The building’s facade incorporates bands of bronze plating alternating with whisky brown windows. The glass covers the stories from bottom to top accommodating the vertical I profile bronze beams, and creating a curtain of glass. The frame of the building is made of steel, while the glass doesn’t play a structural role. For lateral stiffness, reinforced concrete core was used, while the diagonal core bracings span all the way to the 29th floor, the core sheer walls of concrete reached the 17th floor. High strength bolted connections were first used here, and a combination of a moment and braced frames.

CASE STUDY

There are a number of studies similar to this topic. Some of them are based on interaction with the environment, but mostly on human behavior and interaction with system.

Ripon DeLeon, Lawrence Le, Sergio Sandoval(2011) is a team which created Cirriform. This interactive façade installation was created in Future Cities Lab. “Cirriform (noun, plural): transparent cloud formations characterized by narrow feathery bands composed of ice crystals that refract the prevailing colors of the sky. When light interacts with the crystals it produces pulsating auroras and spectacular flowing patterns.” This system interacts with the surrounding environment – people movement. What is interesting about this project is a way of functioning and receiving information about people movement. “Cirriform is a site specific installation exploring the intersection of public space, physical computing and interactive architecture. The installation situates itself at the threshold between inside and outside, the digital and the physical, the artificial and the natural. Cirriform activates the building façade and creates a playful, interactive and intellectually engaging experience that draws people to the building. It performs as an attractor capturing and translating the latent energies of its context into visually discernable formations of geometry and ambient light.” In discussion with Jason K. Johnson I found out that infrared motion sensors were installed in low panel of this façade. These sensors transfer information to Arduino board, then to a computer. Façade’s programing is most important in this project. Distance to façade defines position of elements in this installation. The closer people are to the façade, the more horizontal position takes element, opening view inside out and vice versa. Elements movement is achieved by servos.

Working principle

Working principle

Construction of element

Another performative façade experiment done by Future Cities Lab(2010) is Xeromax Envelope. This installation shows the relationship between envelope and sun light. This robotic structure protects a building from local climate and stores information about weather conditions, “Xeromax Envelope is proposed as a second-skin to an existing building and becomes a register of present and forecasted conditions. The model weaves ultra thin custom actuators, arrays of light and proximity sensors through the extent of the surface which transforms as it registers the changing conditions around it.”

Kinetic Pavilion by Yannic Bontinckx and Elise Elsacker was created at MMLAB. In this project 28 servo were implemented to create vertical movement. This pavilion is able to change itself depending on weather conditions, human interest and mood. The pavilion interacts with people flows by simulation on the iPad and by sensors in real-life scenario. Authors explain all details on their web page, “The roof reacts to the dynamics of movements and constantly transforms itself based on the paths along which people move. This results in a direct interaction between people walking around and their perception of the surrounding space.” Also, the transformations are based on weather conditions. The authors of the project simulated weather conditions in Ecotect. For cold regions, the structure orients itself towards sun. Rising of a canopy would alow solar light and heat penetrate inside the pavilion. Extension of the roof beams benefits this structure in cold regions, “…the farther the metal beams of the roof structure extend, the more light can seep in between the canvas roof panels.” On the other hand, this pavilion was designed and tested (simulation) for warm regions as well. The most important distinguishing feature in this case is providing ventilation and enlarging shading area in order to decrease heating.

The HelioTrace façade system is the work of SOM, Permasteelisa North America and the Adaptive Building Initiative. The main purpose of this system is to increase day lighting and decrease heat gain effects. It consists of Kinetic shades - exterior, thermally efficient envelope and chilled ceiling panels inside the building. In the aggregate, all these functions work together based on computer programs, which are based on sun paths. This allows the implementation of this system all around the world. In article HELIOTRACE ROBOTIC FAÇADE by Jaime Gillin (2011), the author gives a reference to the annual magazine “Best of What’s New,” “HelioTrace ensures the right balance of shade and sun. Moveable external sunshades block out the rays as needed, window frames withstand thermal change, and chilled ceiling panels circulate cold water to cool the space without air-conditioning.”

RESEARCH

Name: Lever House Architect: SOM Location: New York City

Name: Johnson Wax Laboratory Tower Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright Location: Racine, US

http://www.architecture-view.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/ New-York-City-Landmarks-Preservation-Commission-150x150.jpg 10/6/2012

http://architecture.about.com/od/20thcenturytrends/tp/20thcg reats.htm 10/8/2012

Structural system Dendriform columns, 9 inches diameter in the bottom and 18 feet in the top.

