The V Pillars Design Proposal

Perry Point Veterans Affairs Medical Center Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program Building

The V Pillars Design Proposal

The V Pillars Team Goals ● Utilize natural features of the site in design and construction ● Provide a variety of personal spaces for residents that facilitate the healing process ● Leverage the diversity of the group to generate the most efficient and effective design ● Deliver each phase of the project in a reliable and timely manner ● Achieve LEED Platinum status ● Keep the project safely under budget

Strategies ● ● ● ● ●

Hanan AlHashmi Lighting/Elec.

Christopher Christina Barlow Lu Jin Structures

Lighting/Elec.

Tarek Birkdar

Shannon Hughes

Mechanical

Const. Mgmt.

Thoroughly research soils, solar paths, wind patterns, and climate conditions Design both highly transparent spaces, enclosed spaces, and spaces in between Allow occupants to have a high level of control over their environment Design spaces that encourage interaction with visitors, other residents, and nurses Focus on gentle architectural forms and avoid geometries that are imposing, threatening, or intimidating (e.g. sharp corners, dead ends) ● Spec energy efficient equipment in design and construction

Mission Statement Five Pillars approaches each new project with a common goal: to improve the lives of those who actively and passively experience our work. We begin by immersing ourselves in the environment where we build. By thoroughly studying the unique challenges and opportunities presented by a location, we strive to add value and dignity to the space. Our rigorous design process includes meticulous engineering analysis to achieve high standards of occupant comfort and energy efficiency. Extending over all of this is a collaborative effort to achieve a timeless, irreplaceable experience for anyone who walks into or passes by one of our buildings.

Perry Point RRTP Mission Statement The brave men and women who have served in our military have sacrificed much. We believe they deserve recognition and reward for their service. That is why we have set out to design a facility that focuses primarily on their needs. Many of these men and women face ongoing internal warfare in the form of mental and physical illness of many different varieties. The goal of our design is to provide a space that promotes the healing process as these men and women progress toward independent living and complete autonomy.

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Project Research Project Brief………………………………………..………………………………………………………….………………………….…...………….. 6 Site Analysis…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………….. 8 Precedents………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………….. 10 Building Evolution………………………………………………………….……………………..………………………………………………………13

Building Schematics Floor Plans………………...……………………….…………………………………………………………………………………….…….……….. 14 Area Comparison……………………………………….…………………………………………….………………………………………..……….. 22 Elevations……………………………………………………………….…………………………….………………………………………...……….. 23

Sections Wall Detail……………………………………………………………………………………...…………..………………………………..….……….. 24 Building……………………………………………….…………………………………………………….………………...…………………....…….. 25

Renderings Exterior…………………………...…………………………………………………………………………………....………………………....……… 26 Materials………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………….....….……… 27

Options Lighting…………………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….…..…… 28 Construction Management………………………………..………………………………………………………..…....……………..….……...…… 32 Mechanical……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....………..……… 34 Structural……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..………………….. 36 Life Safety Plan ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….... 38

Summary Conclusion……………...………………..…………………………………………………………………...……………………….………...….…… 39

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Other Cons.

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Options

Renderings

Sections

Bldg Schema.

Background Research

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Project

Background Research

Special Requests From the Building Owner Architecture ●

● ●

Bldg Schema.

● ● ● ●

Residents come first (Administrative wing should be given proper treatment as well, but resident areas must receive optimal standard of care) Suicide-proof design in resident rooms Corridors connect all buildings so medication and food can be delivered to residents year-round Different motifs should be applied to different areas No terra cotta or other high maintenance materials should be used Interior materials should be easy to clean, non-porous, and durable Computers at nurse stations must be kept private, oriented away from sight lines along hallways for patient confidentiality

Construction Management

Sections

● ● ●

All sanitary goes to lowest point on site near Avenue A and receives treatment off site New construction must meet new requirements for water management Ideally there should be no phasing in consutrction (all at once)

Renderings

Mechanical ● ● ● ● ● ●

Other Cons.

