17 minute read
Access
Advancing the Equity of Outdoor Access
Introducing public space to the private sector
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BY CHI LEE
T
The influence of healthy outdoor space
on societal well-being cannot be overstated. During a global crisis that confined us to our homes, public parks and plazas offered a crucial respite from the bleak media cycles that plagued our daily lives. Alongside a heightened awareness of the importance of outdoor spaces, a corresponding discussion on the equity of public space has emerged. Who has access to our parks and green spaces, and who does not? What can we as designers do to facilitate a more equitable and inclusive built environment?
AN EARLY PERKINS&WILL DESIGN FOR A BLOCK IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
Many design firms and organizations are doing incredible work building a network of new and enriched outdoor spaces in our cities. The Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, for example, is implementing a 1.5-mile park system that will greatly enrich downtown Austin’s community and environment. That said, for residents who live 20 blocks or more away from the greenway, accessing this community asset becomes much more challenging. This is where the private sector needs to step up. In our Corporate, Commercial, and Civic practice at Perkins&Will’s Austin studio, we encourage commercial developers to evaluate how they can add to the public domain and its network of outdoor space. If we want downtown Austin to thrive, particularly in a changing climate, we need to provide our community with spaces for retreat and refuge.
Block 41, Austin
Our team is currently designing a 46-story commercial office tower called Block 41 in the central business district of Austin.
From the outset of the design process, we approached outdoor space as an integral part of the workplace rather than an amenity, by providing more than 3,000 square feet of outdoor space on every occupied office floor. There is already a growing trend in office design to program for outdoor workspaces and balconies, developed mainly in response to COVID-19 and tenant demand for safe spaces to engage with others.
With this project we have tried to take this strategy a step further. In addition to the private tenant spaces, we recognized in this project a huge opportunity to give space back to the public realm, integrating an 8,000-square-foot public plaza on the ground floor. The commercial building becomes a space where any community member can come in and spend some time out in the shade, read a book, or catch up with a friend.
How We Did It
Generous outdoor spaces as these can be utilized year-round and therefore are financially feasible only if designed properly. For the Block 41 project, because the ground level public plaza sits within the property boundaries it is covered by the building above, which provides solar protection from the Texas sun. The landscaping is designed to be abundant and lush to help mitigate the heat island effects and as an added benefit enriches the street-level restaurant, retail, and pedestrian experiences.
On the typical office levels, each outdoor terrace is covered by the next level above and is deep enough to provide solar protection. Similar to the ground level plaza, we designed these outdoor terraces with ample amounts of plush landscaping in an attempt to create an ecosystem that can help mitigate the heat during the hottest days of the Texas summer and provide a pleasant workplace setting anytime of the day.
Planning for the Future
Moving forward, there is an opportunity to create a network of these spaces throughout more densely developed cities. These outdoor areas or urban parks built into the fabric of the private sector can increase access to the natural world for those who historically have gone without. The most equitable spaces are public-facing, readily available, and accessible because everyone has the right to use those spaces. We are increasingly prompting conversations about equity and public space in planning future commercial projects, and it has been rewarding to see that these ideas are resonating with developers. We have several upcoming projects that incorporate this concept in different ways. One such project is a downtown multi-family highrise development that sits directly across from a public park. The project is in early design stages, but we are planning to connect the public park as part of the street-level experience of the development. Additionally, we have other downtown projects that face streets slated to be part of the future rail line infrastructure plan called
Project Connect. Important questions we are working to solve are: How will these projects engage and integrate with public transportation, how do these projects improve upon the pedestrian and passenger experience, and how do these private developments intertwined with the future public transportation infrastructure promote equity and inclusivity?
