Module 3: Project Design Brief

Given the wide-range of goals discussed in Module 3, I will try to consolidate some of the goals I think are important in my design. For this reason, I will state one goal in each of the sustainable, buildable, operable, and usable categories. This should help create a well-rounded building that is beneficial for all stages of its life-cycle.

Goal 1: Reducing Energy Use (Operable/Sustainable)

• Measure: Site EUI
• Targets:
• 38 EUI = Baseline kBtu/ft^2/yr for Museum in Stanford, CA(according to zerotool.org)
• 27 EUI = 30% reduction kBtu/ft^2/yr
• Strategies:
• I plan to achieve this by reducing heating load. As seen from the UCLA climate data software, Stanford is located in an area that requires more heat-load. Therefore, building orientation, site layout, window orientation/design, and insulation will be important in ensuring the most amount of heat from the sun enters the building and remains in the building. This can be completed by analyzing shading, solar insolation, etc through the Revit building mass model.

Goal 2: Sustainable Material Choices (Sustainable)

• Measure:  Percentage of wood used that is local and sustainably harvested. Also, percentage of structural elements that are wood.
• Targets:
• I think at a minimum, 50% of the wood used should be local and sustainably harvested. Also, at least 50% of the structural elements should be wood.
• Ideally, 100% of the wood in the building would be made from locally sourced wood that is sustainably harvested.
• Strategies:
• In a more general capacity, I think avoiding the amount of concrete used in the building is important. If wood can replace other structural elements, it is more sustainable as it is a renewable material. My plan is to use a concrete foundation with a wood-structure and trusses for the building frame.
• Since bamboo is a rapidly renewable material that can be harvested extremely quickly, I plan to create some large accent walls out of this material. However, I am not sure if this can be a local material or not.

Goal 3: Bike/EV Parking (Usable/Sustainable)

• Measure:  % of peak visitor bike parking spots, % EV Spots
• Targets:
• According to LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction, there should be bike parking for 2.5% of peak visitors of an institutional building. This will be the baseline, with a desired value of 5%.
• According to LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction, there should be at least 2% EV parking spots. The desired value for this will be 5%.
• Strategies:
• Given the preliminary location of the building (the Dish, Stanford Campus), alternate modes of transportation need to be encouraged — including EVs and bikes. Moreover, a usable building encourages the health and well-being of its users. The goal of including an abundance of EV and bike parking, at prime locations, will encourage more sustainable and healthy choices while matching the theme of the building itself.

Goal 4: Payback Period (Buildable)

• Measure:  Payback Period for PVs. Or, percent of roof that is a green roof
• Targets:
• 20 years is the minimum value, 15 years is the ideal value for the PV system.
• 25% green roof is minimum, 50% is desired.
• Strategies:
• I think the roof is a critical area to take advantage due to the direct sunlight and views available. I am not sure whether the roof will be PVs, a green roof, or possible both. In both cases, they will help with the sustainability of the building. If the payback period is too large, then perhaps more of the roof could be shifted to green space and improve the usability of the building. Either way, the roof will be a key space of the building.