proposal

Mission Statement

Through the study of existing program and Philadelphia University’s strategic plan for growth of the University of the next 10-15 years 45k building seeks to address these issues and propose solutions to space and programatic requirements. This building also looks to address issues raised by the NAAB team one their inspection of the program during the spring of 2012. With the main concern being the spread out nature of the C_ABE college and out of date technology and safety systems the new 45k building condenses the C_ABE college on main campus and from a series of 6 buildings down to only 3.

b. ARCH

ARCH studies

Const. Mgmt.

Hist. Pres.

Landscape Arch.

Interior Design

Programs

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Existing to Proposed Undergraduate Educational Program

CURRENT PROPOSED Studios Classrooms Lecture Hall Collaborative AreasPresentation Space Computer Labs Gallery Space Social Areas

CURRENT PROPOSED

In addition to looking at programatic requirements and site logicistics for this project it was also helpful to look at outside images to get a better understanding of issues and ideas that the team wished to explore in the planning and form generating stages of the project. Ideas of circulation and movement as well as layering and compact packaging and effiecent design were a few of the many topics that were explored through these images and studies.

CORE I MOVEMENT I LAYERING I WEAVING I CONNECTION I THIN SPACE I PUSH/PULL I LOCKING

site

Philadelphia University is spread across over 100 acres in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. The University owns more than fifty buildings, housing the College of Design Engineering + Commerce, the College of Health Sciences + Liberal Arts, and the College of Architecture + the Built Environment. Buildings within the campus range from historic Victorian mansions to contemporary classrooms, research and experimental design spaces, and studio facilities.

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Falls Center Stop

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Falls Center to Downs Hall_4.5 minutesDowns Hall to Gallagher Center_2 minutesGallagher Center to Mott Circle_2.5 minutesMott Circle to Ravenhill_1 minuteRavenhill to Tuttleman_2 minutesTuttleman to Falls Center_4 minutes

Gallagher Stop

Downs Hall Stop

Tuttleman Stop

Mott Circle Stop

Ravenhill Stop

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INTERACTION PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Kanbar Campus Center

RESIDENCE HALLS

KANBAR Patio

HAYWARD Entrance

RAVENHILL Field

RONSON Quad

LIBRARY EntranceMain Campus Lawn

Mens’Womens Soccer and Lacrosse: 2000 Capacity Intramural Field

Beach Volleyball CourtIntramural Sports Field

Baseball Alumni Field: 1000 Capacity

Softball Field: 500 Capacity

Beach Volleyball CourtIntramural Sports Field

S d: 500 Capacityoftball Fiel

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INTERACTION

Gallagher Center and Fitness CenterM-Th: 7:00 AM- 10:00 PMF: 7:00 AM- 8:00 PMSat: 10:00 AM- 6:00 PMSun: 12:00 PM- 6:00 PM

Basketball/Volleyball: 2200 CapacityIntramural Courts

Intramural Field

PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Kanbar Campus CenterM-F: 7:30 AM-12:00 AMSat-Sun: 12:00 PM-12:00 PM

TED’sM-F: 7:30 AM- 12:00 AMSat-Sun: 5 PM- 12:00 AM

TED’s Convenience StoreM-F: 9:00 AM- 9:00 PMSat-Sun: 12:00 PM- 5:00 PM

Common Thread Grill and DeliM-Th: 8 AM- 7:00 PMF: 8:00 AM- 2:30 PM

MailroomM-Th: 10 AM- 6:00 PMF: 10:00 AM- 5:45 PM

PHILAU Campus StoreM-Th: 8:30AM- 6:30 PMF: 8:30AM- 5:00 PMSat: 12:00 PM- 4:00PM

PUBLIC BATHROOMS

RAVENHILL Dining HallM-F: 7:15 AM- 7:30 PMSat-Sun: 10:30 AM- 7:00 PM

RESIDENCE HALLS

Other important elements with the siting of the building included the zoning structure of the site which required 25’ set-backs on the front of any existing buildings and 15’ set-backs on the sides. This zoning study helped to determine the current zoning regulations as well help evolve the building footprint and shape which can be seen later in this section. These pages also look at the issue of parking around the building site and determine where parking issues occur and where there could potentially be areas for additional parking to be added.

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Building Density On Ravenhill & Main Campus Building Density Along Major Roads

This diagram looks at the correlation between the new 45k C_ABE building and the remaining buildings with the College: the Architecture and Design Center (A+D) and the SEED Center.

