This is a research Project originally conceived as an entry into the 2010 Brickstainable Design Competition sponsored by Potomac Valley Brick & Supply Co. in Baltimore MD.  I also used it to develop my skills in Revit Architecture while I was pursuing independent research into Revit at Clemson University in South Carolina.  While I never actually entered it into the competition, it proved a valuable real-life scenario/project with which to hone my Revit skills utilizing Potomac Valley's site and program. For anyone interested in the 2011 competition, here is the link:  http://www.brickstainable.com/

The Site is approximately 1 1/2 acres situated directly on the waterfront of the Inner Harbor in the Canton neighborhood of Baltimore.  It is adjacent to Canton Waterfront Park on one side, and Industrial Mariitime Use zoning on the other side.  Canton Waterfront Park is an eastern terminus of the Inner Harbor Promenade, which extends virtually around the entire Inner Harbor.  This allowed extension of the Promenade to include our site.  The future Red Line light railway is presently scheduled to open in 2014, with a stop within 1/4 mile of the site.  This allows easy access by public transportation to the entire Baltimore/Washington public transportation system, AMTRACK's northeast corridor, and BWI international airport.  A fine site indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The program was to develop a net-zero energy office building for a biotech research company, incorporating retail and restaurnts, service shops in the lower level.  As it was sponsored by Potomac Valley brick, incorporating innovative uses of brick materials was also desired.  A research of Baltimore zoning revealed that this unit was part of a larger 56 acre plot zoned Planned Development District, and would allow up to 16 stories.  This project as designed met all of the Baltimore and Chesapeake Bay Maritime District regulations and setbacks.

The building as designed comprised 10 stories and approximately 400,000 sq ft of indoor and terrace/green roof areas containing a shopping mall on the 1st and 2nd floor, with Offices and Laboratories on floors 3 thru 7.  The 8th and 9th floor comprised an urban wind farm and associated solar and wind energy mechanical equipment, with the 10th floor/roof containing a "solar dish" power tower, and hydrogen generation ans storage facilities.  Other sustainable design features include mix of passive solar  and solar thin film pholtovaics on the south facing facade, generous daylighting from both a central atrium and exterior glazing, a combination of masonry and ceramic thermal storage, extensive use of pervious brick paving and pedestrian walkway areas, rainwater harvesting and water recycling, and the use of an unconditioned space thermal barrier with venting to prevent heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. 

I designed and executed all drawings myself using Revit Architecture 2010/11 from start to finish.  This was my first foray into actually using Revit to create construction documentation, and believe me I learned a lot about family creation and parameters in a hurry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!