01 MAVERICK DESIGNS
Toftrees Micro-Hospital
Year : 2023
Location: State College, PA
Theme: Biophilia, Daylighting, Circulation
Category: Design Studio
Role: Architect
PROJECT BRIEF
In greater State College’s Patton Township, right next to Cracker Barrel, a new Penn Highlands Healthcare Hospital is being built. The functional program of this facility will be used by our project, however in a different location. The Toftrees West parcel, close to the intersection of Waddle Road and Interstate 99, will be the site of our project. The Toftrees site is being built as a portion of a wider “town center” plan that also includes outpatient medical, retail, hotel, office, and residential structures.
Site Investigation & Design Intent
During our first trip to the site to understand the layout of the site, we had noticed that the topography was sloped, which led the design team to create a basement below the ground level floor to accent the heel inclination. We then followed up with site exit and entry ways by utilizing both the north and west entry ways. By collaborating with the landscape architects, the architects were able to utilize the topo to control circulation, orientation and manipulate views.
Proposed Topography
Scope and Size
A new 65,000 SF freestanding hospital is proposed for the 22-acre property. The hospital will offer a variety of acute care services, such as inpatient care beds, an emergency department, radiology and imaging services, surgery, staff support, as well as a functioning dietary cafeteria, and other ad hoc building support tasks.
Upon further investigation into the site topgraphy, we had noticed a stormwater line that was already placed around the site location. This was one of the factors we took into consideration in the location of the building on the site as we could not build over a stormwater line.
The modified contour to the right creates a gradual gradient in which visitors, ambulance, staff and patients would be able to acess the buildings amenities easily without any discomfort or tecnical issues while still creating graded levels for greenery to grow.
The second proposed design was a two floor , L-shaped design with designated entrances to accomadate easy traffic and pedestrain flow around the building. The building proposed an Emergency entrance to the North along the main road for easy access to and from the building. Additionally, with the team’s design driver of creating as much natural light into the building as possible, the eastern wing of the building bends at the degree of the sun within the Toftrees/State College area. By utilizing this slight bend, the building was able to not only only follow the path of sunlight, but also form views of the Toftrees forest area to the South and views to the East of Mount Nittany in the distance. The building also proposed several setback areas on the second floor with the intention to create green roofs along the setbacks. The setbacks would be placed on areas where people will frequently be such as inpatient rooms and pre operation rooms, therefore the proposed green roofs would not only add a sustainability standard to the building, but would also allow patients and visitors views of natural elements to boost overall wellbeing and recovery periods.
Daylighting
Sun Logistics
In this diagram, we analyzed the sun’s cycle around our site location, Studying its times during both the winter and summer solstice, preferably during morning and afternoon times. Thai helped us in finding the optimal orientation for the building so as to create a comfortable and habitable space for both patient and staff. The final building form is a result of site influences to create a healthily, welcoming campus environment. The spaces are arranged according to intended lighting qualities. The tree zones created house gathering, circulation, and task spaces.Dynamic shades control the solar gains, but the dramatic top light and borrowed light from the gathering spaces mix to create dynamic qualities where people constantly flow through the building.
Daylighting
All patients rooms( pre & post operation rooms) are positioned to be receiving the most controlled daylighting. Terracotta wood panels were utilized in the sun shading mechanism to control the daylight intensity coming into patient rooms and common spaces so as to increase comfort and thermal control. The facility consists of floor to ceiling windows, as well as a clear story lobby space to enhance the visual proficiency of the building. The patient rooms are allocated on the east wing, oriented towards the therapeutic gardens to aid them in recuperating faster as research shows that views to nature aids people in healing faster.
The final design for our wall section was inspired by our third precedent study ( The Texan Military Hospital). We utilized an immediate glass facade which covered 35 percent of the building in key viewing areas which were layered with batons made of terracotta to shade those portions of the building. This dense screening is used to protect patients from any form of direct sunlight while providing positive views and breaking down the scale of the exterior with striations of light and shade.
02 THE LUMIERE
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING
Year : 2021
Location: Philadelphia, Pa, United Stated
Theme: Multipurpose Lattice Structure
Category: Design Studio
Role: collaborative work in a team of 2
PROJECT BRIEF
The project starts by focusing on the possibility that a lattice structure can be used to minimze the energy use intensity (EUI) of the building. If a structure can be created to stabilize the amount of EUI extruding and intruding a building therfore sustainabiltiy would be increased substantially. Based on the above concept, the proposed museum design aims at a negative retraction of space in order to objectify the views created by the eliminated spaces while being enhanced by the lumion effect of the lattice. It will emancipate the matrialistic and unconventional production of excessive EUI production.
A. Teflon (PTFE)
B. Teflon Lattice (Recycled Timber)
C. Conduit Structure
D. Piers
