KATIE RITTER
STRUCTURAL OPTION
Contact Katie:
Depth Proposal
Original Entire Proposal 12/12/08
Revised Entire Proposal 1/20/09
The ultimate goal of the proposed research will be to gain experience in seismic design and lateral load-resisting systems, while also becoming more adept at gravity systems, such as the two-way flat plate. In conjunction with these goals, this research shall serve as a practical exercise in meeting the architectural requirements for luxurious spaces and working to achieve a solution that satisfies both design parties, and ultimately the owner(s) and end occupants. The scenario that has been established to set the stage for investigation is discussed in greater detail within the "Entire Proposal" above.
MAE RESEARCH ELEMENT
Graduate study in structural computer modeling shall be used throughout the proposed research as a tool for design of lateral force resisting elements. In addition, concurrent graduate studies in Earthquake design of building structures will be integrated as much as possible.
Breadth Proposals
Architectural
The introduction of a new concept in merging hotel and temporary office space, which will add four additional floors, lends itself naturally to a need to design these new spaces architecturally. Some preliminary design solutions, which inspired the idea originally, are shown below. The goal for these spaces is to create a place that professionals are able to “plug into,” so to speak. Individual offices shall be designed to accommodate various types of professionals and be equipped with all the necessary furnishings, printers, fax machines, telephones, basic office supplies, and even a small kitchenette for preparing lunch and brewing coffee. The concept is based on the idea that the business traveler can come into town, get a good night’s rest in his/her hotel room, travel a short distance down the hall and up the elevator to work, plug his/her laptop into the internet connection, and “voila!” he/she is ready to begin a productive day. Not only that, but he/she has a professional environment in which to meet with clients and, depending on the length of stay, can leave office work set up for the next day in a secure environment.
The location of the new floors was chosen specifically such that office spaces take advantage of the surrounding magnificent views that can be enjoyed most during the waking hours of the day. The location also ensures sound isolation from the hotel rooms below, due to the mechanical level located between them. Mechanical equipment located on the existing roof just below the proposed 11th floor is not expected to create excessive sound issues for the offices above due to the fact that the original design does not incorporate additional soundproofing for the 9th floor below other than isolating the equipment to prevent vibration issues. One issue that will need to be resolved is to ensure that the proposed idea of an outdoor mechanical floor surrounded by architectural louvers receives adequate natural ventilation and fresh air for intakes and exhaust. The original design of the architectural atmosphere for the first floor lobbies and vertical transportation suit the needs for both spaces, with a professional, yet homey feel.
In the fast-paced business world today, it is important for many to separate their work life from personal life, and this seems like a logical way to do so. The proposed solution shall include floor plans, building elevations, building sections, as well as a 3-D Revit model of the interior spaces. While the hotel structure below will be part of these solutions to illustrate how the two interact, the focus of the deliverables will be on the new spaces.
In addition to the layout of spaces, exterior facades will need to be considered to fit with the existing architecture of the originally designed floors below. Since the original materials are diverse, with EIFS, architectural precast, glazed curtain wall, and a number of aluminum accent components, there are a number of ways to approach this. Once floor plans and opening locations are determined, exterior materials will be selected and exhibited on the modified elevations.
A significant aspect of the architectural design will also include two green roofs. The layout of these spaces is yet to be determined; however, the vision for these will be to create a park-like setting that fosters relaxation and is a quiet place for reflection while absorbing the vista that surrounds. The proposed design will include aspects that achieve this goal, while also being practical in terms of maintenance. A Revit model of these spaces will be used to portray the outcome of the design.______________________________________________________________________
Lighting
Since an important aspect of the re-design is separation of work and personal spaces, the new office space shall exhibit lighting characteristics that is both efficient and fosters productivity. As part of the design solution, the proposed research shall include consideration of natural daylight and a selection of fixture types for one of the typical offices, as well as either a conference room or corridor. Task lighting will be an important part of the design. In addition to providing a design that meets code requirements for a minimum number of footcandles, Luxicon will be used to portray the design in 3-D. The images below portray a similar vision in lighting design in which the proposed design shall model.
Cooler tones give the sense of office space as opposed to the warmer hues used to illuminate residential spaces. The proposed design shall also consider the use of Light Emitting Diode (LED) track lighting as one possible luminaire type, such that Marriott Corporation’s dedication to the environment is extended in a different capacity. These lamps last much longer and use less energy than traditional lamp types.
