YAF Connection 10.05 Issue

TRAVEL | GREEN BLDG

YOUNG ARCHITECTS FORUM

CONNECTION NOV E M B E R 2 0 1 2 THE YAF CONNECTION IS THE OFFICIAL E-MAGAZINE FOR YOUNG ARCHITECTS PRODUCED BY THE YOUNG ARCHITECTS FORUM. EACH EDITION INCLUDES ARTICLES ON LEADERSHIP, MENTORSHIP, AND FELLOWSHIP AS WELL AS BOOK REVIEWS BY YOUNG ARCHITECTS. THE YAF CONNECTION IS A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION.

YAF CONNECTION ISSUE 10.05 | 11.2012

1991

2012

CELEBRATING

21YEARS OF YAF

Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor Assistant Editor Graphic Designer Graphic Designer

Deepika Padam, AIA Josh Flowers, AIA Bonnie Sen, AIA Nathan Stolarz, AIA James Cornetet, AIA

deepika@bashless.com

Editorial Advisory Group William J. Stanley, III, FAIA Robert I Selby, FAIA Donna Kacmar, FAIA Nick Peckham, FAIA Sean Stadler, AIA Brett Taylor, AIA The YAF Connection is sponsored through the generous support of The AIA Trust, a free risk management resource for AIA members that offers valuable benefits to protect you, your firm, and your family.

Visit www.TheAIATrust.com for complete program information on all AIA Trust programs.

Map Showing Locations of Article Contributors for this Issue. US Map Source: www.cardhouse.com

YAF CONNECTION 10 | 05

CONTENT 04YAFNEWS News

News and resources relevant to young architects

06 EDITOR'S NOTE At the Crossroads Deepika Padam, AIA

08 EVENT

Who in the World does Research Anymore?

12 EVENT Elevator Pitch: In Review

Deepika Padam, AIA

Jeffrey Pastva

16 PHOTOGRAPHY Ann Neeriemer, AIA Eric Beron, AIA Luka Nedzbala Naomi Cataldo Nate Wambold Shelly Scott, AIA William Webb, AIA Yelena Ptashinskaya Julie Babin, AIA

FOCUS: TRAVEL

16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32

34 SKETCHES 34 Amy Wynne 36 Lira Luis, AIA 38 Mark Pearson, AIA

40 STORY

Angela Demma, AIA Navneet Magon Anand, Associate AIA Saul Moreno, Associate AIA Will Stanford, AIA

40 42 44 46

FOCUS: GREEN BUILDING

52 MAKING A CASE Three Pillars of Success to Reach Net-Zero Premnath Sundharam, AIA

58 MAKING A CASE Fuel Cell Technology Greg Taylor, AIA

Nexthouse: The

62 DESIGN Future of Attainable

Sustainable

Jake Grandon

48 MAKING A CASE Adopt Living Building Challenge in Fight Against Climate Change Robert Webber, AIA

54 MAKING A CASE To Become Leaders in Energy Modeling, We Need to be Building Science Experts Daniel Overbey, AIA

60 BOOK REVIEW Narrow Houses: New Directions Efficient Design by Avi Friedman

in

Jorge de la Cova, AIA

64 DESIGN Gulf Island Bed and Breakfast James Tuer, AIA

Disclaimer: This publication is created by Young Architect members of the American Institute of Architects. Views expressed in this publication are solely those of the authors.

YAF CONNECTION 10 | 05

03

Stay Connected YAF AT AIA

YAF's Home webpage. www.aia.org/yaf

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2011 AIA YAF/COD IDEAS COMPETITION BOOK AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE

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This blog provides YAF-related news in real time. Get involved in the discussion! www.blog.aia.org/yaf

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A knowledge resource for awards, announcements, podcasts, blogs, and valuable articles. The archives of YAF Connection and the Young Architect Award winners' entries... This resource has it all! www.network.aia.org/AIA/YoungArchitectsForum

Architect’s Knowledge Resource

The Architect's Knowledge Resource connects AIA members and others to the most current information on architecture, including research, best practices, product reviews, ratings, image banks, trends, and more. It's your place to find solutions, share your expertise, and connnect with colleagues. www.aia.org/akr

YAF on LinkedIn

Stay connected with the YAF leadership and all the young architects you meet at the convention, and get involved in group discussions. www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=2066423

2012 AIA YOUNG ARCHITECTS AWARD BOOK AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE

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CALL FOR ARTICLES

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Contact the 2013-14 editor at wyatt.frantom@wf-ad.com.

ERRORS There were a few errors reported in issue 10.04 of YAF Connection.

We regret those errors. Corrected version of articles have been sent to the contributors.

YAF CONNECTION 10 | 05

News AIA INTRODUCES CASE STUDIES ON ARCHITECTURE FIRMS PARTICIPATING IN 2030 COMMITMENT PROGRAM In order to examine the benefits and lessons learned from firms participating in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2030 Commitment Program, five participating firms were interviewed and case studies documenting their experiences were developed.

Participating firms included High Plains Architects, HMC Architects, HOK, The Miller Hull Partnership and Serena Sturm Architects.

Together the firms achieved an average predicted energy use intensity of 49.5% placing them ahead of overall performance reported by participating firms in 2012, but below the target goals of the program.

AIA INTRODUCES ENERGY MODELING GUIDE In order to help architects more accurately predict the energy consumption in their design projects, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has put together An Architect’s Guide to Integrating Energy Modeling in the Design Process. The guide is an exhaustive, step-by-step map to predicting (and thus reducing) the energy usage of buildings.

Beyond defining and making a case for energy modeling, this primer walks readers through different types of energy modeling and the individual tools and software available for it. As a relatively new technical specialty, the guide also discusses how to bring energy modeling to other building team members, like engineers, and most important of all—to clients. From initial exploratory design concepts to code compliance and ongoing energy maintenance, this manual covers the entire spectrum of design and building.

NCARB'S 2012 ARCHITECTS

SURVEY

OF

REGISTERED

The 2012 survey of U.S. architectural registration boards by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) indicates that there are currently 105,596 registered architects in the United States. You can find past surveys at http://www.ncarb.org/ About-NCARB/NCARB-by-the-Numbers/Survey-of-Architects.aspx.

AIA AND NOMA UPDATE MOU DURING YEAR OF NOMA’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 2012 AIA President Jeff Potter, FAIA, and 2012 NOMA President Sanford Garner, AIA, LEED AP, signed the MOU, which reflects a commitment by AIA and NOMA to continue and enhance their combined effort toward a more diverse and inclusive architecture profession and built environment. More information about diversity and inclusion at the AIA: www.aia.org/diversity.

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AIA'S LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT, THE HONORABLE HARRY REID, THE HONORABLE JOHN A. BOEHNER, THE HONORABLE MITCH MCCONNELL, THE HONORABLE NANCY PELOSI Dear President Obama and Congressional leaders: The American Institute of Architects and its more than 80,000 members would like to express their support for continued efforts to avoid the “fiscal cliff.”

The past few years have been devastating to the design and construction industry. The economic crisis, a lack of access to financing, and the meltdown in the mortgage and commercial real estate lending markets have led to unprecedented levels of layoffs and business failures. In fact, the architecture profession alone has lost 60,000 employees – nearly one quarter of our workforce – since 2008. Given that design and construction make up one in nine dollars in Gross Domestic Product, this industry is vital for the economy’s continued recovery.

Although there are signs of improvement, failure to act on the fiscal cliff would bring that progress to a complete stop. An AIA analysis released in October showed that the budget sequester scheduled to take place in January would reduce federal investments in design and construction by more than $2 billion, with a potential job loss of an additional 60,000 workers across the design and construction industry. Tax increases on thousands of architecture firms, most of which are small businesses, and their employees and clients would cripple the ability of our profession to create jobs and grow the economy.

The AIA agrees that difficult decisions need to be made in order to reduce the deficit, and architects and their allies are committed to doing their part. Indeed, any solution to the fiscal cliff may necessitate reductions in federal design and construction budgets.

Page 2 November 15, 2012 However, the indiscriminate nature of the sequester is precisely the wrong way to go. A large portion of agency facility budgets is devoted to repairs, maintenance and retrofits. If those funds are cut, the need does not go away. In fact, cutting these budgets by such a sizable amount will most certainly cost taxpayers more in the long run, as problems get worse and the price tag for repairs rises.

Therefore, we urge Congress and the White House to address the fiscal cliff in ways that do not disproportionately impact the already struggling design and construction industry, and which will end up costing taxpayers more due to deferred maintenance and repairs.

We look forward to working with you to address the nation’s ongoing challenges.

Jeffery Potter, FAIA 2012 President

05

Editor's Note

AT T H E C ROSSROADS

Writer: Deepika Padam, AIA Padam is the 2011-2012 Communications Advisor for the National AIA Young Architects Forum. She lives in San Francisco.

I was appalled to read about one of the projects nominated

artificially mass-reproduced and then mass-slaughtered?

for 2012 RIBA Silver Medal. The project that won the 2012

Should architects be setting an example from our lifestyles

Rawat Award for Best Graduate Design Project. The project

that go beyond designing buildings?

that at its core is the opposite of what the human actions should be. It is a thesis project by Jack Murno, a 2012 graduate of University of Westminster in London. Built with bricks made of blood and sand, the proposal is a brick-making community in Siwa, Egypt. The positive spin to the thesis is that the blood being used for the bricks is a byproduct from slaughtered cows, hence the reuse of a waste resource.

What horror for architects to stoop to this level! I see a direct correlation between the waste blood and the high levels of methane generated at slaughter houses. (I won’t get into the increased potential for diseases from eating meat.) It begs the question, what is our responsibility as architects? Architects are regarded among the leaders for the sustainability of the

A professor once told me that while talking about project sites I shouldn’t use the phrase “natural landscape”. He said that everything we see around us has been touched by humans. The correct phrase is existing landscape, not natural landscape. On similar grounds, should we use the phrase “natural disasters”? I reckon we should call them man-made disasters instead. Hurricane Sandy... Sick of the news coverage much? Are you still debating whether climate change is real?

Do you think your actions are so minor that they are a drop in the ocean? If you are not feeling responsible for Sandy, you are still living in a dream world. You are the cause for natural disasters. Together we are all the cause for them.

planet. Does our work start and stop at buildings? Why are

Photographs of the deserted NYC subway system before

we talking about what to do with waste blood or methane?

Hurricane Sandy hit may seem rather serene. The aftermath

Why are we not talking about why so many cows are being

coverage is jaw dropping. There are multiple lessons to

Built with bricks made of blood and sand, a thesis project by Jack Murno, a 2012 graduate of University of Westminster in London, is a brickmaking community in Siwa, Egypt.

