3 Squared: SARUP Daylight Institute

Editor's Notes

1. Welcome everyone and thank you for being here todayTitle of the project is 3 Squared and it is an addition to the Architecture building we are currently in
2. A daylight lab is a facility where physical models and digital images are used to study how daylighting techniques can be used to improve an architectural design.Daylight labs are primarily located in the northwest, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Most are associated with a university architectural program.SARUP is a good canvas for such a facility because the curriculum exists but is lacking the use of a lab to perform the daylight studies. SARUP is Wisconsin’s only university with an architectural program thus it is suitable for an addition that contains a daylight institute.The daylight institute wouldn’t be exclusive to architectural students. Promote the use of it to working professionals in southeast Wisconsin. Professionals and students would then have a good opportunity to collaborate at the university level.Two main components that make a daylight lab: Heliodon (image at top) – used for physical modeling, place physical model on an adjustable table and use high intensity theater light as the sun source. Table is adjustable to duplicate sun conditions at any point in time during the calendar year. Ring Heliodon – flat table to place model on and adjust rings that contain lights to duplicate certain sunlight conditions. Artificial sky simulator or mirror box (bottom images) – mirrored surface on the interior with lights illuminating the box from the top to duplicate overcast sky conditions.
3. Both pieces of equipment can be used to study exterior and interior light conditionsBottom image is a digital display that can be used to see high to low levels of natural light conditions on the inside of a building. Red is a high level of light whereas blue is a low level of light PLAY TIME LAPSE – EXPLAIN IT IS TAKEN ON THE SUMMER SOLSTICE (JUNE 21) FROM 7AM TO 7PM. EXPLAIN HOW YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGE IN LIGHT FROM EAST(RIGHT) TO WEST(LEFT).Two Goals of the Daylight Institute: Help increase the amount of energy modeling firms in the area do for each of their projects. Inform students about energy techniques through digital and physical course work at a university level.
4. As stated daylight institute will connect the working professionals concentrated in the downtown Milwaukee area (lower red dot) with students located on the campus (upper red dot).Yellow dots were all possible sites that I studied in Pre-Thesis, two on North Ave and two on the campus.Location, Context, and Historical conditions were all examined in the site selection process.
5. From my site selection process I chose the site adjacent to SARUP, represented by the red dot.I examined the local area surrounding the campus, from hwy 43 (red line on the left) to Lake Michigan.Orange lines represent major commuter streets from the west, Hwy 43 to Hwy 32Purple lines show the major streets at a neighborhood level that surround the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus.Green line is representative of the bike trail.Each white circle’s diameter shows a 10 minute walk.
6. Here is a closer look at where the Architecture building is located with in the campus. It holds the corner of Maryland and Hartford AvenueThe daylight institute’s site is located in the SARUP courtyard replacing the existing 3x3 or 9-square tree grove
7. Circulation diagram reveals three problem areas surrounding the Architecture building. These are conflicts between people walking and vehicles traveling through campus. The first major conflict is the intersection of Maryland and Hartford Avenue. This intersection is located in the heart of the campus.The second conflict is the existing intersection of the alley entry to SARUP’s parking lot and Hartford avenue. This intersection is problematic because three different modes of transportation meet at this point. These are people who walk through the alley, represented by the blue line, vehicles entering and exiting the alley and a major bus stop located at the left edge of the red circle.Two of the three conflicts would be resolved with my solution to replace the SARUP parking lot with a green plaza. The parking lot will be replaced with an underground parking garage that spans from the Architecture building to the parking lot located to the east. Shown by the yellow rectangle. The entry to the parking garage from the Architecture building will be an entrance only to relieve the congestion of people, cars and buses. Exit/Entry points (Shown by the yellow circles) will be located at Cunningham Hall and the Engineering, Mathematical Sciences building.
