Sam Irons
Process + Design Selected Works 2009 | 2013
contact.
samuel.irons@me.com 608.406.5530
CONTENTS
| recentralization | urban tower _ bozeman, montana | material testing lab | building construction _ bozeman, montana | gismondi pavilion | home for the gismondi model _ rome, italy | cohousing | cooperative living _ bozeman, montana | morocco design build | trash incinerator _ agoudim, morocco | contemplative library/light rail | traditional and contemporary media seattle, washington | graphics/fabrication | line, welding
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recentralization: transit, integrated, urban location | bozeman, montana | course | arch 456 |
prompt. This studio presented a radical question: How would a high-rise structure manifest itself in a small city? How would such a building present itself in the existing context, what would its function be, and how would it adapt to the unique climate? With an ever swelling population, expected to increase to 80,000 in the next 20 years, could high rise buildings solve the issues of growth facing small cities such as Bozeman? To better understand what it means to be a high-rise the studio explored concepts of the hybrid. The goal was to weave the tower into the existing infrastructure and culutre, while simultaneously tackling site selection and developing a comprehensive program that would meet the needs of the community. As the project proceeded new issues were introduced and discussed including structures, performative-skins and building systems, which eventually culminated in a synthesis of issues and variables.
1
concept
The building is conceived as a high-rise that balances performative, urban, social, environmental, and programmatic issues. Each of these issues comes with its own disparate set of values, creating a dynamic dialogue between their respective agendas. To address the needs of an increasing population the high-rise provides an alternative to the physical stretching of the city, becoming a focal point for a re-centralization through insourcing, housing, community outreach, transit, and education. By creating a precedent of looking inward, a network of interconnected, interdependent, efficient, and engaging spaces develop outward, redefying the urban landscape. At the heart of creating an efficient integrated community is the light rail network. With the main station located at the base of the building, it becomes the central node to the entire community. The base of the tower is strongly shaped by urban issues and conditions. It aims to encourage interaction and provide space for the public to engage with it on a regular basis. As the tower rises it’s focus shifts to the spatial relations of the programmatic elements and a response to the environmental issues, warping to provide maximum solar exposure to the south while minimizing its northern surface area to reduce heat loss.
integrated program
residential
mountain school
business incubator
community center
commercial alley
transit
Bozeman Montana 1995 population 26,598
Bozeman Montana 2003 population 30,753
Bozeman Montana 2011 population 37,280
background Bozeman’s continued growth is largely based on the emergence of high tech and light manufacturing businesses. Montana ranks second in the nation for entrepreneurial activity with a supportive network of small business collectives including Prospera and Tech Ranch. Bozeman’s location in one of the epicenters for outdoor activities further adds value to prospective business. High tech outdoor companies such as Mystery Ranch, Twenty6 Products, Oboz, and Hyalite Gear all call Bozeman home.
site selection The site is in the heart of downtown, one block off Main Street. This location is key to the recentralization of the city. The site is directly adjacent to the existing parking garage and bus terminal. This adjacency allows for the light rail hub to connect directly into the existing infrastructure of the city. In addition, the placement of the building taps into the expansion of the main street commercial corridor along Tracy, creating a more threedimensional downtown. With residential to the north and the commercial downtown to the south, the building plays a pivotal role in bridging these two disparate conditions.
light rail map
section residential _ the tower again splits allowing maximum air flow and day lighting to the individual units. mountain school _ the building provides on site training on the north face, where snow and ice are allowed to gather on the building skin.
business incubator _ staggered levels create maximum interaction, flow of ideas, and communication. park _ the park spaces act as “buffer zones� creating noise and vibration barriers between the industrial spaces and the lower program.
community center _ the stagger between floors creates shared views between levels and programs creating an additional level of connectivity
commercial _ commercial opportunity allows the tower to become a destination for the entire neighborhood, not just a landmark. transit _ located at the southeast corner to maximize proximity and compatibility with existing transportation and infrastructure.
building moves
maximum footprint
podium
reduce shadow
gesture to the community
kink _ urban / environment
split _ 3 parts
urban erosion
max area min surface area
cross ventilation
light penetration
structure
The hybrid structure combines the best characteristics of three classic high-rise structures: a tube within a tube, a diagrid, and shear panels. This combination creates an integrated structural network with individual systems warped to meet environmental, programmatic, and aesthetic goals. Creating a redundant structural hybrid relies upon the whole to perform while becoming a flexible building component no longer dictating what can and cannot be done.
material testing lab: building construction location | bozeman, montana | course | arch 340 |
prompt. The second building construction course started with a two person design charrette to create an addition for the Materials Testing Lab in the College of Engineering. With that basic design each two person group spent the semester developing a construction document set looking at plans, sections, wall sections, details, 3d details, structure, and building performance, in addition to gaining valuable experience working in a small group.
