Marshland Center for Urban Ecology
Jon Morris
Miranda Donovan
Ruddy Bel Hantier
The building is guided by sequenced stormwater catchment pools that guide runoff water from the surrounding areas down below the building and out to the marsh.
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With the ever growing city of Washington DC comes many challenges, and one of the most prominent challenges to face our generation is our usage, storage, and release of water.
Washington DC was built on what once was a marshland, and was built up and filled in to support the city that stands today. Challenges with water maintenance have been present since the dawn of the 19th century, as the city was growing and later with the Industrial Revolution and the additional growth that entailed. The Center for Urban Ecology is focused on the challenges of our most recent water dilemma: Stormwater runoff. Cities around the US have been effected by unexpected weather patterns due to the effects of Global Warming, such as the North-Eastern coast hurricanes and other storm events. Houston, Texas saw never-before seen flooding among many other cities and towns across the US, and DC is no exception to water management issues. The marshland acts as a safety blanket for the local community from the rain and storm events to continue in the future. As more precious, pervious land is built upon, the goal of the Center for Urban Ecology was to not only engage the nature and wildlife of the area, but also to act as a call for buildings to effectively bring stormwater management in-house. Through this approach, the challenges posed by global warming and stormwater runoff is a community effort and not resting on the shoulders of public infrastructure alone.
Figure 1.
1. Water Infrastructure Map - D C Water Atlas
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Parking Lot
Green Roof
Rainwater Runoff
Marshland
The marshland collects the water and allows it to be used for native plants and on a greater scale, provides habitat for plants, bird species, and other local fauna
A water catchment pond beneath your feet acts as a way to slow down the runoff of water. Stones and small waternative grasses “break” the flow and eases the water towards the marsh.
Rainwater is collected from the paved areas of our campus and are directed to spouts that direct the water to the catchment pond.
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Georgetown Reservoir
Private Entry
Labs
Offices
Classrooms
Marshland
Learning Lawns
Entry Hall
M AC A RT
HU R BL VD NW
Parking Lots
Stormwater Channels Walking Trail Greenhouse/Gathering Space
TR T S O I ELL
EE T
G RE ENE PL
N
NW
Site Plan 1/64” = 1’-0”
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Load
Private Entry
Lobby
Entry Hall Utility
Greenhouse/ Gathering
Sto.
AV
First Floor Plan 1/32” = 1’-0”
Entry
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Mech
Wet Labs
Offices
Exhibit
Classrooms
Reception
Ground Floor Plan 1/32” = 1’-0”
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C
B 4
5
D
3 2
A
1 6
E Program
Procession
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6
9
A
10 10
99
5 66
4 55
3 44
2 33
1 22
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AA
B C
BB CC
D
E
DD EE
F FF
Stormwater Catchment Ponds
Structure
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Access
Marsh
Lawns
Figure 2. 2. Site Aerial
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Access
Marsh
Lawns
Points of Rest Moments Path Path (vertical)
Figure 3. 3. Site Procession
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Geo Thermal Heat
Sunlight
Winds Cooled from Marsh
Rainwater Collection
Figure 5.
Steel Shell Structure
Concrete Load Bearing Walls
Figure 4. 4. Site Massing
5. Sustainability Diagram
Figure 6. 6. Structural Diagram
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Figure 7.
Figure 8.
7. Longitudinal Section
8. Cross Section
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Green Roof Parapet Cap Blocking as Req’d Waterproof Membrane Rigid 6” Insulation Steel Beam
Gyp Ceiling
Wood Docks
Rigid 3” Insulation Waterproof Membrane Infill Dirt+Plants
Figure 10.
Figure 9.
Figure 11.
9. Wall Section at Catchment Pool
10. Facade Detail
11. Facade Plan Detail
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American Wildflowers Tulip Poplar Various Liriodendron Tulipifera
Site Ecology and Plant life
American White Water Lily Buttonbrush Nymphaea Odorata Cephalanthus occidentalis
Spartina grass Sporobolus Alterniflorus
White Oak Flowering Dogwood Quercus Alba Cornus Florida
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Steel Structure
Equitone Cement Fiber Panels
Wood Flooring
HVAC System
Information Board
LED Lamps
Interior Space Detail
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The Docks - Perspective towards Greenhouse
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Figure 12.
12. Entry Hall - View towards Marsh
13. Dusk on the Marsh
Figure 13.
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First Moment
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Second
Moment
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The Classroom - Perspective towards ramp and Greenhouse
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Learning Lawns - Perspective towards Greenhouse
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The Docks - Nighttime perspective
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Physical Model Photos
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ARCH403 - Prof Cross - 11/8/21