Site analysis booklet v2.0

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Youngstown Site Analysis - Innovation Center Zach Butler Professor Ferut


Table of Contents WIC Reading Summaries The Living Building Challenge The Design Revolution: Notes for Practitioners by David Orr Preservation is Overtaking us by Rem Koolhaus The Hannover Principles by McDonough The Virtues of Cities by Kreiger Notes on Adaptive Re-ues of Program by McMorrough Problem Seeking: An Architectural Programming Primer. by M. Pena Desigining the Central Library Strucutre by Rem Koolhaas Diagrams Matter by Stan Allen

Site Analysis Project 1: Innovation Center (Youngstown, Ohio)

Prcedent’s Law Building Oslo by MAD Arkiteker Library in Bauska by A2SM Architects CH2 Council House in Melbourne by City of Melbourne in association with Mick Pearce with DesignInc



The Living Building Challenge Summary The Living Building Challenge is a tool that designers, students, and professionals can use to elevate the quality of sustainable qualities in their design. “It acts to diminish the gap between current limits and ideal solutions.” (Page 5 of LBC 2.1). One of the things the LBC strives on is its feeling of commitment and connection to the community and the world that is in the future. When designers care about the world they are producing and try to reach this standard they are producing a design that can “claim to be the greenest anywhere. The Living Building Challenge is a cohesive standard, pulling together the most progressive thinking from the worlds of architecture, engineering, planning, landscape design and policy.” (Page 5 of LBC 2.1)

Site “The intent of the Site Petal is to clearly articulate where it is acceptable for people to build, how to protect and restore a place once it has been developed, and to encourage the creation of communities that are once again based on the pedestrian rather than the automobile.” (Page 14 of LBC 2.1) Limits of Growth: This imperative talks about the possibilities to build on greenfields and brownfields that do not classify as a “sensitive ecological habitat, prime farmland, within the 100 flood plain”. (Page 14 of LBC 2.1) Urban Agriculture: “The project must integrate opportunities for agriculture appropriate to its scale and density using the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) as a basis for calculation” (Page 15 of LBC 2.1) It lists the different FAR ratios and gives percent’s of the project area that do not apply. Habitat Exchange: “For each hectare of development, an equal amount of land away from the project site must be set aside in perpetuity as part of a habitat exchange.” (Page 16 of LBC 2.1)

that water is respected as a precious resource.” (Page 18 of LBC 2.1) Net Zero Water: “One hundred percent of the project’s water needs must be supplied by captured precipitation or other natural closed loop water systems that account for downstream ecosystem impacts, or by re-cycling used project water. Water must be appropriately purified without the use of chemicals.” (Page 19 of LBC 2.1) Ecological Water Flow: “One hundred percent of storm water and used, project water discharge must be managed onsite to feed the project’s internal water demands or released onto adjacent sites for management through acceptable natural time-scale surface flow, groundwater recharge, agricultural use or adjacent property needs.” (Page 20 of LBC 2.1)

Energy “The intent of the Energy Petal is to signal a new age of design, wherein the built environment relies solely on renewable forms of energy and operates year round in a pollution-free manner. In addition, it aims to prioritize reductions and optimization before technological solutions are applied to eliminate wasteful spending – of energy, resources, and dollars.” (Page 21 of LBC 2.1) Net Zero Energy: “One hundred percent of the project’s energy needs33 must be supplied by on-site renewable energy on a net annual basis.” (Page 22 of LBC 2.1)

Health “The intent of the Health Petal is to focus on the major conditions that must be present to create robust, healthy spaces, rather than to address all of the potential ways that an interior environment could be compromised.” (Page 23 of LBC 2.1)

Civilized Environment: “Every occupiable interior space of the project must have operable windows that provide Car Free Living: “The project should contribute towards the access to fresh air and daylight.” (Page 24 of LBC 2.1) creation of walkable, pedestrian-oriented communities”. (Page 17 of LBC 2.1) It then asks the reader to evaluate the Healthy Air: “To promote good indoor air quality, a area to see if it could support a lifestyle without the car. Renovation, Building, and building(s) completed as part of The LBC gives 3 categories: Residential, Commercial, and a Neighborhood project must meet the following criteria” Light Industrial. (Page 25 of LBC 2.1) The Criteria talks about different kinds of ventilation that come from specific program, entrances, must follow ASHRAE 62, and the prohibited nature of Water smoking in these areas. “The intent of the Water Petal is to realign how people use water and redefine ‘waste’ in the built environment, so


