Research Journal
2019 ― Volume 11.01
Research Journal 2019 ― Volume 11.01
Editors: Ajla Aksamija, Ph.D., LEED AP BD+C, CDT Kalpana Kuttaiah, Associate AIA, LEED AP BD+C Journal Design & Layout: Kalpana Kuttaiah, Associate AIA, LEED AP BD+C Cover Design: Tim Pettigrew, LEED Green Associate Acknowledgements: We would like to extend our appreciation to everyone who contributed to the research work and articles published within this journal.
Perkins and Will is an interdisciplinary design practice offering services in the areas of Architecture, Interior Design, Branded Environments, Planning and Strategies, and Urban Design.
Research Journal 2019 ― Volume 11.01
Research Journal
2019 ― Volume 11.01
Journal Overview The Perkins and Will Research Journal documents research relating to the architectural and design practice. Architectural design requires immense amounts of information for inspiration, creation, and construction of buildings. Considerations for sustainability, innovation, and high-performance designs lead the way of our practice where research is an integral part of the process. The themes included in this journal illustrate types of projects and inquiries undertaken at Perkins and Will and capture research questions, methodologies, and results of these inquiries. The Perkins and Will Research Journal is a peer-reviewed research journal dedicated to documenting and presenting practice-related research associated with buildings and their environments. The unique aspect of this journal is that it conveys practice-oriented research aimed at supporting our teams. This is the 21st issue of the Perkins and Will Research Journal. We welcome contributions for future issues. Research is systematic investigation into existing knowledge in order to discover or revise facts or add to knowledge about a certain topic. In architectural design, we take an existing condition and improve upon it with our design solutions. During the design process we constantly gather and evaluate information from different sources and apply it to solve our design problems, thus creating new information and knowledge. An important part of the research process is documentation and communication. We are sharing combined efforts and findings of Perkins and Will researchers and project teams within this journal.
Perkins and Will engages in the following areas of research: njnj Practice related research njnj Resilience and sustainable design njnj Strategies for operational efficiency njnj Advanced building technology and performance njnj Design process benchmarking njnj Carbon and energy analysis njnj Organizational behavior
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Editorial This issue of Perkins and Will Research Journal includes three articles that focus on different research topics, such as an analytical study of bedroom types in four different building typologies, impacts of thermal bridging effects in exterior walls on buildings’ energy performance, and analysis of design techniques for students’ residence halls, specifically designed for international students. “The Overnight Bed: An Analytical Study on Bedroom Types” discusses characteristics of bedroom typologies in four different building sectors—students’ residence halls, private dwellings, hotels and healthcare facilitates. The article compares spatial requirements, design methods and synergies between strategies for bedroom design. Research methods included literature review, qualitative and quantitative assessments and design explorations. The article concludes that there are certain similarities between different design methods and offers new solutions for future bedroom design that supports wellness, relaxation and privacy. “Additive vs. Area-Weighted Thermal Resistance in Building Facades: Assessment of Thermal Bridging Effects on Buildings’ Energy Performance” investigates the effects of thermal bridging in building envelopes. Research methods included data collection, energy modeling for a case study building (sports and recreation building), and comparative analysis of results. Energy modeling was used to determine energy consumption for the case study building, where the thermal resistance of exterior walls was varied to account for thermal bridging effects. Results show that modeled energy consumption was higher when area-weighted thermal resistance was used, which accounts for thermal bridging in facades. The results were also compared to actual energy consumption data collected over a period of one year and indicate that area-weighted approach provides more accurate results. “I-House: A Study on Residence Halls Uniquely Designed for Housing International Students” explores architectural, spatial, cultural and residential life programs in students’ residence halls for international students. Research methods included literature review, case studies, observations and interviews, and aimed to discover how to support student success. The study concludes with recommendations that could be adopted by academic institutions to enhance the international student experience and improve social, academic success and sense of community. Ajla Aksamija, PhD, LEED® AP BD+C, CDT Kalpana Kuttaiah, Associate AIA, LEED® AP BD+C
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Contents Journal Overview
2
Editorial
3
01: The Overnight Bed: An Analytical Study on Bedroom Types
7
Yanel de Angel, AIA, LEED AP® BD+C, CPHC, PHIUS Stephen Messinger, AIA, LEED AP® BD+C, CPHC
02: Additive vs. Area-Weighted Thermal Resistance in Building Facades: Assessment of Thermal Bridging Effects on Buildings’ Energy Performance
22
Mahsa Farid Mohajer Ajla Aksamija, PhD, LEED AP® BD+C, CDT
03: I-House: A Study on Residence Halls Uniquely Designed for Housing International Students
35
Niusha Arndt, Associate AIA
Peer Reviewers
47
Authors
48
Research Journal
2019 ― Volume 11.01
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The Overnight Bed
01 The Overnight Bed: An Analytical Study on Bedroom Types Yanel de Angel, AIA, LEED AP® BD+C, CPHC, PHIUS, yanel.deangel@perkinswill.com Stephen Messinger, AIA, LEED AP® BD+C, CPHC, stephen.messinger@perkinswill.com
Abstract This article investigates bedroom as a typology that occurs across different building types: student residential life, private dwellings, hospitality and healthcare. The article also explores synergies between design strategies. We questioned whether these synergies could translate into innovative bedroom design ideas in unexpected ways. Research methods included literature review, qualitative and quantitative assessments, and design explorations. We learned that while there are constraints and opportunities, there were certain themes that emerged as overarching frameworks. These frameworks could provide a guide to think through design scenarios and potential new solutions to bring the ubiquitous bedroom into a new era where we enable respite and wellness as we recharge our bodies while we sleep or retreat into privacy. Keywords: respite space, translational design, student housing, hospital stay, hotel room, privacy, healing spaces
1.0 Introduction Everyone sleeps. Everyone wants to retreat into a safe, comfortable space to rest and relax. Most of the time, this is a room with a bed, which we will call “the Overnight Bed”. The overnight bed is ubiquitous across different building types, such as student rooms in campus residential halls, patient rooms in hospitals, hotel rooms in hospitality, and bedrooms in market rate or affordable units.
strategies of comfort, warmth, and relaxation; and (3) applying market rate standards to affordable housing to make these types adaptable or interchangeable as the market fluctuates. The study analyzes quantitative and qualitative data across four market sectors. The quantitative side focused on bedroom unit minimum sizes, plan efficiencies, public-private layering of spaces, and location of systems servicing the room—furniture, outlets, lighting, mechanical systems and medical equipment. The qualitative side considered, more broadly, elements that enhance the experience, including daylight and views, noise levels and general comfort. Figure 1 shows comparison of bedroom typologies for the investigated market sectors.
This study focuses on what makes a successful overnight bed and what are trends across typologies. Additionally, it explores the idea that design in one market can apply to another, thus providing opportunities for learning, best practices, and direct comparisons. This line of thinking includes ideas such as allowing one type to serve more than one purpose, a shift in the market where multiple typologies converge. Some relevant examples include: (1) residence halls converting into hotels for the summer; (2) hospitality design influencing a patient room to improve patient outcomes by incorporating
In our methodology, we leveraged Perkins and Will’s benchmarking studies for each market sector, interviewed experts from each field and used a select number of projects as case studies. We first analyzed
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data from the different market sectors to understand more deeply the issues pertinent to each before making comparisons to find synergies or clear differences. Throughout the process, we discovered a variety of relationships such as (1) durability is more important for institutions (like higher education and healthcare or a housing development investment) than for a hotel where the general expectation is cyclical renovations and trendy refreshes; (2) the location of systems serving the room was more critical for hospital bedrooms than for any other market sector and that it matters more for student housing than for a market bedroom unit; and (3) that the size of a bedroom – however small – did not have a big impact on experience or comfort in comparison to access to daylight and views.
In the area of rest, (or immediately adjacent) there are other common elements such as a phone, room service guide, or music player. For Health Care, the threshold is often a "wet zone" for bathing, accompanied by a work or storage area. The separation from the bustling corridor and other patients may have elements such as a curtain or a sound machine. Beyond the first layer of functional spaces, the room centers around the patient experience, the bed, the accompanying amenities, and the guests. The respite areas are adjacent to the window and typically provide access to daylight and views as well as seating and small gathering space. Our overarching findings were focused on synergies and converging strategies that could be leveraged across the four market sectors. These findings can be summarized as follows:
An example of a side by side comparison is shown in Figure 1, where we compared each of the four markets using a common qualitative measure for Overnight Beds: Privacy. Across each market, experts agreed that privacy is a central factor in comfort and relaxation and each agreed that the organization and layout of the room significantly contribute to inhabitant comfort. For Residence Halls, there is a clear sequence from the often busy, loud, and very public corridor into the room, an escape from the students and activity that takes place on the floor. Upon entering the room, the space typically opens up with the beds as close as possible to the exterior window and natural light. The room size and organization typically allows for closets, bulky wardrobes, or bathrooms against the corridor wall and usually prioritizes space in the middle of the room. For Private Dwellings, the layout and organization is often around efficiencies with "wet walls" and other functional elements such as storage so that common areas and areas of respite are as deep into the volume of space as possible. Often the strategy is to create zones that allow for more communal gathering in the middle of the unit, combining traditionally separate rooms such as kitchen, dining, and living rooms into a larger central space. Another common goal is to create separation and privacy for the bathroom. For Hospitality, the storage, bathing, and other highly functional dense use areas are typically proximal to the entryway and provide a clear threshold. The room opens to focus very concretely on the area of rest, accented by primary amenities such as the bed, lounge furniture, television, or, in many cases, an expansive window with a view.
njnj A place of respite, such as the bedroom, requires attention to tangible elements in the room and intangible elements that are more about experiencing the space. njnj The bedroom as a space of wellness and restoration requires sensitivity to circadian rhythm, supportive amenities, access to daylight and views, comfort and ergonomics. njnj Durability vs. relevance in look and feel should be better balanced. For example, specifying healthy materials while balancing cyclical investment patterns to keep the bedroom fresh and attractive could help divert waste from landfills while reducing the amount of cyclical investment. njnj Providing privacy and controls, whether it is about sharing or not, controlling lighting, temperature, and noise, should be considered as it has the most direct impact in the experience. njnj In thinking about the overall experience, designing a cohesive environment with storytelling has the greatest impact in creating a contextual experience that is authentic and unique. njnj Beyond adequate design and revenue, maximizing revenue is an important consideration for financial health and profit, therefore the potential revenue streams must be considered during the design process to accommodate possible additional or alternative sources into the design.
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The Overnight Bed
UNIT SEQUENCE PRIVATE/RESPITE
COMFORT
REST
REST
REST
WORK
WORK
CLEAN
CLEAN
WORK REST
WORK CLEAN STORE
ACTIVE/PUBLIC
RESIDENCE HALL
PRIVATE DWELLING
HOSPITALITY
HEALTH CARE
Figure 1: Side by side comparison for each of the four market sectors showing example layouts to describe the layering in each type of room. Diagram assumes a common corridor that is the most active/public zone, showing that upon entry into the room, each layer advances toward a more private and calming area adjacent to the window which provides daylight and views.
njnj Spaces that create social cohesion and support community building through intentional use of amenity spaces make a difference, especially with bedrooms are compressed to a minimum.
of special differences and allowed synergies and transferrable design ideas or attitudes to emerge. We analyzed Perkins and Will's residential benchmarks to look at room sizes; building layouts; space use and function; cost per room and per bed; building, floor plate, and room typologies; ratios of square feet per bed and beds per building; washroom strategies, organization, and quantities; and sustainability methods and metrics. We also analyzed code and regulation minimum size requirements in several key markets. Then, we selected one representative project case study to showcase quantitative and qualitative analysis and observations. In addition, we interviewed several market sector leaders who provided resources and helped identify key and relevant issues to focus on going forward.
njnj Integrating gadgets and technology into the physical environment is important for consolidating technology and controls even when they are not totally concealed. njnj Supporting sustainable lifestyles is a common trend, more commonly achieved by integrating strategies and making users active participants. njnj Planning smart, even for micro sized units, often requires layering space and creating flexible bedroom modules.
2.0 Bedroom Typologies across Building Types
2.1 Residence Halls Residence Halls plan layouts are often designed to be as efficient as possible by conserving floor space, while allowing for comfort and amenities for the inhabitants. This efficiency can be achieved by grouping and stacking similar spaces, such as bedrooms or shared bathrooms.