Why is it important that we have these conversations now? There is much discussion on equity and inclusion in our current social climate, and many are pushing PROJECT for policy changes at Block 41 the city, state, and federal levels. Policy LOCATION is a great start, but it Austin, TX takes a great deal of action for meaningful COMPLETION change to happen. As Fall 2024 designers we have an incredible opportuniSIZE ty to implement more 750,000 gross immediate changes in square feet our cities. By creating these environments LANDSCAPE and welcoming everyARCHITECT one in the community Ten Eyck Landscape to visit what we have Architects created, we can directly pave the way for a GENERAL more equitable future. CONTRACTOR The more we do this, JE Dunn and encourage others to do this, the more STRUCTURAL we can change the CONSULTANT mindset of what the Walter P Moore private sector can and should look like. MEP CONSULTANT Of course, there is Wylie Engineering a delicate balance to strike when pursuing VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION this aim. While building new developments Persohn/Hahn can bring assets like outdoor space to neighborhoods that previously lacked such amenities, they can also drive prices up and push underrepresented communities out of those neighborhoods. I don’t claim to have the correct answer to the problem and can only work to maintain and respect the existing history of a community. Trying to repair something that has been broken for some time is no easy feat; the first step is to rebuild trust within our neighborhoods and communities. Our studio hopes to play a part in regaining this trust by using our projects to give space back to the public. g
NEW DEVELOPMENTS LIKE BLOCK 41 IN AUSTIN BRING ADDED GREEN SPACE.
Meet the Architect
Chi Lee is principal, corporate, commercial, and civic at Perkins&Will Austin. Originally from Taiwan, Lee grew up in Pittsburgh and has known since high school that he wanted to be an architect. His passion for creating things only grew when he moved to New York City and developed a keen understanding of technology workplace interiors.
DESIGN DETAIL
When complete, Block 41 will have more than 3,000 square feet of outdoor space on every occupied office floor. On the typical office levels, each outdoor terrace is covered by the next level above, is deep enough to provide solar protection, and includes plush landscaping.
Erica Weeks on Improving Conversations Around Sustainability
How this sustainability director is changing the way we talk about green building
BY SOPHIA CONFORTI
A
Ask any architect about where they first
discovered their love for building, and most will cite a childhood fascination with LEGO or Lincoln Logs. But for Erica Weeks, it was a high school drafting class.
“I really found a fondness for the technical aspects of the projects that we were to emulate, draw up, and figure out. Give me a challenge, and I will figure out 10 ways to do it,” she says. “For me, buildings and architecture really came into that question of, how do I solve that puzzle every day?”
IN 2015 ERICA WEEKS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST RECIPIENTS OF HASTINGS’ HYPE (HASTINGS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS EXPERIENCE) INNOVATION GRANT, WHICH SHE USED TO FURTHER STUDY BIOPHILIC DESIGN.
Now, in her role as associate principal and director of sustainability at the Nashville-based Hastings, Weeks spends every day doing just that: solving puzzles on green building. “I help across the board in specification language for sustainable materials, energy codes compliance, and making sure all of our clients are getting what they need for our projects,” she says.
And the projects are plenty: Weeks works with every team at Hastings to identify sustainable solutions for multifamily and commercial spaces to health care and warehouse distribution. “I spend most of my day in emails and, honestly, doing math. It’s a lot of spreadsheets and crunching numbers and connecting different consultants to make sure they’re talking to each other.”
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Because Weeks touches so many projects, she works with a variety of people, and it’s her job to keep everyone on the same page. “I keep a work journal with ideas and tactics for communicating different ideas, not just to owners and clients, but also to project team members and consultants,” she says. “Unfortunately in the time we live in, where people are trying to do projects quickly, consultants might just want to stay in their silos and focus on their scope of work. But we really need those synergies between all of us to come out with the solutions.”
While many talk about including sustainable solutions as a pathway to LEED or other accreditation, Weeks tries to bring the focus back to the foundational intent. “I’m always zooming up to that 30,000-foot view and saying, ‘We’re really doing this because it’s going to save you X number of dollars and save Y amount of gallons of water,’ and then equating that to something like, ‘That is one half of an Olympic size swimming pool.’”
Giving that kind of visual is when Weeks sees a lot of aha moments, she says. But like anything, sometimes the tactic works, and sometimes it doesn’t. In her notebook Weeks will record the responses from the conversation down to the facial expression, and, depending on the feedback, try it again on another project or take a new approach.