Biophilia: “The project must be designed to include elements that nurture the innate human attraction to natural systems and processes. Each of the six established Biophilic Design Elements must be represented for every 2,000 m2 of the project: Environmental features, natural shapes and forms, natural patterns and processes, light and space, place-based relationships, evolved humannature relationships.” (Page 26 of LBC 2.1)

Materials “The intent of the Materials Petal is to induce a successful materials economy that is non-toxic, transparent and socially equitable.” (Page 27 of LBC 2.1) Red List: This section includes a list of chemicals that cannot be used in any case of the building. There is a sub note listing exceptions to some of the cases. Embodied Carbon Footprint: “The project must account for the total footprint of embodied carbon (tCO2e) from its construction through a one-time carbon offset tied to the project boundary” (Page 29 of LBC 2.1) Responsible Industry: “The project must advocate for the creation and adoption of third-party certified standards for sustainable resource extraction and fair labor practices. Applicable raw materials include stone and rock, metal, minerals, and timber.” (Page 30 of LBC 2.1) It then talks about how the wood needs to be certified by the FSC and have all standard labels present to prove legitimacy.

of humanity and allows the dignity of equal access is a civilization in the best position to make decisions that protect and restore the natural environment.” (Page 35 of LBC 2.1) Human Scale + Humane Places: This section talks about the importance of human scale over automotive scale and how we need to design spaces to have less area (sometimes the minimum) of automotive sectors. Democracy + Social Justice: This section talks about the importance of equality of spaces whether the person be 100% capable or handicapped. Other examples are mentioned but the idea is to make everything accessible for all. Rights to Nature: This section stands up for the existing buildings saying that a new construction should not be able to block the sun, air, waterways for any adjacent members.

Beauty “The intent of the Beauty Petal is to recognize the need for beauty as a precursor to caring enough to preserve, conserve and serve the greater good.” (Page 40 of LBC 2.1) Beauty and Spirit: “The project must contain design features intended solely for human delight and the celebration of culture, spirit and place appropriate to its function.” (Page 41 of LBC 2.1)

Appropriate Sourcing: “The project must incorporate place-based solutions and contribute to the expansion of a regional economy rooted in sustainable practices, products and services.” (Page 31 of LBC 2.1) A List is shows the Maximum distance that may be used for materials and the divisions they lie under.

Inspiration + Education: This section says that the public needs to have access to sustainable education through interaction to provide contact with the Living Building Challenge and make it more of a public knowledge.

Conservation + Reuse: “The project team must strive to reduce or eliminate the production of waste during design, construction, operation, and end of life in order to conserve natural resources.” (Page 33 of LBC 2.1) Further, it discusses the role of the Material Conservation Management Plan and how the project team needs to follow it.

The Living Building Challenge V2.1, Copyright 2012 by International Living Future Institute. Seattle, WA 98104

Equity “The intent of the Equity Petal is to correlate the impacts of design and development to its ability to foster a true sense of community. A society that embraces all sectors

Works Cited


The Design Revolution: Notes for Practitioners by David Orr

Preservation is Overtaking us by Rem Koolhaus

The writing is organized in a way that describes different characteristics that ecological design come together. It is organized in a manner of large general information that comes down to a lesser generalization of an ecology. The “Beginnings” is section 1 and it talks about ones natural ability to understand a space through experience. Orr tells a story about aboriginal people who “can walk with unerring accuracy through trackless landscapes in the dark of night. Across all cultures and times, good design is a close calibration of our sensuality with inspiration, creativity, place, form and materials. (Page 200, Orr) Next comes the “Evolution as Model/ Natural as Standard. This section speaks to the importance to design around and understand nature and what is has to offer. He talks about how we can learn from nature and build a dialogue. Thirdly comes the section “All Design is Practical”. He argues that any piece of design can be influential to stop things like crime and low participation but instead build a sense of community. Fourth, “Honest Accounting”, which is about what people do to the environment. In a similar sense as the last section except this one argues that in that design we need to hold ourselves accountable for things that come out of it. Section five, “Designing for Human Limitations”, is about “Ecological design, on the contrary, ought to demystify the world, making us mindful of the ecological fine print by which we live, move, and have our being.” (Page 206, Orr) “Vernacular” is section six is ” The success of vernacular design across all cultures and times underscores the possibility that design intelligence may be more accurately measured at the level of the community or culture, rather than at the individual level.” (Page 206, Orr) Section seven and eight talk about the designer and the knowledge that they must have to design well in all places regardless of aesthetic or the ecology that it requires. Section nine and ten similarly talk about the different forms of design. Nine, designing as a healing profession and ten, design for spirit. Both tough upon the subject of designing to build community while limited impact on that same community. “Architecture results in communities that do not compromise the health and wellbeing of people and places”. (Page 208, Orr)