As part of the investigation, a deep dive into the different bedroom typologies was critical to understand the nuances, given various building types and program constraints. This method allowed for clarification
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Providing the minimum footprint for bedrooms should consider furniture, size, clearances and campus standards. Figures 2 to 8 show results of the analysis, as well as one of the analyzed case studies.
moments can become life lessons that stay with the students after they graduate. Using Residence Halls as revenue generating buildings during the summer is not new. However, it has traditionally been done for summer camps or conferences. A new trend, flipping the Residence Hall as a hotel in the summer, has emerged as an alternative revenue stream. This means that hospitality practices and design strategies are being infused into Residential Halls for this new purpose1.
Residence Halls offer a unique opportunity to educate students about sustainable and healthy living styles. This can be achieved by making them active participants in preserving energy and water. For instance, students could be made aware of when to take advantage of daylight instead of turning on the lights or when to open windows for natural ventilation. These educational
Unit Size Occupancy UNIT SIZEComparison COMPARISONSingle SINGLE OCCUPANCY
94 NSF / UNIT / BED
101 NSF / UNIT / BED
105 NSF / UNIT / BED
105 NSF / UNIT / BED
108 NSF / UNIT / BED
115 NSF / UNIT / BED
145 NSF / UNIT / BED
150 NSF / UNIT / BED
160 NSF / UNIT / BED
164 NSF / UNIT / BED
UNITSize SIZEComparison COMPARISON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY Unit Double Occupancy
157 NSF / UNIT 78.5 NSF / BED
160 NSF / UNIT 80 NSF / BED
178 NSF / UNIT 89 NSF / BED
180 NSF / UNIT 90 NSF / BED
194 NSF / UNIT 97 NSF / BED
196 NSF / UNIT 98 NSF / BED
200 NSF / UNIT 100 NSF / BED
Figure 2: Benchmarking for Residence Halls showing net area per bed and per unit for single and double occupancy. Credit: Perkins and Will' Boston Studio Residential Life experts (David Damon and Yanel de Angel).
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The Overnight Bed
UNIT SIZE COMPARISON SEMI SUITES Unit Size Comparison Semi Suites
325 NSF / UNIT 135 NSF / BED
395 NSF / UNIT 131.7 NSF / BED
358 NSF / UNIT 179 NSF / BED
749 NSF / UNIT 187.3 NSF / BED
465 NSF / UNIT 116.3 NSF / BED
438 NSF / UNIT 109.5 NSF / BED
772 / NSF UNIT/ UNIT 772772 NSFNSF / UNIT 193 / NSF BED / BED 193193 NSFNSF / BED
472 NSF / UNIT 118 NSF / BED
974 / NSF UNIT/ UNIT 974974 NSFNSF / UNIT 162.3 162.3 NSF / NSF BED / BED 162.3 NSF / BED
482 NSF / UNIT 120.5 NSF / BED
1,105 1,105 NSF / NSF UNIT/ UNIT 1,105 NSF / UNIT 184.2 184.2 NSF / NSF BED / BED 184.2 NSF / BED
Figure 3: Benchmarking for Residence Halls showing net area per bed and per unit for suite style occupancy. Credit: Perkins and Will' Boston Studio Residential Life experts (David Damon and Yanel de Angel).
UNIT FLOOR PLAN
DOUBLE
SINGLE
1 BED (LOFTED IF NOT ADA) 2 DESK 3 STORAGE (BUILT-IN CLOSET/WARDROBE)
1
2'
-6
14' - 7"
70 SF MIN ONE CLOSET
1
2'
12' - 9"
"
10' - 0"
1
"
2
-6
MINIMUM CODE REQUIREMENTS
INSTANT HEATING SYSTEM OPERABLE EGRESS WINDOW (5.7 SF OR 5.0 SF AT GROUND LEVEL)
2
2
3
3
3
7' - 0" MIN BY CODE 8' - 6" RECOMMENDED MIN
11' - 8" RECOMMENDED MIN
”M 20
IN
TWIN BED TYPICAL (IF NOT ADA)
SMOKE ALARM CO2 ALARM
STUDY DESK BOOKS + PERSONAL ITEMS STORAGE CLOTHES + ITEMS
68°F MIN
” 24 ” 44
FOR DOUBLE BEDROOM, COULD USE TWO LIGHT FIXTURES
N MI 7’ N MI
-0
”M
IN
Figure 4: Minimal bedroom code requirements compared to student bedroom typical accommodations for single and double occupancy.
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2019 ― Volume 11.01
HEATING/ COOLING TERMINAL UNITS LOCATION AND TYPES
SYSTEM:
PTAC
HEAT PUMP
RADIANT PANEL
VRV/ VRF
VALANCE
PROS/ CONS:
Impacts floor/ window space Electric heating/ cooling unit Located below window Cannot put desk against window No ductwork Noisy
Impacts floor/ closet space Approx. 30” x 30” closet Located on ext or int wall No ductwork Noisy
Minimal ceiling impact Heating only No furniture impact No ductwork
Ceiling or Wall Cassette No furniture impact No ductwork Quiet
Impacts ceiling height May lower window head Air-cooled chiller on roof Small boiler plant No furniture impact No ductwork Quiet
GAS SOURCE
WATER SOURCE
(BOILER PLANT)
(BOILER PLANT/ COOLING TOWER)
ELECTRIC SOURCE
AIR COOLED
CHILLER/ COOLING TOWER/ BOILER PLANT
Gas fuel (fossil fuel)
Gas fuel (fossil fuel)
Fuel source: fossil or clean
Low Energy
Roof
Roof
Roof
Roof
Space
Space
Space
Space
(PACKAGED TERMINAL AC)
TERMINAL UNIT LOCATION:
FUEL SOURCE: SPACE ALLOCATION:
(ELECTRIC PLANT)
(COMPRESSOR BLOCK)
(ENERGY EFFICIENCY SYSTEM DEPENDENT)
Energy Efficiency System Dependent
WATER COOLED (COOLING TOWER)
Roof Space
Better performance than Air Cooled Roof Space
Figure 5: Heating and cooling terminal unit location and types and their impact on bedroom design. Credit: Graphic developed collaboratively by Buro Happold and Perkins and Will. DUPLEX RECEPTACLE AT 18”AFF, U.N.O. QUAD RECEPTACLE AT 18” AFF GFCI DUPLEX RECEPTACLE AT 48” AFF DATA RECEPTACLE AT 18” AFF DT
CEILING MOUNTED OCCUPANCY SENSOR
S L F C T
SMOKE DETECTOR
1
HORN STROBE FIRE ALARM SPEAKER STROBE LIGHTING SWITCH THERMOSTAT CONTROL
3 2
4
Figure 6: Case study of "digital bedroom mockup" at Merrill Place Residence Hall, Plymouth State University.
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The Overnight Bed
QUALITATIVE DURABILITY
CEILING
AIR QUALITY CLEANABILITY
GENERAL STRATEGIES
TYPICAL COMPONENTS
FLOORING
ORIENT CASEMENT TOWARD PREVAILING WIND
HARD SURFACE (USUALLY EXPOSED CONCRETE OR GYPSUM BOARD PANELS)
CEILING LIGHT FIXTURE, TYPICAL
BIO-BASED RESILIENT WALL AS HORIZONTAL LIGHT SHELF
PAINTED GYP WITH STC-50 MIN
WINDOW
CASEMENT OR AWNING PREFERRED FIXED OR MOVABLE INSECT SCREENS SOLID SURFACE WINDOW SILL
1’ - 6”
8’ - 0” RECOMMENDED MIN
WALLS
12' - 9"
DAYLIGHT & VIEWS
IF VALANCE UNIT USED TASK LIGHT AT DESK, TYPICAL
8' - 6" RECOMMENDED MIN
Figure 7: Top qualities sought after in student bedroom design, typical components to consider and general design strategies.
EDUCATIONAL DIAGRAM DISPLAYED AT THE RES HALL
CASE STUDY: SUSTAINABLE BEDROOM FEATURES MERRILL PLACE RESIDENCE HALL, PLYMOUTH STATE UNIVERSITY
1.VALANCE UNITS
2. OPERABLE WINDOWS POWER SWITCH
3. EFFICIENT LED LIGHTING
4. SUSTAINABLY HARVESTED FURNITURE
5.
3.
5.
5. LOW FLOW PLUMBING FIXTURES 6. 5.
6. NON VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC) PAINT 7.
7. RESILIENT FLOORING
9.
4.
1.
8.
4.
8. OCCUPANCY SENSOR
3.
2.
9. CARBON DIOXIDE DETECTOR
4.
Figure 8: Case study of an educational poster designed to feature sustainability strategies integrated into the bedroom design at Merrill Place Residence Hall, Plymouth State University.
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2.2 Private Dwelling
and minimum horizontal dimension of 7 feet. Another important resource is Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST, an initiative designed to promote compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements2. As more people are drawn to living in dense environments and cities, market rate units are trending toward a more diverse clientele, which includes families, young professionals, and many forms of “non-traditional” living arrangements. While plan layouts vary, we begin with a simple bedroom, using examples of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) layout to indicate strategies and a modular micro-unit to illustrate unit type variations3. Other private dwelling models could include long-term stay and co-working/co-living.
For the private dwelling category, we analyzed microunits in six major cities across the United States that struggle with housing affordability due to high demand. We also looked at regulations typically used in affordable housing design as minimum requirements. For this market sector, bathroom inside or near bedrooms units was included as it is a typical condition. We interviewed local designers and built upon previous research on the subject of micro-units. For the purpose of this study, Private Dwelling units are categorized as market rate or affordable housing units. The study uses minimal dimensions established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Housing Act or city regulations as a departure point. Figure 9 shows a comparison of bedroom layouts for HUD minimum requirements, City of Boston minimum requirements and market rate unit example. There are minimum size requirements for a bedroom to be defined as a “habitable room.” The International Building Code (IRC) specifies minimum area of 70 square feet
MARKET RATE UNIT TYPE EXAMPLE
ABLE TO FIT 1 FULL SIZE BED & 2 NIGHT TABLES F
T
1 24" MIN
HUD MINIMUM 90 S.F. MINIMUM
SITTING AREA (LUXURY OPTION) 8 S.F. MIN
2 10' - 0" MIN AFFORDABLE UNITS 120 S.F. MINIMUM
2' - 0" MIN
7' - 6" MIN
1
3' - 0" MIN
2
12' - 0" MIN
Q
8' - 0"
BED STORAGE (BUILT-IN) KITCHEN BATHROOM BEDROOM/LIVING ROOM 12' - 0"
1 2 3 4 5
BOSTON CITY MINIMUM BEDROOM REQUIREMENTS
1
OPERABLE WINDOW CUSTOMIZABLE WINDOW SHADE
ACCESS FROM LIVING ROOM OR CORRIDOR
50 STC WALL ACOUSTICAL RATING
5 24' - 0"
HUD MINIMUM
UNIT FLOOR PLAN
Key drivers for this market typology include accessibility and equity, modern lifestyles, and affordability. One method to allow for unit diversity within the width of the module is to create spaces that could expand without changing the base design. Specifically for micro-units, buildings with amenities are provided to all users outside the dwelling unit.
CUSTOMIZABLE FURNITURE CLOSETS PREFERRED
2
BED SLEEPING
2
LIGHT FIXTURES MARKET DRIVEN
4
STORAGE CLOTHES + ITEMS DESK/COUNTER BOOKS + STORAGE
11' - 0"
KITCHEN PREFAB/BUILT-IN
RECOMMENDED MIN MARKET RATE ADA COMPLIANT
SHOWER ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM ACCESSIBLE
Figure 9: Comparative analysis of HUD minimum code constrains using Boston City minimum bedroom requirements and a typical market rate bedroom unit to illustrate differences.
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The Overnight Bed
LOS ANGELES
350
T LA N D
1 50
P OR
0
20
25' - 0"
VANCOU VER
298
17' - 0"
15' - 5"
NF
28' - 7"
0
40
0
50
0
0
10
22
SA
NC
RA
14' - 0"
14' - 0"
0
20
4
2
S
0
GO
3 4
3
MINIMUM SQ/FT (BY CITY)
2
2 3
AU
40 0
30
Q
1
NEW YOR K CIT Y
4 00
275
5
F
C H ICA
1
400
TIN
5
5 5
1
T
1
BO S
HIA ADELP PHIL N TO
IS C
0
22 0
2 20
S
SAN FRANCISCO
BOSTON
LE
NEW YORK/ PHILADELPHIA/ AUSTIN
Since the units are small, providing spaces for residents to gather is important to create a sense of community. These common spaces become places of respite, and a balance to the tight unit footprints. While micro-units could be a way to achieve affordability, the cost of repetitive individual kitchens and bathrooms should be considered. The Urban Land Institute (ULI) conducted a study that looked explicitly at micro-units in this context and found that location, connection to internal and external amenities, and price were the biggest drivers of successful rent and interest4.