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1
2 10'-0"
3
4
10'-0"
5
10'-0"
10'-0"
10'-0"
8'-0"
1'-6"
3'-0"
4'-7"
1'-6"
1'-6"
3'-0"
8
9
10'-0"
6'-0"
31'-6"
3'-0"
7
10'-0"
53'-7"
0'-6"
6
90'-0"
10'-0"
10 10'-0"
34'-0"
Plan North Actual North
10'-3" Existing Cobleigh Wall
1'-6"
3'-0"
a A5.1
4
A 4
4
12'-0"
Existing Cobleigh Walls
Bathroom 109
To Cobleigh
Bathroom 110
3'- 4"
Storage 108
B
Welding 101
3 Existing Construction New Construction 34'-4"
3'0"
1'-2"
2
Strong Floor Grid 3'-0" x 3'0"
2'-3"
5'-11"
3'-0"
20'-0"
1'-0"
4'-0"
16'- 4"
24'-0"
Curing 105
N
Testing 102
4'-0"
1'-0"
4'-0"
Fabrication 106
36'-7"
59'-9"
S
Earth Tube
1'-2"
2
5'-11"
20'-0"
20'-0"
20'-0"
11'-0"
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1
1
1
1
1
1
10'-0"
10'-0"
10'-0"
10'-0"
10'-0"
7'-9"
11'-2"
0'-9.5" 1'-6"
a A6.5
1'-6"
1
1
11'-11"
6'-11"
2'-4"
C
2'-8"
5'-0"
1'-0"
Under Slab Air Supply
b A5.1
1
Entry 104
10'-3"
Mechanical 103 c A5.2
2'-4"
Section A-A
1
D 38'-3"
100'-0" F.F. Elevation
E
Section B-B
level one plan
materials testing lab
concept The Materials Testing Lab was developed around a linear concept; taking the raw material through the process of making a structural member and testing it. The physical building extends out to join with the material storage tower, receding when not in use to allow for the continued use of the existing loading bay. A conveyer crane moves the material through to the testing area located in the far north room. After testing the path is re-traced taking used material to the raw storage bin.
C Exterior Metal Panel Finish
T.O. Metal Roof 127'-0"
Wood Blocking
Roof Assembly 1" Pressure treated sheathing Hat channels EPDM Densglass Roof sloped foam 8" Insulation Metal decking
T.O. Metal Roof Structure 126'-0"
a A6.4
Steel Angle Bolt Connection W 12 x 26 Steel Section Metal Interior Finish Panel Interior Sheathing Vapor Barrier
6" x 2" Light weight Steel Framing
W 12 x 26 Steel Section Insulation Sheathing
Building Drainage Paper
Exterior metal Panel Cladding
1' Concrete Strong Floor
a A6.1
Finished Floor 100'-0"
Base Flashing 2" Rigid Foam Insulation 16" Concrete Foundation Wall
Poured in Place Concrete Floor Water Proofing Membrane
T.O.Crawl Space Finished Floor 96'-0"
wall section
2" Rigid Foam Insulation Mechanical Key 1' Concrete Footing Drainage Pipe
performance
A heavily insulated wall construction is used on the north and northeast walls to help reduce heat loss and provide a glass free environment for testing to take place. On the east elevation of the building a double curtain wall with operable louvers helps insulate the space and provide light into the manufacturing space while providing a level of operability. Additionally, a large overhang allows low winter light to penetrate the space while blocking out the high and hot summer sun.
