USGBC HEADQUARTERS

By pettydesign / 25 July 2008 / portfolio / No Comments

Undergraduate Competition
Winner Houston Region
Summer 2008
4 weeks

500 FANNIN: A Conceptual Study for USGBC Houston Headquarters
At the heart of downtown stands a gem of Houston architecture that has remained vacant for the past two decades. The building was constructed in 1932 by architect William Ward Watkin and originally used as Wilson Stationary and Printing Co.

The regeneration of this project as a USGBC headquarters for the city of Houston can serve as prime paradigm for both architects and citizens of the city in terms of sustainability in architecture. The purpose of this competition was to illustrate a prospective idea on how to achieve each LEED point (based on 2008 standards). This project was selected as the winner of the competition (Hosted by Houston Emerging Green Builders) and was entered into the national competition at USGBC Greenbuild 2008 in Boston.

At it’s current state, the building is a simple column/slab concrete construction that is wrapped on four sides with nothing else on the interior. The project is ideal for re-use as little demolition would be required. To create space for a roof garden the current roof will be removed as well as supporting structure. An atrium will be cut through the project to breath light into the building as well as create visual connections. The concrete that is removed will be re-distributed as gabion walls for the restrooms and vertical circulation chambers. All exterior glazing is replaced with triple-glazed units with 2 low solar gain low-e coatings and krypton gas infill for better energy use. The original glass is then cut to fit as the new handrail edge for the atrium space. All remaining pieces are crushed and used as part of the mulch system for roofscape garden. The entire project is built with the idea of a visual education for visitors of the facility with public program throughout the building.