GE
Case Study–City Micro-Units: Micro-units are not a new concept, but they have taken hold in recent years, especially in cities where space is at a premium. Figure 10 compares layouts of micro-units as examples from various cities in the United States. The idea that units can be sized and purposed for a specific place is the starting point, but must be balanced with the need to have these rooms be part of a community fabric. This becomes a critical exercise in building community through shared amenities, places of respite, and keeping affordability as part of the design solution. In addition, these units now must further jump scales to connect to the surroundings, broader community, and larger urban environment.
LO
O
S E AT
TLE
T ON WA SH I N G
SA
N
DC
200 S.F. MINIMUM
220 S.F. MINIMUM
2
4
3 4
14' - 0" 350 S.F. MINIMUM
14' - 0" 400 S.F. MINIMUM
0S 40
.F. 0S 35
.F. .F. 0 S .F. 2200 S 2
EN TR Y
Figure 10: Comparison of micro-units in some U.S. cities where housing affordability is an issue. Credit: Katherine Schneider, Perkins and Will Innovation Incubator recipient.
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2019 ― Volume 11.01
2.3 Hospitality
“place identity” are critical to the success of a hospitality environment for the guests5. Alonso and Ogle describe “character” as the fundamental driver in creating an appealing and inviting destination6.
We interviewed hospitality experts and experienced designers to assemble the necessary kit-of-parts that makes a typical hotel bedroom. We created an illustrative example that embodied the kit-of-parts, relationships, and typical design considerations for the bedroom. Figure 11 illustrates critical components at hospitality bedrooms. From all of the investigated market sectors, hospitality relies the most on staying ahead of fast moving trends. We selected a case study that represented recent trends and issues also present in higher education for the purpose of highlighting the opportunity of overlap in design thinking and planning.
Wellness has become critical in hospitality. To create an impactful experience, the design could bring nature into the room, provide lighting that mimics circadian patterns, and access to physical wellbeing opportunities including simple things such as having a yoga mat in the room. Hospitality Trends: A hospitality bedroom serves as a home base where guests arrive, kick-off their shoes, get cleaned up, relax and get comfortable. It needs to be a quiet and restful place where guests can close the blinds and unwind. Figure 12 illustrates trend in hospitality bedroom design. A restful place to achieve a good night sleep is not only important in hotel rooms but in any bedroom7. Traditionally, all of the basic amenities were provided to a traveler as objects on a counter or in a drawer, but recently these are becoming more integrated and seamless. Lighting levels and technologies can be
Today’s traveler is looking for an authentic experience conveyed through storytelling and design. This is about tying guests to the specific location through materiality, patterns, and other physical and emotional connections. The desired outcome is a well-crafted story that relies on placemaking and particularities of the location. This place and experience must be special and unique. Palaez suggests that “sense of place”, “place attachment”, and
KING SIZE BED
UNIT FLOOR PLAN KING/QUEEN BED STORAGE (CLOSET/WARDROBE) LOUNGE TABLE DESK TV SCREEN BATHROOM
HEAD BOARD AS FEATURE WALL
5
1
3' - 0" REC
CONNECTION TO ADJACENT ROOM (OPTIONAL)
5
2' - 0" MIN
BATHROOM ACCESSIBLE
3' - 0" REC
3' - 0" MIN
1
2' - 0" MIN
SHOWER ACCESSIBLE
2' - 0" MIN
2' - 0" MIN
TV SCREEN ENTERTAINMENT
1
3
ROUND TABLE AS WORK SURFACE
3' - 0" MIN
TABLE/DESK BOOKS + PERSONAL ITEMS
3
VARIETY OF LIGHT FIXTURES FOR USER FLEXIBILITY
2' - 0" MIN
STORAGE CLOTHES + ITEMS
SHEER & BLACK-OUT WINDOW COVERING
2' - 0" MIN
BED SLEEPING
TWO QUEEN SIZE BEDS
LIVING AREA
30' - 0"
1 2 3 4 5 6
31' - 6" 26' - 0"
Research Journal
6
IRON IN-ROOM OR SERVICE
6 2
BLOW DRYER ADAPTER VARIETY
2
SAFE VALUABLES
14' - 0" 14' - 0"
CLOCK/ALARM RADIO/MUSIC TELEPHONE LAND LINE + WIFI COFFEE MAKER OPTIONAL YOGA MATS OPTIONAL
Figure 11: Illustration of critical components to consider for hotel bedroom design, showing two different typical bed sizes.
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The Overnight Bed
controlled as part of an individual preference in the bathroom and bedroom. Our internal clock is governed by the 24-hour cycle and daylight awareness is critical for our wellbeing. Daylight and artificial lights that mimic the natural rhythm of the sun and seasons is important to consider in all bedrooms8. Basic amenities for modern comfort and convenience are being incorporated into furniture or feature walls. Examples include, charging stations in side tables, digital readouts for weather and time in mirrors, and reading lamps, music players, and alarm clock headboards and other furniture.
operations. For example, small spaces were turned into bunk rooms for college teams and youth groups. Wellness was a priority for guest comfort: live succulent plants in every room, daylight and views, organic materials and products, and guest room lighting dimming options to enable better alignment with circadian rhythms. To reduce demolition and landfill materials, the project repurposed the original school, including the transformation of the gymnasium into a ballroom, the restoration of corridors to their original width, and the use of the former school kitchen as prep and catering kitchen.
Case Study: Hotel Grinnell, a former high school in a college town, was repurposed to be an affordable boutique hotel for the modern traveler. Combining historic preservation with efficiency and simplicity, the project maintains many touches of the original space and tells a story of adaptation and revival.
The old locker room was converted to a vibrant bar and restaurant. Aptly named The Periodic Table, it serves locally brewed beers and a farm-to-table menu produced by a recognized local chef. The branding engages the story of the hotel; guest comment cards are called report cards and guest room guides are named primers and look like vintage composition books.
The project used local labor and manufacturing to produce all industrial iron furniture (canopy beds, platform beds, armories, vanity bases, table bases). Affordability was a key driver for project cost and
ROOM WITH A VIEW
MINI-MICRO HOTEL
MICRO HOTEL
VIEW AS MAIN FEATURE
5
4
4
1
4
2
4
1
2
4
1
24' - 0"
15' - 0"
1
14' - 0"
1
3
GLASS
2
6
BUNK BEDS
10' - 0"
12' - 4" 6
2
14' - 0"
Figure 12: Illustration of hospitality trends, ranging from rooms with a view, mini-micro hotels and furniture arrangements.
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2.4 Healthcare
and guests who provide a fundamental and important support system to encourage rapid recovery. As with Residential Halls, durability and cleanability are key drivers for material choices.
We interviewed multiple healthcare leaders and designers to identify requirements for a hospital bedroom. Since there is great variety of bedroom typologies in hospitals – depending on patient needs – we illustrated a multipurpose patient room that could be converted to different functions or requirements. We selected a progressive case study, a competition project that challenges the typical patient room and focuses on infection control strategies.
A healthcare overnight bed needs to provide access to natural light and views, with a clear strategy to create privacy when desired or required. Figure 13 shows layering of spaces in a patient room, and minimum code requirements. There have been countless empirical studies researching the topic of access to daylight and views as an important benefit to patient health and recovery. The results indicate that daylight and views contribute to shorter stays and better outcomes. A specific study that investigated these aspects concluded that the closer the bed is to the window, the faster a patient recovers9. Similarly, daylight and thoughtful lighting design that addresses circadian rhythms improves moods, reduces pain and agitation, and mitigates perceived stress10.
The hospital bedroom enables an individual to get medical treatment in an environment conducive to health, wellness, and recovery. This place, much like a hotel room, often uses the headboard as an organizing surface with special controls for primary functions in the room. Caretakers must have critical resources at their fingertips without conflicting with the comfort and serenity needed for healing. In addition, this space needs to create a welcoming environment for family
MINIMUM CODE PATIENT/ FAMILY-CENTERED CARE
UNIT FLOOR PLAN 1 2 3 4 5
MEDICAL SURGICAL BED STORAGE (CLOSET) WORK STATION BATHROOM OVERBED TABLE
ALL PATIENT ROOMS NEED A WINDOW TO THE OUTSIDE (OPERABLE WINDOW IS GOOD FOR SURVIVABILITY IN CASE POWER GOES OFF) MINIMUM NET GLAZED AREA NO LESS THAN 8% OF FLOOR AREA
FAMILY-CENTERED PATIENT CARE ADDITIONAL S.F. AT DISCRETION
2
5
PATIENT-CENTERED CARE
25' - 0"
1
3 MEDICAL SURGICAL BED SLEEPING STORAGE CLOTHES + ITEMS WORK STATION MEDICAL PROVIDER SHOWER ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM ACCESSIBLE
ED D ER DE NT EN -CE RE LY CA OMM EA) T MI R FA TIEN REC R A . O .F LO PA 0S F 25 EAR (CL
14' - 6" RECOMMENDED MIN
OVERBED TABLE PATIENT CONVENIENCE
120 S.F. MINIMUM (CLEAR FLOOR AREA)
Figure 13: Illustration of patient bedroom layering of spaces for privacy and zoning of staff versus patient and family; and minimum code requirements as well as recommended design minimums for a patient/ family-centered care bedroom.
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The Overnight Bed
Case Study–I-CON Infection Control Patient Room: Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) are a significant consideration within healthcare facilitiest 11, 12, 13. The proposed ‘I-CON” patient room, shown in Figure 14, implements a comprehensive design investigation that speaks to improved cleanability techniques and planning, staff and patient circulation, and efficiencies relating to general room sanitation and discharge
INFECTION CONTROL STRATEGIES CLEAN PPE
cleaning times. These objectives assist in the reduction of infection transmission (between Staff/Patient, Family/Patient, Family/Staff), to achieve the complete elimination of microbial conditions and provide an aesthetically pleasant room environment for both the patient and staff.
FURNITURE WITH REPLACEABLE/WASHABLE FABRICS HARD CEILING OVER PATIENT BED REDUCES DUST MIGRATION
SOILED
1
DIRECT ACCESS IS PROVIDED FOR STAFF TO SOILED AND TRASH REMOVAL WITHOUT CROSSING PATIENT/FAMILY ZONES
2
7
MOBILE EQUIPMENT FOR FLEXIBILITY AND EFFORTLESS CLEANING PATIENT HEADWALL FOR PRIMARY OUTLETS, MONITORS AND READING LIGHTS
10 3
11
SHOWERLESS PATIENT BATHROOM WITH PRE-FAB CONSTRUCTION
4 8
5
1 CHARTING STATION 2 SUPPLY STORAGE 3 PATIENT TOILET 4 HANDWASH SINK 5 PATIENT BED & OVERBED TABLE 6 FULL-HEIGHT WINDOW 7 HANDS FREE ENTRY 8 EQUIPMENT ALCOVE/PATIENT MONITOR 9 FAMILY SEATING/BENCH 10 PATIENT/FAMILY STORAGE 11 SOILED/LINEN ALCOVE
9
10°
10°
HAND FREE DEVICES WITH AUTO SENSORS FOR LESS POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION
6
ANGLED WALLS FOR MAXIMUM NATURAL DAYLIGHT
EASY ACCESS ZONE
DISPLACEMENT VENTILATION REDUCES AIR TURBULENCE IN THE ROOM AND HELPS CONTAIN AIRBORNE MICROBES AND DUST AWAY FROM PATIENT
PATIENT BEDSIDE STORAGE FOR IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO PERSONAL ITEMS
Figure 14: Case study showing design strategies to reduce likelihood of infections in health care overnight bed environment. key ideas include prefabricated elements, smooth washable surfaces, dedicated zones for people and for clean and soiled clothing, hands free operations from entry to exit, specific washing locations for employees and guests. Credit: Boston healthcare experts at Perkins and Will’s Boston Studio (Jeffrey Keilman, Romeo Moreira, Chris Karlson, Rashid Ashraf and Dennis Kaiser).
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3.0 Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Our initial premise was that the “Overnight Bed” offered synergies across different practice areas and bedroom typologies. We learned that while each have unique challenges and opportunities, there were ideas translatable across typologies that could yield innovation in design. The following is a summary of themes we discovered in each specific practice area:
The authors would like to acknowledge individuals who contributed knowledge and expertise in the different practice areas explored in this article: David Damon, Jeffrey Keilman, Katherine Schneider, Shiyao Liu, Abigail Gillespie, Sarah Brophy, Jackie McGee, Janet D’Aprix, Amy Rioux, Yili Zha, Paul Cattaneo, Khuyen Luong, Kristabel Chung, Sarah Martos and all of the Perkins and Will Innovation Incubator and Research team.