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(Right) Brooklyn subway submerged after Hurrican Sandy (Below) The BoostTurbine, a hand-cranked cell-phone charger by Etón

be learnt from Sandy that have been covered widely. RMI

because they think it is God’s will, or because they think that

published a treatise on smart grid vis-à-vis distributed power.

they are being forced to feel guilty over something they

It may seem trivial, but Fast Company featured a cell phone

didn’t do. They say it is a tactic employed by politicians simply

charger for disasters. Story about a few student volunteers

to control the masses. When a pigeon sees an approaching

got featured that reached out to old or disabled people stuck

predator cat it closes its eyes thinking that now that it can’t

in buildings without power, food and medicine immediately

see the cat, the cat won’t see it either. People are pigeons and

after the hurricane struck and before the Red Cross could do

the cat is the climate change. And in our case, the pigeons

anything. Good news is that NYC saw a big upswing on the

created the cat.

number of bicyclists on the roads. We’ve got to do something about that traffic! Camaraderie was witnessed top to bottom where people and corporations opened doors to help each other. People are working hard to rebuild the systems, bring order to the chaos. However, they say that prevention is better than cure. Could we have prevented Hurricane Sandy? Maybe not. But maybe it would not have been so severe had we not been living in an age of record number and catastrophic levels of disasters. Had the climate change not soared to these heights. Had we built smarter from the very beginning.

Some people shun all discussion about climate change either

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Disasters are coming; we should expect more of them at increasing levels in the future. Root cause, Climate Change.

The issue is neither religious nor political. It is Common Sense.

What will you do to prevent the next disaster? You are at the crossroads, which path would you choose? Acceptance of the consequences, worship when all fails, war against climate change, or elopement to the high-ticket underground caves? Choose carefully, because this is more serious than the Presidential Election. Failure is guaranteed, the disaster will strike regardless of your choice. But it may not be as devastating if you act now.

07

Event

WHO IN THE WORLD DOES RESEARCH Revisiting the Place of Research in Architecture at AIA Research Summit This article was previously published in Metropolis Magazine POV Blog and AIA College of Fellows' Fellowscope issue 98.

Writer: Deepika Padam, AIA Padam is the 2011-2012 Communications Advisor for the National AIA Young Architects Forum. She lives in San Francisco.

What is Research? What are the types of research? Who does research? In today’s day and age of information overload, does anyone have the time to do research? Does research lead to innovation, especially in the architecture practice? What is the future of research? How can AIA help? To find these answers and many more, the AIA Research Summit was held in St. Louis on July 23-24, 2012. The delegation of twenty-four was split almost halfway between academicians and practitioners, with some AIA staff. It was a unique experience for me because research is not spoken in the same vocabulary or at the same level in my practice as was done at the summit. Bear with me as I dissect the two-day exchange piecemeal.

Participants of AIA Research Summit. Image by Lindsay Roffe Back Row L to R: Gerald (Butch) Reifert FAIA, Reg Prentice, Jeffrey W Anderzhon FAIA, J Craig Beale FAIA, Terrence E O'Neal AIA, Peter Hourihan, Sally Augustin, Ray Pentecost III FAIA, Clark S Davis FAIA, Earle W Kennett, Ken L Ross FAIA, Richard L Hayes AIA. Front Row L to R: Eric West AIA, Keith Diaz Moore AIA, G Z Brown FAIA, Kirk Hamilton FAIA, Jay Farbstein FAIA, Edward A Shriver FAIA, Alexis Karolides AIA, Terri Stewart, Deepika Padam AIA. Sitting Down L to R: Dennis A Andrejko FAIA, Donald T Yoshino FAIA

YAF CONNECTION 10 | 05

ANYMORE? Research has a different meaning for everybody depending on their

Small firms have multi-skilled professionals who do research as

backgrounds. It is evident that academicians and practitioners see

part of their other activities. This may be considered a basic level of

research with very different perspectives. Hence, the two distinct

research. Most of the large firms today have dedicated researchers in

tracks of Academic and Applied Research. The goal of the summit

their staff creating specialized deductions to be used in the design

was to understand the similarities and dissimilarities among the two,

practice. Peter Hourihan believes that research is done at all scales.

form a connection between them, and make it easier for researchers

Although small firms spend limited amount of time in research, the

to exchange information and learn from each other.

projects don’t require the level of research a large firm might need.

Apart from all this, Terrence E. O’Neal AIA holds that there is Tacit Knowledge held in the minds of researchers, which needs to be extracted before the baby boomers retire.

The topics of research vary depending on whether it is academic or applied research, and whether it is a small or big operation.

The list from the summit participants includes sustainability, renewable energy, energy efficiency, building materials, envelope design, elderly neighborhood characteristics, housing, smart growth, intelligent buildings, how organisms interact with buildings, evaluation of existing software, environmental impacts of temperature and humidity, healthcare and education, science and technology, genetic algorithms for planning, sensitivity of the skin, embodied energy of materials, water and energy data, BIM outcomes, social or cultural impacts on place, fuel cells, acoustics,

Academic Research focuses on gathering information and deducing

construction types, neuroscience, hazard reduction, inclusivity

specific conclusions. It generally tends to be lengthy as it includes

beyond ADA, and design for aging. This is not an exhaustive list of

background information such as method, experiments, data, and

everything that is being researched in our profession. Research is

details in addition to the conclusions. Academics are striving to find

being done at many levels including some institutions that focus on

new information and the results are rigorous. Per D. Kirk Hamilton

architectural research, such as, ARCC, EDRA, NGO, IDEA, CIMS, and

FAIA, the academics at research universities are required to publish

NTID. The modes of research include observations, case studies,

their research. While many universities collaborate, they still want to be identified as the leaders in their field of study. Keith Diaz Moore AIA believes that when a tenured faculty member is known as a thought leader in a certain area, the institution tends to become a thought leader in that area, which marginalizes other aspects of the school.

Applied Research may be understood as simply doing a Google search, although it would not be considered serious “research” in academic terms. Applied Research involves finding information, aggregating the facts, and applying them to practice. Practitioners look for concise abstracts and many are driven towards visual forms of information. The method is different for small and large firms.

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experiments testing comfort levels, interviewing, outcome based

may be shared, the database or software to do the analysis is not

research of modeling and analysis, post occupancy evaluations

shared to avoid replication.” In academia, the research is judged

(POE), surveys, life-cycle testing and analysis, evidence based

by the method, whether it was rigorous or experimental. So there

design, quantitative data gathering, etc.

is in-depth sharing of information, including failed experiments.

The complexity of the topics, methods and approaches can be simplified with a Pyramid structure that allows everybody to share information. The pyramid structure should be taken as a work in progress and is a direct outcome of the discussions at the Summit.

Meta Analysis, a study of studies, is at the tip of the pyramid followed by experimental (with control), quasi-experimental (no control), comparison studies or POEs, case studies, benchmarking, expert opinion, best practices, tours with anecdotal info, and observation.

Firm practices tend to project success and show optimism. In order to gain the trust of clients, firms hide their failures. Unlike other professions, failures in architecture put lives in danger on the clients’ dime. Much of the information is shared as Best Practices, without calling it failures or lessons learnt. In the quandary of these different approaches, where the intent is to share while the tendency is to hide, is where AIA can become the crucial conduit for information exchange.

These levels are based on the rigor and quality of research.

Researchers of all backgrounds are able to penetrate and contribute to the pyramid at some level. Some research may be measured vs. modeled, i.e. built facility vs. simulation study. Some may be peer reviewed vs. non-reviewed, but all are meant to have a literature review. Whether the information store is envisioned as a pyramid or an arch with a keystone or a sphere with a bull’s eye, a database of research would be beneficial to all.

AIA can fill the role of a “collector” of research. AIA doesn’t need to be leading research projects or reviewing or curating them, but simply collecting them for sharing. In Ken L. Ross FAIA’s words, “knowledgeable leaders are the ones that admit what they don’t know.” External peer reviewers should be hired to review the submitted research papers before making them available to users. Depending on the level of the research on the pyramid, the submission criteria can be different. The submissions can go to For continued progress of our profession, sharing of information is the key. It’s a give and take environment. The more you share, the more others will share with you. In Reg Prentice’s opinion, “applied research tends to get proprietary because practitioners need to have a competitive advantage. Although the surveys and conclusions

the peer reviewers, who would then rate each of them. Some may not get peer reviewed and would be tagged as non-reviewed. The abstracts and conclusions should be presented in an everyday understandable language and should have associated keywords for searching. Per G.Z. Brown FAIA, “Discarding would play an important function as it helps narrow down the search. Association helps

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because it takes one to associated subjects of one’s research that

The following action items are suggested for AIA moving forward

may prove useful.” The peer review process is necessary for AIA to be

towards this initiative:

considered a trusted resource by the readers.

• Create a blog for continuous dialogue.

AIA has already begun the process of developing a portal to collect research and knowledge through a partnership with the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS). One of the components of the initiative is the creation of the Building Research Information Knowledgebase (BRIK) as an interactive web portal or website that would serve as a bank of all types of research. Similar to Wikipedia, it will be designed for easy access, input, or comment. It will contain vital, robust, validated, reliable, replicable research with data and conclusions. Predictive and credible knowledge will be shared that may not necessarily be rigorous, but will be curated, trustworthy and useful. It will allow sharing of information and links internally and externally. It will track the number of downloads, and users will be able to rank and score their research focus and hold conversations.

The site is scheduled to launch in early January and announced at the NIBS Conference in DC on January 9.

While the design for BRIK is being envisioned, it would be prudent to keep in mind the future audience. To avoid creating a site that gets outdated before it is launched, the design team should involve

• Publish a monthly article in ARCHITECT magazine focused on research.

• Publish articles in Newswire issues of ARCHITECT. • Appoint a dedicated AIA staff person for a certain period of time.

• Create a collaboration and research agenda. Make the initiative known.

• Use the theme of Research at a future convention, which will also be the focus for the AIA President for the year.

• Create a recognition program with awards and publications.

• Contact foundations for funding support.

• Include the AIA Knowledge Communities in the discussion.

• Provide CEU credits for the research published on BRIK. • Engage emerging architects and 20-year olds.

• Take an action oriented direction.

• Bring back the Research in Practice Grant in addition to maintaining the Upjohn Research Initiative and COF Latrobe Prize.

Dennis A. Andrejko FAIA closed with the phrase, “Innovate, demonstrate, educate, celebrate.”

the young generation in their 20’s. The upcoming generation of Twitter and Pinterest users is very visual with not enough time to read lengthy treatises (this article is one of them). As Gerald (Butch) Reifert FAIA put it, “sometimes less rigorous research and water cooler discussion is where innovation occurs”. It would be essential to make the information available in various lengths: onesentence abstract, one paragraph, single page, and the complete research paper. The format should be interactive with diagrams and photographs as applicable. Similar to the Khan Academy, videos should be integrated. The published material should focus on the reader and user who would apply the knowledge towards further research or practice benefiting the clients. Ken L. Ross FAIA well stated that the greatest member value is in making the member more valuable. Just like the medical, engineering and other fields that share their research and build upon each other’s findings, when

All drawings are by Lindsay Roffe © Ink Factory

the members of AIA begin sharing their research through BRIK, the entire membership and profession will benefit from the increased value of collective research.

