W A L T E R H A I M V I R G I N I A P O L Y T E C H N I C I N S T I T U T E

A N D S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y

G R A D U A T E D E S I G N S T U D I O 1 5 - 1 6

P R O F E S S O R H E I N R I C H S C H N O E D T

DESIGN STUDIO PROJECTS:

IMAGINARY LANDSCAPE No.4 .................................... 2-7

RIDGELINE FOREST ....................................................... 8-9

SKYLINE ICON ........................................................... 10-15

CITY OF THE STAR ..................................................... 16-23

TWISTING TIMBER .................................................... 24-27

PROJECT No.6 ........................................................... 28-29

whaim@vt.edu 412-849-1718

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IMAGINARY LANDSCAPE No.4J O H N C A G E P A V I L I O N

V I R G I N I A T E C H , V I R G I N I A

PROJECT DURATION: 1 WEEK

PROGRAM: Pavilion; a place designed in memory of the artist John Cage (1912-1992). Various works will be showcased by the artist including three paintings and ten books.

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John Cage’s “Imaginary Landscape No.4” prescribes a way 12 radios are tuned to a certain way for certain lengths of time, which creates a whole new experience of music and sound. The architecture performs the same way. It prescribes the way which dynamics and factors of the site are framed and viewed, which like John Cage’s composition, create a whole new experience of place.

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Site forces diagrams 1:1000

Floor Plan 1:500

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W I N D F A R M & E D U C A T I O N C E N T E R C L I F T O N F O R G E , V I R G I N I A

PROJECT DURATION:Weekend Competetion

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CONCEPT: The visitor and education center situates itself in a pass along the ridgeline. Taking the place of the previously existing trees, the windmills span either side of the ridgeline, creating a mechanical spinning clean energy producing forest. The building, framed by heavy timber, is made up of three boxes of space, one horizontal containing a centrally displayed windmill blade, two and three tilted upward, facing the windfarm ridge on either side.

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SKYLINE ICONN E W F A C A D E , P O F F F E D E R A L B U I L D I N G

R O A N O K E , V I R G I N I A

PROJECT DURATION: 3 WEEKS

OBJECTIVE: The Poff Federal Building is one of the tallest buildings in the city of Roanoke. The new façade for the existing building functions to serve the tenants, save energy, and create a new landmark for the city. Light and energy are mediated through the façade in a way that creates comfortable working conditions while doing so in a ‘green’ energy efficient manner. The façade presents itself as a while new element of the building, which enhances the overall building’s presence in the Roanoke skyline.

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M Facade Composition Development 1: 1500

(1) The two solid side towers are to be cladded in dark metallic aluminum composite panels. This compliments the Verizon building to the north. The central mass of the building is cladded in similar colored panels at opaque areas. Ribbons of transparent glass run along each floor. Above and below are ribbons of translucent frosted glass to allow light, but limit views in.

(2) While the two towers and the center mass already exist, the double façade will be treated as a new third element, which will be a freestanding face in front of the central mass.

(3) Given the separation of the outer layer of the double façade from the rest of the building, there is an opportunity to make this new element differ in form from the rest of the building.

(4) Diagonal lines connect the intersections of the vertical lines of the interior structural organization and the horizontal floor levels. This forms the initial starting point for additional exploration.

(5) A new support system for the double façade is chosen from the previous network of lines.

(6) A system of diagonally skewed outer glass panels is organized in front of that new support system.

(7) In the previous iteration, structural members for the façade were unreasonably long. This version attempts to create a new support intermediate support system that will fit with the diagonally skewed outer glass panels.

(8) The previous drawing did not yield any reasonable solutions. Here, an orthogonal intermediate support system is used with the larger primary diagonal ones. Additionally, outer glass panels are returned to a horizontal position, though trimmed at each diagonal.

(9) A better hierarchy is determined, where the glass moves to the very front. The large diagonal pieces rest directly behind that and are supported by the intermediate orthogonal members, which tie the double façade to the rest of the building.

South Facade 1: 1000

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M South Facade: Comfort 1: 96, 1/8” = 1’

South Facade: Overheating 1: 96, 1/8” = 1’

South Facade: Underheating 1: 96, 1/8” = 1’

The double façade works to extend the comfort zone and save energy during times where the weather allows for it. The outermost layer consists of a network of glass panels that can automatically rotate to open, close, and be at an angle normal to the sun. This directly reflects some of the sun’s harshest energy. The outer layer of glass also acts as a wind buffer, allowing retractable louvers to keep the rest of the direct sunlight from entering the occupied space. This keeps the occupants inside comfortable because there is no excessive solar gain or glare. As sunlight enters the air space between the inner performance glass and the outer layer, air is heated. This heated air rises through the cavity, creating a natural air flow. Air is allowed in from the north side of the building, and it is drawn through the building and up through the southern double façade. The air movement is based on temperature differences caused by the sun’s heat within the double façade, therefore no wind is necessary for natural ventilation to occur.

During the summer there are times where natural ventilation will not work well enough to keep occupants cool. In this case, mechanical cooling is required. The automatic windows on the inner performance glass layer are closed and airtight to keep the conditioned air inside. The rotating glass panels on the outer layer rotate to an angle normal to the sun’s rays to reflect some of the harshest light away. In addition, the louvers in the middle space prevent direct sunlight from hitting the main performance glass. This prevents solar gain on the south side, reducing load on mechanical systems, so the occupants can stay comfortable with less energy usage.

