Architecture Commons^™

Existing Retrofit For Enhanced Performance, Portland State University. School Of Architecture

Research-Based Design Initiative

Hacker is renovating Cruess Hall on the University of California, Davis campus. It is a 22,000 sf structure built in 19 59. Over the years it has had many uses included being a meat processing p lant and is to become a multi-use space which will include an auditorium and wood shop to name a few.

Qualitative Daylighting Analysis, Alejandra Ruiz, Genevieve Wasser, Bora Architects

Research-Based Design Initiative

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a combination of strategies used for analyzing daylighting qualities in the context of two classrooms. The strategies include qualitative information from observations and a post-occupancy survey, on-site light level measurements, and computer generated simulations all intended to inform a comparative analysis of the daylighting conditions and perceived daylighting qualities between the two classrooms. This composite approach takes into consideration access to daylight and views, glare problems and control strategies, use of window coverings, and perceived impact of daylight in order to identify and analyze the presence of certain biophilic design patterns. While both rooms …

Knight Cancer Research Building, Darren Biles, Peter Heibel, Srg Partnership

Research-Based Design Initiative

The Knight Cancer Research Building (KCRB) will be a 7-story research facility with a proposed site in the South Waterfront district. It will be the first building of a two-phase construction project; the second building, expected for completion in about 10 years, will connect to the KCRB's north facade. Until then, the KCRB north facade will be visually and environmentally exposed.

The north facade will include an atrium flanked by more enclosed spaces such as egress stairs, storage, and meeting rooms. The south facade of the Phase II building will define the remaining walls of the atrium as its lower …

Occupant Usage And Behavior, Zach Baugher, Janna Ferguson, Yukari Kubo, Erika Colvin

Research-Based Design Initiative

The Metro Building is located at 600 NE Grand Ave in Portland, OR. Occupied by Metro, a regional governmental organization, the building houses roughly 400 employees over a total of 120,000 square feet of office space. The objective of our research, in collaboration with YGH architecture and New Buildings Institute, is to provide Metro with a cumulative plan of action to address energy inefficiencies due to occupant behavior, equipment, and furniture arrangement. A user survey was sent to all the Metro employees to understand how they feel about their work environment and to begin to brainstorm ways their environment could …

Water And Community Relience, Portland State University. School Of Architecture

Research-Based Design Initiative

RESILIENCE: the capacity of a system to absorb a disturbance and reorganize while undergoing change so as to still retain essentially the same function, structure, identity, and feedbacks .

Portland Metro Building Performance: Optimizing Energy Performance And Occupant Comfort At Portland Metro, Ali Alajmi, Janna Ferguson, Erika Colvin, Yukari Kubo

Research-Based Design Initiative

The objective of this research is to investigate potential existing building retrofits to improve the work environment for building occupants as well as the overall building energy performance. Beginning with the building skin and moving to the individual cubicle, our team wanted to find a specific architectural solution that would help to reduce the Metro building’s overall energy consumption and help to create a more comfortable work environment

Research Tools For Assessing Thermal Bridging, Portland State University. School Of Architecture, Zgf Architects

Research-Based Design Initiative

Objective:

Project Overview Results Results Compile knowledge developed from the use of building analysis tools, their applicability and limitations, for the refrence of future needs.

Building Performance “What Ifs”, Paul Conrad, Alejandra Ruiz, Genevieve Wasser, Boora Architects

Research-Based Design Initiative

The “Building Performance What Ifs” project collaborated with Boora Architects to analyze the envelope design performance for three schools in the Portland area. The three selected schools, North Clackamas High School, Rock Creek Middle School, and the Early Learning Center addition to Earl Boyles Elementary School serve as examples of evolving knowledge and strategies in envelope performace design in recent years.

Multnomah County Courthouse Day Light Analysis, Angela Van Duzen, Srg Partnership

Research-Based Design Initiative

The projects is a comprehensive day lighting analysis of spatial qualities to maximize daylight autonomy of the courtroom space for the Multnomah County. The courthouse is a new construction designed by SRG architects who are commissioned by Multnomah County. The building is located on 1st and Jefferson adjacent to the Hawthorne Bridge on Portland, OR. The aim of the study is to determine whether a light well in the center of the tower is a viable solution to provide natural light into the courtrooms or not. The tested were conducted through digital models using Diva plug-in through Rhino as our …

Living Building Challenge, Emily Jane Bedell, Hayley Nelke, Srg Architects

Research-Based Design Initiative

The Living Economy Sourcing imperative intends to promote growth of local economic structure while reducing negative transportation related effects on human and environmental health. Requirements for material sourcing distances are presented in this imperative, as seen in the map below, from Portland, OR. The manufacturer location is defined as the place where the final product is fabricated and assembled. A distribution facility does not qualify as a products’ manufacturer location. Methods of improving and localizing the total sourcing radius should be researched.