Residence Hall—Repetitive footprint, equity of space, durability/ materiality, create shared amenities outside the bedroom, living style as a learning opportunity, and dual purpose bedrooms that flip to hospitality in summer
References [1] De Angel, Y., (2018). “How to Make Your Residence Halls Work Year-Round”, The Journal of Higher Education, Retrieved on 10/18/2018 from https://www.chronicle. com/article/How-to-Make-Your-Residence/244832.
Private Dwelling—Diversity of unit types, wide range of pricing to better serve diverse end users (families, young professionals, non-traditional living arrangements, roommates, etc), repetitive floorplan module design: flexibility for added space, increased efficiency by providing shared amenities at lower levels, and market driven or affordable pro forma models.
[2] United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Housing Accessibility First, Requirements, Retrieved on 10/3/2019 from https://www. fairhousingfirst.org/fairhousing/requirements.html.
Hospitality—Focus on experience through storytelling, cleanability and durability, privacy and respite, modern comfort, health and wellness, and headboard to consolidate controls: lighting, music, cell charge, and temperature
[3] United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Guidance on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, Retrieved on 10/3/2019 from https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/ Guidance2010ADAstandards.htm.
Healthcare—Cleanability and durability, a place to get well, access to daylight/ views, floorplan zones: medical staff, patients and guest and family, and headboard to consolidate equipment and controls. There were three recurrent themes that were present in all market sector categories: the bedroom as a place of restorative wellness, the opportunity to use integrated technologies for a more seamless experience, and how plan efficiencies and product durability have a direct impact in affordability. In all cases, wellness embodied material health and access to daylight and views. The integration of technology seems to be one of the biggest areas of design opportunity. Affordability is a common ground for private or institutional developers, as well as renters, owners and patients – all seeking a bedroom product that should balance investment and revenue generation potential.
[4] Urban Land Institute, (2014). “The Macro View on Micro Units”, Report, Retrieved on 9/28/2019 from https://uli.org/wp-content/uploads/ULI-Documents/ MicroUnit_full_rev_2015.pdf.
[5] Pelaez, T., (2011). “Experimental Hospitality Environments: The Roles of the Interior Architectural Features in Affording Meanings of Place”, Master’s Thesis, Florida International University.
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[6] Alonso, A., and Ogle, A., (2008). “Exploring Design among Small Hospitality and Tourism Operations”, Journal of Retail & Leisure Property, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp 325–337.
[7] Walker, M., (2019). Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, New York, NY: Scribner.
[8] Foster, R., and Kreitzman, L., (2017). Circadian Rhythms: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
[9] Park, M., Chai, C., Lee, H., Moon, H., and Noh, J., (2018). “The Effects of Natural Daylight on Length of Hospital Stay”, Environmental Health Insights, Vol. 12, pp. 1-7.
[10] Joseph, A., (2006). “Impact of Light on Outcomes in Healthcare Settings”, Retrieved on 10/3/2019 from https://www.healthdesign.org/chd/research/ impact-light-outcomes-healthcare-settings.
[11] Mayer, J., Slager, S., Taber, P., Visnovsky, L., and Weir, C., (2019). “Forming a Successful Public Health Collaborative: A Qualitative Study”, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Vol. 47, No. 6, pp. 628-632.
[12] Lateef, F., (2009). “Hospital Design for Better Infection Control”, Journal of Emergencies Trauma Shock, Vol. 2, No. 3,pp. 175–179.
[13] Pratta, R.J., Pellowe, C.M., Wilson, J.A., Loveday, H.P., Harper, P.J., Jones, S.R.L.J., McDougall, C., and Wilcox, M.H. (2007), “epic2: National Evidence-Based Guidelines for Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections in NHS Hospitals in England”, Journal of Hospital Infection, Vol. 65, Supplement 1, pp 1-59.
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02 Additive vs. Area-Weighted Thermal Resistance in Building Facades: Assessment of Thermal Bridging Effects on Buildings’ Energy Performance Mahsa Farid Mohajer, mahsafarid@umass.edu Ajla Aksamija, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, CDT, ajla.aksamija@perkinswill.com
Abstract The most common approach for calculating thermal resistance (R-value) of building facades is based on the additive method, where material components of the facade in sectional view, their relative thickness and thermal conductivity are considered. However, in order to account for thermal bridging caused by framing, area-weighted approach should be used to determine more accurate R-value. This approach also considers plan view of building facade, and the properties of framing components. The main objective of this research was to investigate the effects of facades’ thermal resistance (additive vs. area-weighted R-values) on buildings’ energy performance. Research methods included data collection, modeling, simulations and comparative analysis of results. An existing Campus Recreation Building, located at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was used as a case study building. First, the original construction documentation was reviewed to create a 3D model in Revit. Facade material components and specifications were used to determine properties of the opaque facade system, consisting of a brick cavity wall with steel stud framing. R-values for this facade system were calculated using additive and area-weighted methods. Then, a building energy analysis simulation program Green Building Studio was used for analysis, where one energy model was created to analyze the impacts of two different R-values on the overall energy consumption of this building. Other inputs, such as building geometry, occupancy schedules, glazing materials, etc. were identical in both models. Energy modeling results were compared to actual energy consumption data, collected over a period of one year. Simulation results showed that energy consumption was 2.5% higher when area-weighted R-value was applied. Keywords: thermal resistance, thermal bridging, facade, energy efficiency, energy modeling, brick cavity wall
1.0 Introduction Heat transfer through buildings’ facades significantly impacts buildings’ thermal performance, their energy consumption and energy costs, and carbon emissions. Therefore, it is essential to provide an appropriate level of insulation, thus preventing heat losses through building envelope. There has been an ongoing effort aiming to improve thermal performance of the facade systems by using improved thermal insulation in practice and research. But, before increasing thermal performance of facades and applying advanced insulation materials and systems, simulation tools can
be used to create a virtual model of the actual facade, investigating its thermal properties. It is crucial that the calculated and/or simulated thermal resistance (R-value) of the facade is representative of the actual construction. This requires consideration of the thermal bridging effects in the calculation and simulation process. Thermal bridging can decrease R-value of the facade assembly due to the heat losses that can occur within the wall assembly. Although thermal performance of the building envelope can significantly affect energy consumption of the building, there are not that many
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Additive vs. Area-Weighted Thermal Resistance in Building Facades
research publications capturing and quantifying the effects of thermal bridging in building facades on energy consumption. One of the reasons might be popularity of the additive approach for R-value calculations, resulting in its wide application during the design process. However, depending on the facade typology and its components, additive approach may not be the most accurate method, especially in metal-framed facade systems. One example is the brick cavity wall with steel stud framing, where thermal bridging associated with framing members can reduce facades’ thermal resistance. This research investigated and compared additive vs. area-weighted R-values, quantifying the magnitude of their effect on the building’s energy consumption, and other performance aspects.
and conductive heat losses. And, radiant barriers, which are highly reflective materials, mostly rely on their ability to reflect heat away, rather than their resistance against heat flow.
2.1 Facade Assemblies, Thermal Resistance, and Thermal Bridging Ventilated facades, shown in Figure 1, consist of an external layer (cladding), which is attached to the internal structural layer, and an air cavity between them. The air cavity allows air to circulate between the two layers, as well as any accumulated water to drain through designed openings and weep holes. This facade system has significant benefits over traditional singleskin facades, including moisture and fire resistance. As such, aluminum cladding, brick cavity wall on concrete masonry units (CMU) or on metal stud framing are the most popular ventilated facade assemblies.
2.0 Literature Review Heat transfer mechanisms include conduction, convection, and radiation. In conduction, heat travels through solid materials. In convection, heat circulates within the building through liquids and gases, and in radiation, heat travels in a straight line, warming up materials in its path. Insulating materials can reduce heat flow in building envelope. However, the most common insulating materials slow down conductive heat transfer through the help of their inherent thermal resistance. Insulating materials that densely fill cavities within building structures can reduce both convection
Aluminum cladding system presents some additional benefits, such as lightweight structure and recyclability. This type of facade system has been investigated in a study to reveal the magnitude of thermal bridging, aiming to provide guidelines for design parameters 1. Results of the study indicated that metal cladding systems should receive special care during the design and construction process in order to minimize thermal bridging. The reason is that this type of construction requires the external layer of envelope to be secured
Figure 1: Diagram showing basic components of a ventilated facade.
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on the internal layer, resulting in penetration of the brackets into the insulation layers. In this study, a detailed computational model was developed in the ANSYS Workbench software program, which then was analyzed, taking into accounts factors such as thermal break, materials within the internal layer, thickness of thermal insulation, and anchor types. These factors have the potential of minimizing thermal bridging1.
thermal bridging in 2D formats. However, in the 3D modeling method, 3D thermal bridges were drawn in WUFI Plus. Results showed that the dynamic effect of thermal bridging depends on the amount of thermal bridging, as well as envelope assembly types. For lightweight construction, such as wood-frame, the simplified equivalent U-value method did not significantly change the energy demand. However, for cast in-place concrete construction, various methods resulted in discrepancies among energy demand predictions. Considering the 3D modeling approach as the baseline, annual space heating demand from the equivalent U-value and equivalent wall method were 13 percent and 10 percent lower, respectively. Therefore, the higher amount of thermal mass, thermal bridges, and insulation, the greater difference between simulation results of the three applied methods2.
One study investigated the effect of thermal bridging for brick veneer on CMU facade and cast-in-place concrete construction on energy performance 2. In this study, thermal bridges were modeled using three different approaches: equivalent U-value method, equivalent wall method, and 3D dynamic modeling. All three modeling methods were implemented in WUFI Plus software program for combined heat, air and moisture transport analysis. In equivalent U-value method, insulation level is adjusted based on the effective U-value of envelope components, ignoring thermal inertia effect of thermal bridging. THERM was used for the U-value calculation, based on the insulation characteristics. In the equivalent wall method, assembly junctions were represented by equivalent wall with identical thermal properties. In this method, thermal inertia was taken into consideration, making it more accurate than the U-value method. Both equivalent U-value and wall approaches modeled
Brick cavity facades consist of an exterior nonstructural brick layer, supported by steel framing, as seen in Figure 2. An air space between the brick and the framing layer functions as a drainage zone for penetrated water to drain 3. Moisture-tightness capability of this facade system has made them popular mostly in cold humid climate4. Insulation applied within the air space and between the steel framing members improves thermal performance of the wall3, 4.
Figure 2: Brick cavity wall with steel stud framing and brick ties.
24
Additive vs. Area-Weighted Thermal Resistance in Building Facades
One study investigated the effects of thermal bridging on heat transfer towards external environment and unconditioned internal spaces within a case study building5. This research used two calculation methods: (i) numerical approach based on UNI/TS 11300 standard, and (ii) standard-compliant thermal bridging catalogue. In the former method, calculations were carried out using a heat transfer analysis software THERM, which rigorously considered contribution of all thermal bridges. The latter approach was a more simplified method of calculation based on the thermal bridging catalogue in EC700 software program. The results showed a significant difference of estimated heat transfer towards the outside environment when calculated using the numerical approach vs. catalogue approach. In the detailed numerical approach, heat transfer was about eight times bigger. However, the effects of thermal bridging on heat transfer towards unconditioned spaces were negligible in both scenarios5.
is no specific procedure involved. One reason that was identified is lack of control mechanism, usually after the building permit phase, meaning that possible changes in the construction phase cannot be considered in the calculations6. Thermal resistance of buildings’ facades can be calculated using two methods: additive and areaweighted approaches. In the additive method, facade’s R-value is equal to the sum of all components’ R-values, thus ignoring thermal bridging caused by structural components of the facade. However, in the areaweighted approach, additive R-values of the two zones, steel framing and between the framing, are calculated. Then, relative area of each zone is factored in to calculate the effective R-value3. Area-weighted method has been developed to account for thermal bridging effects in facades3, 4. Thermal bridging occurs in localized areas of the building’s envelope where materials with high thermal conductivities, such as metals, are connected to or penetrate insulation layer. For instance, in the brick cavity wall with steel stud framing, when the uniform insulation (low conductivity) is discontinued by the metal framing (high conductivity), it causes a substantial heat flow to occur3, 8. Due to thermal bridging effect, areaweighted R-value is always lower than the additive value, as seen in Figure 3.
