11:22 Skills Building - 4th Year

11:22

SKILLS BUILDING

Tom Ellis AR30022: Design Studio 4.2

Tutor: Julia Kashdan-Brown

Head of Year: Matthew Wickens

Tectonic Tutor: John Griffiths

Structural Tutor: Paul Horsfall

Landscape Tutor: Tim Osborn

Environmental Tutor: Delaram Moin

Preface

A passion for making is deep-rooted within me; with one grandfather who spent 50 years working as a carpenter and the other an avid woodworker, this passion was instilled in me at an incredibly tender age. My mum would collect me from my grandparents and to her horror she would find me in my grandad’s workshop as he taught me how to use power tools. I still hold this affection for the craft of making, and this is the reason for me pursuing a career in architecture.

I wrote the brief for this project based upon a belief that the art of making somehow holds a therapeutic value and that this could be used as a tool to heal. Little did I know as I wrote that brief that the making of this building would do exactly that for me. As my mum courageously underwent treatment for breast cancer amid a national lockdown, this project acted as my therapy.

I would like to thank a fantastic group of tutors, friends and family that supported me through such a challenging period. I am proud to have crafted a building that holds the values and morals instilled in me by my family.

The Bronx is Burning

12th October 1977

The Los Angeles Dodgers are playing a World Series baseball game against the New York Yankees at their home in the south west tip of the Bronx.1 The Yankees were beaten 6-1 by the Dodgers that night. However, the scoreline will not be the only part of the game that New Yorkers will want to forget. With 50 million people tuned into the live television broadcast the cameras momentarily panned away from the sporting action to focus on a derelict school two blocks away. 2 The building was engulfed in flames.

This scene would sadly have come as no shock to the residents of South Bronx; fires had ravaged the area since the beginning of the 1970s.3 This was the unfortunate culmination of decades of urban decay that had hit the New York borough.

Through the first half of the 20th Century, the Bronx was considered the ‘Jewish Borough’ with South Bronx’s population composed of 57% European Jewish immigrants. 4 South Bronx was considered the place to be with large apartments and tree-lined boulevards. However, a post-war baby boom saw residents begin to move away, and as a result, a massive shift in demographic occurred; by the 1950s two-thirds of South Bronx residents were black or Puerto Rican.5

Wartime controls on rent paired with ageing buildings saw landlords struggle to maintain their properties or pay their taxes and so housing conditions deteriorated severely. Tenants eventually began to abandon these appalling conditions, leaving large areas of South Bronx vacant. 6 Properties were no longer saleable, and so landlords took extreme measures. They employed local youths to set fire to their buildings in order to cash in on insurance payments. By the end of the 1970s, South Bronx resembled a war zone, fires burned uncontrolled, and gangs began to take charge of the streets.7

Fig.

Youth of Today

The late 1980s saw community driven urban renewal attempts within the area. $1 billion of public funding through the 1990s helped to reclaim large areas of the South Bronx for housing. 8 Despite three decades of investment and support, the current residents still face significant hardship, particularly the younger population.

A 2020 city-wide study, undertaken by a New York children’s charity, found that the under 18s of South Bronx are the most at risk across the whole city. This assessment was based on 18 risk indicators composed of social, economic and environmental factors.9

Child Poverty Rate

Key

Overcrowded Schools

30%

After School Supervision

Highest Risk

Moderate High Risk

Moderate Risk

Moderate Low Risk

Lowest Risk

1 in 5 children are left unsupervised after school

Fig. 02 - Child Risk Study

The Therapy of Making

‘Art therapy’ was a term coined in 1942 by Adrian Hill, a British artist. The artist was in the process of recovering from Tuberculosis and found that spending time to paint was aiding his recovery.11 The term grew through the mid 20th century as many professionals working in the mental health field found that the use of arts and crafts in the treatment plan of mental health patients was having a profound influence on their recovery. Today, art psychotherapy is an established treatment plan; in the UK, the NHS offers it as part of its mental health service. 12

Scientific studies provide compelling data to prove the effectiveness of art psychotherapy in treating Common Mental Disorders. For many CMDs, it was found to be nearly as effective as other forms of traditional treatment, such as cognitive behavioural therapy. It is believed that combining creative processes with therapy is effective in achieving a greater sense of personal wellbeing. The treatment is now being explored by many higher education institutes worldwide to aid students suffering from mental health issues. 13

The array issues facing the children of South Bronx has had a profound impact on their mental welfare. Over 26% of New York’s child mental health cases arise within the Bronx, yet the borough only constitutes 20% of the city’s under 18 population. 10

86%

The effectiveness of arts and crafts therapy when compared to traditional treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy. Anxiety

The Opportunity

Jerome Avenue Neighbourhood Plan

Recently, the city’s authorities have recognised the hardships still facing the South Bronx population; their work culminated in 2018 through the approval of a $189 neighbourhood planning initiative.14 The Jerome Avenue Neighbourhood Plan results from a four-year community engagement programme run by the NYC Department for City Planning. This consultation phase allowed the city authorities to identify the key issues that were affecting local residents. From this, they were then able to tailor a planning initiative that was best suited to the local people’s needs and ambitions. 15

The plan covers a 93 block stretch of Jerome Avenue and also incorporates some surrounding streets. The selection of this area of South Bronx for the neighbourhood plan resulted from requests made by local district community groups; these groups felt that the passageway required re-zoning. Commercial land use designation of many lots along Jerome Avenue has prevented redevelopment in the past. 16 The community groups felt that re-zoning the land to allow for housing and community assets would allow for regeneration of the area.

The plan’s ambitions are wide ranging covering the social, economic and environmental prospects of South Bronx. These ambitions cover the entire population of the area; however, the plan particularly emphasises the younger people of South Bronx and recognises the array of issues that affect this demographic. The neighbourhood plan sets out aims to build new facilities for the area’s overcrowded schools and also looks to provide training opportunities for young adults struggling to find employment.17

As a result, there is a unique opportunity to create a community facility tailored for the younger South Bronx population that forms part of the Jerome Avenue redevelopment.

Fig. 03 - The initiative’s flagship image

Fig. 04 - The community consultation

The Vision

Imagine a building with a programme that has the primary aim of benefitting the mental wellbeing of every 11-22 year old within South Bronx.

The 11:22 Skills Building will provide workshop facilities acting as the perfect device to help alleviate the array of the social and economic issues facing the younger population of South Bronx. Local middle and high schools will be able to utilise these specialist facilities in order to ease the strain on their overcrowded facilities. Not only does the 11:22 Skills Building offer specialist provisions that local schools so badly require, but the therapeutic nature of making will have an instrumental effect on the mental wellbeing of students. The hope is that this environment and programme of activities will positively affect the minds of users and also that the intimate, safe environments may encourage users to seek help and support for any wellbeing issues. When schools aren’t using the facilities, the building will become open to the disconnected youth of the area.

Fig. 05 - The southern section of Jerome Avenue as it leads onto Macombs Dam Bridge and towards Manhattan

11:22 SKILLS BUILDING

The 11:22 Skills Building will:

Provide mental health education to 11-22 year olds

Provide specialist teaching space for local schools to use

Provide an environment in which wellbeing issues can be identified by staff

Empower young adults with practical skills that help gain employment

Provide a valuable community resource

Spatial Arrangement

A diverse building programme creates a dynamic range of facilities within the 11:22 Skills Building resulting in an asset for the South Bronx youth and the wider community alike. Whilst wanting to integrate community spaces fully into the building it is also absolutely vital that suitable thresholds are held between the educational and community areas. This fine balancing act between the public and the private makes for a complex spatial arrangement.

All four workshops are heavily orientated around access to nature; outdoor working terraces create generous natural connections. Interdisciplinary links also act as a heavy driving force the arrangement of the workshops. Connective Spaces look to integrate students between disciplines with the hope of multi-disciplinary work.

