2nd Year Architectural Technology

MIP St. Michaels 2011 Design Build Project

Andrea Louw 11/21/2011

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Index:

Pre-Fabricated Design-Build Office Project

Background of the project

Organizational Aspects

Student perception and participation

The pedagogic rationale

The building design and construction

How successful the project was in your opinion

The Green School; The Frog Project, Herwig Blankertz Vocational School

Background of the project

Description of the building

Why the school is described as sustainable and/or green

How the sustainability was achieved

Whether this process or method could be appropriate for schools in South Africa

St Michaels Multi-grade Primary School

Background of the project

The design-build project

The contribution to St. Michaels that this intervention will have.

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Pre-Fabricated Design-Build Office Project

Five students studying Architecture at Academic of Art in America were approached by their lecturers

Glen Upwell and Jennifer Asseltine to be involved in a design build project. The structure was meant

for one of Jennifer Asseltine’s clients who wanted a pre-fabricated office. The brief was to create a

space of work in the clients’ backyard. Without hesitation the students incorporated their lessons and

experiences learnt from their previous courses. The five students involved in the design-build projects

is: Justin Ackerman, Mary Telling, Justin Hanan, Shaum Mehra, and Shanay Moghbel.

Sustainability was the number one focus and approach of the project. Therefore the students

searched for the materials themselves. They made use of websites to source their needed materials

such as Craigslist and others. The design was started with one thing in mind “sustainability starts with

one question, what we do and how we do it”

The dedication of the students was phenomenal as they gathered everything from their own

resources. The times used to design and construct the structure were made provision for, not to

disturb their ongoing classes. The students had confidence in the project and had a sense of

satisfaction when it was completed. Mary Telling, one of the students involved had so much

dedication that she entered their project for the AIAEB (American Institute of Architects, East Bay)

awards, believe they would win. The team worked continuously, students and lecturers to complete

the competition package and managed to finish it in a matter of hours. When the day of the award

ceremony arose, Justin Ackerman was the only available member of the group to attend, and when

they received the winning announcement everyone else was informed via sms’s, calls and e-mails.

The students and lecturers felt proud of the project to say the least. The experience opened up their

minds to creating better structures in their future architectural careers. The decision they made to

apply the teachings of green design that they have been taught in the previous years of studying,

strengthened their perception of green building and sustainability. They realized the importance of

planning before designing, questioning oneself constantly to find the best solutions for resolving

design problems that may arise. Having a dedicated group of people to encourage each other also

has a huge impact on the outcome of the project and would not have been as successful if

approached otherwise.

The two level building is constructed of redwood and follows the brief to perfection and more. It was

asked for the structure to be an office space, but the students above and beyond by taking the clients’

life into account. The design includes a customized desk, storage and a shelving system all

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sufficiently placed to create the functional office needed. The extra space added to the design is what

defines the structure, because the lounge area incorporates the importance of family space into a

working environment. Not isolating the office from the existing home.

As previously mentioned the students continued to ask themselves with what sustainability starts with

by questioning what they going to do and how they will be doing it. By asking those questions they

decided on the best construction, emphasizing on insulation, lighting and other things to suit the site.

The students used the universities’ work shop to build the structure, because of its precision tools.

The whole project is based on sustainability therefore the waste was more or less an inch (25.4mm)

for every 12feet (3.7m) material used.

The materials used for the structure is redwood window framing, steel moment frames, L-framing

module, redwood exterior rain screen, copper roof panels, alluminium frame window unit, mahogany

doors and recycled denim as insulation.

In my opinion the project was extremely successful; because the students applied what they have

been taught for many years. It teaches them the value of green design and sustainability and the

experience exposed the client to a different method of construction. The impact that the structure will

make in the clients life is rewarding to the students and instructors, because their hard work was

recognized in more than one way.

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The Green School

The reason for creating/ developing The Green School is to prepare students to think critically and

creatively. It is developing their small minds to be confident to live sustainably in the future. They

believe we are to take a more responsible approach towards the planet and starting with education it

can be easily implicated. The main reason is to instill responsible and green habits into the children

for a better lifestyle experience. Green School is in the forefront of green learning and aspires to

develop students with the confidence to make a difference in the world. After only three years of

operation they are not far from being the number one model of sustainability in education.

The school has an unordinary structural setup. It does not look like a typical enclosed school,

because of their commitment of making the school holistically sustainable, in education and

structurally. The school is built primarily from bamboo which is a natural renewable material locally

sourced.

The school wants the students to connect with nature; therefore the structure has class rooms with no

walls, to have an easy transition from inside to outside. The teachers believe it has a positive effect

on their concentration, because it is a natural distraction which is acceptable to their learning.

The site is located in a jungle in Bali, Indonesia. The location is ideal for the purpose of the school

because of its natural elements such as the Ayung River which is a few meters away. The site has

been landscaped and secured to make the students’ time at school more productive and safe.