Office buildings tend to be load dominated, so some natural ventilation is possible during times where the weather outside may be considered chilly. However there will be times where the weather will be too cold, and the building must be heated. During these under heated periods, the outer layer of glass closes so that way the middle cavity becomes a buffer between the cold outside and the heated interior. The inner layer of glass is a high performance layer, preventing excessive heat loss. The louvers also can retract, allowing direct sunlight to enter the space. This is a passive way to heat the space inside. If the individual occupant decided that they do not wish to have direct sun due to issues of glare, they may override the automatic system, and lower the louvers to achieve the qualitiy of light they desire.

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South Facade Axonometric

Interior Rendering

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CITY OF THE STARM I X E D U S E D E V E L O P M E N T

R O A N O K E , V I R G I N I A

PROJECT DURATION: 12 WEEKS

OBJECTIVE: An active, vibrant place that contributes to and compliments the city to which it belongs

URBAN STRATEGY: The site presents unique opportunities to create new and exciting urban spaces that compliment and relate to the other ones in the immediate downtown area. In particular, the market square is a wonderful urban space already existing in the city. The creation of a new plaza that compliments the existing one serves to enhance the entire downtown area of Roanoke. The two primary connection points between these urban spaces are from Campbell Ave SE from the north and Kirk Ave SE from the west. Each arrival point would result in a particular spatial condition. The design began with a process of developing a concept and a strategy of how to handle the diverse mixed use program, how to address the city and how to accomplish the goals of the project. The interaction of people of the city, the residents of the new mixed use program, the new architecture, and the existing city became the four main factors to be considered. In addition, the view to Mill Mountain and the Roanoke star are key elements that handle the interaction of the other four factors.

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DIAGRAM 1:The forces shown are the movement of the people of Roanoke into the site, the rhythm of the surrounding buildings, and the axis from the north end of the site to the iconic star of Roanoke atop Mill Mountain.

DIAGRAM 2:The mixed use program is diverse in its spatial requirements as well as how each program element relates to one another. A scheme is depicted here, and the movement of the residents is shown.

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DIAGRAM 3:The axis from the far end of the site and the Roanoke star is a force which interferes, redirects, and refracts the rhythm of the surrounding buildings. This new rhythm, changed by the star axis, gives new form to the program spaces depicted in the previously.

DIAGRAM 4:The diagrammatic forces are removed from the site, but their trace remains on the form of the building. The resulting architecture is one that is entirely unique to its site. Its form is a resultant from the surrounding city, and one of its most important icons, the star on the mountain. The goal of the architecture being a place that compliments and contributes to its city is accomplished in this process.

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The diagram study continued to actualize itself into architectural form through this model study at a larger scale. The important lines that generated the initial form continue to be present in the project. The ramp that leads to the upper plaza and frames a view of the Roanoke star was worked out in this iteration. Certain areas of hardscape and softscape in the the ramp and the plazas and roof terraces were decided on. In addition, the facade began to appear based on a combination of form giving lines and function of the program on the interior.

Arrival from Campbell Avenue looking at the framed view of the Roanoke Star

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Sketch along Church Ave SE

Context in Roanoke, Aerial view from North

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Floor Plans 1:1500 On the ground floor are areas for four areas for retail, as well as a space designated for a small grocery store. The main lower plaza is found at the arrival point on Kirk Avenue. There entrance to the ramp to the upper plaza is found on the north end of the site. This ramp also has a path that arrives in the lower plaza. In addition, there is a below grade parking garage with an entrance on Church Ave and and exit on Kirk Ave. The second floor program contains several retail spaces that are adjacent to the upper plaza. (These are designated as a bookstore, cafe, and gallery/exhibition.) On the north building are apartment units. The third floor is speculative office space. The upper floors of the development are all apartment units. The majority are studio or one bedroom apartments, however there are several two bedroom apartments as well.

Level 1 Level 2

Level 4 Level 5

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Wall Section 1:192, 1” = 16’The structural system of the lower floors are all cast in place concrete columns, beams, and floor slabs. The structural system on the upper floors switches to a lighter one of load bearing walls whose weight is then transferred to the lower concrete structural system.

Studio Apartment Axon

1 Bedroom Apartment Axon

Due to the unique process of developing architectural form, most of the apartments in the development are unique in plan. This presented an opportunity to utilize prefabricated elements – kitchen pieces, entertainment centers, bathrooms, bedrooms, and utility – to minimize on site construction. These prefab elements can be arranged to create economical apartments that fit in with the unique form of the building.

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TWISTING TIMBER O B S E R V A T I O N T O W E R

B L A C K S B U R G , V I R G I N I A

PROJECT DURATION: 2 WEEKS

OBJECTIVE: Design an observation tower located on the highest point in the town of Blacksburg, using timber as the primary material

CONCEPT: To use various types of timber to create a unique form that will be a sculptural landmark. 9 semi-vertical round posts arranged as a ruled surface will constitute the primary load bearing members while twisting glu-lam members will be responsible for lateral loads.

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PROJECT No.6M I X E D U S E D E V E L O P M E N T

L O W E R E A S T S I D E , N E W Y O R K C I T Y

PROJECT DURATION: 14 WEEKS ~ IN PROGRESS

OBJECTIVE: Design a mixed use development that creatively utilizes timber as the primary material.

PROGRAM:190,000 sq. ft. Residential50,000 sq.ft. Museum30,000 sq.ft. Essex Street Market

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