SMALL TOWN STUDIO
designed by: anthonyAMATO
CAPSTONE PROJECT
MISSION:
The goal of the project was to design a new community center in big rapids, michigan. a given site in downtown big
rapids was compared to other sites in the town. the comparison was done by a sustainable assessment developed by don bucholz, a member of the small town studio. once a site was selected the program then was imagined in a built form. the sustainable theme extended into the building form and technology so that an optimal green building could be designed. the design and technology implementation was analyzed through a selected sustainable assessment such as LEED, BREEAM, or SERF to identify how sustainable the building could be.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BACKGROUND RESEARCH 01 PROJECT PROGRAM 04
PROJECT DIAGRAMS 12 SITE ANALYSIS 16
RENDERED SITE PLAN 26 FLOOR PLANS 31
BUILDING ELEVATIONS 38
BUILDING SECTIONS + WALL SYSTEMS 44 BUILDING RENDERINGS 50 SUSTAINABILITY 56
A
CASE STUDY 01
BLUE ASH RECREATION CENTER
CASE STUDY 02 DOOLITTLE COMMUNITY CENTER
MAP OF BIG RAPIDS
fter the problem was understood research was done to begin to develop a draft of a potential program for the community center. To begin this process, other community and recreation centers were investigated to see what commonalities existed between facilities and what could be translated to a community center in Big Rapids. The case studies presented to the left were of other centers from cities across the United States. These facilities were all of varying size and featured different program elements. The recurring items in each facility could then be incorporated into a program for the new community center in Big Rapids. While the program was still in its beginning stages various project site locations were explored and assessed based on sustainable evaluation so that a comparison could be made between sites. The scale of the sites was taken into consideration to ensure that the proposed program could be supported. On the map of Big Rapids the highlighted light blue regions indicate existing facilities in the city where programs are currently housed. The darker blue shaded regions identify alternative site locations that were investigated as potential project sites. Some of these alternative sites included locations that were in close proximity to the heart of downtown Big Rapids, close to existing trail infrastructure, or the reuse of an old abandoned building. The shade yellow on the map locates the chosen site for this project which is the Hanchett Manufacturing site. The Hanchett Manufacturing site was chosen for a number of reasons. The first and perhaps most important reason is that it repurposes an obsolete and now abandoned property that is classified as a brownfield site. The second reason is the site is located directly adjacent to the Riverwalk in town and is connected to the bicycle route of Big Rapids. The third reason is the property takes advantage of the main natural feature in Big Rapids which is the Muskegon River. The final reason is the property is located at the very north of town making it an iconic feature as a pedestrian enters or exits town.
CASE STUDY 03 THE PIONEER COMMUNITY CENTER |01
Chosen Site Alternative Sites Ext. Facilities Used
N
|02
|03
A
PROJECT PROGRAM
fter the problem was understood, research was done to begin to develop a draft of a potential program for the community center. The majority of the program spaces were included based on comments and suggestions in the City of Big Rapids Master Plan as well as the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Supplementing these were meetins with various members of the city to gain feedback based on our own interpretation. The following pages present the program designed for the new community center in Big Rapids, Michigan. The first portion introduces the main spaces as well as the support spaces. The pages following then define what each space entails. the program is a “living, breathing� entity which evolved as the project moved forward.
|04
PROGRAM BREAKDOWN INTERIOR SPACES: STAFF OFFICES Shared Office (4) 960 Private Office (2) 270 STAFF TOILETS Men’s 150 Women’s 150 CLASSROOMS Room A 625 Storage 150 Room B 625 Storage 150 Computer Lab 625 Storage 150 Wetroom 1000 Storage 400 MEETING SPACES Meeting Space A 500 Meeting Space B 250 Meeting Space C 250 MULTIPURPOSE SPACE 2400 Storage 200 |05
LOBBY Lounge Cafe Table Games Vending Machines Artwork Display
2500 300 200 25 100
GYMNASIUM Basketball Court Indoor Track Storage
7000 3080 300
EXERCISE SPACE Fitness Room Storage
1500 175
Exercise Room Storage
2000 250
LOCKER ROOMS Men’s Women’s Family Change (2) Storage
800 800 1000 150
THEATRE Seating Stage Green Room Change Room Light Booth Sound Booth Scene Shop Coat Room Storage
2400 2000 400 400 200 200 1000 150 400
KITCHENETTE 200 Refrigerator/Freezer 75 Storage 80 KITCHEN Refrigerator/Freezer Oven/Range Storage
1200 75 75 100
CIRCULATION Halls/Corridors Elevators Stairs
8062
EXTERIOR SPACES: Parking Skate Park Kayak/Canoe Rental Picnic Area Playground Splash Pad Outdoor Toilet Rooms Maintenance Garage/Storage
10000 1000 2000 3000 1000 800 2000
TOILET ROOMS Men’s 500 Women’s 500 MECHANICAL Req. Mech Space Washer/Dryer Janitorial Electrical Room
3024 250 450 160
TOTAL INCLUDED SQ. FT.: interior: 46816 exterior: 19800
|06
DEFINED SPACES INTERIOR SPACES: STAFF OFFICES Shelf storage, workspace, computers, seating for each user. Acceptable task-lighting. STAFF TOILETS Separate toilet rooms dedicated to facility staff. Bathroom stalls, lavatories, hand dryers, and mirrors. All toilet rooms to meet ADA requirements. CLASSROOMS Tables, chairs, counter space, cabinets (under counter and overhead), whiteboards, multimedia-equipped. (24 students). COMPUTER LAB (25 computer workstations), chairs, counter space, cabinets (under counter and overhead), whiteboards, multimedia-equipped, server storage. WETROOM A room finished with polished concrete floors, high top work tables. Upper and lower cabinent storage as well as counter space and a sink. |07
LARGE MEETING ROOM Conference table, seating for 15, digital projector, counter space, and cabinets (under counter and overhead). SMALL MEETING ROOM Conference table, seating for 10, digital projector, counter space, and cabinets (under counter and overhead). MULTIPURPOSE SPACE Hardwood floors and multimedia capability. LOBBY Tables, seating, flatscreen T.V.’s, art display, table games (pool, air hockey, and ping pong), vending machines, and information kiosk. GYMNASIUM High school Reg. basketball court (2 cross courts), volleyball courts, scoreboards, and padded mats. FITNESS ROOM Wall-mounted mirrors, padded mats and floor mats. EXERCISE ROOM Wall-mounted mirrors, padded mats, stationary bikes, ellipticals, weight machines, weight benches, free weights (dumbbells).