The school is self sustainable by its own permaculture system. The school allows students to develop

farming skills which connects them to the land and provide experiential learning that can be used in

the real world. Their self-made gardens grow rice, fruits and vegetables which feeds the school

community. The agricultural land also grows fruits and vegetables, but also produces palm sugar and

even chocolate from the cocoa trees, which is then sold at a local market. The students also take part

in growing an edible maze as part of more experiential learning producing coconut oil, harvesting

honey and breeding fish, all in flourishing the schools abundance and will only grow as more students

and teachers join the land.

Green School is also in process of developing alternative means of transport by designing a network

of bicycle paths to and from campus. The engineers are also developing a bicycle made of bamboo,

while classroom assignments will help teach students how to build their own bike using lessons that

stem from their mathematical and science curriculum.

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The School is sustainable on every level, from education to the construction of the buildings. The

cooling of the buildings is powered by sustainable energy methods such as micro-hydro power, solar

power, bio- diesel and predominantly natural air conditioning. Materials are 99 percent natural and

only used bamboo, local alang-alang grass, traditional mud bricks were used in constructing

classrooms. The aim is to create responsible buildings and recycle as many materials.

The school implements experiments such as micro-hydro power generation, the nine-meter vortex

generator. And in addition that cow manure is used to make methane for fuelling stoves, solar panels

to supply their permaculture projects. They also in the development of using gasification units that

use rice husks and other organic materials in producing electricity, because strive to be as energy

independent as possible.

This method is definitely appropriate to use in South Africa especially with the poverty rate and power

shortages in our country. A school which sustains itself and its community is the way of the future.

The communities will be able to grow in knowledge, because the children will be taught to care for

themselves and with keeping the main subjects namely, Mathematics, Science and English can still

explore any other career field desired in the future. South Arica would be of most benefit because of

our natural locations and exceptional climate for relying on solar energy and also be independent

from ant other power sources.

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Project Frog

To revolutionize the application of technology unto buildings is the sole mission of Project Frog. The

use of technology is to alleviate the efficiencies of traditional construction and resulting in a greener

sufficiently smarter, brighter, healthier space that encourage better performance from the people

using the spaces. The idea of founding the project was based on the notion of smarter building, a

high tech building with low tech assembly meaning, that it would be a regular construction method

with a few exceptions, changing and improving the functionality of the structure.

This modular environmentally friendly building has integrated best-in-class components which results

in bright, healthy and inspiring spaces. In applying this to the classroom experience will better

education. To have a successful project, one must have a holistic approach towards analyzing the

functional need. The designers evaluate all the components of the building (including insulation, light

fixing, orientation, climate and occupancy) it is to work out the exact energy use of the building.

Even though the aesthetics could be overwhelmingly attractive the recognition of the success of the

building can not be missed. What’s of importance is that the customers should be happy with how the

building performs for the planet and the people occupying the space. Project Frog is design to be cost

effective with easy installation and assembly with its modular form. The structure allows for bright airy

spaces which improves health and performance, sufficient fresh air and natural lighting reduce

sickness and increase learning and comfort.

The sustainable construction is inspiring to teachers, because it forms part of the curriculum and

makes teaching easier. The students in turn are taught how to be more “green” in their daily lives and

have lessons in applying sustainability conservation and environment awareness. The Frog project

meets all the Green certification criteria by recycling most of the excess material back into the

manufacturing process, using environmentally friendly recyclable, renewable and re-used content.

High quality products have been used to lesson the carbon footprint and save water and energy.

Facts about Project Frog: assessment shows for a 50 year building lifetime Frog causes 87% less

fossil fuel use, 85% less climate change, 82% less air pollution and 75% less water pollution than a n

average building with average energy consumption.

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The project first and foremost a technology driven project whereby the designers have developed

various technological resolution, focusing only on installing new systems of innovations such as

paramic design, precision fabrication, multidimensional energy performance prediction, lean

manufacturing and logistic process, real time monitoring and continuous commissioning, annual

energy use, practical cost-effectiveness and occupant comfort.

Project Frog is a high profile project that in many first world countries could be applied, but cost

implications would arise in South Africa. Even though the structure is self sustainable, the budget

needed is approximate two million dollars, almost to million rand per school and would not be

practical to build in a country with so many other needs.

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Herwig Blankertz Vocational School

This is a newly opened vocational school in Wolhagen, Germany. Where architects used an

abandoned cols war army barrack to create something as purposeful as a Green school. This solar

powered school was rejuvenated by transforming a former tank armory into a modern learning.

Green is the focal color on this beautifully lit “green” school. The modular form of the structure

provides for simple construction. Airy open spaces enhance the movement experience the movement

through the space. 5000 square meter of window panes allow for lots of light inside the building. The

side windows open automatically to provide natural ventilation and fresh air. The façade has changed

drastically from the old army barracks to an aesthetically attractive building that draws attention and

awareness to green buildings.

