Design Journal Entry - Module 12 Wrap Up

Scored

Your Name

Journal Entry For

Module 12 - Sharing Your Project

ACC Folder Link

https://acc.autodesk.com/docs/files/projects/cbef7261-4ed5-4dad-99c1-e2a751c74519?folderUrn=urn%3Aadsk.wipprod%3Afs.folder%3Aco.3i2Xrnt2Q6mjKOJZhZnKRQ&viewModel=detail&moduleId=folders

ACC Revit File Link

https://acc.autodesk.com/docs/files/projects/cbef7261-4ed5-4dad-99c1-e2a751c74519?folderUrn=urn%3Aadsk.wipprod%3Afs.folder%3Aco.vqpdXwY9S4qNWu3G515QBw&viewModel=detail&moduleId=folders

Created

Mar 12, 2024 9:38 AM

Last Edited

Mar 14, 2024 7:25 PM

Created by

Michaella

ACC Coordination View Link

https://acc.autodesk.com/model/viewer/projects/cbef7261-4ed5-4dad-99c1-e2a751c74519/model-set/5a4412a2-240b-48d1-a3a3-bafbf62ec2ed/modelPropertyBreakdown

Overview

The Sao Paulo Exhibition Center in Brazil engages with its context, integrates sustainable materials, and coheres the interior and exterior, private and public. An ode to the rich Brutalist history and sustainable construction material potential of Sao Paulo, the Center is composed of concrete and mass timber. It houses an exhibition/market space on the ground floor, classrooms and lecture halls on the second, an office on the third, and a cafe on the top floor. Balconies on each floor allow fresh ventilation and connection to nature.

Key / Essential / Unique Design Features that you explored in your project.

Overall, I wanted to create a sustainable space in terms of embodied carbon in its material construction as well as lowered operational energy use, and to create an accessible, public, and inviting space that can be used not just for classes and offices, but also exhibitions, indoor markets, and gatherings.
The current concrete/insulated wall has a high thermal mass with R-46 and a very low WWR, which would reduce the heating and cooling loads.The staggered form allows the building to maximize daylight potential (02) and passive solar gains on the North side. The daylight also reduces the lighting load of the building, as well. Air based HVAC systems were used instead of radiant heating and cooling (more efficient) due to the humidity of the climate and consequent decrease in radiant cooling efficiency. A feature I wanted to incorporate was radiant heating and cooling. However, because there is a higher humidity in Sao Paulo, the radiant cooling systems would have not been as effective. The cooling loads will also dominate in a public building, so it made sense to keep the air system with ducts and terminals.
The concrete in my building utilizes high fly ash concrete that utilizes coal waste products that actually help strengthen the building.
Additionally, the structural glulam mass timber beams have a fraction of the embodied carbon of steel and concrete, and sequester CO2. Assuming the development of Brazil’s mass timber industry, the glulam columns and beams should be sourced locally.
Ultimately, I also wanted to provide optimal occupant comfort and experience by utilizing natural materials and maximizing daylighting opportunities in creating an inviting and accessible public space.

Your Big Successes -- what worked very well and what features you're most proud to share as examples to inspire others.

form - staggered but still maintains a core with elevators, circulation, mechanical, bathrooms. Made coordination of systems like plumbing and hvac straightforward and efficient. the staggering also allows maximization of solar gains on the north side of the building despite the blocking from the north from surrounding structures.
the cafe space — great natural light and views both down and off the balcony, opportunity to create the fluid private/public space, third space. I see it being used as a refuge from potentially extreme temperatures that comes with climate change.
Leaving the structural glulam beams exposed evokes biophilia and connection to nature for the occupants. Though the views from the curtain wall of the initial building envelope were scrapped in favor of a higher thermal mass, the central atrium and balconies in theory should provide plenty of natural light in the spaces. Additionally, the staggered form of the building over its environment creates a covered urban space that helps draw in the public and active the exterior environment.

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.

structure - I believe the existing glulam beams and columns are very undersized because of the considerable weight of the concrete floors. I kept the the lightweight concrete / steel deck construction, which is structurally very efficient. I also didn’t include the beams and columns and hvac in the renderings because initially I wanted to have the structural elements exposed but still needed to configure the HVAC and lighting and wires. In the future I’d look into installing a proper ceiling, and potentially trusses to get effect of longer spans/less beams exposed. They will add depth but maybe will keep it just on the top floor because there is more flexibility with the ceiling height.
daylighting - not sure if because of render settings, but looked like light didn’t reach all the way down to the bottom floors. I overestimated the daylighting capabilities of the skylight. Other ways of bringing in daylight without compromising the WWR, ways to bring in diffuse light, very low-e windows?

a view of the four levels, very little/no lighting past the third floor. there is also no interior lighting in the corridor spaces either.

ended up looking a lot like Y2E2
would have liked to look more into installing PV on roof
mechanical room - will put it closer to the plumbing next time for efficiency’s sake
also looks like there could be room for a ramp, but there is not enough space for it to be ada accessible

Lessons Learned -- what sage words of advice would you share with other students who are embarking on a similar project.

it is a good exercise to conceptualize, develop, iterate, and communicate your ideas. you will learn that you cannot have it all and will have to sacrifice such as aesthetics vs energy consumption, spatial goals vs constructibility. Not everything has to be perfect, what’s more important is to learn and think about how the different systems interact with and help shape each other. keep it simple especially if it’s your first time with revit
stay up to date. Again it doesn’t have to be perfect but each module and skills you learn builds on each other. don’t be fooled by the fact it’s an online class — it will still require a significant amount of time. and get help on things as they come up, don’t wait until module 11 to resolve something from module 8 (like me)
test as you go / iterate if you have time — through renders, lighting analysis, energy analysis. take advantage of the teaching team and take the opportunity to get feedback!