MIAMI UNIVERSITY / OXFORD, OHIO / SPRING 2018 STUDIO, IN PERSON
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION
a net positive attached housing development
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION
a net positive attached housing development
Every year, the U.S. Department of Energy hosts the Race to Zero Student Design Competition, a sustainable building science contest focused on future oriented thinking and design. With second place recognition in the multifamily category in 2018, Wright Path to Zero is a collection of highly energy efficient attached housing units for active duty families, providing move in ready, net positive homes. This project has concentrations in universal design, efficient mechanical systems, and various green building science developments. These design principles were key for this set of homes to create a new model of urban planning and comfortable living, and successfully design homes for the people who sacrifice their lives every day, improving the lives of Wright Path’s inhabitants while working towards a guaranteed stable future. My roles included schematic design, formatting project submission documents, researching universal design implementations, and creating and editing graphics for presentation and communication materials.
Team Members: Danny Nolan, Margaret Woolf, Peter Witt, Kelly Richter, Alanna Kuether, Shuting Chen, DeAngela Weakely
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
Located in Dayton, Ohio, home to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, this base is a hub for defense, aerospace, and healthcare industries. The metro area is seeing an increase in affordable housing and family oriented public projects, a response to the demand of jobs at the Air Force Base. Just five miles from downtown Dayton, and a 5 minute drive from the Area A Gate, where many of these residents will be working daily to serve the country’s defense, the existing Properties at Wright Field provide military housing for more than 1,500 service men and women and their families. Wright Path to Zero aims to create housing for military families that does more than meet the basic needs of life. The people who dedicate and sacrifice their lives for their country deserve the highly efficient and comfortable homes that both passive and net zero standards offer.
Located in Dayton, Ohio, home to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, this base is a hub for defense, aerospace, and healthcare industries. The metro area is seeing an increase in affordable housing and family oriented public projects, a response to the demand of jobs at the Air Force Base. Just five miles from downtown Dayton, and a 5 minute drive from the Area A Gate, where many of these residents will be working daily to serve the country’s defense, the existing Properties at Wright Field provide military housing for more than 1,500 service men and women and their families. Wright Path to Zero aims to create housing for military families that does more than meet the basic needs of life. The people who dedicate and sacrifice their lives for their country deserve the highly efficient and comfortable homes that both passive and net zero standards offer.
THE SITE
The Site
With a total of sixteen units, Wright Path to Zero focuses on creating a welcoming environment for each individual unit with landscaping around the site and a pedestrian street connecting all of the units, strengthening community ties. A one way street around the site reduces vehicle traffic and the amount of hardscape required, refocusing efforts on pedestrians. While still providing each unit with their own private backyards, residents can interact with each other over this central axis, an essential for families with an active duty family member. Detached garages allow for potential future development of units as well as the population of the suburbs of Dayton increase.
With a total of sixteen units, Wright Path to Zero focuses on creating a welcoming environment for each individual unit with landscaping around the site and a pedestrian street connecting all of the units, strengthening community ties. A one way street around the site reduces vehicle traffic and the amount of hardscape required, refocusing efforts on pedestrians. While still providing each unit with their own private backyards, residents can interact with each other over this central axis, an essential for families with an active duty family member. Detached garages allow for potential future development of units as well as the population of the suburbs of Dayton increase.
THE PERFORMANCE
HERS Index Rating (left) & Design Principles (right)
To achieve and surpass Passive House Standards and create a Zero Energy Ready Home, these eight design practices were used throughout the design process. Maintaining thermal comfort and climate control is reached through natural daylighting, high insulation and glazing, and efficient mechanical systems. These design principles helped achieve a HERS index of -2, resulting in each unit producing more energy than required to function. Permeable pavers, bee productivity fostering and native Ohio plants, and locally sourced materials create a positive impact on the earth. Photovoltaic panels are used in energy consumption, getting each unit down to zero. Due to the high levels of airtightness and insulation, the units actually produce more energy than needed on the average day.
