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Special Thanks to Prof. W. Andrew Atwood & Prof. C. Greig CryslerWithout your instruction I couldn't make it

Thanks to Chest Miller Scholarship for generously supporting this thesis

Thanks to Joleen for accompanying me in these days. Thanks to Yibo Zhao for helping with physical models. Thanks to my parents for paying the tuition to allow me stay here.

Finally thank God for letting me know these people and have nice experience.God bless you, God bless America!

Chicago Frame 5

A Challenge to Chicago Framedesigned by Qi Li instructed by W. Andrew Atwood & C. Greig Crysler

Location of site at S. Figueroa St & 5th St in Downtown Los Angeles, CA

Chicago Frame 7

Architects are critical about this fact, and they tried to express more than this. As stated by Colin Rowe, “Unlike Sullivan, who had approached architecture primarily with the object of realizing an expressive structure, Wright was, from the first, abnormally sensitive to the to the demands of an expressive space."

However besides form, there’re lots of other architectural parts, such as space, facade, circulation, view, that could possibly be more interesting if they were not that subordinate to the system. In this thesis I’m redesigning a high-rise, seeking a balance between relying on the grid frame and being extremely subordinate to the system of grid, and develop these architectural parts to better react to the context people’s need in modern times.

Diagram of typical current floor use of one company While I was doing an internship in the office on 33rd floor, I strongly felt the negative of this singular space of this building.

Chicago Frame 9

Undesired View to the other twin tower as blocked by surroundingsUndesire reasons: blocked view, no sunshine, surrounded by people, no recreation atmosphere because others are watching you, probably...

Chicago Frame 11

Desired View along Figueroa St which is not blocked by surroundings

Then I was wondering if I could connect all the floor’s recreation space to form a vertical streets with all kinds of activities. However I found that Chicago Frame didn’t have free section to allow that space exist in the building. Thus I began to have some big movements to cut this volume to build this space.

Chicago Frame 13

Then I was wondering if I could connect all the floor’s recreation space to form a vertical streets with all kinds of activities. However I found that Chicago Frame didn’t have free section to allow that space exist in the building. Thus I began to have some big movements to cut this volume to build this space.

Diagram of redesigned layout

Chicago Frame 15

Downtown Los Angelesopen city view but hidh densed downtown area

Chicago Frame 17

Volume that has open view not blocked by other high-rise. It could be through the gap in-between other buildings or to the DTLA Central Garden.

A Challenge to Chicago Frame 19

Volume that has open view not blocked by other high-rise. It could be through the gap in-between other buildings or to the DTLA Central Garden.

Due to its double height and space quality needing, open space may have a large window-wall ratio, west-face space may be not desirable and has a high energy cost, especially in LA's summer. North-face is also avoided due to insufficient sunshine for vertical botanical garden.


Due to its double height and space quality needing, open space may have a large window-wall ratio, west-face space may be not desirable and has a high energy cost, especially in LA's summer. North-face is also avoided due to insufficient sunshine for vertical botanical garden.

Potential area for open space is selected which could be connected by continuous circulation from the ground up to the top for a vertical public street.


Potential area for open space is selected which could be connected by continuous circulation from the ground up to the top for a vertical public street.

Within the framework in last step, this cut is made for entrance halls towards the plaza where most of the people will come from.


Within the framework in last step, this cut is made for entrance halls towards the plaza where most of the people will come from.

Higher and rotate to desired direction.


Higher and rotate to desired direction.

Again...


Again...

Again...


Again...

Again...


Again...

Finally...


Finally...

Free Plan

Anyway, within the selected void space, every other floor is removed to build double height open space.


Free Plan

Anyway, within the selected void space, every other floor is removed to build double height open space.

Afterwards I carefully redesigned the structure system to support what I did in this high-rise. As shown in the diagram, the cross-beams are cut to leave void space for new program, while steel trusses for reinforcement are introduced to support the geometry and volume in last step. Secondary beams and trusses hold everything together to help with integrity.

Free Facade


Afterwards I carefully redesigned the structure system to support what I did in this high-rise. As shown in the diagram, the cross-beams are cut to leave void space for new program, while steel trusses for reinforcement are introduced to support the geometry and volume in last step. Secondary beams and trusses hold everything together to help with integrity.

Free Facade

Elevator halls on each floor are shifted to the open space.After haveing this vertical continuous space, I redesigned the circulation, so that people could have another choice if they want to walk in this space, feeling different activities together with nice view and sunshine, instead of just staying in the elevator hall to go to their working floor.

Free Circulation


Elevator halls on each floor are shifted to the open space.After haveing this vertical continuous space, I redesigned the circulation, so that people could have another choice if they want to walk in this space, feeling different activities together with nice view and sunshine, instead of just staying in the elevator hall to go to their working floor.

Free Circulation


Lowest Division

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Highest Division

Emergency & Cargo Division

HighDivision

Facade of CNB, L.A.

A Challenge to Chicago Frame 4544 site & project

Transformed FacadeJust as the logic of Chicago Frame, this change in structure inevitably gets projected on the facade, as shown in the drawing. The facade is a collage of classical singular grid system and newly-built truss which indicates the changed space and program behind it.

Facade is defined by the transformed program inside

Section and Relevant Envelope

ANALYSIS_Office Function and Shortcomings

The large scaled office would be of high efficiency, but the relevant problem is lacking

activity place for people to relax, sport and communicate with each other.

FUNCTION

Except for the office function required by clients, I hope to insert public area acting as a

relaxing place for offices.

SUNSHINE FOLLOWS_Relevant Envelope

Different functions require different amount of sunshine. Public space needs more of it but

offices should be neither too bright nor too dark. So I designed relevant envelopes to

provide different amount of natural light.


Facade is defined by the transformed program inside

15th Floor Plan drawing at the scale of 1"=50'

Drawing & Rendering 49

25th Floor Plan drawing at the scale of 1"=50'


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This Challenge Comes from My love to Chicago Frame

Documents

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