LOCKER ROOMS Showers, storage lockers, toilets, hand dryers, lavatories. THEATRE Full-service theatre for 150, fixed seating and multimedia equipped. Scene shop to have access to the outside as well as an interior overhead door. KITCHENETTE A small kitchen with counter space, cabinets (under counter and overhead), and a refrigerator and freezer. KITCHEN A large kitchen with counter space, cabinets (under counter and overhead), and a refrigerator, freezer, oven, and range. Stainless steel surfaces and range hood to meet food safety requirements.
CIRCULATION Halls/Corridors Elevators Stairs
EXTERIOR SPACES: SKATE PARK A concrete skate park with rails, bowls, funboxes, quarter pipes, and half pipes. KAYAK/CANOE RENTAL Since the site is adjacent to the Muskegon River a joint facility will be provided with tub, kayak, and canoe rentals. PICNIC AREA A covered area designated for outdoor eating and relaxing. Picnic tables and grilles. PLAYGROUND A playscape with ladders, climbing walls, swings, and jungle gym. SPLASH PAD
TOILET ROOMS Bathroom stalls, lavatories, hand dryers, and mirrors. All toilet rooms to meet ADA requirements.
OUTDOOR TOILET ROOMS Outdoor bathrooms with toilets and lavatories to service users from the river and Riverwalk.
MECHANICAL Multiple janitorial closets to be spread throughout the facility, service sinks, and electrical rooms on each floor.
MAINTENANCE/STORAGE Space for repair and maintenance of various on-site equipment. Storage for seasonal equipment. Overhead garage doors and work counters and cabinets. |08
Shared Staff Office Private Staff Office Staff Toilets Classroom A Classroom B Computer Lab Meeting Space A Meeting Space B Meeting Space C Multipurpose Space Lounge Café Gymnasium Indoor Track Fitness Room Exercise Room Men's Locker Room Women's Locker Room Family Change Room Theater Stage Green Room Change Room Light Booth Sound Booth Ticket Office Coat Room Scene Shop Kitchenette Kitchen Toilet Rooms Mechanical Room Janitorial Room Washer/Dryer Room
T
he following graphics show the next step once the program had been outlined and the space identified. The graphic featured on this page is called an adjacency matrix. This outlines the different relationships spaces have or do not have with one another. The graphic on the following page simply displays the proportions of the different interior spaces to one another. What stands out in this diagram is the larger volumes such as the theater, gym, and lobby space. There is also a large amount of circulation which connects all of the spaces in the community center. These diagrams assisted the development of the 2D and 3D spatial diagrams. It was important to maintain the relationships outlined in the adjacency matrix as well as being mindful of the different proportions of spaces that existed.
|09
Private Staff Office
Staff Toilets
Classroom A
Classroom B
Computer Lab
Meeting Space A
Meeting Space B
Meeting Space C
Multipurpose Space
Lounge
Café
Gymnasium
Indoor Track
Fitness Room
Exercise Room
Men's Locker Room
Women's Locker Room
Family Change Room
Theater
Stage
Green Room
Change Room
Light Booth
Sound Booth
Ticket Office
Coat Room
Scene Shop
Kitchenette
Kitchen
Toilet Rooms
Mechanical Room
Janitorial Room
Washer/Dryer Room
Electircal Room
SPATIAL DIAGRAMS
Strong Correlation Neutral Correlation No Correlation
PROGRAM DIAGRAM
MECH.
LOCKER ROOMS
EXERCISE ROOM
SMALL KIT.
STAFF SPACES
COMP. LAB
LOBBY
MULTI PURPOSE
WETROOM
MEETING SPACES
CLASSROOMS
KITCHEN
GYM
CIRCULATION
TOILET ROOMS
FITNESS ROOM
THEATER
|10
|11
PROJECT DIAGRAMS
A
fter the program was developed and the many different relationships were established, several project diagrams or “partis� were created. These conceptual diagrams were what influenced the overall form of the building, where spaces should be located within the building, what the form the different spaces should take.
|12
PROJECT DIAGRAMS BARRIER VS. NATURE
The first diagram depicts the project site in an abstract way. The thick lines in the lower left corner of the site mainly running along N. State Street and along Baldwin Street form what I call the “barrier”. This notion of limited access would play a strong role in the layout of the spaces of the community center. The other line in the diagram represents a more openness and symbolizes the Muskegon River.
