Site Considerations & The Building Enclosure

As interior designers working alongside architects to build real buildings, we need to understand at minimum the basics of constructing a building. Not only is it important to our designs but it also helps with communicating various ideas and plans to the people we are working with. Before understanding the construction of the actual building we must first understand where it is being built. The site is just as important as the building itself. It determines everything from the type of construction and foundations used to electrical and HVAC system usage within the building.

Site consideration and analysis is very important when designing a building and its interior. How the sun interacts with the building is one of the biggest site considerations. Orientation of the building in relation to the sun can either be a help or hinderance in both heating and cooling, and interior lighting. In the northern hemisphere the sun is typically more prominent on the southern side of a building. This means that the southern side of the building is typically warmer than the northside because it receives more sun. This is more prominent in during the winter. As shown in the diagram, how windows are designed is important to the interior space. The bright, hot sun during the summer is shaded from directly penetrating the interior, keeping the space cooler and reducing glare from too much sun. In the winter when the sun dips more to the south it allows the weaker rays to penetrate into the interior, providing more natural light and warmth.

The site is also important for LEED certification of a building. How the building interacts with its surroundings is important. When designing a building we must think about the space it takes up and the ecosystem that it is disturbing. Keeping the surrounding environment in mind during the designing and construction of the building can help not only reduce excess waste and energy but it can also help with the health of the ecosystem. We cannot build carelessly but rather must consider what is existing before we add the new. Below are examples of buildings that take its surrounding into consideration, allowing for a healthier environment. 


The site and all that it entails is not the only part of a building that we interiors need to consider. While we may not be a part of the designing the actual structure and support system of the building we do help with its appearance. Architects and engineers will put together designs and plans for foundations, wall structures, and roof assemblies. We have the opportunity to work alongside them to help create an envelope to this structure that is appealing both visually and sustainably. There are different materials that can be used to protect the structure of the building. Roofs have shingles and exterior walls have siding. Roofs can be protected with wood/metal shingles, standing-seam metal, and even thatch. Exterior walls can be clad in shingles, boards, and stucco. We interior designers often help in the decision making process for these surfaces. While some may look more appealing than others we also need to consider how they affect the environment. This is also a factor in LEED certification.




Case Study: HAWAC
The Harm A. Weber Academic Center is a LEED gold certified building on Judson's campus. The building is primarily constructed of concrete. This is to help not only with the loads of the building but it also provides the surfaces needed for thermal mass. The exterior walls are "stick framed extensions" coming from pre-cast concrete walls (…the greening of Judson University, pg. 3). The interior of the building is held by large steel truss systems. The exterior of HAWAC is clad in both brick and some copper sheets. The windows' trim is primarily a white metal to help direct sunlight inward.

The building has many different sustainable features throughout the building. One of these is a large glazed atrium in the middle of the main space that acts as a source of fresh air and cooling ventilation. Another system or feature that the building has is vertical chases built into the exterior walls. The chases help draw hot air up and out of the building, allowing for cool air to circulate through and cool the building. This is helped along by photovoltaic panels that have been placed at the top of the southern façade of the building. These not only provide some electricity to the building, they also help heat up the air in the attic plenum, forcing it to rise and be replaced with cooler air. 








Comments

  1. Meaghan Di PietroSeptember 11, 2021 at 8:50 AM

    Kelly,
    I really enjoyed the amount of attention given to how affects the building. I like how you went into detail to discuss how the sun hits buildings depending on the hemisphere the building is located. The images you used were also very helpful. I also enjoyed how you discussed choosing the exterior materials in a way that will help the environment and possibly help with LEED certification. The case study for HAWAC was also very nicely done and once again I loved the images you chose!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Erica GonzalezSeptember 11, 2021 at 9:16 AM

    Kelly, overall you wrote a great post regarding site considerations and the building enclosure. I liked how you talked about our role as interior designers and how we have the opportunity to work alongside with architects and engineers to help create the effect of an interior to homes and buildings that is appealing both visually and environmentally. The materials you mentioned have a huge impact on our environment and is very important to consider when designing for sustainability. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2021 at 7:43 PM

    Kelly,
    I liked your outlook of site considerations for the sake of communication and pursuing the project is a team effort. I also liked your images you included when you talked about the landscape and taking their surroundings into consideration. I like the way you worded environmental stewardship when you said, "we cannot build carelessly but rather must consider what is existing before we add the new." I agree we need to respect and acknowledge what God created as we create ourselves.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 12, 2021 at 11:10 AM

    Kelly,
    Nice post on some of the major site considerations and how a building can be sustainable. The materials used on a building can have serious implications on how it can benefit or harm the site it is on. I liked how you explained environmental stewardship and how it is something we cannot be careless about. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Professor VanderNoordaaSeptember 12, 2021 at 1:19 PM

    Kelly,
    Well done on this Blog entry. I appreciated your attention to the actual site and ecosystem. " When designing a building we must think about the space it takes up and the ecosystem that it is disturbing. Keeping the surrounding environment in mind during the designing and construction of the building can help not only reduce excess waste and energy but it can also help with the health of the ecosystem. We cannot build carelessly but rather must consider what is existing before we add the new." this was very well said. The images you chose were very effective. The case study of Harm Weber could of included some of steps designers created when addressing the ecosystem. Overall great post!

    ReplyDelete

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