Koolhaus talks about a time when it would take nearly 200 years for something to be preserved (the pyramids) to today when things are considered historic or in a state of preservation by 25 years after completion. He states that “Preservation has become necessary almost instantly after creation because of how much mediocrity there is we don’t want it to fall into that category.” (Page 2 Koolhaus) To get to this point in the reading the primary statement must first be understood. Because there is so much change and so much being built he talks about an architecture that needs to be non-invasive to be a total utopian state. “to one of my most intimate utopian dreams, which is to find an architecture that does nothing.” (Page 1 Koolhaus) By collectively thinking about his argument many design decisions can be made to respect or neglect his stance. I think his stance on preservation is more of a view as opposed to a design criteria. Something that affects how I think of my own designing ideas is the utopian state he talks about. Wouldn’t it be great if an architecture could have 0 impact or produce positive energy for the world? I think if this strategy could be successfully implemented into a design it would be much more successful.


The Hannover Principles by McDonough

The Virtues of Cities – Kreiger

The Hannover Principles is “A living document committed to transformation and growth in the understanding of our independence with nature so that they may be adapted as our knowledge of the world evolves.” (McDonough Page 10) It’s a series of different topics that help to explain why to take sustainable design into the design of a building. Earth,” both the context and the material, the landscape and the things with which we build. Design should be open ended and the space should be allowed to be reused or re-purposed later on.” (McDonough Page 20-23) This section talks about waste, transportation, life cycle analysis, and air quality. Basically every element that could affect the earth directly. Air, this section primarily talks about the quality of interior air. Whether it be noise pollution to wind patterns effecting the building. Fire, This section focuses on the idea of using resources that are 100% renewable. Fire is one of those, not the material it burns but the flame itself. Water, “the most basic element and needs to be respected as the most vital element to life” (McDonough Page 26-27) it talks about water usage, and the different uses of rain water or potable water, etc. Finally Spirit, “design solutions can present an aesthetic statement that engages society in honoring and more deeply understanding the human place in the natural world.” (McDonough Page 27) This along with the Living Building Challenge could result in an expansion of productivity without needing to do mathematical proof. For my design many of these elements could be included just by deciding that it’s the right thing to do. Instead of using a wood commonly found in North Carolina I could use a wood from Ohio. This is just one of hundreds of examples I could use to make my design more respectful toward the Earth.

Kreiger goes through different pieces, elements, or virtues of a city and tries to relate them to the community and the cities use. Density, “as distinct from congestion, promotes engagement. Interaction made possible by proximity.” 1-Propinquity – “knowing that we go out to places like malls from the cities or suburbs that we live in because of a connection we wish to build. The cities we live in have the things we need but we still go.” (Kreiger) 2-Heterogeneity – “within an ordered fabric – Buildings, like citizens, warrant their idiosyncrasies as long as each behaves civilly towards one another.” (Kreiger) 3-Juxtaposed realms – “wider arrays of amenities attract people” (Kreiger) 4-Neighbors unlike ourselves – “diversity in housing is likely to attract diversity in ownership” (Kreiger) 5-Texture, detail and narrative – “cities appear different to different people but all in all less is more” (Kreiger) 6-Connectivity – “understanding that highways are busy, parallel side streets escape that busyness but highway planners don’t use these qualities as an advantage” (Kreiger) 7-Immediacy of experience – “people don’t like to walk but people walk often to experience immunities and things of attraction” (Kreiger) 8-Sustainability, “persistence and adaptability – compares the use of a dead Detroit to happening suburb saying Detroit will find reuse in time” (Kreiger) 9-Overlapping boundaries – “something without boundaries becomes placeless” (Kreiger) Public life – “public areas remain wanted as long as public relation stays appropriate” (Kreiger) In terms of a design some of these make sense on a common knowledge level but I also believe that some of these may not work in a place like Youngstown. For example, I think Propinquity would be one thing that would not work in Youngstown as it doesn’t yet have something able to sustain this kind of action. To counter argue I think many of these would work, my favorite being Connectivity. By finding the inverse of this statement and creating a need to travel through downtown may repopulate the streets once again.


