Sustaining the Human Body through Architecture
By / Nicholas R. Respecki MArch Creative Project Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning
Sustaining the Human Body through Architecture
By / Nicholas R. Respecki MArch Creative Project Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning
PHYSIO 40 + Sustaining the Human Body through Architecture MArch Creative Project Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning 04 May 2011 By: Nicholas R. Respecki Advisors: Andrea Swartz, Associate Professor of Architecture George Elvin, PhD, Associate Professor of Architecture
Copyright Š 2011 Nicholas R. Respecki Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Ball State University Department of Architecture.
Please Direct Inquires to: Nicholas R. Respecki
Email: nrrespecki@gmail.com Tel: 989.370.4240
ABSTRACT
The human body is designed to engage in physical activity,
green space, neighborhood connectivity, public safety, and
yet more than 50 percent of the American population does
pedestrian-friendly design have each been associated
not meet the established recommendations as defined by
with increased levels of physical activity. At the building
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sedentary
scale, the design of stair systems, skip-stop elevators, roof
lifestyles have been associated with an increased risk of
gardens, spatial organization, and the building program
obesity, heart disease, colon cancer, high blood pressure,
have been equally associated with providing building
and diabetes. Personal and environmental barriers such
occupants increased levels of daily physical activity.
as lack of knowledge, time, childcare, safety, and facilities prevent Americans from being physically active.
This creative project proposes an enhanced model for the design of buildings that places physical activity integration
Lifestyle physical activity offers individuals an opportunity
at the forefront of the design process. This building is
to
through
programmed as an office work environment within the West
common daily tasks such as walking, biking, and stair
Loop neighborhood of Chicago and offers a precedent
climbing. Design research is beginning to focus on the
on how to successfully integrate lifestyle and organized
relationship between this type of physical activity and
physical activity into contemporary architecture.
meet
the
established
recommendations
the built environment. At an urban scale, mixed-land use,
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 / INTRODUCTION
06
2.0 / THE DESIGN PROJECT 2.1 / Building Type
08
2.2 / Design Program 2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis 2.3.1 / Physical Activity in Chicago 2.3.2 / A History of Chicago’s West Loop 2.3.3 / West Loop Regional Demographics 2.3.4 / Site Boundaries 2.3.5 / Site Context 2.3.6 / Design Opportunities
09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 21
3.0 / RESEARCH, REVIEW, & ANALYSIS OF LITERATURE
22
4.0 / ARCHITECTURE CASE STUDIES
34
3.1 / Physical Activity & Public Health 3.1.1 / The Importance of Physical Activity 3.1.2 / Achieving Physical Activity 3.1.3 / Intensity & Measurement 3.1.4 / Lifestyle Physical Activity 3.1.5 / Barriers 3.2 / Physical Activity & the Built Environment 3.2.1 / The Urban Scale 3.2.1.1 / Land-Use 3.2.1.2 / The Pedestrian 3.2.1.3 / Green Space & Parks 3.2.2 / The Building Scale 3.2.2.1 / Vertical Circulation 3.2.2.2 / Walkability & Program 3.2.2.3 / Building Agriculture & Green Space 3.3 / Moving Forward
4.1 / 41 Cooper Square 4.1.1 / The Grand Stair 4.1.2 / Skip-Stop Elevator System 4.1.3 / Contributing Ideas 4.2 / Gary Comer Youth Center 4.2.1 / Roof Top Agriculture 4.2.2 / Adaptable Activity Space 4.2.3 / Contributing Ideas
04 / Table of Contents
22 23 24 24 25 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 30 32 33 33 35 36 37 37 38 39 40 40
4.3 / Google Headquarters: Site & Building Master Plan
4.3.1 / Site Design 4.3.2 / Building Design 4.3.3 / Contributing Ideas 4.4 / University of Cincinnati Campus Recreation Center 4.4.1 / Program Organization 4.4.2 / Program Space 4.4.3 / Contributing Ideas 4.5 / Case Study Analysis: Trends & Opportunities
5.0 / DESIGN METHODS 5.1 / Data & Information Collection
5.2 / Site Selection & Analysis 5.3 / Building Design 5.4 / Analysis & Evaluation
41 42 43 43 44 45 46 46 47
48
49 50 51 52
6.0 / BUILDING DESIGN & APPLICATION 6.1 / Conceptual Idea Development
54
7.0 / ANALYSIS & EVALUATION
76
8.0 / ILLUSTRATION REFERENCES 9.0 / REFERENCES
78
6.2 / Formal Development 6.3 / Design Program 6.4 / Circulation 6.5 / Green Space & Gardens 6.6 / The Economic Cost of Inactivity 7.1 / Quantitative Data Analysis 7.2 / Qualitative Analysis 7.3 / Concluding Thoughts
56 58 60 66 70 75 76 77 77
80
05 / Table of Contents
1.0 / INTRODUCTION
Architects, planners, and other design professionals have united in history to address and solve many of the cultural, social, and economic challenges that the built environment has encountered.
A rapid decline in the
physiological health of America is making it progressively clear that design professionals must address the rapidly growing physical inactivity epidemic. Physical activity has been an important part of research and literature on public health and well-being, but never a critical driving force in architectural design, theory, or research. The human body is designed for motion and physical activity; however, few people are embracing this in their daily routines through structured and unstructured activities. The majority of Americans are not getting enough physical activity, resulting in increased rates of obesity, premature disease, and reductions in overall health. One of the influential factors in discouraging physical activity today is the design of our communities, neighborhoods, and buildings. 06 / Introduction
In the design of buildings today, there is little focus on the
transportation, parks and green space are being poorly
relationship between physical activity and built form. Many
maintained and integrated into communities, and zoning
other design issues overshadow current architecture as it
laws are resulting in neighborhoods that require an
discourages most forms of physical activity. Concern for
automobile to travel, while also creating physical barriers to
an occupant’s physical health and activity level follows
pedestrians. The tendency of Americans to locate the most
cost, efficiency, convenience, form, and programmatic
convenient way to accomplish tasks is literally removing
requirements. Mechanical technology is also becoming
physical activity from daily life.
a driving force in architecture.
This is moving focus
away from physical work and placing it on convenience, speed, and efficiency as the primary means of improving quality of life, without regard to the physiological and psychological impact it may have on the human body. In buildings, elevators and escalators are being used to circulate vertically, moving sidewalks and automatic doors are reducing the human energy required to move through space, and jobs at the workplace can be accomplished on a single computer in a sedentary, energy-free way. At the neighborhood scale, large expanses of road systems and parking lots make the automobile the ideal form of
Designers and researchers must acknowledge that for the incorporation of physical activity to become a component of a daily routine and provide health benefits, a re-evaluation of integrated technology and organization in our current built environment is necessary. In design, physical activity must become an integrated element of convenience, speed, and efficiency within the built environment, encouraging occupants to be physically active through unstructured activities. Architectural research and literature needs to address sustainability beyond the mechanical, technical, and ecological realm, and focus on sustaining the physical health and well-being of an entire nation at stake.
07 / Introduction
2.0 / THE DESIGN PROJECT
Introduction Physical activity must be addressed at every scale within
has been minimally addressed by the design profession.
the built environment. Cities, neighborhoods, blocks, and
The second objective was to provide an alternate model
buildings together can battle the growing trend of inactivity
for the design of a building that placed physical activity
in America.
A precedent for the successful integration
integration at the forefront of the design process. This
of physical activity in the built environment is essential
created a successful precedent for design professionals
to establishing an architectural movement. This creative
and demonstrates how architecture can battle inactivity.
design project researched, analyzed, and implemented
With an understanding of physical activity, its relationship
physical activity within the micro-scale of a single urban
to the built environment, and how it can be implemented
building. An alternate model for the design of buildings
within a building, architects and planners can build upon
that places physical activity integration at the center of
this framework, implementing physical activity at all scales
the design process resulted in architecture that promotes
within the built environment.
lifestyle physical activity.
Establishing this alternate design model for buildings
This study had two main objectives. The first was to make
required the selection of three constants: a building type,
architects, planners, and other design professionals aware
program, and site. The selection of these elements should
of the impact the built environment has, or can have, on
not limit the scope of this research and its application, but
the physical activity levels of its human occupants. This
provide a framework for integrating physical activity into
relationship has been acknowledged in other professional
any building.
literature pertaining to health and well-being; however, it 08 / The Design Project
2.1 / Building Type
2.1 / Building Type Office buildings can be considered the most inactive,
edge, enclosed fire stairs ensure safe egress during
sedentary environments designed today; however, many
emergencies, but provided far from optimal environmental
American adults have embraced the office environment
conditions for everyday occupant use. This is the reality of
as a major component of daily life, not acknowledging
office buildings across American cities today.
the negative health effects it can contribute to over an extended period of time. Sitting within a single cubical throughout a workday has become an accepted practice, providing few opportunities for unstructured or structured physical activity.
Common characteristics of the urban
office building include a circulation core containing the main elevator system, services spaces, and enclosed fire stairs. The elevator, in most cases, is the primary form of vertical circulation throughout the building floors. Surrounding the core is the main leasable office space, open for tenet flexibility, and many times developed into
The failure of office buildings to promote and provide physical activity presented an optimal situation in need of evaluation. An alternative office building, what will be referred to as an office work environment, was developed and designed based on the need for lifestyle physical activity. Although an office work environment was used as the base for the implementation of physical activity in architecture, the strategies explored and applied in this design have the ability to adapt to other building types and architectural scales throughout the built environment.
an expanse of open cubical workspace. At the building
09 / The Design Project
2.2 / Design Program
2.2 / Design Program Programmatic requirements are a reality in the design of office buildings today; however, they were not established in the pre-design phase of this project beyond the definition of the building type, which is an office work environment. A partial program was conceptually developed throughout the design process, equally informed by the requirements placed on it by lifestyle physical activity and functionality as an office building. Only the spaces addressing physical activity were programmed within the design, creating an activity core that would remain constant for all building tenants. This program development process was necessary to allow for the identification of program spaces that promoted, discouraged, or had no effect on an occupant’s physical activity level. It also aided in establishing programmatic parameters for alternate building types.
The resulting
program integrated spaces not commonly included in office buildings today. 10 / The Design Project
2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis
2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis The process of site selection was required to fulfill the design Figure 2.3.1 Left: Satellite map of Chicago highlighting the West Loop Figure 2.3.2 Right: Aerial view of Chicago’s West Loop
objectives and goals previously stated. The selected site, much like the building type and program, should not be viewed as the only location that will allow physical activity to be integrated; rather, it should be understood as one precedent that can be altered and implemented across various sites throughout the United States. The context for this design project was the West Loop, an urban community adjacent to the downtown business district of Chicago, Illinois. The region is bordered by Ashland Avenue to the west, Grand Avenue to the north, the Kennedy Expressway to the east, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway to the south, although it extends all the way to the Chicago River south of Madison Street. (Figure 2.3.1) 11 / The Design Project
2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis
2.3.1 / Physical Activity in Chicago The physical activity level of adults in Chicago is below the national average, with the majority of residents not getting the required amount of daily physical activity. Statistics provided by the Illinois Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (IBSFSS) reported that in 2009, only 37.5 percent of Chicago adults accounted for the recommended levels of physical activity, 50.8 percent did not meet the minimum requirements, and 11.7 percent were considered inactive. (Figure 2.3.3)
The most convincing statistic provided by the IBSFSS documents the type of work activity that Chicago residents participate in.