Healthy Living Environments, Tina Taeb, Ashley Schahfer, Zgf

Research-Based Design Initiative

Internal Connection: Control Safety Privacy Entry Access Windows Wall thickness Common facilities

Physical Connection: Physical Connection Layout organization Organized complexity Familiarity Ceiling heights Spatial dimensions Hallway proportions Tiering Accessibility

Social Connection: With building residents and the city Auditory Visual Interaction Entry Windows Wall thickness Proximity Common facilities

Environmental Connection: Environmental Connection Air quality Light quality Thermal comfort Windows HVAC Orientation

Creating An Eco-District At Lincoln High School, Willy Chandler, Isaac Schultz, Abbey Dacey, Mike Manzi, Corey T. Griffin, Kalina Vanderpoel

Research-Based Design Initiative

The EcoDistrict protocol is a list of concepts centered around connectivity, sustainability, and resiliency in neighborhoods and urban environments. Initial research consisted of reviewing precedents for EcoDistricts and other high performance neighborhoods and schools. Lincoln High School, Providence Park and the Multnomah Athletic Club were identified as the stakeholders of a potential EcoDistrict due to their location and energy demand. Calculations and estimates were made for the potential employment of “green” energy and water technologies on site and in the surrounding neighborhood. Estimates were made to determine what would be necessary to achieve net zero annual energy and water consumption …

Baseline Daylight Autonomy And Glare, Portland State University. School Of Architecture

Research-Based Design Initiative

With the 2050 Energy Challenge in mind, many institutions are embracing strict policies on energy consumption in order to be at the vangaurd of sustainable practice. The California State Educational System is one such organization, specifying a 25% below code requirements for University buildings. This project specifically involves a retrofit of Cruess Hall, a former shop and storage space on the campus of UC Davis.

Our first task was establishing a baseline from which we can understand the conditions of existing light quality. The project is in design development stage, so after a baseline is established design suggestions can be …

Optimizing User Comfort And Energy Efficiency At Portland Metro Office, Willy Chander, Yost Grube Hall Architecture, Kevin Chavez, Abby Cooper

Research-Based Design Initiative

1. Large windows on all aspects result in uncomfortable thermal and lighting conditions

2. A drop ceiling and high cubicle walls reduce daylight in the building

The Role Of Healing Gardens, Kalina K. Vander Poel

Student Research Symposium

The objective of this research is to observe the use patterns of a healing garden located on the oncology floor of a pediatric hospital. Use patterns recorded through behavior mapping and tracking focus on collecting data related to the type of user, length of stay, and activity. Three user groups (patient, provider, and visitor) stay an average of eight (8) minutes at Randall Children’s Hospital ranging in activity from sit and relax to actively play. Some findings are concurrent with past research while other findings are not. This research serves as an initial set of data to inform the production …

Portland State University School Of Business Administration (Sba) Renovation + Personal Comfort Investigation, Abolfazl Mekanik, Corey Griffin, Louise Foster

Student Research Symposium

This poster discusses the results of a field study about indoor thermal comfort, based on investigations in Portland State University`s School of Business (SBA) classrooms. The field study was conducted by physical parameter monitoring and questionnaires. Both field monitoring and occupant surveys were performed at the same time during the regular class period.The measurement campaign consisted of measuring the environmental parameters such as temperature (Ta), relative humidity (RH), CO₂, and sound levels. The outdoor air temperature, humidity, and sound were registered every 2 hour period during class time. The intention for this project is to investigate thermal comfort …

The Effects Of Urban Containment Policies On Commuting Patterns, Sung Moon Kwon

Dissertations and Theses

During the past several decades, most U.S. metropolitan areas have experienced strong suburbanization of housing and jobs (i.e., urban sprawl). The sprawl that arises from urban growth has become a big issue in many metropolitan areas in the U.S. In response, there has been increased interest in urban containment policies. There are contrasting views (planning-oriented vs. market-oriented) of urban sprawl and urban containment policies. Planning-oriented scholars asserted the problems of 'geographic sprawl (GS)' and the positive effects of urban containment polices, while market-oriented scholars asserted the problems of 'economic sprawl (ES)' and the negative or negligible effects of urban containment …

Sensible Air To Air Heat Recovery Strategies In A Passive House, Santiago Martin Rodriguez-Anderson

Dissertations and Theses

Due to rising energy costs and concerns about global climate change, high performance buildings are more in demand than ever before. With roughly 20% of the total energy consumption in the United States being devoted to residential use, this sector represents a significant opportunity for future savings. There are many guidelines and standards for reducing building energy consumption. One of the most stringent is the Passive House Standard. The standard requires that that air infiltration is less than or equal to 0.6 air changes per hour at a 50 Pascal pressure difference (ACH 50), annual heating energy is less than …

Whose Urban Forest? The Political Ecology Of Foraging Urban Nontimber Forest Products, Patrick T. Hurley, Marla R. Emery, Rebecca J. Mclain, Melissa R. Poe, Brain Grabbatin, Cari L. Goetcheus

Institute for Sustainable Solutions Publications and Presentations

Drawing on case studies of foraging in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, we point to foraging landscapes and practices within diverse urban forest spaces. We examine these spaces in relation to U.S. conservation and development processes and the effects of management and governance on species valued by foragers. These case studies reveal the everyday landscapes of urban foraging and suggest that ideas about what constitutes the suite of appropriate human-environment interactions in the sustainable city are contested and accommodated in diverse ways.