MASI Center Design

MASI CENTER -- MARITIME ACADEMY OF SCIENCE & INNOVATION CENTER

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI · SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE FALL 2017 ARC 607 - COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN STUDIO RESILIENCY AND RESESARCH CENTER DESIGN AT PIGEON KEY

TUTOR: ARMANDO M. MONTERO STUDENTS: RENE BELLO

DAVID SCOTT TRAUTMEN

SOPHIE CAIN

SHIHUI WANG

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives.

It is the one that is most adaptable to change.� ---- Charles Darwin Pigeon Key, a small island of approximately 5 arces, is the home of 8 Historic Buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. An interdidsciplinary center that conducts research on the interactions of coastal ecosystems, and the built environment as affected by climate change. The Center will host the researchers from around the world interested in research topics the parallel the mission of the Center.

The mission of the center is to understand the ways coastal ecosystems have adapted to change in the past and to project their responseto future changes. Investigations on the natural environment are carried forth to the built environment where strategies for adaptability are proposed and evaluated. The design will respond to ten sustainability measures identified.

LAND USE + SITE ECOLOGY The design take into account the natural systems at work nearby, and that it respect and benefit the native organisms dwelling there.

Just south of Florida is the Florida Current, the start of the Gulf Stream which crosses the Atlantic.

Smaller currents drift from the shelf toward the Keys, introducing the high nitrate levels that derive from storm water runoff, fertilizers, and sewage.

High levels of nutrients force struggling corals to compete with algaes and other microorganisms.

This competition causes bleaching and death in corals, which support aquatic communities and help mitigate storm surges.

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FLORA + FAUNA

The Florida Keys host a stunning variety of unique plants and animals, These organisms is a priority in this design.

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MASI CENTER -- MARITIME ACADEMY OF SCIENCE & INNOVATION CENTER

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Site Analysis at Pigeon Key, FL The qualities of a building site represent a major facet of any responsible design process. The ability of a design to acknowledge the precedents in place in its context, and to respond to existing needs, indicates that an architecture is a good addition to its location.

The design of the MASI Center began with a desire to respond to Pigeon Key’s particular and peculiar set of needs based on climate considerations. It also aims to serve this island well enough that the same design would make little sense if it were placed elsewhere. The relationship between architecture and context has received much consideration from the beginning of the process.

LOCATION HISTORY Pigeon Key is a tiny island hidden midway along the Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys at the southern extreme of Florida. It is about 500 ft in diameter, so small that it cannot be accessed by car.

As the Seven Mile Bridge flies by the island, it is recognizable by the large solar panel that powers several bungalows in operation there, and by the historic ramp on its western side giving access to the bridge that was once a railroad.

During the development of the Keys, this island served as a headquarters for construction workers who were working on the railroad, now known as the Florida Overseas Heritage Trail.

They stayed in tents and in elevated wooden bungalows that were designed to be easily dismantled and taken away.

The construction workers have long since finished with the railroad, but several of these strucstruc tures remain unmoved. They now serve as facilities for children’s camps, a museum of Florida Keys history, and residences for the island’s curators. Near the large solar panel that powers them, a shark tank projects slightly outward from the island’s edge.

From Pigeon Key, little else is visible besides the Seven-Mile Bridge 200 ft away, and other Keys in the distance across the vast expanse of sparkling turquoise water. It is accessible only by a boat which leaves from Marathon and travels about 15 minutes to reach the dock on the north end of the island.

NATURAL FEATURES The island is about 4 ft above sea level at its highest point, and during major storm events it has been known to become entirely submerged in water. It is clear that Pigeon Key will swiftly and dramatically see the impacts of sea level rise in the coming century, so any new construction must be performed with this fact well in mind.

There is a moderate amount of tree coverage on the island, especially of coconut trees and other tropical varieties, as well as sea grasses and flowering bushes enjoyed by the butterflies.

At the Key, uninhibited exposure to the sun is intensified by the surrounding water, making it very warm and humid throughout the year.

Near the western edge of the island, in the shadow of the historic ramp, is a wide and empty grassy space. This area, which is spatially adjacent to most other existing programs on the island, is the site of the MASI Center.

