Design Inspirations
General Theme: Urban Net Zero Energy Buildings
525 W52 Building Roof in NYC
Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation
Big Design Ideas
I want to focus my project on achieving a net zero energy building and a net zero water building using a variety of technologies and methods. To make it more challenging, I want to site this project in the Northeast (in or just outside of Boston, MA) in order to prove that even in colder climates, high efficient, sustainable building is achievable.
I specifically want my space to seamlessly show off integrated passive solar features to make a comfortable, high performance building.
A few general goals for the space:
- all electric
- 75% or higher spaces lit by daylight
- minimize concrete use (might need for thermal mass though) or use mass timber structure
- If possible, design to be grid responsive (with controls associated with timing storing electricity produced vs. selling back to grid)
- Maximize onsite renewable energy generation (through solar PV)
- Repeatable design (core of building not too complex, able to be used for similar construction)
- Avoid being outrageously expensive (need to hone in on what that would be)
The overall shape and form of the building I am still open to. However, I would like to have a building the mixes together circular spaces with a traditional angular design. I think communal spaces to be circular (like the auditorium, atrium, etc) and then the office to be more rectangular.
General Layout/Use
From a use standpoint, my building would be an mixed-use exhibition space, education center, and open office/work space:
The exhibition space would be a large, multi-room and multi-level space to host community events, conferences for green building and sustainability, and even have an auditorium.
The education center would be sort of like a science museum with exhibits to show off the building techniques, include hands-on activities for students of all ages to understand how energy, water, and air flows through the building and the concepts behind it.
The open office/workspace would be for staff members as well as designers/engineers/contractors in the area that would be able to come and temporary reserve a desk to work from the building for the day (or week), allowing them to see, feel, and understand how to achieve high performance, energy efficient building design.
I would also like to have an interior courtyard where there could be greenery all year round. A green wall area as well would work
Innovative Building/System Features
- under floor air distribution and/or radiant floor heating throughout the space
- solar PV integrated glass skylights (Onyx Solar)
- solar tubes to bring light into the spaces
- Light shelves
- thermal mass (concrete, phase change material laced insulation for walls/ceilings)
- Cool Roof (for summer to mitigate cooling loads)
- Exapnsive overhang to optimize shades and PV roof space while allowing for covered outdoor space.
- Sunspace or trombe walls for passive solar