It's been a while since I have updated my blog on my project. Here is me getting ready to do my thesis defense. I PASSED! Be sure to check out my Facebook page to see updated photos of my models and updated drawings. Be sure to "like" it as well to hear any future updates as I am getting ready to present it to the city of OKC to hopefully peak some interest and get something like it built in the area.
My site is defined on all sides by elements that are unchangeable, so even if I wanted to add to the site I couldn't. In my initial program I wanted to design a facility to fit within the urban landscape in a downtown area so it could be utilized by the most number of people. I have designed the following elements into this 42 acre lot:
· Velodrome
· Speed skate track
· Dividable road crit course
· Mountain bike trails-beginner
· Mountain bike trails- advanced
· Cyclocross course
· Street trails course
· Dock for water taxi
· Four (4) mountain bike gathering areas
· One (1) river trail gathering area
· Four (4) bamboo forest sections
· Separate running/hiking paths through mountain bike areas (around bamboo forest)
Now that it is all in CAD I can start laying out the Topography of the site since it is currently predominantly flat and I want a bit more contour in the mountain bike area. With excavating out for the basement level of my facility most of the topography will still be dirt from my site that would typically be sent off and dumped offsite.
Started laying out my mountain bike trails, now it's time to get them in the computer and start editing the topography to get the climbs/descends I want. I have 3 trails of various lengths (green, orange & purple) on both the beginner and advanced areas. The blue trail links the beginner area to the advanced area. This way all mountain bikers can start from the same spot (beginner trail head) and the more advanced guys can take the longer route to the back half of the site. All routes were designed in a way that you can continue riding loops without having to go all the way to the trail head and where trails seem to cross the actually go over/under eachother so that not to interfere with riders on that trail.
Started thinking about landscaping and tree locations. The 2 mountain bike areas I see has heavely trees with a void in the middle (crit course) to frame views of the building from I-40.
Here are chapters of my paper as I finish them and submit them to my Thesis Committee for review. New step will be taking into account their comments then citing all information I pulled from other sources (they are noted in my Word document so I won't loose track of where they are or where I found them) If you have been following my blog most of this information isn't new it has just been edited to fit in a report. This report was my committee's idea in that it is a smaller format that most people are use to and able to read on their own. As architectural student we are use to printing and viewing drawing on 24" x 36" formats which does not transfer over well if you trying to print out my work to look at on your own on a standard sized printer. The images below are 2 pages combined into an 11" x 17" sheet showing how it will look once it is finished and bound.
Here are chapters of my paper as I finish them and submit them to my Thesis Committee for review. New step will be taking into account their comments then citing all information I pulled from other sources (they are noted in my Word document so I won't loose track of where they are or where I found them) If you have been following my blog most of this information isn't new it has just been edited to fit in a report. This report was my committee's idea in that it is a smaller format that most people are use to and able to read on their own. As architectural student we are use to printing and viewing drawing on 24" x 36" formats which does not transfer over well if you trying to print out my work to look at on your own on a standard sized printer. The images below are 2 pages combined into an 11" x 17" sheet showing how it will look once it is finished and bound.
Here are chapters of my paper as I finish them and submit them to my Thesis Committee for review. New step will be taking into account their comments then citing all information I pulled from other sources (they are noted in my Word document so I won't loose track of where they are or where I found them) If you have been following my blog most of this information isn't new it has just been edited to fit in a report. This report was my committee's idea in that it is a smaller format that most people are use to and able to read on their own. As architectural student we are use to printing and viewing drawing on 24" x 36" formats which does not transfer over well if you trying to print out my work to look at on your own on a standard sized printer. The images below are 2 pages combined into an 11" x 17" sheet showing how it will look once it is finished and bound.
BUILDINGS- Buildings in 4 corners help block the track from elements, only conditioned spaces (HVAC/AC) Angled glass exterior, Views inward toward track, Void between ends create main entrances (spectators first see track from center of corners)
STANDS- 1,000 seats per side, House concession stand and restrooms underneath for spectators, unconditioned space, Only on straight sections of track to give everyone views of corners,
EXTERIOR ANGLED GLASS- Unconditioned space, Glass creates a secure structure, Glass panels between Structural members
STRUCTURE- Green Roof Structure, Voids cut in structure to talk thru on second floor, Main feature of building.