GOOD VIEWS
The second diagram is constructed by arrows radiating outward from the center of the site. The arrows represent views that either are prominent and should be taken advantage of, as well as views that should be concealed and feature an unpleasant view. Distinguishing the views is done by color. Green represents a good view and red depicts a bad view.
PRIMARY > SECONDARY
The third diagram demonstrates how spaces in the project are to be placed. The main public spaces are represented by the orange line and are on the “outside” of the building. These spaces require visual access to the more desirable views towards nature. The interior black line represents the more service and support spaces which are on the “inside”. These are spaces where the function does not rely on the views to nature.
|13
FORM EXPLORATION
2D BUBBLE DIAGRAM The design diagrams began the process of thinking about the building and how the form of the building would begin to take shape. Spatial relationships were explored in both 2D and 3D. Many space configurations were developed and investigate to find what relationships worked well. This exhaustive process yielding many “bad� designs which ultimately led to the chosen building form. The 3D configuration below begins to portray what form the new community center would take on.
3D BUBBLE DIAGRAMS
|14
|15
W
SITE ANALYSIS
hile the form of the building was being explored with different 2D and 3D configurations, the site was also heaviliy investigated. This exploration would yield valuable information that would also play an important role in developing the form of the building. Many areas were investigated ranging from sun and shading for the site location to what the existing surrounding occupancies were.
|16
SUN + SHADING
. DEC
NOV. EQUINOX SUNRISE 83 DEG.
6:45 PM 10 DEG. ALT.
T. T.
WINTER SUNRISE 50 DEG.
S
E
. AY
P
M JU
G AU
N.
N
6:44 AM 8 DEG. ALT.
OC
R. AP WINTER SUNSET 64 DEG. 5:07 PM 7 DEG. ALT.
SUMMER SUNRISE 117 DEG. 5:00 AM 6 DEG. ALT.
MAR.
EQUINOX SUNSET 100 DEG.
F EB .
8:27 PM 7 DEG. ALT.
JA N.
SUMMER SUNSET 132 DEG.
8:12 AM 5 DEG. ALT.
.
JUL.
UNDERHEATED + OVERHEATED PERIODS
WIND SPEED + DIRECTION
DURING 10 YEAR AVERAGE
DURING OVERHEATED PERIOD
DURING UNDERHEATED PERIOD
. N ST
DWI
BAL
|17
T
he sun was carefully studied to identify peak periods of sun during the “overheated” period and when the sun was not as prominent during the “underheated” period. During the months of the overheated period is when the building should be shaded to keep the unwanted solar heat gain out of the building thus keeping the building cooler. This can be achieved with roof overhangs as well various solar screens. The sun during this time period is much higher in the sky. Conversely, during the underheated period the sunlight and solar heat gain should be taken advantage to help heat the building and reduce the reliance on HVAC equipment.
W
ind speed and direction were analyzed based on the project site location to better understand where the cold winter winds and where the summer winds are coming from. The cold winter winds should be blocked to reduce heat loss from the building. The summer winds should be taken advantage of. They can help naturally ventilate the building bringing fresh air into the spaces and helping to reduce the building’s cooling load.
|18
LIGHT VEHICULAR TRAFFIC
FIC TRAF N A I STR PEDE
HEAVY VEHICULAR TRAFFIC
VEH. + PED. TRAFFIC
LA
ICU
H Y VE V A HE
FFIC
A R TR
VIEWS FROM SITE PRIMARY VIEW
SECONDARY VIEW
BAD VIEW
|19
V
ehicle and pedestrian traffic was investigated to identify where people were coming from. The main vehicular traffic comes from North State Street both North and Southbound as well as coming East and West on Baldwin Street. Light vehicular traffic comes from Pere Marquette Street. Being located to the north of town and on the corner of two busy streets means the new community center will be subject to large amounts of traffic. The building should make a statement for the city of Big Rapids and to all who see it. The building should both welcome those entering the city and leave a lasting impression to those who are leaving. There is also a substantial interaction between pedestrians and the project’s site. Much of the foot traffic near the site comes from the residential neighborhood west of the site. There is also a great amount of traffic which comes from the adjacent Riverwalk as well as from the Big Rapids Bicycle and Pedestrian Route.
V
iews are an important consideration for the site. They influence where spaces should be oriented in a building to take advantage of a pleasant view, or tucked away to conceal a bad view. On the community center site the primary and most pleasant views are out towards nature, more specifically along the banks of the Muskegon River. There are also secondary views on the site which offer some visual relief but are not the primary focus. These views are out to the west toward the residential neighborhood. There are bad views on the site. These are out towards the south which faces the Simmonds Manufacturing plant. Spaces with views facing this direction should be either masked or concealed to not emphasis the bad view.
|20
VIEWS TO SITE
PRIMARY VIEW
SECONDARY VIEW
PED. VIEWS TO SITE PRIMARY VIEW
SECONDARY VIEW
|21
V
ehicular views to the site are also important, even more so to the community center’s site because it is situated on the corner of two high-traffic streets. The site location lends it to act as a terminating vista to all of those arriving at its location. It should act as a beacon for the city of Big Rapids.