Notes on the Adaptive Re-use of Program – Reprogramming John McMorrough Starts with analogies of what program is to other industries and compares it architecture saying “In this sense program initiates the project’s beginning (in time) and initial identity (in character).” (103) Next he discusses John Summerson’s 1957 “The Case for Modern Architecture.” And from this he concludes that “Program, and with it modern architecture, is uncodable, resistant to specific correspondences to form, and, it is not unlikely that it will continue as such”. (Page 105 McMorrough) Do to this John McMorrough states “Program here should be understood as a conceptual structure, inhabited and renovated by numerous architects and either attendant ideologies.” (Page 105 McMorrough) The Function of Program There is a clear understanding that has been established that form follows function. But does it make sense in all situations? Does form always follow function and does it always make sense. There is an argument that different architectures call for different answer and this type of thinking equivocates to a different style or aesthetic that should be treated separately. He compares some of the ideas that Corbusier used in some of his projects to express a similar belief of form. Against Program Progrommatic Failure is defined by McMorrough as the longevity of program in a building and the success it has in that time. If a program can’t work with the habitant or its purpose it becomes “programmatic failure”. (Page 107 McMorrough) This kind of failure was seen (architecturally) in the 1970’s “autonomous architecture”. (Page 107 McMorrough) A very strong argument for the opposite of function comes from form is “Form is retained historically even as the initiating events are lost.” Who honestly knows the layout of the pure form of the pyramid and understands its relation to program. Even if it’s a hierarchical form in terms of God worship.

Deleuze Foucault’s said “form can have two meanings: it forms and organizes matter: or it forms and finalizes functions and gives them aim.” (Page 108 McMorrough) The Seattle Public Library begins to express its “emphasis of position in relation to use. Here the program no longer states identity but rather an interaction of the parts.” (Page 108 McMorrough) Rem Koolhaus begins to express a direct connection to the idea of program creating a form. A literal building of form follows function and interaction of the spatial environments. Programma McMorrough states that “they all viewed program as an instrument of social transformation, differing only in their skepticism of institutional definitions of the program.” (Page 108 McMorrough) The leaves the question of programs role. It will always be present but how will it hurt or help architecture in the future. “The question is whether program will continue as an impetus of architectural development.” (Page 108 McMorrough) “Surveying the ins and outs of architectural discourse, it may be that program is just: both always in and always out.” (Page 108 McMorrough)


Excerpt From Problem Seeking: An Architectural Programming Primer. William M. Pena

Diagrams Matter – Stan Allen

Throughout the reading Allen talks about subcategories behind diagramming and comes up with multiple things that diagrams are and are not. The author The general idea is that this 5 step method can be makes complete statements about its ability to be a applied, in a planning sense, to any profession and diagram and what that looks like to a user or reader work. Architecturally its still “a five step process… of the information. Allen starts off broad by stating interacting with four considerations.” (Page 1 Pena) Through reading the rest of the passage it describes “A diagram is a description of potential relationships among elements”. Soon after this Allen states this stepped process in 3 primary categories – search for pertinent information, feasibility test, and “A diagram is a graphic assemblage that specifies relationship between activity and form, organizing distilling. In these 3 categories fits the 5 steps. the structure and distribution of functions.” At what point does the first statement become false or irrelA major element of this paper is the section of evant based on the seconds one meaning? Is being Analysis and Synthesis. Analysis section focuses on specific the answer to solve the question about the the problems stated and separate’s and identified usage of the diagram? Allen then goes on to say “The them. The synthesis section begins to talk about diagram brings the logic of matter and instrumentaltaking the analysis and creating a design solution. ity into the realm of meaning and representation not “1. Goals – What does the client want to achieve, and Vice Versa.” Once again soon after this Allen states “A Diagram does not pretend to be able to stand why? outside of this reality to offer critique or correction, 2. Facts – What do we know? What is given? nor does it hold out for some impossible notion 3. Concepts – How does the client want to achieve of coherence.” Why couldn’t it work the other way the goals? 4. Needs – How much money and space? What level around when I see the vice versa as being a, in Allen’s words, “a relationship among elements.” Either or the of quality? 5. Problem – What are significant conditions affecting way the author sees the diagram and its importance can clarify the need to diagram certain situations to the design of the building? What are the general clearly show information architectural, through the directions the design should take?” (Page 4 Pena) voice of coherence. By understanding the different sections of the design one can begin to come to a structured process of design. According to Pena this is the best method to come to a coherent way of designing through steps.

