MIAMI UNIVERSITY / OXFORD, OHIO / FALL 2018 STUDIO, IN PERSON
a passive house family resource center thrift shop
a passive house family resource center thrift shop
The Family Resource Center (FRC) is a non-profit social service agency that guides low-income individuals and families in the Oxford, Ohio / Talawanda School District community. With a large focus on community, the members who work at the FRC are constantly supporting those in need. With an extremely limited budget but a goal for zero energy use and extreme efficiency, the new Finders Keepers Thrift Store and Family Resource Center have a positive impact not only on the community, but also the environment. Providing community driven spaces, support offices, event spaces and meeting rooms for those who need them, this building utilizes efficient lighting, heating and cooling, ventilation, glazing, high insulation, and renewable energy all for a net positive result, empowering people to help themselves and each other.
Team Members: Daniel Nolan, Carly Hansen
While this was a collaborative project, all images and documents are my original work unless otherwise noted.
While this was a collaborative project, all images and documents are my original work unless otherwise noted.
Exterior Perspective
THE PLANS
Site Plan (left), courtesy of Carly Hansen, project partner & Building Floor Plan (right)
Circulation throughout the site allows for easy access for those dropping off donation or coming in for meetings. The FRC receives all excess merchandise from Goodwill, large trucks every month stop by and unload clothes and furniture, so site organization was vital for efficiency. Implementing garden spaces preserves existing and the addition of new gardens on the site, increasing biodiversity. Less structured rooms, spaces, and program layouts in the building allow for easier adjustments if new tenants combine with FRC or if expansion is needed. Double garage doors into the storage area and retail space allows for greater control of the thermal envelope of the building when taking donations and moving merchandise.
Circulation throughout the site allows for easy access for those dropping off donation or coming in for meetings. The FRC receives all excess merchandise from Goodwill, large trucks every month stop by and unload clothes and furniture, so site organization was vital for efficiency. Implementing garden spaces preserves existing and the addition of new gardens on the site, increasing biodiversity. Less structured rooms, spaces, and program layouts in the building allow for easier adjustments if new tenants combine with FRC or if expansion is needed. Double garage doors into the storage area and retail space allows for greater control of the thermal envelope of the building when taking donations and moving merchandise.
Elevations
Simple, yet effective graphics engage people as they walk by, inviting them into the thrift store or FRC. “Do Good Things” was a motto developed to generate positivity for residents of the Oxford community, in an attempt to destigmatize conversations about seeking financial or mental help. Since clothing waste is one of the top waste resources, positive graphics throughout the exterior of the building help people realize that they are making a positive impact on the environment and the people who seek the FRC as a resource.
Simple, yet effective graphics engage people as they walk by, inviting them into the thrift store or FRC. “Do Good Things” was a motto developed to generate positivity for residents of the Oxford community, in an attempt to destigmatize conversations about seeking financial or mental help. Since clothing waste is one of the top waste resources, positive graphics throughout the exterior of the building help people realize that they are making a positive impact on the environment and the people who seek the FRC as a resource.
THE MAIN SPACES
Community Spaces
Creating these spaces allowing people to interact provides the opportunity to seek what we desire the most - human interaction and communication. These areas encourage social interaction and can assist someone, whether struggling financially or within their family, to get the help they need. The first step to fixing issues is starting a conversation, and these spaces strive to take that first leap.
Creating these spaces allowing people to interact provides the opportunity to seek what we desire the most - human interaction and communication. These areas encourage social interaction and can assist someone, whether struggling financially or within their family, to get the help they need. The first step to fixing issues is starting a conversation, and these spaces strive to take that first leap.
THE BUILDING SCIENCE
Wall Section (left) & WUFI Energy Modeling Statistics (right)
A tight building envelope, passive design strategies, and efficient active mechanical systems work together to create a building that requires no additional energy consumption. The heating losses are minimized through the construction and any further losses are replaced by the heating gains. The energy modeling application WUFI was utilized to measure these design implementations with a 3D model of the building, confirming that everything works together successfully.
A tight building envelope, passive design strategies, and efficient active mechanical systems work together to create a building that requires no additional energy consumption. The heating losses are minimized through the construction and any further losses are replaced by the heating gains. The energy modeling application WUFI was utilized to measure these design implementations with a 3D model of the building, confirming that everything works together successfully.