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Event

ELEVATOR PITCH: IN REVIEW

Writer: Jeffrey Pastva Pastva is a Project Architect at Haley Donovan Architecture + Planning in Haddonfield, NJ. Pastva is serving as a Co-Chair of the YAF of Philadelphia, helps run/organize the local ARE Study Session series and is the founder of the website The Designated Sketcher.

As Chairs of YAF Philadelphia, we are charged with staying up to

one. As part of this simulation, participants were required to give

date with the current issues and challenges facing the emerging

a 30-second introduction that was designed to pique the panel’s

professionals under our umbrella. We are particularly concerned

interest. This real-world constraint forced them to be as persuasive

with helping young professionals overcome skill or experience

as possible and prompted the title of the event, Elevator Pitch.

gaps that may cause them to be overlooked or undervalued by potential employers. In our search for this form of “mispricing� within the community, we found that many recent graduates have limited experience articulating their ideas to audiences outside the academic sphere.

The event itself was broken into three phases: The initial Pitch, a longer prepared presentation, and finally a Q&A/feedback session.

Phase I served as the classic example of having 30 seconds to make a first impression worthy of hearing more. In our simulation, we allowed them to continue as planned, but we made them aware

Our response was to create an event that provided the opportunity

that the initial time frame might be their only chance to make a

for up and coming designers to pitch a project to a panel of seasoned

convincing argument. When they proceeded to Phase II, they had

professionals in return for constructive criticism. We believe this

an extended period of 4 minutes and 30 seconds to give additional

simulated environment helps participants achieve the necessary

information and explain the bones of the project. They were allowed

oral skills to succeed at the next level. It also prepares them with

upwards of 20 images to make their point and were directed to

intellectual agility, exposes them to pragmatic concerns, and gives

include only the most pertinent information to do so. At the end of

them the confidence to speak comfortably to an unknown audience.

their 5 total minutes, the panel of professionals had the opportunity

These same skills often translate into a coherent interview, the

to interact with the presenters, asking both follow up questions and

ability to communicate within a team environment, and ultimately

providing feedback where they could improve in the future.

the ability to convince a client that their design solution is a viable

In this particular round of presentations, we had two Thesis level

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(Top) A shot of the crowd at Elevator Pitch.

(Below) Opening presenter, Britt Chapman, giving her “Pitch”.

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13

A close up shot of one of the many reactions from the Jury.

undergraduate students repurpose their academic presentations

Of those tasks mentioned, the most pertinent and time intensive

for outside criticism, one Master’s candidate present his idea for a

stage was the Call for Entries (CFE) process. Since we thought this

wearable architectural device, and two professionals discuss their

topic spanned the entire spectrum of academic and professional

project for a public installation in a local park. All received great

education, the CFE was broadcast to all area architecture students

feedback on how they could improve, but it was clear that the initial

and young professionals.

30-second constraint was a challenge, in addition to answering

produce a 150-word synopsis of their proposed presentation, as well

questions that many clients would be concerned with, like total cost.

as a few example slides. At the conclusion of the CFE, we selected

For the full presentations (including feedback), please visit the following link: http://www.youtube.com/user/runtimeHD/videos.

The 4 presentations that are a part of our event are: Auman & Hartwig, Nam Il Joe, Brian Johnson, and Britt Chapman. For a 90

Potential applicants were asked to

the applicants who we thought would best represent themselves and who would benefit the most. These presenters were then given instructions to help vet their proposed presentations in preparation for the actual event.

second overall glimpse of Elevator Pitch, please see here: http://bit.

Elevator Pitch was held at the showroom of Garden State Tile, a local

ly/Pj2elY

floor finish distributor in Center City Philadelphia, to an audience

In order for our event to run as smoothly as possible, the Young Architects Forum Committee Chairs – Jeffrey Pastva and Denise Thompson – served as the point of source for organization. This included securing a venue, committing a diverse panel of jurors,

of 50 architecture + design enthusiasts. It was moderated by YAF Co-Chair Jeffrey Pastva and featured 3 knowledgeable sources for feedback. They included the following people; George Smith, Christopher Stromberg, and Denise Thompson.

creating/advertising/administering a Call for Entries, securing

George is currently a Director at development firm, U3 Ventures.

additional sponsorship as required, and finally promoting the event

We really appreciated his outside eye for architectural issues at

to the community.

a macro scale and his expertise helped him act as a typical client.

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Christopher serves as an adjunct faculty member at Philadelphia University, in addition to owning his own practice. He brought an expertise that includes both an instructional and practical view.

Denise Thompson is an architectural practitioner as well as an acting member on multiple committees within AIA Philadelphia.

For Elevator Pitch to reach our desired level of participation we relied almost entirely on In-Kind donations. To help make it possible, the following sources have been listed alongside what they contributed: Venue: Garden State Tile allowed us to use their showroom to

The RunTimeHD crew interviews juror Christopher Stromberg after the presentations.

accommodate our audience. To help ensure a proper event, this included audio amplification equipment, seating, Juror/Moderator Table and projection screen.

Food/Beverage: Garden State Tile and Co-Chair Jeffrey Pastva chipped in to provide enough snacks and drinks for those in attendance.

Video Documentation: RunTimeHD was our sponsor for digitally capturing the event and providing edited videos as a result. The videos included both edited renditions of each presentation, as well as a full arc of the event.

Additional Audio/Visual Equipment: Francis Cauffman provided the use of a projector for each presentation.

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YAF CONNECTION 10 | 05

PHOTOGRAPHY Ann Neeriemer, AIA, is an Associate at Perkins Eastman in Washington, DC. Neeriemer is also the young adult coordinator at National City Christian Church, and a core team member of Washington Interfaith Network, a community organizing group.

ANN NEERIEMER

Numero 46 Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala May 2011

Unshuttered Yangshuo, Guanxi, China February 2010

Madre e hija Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala June 2011

Salento, Quindio, Colomabia July 2008

San Juan la Laguna, Solola, Guatemala May 2011

17

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PHOTOGRAPHY

ERIC BERON

Beron, AIA is a Principal Architect at DLR Group in Des Moines, Iowa. Beron is also a Trustee Member of the Iowa Architectural Foundation and is an avid photographer in his free time.

Empire State Building from Top of the Rock July 2012 New York Skyline from Top of the Rock July 2012

Originally hailing from the East Coast (Delaware-area) - it has been a while since I have made the trek back east, let alone taking the time to visit other sites along the coast. My family and I traveled to New York City in mid-July to visit extended family and show my young sons the beauty and inspiration of the built environment of downtown Manhattan.

On this trip, the weather was not cooperating as one would like for a "sunny, relaxing getaway" however, rather than let a few clouds spoil the moment, we took to two different vantage points – the fist being above it all at the Top of Rock (Rockefeller Center) and the later being the below the surface in the subway. The landmarks above and below New York City Skyline and just as striking - if not more-so - than if we had had all of the sunshine in the world!

Bank of America Building from Top of the Rock July 2012

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YAF CONNECTION 10 | 05

PHOTOGRAPHY Nedzbala is an architecture student at UNCC in Charlotte, North Carolina. Nedzbala has also lived in Germany, Japan, Turkey, Slovenia, and Italy, and interned at A&B Architects in Vicenza, Italy.

LUKA NEDZBALA Basilica di Sant'Andrea Mantova, Italy August 2012

Vicenza Street Vicenza, Italy August 2012

Andrea Palladio Vicenza, Italy July 2011

Santa Maria della Salute from the Grand Canal Venice, Italy May 2011 Santa Maria della Salute towering over the Grand Canal. People sit on the steps in front of the church, taking a break from their site-seeing.

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YAF CONNECTION 10 | 05

Cataldo is an Associate at Ayers Saint Gross in Baltimore, MD. Cataldo is also an Associate AIA and co-coordinator of the Emerging Professionals group at ASG which strives to assist emerging design professionals within the 3 major disciplines at ASG (architecture, landscape architecture, and planning) in the process of professional registration as well as building relationships with their respective professional organizations.

PHOTOGRAPHY

NAOMI CATALDO

Art on a Bridge Charles Bridge, Prague June 2011

Abbey Road, Redux Mala Strana, Prague June 2011

Vineyard View Villa Richter, Prague June 2011

Upward St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague June 2011

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YAF CONNECTION 10 | 05

Nathan Wambold is a registered architect and owner of an architectural photography company out of the greater St. Louis metro area.

Although Nathan specializes in photographing “built-environments”, on occasion he needs to get away from it all and goes for a drive with his camera at the ready. See more of his work and the rest of his “Western Splendors Tour” collection at nathanwamboldphotography.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY

NATE WAMBOLD

“Sweet Dreams” - Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Oct 2007

“Three’s a Charm” - Yosemite National Park, California

Oct 2007

“Not Forgotten” - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho

Sept 2007

“Mashed Potato Mountain� - Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming Sept 2007

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YAF CONNECTION 10 | 05

PHOTOGRAPHY

SHELLY SCOTT

Shelly-Anne, AIA is active in the AIA Atlanta Community and is the Public Awareness Co-Director and a member of the AIA ATL Tours Committee organising free monthly tours of recently completed architecture projects for the public. She is an alumni of Florida A&M University and has a MArch degree and an Associate of Arts in Interior Design. Her next passion after design is photography which she actively pursues as a hobby.

When she is not doing either of these she can be seen volunteering at many of the local arts and cultural festivals in Atlanta, hiking or Latin dancing.

Baker Hall - Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

School of Computer Science - Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Baker Hall - Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

During a spring visit to the Carnegie Mellon Campus I was able to capture these images. It was a very unique visit as this was the only sunny day and it snowed the very next day.Luckily I was able to get en route to Atlanta before the real snow started. It is so interesting how just walking on a college campus and seeing the students eager for knowledge brings you alive again and just makes you want to go back to that super creative stage where you can dream and design anything you want. After being an architecture and interior design student and practically and literally living on campus sleeping on desks, being so tired that you could fall asleep standing, I would love to go to university again, just for the campus activities and creative projects, minus the exams and deadlines.....dream, dream, dream away.

Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Home to the Architecture Students

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PHOTOGRAPHY William Webb, AIA is a Licensed Architect at Hajek & Associates in Austin, Texas.

Webb is also a Bilingual architect and licensed abroad, with an interest in Architecture and culture around the World. Avid photography fan, with a passion to capture the aesthetics of the places I travel.

WILLIAM WEBB

La Grande Arche de la Défense’ Alexander Calder at Pompidou Museum

Opera, Paris. Black & White”

Notre Dame, Paris

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PHOTOGRAPHY

YELENA PTASHINSKAYA Lombard St, San Francisco

July 2012

California Academy of Science

San Francisco July 2012

Yelena Ptashinskaya was born and raised in Belarus and graduated from college there.

