architectural engineering design i
ARCHITECTURAL + MECHANICAL
The architectural and mechanical HVAC system are coordinated in various ways to improve the performance of both. The architect’s usage of openable windows in the apartment units not only allows for natural lighting, but is purposeful in eliminating the need for a mechanical ventilation system. Code requirements states that with enough operable windows, natural ventilation is sufficient. The windows are also specified as double paned glass in order to reduce heat transfer via the mode of conduction and in turn lower both the heating and cooling load. It is apparent that the usage of operable double paned windows was intended to eliminate the energy needed to ventilate.
Space allocation also demonstrates how these two systems interact. Large cooling towers and air handlers exceed the floor to slab height within the building. Therefore, the heart of the mechanical system is intentionally located on the penthouse and various other roof elevations to accommodate the clearance requirements. Figure 1 provides a sense of the size of the cooling tower, and justifies the location in which the system was allocated.
System Interactions
STRUCTURAL + MECHANICAL
Both the weight and size of mechanical equipment demands a tailored structural system. The large girder in the penthouse (Figure 2), is sized to allow for wide open space in order for large boilers to fit inside the building. Additionally, its intent is to also support the elevator room that sits ontop of the roof to distrubute the weight without invading the interior space with columns.
ARCHITECTURAL + MECHANICAL + ELECTRICAL + PLUMBING + FIRE PROTECTION
Despite the vitality of the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and electrical systems they are not visually appealing. Therefore, architectural design is intended to conceal pipes, heat pumps, and electrical wiring. This is done by utilizing drop ceilings to hide horizontal pipes, horizontal heat pumps, electrical junction boxes in the retail and dining space as seen in Figure 3. Additionally, the widths of interior partitioning walls are strategically sized in order to conceal vertical plumbing, mechanical, and fire protection stacks.
FIGURE 1: ROOFTOP 2-CELL COOLING TOWERS
FIGURE 2: PENTHOUSE GIRDER
FIGURE 3: DROP CEILING
FIGURE 4: GROUND FLOOR