Another study conducted a review of thermal bridging calculation methods for code compliance verification in nine European countries6. These methods are addressed in the building codes of all nine countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Greece, Romania, Spain, and Sweden. However, heat losses through thermal bridges and code-compliance verifications are often not sufficiently taken into consideration as there
Figure 3: Thermal bridging in brick cavity wall, and its effect on area-weighted (effective) R-value as opposed to additive (nominal) R-value.
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3.0 Research Questions and Methodologies
However, because of the calculation complexity and assumed small impacts on heat losses, thermal bridging effects are usually neglected by thermal insulation regulations and national building codes9. Over the years, buildings’ thermal insulation requirements in energy codes have become more demanding, aiming to improve buildings’ energy performance. A common approach for enhancing buildings’ thermal insulation is through the application of thicker insulation layers. However, heat losses due to thermal bridging is hardly impacted by the thickness of the insulating materials10, 11.
The research objectives of this study were to compare area-weighted vs. additive R-values of a facade assembly, and to quantify their effects on various building performance aspects. The research questions that were addressed included: njnj How does thermal bridging impact thermal resistance (R-value) of a brick cavity wall with steel stud framing? njnj What is the effect of additive vs. area-weighted R-value on building’s energy consumption, energy cost, carbon emissions, heating, and cooling loads?
In another study, the effect of thermal bridging on effective R-values of typical wall assemblies was investigated12. In this study, two basic wall assemblies (brick cavity wall, supported by shelf angles and ties on steel stud backup, and rainscreen cladding supported by Z-girts on steel stud back up) were simulated using heat transfer analysis software THERM. In both cases, the effectiveness of insulations was significantly decreased due to the thermal bridging effect caused by shelf angles, ties, Z-girts, and stud framing passing through the insulation. The results of the study confirmed the importance of reducing thermal bridging in order to improve thermal performance of exterior walls. Thermal bridges can be reduced by using two approaches. One approach is to attach the layers of the wall assembly in a way that minimizes cross sectional area of metal passing through the insulation. As such, masonry cladding’s thermal performance is superior compared to the rainscreen cladding due to its attachment method of intermittently spaced brick ties. Another approach is to use thermally broken components in the wall assembly, such as thermally broken Z-girts in rainscreen cladding12.
njnj What is the effect of additive and area-weighted R-values on building’s gas and electricity consumption? The research methods included data collection, architectural modeling, energy modeling, simulations, and comparative analysis of results for a case study building. The energy modeling results were compared to actual energy consumption, collected over a period of one year.
3.1 Case Study Building Campus Recreation Building, located at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was selected as a case study building for the purpose of this research (Figure 4). The building’s annual electricity and steam consumption data was collected for 2017 year-round operation cycle. Therefore, the actual data was not weather normalized energy data that incorporates typical metered year (TMY) weather conditions. Rather, it only presented energy consumption of the case study building in a specific year. In order to compare data, all energy units were converted to kBtu. Results from the two sets of simulations from Green Building Studio were then compared against each other, and to the actual energy consumption data.
It is important to distinguish the difference between additive and area-weighted R-values, particularly in energy modeling applications that require accurate inputs for building envelope characteristics. R-values can impact accuracy of simulation results, but there is not a lot of existing research that quantified the effects of these two different calculation methods on facades’ thermal resistance, and ultimately energy consumption in buildings.
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Additive vs. Area-Weighted Thermal Resistance in Building Facades
Figure 4: Campus Recreation Building, located at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
3.2 Architectural Modeling: Autodesk Revit
were excluded from the architectural model for the purpose of this research, resulting in continuous pieces of glazing. Since the focus of the study was on the masonry walls, this approach simplified the model and allowed for easier data exchange. In addition, in order to assign rooms to various spaces within the 3D model, similar spaces were zoned as one room. This similarity included: same application, orientation, and/or size of the space. One of other steps toward creating a simplified architectural model was to eliminate structural columns, which did not have any impact on energy performance of the case study building.
The case study’s original construction documentation was collected and reviewed in order to create an architectural model in Autodesk Revit. According to the building documents and specifications, facade assembly was developed as brick cavity wall with steel stud framing. In addition, glazing types were assigned to the windows and curtain walls (Table 1). In order to make the analysis process less error-prone and time consuming, the architectural model was simplified before running Green Building Studio simulations. The simplified model precisely represented the actual building, but prevented unnecessary details that could potentially cause errors in the analysis process (Figure 5).
In addition, prior to simulation, thermal properties of the building’s facade were assigned to the architectural model in Revit. A few materials’ thermal conductivities (λ) were extracted from ASHRAE Handbook7. For the rest, thermal conductivities were calculated based on
Even though curtain walls’ mullions can create potential thermal bridging if not properly thermally broken they Table 1: Case study building glazing types applied to the Revit model. GLAZING TYPE
VT
U-VALUE (BTU/HR.FT 2 .°F)
SHGC
Double Glazing Low-E Clear Glass
0.7
0.3
0.38
0.39
0.3
0.24
Double Glazing Low-E Fritted Glass
Figure 5: Case study building architectural model created in Revit.
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Table 2: Materials’ thermal conductivity. λ1 (BTU/H.FT.°F)
λ2 (BTU.IN/H.FT 2 °F)
THICKNESS (INCH)
R-VALUE (H.FT 2 .°F/BTU)
Gypsum Wall Board
0.09
1.12
0.63
0.56
Expanded Polystyrene
0.02
0.20
2
10
Metal Plate
0.02
0.20
0.37
1.82
Cast in Place Concrete
0.64
7.69
6
0.78
Batt Insulation
0.03
0.32
6
19
Semi-rigid Fiberglass
0.02
0.24
4
17
16
192
4
0.02
1.73
20.76
2
0.10
MATERIAL
Steel Deck Grout
λ1 : Thermal conductivity applied in Revit (λ1 = λ2 /12) λ2 : Thermal conductivity extracted form ASHRAE Handbook 7
materials’ thicknesses (from the collected documents) and/or their R-values (from ASHRAE 90.1, and collected documents), as shown in Table 2.
inputs could be defined, capturing the characteristics of the case study building. After the architectural model was developed in Revit, energy settings were defined, and an energy model was created in Revit, as shown in Figure 6. Next, the analysis model was exported in gbXML file format, and then uploaded into the GBS web-based application in order to run the analysis.
3.3 Analysis Modeling: Green Building Studio The focus of this research was to investigate the effect of thermal bridging on buildings’ energy performance, using Green Building Studio (GBS) for energy modeling. GBS is a Revit built-in whole building energy analysis tool that runs on DOE-2 engine, which is also available as an online application. In GBS web-application, inputs can be assigned in a more detailed and precise manner, compared to the Revit built-in version14. For the purpose of this research, web-application was used so that all
For the purpose of this study, R-values were overridden by the user to capture their effect on the building’s energy performances. In order to compare the effect of additive vs. area-weighted R-value on energy performance of the case study building, two different simulations were run in GBS. Except for the R-value, both models had identical inputs (Table 3) that were extracted from building codes, standards, and construction documentation13, 15.
Figure 6: Case study building analysis model created in Revit.
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Additive vs. Area-Weighted Thermal Resistance in Building Facades
Table 3: GBS analysis inputs taken from the building standard codes and documents. VARIABLES
GBS INPUTS
Operation Hours1
9am-9pm
Ventilation 2
20 (cfm/person) or 0.18 (cfm/ft 2)
Occupancy Heat Gain1 (sensible-latent)
710-10190 (Btu/h-person)
Occupancy Density1
33 ft 2/person
Plug Load Density1
0.95 (W/ft 2)
Light Power Density1
0.68
Setpoint Temperature1 (cooling-heating)
75-70
HVAC 3
VAV
1. ASHRAE 90.1 13 2. ASHRAE 62.1 15 3. Building documents/specifications
3.4 Thermal Resistance (R-value) Calculation Methods
In the area-weighted approach, thermal bridging of the framing was considered, resulting in lower R-value, compared to the additive method. First, the effective R-value of the framing/cavity was extracted from ASHRAE 90.1, where depth of the cavity and rated R-value of the insulation determined effective R-value of the cavity13. Given the R-value of the insulation to be 19 h.ft2.°F/Btu, and the depth of the cavity to be 6 inches, effective framing/cavity R-value was verified as 7.1 h.ft2.°F/Btu in ASHRAE 90.1. Then, similar to the additive method, all other layers’ R-values were added to the effective R-value, resulting in the area-weighted R-value, shown in Table 5.
Thermal resistance of the facade’s components was extracted either from building specifications and standard codes or they were calculated based on the components’ thermal conductivity and thickness, using the following equation: R-value =
Thickness Thermal Conductivity
The overall thermal resistance (R-value) of the facade assembly was calculated using two methods: additive and area-weighted. In additive approach, thermal resistance was equal to the sum of R-values of all layers in the sectional view, where framing components were ignored, as shown in Table 4.
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Table 4: Additive R-value calculation.
EXTERIOR WALL ASSEMBLY LAYER
Table 5: Area-weighted R-value calculation. R-VALUE (H.FT 2 .°F/BTU)
EXTERIOR WALL ASSEMBLY LAYER
R-VALUE (H.FT 2 .°F/BTU)
Interior Vertical Surfaces Air File
0.68
Interior Vertical Surfaces Air File
0.68
Gypsum Wallboard (5/8")
0.56
Gypsum Wallboard (5/8")
0.56
6" Stud Framing + 6" Batt Insulation Gypsum Sheeting (5/8") Rigid Extruded Polystyrene Board (2") Cavity Air (2")
19
6" Stud Framing + 6" Batt Insulation
0.56
Gypsum Sheeting (5/8")
10
Rigid Extruded Polystyrene Board (2")
1
Cavity Air (2")
7.1 0.56 10 1
Face-Brick Wall (4")
0.44
Face-Brick Wall (4")
0.44
Exterior Vertical Surfaces Air File
0.17
Exterior Vertical Surfaces Air File
0.17
ADDITIVE R-VALUE: 32.41
AREA-WEIGHTED R-VALUE: 20.51
4.0 Analysis Results and Comparison
For the purpose of this research, in the analysis model, both additive and area-weighted R-values were applied, investigating the effect of thermal bridging on the thermal resistance and energy performance of the building. In order to assign two different R-values to the same analysis model in GBS, two design alternatives were created. These alternatives represented identical architectural and analytical characteristics, and the only difference was their corresponding R-value. GBS application includes a limited list of predefined wall assemblies, and their corresponding R-values. Therefore, in order to assign additive and area-weighted R-values to the analysis model, the most similar options were selected from the list of wall assemblies. For additive R-value of 32.41 h.ft2.°F/Btu, Metal Frame Wall with High Insulation wall assembly was selected. And, for areaweighted R-value of 20.51 h.ft 2.°F/Btu, Metal Frame Wall with Code Compliant Insulation was selected. In addition, in the Exterior Wall section, Exterior wall – R30 Metal Frame and Exterior wall – R19 Metal Frame were selected, respectively.
Analysis model was extracted as gbXML file from Revit, and uploaded into GBS in order to prepare for the simulation runs. The first simulation design alternative captured monthly and annual energy consumption, considering additive R-value. The second simulation design alternative was based on area-weighted R-value input. Results were compared against each other, and to the actual energy usage data. As shown in Figure 6, annual energy (electricity and gas) consumption was higher for the area-weighted design alternative, compared to the additive method. This is because with the area-weighted R-value, facade system had a lower thermal resistance and higher heat losses, resulting in more energy usage. In the actual case study building, electricity is used for cooling, and steam from the Central Heating Plant (CHP) for heating purposes. Since data about the gas used to produce steam was not available, actual steam consumption was compared against the simulated gas usage. The overall trend of electricity and gas consumptions in the two simulated design alternatives were similar. Annual electricity usage in the simulations were lower than the actual data. And, annual gas consumption of the two simulations were higher than the actual steam usage, as seen in Figure 7.
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Additive vs. Area-Weighted Thermal Resistance in Building Facades
Figure 7: Monthly electricity (a), gas/steam (b), and annual energy consumption (c).
In addition, percentage difference for the annual gas consumption (3.6 percent) was higher than percentage difference for the annual electricity usage (0.3 percent) between the two design alternatives. It indicated that lower thermal resistance (area-weighted R-value) had more significant impact on gas consumption rather than
electricity usage. This was due to higher heat losses occurring in the facades, which consequently caused more gas usage to compensate for the heat losses during heating season. Furthermore, cooling and heating loads of the two design alternatives were compared on monthly and annual basis, as shown in Figure 8.
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Figure 8: Monthly cooling (a), heating (b) and annual cooling/heating (c) loads simulated in GBS.
