ORGANIC CONNECTION
Hampshire College is a small, 1,200 student, liberal arts school that experiments with alternative educational methodologies. With a school motto: “Non statis scrire,” meaning “to know is not enough” Hampshire College advocates continuous discovery and relentless progress. The R.W. Kern center is an Admissions building designed with the purpose of educating the community and the student body of Hampshire College history and surrounding environment. In addition to admissions, the R.W. Kern center fulfills its basis in biophilia by adhering to Net Zero standards and also by complying with the Living Building Challenge V.3. It exists as one of the very “living system” that the Biophilia Hypothesis menons humans are insncvely aracted to. Each space that is focused on in this case study is to carry the concept of this deep connection to living systems while maintaining a minimal environmental impact.
STRUCTURAL BREADTH
The north and south façades of the circulaon space are curtain wall systems and as such there is to be a lighting shelf study. With the addition of a light shelf system, a structural analysis is to be done to determine necessary reinforcement/structural redesign. Additionally, an analysis is to be performed to determine necessary modifications to the roofing support structure based on the implementation of skylights.
MECHANICAL BREADTH
Research is to be done to determine the opmal curtain wall system. A solar heat gain study is to be performed to determine the new heating/cooling load, and then will determine the required mechanical systems. Furthermore, a solar heat gain study is to be performed for the skylights, and will determine any changes to be made to the mechanical systems.
The changes will be compared to the current mechanical system’s cost and performance. Addionally, include new fixture heat load on building, and include for resizing of mechanical systems.