energy tanks
Donna Shumpert Larc. 8153 Fall 2011 Site Design
Inspiration. The circle is an impressive form we see every day in the natural and built world. Archeological evidence shows the form has been known since before the time of recorded history. It can be seen in the form of the wheel, the source of invention for the modern man, it is the world we live in and the world reflected in our eyes. It is a symbol with no end and no beginning, a symbol with constant renewal around a central point. This design is a representation of the energy that exists in that renewal, a greater connection we often forget in our everyday lives. Energy Tanks is an attempt to surround us in the energy we give to the earth and the earth can give to us by taking our waste and using it to re-energize Clearview Landfill and the community around it. The circular form was a source of inspiration for the rejuvenation of Cleaview landfill because of the circles found in the neighboring landscapes. The sun oil farm is part of the landscape. We as a country consume 18,690,000 billion barrels per day, more than double the second largest consumer, China. The circular oil tank can be seen as bad and ugly, or as a form to encompass the energy of oil that the earth gives to us and a reminder that we must use this energy responsibly, and just as a circle returns on itself, we must return the energy to the earth. By utilizing the familiar form in a larger than life proportion I hope the visitors feel wonderment in their surroundings, much the same way sculptor Richard Serra makes visitors feel as they meander through his large corten steel art pieces. Imagine large curved steel forms undulating and winding through a landscape of lush marshes and thick forests, familiar forms balanced in juxtaposition between man and nature, that is my hope for Energy Tanks.
Logo The logo for Energy Tanks utilizes the ecology symbol. ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. The ecology symbol was created in 1969 by Ron Cobb, the symbol combines the letters E and O in the words environment and organism. Energy Tanks applies a third layer of symbology by utilizing the E to also represent Energy. Clearview Landfill / Eastwick Park
Sun Oil Tank Farm
NERGY
aerial: Google earth image
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Context Plan. Energy Tanks is a proposed re-use plan for the Clearview landfill site. Clearview landfill is located at the apex of Cobbs and Darby creeks in southeastern Pennsylvania. The majority of the landfill is in Delaware County but separated from land by Cobbs Creek. The neighborhood of Eastwick, in Philadelphia County, is at the base of the landfill and more directly affected by its presence than the residents of Delaware County. Although several transit options exist across the creek, the design of Energy Tanks park is primarily for the residents of Eastwick. The park will be part of a network of green spaces that already exists in both Delaware and Philadelphia county.
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transit lines and stops
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S i t e Op p o r t u n it ies an d Con str ain ts.
Viewsheds to Center City
East Coast Greenway current path and new proposed path through Clearview
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image by author
Lindbergh Ave and 84th street are the two main streets leading visitors to Clearview and Eastwick Park. Way-finding signage and improved pedestrian routes would be necessary to improve the intersections usability.
The existing community gateway has a comfortable turn around for visitors but is currently blocked off and overgrown. A little clean up and the space will be a great entry point for the community to access Energy Tanks. The park also currently provides great views to Center City, the design of Energy Tanks will highlight these viewsheds.
Current soil reports list the soils as Mf or man-made soils. For Energy Tanks to return the balance between man and ecology to Eastwick Park it is important to know what should be there. Soil reports on the opposite side of the creek are categorized as We or Wehadkee soils. The soil profile for We is that of a tidal marsh, heavy muck and silt soils with dark organic matter, similar to the Oldmans Creek reference site. The We soils are a good indicator of what was most likely present in the area of Clearview landfill, before it was man made trash.
Motivation High School
Delaware County
Existing rec center
1937 historic marsh patterns
Historic footprint
Philadelphia County
Pepper Middle School
image by John Fischer
image by Penn Pilot
image by author
Within a 1/2 mile of Clearview and Eastwick Park there are several outdoor sports facilities: Motivation High School, the existing rec center, and Pepper Middle School (however this school is scheduled to close in 2012). The closest indoor facilities are 5 miles away in Lansdowne. Opportunities also exist to have a larger connected energy by bringing the proposed national East Coast Greenway directly through Eastwick Park.