“Keeping that work journal is the easiest way for me to think about every discipline I work with to make sure we’re getting those synergies across the board, so the civil engineer isn’t just thinking about what they need to do but how it also affects landscape, architecture, and mechanical design.”
SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE
Putting those strategies to work every day, Weeks and the Hastings team build innovative sustainable projects like Nashville’s Peabody Plaza at Rolling Hill Mill. Completed in 2020, the core and shell project earned LEED Silver certification—a process Weeks was heavily involved in as both the primary LEED facilitator and documenter.
“Unlike other high-rise buildings in an urban environment where you see 15 stories of garage, it was really such a beautiful site where the garage could be submerged and the plaza made on top,” Weeks says.
So that’s exactly what they did. The 1,005-car parking garage was buried five stories below grade, and the building was positioned along the western edge of the site to create a 37,500-square-foot pocket park. “You don’t even notice the garage. This way you also have this amazing public-use plaza and greenscape with amenities everyone feels they have access to, even though it’s part of a private development,”
Weeks says. “In theory, if it was a dense urban project, you would see the 15 stories of garage, and then the amenities deck would only be for the people in the building.”
Instead anyone can come to Peabody Plaza, sit on the amenities deck, and overlook the skyline and the Cumberland River—an idea Weeks was able to watch unfold in real time. “They were installing the bike racks, and they had literally screwed them into the concrete and somebody came up on a bike within one minute and parked their bike,” she says. “It was hilarious. It was so cool to see that.”
The amenity deck also features an impressive 5,745-square-foot green roof designed to echo the new park—a sustainable feature that decreases heat-island effect, reduces stormwater runoff, and improves stormwater quality.
“The most exciting part of the project for me is that we could capitalize on creating such connectivity and redefine how a high-rise works in that area of town,” she says. “A big thing for me is I want every day to be challenging, and I think that’s what led me into the sustainability role versus the traditional architect working one project at a time. The coolest thing I see is I’m able to connect something faster between teams because I oversee so many projects. It’s teaching people to think differently.” g
Project: Peabody Plaza Location: Nashville, TN Completion: July 2020 Size: 290,000 square feet Architect: Hastings Interior Design: Hastings General Contractor: Brasfield & Gorrie Structural Engineer: EMC Structural Engineers Precast Concrete: GATE Precast Glass & Glazing: Alexander Metals Masonry: Jollay Masonry Oko: Groove Construction Landscape Architecture: HAWKINS Partners
THE FACADE PATTERN IS BASED ON HISTORIC TROLLEY BARNS AND IS PATTERNED WITH PRECAST CONCRETE PANELS, BRICK, OKO SKIN, AND GLASS.
Turns out that clanky radiator, commonly found under the windows in older buildings, is still doing what it was designed to do over a century ago—pump out heat so intense it can warm a space even on the coldest days. The only problem is things have changed since steam heating systems were created. Today’s building owners are searching for efficient and optimally controlled heating systems. That’s why HVAC design and manufacturer Salus has developed the technology to bring this outdated system into modern times. Here Christopher S. Robertson, director of sales for Salus North America, shares how this technology can increase comfort while maximizing efficiency.
How can tech help manage my steam-heated building?
Steam heating
systems have had a reputation for being inefficient and difficult to control space temperature. Likely when you think of steam-heated spaces you think of opening windows to regulate temperature. For more than a century that has been the only real way to control the temperature, but not anymore. Salus’ wireless technology has made these systems more efficient and comfortable than ever—enabling control. A Wireless Radiator Valve Actuator is installed on the radiator valve—paired with a battery-operated wireless thermostat that senses the room’s temperature and modulates the radiator valve actuator to maintain the desired temperature. This combination eliminates the need to run wires in a finished apartment and is priced at $175 to $200. One thermostat can control up to six wireless actuators. The controls can be accessed on the thermostat or through the Smart Home application on mobile devices. Data is uploaded to the cloud so building managers can monitor one property or their entire property portfolio.