As presented in Figure 8, monthly and annual cooling loads of the two design alternatives (additive vs. areaweighted) were close. It confirmed that the effect of facade’s thermal resistance on building’s cooling load was very low, almost negligible. However, monthly and annual heating loads of the area-weighted approach were higher than that of the additive, confirming the significant effect of R-value on heating loads. In comparison between the two design alternatives, percentage difference of annual cooling loads (-0.1 percent) and heating loads (4.8 percent), justified the percentage difference of annual electricity consumption (0.3 percent), and annual gas usage (3.6 percent). Electricity was used for cooling purposes, and since cooling loads of the two alternatives had a small
change, so did electricity usage. Gas consumption, on the other hand, dramatically changed between the two alternatives, reflecting the significant change in the heating loads, shown in Figure 8. In addition, R-value of the exterior walls also influenced Energy Usage Intensity (EUI), energy costs, and carbon emissions of the case study building. In order to quantify the effect of area-weighted vs. additive R-values on the EUI, cost, and carbon emission, percentage differences were calculated based on the simulations’ results, as shown in Table 6. Results indicated that lower thermal resistance (area-weighted) resulted in 2.5 percent higher EUI than higher (additive) R-value. In addition, energy cost and carbon emission were 1.5 percent and 2.1 percent higher, respectively.
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Additive vs. Area-Weighted Thermal Resistance in Building Facades
Table 6: Energy performance’s percentage difference of the two design alternatives created in GBS.
ADDITIVE R-VALUE
AREA-WEIGHTED R-VALUE
PERFORMANCE DIFFERENCE
13320720
13657595
2.5%
Annual Gas Consumption (MBtu)
8860
9184
3.6%
Annual Heating Load (MBtu)
6749
7071
4.8%
Annual Electricity Consumption (MBtu)
4460
4473
0.3%
Annual Cooling Load (MBtu)
1295
1293
-0.1%
Energy Usage Intensity (kBtu/ft 2/yr)
135.8
139.2
2.5%
290374
294670
1.5%
1052
1074
2.1%
Total Annual Energy Usage (MBtu)
Annual Energy Cost ($) Annual Carbon Emission (Tons)
5.0 Conclusion It is essential to consider thermal bridging effects in facade assemblies, thus using area-weighted R-value in the calculations, rather than additive method. If thermal bridging is taken into consideration, additional insulation and thermal breaks may be applied to the facade system, resulting in higher performing buildings. Currently, R-value is mostly calculated based on the additive approach, which then is used as one of the inputs in energy modeling procedures. Therefore, results from the simulations and analysis cannot be a precise representation of reality. This inaccuracy inevitably affects architects’ decisions about facade systems, materials, and level of insulation. In addition, it will result in a discrepancy between prior-to-construction calculations, and after-construction outcomes. If additive R-value method is used, buildings’ facade is expected to have a certain thermal resistance level, but in reality, it will be a lower value. And, modifying wall assemblies to increase their thermal resistance, after they have been constructed, is costly and difficult.
Results of the research indicated a 2.5 percent increase in annual energy consumption when area-weighted R-value of 20.51 h.ft2.°F/Btu was applied. In other words, if wall assemblies were insulated to the level equal to additive R-value of 32.41 h.ft2.°F/Btu, 2.5 percent of energy could have been saved on an annual basis. If the same method was used in R-value calculations, and the corresponding level of insulation applied in the buildings’ construction, combined energy and cost savings of all campus buildings would have been significant. In addition, in the long run, the environment could have been positively impacted due to the reduction of buildings’ carbon emissions. Next steps for this research will include investigating the effect of thermal bridging on buildings’ energy performances using various building typologies, as well as different analysis programs.
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References [1] Theodosiou, T., K. Tsikaloudaki, and Bikas, D., (2017). “Analysis of the Thermal Bridging Effect on Ventilated Facades”, Procedia Environmental Sciences, Vol. 38, pp. 397–404.
[9] Theodosiou, T., Aikaterini, G., Tsikaloudaki, K., Kontoleon, J., and Bikas, D., (2015). “Thermal Bridging Analysis on Cladding Systems for Building Facades”, Energy and Buildings, Vol. 109, pp. 377–384.
[2] Ge, H., and Baba, F., (2017). “Effect of Dynamic Modeling of Thermal Bridges on the Energy Performance of Residential Buildings with High Thermal Mass for Cold Climates”, Sustainable Cities and Society, Vol. 34, pp. 250–263.
[10] Theodosiou, T., and Papadopoulos, A., (2008). “The Impact of Thermal Bridges on the Energy Demand of Buildings with Double Brick Wall Constructions”, Energy and Buildings, Vol. 40, No. 11, pp. 2083–2089.
[11] Berggren, B., and Wall, M., (2013). “Calculation of Thermal Bridges in (Nordic) Building Envelopes - Risk of Performance Failure Due to Inconsistent Use of Methodology”, Energy and Buildings, Vol. 65, pp. 331–339.
[3] Aksamija, A., (2013). Sustainable Facades: Design Methods for High-Performance Building Envelopes, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
[4] Hens, H., Janssens, A., Depraetere, W., Carmeliet, J., and Lecompte, J., (2007). “Brick Cavity Walls: A Performance Analysis Based on Measurements and Simulations”, Journal of Building Physics, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 95–124.
[12] Lawton, M., Roppel, P., Fookes, D., Teasdale, A., and Schoonhoven, D., (2010). “Real R-Value of Exterior Insulated Wall Assemblies”, Proceedings of the BEST2 Conference: Building Enclosure Science and Technology.
[5] Bergero, S., and Chiari, A., (2018). “The Influence of Thermal Bridge Calculation Method on the Building Energy Need: A Case Study”, Energy Procedia, Vol. 148, pp. 1042–1049.
[13] ASHRAE, (2016). ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.1 Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, Atlanta, GA: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
[6] Kuusk, K., Kurnitski, J., and Kalamees, T., (2017). “Calculation and Compliance Procedures of Thermal Bridges in Energy Calculations in Various European Countries”, Energy Procedia, Vol. 132, pp. 27–32.
[14] Farid Mohajer, M., and Aksamija, A., (2019). “Integration of Building Energy Modeling (BEM) and Building Information Modeling (BIM): Workflows and Case Study”, Proceedings of the Building Technology Educators’ Society Conference, Amherst, MA, Article 37.
[7] ASHRAE, (2013). Handbook: Fundamentals. Atlanta, GA: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers.
[15] ASHRAE, (2013). ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, Atlanta, GA: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers.
[8] Kotti, S., Teli, D., and James, P., (2017). “Quantifying Thermal Bridge Effects and Assessing Retrofit Solutions in a Greek Residential Building”, Procedia Environmental Sciences, Vol. 38, pp. 306–313.
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03 I-House: A Study on Residence Halls Uniquely Designed for Housing International Students Niusha Arndt, Associate AIA, niusha.arndt@perkinswill.com
Abstract With the increasing number of international students in academic institutions, there is a new emphasis for academic facilities to accommodate this population’s needs. Many international students face cultural, financial, social and academic challenges. It takes time to adjust to a new environment, navigate a new city, and find a home. Loneliness, disorientation and detachment are common. While many academic institutions struggle to provide the right facilities and programs, the “International Houses” have been thriving and providing meaningful experiences with high retention and academic success outcomes. What are the architectural, spatial relationships, cultural and residential life programs offered at “International Houses” that make them a successful model? Can the model be replicated in academic institutions looking to improve their program offerings and enhance the experience of international students? To answer these questions, a series of “International Houses” and Residence Halls within academic institutions were toured; Residential Life administrators were interviewed; and conference housing sessions were attended - all supported by firsthand experience designing student housing. The study dissects the organizational framework of spaces, including critical programs and adjacencies, the importance of cultural competency, and how to support student success across scales of communities. The study reveals that indeed the “International House” model could be adopted by academic institutions to enhance the international student experience and increase social, academic success and a life-time sense of community belonging. Keywords: international student housing, scales of community, cultural competency
1.0 Introduction The population of international students is increasing both in the United States and globally. More than a million (1,078,822) international students studied at U.S. colleges and universities in 2016/17 1. The premise of this study is that architecture plays a significant role for improving the experience and sense of community for international students. This requires a strong and intentional spatial and programmatic framework, and an institutional administrative champion to implement and oversee the vision. In turn, academic institutions harness the intellectual and cultural diversity the students offer, improve the cultural awareness of local students, and grow a loyal alumni pipeline with a network that extends beyond the traditional campus limits.
The research focused on the international students’ needs, and the history of International Houses (I-Houses) —a building type that has been around since the early 1920s. The featured case studies include “International Houses” in the U.S. and recent student housing projects that align with some fundamental I-Houses components. During the investigation phase, discussions with architects and residential life professionals were key to identify current design challenges and opportunities. Findings in this article are the product of two years of research. The investigation included travel to New York, Berkeley CA and Chicago IL; where interviews with administrative leaders were conducted. Moreover, conferences relating to student housing were also attended.
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This article provides a brief literature review that was previously conducted 2 , and identifies spaces and programs that are unique to I-Houses. Based on the academic and professional success of students that lived in I-Houses, the study reveals how I- Houses have set an example on how architecture could frame the students’ life and educational quality, and how these facilities impacted the success of residents. The study identifies the importance of cohesive and right sized communities for residents’ satisfaction, the unique programmatic elements and adjacency relationships for building successful communities, the intangible qualities for developing a design language, and the ripple effects of successful international student communities, including enrollment growth and an alumni pipeline invested in the alma mater.
Yale University, Harvard University, Northeastern University, University of Chicago, Tulane University, Boston University, International Student Hostel in New York, Columbia University, and Taliesin West School of Architecture student housing. njnj Visiting "I-Houses" in Berkeley, Chicago and New York to learn about successful examples for coh ousing opportunities. njnj Attending presentations at student housing conferences: National Multi Family Housing Council (NMHC)– student housing conference 2016 in New Orleans, National Association of Apartments (NAA) njnj Student housing conference 2017 in Chicago, Association of College & University Housing OfficersInternational (ACUHO-I) Conference 2017-18 Providence and Denver- MED/ED Conference 2017, ABX Conference 2016 Boston
1.1 Research Objectives and Methods
njnj Conducting focused group interviews with international students, and one-on-one meetings with residence life facility managers, architects, and developers to understand their experiences and challenges.
In order to understand the success of I-House model, the research objective required witnessing the spatial intricacies of student housing facilities, both in I-House and more traditional academic institutions. The study focused on programmatic and architectural spaces provided in residential halls that encourage heterophily, students’ engagement as well as characteristics of a residential hall with diverse population.
njnj Studying material published regarding the relationship between on-campus student housing and academic success, student challenges when transitioning to campus life, and I-House specific literature.
Much of the data gathered is from visiting I-Houses, understanding the model and drawing observations of specific characteristics, such as spatial organization and programmatic functions of the space. At times, the analysis of this data is comparative, particularly between the I-House model and other traditional student housing examples that are built.
njnj Documenting first-hand experience by residing at international students’ hostels and housing facilities, spending up to a week in each city, studying the programs for international students.
1.2 International Students
This led to a series of research activities and methods summarized as follows:
More than one million international students studied in the U.S. in the academic year of 2015-16. There are about 5.7 million students studying abroad worldwide. With primary focus on the programmatic aspects for international student facilities, this section summarizes challenges that international students encounter. By understanding these challenges, better and more appropriate programs could be offered or created.
njnj Photographing and documenting existing spaces at I-Houses visited and Residence Halls; recording spaces based on scale, type, and offered programs. njnj Visiting colleges and universities with significant population of international students to study examples of hospitality facilities and welcoming centers to understand how they supported international students. Interviews included face-to-face discussions with facility and school managers. The institutions visited include University of California at Berkeley,
Challenges that the international students face can be categorized as: njnj Cultural Adjustment is necessary. Despite students’
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focus on educational goals, cultural adjustment is crucial. Cases of discrimination and stereotyping due to lack of cultural knowledge or misunderstandings can occur. Clothing, social behavior, diet, religious beliefs and rituals differ for different countries, and sometimes even regions and cities.
cultural, and financial growth in higher education institutions and the country. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, international students contributed $47 billion to the U.S. economy in 2017 7. Despite this high number, there is little to no research focused on successful residential models for international students. Most of the research is focused on general student housing. The aim of the research and findings presented in this article is to narrow that gap using I-Houses as a model that offer many lessons and examples.
njnj Financial Stability is critical for a successful educational progress. Most international students are exempt from receiving loans from the host country, which requires them to manage their budgetary sources to fund education. In 2015-16, 99.6 percent of international students relied on financial sources other than the U.S. government3. Whether relying on personal, family or governmental support, or educational scholarships, the assurance of monetary flow depends on many different factors and is different for every international student.