With the siting of the 45k building on such a dense and tight site it was necessary to look to the programs and sizes of the surrounding buildings to get a better understanding of spacial cues and existing conditions. From this study it was possible to determine how the 45k building would fit within this area and help realize the potential for collaboration between other buildings on campus. Since the 45k C_ABE building will house program that will have students in studio until late in the evening an conscious design strategy was to site the new building near the Kanbar Campus Center one of the late night dinning facilites as well as near to other program like the athletic facilities and the other buildings within the college.

Based on the close proximity generated by this building to existing buildings exterior treatments of the building in relationship to the surrounding buildings was a necessary study in itself. By looking at various sources of inspiration including urban pocket parks the goal was to create meaningful outdoor spaces that could be utilized by both the students and faculty within the 45k building as well as those faculty and staff members in the surrounding buildings including Reichlin House, and Scholler Hall.

Kanbar to Scholler Hall

Gallagher Center to Scholler Hall

A+D to Gallagher Center

Solar studies for both the winter and summer months helped to realize the placement of studios and orientation of building program within the 45k project. By placing the studio program on the norther portion of the building it was possible to maximize the amount of diffused northern light that could permate into the studios and provide the best possible lighting conditions for students working in the building.

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Wind Studies

A unique feature of the Philadelphia University campus is its location which throughout the seasons is caplable of producing average to above average wind speeds that could be used as a sustainable system within the building. By studying the directions and speeds that these winds are traveling it was possible to determine which sides of the building would benefit the most from having passive systems like operable windows in order to maximize the wind potential. This study also including look at the direction and speeds of winds at different times of year which would prove helpful in futher determing the success of sustainable strategies by season.

Wind also played a large role in the design of the project from another perspective. Since an increase in building denisty in this area would increase wind speeds and cause distrubances to other campus program it was necessary to look landscaping strategies to minimize the effect of this wind on unbeneficial areas.

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While touched on earlier in this project site analysis the issue of zoning and set-backs was a large design challenge and oppurtunity with the siting of the 45k building at its current location. With set-backs of 25’ on the front and back and 15’ on the sides the fitment of a 45 thousand square foot building would need to focus on maximizing space and program both on the interior and exterior of the building. Through looking at various precedents in tight building desing mainly from an urban perspective it was possible to realize new ways to approach the buildign and its form. The following page showcases the possible building form on the site pushed up to the allowable zoning setback and was a crucial element in the design process and exploration of this site.

Reichlin Stairway Reichlin Storage Exposed wiring and pipes in boiler room

One of the major controversial design choices made within the project was the teardown of the rear wing of Reichlin House and the following addtion and renovation to the building to occur simultnaeously with the construction of the new 45k building. Through careful documentation and research of the building which can be seen in photographs on the previous page the rear wing was deemed ineffiecent and hazardous to employees and staff. Issues within the Reichlin wing including problems with accessibility, fire safety, and overall building degredation. Another critical issue was the ineffiecent design of the wing to its new program as offices for public affairs and the provosts office where access to rear offices could only be achieved by walking through the presidential conference room or through an underground boiler room if a meeting was occuring in the conference room.

The solution for this major issue within the building was a 90 degree turn of the wing. In doing this the program requirements were able to stay virtually unchanged in regards to space requirements, but additional safety and accessiblity issues were able to be addressed including: an elevator to move disabled staff and visitors from the first to second floor, a to code fire stair in the case of emergency, and increased office and conference space to allow for better daily useage and occupancy of the building. As the Reichlin House is listed as a Historic building through the city of Philadelphia various permits would need to be attained to secure the addition as a viable option. With the various safety and building issues raised throughout this piece the team felt that this addition and renovation was still necessary and a major design goal.

In addition to the renovation to Reichlin House a proposed addtion/renovation of the Architecture + Design Center was investigated. As A+D currently houses the third through fifth year architecture and the third to fourthyear interior design students as well as being an iconic and well known building on campus the team decided to keep this building within C_ABE. In the updated program of the C_ABE college A+D will be utilized for first and second year studios for all majors within C_ABE as well as serving as a location for the fabrication lab and classroom spaces for various addtional program requirements like building technologies and visual communication classes. This infused program will allow for upper level student from all majorswithin the college to have access to this building and be able to share insight and ideals with underclassmen.

form

Conceptual Plan SketchesConceptual Plan Sketches

Conceptual Section SketchesConceptual Section Sketches

In this series of exploratory studies models hand built models of the sketches were built and then photographed. Once brought into the computer the images were adjusted and once again printed out to be sketched over top of to explore ideas of enclosure, skin systems, and ultimately the perforations that would become a pivotal element within the project and its iconic nature on campus.

