BAP: National Center for Civil and Human Rights

NATIONAL CENTER FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Building analysis by Adam Albanese and Ryan Self

NATIONAL CENTER FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS Atlanta, Georgia Perkins&Will Building analysis by Adam Albanese and Ryan Self Arch 341, Fall 2020 Lab instructor: Andrew Goodwin

Cover image: Mark Herboth

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1_Story 2_Site 3_Space 4_Structure 5_Skin 6_Circulation 7_Reflection

1_STORY PROJECT DATA Location: Atlanta, Georgia Year of completed construction: 2014 Total area: 42,000 sqft Total construction cost: $40.6 million Certifications: LEED Gold

TEAM Design Architect: Phil Freelon, FAIA LEED AP BD+C

Cost Estimator: Cost Plus

Architect Of Record: HOK

Exhibit Design: Rockwell Group

Project Manager: Gude Management Group in partnership

Human Rights Exhibition Curator: Jill Savitt

Chief Creative Officer (Exhibits): George C. Wolfe

with Cousins Properties

Landscape: HOK

Media Content:Batwin + Robin

Plaza Sculpture: Larry Kirkland Studio

Interactive Content: 2nd Story

Lighting Consultants: Fisher Marantz Stone

Exhibit Graphics: Rockwell Group and MGMT

Structural: Walter P Moore and Sykes Engineering

Exhibit Fabricator: Design & Production

Civil: Long Engineering

Exhibit Lighting: Fisher Marantz Stone

Mechanical And Plumbing: Newcomb & Boyd

Human Rights Posters Mural: Paula Scher, Pentagram

Electrical: Davis Pullen Engineers, Inc

Human Rights Defender Portraits: Platon

Contractor: H.J. Russell & Company, C.D. Moody

The People’s Portfolio Hall Of Fame Portraits: Rossin

Construction Company and Holder Construction

Company, Joint Venture

1.1 Approach from street side Photo: Mark Herboth

ARCHITECT PROFILE

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights building in Atlanta, finished in 2014, was designed start-to-finish to honor the civil and human rights movements in America and to educate and encourage visitors on the topic. Designed by Phil Freelon, who unfortunately passed away in 2019 at the age of 66, this building served as a continuation of a philosophy focused on honoring and celebrating America’s civil and human rights history. As an African American, Phil grew up in a world where African Americans were historically kept out of professions such as architecture. After starting his own firm, Freelon Group, in 1990, Phil’s firm became known for public and cultural projects in historically black areas.

The Freelon Group’s portfolio includes buildings such as the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, built in 2005, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C., finished in 2016, two years after Freelon Group merged with Perkins & Will.

Today, the Perkins & Will firm continues the legacy Phil Freelon began with their recent release of a planned overhaul design to the Motown Museum in Detroit, Michigan. This museum displays the history of the Motown Music Group, begun in 1959 by African American Berry Gordy Jr., and is famous for recording many African American greats, such as Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson.

1.2 (l) Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco, CA Photo: Anna Marich, The Freelon Group

1.3 (r) Harvey B Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Charlotte, NC Photo: Mark Herboth

1.4 National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C. Photo: Perkins + Will

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights tells the story of the civil rights movement in America. Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, it serves as a monument to the brave men and women that advocated for human rights for all peoples. Additionally, the building is a civic center that inspires the next generation of advocates that will change the course of history in the continuing fight for equality.

The building’s design is inspired by unity and this theme is prevalent in both the building’s form as well as the programmatic design. The curved facades represent interlocking arms that cradle the building’s central interior in a physical manifestation of unity and harmony. That central interior space is paneled in glass and recalls the public open spaces where the beginnings of so many civil and human rights movements began. Also, the variety of tan colored panels on the exterior facade represent racial and ethnic diversity and the beauty and harmony of different skin colors as a collective whole.

The circulation of the building guides visitors through interactive exhibits and thought provoking activities. As users experience the sobering history of the civil rights movement they are encouraged to spark conversation that motivates them to seek injustices in their own communities. Winding their way up to the top, patrons find themselves in an elevated overlook flooded with natural light that serves as a place for quiet contemplation and reflection.

1.5 Design process: Gathering “Space for Action” defined by two powerful walls Photos, Sketch, and Model: Perkins + Will

2_SITE

Project site location within Atlanta, Georgia

LOCATION AND RESOURCES Location: Atlanta, Georgia Environment: Urban Population: 498,044 Area Size: 136.8 sq. mi.