P
edestrian views to the site were also important to analyze. Pedestrian scale must be maintained so that the community center does not solely cater to the automobile. The main pedestrian views are located east of the site where the Riverwalk trail system is located. Something to note is that the Riverwalk features trail on both sides of the Muskegon River which provides for an interesting consideration to relate both sides to the building. The approach should make connections with the existing infrastructure. It is also important to ensure the building scale maintains context focused on the pedestrian. There are also secondary pedestrian views out from the west. These are not as significant because the pedestrian traffic is not of the same magnitude. Nonetheless this is still an important consideration for the design of the building. The west should function in a similar manner as the east of the building does.
|22
UTILITIES
Water Main Storm System Sanitary Lines Utility Poles
ADJACENT OCCUPANCIES
PARKS & RECREATION
RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL
INDUSTRIAL
|23
U
tilities were important to investigate because they would influence where and how the building could be situated on the site. Since the Hanchett Manufacturing plant was previously in use it is already fully serviced by sewer, sanitary, and water systems. The site also features utility poles which extend onto the site from the road.
A
djacent occupancies were analyzed to determine what zoning could be acceptable and what type of design can work in the site’s location. The previous zoning of the site was industrial. The zoning would be changed to commercial to better accommodate a new community center. Surrounding the site is a variety of other occupancies. To the west is exclusively zoned residential. The south is zoned as industrial. Across the Muskegon River and eastward is park and recreational zoning as well as commercial. The design of the building should respond to the context of the other occupancies so that the scale is fitting given the site location.
|24
|25
RENDERED SITE PLAN
T
he rendered site plan depicts how the existing site will be re-imagined as the new community center becomes a reality. The general form of the building is also expressed in the rendered site plan. The building design features two levels overlapping each other that extend out into the site. The portion located nearest to N. State Street are the large volumes which take advantage of the site’s change in grade. To fill in the void left a structured intensive roof system would allow the second floor to be at grade to the road. It would also create an opportunity for an outdoor plaza space. The space below the roof system will house underground parking which lessens the amount of spaces visible to users.
|26
A
MAINTENANCE/STORAGE
B
KAYAK/CANOE RENTAL
C
PLAYGROUND
D
OUTDOOR TOILETROOMS
E
COMMUNITY GARDEN/PICNIC
F
SPLASH PAD
G
SKATE PARK
REN
B
A C
F
N
00’
|28
50’
100’
200’
NDERED SITE PLAN
B
D
E
G
|29
|30
T
FLOOR PLANS
he floor plans show the configuration and form of the spaces on both the first and second floor.
|31
FIRST FLOOR PLAN Main Spaces Circulation
15
16
14 11
13 12 17
3
1
N FIRST FLOOR 00’
|32
50’
100’
200’
4
5
6
10 7
8
2
9
T
he first floor directly accesses all of the larger volumes in the building; the theater, the gymnasium, and the lobby. What can be noticed is the main corridor which divides the spaces which have the visual access to nature and the spaces which do not require the same access and function more as support and service spaces. The gymnasium features a curtain wall system adjacent to the lobby so users can view into the gymnasium and interact with the occupants in that space. Also on the first floor are the administrative facilities; the private and shared offices as well as the staff lavatories. The other main spaces are two classrooms, a multipurpose space, and a full-service kitchen.
SPACE KEY 01 Theater + Auxiliary Spaces 02 Gymnasium 03 Gymnasium Storage 04 Men’s Lav. 05 Janitor Closet 06 Women’s Lav. 07 Electrical Room 08 Mechanical Room 09 Lobby 10 Cafe 11 Private Offices 12 Shared Offices 13 Staff Lav. 14 Classrooms 15 Multipurpose Room 16 Kitchen 17 Underground Parking
|33
SECOND FLOOR PLAN Main Spaces Circulation
13
12
11 10
7 14
9
5
8 4
6 3 2
1
N SECOND FLOOR 00’
|34
50’
100’
200’
T
he second floor continues with the theme of locating spaces that require visual access on the exterior facing the Muskegon River and place the more supportive and service spaces in the inner core of the building. The larger volumes on the first floor continue up to the second floor. Penetrating the top of the intensive roof plane is the theater’s fly loft. Both the gymnasium and lobby spaces continue up from the first floor as well. Continuing with the “outer core” spaces are a large meeting room with two smaller meeting rooms adjacent to it. There is also a computer lab. Near the top of the building are two workout spaces; one larger space for weights and intense cardio, and a smaller fitness studio space for yoga and other aerobic classes. Next to these spaces is the wetroom which is essentially an art studio. Serving the fitness spaces are the family change rooms and mens and womens locker rooms which make up the core of the building.
SPACE KEY 01 Theater Fly Loft 02 Gymnasium 03 Open to Lobby Below 04 Large Meeting Room 05 Kitchenette 06 Locker Rooms 07 Family Change Rooms 08 Small Meeting Rooms 09 Computer Lab 10 Laundry Facilities 11 Exercise Room 12 Fitness Room 13 Wetroom 14 Exterior Splash Pad
|36
|37
BUILDING ELEVATIONS B
uilding elevations begin to the tell story of material choice and how the building appears in its final form. The elevations for the Big Rapids Community center are orthographic meaning they are not true “north, south, east, and west� elevations. This is because the building form is angled. The main material chosen to clad the building is rough cut cedar to soften the structure and make it fit within the context of the site since the main focus is nature. The solar screen is a perforated metal panel system supported by hollow structural steel.
