Structural System

Using the structural system developed from Module 8, I determined that the floor-to-structural system height was approximately 10’ 6”. As such, to give minimum 18” clearance, the supply and return diffusers should be at most 9’ from above the floor.

Model View Screenshots

1. Challenges Encountered in Supply Duct Routing Exercise

The primary challenge I faced was ensuring the supply diffusers and the ducts were at the right height. Not only do the ducts and diffusers need to have some level of clearance away from the structural system, but they also have to have height differentials between each other too. More specifically, the diffusers have to be at a lower height than the ducts, which forced me to reduce the vertical clearance between the duct system and the structural system.

2. Does the Proposed Design Meet Project’s Spatial Design Goals?

Yes, I believe my proposed design does mee the project’s spatial design goals, because views were not blocked and no openings (i.e. elevator shafts, atriums) were blocked either. However, because of the vertical clearance requirement, the ducts and diffusers are closer to the floor of the rooms. It’s kind of distasteful to have the HVAC system closer to eye level, so it would have been great to conceal them in some way.

3. Any recommendations to make the design more sustainable

To make the design more sustainable means to reduce the amount of active heating and cooling. The building could leverage the use of the atrium to force hot air up and out, thereby incorporating more natural ventilation. Another option is to use roofing, walls, and windows with higher R-values to create a more insulated envelope. And lastly, choosing for a more efficient, less energy-intensive HVAC system would be good too, such as an variable-speed ASHP or ground-source heat pump.