REFLECTION What may look like a simple, clean-lined building at first glance, the Wasserman Football Center of UCLA operates in ways that not only take advantage of its climate and context, but in ways that support and add value to human health, body, and mind. The building is divided into two components: the first floor as the body and the second as the mind. After studying the ins and outs of building for the past quarter, we learned how the building prioritized the service of overall human health and placed it at the center. The building reinforces the urban fabric of the campus as it is accessible from the pedestrian side and accommodates the desired program without negatively impacting campus circulation. Furthermore the building improved the pedestrian access with the building framing the passage and landscaping better defining the transition from the north to the south. The complex is generally one mass elongated with subtraction in the middle. It did not seem dynamic enough from the outside. This changed as investigated different aspects that were positively affected by a more simple and compact mass. Circulation, especially egress is clear because it generally operates along a single passage following the longer axis allowing for less space dedicated to hallways. The access in the central hallways ends in both directions with vertical circulation. These vertical and horizontal distributions of access to the user operate with HVAC distribution by flowing the same paths. The orientation increases east/ west exposure, but this was less problematic by an equally tall building shading the west orientation. Furthermore, community spaces are located to east looking on to the field, but higher east facing programs seem to be receiving glare in the morning. This is less effected by use of shading devices including the upper
Subtracted mass allowing for deck space overlooking field also increases daylight exposure especially for circulation.
BAP 09| REFLECTION| Mary Helen Kennedy & Hanna Villarosa
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floor cantilever over the lower. Overall it still seems to be a problem that could have been better solved by slightly decreasing the percentage of glazing facing the west. The subtraction in the center of the building was initially clearly an opportunity to have an overlook to the practice field below, but after looking at it again it also provides daylight to the interior hallway creating a connection to the outside even when in the center of the building. Also because of the placement of larger program spaces at the edges of the subtracted deck space it is not creating the potential problem of extreme divide between spaces that benefit from proximity to each other Using several passive design strategies and by sourcing energy locally and at the building scale, the architects were able to design the building in such a way that it uses as little outsourced energy as possible to meet peak loads. We learned how the building was able to meet the high-performance expectations of the university and commitment to sustainability through the use of a high-performance facade that regulates climate without restricting views, smart shading techniques, smart energy measures such as an on-site thermal water heating system, and a displacement ventilation system that supplies low-velocity air in lieu of a traditional HVAC system. We knew that the building was special because it appeared to showcase the modesty, power, and strength a training facility should represent through its design, however, there was much more to the building than design. Each feature was intentional and offered a part in the buildings solution and aim of obtaining sustainability and providing comfort and supporting the health of the human body and mind.
Community spaces located on east facade. Cantilever acts as shading device for lower spaces. https://www.zgf.com/project/ucla-wasserman-football-center/