Now living with here family in Texas working in one of the Dallas area architectural firms.

Mission Dolores Park, San Francisco July 2012

California Academy of Science

San Francisco July 2012 31

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PHOTOMONTAGE

Julie A. Babin, AIA, LEED AP is a Project Architect at studioWTA l Wayne Troyer Architects, a collaborative design firm in New Orleans. A 2006 graduate of Tulane University, Julie was the recipient of the John William Lawrence Memorial Medal for Design Excellence. In 2010 Julie and her colleague, Ross Karsen, were awarded first place by the Louisiana Chapter of the USGBC Natural Talent Design Competition for their affordable and sustainable housing submission “Extending Roots."

JULIE BABIN Serene Santorini

Architectural Elements of Ancient Ephesus

Contemporary Spain

Across Italy From City to Coast

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SKETCHES

AMY WYNNE

Amy Wynne is an architect and a principal at OFFICIAL in Dallas, Texas. Wynne has won first place in multiple international design competitions including the Temporary Outdoor Gallery Space competition and, as an architecture professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design was awarded a Presidential Fellowship for the study of materiality and construction in contemporary Japanese architecture.

Section perspective of the Chichu Art Museum by Tadao Ando in Naoshima, Japan Pencil on vellum + digital color

Section perspective of the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures at the Tokyo National Museum by Yoshio Taniguchi Pencil on vellum + digital color Section perspective and photo collage of the Naoshima Ferry Terminal by SANNA in Naoshima, Japan Pencil on vellum + + digital photography + digital color

Section perspective and detail of the Dior Headquarters building by SANAA in Tokyo, Japan Pencil on vellum + digital color

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SKETCHES

LIRA LUIS City of Arts and Sciences Valencia Spain Charcoal

City of Arts and Sciences Valencia Spain Graphite

City of Arts and Sciences Valencia Spain Graphite

Luis, AIA is a Chief Collaboration Architect at ALLL in Chicago, IL. Luis is also ENR Midwest's Top 20 Under 40 for 2012, National Geographic and The Aspen Institute’s Environment Forum Scholar for 2010, the American Institute of Architects’ AIA Athena Young Professional Award recipient, Tile of Spain’s Reign In Spain competition winner, i4Design Magazine’s 2011 Suite 16 Top Picks, and the 2011 AIA Knowledge Scholar on Practice Management. She graduated with a Master of Architecture degree from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin and a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture, Cum Laude, from the University of Santo Tomas.

Airport Ceiling Valencia, Spain Graphite

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SKETCHES

MARK PEARSON

Pearson, AIA is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois where he teaches courses in design, presentation, and sustainability.

St. Peters Basilica Rome Italy Pencil, 2012

Petersburg Alaska Pencil, 1997

Pantheon, Rome Italy Pencil, 2009

Phaeno Science Center Zaha Hadid Wolfsburg Germany Pencil, 2007.

Duomo, Florence Italy Pencil, 2012

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STORY

ANGELA DEMMA

Angela Demma, AIA is an Associate at Vinci|Hamp Architects in Chicago, Illinois.

Specializing in new building design, museum and gallery installation and historic preservation, she currently leads a team in the restoration of a 7,000 square foot 1920’s era Chicago Apartment.

LEARNING AND TOURING IN CARRARA Nestled at the base of the mountains and minutes from the Mediterranean Sea, Carrara has long been a source of beautiful stone. From the time of the Romans to today, builders, artists and architects have come here to cut “white gold”, as the locals refer to it, from the mountains. A charming Tuscan town neglected by tourists, Carrara is on the west coast of Italy, sixty miles southeast of Genoa and thirty-five miles northwest of Pisa. This past spring I was fortunate enough to spend time in and around Carrara learning about the material, its extraction, and the history and customs of the people that have long made their living from the white mountains directly above them.

Marble Quarries, Apuana Mountains, Carrara

The Italian Chamber of Commerce hosted 25 architects from Europe, North America, South America and the Middle East during a stone expo in Carrara. I was included in this group and attended the biennial “Carrara Marmotec” trade fair. This was my second visit to Carrara; in July of 2011 I went there with residential clients to search for stone. This recent trip, however, was more spectacular as it was organized specifically for architects – to teach us more about the material, its excavation, production and history. We attended the trade fair, met numerous representatives of companies fabricating and excavating stone there and attended events in conjunction with the fair. The highlight of the trip was certainly visiting numerous quarries of the region. With special permission and coordination by our hosts, we ventured up into the Apuana Mountains to see Venatino, Statuary, Calacatta and Zebrino quarries, just to name a few of the many located here.

Port and Historic Center of Carrara from the Apuana Mountains

Franchi Umberto Pavillion at Carrara Marmotec, 2012

To see first-hand the scale, beauty and technology of this industry helped me better understand a material I use regularly in my work. I saw exactly where it came from, witnessed what it takes to get it from the mountain to the job site and all the steps in between. I met the people involved in stone production, watched those responsible for excavating the blocks and transporting them down steep, switch-back roads which illustrated the care, effort and craftsmanship involved.

It was an inspiring experience to complement a beautiful material. One of the joys of architecture is using the beauty of the natural world in the built environment: transforming natural elements for practical use. Nowhere is the simplicity of this idea clearer than in Carrara.

Zebrino Quarry, Apuana Mountains, Carrara

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STORY

NAVNEET MAGON ANAND

Magon-Anand, Associate AIA is the President of Design Veritas in Shrewsbury, MA .

Magon-Anand is the Vice President and Chair of the Sustainability Committee of the AIA Central Massachusetts Chapter.

WHY DID IT TAKE ME TWENTY YEARS TO GET TO ROME? With architecture in my blood and design as my career, I asked myself that question on Day 3 of my 5 day visit to what should be called the Architecture Mecca of the world. As an architecture and art history student years ago - learning about Rome and its surrounding cities created a desire to visit ‘one day.’ I used to always say ‘When I go to Italy, I will just die and go to heaven.’Well, I didn’t die there. But I did see a bit of heaven.

Rome was truly an inspirational city. Ancient, medieval, renaissance and modern architecture verge into one city.

If you look down one street, you see the hustle and bustle of modern city life with renaissance residential buildings, modern office buildings and beautiful old churches dripping with history and simple grandeur. Turn around and you see another side of Rome, with its little gullies and old R OME architectural ‘walkways’. I was in awe of the buildings built so long ago and I T A L Ycould only imagine what life was like back then. every minute JI loved ULY 20 1 2 of Rome.

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'One of the Many Views' Rome, Italy.

We walked the city and saw every architectural marvel that Rome is known for. The Colosseum blew me away. I still am in awe of Ancient Rome - how did they build all that back then with none of the modern technology that we know today? Truly amazing.

The Pantheon was my absolute favorite experience in everything that we did and saw in Rome. An odd choice one would think but there was something magical and mystical about that one circle that gave light to this entire dark space. I loved how the doors closed when the sunlight went down - reminiscent of a much simpler time of work,rest and play. A time so different from the city life we know today where bright lights kick in when the sunlight does down. We went again the next day just to experience being inside this space. We were delighted - truly delighted to experience an all boys choir singing with their heavenly voices.

Talk about acoustics! This space was designed perfectly with that one circle of light and perfect acoustics - how they knew and designed this great architectural masterpiece with none of the modern advances we know today, no firm, architect or designer could achieve that feat today.

The Pantheon, Rome. Taken during the morning time.

We walked the city, saw all the famous sites, ate delicious pasta that was recommended by the locals- had capucinnos and gelatos , visited the Vatican museums and yes - saw Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo was and is truly my biggest inspiration of all time.

On day 4, we decided to do something different. We hired a vespa and truly became one of the locals. What an experience! saw all the famous sites, ate delicious pasta that was We decided to drive by for the last time to all of our favorite ʻ shad capucinnos and gelatos , visited the Vatican museums places. Whizzing in and out through traffic, taking queues from Where the Many Architectural Periods of Rome Meetʼ - a typical Modern Roman Street. the locals going to fro, we truly experienced a new side of We did visit all the ‘touristy’ places Rome is known one simply oʼs famous Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo was and is trulyandmy Rome. We even drove to the outskirts of Rome (we actually got to do that. We turned a corner one evening and discovered me. has lost) and saw another side to the city of Rome. This is where the the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain was not only a sculptural # just The Takenfrom during the we morning time.# localsPantheon, lived. WhatRome. a difference all that were exposed masterpiece but truly an experience. #We sat on# the steps to with our tourist ‘eyes’ of Rome. Modern day romans lived watching the water fall. This was truly a beautiful backdrop to like the rest of us. This somehow reminded me of growing up the hustle of locals and tourists gathered there. This almost Montreal and visiting ‘Little Italy.’ Now that I was finally here in reminded me of being in NYC watching a broadway show. We Italy, I realized I loved the culture, the people, the language, the were surrounded by this Baroque drama - with all the lights, sounds, the words and of course the architectural history of this action, emotions, lively excitement and entertainment - we beautiful country. simply sat back and enjoyed!

Back on track, after a delicious lunch in a local joint - the afternoon plan was to visit the sea. Ostia was nice - a holiday seaside for mostly the locals. Nothing special - perhaps like any typical boardwalk or seaside town. But what really left an impression on me was the beautiful highway we took to get from Rome to Ostia. This truly was an example of ‘enjoying the ride’ or ‘it is not the destination but the journey that counts.’ This was a stunning journey to our destination. It left me yearning for more of the countryside and I decided then that our next trip would be to visit more of Italy and its countrysides.

'Where the Many Architectural Periods of Rome Meet' - a typical Modern Roman Street.

We headed back to Rome that evening in time to capture the sunset over the city. We spent several hours on Janiculum Hill with its stunning panoramic views of the city at sunset. What a magnificent way to end our Roman holiday....

'Rome, The Colosseum, Me & a Vespa' The Colosseum, Morning Time 43

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STORY

SAUL MORENO BRAZIL: A MODEL FOR NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY Brazil; imagery of the festivities, upbeat lifestyle, and colorful favelas start rushing in our heads. Over the past few years, Brazil has redefined itself globally and is taking on a new role.

Today it is recognized as one of the four BRIC countries. The spotlight is on Brazil as we near the 2014 World Cup and gets closer to the 2016 Olympics. Brazil’s rapid growth is partly due to the fact that it has remained unaffected by the global economic recession. This is largely due to President Lula da Silva’s implementation of conservative fiscal policies. This summer I had the opportunity of exploring three major cities in Brazil; Sao Paulo, Rio de Janiero, and Brasila. Each city had unique characteristics that made them unrecognizable from one another.

Sao Paulo, the central business district of Brazil was the first destination on this tour. The city was populated with a diversity of people from all parts of the world. The city can be described as a hybrid of L.A. and New York; Paulistas face heavy traffic every day en route. In the years that follow designers and planners will work together to improve the cities and quality of life for many, especially those in large developing cities like Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo aside from its largely metropolitan atmosphere holds a number of revolutionary modernist works of architecture.