The counselling provision of the building necessitates for a high degree of privacy. Positioning these facilities away from the public and workshop elements of the building along with the provision of private therapy gardens provides the necessary privacy threshold.

The Programme

Education

The building offers education across four practical disciplines: woodwork, ceramics, textiles and photography; these skills are currently neglected within the area’s overcrowded schools. Each discipline has a separate workshop provision. Training will be available to all teenagers and young adults aged between 11-22 within the South Bronx district, independent of whether they are in education or not.

Wellbeing Awareness

The creative spaces provide the ideal therapeutic environment to introduce mental wellness education to all building users. Building users will be provided with passive emotional wellbeing support, and they will also be equipped with the skills to identify wellbeing issues amongst their peers. This forms a fundamental pillar of the building’s programme and is so important within this area of New York.

Therapy

The building not only looks to take a preventative approach towards the mental wellbeing of users but also looks to provide therapy services to those who are suffering from any mental health issue. The provision of therapy spaces and trained staff will enable young adults from the area to seek the support that they require in an accessible, informal environment.

Commerce

The 11:22 Skills Building not only aims to provide young adults with facilities to practice practical skills, but it also looks to help them use these skills as a tool for finding employment. A public offering within the building will help to bring in the broader community. This offering will feature spaces that allow students to exhibit and sell their works.

The User

Schools

Ages 11-18

For the majority of the day the building’s facilities will be reserved for use by local schools. The multiple schools that surround the site will have access to facilities on a rota system.

Students

Ages 11-18

After school hours the facilities will open for all school students to come and continue using the facilities. The hope is that this will keep unsupervised teenagers away from negative influences.

Disconnected Youth

Ages 16-22

It is important that the building is open to a wider range of youths than just those currently in education. Facilities will be designated at specific times to young adults out of school and unemployed.

Local Community

Open to all

The 11:22 Skills Building will provide an offering that is open to the entire community of South Bronx. This allows the wider community to connect with the youth whilst also offering a key asset to all.

The 11:22 Skills Building will act as a flagship facility for New York based charity, the Jed Foundation. The charity was founded in 2000 by Donna & Phil Satow following the suicide of their teenage son, Jed. The couple realised the challenges that many teenagers and young adults endure as they transition into adulthood. They set up the charity with two core aims; firstly to provide mental health education to middle and high school students across America, and secondly to provide support services for young people who are suffering. 18

The 11:22 Skills Building will offer the charity the opportunity to provide their services in a face to face manner to the young adults of South Bronx. Hopefully, the success of this pioneering facility will enable the charity to open replica services across areas of America where the mental health of young adults is most at risk.

The

Client

Natural Aspirations

Antoine Laugier once stated that primitive man’s hut was the source “upon which all magnificences of architecture have been imagined”. 19 Laugier’s architectural philosophy, focused upon the use of nature as a driver in building design, resulted from his own aesthetic preferences. However, recent psychological evidence suggests that his theories are very relevant to modern design.

Numerous studies have shown that architecture utilising natural patterns and materials initiates the parasympathetic division of the autonomous nervous system. This division of the CNS is what gives rise to feelings of pleasure and safety. Studies are beginning to link patterns that were once beneficial to our ancestors’ survival as having a positive psychological impact upon modern day humans. 20

The data that is beginning to emerge is so compelling and should not be ignored in the design of modern buildings, particularly those that have a specific requirement to aid mental wellbeing. The 11:22 Skills Building will, therefore aspire to take inspiration from nature both in its form and materiality. The 11:22 Skills Building will look to bring this wild aesthetic to the concrete jungle that is New York.

A Central Location

School School Type Minutes walk to 11:22 Skills Building

Middle School

Middle/High School

Middle/High School

Middle School

Middle School

Middle School

Middle School

Middle/High School

Middle/High School

Middle School

To encourage the effective use of the 11:22 Skills Building, it is essential to ensure that it is positioned to be accessible to a high number of 11-22 year olds. 1133 Jerome Avenue is a prominent site sitting towards the southern edge of the neighbourhood plan corridor. The site is conveniently positioned within a 1 kilometre radius of 10 middle/high schools.

The site is fortunately positioned on the north west corner of Mullaly Park, offering the proposed scheme with views over 9 acres of parkland lined with trees. This close proximity to the park provides the site with the potential for strong connections to natural open space.

The safety of users whilst travelling to and from the building is paramount, particularly given the age of the intended demographic. A pedestrian crossing is positioned on the southern corner of the site, allowing users to carefully cross the four lanes of busy traffic. The length of Jerome Avenue is also street lit allowing for children to commute from the building safely. There is also a bus stop less than 150m from the site.

Site Heritage

Insurance maps from the beginning of the 20th century (fig. 08) show that all buildings along the western edge of Jerome Avenue have been constructed within the past century. The steep rocky nature of the site was a key reason behind the lack of development throughout the 19th century. City records show that all adjacent buildings to the site were constructed between 1925-1930. 21 Very little is recorded about the use of the site throughout the 20th century. However, a 1928 photograph (fig. 09) of 1161 Jerome Avenue (directly to the north of the site) appears to show the site as a shear rock face Looking at a wider region around the site there are very few historical constraints; Park Plaza Apartments, one of the first apartment blocks constructed in South Bronx, is the only landmarked building within a 500m radius of the site. Maps show that the site remained vacant up until 1931 when the current single storey building was constructed. 22

Fig. 09 - Adjacent property to the north of the site, 1928

Fig. 08 - 1909 Insurance Map

The Site

1133 Jerome Avenue is a steeply sloping site, currently home to a small petrol station. The front half of the site facing onto Jerome Avenue is a flat forecourt that provides four uncovered fuel pumps and an 80m2 single storey garage and shop. From the rear of the forecourt rises a 6m retaining wall that holds up a steep embankment sloping towards the back of 1130 Anderson Avenue.

The site is situated in a prime location and is flanked by 9-10 storey residential properties with views out over Mullaly Park. Presently the 850m2 is not fulfilling its potential with the petrol station in a state of disrepair.

Site Section A-A Scale 1:1000

Site Section B-B Scale 1:1000

Luis Llorens Torres Elementary School Cromwell Avenue Mullaly Park

Luis Llorens Torres Elementary School

Site Site

Anderson Avenue Anderson Avenue

Woodycrest Avenue

Jerome Avenue Jerome Avenue 15

Existing garage building to be demolished

Fig. 10 - Views over Mullaly Park

Fig. 11 -

Approach from the north

Fig. 12 - Approach from the south

Mullaly Park

Luis Llorens Torres School

1115 Jerome Avenue

1161 Jerome Avenue

The Proposal

Site Strategy

1:500 @ A3

The 11:22 Skills Building looks to knit itself into the busy street line and become an essential asset for the community of South Bronx. Strong interactions with both Jerome Avenue and Anderson Avenue allows for the building to become a critical community linkage that allows for all members of the public to traverse the 16m level change.

The proposal looks to respond sympathetically to the close-knit urban context that surrounds it. Stepping of the massing creates distance between the proposal and the surrounding residential properties in order to ensure that privacy is maintained and adequate daylighting is received by all. Landscaping also plays an integral role in the sensitive response to the surrounding context. The landscaping encompasses the building and creates a meadow-like buffer.

The site is conveniently positioned on the corner of Mullaly Park, and so the proposal looks to utilise the natural views that the park offers. The east facade of the building interacts with the park through the use of large openings and terraces facing onto the park.

Natural Interruptions

The rhythm of the mid-rise elevation of Jerome Avenue is frequently disturbed by lots occupied by low-rise or dilapidated structures. Many of these openings are scars of the 1980 South Bronx fires. Mid-rise properties built in the 1920s were destroyed by the fires and low rises properties were built in their place due to the area’s lack of appeal. Each of these breaks to the street elevation act as an opening for nature to infiltrate onto the street; trees and other vegetation rises from behind the properties. These low-rise breaks allow for nature to infiltrate the urban elevation and create a sense that nature is beginning to once again dominate. The proposal looks to present itself as a further natural interruption and to ensure that this rhythm of breaks is continued along the street. Thanks to the 11:22 Skills Building, green interruptions now not only have the power to heal the architectural scars of the city but also the heal the people of South Bronx.