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SITE TREATMENT TRE

SITE EVALUATION

The parti diagramming exercise pictured on the right served to help the team draw from the registration of the various objects on the island, as wel as their adjacencies, to begin to influence the form and footprint of the building. This exercise helped to ensure that the MASI Center, despite its large size, would retain a rhythm and hierachy that cooperates with the scale and quality of the contextual built features.

This island is an exciting choice for a site for the same reason that it is a strange choice -- it has both a valuable history and an uncertain future. Building here will require great care taken toward the ramp, bridge, and existing bungalows. It will also necessitate a constant eye to the sea.

The Bent Bar footprint is a response both to the discoveries made in this architectural site analysis, and to the climatic realities of the region.

Cente The more stringent the perameters are under which The challenging conditions caused by climate change are the essence of the poetry of the MASI Center. the composition must be achieved, the moe elegant the end result will be once it is successful.

Sea level rise will quickly diminish the surface area of Pigeon Key. This represent an opportunity to explore what it means for sustainable architecture to be long-lasting. This will demand a highly adaptable resilient design with change built as much into its character as it is built into the future of the land.

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DESIGN INTENT

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SITE PLAN 8

GROUND LEVEL FLOOR PLAN

FIRST LEVEL FLOOR PLAN 9

SECOND LEVEL FLOOR PLAN

THIRD LEVEL FLOOR PLAN 10

MAJOR SPACES

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PERSPECTIVE SECTION

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EAST ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION 13

NORTH ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION 14

CANOPY & SOLAR PANEL

BIOCLIMATIC DESIGN MAIN CIRCULATION

Neogenesis involves the use of its orientation and its multi-purposed structure to respond to pigeon key’s tropical and often intense climate.

ROTATABLE FINS

The hinged bar footprint faces into the primary direction from which wind blows during the hottest months, maximizing passive ventilation through the permeable facade and walls.

The sustainability systems, which manage water and electricity gathered by photovoltaics and by turbines, are incorporated into the structural systems throughout the building.

ELEVATOR CORE

TRANSPARENT FACADE

ROTATABLE FINS

Structural Narrative The structural system is a hybrid system comprised of structural concrete columns and pre-fab concrete members. These concrete elements will use fiber-glass rebar to combat salt water inflitration into the structural members which would otherwise rust steel rebar.

ROTATABLE FINS

ENTRANCE STAIR & RAMP

TRANSPARENT FACADE

WATER POOL

7-MILE BRIDGE

RAMP AMPHITHEATER

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The structural concrete columns have been arranged in a way to allow for open floor plans and carries major loads through the columns to the footings an pipes that correspond to this system. The system will be organized into columns bays with appropriately sized pan joist to run the distance between beams. At the core of each building, concrete pan joist will surround the core and carry the loads around the core, this will allow for more open plan orientation. The concrete system is also found at the building’s core. The core will be comprised of 16: cast-in-place concrete that will act as bearing for the structural concrete columns to tie into and as shear walls for lateral resistance.

Structural Systems 1. Roof Structure The roof structural system will onsist of 16” x 16“ light weight concrete beams supported by the structural concrete columns (1’ X 6’) spanning between other light weight concrete beams and girders. The light weight slabe will be reinforced with welded wire fabric and additional.

2.Floor Structures a. At slab on grade: The floor system will consist of a 4” thick concrete slab-on-grade reinforces with 6X6-W2.9xW2.9 welded wire fabric on 4” of fill. b. Each floor structural system will consist of a 3” light-weight concrete slab, supported by a 3” composite metal decking (5 1/2” total thickness) spanning between fiberglass rebar reinforced concrete beams.

The slab will be reinforced with welded wired fabric meshing. Beams and girders will not be composite. In order to maintain the structure -- new practices which include composite construction with recycled materials will be embedded into the concrete slab. Expansion joints along with vibration absorption chanels will be included in the design to ensure the structure withstand to extreme weather and positive and negative pressures the building may encounter.

3.Lateral System The lateral system will be comprised of 8” CMU blocking structural walls -- as per FBC 2014.

4.Foundation Systems The foundation system will consist of deep foundation piles spaced evenly bellow the footings to carry loads, both dead and live loads of the building deep into the foundation.