Adult residents who describe their work
activity as sitting or standing make up 70.2 percent of the total adult population. The following 22.3 percent of adult residents report walking as their main work activity, and the remaining 7.5 percent report physical demanding work and heavy labor as their main work activity (Illinois Department
Other statistics reported by the IBSFSS focus on intensity as an indicator of the level of physical activity that Chicago adult residents take part in.
fulfilling the requirements, and 70.3 percent falling short.
Moderate physical activity
5-days a week for a 30-minute period is only accomplished by 19.3 percent of adult residents, while 80.7 percent fail to fulfill this type of physical activity. Vigorous physical activity 3-days a week for a 20-minute period is accomplished by
of Public Health 2009). The physical activity statistics reviewed indicate that Chicago is a perfect location and setting for the development of this design project. The city has a very high rate of residents participating in sedentary types of work, with physical actively levels below the national average.
an increased number of adult residents, with 29.7 percent Figure 2.3.3 Physical activity (PA) level of adults in Chicago
37.5% Meet PA Requirements
12 / The Design Project
50.8% Do Not Meet PA Requirements
11.7% Inactive
2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis Figure 2.3.4 Left: Looking toward the central business district of Chicago from the West Loop Figure 2.3.5 Right: Residential loft apartments are located throughout the West Loop neighborhood
2.3.2 / A History of Chicago’s West Loop The history of the West Loop dates back to the 1800’s when
Chicago (West Loop Community Organization 2009, 11).
the region was first inhabited by immigrants searching for
(Figure 2.3.4) Although the area saw rapid development
work opportunities (Chicago Traveler, N.d.). Eventually, it
and growth during this period, safety was still a major
became a port of entry for many immigrants from Eastern
concern, making the West Loop an undesirable place to
Europe, Germany, Mexico, and Italy.
live (Chicago Traveler, N.d.).
The first settles
established homes in the area, although the majority of the region was consumed by large-scale warehouses, factories and businesses. The West Loop was home to the meatpacking industry and produce wholesalers. The expanding Chicago business district to the west helped the West Loop flourish commercially over the next seven decades. In 1871, the Chicago Fire raged through the region, causing major destruction to most of the area. Ultimately, the West Loop was rebuilt, attracting more immigrants of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. The Near West Side slowly became one of the most populated areas in Chicago (West Loop Community Organization, N.d.).
During the last three decades, the West Loop has gone through a slow transition, becoming the trendy neighborhood it is today. Drawn by its close proximity to the central business district of Chicago, loft style apartments, restaurants, galleries, music venues, and coffee shops have flooded the region.
Abandoned warehouses and
commercial buildings have been retrofitted to support the areas increased desire for residential apartments and loft style living.
Currently, the West loop represents a great
mix of land-use, with business, retail, residential, and commercial all working together to create an active and energetic neighborhood.
The addition of the University of Illinois to the region in 1961 increased building development in the area and inspired developers to embrace the great views of downtown 13 / The Design Project
2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis
2.3.3 / West Loop Regional Demographics A demographic profile of the West Loop neighborhood is valuable in understanding the general, economic, and social characteristics of the region. The following data is from the 2000 U.S. Census and based on the compilation of information from two Chicago zip code areas, 60661 and 60607 (U.S. Census Bureau 2000). City..................................................... Chicago, Illinois County................................................Cook Area....................................................2.7 sq. mi. (City Data, N.d.) Population..........................................19,934 Male....................................... 10,275 Female................................... 9,659 Median Age........................................31.4 Years Density............................................... 7,383 persons/sq. mi. Average Household Size.................. 1.75 Total Housing Units.......................... 10,940 Housing Unit Density....................... 4,052 units/sq. mi. Median Household Income.............. 47,835 dollars/year Average Travel Time to Work.......... 25.3 minutes
14 / The Design Project
2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis
2.3.4 / Site Boundaries Chicago’s West Loop provides a unique mixed-use
east-to-west. (Figure 2.3.7) To the east, the site is defined
community, with many opportunities for the development
by a dense physical line of office and retail buildings, with
of an active office building. Old St. Patrick’s Church, one
their service-oriented facades adjacent to the site. The
of Chicago’s oldest churches, currently owns the project
scale of the buildings making up the east boundary varies in
site in the West Loop and is looking to develop an office
both height and width. The dense facade wall is comprised
building on it in the near future. The site is located at 625
of a 3, 4, 6, and 10-story building. To the south, a small
W. Adams Street, a corner lot currently being used for
service alley defines the boundary of the site and is utilized
surface parking. (Figure 2.3.6)
The adjacencies to the
by an 8-story mixed-use building containing both office
site, its dimensional size, contextual scale, connection to
and retail space. The service alley provides access for
public transportation, and architectural context provided an
loading, unloading, and trash disposal. Both the north and
optimal location for the development of the building design.
west boundaries of the site are defined by the street and
The physical features of the built environment including sidewalks, streets, and vertical building forms define the boundaries of the site. The site is rectangular in shape, measuring 275 feet from north-to-south, and 150 feet from
pedestrian circulation system. West Adams Street defines the northern boundary of the site and Des Plaines Street defines the western edge of the site. Each bordering street includes a sidewalk, allowing for pedestrian circulation.
Figure 2.3.6 Above: Street corner view of the project site Figure 2.3.7 Right: Aerial view of the physical context highlighting the site
15 / The Design Project
2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis
Figure 2.3.8 Left: Architectural context to the south and west of the site Figure 2.3.9 Right: Old St. Patrick’s Church
2.3.5 / Site Context The architectural context of the site is representative of
active community because it places daily destinations within
the history of Chicago’s West Loop, with many structures
close proximity to one another. This promotes walking, the
maintaining a warehouse and factory feel, although most
most common form of physical activity.
contain completely different programmatic uses.
The
building context to the south and west of the site displays a consisted use of red and brown toned brick, includes large glass windows, and maintains a vertical scale between 3 and 10 floors. (Figure 2.3.8) Many buildings appear to have been converted from warehouses into residential apartments or lofts based on the addition of steel and concrete balconies to the street facades. The utilization of cast-iron as the primary material for railings and fences reinforces the industrial feel of the neighborhood. Buildings not occupied by lofts or apartments consist of a combination of retail, office, and commercial spaces. The mixing of building use is a key principle in the design of a physically 16 / The Design Project
There are two specific pieces of architecture consistent with the scale and materiality of the discussed context, but offer contrasting architectural styles to the warehouse and factory aesthetic. To the northwest of the site is Old St. Patrick’s Church, which is constructed of light toned brick in a Romanesque style. (Figure 2.3.9) Adjacent to the church sits the Frances Xavier Warde School, a catholic elementary school.
The architecture of this building maintains the
intimate scale of the church with only 3-floors, and also utilizing light toned brick to remain visually cohesive with St. Patrick’s Church.
2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis
Figure 2.3.10: Mixed building uses surrounding the project site
17 / The Design Project
2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis
Figure 2.3.11: Street identification
Figure 2.3.12: Bicycle lane circulation
Figure 2.3.13: Vehicular circulation
Figure 2.3.14: Community bus routes and stops
18 / The Design Project
2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis
Figure 2.3.15: Environmental wind conditions
Figure 2.3.16: Surface parking
school
commercial/office residential
Figure 2.3.17: Green space and parks
Figure 2.3.18: Building uses
19 / The Design Project
2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis At the street level, the buildings within the neighborhood maintain a pedestrian scale with the integration of large storefront windows and consistent column repetition. The inclusion of trees within the streetscape helps create a pedestrian scale. (Figure 2.4.19) Sidewalks allow walkers and runners to move freely and safely from building to building, although there are small interruptions by the integrated vehicular street system. (Figure 2.4.20) Street parking is available along both Des Plaines Street and West Adams Street, with most of the surrounding buildings relying on surface lots and parking structures to fulfill parking requirements. A valuable asset to the site is an adjacent park located at the opposite corner of West Adams and Des Plaines Street. Heritage Green Park accounts for nearly a quarter of the overall block, offering a large expanse of green space, shrubs, trees, footpaths, and benches. (Figure 2.4.21) The park is surrounded by a cast-iron fence and offers opportunities for the surrounding community to get both structured and unstructured physical activity throughout a daily routine.
Figure 2.3.19 Top: Pedestrian scale circulation along Des Plaines Street Figure 2.3.20 Middle: Pedestrian sidewalks exist on all streets surrounding the site Figure 2.3.21 Bottom: Heritage Green Park is located adjacent to the project site
20 / The Design Project
2.3 / Site Selection & Analysis Figure 2.3.22 Left: Aerial view of the project site showing its proximity to transit stops Figure 2.3.23 Right: Bus stop near the project site along Des Plaines Street
Transportation to and from the site can be accomplished multiple ways. Residents living within the neighborhood vicinity have the opportunity to utilize the pedestrian friendly sidewalk system for walking or running as a physical form of daily commute. Although bike lanes are integrated into many streets throughout the Chicago area, neither Des Plaines Street nor West Adams Street have integrated bike lanes, limiting the potential for bike traffic through and around the site. Bikers have the opportunity to share the road lanes with vehicles, but this is not optimal for biker
2.3.6 / Design Opportunities The West Loop neighborhood provides architects and planners with many design challenges and opportunities through its cultural, social, and physical characteristics. The mixing of land-use, pedestrian oriented design, proximity to public transportation, scale, and integration of green space all combine to create a physically dynamic neighborhood. It supports a wide range of activities that can incorporate fitness as a part of daily life including
safety, as well as circulation efficiency.
walking, running, and biking for leisure or as a form of daily
Commuters traveling long distances to reach the site
to stay active, with most working sedentary jobs, limiting
can utilize the Chicago public transit system. A bus stop
the amount of physical activity that can be accomplished
is located across the street from the project site at Des
throughout the workweek. These conditions provided an
Plaines and West Quincy Street, making this the nearest
optimal location for the design of an alternate model of
form of public transportation available to the site. Several
office work environment that focused on physical activity
commuter train stations are located within walking distance
integration. Together, the urban landscape of the West
of the site.
