Exposed! The Impact of Structural Materiality on the Design of Architecture

There is a formative connection between structural choice and architectural design. Where the term “low hanging fruit” has often been used with reference to critical first choices towards climate responsive sustainable design, a similar approach can be applied to design-thinking when it comes to structural choices. The consideration of the material nature of the primary structure at the conceptual stage of design can allow for improved focus during the design process. This is particularly critical when working with exposed structural systems as the materiality also directly impacts the aesthetics. Exposing a structure requires that the architect be significantly more technically knowledgeable in order to remain in control of the design outcomes. This paper will elaborate an approach to instilling this type of design-thinking as it pertains to structural systems. It will look at the advantages of adopting a directed or limited structural palette in earlier design based exercises as a means of acquiring a higher level of expertise that can lead into more adeptness when dealing with the complexity associated with multiple materials. It will demonstrate that limitations can actually be liberating. Sample case studies will be used as a means to support and explore this pedagogical approach to design

Teaching Technology:: Skins vs. Structures

Technological developments over the last hundred years have resulted in the compounding of materials issues as they relate to architectural design. Structural steel and concrete systems, as well as different varieties of load bearing masonry design have radically altered the structural design processes for buildings. The changeover from the predominant use of load bearing exterior walls to curtain walls and rainscreen elements, has also complicated issues related to the design of exterior wall systems. Environmental awareness has been introduced to the equation and has required significant changes to envelope design as relates to climate and energy issues

The Frustrating Realities of Cold Climate Design:: Piercing the Skin: Ins-U-lation versus Ins-O-lation

The first principle of energy efficient environmental building design for a cold climate is as follows: First INSULATE, and then INSOLATE. The use of passive solar design principles can be key to reducing the overall amount of energy consumed by residential buildings. Create warm tight walls, then, perforate with an adequate number of windows to absorb free energy. Ensure that there is adequate thermal mass present to absorb and then, later, reradiate the free heat. The principle is simple. Its detailed application is complex. Apertures effectively puncture the building skin, resulting in a discontinuity of the thermal integrity of the envelope. Piercing creates a thermal hiatus, as the thermal resistance of the windows is normally a fraction of the insulation value of the wall. Environmental concerns arise out of the loss of heat through these openings as well as the control of solar gain as it affects cooling loads. Orientation must be intrinsically considered for each and every opening. Shading devices need to be designed in order to manage the amount and quality of solar gain and light. Daylighting should also factor into the design equation, in its potential to reduce energy costs as well as a "D”esign element

Managing Change Driven By Environmental Regulations: Can Industries in the United States Eliminate the Use of Chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) in Insulating Foam Plastic Products and Maintain Global Competiveness?

Chemicals emitted into the atmosphere which contain chlorine have been identified as ozone-depleting compounds for several years. These chemicals generally described as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and chlorinated solvents, are used in a wide variety of applications. International agreements and government regulations in the United States are mandating a ban, and requiring industries to seek CFC and chlorinated solvent replacements. The substitutes which are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), contain less or no chlorine, and hence, are less damaging to the earth\u27s ozone layer. The provisional chemicals are not drop-in replacements for existing products and processes which employ CFCs. There are significant technological and economic barriers to overcome, and U.S. industries are proceeding quickly but cautiously to replace the CFCs . In most cases, firms have to reformulate products to maintain quality and safety, processes have to be modified, and it is often necessary to retrofit equipment in order to use CFC replacements. The major criteria f or choosing alternates are: Environmental acceptability; Toxicity; Safety; Technical feasibility ; Availability; Cost effectiveness. Nearly one- third of worldwide CFC use is in foam plastics. An option to phaseout CFCs in foam plastic s for insulation applications is presented. Insulation foam plastics are especially important because of the energy conservation function of the products in refrigeration and construction applications . This thesis outlines the steps necessary to evaluate and choose immediate replacements for CFCs, and eventually , the process necessary to phase in long-term substitutes which have no ozone depleting potential (ODP). The option presented gives industries in insulating foam plastics a means of meeting the environmental regulations and challenges pertaining to the CFC substitutes, while maintaining a competitive position in the marketplace

The Tectonics of the Double Skin:: Green Building or Just more Hi-Tech Hi-Jinx? NORTH AMERICAN CASE STUDIES:

North American Double Façade Buildings: 1980 to 2001 Where over the past ten years, Europe and the Pacific Rim have seen the construction of a number of vanguard double skin façade buildings, very few have been either proposed or constructed in North America. The first to be constructed was the Occidental Chemical Center (also known as the Hooker Building) in Niagara Falls, New York. It was designed by Cannon Design Inc. and completed in 1980. Occidental Chemical has achieved historic status in texts on building systems as the first of its kind to be constructed in North America. In spite of much press and notoriety, its skin system was not widely adopted in commercial building types to follow. SOM designed a double skin envelope for the Prudential Life Insurance Company in Princeton, N.J. in the late 1980's.3 Following few built examples in the 1980's, it would appear that the double skin façade system continued without influence in North America during the 1990's. The next building of note is the double skin façade for the Seattle Justice Center designed by Arup Associates in 2000/ 2001.4 The European offices of Arup Associates have been responsible for many of the double façade buildings constructed to date in Europe and Asia. A double skin, referred to in this case as "une façade intelligente”, is being used on the "Caisse de Depots et de Placements du Quebec” in Montreal. Façade erection commenced during Winter 2002. They chose to use the system for its thermal, visual and acoustical properties. The double skin used, is a Twin-Face type and integrates an operable window. In designing for the severity of the Quebec climate they used double glazing on the outside and single glazing on the inside skin. Standard recommendations for Twin-Face systems would provide single glazing on the outside buffering skin and double glazing on the interior layer. This approach might work in more temperate climates, but is not suitable to a cold climate installation. Ongoing construction information on the CDP may be found at http://www2.destinationcdp.com/index.asp?version=3 The Telus Building in Vancouver, British Columbia, designed by Busby and Associates has been recently completed. This building varies from most other examples in that it uses the second skin to encapsulate an existing concrete masonry building, to prevent its destruction, extend its life and create an improved interior work environment

