ENTRY DETAIL - Building: Student

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Entry Details

Entry Description

[Un]Modular Design for Deconstruction

This is a diagrammatic project of a construction trade school that attempts to redefine building. This building is a temporary resting place for materials to be traded, upgraded and reused. The project shows the potential for a building to evolve with time as materials, fashions, technologies and uses change. Rather than attempting to find an infinitely reusable module, the project resists all modules to create a framework for creatively reused materials to be placed within.

The building has been arranged based on consolidating the spatial services that each room requires. Grouping spaces that have similar needs disentangles unnecessary services making each room as efficient as possible. Each room or space is defined by an adaptable structural steel frame. This frame is infilled with panels as needed for the necessary spatial services. The panels are deconstructable to adapt to changes in the services they provide. The panels have all of the systems embedded within them and have extender plugs that extend the systems from one panel to another.

The panels have a similar adaptable outer frame with a material infill. The panel is divided into two halves to provide another deconstructable joint. The outer layer is the rainscreen. The rainscreen layer is created from previously used materials that have been transformed. This transformation separates the material from its original context and gives the material new value rather than just a lower resale value. Materials that can be reused for their performative qualities are used within the wall. They do not have to overcome the perceived lower value of a reused item and thus can be reused with minimal transformation. The variability of reused materials is unified by consistently using the steel structural frame as a quilt border.

This system provides multiple disassembly points at multiple scales. Materials can be separated from their panels. Panels can be separated from their rooms. And rooms can be separated from their building.

The process enables custom designed rooms that are combined together from reused materials to form a building. But this building only lasts as longs as it is performing optimally. When changes are needed, materials can be traded or sold and buildings can be rejuvenated. In the end, buildings last longer, materials have value in their reuse and no module is necessary to minimize or eliminate waste.

Due to separable joints at multiple scales to minimize unnecessary demolition; building renovation becomes more economical. This ease of renovation extends a building’s useful life which cause less material to be used thus saving resources, reducing the carbon footprint and occupying less landfill space.

As reuse gives used materials additional value, there becomes an economic incentive to create longer lasting materials to increase resale values. Reusing reduces the carbon emissions of recycling, reduces landfill space and reduces virgin material useage.

Additionally, the lack of modularity or pre-determined rules enables passive design and site specificity for holistic sustainable design. This project only focuses on one aspect of the environmental impact buildings have on the environment. The next step is using the system to respond appropriately to create a truly sustainable building.

Creating a system where materials are easily deconstructed and sellable, gives them value for resale. The creative reuse of those materials separates the new application from the old helping create value because any preconceptions of the material have been removed. Further value could be added to materials if manufactures owned materials and only sold the service of the material. It encourages them to manufacture materials for increased reuse possibilities because higher reuse possibilities means greater resale value and thus greater profits.

Quick and safe deconstruction becomes just as important as construction, creating a large and thriving industry. Material reuse stores become necessary for exchange of building materials creating a large retail sector. Designing a creative reuse for existing materials provides additional work and creative outlets for architects/designers who are currently out of work.

The building/project is essentially the definition of a learning opportunity. I used the competition to explore the possibilities of material reuse rather than committing to solve the difficult problems that arise in architectural design. Because of this, the building has been distilled almost to a diagram. The joints of separation are a prominent feature of the design clearly showing users and/or future disassembly workers how the building works. Clear reveals within this frame show how panels are attached to the structural frame. The conceptual underpinnings of the operation of the building have been highlighted rather than subdued. This makes the building a learning tool for all who use it or see it.

Although a site was used (a triangular brownfield site), I chose to not emphasize the site. I also used a program, but did not emphasize it. The site and program helped me create boundaries to work with/against. The true goal of this project is not how well the building works on its triangular site as a construction tradeschool; the true goal is to create an architectural process that enables material reuse and building adaptability to become a viable option.

Entry Metrics

There is no slab on grade flooring system. The building has a floor panel system that lies within the frame above the ground. Slab on grade’s prevent disassembly and reassembly.

A large amount of structural steel was required but due to its flexibility the large quantity is offset by its length of useful life. 32,000 sq. ft of the perimeter skin is made from reusing standing seem metal roofing.

The extruded aluminum mullions are salvaged and reused. I used a 3” x 8” mullion that I theoretically reused from a nearby building. The mullions have been adapted to accept reused sheet materials and they surround the building.