Design Journal Entry - Module 12 Wrap Up - Xuan Wu

Journal Entry For
Module 12 - Sharing Your Project

Overview

Design Rendering:

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3D model in Revit:

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  • Key / Essential / Unique Design Features that you explored in your project.

1. Solar PV panels: EUI value continues to drop as I added more and more design improvements. The final result reduces to 9.27. The solar PV system is a key design feature that plays an important role in energy savings.

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2. Sloped Roof: I also designed my Roof to be sloped in order to receive more sunlight, so the solar PV panels can generate more energy. Also, a sloped roof allows for water to drain off the roof surface more efficiently.

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3. Green Roofs: provide additional insulation to the building, reduce the urban heat island effect, and provide a high thermal mass value.

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4. Roof Overhangs: roofs are designed to have overhangs to allow for shading in the summer months while still allowing sunlight and heat into the buildings for the winter months.

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5. Curtain Walls: my building has curtain walls mainly on the south-facing wall to maximize solar gains, especially in the winter. Also, they allow greater natural light penetration into the building, which can reduce the need for artificial lighting and create a more comfortable and productive indoor environment. There are also overhangs over the south-facing windows to make sure that there are not too many solar gains in the summer when cooling is a concern.

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6. Light Shelves: 1 foot below the top of the window allowing some light to bounce off the top of the light shelf and reflect up into the room. At the same time, also provides some nice diffuse daylight. Also, I added horizontal light shelves to help block the sun for the Curtain Walls.

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7. Central Atrium: use a combination of an atrium and large glass facades to allow for natural light to penetrate deeper into the building, reducing the need for artificial lighting and improving the overall energy efficiency of the building. Also, the cafe and kid zones can have some outdoor seating in the central atrium. This is one of my design goals to go well beyond the basic functional requirements of a typical exhibition. My building aims to enhance visitors’ experience and wellness and integrate seamlessly into the surrounding community. I want to make sure that occupants not only used the building for the exhibits and to learn more about sustainable building design, but rather used this space as a place to hang out, get coffee at the cafe, as a study spot, or even just a place to lay outside in the sun.

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8. Exhibition Space: use roundtop windows for exhibit areas to make them look more artistic.  I wanted to maximize the experience of the visitor. For this reason, all of the amenities such as the major exhibits, gift shops, cafes, etc are located on the first floor while all the administrative/  office/ conference room locations are located on the second floor.

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9. Fire Sprinkler System: design a sufficient fire sprinkler system for my building to help protect both properties and lives in the event of a fire.

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10. Stairs and Elevator: design staircases more appealing for example by using spire stairs to encourage an active, healthy lifestyle for visitors. Also, I install an elevator for my building to make it easier for people with disabilities to navigate floors.

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11. Steel Structural Framing Systems: use 100% recycled steel for the framing of my building, which reduces its environmental impact and makes it a more cost-effective option in the long run.

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12. Greywater Collection System: Design a greywater collection system that collects and recycles water from sinks for use in toilet flushing.

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13. VAV Unit: divide my building into different zones and provide individual control over heating and cooling in each zone through a VAV unit. This allows occupants to adjust the temperature to their liking, which can lead to energy savings and increased comfort.

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14. High R-value Wall & Floor Building Materials: help to reduce the amount of heat that escapes from the building through the ground floor, which can result in significant energy savings.

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15. Mechanical Rooms: three smaller air handlers are placed on each floor in the mechanical room as opposed to one large air handler on the roof because I want to maximize the usable roof space for the solar panels and green roofs. My mechanical rooms are also all centrally located on their respective floors, which was done to minimize the distance the ducts needed to travel to reach each necessary space. The main trunks of the fire sprinkler system are also placed in the first-level mechanical room. Also, the mechanical room is used transparent curtain walls. One of the goals for my building is to educate people about sustainable building systems. To achieve this, I want to provide visitors with a clear view of how the plumbing and HVAC systems operate.

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16: Restrooms: All restrooms have a large restroom stall to allow for easy maneuverability for wheelchair users. Also, I modified sanitary pipes connect to the lavatory to ensure it is accessible for users with disabilities or limited mobility.

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  • Your Big Successes -- what worked very well and what features you're most proud to share as examples to inspire others.
  1. Achieve ARCH 2030

I think the biggest success of the project is that by combining the envelope, plug load, lighting, and PV panel designs, my building can achieve ARCH 2030 with a EUI value that finally drops to 9.27. The solar PV system is a key design feature that plays a key role in the energy savings of the building. I think it has the potential to move toward the goal of Net zero when adding more sustainable technologies.

