A4221 Enclosures and Environments II
Technology RequirementTony Webster, Danielle Smoller
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The discussion of envelope systems begun in Enclosures and Environments I is completed by covering roofs and foundations. The rest of the course is devoted to architectural strategies for conditioning space. Man-made systems are compared to natural (outdoor) climate-control mechanisms. Both historical examples and contemporary case-studies are used to develop an understanding of environmental control systems, and their relationship to the spaces they service.
Both design projects and case-study analyses are given throughout the semester in the form of home-works. In addition to their use in building the students understanding of environmental conditioning, these exercises illustrate how building materials and conditioning systems may work with spatial design strategies to create interesting and well-tempered buildings. As in all the Building Technologies courses, students are encouraged to consider the potential of technical-utilitarian systems to interact with a building's spaces and formal expression, and to apply what they learn to their own designs.
TOPICS
Roofs: Membrane and steep roofing
Foundations: Shallow, deep, Welsh, slurry walls, rock anchors, etc.
Atmospheric systems I: air temperature, humidity, velocity and cleanliness
Active Interior Conditioning Systems
Localized and Central Heating Roman and medieval examples: Water vs. steam vs. air
Localized and Central Cooling Ice to the refrigeration cycle
Contemporary Heating Systems
Where to put Heating/Cooling Units and Why; Fireplaces and Stoves; Steam Loop; Hydronic Heating
Warm Air Systems; Electric Resistance Coils; Radiant Heating Strategies
Contemporary Cooling Strategies
Radiant Cooling Strategies; The Compression Cycle; Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps; Unit Ventilator Systems; Simple Central AC System features
Heating and Cooling Strategies for Larger Buildings
Heating and Cooling Zones; Stack effect
Unusual Active Systems
Forced-Air Partitions; Evaporative Coolers; Active solar systems
Passive Interior Conditioning Systems
Site, ecosystem and region-specific systems
Atmospheric systems II: light
Basic physics; Daylighting; Artificial lighting; Relationships to air conditioning
Atmospheric systems III: sound
Acoustic theory; Sound isolation, manipulation, and interference
Atmospheric systems IV: water
Watersheds and water in larger ecosystems; Medium Rise Supply Systems; Solar photovoltaic heating systems; Waste Water - Gray Water; Sprinkler systems; Sewage
Sustainability and atmospheric conditioning
A nebulous notion: sustainability defined; An elusive goal: the sustainable building
Sustainability impacts on construction and operation: maintenance; decommissioning/recycling; energy, economic and environmental impacts and measurements
Atmospheric systems V: electrical power and information systems
Electrical components and circuits; Solar photovoltaic cells; Telephone and computer networks; Intelligent systems: building convenience, security and disaster prevention
DESIGN/ANALYSIS PROJECTS
Students are expected to approach all design/analysis problems from architectural engineering, tectonic and formal perspectives.
Design charrette problems include: air conditioning system and component design; luminaire design
Areas for the three week design/analysis problem: Building envelope systems (roofing and foundations); Wood auditorium HVAC; Daylighting System Design; Acoustic System Design; Solar heating and photovoltaics; Earth cooling; Quantitative economic/environmental/energy sustainable design analysis