To achieve and surpass Passive House Standards and create a Zero Energy Ready Home, these eight design practices were used throughout the design process. Maintaining thermal comfort and climate control is reached through natural daylighting, high insulation and glazing, and efficient mechanical systems. These design principles helped achieve a HERS index of -2, resulting in each unit producing more energy than required to function. Permeable pavers, bee productivity fostering and native Ohio plants, and locally sourced materials create a positive impact on the earth. Photovoltaic panels are used in energy consumption, getting each unit down to zero. Due to the high levels of airtightness and insulation, the units actually produce more energy than needed on the average day.
THE FLOOR PLANS & SPACES
Floor Plans
At 1,500 square feet this compact but open floor-plan allows for physical and visual accessibility throughout the entire house, an important quality in family home design. The enlisted who dedicate their lives to their country, and especially deployed members, are at risk for a range of different types of injuries. In addition, it is common for unoccupied base housing to be filled by military veterans. With this in mind, all units are designed with integrated universal design principles, without taking up extra space, and at the same time increasing the marketability of the units.
At 1,500 square feet this compact but open floor-plan allows for physical and visual accessibility throughout the entire house, an important quality in family home design. The enlisted who dedicate their lives to their country, and especially deployed members, are at risk for a range of different types of injuries. In addition, it is common for unoccupied base housing to be filled by military veterans. With this in mind, all units are designed with integrated universal design principles, without taking up extra space, and at the same time increasing the marketability of the units.
First Floor Universal Design Principles
• full clearance ramp at entrances for those with mobility limitations
• peepholes at different heights for those with different needs
• frequent 5’ turning diameter for ADA standards
• open floor plan for those with hearing limitations
• rounded counter top edges
• adjustable height cooktop and sink
• drawer style dishwasher
• peepholes at different heights for those with different needs
• frequent 5’ turning diameter for ADA standards
• open floor plan for those with hearing limitations
• rounded counter top edges
• adjustable height cooktop and sink
• drawer style dishwasher
Second Floor Universal Design Principles
• adequate landing space for those with stamina or vision limitations
• flush tread and riser to minimize stumble instances
• light switches reachable from bedside and door
• extra electrical outlets near bed for medical equipment if needed
• wall mounted closets for those with difficulty bending and kneeling
• non slip wet tile area
• front load washer and dryer for those with difficulty in handling
• flush tread and riser to minimize stumble instances
• light switches reachable from bedside and door
• extra electrical outlets near bed for medical equipment if needed
• wall mounted closets for those with difficulty bending and kneeling
• non slip wet tile area
• front load washer and dryer for those with difficulty in handling
Interior Rendering 1
Interior Rendering 2
Southern glazing is maximized for comfortable daylighting throughout the whole day with the aid of clerestory windows. North glazing is minimal to allow for views into the central community pathway and natural light in private rooms, but to reduce wall penetrations. Electric lighting is balanced with the daylight throughout the activity zones in the home to not over light.
Southern glazing is maximized for comfortable daylighting throughout the whole day with the aid of clerestory windows. North glazing is minimal to allow for views into the central community pathway and natural light in private rooms, but to reduce wall penetrations. Electric lighting is balanced with the daylight throughout the activity zones in the home to not over light.
THE DETAILS
Construction Details
Wright Path to Zero deploys Passive House techniques to achieve the highest thermal performance and durability appropriately sized for Climate Zone 5. Passive House standards suggest an R60 roof, R40 wall, and R20 slab, however through thermal analysis, the building assemblies surpass these suggested values. Continuous insulation and careful barrier placement aids in maximizing gains and minimizing energy losses.
Wright Path to Zero deploys Passive House techniques to achieve the highest thermal performance and durability appropriately sized for Climate Zone 5. Passive House standards suggest an R60 roof, R40 wall, and R20 slab, however through thermal analysis, the building assemblies surpass these suggested values. Continuous insulation and careful barrier placement aids in maximizing gains and minimizing energy losses.
Proof the competition actually happened featuring my enthusiastic former peers and professors!