Right: Natural interruptions to Jerome Avenue within 500 metres of the site

Fig. 13 - Central Park rock formation

Fig. 14 - Claremont Park rock formation

Fig. 15 - vegetation rises from a Central Park outcrop

Design Programme

The building’s lightweight fabric now rises into the sky wrapped around the stability of the extruded rock core. The fabric offers protection to the harsh and diverse environment of the city.

Stepping of the facades allows for a dynamic form to take shape, providing both distance from adjacent properties whilst also giving rise to generous outdoor spaces that allow for the workshops to be opened up to the city.

A natural cloak of vegetation envelopes the facades forming a green buffer, helping to form a serene environment within. The vegetative screen suppresses the disturbances of the city and allows for occupants to escape the city’s stresses.

04. Fabric

06. The Forest 05. Stepping

Jerome Avenue

CAM Workshop

Level 00

Level 00 provides access to the building for students and members of the public travelling from the lower east level of the area. Students access through a private entrance that is stepped back from the street line. The covered entrance provides a transitional space that acts as a threshold to the private elements of the building. The shop lures the wider community into the building at street level and encourages them to engage with the public programme. The shop also serves as a thoroughfare to the public lift access. This separate public vertical access point ensures that only students have access to the workshop offering of the 11:22 Skills Building.

1:200 @ A3

Level 01

1:200 @ A3

The timber workshop is located on level 01 of the 11:22 Skills Building. Placing the workshop and its heavy equipment low in the building’s section ensures structural efficiency. Large glazed areas on the eastern wall of the workshop allow views in from the public sculpture garden. Whilst the public cannot enter the workshop, they are still able to engage with the space by watching the students as they work.

The double-height volume of the workshop creates a pleasant environment in which to work. The raised ceiling level also benefits the single-sided daylighting of the workshop by allowing light to flood through the large eastern windows.

Interdisciplinary Studio

Plant WCs

Level 01 Mezzanine

1:200 @ A3

An interdisciplinary studio is located at the level o1 mezzanine; it acts as a linkage between the timber workshop below and the ceramic studio above. A generous staircase with integrated theatre seating helps to open the mezzanine to the timber workshop and blur the boundary between the two spaces. The stepped seating provides a handy tool that can be used for a plethora of activities, whether that be class lectures or individual study.

The open plan of the interdisciplinary studio looks to encourage group work. The large work tables provide the ideal workspace for students to engage in cross-discipline discussion.

Ceramic Studio

Kiln Room Store Staff Office WCs

Level 02

1:200 @ A3

A generous staircase rising from the interdisciplinary studio to the level 02 ceramic studio ensures that the spaces are truly integrated. The ceramic studio is organised around a central void that allows views of the timber workshop below. Meanwhile, students in the timber workshop look upwards to catch glimpses of the potters at work through the timber slat balustrade of the void.

Large glazed doors open the studio to a spacious terrace that wraps the eastern and northern elevations of the studio. Students are able to move their work and equipment onto this terrace. The high perimeter planter encloses the terrace to provide a private and quiet space that allows students to work amongst nature despite sitting alongside the borough’s arterial road.

Community Hall

Store Kitchen

To Anderson Avenue

Cafe

Level 03

1:200 @ A3

The 11:22 Skills Building turns its attention to the wider community at level 03. An entrance on the west elevation allows access to the building from Anderson Avenue and the raised western level. The generous exhibition corridor welcomes visitors to the building. Members of the public can simply enter the building to use the lift connecting them to the lower level of Jerome Avenue. Alternatively, the cafe and community hall an extensive programme that the community can use throughout the day. The large, open community hall has the ability to host an array of community events whilst also providing a vital space to the teaching programme of the proposal. Sharing this facility ensures efficiency of the overall building programme and prevents under-utilised floor area.

Level 04

1:200

The double height volume of level 04 is home to the 11:22 Skills Building’s photography studio. The large open-plan volume provides a highly adaptable studio that can be utilised for a variety of photography work. small photography bays can be set up to allow for larger classes. Alternatively, fewer larger bays can be formed when large format work is to take place. An ample store allows for equipment to be stored no matter what the studio arrangement.

An array of windows line the south and east walls of the studio allowing for students to experiment with the use of natural daylight. Operable black out blinds also allow for the studio to be shut off from the outside and used with only artificial studio lighting.

@ A3

The therapy spaces of the 11:22 Skills Building are vital to the success of the programme. Whilst mental health education can be provided through the workshops; there is also a requirement for private spaces that can be used for treatment. The individual therapy rooms are located at the highest level of the building, where the most privacy is offered. The raised position brings students away from the busy streets below and allows them to disconnect from the stresses that are associated with it. The perimeter planters are used to form private therapy terraces - one to each therapy room. The native planting of the planters provides further privacy whilst also allowing therapists to make use of nature’s healing powers.

Level 07

1:200 @ A3

Form Rationale

The flourishing 1920s saw Art Deco architecture fill the streets of South Bronx. The site’s surrounding context is littered with geometric features and details synonymous with the style.

Whilst the design intention is to create an interruption to the street that breaks from the style of the immediate built context, the proposal uses Art Deco styling as its basis in the formation of the massing. Stepped façades are seen amongst some of the city’s most famous Art Deco buildings. The Chrysler Building (fig. 16) is arguably the most well known Art Deco design of the city and utilises stepping to create the iconic spire. This stepped design provides a form that can be successfully applied to the 11:22 proposal to overcome many of the site’s constraints. Contorting the symmetrical, regimented Art Deco stepping allows for a contemporary form that responds to the main conflicting constraints of the site.

Fig.

Textile Workshop Store

CAM Workshop

Engaging the Street

Engagement with the disconnected youth and also the wider public is vital to the success of the 11:22 Skills Building. The proposal looks to interact with the street at level 00 in order to help boost engagement. The rammed concrete facade angles out onto the pavement; this facade paired with strategic landscaping is used to funnel people towards the building and encourage them to look into the CAM workshop. Angled reveals to the CAM workshop windows maximise the street views into the workshop from the oblique angle of approaching pedestrians. The aim of creating these views is to slow the passing foot traffic and encourage pedestrians to explore the building’s public offering.

1. The landscape pushes pedestrian towards the angled street elevation

2. Strategic windows provide views into the CAM workshop

3. Pedestrians slow to watch the students at work

4. Pedestrians will then continue to explore the shop and further public offering

1:50 Level 00 Street Plan

Above: 1:25 Internal Elevation - CAM

Reinforced rammed concrete - 320mm

Mycelium insulation - 160mm

Rammed concrete - 175mm

Workshop Window

Right: 1:25 Street facade section

Recessed LED light Oak lining Fixed frameless glazing

Oak window sill

Community Offering

Community sits at the core of the 11:22 Skills Building. Whilst the programme dictates that many areas of the building cannot provide access to the general public, a dedication of community assets at level 00 and level 03 ensures that the people of South Bronx are still offered with suitable amenities whilst maintaining appropriate thresholds to the student areas.

The community hall sits at the Anderson Avenue entrance level, raised away from the noise and distraction of Jerome Avenue. The hall’s 130m2 rectangular area allows for it to be used for a plethora of activities throughout the day. Sliding partitions between the community hall and cafe allow for varying levels of privacy dependent on the activity taking place. The varying layouts and privacy achievable within the community hall allow for it to be used right through the day both by the wider community as well as students.