Chicago’s Union station and the Ogilvie
Loop neighborhood and the building design can increase
Transportation Center are both located within 3-blocks
the physical activity level of its users, while providing
of the site, and the Clinton-Blue transit stop is located
Chicago with a model on how to respond to a population
4-blocks to the south.
dominated by sedentary office environments.
commute. At the same time, Chicago residents struggle
21 / The Design Project
3.1 / Physical Activity & Public Health
3.0 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature 3.1 / Physical Activity & Public Health Physical activity can be described as the movements of the body that enhance human health. The human body is designed to engage in physical activity on a daily basis, yet more than 50 percent of Americans do not fulfill the recommended amount required for health benefits. Even more disturbing, 13.5 percent of Americans are not active at all (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2007).
Do Americans really know the importance of
physical activity, or does the excessive outpour of health related media produced by U.S. agencies impair their understanding? The growing public concern for inactivity and obesity seems to be very evident in America. Fatfree food products, low-calorie drinks, and a wide variety of fitness systems represent America’s fixation on health. If the American public is aware of the benefits of physical activity, then why do so many struggle to reach the required levels suggest by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? With a basic understanding of the various types, intensity levels, benefits, and common barriers of physical activity, architects, planners, and the occupants of the built environment can work together to implement and understand lifestyle physical activity as a key dimension to a healthy life. 22 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature
Figure 3.1.1 Below: Population in each U.S. state fulfilling physical activity objectives established by Healthy People 2010: Understanding and Improving Health (U.S. Department of Health and Human Service 2000)
3.1 / Physical Activity & Public Health
3.1.1 / The Importance of Physical Activity Regular physical activity is vital to maintaining the holistic
on a daily basis, it brings into question how successful this
health of the human body. It provides both physiological
strategy may be in promoting physical fitness.
and psychological benefits, yet Americans struggle everyday to integrate regular physical activity into their daily routine. Many struggle with personal and environmental barriers including lack of motivation, time, and overall health knowledge. Healthy People 2010: Understanding and Improving Health, an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has credited regular physical activity with a wide range of health benefits. According to the report, physiological benefits of physical activity include decreasing an individual’s risk of heart disease, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, while increasing muscular strength and controlling weight a the same time. Psychologically, physical activity can be attributed to improving an individual’s well-being, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, along with improving overall mood (U.S. Department of Health
The benefits of physical activity go beyond physiological and psychological health. With the reduction of obesity, as discussed above, come both direct and indirect economic benefits.
According to The Surgeon General’s Call To
Action To Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, in the year 2000, the total cost of obesity was estimated at around 117 billion dollars. Of the total, 61 billion were accounted for from direct costs including physician visits and nursing care. The remaining 56 billion was indirect costs, which are the lost wages of individuals unable to work. The medical conditions that made up the majority of the cost included type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and hypertension, all preventable conditions with the fulfillment of routine physical activity (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2001, 9-10).
and Human Services 2000, 26-27). Individuals involved in moderate levels of physical activity are also linked to lower mortality rates than those with sedentary lifestyles (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 1996, 50). With these health benefits overwhelming the public 23 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature
3.1 / Physical Activity & Public Health
3.1.2 / Achieving Physical Activity Physical activity can be accomplished in many ways,
level of various daily activities. One MET is the basis for
may it be a structured form of fitness, unstructured
the scale and is the amount of energy expended while at
activity, or lifestyle decision.
All have positive benefits
rest. Light physical activity is any activity expending 1.1
to an individual’s personal health, with some being more
METs to 2.9 METs, moderate activity ranges from 3.0-5.9
substantial than others.
Walking, biking, running, and
METs, and vigorous activity requires the expenditure of
swimming are some of the most common forms of physical
more than 6.0 METs (Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory
activity today. As stated previously, physical activity can
Committee 2008, 54-57).
be defined as any bodily movement that directly enhances the personal health of the individual; however, who determines what type, frequency, and duration is needed to enhance an individual’s personal health? Currently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General is the most comprehensive document on physical activity in the United States. It presents information on how people of all ages can enhance the quality of their lives through a lifelong dedication and execution of moderate physical
As recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults can stay physically active by fulfilling 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, 5 days of the week (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2008). Significant benefits to an individual’s health can also be obtained by combining many short episodes of activity at least 10 minutes in duration (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 1996, 5).
activity. The document explores the different intensity
The advantage to setting guidelines based on amount of
levels, frequency, duration, and long-term health benefits
activity rather than intensity is that it leaves it open to the
of sustained physical activity.
individual to decide what type of activity can fit their daily life
3.1.3 / Intensity & Measurement
and personal abilities. This could include a time consuming,
Physical activity can be divided into three distinct
exercise completed throughout a daily routine. If this is
categories based on the level of intensity: light, moderate,
the criteria for the evaluation of physical activity, architects
and vigorous, each evaluated on its relationship to absolute
and planners have the ability to design environments that
intensity, an individuals rate of energy burn at rest. Units
incorporate specific physical features, which promote, and
are assigned to each category to help identify the intensity
possibly require, moderate levels of physical activity.
24 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature
low intensity exercise, or short sessions of moderate level
3.1 / Physical Activity & Public Health
3.1.4 / Lifestyle Physical Activity Various different types of activities can be completed
Patterns: Exploring the Impacts of Urban Form on Public,�
to account for the frequency, duration, and intensity
there exists both personal and environmental barriers to
requirements of physical activity and sustained health.
why people struggle to integrate physical activity into daily
The incorporation of physical activity into a daily routine is
life.
very significant for people who dislike structured exercise,
that stop or restrict an individual from participating in
have difficulty with vigorous body movement, or do not
exercise. These barriers include lack of time, knowledge
have access to the proper equipment or faculties. These
on health, social support, and childcare. If these barriers
actions are referred to as lifestyle physical activity and
successfully limit an individual from participating in a
occur throughout a daily regimen at unstructured times and
structured, exercise-based activity, then unstructured
places. They may include walking to and from work, biking,
physical activity implemented through architectural design
stair climbing, gardening, circulating through space, and
could become a viable option. The environmental barriers
purposeless wandering. Lifestyle physical activity is a key
are the physical conditions of the environment that restrict
principle within this design project and is very influential in
physical activity including lack of bike lanes, safety, travel
the final building design.
distance, infrastructure, and topography (Frank and
3.1.5 / Barriers With major news organizations and trendy magazines overwhelmed with health promoting stories, fitness advertisements, inventive exercise products, and dietary pills, it is hard to understand why the majority of the adults in America struggle to find ways to integrate physical activity into daily life. It brings into question the critical barriers that Americans are facing today and the approach being taken to convince Americans that physical activity is required to maintain lifelong health. As presented by Lawrence D. Frank and Peter O. Engelke
Personal barriers are defined as the considerations
Engelke 2001, 208-209). A critical point to evaluate when analyzing the personal and environmental barriers that an individual faces in pursuit of physical activity is the concept of self-selection. Do design interventions within the built environment really encourage an individual to embrace physical activity, or are designers, architects, and planners just fooling themselves by thinking physical activity can be forced into a lifestyle dominated by mechanical convenience?
Studies are beginning to
show that self-selection does have, along with the built environment, a significant impact on how people travel (Active Living Research 2009, 1).
in the article “The Built Environment and Human Activity 25 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature
3.2 / Physical Activity & the Built Environment
3.2 / Physical Activity & the Built Environment Statistics on physical activity in America have shown that
blocks, neighborhoods, and cities need to be designed
the majority of individuals do not fulfill the recommended
as a response to America’s lack of physical activity. With
amount to sustain health benefits. With advancements in
these advances in technology and convenience becoming
building technologies, more convenient and energy-free
a major influence on design, architects and planners in
methods are being developed to accomplish the everyday
this country are practically designing physical activity out
task, bringing into question the role that designers,
of daily life. The concept of an active lifestyle must be a
architects, and planners must take in the future to promote
significant principle in the design, at all scales, of the built
physical activity within design. Public health officials and
environment.
agencies have focused on communicating physical activity through various reports and media outlets with minimal change in physical activity levels.
Focus needs to be
taken off of structured exercise and placed on the built environment, with architects, planners, and designers taking the lead. What is it about our environments today that make them not conducive to physical activity? Our buildings,
26 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature
Physical activity needs to become the easiest, most convenient, and safest choice for individuals traveling in our cities, communities, and buildings. Research suggests that there are strategies, theories, and ideas that can, if executed properly, provide physical activity within all scales of the built environment.
3.2 / Physical Activity & the Built Environment
3.2.1 / The Urban Scale Current research and exploration into the design of the
and civic buildings, that can together create a balance within
urban environment is successfully finding substantial
cities, decrease the distance between homes and daily
evidence and relationships between physical activity and
activities, and encourage individuals to walk and bike rather
the way planners, architects, and landscape architects
than drive. In America cities today, this type of balance is
design our cities, streets, outdoor spaces, neighborhoods,
nearly impossible to accomplish. Planner’s response to the
and city blocks. In order to promote physical activity within
chaos of the early industrial cities created land zoning in
our build environment, designers must consider mixed-land
American cities, separating daily functions from one another,
use, the integration of parks and other recreational spaces,
resulting in longer distances between daily activities, while
plazas, public safety, pedestrian friendly environments with
also discouraging individuals from walking to there desired
relatively high levels of connectivity, and an overall design
destinations (Vojnovic 2006, 77).
for the pedestrian, not the motorized vehicle that dominates
walking, biking, and other physical forms of transportation,
America streets.
designers, planners, and architects need to design with mix
3.2.1.1 / Land-Use
and balance in mind.
The mixing of land use is critical to the encouragement of non-motorized travel and the promotion of active forms of transportation such as walking, biking, and running. Igor Vojnovic’s “Building Communities to Promote Physical Activity: A Multi-Scale Geographical Analysis,” provides a collection of linkages between the urban environment, physical activity, and human health. Vojnovic states that mixed land should include residential, retail, commercial,
In order to promote
The Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design, compiled by the agencies of New York City, takes land-use to a more advanced level. The document states that residences and work environments must be placed near walking trails and paths, recreation areas, and grocery stores to promote physical activity and healthy diets (New York City Department of Design and Construction 2010, 26).
27 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature
3.2 / Physical Activity & the Built Environment
3.2.1.2 / The Pedestrian In American cities, different types of transportation have
variables including safety, fumes, climate, and weather
distinctive physical requirements when implemented in the
(Vojnovic 2006, 72).
urban environment. Cars, bikes, and pedestrians all have specific needs within our cities. Igor Vojnovic, discussed in the previous section regarding land-use, breaks down and analyzes the design elements that make a pedestrian friendly environment. This could provide a direct indication of what promotes individuals to become physically active within the urban landscape. According to Vojnovic, urban environments should be designed with fine-grained street systems consisting of short blocks and many intersections, a high level of connection between distant and adjacent neighborhoods, straight streets promoting short walking routes, minimal obstacles, and buildings closer to the street, providing visual interest to common walking routes (Vojnovic 2006, 70). Reduction in lot sizes and net housing densities can also support short walking and bicycling distances between destinations (Fenton 2005, S117).