A historic 1937 aerial shows the natural marsh and tidal water flows that used to exist in the area. The growth of the landfill channelized the main creek flow and EPA analysis documents show the landfill buried secondary flow channels. Returning the ecological health of the area is an important factor in the design of Energy Tanks
Clearview landfill is estimated to contain 2.9 million cubic yards of trash, with a footprint of approx. 48 ac currently and approx. 75 ac historically. Capping the landfill will add an additional 188,000 cubic yards. Designing a functional human space and attempting to return the natural ecology of the area was a challenge in the design of Energy Tanks. The Park is also split between Delaware and Philadelphia counties, this political split poses challenges to the redevelopment of the site.
Energies. The design of Energy Tanks centers around six primary energy sources: First and primary is the Community Energy: the program will feature an indoor recreation center for the residents of Eastwick and the greater community. The energy will be of active play through basketball, football, track, dance, bowling, and swimming. The building is in response to community requests. At a site visit a classmate approached a group of male teenagers and asked them what they would like to see in Eastwick Park, they replied they would like an indoor basketball area to go when it rains. The want for additional recreation was echoed by many other residents in their survey response. The space will be approximately 85,000 square feet and modeled after the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Northeast Philadelphia. Similar to that center there will be a membership fee to support the facility, the fee will be less for residents of Eastwick. Connected Energy : reaching out farther the Tanks will also serve as a connection to the community that will pass through Clearview as they actively run, walk, or bike along the East Coast Greenway. The East Coast Greenway is a network of trails that is being put together from Canada to Key West. Energy Tanks will be an event along the Greenway, a unique identification of the neighborhood and its commitment to the energy between them and the earth. Waste Energy. The methane produced from decaying organic matter within the landfill will be harnessed and burned for outdoor lighting around the park and as campground campfires on top of the tanks. EPA testing suggested the amount of methane was low in most areas. Each tank will burn its own methane production, at the time of this preliminary design it is not intended that pipes be run between the tanks. Green Energy. The tanks will have 31 acres of new trees planted on the landfill soil cap. The trees will be upland species native to Pennsylvania. The selection will primarily include those that have proven successful at Alliance Landfill test plots in Northern PA, which included: red maples, river birch, red-bud, red cedar, and bayberry to name a few. The final planting palette will be determined when the composition of the available cap soils is known. Grid Energy: The south side of the southernmost tanks will have solar panels bolted to their sides. Since the panels will be bolted to the sides of the tanks at a more vertical angle it would be best if they rotated and were not fixed angel, final budgets and engineer specifications will determine what types of solar panels will be best for Energy Tanks. The energy produced by these panels will be enough to service approximately 380 homes, based on an averages calculation. The indoor recreation center will utilize the energy first and any extra will be returned to the power grid. Habitat Energy: Condensing the landfill will increase the floodplain by 16 acres and return the energy of the unique tidal marsh habitat that exists in Cobbs Creek.
Photo Credits: Trash to Treasure images by Hug it Forward and retrieved from http://www.loe.org on 12/19/2011 Cobbs Creek Trash by Andrew C. Hayes, classmate of the author Salvation Army Kroc Center, http://articles.philly.com
Trash to Treasure is a project in Guatemala in which residents collect recyclable trash and make it into building materials.
This is one of several images I saw personally on a Canoe ride down Cobbs Creek. The magnitude of trash was more than I could believe, and we could and should be able to do something with it.
Energy Tanks will turn our own trash into treasure and create a building similar to the Salvation Army Kroc Center out of trash.
Con ce p t P la n sun oil company tank farm
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improve pedestrian access and signage at intersection to direct visitors to the new clearview park
four tennis courts and two baseball diamonds are part of pepper middle school but a separate parcel, it is unknown if this will be sold as well or remain a park
seven outdoor basketball half courts, are existing as part of Pepper Middle School. The school is scheduled to close in 2012, and the land sold
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TOWN OF DARBY, DELAWARE COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
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the existing rec center has eight outdoor basketball half courts and five tennis courts, none indoorshal
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additional low volume ow paths for Cobbs Creek in restored floodplain
indoor community recreation center
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motivation high school has two baseball diamonds and one outdoor basketball court. Indoor facilities are for school students
TOWN TOWN OF OF EASTWICK, EASTWICK, PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA COUNTY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA
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Pr o p o se d G r a d ing
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10 existing contour 15 to remain the same
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S i t e Pl an .