Right: Daily timetable for the community hall

Opposite: Community hall layouts

11:22

SKILLS BUILDING

Community Hall Timetable

14th May 2021

7:00am Breakfast Club Students

9:30am Mindfulness Public

10:30amCommercialising Your Design LectureStudents

12:30pm Student Lunch Students

1:30pm Social Group Public

3:30pm 11:22 Introductory Lecture Students

5:30pmMental Well-being First Aid CoursePublic

7:30pmJerome Avenue Neighbourhood WatchPublic

8:30pm Yoga Public

Future Designers Lecture Series

Don’t miss our future designers lecture series taking place every Wednesday 7-8pm. Each week a member of the 11:22 cohort will come and talk you through their designs and their ambitions for the future.

9:30am - Mindfulness

12:30pm - Student Lunch

3:30pm - 11:22 Introductory Lecture

7:30pm - Jerome Avenue Neighbourhood Watch

Right: 1:25 detailed section - level 04 mezzanine

Opposite: Level 04 mezzanine

A concrete base is the basis of the natural narrative of the building, but the material choice is also vital to overcoming the topographical challenges of the site. A layered timber fabric rises from the concrete and presents itself as the forest on a rock.

Materiality

Materials not only drive the aesthetic quality of the building but they also play an integral role in the sustainability strategy of the proposal. A diverse selection of materials has been made to create dynamic and tactile internal and external finishes.

1. Plywood joinery

2. Mycelium insulation

3. Native planting

4. Steel ventilation grille

5. Concrete floor

6. Douglas fir glulam structure

7. Furnishing fabrics

8. Rammed concrete

9. Green oak frame

10. Charred timber cladding

Remembering the Past

The 1980’s fires of South Bronx epitomise the struggles that the population have endured since the 1960s. The charred timber facades reference the fires and symbolise the struggles that the youth of today now face. The extensive planting that rises the building in terrace perimeter planters acts as symbol for the hope and opportunities that the 11:22 Skills Building can bring to the suffering youth.

A green oak frame overlays the darkened facades and acts as a growing medium for climbing planting as the building ages. This oak frame rises over the terraces to form brise soleil, providing shading to the students.

Right: 1:25 timber elevation study

Opposite: 1:25 timber terrace detailed section

Detail A-A

Concrete paving slabs - 35mm

Paving pedestals

Concrete (laid to falls) - 150mm

Concrete - 50mm

Waterproof membrane

Dowel laminated timber slab - 150mm

Detail B-B

Top soil - 250mm

Sub soil - 350mm

Filter sheet

Root barrier

Retention mat - 20mm

Drainage board - 35mm

Single ply membrane

Concrete planter - 200mm

Dowel laminated timber slab - 150mm

Fig. 18 - Firefighters flee a toppling South Bronx building

Linking the levels

A safe and convenient route, for students and the public alike, wraps around the building helping pedestrians to traverse the 16 metre level difference between Jerome Avenue and Anderson Avenue. Existing routes between the two streets are sparse and particularly so for those with disabilities. The building offers an external route that passes through the level 01 sculpture terrace. The external staircase on the south side of the building completes the journey up to Anderson Avenue. This route is not suitable for those unable to climb stairs and hence the internal lift offers a further vertical connection to the public as well. The lift allows public access between the shop at level 00 to the exhibition corridor at level 03. The lift also stops at level 01 to allow disabled members of the public to access the sculpture terrace, whilst maintaining the required threshold to the timber workshop.

Top left: Precedent - Barrakka Lift,

Fig. 17

Valletta

Top right: public routes to the sculpture garden

Right: Isometric section of external staircase

10:00am

Throughout the day the public can use the external route around the building to travel between Jerome Avenue and Anderson Avenue. The external stair linking level 01 to level 03 has been carefully designed to ensure public safety. Landings break the stairs into small flights to provide regular resting points if required. Each landing also creates a 30° angle between the flights in order to reduce the risk of serious fall.

8:00pm

After dark the public route around the building will be illuminated to ensure a safe environment that people continue to feel safe to use. Recessed LED lighting within the external stairs will ensure that the stairs are suitably illuminated. Overhead lighting positioned discretely on the building provide primary lighting down over the public route.

The outdoor spaces of the 11:22 Skills Building all feature the same core components; boundaries, nature, internal-external engagement. However, manipulating these individual elements allows for a diverse array of external spaces with various uses.

Exhibition Therapy Work

The level 01 sculpture garden acts as a space for students to exhibit their work and fuel community engagement with the building’s programme. Boundaries have been manipulated to form a thoroughfare that ensures pedestrian flow past the exhibited work. The terrace’s natural element is utilised as a tool to draw attention to the student work.

These elements are re-aligned to create work terraces where the external space connects into one of the building’s workshops. Internal-external engagement is increased whilst the outer boundary is solidified in order for the terraces to take an inward-facing stance. Large openings in the building’s fabric ensure seamless links with the internal workspaces.

Further increasing the boundary and nature conditions, terraces can be utilised as private and calming therapy spaces. Splitting of the terrace through the use of boundaries forms small therapy gardens that allow students to talk openly and without worry. Whilst the extensive planting offers the healing qualities of nature.

Right: A local worker passes through the level 01 sculpture garden as he travels between Jerome Avenue and Anderson Avenue

Planting Specification

Planting plays an integral role within the proposal, and therefore the selection of plants has been given the same attention as any material within the built fabric. The planting becomes a vital component of the tectonics of the proposal.

Annual Interest

Variety is a crucial criteria of the 11:22 Skills Building; a mix of trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials have been selected. Species have also been chosen to ensure that the landscape provides interests throughout all the seasons. The variety of species ensures that as some die back, others will begin to bloom.

Winter Hardiness

The selected shrubs and planting are chosen to withstand New York’s cold temperatures and are therefore usefully hardy.

Native Species

The proposal looks to act as a further natural interruption to the Jerome Avenue street line through reference to New York’s natural/ geological history. Therefore the planting is constituted only of species found to grow naturally in North-East America.

Mosquito Grass

Fringe Tree

Whitespire Grey Birch

Red Sprite Winterberry Shadbush

Rattlesnake Master

Dawn Bodnant Vibernum Leadplant

Christmas Fern Thimbleweed

Tall Tickseed Nannyberry

Northern Sea Oats

Prairie Dropseed

Purple Lovegrass Mexican Feather Grass

Planting Calendar

Trees

Whitespire Grey Birch

Shadbush

Fringe Tree

Nannyberry

Red Sprite Winterberry

Staghorn Sumac

Grasses

Northern Sea Oats

Prairie Dropseed

Mexican Feather Grass

Purple Lovegrass

Mosquito Grass

Big Bluestem

Perennials

Rattlesnake Master

Dawn Bodnant Vibernum

Christmas Fern

Thimbleweed

Tall Tickseed

Leadplant

A Fabric First Approach

Environmental design has been fully integrated into the entire design process and has played a pivotal role in shaping the 11:22 Skills Building. Passive measures are utilised alongside mechanical systems within the building to create a well-rounded strategy that minimises the environmental impact of the proposal.

The building fabric sits at the forefront of this strategy and is a leading force in the design of the building’s form and materiality. A highly insulated, airtight fabric has been formed in order to reduce the loss of internal heat. The materials that constitute this fabric have been very carefully selected to ensure that the building’s carbon footprint is minimised as far as possible whilst providing a long-lasting building.

Form Factor

Form Factor = total heat loss area / treated floor area

= 4474.7 / 2382.9 = 1.9

Passivehaus sets an expectation of a form factor below 3.0. Achieving 1.9 on the 11:22 Skills Building shows that the massing provides an efficient solution in achieving the required floor area, thus heat losses will be minimised.

Glazing Ratio

Glazing ratio = % of treated floor area

= (281.67 / 2382.9) x 100 = 11.82%

The UK Passivehaus trust recommends that the glazing area should be between 10-15% of the treated floor area. The proposal achieves a glazing to floor area ratio of 11.82%. This rudimentary figure acts to show the building is not over-glazed and so unnecessary heat losses are minimised.