C Channel Welded el Column Plate
A
D
T.O. Green Roof
Backer Board
124' - 0"
Sheet Metal Flashing Reinzink Reveal Panel Facade System Densglass Sheathing
T.O. Structure 122' - 6"
2" Rigid Insulation
Existing Concrete Floor Slab Steel C Channel Wall Header
Oriented Strand Board
W 12 x 26 Steel Beam
Steel C Channel Wall Header Bolted to Existing Concrete Floor Slab
4" x 2" Hollow Structural Section 4" x 12" Hollow Structural Section
b A6.2
Angle Steel Structural Connection
Green Roof Assembly *Engineered Growing Medium *Filter Fabric *Drainage Board *Root Barrier *EPDM Waterproof Membrane *Densglass Sheathing *Rigid Insulation *Wide Rib Steel Deck
a A6.3 a A6.2
Metal Interior Finish Panel b A6.1
Interior Plywood Sheathing
1/2" Tempered Glass Mullion Blocking
Light Gauge Steel Stud
Steel Base Plate Non-Shrinking Grout
Base Window Mullion Assembly
Steel C Channel Footer Steel Base Plate
Leveling Nut Assembly
Non-Shrinking Grout
Sheet Metal Flashing
1'-0" Concrete Slab
1'-0" Concrete Slab
T.O. Finished Floor 1'-4" Concrete Foundation Wall
100' - 0"
2" Rigid Insulation
1'-4" Concrete Foundation Wall Waterproofing Membrane
Mechanical Key Steel Reinforcing Bar
T.O. Crawl Space F.F. 1'-0" Concrete Footing
air circulation tower
1'-0" Concrete Footing
96' - 0"
2" Diameter Drain Pipe Aggregate
a A6.1
foundation detail
STUDIO 46
roof detail
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Reinforced Concrete Strong Floor
Exterior Metal Roof Finish
1” Pressure Treated Sheathing
Rigid Insulation
Hat Channels W/ Self Healing Tape EPDM Waterproof Membrane Densglass Sheathing Roof Slope Foam
1’-4” Foundation Wall
Floor Slab
Rigid Insulation
1’-0” Concrete Footing
Drain Pipe
KASEY WELLES . SAM8”IRONS Insulation
AL TESTING LABORATORY
Waterproofing Membrane
Metal Decking
W 12 x 26 Steel Section
Interior Metal Finish
Interior Sheathing
Vapor Barrier
Batt Insulation
Epdm D Light Weight Steel Framing Exterior Sheathing Building Paper
Reinzink Reveal Facade System
gismondi pavilion: home for the gismondi model location | rome, italy | course | option studio |
prompt. The Rome Studio was as much about new experiences as it was design. It was extremely exciting to take the skills developed at school to a new and drastically different place. So much of architecture is about place. People often know a place so well, we no longer really see it. In Rome everything was new. Constantly being surrounded by some of the world’s greatest historic architecture proved to be an amazing place of inspiration and study. The studio was premised around the development of a progressive center for housing and celebrating the Gismondi Model of Rome. Through site visits to buildings by Richard Meier, Renzo Piano, and Zaha Hadid, issues of material, context, and history, all converged within a modern mind set.
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concept
Above all else the Gismondi Pavilion is primarily a response to both the dramatic place and the program itself. The slight slope of the site provides an opportunity to nestle the pavilion humbly into the hillside. Pushing the building into the ground creates experiences reminiscent of the archeological history of Rome and its hundreds of historical and physical layers. The landscape is then given permission to swallow the building, the two sliding together and the building emerging as if a monument waiting to be discovered.
spatial organization
The formal moves are derived through a series of matrices lines emanating from the origin of the Coliseum combined with the cardinal directions. By using these and the natural topography as guides the building emerged in sync with its surroundings. A series of “bars� run north to south containing the support spaces for the main room that houses the model. A large operable glass wall faces north to optimize indirect sunlight and create a visual connection between the model and the Coliseum.
caelian hill site
level one plan
south elevation
site plan
section a
Interior Perspective
Northern Perspective
cohousing: community, neighborhood location | bozeman, montana | course | arch 355 |
prompt. Studio 355 explored how the concept of cohousing could take hold in Bozeman, a city with deep western roots and a strong attachment to privacy, land, and freedom. In addition to the exploration of code, issues of setbacks, zoning, curb cuts, height restrictions, and constructability were all considered.
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texture | context
Bozemans northeast district offers an incredible diversity of materials, textures, form, and history. The neighborhood acts as a transition point, flowing from residential, to industrial, to the mountains.
eclectic | individual
This district has a certain “funkiness� to it, presenting a variety of opportunities and challenges. It is an eclectic mix of history and experimentation. A common theme of individual expression ties the area together and creates a cohesive whole.
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1
site plan
elevation studies
1
first level plan
section one
perspective one
concept The initial response to the problem of cohousing and housing in general was a need to break apart the monotonous, intimidating housing project and create something with a more intimate and personal scale. An examination of the suburban associated with the American dream, livability, and green space, and the urban associated with density, activity, and community revealed the potential to bring the two together. The final element is the site and how the ideas of community can bring the best of suburban and urban to flourish in the transitional neghborhood of northeast Bozeman.
second level plan
section two
2
perspective two
In the development of the plan a sense of separation from the main frontage street is created. Narrow “alleys� lead into the semi private courtyard spaces; this compression and eventual release of spatial tension enhances the sense of privacy while still maintaining a continuous flow throughout the site.
morocco design build: trash incinerator location | agoudim, morocco | course | arch 556 |
prompt. A small group of Montana State University graduate students traveled to the remote high Atlas Mountains in Morocco to participate in a design build project. The Morocco Community Development Program is coordinated with the Atlas Cultural Foundation, which works to better the lives of people living in the region of Zawiya Ahansal, home to the poorest region in Morocco. The trash incinerator marks the first time Montana State University and the ACF have attempted a design build project. The opportunity proved to be an amazing learning experience, revealing not only an incredible way of llife but also a new methodology of building focused on resourcefulness and creativity to solve a plethora of challenges.