|38
BUILDING ELEVATIONS
EAST ELEVATION
NORTH ELEVATION
|39
|40
BUILDING ELEVATIONS
WEST ELEVATION
SOUTH ELEVATION
|41
|42
|43
B
BUILDING SECTIONS + WALL SYSTEMS
uilding sections are important because they should how users interact with the different spaces. People experience a building in “section” not in “plan”. The sections also better show volume relationships and proportions of various spaces to one another. The wall systems depict the feasibility of different project aspects. More specifically it shows how certain components of the building would be structured. This allows the building to be less fantastic and provide grounds that it could in fact be designed.
|44
BUILDING SECTIONS
BUILDING SECTION A-A
BUILDING SECTION B-B
BUILDING SECTION C-C |45
C-C
B-B
A-A |46
WALL SYSTEMS SOLAR PANEL ARRAY METAL ROOF SYSTEM REINF. LOADBEARING CMU WALL W/ ROUGH CUT CEDAR FURRED ON EXT. METAL SOLAR SCREEN METAL MOUNTING BRACKETS TIED INTO CMU PRE-CAST HOLLOWCORE SLABS
POURED-IN-PLACE CONC. SLAB ON COMPACTED SAND POURED-IN-PLACE CONC. FOOTING W/ REINF.
TYP. LOAD BEARING W/ SOLAR SCREEN
TYP. CMU RETAINING WALL
0’
0’
1’
|47
2’
4’
6’
1’
2’
4’
6’
METAL ROOF SYSTEM
METAL SOLAR SCREEN METAL MOUNTING BRACKETS INTENSIVE ROOF SYSTEM PRE-CAST HOLLOCORE SLABS
REINF. CMU RETAINING WALL
CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM W/ ALUM. MULLIONS
POURED-IN-PLACE CONC. SLAB ON COMPACTED SAND
POURED-IN-PLACE CONC. SLAB ON COMPACTED SAND POURED-IN-PLACE CONC. FOOTING
POURED-IN-PLACE CONC. FOOTING W/ REINF.
TYP. CURTAIN WALL W/ SOLAR SCREEN 0’
1’
2’
4’
6’
|48
|49
BUILDING RENDERINGS B
uilding renderings provide a conceptual view as to how the building will appear on both the interior and exterior. They aim to show the how the spaces would function in the 3D form.
|50
INTERIOR RENDERINGS MEETING ROOM
T
he top left rendering is in the large meeting which is located on the second floor and looks out and down into the main lobby. The top right rendering is of the large exercise room to the north of the building. It features a range of exercise equipment as well as many views to the outside. The bottom rendering looks down from the second floor to first floor of the lobby. It also depicts the jogging track as well as the large glass curtain wall on the gymnasium. What is noticeable in this rendering is the large amount of natural light that penetrates into the lobby. A more contemporary style was chosen for the interior of the community center overall.
|51
EXERCISE ROOM
UPPER LOBBY
|52
EXTERIOR RENDERINGS
MAIN ENTRY
T
he top left rendering depicts the main entry approach. It features a large processional element inviting users into the building. The solar screen motif is continued out from the building. The screen slowly becomes more dense as users approach the main doors. The screens also help downplay the adjacent parking lot. Along with the screens there are plantings which help soften the rigid forms, parking, and the building, as well as built-in seating to offer users an outdoor space to relax and socialize. The lower right rendering portrays the entry to the west of the building. It displays the new developed plaza above the underground parking. Large grassy areas allow for people to gather and play while watching children play in the splash pad.
|53
APPROACH FROM WEST
|54
|55
SUSTAINABILITY B
uilding and designing with the environment in mind is becoming the standard in today’s world. The new community center in Big Rapids, Michigan is no exception. The basis for the sustainable design was formed around an already established sustainable assessment method called the Living Building Challenge.
|56
MEETING THE LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
|57
INTRODUCTION
The Living Building Challenge is perhaps one of the most rigorous sustainability assessment methods in the field today. The assessment itself is performance driven and requires a one year analysis to which will dictate whether or not the project meets the different imperatives. It also contains many social aspects not present in other sustainable assessments. Two levels of the Living Building Challenge exist. They are Petal recognition and Certified Living (the more sustainable). The goal of this project is to meet Petal recognition at a minimum. This is utilizing the Living Building Challenge 2.1 assessment. HANCHETT SITE The proposed location for the new Big Rapids Community Center is on the site previously owned and operated by Hanchett Manufacturing. Since the site was a permitted industrial use (zoned I-1) the new community center will require a rezoning to commercial use (C-2). The site is large and presents many opportunities to pursue and meet many of the different imperatives from the Living Building Challenge. CLASSIFICATION There are four types of classification in the Living Building Challenge: Renovation, Landscape or Infrastructure (non-conditioned development), Building, and Neighborhood. Each specific type has differences in the imperatives it must satisfy to earn a status. In the case of the community center the classification is “Building�.
|58
IMPERATIVES
01
LIMITS TO GROWTH
The project may only be constructed on previously developed sites, greyfields, and/or brownfields. The proposed project site was previously developed and housed the Hanchett Manufacturing plant which classifies the site as brownfield site. This automatically qualifies the Hanchett site for meeting this imperative with no further action to be taken.
02
URBAN AGRICULTURE
The project must integrate opportunities for agriculture appropriate to its scale and density using the floor area ratio (FAR) as a basis for calculation. For this category the project is classified as L4 which is a General Urban Zone. For this classification there are 3 levels of agriculture that can be provided. Either 15%, 20%, or 25% of the project area must be provided as agriculture use on the project site. The Hanchett site is large at nearly at 250,000 S.F. There is more than sufficient square footage to accommodate this requirement. A potential solution is to reserve a portion on the site specifically for community gardening.