1.3 Why I-House The International House was founded in 1924 on the grounds of brotherhood and with a mission to embrace diversity 8. Right around this time and after the First World War, women’s rights and the reconnection of nations was a global topic of discussion. The I-House mission gathered momentum as all these changes were happening with a progressive mindset supporting the organization. Figure 1 shows an example of I-House in New York City.
njnj Social Compatibility includes challenges regarding language barriers, and finding common ground to connect to others. The isolation could result in missing out on the experience of living in a different country, depression, or negative impressions. More than half (65 percent) of students who travel to study abroad stay in the host country for two semesters and up to two years4. With such short stays, it is challenging to balance social and academic life. Most students find out after traveling to another country that knowing the language is not enough for socializing with a new group5.
Throughout history, there are instances where I-Houses in the U.S. used their organizational position to praise humanity over other aspects, including government policies. In 1930s when fraternities and sororities at the University of California at Berkeley refused students of color admission, I-House Berkeley emphasized their humanitarian position by publishing a note in the school magazine inviting students of all race and backgrounds to apply for residency at their building on campus9.
njnj Academic Status and adjustment to a new education system with explicit and implicit expectations is important. For example, the U.S. is one of the few countries where using imperial system is more common than metric system. Other examples might include nuances in language translation.
During World War II, when the U.S. government requested Japanese students to be moved to camps, the President of I-House New York City invited Asian students to a gathering in the Residence Hall’s auditorium. In that gathering, the President underlined that everyone was welcome to stay at the International House of New York City.
These challenges relate to one another and often do not happen in isolation. Moreover, the experience of international education does not conclude in the classroom. One of most effective learning opportunities is through sharing experiences and apprenticeship. The residential models that provide adequate space for residents to interact as a larger community and have social interpersonal connections have higher rate of student success and alumni engagement6.
These examples illustrate how I-Houses are separate in mindset from other schools. One of the long-standing traditions at I-Houses is Sunday supper, a networking opportunity in which students, with support of returning alumni, meet successful individuals to connect to future employers. They also learn about success stories and the paths others have taken10.
There have been studies focusing on how international students attending U.S. institutions impact academic,
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There is increasing attention being given to the role of communities and social life and its impact on student academic success11. This is in part evident in the bright alumni graduated from International Houses. This article brings attention to the spatial organizational framework that allows this success to happen.
2.0 Community: The Catalyst of Cultural Exchange Engagement with different communities enables international students’ growth. The shared knowledge, experience, and emotions that students encounter through groups of diverse strangers - who they end up calling friends - help create a sense of community. These residence halls are not just dorms, but a home away from home to gather with friends. Key components of a successful architectural framework include rightsizing communities, variety and location of gathering spaces, a flexible multipurpose room, a common kitchen as a tool for cultural sharing, and intermixed scales of common spaces. Rightsizing Communities: The visited I-Houses vary in size from 450 students in I-House Chicago to 1,100 students in I-House Berkeley, as seen in Figure 2. International House worldwide guidelines suggests a minimum of 100 residents for such facility12.
Figure 1: The original entry door of I-House NYC with Engraving of “that Brotherhood May Prevail”.
I-Houses follow a self-governance model, where individuals take leadership roles and champion different activities. There is no official Resident Assistant (RA) model. However, students that take leadership roles in some way or another fulfill the role of an RA14. While I-Houses do not necessarily break sub-community cohorts in defined numbers, there are many higher education residential life successful models where communities are divided. For example, first-year programs tend to be divided in smaller communities ranging from 1:20 to 1:40 student to RA ratio. Average student to RA ratio in the U.S. is 1:37, according to ACUHO-I15. Overall, the building should provide critical mass for subgroups to form. The typical Residential Life model is to consider a residential floor as a community overseen by an RA. As a reference, the I-Houses visited had anywhere from 40 to 160 students per residential floor16. In general, I-Houses are more fluid
Lately, the residential life market has seen developermanaged properties being developed as apartment style buildings on campus. This trend is desirable for institutions looking to reduce their level of financial risk and in some instances to outsource property management. Many graduate international students rent apartments in these new models of developments or on university-owned buildings with apartment style units, However, apartment style units reduce the chance of student engagement and serendipitous encounters. Social and learning spaces are more desired for international students. The I-House model provides small bedrooms and robust commons spaces to live in community. These spaces translate to architectural form in the shape of amenities and shared spaces. The size and type of spaces vary to be able to cater to different types and group activities.
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Figure 2: International Student Houses worldwide based on their number of students vs. financial supports offered13.
in the formation of communities. Communities are selfdefined and usually small enough to create a sense of “family� belonging. Variety and Location of Gathering Spaces: I-Houses are typically multi-story buildings, with a clear and centralized entrance that leads to a series of common spaces where the community holds different events. While there is usually one central common space, the variety of gathering spaces is what enriches the experience. It is helpful if the facility is large enough to host a critical number of students, where despite their diversity, they can form smaller groups fostering similar interests. This will give students a chance to have meaningful conversations and create bonds that transcend their I-House residency time. While size of the facility and spaces matter, the kinds of spaces that support community building and the location of these spaces is more important, as seen in Figure 3.
Figure 3: A community of students and staff at the I-House New York City presenting their heritage clothing at a Gala night event in 1990.
hosting a variety of community gatherings, including social meetings, performance galas, host speakers, etc. The technical requirements included considerations for acoustics, floor materials conducive to variety of events,
Flexible Multi-Purpose Spaces for Events and Study: In the visited facilities, the multi-purpose rooms have flexible furniture, which played an important role in
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presentation stage, among others. These spaces are also zoned for smaller groups of people to gather, allowing the opportunity for students to feel ownership of public amenities. Other secondary spaces, such as game rooms, libraries, and study lounges are medium sized spaces to host more informal activities. Residents typically value lounges as space for reflection, relaxation, and community socializing, as shown in Figure 4. Common Kitchen as a Tool for Cultural Sharing: Food is a universal language. The shared experience of preparation and dining creates a unique bond among cultures, while providing a learning opportunity. Every culture has a unique way of preparing food and it becomes a significant way to create close-knit relationships. Breaking bread, sharing salt, a bite, or a plate are all expressions from different cultures. Because of this, the kitchen is a space that needs careful consideration. In I-Houses, the multi-purpose room often acts as dining hall for larger events or daily meals. Some I-Houses, like I-House Berkeley, took this idea of sharing a step further by engaging the residents in daily chores for serving food and cleaning the dining hall14. Smaller community kitchens throughout the facility, are used by smaller groups of students who come together for prepping and sharing a meal, as seen in Figure 5.
Figure 4: The Multipurpose Room at the I-House Berkeley, CA., has served through time as a versatile setting for cultural and social events.
Intermixed Scales of Spaces—Space for One, Two or Many: It is important to provide a diversity of common space scales throughout the facility. While a large common and centralized space serves as a destination in I-Houses, spaces for smaller encounters or solitary moments while participating in the larger energy of the community also play an important role in community building. Whether it is a study room, a tiny alcove, or a semi-private nook outfitted with seating, these spaces allow for personal moments within a public environment. Intermixing and distributing the spaces for one, two, or many, allows for a range of encounters, as seen in Figure 6.
Figure 5: Kitchenettes, accessible on each residential floor could be used for hosting more individual’s activities, vs. dining hall on second level at the I-House Berkeley, CA.
Diverse spaces provide the granularity needed to support meaningful engagements that enhance connectivity and mitigate depression. Reflecting on memories and nostalgia is common among international students. Depression could be experienced17—a problem for higher education in general and perhaps not isolated to international students. Diverse gathering spaces to support the residential community are critical for
Figure 6: Comparison of diverse spaces in I-Houses of New York City and Berkeley.
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I-House
interaction within the building, and could also be a good strategy for community engagement. Having considered food as an important common ground, pubs and cafés are great destinations for neighborhood interaction. These amenities need public access and could provide a common space for I-House and community integration. I-House Berkeley has a cafeteria open to the public located at the entrance where one may see students chatting, neighbors having a cup of coffee, individuals working on their research papers, etc. Strategies for international student integration into the neighborhood is a common theme among I-Houses. This could be done through special activities and through publicly programmed spaces.
welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, financial stability, etc.” 12 While this could sound ordinary today, in the 1920s it was a controversial stance when the majority of fraternities and sororities were rejecting students of color from their facilities. Signage and Wayfinding: Providing navigation in different languages could be useful and demonstrate inclusivity to residents. In I-Houses, the layout on lower levels, especially more public areas, is quite open and easy to navigate. If there needs to be secured access to an area such as the residential floors or support spaces, it should be clearly stated and the access secured. Subtleties in the signage of I-House New York City include a plaque with the names of past students, which creates a sense of alumni continuity and pride. This gesture ultimately encourages future financial contributions from alumni and the desire to give back to the institution, as shown in Figure 8. This also personalizes the experience and illustrates a network of cultures converging into a community. For new students it is important to understand the legacy and meaning of being an I-House alumnus. Most students enter with high academic credentials and see the I-House experience as an investment in their future that gives them a sense of pride.
2.1 Cultural Competency To Design Universally in a non-Universal World: The elements in an international house are prioritized to focus on items that are universal in different cultures and countries rather than singling out a specific group, as shown in Figure 7. Conversely, unique amenities like kosher kitchens and prayer rooms could provide the spaces that students may need to feel at home. The demographic range of students keep the overall makeup of the community balanced. For a facility to be affiliated with I-House Worldwide, a key distribution is required—approximate distribution of 35 percent international students and approximate distribution of 20 percent local students12. This supports another fundamental rule of this organization: “all students are
Cultural Heritage Display: Successful designs incorporate spaces for students to demonstrate and display their cultures, rituals, and showcase artifacts of their countries. An example of this can be found in I- House Chicago’s Hall of Flags, where international flags adorn the main public space (Figure 6). While not
Figure 7: Hall of Flags at I-House Chicago and The Map Room at the I-House NYC are examples of recognition and celebration of commonalities between cultures and countries.
Figure 8: Porcelain tiles at the front of some of units at the I-House NY, presenting the name of donors.
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a Residence Hall, another good example is found in the Lory Student Center at Colorado State University where heritage artifacts and students’ artwork are showcased in a public gallery lounge, shown in Figure 918.
international students were not welcome and faced bullying or acts of violence. Due to this hostile situation, the institution compensated students by providing facilities, accommodations and services to make them feel supported. Ultimately, the experience for these students is tainted by the social encounters outside of the campus.
2.2 Student Rooms Depression is commonly reported among international students17. To prevent student’s isolation in private rooms, one spatial design challenge is to offer co-housing, while providing enough privacy for personal comfort. Recent successful examples include a diversity of unit types, including semi-suites, suites, or pods or clusters. Students at I-House spend most of their time outside of their bedrooms, which provide the required bare minimum space: bed, desk, and storage. Flexibility in bedroom sizes or unit types also allow for family accommodations as it is common for international students to come with their families. Some students can demand certain attributes for their desired space. For example, a bunk bed is not typically desired. This shift could be a challenge for facility managers looking to provide the appropriate level of comfort for students within an existing inventory of space. I-House New York City’s Facility Manager stated that it can sometimes be architecturally impossible to renovate a facility from room sharing to individual spaces all at once. So, diversity in room types could provide more flexibility for this transition19.
Figure 9: Art and culture displays at Lory Student Center at Colorado State University.
Representation of different architectural styles, coupled with the use of materials and textures from different countries invite a sense of unity. The architectural style of I-Houses visited is not institutional, rather a palette of warm and embellished interiors with a natural stone or stucco exterior facade, seen in Figure 10. Translating this sense of “internationality” to a modern I-House will bring continuity. Programmatically, events and opportunities for students to gather should be considered. This would encourage the exploration of cultures and the ability to demonstrate the uniqueness of international student communities while also offering networking opportunities for individuals to build life-long connections.
There are creative design ideas tested by modern examples of student housing. At Orchard Commons, a student housing development for Pan Asian students at the University of British Columbia, Perkins and Will designed semi-suite style bedrooms where two single bedrooms are connected through a bathroom. This is a cost-effective solution to reduce plumbing fixtures, while providing privacy for students. Each institution is different. For example, offering a suitestyle accommodation—a unit type with living room and a kitchenette without stove – comfort could still be achieved, yet it requires students to socialize, and cook or eat together outside of the unit, as shown in Figure 1018.