8. The underground parking garage is beneficial in two ways; it adds approximately 450 parking spaces to the campus and it is covered by the replacement of the soccer field and a green plaza located where the parking lot currently exists. By replacing the parking lot with a pervious green landscape my proposed site planning will help to reduce rain water runoff which is currently being addressed across the campus.My goal was to continue the greenscape from the northeast quadrant of the campus to the southwest quadrant where the daylight institute’s site is located. This was a recent issue addressed by the current master planning committee for UWM.
9. Site plan shows where hardscaped surfaces are placed to provide circulation paths to people walking through the courtyard and around the daylight institute.The courtyard maintains a square landscape that is lined by paved surfaces on three sides while the replacement of the birch trees lines the east side. The birch trees will help to provide sun shading to the existing atrium staircase.Four exit/entrance nodes are place around the parking structure for people to access the surrounding campus buildings.
10. A ramped entry from Hartford Avenue, allows vehicles to enter the underground parking structure while providing a landscape surface at grade.
11. A view of SARUP’s plaza during the fall and spring at 2pm.
12. A concern from the beginning was the effect that a building on this site would have on the amount of light that was permitted through to the courtyard. This solar study provides a time lapse of a summer solstice condition from sunrise to sunset with the placement of a building on the 9-square site. Because of the high sun angle, the majority of sunlight permitted to the courtyard was relatively the same. The only change would be the harsh west setting sunlight that currently penetrates through the building and into the east building block where numerous studios are located.
13. Seen in this aerial are 3 generations of architecture buildings starting with Englemann Hall on the upper right, our current building (SARUP) and my thesis proposal for an addition in the courtyard.The diagram represents the ideas of change in architecture building’s that UWM has progressed through since the beginning of the architecture program. The addition of the daylight institute would progress the program into the 3rd generation with some resemblances of the current 2nd generation happening in the overlap.
14. This image diagrams the language setup from the existing conditions of SARUP. There is a strong east to west relationship setup by the existing column grid.This grid works to reinforce SARUP’s massing scheme. Two north-south circulation spines shown in blue work to organize masses otherwise known as program blocks. These program blocks are the locations of public space, administration, classrooms, and architecture studios. A hybrid block shown in green works to connect the two circulation spines while containing program space. Shown in red is the 3x3 square site where the daylight institute will be located.
15. From this aerial, the east-west relationship is seen in the landscape in the form of glazed openings that pierce the landscape to provide daylight to the first level of underground parking. These axis are then lined with trees that are placed so their shadows will not prohibit all of the daylight from passing through the openings and into the parking structure.
16. This is the established program for the addition of the daylight institute. Two unique spaces that do not currently exist are the daylight lab and the green building materials and products showroom.The idea with the addition of the green showroom is to introduce students, faculty, and visitors to companies who concentration on producing energy efficient products. Companies would be allowed to market their products in this showroom.
17. To understand the vertical relationship of the spaces I produced this diagram. The left diagram shows the proportions of service, public, and academic spaces.The middle diagram breaks down into each individual program space as it is listed, with all of them being proportionate in terms of their square footage requirements. The shuffled diagram is how I perceived the program blocks to be arranged vertically while shifting them outside of the 3x3 square site which is setup with the same grid as SARUP’s column structure.The 3x3 square site is a vertical container that holds each separated program block. This is represented by the rectilinear line from which the program masses are shifting from. The open zones that are created by shuffling the program blocks give opportunities for atriums and winter gardens, both of which help to filter daylight into the program spaces while providing a sheltered area within the building that can be used as a break-out space.
18. The Parti diagram on the right is setup in three parts – from right to left there is the continuation of the circulation spine, a gasket zone containing an atrium, and the rigid 3x3 square.This parti diagram transposes into the massing scheme shown on the left. The shaded region resembles the continuation of the circulation spine with is wrapped by another mass. The wrapping mass symbolizes the transition between SARUP and the Daylight Institute.On the backside you can begin to see the forms that juxtapose the 3x3 square site.
19. SARUP’s vertical stacking of program spaces adjacent to a circulation spine helped to derive the vertical organization of program spaces in the daylight institute.Green represents public spaces while blue overlaps with classroomsYellow diagrams where faculty and administrative offices are located.Orange represents the architecture studios’ location within each building.