REGIONAL RESOURCES Drinking Water: • 70% of Atlanta’s drinking water comes from Lake Lanier • 25% comes from groundwater • 50 miles northeast • Buford Dam diverts water from the Chattahoochee River

Waste Water: • Waste water from NCCHR goes to either Peach Creek or Internment Creek treatment plants • Water flows down the Chattahoochee river to the Gulf of Mexico

Long Creek

Nancy Creek

Peach Creek

Sandy Creek

National Center for Civil and Human Rights

Proctor Creek Sugar Creek

Utoy Creek

Internment Creek

Legend South River Camp Creek

Freeways Watershed Borders Atlanta City Border Watershed Priority Highest Medium Lowest

Energy Breakdown for Atlanta Natural Gas Nuclear Energy Biomass Coal Fired Hydroelectric

• Natural gas is the number one energy source in Georgia • Pipelines from other states provides state’s resource • Two nuclear energy facilities Hatch and Vogtle • Mostly provides for southern Georgia • 90% of renewable energy production is from biomass • Lumber sourced from Northern Georgia

Temperature Range (°F)

Prevailing Winds

Time Table Plot

CLIMATE AND CONTEXT This project is located in Atlanta, Georgia, which has a temperate humid climate. The summers are hot and muggy and the winters are cold.

Sun Path, Wind Rose, Pedestrian Traffic, Vehicular Traffic

ACOUSTIC CONSIDERATIONS:

PUBLIC VS PRIVATE:

As shown in the diagram, vehicular traffic causes noise from the right and lower directions of the building (from north and east, respectively). To accommodate this, the main entrance was placed on the quieter side to the left of the building (west), whereas the exit was placed toward the road, leading back to the more public area.

As a museum and exhibition building, most of the spaces are meant to be available to the public. The procession is designed to have gateways into larger, separate spaces to give the public an indication of a change in exhibit or story. Such procession can be seen with the hallway that narrows slightly on the west of the entrance floor plan, opening up to a larger, separate area.

3_SPACE

Massing Model scale: 1/32” = 1’-0”

ANALOG MODEL AND BUILDING DRAWINGS

0’

8’

16’

32’

64’

2nd Floor Site Plan

Sectio

Third Floor Plan 1 2 3 4 5

exhibit shared gallery broadcast center administration shared accomplishments gallery

1

4 5 3

2 3

0’

20’

80’

0’

20’

80’

0’

20’

80’

Second Floor Plan 1 2 3 4 5

4

lobby gift shop MLK stair exhibit Pemberton Place

4

2 3

1

5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

MLK exhibit MLK stair pre-function special events loading dock mechanical Ivan Allen Plaza

7

First Floor Plan 5 4 3 6

1

Pemberton Place

2

Shared Gallery

3

Lobby

4

MLK Exhibit

5

Administration

6

Exhibit

7

Pre - Function

8

Ivan Allen Plaza

1

1

on A-A 10’

1/32” = 1’ 5’

50’ 25’

2

100’

2

5

3

6

4

7

8

4_STRUCTURE

B

Ry

STRUCTURE An irregular concrete two-way slab and beam construction is used to resist gravity and lateral loads, and transfer them safely to the ground. The concrete floors consist of slab, beams, and girders mostly cast together as a single steel-reinforced concrete structural plate. The angles of the supporting columns in the irregular shape of the building, combined with interior walls, provide shear load resistance from heavy winds.

The foundation is slab on grade, as this building is nested into the slope of the landscape to provide immediate access from the street and park sidewalk levels into the building.

BAP 4: STRUCTURAL MODEL

yan Self | Adam Albanese Studio Goodwin | Fall 2020 4.1 Primary structure| and retaining wall, under construction Photo: Immovable Media Inc

4.2 Analog model of structural system

4.3 Rebar and form construction for retaining wall Photo: Cindy Riley

5_SKIN

Weather Barrier Interior Insulation Concrete Column Thin Mounted Cladding Cladding Mounting Structure

ENVELOPE: SKIN COLORED THIN EXTERIOR CLADDING To keep the building insulated, most of the two main curved facades are cladded in this opaque material.

Being a museum that celebrates the diversity that the civil rights movement has promoted, the many tones of the facade mimics the many skin tones of people, and the mixing that this movement has allowed to occur, creating a beautiful mosaic.

As a ratio, the amount of opaque facade to glass facade is about 3 to 1.