Engaging the Immediate Neighborhood: Beyond the campus community, the local neighborhood could play an important role in providing a safe environment for cultural exchanges. For example, I-House Berkeley manages a “Host Family Program”, where students are hosted by a local family for dinner. This creates a sense of integration and a learning opportunity for both sides. Such programs require an amenable community. For example, the concern of a student housing facility manager at the Morrisville State University was that
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Figure 10: Layout and image of a typical semi shared room designed by Perkins and Will.
Roommate pairings could be a positive way meet new people and provide an instant comrade at the time of arrival in a new city. Roommates can learn from one another and from each other’s lifestyle.
Figure 11: Use of material that is not necessarily institutional at the I-House Berkeley.
I-House Berkeley pairs each international student with an American student in double rooms where they can bond over commonalities and learn about differences.
away from family and friends, are enough of a deterrent for some students. International students often travel an intimidating path to pursue their passion. Academic, social, personal, and financial challenges are common17. Because of this, beyond attractive and rigorous academic programs, it is important to support the student’s journey and make it as joyful and memorable as possible.
A Sense of ‘Home’: The spatial qualities of a home are created by characteristics of physical space. From the intimate space of the bedroom to the shared washrooms in a residential floor, to spaces for individual activities, the quality of all these spaces shape experiences for students. Home is also considered a place of respite, relaxation and contemplation, where stress from the day can be unloaded, where one feels welcomed, and where there are no unexpected surprises. These key attributes of what it means to be at home should be considered in the design for housing international students.
Gradual change and immersion into a new culture can help in preventing unexpected surprises. The Office of Global Development (OGD) at Northeastern University works on successfully integrating the high population of their international students. Northeastern University is ranked the 3rd in the U.S. for rate of population of international students 4. Their program pairs new international students with upper level students from similar cultures. This helps new international students navigate and eases some of the cumbersome tasks like opening a bank account or purchasing a mobile phone. Removing the language barrier at the time of arrival is a stress relief.
Architectural Impact on International Students’ Experience: Since architecture forms the spaces we inhabit, it influences our experiences and our feelings of comfort and safety. These aspects are measurable, and architecture can provide the framework to support communities. While architecture may not solve all problems, it can provide a pleasant student experience through clear wayfinding, smart adjacencies, and strategic location of common spaces. Transparency, clarity in spatial design and programmatic intentionality all contribute to ease the state of mind for students.
Many alumni at the I-House return to contribute back to the facility that once was everything for them. The financial and networking support that I-Houses provides for the residents ensures the success of graduating students and builds a pipeline of new generations interested in similar experiences.
Providing a Memorable Experience as Recruitment Strategy: Besides the time and money spent on pursuing a career overseas, dealing with the unknown and being
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3.0 Conclusion
2.3 International Students Engagement through Design Process
International students represent a vibrant and diverse community on campus. They need an equally diverse combination of spaces to sustain healthy communities, which lead to an enriching experience and translates into academic success.
Students’ input had a significant role in the design process of the first I-Houses. Both international and local students were invited to share their routine schedules and special rituals with the architects and staff who were working on the design of buildings at the time. This helped the designers be mindful of providing spaces tailored to them10.
I-Houses were conceived with a mindset ahead of their time. The buildings visited for this research were designed in the 1920s, yet they contain programmatic elements and sensitivity to critical adjacencies that could inform modern residence halls. This cultural empathy is particularly important today because there is an increase in international students in almost every academic institution. Providing spaces that are culturally inclusive, architectural placemaking for socializing and communal activities can result in residents’ academic success and alumni engagement. This could impact the school attraction and retention.
Numerous practicing architects and facility managers were interviewed for this research. Through these interviews, a new research questioned emerged. "How do designers ensure that residence halls designed today will successfully host future generations while complementing the programs planned to engage residents?" Critical to any design is to hear the student’s voice. The importance of student engagement during design is heighten even more when trying to find common ground among diversity of backgrounds. This is the case for any student life building on a campus. For example, at the Lory Student Center in Colorado State University, the Perkins and Will team collocated the diversity programs, which had been silo throughout the existing facilities. This processed required many student and staff engagement sessions to build consensus. The solution was a community street with a balcony that allowed all groups to be within proximity of each other with great visibility. This internal street became a central convening area for group performances and shared activities, as seen in Figure 12.
Documenting this research is timely because this has been a low-profile topic, yet there is some momentum now to purposefully design facilities for international students. As part of the investigation, there was engagement with a wide range of individuals, including students, and I-House and residential life leaders. These interactions, whether at conferences or expertise groups, ultimately led to information not readily available or well documented. In sharing the outcomes of the research, the hope is to further studies focused on international student hospitality, raise awareness regarding vulnerabilities particular to this student demographic and open a platform to question how/if current student housing designs are adequate for students today and generations to come20. Next steps include extending these findings beyond research boundaries and creating a guide for space design focused on international students. This guide will include outcomes from this research as follows: njnj Raising awareness of international student challenges: how to support foreign students as they transition into a new context. njnj Programming purposefully: program spatial typologies to support the community and the residential life programming of activities necessary for engagement and experience enhancement.
Figure 12: Shared corridor at the Lory Student Center conveniently connecting diversity programs on campus.
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I-House
References
njnj Right-sizing residential communities: more a function of the residential floor plan design and less about a specific quantity of students. However, an academic institution might layer more structure to this, such as a maximum ratio per Residential Assistant.
[1] Institute of International Education, (2018). “International Student Enrollment Trends, 1948/492017-18”, Retrieved on 10/2019 from https://www.iie. org/en/Research-and-Insights/Open-Doors/Data/ International-Students/Enrollment.
njnj Creating amenity spaces with adequate size, scale, mix, adjacency and flexibility: for example, investing in one core space as the community heart, creating a robust kitchen for community cooking and gathering, allowing for smaller spaces throughout the building for smaller groups to congregate.
[2] Aghdaii, N., (2015) “Node on Road: Transition Center for International Students upon their Arrival in Boston”, Masters Thesis, Boston Architectural College, Retrieved on 10/2019 from: http://library.the-bac.edu/vwebv/ holdingsInfo?bibId=65464
njnj Considering public neighborhood interface: connecting students to the larger community through safe spaces and opportunities, such as retail café that could have a public entrance.
[3] Institute of International Education, (2016). "International Student s by Primar y S ource of Funding, 2015/16", Retrieved on 10/2019 from h t t p s : / /p u b l i c .t a b l e a u . c o m /v i e w s / InternationalStudentsPrimarySourceofFunding_1/ Dashboard?:emb ed=y&:embed_code_version=3&:load OrderID=0&:display_count=yes&:origin=viz_share_link
njnj Coordinating cultural exchange: spaces and programs particularly geared toward exchange among cultures represented in the building. njnj Personalizing spaces: providing recharge spaces for respite and retreat to support mental health and allowing personalization of spaces to integrate cultural nuances for greater comfort. njnj Engaging cross-generational international students during the design process.
[4] Institute of International Education, (2019) “Open Doors International Students Fast Facts”, Retrieved on 10/2019 from: https://www.iie.org/-/media/Files/ Corporate/Open-Doors/Fast-Facts/Fast-Facts- 2018. ashx?la=en&hash=E87E077CE69F84A65A9AA0B0960 C2691E922835A.
njnj Focusing on the student path before, during and after the college experience: International student attraction, retention and academic success requires understanding this audience and creating a network of alumni that can connect prospect students with the institutions. A strong alumni network is also critical to securing financial gifts, service to the institutions and growing the prestige of the international student program.
[5] Krantz, L., (2015). “Number of Foreign College Students in Boston surges” Boston Globe, November 17.
[6] Blimling, G., (2015). Student Learning in College Residence Halls; What Works, What Doesn’t, and WhyInfluence of Place Residence on Students, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishing.
Acknowledgments Yanel de Angel, Student and Residential Life Expert, Principal at Perkins and Will David Damon, Higher Education Practice Leader at Perkins and Will, Hans Giesecke, President of I-House Berkeley, CA., Denise Jorgens, President of I-House Worldwide, Vincent Melito, Facility Manager at I-House New York, NY., Timothy Lynch, Facility Manager at I-House Berkeley CA., and Abigail Gillespie, Marketing Manager at Perkins and Will.
[7] Banks, R,. (2018). “The United States of America Benefits from International Students”, Retrieved on 10/2109 from https://www.nafsa.org/sites/default/files/ ektron/files/underscore/econvalue_2018.pdf.
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[8] International House, (2019). “Our Strength lies in Our Diversity”, Retrieved on 10/2019 from https:// www.ihouse-nyc.org/about-student-housing-in-ny/ our-mission-vision-and-values/.
[16] International House Berkeley, (2019). “Floor Description”, Retrieved on 10/2019 from http://ihouse. berkeley.edu/applicants/rates.php.
[9] (2017). Interview with Hans Giesecke, President of I-House Berkeley CA.
[17] Cuyjet, M.J., Linder, C., Hamilton, M.F., and Cooper D.L., (2016). Multiculturalism on Campus, Theory, Models, and Practices for Understanding Diversity and Creating Inclusion, Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, LLC.
[10] Mezirow, E., and Edmonds, H., (1969). “The Founding of the International House Movement, Berkeley, CA”, The Bancroft Library at University of Berkeley, Regional Oral History Office.
[18] (2017). Interview with Yanel de Angel, Student and Residential Life Expert, Principal at Perkins and Will.
[19] (2017). Interview with Vincent Melito, Facility Manager at I-House New York City.
[11] Brown, J., Volk, F., and Spratto, E., (2019). “The Hidden Structure: The Influence of Residence Hall Design on Academic Outcomes”, Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 267- 283.
[20] Apanel, S., and Schiebler, D., (2019). “Design that Bridges Borders”, Talking Stick-The Authoritative Source for Campus Housing, Volume 36, Number 4.
[12] International House Worldwide, (2017). “Distinctive Characteristics of an International House for Membership of International Houses Worldwide Inc.”, Retrieved on 10/2019 from http://ihouseworldwide.org http:// ihouseworldwide.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/ IHWWApplicationPackage2018.pdf.
[13] International House Worldwide, (2018). “Locations of International Houses by Continents”, Retrieved on 10/2019 from http://ihouseworldwide.org/locations.
[14] (2017). Interview with Timothy Lynch, Facility Manager of I-House Berkeley CA.
[15] Association of College and University Housing Officers - International, (2015). “Resident Assistants & The Affordable Care Act”, Retrieved on 10/2019 from http://www.acuho- i.org/Portals/0/doc/res/acuho-idocs-resource-ra-aca-2015.pdf.
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Peer Reviewers Dr. Christina Bollo University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Dr. Stephanie Clemons Colorado State University
Glenn Nowak University of Nevada, Las Vegas Dr. Mic Patterson Facade Tectonics Dr. Michelle Samura Chapman University Shane Totten Southface
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Authors 01
Yanel de Angel Salas Yanel is interested in the intersection and convergence of different practice areas. Her planning and design expertise in Residential Life spans student housing, market units, micro hotels and hospital bedrooms. This research is part of her interest to conceptualize buildings as teaching laboratories where the user experience is intentional and the design benefits from best practices across building typologies. Yanel believes environmental stewardship begins with people and their ability to live healthy lives within spaces.
01
Stephen Messinger Stephen is a passionate advocate for sustainable thinking and practice in design. He works in Higher Education and beyond from concept to construction to align the client’s project vision to create successful work. Stephen has a specific passion at the intersection of people and places and tries to focus his energy on the health and wellbeing of the end users. This project exemplifies his mission to discover synergies for the betterment of all.
02
Mahsa Farid Mohajer Mahsa received her Master of Science in Architecture from Iran. Since 2016, she has been a PhD student in the Building and Construction Technology program in the Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research expertise includes building science, simulations and modeling. Her dissertation research focuses on methods for integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Building Energy Modeling (BEM).
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Ajla Aksamija
02
Ajla is an Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Building Technology Researcher/Associate at Perkins and Will. Her research expertise includes building science and sustainability, emerging technologies, high-performance buildings, and digital design. She is the author of two books, Sustainable Facades: Design Methods for High-Performance Building Envelopes, and Integrating Innovation in Architecture: Design, Methods and Technology for Progressive Practice and Research. She has contributed chapters for many books and published over seventy research articles.
Niusha Arndt Niusha completed her Master of Architecture degree at the Boston Architectural College in 2015. She successfully balances her professional career with teaching and research as a guest critic at Wentworth Institute of Technology, Roger Williams University, Endicott College, and Youth Build Boston, and as an adjunct faculty member at the Boston Architectural College. She enjoys seeing the synergies between teaching and practice, and how each can inform the other.
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