Charred Larch Provides a resilient external finish to the 11:22 skills centre to create a long lasting building. The inherent fire resistance properties of charred larch allows for the building to satisfy building regulations even whilst using timber over an 18m height. Larch is found abundantly across North America, further enhancing the environmental qualities of the material.

The steep slope of the site dictates a necessity for retaining structures and concrete provides the most suitable option for forming these. The relatively high embodied carbon of concrete means that it is used sparingly throughout the scheme and only where appropriate. Both the reinforced concrete elements and rammed concrete walls use a concrete mix containing fly ash to help reduce the environmental impact.

The use of timber for the majority of the building’s structure not only provides the desired aesthetic qualities but also presents numerous environmental benefits. Atmospheric carbon dioxide sequestered in the timber will be stored throughout the building’s life and will help to relieve the 11:22 Skill Building’s embodied carbon footprint.

Formed from agricultural by-products to produce a carbon negative material, mycelium’s environmental credentials are far superior to traditional petrochemical insulations. The carbon dioxide sequestered by the manufacturing of this insulation will help to reduce the 11:22 Skills Building’s embodied carbon. The product is manufactured in Chester County where 47% of the USA’s mushroom industry is based. 23

4. Mycelium Chester County, Pennsylvania - 131 miles

1. Charred Larch Albany, New York - 138 miles

3. Douglas Fir Structural Timber Unadilla, New York - 158 miles

2. Concrete Ravena, New York - 125 miles

Charred Timber Wall

Area: 1696 m2

U-Value: 0.101 W/m2K

Heat Loss: 170 W/K

The Fabric

Rammed Concrete Wall

Area: 112 m2

U-Value: 0.128 W/m2K

Heat Loss: 14 W/K

Rammed Concrete Retaining Wall

Area: 215 m2

U-Value: 0.121 W/m2K

Heat Loss: 25 W/K

Contiguous Pile Retaining Wall

Area:332 m2

U-Value: 0.116 W/m2K

Heat Loss: 38 W/K

Concrete Floor Slab

Area: 697 m2

U-Value: 0.128 W/m2K

Heat Loss: 89 W/K

Intensive Green Roof

Area: 127 m2

U-Value: 0.123 W/m2K

Heat Loss: 15 W/K

Terrace Roof

Area: 731.4 m2

U-Value: 0.141 W/m2K

Heat Loss: 103 W/K

Sedum Roof

Area: 151 m2

U-Value: 0.102 W/m2K

Heat Loss: 7 W/K

Heat Loss Calculation

Heat can be lost in two ways - through the buildings fabric and through air exchanges.

Fabric Heat losses (QF)

Ventilation Heat losses (QA)

QA /ΔT = 1/3NV = 8869.5 W/K

Effeciency of

90%

Heat Losses

Heating Cost

Degree Days (October-April) = 1774.524

Total heating demand (October-April) = 73,286.9 kWh

Cost of kWh from GSHP = 3.5p/kWh

Heating cost (October-April) = £2565.04

The fabric first approach to design paired with a highly efficient ventilation system has dramatically reduced the building’s heat losses. The fabric of the building is not only highly insulated but also highly airtight. This airtightness means that the exchange of air within the building is very controlled with little infiltration.

2.5 air changes per hour delivers a suitable supply of fresh air that comfortably meets the building regulation minimum of 18m3 of fresh air per person per hour. The pie charts on this page show the effectiveness of the building’s MVHR system. Without this system, the building’s heat losses would be 5.6 times higher, and in the period of October-December, the heating cost would increase by £11,896.72. This figure shows how the design of a comprehensive building fabric and heating system can drastically improve operational costs and carbon footprint.

Ground Source Heat Pump

A ground source heat pump is utilised to provide both the building’s winter heating demand and summer cooling demand. The use of this system will drastically reduce the building’s requirement for carbon-intensive grid energy.

New York experiences extreme temperature swings throughout the year, in summer, the temperature rarely drops below 20°C, whilst the winter months can see temperatures drop to below -10°C overnight. This high degree of fluctuation in the air temperature means that a ground source heat pump is a far more efficient heating/cooling solution for the 11:22 Skills Building when compared with an air source heat pump. Throughout the year, the average ground temperature of New York remains nearly constant; therefore, providing a highly efficient source of heating and cooling year-round.

Summer Operation:

The ground source heat pump is used throughout the summer to cool the building. Exhaust air from the building will transfer its heat energy to the refrigerant of the heat pump. This heat energy will then be dissipated into the ground.

Winter Operation:

Throughout the winter months the ground source heat pump will revert its system to now heat the building. A series of heat exchanges will extract heat from the ground and transfer it to the building’s air system. This heated air will then be fed into the ventilation system.

MVHR Strategy

A mechanical ventilation heat recovery system is incorporated into the ventilation system in order to reduce ventilation heat losses during the winter months. The ventilation system is continually bringing fresh air into the building and then expelling stale air. The stale air extracted from the building will hold heat due to the heating system and thermal gains from occupants. The heat extractor of the MVHR will transfer this heat to incoming fresh air and hence will prevent it from being expelled from the building. This transfer of heat energy to the incoming fresh air provides ‘free’ energy and dramatically reduces the building’s energy demand. The pre-heated fresh air will require a far smaller amount of heating from the ground source heat pump than if fresh air was brought in without any heat recovery exchange.

The MVHR units used in the building have in-built counter cross-flow heat exchangers. These heat exchangers are far more efficient than cross-flow or rotary systems. Efficiencies of up to 90% can be achieved with these heat exchangers. The operating costs for counter cross-flow heat exchangers are also far lower when compared to other types of exchangers.

The MVHR units will be positioned on the roof of the building. This will ensure that air brought into the building is as far from the traffic pollution as possible and hence improves the internal air quality.

Ventilation Strategy

The building utilises a mechanically driven displacement ventilation system all year round, delivering both heating and cooling as required. Air requires far less energy to heat per unit, and so this system provides a highly efficient solution to transfer heat to the whole building. Ducts running within a raised access floor deliver fresh air to all spaces via floor grilles. Ducts at the soffit level are then used to extract the air from the rooms and then expel it through the roof top air handling unit.

This system works effectively across the range of spaces provided within the 11:22 Skills Building, meaning that a single, simple design can be applied throughout the building. Displacement ventilation systems work at extremely low pressures and hence are particularly effective in workshop spaces where dust is present. The air velocity is too low to pull dust particles and so particles will not be lifted into the air. Localised dust extraction units can remove these particles in an isolated system.

A mixed mode ventilation strategy will be used throughout the summer months. The opening of doors and windows is integral to enforcing the natural connections of the building. The use of mechanical ventilation alongside this will ensure the delivery of cooling.

1. Fresh air will be delivered to the heat pump unit from the roof.

2. The fresh air is chilled by the refrigerant of the ground source heat pump.

3. This cooled air enters the building through the floor level grilles.

4. This air brought in at low level will begin to rise as it comes into contact with warm bodies.

5. The stack effect will cause this air to rise to the soffit where it is then expelled via the extract ducts.

Throughout the winter, the building is entirely mechanically ventilated. This allows the building’s envelope to be maintained, ensuring that nearly all expelled air exits via the MVHR.

1. Pre-heated air from the rooftop MVHR units is delivered to the heat pump unit.

2. The heat pump units use heat extracted from the ground to supplement the air temperature and heat it to the value determined by the building management system.

3. Heated air is released into the spaces at floor level through the floor grilles.

4. This heated air begins to rise due to the stack effect. As the air rises, it is further heated by equipment and bodies - further driving the stack effect.

5. This now stale air is extracted from the room at ceiling level via a series of extract ducts.

6. The extracted air is passed through the MVHR units prior to being expelled from the building.

The glazed south and east facades allow for daylight to penetrate deep into the ceramic workshop despite being unable to let light in from the west. Workbenches and pottery wheels are placed on the east of the plan where light levels are

Day Lighting

Daylighting not only plays an essential role in the environmental strategy of the 11:22 Skills Building but it also plays a vital role in providing natural connections between the occupants and the external planting. It was therefore deemed essential that every space within the building had access to natural light.