Hollow Pyrex tubes reinforce the larger banded order of the building Pyrex couplers with Koroseal sealant attach the Pyrex hollow tubes.

Floor plates banding expressed by brick cladding.

Steel frame, metal deck floors, drywall. In Lever House the architectural intention of tucking the core at the back of the tower required two systems to resist north-south winds. In the west side of the tower wind trusses around the core stiffen the building, while in the east side of the tower expensive moment connections between columns and beams provide the required rigidity. Thus, the steel frame's role is double: it carries vertical loads to the ground as well as participating in resisting wind forces.

Envelope system Pyrex couplers with Koroseal sealant attach the Pyrex hollow tubes Horizontal glass tubes composed of double height bands provide a light filter between the exterior and the interior Brick cladding

Curtain wall.

The delicate blue-green glass enveloping the building as a thin skin is held in place by a grid of stainless steel tubular mullions which in turn are hung from the building's main structure.

The pattern of this steel framework is based on the different sizes of the panes of glass.

Mullions were designed as stiff members, in lengths of 1 to 2 floor heights joined end to end by hinges but giving the appearance of being continuous.Panel units were anchored to the structural system by steel connectors that allow for movement.

Facade units are hung from every other floor and are attached to the floor below.

Material Two types of glass panes were chosen. For the transparent areas a light blue, green colored glass was picked - not only for its aesthetic, ethereal quality but also for its heat absorption qualities.

Hollow Pyrex tubes Brick claddings Scalloped aluminum racks

Operability There are no operable windows in this curtain wall

Non operable glass tubes

Shading system Hollow Pyrex tubes with brick cladding

There is no shading system in this building

Ventilation Forced ventilation

In a sealed building such as Lever House, ventilation is a function of the complete air conditioning system, which consists of individual induction units for the glazed periphery of the structure (up to 15" from windows) - fed with high pressure water and air; and in the center of the office space - a high velocity duct system which distributes air through ceiling diffusers.

Environmental performance Hollow Pyrex tubes filter light from the exterior while brick cladding block light completely

Formal/Spatial properties of envelope Uniform structure on all sides

Uniform on all 4 sides of the building

Pattern

Repeatable pattern of floors and mezzanine levels

Ornament Brick cladding and Pyrex glass tubes

Name: Seagram Building Architect: Mies van der Rohe Location: New York City

Name: Unite Architect: Le Corbusier Location: Marseilles

http://www.jmhdezhdez.com/2011/05/seagram-building-mies-new -york.html 10/5/2012

http://natashaganelina.blogspot.com/2011/08/unite-dhabitationmarseille.html 10/5/2012

Structural system Independent structural frame on columns

Steel structural grid Bronze-clad structural column The true structural columns are encased in fireproofing, while the decorative I-beams attached to the envelope “express” to concealed structure underneath.

(Farshid Moussavi, Michael Kubo, “The Function of Ornament”, Actar, Harvard University School of Design; European Union, Barcelona 2006, p.58-61)

Envelope system Curtain wall

Curtain wall

Material Gray-pink tinted window glass Extruded bronze I-beams attached to the vertical structural members Recessed bronze spandrels cover the floor plates I-beams attached to the envelope “express” to concealed structure underneath The bronze mullions terminate at the building soffit, exposing them as non-structural when seen from street level

Raw concrete – the beton brut Glazing

(Farshid Moussavi, Michael Kubo, “The Function of Ornament”, Actar, Harvard University School of Design; European Union, Barcelona 2006, p.58-61)

Operability Non operable windows/glass.

Operable windows and loggia’s doors

Shading system There is no shading system in this building

Loggias brise-soleil Concrete frame formed by units

Ventilation Heating system integrated with interior sill

Natural cross-ventilation, artificial ventilation

Environmental performance Provides daylight to office spaces, heating system creates comfortable temperature in cold season

Provides shading and comfort climate condition inside of the living room as well as all unit

Formal/Spatial properties of envelope Different on 4 sides. Loggias and brise-soleil creates depth of facade.

Terminating the curtain wall prior to the corner maintains the expression of each façade as an independent (non-load bearing) system, and reveals the full dimension of the structural columns behind.