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mapping
The Moroccan studio was split into two components, mapping and building. First was creating a map of the village of Agoudim. This map will serve a pivotal role as the Atlas Cultral Foundation moves forward with the process of designating zawiya ahansal a UNESCO world heritage site.
travel drawing
discovery
The village of Agoudim is a complex network combining centuries of growth and adaptation. The urban environment created by the intricate relationship of private, semiprivate, and public space in addition to the creative use of the elevation change is constantly flowing and undulating. The student team worked to record these spaces while experiencing an incredibly dynamic built environment.
design | build
The design and building of the trash incinerator was a collaborative effort from the start. Students at MSU, local people, and government officials weighed in on every aspect, including site, material, or form. Working with local craftspeople during construction was an amazing opportunity to appreciate the way projects are approached in another part of the world. Teamwork, a willingness to compromise, and think on one’s feet were crucial to the building process. Adapting to limits and changing conditions whether it be nonuniform brick, scarcity of materials, physical isolation, or lack of tools, forced the team to find new solutions.
contemplative library/ light rail: traditional and contemporary media location | seatle, washington | course | arch 354 |
prompt. A creative exercise and concept of an “idea machine� initiated conversation about the relationship between space and place. The discussion moved from purely experimental and theoretical to a closer examination of libraries and their changing roles; from vaults of knowledge to media driven community centers. Eventually the conversation focused on the Capital Hill district of Seattle. Capitol Hill is a progressive neighborhood with a large public park and a college directly adjacent to the site. In Capitol Hill the studio focussed on the development of both a library and an incorperated light rail entrance.
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idea machine
The idea machine became an exploration of the relationship of light in space, the interaction and connection of the machine and the site, and the human interaction with the two elements. This constantly fluctuating relationship of site, object, and human interaction working together to reveal the hidden is ultimately what the machine reveals.
light rail entrance
The entrance emerges from the ground as a crystalline form. This simple gesture clearly describes the subterranean nature of the program. The translucent skin further allows the space to be understood before entering, while allowing the entrance to become a beacon of transportation at night. As one descends past the horizon the ground plane is clearly experienced; a metal mass grows overhead and the weight and severity of the underground becomes clear.
response
The library is located in Seattle, in the progressive neighborhood of Capitol Hill. It responds to the connected light rail station to the north and a small urban park to the south, while exploring the need for contemplation space in our increasingly complex world. The library takes a firm stance on the role of libraries in the 21st century, embracing new technologies while maintaining a dedication to a physical collection.
capitol hill library
Broadway perspective
reflecting pool
organization north elevation Six individual volumes of space are suspended from a large ceiling structure. These volumes become the various spaces for the library program. The preciousness of knowledge is signified by the precarious position of the volumes within a dense protective layer.
east elevation
sanctuary/contemplation space
The contemplation zones occur beneath the large suspended program volumes. They terminate just before meeting the ground in an undulating plane. At the lowest point these swoop to within inches of the ground while peaking at twelve feet. This play of form and space creates nooks for retreating with a book or with one’s thoughts. The space is both tranquil and intriguing, providing a space to catch one’s breath from the relentless grind of the day.
graphics / fabrication: line, welding
location | various | course | option studio, welding |
prompt. The Rome studio introduced travel sketching. To sketch on the go requires fluidity as well as confidence in the line. The abstraction of reality is essential to capturing the essence of a place. Welding fabrication involved the three main processes of welding; stick, MIG, and TIG, in addition to instruction in the use of other tools to create a finished product.
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orvieto_chiqueterra_siena
rome
fabrication
concept The bench developed as a simple composition of two opposing elements. By creating four intersecting planes a relationship and dialogue between material properties and form emerges.
process A digital model was created prior to fabrication, which enabled the use of the cnc plasma cutter for precise pieces. The pieces were assembled with the mig welding process, intensely ground, and sanded for a raw patina. A slice of white maple punctures through the steel in a pure friction connection.
thank you for your consideration