03
HABITAT EXCHANGE
The project must for each hectacre of development, set aside an equal amount of land away from the project in perpetuity as part of a habitat exchange. The minimum offset for this exchange is 0.4 hectacre/1.0 acre per project. The permanent easement or transfer of ownership must be to an official Land Trust organization to sure proper safeguarding and long-term care. To meet this imperative the project will need to acquire land off-site and designate it essentially as a protected area by donating it. As note the minimum offset is either 0.4 hectacre or 1.0 acre.
|59
04
CAR FREE LIVING
The project should contribute towards the creation of a walkable, pedestrian-oriented community. There are numerous ways to meet the requirement since the requirement itself is rather ambiguous and does not have a certain number that needs to be met. The location of the site is directly connected to the main loop of the Big Rapids Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Designated bicycle lanes help promote and increase ridership. The site is also situated directly adjacent to the Riverwalk which is a large paved pedestrian walkway. This walkway also provides a connection to the White Pine Trail which runs through several counties further increasing alternatives to travel to the community center. Another method to reduce the reliance on the car is to implement a shuttle system which can have numerous drop off and pick up points throughout town. This reduces the number of people who have to drive directly to the community center when they could otherwise walk or drive a much shorter distance to a shuttle stop.
05
NET ZERO WATER
One hundred percent of the project’s water needs much be supplied by captured precipitation or other natural closed loop water systems that account for downstream ecosystem impacts, or by re-cycling used project water. Water must be appropriately purified without the use of chemicals. There is a temporary exception for water that must be from potable sources due to local health regulations, including sinks, faucets, and showers, but excluding irrigation, toilet flushing, janitorial uses, and equipment uses. The site for the community center is large and provides ample opportunity for rainwater storage on site through the use of cisterns. The building design should incorporate a series of sloping roofs and gutters to direct rainfall into the appropriate piping to the cistern. The water would be pumped through a series of screens and filters to make it suitable for its appropriate use.
Constructed wetlands can also used to help in the purification process. Much like circulating the air in an HVAC system, cycling greywater through man-made wetlands helps provide the wetland vegetation with nutrients from the water which also gets filtered at the same time.
06
ECOLOGICAL WATER FLOW
One hundred percent of the storm water and used, and project water discharge must be managed on-site to feed the project’s internal water demands or released onto adjacent sites for management through acceptable time-scale surface flow, groundwater recharge, agricultural use, or adjacent property needs. The project site as mentioned previously is large and for the most part relatively flat. This means much of the water will tend to stay on-site. The Muskegon River will play a large role as a natural storm system where much of the water not used in the greywater recycling or collected in cisterns will be directed to. The remaining water can potentially be directed to on-site retention ponds or even used to help water the urban agricultural garden from imperative 02. Another technique that can be used to handle runoff is using pervious pavement or concrete on parking surfaces and walkways. Any remaining water will evaporate naturally on-site.
07
NET ZERO ENERGY
One hundred percent of the project’s energy needs must be supplied by on-site renewable energy on a net annual basis. The annual net basis means that the total energy must be accounted for. Some days may pull energy from the grid and other days may put it back into the grid. There are many methods and techniques for producing renewable energy: Photovoltaics are becoming more and more popular. The traditional solar panels are much cheaper than before. The technology has grown to where PV is being integrated with building materials as what are called building integrated photovoltaics. An array facing south with a slight angle towards the south with offer good results in solar collection. This can however, be
improved with mobile arrays which move with the sun’s position ensuring the most solar energy will be collected. The Hanchett site is large and could potentially accommodate a stand-alone solar array. Since Michigan is relatively cloudy during the winter months, the building would either need to be tied to the grid or feature a battery storage system for the collected energy. Wind turbines are another technology which has greatly improved over the years. Much like solar panels the turbines can also be located off-site or in a stand-alone system. The size of the turbine can vary but energy will still be produced. Energy storage needs are similar to photovoltaics and may require a battery system. Hydroelectric is similar in concept to wind turbines but instead they are placed in the water. Since the Muskegon River flows along much of the site, and the current is fastest in this location, this may prove to be a potential source of renewable energy. The main concerns are with the DNR and disturbing the wildlife, as well as whether or not the natural beauty of the river will be threatened. Instead of using traditional HVAC equipment for heating and cooling the building, geothermal should be used. Geothermal is proving to be very efficient in practice. A simple solution is maintaining a tight building envelope and maximizing the opportunity for insulation. This helps retain any energy when heating or cooling a building and ensuring it stays in the building and not outside. When glass is used it should be at least double-paned and feature an injected gas to increase thermal performance. Daylighting is a passive design technique that has been used for decades to successfully provide sufficient light levels within a building. Orienting the building to the south maximizes the opportunity for collecting natural light. North-facing clerestory windows are also effectively in collecting the soft natural light all day. Sunlight from the east and west should be shaded and filtered because it causes glare and large thermal gains.
|60
Natural ventilation is another passive design feature which utilizes the winds as a means to circulate air throughout a building. Orientation plays an integral role here. During the winter the building should be protected from these winds. Windows should be carefully chosen and placed. They should also be operable so natural ventilation can be taken fully advantage of.