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MECHANICAL SYSTEMS MUNTERS 12,000 CFM DOAS (LOCATED ON LEVEL 1) 20-TON OUTDOOR UNIT

MUNTERS 10,000 CFM DOAS 36-TON OUTDOOR UNIT OU

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An Air-Source Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system is integrated into the mixed-use resech building to accomodate the heating and cooling demands within each spaces, which fluctuate significantly throught the day based on the solar orientation, occupancy, and equipment loads. Classroom spaces were designed to maximize daylight, which means thatt the temperature of permieter zones ill naturally vary throughout the day when compared to other interior zones or spaces. In addition to providing individual temperature control of each zone, the greatest advantage of a VRF system is its ability to heat and cool the building simultaneously, although heating will not be a primary function of the system due to warm regional weather year-round. Waste heat can be recovered from areas in cooling mode znd redistributed to other areas requiring heat, which will lead to a significant energy reduction for the building.

Another driving factor behind the HVAC system selection is the need to raise the building above a 14’0” foot FEMA floodbase, which influenced the location of the main Mechanical Room on the first floor located 15’0” feet above sea level. IN VRF systems, refrigerant fluid can be used as both the working fluid and the heat transfer fluid; this refrigerant can be circulated through smaller piping compared to other systems that rely on water or air to transfer heat, significantly reducing the mechanical space located between floors. The VRF system also eliminates the need to large ductwork throughout the building, minimizing floor-to-floor heights and taking advantage of the overall integration of the mechanical, electrical, structural and plumbing systems.

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Distribution System The outdoor unit acts as an air source heat pump, extracting or releasing warm air into the atmosphere depending on the buildings heating or cooling load. Twenty 24-tom capacity outdoor unites will be required to accomodate the peak cooling load of 48- tons. Two to three Branch Controllers (BC) will be located on each of the 4 floors to connect to the twento outdoor units. The BC is critical to the energy recovery process, allowing the VRF system to simultaneously heat and cool vatious parts of the building through the capture and redistribution of waste heat.

After refrigerant passes through the branch controller it will be transported to the AHU located in each thermal zone based on headting or cooling requirements. Temperature and humidity levels of each zone will be monitored by a central buildingbuilding management syste, to optimize thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency. Conditioned air will be distributed to spaces with similar thermal demands through multiple supply air diffusers and return air registers.

In addition to refrigerant, natural air from the Deidacted Outdoor Air System (DOAS) will be carried to each AHU through ducts extending out from the vertical mechanical shaft located within the core of the building. The building requires 2 DOAS to fulfill the fresh air requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1. The DOAS systems will precondition air before it reaches the AHU, which will lead to energy savings for the life cycle of the building. One DOAS is located on the roof above the mechanical shaft, and 1 DOAS is located in the main mechanical room on the first floor to service lower levels of the building. While the rooftop unit has direct outdoor access, the 1 DOAS in the mechanical room will be ducted to the outdoors and located adjacent to the fresh air louvers.

Energy Generation and Extraction When VRF systems is operation in cooling mode, indoor aid handling units located in the various thermal zones are supplied with liquid refrigerant. The volume of refrigerant flowing through the air handling unit is controlled through an electronic expansion valve located inside the unit. Upon entering the coil, the refrigerant undergoes an evaporation process; this phase change extracts heat from the space, therefore cooling the room.

When the VRF system is operating in heating mode, indoor air handling units are supplied with hot gas refrigerant. Similar to cooling mode, the volume of hot gas flowing through the unit is controlled through the electronic expansion valve located inside the unit. Upon entering the coil, the gas refrigerant experiences condensation; this phase changes generates and releases heat into the space.

Energy Generation and Extraction

VRF System Components 1. Outdoor Unit Mitsubishi Multi VRF Model PURY-P288TSJMU-A Nominal CFM: Cooling Capacity:

12,010 288,000 Btu/hr

2. Branch Controller Mitsubishi Multi VRF Model CMB-P1016NU-HA Number of Branches: Maximum Connected Capacity:

16 360,000 Btu/hr

3. Ducted Indoor Air Handling Unit Mitsubishi PEFY-Medium Static, Ceiling Concealed Model PEFY-P30NMAU-E Cooling Capacity: 30,000 Btu/hr Heating Capacity: 34,000 Btu/hr

4. Dedicated Outdoor Air System Munter Drycool ERV Dessicant Dehumidifier Model 6018, 1440, 1648 Nominal CFM: 6,000-16,000 CFM

5. Building Management System LonWorks Gateway Models LMAP03U-E Capacity:

50 Indoor Units

Distribution System Net-Zero Energy: On-site renewable energy generated from photovoltaic panels, microturbines and other adaptive systems will be used to power the HVAC system.