Initial Renderings

midreview perspectives

Henry Ave. Entry Kanbar Path

Similar to other portions of the project the design team looked at various programatic pieces of the project through mixed media approaches to site entry and experience of the site. These studies also helped to shape the experiential qualities of these spaces and help give a better idea of what these spaces would be like to inhabit and move through. These drawings also begin to help show the evolution of the building form and tectonics as it progressed from more conceptual shapes into a realistic and clear perspecitve as to what the building would look like and how it would function.

3/4 review

Kanbar Path A+D Addition

concept

models

detail

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GEOTHERMAL WELLSMECHANICAL ROOM

GEOTHERMAL FIELD

MECHANICAL ROOM

In the process of looking at sustainable systems the MBE project team chose to revist the useage of a geothermal field as an integral part of the heating and cooling system of the building. Through the use of a geothermal field of rougly 60 wells this would not only allow for the heating of a radiant floor system within the building, but would also act as a pivot point that could help engage the other surrounding buildings and provide them with a heated water to help reduce their energy loads.

Another key element within the program of the 45k building was the accessible roof top gardens that in the case demonstrated above and on the left highlight one of the upper level entrances to the building. Through the use of a variety of native grasses and native plantings the 45k building is able to blend in better with the surrounding green space as well as helping to soak up additional rainwater as to not add to the already over taxed Wissahickon Watershed in which the campus resides. With additional elements of small shade trees this space also can be utilized by the community and students and faculty fromother programs to create a meaningful and dynamic outdoor space centered in the heart of campus.

In order to engage not only the other studios, but also the casual passerby of the studios large glass display walls will be installed in one wall of each studio. These walls not only allow for students to have necessary storage spaces for models and drawings, but also provide an oppurtunity to showcase the work during open houses, informatino sessions and to prospective donors and alumni. In this fashion it is possible to get a better feeling and understanding of the work that these students do without having to interupt the class itself.

A large portion of the the 45k exterior cladding system is a series of perforated aluminum powdercoated panels that help to shade the bulding along the southwest facade as well as act as a privacy barrier along the north and eastern facades. These panels powdercoated to a variety of different colors allow for a lighter and more interactive facade that is able to hightlight the iconic nature of this buidling and helps to signal the a new entrance to the Philadelphia Unviersity campus. Details on these pages showcase the various connections where this panel system will attach to the main steel structural system through a series of spider connections and aluminum outriggers that span out from the main steel system.

Through the design of perforated panels the design team was able to create a hierarchy of different panel types to respond to different siting issues and different programatic responses. Will from a distance it will appear that each 1’6” x 8’ panel is a mere duplicate of the one next to it from up close each panel is custom placed to fit the unique parameters of the facade. On the left are three different iterations of the panel system with options for a traditional window, a floor/ceiling window, and a clerestory window. Each on of these panels while serving a different and unique function can work together to resolve the various different issues in terms of lighting and shading as well as privacy and reveal.

In this rendering detail on the right it is possible to get a better feeling as to the materiality and structure of the 45k project as well as see how the panels will look in relationship to the site from the upstairs Kanbar dining area.

experience

Final Building Model

Based on the close proximity of the 45k building to other buildings on campus including Kanbar Campus Center, the Gallagher Athletic Facility, Scholler Hall, and Reichlin house it was important to explore the relationships that would be caused by the building form and shape. Through the exploration of a 1/16” model these issues were able to be confronted and addressed allowing for a stronger and more integrated building. Other elements that were able to be explored in this model were building facades and outdoor spaces as the scale allowed for easier manipulation of the site, building form and interactions. By placing 1/16” scale figures into this model it was also possible to get a better feeling of the relationship of the building to the person and begin to break the project down and explore it from the human scale.

Detail Building Section

Through the use of 1/4” building section detail model the MBE team was able to explore to the relationships between the studios and front gallery spaces as well as exploring notions of light and structure within the building. This dynamic and unique space within the building program also integrates a multi-level stair tower that serves as a node to observe and make connections between different majors on campus. This model also imploys the use of super graphics to denote and mark the location of various spaces throughout the model including studios and gallery spaces. By including scale figures within the bulding section as well it was possible to get a better sense of scale and proportinality with relationship to the human scale.