The steep nature of the site posed a constraint on the direction of access of natural daylighting to the lower levels. In order to overcome this large opening positioned on the east and south facades allow for abundant amounts of daylight throughout the building. The extensive landscaping of the scheme allows for these larger openings on the south facade without posing an issue of overlooking the adjacent property.

The most easterly benches of the workshop have a light level of 800 lux and so are suitable for fine detail work. The middle section of the workshop achieves light levels of 600 lux whilst the rear receives levels of below 500 lux. Energy-efficient LED lighting will be used to supplement the rear of the workshop in

Solar Shading

Whilst wanting to benefit from solar gains both for passive heating and lighting, it is also vital that solar gains entering the building are controlled to prevent overheating or glare issues.

The constrained nature of the site benefits the solar shading strategy for the 11:22 Skills Building. Throughout the afternoon, the adjacent properties to the north and the west provide shading to a large majority of the building. Higher levels of the building that do not benefit from this solar shading utilise overhanging terraces and timber brise soleil in order to prevent overheating of the internal spaces.

The east facade is open to the street, so solar shading is not provided by the surrounding context. Brise soleil alongside solar control glazing has been used on this facade to prevent excessive gains throughout the morning.

Summer Solstice: 72.9°

Winter Solstice: 25.8°

Acoustics

Traffic Noise Reverberation

The large volume and flat surfaces of the workshops and cafe pose a risk of long reverberation times, which would seriously impact the internal comfort of occupants. To overcome this issue, acoustic profile dowel laminated timber panels are used to form the floor plates. Fibrous insulation is used within grooved channels between the timber sections in order of reducing reflected sound.

Jerome Avenue is a busy four-lane that acts as the main transport artery between South Bronx and Manhattan. This busy road poses a potential acoustic issue to the building. The building’s fabric provides a high level of acoustic insulation to overcome this traffic noise. The planting wrapping the building’s terraces also acts as an effective buffer when doors and windows are open.

The vegetation that rises the facades is formative in the building’s aesthetic quality and is informed by recent scientific studies on the effects of nature on mental health. However, the landscaping also forms a vital component of the environment strategy through the creation of a diverse natural habitat.

Biological Habitat

All plants and trees used throughout the landscaping are species native to New York state. This helps to form an urban ecosystem where birds and insects can use the landscape as their habitat. The creation of further vertical landscapes within the future of the area would help to form ecological corridors and would see the re-colonisation of South Bronx by plants and animals alike.

Micro-climate

The landscaping also helps to benefit the building’s human occupants; the plants filter dust from the air and exchange Carbon dioxide for oxygen. Hence, the landscape acts as an effective air purifier for both the internal and external spaces of the building. This micro-climate created around the building’s fabric is even more critical considering the proximity of Jerome Avenue’s four lanes of traffic.

Bioclimate

Rainwater Collection

The current usage of the site sees under 50% of the site’s area featuring impermeable surfaces. The remaining area is construed of permeable natural surfaces. As a result, it is imperative that the 11:22 Skills Building employs a suitable drainage system to prevent the building from placing additional burden on the city’s mains drainage system. A sustainable drainage system (SUDS) will be utilised to ensure that any rainfall onto the building will not reach the public drainage system.

Planting across the building’s terraces and external staircase will play a vital role in this strategy. Evapotranspiration from the vegetation will help to slowly dissipate a large volume of water that falls directly onto the planted areas.

A rainwater collection system will also be utilised to collect, store and attenuate water falling onto the impermeable terraces surfaces. Water will be collected and stored in a centralised storage tank. This collected water can then be used for irrigation of the planting, and in wetter months, it can be diverted for use as greywater.

This system not only alleviates strain on the city’s drainage system but also reduces the volume of mains water required by the building.

Evapo-transpiration from the vegetation

Water percolates slowly into the soil, excess water is drained and stored

Water Collection

Annual Volume of rainwater collected = roof areas x drainage coefficient x filter efficiency x annual rainfall

Annual Volume of rainwater collected = 706.5 x 0.8 x 0.95 x 1.27 = 682 m3

Carbon Saving

Carbon saving of system = annual volume of water collected x carbon footprint of mains water

Carbon saving of system = 682 x 0.298 = 203.2 kg CO2 e

Drainage channel collects water and diverts it to the storage tank

Photovoltaic Cells

In addition to the improved efficiency of a ground source heat pump over an air source heat pump, the decision for choosing a ground source heat pump was also influenced by a desire to increase the available roof space for photovoltaic cells. The building’s roof provides space for 53 m2 of photovoltaic cells.

The planted border around the roof perimeter allows the solar panels to be positioned at an optimum angle of 32° without being visible from the street level. This angle paired with the south-facing orientation of the solar panels creates a highly efficient system.

The energy produced by these cells will be used to power equipment and lighting within the 11:22 Skills Building, helping to reduce the building’s use of electricity from the grid.

Annual System Energy Output

Total area of solar panels = 53m2

Power output per 1m2 = 190W

Total system power output = 10.07W

Annual average hours of sunshine per day = 5.5 hours

Total daily electricity output = 55.39kWH

Total annual electricity output = 20,215kWH

Annual electricity savings = £3436.55

(Assuming £0.17 cost per kWH)

Structure

Dowel Laminated Timber Floor Plates

Structural Overview

The building’s primary structural system is composed of reinforced rammed concrete elements through the lower levels of the building, and from this rises a frame that consists of glulam members and dowel laminated timber floor decks.

The building’s structural strategy is not only driven by an obvious need for stability and support, but it also plays a vital role in the formation of the building’s programme and narrative. The striated finish of the rammed concrete looks to represent the historic rock formations witnessed throughout the city’s parks. The delicate timber frame that rises from this heavy, solid base looks to represent a forest that grows from the rock. The inherent beauty of these two structural systems allows for the building’s structure to be exposed in its entirety, and so is the driving force behind the aesthetic qualities of the proposal.

Reinforced rammed concrete core

Cast in-situ Concrete Transfer Slab

Reinforced rammed concrete walls

Glulam Frame

Key

Piled concrete retaining wall

Reinforced rammed concrete

Glulam column

Glulam beam

Dowel laminated timber deck

Structural Grid

1:150

The structural grid plays an integral role in the building’s stepped form. The grid has arisen as a result of strict site constraints. The enclosed, restrictive nature of the site demanded a small grid spacing that allows for stepping of the massing to allow light to adjacent buildings. Meanwhile, the nature of the workshop spaces necessitates large clear spans. A 4m grid running along the north-south axis of the site allows for the stepped massing, as seen from Jerome Avenue. Meanwhile, two 8m wide bays along the east-west axis achieve large, uninterrupted spaces within the workshops. The concrete core has been coordinated to allow access to all levels of the stepped massing.

@ A3

Foundation Design

1:250 @ A3

The site’s sloping nature posed a number of structural challenges. The most prominent of these challenges was to ensure that the proposal does not undermine the structural integrity of any surrounding buildings. A contiguous piled retaining wall runs across the back of the site in order to support the 16m raised level upon which sits 1130 Anderson Avenue. Once the rear level has been secured, pile foundations will be driven into the ground, and a ground beam will be cast upon those piles to form the building’s foundations. Continuous flight auger piling has been chosen due to its very low level of vibration, and hence this work will not cause disturbance to nearby structures.

The concrete used for the foundation and retaining structures has an inherent high embodied carbon. However, these structures are vitally important in order for the site to be safely utilised. The durability of concrete does ensure the longevity of the scheme. In addition to this, the environmental credentials of the concrete will be further improved through the use of granulated blast furnace slag as a substitution for cement.