The scale of the urban environment is critical when designing for the pedestrian. The design of contemporary blocks considers the automobiles high-speed of travel, making the important features to the pedestrian such as architectural details, building orientation, and scale, relatively irrelevant (Vojnovic 2006, 79). The speed of a walking pedestrian, in contrast to the car, is much slower and allows the individual to really enjoy the essence of the urban environment, from its streetscape and details, to the massing of the building forms. This also arouses an occupant’s sensory attention, making the environment both interesting and inviting (Vojnovic 2006, 81). In order for physical activity within the pedestrian realm of urban environments to be successful, architects and planners must look to these ideas and utilize them within
If these characteristics can be integrated within current
future designs. Currently, research suggests that very few
cities designed around the innovation of the automobile,
people walk within our urban environments enough to fulfill
there is potential to reduce the environmental barriers
the defined requirements for daily physical activity. The
that prevent individuals from engaging in physical activity.
integration of active-based design interventions into the
Vojnovic continues to state that an individual’s choice to
urban environment cannot be a solution on there own, but
not engage the built environment may also be related to
a component of a larger and more complex strategy to
spatial variables, personal values, and environmental
solving inactivity (Vojnovic 2006, 85).
28 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature
3.2 / Physical Activity & the Built Environment
3.2.1.3 / Green Space & Parks The integration of green space, parks, and areas for
Health professionals have a tendency to undervalue the
recreational activity in the built environment is a major
physiological health benefits of farming in cities. Gardening
component in encouraging physical activity. Healthy People
can be integrated into daily life at any intensity, with even
2010: Understanding and Improving Health suggests
moderate forms of gardening increasing muscle strength
that the design of communities and the presence of safe
and endurance (Bellows et al. 2004, 7-8). Considered by
walking trails, recreational spaces, and parks influences
many to be outside the realm of “exercise” and a part of
an individuals ability to fulfill the recommended amount of
a days leisure activity, urban gardens can be incorporate
physical activity on a daily basis (U.S. Department of Health
into community design to promote and encourage physical
and Human Services 2000, 27).
activity and fitness. Urban agriculture also has the ability to
Research
involving
the
relationship
between
green
space, parks, and physical activity has established
adapt to the building scale in the form of a roof garden. This will be evaluated further in the next section.
a set of elements that influence occupant use within
The design of cities, communities, neighborhoods, and
urban environments. Andrew T. Kaczynski and Karla A.
blocks need to address physical activity as a critical concept
Henderson conducted a study, “Environmental Correlates
within design execution and thinking. Land-use research
of Physical Activity: A Review of Evidence about Parks and
and theory needs to be implemented on a macro-scale,
Recreation,” on the relationship between physical activity
converting the static sitting involved with automobile usage,
and parks in recreational settings.
The results showed
to the physical movement of the pedestrian experience.
that trails, parks, open spaces, and natural settings are
The slow movement of the biker, walker, or runner must
associated with physical activity (Kaczynski and Henderson
be considered when determining the scale of built features
2007). Other factors that have a positive influence on the
instead of the large scale, fast moving automobile. Green
success of a park in relationship to physical activity include
spaces and urban agriculture provide architects and
the integration of active trails for walking and running, an
planners an opportunity to integrate physical fitness into the
aesthetically appealing appearance, overall safety, and
built environment through leisure activity.
relative location to large scale building developments (New York City Department of Design and Construction 2010, 30). Community based agriculture is a form of green space that has been shown to promote physical activity and health.
29 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature
3.2 / Physical Activity & the Built Environment
3.2.2 / The Building Scale The design of buildings provides architects with a great
lobbies, and programmed space through the use of stairs,
opportunity to promote physical activity within the built
corridors, and ramps.
environment. The majority of people can spend as much as
allows for a great opportunity to integrate active design
90 percent of their lives within the confines of the buildings that
interventions to promote occupant health. By manipulating
architects design (New York City Department of Design and
the environment of the circulation system, it is possible to
Construction 2010, 68). With inactivity being a major health
introduce moderate levels of physical activity into daily life
concern in America, why do architects continue to design
through decreasing elevator and escalator usage, while
buildings that promote sedentary lifestyles while stripping
increasing stair and walking distances (Webb and Eves
features that make buildings physically active? Research
2007, 39).
today has proven that incorporating regular physical activity into daily life can happen within the confines of a building, not only on playing fields, sidewalks, and gyms. Architects have a responsibility to the public to incorporate physical activity interventions into their architecture in programmatic and utilitarian ways. Programmatic features in buildings such as gyms, gardens, multi-use spaces, locker rooms, and bike storage encourage users to adapt a healthy lifestyle. Utilitarian features such as conveniently located stairs at a noticeable scale, use of skip-stop elevators, and integration of brief segments of walking can force occupants to participate in routine physical exercise.
3.2.2.1 / Vertical Circulation A buildings circulation system has the most obvious connection to bodily motion within architecture, requiring users to walk, the most common form of physical activity. The purpose of the circulation system is to move users efficiently throughout the interconnected interior rooms,
30 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature
Each transition between spaces
The design of the stair is the most significant design intervention that can promote incidental physiological health, especially in those who face personal barriers including time, access to facilities, and health education. Stair climbing is a form of physical activity that can become a part of everyday life, representing a vigorous activity, burning an estimated 8.6-9.6 times the energy used while at rest (Webb and Eves 2007, 38). The problem encountered by architects today is how to promote the use of stairs when mechanical forms of movement have become the norm in buildings based on their speed and overall convenience. In 2009, Gayle Nicoll and Craig Zimring completed a comprehensive study on stair and elevator use, comparing each circulation feature with occupant physical activity. The analysis and results of the study was documented in the article “Effect of Innovative Building Design on Physical Activity,� published by the Journal of Public Health Policy. The study was conducted on a 13-story office building containing two circulation cores.
3.2 / Physical Activity & the Built Environment
The first core was fitted out with skip-stop elevators that
an elegant solution that architects seek out. Gayle Nicoll,
stopped at every third floor with open staircases providing
author of “Spatial Measure Associated with Stair Use,�
access to one floor above and one floor below. The second
identifies these features as having a positive influence
core contained a traditional elevator stopping on every
on stair use, yet rejects the idea on the basis that the
floor and an enclosed fire stair. The study revealed very
determinants of stair use are found by exploring the
convincing results that occupants of the office building
relationship between its use and the physical environment
much preferred the use of the open staircase, reported to
within the building (Nicoll 2007, 346). The study provides
be used 33-times more than the conventional closed fire
support for the idea that stair placement within a building
stair. This resulted in limited use of the skip-stop elevators
plays a significant role in its success. The most successful
and increased physical activity of the building occupants
stair interventions within architecture are those that are
throughout a normal daily routine (Nicoll and Zimring 2009).
conveniently and legibly located relative to the circulation
What was not addressed within the study was why people
and spatial organization of the building (Nicoll 2007, 352).
preferred the open stair to the closed fire stair. Was this a
For success, stairs must be located near the building’s entry,
result of the skip-stop elevators not stopping on every floor,
visible along the buildings main circulation corridors and
or the specific design features making up the open stair?
public spaces, wide enough to accommodate groups, well-
To answer the question of what promotes an individual to use a particular stair, without considering the effect of
lit, and appealing to all user (New York City Department of Design and Construction 2010, 72-75).
self-selection, research has focused on the relationship
In contemporary architecture, one of the most successful
between the aesthetics of the stairwell and its use. In a
examples of a stair system promoting physical activity and
study conducted at the University of Minnesota School of
interaction can be found in 41 Cooper Square, designed
Public Health, three separate elements were evaluated
by Morphosis.
based on their effectiveness to promote stair use, signs,
features into a grand stair, providing daily physical activity
music, and artwork. The results concluded that improving
to most building occupants. Its complex stair design and
the aesthetic qualities of the stair through the integration
integration of skip-stop elevators will be explored further in
of these elements can increase use (Boutelle et al. 2001).
the next section, Architecture Case Studies.
The project integrates all of the above
This is very significant step in promoting physical activity; however, disguising architecture to make it effective is not 31 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature
3.2 / Physical Activity & the Built Environment
3.2.2.2 / Walkability & Program A critical part of daily life for most individuals in America
should be visually appealing environments, provide
is the act of walking. Buildings have the opportunity to
daylighting, support program spaces along walking routes,
encourage walking for recreation and transportation, which
and inform users with walking path information (New York
can help Americans achieve the recommended amount of
City Department of Design and Construction 2010, 84-85).
daily physical activity. What design features of a building make it walkable for occupants? Along with walkability, the integration of specific programmed space is also critical in promoting physical activity. Organization along circulation corridors becomes critical and a main component of any active building.
The walkability of a building can also be assessed from an organizational and programmatic standpoint. A buildings frequently used functions have the potential to be arrange in a way that promotes short walking or standing periods throughout a normal day. In working environments, common functions such as restrooms, lunchrooms, copy rooms,
Research has placed emphasis on this aspect of design and
staff lounges, and meeting rooms can be placed a distance
focused on determining what makes a building environment
away to promote walking breaks through interesting
walkable. “Accessing the Walkability of the Workplace: A
circulation corridors throughout the workday.
New Audit Tool,” explores what creates convenient walking
programmatic considerations might include integrating
environments through the development and execution of a
gathering spaces that promote social interaction and
workplace walkability audit tool. The ultimate goal of the
exercise. This may include physical activity spaces such
research was to identify the characteristics that can lead
as exercise rooms, active play spaces, bicycle storage,
to increased physical activity in working environments,
and shower locker rooms (New York City Department of
as well as to identify the barriers of walkability. Multiple
Design and Construction 2010, 82-87).
characteristics were identified within the built environment that promote, or discourage walking.
The determining
factors for occupants included safety, smells, noises, how pleasant the environment, and, if outdoors, the amount of shade. (Dannenberg et al. 2001, 39-42). A second study suggests that lighting is a critical influence on the success of physical activity within a building (Pronk and Kottke 2009, 318). The Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design, support these determining factors by suggesting that walking routes within buildings 32 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature
Other
The article “Designer Schools: The Role of School Space and Architecture in Obesity Prevention” explores the idea of integrating recreational spaces beyond the realm of the building, allowing the neighborhood to become active within its program. This would not limit the benefits to the building occupants, but include the surrounding community, providing them an opportunity to become physically active and healthy (Gorman et al. 2007, 2526).
