Biomedical Textile Development & Research CenterSteph Dudak & Mina Bellare | Fall 2015 | Design VIII | Professor Matthew Gindlesparger

Table of Contents

Minneapolis, MN Demographics 01St. Anthony Falls 02Site Selection 03Medical Textiles 04Program Mock Up 05Mid Crit Presentation 06Plans 07Sefaira Analyses 09Facade Development 11Wall Sections 17Atrium Development 19Mechanical Systems 25Plumbing 27Occupancy Loads 28Final Presentation Mock Up & Other Development 291/4" Final Model 331/32" Final Model 35Final Presentation 36Final Boards 37

Demographics

01

St. Anthony Falls

02

Site Selection

03

Medical Textiles

04

Program Mock Up

05

The following two boards were developed within three days of each other.

While we continue to bring in basic demographic and site information in to these presentations, the focus for the board to the right is mainly on plan organization and massing.

Mid Crit Board

06

The board for our mid crit features more definitive plan organization, site location, and bioclimatic strategies at the time. At this stage, however, we did not have much of an attitude about the exterior of the building and what it really should be. We had an idea of peeling away the existing facade but it was not executed in a way that we felt displayed our intentions about a biomedical textile center.

Plans

07

Following our previous presentations, we worked to finalize our plans as we began to develop the facade systems. After this set of drawings, our plans would only see minor changes. We created a criteria for each room in order for it to be placed most efficiently in the building. This information also helped with the systems that we implemented and the treatment of the facade.

Lighting and system needs per programmatic function

Plans

08

Safaira Analyses

09

To begin progressing with the facade, we started with Sefaira daylight analyses of both the existing building and of our general intentions of the building. Doing this allowed us to see what kind of light conditions the existing and new building were experiencing in their most basic forms.

What we found with these was that the existing building was mostly underlit in terms of daylight. Our proposed idea at the time was mostly overlit, with the right side showing data of being underlit. This was not an issue, however, because we already determined that the right side of the building, which houses labs and research, would need mostly artificial lighting and very little daylight. The rest of the building, however, would have to be dealt with.

Safaira Analyses

10

The information gathered from the daylighting analyses was then used to inform our facade. After this, we figured out how much light each programmatic space needed and continued from there.

Overall Sefaira analyses of existing building, our proposed building, and the three separate sections of our new building. It was relevant to separate the three "sections" because each one requires different conditions in terms of light and air.

Facade Development

11

Facade: Initial sketches regarding facade treatments

Woven facade that opens and closes according to each space and time of day

Metal facade with perforations of different sizes according to programmatic spaces

Fabric panels that lift in order to bring in light according to space and time of day

Facade Development

12

During the development of our facade, we also made a decision to change the structural system of our building. While we knew we wanted to alter the existing structure, the previous alterations we had made were less informed and less structurally efficient. As a result, a decision was made to go with a steel diagrid structure around the exterior as it provides stability, uniform load distribution, and relates to the "structure" of medical textiles while facilitating the idea of wrapping.

From this point, we developed a facade that featured varied levels of transparencies. We chose to develop a metal facade in an attempt to stay away from using a literal textile, but creating the various transparencies and qualities that a pulled textile would produce. The facade includes perforated metal panels, solid metal panels, clear glass, and fritted glass. Aside from acting as visual interest, these particular treatments are meant to mitigate weather and solar effects on the building based on the specific facade as well as the programmatic spaces behind the panels.

Facade Development

13

This rendition starts to combine the idea of the aluminum panels (left) with an opening for glazing (right) with a glass pattern and a perforated metal skin wrapping. Trying to combine all of these at once perhaps was not the best way to go, however. The openings and the screens all together did not make a lot of sense.

Facade Development

14

We began to develop a facade that "wrapped" around the building, revealing the structure where there are no panels. The idea behind this variation of the facade was that where there needs to be opaque walls, we would have an aluminum composite panel system. The transparency would be controlled with perforated panels attached to the outside of the structure to control sunlight and shade. The south facade features a double skin and the glass along the atrium would contain a fritted glass pattern similar to the perforated metal screen pattern. The fritted glass allows for some control over heat gain and shading but still allows views over the river.

Facade Development

15

After having an idea of what the facade should be, another iteration was created and the exterior structure was laid out. From here, it made sense to continue a similar structural language to hold up the west side of the building, which before this point we were unsure of what to do. A considerable load had to be accounted for, so the existing columns were to be replaced by three large V shaped concrete supports. The facade would follow a similar pattern from here, changing depending on what each space needs. The structure at this stage also would see some changes; the intersections line up with the floor plates but still appeared very rigid as a result of their square shape. Considering we also kept the interior structure of the existing building, we found it necessary to reflect that with the exterior structure. With our final iteration, the grid would stretch so the intersections would line up with the columns and the floor plates.

Facade Development

16

Final Elevations

Wall Sections

17

First attempts at wall sections for the double skin attached to the south facade and for walls containing aluminum composite panels.