Capital District: Brasilia June 25, 2012 Conjuncto Nacional Shopping Centre

Moreno, Assoc. AIA is a Designer at Thornton Tomasetti in Chicago, IL. Moreno has undertaken mentorships alongside Marshall Brown and Antony Wood in his travels to Morocco, Africa and Mumbai, India; he has presented the results from these experiences in the 2011 Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium and CTBUH Remaking of Mumbai Journal.

Rio de Janiero, the city of culture, was the next stop on this tour.

The scenic Imagery, such as the favelas and carnival, many call “Brazil” link back to Rio. The urban fabric consists of patterned sidewalks and monolithic concrete obelisks juxtaposing against newly erected steel structures. Much of architecture in Brazil is created from concrete structures, but as arable land becomes limited civilians look up to the skies for answers. The purpose of the trip was not only to develop new relationships and learn from students and professionals in the building industry, but to take part in the Rio+20 summit. UN leaders, NGOs and people in the private sector congregated in Rio for the duration of a week.

The discussions involved topics on sustainable development, reduction in poverty, and ensuring social equity as many developing countries are on the rise. One of the most memorable moments was when Vandana Shiva took the microphone. She raised questions concerning the welfare of the people, not from what heard or seen but from personal experience. It is our responsibility as whole to come together and ensure that everyone has a voice. Many of the decisions constituted in Brazil come from Brasilia.

SEBRAE Headquarters: Brasilia June 27, 2012 Project built - 2008-210 Architect - Gruposp - Alvaro Puntoni, Luciano Margotto, João Sodré, Jonathan Davies Client - SEBRAE

This trip had been a compilation from previous experience with other traveling studios. I decided to embark on a journey on my own; in hopes of learning a new language, making new friends and learning about a new culture. The results were much more than what I’d expected. We are no longer living within our own boundaries; we are globally connected with one another.

In this day and age, ideas and tools are shared at a global scale. Escaping your routine and entering uncharted territory is beneficial in helping one create new friendships and develop new dialogues. The built environment is rarely discussed, but as countries continue rapidly growing, we need to speak from experiences and state what we believe is right. The future holds a landscape where both technology and nature exist in harmony.

Promenade: Rio de Janeiro June19, 2012 Downtown corridor in Rio de Janeiro

Arena+20 Discussion: Rio de Janeiro June18, 2012 Márcia Valle Real, Paulo Moutinho, Host, Rômulo Paes de Sousa, Vandana Shiva

Brasilia, the Districto federal of Brazil was the last stop on this tour. Brasilia is the 50 year city constructed in 5 years. Julien Kubitschek assigned Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer as Brasilia’s urban planner and architect; the vision of creating a city dedicated exclusively to the government was created. Many of Niemeyer’s projects can be found throughout Brazil. He is known by everyone in the country, even those who did not study architecture. Today one would find Brasilia to be a set from the film Blade Runner. The fluorescent lighting illuminating from the bill boards above create a gateway to the markets within the building. When one thinks of Brazil, not many would think such landscape could exist, considering the majority of the amazon rainforest is contained within Brazil. In Brasilia, I was able to visit the SEBRAE headquarters. It is a non-profit organization funded by the government and private sectors in order to help small enterprises grow and create environments for sustainable development. SEBRAE had been present in the Rio+20 conference; it was also one of the first partners in the Rio+20.

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STORY

WILL STANFORD

William A. Stanford II, AIA is a Staff Architect at BTBB, Incorporated in Macon, Georgia.

Stanford is also an advocate of reusing historic structures in practice and as a member of Historic Macon organization.

CERVARA DI ROMA – THE STORY My 5th year experience in Architecture school in Mississippi State was tremendous for many reasons, not least of which is the change of venue from Starkville to the great capital city of Jackson. But I never imagined that I would travel over 5,300 miles to visit Italy and France. You see, to that point, I had never travelled outside of the United States. The adventure began in the Mid-March of 2007 and extended into early April – a once in a lifetime, 3 week Euro-excursion that began with 5 days in Rome and concluded with a frantic sweep to see everything in Florence, Venice and Paris that I could over a week’s time. However, it was the interim destination that I most cherish…

The city in snow March 2007

The city of Cervara di Roma is an medieval fortified city situated among the Simbruini Mountains within a National Park – but only 2.5 hours outside of Rome. The mountainous terrain leading up to this community is treacherous (as evidenced by the sound of our bus scraping the rock). The city itself only has around 400 inhabitants during the winter months, but it is not without fame.

The famous composer Ennio Morricone has inscribed the wall of the town square with a song written about the quaint city titled “Notturno-Passacaglia per Cervara” as a part of a music festival which sees some 5,000 people descend on the city each summer.

In our timeframe, it was distinctly winter.

Upon entering the city by bus, you may park at the base of the slope or take the road to the top. THERE ARE NO INTERSTITIAL ROADS. To me, this is great – it slows the pace of life. It was as if the 10-day visit was a chance to exhale from the hustle and bustle of the preceding visit to Rome and the forthcoming tour of Florence, Venice and Paris. This lack of roads, along with the steep terrain, created a city of stairs. This proved difficult to navigate over the first few days, and the high altitude made frequent stops necessary. Wherever you stopped there was no lack of breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains or of the microcosm of the limitless number of experiential moments where a stairway would lead to a courtyard outside someone’s home. There are exactly 2 restaurants, from which we rotated meals (some of the best food I’ve ever had) and 1 grocery store which carried a myriad of incredible bakery items.

The various groups rented houses for the week. These were spread throughout the city, making it difficult to find one another but always rejoicing when we did. From the moment we arrived, my group decided that we would conquer the highest point – a statue of the Virgin Mary overlooking the city. As we ascended to this peak, we quickly noticed one of the wonderful idiosyncrasies of this place; the local artists had been carving faces, poetry other forms of their expression into the hillside. It seemed ancient, somehow – like viewing hieroglyphs or Sanskrit. As the wind fell and the snow drifted, we made our way to the top and to one of the most beautiful 360-degree vantage points on earth. The valley below was painted with other small towns and the engulfing shadows from the cloud formations overhead.

Despite the experiences mentioned above, our primary visit was not site-seeing. The city had commissioned our studio to provide some guidance to adaptively reuse the site of a previous graveyard (which had been re-located nearby) into a community space – connecting the church and their arts center.

The site manifested its clear “medieval-ness” with a stone screen wall, lower courtyard which a staircase transitioned to a stone platform and soaring rock-face backdrop. With the light powdering of snow, I could see the ominous nature of this space from its bleak past. Consequently, we sketched, modeled and planned several wonderful solutions which I hope this lovely city has put to good use.

Our studio professors also assigned something quite unique to another classmate and me. Using a video camera we captured footage of our 10-day inhabitation in Cervara and made a short film so that our memory of being there could be revisited. Of course this was correlated with one of the best songs ever written “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles.”

Reflecting on my time spent in Cervara di Roma, I am inspired as an architect to create spaces and moments in my own work that begin to approach the beauty encountered in one of the most extraordinary places on Earth. I am inspired as a human.

And I thank God for the opportunity to be there and hope to return – sooner, rather than later.

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Focus

GREEN BUILDING

Rendering Š 2012 by The Miller Hull Partnership Currently under construction in Seattle WA, The Bullitt Center by The Miller Hull Partnership is seeking Living Building certification. The Bullitt Center is designed to be Net Zero Energy, utilizing high performing wall and glazing systems, an energy efficient ground source heat pump, and an extensive photo voltaic array that will generate 100 percent of the building's energy.

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Making a Case

ARCHITECTS ADOPT LIVING BUILDING IN FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

CHALLENGE

Writer: Robert Webber, AIA Webber is an architect at Valerio Dewalt Train Associates in Chicago and leads VDTA’s advancement of sustainable design. Robert is also a co-founder of the Living Building Challenge Collaborative in Chicago, an organization that promotes the Living Building Challenge through community connections and education.

Architecture as a profession has embraced the reality of climate

currently enjoy on Earth. This very fast transformation of the Earth’s

change. Yes, the man-made, fossil-fuel burning, carbon emitting

atmosphere is certain to have an effect.3

1

kind of climate change. The kind whose primary cause is from the construction and operations of buildings.2 While there is still a ‘debate’ to the validity of climate change in mainstream American culture, most architects recognize the threat posed by a built environment reliant on fossil fuels. Here we will look at some of the drivers of this environmental problem and see why the Living Building Challenge is the right tool for architects seeking a solution.

If we accept that climate change is a problem, then we must discuss solutions to the problem. There is virtually no meaningful dialog from our policy makers in Washington and very limited successes on the global political stage. Fortunately for us, architects are extremely empowered to talk about this subject. After all, the greenhouse gas emissions from the operations of buildings are the highest piece of the total pie, above industry and travel. As architects, it is our

Why Living Building Challenge

responsibility to talk about this.

For any climate change believing hold-outs, a brief attempt at

Since 1998, LEED has provided a useful tool to push the building

conversion: it has taken the Earth the last 350 million years to

industry toward higher levels of sustainability, and in many cases

sequester the carbon based fossil fuels of coal, oil, and gas from

better energy efficiency, i.e. burning less fossil fuel. LEED however

decayed organic tissue (see photosynthesis…stored energy from

does have its limits to effectiveness. Because LEED is a checklist,

the sun!) and we humans have burnt much of this, by some estimates

with most credits being optional, it is possible to design even

over half of the total, in the last 200 years. This quick release of

a LEED Platinum certified building that is only minimally more

carbon, combining with oxygen to form the greenhouse gas CO2,

energy efficient than a non-LEED building. LEED is good at helping

greatly impacts the delicately balanced, life sustaining climate we

to reduce energy consumption, but the reality is that most LEED

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buildings are still highly reliant on fossil fuels.

In 2005 Jason McClennan decided that good wasn’t good enough.

Jason transformed several years worth of his work and research into

impact of burning fossil fuels (climate costs), it also makes us a slave to the ever diminishing, limited resource of these fossil fuels (financial costs).

a codified standard and created The Living Building Challenge (LBC).

As Richard Heinberg brilliantly describes in his book The End of

The LBC is an advanced building rating system, philosophy, and

Growth, the recent economic recession can be directly tied to the

advocacy platform whose mission is to “lead the transformation to a

limits of Earth’s fossil fuels and natural resources. After all, we exist

world that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative.”4

in a global economic model that relies on continued and unending

In short, to create buildings that cause no harm. This includes no

financial growth. If you need further proof, read the business op-

harm to the environment and no harm to the climate. A Living

ed from the NY Times or Wall Street Journal; in the public’s mind

Building is required to be Net Zero Energy.5 The exact requirement

the economy is all about growth, growth, growth. But based on

of the LBC Net Zero Energy imperative is that “One hundred percent

the resources of a finite planet, it is inevitable that we will reach

of the project’s energy needs must be supplied by on-site renewable

the economic limits of forever burning fossil fuels. Some such as

energy on a net annual basis.” This means no on-site combustion,

Mr. Heinberg believe we are already there. We must live, and build,

no burning natural gas, and that electricity is produced with on-site

within our means and Net Zero Energy buildings are proof that this

renewable energy such as Photovoltaic panels, solar thermal hot

is possible.

water systems, and wind turbines. This means no fossil fuel burning, carbon emitting energy usage.