Options

Site Analysis The image above shows the layout of the Perry Point VA Medical Center. As you can see, the eastern side of the site has a large institutional gate, while the west has considerably fewer buildingings and more pleasant views. To the south is a beautiful view of the Susquehanna River. This allowed us to create the variety of spaces we needed. Private, intimate spaces with heavy, opaque walls have been placed on the east side. Social, active spaces with light, transparent walls have been placed primarily on the west side. All residential units have been placed on the south side so that residents have a view of the water.

This image also shows some features that directly affect the site. The topography of the site seriously limits the buildable area of the site. We had to carefully select the placement of the building to minimize excavation. There are also runoff wells on both sides of the building shrinking the buildable area without excavation.

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Site Analysis - VA Campus

Insect control is very important HVAC systems need redundancy in case on system fails Isolation rooms need their own systems Resident rooms should be sound-proofed All resident areas must be sprinklered Avoid 100% outside air, design temperature should be 72 degrees

Lighting/ Electrical ● ● ●

Lighting systems must be dimmable Use LEDs to avoid flicker (residents with epilepsy) All electrical sockets must be three-prong

Structural ● ●

Drainage must be considered around foundation Structure should be designed with horizontal expansion in mind (knock-out panels)

The graphic above shows the climate data for Baltimore, MD which is about 50 miles South of Perry Point, MD; therefore, the climate data is very close to the site. Specifically this chart shows wind direction and speed, humidity, and temperature.

The other images show the solar angles during different times of day and different times of year. Knowing these angles and how they affect the building was critical in the design of the building and the daylighting systems.

Solar Study from 9am - 5pm for different seasons throughout the year (Viewing from East, facing West) 9

Background Research Bldg Schema.

Private Medical Center Moscow ● Healing through nature ● Home - like environment

Sections

● Integration of the building with the site

● Effective flow of occupants

Renderings

● Daylighting

Belmont Community Rehabilitation Centre

● Light Control ● Integration of the

Options

building with the site ● Effective Circulation ● Private and public

Other Cons.

areas separate.

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Precedent Studies

HUBER STAUDT ARCHITEKTEN

Psychiatric Centre Friedrichshafen 2011

● Spacious ● Easy Access ● Smooth Lighting ● Wide varaiety of materials ● Site Integration

● Light Control ● Integration of the building with the site ● Effective Circulation

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Precedent Studies

Background Research Bldg Schema.

CONCEPT A Study on Mental Illness - its effects and means of reprieval Who are we designing for?

Post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and other mental illnesses stand in the way of healing for the residents of our facility. We have sought to understand and research our client’s unique disposition in order to develop a narrative that could be translated into design and create an atmosphere of healing.

How does this influence our design strategy?

The “Broken” Building

DUALITY

The building itself will portray outwardly the emotional instability felt internally by the residents, becoming a microcosm of their own worries and fears. The design will utilize this theme to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the building. The facade will be fractured. Walls and ceilings will slump beneath non-existent weights. Large, heavy columns will appear to sag beneath light roofs. In this way, the residents will see how their own anxiety can be transformed.

Privacy (Autonomy) + Safety Residents will maintain or rebuild a sense of dignity and self-worth during their stay at the facility. This will help to ensure a full mental recovery. Having autonomy will increase confidence, but it will not compromise their safety. Residents have been given spaces that feel independent, but staff always have direct sight lines to resident rooms in case of emergency.

Home-like Familiarity + Non-institutional

Sections

Repeated patterns, materials, and shapes can easily be perceived as either “home-like” or institutional. Our design identifies appropriate locations to break the repetition and introduce new elements or materials, maintaining familiarity while adding aesthetic value.

Efficient + Flexible

Renderings

Care must be delivered to residents efficiently. The building has been optimized to allow nurses and staff the shortest path to their residents. The building has also been designed for flexibility to accommodate the varying needs of incoming residents.

Other Cons.

Options

The image above depicts the physical outcome of depression: a posture that suggests a heavy burden that isn’t truly there.

HERO OR VICTIM? Grief should not be taken lightly. Calling veterans “heroes” is sugar-coating the problem. In fact, many veterans hate the term “hero”. Most of them never had the opportunity to really do something heroic. Their experience cannot truly be understood. By calling them heroes, people mistakenly bring attention to this disparity. In this way, they are actually victims.