Pattern Steel structural creates a vertical affect, by attaching a series of decorative I-beams

Pattern of elevation formed by unit modules. Pattern of interlocking over the internal “corridor street�

Ornament Gray-pink tinted window glass, bronze I-beams, Recessed bronze spandrels

Colored inner vertical parts of the curtain wall

Name: Prada Flagship Store Architect: Herzog & de Meuron Location: Tokyo

Name: Seattle Public Library Architect: OMA Location: Seattle

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/05/11/new_retail/source/ 4.htm 10/6/2012

http://blog.aia.org/favorites/2007/02/108_sea ttle_public_library_200.html 10/6/2012

Structural system Porous spatial structure “Tube� wall Concrete composite slab

Diamond grid, steel perimeter trusses.

Individual structural systems per platform.

Gravity loads carried by columns. Skewed columns to minimize the number of columns.

Skewed columns create thrust transferred to the floor diaphragm. Floor diaphragm connects to the central core or other columns. Corner columns pushed back to create a floating effect.

52 ft. extended cantilevers.

Perimeter trusses transfer gravity loads to the ground and resist lateral loads.

Envelope system Curtain wall.

Curtain wall glazing designed to provide a continuous transparent layer.

Insulating glass composed of diamond shaped panels set in an aluminum and steel diagrid frame.

Lattice like geometry of steel I-beams connects one platform to another to brace when seismic events occur.

Porous spatial structure UV filter was laminated into the glass panels, as an external shell

Material Rhombus-shaped steel structure Double glass diamond -shaped panels (flat, concave, convex) UV filters

Triple glazed glass with Aluminum (approx. half of the building glass).

Krypton gas in the cavity between the 2 glass layers.

Glass coated with low emissivity coating.

Double-glazed clear glass on the rest.

Operability Outlet air opening recooling Inlet air opening recooling

Non operable windows/glass.

Shading system There is no shading system in this building

Mesh’s mini-louvers provide shielding of direct sun

Ventilation Forced ventilation, operable windows on the roof part

Indoor air quality management plan was used during construction.

100% air flush before move in. Air movement controlled by computer.

High efficiency electric chillers.

Variable frequency fan drives.

Heat exchangers left over heat used to heat water.

Independent zones cooling and heating.

Environmental performance Provides shading and comfort climate condition inside of the living room as well as all unit

Environmentally friendly design elements.

Abundant natural light and vies of the water.

Recycled materials used for building.

Conservation of energy and water throughout the building.

Spatial structure different on all facades.

Different on all facade Goal: Give the illusion of floating, offset boxes, while minimizing columns and transfer girders.

Pattern At night the quilted affect is provided not by the grid. Which becomes more prominent when backlit.

Diamond grid

Ornament In daylight, the quilted windows are more prominent than the structure, distorting views of the products inside and giving the building a jewel-like appearance.

Mesh’s mini-louvers

Name: United States Federal Building Architect: Morphosis Location: San Francisco

http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/portfolio/archives/ images/0708federal_lg.jpg 10/6/2012

Name: Institute of Arab World Architect: Jean Nouvel Location: Paris

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2011/11/d48b19 5f04ab66b4e40d7314fd153e8b.jpeg 10/5/2012

Structural system Reinforced concrete slab Pillars Raised floor

Building on columns.

It is a total of eleven floors located above the ground and three underground. The northern part has a total of nine. All are generally low except those that are twofold.

Envelope system Double facade.

Non static building skin

Curtain wall The facade consists of a curved mirrored like glass.

Aluminum photovoltaic modules form a pattern and are embedded in the south facing wall to enclose the southern galleries.

Material Insulating glass Perforated stainless-steel sunshade panels

Glass. Computer-controlled sensors.

Perforated aluminum panels around each “mashrabiya�. Mechanical apertures as in a camera form a wall, and open and close in reaction to sun light.

Operability Non operable windows/glass.

Operable out-swinging windows Centralized computer system

Shading system Centralized computer system provides solar control.

Perforated stainless-steel sunshade panels

Mesh’s mini-louvers provide shielding of direct sun.

Ventilation Natural cross-ventilation Centralized computer system provides ventilation control.

Indoor air quality management plan was used during construction. 100% air flush before move in. Air movement controlled by computer. High efficiency electric chillers.

Variable frequency fan drives.

Heat exchangers left over heat used to heat water. Independent zones cooling and heating.

Environmental performance Reduce consumption of natural resources, minimize waste, and create a healthy, productive workplace for the building’s daily use.