3.2 / Physical Activity & the Built Environment
3.2.2.3 / Building Agriculture & Green Space Urban agriculture has the opportunity to move beyond the
public health and wellness literature, but is struggling to
context of the block, as discussed previously, and into the
produce significant results within the American population.
building program itself. Gardening is a great way to get physical exercise (Bellows et al. 2004, 6). The development of integrated building gardens has the ability to be used as a teaching tool for healthy eating, food preparation, successful growing strategies, and also as a feature to encourage physical activity (Gorman et al. 2007, 2525). Reduced risks of obesity, coronary heart disease, and type 2 diabetes have all been connected to gardening as a form of physical activity (Bellows et al. 2004, 6). The Gary Comer Youth Center, located on the south side of Chicago, is a great example of agriculture integrated within architecture. It contains a roof-top garden that produces more than 1,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables each year, while teaching community members about the process of food production and keeping them physical active at the
Physical activity research within the design industry is beginning to gain momentum, with large-scale metropolitan areas, such as New York City, producing guidelines for designers on how to make the built environment physically active. Other design research is focusing specifically on particular elements that promote physical activity including land-use,
green
space,
urban
agriculture,
building
circulation, program, and spatial organization. The research findings are beginning to show that these design elements can have a significant impact on the physical activity level of occupants when certain physical characteristics are present. There is currently no building precedent that has integrated all this knowledge into a single entity; however, there are buildings that have begun to address physical inactivity at a very minimal level.
same time. This project will be further evaluated in section
Wellness literature has established a convincing argument
4.2 of the Architecture Case Studies.
for why architects should care about physical activity. At
3.3 / Moving Forward
the same time, many design professionals are beginning
The information presented on physical activity and its
observation and theoretical methods. Architects, planners,
relationship to the built environment established a base
and other design professionals have a great opportunity
foundation for this design project and investigation.
to acknowledge this research, learn from it, and apply it to
Physiological health, along with its importance, benefits,
contemporary design.
to study its application within the built environment through
barriers, and requirements, has been well documented by
33 / Research, Review, & Analysis of Literature
4.0 / ARCHITECTURE CASE STUDIES
Introduction Architecture case studies are critical to understanding the current state of physical activity within the built environment.
They create a base foundation for the
development of new ideas and processes within the field of architecture. Although there is no single precedent on how to successfully integrate physical activity into an occupants daily routine through architecture, there are, however, projects that have successfully included individual design elements that promote, and in some cases demand, occupant physical activity. The following four case studies provide contemporary examples of how physical activity has been integrated into architecture. Particular design features explored include vertical and horizontal circulation systems, spatial organization, design program, and site development. The buildings that will be studied are 41 Cooper Square at The Cooper Union, the Gary Comer Youth Center, Google Corporate Headquarters, and The University of Cincinnati Campus Recreation Center. 34 / Architecture Case Studies
4.1 / 41 Cooper Square
4.1 / 41 Cooper Square Morphosis Architects, 2009 New York, NY Key Features Supporting Physical Activity/ Skip-stop elevator system, grand stair 41 Cooper Square is an academic building located at The Cooper Union in New York City, designed by Morphosis architects. It has 9-floors and accounts for 175,000 squarefeet. The facility was designed to hold the engineering school, although it also supports features for architecture and art students. The program of the building consists of retail space, laboratories, classrooms, multipurpose space, galleries, and offices. All elements of the program are designed around a vertical core, which is the heart of the building. This vertical space runs through the central region of the building, from the ground through the skylight located in the roof. It was designed to serve as a vehicle to promote collaboration, dialogue, and social exchange between the various users of the building. Programmatically, the central core is intended to serve as a location for various types of meetings, lectures, and other informal gatherings. The significance of 41 Cooper Square in this investigation is its relationship and incorporation of physical activity into the main vertical and horizontal circulation system. The design integrates a very large grand stair, skip-stop elevators, and a series of sky bridges to access alternate floors. Figure 4.1.1 Top: Exterior facade Figure 4.1.2 Bottom: Main circulation stair from above
35 / Architecture Case Studies
4.1 / 41 Cooper Square
4.1.1 / The Grand Stair As explored in the literature review, frequent stair use
location adjacent to the buildings entry lobby, generously
throughout a daily routine can provide periods of moderate
scaled
level physical activity. The difficult task for designers is
expression make it noticeable to all building users. Daylight
to convince building occupants to utilize a building’s stair
floods the stair providing a sense of safety and security to all
system instead of a mechanical elevator or escalator. The
users, a characteristic that many unsuccessful stairs ignore.
grand stair located in 41 Cooper Square attracts occupants
The overall aesthetic value of the grand stair make it a place
through its aesthetically pleasing design, providing daily
that people want to be, which is critical when convincing
physical activity to most occupants.
occupants to by-pass the ease and convenience of the
The success of the grand stair in relationship to physical activity is based on multiple design characteristics.
Its
design,
accessibility,
and
spectacular
formal
elevator system. The integration of skip-stop elevators within the building have a large impact on the overall success of the grand stair and its frequency of use.
Figure 4.1.3 Left: Stair view from the lobby Figure 4.1.4 Right: Building cross section highlighting the grand stair
36 / Architecture Case Studies
4.1 / 41 Cooper Square
4.1.2 / Skip- Stop Elevator System A skip-stop elevator system supports physical activity within the building by encouraging occupants to take the stairs when traveling between individual floors. These elevators become much less of a focal point within the core of the building and only stop at the first, fifth, and eighth floors. The building is equipped with service elevators that stop at each floor for ADA compliance and for moving heavy materials that cannot be transported manually.
4.1.3 / Contributing Ideas 41 Cooper Square successfully demonstrates how the combination of a skip-stop elevator system with a grand stair appealing to the occupant can, in theory, increase occupant stair use.
This can lead to higher levels of
physical activity for occupants, as well as an increase in overall health. This precedent should not be viewed as a solution to the problem that this design project will address, but acknowledged as a single design strategy that can be elaborated on and combined with other design elements to address physical inactivity. Figure 4.1.5 Top: Building circulation diagram Figure 4.1.6 Bottom: Skip-stop stair diagram
37 / Architecture Case Studies
4.2 / Gary Comer Youth Center
4.2 / Gary Comer Youth Center John Ronan Architects , 2006 Chicago, IL Key Features Supporting Physical Activity/ Roof garden, adaptable gymnasium/auditorium The Gary Comer Youth Center, located in the Grand
including a cafeteria, exhibition hall, computer lab, dance
Crossing
room, arts and crafts room, office space, lecture hall, and
neighborhood
of
Chicago,
provides
an
environment for the surrounding community to gather and become involved in different programs.
Community
members have the opportunity to participate in academics, arts, culture, athletics, and health and fitness. The facilities 74,000 square feet contain two primary design features, a roof top garden and an adaptable gymnasium/auditorium. Surrounding these main elements are spaces designed to support the facilities recreational and academic programs
multi-functional recreation room. The projects integration of physically active environments with inactive work rooms demonstrates how the design program and building organization can have a major impact on the promotion of physical activity. Specifically, the central location of the roof top garden and adaptable gymnasium allows physical activity to become the focal point of all supporting spaces and occupants.
Figure 4.2.1 Left: Exterior massing Figure 4.2.2 Right: Glazed circulation corridor looking over the roof garden
38 / Architecture Case Studies
4.2 / Gary Comer Youth Center
4.2.1 / Roof Top Agriculture Gardening is an simple action that can fulfill daily physical activity in an unstructured way. It can be integrated into daily life at any intensity, with even moderate forms of gardening increasing muscle strength and endurance (Bellows et al. 2004, 7-8). The Center has integrated an 8,600 square-foot roof top garden to its design, providing the community access to an array of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and different types of flowers. With 24-inches of total soil, the garden has produced lettuce, spinach, oregano, chives, mustard greens, and even strawberries. Within the Youth Center, the garden is used as a teaching tool, as well as a way to keep kids active. The produce is eventually used to teach meal preparation and cooking techniques.
Community
members involved in maintaining the garden can also take home fresh fruits and vegetables. The central placement of the garden within the building has a major impact on its success. On three sides, a glazed circulation corridor lines the garden, allowing for clear visibility of all the activity throughout the day. This not only displays how it operates but encourages circulating Figure 4.2.3 Top: Roof garden Figure 4.2.4 Bottom: Building plan highlighting the roof garden
occupants to get involved and make gardening a part of daily life. 39 / Architecture Case Studies
4.2 / Gary Comer Youth Center
4.2.2 / Adaptable Activity Space The building’s main space, located below the roof garden, is an adaptable gymnasium that can be converted into a 600-seat performance hall. This allows the space to be used for recreational activity including sports, dance, and fitness training, while also having the ability to satisfy the needs of small theatrical performances. Much like the roof garden, the gymnasium is the central design feature of the buildings main level, promoting physical activity and fitness. With the design of a large curtain wall near the main entry point of the facility, occupants can get a feel for what is happening within this space before entering the building. Inside the facility, a glazed circulation corridor and lunchroom wrap the gymnasium providing optimal visibility and daylight.
4.2.3 / Contributing Ideas The architectural program and its organization is a key element in promoting physical activity within buildings. The Gary Comer Youth Center has the advantage of being a place for fitness, making the integration of physical activity easier than a building that is programmed for commercial or office space. Can the types of spaces and organizational philosophies presented in this case study apply to other building types? If physical activity is going to become a part of daily life, the trend in architecture to place physical fitness in a separate building type needs to be reconsidered. As explored in this case study, elements such as gardens and recreational space have great potential to increase physical activity within various building types. 40 / Architecture Case Studies
Figure 4.2.5 Top: Building cross section highlighting the gymnasium and roof garden Figure 4.2.6 Bottom: Adaptable gymnasium
4.3 / Google Corporate Headquarters
4.3 / Google Headquarters: Site & Building Master Plan Clive Wilkinson Architects, 2004 Mountain View, CA Key Features Supporting Physical Activity/ Site design, programmed spaces Googleplex is the corporate headquarters for Google,
This complex can be considered one of the most
located in Mountain View, California, just outside of San
innovative office working environments in the world today.
Jose. The complex is made up of four main buildings,
It combines most activities required in a daily routine, from
totally around 500,000 square-feet, that spread across
work to leisure, and places them in one facility. A major
a large expanse of landscape due to their relatively low
design goal of the architects was to include recreational
building heights. When Google inherited the complex of
activity within the master plan of the facility, both in site
buildings in 2003 from Silicone Graphics, they were looking
design and building architecture. This case study looks
to create a diversified environment that would combine
to answer the following questions: can a design program
programmatic space for learning, meeting, collaborating,
increase physical activity, how is it accomplished within an
and recreational activity. Clive Wilkinson Architects took
office work environment, and does it encourage structured
the lead on developing a master plan for the new facility
or unstructured physical activity?
and placed focus on these programmatic requirements. Figure 4.3.1 Left: Interior circulation corridor Figure 4.3.2 Right: Meeting mezzanine carpeted with AstroTurf
41 / Architecture Case Studies
4.3 / Google Corporate Headquarters
Figure 4.3.3 Left: Site master plan Figure 4.3.4 Right: Programmatic sketch of the complex
4.3.1 / Site Design The design of the Googleplex is based around a central
main street not only serves as a circulation thoroughfare, but
main street of pedestrian interaction and circulation, which
also incorporates features of a community park to promote
extends the entire length of the facility.
physical activity.
