Overview
- Key / Essential / Unique Design Features that you explored in your project.
In my project, I sought to balance sustainability, functionality, and architectural appeal. The building’s orientation and passive design strategies include south-facing triple-glazed, low-e windows that maximize natural daylight while minimizing solar heat gain, as well as a central skylight shaft that distributes daylight across all four floors. The envelope was designed with high R-value wall and roof materials, reducing the building’s energy use intensity by approximately 40%. Structurally, a steel frame system was chosen to support wide beam spans, enabling a seamless, open layout that fosters intuitive circulation for visitors. The HVAC system is thoughtfully zoned between the east and west sides of the building to meet São Paulo’s high cooling demands while maintaining comfort and energy efficiency. Additionally, the plumbing system features stacked restrooms with multiple risers to ensure steady hydronic flow across all floors. Together, these features reflect a holistic approach to creating a high-performing, sustainable exhibition center that inspires curiosity and exploration.
- Your Big Successes -- what worked very well and what features you're most proud to share as examples to inspire others.
The vertical flow of the building naturally emphasized privacy by placing more public areas on the lower floors and more private, staff-oriented spaces on the upper levels. The building envelope was another highlight as it was carefully designed to maximize daylight potential, significantly reducing an anticipatory need for interior lighting and contributing to energy savings. I’m also proud of the structural design, where widely spaced steel framing created large, open spaces without a dense or cluttered feel. Additionally, the restrooms were effectively stacked and aligned, making the plumbing systems simpler to design.
- Your Big Challenges -- what aspects of the project created the biggest challenges and what would you do differently (in hindsight) to avoid or overcome these challenges.
One major challenge I faced was realizing too late that orientation works differently in the southern hemisphere. By the time I understood this, it was too late to redesign, so I decided to roll with my existing design. Another difficulty was with the HVAC system because ducts connected awkwardly to air terminals and had to be meticulously adjusted. The restroom design also caused challenges because the square layout led to multiple risers, adding complexity that could have been avoided. I struggled a lot with the plumbing connections. The automatic connection tool wasn’t working, so I had to do most of the plumbing routing manually, which was time-consuming and tedious. In hindsight, I would double-check orientation considerations earlier and spend more time learning software features to avoid manual workarounds.
- Lessons Learned -- what sage words of advice would you share with other students who are embarking on a similar project.
If I were to offer advice to other students starting a project like this, the first thing I’d say is to be mindful of your workload — I wouldn’t recommend taking this class if you’re juggling more than 15 units, because it requires a significant time commitment and focus. Additionally, if you’re not taking this course right after completing CE 120 or 220A, it’s worth doing a light refresher on Revit’s basic design tools and workflows to avoid frustration later. Most importantly, be honest with yourself about your capacity and skill level by understanding what you can realistically accomplish will help you focus on delivering your best design rather than overextending and compromising quality