5.1 Satin Exterior Wall Panels Product Sheet: TRESPA

6_CIRCULATION

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

CIRCULATION The building is designed to funnel you into itself and through the various spaces. From the lowest level you are coerced through the space by curved walls, up the stairwell, through more exhibits, up a second grand stair to the third floor exhibits and back around to where you come from. This allows the users to know where to go next without any signage. It also encourages the user to loop back again and re-navigate the exhibits.

6.1 Celebratory stair: MLK stair Photo: Mark Herboth

L3

L3

L3

L2

Level 3

L2

Level 2

L2

L1 EXIT EXIT ACCESS EXIT DISCHARGE

ADAM ALBANESE, RYAN SELF | ARCH 341 | STUDIO GOODWIN | 11.05.2

L1 EXIT

EGRESS AND FIRE LIFE SAFETY

Level 1

EXIT ACCESS EXIT DISCHARGE

At only three stories and open to the public right-of-way on all sides, the egress of this building is relatively straightforward. On upper floors, two egress stairwells along the major exterior walls provide egress for spaces deep inside. Near the entrances, experiential entrance stairs double as emergency egress routes.

EXIT

L1

EXIT ACCESS EXIT DISCHARGE

EXIT

ADAM ALBANESE, RYAN SELF | ARCH 341 | STUDIO GOODWIN | 11.05.20

6.2 Major entrance stair doubles as a path for egress Photo: Mark Herboth

Temperature Range (°F)

Prevailing Winds

Time Table Plot

CLIMATE ANALYSIS AND RESPONSE This project is located in Atlanta, Georgia, which has a temperate humid climate. The summers are hot and muggy and the winters are cold. According to cove.tool, based on the use type and location, this building is cooling dominated. Because of this, the EUI is relatively low since little energy is needed to heat the building. Also, with the majority of the building enclosed by opaque, insulated walls, most of the thermal energy can be retained inside or kept outside depending if the season is either cold or hot respectively.

In regard to daylighting, main lobbies are well-lit by large window walls, and interior exhibits use filtered and primarily artificial lighting since direct sunlight is often harmful to exhibited materials.

Plant

Level 3

Level 2

Supply Ducts Return Ducts

THERMAL AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS

Level 1

This building mostly likely uses a variable air volume HVAC system to control the thermal environment of the interior of the structure. As seen to the left, the delivery of this conditioned air is through ceiling vents distributed throughout the various rooms and gallery spaces. With Atlanta’s hot climate this delivery system is ideal for blanketing the rooms with dense, cold air. The duct work most likely runs from the roof plant through the floor plates either between beams and girders or within an interstitial space between the ceiling and the concrete floor plate.

6.3 Exhibit, showing vents in ceiling Photos: Mark Herboth

7_REFLECTION

Upon first examination of The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, we were intrigued with the form but not overwhelmed with the building as a whole. It is a relatively intuitive building with two swooping exterior walls that enclose an interior envelope. However, upon the extensive analysis of this building throughout this quarter we gained an in-depth understanding of the various systems that create this extraordinary structure. The beauty of buildings such as these dwells within the details. From a broad view these innumerable details seem overwhelming and difficult to put into the context of the entire building. By breaking it down week by week into the various parts of the greater system we gained a fulfilling understanding of the interconnected nuances of this modern building.

At the start of the project, we assumed this building, being a museum for civil rights, would focus more on the experience of the user and less on the energy efficiency of the building. Barring any glitches in cove.tool, the building was surprisingly efficient with an EUI of 23, where the 2030 target is 16. This is due to almost no heating loads in the building, and relatively low cooling loads. A second assumption we held was about the structure. Having an interestingly curved facade we assumed the innards would be a mess of complicated steel holding it up. Though this is the case for the curved facade the building mass is relatively simple in its system of concrete columns and floor plates. The slabs have concrete beams organized along the grid of columns, giving it a robust yet relatively simple slab and beam floor system. Including the thick retaining wall at the base to deal with the grade change from one end to the other, this building is made primarily of reinforced concrete. Although we never possessed any construction grade documents from the architects, it was possible to infer the location of various systems based on schematic floor plans and sections as well as preliminary knowledge of common building utilities. In thinking about how this building could improve, we agree that the architects could have employed a heavy timber structure. At only three stories, this building falls within the code allowances for heavy timber, and spans between columns remain within the threshold of mass timber beam spans. Using this structural material would reduce the amount of embodied carbon helping the building become more carbon neutral. Additionally, we believe the feel and color of heavy timber would blend nicely with the skin-tone, multi-colored facade.