Working music : an investigation of popular, non-sponsored, original music performance as a career.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1994.This dissertation investigates the working experiences of musicians who play original music as a form of employment. The study describes the venues and locations of music performance, including music clubs, concerts and festivals. This is done from the point of view of a concert-goer who is aware of the labour processes occurring at these shows, as well as the infrastructure and support necessary to make such events occur. The music investigated is original popular music which does not afford the artists any other forms of sponsorship apart from the earnings received from performances. The musicians interviewed are thus people who play music as their sole form of income, or aspire to be this position. The experiences of these musicians, as gleaned from loosely structured interviews utilising open ended questions, allow the study to make some generalisations about what it takes to play music as a fulltime form of employment. This is the focus of the study, particularly the fact that music is not only a skill and talent to be developed, but also that music is a unique job which has it's own stresses, strains and rewards. Problems experienced by the musicians, as described by the musicians themselves, cast a clearer understanding of the way in which this form of work is run. The actual mechanics of music performance, such as the prohibitive costs of equipment, and the dealings with club-owners, are discussed. Technology is evaluated in terms of its impact on music performance as a career. Some record companies were also approached in an attempt to understand the constraints and problems faced by these commercial enterprises. The perceptions that these companies have of local original music artists is contrasted with the perceptions that the artists seemed to have of the companies. This makes for interesting comparative material, and allows the study to identify some obstacles between artist and industry. The study concludes with a description of the local music industry and a discussion of some of the reasons why it has developed in this way, as well as a look at some suggestions for change

The Tectonics of the Double Skin:: Green Building or Just more Hi-Tech Hi-Jinx?

Double skin façade systems are employed increasingly in high profile buildings, designed by famous Architects, using acclaimed engineering consultants, and being touted as an exemplary "green” building strategy. It is a new technology that is more often found in high-end European and Pacific Rim architecture, and far less often in North American building. For the majority of mainstream architects, double skin technology remains elusive. From perspectives of both knowledge and budget, double skin systems are often beyond the scope of most commercially driven, North American projects. The question arises as to whether or not double skin buildings truly are more environmentally responsible and sustainable. Is North American commercial architecture missing out on potential energy and environmental savings? The Double Skin Façade is based on the notion of exterior walls that respond dynamically to varying ambient conditions, and that can incorporate a range of integrated sun-shading, natural ventilation, and thermal insulation devices or strategies. Early modern architects such as Le Corbusier, with his "mur-neutralisant”7, and Alvar Aalto, in the window design of the Paimio Sanitorium, explored this new building technology. Early solar passive design exemplified in the "trombe” wall, is also viewed as a precursor to modern double skin systems.8 Only recently has double skin technology become analogous with explorations in transparent and glass architecture, and moreover, acclaimed as environmentally "responsible” design. This paper represents the findings of a team of upper level B.Arch. and Masters students who have conducted an initial investigation into double skin cladding systems. The study has allowed us to begin to ascertain whether or not these systems represent a valid approach to energy efficient and environmentally responsible design or are, as they might appear, just another "cool” high-tech style. Does this type of skin system represent environmentally "responsible' versus "responsive” design? The end result of the research will be posted on the School website so that it can be shared with others interested in the findings.

RiceWrist Robotic Device for Upper Limb Training: Feasibility Study and Case Report of Two Tetraplegic Persons with Spinal Cord Injury

Regaining upper extremity function is the primary concern of persons with tetraplegia caused by spinal cord injury (SCI). Robotic rehabilitation has been inadequately tested and underutilized in rehabilitation of the upper extremity in the SCI population. Given the acceptance of robotic training in stroke rehabilitation and SCI gait training, coupled with recent evidence that the spinal cord, like the brain, demonstrates plasticity that can be enhanced by repetitive movement training such as that available with robotic devices, it is probable that robotic upper extremity training of persons with SCI could be clinically beneficial. The primary goal of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of using a novel robotic device –the RiceWrist Exoskeleton- for rehabilitation of the upper limbs (UL) of two tetraplegic persons with incomplete SCI. Two pilot experiments were conducted. Experiment 1was the first novel attempt to administer treatment with the RiceWrist. The left UL of a tetraplegic subject was treated during seven therapy sessions. The subject’s feedback and the investigator’s obser-vations were used to enhance the robotic device and the corresponding graphical-interface. In Experiment 2, a second tetra-plegic subject underwent 10 three-hour training sessions administered by a physical therapist. Smoothness factor (FS) –a new measure developed in Experiment 1- was used as the primary outcome to test the subject’s performance before and after the training. The RiceWrist was modified according to the feedback obtained in Experiment 1. Thereafter, the device was suc-cessfully administered for upper limb training of the tetraplegic individual. Noticeable improvements in FS were observed for the stronger arm of the subject who completed 10 sessions of training. Improvements were also observed in the subject’s hand according to the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test. Results from this study suggest a potential application of the RiceWrist for rehabilitation of SCI individuals and offer valuable information regarding development of UL robotic devices for this population