The buildings
surrounding the circulation courtyard become neighborhoods of different programmatic use. The separation of buildings is a great way to promote and require walking as a part of daily activity and circulation. For occupants opposed to walking, bikes provide a secondary means for moving quickly from building-to-building. Integrating a mix of trees, grasses, and hardscape elements into the circulation space make it an aesthetically pleasing and safe place to be. These are key characteristics in encouraging occupant use. The central 42 / Architecture Case Studies
Google employees have the opportunity to engage in various structured forms of physical activity throughout the workday. Sand volleyball courts, multiple walking paths, and a basketball court are located in the main courtyard and provide forms of vigorous physical activity. Glass facades on the surrounding buildings provide optimal views of the courtyard and its recreational courts, which is important to its overall success.
4.3 / Google Corporate Headquarters
4.3.2 / Building Design One of the main design goals for the architecture of the Googleplex was the incorporation of recreational activity. To fulfill this goal within the design, architects integrated a series of programmed spaces specifically for this purpose. Ping-pong, foosball, and pool tables can be found throughout the facilities lounges and cafes.
A workout
room with weights, a rowing machine, and locker room provides employees with a place for structured physical activity. Yoga and dance spaces are also included within the complex. For those workers who prefer swimming, two swim-in-place pools provide a secondary means for getting a cardiovascular workout.
4.3.3 / Contributing Ideas Structured forms of physical activity are addressed within the facility, although unstructured physical activity does not extend beyond walking from space-to-space.
How
do employees not willing to organize a basketball game, workout in the fitness rooms, or utilize the swim-in-place pool get physical activity throughout the workday?
As
discussed in the previous section, many barriers exist between these types of activity and occupant use, mainly time. Is there a way for the physical activity these elements provide to become formal elements of architecture? This precedent does take a step in providing opportunities for physical activity beyond most office environments; however, it needs the design features of the building to play a larger role in promoting physical activity, not just the program. Figure 4.3.5 Top: Main lobby of the Googleplex Figure 4.3.6 Bottom: A lounge space and its activity
43 / Architecture Case Studies
4.4 / University of Cincinnati’s Campus Recreation Center
4.4 / University of Cincinnati Campus Recreation Center Morphosis Architects, 2005 Cincinnati, OH Key Features Supporting Physical Activity/ Programmed spaces specific to physical fitness and health The University of Cincinnati Campus Recreation Center
exemplifies what physical activity is in architecture today.
(CRC) provides students, employees, community members,
The building includes a walking/running track, a weight and
and visitors with 200,000 square-feet of recreation and
cardiovascular training area, a campus store, a gymnasium,
fitness opportunities.
Its location at the heart of the
racquetball courts, a food court, classrooms, and student
Universities campus and effective use of exterior glazing
housing. Within this investigation on physical activity in
allows pedestrians traveling along the main campus paths
architecture, this project is valuable in the understanding
to see the activity taking place within the many recreational
of how a buildings program can influence and promote
spaces.
physical activity.
From a programmatic standpoint, this building
Figure 4.4.1 Left: Exterior circulation Figure 4.4.2 Right: Exterior facade
44 / Architecture Case Studies
4.4 / University of Cincinnati’s Campus Recreation Center
Figure 4.4.3 Left: One of several cardiovascular training spaces Figure 4.4.4 Middle: Looking over the food court into the gymnasium Figure 4.4.5 Right: A 1/8-mile track surrounds the gymnasium
4.4.1 / Program Organization Within the interior of the building, there are two major
On the exterior, the organization of the building around
programmed spaces: a 6-court gymnasium wrapped
campus circulation paths provides excellent opportunities
by a walking/running track and a 50-meter lap pool.
to showcase what is happening within the facility. Glazed
Programmatic spaces found around the gymnasium
openings looking into the gymnasium and aquatics center
including the food and dinning area, multipurpose rooms,
not only encourage use but also serve as marketing and
the cardiovascular area, and weight-training spaces all
educational tools for physical activity and fitness.
overlook the gymnasium. With glass being the primary
of the main personal barriers that prevents Americans
material used to separate and define interior space, visitors
from being physically active is a lack of knowledge and
get wide open views, allowing for a visual connection
understanding of what it is and how to accomplish it. Being
between all activity spaces. This enables users running
able to see physical activity during a commute to work,
around the 1/8-mile suspended track to see what is
class, or other obligation is a simple architectural solution
happening in the workout areas, or students sitting down
that can go far in promoting physical activity.
One
for lunch the opportunity to see what is going on in the gymnasium. 45 / Architecture Case Studies
4.4 / University of Cincinnati’s Campus Recreation Center Figure 4.4.6 Left: Multiuse dance/yoga space Figure 4.4.7 Right: Recreational pool
4.4.2 / Program Space The focus of the architecture was to provide opportunities
spaces and activities that can be very beneficial in staying
for recreational activity for the campus community. Not all
physically active.
of these features specifically integrate physical activity;
by the placement of the gymnasium and aquatic center
however, many do through organized sports and individual
is effective in creating a hierarchy of space. The most
activities. The most significant spaces, in regard to size,
successful architectural design element related to physical
within the facility that promote physical activity are the
activity promotion within the CRC is its visual transparency.
gymnasium and lap pool.
These spaces allow user to
Users and pedestrians can see all the different activities
play basketball or swim to fulfill a days physical activity
within the building, which works not only as an inspiration
requirements. For the competitive minded individual, the
tool to become active, but also as an educational tool.
CRC also incorporates racquetball courts. Non-competitive users can utilize a 1/8-mile track that wraps the gymnasium for walking or running. As with most workout facilities in America, the complex also contains space for weighttraining and cardiovascular machine usage. Multipurpose rooms are also integrated throughout the facility, providing space for dance, yoga, or stretching.
4.4.3 / Contributing Ideas There is no doubt that the University of Cincinnati Campus Recreation Center offers a great combination of different 46 / Architecture Case Studies
The interior organization anchored
The analysis of this project raises a few significant questions related to this design project and investigation. Can the physical activity levels accomplished within these programmed spaces be fulfilled through basic lifestyle activities and adapted to all building types?
Where do
Americans get physical activity if they can’t make it to this type of facility on a daily basis because of personal and environmental barriers?
4.5 / Case Study Analysis: Trends & Opportunities
4.5 / Case Study Analysis: Trends & Opportunities The buildings explored within these case studies provide
to promote and encourage physical activity.
significant evidence that physical activity can become a
exception to this was 41 Cooper Square’s use of the skip-
part of architecture. The design elements that promote
stop elevator and grand stair combination. This design
physical activity as represented within these case studies
integrates physical activity into a utilitarian design feature,
include
visually
making it hard for occupants to ignore and avoid. The
appealing staircases, rooftop gardens, building circulation
design no longer gives the user an energy-free, convenient
paths, athletic spaces, and recreational activity areas.
option, but dictates stair use, resulting in physical activity.
There was one particular trend that appeared in each
The case studies explored make it clear that there are
project. The main design consistency observed was that
buildings that do include space for physical activity to occur.
each projects main feature promoting physical activity had
If this is the case, why are inactivity levels in America so
a significant presence within the overall architecture, both
overwhelming high? As suggested by the design of the
visually and organizationally. The staircase in 41 Cooper
41 Cooper Square’s vertical circulation system, giving an
Square, roof garden and adaptable gymnasium in the Gary
occupant less freedom to make choices, through utilitarian
Comer Youth Center, circulation main street of the Google
interventions, may result in high rates of physical activity.
complex, and gymnasium of the Campus Recreation
This removes the self-selection factor that leads occupants
Center all have a central location within their respective
toward a convenient, energy-free lifestyle, and implements
buildings and are a visual focus for most of the surrounding
what could be called architectural dictation, requiring
spaces. This trend places physical activity at the heart of
people to adapt to a more physically active daily routine.
each building.
The synergy of this idea with the other programmatic
skip-stop
elevators,
oversized
and
Although each project did address physical activity in some form, there was a general lack of integration into the architecture itself, with focus on program as a way
The only
ideas explored within these case studies could result in architecture that increases the physical activity level of all building occupants and not just the users choosing to be physically active. 47 / Architecture Case Studies
5.0 / DESIGN METHODS
Introduction The design of an alternate model for buildings that places physical activity integration at the forefront of the design process required the identification and evaluation of specific methods.
The design methods explored
structured the creative workflow and process required for the implementation and fulfillment of the design objective and goals identified previously. The methods that were utilized for this design project include data and information collection, site identification and analysis, building design and application, and post-design analysis and evaluation.
48 / Design Methods
5.1 / Data & Information Collection
5.1 / Data & Information Collection Understanding physical activity at all levels was required prior to its integration into architecture and the design process. Traditional library research, website research, architectural case studies, and interviews with healthscience professionals were utilized as the main tools for data and information collection throughout the execution of this design project. These resources collectivity contributed the following information to this study: •
a basic definition of physical activity
•
connections and relationships between physical activity and human health
•
numerical values on how much physical activity is required per day
•
current statistical trends on physical activity in America
•
architectural thinking and theory on physical activity
•
ways designers have integrated physical activity into the built environment
•
strategies architects can take to include physical activity in building design
Data and information was gathered continuously throughout all parts of the design project and was used to inform specific design decisions during the process of creating architecture. This data and information was also utilized in establishing a foundation for the evaluation and analysis of the final architectural expression. 49 / Design Methods
5.2 / Site Selection & Analysis
5.2 / Site Selection & Analysis The design portion of this investigation began with the selection of a site, serving as the base for observation, analysis, and design reaction. The following characteristics of the site and its surroundings were established, observed, and analyzed before informed design decisions related to physical activity integration were made: •
location and primary function/use
•
economic and cultural history
•
circulation and physical connection within the larger context
•
accessibility related to pedestrian use
•
land-use and zoning
•
materiality
•
scale of built elements
•
cultural and social significance
•
identification of users
•
orientation and environmental implications
A building site within the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois was selected for the fulfillment of this design project. It is further identified and analyzed within section 2 of this report. 50 / Design Methods
5.3 / Building Design & Application
5.3 / Building Design & Application The architectural design of the building project was a
with the design of a single architectural feature, which
reaction to the site constraints and opportunities, users,
was analyzed, built upon, and reacted to continuously
environmental
throughout the design process, eventually resulting in an
climate,
community,
and
surrounding
context. It was also informed by the information and data gathered within the investigation including scientific data, statistics, and precedents relating to physical activity in architecture. The building type designed is an office work environment. A conceptual and exploratory approach was taken, placing little focus on the building program as a realistic design tool. The program become a product of the design process, although developed minimally, with focus only on spaces promoting physical activity. Initial design focus was not placed on the creation of the entire building, rather on the individual design features and spaces that promote physical activity within the building form. Building circulation, orientation, organization, and access were a result of the combination of physical activity promoting design interventions.
occupiable piece of architecture. The design tools used in the execution of this process included 3-dimensional computer modeling, physical modeling, and hand sketching.