ART AS THERAPY Art can express and impress emotion. Residents will be encouraged to express their emotions at their own pace through direct communication with nurses within the comfort of quiet, well isolated, private spaces. The design of these special spaces will incorporate artistics elements that impress feelings of belonging.

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Unfortunately, there is no easy solution for grief and depression. In fact, they are often a permanent aspect of many peoples’ lives. However, life can continue in spite of these negative emotions. It is our hope that our building will show this to the residents: how even a fractured, broken, imperfect building can be beautiful and display its damages proudly.

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Building Evolution

Other Cons.

Options

Renderings

Sections

Bldg Schema.

1st Floor Plan 2nd Floor Plan

Floor Plans 14

Background Research

Residential Unit

First Floor

The first floor residential room has a door to the outdoor garden while the second floor residential room has a large window. Each of the rooms are ADA accessible and spacious to allow comfort for residents suffering from a wide range of ailments. The ADA accessible bathroom is shared by the adjoining rooms. Rooms on both the First and Second floor allow for personalization which creates the home-like environment we wanted to provide for the residents.

Second Floor

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Floor Plans

Other Cons.

Options

Renderings

Sections

Bldg Schema.

1st Floor Plan 2nd Floor Plan

Floor Plans 16

Background Research

Aqua-Therapy Pavilion

The Aqua-Therapy Pavilion is a place where the residents can go to heal and be well in privacy. The pool on the right is for private use of the residents while the pool on the right is for public use as it is exposed to the outside through the curtain wall. In order to achieve the privacy on the right, wood slats were constructed on the bottom of the exterior walls while the top is glazed glass to allow ambient light to enter the pavilion to create a relaxing atmosphere. The Pavilion includes two pools and one hot tub. There is plenty of space provided to allow for wheelchair access and there is also ramp access to the pool on the right. The main focus of this area is healing and with the space provided, we believe that the residents can heal in a safe, relaxing environment.

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Floor Plans

Other Cons.

Options

Renderings

Sections

Bldg Schema.

1st Floor Plan 2nd Floor Plan

Floor Plans 18

Background Research

Office Admin. Area

One of the things that we did not want to overlook was the staff. While we obviously want to ensure the resident’s comfort, it is just as important that the staff feel just as relaxed and at home. Because of this, we provided the staff with their own outdoor space to relax and socialize. It was also important that the offices be exposed to as much sunlight as possible while maintaining the privacy an office should have. To balance this, the hallways have a curtain wall system shedding light on the interior, reaching the offices through the windows in the doors. By providing features for the staff,

we belive we have created a pleasant work environment for the people who care for those who provide care for others.

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Floor Plans

Other Cons.

Options

Renderings

Sections

Bldg Schema.

1st Floor Plan 2nd Floor Plan

Floor Plans 20

Background Research

Cafeteria Interior/Exterior

We wanted to provide a social space where residents can come together and rely on each other to heal. One of the highlights of this is the cafeteria. It has plenty of natural light and views toward the bay provided by the curtain wall on the southern half of the room and a skylight that extends to the second story lounge. There is an exit to the garden where there are benches, landscaping, and a fountain. Here, residents have a private outdoor space where they can be secluded from the outside world and simply enjoy the beauty of their surroundings.

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Floor Plans

Background Research

Area Comparison Room Area Recommendation vs. Actual 10000 8806

9000

7710

8000

Bldg Schema.

7261

7000

6830

6000 5000

4351

4000

3630 2850

Sections

3000

2397

2000

1000 0

Other Cons.

Options

Renderings

Patient/Private

Patient/Public

Staff/Admin.

Recommendation

As shown in the charts to the right, actual area exceeds the recommended area.

However, we believe this is necessary to provide the optimal level of care for the residents.

We do not want our residents to feel trapped or confined in any part of our building. Instead, we have given them ample room for maneuverability and comfort.

MEP/Service

Actual

Total Area Recommendation vs. Actual 40000 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 Net Area

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Recommendation

Gross Area Actual

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Wall Sections

Other Cons.