Existing trash condensed into “tanks�
Restored wetlands
Parking for visitors to Cleaview Park
Proposed Community Center
Entrance and exit ramps
New trails on both sides of park connect to existing trails for complete loop
Existing outdoor basketball courts and rec center remain
Parking for new rec-center in area of current tennis courts
Bridge / East Coast Greenway Trail
Ene rgy T a n k S p aces. Methane powered campgrounds at the top of the tanks
1� = 80’
Bald Eagles in the upland habitats
Turtles in the marsh habitats
Indoor recreation inside of the community tank
Lounge chairs at the top of the tanks to enjoy the Philadelphia sky line and the sunset
Outdoor recreation on top of the community tank
T a nk S p a c e s E xt r a cted. The tanks will be wider and taller at the rear of the park near the existing industrial area and slope down to approximately 30ft high as they get closer to the community to be in scale with the homes of Eastwick. The tanks have been designed to hold approximately 2,922,562 cubic yards of soil but can vary minimally in height and width if more space is required to contain the trash. The varying heights of the tanks will also provide a more engaging walk for the visitors to the top of the tanks as they move closer and further from the wetlands below.
Condensing the trash will allow for 13 acres of upland habitats on top of the tanks. Upland species will include plants native to eastern Pennsylvania that have been successfully grown on landfills, such as those seen at the Alliance Landfill in northeastern PA. The upland habitats will provide ecologically rich spaces for upland wildlife species.
Condensing the trash will allow for 16.5 acres of tidal marsh habitats at the base of the tanks. A description of these spaces can be found on the Habitat Energy page. The 100 year floodplain in the area of Clearview is at 20ft above sea level. By returning the tidal marsh and increasing the flood storage by 16.5 acres the 100 yr. floodplain will drop to 14ft above sea level, 1ft below the Eastwick community.
Ha b i t at E n e r g y . Clearview landfill sits at the upper limits of the current tidal influence from the Atlantic Ocean. Tidal influence creates a unique dendritic pattern in the stream flows. This typical pattern can be seen today in places such as Oldmans Creek, a tidal influenced marsh located approximately 18 miles south of Clearview. Condensing the trash will allow for 16.5 acres of the footprint to be returned to its natural tidal marsh state. The water would meander through areas of muck soils high in silts and organic content with varying low and high spots. Arrow arum and spatterdock, a plant that can currently be found just south of Clearview in the John Heinz National Wildlife refugee, along with wild rice and bidens would be typical plants found in the marsh. The area would also be rich in wildlife habitat with blue and white herons, muskrats, hawks, and turtles.