08
CIVILIZED ENVIRONMENT
Every occupiable interior space of the project must have operable windows that provide access to fresh air and daylight. This imperative is rather simplistic in its definition but in practice requires careful consideration of where windows are to be placed. In the community center project all rooms which feature an occupant load must be designed with an operable window for the users of the space. Also as the definition describes the window must also be positioned to allow natural light to enter into the space. There are exceptions to the rooms which require these windows. The exception that applies to the community center project is the allowance of no windows inside the theater since the control of light is critical to the space.
09
HEALTHY AIR
To promote good indoor air quality, a Renovation, Building, and building(s) completed as part of a Neighborhood project must meet the following criteria: • Entryways must have an external dirt track-in system contained within a separate entry space. • All kitchens, bathrooms, copy rooms, janitorial closets, and chemical storage spaces must be separately ventilated and exhaust directly to the outside air. • Ventilation rates must be designed to comply with ASHRAE 62 and equipment must be installed to monitor levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature, and humidity.
|61
• Smoking must be prohibited within the project boundary. In order to meet imperative 9 the project must respond to providing the occupants of the facility with clean air. All main entryways must be equipped with a dirt-track in system. This system assists in reducing the amount of bacteria tracked into the building by occupants as they come and go. To meet the air ventilation requirement each space as noted by the imperative will be equipped with its own ventilation system directly to the outside. To comply with ASHRAE 62 the building will be equipped with a geothermal ventilation system. This must provide the appropriate air exchanges and circulation for each space and its occupant load. The final criteria can be met by creating a “tobacco free” zone on the building property which will discourage smoking.
10
BIOPHILIA
The project must be designed to include elements that nurture the innate human attraction to natural systems and processes. Each of the six established Biophilic Design Elements must be represented for every 2,000 m2 of the project:
• • • • • •
Environmental features Natural shapes and forms Natural patterns and processes Light and space Place-based relationships Evolved human-nature relationships
To meet the biophilic design requirements the community center must form a strong relationship within the context of its site and surrounding natural features, the main natural feature being the river. In response to the way the river navigates through the city, the main building facades are angled directly towards the river making it a focal point. Natural forms can be developed through the use of planters and vegetation screens. Exposing the rain water collection system as it is transported into cisterns will allow users to bear witness to sustainable practice. Light and space are portrayed in
the volume the spaces take. Higher ceilings will create a more “lofty” feeling and allow more daylight to enter into the space. The different relationships between humans and nature can should be rethought. When a there is an interaction with an ordinary object or element, that particular item should designed in a way that adopts the organic qualities of nature but still functions at full capacity. Furniture will play an important role in demonstrating the relationships.
11
RED LIST
The project cannot contain any of the following Red List materials or chemicals: • Asbestos • Cadmium • Chlorinated Polyethylene and Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) • Chloroprene (Neoprene) • Formaldehyde (added) • Halogenated Flame Retardants • Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) • Lead (added) • Mercury • Petrochemical Fertilizers and Pesticides • Pthalates • Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) • Wood treatments containing Creosote, Arsenic, or Pentachlorophenol There are temporary exceptions for numerous Red List items due to the current limitations in the materials economy. Since the scope of this design project does not directly factor in every material selected, all materials noted shall not be located on this list. If there project were to be constructed the contractor would need experience in ensuring these materials are not accidentally brought onto the project and jeopardize the imperative. Since there is a community garden and the grounds will also need to be maintained there needs to be a close regulation to ensure no pesticides or fertilizers are used that are on the Red List. Any manufacturers producing materials for the project
should be contacted to make sure project goals are mutually understood and any Red List material is not used in the production of any material.
12
EMBODIED CARBON FOOTPRINT
The project must account for the total footprint of embodied carbon (tCO2e) from its construction through a one-time carbon offset tied to the project boundary. Embodied energy is the energy used up to produce a particular product or material. To fully preserve this the ideal solution is to reuse rather than recycle. Offsetting the carbon footprint for the Big Rapids Community Center entails a number of techniques. Perhaps the easiest solution is to plant trees on the site. This however, cannot be the only solution as there would need to be more trees than there is room on the site. Using green, renewable sources or energy such as wind and solar also help offset the carbon footprint. Another method which would be more practical is to fund and support new Renewable Energy Projects. In order to qualify these projects must meet a minimum performance criteria.
13
RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRY
The project must advocate for the creation and adoption of third-party certified standards for sustainable resource extraction and fair labor practices. Applicable raw materials include stone and rock, metal, minerals, and timber. For timber, all wood must be certified to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) 100% labeling standards, from salvaged sources, or from the intentional harvest of timber on-site for the purpose of clearing the area for construction or restoring/maintaining the continued ecological function of the on-site bionetwork. There is not much that applies directly to the community center other than ensuring any timber used in the construction of the center is 100% FSC certified.
|62
14
APPROPRIATE SOURCING
The project must incorporate place-based solutions and contribute to the expansion of a regional economy rooted in sustainable practices, products, and services. This imperative identifies the maximum acceptable distance for materials, technology, and consultants to travel to the project site. These are considered “sustainable proximities”. The community center will comply with the following distances: Ideas: Renewable Technologies Adaptable high-performance assemblies Consultant travel Lightweight materials Medium weight Materials Heavy materials
Distances 15,000 km 5,000 km 2,500 km 2,000 km 1,000 km 500 km
The location of the project is within a smaller city but well within a short distance of a much larger city (Grand Rapids, MI). This means that the necessary shipping of materials only needs to travel a short distance to the job site.