20. This view shows the building transition from SARUP to the Daylight Institute.FALL/SPRING EQUINOX AT 11AM.
21. Following the strong east-west influence, I designed each level’s program block as a tube that is open on both ends. By doing so I am maximizing the potential for natural daylight from the east in the morning and from the west in the afternoon.These two lighting diagrams show how the program spaces are calibrated to receive daylight from the east and west. The sketch is a section from east to west through the courtyard looking north, so the architecture building is shown on the right.From these two studies I concluded that each space would receive the most light early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
22. From those two studies, I developed a generalized light curve shown in the image at the top. The light curve also shows how daylight is allowed to pass through the gasket zone’s atrium and affect more than one level of program space. The lower image begins to explain how the stacked tubes of program space react to west daylight in the afternoon.By receding the glass enclosure wall an overhang condition is created which acts as a sunshade for high angled sunlight.The remaining enclosure wall for each west facing tube is shaded by operable vertical louvers. The louvers are managed by a solar indicator which determine the optimal angle to block direct sunlight.
23. On the left is an image looking at the west side of the daylight institute. The image reveals two atrium spaces both situated on the north side of the building. One spans from the lower level to the first floor while the other one connects the two tubes that contain the design studios.The glass curtain wall that begins to reveal itself in this image maintains the 3x3 site when it is extruded vertically.On the right is an image of the eastern atrium which will permit morning daylight into each level of program space.
24. This image shows how the atrium connecting the two studio tubes would look on a fall or spring day at 3 pm. This space can be used for architecture critiques.
25. In addition to vertical louvers, a light shelf placed three quarters of the way up the glass enclosure wall, works to reflect light up to the ceiling before entering the interior. The structure of the daylight institute is cast in place concrete columns combined with a prefabricated floor system referred to as bubbledeck. The intention for using bubbledeck as a floor structure is two-sided.
26. It helps to provide the illusion that each tube is a separate structure stacked one on top of one another even though the floor structure is one continuous piece.Bubbledeck is also advantageous when it comes to cantilevering floor structures. The corners of the 3x3 square are cantilevered, the bubbledeck system suits this condition with its capabilities of large cantilevers and post-tensioning.
27. In terms of sustainability, Bubbledeck uses 35% - 50% less concrete than a flat slab system would. Less material consumption means less energy consumption.Heating is handled by radiant floors while passive chilled beams with integrated light fixtures provide cooling during the summer months. High and low operable windows in each of the program tubes are meant to help circulate air for natural ventilation. Operable windows are also included in the curtain walls.
28. On the left is the floor plan for the lower level where the green materials and products showroom is located. The lower level also acts as the point of entry to the Daylight Institute and SARUP if visitors park in the underground structure. The right floor plan contains the gallery where student work can be on display in the window light boxes.
29. The 3x3 square represented by the continuous glass curtain wall can be seen piercing through the landscape upon entry to the underground parking structure. Slits in the landscape provide daylight around the daylight institute to alleviate the use of electric lighting.
30. The gallery is apparent upon entry to the daylight institute from the lower level or SARUP.A slit in the roof of the gallery allows a band of light to track across the floor providing a sense of time to visitors inside of the gallery.
31. Digital daylighting studies were performed for each level to determine the quantity of daylight entering the space. As seen here, the gallery space remains relatively constant through the middle part of a day in the fall or spring. Light can be seen penetrating through the atrium at 12pm.
32. Open to a winter garden on the west, the 2nd floor classrooms provide additional space to the architecture program. The classrooms will also be used for continuing education instruction to working professionals.On the right, the faculty offices rotate to have a north-south relationship rather than an east-west. The office setup closely resembles the offices currently located in SARUP.
33. The winter garden can be a place to gather before or after a class, otherwise it can be used by the instructor as a break-out space for the class.FALL/SPRING EQUINOX AT 3PM
34. Daylight from the west never reaches the classrooms because of the large 3rd floor overhang created by pushing the classroom tube to the east against the gasket zone.However, daylight from the east does illuminate the southern classroom in the morning hours as seen in the 10am daylight study.