2 Reasons to Net Zero The reason for architects and building owners to adopt a Net Zero Energy building strategy is actually two-fold: While the status quo of building design and construction promotes the negative climate

The climate costs can be further explained by Bill McKibbon, founder of 350.org. Mr. McKibbon tells us that, “to preserve our planet, scientists tell us we must reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 392 parts per million (ppm) to below 350 ppm.”6 It can be taxing for a non-scientist (like an architect) to sort through all of the many different claims of

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maximum ppms and maximum allowable temperature increases,

same message is spread by many. There are many young architects

but the 350 ppm maximum is generally agreed upon as the target to

out there, including you, to help spread this important message.

avert irreversible climate change. Unfortunately, we are already over it. Since buildings are the largest contributor to carbon emissions, architects must make the dramatic shift to a better way of designing buildings. Net Zero Energy buildings are the solution.

Advocate

Notes 1. From The AIA, Architects and Climate Change, see www.aia.org/ advocacy/federal/AIAS077675 2.

Most architects have not yet had the opportunity to work on a Living Building Challenge project. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the problem of climate change and to feel somewhat responsible when we know that buildings are the largest contributor to the problem.

As a young architect, you may feel especially powerless in a firm’s every day decision making process to make a real difference. The

From www.architecture2030.org, The Building Sector was

responsible for nearly half (46.7%) of U.S. CO2 emissions in 2010.

3. For a detailed history of carbon’s effect on the Earth’s atmosphere, see Eric Ralston’s excellent book, The Carbon Age. 4. For more information on the Living Building Challenge, see Living Building Challenge v 2.1, https://ilbi.org/lbc/standard

good news is that The Living Building Challenge is just as effective

5. Net Zero Energy is one of the twenty imperatives, or requirements,

as an advocacy tool as it is a building rating system.

of the Living Building Challenge checklist. For a full description of

Even if you do not work directly on a Net Zero Energy building, you can advocate on behalf of the mission. You can write letters to political leaders and code officials, or contact other architects and engineers, to raise awareness of climate change and to discuss the

the Living Building Challenge and all of the 20 imperatives, see https://ilbi.org/lbc/standard 6. For more information on the 350.org mission, see http://www.350. org

Living Building Challenge as a real-world solution to the problem.

7. Image used by permission of the International Living Future

Advocacy can be just as effective as actual practice, especially if the

Institute.

The Living Building Challenge imagines a building designed and constructed to function as elegantly and efficiently as a flower: a building informed by its bioregion’s characteristics, generates all of its own energy with renewable resources, captures and treats all of its water, and operates efficiently and for maximum beauty.

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51

Making a Case

THREE PILL ARS OF SUCCESS TO REAC

Writer: Premnath Sundharam, AIA Prem is an architect with passion for leadership, sustainability, and technology. With nine (9) years of architecture experience in K-12, higher-ed, justice, and commercial, Prem serves as DLR Group's southwest region practice leader, where he collaborates with 100+ employees on business practice innovations to provide the best design solution and design service experience for clients. Prem also leads at a national level on sustainable business practices and champions integrated design process to provide high-performance design solutions to clients.

Fireside Elementary School, Paradise Valley School District, Phoenix, AZ

Perhaps more than any other building type, school facilities have the

determine the vision for sustainability. This requires that they have

potential to experience the greatest benefit from sustainable design.

an established benchmark for existing facilities that allows them to

This is evidenced in the industry through standards for design

understand energy use, cost and demand. The visioning exercise

such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Schools rating

must involve all stakeholders including staff, building users and

which addresses factors affecting student health and achievement.

the design team. The goal of the exercise is to create a plan for

Sustainable design has also been the topic of study for several years,

“energy independence” based on energy reduction and production

confirming that factors such as daylighting improves the ability to

initiatives. This commitment and vision, if established early, can

learn and that a “healthy building” translates to healthy people.

then be incorporated in the client’s Request for Qualification/

Tackling a “near net-zero” elementary school that can produce nearly

Proposal process.

as much energy as it consumes, was the recent challenge presented

The vision-casting sessions help establish design goals which

to DLR Group’s designers. And while most any design firms can

become guiding principles for the project and become the metrics

technically create a facility that reaches net-zero, it takes a team of

for measuring success. These goals may include elements related

committed, passionate stakeholders to make it a reality. Such was

to technology usage, educational flexibility of space, and specific

the case in Paradise Valley Unified School District’s new Fireside

sustainable goals such as: Inspiring future green global citizens to a

Elementary School. Three factors stand as the pillars of success

high level of environmental awareness, and utilizing the campus as

in designing a near net-zero school. They include: Client Vision

a sustainable teaching tool.

and Commitment, Aggressive Energy Modeling and Reduction/ Production Strategies.

Aggressive Energy Modeling Energy modeling tools can accurately measure amounts of daylight

Client Visioning & Commitment

and glare entering a building at certain times of the day and

Prior to any new construction or renovation, the client must

through every season of the year. They can measure the operational

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C H N E T- Z E R O D E S I G N

impact of setting a building in a slightly different orientation for

solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines or geothermal heating

tremendous energy savings, or find the “hot spots” in a specific room

and cooling. A rule of thumb in net zero design is to shoot for 75%

that requires moving a window to a different location.

reduction of energy (compared to energy use of similar type of

For building owners like Paradise Valley Unified School District who are committed to energy reduction solutions for their schools,

building in the same zip code using EnergyStar target finder), leaving 25% energy use to be met through renewable energy technologies.

energy modeling helped them decide how best to apply the dollars

At Fireside Elementary, the design reduced the energy usage by 55%

they had for achieving a near net-zero facility for Fireside Elementary

from average buildings using high performance envelope systems

School. This included everything from the building envelope design,

such as Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) walls; low-e glazing for

to insulation, to glazing options, space conditioning methods,

different orientations; highly reflective roof, extensive daylighting

rainwater harvesting and Energy Star equipment. Different scenarios

solutions, high efficiency chillers, economizers and variable drive

were graphically communicated to the client using infographics. For

motors in towers and pumps. Such reduction strategies left an

each strategy, an infographic related the specific energy demand,

energy deficit requiring a photovoltaic system to produce 340KW at

the amount of energy consumed before and after applying

full building capacity.

renewable energy.

Conclusion

Reduction/Production Strategies

Moving forward, these three elements of client commitment, energy

As much as reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment

modeling and reduction/production strategies will be reviewed as

requires commitment to reduction efforts, reaching that golden ring

Fireside Elementary School moves into operation during the 2012-

of “Net-Zero” nearly always requires an equal commitment to some

2013 school year. And all three will continue to be the pillars that

production of renewable energy to offset even minimal energy use.

define their sustainable success.

Renewable energy encompasses a vast array of solutions including

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53

Making a Case

IN ORDER TO BECOME LEADERS IN ENERGY MODELING,

ARCHITECTS NEED TO BE BUILDING SCIENCE EXPERTS

Writer: Daniel Overbey, AIA Overbey is the Director of Sustainable Design Practices for Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects in Indianapolis. Daniel’s work focuses on high-performance building design and construction, environmental systems research, LEED-related services, and energy modeling. He is a regular contributor to EDC magazine and teaches environmental systems at the Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning.

In a marketplace increasingly attuned to high-performance strategies, design teams and clients alike are becoming ever savvier with regard to building science. Consequently, there is a growing expectation that architects exhibit the tools and technical knowledge to go beyond design rules-of-thumb and actually test conceptual notions, compare the performance design options, and refine chosen strategies. This can be accomplished through schematic-level energy modeling. This kind of energy modeling is simplified through basic forms, generalizations, and gross approximations, which makes it quite different from the highly detailed comprehensive modeling effort that is commonly executed (Top) This academic building features faculty offices along a curving

near the end of a project for green building certification or energy

west-facing façade. The office windows are flanked with shading “fins.”

code compliance. This preliminary type of energy modeling provides

Using energy modeling software, a solar access study revealed the ability of the fins to provide shading for each office window. Rendering © Ennead Architects.

teams with a dynamic opportunity to compare the performance of different design options during the conceptual and schematic

(Below) The design team recognized that a series of identical vertical shading fins would perform differently as the curving façade altered the orientation of the office windows and fins about the sky dome.

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(Below) During schematic design, it was determined that the lobby of the Henderson (Nevada) Police Department’s North Division Community Police Station had too much sound reverberation. Through energy modeling, the design team discovered that a custom wood chandelier could soften the acoustical “hardness” of the space.

(Right) Completed lobby. Image © Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects

design phases when most of the major design decisions are made

Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the National Renewable

and the consequences of significant changes are minimal.

Energy Laboratory (NREL) - provide specialized analysis tools

The design community is already seeing a big push for preliminary energy modeling. This fall, the AIA will release the AIA Energy Modeling Practice Guide. This document will provide basic information along

for free, while various commercial developers such as Autodesk and Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) offer more robust, comprehensive packages.

with valuable tips and resources for architects interested in utilizing

These early-stage tools are easy to use, the results are visually

such procedures in the design process. Moreover, the latest draft of

stimulating, and online tutorials abound. However, the validity

LEED Version 4 promotes the implementation of energy modeling

of the results – albeit preliminary in nature – necessarily hinges

earlier in the design process to “support high-performance, cost-

on the designer’s knowledge in regards to building science. This

effective project outcomes.” The new “Integrative Process” credit

is a topic with which architects are generally competent, but are

rewards teams for performing preliminary “simple box” energy

not necessarily experts. Perhaps the most overt indication of the

modeling analyses during the schematic design phase.

architectural community’s lack of building science expertise is the

Software developers are meeting this market demand head-on.

Many publicly-funded research institutions – such as the Lawrence

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emergence of the building science consultant. By one international firm’s definition, the term building science is defined as, “…the study of the interaction between the various materials, products

55

(Left) The lobby of the Scouts Education and Program Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photograph by Susan Fleck Photography. Image courtesy of Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects.

(Below) For this education center in Indianapolis, Indiana, the design team needed to assess how the direct sun would penetrate the lobby and gift shops. Using energy modeling software, sun angles and the accessibility to direct sunlight were assessed with specificity.

and systems used in building construction, the occupants of these

understanding building science largely relates to error catching.

buildings, and the environments in which they are located.” By this

Designers should never trust energy modeling outputs at face value.

definition, a building science consultant would assume many of the

One incorrectly-entered parameter can throw off an entire analysis.

implicit responsibilities of the architect. Over time, the architectural

If an architect is well versed in building science, he/she will quickly

profession has surrendered these services and responsibilities to

recognize inconsistent or illogical performance results.

contractors, consultants, and the like. It would be a detriment to the profession if we ceded the ground of “building science expert” to yet another discipline. If architects will not meet the demand for building science expertise, someone else will.