This strategy allowed
for a clear understanding of what contents within the final building promote physical activity. Clarity of these components allows them to be manipulated and adapted to future building types beyond office work environments. The technical components required for the completion of this design project were designed and integrated as required. This was necessary to ensure a close relationship between the design interventions and the overall building architecture.
The process began
51 / Design Methods
5.4 / Analysis & Evaluation
5.4 / Analysis & Evaluation The analysis and evaluation of the resulting building design was based on a series of defined criteria. A combination of qualitative analysis and quantitative data was collected from the final design, determining the overall success of each physical design intervention, as well as the comprehensive building. The quantitative data was compiled from a series of occupant simulations.
Each physical activity promoting
intervention within the building was subjected to the simulated use of one occupant.
This determined the
energy expenditure of one individual after interacting with each intervention. Next, a hypothetical daily routine of a building occupant was developed. Two sets of numerical values related to physical activity were established through this simulation. These included the occupant’s level of intensity while being physical activity and the amount of time spent. The values established for each category were compared to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ daily requirements for physical activity.
This
determined the percentage of the total required physical activity an occupant of the building can accomplish on a daily basis. 52 / Design Methods
5.4 / Analysis & Evaluation
A qualitative analysis was conducted based on a series of questions related to physical activity and occupant projected use.
The following questions were used as
criteria at both the building and design intervention level: •
how does it promote physical activity through bodily motion?
•
what kind of physical activity does it involve?
•
is the physical activity structured or unstructured?
•
does it encourage occupant use?
•
is it transparent and visually assessable?
•
are the occupant’s senses engaged?
•
is it convenient and well-located?
•
does it encourage interaction?
•
is it visually appealing and inviting?
•
does it evoke a sense of safety?
•
is it well-lit?
After the quantitative data collection and qualitative analysis was completed for each intervention promoting physical activity, as well as the comprehensive building design, a conclusion was developed summarizing the overall results of the architectural solution in relation to the goals and objectives identified. 53 / Design Methods
6.0 / BUILDING DESIGN & APPLICATION
Introduction The Building Design & Application section of this report applies the previously investigated theories, principles, and ideas to a practical building form and design process. The design combines the concept of an active green park with a contemporary office building. (Figure 6.1) Physical activity promotion occurs through the design of the building’s massing, spatial program, circulation system, and integration of green space and gardens. This new hybrid creates an active working environment that integrates lifestyle physical activity into the occupants, as well as community members daily routines.
54 / Building Design & Application
6.0 / Building Design & Application
Active Green Park
Hybrid: Active Office Building
Figure 6.1 Right: Active building concept / green park + office building hybrid
Office Building 55 / Building Design & Application
6.1 / Conceptual Idea Development
6.1 / Conceptual Idea Development Conceptual development of the design project began with a series of idea based sketches, with the goal of establishing multiple concepts that relate directly to physical activity in architecture.
Conceptual building axon drawings,
sections, elevations, and plans explored site and building circulation, building massing, scale, vertical organization, site constraints and opportunities, pedestrian access, green space integration, and formal expression. This
investigation
established
the
following
design
concepts: •
extension of Heritage Green Park onto the site and into the building form
•
vertical garden activity space integrated within a main central atrium
•
grand stair lining the central atrium and garden activity space
•
decentralized office building core (HVAC, elevators)
•
integration of skip-stop elevators
•
convergence of site circulation within the central atrium space
•
node on each floor and roof to increase vertical stair use
•
program spaces promoting physical activity scattered throughout with visual accessibility
Figure 6.1.1 Top: Commute types and physical activity required Figure 6.1.2 Middle #1: Extension of Heritage Green Park Figure 6.1.3 Middle #2: Site circulation / type of movement Figure 6.1.4 Bottom: Site circulation / user groups Figure 6.1.5 Opposite: Idea/conceptual design sketches
56 / Building Design & Application
6.1 / Conceptual Idea Development
57 / Building Design & Application
6.2 / Formal Development
Activity garden on the south end of the site
6.2 Formal Development The formal development process utilized the concepts and ideas previously establish through sketching and applied them to a digital massing model. Other factors informing the manipulation of the geometry included sun altitude, sun azimuth, interior views to the street, access points, node locations, circulation, daylighting, garden integration, building structure, and site connection.
Identifying a corner / enhancing views toward the street
Figure 6.2.1
illustrates this process. Figure 6.2.1 Right: Formal development process
Vertical activity park connection / circulation
58 / Building Design & Application
6.2 / Formal Development
Maximizing sun exposure to exterior gardens based on altitude
Maximizing sun exposure to exterior gardens based on azimuth
Enhancing office views toward the street
Contouring floor plates / maximizing area
Maximizing office space / introducing a vertical activity park
Street - main lobby activity garden connection
Optimizing daylight into the vertical activity park
Fire stairs adjacent to the facade / Skip-stop elevators located away from the central activity park
Concrete structure
59 / Building Design & Application
6.3 / Design Program
6.3 Design Program
Moderate PA / 3.0 - 3.6 METs
General Walking (3 - 4.5mph)
A full design program was not established in the pre-design
Walking to work, a park, lunch, the store, or home Walking as a break from work or for leisure
phase of this project, but was developed partially throughout the building design process. Spaces promoting physical
Moderate PA / 3.0 - 3.6 METs
activity were programmed into the design, creating a set
Riding to work, a park, lunch, the store, or home Riding as a break from work or for leisure
Bicycling (5 - 9mph)
of core spaces that would remain constant for all tenants. The ground level was programmed for both community members and building occupants. It contains space for
Vigorous PA / 6.0 + METs
Running/Jogging
Running to work, a park, lunch, the store, or home Running as a break from work or for leisure
interior bike storage, a workout facility with shared locker rooms, a grocery store, and cafe. Floors two through seven
Vigorous PA / 6.0 + METs
are programmed for office space requirements including
Using the stairs vs the elevator Making it a part of a daily routine
Walking Up Stairs
desks, meeting rooms, bathrooms, copy rooms, lounge spaces, and supporting service space.
Moderate PA / 3.0 - 3.6 METs
Within the central atrium, multi-use activity pods are conveniently placed throughout each office floor.
Using the stairs vs the elevator Making it a part of a daily routine
They
maintain a visual connection to circulating occupants and the vertical activity park, educating others on different ways to become physically active.
Walking Down Stairs
Moderate PA / 3.0 - 3.6 METs
General Gardening
Light shoveling, weeding, or maintaining while standing or bending
These spaces are
programmed for dance, yoga, stretching, recreational activity, aerobics, and light calisthenics. Occupants can use the spaces before, during, or after the workday, blurring
Moderate PA / 3.0 - 3.6 METs
Light Organized Exercise Light Calisthenics, yoga, dancing, aerobics, or stretching
the lines between office work and physical activity. Moderate PA / 3.0 - 3.6 METs
Figure 6.3.1 Right: Types of physical activity included in the building design
Recreational Activity
Competitive table tennis or frisbee
Vigorous PA / 6.0 + METs
Calisthenics/Weight Training Jumping jacks, pull-ups, push-ups, jumping rope, stair machine, elliptical machine
60 / Building Design & Application
6.3 / Design Program
Figure 6.3.2: The exploded axon shows the location of various forms of structured and unstructured physical activity throughout the building floors.
61 / Building Design & Application
6.3 / Design Program
Roof garden Aerobics
Work
Recreation Work Yoga Stretching
Calisthenics
Mechanical
Garden walk
Garden
Agriculture
Lunch
Figure 6.3.3: Lifestyle program circulation
Office space
Community fitness
Grocery
Garden Cafe
Service
Figure 6.3.4: Decentralized HVAC distribution
62 / Building Design & Application
Figure 6.3.5: Program stacking
6.3 / Design Program
Figure 6.3.6: Multi-use activity pods are located throughout each office floor. They maintain a visual connection to circulating occupants and building users.
63 / Building Design & Application
6.3 / Design Program
Figure 6.3.7: The building section bisects the vertical activity park and gardens, displaying the grand stair, garden nodes, and multi-use activity pods.
64 / Building Design & Application
6.3 / Design Program
65 / Building Design & Application
6.4 / Circulation
6.4 Circulation The vertical circulation system provided an opportunity for physical activity integration in very limited, yet valuable amounts. Although you must walk stairs continuously for 10 minutes for the activity to count toward daily requirements, it does burn approximately 8.6-9.6 times the energy used while at rest. The standard building core established in the majority of office buildings today was decentralized. Two skip-stop elevators and the HVAC vertical shafts were located at the extents of the building, making them less prominent but still accessible to the building occupants. Generously sized fire stairs are design for everyday use and are located at each corner of the building form, providing optimal daylight of
and views toward downtown Chicago. A feature stair highlights the perimeter of the vertical activity park which is located centrally within the building volume.
Ro et
e Str
It provides a convenient, well-lit, visible, and dynamic way to travel from floor-to-floor. Figure 6.4.1 Top: Decentralized vertical circulation system Figure 6.4.2 Bottom: Circulation path movement
Stre e
t
66 / Building Design & Application
6.4 / Circulation
Figure 6.4.3: A ramp and stair, surrounded by vegetative gardens, establish a ground connection to the site and the pedestrian sidewalk. Building users and community members can walk freely through the gardens for pleasure or as part of a daily commute.
67 / Building Design & Application
6.4 / Circulation
Figure 6.4.4: Connecting the site to the second floor lobby is a grand stair that encourages vertical circulation and physical activity. Benches, flowers, plants, and various other forms of vegetation surround the circulation path, making it a great place for social gatherings and physical movement.
68 / Building Design & Application
6.4 / Circulation
Figure 6.4.5: A centrally located vertical circulation system provides physical activity through stair climbing and walking. Garden nodes are located at each level and support the design concept of a vertical green park.
69 / Building Design & Application
6.5 / Green Space & Gardens
6.5 Green Space & Gardens Green space and gardens provide valuable space for physical activity in both structured and unstructured forms. A garden platform, connecting the street to the second level lobby, was created, visually linking the building design to Heritage Green Park, located adjacent to the site. The garden platform, consisting of annual and edible gardens, extends vertically through the building atrium to a destination garden located on the roof. The integration of vegetation into the atrium and vertical circulation system creates an activity park, promoting stair use and physical
Figure 6.5.1: Green space & garden connection
movement.
Roof garden Heritage Green Park Vertical activity park
Garden walk
70 / Building Design & Application
6.5 / Green Space & Gardens
Figure 6.5.2: The centrally located vertical atrium extends from the second level lobby skyward to the roof level interactive garden. Sky gardens are located at each floor landing and are vegetated with various plants and trees.
71 / Building Design & Application
6.5 / Green Space & Gardens Figure 6.5.3: Lunch provides a great opportunity to be physically active without sacrificing dedicated work time. A link between the project’s gardens and Heritage Green Park adjacent to the site provide opportunities for moderate walking as a form of physical activity. Located on the first floor, a fitness center provides the building occupants, along with the surrounding community, a place to get structured physical activity at any hour of the day.