This technology is increasingly crucial to improving the operation of buildings. Replacement of steam-heating systems would be prohibitively expensive. This new technology solves the problem of tenant comfort and “paying to heat the outdoors.”
When developing this tech, Salus considered the relationship between building manager and tenant. The battery-powered thermostats generally last two heating seasons so managers aren’t disturbing tenants to replace batteries. The wireless valve actuator has an optional lithium-ion battery that will last up to eight years. Per the Department of Energy, such system upgrades can reduce energy costs by 20 to 35%, depending on building size and chosen technology.
Steam heat is often thought of as what your grandmother had, but when controlled, it’s a good quality heat. Unlike other heating systems, it heats a space quickly, and it is not dry in the winter like forced air. g
Throughout its nearly half-century in business Maxxon®, the creator of Gyp-Crete®, has been North America’s premiere source of top-quality gypsum underlayments. Versatile and solutionforward, the company’s innovative products for commercial and multifamily structures aren’t merely used for leveling purposes in renovations and new construction. They’re also excellent for improving the acoustical quality of any building, including spaces that use primarily mass timber and concrete. That pairing can look great, but it’s problematic for sound dampening purposes. Erik Holmgreen, Maxxon’s vice president of research and development, explains how to remedy that issue.
How do you control sound in mass timber construction?
BY ERIK HOLMGREEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The benefits of mass timber construction are
many. It’s beautiful. It’s sustainable. And it’s more quickly assembled. But there’s one major challenge: Sound control is always an issue when the mass timber is left exposed on the ceiling. Unwanted noise, as those who’ve endured stomping upstairs neighbors can attest, can adversely affect the happiness and well-being of residents. A Maxxon Acousti-Mat® sound mat topped with a Gyp-Crete® underlayment can help by offering a high-performance sound control system that doesn’t affect aesthetics.
Typically a sound control system is only used in residential construction to meet International Building Code. This is because, in commercial concrete construction, no sound control system is required to meet accepted light commercial acoustic levels, usually a STC & IIC 40-45. Mass timber commercial spaces often feature beautiful wooden ceilings paired with a polished concrete floor. It looks really cool, but it creates an environment where the concrete wants to ring and the timber has insufficient mass to dampen it. Thus, to meet traditional commercial acoustic levels in this environment, sound control systems are a necessary component.
The reason sound control in mass timber is such a challenge is because a traditional ceiling adds mass and air space—two critical components in reducing sound transfer. In mass timber the goal is to show off the beautiful wood ceiling, so sound reduction must be achieved on the floor side of the assembly. A Maxxon Acousti-Mat sound control system adds an air gap to reduce structure-borne vibrations and mass to block airborne sound transfer through the floor/ ceiling assembly.
Maxxon has conducted more than 300 sound tests in the most common types of mass timber assemblies and has designed a variety of sound control systems to meet commercial and residential noise reduction requirements. g
A MAXXON ACOUSTIMAT SOUND CONTROL SYSTEM ADDS AN AIR GAP TO REDUCE STRUCTURE-BORNE VIBRATIONS AND MASS TO BLOCK AIRBORNE SOUND TRANSFER THROUGH THE FLOOR/CEILING ASSEMBLY.
In the
Trees
Studio PHH Architecture
designed this house of contrasting light and color by the lake in Princeton, New Jersey. Architect Pierre-Henri Hoppenot and his team designed the house around a light-filled space they called La Clairiere, French for “the glade.” “This central space became the driver for the built project and extends the living space out into the landscape on both sides,” Hoppenot says. “The light-filled volume houses all of the public programs of the house while the dark masses on either side host the bedrooms and private spaces. The careful orientation of the dark masses in relation to the glass atrium shelters the space from the southern sun and provides diffuse natural light all day, minimizing the need for artificial lighting. The use of daylighting continues into the private spaces with punched openings that frame views, provide cross ventilation, and allow in abundant natural light.” Read more at gbdmagazine.com. —Laura Rote
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