35. Direct light reaches into the southern faculty office during the fall and spring equinoxes. However, in the summer the sun angle is greater so the overhang and light shelf shade the office.FALL/SPRING EQUINOX AT 12PM
36. This daylight study compares a north facing office with the south facing one. The office on the north has even lighting conditions throughout the day while the southern office experiences more direct light during the fall and spring.
37. The two floor plans show design studios and the transition from SARUP’s circulation spine to the daylight institute’s wrapping circulation.Critique spaces are available to each studio. On the fourth floor the crit space is located in the north atrium whereas on the 5th floor it is an alcove in the circulation bar.
38. Translucent glass louvers work to allow diffuse light to enter the studio spaces while still providing some views to the exterior from with in the studio.FALL/SPRING EQUINOX AT 3PM
39. The design studios don’t receive as much daylight because of their depth. The 5th floor design studio is shown here in the daylight studyAt 4pm the sun angle is just right to produce a small beam of light that is allowed into the studio without shading.
40. In the fifth floor alcove translucent glass panels are used in a double envelope enclosure system. The translucency allows diffuse light to pass through to the interior, illuminating the space.
41. The transition in the circulation spine is due to a complex system of glazed layers.Metal panels are used to represent the in-fill frame system extending from SARUP’s circulation spine, while two glazing systems, one translucent and one clear, compose the daylight institutes circulation.
42. To express the transition I set up a series of grids. The major grid lines, here in red, break up the existing in-fill frame of SARUP in to squares. The grid lines are directly related to the column structure used in the Architecture building. This same square grid system is used in the daylight institute’s glazing frame by primary supporting window mullions.
43. The secondary grid lines break the major square in half across a vertical plane. Horizontally the secondary grid begins to shift. Rather than following the 5 equal parts setup up by SARUP’s horizontal mullions the grid splits the red square, first, in half across a horizontal plane, resulting in the major red square becoming 4 smaller yellow squares, and then one step more, into 4 equal yellow rectangles.
44. These rectangles are then split in half to create the smallest square module which is the outer translucent glass panels.
45. The yellow rectangles are represented by a clear glazing system on the interior of the double envelope as seen above. These glass modules act as a thermal barrier to the enclosure system. They are also operable so the outer panels and cavity can be cleaned. The square translucent panels on the outer edge act as the solar barrier. They are angled in two directions to the southeast so they optimize their potential to prohibit direct sunlight from entering the interior.
46. The sixth floor is the daylight lab.An additional component to the lab is a sun deck. Students and professionals have the capability to perform solar studies outside with the use of the sun rather than duplicating it with artificial lights.30 to 35 feet are needed in the space to duplicate the exterior environment inside with the use of the heliodon. The dashed cone represents this distance with the use of a theater light as the light source.
47. Additional space is provided for model building and large class instruction on how the daylight lab operates. The mirror box is located on the edge of the skylight for the potential to use natural light as a source rather than a series of artificial lights. Artificial lights would still be available as a modular unit given the natural light is not enough.
48. The solar studies show how the horizontal sun shade works to spread daylight across the interior evenly.
49. The horizontal sun shade was designed with an backwards s-curved louver that would bounce reflected light in the sunshade before entering the interior of the lab through the skylight.This theory works for low, mid and high sun angles as shown by the dashed lines.
50. The horizontal sun shade is sized to the 3x3 square. So it is seen as the square continuing all the way to the top.
51. A study was performed to test the differences in shading techniques during clear sky and overcast conditions at 4 different times during the year and at two times during the day, 12pm and 4pm.I chose these two times based on the strong correlation of west facing openings. The three shading techniques I studied were: vertical louvers with a light shelf vertical louvers, light shelf, and an interior perforated shade and a light shelf with an exterior perforated shade.The combination of all three techniques prohibits the most amount of daylight from entering the interior.The louver light shelf combination provided similar results as the light shelf w/ exterior perforated shade.
52. Thank you all for being here today. I want to extend a special thanks to these people listed as they have helped me through this thesis process.