Sustainable Design - RenU@PhilaU

Adaptability:

This building structure is designed to be "high road" (built with heavy long lasting materials, evolving gradually over time) due to the heavy industrial lab equipment housed here. However, it is designed to be flexible enough for "low road" (flexible, cheap and easy to modify) expansion techniques as the building-use evolves. After conceptually building out the floor plans, there was quite a bit of refinement in AutoCAD. The facade was initially designed with a radial envelope, but after determining the lines of structure for post and beam construction, the building developed more linear characteristics. This will better support future additions, easier repairs, and more flexibility for low road interior alterations. 

Learn more about this approach: http://www.michaelnygard.com/blog/2008/08/how-buildings-learn/

Place Making:

The building's immediate context created unique spaces for gathering, active circulation, wildlife habitat and clear viewsheds across the campus. Features like movable chairs, outdoor programming space and vibrant vegetation were implemented to encourage continued use of these spaces. In addition, to make this a true sustainable landscape, permeable paving in appropriate areas and a rain garden in the existing basin will be bridged by a boardwalk to maintain connectivity with low environmental impact.

Interior Programming:

It was very important to make the outdoor spaces fluid with the indoor spaces to create a symbiotic flow of traffic between this and surrounding buildings.

Sustainable Site Design:

The final site design utilizes a native plant palette for a low-impact and low maintenance outdoor space. There are clear site lines, thoughtful circulation between all buildings and building interiors. Analyzing wind and solar patterns helped to identify unique zones for different activities and types of vegetation. 

Also, the grading plan achieved a completely ADA accessible site! Max slope required is 8.33% however, I designed for a max of 7% on this project so that it is more reasonable for a wheelchair (so important on any site). All ramps, sidewalks and stamps are also calculated with a 2% minimum cross slope for drainage. The building's finish floor elevation is 230 ft with a terraced patio cascading toward the northern accordion wall to accommodate a unique gathering space year-round.