Designing the Central Library Structure Rem Koolhaas Recent libraries needed to be an important civic building which referenced the traditional library. He wanted to know if it needed to be the same or could it be “modernized”. They collected reading lists and begun to understand how libraries have changed. He talks about how libraries become social centers with musical and other aspects that depart from a library made 40 years or later. The language from their studies showed that the library had changed and their design reflects that change.


Macro/Micro Site Analysis Youngstown was once a steel power house in what is the present day “rustbelt”. At one point the population was near 150,000 and people were immigrating into this region daily in hopes of steel success. Similar to other cities in this region (Cleveland, Pittsburgh, etc.) the market for steel and other manufacturing jobs disappeared over night. Youngstown never fully recovered from this traumatic time in the city’s history. The statistics are a representation that begins to show someone who isn’t familiar with the area an idea of where it is at today. -Population – 66,982 -Median Age – 38

-Unemployment – 19.5% -Median Household Income - $24,880 R-esidents Living in Poverty – 36% -Vacancy Rate – 44.8 structures per 1,000 (20 times the national average) -Average Price of a Single Family Home - $25,327 -From 2007 – 2013 there were a total of 3062 Demolitions These stats are extremely hard to swallow for someone who is passionate about this city. One of the pieces that Youngstown has is a great State and Community College that bring more than 20,000 students to the area annually. Another element that


Youngstown brings to the table is America Makes with a style about its history. On the campus there and the Business Incubator. President Obama a few buildings that have been updated and have a has set aside over 1 billion dollars to advance the modern feel. United States’ placement in the global standings. Youngstown is becoming an epicenter for this kind of additive manufacturing.

Materiality Materiality in Youngstown is fairly consistent but does change in certain places. In general it’s a lot of brick, cement, or other hard stone like facades. There is typical window openings and nothing too crazy in terms of opening sizes. It’s a typical small city feel. Aesthetically, Youngstown is in the past






Natural Context Site Site11 Vegetation Wildlife Geology Hydrology Water Soils The first site located on Wick and E. Commerce is adjacent to the city center where there is a large hardscape for the public to make use of. It is surrounded by typical city like trees and has a few smaller green areas close by. In terms of Natural Context this Context, thissite siteisisvery verylimited. limited.

This doesn’t doesn’t necessarily necessarily mean mean that that the the city city is is limited. limited. This There are a lot of open space and possible places There are a lot of open space and possible places for parks parks to to be be developed developed in in the the immediate immediate area. area. for Youngstown provides provides aa 30 30 acre acre park park to to the the west west of of Youngstown the city which can account for a lot of the spatial the city which can account for a lot of the spatial recognition of of green green space. space. The The design design would would need need recognition to incorporate an exterior space that could effectively to incorporate an exterior space that could effectively work through through the the seasons seasons and and help help create create aa green green work space closer closer to to the the building. building. space The river is another natural element that youngstown is blessed to have. It is about a 10 minute walk from the site to the river. When the river becomes more of a soical space for the community it will need to have a connection to the building. This could be attained visually.


Natural Context Site 2

By being closer to the river and the soon to be river front green space makes this design open to the possibility of being part of that expansion. The other Vegetation critical element, since it’s close to the entertainment Wildlife district, would be to have a natural entertainment Geology space to respond to the conditions that surround Hydrology the site. The other element would be to incorporate Water the natural element and make a connecting piece Soils to the university and downtown. The goal would be The second site is significantly closer to the river and to celebrate the connection between educational, business, entertainment, and natural. Each element is right across the street from the Covelli Center on East Front and South Walnut. This site has a lot more would celebrate its own distinct meanings while progressing to the final meaning of the design of a possibilities to engage the connection between nature and man. In terms of Natural Context, this site green space. has more possibilities to design around.


Architectural Context Movement and Space Site 1 Top Left = 10’ Bottom Left = 20’ Top Right = 30’ Bottom Left = 60’ Site one allows a heavy northwest exposure to the city and one of the main routes to the university. It is fairly enclosed to southern exposure until the 30’ height. Other buildings to the south and west need to be addressed for their heights and vision paths. In terms of noise the primary noise on this site is the car and limited pedestrian traffic. This site could be seen as the connecting piece between the city and the university.