Continuous flight auger concrete piles

Contiguous piled retaining wall

Pile cap

Concrete ground beams

Concrete ground beam

Reinforced rammed concrete wall

Left: Timber frame of level 4 and level 4 mezzanine

Construction Sequence

Stage 1

The site hoarding will be erected and a site facility/delivery area will be formed on Jerome Avenue. Ground Remediation works will be carried out as required. The small existing building on the site will also be demolished.

Stage 2

The construction works will begin with a contiguous piled wall being built along the rear of the site in order to support the rear raised level. Once this retaining wall is in place, the slope of the site can be excavated down to the level of the existing retaining wall. Further concrete piles can now be driven into the ground.

Stage 3

Concrete ground beams and ground bearing concrete slabs will be formed.

Stage 4

The rammed concrete walls of level 00 and the building’s core will now be poured. A number of pours will take place in order to achieve the desired striated finish.

Stage 6

The terrace roofs and planters will be constructed next. Shuttering will be prepared in a workshop off-site allowing for quick work on site.

Stage 5

The glulam frame and DLT floors can begin to be assembled. During the construction process these timber elements will need to be wrapped in protective plastic to prevent damage from the weather.

Stage 7

The external walls of the building will be constructed next.

Stage 8

The external oak frame is then constructed. Prefabrication and testing off site allows for this frame to be erected quickly.

Stage 9

Windows and doors will be fitted to create a weather tight envelope.

Stage 10

All of the buildings service will now be fitted. Internal fit-out and landscaping can then take place in tandem.

Design for Disassembly

Dry Connections

ǫ All timber structural members will utilise dry connections to make it easier to disassemble and re-purpose the structure at the end of the building’s life

Repetition

ǫ The 11:22 Skills Centre has been designed using a small component palette. This helps to reduce the time and cost of the building’s construction. It also helps to broaden the ways in which the structure can be re-used at the end of life.

Accessibility

ǫ Exposed mechanical steel connections help create the desired didactic structure that acts as a reference to the school’s students. However, these exposed connections help to ease the disassembly of the timber frame.

Identification System

ǫ During off-site manufacturing of the timber structure, all components will be labelled with an identification code. This coding system will help for the sorting of components when the building is decommissioned. It will also enhance the maintenance programme of the building.

06 Regulations

Part B Compliance

Requirement B1: Means of warning and escape

ǫ An electrically operated fire alarm system controlled by a fire detection system will be installed within the building for detecting fire and raising the alarm. The audio fire alarm will be supplemented by visual warnings for people with impaired hearing

ǫ All escape route distances and widths are compliant with approved document B

ǫ Vertical escape routes and protected escape stairs comply with the regulations set out in approved document B, including the provision of refuges within each protected stair

ǫ The fire resistance of enclosures, doors and glazed elements will be specified to meet the requirements set out in the regulations.

ǫ Fire assembly points have been located in suitable locations that comply with relevant regulations.

Requirement B2: Internal fire spread (linings)

ǫ The surface lining of all internal surfaces will be specified to comply with the classification set out in section 6 of approved document B to resist the spread of fire across the surface.

Requirement B3: Internal fire spread (structure)

ǫ The buildings shall be designed and constructed so that, in the event of a fire, its stability will be maintained for a reasonable period.

ǫ All exposed timber structure will be suitably treated and oversized to ensure the structural stability of the building is maintained for a suitable period of time.

ǫ Where reasonably necessary to inhibit the spread of fire within the building, sub-divisions of the building with fire-resisting construction along with the installation of suitable fire suppression systems has been employed.

Requirement B4: External fire spread

ǫ The external walls and roof of the building will be designed and specified to adequately resist the spread of fire across the building and from one building to another.

ǫ The charred timber cladding featured on the external walls is inherently fire resistant due to a layer of burnt timber that is produced as a result of the charring process.

Requirement B5: Access and facilities for the fire service

ǫ The design of the building allows for the fire service to access all parts of the building, compliant with approved document B

ǫ The building sits directly adjacent to Jerome Avenue, allowing for direct access for fire engines.

Part M Compliance

M1 – Access to and use of buildings other than dwellings

ǫ Level access is provided to the building from both Jerome Avenue and Anderson Avenue. These two entrances help to improve accessibility to the building from all directions due to the drastic level difference seen in the immediate vicinity of the site.

ǫ An existing drop off point sits on Jerome Avenue less than 20m from the entrance.

ǫ Bicycle storage is provided in a location close to the ground floor entrance of the building. This allows for students and the wider community to access the site easily by bicycle.

ǫ All external doors are motorised and feature automatic opening.

ǫ There are few corridors in the building, but where they do occur they have a minimum width of 1200mm

ǫ The vertical nature of the building dictates for a suitable means of accessible vertical circulation. A 1400mm x 3500mm lift running the entire height of the building with a 1500mm wide manoeuvring at every landing.

ǫ An accessible WC is provided at every level of the building. These WCs are all designed in compliance with diagram 18 in M1.

ǫ Recent government legislative changes also require for the 11:22 Skills Building to feature a changing places WC. This facility is provided at the ground floor level and will help to open the building to a number of people within the community suffering from severe disability.

Key

Drop-off point

Disabled WC

Disabled Changing Room Elevator

Top: Part M compliant facilities on the ground floor Left: 1:50 plan of the changing places facility on the ground floor

British Standards Compliance

All of the 11:22 Skills Centre’s workshops have been designed to strictly adhere to the health and safety standards expected of design and technology facilities within an educational setting - BS4163:2014.

Planning and Design - BS4163:2014-5

This standard sets requirements for minimum floor areas per student dependent on the activity taking place. Spaces designated for resistant materials must comply with the formula: floor area = 27 + (4 x room occupants). Applying this formula to both the CAM and timber workshops, each would be able to comfortably the required number of occupants (16 occupants in the CAM workshop and 40 occupants in the timber workshop).

Cloakrooms are provided for both workshops in order for students to safely store their personal belongings to prevent trip hazards within the workshops.

Working Area Environment - BS4163:2014-6

Sufficient lighting has been provided throughout the building’s workshops. 500 lux has been provided to the CAM, ceramic, photography and textile workshops. 1000 lux has been provided to the timber workshop to facilitate the fine benchwork that takes place.

All fixed machines within the CAM and timber workshop are fitted with local exhaust ventilation in order to comply with ventilation standards. The displacement ventilation system used throughout the building also helps to remove harmful fumes from the air.

The concrete floor finish used throughout the workshops provides a hard-wearing surface that can be easily cleaned. This surface also provides a safe non-slip finish.

Services - BS4163:2014-7

A large elevator rises through the building, providing access to all workshop spaces. This allows for easy movement of materials and supplies from the delivery point at level 00.

All fixed machines throughout the workshops are fitted with emergency stop buttons allowing for them to be quickly turned off in an emergency. Each machine features a bench mounted button in addition to a low-level button.

Construction and Design Management

Pre-Construction

ǫ Ground surveys of the site will be carried out to identify any potential issues with the site prior to the commencement of works. A ground contamination survey will be particularly important given the former use of the site.

ǫ Noise survey of the site to be carried out prior to works in order to establish noise level limits of construction work and hours of working.

ǫ Designers risk assessment to be completed prior to construction commencing in order to identify any potential risks and minimise their likelihood/consequences.

ǫ Ground remediation work will be carried out prior to works commencing, as required.

Construction

ǫ The site sits in a busy residential area; therefore, it is incredibly important to establish a secure site boundary in order to prevent unauthorised access by members of the public. Hoarding will be located along Jerome Avenue, at the front of the site, and also along the narrow access road to the rear of the site.

ǫ A temporary site compound will be established, providing food preparation areas, meeting rooms, WCs and changing rooms. The site is very restricted and does not allow for the site facilities to be located within the site boundary. Instead, the site cabins will be placed in roadside parking spaces 20 metres from the front of the site.

ǫ A temporary unloading area will be established on Jerome Avenue in order to minimise congestion along the main road.

ǫ A tower crane will be erected on the site to unload deliveries from lorries.