15
CONSERVATION + REUSE
The project team must strive to reduce or eliminate the production of waste during design, construction, operation, and end of life in order to conserve natural resources. The project team must create a Material Conservation Management Plan that explains how the project optimizes materials in each of the following phases: • Design Phase, including the consideration of appropriate durability in product selection • Construction Phase, including product optimization and collection of wasted materials • Operation Phase, including a collection plan for consumables and durables.
|63
• End of Life Phase, including a plan for adaptable reuse and deconstruction. During construction, the project team must divert wasted material from to the following levels: Minimum Diverted/Weight Material 95% Metals 95% Paper and Cardboard 100% Soil and biomass 90% Rigid Foam, carpet & insulation 80% All others - combined weight avg. Since the construction will not take place on this project (as it is purely conceptual) waste diversion will not be recorded. If it were to occur there would be a mutual agreement between designer and contractor to ensure all materials being discarded or left over would be recycled. It would also ensure the most sustainable construction methods are being utilized. During the design phase materials will be specified which are able to be recycled and demonstrate a long lifetime. Products such as the various furnishings would also be selected based on how durable they are and what their expected lifetime is.
16
HUMAN SCALE + HUMANE PLACES
The project must be designed to create human-scaled rather than automobile-scaled places, so that the experience brings out the best in humanity and promotes culture and interaction. In context of the character of each Transect, there are specific maximum (and sometimes minimum) requirements for paved areas, street and block design, building scale and signage that contribute to livable places. Since the project is a community center emphasis should be placed on identifying a human scale. The project location is directly adjacent to the main loop of the bicycle and pedestrian plan. This places importance on alternative modes of transportation such as walking or biking over driving a car. The materials of the building and landscaping will communicate texture and a scale which promotes interaction between the user and the material. The building itself will not stand over the users but exist beside them.
17
DEMOCRACY + SOCIAL JUSTICE
All primary transportation, roads, and non-building infrastructure that are considered externally focused must be equally accessible to all members of the public regardless of background, age, and socioeconomic class - including the homeless - with reasonable steps take to ensure that all people can benefit from the project’s creation. For any project located in Transect L3-L6, street furniture (such as benches) must be provided for and accessible to all members of society. Access for those with physical disabilities must be safeguarded through designs meeting the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility Guidelines. Essentially to meet this imperative the building must be completely accessible to all who want to use it. This is particularly important because the building is a community center for the city of Big Rapids. Ensuring all components of the building are ADA accessible will allow all users to enter the building. Specifically elevators and ramps will act as the main means of moving throughout the building.
18
RIGHTS TO NATURE
The project may not block access to, nor diminish the quality of, fresh air, sunlight, and natural waterways for any member of society or adjacent developments. Natural waterways (such as ocean shoreline, rivers, lakes, wetlands, ponds, and creeks): The project may not restrict access to the edge of any natural waterway, except where such access can be proven to be a hazard to public safety or would severely compromise the function of the development. If the project’s boundary is more than sixty meters long parallel to the edge of the waterway, it must incorporate and maintain an access path to the waterway from the most convenient public right-of-way. The pathway must be at least three meters wide and allow entry to both pedestrians and bicyclists.
The building is designed to mesh within the site. This promotes harmony between the building and site. Through site remediation the once used industrial site will be transformed to a community center which promotes the health and well-being of the community. Sunlight is not impeded either since the building form maintains a low profile and is partially buried in the site. The main natural waterway the Muskegon River flows along the site and is not impeded in any way. The building is setback away from the banks of the river and provides no interference. The Riverwalk (an existing right-of-way) owned by the city provides bicycle and pedestrian access to the river.
19
BEAUTY + SPIRIT
The project must contain design features intended solely for human delight and the celebration of culture, spirit, and place appropriate to its function. The project itself makes a statement for the city of Big Rapids and its surrounding communities. It has the potential to be an aesthetically pleasing work of art and architecture while creating a gather place that community members can appreciate and be proud of.
20
INSPIRATION + EDUCATION
Educational materials about the operation and performance of the project must be provided to the public to share successful solutions and to motivate others to make change. Non-sensitive areas of the project must be open to the public at least one day per year to facilitate direct contact with the Living Building Challenge.
The community center is a place of learning and recreation. Integrating an information kiosk into the lobby of the building will help spread the knowledge of how to design a sustainable and fully functional building. Promoting the Living Building Challenge can be accomplished by providing tours of the building and displaying the different systems and how they contribute to achieving a Certified-living status.
|64
SUSTAINABILITY The main sustainable features are the large solar arrays located on all south oriented roof planes and the large solar screen that wraps around much of the exterior to control daylight. A rough estimate of solar production is between 132 and 165 kilowatts per hour.
• Solar Panels on south-facing roof planes.
• Daylighting (controlled by screens). Use of sawtooth windows and monitor windows. • Building components with maximum recycled content • Geothermal heating/cooling/ventilation
.
• Maintain a tight building envelope and maximize thermal efficiency and insulation. |65
.
The Community Center was assessed by the Living Building Challenge Criteria. The project potentially meets 15 of the 20 imperatives (or requirements) which make up 3 of the 5 petals need to receive a the title of Petal Recognition.
Solar screens wrap the majority of the exterior
INITIAL SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
IMPERATIVES MET:
15/20
PETALS ACHIEVED:
3/5
PROJECT STATUS: PETAL RECOGNITION
|66
SMALL TOWN STUDIO
designed by:
anthonyAMATO