EVERYTHING MINUS STRUCTURE- Here is everything (minus structure) put together. Still missing some key elements like the box seating on the upper level behind the stands. The pedestrian walkways, both 1st & 2nd floors, go between the track and the buildings on the curved sections of the track then between the seating and exterior walls on the straight sections of the track. This allows you to view the track while entering/exiting the building but also give the best views to people sitting in their seats.
After talking to the Boathouse District Foundation Director a few weeks ago I got the impression he was very impressed with that I was designing for the area. His major concern was my location and the feasibility of being able to build there with the railroad currently owning the property. He said it was do able and he liked it but it was at least a 20 year project just get obtain the property and move the rail lines. He proposed to me a secondary location for my project (a site he is looking to develop in the near future). It is currently the "Pull-a-Part" Salvage yard North of the River between the main N/S railroad tracks and the Chesapeake Boathouse. He said this new location is the missing piece between the boathouse district and the new Downtown Park system the City is building as part of MAPS 3. He also said they are looking at trying to introduce more commercial spaces in that area as well to help draw people into the boathouse district. He listed a restaurant and office space being two of the more critical spaces. He then went on and stated that from what he has seen on my blog thus far that this would be something he would be interested in submitting to the city of Oklahoma City. That posed somewhat of a problem for me in that do I keep working on my original site (which is quite a bit larger) or do I switch sites with the thinking that my Thesis project might help spark what type of facility will end up there. I went out after our meeting and walked down the north side of the river trails and looked around the site he proposed to see what all it possessed and if it would still work for what I was wanting to accomplish. I printed out the Google maps image and started sketching sight lines and such and what all would be needed to change with my original building in order to accommodate the new site. Everything seemed to work out I did not have to change my building or rearrange spaces on the new site (which was my main time concern) so I am pushing forward with the new site. Placing my facilities in this new location will also connect and give the Chesapeake Boathouse something interesting to look at since it will go right up to the west end of the trail directly across their little waterway connecting to Bricktown.
View Looking under Green Roof- Here is a conceptual sketch of what my building will look lime under the green roof area. The glass continues around the interior structure helping bring light into both corridors (interior and exterior). There will be a stair walkway around the edge of the green roof providing access to those that would like to view from the top of the structure. It also creates a barrier so bikes don't get to close to the edge.
View Looking back toward Main Entrance- The main entrance will expose the space frame structure hidden behind glass and allow for great views out of the building from both the first and second floors. You can also see the continuous walkway and railing on the second floor.
This type of system is extremely useful when it is either really hot outside (like its been that last few summers) or really cold outside (like we have had in the past). What this system does is uses the consistent temp. of the ground to either cool down (summer) or heat up (winter) the air before it enters the building. This make the building heating/cooling systems use less energy trying to condition the air for the building thus making it run more sustainable. The system uses zero energy it is just a series of tubes in the ground. The same fans and pumps pull the air out of the tube just like it would from outside. A building has to have a percentage of fresh air replaced hourly so that the building does not build up carbon monoxide from people breathing in and out.
This system can also be used to help naturally ventilate your building as well. Creating a "stack ventilation" system will draw hot air out of the building thus pulling cooler air into the building thru the tubes all without the need for electrical devices. In our area this system will only work during certain times of the year. But the time it is working a building this size will be saving thousands of dollars in energy bills.
When it is cold outside the "stack ventilation" vents can be closed to help keep the warmer air within the building and Heating systems are only needed to heat small degree changes in outside air coming in from the tubes.
Here is a photo of a series of earth tubes being installed. The size of the tubes as well as the number depend on the size building you are trying to heat/cool. At the far end you can see a tube sticking straight up, that is where the air comes in. This can be positioned anywhere in the system, Ideally it is far from the building are vehicular traffic so it is pulling in clean air.
My name is Andrew Stevens and I am a Graduate Student at the University of Oklahoma School of Architecture. This blog is for me to share with you my thought process and design images for a Net-Zero Velodrome in the Oklahoma City, OK area.