A photo simulation of 16.5 ac of tidal marsh returned to Cobbs Creek
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Existing landfill footprint 47.6 ac
Muskrat Holes
White Heron
Oldmans Creek, Pedricktown NJ
Arrow arum
Spatterdock
Comm u n it y E n e rg y . J us t as t h e d esi gn of E nergy Tanks wa s i n spi r e d by t h e ci r cl e , t h e de si gn i n t e nt is t h a t th e elements of the park form a cl o s e d e n e r gy l o o p pr o v i di n g fo r a n d r e cy c lin g up on i tsel f, and w hen poss i bl e gi v i n g ba ck t o t h e br o a de r e co l o g y and co mm un it ies. T h e th ree m ain systems are the tank s, t h e t i da l m a r s h we t l a n ds, a n d t h e r e c re ation ce n ter. T h e t h ree systems w i l l be the r e s e r v o i r s fo r t h e r e cycl e d e l e m e n t s . The b e low t ext ref erenc es the fu nc ti ona l di a gr a m o n t h e fo l l o wi n g pa ge . L e a ch at e p rodu c ed from the trash wi l l be pu m pe d t o t h e s u r fa ce o f t h e t a nks into a s e r i es of treat ment ponds to c l eans e t h e l e a ch a t e u s i n g a e r a t i o n a n d s a n d f iltration m e t h od s. Th e treated l eac hate wi l l t r i ck l e do wn t h e t a n k wa l l s t o t h e we t l a nd s b e low. A n y st o rm water fl ows that are not a bso r be d by t h e so i l ca p wi l l h a v e a pl ante d s w a l e p at h of f the tank s and i nto th e we t l a n ds be l o w. St o r m wa t e r wi l l a l so b e u s e d a s n ecessary t o water any l andsc a pe pl a n t s o r pl a yi n g fi e l ds o n t o p o f t h e ta nks . T a k in g in sp irat i on from the Trash to T r e a su r e pr o j e ct i n G u a t e m a l a r e cycl a b le tra s h w ill form t h e interi or wal l to the c om m u n i t y ce n t e r . Be t we e n t h e i n t e r i o r a n d e x te rior w a lls t h e trash wi l l be u sed to i nsu l a t e t h e bu i l di n g. A p ip in g system for eac h tank wi l l be de si gn e d t o h a r n e ss t h e m e t h a n e ga s re le as e f r o m d ecayin g materi al s. On some t a n k s t h e m e t h a n e wi l l be u s e d t o po wer a ca m p f ire an d for others gas l amps fo r n i gh t v i si bi l i t y. M o s t o f t h e l a m ps wi ll b e in t h e area of th e rec reati on c enter. T h e s olar p an el s mou nted to the si d e s o f t h e t a n k wi l l pr o du ce po we r co n t rib u ting to t h e en ergy use of the rec reati on c e n t e r . B la ck wat er wi l l go throu gh a seri es o f v e r t i ca l t r e a t m e n t fi l t e r s si m i l a r t o t h e le a ch at e an d rel ease i nto the w etl a n ds be l o w. W a t e r fr o m t h e we t l a n ds w ill b e t r e a ted an d used for si nk and toi l e t wa t e r .
Tidal Marsh Water is recycled to and from the marsh and cleaned by sediment tanks and filters.
Recycled Water
Black Water from toilets
Leachate
for sinks from marsh
Recreation Center
treatment in ponds at the tops of the tanks and then trickle down the walls to the marsh
Walls
the walls will be made of recycled bottles and mimic a Philadelphia mural
Methane
will be harnessed as a recreational campfire source
Trash Tanks
Stormwater
run off from the tanks is filtered to the wetlands
Solar
panels on the southern tanks will provide energy for the rec center
Co m m u n it y E n e r g y .
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youth flag football
seating and roof windows
seating and roof windows
Outdoor Upper Level
scale 1” = 100’
Indoor Lower Level
bathrooms, lockers, showers, changing area work out area
seating area to watch basketball
eight basketball half courts, the same that is existing outside
1/8 mile track around
bowling lanes
60x80 pool
concession stand, office, equipment storage area
scale 1” = 50’
parent seating area child gym, play area, dance floor, slide, etc.
En e rgy T a n k s.
Tank M a t e r ia ls an d I n spir ation s. The bridge between the Tanks will be a reverse suspension bridge with support anchors to the Tanks, similar to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens Canopy Walk.
The design of Energy Tanks hopes to inspire the feeling of wonderment as one navigates through and above the restored wetlands, much the same way visitors to a Richard Serra sculpture feel when they meander through his momentous coreten pieces.
Mechanically stabilized earth will be used in addition to the sheet piling to contain the trash. Where the sheet piling will function to separate the trash from the wetlands down to bedrock, the MSE will allow the tanks to feel softer and more human in scale.
Black Locust trees are a colonizing species in the Eastern Pennsylvania forests, currently they are growing on the landfill. During the reclamation process the trees will be salvaged and the wood used as safety fencing at the top of the tanks.