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Options

Renderings

Sections

Bldg Schema.

Background Research

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Building

Other Cons.

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Options

Renderings

Sections

Bldg Schema.

Background Research

Roof Shingle

Red Brick

Beige Stucco

The selection of materials was based on three main criteria: matching the surrounding architecture, generating a coherent and warm color palette, and minimizing excess cost. As a result, the five main materials used for the faรงade of our building are: roof shingles, brick, stucco (beige and red), and stone.

Red Stucco

Stones

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Background Research Bldg Schema.

Sections Renderings Options Other Cons.

Section View of the Residential Unit Residential unit (on the left half) and the corridor (on the right half)

SUMMER

FALL

WINTER

SPRING

These section views showed how the sunlight is shining into the spaces on a regular spring day.

The shade for the outdoor patio is blocking the direct sunlight for the first floor units, only allowing an ambient sunlight through the glazed door. Light shelves are applied for all second floor units so direct sunlight wouldn’t be a problem for most times of the year. The corridor on the second floor will be mainly lit by the clerestories on the north facing wall during the daytime without glare from direct sunlight.

Partnered with sun shine from the left side are created by the exterior louvered shade and interior light shelf, the top surface of the light shelves change the direction of the sunlight and reflect them onto the ceiling.

The patterned glazing wall on the right not only gives an ambient daylight but also provide a nice view of the hidden courtyard for the residents.

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Section View of the Swimming Pool Swimming pool and small non-accessible courtyard

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Background Research Bldg Schema.

Sections

Each 1st floor unit has a single slide glazing door allowing sunlight during the daytime and also providing easy access to the outdoor patio for the residents.

All residential units contain a typical school/house ceiling mounted fixture in the middle of the room, two recessed downlights with one located in the doorway area and the other above the desk area, a desk light, bed light and a floor lamp.

Lobby, Front Desk and Sitting Area A canopied driveway sits in front of the Curtain wall system with an automatic sliding front door. The sitting areas are on the two corners and close to the curtain wall, where will have a complete outdoor view In order to create a cozy, relaxing feeling for the lobby, cove lights are applied around the perimeter of the lobby, and above the floating ceiling.

Downlights are applied for the areas that intend to require a higher light level, like front desk area, sitting area, egress and the center.

Other Cons.

Options

Renderings

First Floor Residential Unit

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Second Floor Corridor Corridor on the second level have clerestories on the north walls. Light levels could be easily reached with sunlight that is provided by the clerestories for most of the daytime.

8ft linear fluorescent pendant lights are evenly spaced in the corridor area providing sufficient amount of light during the nighttime. Fixtures could also be dimmed later at night to save energy.

Office Occupancy sensor are utilized in areas like office, lounge room and computer room for energy saving. One single tall window, and two 2x2 recessed fluorescent fixtures are installed in each office room.

Door with glazed sidings are used to bring more sunlight in from the courtyard

Backyard Behind Dining Area

Dining Hall

This is a back view of the center of our building.

Dining area could be seen behind the huge curved curtain wall system. The nicely setup backyard is for residents to gather and hang out.

The fountain in the center of the courtyard is lit and addressed with blue toned in-grade uplight. The benches around the fountain all have an up-lit plant pot on each side of the bench.

The huge chandelier hangs above the dining area through the opening of the second floor in the center. The perimeters are lit by recessed can lights.

This dining hall is meant to create a spacious feeling for residence when they are all gathered together and having meal. The furniture is spaced out and create enough space even for wheelchairs to move around. The kitchen is located in the dining hall for easy access, and the opening on the wall that’s in between kitchen and dining hall is for food delivery.

Downlights around the perimeter and the huge chandelier in the center hanging from the second floor ceiling together create a private and comfortable dining environment.

Main Entrance and Driveway A Canopied driveway area in front of the main entrance is for easy circulation.

The driveway under the canopy is lit by the downlights that are recessed into the canopy to create enough light level for safety purposes, and to make sure they are easy to see where they are walking when get in and out of their vehicle.

