ETDC 2011: Thinking Outside the Boxes
The 5th Annual USGBC-Los Angeles Emerging Talent Design Competition

‘Tread Lightly’ Second Place (Student Finalist)

Tread Lightly takes a quality of life approach to the synthesis of a mixed use / ecologically sensitive design.  The idea of indoor and outdoor spaces merging may be cliché but it is used here to full advantage of the building users.  By elevating all but the ground floor community center, the majority of the site footprint is used for outdoor communal space, which is landscaped with native Californian/drought resistant vegetation.  Rooftop patios also help to augment this communal space by giving the occupants an unsheltered option to the coolness of the sheltered patio below.  Throughout the project special attention is paid to the ideas of incorporating passive strategies first, and then augmenting those strategies with active systems.  Natural ventilation, and day-lighting is provided by the generous use of operable fenestration, and 8 inch staggered-stud walls of soy-based spray foam insulation help to keep the internal spaces operating at optimum comfort levels while minimizing thermal bridging.  Active systems include the use of high-efficiency/insulating solar roof tiles, which install without roof penetration, reduce solar heat gain and help to offset energy consumption.  Feasibility of construction, de-constructability, and economy were key factors in the modular formal arrangement.  Other factors contributing to health and performance of the overall design include the use of reused shipping containers to displace traditional building materials; tank-less water heaters will reduce water and energy consumption; radiant heat floor systems will provide efficient thermal comfort; in-room fan-coil units will augment the natural ventilation strategy; and low/no VOC materials would be specified for all interior finishes.  Tread Lightly serves as a beacon of healthy spaces for healthy living in an urban context.

http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/competitions/etdc2011?ob_bw=0