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2. Analytical Design Process

My second big success is being very analytical throughout the design process. I incorporated many of the analysis features available in Revit. For example, using Insight to adjust many different design parameters to help me quantitively achieve my building energy consumption goal; performing Daylight Analysis to adjust my building envelope-related design; conducting Solar Analysis to see the PV energy production and payback period. By using these tools throughout the design process, I become more conscious and confident about the sustainable features I implemented in my design. These tools help me to reshape my building layout and envelope to accommodate my chosen site conditions.

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3. Visually appealing

My building uses curtain walls on the south-facing wall to maximize solar gains, especially in the winter. Curtain walls offer a sleek and modern appearance. Also, they allow greater natural light penetration into the building, which can reduce the need for artificial lighting and create a more comfortable and productive indoor environment. Moreover, I maximize the green space for my building. Overall, I think my building looks really good and it shows a distinct blend of modernity and tradition. I would like to see it construct in real life so I can visit in person.

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4. Incorporate sustainable system design

Lastly, I am proud of every sustainable system design I used in my building. Passive ventilation, heating, and cooling strategies are used by utilizing local resources such as wind, sunlight, and rainwater to regulate building temperature and air quality, rather than relying on electrical or mechanical systems. In California, where the climate is mild, these strategies are particularly effective in reducing electrical demands. Combined with innovative design strategies for water and energy use, I can create buildings that are optimized for performance and sustainability, reducing their impact on the environment while providing a comfortable environment for occupants. For example, sustainable building materials, greywater collection systems, green roofs, VAV units in the HVAC systems, and solar PV panels, etc. mentioned in the key features section are used to make sure my buildings are sustainable.

  • Your Big Challenges -- what aspects of the project created the biggest challenges and what would you do differently (in hindsight) to avoid or overcome these challenges.
  1. System Coordination

During the design process, I also encountered some difficulties. For example, I find it is hard to coordinate my HVAC, structural, architectural, and plumbing systems to avoid collisions. Specifically, the walls I created sometimes conflicted with the HVAC system's duct. To resolve this, I utilized the model coordination view in BIM 360 to identify the issues, and then fix the issues in the Revit model. The attached images illustrate some potential clashes between the HVAC, structural, and architectural systems.

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2. Optimize the size of ducts in the HVAC System

Another challenge is to optime the size of the ducts. I am getting an error about some flow in the section is 0. To resolve this, I used different cross-section views and connect the ducts carefully. Also, I designed my ducts to generally have wider than taller in order to minimize the amount of ceiling height that would be lost with taller ducts, but it changes my dimension when I used the auto-sizing tool in Revit.

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  • Lessons Learned -- what sage words of advice would you share with other students who are embarking on a similar project.·
  1. Building Modeling

Building modeling is fun! Through this project, I experience the Project's design process begins with a diligent planning and feasibility study, followed by conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design, then tender and revisions. I learned how to use Revit and coordinate different systems in the BIM 360. Some suggestion for future students is that it is important to anticipate and contemplate the design objectives beforehand as they determine all the subsequent design choices. Failure to clarify the goals initially may lead to difficulties in altering the design later. Thus, it is essential to plan ahead and establish clear design goals.

  1. Time Management

Another lesson is time management is very important. I realized that your design can never be perfect. Given the tight time frame, it is better to focus on the design process as a whole rather than fixating on individual conflicts. With this, always overestimate how much space you will need, design for at least 15-foot levels, a centralized and stacked mechanical room, and stacked restrooms next to the mechanical room, Additionally, it is helpful to break the project down into smaller milestones and phases to help manage the project.

  1. Trial and Error

I learned that trial and error is important in the design process as it allows for testing and refinement of ideas, iteration and improvement, identification of problems, learning from mistakes, and innovation. Making mistakes is a natural part of the design process and pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas can lead to better outcomes. Typically, I design structures in a square or L-shape, but I challenged myself to work with a circular shape with a rectangular. This made modeling structural systems and HVAC systems more difficult, but it was a useful experience to try an innovative shape.

  1. Balance Between the Big Picture & Details

Finding the right balance between the big picture and the details is important. Focusing too much on the big picture can lead to a lack of attention to important details that can make or break a project. On the other hand, getting too bogged down in details can lead to a lack of focus on the overarching goals and vision of the project. Striking the right balance between the big picture and details allows for a comprehensive understanding of the project's goals and objectives, while also ensuring that important details are not overlooked. This balance can help ensure that the project is successful, meets the needs of stakeholders, and is completed within the desired timeframe and budget.

Video Presentation / Tour of Your Project Features

Replace this text with a link to your Video Presentation / Tour.

  • Presentation slides:
  • Presentation Video:

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Design Journal Entries | Winter 2023