The roof was replaced with thin film solar panels to generate its own energy. The students have an

exceptional example of a green building and are directly exposed to a sustainable, beautiful light filled

and airy learning environment. The windows provide natural ventilation and fresh air with because of

the window that opens automatically. Each classroom has its own climate control resulting in a

double- skinned environment with a reduced energy load.

The translucent roof helps with the sustainability of the building, 5000 square meters of the panes are

committed with 7160 thin film solar modules. The semi-translucent 1 micron thick profile allow light

into the building while reducing glare and heat. The building makes provision for natural lighting and

ventilation rather energy controlled ventilation. In constructing the building the decision was made to

keep the original concrete flooring in tact. The materials may not be considered as green but keeping

the structural components reduces carbon emissions.

This would be a good way of designing in South Africa, using an existing building to upgrade and

transform an unused building into a purposeful structure such as a school or community centre. With

the lack of land in South Africa this would be a great method in solving the problem.

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St. Michaels

St. Michaels Primary is chosen out of ten rural schools in our greater community to be enhanced in

their schooling experience. The location of the school is in Elgin, Grabouw in Oude Burg. The multi-

grade schools are not as successful in South- Africa when it comes to education, students do not

receive the best quality education that the private or even the average public school enjoy.

St. Michaels is one of the schools who are affected by the problem of poverty stricken areas with

second hand education and thus resulting in students to be two years behind because they aren’t

taught the proper tools to empower themselves. CPUT took the initiative to upgrade a school that

lacked facilities and made the building greener. It also improved their learning experience and gives

them the reassurance that they are not forgotten. Children’s minds need stimulation constantly and

the big success of the project was that the students could physically experience what could be done

when working hard and in turn get the confidence to strive to rise above their circumstances other

than following their parents foot steps in working as farm workers.

The process of the design build project happened over a period of months, the designing and

receiving input from students’ lecturers and CPUT. The lecturers Hermie and Jolanda had planned

out various exercises through out the year to pick our brains in terms of design ideas. The second

block was dedicated to the design build project, because of the time restraints we had and inability to

attend all the meetings to correspond and involve the whole class in the design process.

The selected group of students called the A-team were the team leaders of the project the

representatives of the class. They were the ones organizing and resourcing materials, plants, for the

garden, tools and so much more. During a period of weeks the A-team was in the designing process,

assisting the lecturers to come up with the best solution for St. Michaels from all the previous

brainstorming exercises. As they finalized the design everyone sourced materials by asking for

donations and with much effort we received all the materials that were needed to build the structure.

When the time arrived to build the design, no one hesitated to help and most of the students had the

dedication to be on site everyday for nine days. Even on a Saturday. With no complaints only the

satisfaction of knowing the impact of improving children’s lives are reward enough.

The first few days started, Wednesday 26 October 2011 on site was to do all preparation work for the

construction, sanding, painting, setting out, digging trenches, placing gum poles, building form work

and removing the wall for the fireplace.

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Everyday no matter no matter ho small it seemed things were moving forward. By Friday when the

concrete arrived things could start moving, because while it was curing the painting team were

preparing the timber beams to start building the pergola structure.

At times it felt as if things were at a stand still, especially when the decking had to be set out a few

times. It started to become frustrating, because it felt as if all your labor was in vain. But something

critical I have learnt from Peter is that it does not matter how long you take to set out. If it is done

properly the building process would be so much easier when the reference point is accurate.

The decking and bottom stairs was really well built seeing that there were not a plan or detail to work

from for either of the structure. What is more impressive is that the students are amateurs and yet

they did not let their lack of knowledge determine the result of what the structures should be. When

we moved into the new week the main structure had a few beams tied and the students working on

the pergola were struggling to align the beams to be accurately placed. All the others working on the

stairs, decking, vegetable garden and fire place were working just as hard and could see progress

because of everyone’s effort.

Tasks began to change and everyone shifted to areas that needed attention. A store man/woman

was appointed after a few days of confusion and missing tools, and things went much smoother,

because every tool was now recorded. Frustration grew among the students as the tasks became

less. Everyone still had the need to help, even sweeping a dusty hall just to keep busy that’s how

committed we had become.

When Thursday arrived things were all falling into place except the main structure which was the

pergola. A few students were painting the feature wall and by 15:00pm Thursday November 4 201, all

the structural building came to completion just in time to present and hand over to the principle,

teachers and most importantly the children the following day.

This structure will make every person using the facilities life more convenient. It provides shade in the

hot summer and shelter in the rainy winter days. The focus wall is a great gesture to include the

students and teachers to be part of this development. But one should not only look at the physical

attributes that it would give but the emotional upliftment the occupants of the school and the

surrounding community will have.

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It is inspiring to anyone when people their time to improve your life and the students and teachers

confidence are boosted. To know even though they might feel their school is unimportant, there are

people who care and take the initiative to help.

CPUT took the initiative to improve a school with a need and there are many more schools who have

the same need and with dedication and awareness this could become a nation wide movement to

improve the lives of our future leaders and improve their educational experience.

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Bibliography:

www.google.co.za

www.projectfrog.com

www.greenschool.org