2. Maximizing Software Capabilities. Too often, architects merely scratch the surface of the capabilities of energy modeling programs.

I have seen many examples in which designers will frequently use powerful daylighting software for shading studies but never utilize

A deeper knowledge of building science will facilitate the

the program to analyze natural light levels, illuminance, daylight

effectiveness of the architect’s leading energy modeling efforts in

autonomy, or zone-specific daylight factor values. Without a deep

three important ways:

understanding of building science, architects will forfeit seminal

1. Error catching. It has been my experience that architects can pick up the basics of energy modeling programs fairly quickly – especially the schematic-stage energy modeling programs. It is fairly easy to create a compelling visual with these programs. The advantage of

opportunities for performance studies because they are not familiar or comfortable with many of the tools and types of analyses offered by energy modeling software.

3. Testing Hypotheses and Comparing Options. When architects

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(Top) For a student housing renovation project in Honolulu, Hawaii, the design team sought to utilize natural ventilation for passive cooling. Illustration courtesy of Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects.

(Below) Using computational fluid dynamics software, the design team obtained a better understanding of how gentle breezes could migrate through the various residential units. As a result of the wind flow studies, the design team made several discoveries that led to improvements of the passive cooling strategy.

exhibit a deep understanding of building science and leverage it with energy modeling software, they can more readily formulate hypotheses and better anticipate outcomes. Such designers are more keenly aware of the interrelationships between competing performance metrics and are better equipped to carry out parametric studies and compare various design options for performance differentials.

In order for architects to use energy modeling and utilize it effectively throughout the design process, our profession must become more technically proficient with building science. It is not enough to plug-in numbers into a building simulation program and accept the output at face value. Rather, architects must apply a deep understanding of building science to truly harness energy modeling and better understand the impact of design decisions on building performance.

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57

Making a Case

FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

Writer: Greg Taylor, AIA Taylor is a Project Manager at LCD Architect and Associates in Dallas, TX. Taylor is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Reserves with 23 years of Active and Reserve service in the US Army Corps of Engineers branch. He has combined his civilian expertise as a PM with his military background to become a well-rounded military Engineer officer.

You can think of a fuel cell kind of like a battery. However, unlike

be useful when combined with renewable energy technology such

a battery, a fuel cell will not run down or lose its charge. The

as solar and wind. This can be important to architects, since the

premise behind a fuel cell is that they are an alternate energy

hydrogen that stores this unused electrical energy can be classified

source beginning to rise in popularity. Occasionally when fuel

as a renewable fuel and energy source - possibly earning the

cells have been mentioned in the past, people would think of

building LEED credits for a green building.

futuristic spaceships and laser guns. This is not the case with fuel cell technology anymore. Fuel cells are electromechanical devices that use oxygen and a replenished fuel to produce electricity. These individual cells are stacked in modules to create the desired energy output required for a specified application. These cells are nearly pollution-free and generally operate two times more efficiently than traditional combustion technologies. Some applications which use fuel cells are: laptop computers, utility power plants, and residential facilities. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), when the

For many years, NASA has used this technology in the space program with direct application to providing electricity and water for astronauts in their spacecraft since it took up very little space and is efficient. They are also used in industrial applications. These are classified into three categories: transportation, stationary power stations, and portable power.

Advantages of this technology that are of interest to architects and building owners are as follows:

heat is captured from the fuel cell and utilized in combination with the electrical power, they have efficiency rates between 70-85%.

• Close to zero emissions at the point of operation • Reduction in current and future electricity costs by using

One of the advantages of this technology is that hydrogen

renewable technology

fuel can be derived from many different domestic resources such

• A reliable, linear and consistent energy source

as biomass, propane, natural gas, methanol, and water electrolysis.

• Fuel flexibility in using the fuel cell technology

The process of producing hydrogen through water electrolysis can

• 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, silent operation

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Fuel Cell Diagram by ClearEdge Power

In today’s world where energy efficiency is so important along with minimizing the emissions (CO2) released by building systems, fuel cell technology just makes plain sense. An important note to mention is that the heat generated by a fuel cell can be used to heat a building through hydronic loops and other means. Architects can help promote the use and further development of fuel cell technology by designing new facilities with this technology. Also, education is an important part of understanding how fuel cells can save precious resources and support green building and sustainability. Collaboration with consultants who specialize in this technology can advance its installation in facilities and make it more mainstream in the construction industry instead of historically relying on electricity provided by the power grid.

Fuel cell technology that was once thought of as science fiction is now a viable source of electricity for the building community and beyond.

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59

Book Review

NARROW HOUSES: NEW DIRECTIONS I N E F F I C I E N T D E S I G N BY AVI FRIEDMAN

Writer: Jorge de la Cova, AIA Jorge obtained his Masters degree in Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His professional focus is the interdisciplinary union of architecture and interior design in four- and five-star hotels, with experience in many of the major companies and brands. For fun, Jorge periodically renews his Geek Card with regular doses of graphic novels, sci fi and The Big Bang Theory.

With public interest in sustainable living at an all-time high, the

clad in narrow boards of bleached, clear poplar in varying shades.

housing market at an astounding low and the economy still

This effectively makes the house feel longer and more gracious

struggling, the notion of a smaller home as one answer to the

than it probably is. It also gives the interior of the house a sense of

question of sustainable living has gained surprisingly little traction.

movement and activates the space very successfully. The exterior

Narrow Houses: New Directions in Efficient Design aims to rectify this.

simplicity of House MS belies the sophistication of its design. The

With Narrow Houses, author and architect Avi Friedman sets out to

plan unfolds from front door to a playroom and mechanical room,

extol the virtues of building small (by his definition a house no wider

to bedrooms on the second floor, to the main public area on the

than 25 feet). He argues for the narrow house's cost effectiveness,

third floor. This unexpected layout affords the best views to the

efficiency and sustainability and shows examples of successful

bedrooms and public areas and helps heat the southwest-facing

narrow homes.

bedrooms.

The book itself is divided into two distinct parts. The first three

To help explain the Chameleon House, the author has included a

quarters of the book includes images and drawings of contemporary

beautiful exploded axonometric view documenting the layers

narrow houses throughout the world. The last fourth of the book is

of structure and finish that combine to give this house's facade a

comprised of essays about narrow houses. The effect of the book's

texture much richer than its fairly simple cubic geometry. The

framework provides for something of a disconnect within the work.

illustration truly helps the reader to understand what is an extremely

Architects, presumably the primary target market for this book, are

deep, layered system, and serves as one of the better diagrams in

strongly visual. The separation of image and narrative disconnects

the book. Indeed, in many of the houses chose for this book, there

that narrative from some very good examples of the issues described

is a distinct and symbiotic relationship between form and function.

therein.

Narrow Houses includes examples from around the world; from

When it comes to images, it's hard not to love the multitude

places as disparate as Canada, Japan, Europe and China. Although

included in this work. Most of the photographs taken for this study

most of the designs are strikingly contemporary, the broad

are beautiful, some stunningly so. From the cover image of the

distribution of the projects throughout the world helps diversify

Sliding House in Nova Scotia to the final example, the Outeiro House

the look of the houses such that each house retains uniqueness and

in Porto, Portugal, it is clear that Friedman bears a true affection for

interest. Predictably, the houses are furnished starkly and sparsely,

his area of study. And every house included in the book differs from

placing this book more squarely within the realm of architecture

the others enough to maintain a reader's interest for a long time.

than interior design. While I realize that professional architectural

The aforementioned Sliding House, for example, boasts an interior

photography relies on order and staging to a strong degree, I would

YAF CONNECTION 10 | 05

have welcomed seeing more "living" in these images and have them

narrow houses arose, at least in part, from the need to divide land into

appear less stark.

narrow lots to maximize equitable rents. The Renaissance’s narrow

The essays at the end of the book account for just over fifty of its 229 pages, and as mentioned before, would have been better served had

house, appealing to the burgeoning upper class, transformed into the very diagram of public person and social class.

they been interspersed within the compelling collection of images.

The Neoclassical age saw a variety of narrow house floor plans,

The first essay covers the design advantages inherent in smaller

which allowed for the development of a retail-oriented first

houses. Smaller houses allow for more efficient use of resources.

floor typical of the (especially French) eighteenth century urban

Energy for lighting the house can be reduced due to proximity to

landscape. The Romantic Movement of the nineteenth century, saw

daylighting. Heating and cooling a smaller space taxes resources

an explosion of eclecticism, with Gothic, Greek Revival and Italianate

less than a larger house. Arguments for the sustainability of a

elements engaged in a war of styles facilitated by the introduction

smaller house are many, and factor well in our world of diminishing

of machinery to manufacture elements at will. In the modern era,

and sometimes harmful resources.

the rise of the suburbs saw a dearth of narrow house architects, the

The analysis of footprints and volumes is sound and thorough. In this analysis, we see the hand of the educator at work. Friedman teaches coursework in sustainability and affordable housing at McGill University. Narrow Houses shows that he clearly understands

most notable of which was likely Le Corbusier. The suburban exodus necessitated a reinvention of the urban townhouse as a viable housing option with plenty of opportunity for personalization and appeal for the new middle class.

the opportunities and challenges inherent in his building type.

Notably lacking after this final chapter, however, is any studied

More importantly, the enthusiasm he holds for his subject matter is

analysis of where the narrow house is going. The book ends in a

most evident in this essay. He breaks down each of the small house's

somewhat unsatisfying manner, with two rushed paragraphs

elements and offers insights into the repercussions of the decisions

summing up current thought regarding the narrow house (especially

made in the layout of these elements. I found this essay my favorite,

those showcased in this book), but with no real forecast regarding

as the most tangibly usable text in the book. His analysis continues

the future of this type of construction.

in the next essay, "Interiors," where he describes, room-by-room, each space in the house and the different factors determining their siting and relation to the other rooms.

The final chapter, “Historical Chronology,� outlines the evolution

In all, Narrow Houses: New Directions in Efficient Design, succeeds most in its compelling photographic images, but suffers somewhat from a disconnect between these images and the text as well as a lack of prognostication of the future of this fascinating building type.

of narrow houses from the Middle Ages to the present. Medieval

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61

Design

N E X T H O U S E : T H E F U T U R E O F AT TA I N A B

Writer: Jake Grandon Jake Grandon is a graduate student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. As a student project manager, Jake helped in the design and construction of the Nexthouse.

Ample porch space allows an active connection with the neighborhood.