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25’

After

Other Cons.

Options

Renderings

Sections

Bldg Schema.

Background Research

Before

Dewatering Due to the fact that the site where the Susquehanna river meets the Chesapeake Bay, The site has to respond to the fluctuations of the river. The High water table will require great consideration in the dewatering and water retention of the site. The dewatering of the site will be done through excavation and sump pump well points.

Water Retention In order to keep the building as dry as possible throughout its lifetime, the sump pumps used to dewater the site will remain functional after the building is occupied. This alone cannot handle these amounts of water, so the building will rest upon a dike made of strong aggregate to not only prevent to soil underneath the building from retaining water, but also preventing soil swell that occurs in the silty, clay soil that is already on the site. The dike will also increase the load bearing capacity of the soil with will help with the structural integrity of the building.

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Water Management

Trailers Site Vehicle Access Excavation Area Fence Crane Crane Path Concrete Mixing Area Laydown Area Trash Removal Area Fire Truck Lane

Excavation Site Plan This plan is very simple as this is when the least number of people are on site. Access to the trailers is established as well as the trailers themselves.

There must be easy access to the site at all times as there will be trucks entering the site with the aggregate fill, and leaving with access soil. The section on the right hand side that extends to the edge of the site is for the tunnel. this depth will reach around 13 ft. the excavation of the building will go down about 7 ft.

Structural Plan The structural plan is much more complex in that several trades need to coordinate with each other. Since most of the open space on this site is on the river side, most of the activity happens there. the two main trades are the steel and concrete trades. A proper laydown area, crane and crane path are provided for the steel contractor, while a concrete trade has an area to mix the concrete and prepare it to be poured.

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Fire Truck Lane A fire lane was required to encompass the entire building. This fireline has a 15’ clearance for a fire truck to turn safely. The lane is supported by the dike system.

Cost Analysis The table on the left shows a breakdown of each system cost based on an assemblies estimate..

The pool was calculated as a separate entity and then added on at the end. Overall, the building is over budget.

This is mainly due to the large perimeter and intricate systems.

Other Cons.

Options

Renderings

Sections

Bldg Schema.

Background Research

Mechanical Plan

Wing A

Mechanical Room 1

Wing B

Mechanical Room 2

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Aqua-Therapy Room

Mechanical Plan

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Key Areas with option integration + details

Offices/Admin

Sections

Bldg Schema.

Background Research

Structural Design

Other Cons.

Options

Renderings

N 20’ Graphic Scale

EDIT The image to the left show the structural components of the first floor lobby space. Later design revisions altered the design of this space.

Instead of standard beams and columns above the lobby, exposed trusses have been placed above this area to allow for skylights designed by the lighting designers.

The image to the left show the structural components of the administrative wing of the building. The image to the right shows the structural components of the quiet room, and staircase in the west wing of the building.

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The image to the left shows the exposed structure of the pool area.

These trusses will be coated with fire-proofing and must be sized large enough to accommodate for the considerable amount of mechanical equipment and ductwork in this area.

The truss design was also selected to include vertical zero-force members. These can be used by the lighting designer or the mechanical engineer to hang heavy equipment without majorly affecting the structural integrity of the truss.

Additional Comments Other structural considerations include lateral force resisting system and expansion joints.

The LRFS design will consist of shear walls in three locations of the building (i.e. the three elevator wells located in each wing of the building. Expansion joints will be provided in two locations between the three major wings of the building to prevent unwanted cracking in the intricate facade features of the building.

EDIT Coordination with the lighting designers resulted in exposed an exposed roof structure for the second floor hallway along the three main residential wings.

Skylights were placed below the roof to provide the space with ambient light. In order to maintain the theme of a “home-like� environment, wood trusses were selected to replace the original steel design in these areas.

Second floor residential structural system First floor residential structural system

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Background Research

5ft First floor exit plan

Renderings

Sections

Bldg Schema.

4ft

Other Cons.

Options

Second floor exit plan

- 4 exits are placed on the first floor - 3 staircase exits are on the second floor and 2 elevators

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Conclusion

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Area Comparison

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Summary