STUDIO 804
THE FORUM AT MARVIN HALL University of Kansas: School of Architecture Fall 2013 - Summer 2014 Christine Harwood
THE FORUM AT MARVIN HALL As the first addition to the University of Kansas’ School of Architecture, Design, and Planning, the Forum at Marvin Hall serves as the school’s first opportunity to host their own lecture courses as well as provide a collaborative commons space for students. Studio 804 provides graduate students with the unique experience to participate in all aspects of the building process from design and construction to budget and material sourcing. This was Studio 804’s first project for the State, which introduced us to new procedures for permitting, fire protection, and inspections. On our first day of class in late August, Dan Rockhill presented us with this project and we couldn’t have been more excited and nervous. Designing and building an addition to a School of Architecture is both a dream and challenge. A building full of 500 architects and architectural students is full of 500 potential critics. After meetings between both faculty and students we were able to develop an impressive proposal that was accepted by the school, the chancellor, the board of regents, and the State. We each declared our ‘specialty’ on the project ranging from structure to landscape. I was responsible for the insulation on the project and was able to secure a $40,000 donation consisting of Polyiso, XPS, and spray foam from DOW and Hunter Panels.
THE SCHEMATIC PROCESS Early in the design process, we proposed a stadium-sloped 180 seat lecture hall. Along with running into some design and structural challenges because of ADA access and an existing electrical closet on the site, faculty expressed the need for a flat flexible space for reviews, open houses, and other events. After much deliberation we concluded that with 26 mandatory lecture courses there is a need for the school to have it’s own lecture hall, but as the maximum enrollment is 120 students, 180 seats is unnecessary. By reducing the riser height to 4� and shortening the length of the lecture hall, we were able to meet ADA requirements and accommodate a 680 square foot multipurpose room suitable for formal juries, pinups, and events. These changes not only developed a design that pleased faculty and students, it also created a more functional floor plan that was easier for us to build. From a design-build standpoint this was a great achievement. A simpler design allowed us to have more control of the details, an aspect that Studio 804 takes pride in.
THE LAYERS Studio 804 carefully considers material and product choices to ensure its’ buildings take advantage of the most recent technologies and advancements in architecture and sustainability. As we were taught the concept of the ‘perfect wall’ this was our opportunity to design it ourselves. The Forum is glazed on the south, east, and west facades to allow visibility and solar gain. This creates a naturally lit space for the lecture hall and exhibition room. To offset high heat transfer, Studio 804 consulted with Transsolar to develop the first vented wall system in Kansas, which will allow the skin of the building to change depending on the temperature. In summer, the dual wall will be vented to allow the heated air to escape and pull in air cooled by vegetation underneath the addition. In winter, the vents will be closed, trapping heated air inside the cavity acting as a warm “blanket”. Mechanical systems integrated into the wall allow natural ventilation to be distributed during the spring and fall. This wall system would not be effective if the proper precautions had not been taken with the insulation and protective layers in the floor and ceiling cavities.
2”x4” PONY WALL
ACOUSTIC WOOD PLANK CEILING
4’X4’ RAW STEEL FLOOR
TATE ACCESS FLOORING INFILL PANEL NONCOMBUSTIBLE HARDY PANEL PLYWOOD DECKING
12” TGI FLOOR FRAME INSULATION NETTING VAPOR MEMBRANE EXTERIOR CEILING BOARD
GAF MEMBRANE TAPERED INSULATION PLYWOOD DECKING 12” TGI ROOF FRAME TYPE X GYPSUM
GLASS FIBER ACOUSTIC BOARD WOOD LOUVER
TIMBER TRUSS
TATE ACCESS FLOORING PEDESTAL
FALL/WINTER CONSTRUCTION We broke ground in early October by leveling the existing steel and brick shelter. A relatively quick demolition was followed by two months of drilling piers and digging grade beams by hand. The site was a land mine of existing utilities and steam tunnels; without 18 willing and cheap laborers this could not have been done. After much perseverance we were able to pour the piers and grade beams just before Christmas. While campus was nearly empty during winter break, we went to work constructing our temporary fire barrier that separated Marvin Hall from our job site with four layers of Type X gypsum. Once we met code, we began the tedious process of leveling screenings, building form-work, and tying rebar cages. It turns out that the easiest and most exciting part of concrete work is only the couple of hours it takes to pour it! With snow on the ground and winter still biting our cheeks we poured our columns and beams in one pour at the beginning of February. As soon as the concrete cured we quickly assembled the floor frame. This required extra attention for fire and acoustical separation from the existing electrical closet. Because we chose to expose the raw steel in our structural timber frame, we had to clear coat all of the pieces to prevent rusting. By late February we were ready to build and raise our frame; a process that was a lot simpler than anyone expected.
SPRING/ SUMMER CONSTRUCTION As spring finally brought warmer weather and longer days, we worked hard to bring closure. In March we were able to insulate our roof and install a GAF membrane that earned a 20 year warranty. Now that we were shedding water we could concentrate on the inside by expanding the mechanical closet, insulating the ceiling cavity, installing HVAC, and cutting doorways into Marvin. Because the Forum is an addition to an existing structure, our height was limited to the bottom of the 3rd floor windows. In the past Studio 804 has always used blown cellulose, but at an R value of only 3.3 per inch we would barely meet the code requirement of R30 in our 12� cavity. In order to achieve the highest R value possible, we explored alternative forms of insulation. Thanks to a $33,000 donation of polyiso insulation from Hunter Panels and a $7500 donation of XPS and spray foam from DOW we were able to achieve an R67 in our ceiling cavity and an R76 in our 14� floor cavity. On May 17th, 2014 we celebrated graduation as well as a private open house with our families. With the first layer of glass and first row of louvers installed, we were all very proud to show off our hard work.
COMPLETION After graduation we lost 6 workers which brought us down to 12 laborers. As days grew hotter we were grateful to have our HVAC working. We installed and stained the cedar louvers. We cut, assembled, and hung the exterior columns and mullion system. In our warehouse we used structural silicon to attach clips to the glass panes, a process that saved us nearly $50,000. On June 20th, we were ready to hang the exterior glass curtain wall. Meanwhile the interior was busy finishing the acoustic cedar ceiling. After cutting, staining, and installing over 300 pieces of cedar we were ready to begin laying out the pedestals for the raised access floor. With little room for error, we carefully installed the pedestals on 2 foot centers before we placed the Tate Access Panels. By the end of July the steel flooring was being installed and our leases were ending. Although we had reached a major milestone there was still a lot of finishing work to be done. Four students who lived locally stayed with the project until its completion in September, celebrating The Forum’s open house on October 3rd. Though the hours were long and testing, we created something that we were proud of; something that would stand behind Marvin Hall for her next 100 years.