VOL. 02
Architecture Portfolio
Tanner Halkyard
- WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARISE WHEN WE ELIMINATE THE HIGH EMBODIED CARBON FOOTPRINT OF CURTAIN WALL?
- HOW TO DESIGN CULTURAL ART, WHILE ALSO LEAVING A BLANK CANVAS FOR THE LOCAL ELEMENTS.
03. X/O Skeleton
P 04-29
Metals in Construction Design Competition
How to minimize the overall embodied energy of a class A office space building by substituting the typical curtain wall enclosure with a hybrid design for structure and envelope. The design reflects a minimization of material while simultaneously addressing seismic forces, thermal comfort, fire safety, sound attenuation and daylighting.
University of New Mexico P.A.I.S
P 30-49
The new Physics, Astronomy and Interdisciplinary Science building on UNM’s campus is proposed to be a new state-ofthe-art, high-research science facility, and will replace the aging Physics and Astronomy building on the north campus.
X/O Skeleton
Location - Roosevelt Island, NY
Status - Competition Finalist
Year Designed - 2017
Client - Metals in Construction
Mr McGuire: I want to say one word to you. Just one word.
Benjamin: Yes, sir.
Mr McGuire: Are you listening?
Benjamin: Yes, I am.
Mr McGuire: Plastics.
Benjamin: Exactly how do you mean?
Mr McGuire: There’s a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?
- LOW EMBODIED ENERGY
- LIGHT STRUCTURE
- THERMAL EFFICIENCY
- ELIMINATE STANDARDIZED CURTAIN WALL
- TOWER OF THE FUTURE, ENGAGING WITH CORNELL TECH CAMPUS EXPERIENCE
03.
X/O Skeleton
How to minimize the overall embodied energy of a class A office space building by substituting the typical curtain wall enclosure with a hybrid design for structure and envelope. The design reflects a minimization of material while simultaneously addressing seismic forces, thermal comfort, fire safety, sound attenuation and daylighting.
How light and efficient can we create structure and facade and still respects its environmental footprint?
Diagram Parti Phase 1
1. The initial concept starts like many other diagrams, the setbacks, and basic concept shapes on the proposed site location. This location is at the very south of the Cornell Tech campus that is currently being designed and constructed on Roosevelt Island in NYC.
2. We chose to create our tower parti diagram through the cylindrical shape, as our facade is the key to the structure, and the circle in plan is largely structurally self-supportive.
Diagram Parti Phase 2
1. The second phase pushes the sides of the cylinder in, creating an equilateral triangle that conforms to the sites shape and directionality of ground floor pathways and site circulation. This creates access to the building through the long portions of the pathways, alleviating congestion at intersections and encouraging movement along the building flanks.
Diagram Parti Phase 3
1. The site then extends up into the first floor of the parti, creating greenscape bridges across pathways. This concept not only provides a seamless interaction between park greenscape and building floorscape, but also creates cover and protection to ground level entrances.
Diagram Parti Phase 4
1. We then look at eliminating some of the wind load along the building facade at intervals appropriate to its height and program. These vacant floors will pull the parkway up into the building further encouraging the seamless green experience for building users and park users below.
2. These sky gardens will further be used for mental and wellness areas, and will bring native and natural species back into the urban hardscape of NYC.
Diagram Parti Phase 5
1. The 60-degree twist in the building allows the ground floor to remain in response to the direct site conditions, while the upper floors, exposed to wind and turbulent forces, to optimize themselves in the slipstream of the prevailing breezes. This also allows the parti to orient views towards the riverfront and city beyond, as well as create a dynamic form to the building.
Diagram Parti Phase 6
1. The structural envelope of the building is integrated with PV fritted ETFE panels that are optimized based on orientation and sun exposure. This will allow the building to harvest solar energy while simultaneously providing visual comfort within.
Pull it, Twist it, Slice it......Rethink it.