Wall Sections

18

Final Wall Sections

Atrium Development

19

In developing the atrium space, we knew it was going to be a space that was going to be the major connector between all other spaces, almost as a bridge, and was going to be a space that had multiple functions. Because of this, the quality of the space was very important and it was necessary that it be used to allow ventilation between both sides of the building. The atrium also acts as a lightwell through the building, allowing in natural light where it wasn't before, and acts as an intermediate space between both sides to promote collaboration between different disciplines (student v professional). The atrium also juxtaposes the sterile nature of a lab space, providing a green space with fresh air that removes the user from work momentarily.

Atrium Development

20

Version 1: Initial sketches and digital representations

This iteration of the atrium space explored pathways that crossed between each other and sloped upward; circulation would take place along them. As we went through this version, we realized it becomes difficult structurally and functionally. The continuous slope was not ideal on the basis that the atrium is a space that acts as a link to promote collaboration or that becomes a space that one could use to relax. The horizontal connections only existing at the edges between sloping paths also would cause a struggle to use the space.

Atrium Development

21

Version 2: Initial section sketches of atrium space

After discussing what would and would not work within the atrium, we decided to further develop a different rendition of the space that featured a continuous green wall to promote clean air (which also conceals the restroom and mechanical core) while still keeping various levels of plantings. the following plan sketches and digital representation would greatly influence our final atrium design.

Atrium Development

22

Version 2: Initial plan sketches of atrium space

Atrium Development

23

The intention of this iteration of the atrium is to allow the plantings to pop through the spaces from below. The circulation then cuts into the floor plates, creating areas where you're still able to look below to the other levels. There is also an equal travel distance to get from side to side, and the atrium space is symmetrical. The L shaped stairs that connect the top two levels let a user directly off to their desired side of the building (student v professional space). The stairs that connect the double height space to the level above it let the user out at the front of the floor, but are also connected to the L steps. The front of the floor plates are left unaltered because this is the primary viewing space over the river and is also an important piece of the horizontal circulation. The pathways are wide enough to accomodate basic circulation as well as plantings and seating.

Version 2: Digital Representation

Atrium Development

24

Initial sketches of the interior of the atrium spaces at each level. It is intended that the atrium would be open on the inside to promote ventilation between both sides.

Mechanical Systems

25

Spending a lot of time on atrium and facade development, we also had to develop the mechanical systems as well as occupancy loads to determine egress. While determining plan organization, we found it most efficient for the mechanical core to be located in the very back of the atrium space. Below is our first attempt at laying out the mechanical systems.

Mechanical Systems

26

From the beginning of the project, we had to keep the building in mind in "sections"--the student section, atrium section, and professional section--because each section required a different system because of the functions of the spaces. The labs, for example, all required new air and exhaust--air could not be recirculated through these spaces. We determined the use of CAV and VAV reheat systems for the atrium and lab spaces, respectively. Below is our final inclusion of the mechanical

Plumbing

27Initial pipe layout

Final Plumbing Layout

Occupancy Loads

28

Occupancy loads for the spaces were calculated to determine the means of egress for our building--one stair to the right of the mechanical room and one at the northwest corner of the "student side" of the building.

Final Presentation Mock Up

29

The following presentation boards were the last mock up before the final presentation. Further facade development and treatment of the atrium space was also included in the workings of these boards.

Final Presentation Mock Up

30

Final Presentation Mock Up

31

Final Presentation Mock Up

32

1/4" Section Model

33

1/4" Section Model

34

1/32" Model & Site

35

Final Presentation

36

Minneapolis has a strong medical, educational, and science industry that is continuing to grow and develop. Similarly, biomedical textiles is a developing industry which provides an essential service to a variety of medical practices, allowing the implementation of artificial parts in the human body. The proposal for a biomedical textile facility aims to strengthen the advancement of Minneapolis' medical practices, providing a space to manufacture, develop, implement, and research biomedical textiles as well as teach about their applications--it will also serve as a node along the

Mississippi for professionals and the community alike.

---

Our building site takes advantage of expansive views over the Mississippi river, proximity to relevant industry, southern exposure, and water power. However, the existing building was not efficient for our particular program. With a failing exterior structure and a desire to keep some of the character of the old building, we opted to replace the exterior structure with a steel diagrid; this allows the rigidity and structure we need to hold up the building, provide even load distribution, and reinvent the level of transparency which was not provided before. The form of the structure is derived from the structure of an actual textile, which

also provides different levels of rigidity and load distribution as it is stretched and pulled.

The atrium space acts as a continuation of the exterior landscape and aims to continue Minneapolis' trend of bringing green space into buildings. Cutting through the middle of the building allows the atrium to separate the "student" and "professional" sections, which require different mechanical and passive strategies while simultaneously connecting them back together through a space that intends to increase collaboration

between the two. The atrium also holds all the main circulation and service cores.

Final Boards

37

Final Boards

38

Final Boards

39

Final Boards

40