Demographics/Code, Zoning & Land Use Site 1 The first site is located next to the high rise buildings downtown. Some of those buildings have vacancies inside of them. (highlighted in orange) In addition this site is a parking lot so those parking stalls would need to be accounted for in a new design. Luckily Youngstown has a lot of parking so all of the spots wouldn’t need to be replaced. When speaking about the vacant buildings on site one, I see them as becoming a student housing or modern loving area that can allow a new kind of tenant to move in. This tenant would have direct contact and use with the building and begin to revive the city.


Demographics/Code, Zoning & Land Use Site 2 The second site is outside of the high rise area but still plays a big role in its connection between the Covelli Center and the city. Similarly this site would need to address the parking replacement. This site also has vacancies. To the north west of the site there is an entire building and parking garage that are roped off and vacant. In terms of making this place feel welcoming and a connector piece those buildings would need to be addressed. These vacant buildings on this site sit adjacent to the courthouse are vacant and need to be addressed as they hold an important place in the urban edge and city limits.


Climate & Energy Shadow Study Site 1 Top Left - December 11 am Bottom Left - December 3pm Shadow studies need to be researched at different levels of the building at different times of the year. Once the form is being developed this information will come into play. This will inform me on what kinds of design decisions that passive lighting can play. The next step is to work with climate consultant and begin to understand how the site needs to adapt to make a successful design.


Climate & Energy Shadow Study Site 2 Top Left - December 11 am Bottom Left - December 3pm Shadow studies need to be researched at different levels of the building at different times of the year. Once the form is being developed this information will come into play. This will inform me on what kinds of design decisions that passive lighting can play. The next step is to work with climate consultant and begin to understand how the site needs to adapt to make a successful design.


Climate & Energy Shadow Study Site 1 Top Left - June 11 am Bottom Left - June 3pm Shadow studies need to be researched at different levels of the building at different times of the year. Once the form is being developed this information will come into play. This will inform me on what kinds of design decisions that passive lighting can play. The next step is to work with climate consultant and begin to understand how the site needs to adapt to make a successful design.


Climate & Energy Shadow Study Site 2 Top Left - June 11 am Bottom Left - June 3pm Shadow studies need to be researched at different levels of the building at different times of the year. Once the form is being developed this information will come into play. This will inform me on what kinds of design decisions that passive lighting can play. The next step is to work with climate consultant and begin to understand how the site needs to adapt to make a successful design.





Climate & Energy Design Solutions Glass needs to face south to collect winter exposure but shade to protect in summer. Glass should be double pane high performance on north, west and east side but clear on south for solar gain. Keep the comfort temperature lower at night to reduce the heating energy. Keep floor plates small to help reduce heat waste. Extra insulation will help keep interior comfort levels more uniform. Outdoor spaces will last longer seasonally if they are protected from wind. Use wind in effective ways to reduce air conditioning needs. Locate storage areas and garages on the cold side of the building to help as an insulator. Vegetation to cover during the summer but expose certain program in the winter. These are a few ways that the design could use some of these Climate Consultant charts effectively.






Precedent 1Law Building, Oslo. MAD Arkiteker

areas, which allows the users to experience the central and historical context to which this institution contributes. On the seventh floor, adjacent to the publicly open student restaurant, the largest roof “The main entrance leads one into the educational terrace is located. The student study areas and staff forum, where the city floor extends inside the offices are located along the facades. The lecture building and connects to the vertical atrium space. halls are recessed in the building’s volume. An The auditorium and related facilities are located on informal study area is created around the central the lower floors, to foster flexible use in the evening atrium. The design of the facades constitutes a simple and weekend. Here, it will be possible to hold geometrical constellation. It mirrors the main form professional seminars, conferences and other public- of the building, as well as the relationship between focused events. The library and literature research the vertical wall surfaces and the setbacks and steps center are located at the core of the building. There in the facade. The solid wall modules are alternately are vertical openings between these areas and the clad in stone and aluminum. The proportion of solid position is visible on the facade as a stepping of the wall to glass varies according to orientation in order volume. There is direct access to roof terraces from to optimize energy consumption.� (Archdaily.com) the student restaurant, library and common




