Brief III

Last updated: 10/10/08

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING, AND PRESERVATION

CORE I STUDIO A4001: Fall 2008

ATMOSPHERE

BRIEF 3: Air Lab

Coordinator: Galia Solomonoff

Critics: Alice Chun, Jeffrey Johnson, Janette Kim, Mark Rakatansky, Yoshiko Sato, Phillip Parker, Keith Kaseman

T.A.: Christian Ruud

Atmosphere/ Air Lab

thesis:

Line, plane, surface and volume are mathematically bonded and interrelated. In architecture, the geometrical

properties of the line are associated with columns and beams, the plane with walls and floors, and surface and

volume with the resultant space. Significant works of architecture are often examples that allow us to understand

the mathematical relations of these elements in new and unexpected ways.

narrative:

We sometimes emphasize the danger in a crisis without focusing on the opportunities that are there. We should

feel a great sense of urgency because it is the most dangerous crisis we have ever faced, by far. But it also

provides us with opportunities to do a lot of things we ought to be doing for other reasons anyway.

Al Gore,

Inconvenient Truth, 2006, Nobel Peace Prize 2007 shared with Columbia Earth Institute

The radical of one century is the conservative of the next. The radical invents and explores the

views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them.

Mark Twain

,

Notebook, 1935

Last updated: 10/10/08

AIR Lab

Based upon recent scientific research, our client, Columbia University wants to build a center to further the

influence and impact of the 2007 Nobel Prize winning Climate Change Team. Thus CU has commissioned the

design of an

Air Lab (+/-10,000 to 12,000 sq. ft.). This Scientific, Research, and Policy Laboratory

is to focus on

expanding our knowledge of the causes of global warming, address them politically and effectively propose policy

to reduce harmful emissions while aiming at technological growth.

This lab will house a very diverse group of scientist (5) and policy professor (5) such us:

•

Rosanne D’Arrigo, Biology

•

Beate Liepert, Biology and Paleo Environment,

•

Sidney Hemming, Geochemistry,

•

Christopher Small, Marine Geology and Geophysics,

•

Madeleine Thomson, International Research Institute for Climate and Society

•

Walter Baethgen, International Research Institute for Climate and Society

•

Robert Chen, Center for International Earth Science Information Network

•

Xiaoshi Xing, Center for International Earth Science Information Network

The research will be funded by educational, government and private sector grants thus the need to showcase the

research and communicate the theories guiding speculative lab work. The Air Lab is interested in hybridizing two

models of research: a think tank (like Manhattan Project) and also a “garage” like the Silicon Valley ad-hock

research labs that gave rise to the digital age. The research focuses on the impact of carbon emmissions on

climate and hopes to find alternatives to fossil fuel dependency.

Teams include a variety of backgrounds and levels of expertise/education from Biology, to Geochemistry, to

Geology and Geophysics engineering to mathematicians, statistical, urban analysts, to eminent high school

students identified through Science fairs across the country (5).

There are some areas reserved for nap, rest and relaxation during deadlines. In addition to research, the

Air Lab

hosts open houses to foster awareness on the importance of carbon emission reduction, and global weather

pattern changes and to attract funding; for these open houses, a reception area and large rooms are reserved.

The university wants the

Air Lab

to convey the following messages:

•

The Air Lab is concerned with global warming and invested in alternative means of energy

•

The Air Lab sees research as an opportunity to excel, is highly competitive, and original

•

The Air Lab wants the passerby public to be interested and welcomed into the facility

•

Warning/Contradiction: The scientists/occupants agree with the stated goals, yet also need privacy to

execute work effectively and freedom to pursue theoretical work with no immediate practical application.

site:

The site (attached) is adjacent to the Holland Tunnel Exhaust Tower on Canal and West Side Highway.

