Working share link to your Forma project, view access for the teaching team.
https://app.autodeskforma.com/designmode/pro_ua4n2yz7w3/acfe5aab-7a73-44b7-9175-9ed02521be83
Comparison matrix, one page.
Design memo of 300 to 500 words: what you read in the site, the three strategies, what the analysis said, your recommendation, and the surprise.
My first design focused on maximizing window area for the residential floors. I did this by creating two separate residential stacks on top of the first commercial floor. This model performed well in the microclimate analysis and had solid noise control. Its total carbon value and energy use intensity were also relatively low at 1.53M kg COâ‚‚, likely due to the wood construction. The main drawbacks were the reduced sun and daylight hours for the portions of the building facing each other, along with a slight wind tunnel between the two sections. Because this model had the least area exposed on the south side by the interstate, it was also the most effective at reducing noise.
Next, I explored a design with green roofs and terraces. I reduced the square footage of the upper residential floors to create terraces on the roofs of floors 1, 3, and 5. What surprised me most in this analysis was how high the noise levels were on the south side. I expected the interstate to be far enough away to minimize its impact, but it remained a strong influence. My goal for these terraces was to create quiet, peaceful, backyard-like spaces for residents, but the noise disrupted that purpose. Because of this, I decided to flip the building so the terraces face north, allowing the structure itself to block the interstate noise.
This “flipped” version became Proposal 3, and while it solved the noise issue for the terraces, it introduced new challenges. The sun hours dropped significantly because the building now blocks sunlight for much of the day, and the microclimate became cooler on the terrace side. On this site, there’s a clear tradeoff between quieter, cooler green space and sunnier, warmer green space. One advantage of the terraces facing north is that they overlook the bay.
Lastly, I created one more model to ensure I had three substantially different options. Proposal 4 is a simpler, more conventional design: a uniform rectangular concrete building with equal floor plates. Compared to my wood designs, this model had a much higher total carbon value of 2.79M kg CO₂, likely due to the concrete. Aside from carbon, the other analyses were roughly comparable to the best-performing aspects of Proposals 1–3.
Overall, I recommend Proposal 3. It creates visual interest, offers both public and private green spaces, and provides cooler, quieter terraces with views of the water.
Three massing images, one per proposal, from the same viewpoint.