Precedent 2 Library, Bauska A2SM Architects A2SM Architects decided to use less of the space for building and designate it to honor the environment. “The places which historically led to unusual rates of creativity and innovation are the ones where ideas can mingle, swap and create new forms, the ones where different people and technologies meet. Therefore we purposed a building which would provide a flexible and interactive space for people not only to read books, but participate, learn and get involved. The functional program of the library was decomposed by different groups of target users. Each functional group got a volume. These small elements were connected by an irregular, adjusting to the trees volume – common space. The library building volumes form semi-closed yards. Each of them has different function: entrance yard, calm yard, yard for children and car parking. The common space in library serves as a place to meet. To meet different people which come out from business, library, administration and cafe volumes. This place would become a public space. It’s a place where you encounter different events which can arouse your curiosity and inspire your creativity.”(Archdaily. com) The thing that is interesting to me about this project is the design decisions around space and the different functions each space focuses on. It’s a way to divide a lot of program over a large site and create on central meeting place. This could be incorporated in a larger scale building through multiple stories. One of the successful parts is its ability to used multiple entrances to gain access to the collaborative area prior to entering the other buildings.



CH2 Council House, Melbourne During the day there are multiple things that are used on the building that create sustainability. Firstly, there are turbines (wind cowls) that generate electricity. Next, Exhaust vents at the top of the high ceilings take warm air out of ceiling spaces and exhaust it outwards. Next, fresh air is placed in the lower part of the rooms bringing it in at a slow pace. Shower towers run along the façade of the building to help produce cooling. And one of the last but the last is roof to energy systems that heat water, and prude electricity.

The summer is no different, there is a different set of parameters. The western façade has operable shutters to shade and reduce heat gain. There is a summer terrace to increase interaction and vertical circulation. There is a bark like skin that stop direct sun but promotes air to enter. Vaulted ceilings also permit the hot air to gather in singular areas to make purging easier.

The use of air diffusers, vaulted ceilings, and natural ventilation allow for the boundary layer between hot and cold air to remain high enough that the users don’t become exposed to it. Through the use of balconies and shared interior layouts the spaces create a physical and natural escape from the typical During the night the building operates differently office building. The ceilings are chilled allowing for to remain sustainable and be extremely efficient in a gain in thermal mass and a reduction in needs that matter. The air gets drawn out of the building through the turbines (wind Cowls). The heat from the for air conditioning. These conditions only begin to show what the article is talking about in terms of concrete floor (collection during the day – thermal sustainable design in this space. mass) is removed by the cool air flowing through the building at night. This is successful through automatically opened windows to allow for the purge to take place. During the winter here is a yet again different set of parameters due to seasonal changes. There is vertical plants hanging on the north of the building to shade, remove glare, increase air quality and relieve stress. There are also shading devices in the windows that block direct light but host a light shelf to get light deep in the space.


Site Selction, Program, and Statement of Purpose Criteria Both sites come with different attributes that make either appealing to design on. I don’t think that the site can be selected until multiple aspects are studied. Firstly, the program will need to have an element that is innovative so that the city doesn’t get stuck in a single industry that has a possible dead end like steel did. Secondly the innovative program needs be able to adapt to multiple markets so that if one markets begins to falter this building can adapt and survive economical changes. These different areas need to be realistic and tangible for Youngstown to attain. Thirdly, the building has to connect YSU and Downtown, there needs to be a greater sense of COMMUNITY. Lastly, starting from nothing and creating an innovative program element will prove to be challenging to the city. It is vital that the program builds on an existing element that the city is doing already. Through this list of criteria the city can begin to grow around a strong economical innovative element.

A New Economical Push Something that Youngstown is already working on that has proven to be a growing micro-economy in the city is additive manufacturing. The Business Incubator – which is in charge of Youngstown additive manufacturing element – alongside America Makes has grown from one single office building to four in Youngstown over the past decade.The growth is slow but the possibility for expansion is very attainable since the joint effort with America Makes has been set into place. According to The Obama Administration there has been a $1 billion commitment to making the United States an additive manufacturing powerhouse. “Youngstown has been thought of as an epicenter for this production”. (Businessfacilities.com) This money is waiting for use after approval by the administration. McKinsey Global Institute – a multi-million dollar research company – has said that “economic implications of 3D printing are significant, it could have a $550 billion annual impact by 2025.” (Busninessfacilities.com) Research has shown that there are three big players that could be supportive to the

industry in the area. Luckily for Youngstown some aspects to those companies are local to the city.