The total building footprint (hard surfaces) cannot exceed

2,850 sf. All the other surfaces need to be effectively

planted, used for water filtration, planting and urban impact remediation

program:

Laboratory:

•

Four (4) 1,200 sq. ft. labs for different purposes. With one

(1) 200 sq. ft. office for the lab principals

4,800 sf

Monitoring cells

: •

Ten (10) 200 sq. ft. monitoring cell from Brief II adapted

(same, derivative, or different) to contribute to this building,

these are personal research spaces. Outdoor/Indoor

2,000 sf

(outdoor)

Gathering/meeting

areas

,

•

Four (4) 500 sq. ft. informal meeting areas such us:

a kitchen pantry, a garage with tools,a game room, a

reading room, These are places to foster informal

interaction and conversation by participants.

2,000 SF

Toilets:

•

Ten (10) stalls, 2 minimum per floor/level, 1 accessible per As needed

Last updated: 10/10/08

floor

Reception area and

public access:

•

A 2,000 sq. ft. room reserved for open house functions. Up

to 40-50 visitors –an autobus of people- may attend this

function at one time. The large room should be able to

handle several proposes: printed media installations, movie

projections, debates, lectures. Provide 2 accessible public

toilets in connection to this space.

2,000 SF

Data Storage Hub:

•

+/-500 sq. ft. vault for data storing. This needs to be

weather tight and ventilated.

500 SF

Training Gym:

•

+/-2,000 sq. ft. a lap pool (50 x 20), a sauna room, a gym,

aerobics and weight room for year round aerobic training.

Provide 2 bathrooms with showering facilities in connection

to this space. (optional)

2,000 SF

(optional)

Outdoor Area:

•

+/-1,000 sq. ft. deck for telescope and direct observation

equipment.

1,000 SF

(outdoor)

Shop:

•

+/-1,200 sq. ft. shop for a high tech milling, cutting and 3d

printing machinery

1,200 SF

Vehicles garage:

•

+/- 800sq. ft. garage/repair for solar powered electrical trial

vehicles, bicycles and motobikes

800 SF

(optional)

Solar powered

electrical generator

room:

•

+/-

400 sq. ft. space for solar converters, motor and

machinery

400 SF

Rest area

•

+/- 1,000 sq. ft. rest areas are to be occupied by

researchers when they are on deadlines. Since they work

closely together privacy is essential.

1,000 SF

TOTAL AREA

•

2 means of egress per floor

•

Elevator and escalators do not count as egress

14,700 indoor

3,000 outdoor

2,800 optional

20% lost factor for

stairs and toilets

tasks:

•

Start by producing a mass model of your project/program on the site, include the tower, 1/16” = 1’-0”

•

Design One (1) +/- 15,000 sq. ft. building in the given site.

•

Consider the different users path and timelines.

deliverables:

•

Project main idea diagram

•

Plan, Sections and Elevations

•

Models: Site model 1/16” = 1’-0”, Section/Building model ¼” = 1’-0”

rules:

•

The water table is 15’ below the ground level, so maximum construction depth is 14

ft for slab on grade.

•

The maximum allowable building height is as high as the exhaust tower on the site but not higher

•

The building can either be adjacent to the tower or the West Side Highway. Minimize hard surfaces.

•

The maximum foot print of the building is 3,000 sq. ft., max F.A.R. is 5.0

, so maximum area above the

ground is

15,000 SF

. Any floor which height is 50% or more below grade level does not count as floor area.

•

Minimum finish slab to finish slab height is 9’-0”

•

Only (1)

one building is allowed on the entire site. M2-4 ZONE, manufacture permitted, experimental and

research laboratory use group 17, permitted as off right

•

All utilities –water, sewer, electrical power, gas- are within the site

Last updated: 10/10/08

timeframe:

•

Due December 1st or 2nd

– as per your studio schedule

resources:

•

www.earth.columbia.edu

,

•

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sun

,

•

www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/pi/climatecenter/documents

•

http://www.wecansolveit.org/

•

http://www.climatecrisis.net/

•

http://www.uic.edu/depts/geos/terra-society

•

http://www.agiweb.org

•

http://www.aapg.org

•

http://www.uic.edu/depts/geos