In the end, this deep dive precedent study taught us the true identity of most of our built environment beyond what we see in form and facade. We now comprehend the various systems that we implement into buildings to ensure a pleasant experience for the occupant, and the design strategies that react positively to the surrounding environment. Going forward, we plan to use this understanding to better implement these various required systems into our own designs to optimize the building’s efficiency and create a positive occupant experience.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Bridget Cogley, “Seven Projects by Architect Philip Freelon That Champion Diversity and Inclusion.” Dezeen, July 10, 2019. https://www.dezeen.com/2019/07/10/top-architecture-projects-philip-freelon-usa/.

“Center for Civil and Human Rights.” H.J. Russell & Company, October 25, 2017. https://www.hjrussell.com/portfolio_page/center-forcivil-and-human-rights/.

Copeland, Larry. “Atlanta Civil Rights Museum Focuses on Stories, Not Memorials.” USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, April 20, 2014. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/19/atlanta-civil-rights-museum-king/7819949/. d.o.o., Yu Media Group. “Atlanta, GA - Detailed Climate Information and Monthly Weather Forecast.” Accessed November 30, 2020. https://www.weather-us.com/en/georgia-usa/atlanta-climate.

Genzlinger, Neil. “Philip Freelon, African-American Museum Architect, Dies at 66.” The New York Times. The New York Times, July 10, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/10/arts/philip-freelon-dead.html.

October 29, 2019 Austyn Gaffney. “Needing Water, Georgia Stirs Up a 200-Year-Old Dispute With Its Northern Neighbor.” NRDC, July 28, 2020. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/needing-water-georgia-stirs-200-year-old-dispute-its-northern-neighbor.

“Phil Freelon (1953-2019).” PerkinsWill. Accessed November 30, 2020. https://perkinswill.com/person/phil-freelon/.

Valenzuela, Karen. “National Center for Civil and Human Rights / HOK + The Freelon Group (Now Part of Perkins+Will).” ArchDaily.

ArchDaily, July 22, 2015. https://www.archdaily.com/770551/national-center-for-civil-and-human-rights-the-freelon-group-architectsplus-hok

IMAGE CREDITS Cover image: photograph © Mark Herboth “National Center for Civil and Human Rights / HOK + The Freelon Group.” July 22, 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed November 29, 2020. https://www.archdaily.com/770551/national-center-for-civil-and-human-rights-the-freelon-group-architects-plus-hok 1.1: photograph © Mark Herboth “National Center for Civil and Human Rights / HOK + The Freelon Group.” July 22, 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed November 29, 2020. https://www.archdaily.com/770551/national-center-for-civil-and-human-rights-the-freelon-group-architects-plus-hok 1.2: photograph © The Freelon Group “Museum of the African Diaspora, The Freelon Group.” July 15, 2013. Architect Magazine. Accessed November 29, 2020. https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/museum-of-the-african-diaspora-2712 1.3: photograph © Mark Herboth “Harvey B Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture / The Freelon Group Architects.” June 6, 2011. ArchDaily. Accessed November 29, 2020. https://www.archdaily.com/140195/harvey-b-gantt-center-for-african-american-arts-culture-the-freelon-group-architects 1.4: photograph © Perkins + Will Perkins + Will. “Poetry Foundation.” Architectural design. 2016. Accessed November 29, 2020. https://perkinswill.com/project/national-museum-of-african-american-history-and-culture/ 1.5: all images © Perkins + Will “National Center for Civil and Human Rights / HOK + The Freelon Group.” July 22, 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed November 29, 2020. https://www.archdaily.com/770551/national-center-for-civil-and-human-rights-the-freelon-group-architects-plus-hok 4.1: photograph © Immovable Media Inc “National Center for Civil & Human Rights - Construction - Downtown Atlanta - 9/20/2013” September 23, 2013. YouTube. Accessed November 29, 2020. https://youtu.be/KQJMAgljWJk 4.3: photograph © Cindy Riley “NCCHR Transforms More Than Atlanta’s Skyline” February 19, 2014. Construction Equipment Guide. Accessed November 29, 2020. https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/ncchr-transforms-more-than-atlantas-skyline/22218 5.1: project product sheet © TRESPA “National Center for Civil and Human Rights” 2014. TRESPA.com. Accessed November 29, 2020. https://www.trespa.com/en-us/project/wall-panels-center-civil-rights 6.1, 6.2, 6.3: photograph © Mark Herboth “National Center for Civil and Human Rights / HOK + The Freelon Group.” July 22, 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed November 29, 2020. https://www.archdaily.com/770551/national-center-for-civil-and-human-rights-the-freelon-group-architects-plus-hok All other images were created by the authors