Building render of rammed earth enclosures - Am architectural research initiative led by The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations in collaboration with Studio Ma serving as the project's architects and project consultants. Image render courtesy of Studio Ma

Phoenix-based architecture and environmental design firm Studio Ma works with The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Overseas Building Operations (OBO) in their architectural research initiative that examines new applications for large-scale institutional buildings. This research explores the application of mass timber, rammed earth, and design solutions for extreme heat and drought conditions.

In an exclusive interview with OBO and Studio MA, Archinect dives into their research objectives and what steps can be taken to develop resilient buildings fit for the world's changing climate.

Studio Ma possesses a well-established, original research portfolio committed to the development of buildings responsive to climate hazards worldwide. A past research effort conducted by the firm includes published white papers illustrating how shaded sidewalks and assigned “micro-cooling” plazas of transit-oriented development may better the quality of life for pedestrians and mass transit users under desert southwest heat conditions. The firm is also responsible for projects ranging from smaller commercial buildings containing net-zero-water recapture systems to the development of a large-scale university research building featuring a living atrium biome. The research efforts of Studio Ma serve as a valuable resource to the sustainable design community, and the firm’s working relationship with the OBO serves as an addition to come. 

The Bureau of Overseas Building Operations is responsible for overseeing global building programs for the U.S. Department of State. This program includes new construction projects, renovations, and modernizations in addition to the planning, acquisition, and maintenance of diplomatic real estate properties that include embassies, consulates, and regional diplomatic facilities. OBO shared with Archinect that their design commitment “focuses on modern-day security, performative and resilient requirements, while recognizing the importance of functional workplace design, energy efficiency, and sustainability standards, as well as impactful architecture that projects America’s mission to both the host nation and the global community.”  

Heavily emphasized by the team, this initiative is "less about research and more about focusing on approaches for applying research to achieve the goals of the organization -- security, resilience, stewardship," shared OBO's Managing Director Angel A. Dizon III and its Director of External Affairs Christine Foushee. 

The OBO defines these objectives as the following: 

Security: “to provide safe, secure, and functional facilities and residences for overseas personnel.” 

Resilience: “the provision of industry-leading, resilient facilities that are durable, adaptable, and sustainable, and represent the nation and support department personnel in achieving U.S. foreign policy objectives.” 

Stewardship: ”to promote continuous improvement facilitated by a culture of optimizing people, processes, and supporting technology in support of the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars.” 

What is the scope of the new research and how will the application of each material/system help to achieve the goals of the organization -- security, resilience, stewardship? 

According to Studio Ma, “The areas of focus that we have been looking at are not only methods and construction materials that can forward their mission but also have potentially broader implications for reducing carbon. We are looking at the applicability of any of these materials to the current standards that OBO has for their embassies. We have begun to investigate what the impacts and findings of this research could be and how it could be applied to their embassies and the whole suite of buildings that OBO builds—which all have different standards. We are looking at how far we can take these materials in terms of program.” 

Mass Timber 

To uncover practical and cost-effective uses of mass timber in the construction of institutional buildings with minimal embodied carbon, the research conducted under Studio Ma may address potential climate impacts. Mass timber, an innovative material, provides a sustainable alternative to concrete and steel building frames used in traditional construction methods. The use of mass timber involves layered wood in the form of grand structural panels, columns, and beams joined together--creating a robust system for towers, long spans, and other large building applications. As elaborated by the team, “we’re looking at the applicability of using the material as primary structure and also for walls that would replace as much as possible cast in place concrete in the whole building program.” 

Maximizing the use of mass timber in building construction has effects that go beyond its ecological impact—as seen in the United States market for the material. According to the team, their research “also has major implications for the potential of bringing construction and influencing the supply chain of timber in the US—being able to understand that the market for wood is volatile and knowing that if we increase the demands for mass timber, we are going to have to look holistically at what that impact is on the US market. There has been a lot of discussion about really needing to understand the supply chain and the thought that we need to almost design forests as we are designing more mass timber buildings because the ecosystems around forest stewardship are incredibly important as mass timber demands increase. The ecological impact is important and must be looked at as we expand the market for mass timber”.  

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations describes this role of Studio Ma as “understanding its application and engaging with Diplomatic Security, to ensure it meets rigorous security standards.” As stated by the OBO team, “25-35% of our construction costs go into the cities that we’re building (materials and labor), using something like this has an opportunity to bring a big portion of that back to the United States and increase the off-site manufacturing. We may be helping the US economy in a different kind of way.” 

As elaborated by Studio Ma, the use of mass timber also provides “the opportunity to increase the speed at which buildings are delivered—mass timber has the potential to prefabricate and expedite the construction phase itself. Once the system is well-understood and there is on the construction side a familiarity with the material it goes up rather quickly. This will help OBO deliver speed-to-market.” This research conducted in mass timber construction may be applicable to a wide range of OBO construction projects around the world. 

Rammed Aggregate Earth 

Mitigating carbon emissions and longtime climate impacts, the firm has examined the use of rammed-earth enclosures. Originating as a vernacular building method worldwide, Studio Ma has adopted the material due to its structural compatibility. 

Dense barriers of rammed earth walls may be used in both hot and cold climates--offering high thermal mass and cutting heating and cooling energy usage. Further elaborated by Studio Ma, “We are looking at substantially reducing the amount of carbon-producing cement in a mass material that may in some cases replace concrete for certain uses—that reduces the amount of carbon overall.” 

Extreme Heat and Drought 

The final component of the research initiative includes the development of design solutions for climates facing extreme heat and drought conditions. These solutions are encompassed by the modeling of methods to foster the creation of responsive, resilient, and sustainable architecture—revealing innovative approaches to understanding climate and weather hazards.  The research conducted will open the doors to a wide range of applications for designing facilities, organizations, and building operations located in desert and severe climate conditions. 

As stated by the studio, “We are looking at mitigating climate hazards overall and advancing passive survivability—the ability to not require as many active redundant systems when you’re faced with shortages of electricity or water—being able to have systems that can support a facility without the need for massive, redundant systems. This would also decrease carbon emissions and increase resiliency as well so you wouldn’t have as many systems that could potentially fail”.  

“We are looking at design opportunities that may help mitigate climate change. We are starting to see that locations across the globe are going to see extreme temperatures and strains on water supply. We need to ensure that these facilities have self-sufficiency and continue to operate under these extreme circumstances”. – Studio Ma 

“We ensure and recommend the strategies that have the most effect and impact on a building’s ability to operate effectively—such as design strategies including shade on buildings, providing increased and improved performance of the envelope, but we’re also looking at things like behavioral and operational adjustments—which goes back to the holistic thinking we have worked on with the OBO”. – Studio Ma

Owning over 970 office buildings in 290 locations worldwide, the research conducted under this partnership may be implemented in the future new construction and modernization efforts of OBO buildings to come—fostering the development of safe, secure, functional, and resilient facilities to serve as a host to the nation, representing American strengths abroad. 

“We’re honored to serve this broad goal that OBO has set out—finding a way to engage with a very demanding climate under a demanding set of circumstances”. – Studio Ma