The Nexthouse is the second endeavor of the Neighborhood Infill

new construction has occurred in the neighborhood for over thirty

Program located in Lafayette, Louisiana. As a joint venture between

years, and the typologies of the houses remains similar. Using this

the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority, King Contractors,

seasoned communal identity as the canvas for design collaboration,

and the Building Institute, the Nexthouse initiative involved

the students carefully considered the impact of the inhabitant within

the collaboration of architecture graduate students under the

the community while promoting neighborhood rejuvenation. The

supervision of Professor Geoff Gjertson to design a market-rate home

result is a seamless integration of public and private space. Designed

within an at-risk neighborhood near the university and downtown

for socially active inhabitants, the Nexthouse offers a private retreat

Lafayette. Incorporation of sustainable strategies permeated the

that transforms into an impressive public space through simple

design and construction process as the students sought to minimize

intervention. By opening two doors to the generously dimensioned

construction waste, energy use, and maintenance cost while

outdoor porches, the entire public space becomes a single room

producing a uniquely modern yet contextual home. The resulting

open to the community. High ceilings in the bedrooms alongside

solution is an attainable sustainable example of responsible

a second story loft in the living room allow the NEXThouse to be

architecture.

simultaneously fitting for personal office work or a celebratory

Within walking distance from downtown Lafayette, the 319

crawfish boil.

Jackson Street location is surrounded by a historic and traditional

Several techniques were used to make the Nexthouse an affordable

neighborhood with a well established cultural identity. Minimal

and appropriate solution to sustainable housing while maintaining

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B L E S U S TA I N A B L E

(Above) Advanced framing techniques create more insulation while preserving material and waste.

(Below) Modern and contextual while efficient and affordable, the Nexthouse represents an attainable sustainable architecture that is positively influencing its surroundings.

an innovative and modern sensibility. A raised slab-on-grade

The design and construction of the Nexthouse provided an

foundation converses with the traditionally elevated houses of the

opportunity for the architecture students to take part in a unique

neighborhood, and random use of various widths of hardiplank

process that allows freedom in design while simultaneously

siding upholds a traditional exterior charm while providing a modern

exposing them to budget restrictions and market concerns. The

twist. Based on the local vernacular of the shotgun and camelback

practical aspects of the design/build program create an awareness

style houses, operable casement windows allow control of natural

that will benefit the students in future design endeavors unlike

ventilation. Three solar panels on the south-facing roof cut energy

anything found inside the classroom. While they are more informed

costs by supplementing power. Advanced framing techniques

of the products, processes, and social benefits of conscientious

produce greater quantities of insulation while other framing

collaboration, they are also encouraged by their capabilities as

techniques utilize standard fencing and handrail components to

responsible designers.

provide an inexpensive, industrial allure to the home. This modern appeal is also prevalent throughout the interior with exposed ventilation ducts, appliance selections, and a balcony guardrail of cattle wire framed by galvanized pipe. Students also utilized excess materials to build custom cabinetry and furniture that further

The Next House has 1300 SF of living space with another 400 SF of covered porches. There are two bedrooms and two baths with a loft above the kitchen. It was begun in May 2012 and completed at the end of September 2012.

express the design motif. The added craftsmanship helped to create a truly unique home with an increased value.

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63

Design

GULF ISL AND BED AND BREAKFAST

Writer: James Tuer, AIA Tuer is a principal with JWT Architecture and Planning. Tuer was recently named by Western Living Magazine as the One to Watch for Eco-Design in the coming years. Tuer is a registered landscape architect as well as an architect and is an adjunct professor with the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at the University of British Columbia.

This project is a 2,400 sf home and bed and breakfast now under

been clustered together. Over half of the site is dedicated as open

construction on Bowen Island, which is a Island Municipality located

space; the impacts of road building is minimized (it is accessed by

in the northern gulf Islands (20 minutes by ferry to West Vancouver).

a low impact one lane travel way; home sizes are capped (homes

Bowen is a rural yet vibrant community. Approximately half the

cannot be greater than 2,500sf ); and the site’s hydrology is protected

Island’s population commutes to Vancouver while the other half

(cisterns are required and each project must demonstrate zero run

makes their living on Bowen. The Island like many rural “edge”

off from the base line condition of a forested site).

communities has succumbed to the pressures of suburban sprawl.

While not solving all the issues associated with development in an edge community, this project investigates the paradigm of rural sustainable development.

The building site is located at the edge of a granite bluff and is relatively flat. The view is to the west, and there is a rockyknoll to the north and Evergreen Road to the east. Evergreen has a common drain field but with individual buildings having their own ‘Type III’

As a neighbourhood, Evergreen is a first of its kind on Bowen Island,

tertiary sewage treatment plants (near potable effluent). The site

having strict environmental guidelines to protect the site’s inherent

has a drilled well which the owner has dedicated for irrigation usage

beauty and unique and sensitive ecology. The design code requires

only. All drinking water will be via two large cisterns that (filled by

every new home to meet a Built Green Gold Standard (including

rain water harvesting) and a dedicated water treatment plant.

certification). Within the overall neighbourhood, home sites have

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Integration of Sustainable Design Three main themes of sustainability emerged during the design process: energy, water and materials.

Energy: Energy efficiency provided some obvious challenges given the site’s outstanding views and the client’s desire to capitalize on them. With the use energy modeling, several building envelope designs were tested and a final specification was prescribed that brings the house up to an Energuide 82 rating (very efficient).

The design strategy focused on a custom window package, that integrates triple pane argon filled units with in-situ structural mullions. The typical wall assembly is 2x8 plates with staggered 2x4 studs and open cell foam insulation to minimize thermal bridging.

Given the significant ratio of footprint to floor area four inches of rigid insulation was below a thermally broken slab.

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To meet the Energuide rating the mechanical system includes an air source heat pump and solar domestic hot water.

Water: Water conservation is a major theme of the project and is reflected in the architecture. This home is not connected to a well or a serviced water line. All of the domestic water needs are supplied through rain water harvesting. The building contains three roofs, two lower ones over the first floor and an upper one covering the second floor. Large overhangs on all three roofs protect the building envelope. The upper roof consists of a curved standing seam food safe roof that drains to a common low point. This water is then captured via a scupper and diverted to a primary treatment tank (screened for larger debris). The water is then collected in two 2,500 gallon cisterns. Excess water overflows back onto the site and is absorbed through the introduced wetlands and rain gardens.

The cisterns provide all of the buildings domestic water demands

65

(drinking, cleaning and toilets).

in the winter months (including passive solar).

The two lower roofs contain a key element of the owner’s vision:

Innovation and Budget Considerations

her desire to create a green roof. They will be seeded with the very same drought resistant native grasses that populate the open rocky bluffs. The green roofs will also provide storm water mitigation absorbing and storing rainwater within the root mat and growing medium during storm events. These two roofs drain into introduced wetlands located to the west and east.

The client’s desire for a curved roof required significant innovation as the project budget is modest (estimated at $750K). During the design exploration stage design utilizing three dimensional sketches, the idea of using inverted curves emerged. This led to the final design of the ‘petal-like’ roof structure. The ability to manufacture the roof’s curvature in the glue lam factory rather than on site allowed the

Materials: To meet the intent of the Built Green Gold standard

budget to align with the client’s expectations. The curved purlin/

finishing materials are low in VOC content. These include plyboo

rafters provide a perpendicular alignment for 2x6 d.fir decking to

cabinetry veneers, American Clay wall plasters, and cedar ceiling

be applied lengthwise without bending. Up front work in provided

finishes. The glue laminated timbers were chosen to create a low

detailed ‘cut sheet’ information for each post greatly reduced the

cost solution to the sculptural nature of the design but also reduce

labour estimate at tendering and the framing was sub-contracted

the necessity for larger sawn timbers. Recycled D. fir flooring is

as a fixed bid. To further explore the relationship between roof and

specified for the second floor. A simple concrete waxed floor on the

floor plan (an idea inspired by Alvar Alto’s Villa Mairea) the entire

main level creates thermal mass to mitigate the inside temperatures

west wall is laid out on a 75 foot radius.

during the summer and provides a medium for the radiant heating

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YAF C o n n ec t i o n

CA

R O F S LL N O I S MIS

I SSU E

11.01|01.2013

The YAF Connection Editorial Committee is actively and continually seeking content for inclusion in upcoming issues of CONNECTION, the official bi-monthly publication of the Young Architects Forum of the AIA. We are currently soliciting articles for the January 2013 publication centered on the subject of EMERGENCE.

SUB

EMERGENCE IF YOU ARE… … an emerging professional (from school, from internship, etc) … involved in a recent start-up … involved in emerging modes of practice … pursuing a design career tangential to architecture and design … an emerging voice in the field of architecture and design, then ... Then be heard!

THEN BE HEARD!

If you are interested in submitting a written article, project (art, architecture, sketches, photography) or other content for publication, please contact the YAF Communications Advisor, Wyatt Frantom wyatt.frantom@wf-ad.com for details.

All articles for the January 2013 issue are due no later than December 1st.

SHARE YOUR STORY AND HELP US DEFINE THE EMERGENT PROFESSION.

YAF CONNECTION 10 | 05

Image courtesy of syedrezaali.com

ARE YOU AN EMERGING VOICE?

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WHAT IS THE YOUNG ARCHITECTS FORUM?

2012 YAF ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Young Architects Forum is the voice of architects in the early stages of their career and the catalyst for change within the profession and our communities. Working closely with the AIA College of Fellows and the American Institute of Architects as a whole, the YAF is leading the future of the profession with a focus on architects licensed less than 10 years. The national YAF Advisory Committee is charged with encouraging the development of national and regional programs of interest to young architects and supporting the creation of YAF groups within local chapters. Approximately 23,000 AIA members are represented by the YAF. YAF programs, activities, and resources serve young architects by providing information and leadership; promoting excellence through fellowship with other professionals; and encouraging mentoring to enhance individual, community, and professional development.

2012 Chair Jennifer Workman, AIA

GOALS OF YAF: To ENCOURAGE professional growth and leadership development among recently licensed architects through interaction and collaboration within the AIA and allied groups.

To BUILD a national network and serve as a collective voice for young architects by working to ensure that issues of particular relevance to young architects are appropriately addressed by the Institute.

To MAKE AIA membership valuable to young architects and develop the future leadership of the profession.

Vice Chair Brad Benjamin, AIA, CSI, LEED AP Past Chair Adam W. Palmer, AIA, LEED AP Programs Advisor Matthew M. Dumich, AIA Communications Advisor Deepika Padam, AIA, LEED AP bd+c Young Architect Regional Directors Advisor Jason Dale Pierce, AIA, LEED AP Events Advisor Virginia Marquardt, AIA, LEED AP, CDT Public Relations Advisor Joseph R. Benesh, AIA, CDT, LEED AP College of Fellows Liaison William J. Stanley, III, FAIA, NOMA AIA Board Representative Wendy Ornelas, FAIA AIA Staff Director, Emerging Professionals Erin Murphy, AIA, LEED AP

The American Institute of Architects Young Architects Forum 1735 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20006 http://www.aia.org/yaf