Healthcare, Automotive, and Aeronautics. The three big players in the future of additive manufacturing are healthcare, automotive, and aeronautics. All of these industries will be looking to move towards a customizable production that is easily attainable and has very little waste. Additive manufacturing can do both of those things and many more. Automotive GM Lordstown Assembly Plant is located 20 minutes away from Youngstown. They produce GMC cars but employ a lot of people in the immediate area. In terms of connection this would be a great place to start a dialogue between the automotive sectors and Youngstown. Of course this could expand to other companies anywhere in the world but to get a realistic partner fast, this may be a great option. Healthcare Cleveland has become a healthcare center for the nation to look up to, in terms of technological advances. According to Jeff Epstein – director of Cleveland Healthtech Corridor – “the city has raised more than $1 billion in venture capital over the last 12 years. The city’s biotech start-ups have increased by 133 percent, to 700, over the same time period.” (Joel Kotkin) CEO Eric Spiegel of Siemen’s USA said that “Cleveland has a good base of talent and it’s a good location for our business.” (Joel Kotkin). “Siemen’s and its subsidiaries employ approximately 362,000 people worldwide and reported global revenue of around $100 billion in 2014.” (Wikipedia. org.) Aeronautics GE is the “top jet engine and aircraft system manufacturer in the world” (Businessfacilities.com) and is looking to incorporate engine pieces into their engines that are produced through additive manufacturing. They have recently put a “$50 million dollar towards research in this area”. (GEaviation.com) This could be the third manufacturer that Youngstown could produce parts for.

Connecting University with City A crucial part of the success of Youngstown is to bring


people into the city center to help its economy. Luckily the city has YSU and a top ten community college with over 20,000 students within 1 mile of the city center. This is a huge opportunity that hasn’t been handled correctly yet. As a Kent State student I have been here since the connection of downtown and campus has been established. It has increased downtowns use exponentially. This is something YSU needs to do. YSU has put 4 3D printing machines in the university that directly work with America Makes to create a collaborative process. I am proposing that the university and America Makes creates a much stronger bond.

From Rust-Belt to Tech-Belt I am proposing that YSU and America Makes create a truly collaborative building that incorporates a public, educational, and business element in the building. The first floor would have a massive gallery or showroom to show off what the building is doing and it would be extremely transparent to the city. It would also contain a large area for the public to meet and begin to feel like a sense of community is growing. The next floor would be strictly for the public allowing them to try the machines and further explore this industry. The next three would be a combination of healthcare, automotive, and aeronautics mixed with an educational aspect. This is the key to exploring the connection between Campus and City. The other main piece of program would be a collaborative level that would allow professionals and students to come together from different industries to be collaborative and innovative with research and production. There would be other elements that complete the building but those are the primary components.

Site Selection The site needs to be able to support this program while connecting the YSU, the city, and the tech district. The site that allows that connection best is site two (Wick and E. Commerce). It is within the ½ mile of both places. In addition the site has some vacant property to the south (large tower). I could see this being re-used as YSU housing in the future to bring students downtown. I think this is critical to bringing a new young economy to the city. This site also has a lot of Pedestrian and Vehicular traffic that could make it more exposed to the community. This will bring a bigger sense of belonging. Especially when it’s mixed with the public components of the program.

Project Statement To enable additive manufacturing to be innovative while transforming the traditional manufacturing process across multiple industries. In addition the building will establish an advanced educational system in collaboration with Youngstown State University while also working towards revitalizing the local economy and sense of community.

Works Cited (Businessfacilities.com) 3D Printing is Shaping Up, Vickers Jenny. February 2015. (Dailybeast.com) The Rustbelt Roars Back From the Dead, Kotkin Joel. December 2014 (Wikipedia.org.) Siemens. August 2015 (GEaviation.com) Posted on their Press Link


Program The main entrance invites the city and university to enter into a large atrium showing all of the users of the building. On the first floor are facilities to support retail, a library, the beginning of the unique circulation path, a restaurant, lecture hall, and other public amenities. This will allow the most public of spaces to be tailored to week day and weekend needs. The circulation allows everyone to see elements of each floor to further push the idea of a transparent manufacturing process. This goes from the ground floor all the way to the rooftop. Along the ramp are many areas to stop and see all of what Youngstown has to offer by overlooking the city.

The top floors have alternating program uses from manufacturing to educational (3 manufacturing, 2 educational). All of these spaces invite collaborative multidiscipline innovation both visually and personally.




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