The envelope diffuses light and reduces overheating.

Formal/Spatial properties of envelope Different on 4 sides. Southern facade provides shading, Northern facade provides ventilation.

Mechanical shading system on the south facing curtain wall.

North wall is curved.

Pattern Geometric layout of repetitive ornamentation

Ornament Ornament refer to the traditional motifs of Islamic architecture

SITE RESEARCH

The Pacific Bell complex Designed as Pasadena’s tallest office building (1971)

Designed by Neptune and Thomas associated Anthony O’Keefe, principal in charge of design; Joe Leick, project architect; C. Alan Spencer, structural engineer

Building contains: - lower service level - main level - eleven office floors - twelfth floor contains the building’s power, telephone and heating-air conditioning equipment The complex includes: - Parking structure, landscaped with tall pine trees - Plaza and fountain - Landscaped patio

Jan 16, 1974 (article from the archive of Pasadena City Hall) The complex is on a 2.71 acre site. Adjacent to it is a 13- level, reinforced concrete parking structure.

The new building reflects both an attractive design and concern for energy conservation.

The architectural firm of Neptune and Thomas Associates of Long Beach, employed an elaborate computer-assisted program to determine what systems would make the best use of energy.

- The double-planed glass is solar-bronze tinted, which cuts heat gain by 40% - An additional 15% reduction resulted from projecting the building frame 30 inches beyond the window glass surface.

- Interior lighting intensity cuts have resulted in a 40% energy savings.

- External lighting also has been cut. And a colorful fountain in a plaza area will remain off to save energy.

Floor two through eleven have been especially designed to provide building occupants with a comfortable, pleasant work environment.

Each floor, covering a columnless expanse of 23,056 square feet reflects the use of 4’2� square modular layout for partitions, lighting, air conditioning and underfloor ducts for telephone and electrical systems.

Floor to ceiling bronze tinted glass, shielded from the sun by the thirty-inch structural frame projection, provide a vast panorama of ever-changing, ever-growing Pasadena and the beautiful San Gabriel mountains.

Section Scale 1:500

PROBLEMS OF MODERN ENVELOPE

PROBLEMS OF MODERN ENVELOPE Ventilation Ventilation is a major issue in high-rise buildings. Forced air ventilation is commonly used, where non operable windows are installed. The ventilation system accounts as the major expense of the building, whilst operable windows reduce significantly the energy consumption. In contrast, operable windows introduce a major issue due to the presence of high winds at high-rises which can be solved by implementing double skin facades.

Light Interior spaces are sometimes unusable due to solar radiation and glare. The causes to this issue are typically the windows and the façade system. In contrast, the elimination, or reduction of external light, promotes the usage of artificial light which translates to higher energy costs.

Materials The materials used in high-rises play a significant role in the durability and longevity of the facade.

Failure of glass envelopes and glass supports will cause glass breakage mainly due to inappropriate materials that are used. For instance, framing systems with poor designs will deform to cause glass breakage. When unplanned correctly, and incorrect material usage, wind loads and fatigue failure will cause exterior parts to tear of the building and cause a hazard. In addition, fastener failure, and thermal break problems will increase the aforementioned dangers. Size limitations as well as the isolation of glass, and the lamination materials, can be a major player in the breakage of glass.

Moreover, roller-wave distortions, and strain pattern characteristics have to be carefully assessed for the selection of materials needed to withstand them. Â

Overheating (Energy) In order to reduce energy costs and waste, buildings require certain isolation from the surroundings.

The energy interchange of the external environment with the internal depends greatly on the external envelope of the building. The aforementioned, creates a buffer zone which provides internal protection from the outer extremes. The use of shading solutions to prevent harmful sun rays and glare as well as thermal barriers to prevent heat transfer and moisture, require careful planning in order to be adequate to protect the interior spaces.

