TALL DC
The building reflects the concept of seeing the city through an ‘aperture.’ TALL DC, parametrically responds to the surrounding environment, emphasizing important landmarks by developing spatial relationships that alter its cylindrical shape. The location of each space depends on the distance of the relating landmark. As a landmark moves farther away, the relationship moves higher up the tower. The emphasized landmarks are the White House, the Washington Monument, the Capitol, and the National Shrine.
Since enacted by Congress, the Height of Buildings Act of 1910 has restricted how tall buildings can be designed in the District of Columbia. TALL DC analyzes Washington’s most recognizable structures including the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument, and questions the definition of “monument” in the contemporary context of global commercial markets, residential migration, and iconic skylines. With the exercise ignoring the height act, TALL DC reacts to the monumental environment of DC by creating new unique spaces inside the tower activated based on distances and associations.
top view
event space - capitol aperture
residential space - monument aperture
middle view
site plan Department of Commerce between 14th &15th street NW location// LEVEL 98 1,267’-00”
LEVEL 98 - TOP OBSERVATION LEVEL
MECHANICAL & OBSERVATORY
RESTAURANT & LOUNGE HOTEL
LEVEL 94 1,200’ -00” LEVEL 92 1,139 ‘-02” LEVEL 91 1,124’ -07”
7 FLOORS OF LUXURY STYLE ROOMS & SUITES THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SPECTACULAR VANTAGE POINTS OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
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092 HOTEL LOBBY & CONFERENCE RESIDENCES
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LEVEL 83 1,036’ -07”
HIGH-END RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE UNHAMPERED VIEWS ACROSS THE CITY.
EACH OF THE UNIT VIEWS ARE ORIENTED TO EITHER THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT, THE WHITE HOUSE, THE CAPITOL, AND THE BASILICA.
LEVEL 81 - TYPICAL HOTEL UNITS 084
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LEVEL 75 952’-07” MECHANICAL & STRUCTURAL TRANSFER
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LEVEL 73 931’-07”
LEVEL 61 - RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT UNITS
LEVEL 59 795’-01”
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036 LEVEL 44 627’-01” MECHANICAL & STRUCTURAL TRANSFER
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COMMERCIAL
LEVEL 42 597’-11”
RENTABLE OPEN FLOOR PLAN THAT AVERAGES 23,000 SF.
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022 LEVEL 37 539’-07”
LEVEL 34 - TYPICAL COMMERCIAL EVENT SPACE 021
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LEVEL 27 - TYPICAL COMMERCIAL FLOOR
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LEVEL 29 422’-11” MECHANICAL & STRUCTURAL TRANSFER LEVEL 27 393’-09”
LEVEL 20 306’-03”
LEVEL 16 - PUBLIC EVEN T SPACE
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MECHANICAL & STRUCTURAL TRANSFER
PROMENADE RETAIL
LEVEL 10 131’-03” LEVEL 8 102’-01”
FORM FOLLOWS FLIGHT
Thresholds of the Passenger Experience
Airports are a gateway to the city. The passenger first experiences the city from the sky and the ground level becomes the first contact point. Designing the gateway for Washington, D.C. needs to exhibit the monumentality of the city.
DESIGN DILEMMA
Thresholds in airports are ubiquitous with the terminal experience. Checkpoints are seen as functional thresholds, mundane and devoid of the experiential delight which was once the epicenter of the jet age. The main focus is to enhance the passenger experience by designing for a sense of place and the spirit of flight. The site location is the C/D terminal of Dulles International Airport adjacent to the iconic Saarinen terminal. Currently the thirty year old structure is in need of bringing back the gesture of flight Saarinen’s terminal evokes.
TERMINAL FORM
CATENARY FORM
The idea of the terminal as a shed morphed because of the space requirements of bringing the plane into the terminal. Daylighting and visual connection played an important role in forming the shed.
The catenary curve was used as a parameter to design the original terminal. Instead of the arch stretching a long span, two catenary curves decrease in increments creating an interior ring.
DESIGN PROPOSAL
Enhance the journey of the passenger by designing for three thresholds of the experience. 1. Arrival to the concourse, 2. Gate holding areas, and 3. The connection of aircraft to the gate. The solution is to design a celebration of the jet age and respect the iconography and function of the original terminal.
catenary arch
SPIRIT OF FLIGHT MATERIALITY AND FORM
big shed limited daylighting
long span terminal
It was important to look at the context of the existing site and use the material palette that exists today. The main terminal, consists of concrete, steel and glazing. All elements that still remain very contemporary today.
push in aircraft
push edge
concrete structure
fritted glazing/translucent paneling
centralized circulation split arrivals vs. departures
glazing for views to the plane
daylighting
completed structure
steel primary structure
steel secondary structure
structure to filter daylight
EXPANSION
CONNECTIVITY
SUSTAINABILITY
HOSPITALITY
The ever present growth in the air travel calls for expansion and meeting the spatial needs of its users
A constant connection to the digital world is vital and necessity
To better the passenger experience, indoor environmental quality needs to be addressed as well as lighting design acting as way finding
The passenger experience and connection with the airline to the customer is becoming ever present to ensure loyal flyers and new business