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The Workshop (#59) |
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| Type of building: | flexible live/work |
Entry Description | |
| The Workshop is assembled of prefabricated building components for optimized efficiency and minimum waste. There are two units in the building – in the first iteration the first story is an office; the second is an apartment. The building is elevated on concrete piers and cantilevers over an existing structure on-site. Only the existing building and concrete piers will remain after the building is relocated for its next lifecycle. | |
| A discussion of design for adaptability and disassembly techniques incorporated: We designed the building to function as a temporary space while having a feeling of permanence. Deconstructability determined the design from its early stages; we planned an inherently simple building that would expedite assembly, disassembly and reuse. We selected our structure, skin, mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems, and interior layout based on this approach. The individual structural steel frames are bolted instead of welded whenever possible. The building envelope – comprised of a glazed curtain wall and highly-insulated metal panels – are discrete elements attached to the structural frame. Plumbing & electrical is largely contained in prefabricated “smart modules” (or pods) that are delivered just prior to installation of the completed floor assemblies. A heat exchanger on the hot water tank is distributed to a fin-tube convective heat system at the building perimeter. Electrical wiring and mechanical piping takes place in the airspace beneath raised access flooring – a modular floor tile and electrical receptacle system is easily accessible and reconfigured. Floor plans are simple and flexible to maximize interchangeability in each lifecycle of the building with the pods providing separation of interior spaces. When the current site is fully redeveloped in future, this prefabricated component building will be disassembled and reassembled at a new location. The inherent simplicity of the building design and materials will minimize the time and labor required to begin the next lifecycle of the building. | |
| Environmental implications of entry: Pre-fabrication of all major building components in a controlled environment creates a product that is precisely constructed, exceptionally durable, and with less landfill waste generated. The majority of building components are manufactured locally to reduce transportation energy use. Mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems are discreet components, easily maintained and available for future upgrade. Structural connections are exposed and mechanically fastened whenever possible. The highly insulated exterior envelope reduces heating requirements. The TPO roof collects rainwater and is prepared to accept a PV or solar hot water array. No fossil fuels (natural gas) are consumed in the building to allow for a carbon neutral future. An under-structure, ground-level cistern collects roof rainwater to be used for toilet-flushing, clothes-washing, and irrigation. The number of plumbing fixtures is minimized and the smart modules are dual-plumbed for purple water usage. | |
| Economic or policy implications of entry: Throughout the financing and permitting process for this project, we challenged preconceived notions of construction and buildings. Structural drawings needed to very clearly convey to the permit reviewer the structural capacity of individual components when fully-assembled and after connections are tested. For the loan, our lender needed to define the building as real property instead of personal property. Even as real property, loan documents were required to include a legal document indicating that the building could only be located after approval by the lender. This project is a prime example of attaining a high-quality, flexible and sustainable building on a limited budget. By implementing passive strategies like a highly-insulated building envelope, optimized daylight, and low-emissivity roof, we minimize construction, operating and maintenance costs. | |
| Explain how the entry advances lifecycle building education: Prefabricated structures are an emerging presence in the design and housing communities across North America, and we are beginning to see some of this implemented locally. However, these buildings have a finite lifespan because of the prevalent use of adhesives, crude fasteners, entangled MEP systems, conventional material choices, and lack of flexibility in space-planning. At the Workshop, all building components are visible and accessible, with a permanently installed assembly & disassembly diagram clearly visible to visitors and future building owners and residents, essentially an “owner’s manual” that is never lost. This evolving “long-life, loose-fit” prefabricated component building strives to overcome the challenges of building while planning even further into the future for disassembly, or “defabrication”. We are using the building as an open showcase for the potential of lifecycle building. Not only will it be a platform for the community at large, but also for those within the design profession. We are introducing consultants and contractors to the concept of defabrication and forward-thinking concepts. With this and other work, we aspire to catalyze a movement among architects and developers to participate in lifecycle building. | |
| Additional information: | |
Entry Metrics | |
| Estimated building square footage: 2,000 square feet | |
| Tons of concrete reduced/conserved in your entry: 129 tons | |
| Explanation: A conventional building would have required a 4” concrete slab on grade with footings. With our footprint, that would require 161 tons of concrete. Our concrete pier design only requires 32 tons of concrete for 129 tons on concrete savings. | |
| Tons of wood reduced/conserved in your entry: 1 | |
| Explanation: A conventionally-built structure would have framed the residential use on the second floor in wood. All restrooms and utility closets would also have been wood-framed. For the tonnage listed above, we have used PSU’s figure of 2 lbs/ft of wood. | |
| Tons of steel reduced/conserved in your entry: 0 | |
| Explanation: Whenever possible, we have used steel for structural functions because of its long lifespan, high recycled content, and ability to be directly reused without additional processing. | |
| Tons of aluminum reduced/conserved in your entry: | |
| Explanation: | |
| Tons of carpet reduced/conserved in your entry: 2 | |
| Explanation: In a conventionally-designed building, there would be wall-to-wall carpet for physical and acoustic comfort. We have foregone them in favor of indoor air quality. For the tonnage listed above, we have used a field-measured figure of 2lbs/ft2. | |
| Other material: Gypsum wall board | |
| Tons of other material reduced/conserved in your entry: 3 | |
| Explanation: A conventionally-designed interior would have a ceiling and walls clad in GWB for uniformity. However, we left the ceiling and walls exposed to save on those materials. For the tonnage listed above, we have used PSU’s figure of 2.6 lb/ft3 | |
| Tons of Green House Gasses Reduced: | |
| Discussion of Green House Gas reduction implications of your entry: | |
| Measurement tool used to calculate GHG reduction: | |
| Website of GHG measurement tool used: http:// | |
| Other energy conservation features of your entry: | |