ǫ Personal protective equipment will be worn by all workers during the construction phase of the project

ǫ Health and safety signage will be positioned as necessary across the site

Operation

ǫ All of the landscaping across the site can be maintained from protected terraces; therefore, there is no risk of falling

ǫ Maintenance of the roof and plant equipment on the roof will require access to the roof. A man-safe system will be installed to reduce the risk of falling

Demolition

ǫ The primary timber structure has been designed in order to allow for it to be easily dismantled and re-purposed. Dry connections allow for disassembly without damaging the components

ǫ The concrete elements at the base of the building can be re-purposed and used within the design of future buildings on the site

ǫ Alternatively, the concrete can be demolished and recycled to be used as aggregate in future projects.

Temporary lorry bay

Temporary pedestrian crossing during delivery times

Temporary pedestrian diversion

Temporary pavement closure during delivery periods

Site perimeter

Relocated School drop-off with closure of roadside parking

Site cabin Material Store

First Impressions

As I set out the briefing document for the 11:22 Skills Building, I had visions of a courtyard arrangement where this central external space acted as connective tissue between the various workshops. 14 weeks and 10 storeys later, I realise that there was little chance of getting this scheme off the ground in a site measuring just 35x25m.

Making the initial design moves for the project was extremely daunting as I sat at my desk 3,400 miles away from the site that I had never visited. Google Earth quickly became my best friend as I spent hours scouring the streets looking for key pieces of contextual information. Analysis of the western edge of Jerome Avenue began to show a pattern of natural interruptions to the midrise street elevation. It became evident at this point that the building must present itself as a further natural interruption to the street.

Weeks 1-2

The following weeks, leading up to the first review, were spent trying to pursue the idea of a natural interruption whilst shaping a massing model that also responded to the many constraints of the restricted site. I began to experiment with how stepped massing could allow for a large canyon to form on the southern edge of the site. Hours were spent with a jigsaw and belt sander forming plywood towers, trying to achieve a balance of suitable internal floor areas whilst offering generous external terraces.

First Interim Review

This first interim review was a timely wake-up call as I had failed to notice that the 30m high building was sitting just 1m away from a façade of residential windows. This enforced to me just how vital the physical context of the site was. No matter how strong the narrative of the building in order for it to be successful it must nestle into its surrounding landscape in a sympathetic manner.

The review also highlighted to me the importance of integrating structural design at an early stage. The proposal spoke of a timber-framed building, yet the massing arrangement did little to enforce this strategy.

Second Interim Review

The language of the proposal was beginning to settle as it became apparent that the tectonics, structure and landscape of the building must all work harmoniously in order to fulfil the programme and narrative. The proposal was no longer a piece of built fabric alongside a thin natural interruption. The building itself was now, in fact the natural interruption. The building began to take inspiration from the city’s natural history, looking to the rock formations left untouched in the city’s parks. The timber frame now rose from a rammed concrete plinth. This looked to ground the building and give the impression that it was built upon a natural geological formation – enhancing the narrative of the building as a piece of nature. Landscaping began to rise the building’s facades, creating a natural enclosure for the students.

The feedback to the narrative that had been formed was very positive. However, it was pointed out that for this narrative to be successfully achieved the building must look to do more. The structural strategy must clearly delineate the two elements of the narrative, and the connection of these two elements must be carefully detailed. The building must also look to interact with the street. The introduction of the wider community is key to the building’s success, and so I began to look at how it could take a more playful dynamic with the street edge in order to draw the public into the building.

Tectonic Review

The proposal for the tectonic review was beginning to show a very clear direction for the building and, importantly, how the materiality was being used to enforce the underlying design ideas. Charred timber elevations from the ‘rock’ symbolise the continued struggles of the South Bronx community since the fires of the 1980s. An external oak glulam frame was overlaid to show the rising forest whilst also acting as a functional device for shading and vegetation.

On the whole, the approach to the proposal was well received. However, concerns were raised over the external journey around the building and the nature of the external stair. It was suggested to create a more organic journey up the external stair and for this stair to blur into the surrounding landscape. From this feedback, I began to look at how the stair could be a continuation of the landscape on either side by drawing bands of rammed concrete right across the slope.

I was also questioned whether the tectonic design reflected the didactic quality that the 11:22 Skills Building looked to achieve. As a result, I spent time researching potential glulam connections that would clearly illustrate the building’s construction. This led me to use the large bolted steel connections that also offer lateral stability to the structure and prevent the need for crossbracing.

Final Review

The final review was a great end to the project, and I was proud to present a scheme that so strongly represented my architectural beliefs and passions. The scheme was well received by my critics. I was offered some beneficial advice on how to sell the scheme through the use of graphics.

Final Reflection

Since I visited the University of Bath as a prospective student, I have admired the work of the department’s fourth years that lines the faculty walls and yearbooks. In first year I remember staring at a wall display and wondering how on earth they produced such amazing graphics containing such incredible architecture. Upon entering 6E in the first week of my fourth year and staring at the wall, the exact same thoughts passed through my head (far scarier now seeing as I was about to embark upon the very same projects). 8 months on, though, I am able to submit a project that I would be proud to have displayed within the department.

The project certainly provided some challenges. There were periods where I would kick myself for the choice of site. Difficult level changes, a constrained site boundary and overlooking windows from three aspects made for a challenging set of conditions. Often the different conditions seemed to conflict when making design decisions. In hindsight, though, I am happy with the choice of the site as it was interesting to work within such an urban environment. The site’s constraints also acted as a really useful design tool and allowed me to create a building that looks to appropriately respond to physical context. I feel that this project was an appropriate ending to my undergraduate degree at Bath. The ideas that have been explored in this project are a great expression of my architectural interests and values that I have developed in my four years at the University of Bath. I feel I still have plenty more exploration to undertake into the world of architecture; however, I feel that Bath and its teaching staff have set me with values and principles that will continue throughout my future. Architecture is no longer about creating beautiful buildings; it’s now about creating beautiful buildings that do good in the world.

I would like to say a massive thank you to Julia Kashdan-Brown and the team of supporting tutors who offered me continued support and advice throughout the project – even more impressive that it was all done through Zoom meetings. Thank you to Matthew Wickens for his mentorship throughout the year and the introduction that he gave me to architecture in the first year as our head of year. Finally, thank you to my family for the support throughout and especially to my parents, who gave me the work ethic required to make it through four years of an architecture degree.

The planting has established itself across the facades and the charred cladding begins to soften

References

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Ibid.

Ibid.

Denton Tarver, ‘The New Bronx’, The Cooperator of New York, April 2007, accessed 16 January 2021, https:// cooperator.com/article/the-new-bronx/full#cut.

Ibid.

Denton Tarver, ‘The New Bronx’, The Cooperator of New York, April 2007, accessed 16 January 2021, https:// cooperator.com/article/the-new-bronx/full#cut.

Ibid.

Matthew Purdy, ‘Left to Die, the South Bronx Rises From Decades of Decay’, The New York Times, 13 November 1994, accessed 16 January 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/13/nyregion/left-to-die-the-south-bronx-risesfrom-decades-of-decay.html?pagewanted=all.

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New York City Department of City Planning, 22 March 2020, accessed 16 January 2021, https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/ planning/download/pdf/plans-studies/jerome-ave/jerome-avenue-progress-to-date.pdf.

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Modern Farmer, ‘The One Tiny Region That Produces Nearly Half of U.S. Mushrooms’, Modern Farmer, 16 May 2014, accessed 9 May 2021, https://modernfarmer.com/2014/05/welcome-mushroom-country-population-nearlyhalf-u-s-mushrooms/.

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Poladamonte, 2020. Aerial view of Manhattan and George Washington bridge, New York [Online]. Adobe Stock. Available from: https://stock.adobe.com/uk/images/aerial-view-of-manhattan-and-george-washington-bridge-newyork/55201067 [16 January 2021].

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