Sustainable Strategies

Here is a diagram showing my green strategy in the the building. My sustainable strategy on my project is to full take advantage of the southern sun exposure. The use of high performance double-skin glass wall allows to thermally isolate the space from the outside, also to use it for natural ventilation via stack effect. Also there will be an integrated shading device regulating the amount of natural light coming into space. The atrium area would also be naturally ventilated and naturally lit. The idea was to have a space that interconnects all spaces and becomes a central gathering space for social interaction. The use of Building integrated Photo Voltaics and wind turbines will also take part of the building to offset the energy demand especially from computer usage. Green roof will also be part of the scheme at the third floor, this will also be used as a gathering space when weather allows to.

Office Space Design Strategy in Milwaukee

This is 3D Model of my Heating Strategy for an office space in Milwaukee. Since my actual office was facing north, I decided to build a hypothetical 20'x50'x10' volume and orient it east to west. This strategy tries to make use of the southern natural light exposure. The south wall is equiped with a double glass envelop with automatic sun shading devices. This scheme is called isolated gain. By having a tile/concrete floor the sun light is allowed to come in a heat the floor. The wall also works well during hot summer days, it works as a ventilation shaft using stacking effect.

Milwaukee's Climate

Here are some images from Climate Consultant 3 using Milwaukee, WI as an example. I have been living there for more than 7 year. Growing up in a warm climate such as Puerto Rico is been a complete different experience compared to living in Wisconsin. I always thought if you are able to design a building to withstand such of an extreme climate as in Wisconsin everywhere else should be a "piece of cake". In a climate where is 10 degrees in the morning and goes up to 50 in a matter or hours, I feel like it is great challenge for us as Architects to accomodate for such of changes.

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