The Exoskeletal tower diagram was a mixture of design strategies that unusually didn’t solely start with site specific criteria. When designing a building for efficiency in exterior performance, the design of the system itself is equally as important as its response to the building life cycle and the use by the public. This parti, although simple in diagram, came from a multitude of relationships from parkways, to structural loads, to shape of the system, to solar orientation.
X.0. Skeleton - The Proposal
It could be said, in the light of new understanding about material choices and life-cycle impact that we are suffering under the weight of our buildings. The knowledge that the embodied energy of a building can far exceed its lifetime energy usage demands an innovative response of materials and systems. Our proposal asks: how light can buildings be?
X/O Skeleton proposes a new way of thinking about high rise facade construction. Drawing from natural formations like coral reefs and termite mounds, we propose to combine structure and skin in a single X/O Skeleton
Transforming a Norm
The “X” is our nomenclature for a diagrid system, an optimized structural form, which efficiently combines lateral and gravity loads at the perimeter of a building. In our system, the diagrid is sized to balance the needs of: a column-free environment, maximized views, and a frequency to serve a dual function as the primary backup for building cladding.
The “O” represents our proposal to replace glass curtainwall with pillow-like infill panels of ETFE, (Ethylenetetrafluoroethylene) a flouine-based plastic. While plastics are high in embodied energy, the relative weightlessness compared to glass makes it an order of magnitude better on a square foot basis and has added.
Site and Adaptation
The Roosevelt Island Net Zero New York Tech Campus is an optimal location to display a progressive approach to high rise design. The site is well situated for views and is within close proximity to public transportation and recreational amenities.
The X/O Skeleton engages the Tech Campus’ raised pedestrian friendly site, by pulling the primary routes through the base of the building, encouraging interaction and activation.
It further engages the site by elevating the greenscape above the campus, allowing tech
education to be experienced from multiple levels.
The adjacent diagrams (left) explain the evolution of our tower from conventional construction to X/O Skeleton, while illustrating the morphological response to site, solar orientation and wind direction.
Process
Hand sketching rough ideas play a key role in the exploration of shape, parti, structural diagrams, and key ideas to how we respond to the site, the program and the design brief. Above we can see a few early schemes that take on things like green walls, wind shielding form, and possible solutions to solve aerodynamics of a tower and its initial formgiving.
Paneling & Orientation
The diagram of the paneling which ultimately became the thought process for the PV frit was fully based on orientation of the facade. The study of how the solar heat gain would be presented to the surface of the building started to determine our ideas on shading and its integration into the “X” of the structure. Originally a range of recessing of PTFE could help to reduce the solar gain on the West , East and South facades, however a further study of weight and our desire to use this “problem” as an opportunity led to the use of PV frit, performing the same task, while actively providing energy to the building.
The Devil is in the Details
Above: Diagram showing the systems proposed within a typical office space, along with the proposed mechanics for the diagrid mechanical system: Fans partially powered by frit pump air into ETFE pillows to provide a median between external and internal air temperatures.
UNM P.A.I.S.
Location - Albuquerque New Mexico
Status - Built
Cost - $51.2 Million
Size - 139,000 sf
Year Completed - 2019
Certification - LEED Gold
Client - University of New Mexico
- EXISTING BUILDING UNDERSIZED WHICH COMPROMISES THE TEACHING MISSION
- DESIRE FOR HIGH END RESEARCH
- DESIRE TO CONTEXTUALLY FIT INTO PUEBLO STYLE ARCHITECTURE
- ENHANCE STUDENT & FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS IN STEM
04. UNM
P.A.I.S
The new Physics, Astronomy and Interdisciplinary Science building on UNM’s campus is proposed to be a new state-ofthe-art, high-research science facility, and will replace the aging Physics and Astronomy building on the north campus.
This new building will be constructed at the site of the existing City of Albuquerque water reservoir. Because of its strategic location, the facility is an exceptional opportunity to raise the University’s profile in the sciences and, at the same time, expand the architectural legacy of this historic campus.