MODERN

CONTEMPORARY

UNIFORMITY

DIFFERENCE

REGULARITY

IRREGULARITY, ASYMETRY

REPETITIONS

VARIATION

EVALUATION OF ANNUAL ENERGY USE Based on results from program Vasari

Annual Annual Energy Energy Use Use 83%

17%

Annual AnnualEnergy Energy Use: Use: Fuel Fuel

Annual AnnualEnergy EnergyUse: Use: Electricity Electricity $184,024

6%

66%

16%

Existing building Existing building + Double Pane Clear – LowE Hot Climate, Low SHGC + 2’ Shading

$520,636 $491,475

$11,282 $24,198

4% 24%

$6,713 $19,628

$4,568

$4,568

$154,862 $220,078 $113,929 $220,078 $113,929

Percentage of savings Percentage of savings comparing to existing condition comparing to existing condition $167,302

80% 53%

10% 76%

Existing building + Existing building + Double Pane Clear Double Pane Clear – LowE Hot Climate, – LowE Hot Climate, Low SHGC Low SHGC + 7’ Shading

$399,172 $503,915

Electricity

Fuel

$13,939 $8,234 HVAC

$11.670 $4,568 $4,568 $3,934 Hot Water

Equipment

$220,078 $220,078 Light

$62,561 113,929 113,929

HVAC

Annual Energy Use 83%

Annual Energy Use: Fuel

Annual Energy Use: Electricity $184,024

17% Existing building

$520,636

$24,198

$4,568 $220,078

$19,628

$113,929

Percentage of savings comparing to existing condition 4%

$167,302

10%

53% Existing building + Double Pane Clear – LowE Hot Climate, Low SHGC

$13,939 $11.670

$503,915 Electricity

Fuel

HVAC

Hot Water

$4,568 Equipment

$220,078 Light

113,929 HVAC

SOLAR STUDY Based on Vasari diagrams

Sun path Based on Vasari calculations

Multi Day Solar Study Made in Vasari

Solar penetration from Southern Facade Winter Solstice at 12pm

Spring Equinox at 12pm

Summer Solstice at 12pm

Fall Equinox at 12pm

Solar penetration from Western Facade Summer Solstice at 1pm

Winter Solstice at 1pm

Fall Equinox at 1pm

Spring Equinox at 1pm

Summer Solstice at 4pm

Winter Solstice at 4pm

Fall Equinox at 4pm

Spring Equinox at 4pm

Solar penetration from Eastern Facade Winter Solstice at 8am

Spring Equinox at 8am

Summer Solstice at 8am

Fall Equinox at 11am

Winter Solstice at 11am

Spring Equinox at 11am

Solar Intensity diagram

Roof

North Facade

West Facade

South Facade

East Facade

Solar Intensity diagram

West Facade

South Facade

East Facade

North Facade

WIND STUDY Based on Vasari diagrams

Wind Rose

Predominant wind flow(NE) simulation in Vasari

Predominant wind flow(N) simulation in Vasari

Predominant wind flow(S) simulation in Vasari

Wind distribution simulation based on smoke distribution along the model

Wind distribution simulation based on smoke distribution along the model

Wind distribution simulation based on smoke distribution along the model

Diagrams of wind distribution on facades Based on Particle Flow simulation in 3D Max

West facade

South facade

East facade

North facade

Roof

Wind distribution on facade based on Grasshopper definition (Co-De-It)

FACADE VARIATIONS

FACADE VARIATION #2 Rethinking module scale system as a start point.

Aperture size depends on wind flows.

Morphing second facade as a fabric on the wind.

FACADE VARIATION #3 FACADE VARIATION #1

FACADE VARIATION #4

FACADE VARIATION #5 Vertical louvers

FACADE VARIATION #6 Vertical louvers Shifted in XZ direction.

Creates shape for chimney effect Shifts existing grid

FACADE VARIATION #7 Closed component

Top levels of the building + roof Prevent from overheating

Semi closed component

Upper levels of the building Provides Sun protection + wind flow between new skin and existing facade

One surface component

Low levels of the building Provides Sun protection + Catches cold wind

Void component

Lowest levels of the building Catches wind

FACADE VARIATION #7

FACADE VARIATION #7

FACADE VARIATION #7

FACADE VARIATION #8

LOUVER SYSTEM

LOUVER SYSTEM

Vertical louvers

Wind performance

Solar performance

Light shelf section

5/8” GWB OVER 3/4” T&G PLYWOOD 2X BLOCKING BETWEEN OUTRIGGERS

1 3/4” BEVELED LVL HEADER - CONTINUOUS

PLASTIC WINDOW SEALANT & ROD ALUMINUM PANNING OVER 1/2” CDX PLYWOOD SHEATHING

2X BLOCKING BETWEEN OUTRIGGERS

SEALANT & ROD 5/8” GWB

PLASTIC WINDOW

1 3/4” BEVELED LVL HEADER CONTINUOUS

830 830

0.840

0.740

RENDERINGS

REFERENCES

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