Healthy Air: All classroom and office spaces within the building comply with ASHRAE 62 Ventilation requirements; sensors monitor CO2 and humidity levels.

When VRF systems is operation in cooling mode, indoor aid handling units located in the various thermal zones are supplied with liquid refrigerant. The volume of refrigerant flowing through the air handling unit is controlled through an electronic expansion valve located inside the unit. Upon entering the coil, the refrigerant undergoes an evaporation process; this phase change extracts heat from the space, therefore cooling the room.

When the VRF system is operating in heating mode, indoor air handling units are supplied with hot gas refrigerant. Similar to cooling mode, the volume of hot gas flowing through the unit is controlled through the electronic expansion valve located inside the unit. Upon entering the coil, the gas refrigerant experiences condensation; this phase changes generates and releases heat into the space.

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LIGHT & AIR & ENERGY FLOWS The sun in this region is generally intense, so that even the winter is warm. The wind is frequently strong and can be extreme during occasional tropical storms and hurricanes.

DAYLIGHT ON SOLAR PANELS DAYLIGHT

ROTATING FINS

(Sketch) DAYLIGHT

The facade and canopy work together to respond to excess sun, wind, and rainwater by shielding the interior and harnessing them for energy and fresh water.

The intense sun bears down upon angled solar panel fins which also catch rainwater to be directed through the structural elements of the building, to be stored as a fresh water source.

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ROTATING FINS

Typical Electrical Plan

Electrical Riser Diagram

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Rainfall Drainage System Roof Canopy

WATER CYCLE Level 3 RAINWATER ON SOLAR PANELS

Rainfall is frequent in the Florida Keys year round, so to avoid the need for water deliveries to Pigeon Key the facade and canopy both work to collect as much rainwater as possible. The same that address sun and wind are also shaped to catch rain. This water is then channeled Levelfins 2 Labs through the structural elements of the building, then treated and stored at the ground level.

During the hottest months, wind arrives at Pigeon Key primarily from the East and Southeast.

Level 1 AirAdministration moves through the building for passive ventilation, and wind turbine panels generate electricity. and Office

Black Water and Grey Water Calculation

Water Treatment Process

Water Treatment Systems Ground Level

RAINWATER

CHANNELED THROUGH STRUCTURE

TREATED AND USED

Green Roof Section Cut

Green Rood Section Cut

Net Zero Water:

Black water is converted to grey water in a water treatment tank and used for non-potable fixtures located within the building.

Ner Zero Energy:

The 180.3 kWh of energy generated per week will damatically offset the building’s energy consumption.

Inspiration + Education:

Information regarding the innovative water treatment process will be on display within the office brewery to educate occupants.

WATER SCREEN

TREATMENT POOLS

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Water Supply Riser Diagram

Waste Water Riser Diagram

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MATERIALS & CONSTRUCTION Carbon Fiber Reinforced Concrete: This avoids the problem of corrosion of steel reinforcements by sea water.

Limestone: A natural local stone that is conducive to coral growth.

Gardens: Composed of native resilient species.

Solar Panels: These shield from excess heat and light while generating electric power.

Brushed Stainless Steel: Rotating fins respond to both sun and wind.

Recycled Wood: This is a limited resource of historic significance to the site.

COLLECTIVE WISDOM & FEEDBACK LOOPS This design is informed by previous designs which involved similar climatic and programmatic demands. It is important to accept that the ground conditions upon which the building is founded will change. This has directed the decisions to place transferable programs there, and to configure the area to be a suitable place for coral communities to begin thriving.

The following questions should be investigated as part of a post-occupancy evaluation: Does passive ventilation work with equal effectiveness in all parts of the building?

Do any unforeseen factors limit the capacity of NeoGenesis to be a net-positive energy building?

How effectively do the operable walls serve the various programs?

After the sea begins to overtake the land, how well do the pools promote the growth of corals?

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