TRANSITION

A re-design for the General Dynamics employee entrance

Nature merged with technology blurs the boundary between exterior and interior.

Ashlyn Jones- Abby Walsh- Caitlin Burke- Nikki Le

Reflected Ceiling Plan

N.T.S.

Floor Plan
N.T.S.

TRANSITION

Pineapple Weave Poured Glass

Devily Grey Cast Concrete

EcoRock Drywall

Sustainable Materials: Qualifications

Q 3form Poured Glass qualifies for reclaim - keeping end-of-life material out of landfills.

Warm Grey Cast Concrete

Sage Cast Concrete

Bamboo Plywood

Q Flying Turtle Cast Concrete contains up to 100% recycled post-consumer & post-industrial waste, is 100% non-toxic, conatins zero VOCs, and uses no solvents. Q Eco-Rock Drywall contains 80% recycled content, requires 80% less energy to produce, and has low VOC emissions. Q Bamboo Flooring & Millwork is made of 100% rapidly renewable bamboo, and has no added urea-formaldehyde. Q Stainless Steel is 100% recyclable, is made of 60% recycled content, and is extremely durable. Q Green Planet Paints are environmentally friendly because they are made of plant-based binders & mineral pigments, are produced from low-energy processes, and have a true zero VOC. Q Copper Sheets are 100% recyclable, made of 75% recycled content, and almost half of all recycled copper scrap is old post-consumer scrap. Q Aero Aluminum Sheets are 100% recyclable, have a high recycled content, and have a low VOC level.

Stainless Steel

Green Planet Paint Neptune

Copper Sheets

Plyboo Strand Bamboo Flooring

Aero Aluminum Sheets

Green Planet Paint Datura

TRANSITION

Privacy Partition Elevation

To shield the bathroom doors from the line of view in the entrance, a partition has been created on which a television has been installed that displays company information.

Natural elements are merged with technology to create a fluid transition from the exterior to the interior. The shade structure marks the entrance of the building and pierces through the window becoming an interior ceiling detail. The custom concrete bench is another exterior/interior element. It begins on the outside and continues through the glass morphing into the root of a tree. This tree is designed to have a structural appearance and is finished in copper. The use of a natural element represented in a technological form enhances the ambiguity between the indoor and outdoor spaces. This design gains a LEED point because it successfully meets the Green Cleaning criteria. A walk-off mat is used to capture dirt and particulates entering the building at the public entry point. Low-maintenance vegetation is incorporated in the landscape design because it eliminates debris from being tracked into the building.

Water Feature
The fountain reuses rainwater that is collected, stored underground, and continuously pumped through pipes. As the water in the fountain actively moves from the spout into the pool, it mixes with air allowing a cooling effect to occur. Since the area is enclosed on three sides by the walls of the building and is relatively small, a microclimate is created in which the temperature is cooler than the surrounding areas.

TRANSITION

Front Desk Elevation

Architectural light shelves are used to reflect daylight onto the ceiling and deeper into a space reducing the need for incandescent and fluorescent lighting. Since the use of artificial lighting can be diminished or completely eliminated, energy costs are significantly lowered. A wire system is installed above the shade strucutres that prevents pigeons from perching on them. A bike rack manufactured by Landscape Forms has been provided near the building entrance. The metal it is finished in is made with Pangar II Polyester powdercoat, is lead-free, hazardous air pollutants free, does not generate hazardous waste, and contains less than 1% VOCs.

North Elevation

This design gains a LEED point because it successfully meets the Views criteria. Interior daylight is maximized using high-performance glazing and light shelves - exterior and interior permanent shading devices that are made of a highly reflective material.

TRANSITION

Sustainable Design Features

LEED Points

Architectural Light Shelves: This horizontal light-reflecting overhang is placed above eye-level and has a high-reflectance surface. This surface is used to reflect daylight onto the ceiling and deeper into a space. Architectural light shelves have been proven to reduce the amount of artificial lighting in a building. Since they can reflect light deeper into a space, the use of incandescent and fluorescent lighting can be reduced or completely eliminated, depending on the space. Light shelves integrate themselves with window designs or curtain wall systems that make them aesthetically pleasing. In this project, the integration of the light shelves reflects the design concept as they transition from an exterior shade structure to an interior ceiling feature.

IEQ Credit 2.4: Daylight and Views 1 Point Intent: The intent of this credit is to provide building occupants with a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. This is achieved through the introduction of daylight and views into regularly occupied areas of the building. TRANSITION achieves Views: This design gains a LEED point because it successfully meets the Views criteria. A direct line of sight is achieved to the outdoor environment via vision glazing between thirty and ninety inches above the finished floor for building occupants in more than 45% of the regularly occupied area. Interior daylight is maximized using high-performance glazing and light shelves - exterior and interior permanent shading devices that are made of a highly reflective material.

Fountain: When rainwater drains off the roof it is collected, filtered, and channeled to an underground tank where it is stored. If the tank is well sealed only a small amount of the water will evaporate. The stored water is then pumped through pipes into the fountain. This feature allows rainwater to be conserved and reused and also offers a cooling effect to the courtyard. Since the area is enclosed on three sides by the walls of the building and is relatively small, a microclimate can be created in which the temperature is cooler than the surrounding areas. As the water in the fountain actively moves from the spout into the pool, it mixes with air, causing evaporation and the cooling effect to occur. The fountain is installed on the North side of the building where the walls are shaded from the sun. This shaded environment provides optimum conditions for the fountain to create a cooling effect.

IEQ Credit 3.5: Green CleaningIndoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control 1 Point Intent: The intent of this credit is to reduce the exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particulate contaminants, that adversely affect air quality, human health, building finishes, building systems and the environment. TRANSITION achieves Green Cleaning: This design gains a LEED point because it successfully meets the Green Cleaning criteria. A walk-off mat of at least 10 feet long in the primary direction of travel is employed to capture dirt and particulates entering the building at the public entry point. Low-maintenance vegetation that does not produce fruit, flowers or leaves is used within the landscape design, eliminating debris from being tracked into the building.

TRANSITION