Diagram Parti Phase 1
1. Maximum footprint arranged for program requirements.
2. Push pull shape to align to contextual heights and setbacks
Diagram Parti Phase 2
1. Separate High Performance Block from rest of research space. The demand for high performance, low vibration research space (criterion E (VC-E) – 3.12 microns/ second, minimization of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI), combined with specific environmental condition controls, was a prime driver for the creation of a HighPerformance Block, that will provide adaptability and flexibility to address the university’s research programs.
Diagram Parti Phase 3
1. Pueblo style design calls for “donut” shaped parti with centralize courtyard. The site conditions of a hot and arid climate dictate minimal sun exposure of exterior facades, while internalizing a lot of the experience.
Diagram Parti Phase 4
1. Squeeze side blocks that face pedestrian walkways enough to create a scaled down front to the building, while also allowing access under these two East and West Bars. The front of the building is further squeezed to allow for views from the street of the high-performance block and vice versa.
Diagram Parti Phase 5
1. Key attraction elements are placed in these locations to draw users into the courtyard from and internal use, and to draw the public to the building from and external use. These beacons create elegant gathering spaces that seem to slide along the internal and external facades.
Diagram Parti Phase 6
1. Final concept is a series of delicate splices, pushes, pulls, pinches, slips and slides to create an artistic form that accentuates the uses of each block. The high performance block at the back, elevated private office and classroom blocks on the sides, a public study and theatre space at the front and a circulatory courtyard that ties the entire experience together.
A Blank Canvas
The approach to UNM’s P.A.I.S (Physics, Astronomy and Interdisciplinary Science) building starts with the pueblo form, however, to create a truly unique experience, the decision was made to create a completely white EFIS building, to allow the multitude of colors in the surrounding trees, and deep rich tones of New Mexico’s earth to reflect and bounce off the blank canvas.
This concept was paired with how large expanses of glass could be incorporated while working with the climatic conditions of New Mexico to enhance and embrace transparency, daylight and views. The general sense of openness and collaboration, and connection with the natural environment is readily apparent, while simultaneously maximizing energy efficiency and minimizing its carbon footprint.
The High Performance Block
As always, hand sketches are key and necessary to developing the large concepts for the form, systems and overall functionality of the building in its location. Above are a few early designs on how to create large swaths of open glass to the north allowing for transparency and visibility into circulation corridors, while folding and closing the envelop along the east and western facades.
The inspiration of these quick and dirty ideas originate with while attempting to keep the overall form as simple as possible, and creating a randomized interest through hole punching the envelope to allow for dappled and filtered light to enter the spaces.
Internalizing Views and Externalizing Program
Creating a central courtyard gave life to a spectacular single loaded corridor along the bridge that spans the office and classroom wings. This portion of the program allows for intuitive wayfinding close to entry and exit areas. Adding areas for relaxation and study are key in academic buildings, and provide students with much needed breakout and visual collaboration spaces.
It’s interesting how many opportunities are opened for simplified moves from internalizing views and pushing program to the exterior facades.
The Commons
Like many other commons spaces, this considered the desire for collaboration, expansive views, and unique to this location, a seamless transition between the courtyard and interior commons space. The design of the carpet looks to create symmetry with the block landscaping of the exterior and draws biophelic themes that allow the relationships between “in” and “out” to sing. The reflective chrome columns die into the background, as the complex colors of the space and exterior dance off them.
Photograph: View looking West from Southeast inside the courtyard
Photograph: View looking East from West Facade
Representation vs. Reality
Above Left View showing upper bridge corridor.
Above Right: View showing Lower-level High Performance Block at courtyard. This space is a collaborative teaching space.
The name of the game for renderings during this project was to accurately represent the space without frills so that the client could understand and gauge cost vs aesthetic. Many times, the visualization of the project surpasses its reality and the deliver, while realistic, becomes underwhelming.
Left: Classroom space in High Performance Block on Ground level.