72 / Building Design & Application
6.5 / Green Space & Gardens
Figure 6.5.4: A garden track was established at the street and second levels, incorporating stairs, a small incline, and various annual and edible gardens. One lap through the gardens is 0.15 miles and is estimated to take around 3 minutes. Walking this path 3-4 times consecutively can account for nearly 33.3% of a days physical activity requirement. Employees can walk the garden track 10-12 times (all at once or in 3 sessions) and account for 100% of the daily requirement for aerobic physical activity.
73 / Building Design & Application
6.5 / Green Space & Gardens
Figure 6.5.5: Located on the roof level, an interactive garden allows employees to break up the workday with a mid-morning or mid-afternoon walk or gardening activity. Walking and gardening are considered moderate physical activity and can be accumulated in as little as 10 minute increments throughout the workday.
74 / Building Design & Application
6.6 / The Economic Cost of Inactivity
6.6 The Economic Cost of Inactivity The benefits of physical activity extend beyond physiological and psychological health and well-being. Being physically active can save an employer money on medical care costs, workers compensation costs, and lost productivity costs. A calculation system established by East Carolina University was used to estimate the financial cost of employee inactivity based on the designed building size (East Carolina University 2007). The system utilized the following variables in its calculation: 01 Number of building occupants (estimated 800) 02 Chicago inactivity level (62.5%) 03 Number of workers over 65 (U.S. Average 4.7 %) 04 Median annual compensation ($47,835) The calculation concluded that employee inactivity is estimated to cost the building occupant (business) an extra $2,800 per person/year. That is an estimated total cost of $2,240,170 per year.
75 / Building Design & Application
7.0 / ANALYSIS & EVALUATION Introduction To conclude this investigation on physical activity and
•
10 minutes / 66% of CDC PA requirement
its integration into architectural design, a analysis and evaluation was conducted on the final building project. A combination of qualitative analysis and quantitative data was collected from the final design, determining the overall success of each physical design intervention, as
•
this report, was used as a basis for evaluation.
7.1 Quantitative Data Analysis The daily physical activity level of occupants within this building was tested by completing a simulation of one building user, beginning with their morning commute. The following timeline documents this workday simulation and lists the intensity of physical activity, duration, and percentage of the CDC physical activity requirement accomplished at different times throughout the workday. (Physical activity intensity is based on METs, see 6.3 / Design Program for specific values) •
8:00 a.m. commute / walking / moderate PA / .5 miles / 10 minutes / 33% of CDC PA requirement
76 / Analysis & Evaluation
12:00 p.m. lunch / garden walk / moderate PA / .5 miles / 10 minutes / 99% of CDC PA requirement
•
2:30 p.m. break / recreation / moderate PA / 10 minutes / 132% of CDC PA requirement
well as the comprehensive building. A series of defined criteria, identified within the Design Methods section of
10:00 a.m. break / gardening / moderate PA /
•
5:00 p.m. commute / walking / moderate PA / .5 miles / 10 minutes / 165% of CDC PA requirement
With a minimal commute of .5 miles each way, a morning and afternoon break for gardening and recreational activity, and a 10 minute walk around the garden track at lunch, an occupant can fulfill 165% of the CDC requirement for daily physical activity. For those occupants that choose to commute to work via car, they still have the opportunity to fulfill 99% of the required amount. Based on this data, it is realistic to assume that the majority of building occupants will be physical active on a daily basis and fulfill all necessary physical activity requirements, improving their overall health and well-being.
7.0 / Analysis & Evaluation
7.2 Qualitative Analysis The final building project successfully demonstrates how
stop elevators at a less prominent location than the stair
different types of physical activity can be integrated into
systems encourages manual forms of circulation.
architecture in both unstructured and structured forms. It provides a contemporary precedent to architects,
7.3 / Concluding Thoughts
planners, and other design professionals on how physical
This investigation revealed many opportunities, as well
activity can become a major component of the built
as challenges, that architects, planners, and other design
environment.
professionals will face when attempting to integrate
Structured physical activity was successfully integrated within the building’s design program, various green spaces, and edible gardens. Spaces for yoga, stretching, aerobics, and other recreational activity are visually accessible, convenient, and daylit, as well as well-located. Their placement within the main activity atrium make them visually appealing and inviting to all building users. The interactive gardens located on the roof level and second level are appealing and well-located for maximum
lifestyle physical activity into architectural design. Code and
zoning
ordinances,
accessibility,
programmatic
requirements, limited budgets, and site constraints are only a few of the challenges future designers will encounter when dealing with this issue. The largest issue yet to be overcome is the idea of self-selection. Although this design project has shown the ability to keep users physically active, it is up to them to take the initiative. The building occupants will ultimately make the design great.
exposure to building occupants, as well as community
This design project has taken a step toward acknowledging
members.
the problem of inactivity in American, and established a
Unstructured physical activity is mainly established within the buildings circulation system. The grand stair, as well as the three fire stairs within the building, encourage occupant use, provide a safe and well-lit form of vertical movement, are visually appealing, and are transparent to the surrounding program spaces. The integration of skip-
successful precedent for solving many of the challenges and constraints that exist in American cities today.
It
should not be viewed as a solution to the problem, rather an attempt to initiate architectural thinking within the realm of physical activity. The physical health of our national is at stake, and if architects don’t lead the way, who will?
77 / Analysis & Evaluation
8.0 / ILLUSTRATION REFERENCES 2.3.1 Satellite image of Chicago. 41°52′46″N 87°38′36″W. Google Earth. (accessed December 9, 2010). 2.3.2 3D building view of Chicago. 41°52′46″N 87°38′36″W. Google Earth. (accessed December 9, 2010). 2.3.3 Created by author 2.3.4 Photograph by author 2.3.5 Photograph by author 2.3.6 Photograph by author 2.3.7 Satellite image of 625 W. Adams Street. 41°52′43″N 87°38′36″W. Google Earth. (accessed December 9, 2010). 2.3.8 Photograph by author 2.3.9 Photograph by author 2.3.10 Created by author 2.3.11 Created by author 2.3.11 Created by author 2.3.12 Created by author 2.3.13 Created by author 2.3.14 Created by author 2.3.15 Created by author 2.3.16 Created by author 2.3.17 Created by author 2.3.18 Created by author 2.3.19 Photograph by author 2.3.20 Photograph by author 2.3.21 Photograph by author 2.3.22 3D building view: Chicago transit stops. 41°52′46″N 87°38′36″W. Google Earth. (accessed December 9, 2010). 2.3.23 Photograph by author 3.1.1 Department of Health and Human Services. 2007 Prevalence of meeting the Healthy People 2010 objectives. http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/PASurveillance/StateSumV.asp?Year=2007 (accessed December 7, 2010). 4.1.1 Morphosis Architects. 41 Cooper Square exterior facade. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/cooperunion (accessed November 8, 2010). 4.1.2 Morphosis Architects. 41 Cooper Square grand stair. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/cooper-union (accessed November 8, 2010). 4.1.3 Morphosis Architects. 41 Cooper Square main lobby. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/cooper-union (accessed November 8, 2010). 4.1.4 Morphosis Architects. 41 Cooper Square building section. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/cooper-union (accessed November 8, 2010). 4.1.5 Morphosis Architects. 41 Cooper Square circulation diagram. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/cooper-union (accessed November 8, 2010). 4.1.6 Morphosis Architects. 41 Cooper Square skip-stop elevator diagram. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/cooper-union (accessed November 8, 2010). 4.2.1 Hall, Steve. GCYC exterior. Metropolis Magazine. http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20061206/miracle-on- 72nd-street (accessed November 10, 2010). 4.2.2 Hall, Steve. GCYC circulation corridor. e-architect. http://www.e-architect.co.uk/chicago/gary_comer_youth_center.htm (accessed November 10, 2010). 4.2.3 Hall, Steve. GCYC roof top garden. Metropolis Magazine. http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20061206/miracle-on-72nd-street (accessed November 10, 2010). 4.2.4 GCYC Second floor building plan. Metropolis Magazine. http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20061206/miracle-on-72nd-street (accessed November 10, 2010). 4.2.5 GCYC Building cross section. Metropolis Magazine. http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20061206/miracle-on-72nd-street (accessed November 10, 2010). 4.2.6 Hall, Steve. GCYC adaptable gymnasium. e-architect. http://www.e-architect.co.uk/chicago/gary_comer_youth_center.htm (accessed November 10, 2010).
78 / Illustration References
4.3.1 Googleplex interior circulation corridor. Metropolis Magazine. http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20060619/behind-the-glass-curtain (accessed November 10, 2010). 4.3.2 Googleplex meeting mezzanine. Metropolis Magazine. http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20060619/behind-the-glass-curtain (accessed November 10, 2010). 4.3.3 Clive Wilkinson Architects. Googleplex site master plan. http://www.clivewilkinson.com/work/casestudies/googleplex.html (accessed November 10 2010). 4.3.4 Clive Wilkinson Architects. Googleplex program sketch. http://www.clivewilkinson.com/work/casestudies/googleplex.html (accessed November 10 2010). 4.3.5 Googleplex main lobby. Metropolis Magazine. http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20060619/behind-the-glass-curtain (accessed November 10, 2010). 4.3.6 Googleplex activity lounge. Time. http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/2006/inside_google/5.html (accessed November 10, 2010). 4.4.1 Morphosis Architects. CRC exterior circulation. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/university-of-cincinnati-campus-recreati (accessed November 8, 2010). 4.4.2 Morphosis Architects. CRC exterior facade. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/university-of-cincinnati-campus-recreati (accessed November 8, 2010). 4.4.3 Morphosis Architects. CRC training area. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/university-of-cincinnati-campus-recreati (accessed November 8, 2010). 4.4.4 Morphosis Architects. CRC food court. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/university-of- cincinnati-campus-recreati (accessed November 8, 2010). 4.4.5 Morphosis Architects. CRC running track. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/university-of-cincinnati-campus-recreati (accessed November 8, 2010). 4.4.6 Morphosis Architects. CRC multiuse space. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/university-of-cincinnati-campus-recreati (accessed November 8, 2010). 4.4.7 Morphosis Architects. CRC recreation pool. Morphopedia. http://morphopedia.com/projects/university-of-cincinnati-campus-recreati (accessed November 8, 2010). 6.1 Created by author 6.1.1 Created by author 6.1.2 Created by author 6.1.3 Created by author 6.1.4 Created by author 6.1.5 Created by author 6.2.1 Created by author 6.3.1 Created by author 6.3.2 Created by author 6.3.3 Created by author 6.3.4 Created by author 6.3.5 Created by author 6.3.6 Created by author 6.3.7 Created by author 6.4.1 Created by author 6.4.2 Created by author 6.4.3 Created by author 6.4.4 Created by author 6.4.5 Created by author 6.5.1 Created by author 6.5.2 Created by author 6.5.3 Created by author 6.5.4 Created by author 6.5.5 Created by author
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