Project Bruin Overview

Key Design Features

• 3 Building Center based on program type
• Building 1 - Lobby, Cafe/Dining, Main Office Space
• Building 2 - Exhibition Space, Education Center
• Building 3 - Auditorium

• Exterior Courtyards and community spaces

• Central atriums bringing in natural night

• Community Greenhouse

• Hybrid, all electric HVAC System
• Radiant Hydronic Floor Heating with Air Cooling/Ventilation

Successes

• created a multi-disciplinary model to communicated detailed design intent
• Maximized space for daylighting and roof area for solar PV
• Intentionally designed community space that is both indoor/outdoor for the neighborhood
• Building systems are fully electric to eliminate fossil-fuel use on-site
• Minimized concrete/steel use by using primarily mass timber structure

Challenges

• Creating grids for three distinct building masses
• I definitely had some trouble working through what the three separate grids would be, especially after choosing the design based on my conceptual massing. I think that, in hindsight, I should make a more informed choice of building form based off of an established, efficient grid system
• Energy Modeling through Insight
• Between conceptual massing and envelope design, there was a dramatic jump in site EUI measured in Insight. If I had more time, I would be able to identify where there may be some holes in the envelope/analytical spaces that may help resolve this issue and allow the energy model to be more accurate.
• HVAC Load Calculations
• for one reason or another, I was unable to actually complete a full HVAC load calculation as EnergyPlus on the backend was not cooperating. This got me thinking that this sort of model use can sometimes be finicky and overall takes time.

Lessons Learned

• Grid systems - design the grid system to line up with the conceptual masses before pursuing an given design. Aligning an efficient grid system with the original masses can save a lot of time and headache down the road.
• Core Spaces - I learned time and again over the course of this project on the importance of designing a spacious core with the right (and maybe little bit more) amount of mechanical space, shafts, stairwells, and restrooms to make sure that you are able to tie in all of the given building systems back into that core. Working with a tight core space can lead to a myriad of problems down the road with structural, HVAC, and plumbing system design
• Restrooms - they are bigger than you think!
• Repeatable Spaces - I learned the importance of stacking similar types of spaces (like restrooms) on top of each other floor to floor to gain the design (and overall construction and system) efficiency when the building systems start coming into play. In future designs, I will plan to make sure this is in the forefront of my mind.

Presentation Slides

Video Presentation / Tour of Your Project Features

Design Journal Entries