EXISTING DRIVEOVERHEAD PARKING STRUCTURE

BUS SHELTER

BOARDWALK

EXISTING S TREET TREE

indian grass3

loblolly pine3

elliot’s blueberry3

piedmont azalea3

christmas fern3

HARDWOOD FORESTLATER STAGE SUCCESSION TREES CREATE A DENSE, TOWERING CANOPY MAKING THIS ECOSYSTEM DISTINCT FROM OTHER HABITATS ON SITE3.

ADA ACCESSIBLE RAMP

sourwood3

SPRING

SUMMER

FALL

WINTER

americanbeautyberry3

sparkleberry3

little

bluestem3

goldenrod2

americanfringetree2

virginiabroomsedge3

carolina sweetshrub3

fragrant sumac3

virginiabroomsedge3

wildbergamot3

trumpetvine3

virginiabroomsedge3

little

bluestem3

goldenrod3

SEASONAL COLOR

SCALE 1” = 20’

EARLY SUCCESSION MEADOW

THE BEGINNING STAGES OF SUCCESSION INCLUDE AN ARRAY OF GRASSES WILD FLOWERS AND PINE SEEDLINGS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE SLOPE IS PLANTED WITH GRASSES FOR EROSION CONTROL. AS THE PINE SEEDLINGS GROW THEY OVERTAKE THE MEADOW, SHADING OUT THE GRASS, AND EVOLVING THE PLANT COMMUNITY INTO THE HARDWOOD FOREST3.

chinese privet2

VIEW FROM OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

HERBACEOUS / SHRUB WETLAND

WETLANDS ARE AN EXTREMELY DIVERSE ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT. THESE LANDS LIE BETWEEN THE DRY UPLANDS AND OPEN WATER. THEY PROVIDE HABITAT FOR SEVERAL BIRDS, REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS WHILE ALSO SERVING AS A NATURAL WATER FILTER3.

A MAJOR THREAT TO THE NATURE CENTER WETLAND IS THE CHINESE PRIVET. IT IS AN INVASIVE EXOTIC PLANT THAT CAN DESTROY THE WETLANDS BIODIVERSITY IF NOT REMOVED AND MAINTAINED4.

SEATING WALL

PATH TO CENTER

PATH TO WETLAND

EXISTING STREET TREE

NATIVE GARDEN

OUTDOOR CLASSROOMBOTTOMLAND HARDWOODFOREST

EXISTING PATH

FOURTH GENERATION WETLAND

SCALE 1” = 30’

winterberry2

white turtlehead2

swampaster2

water hacinth2

blackgum2

FOURTH GENERATION WETLAND

HARDWOODFOREST

EARLY SUCCESSION MEADOW

MALL OF GEORGIA

6

2

1

3

4

5

SCALE: 1” = 40’

SITEPLAN

COULD ATLANTA BECOME GREENER AS IT GROWS?ATLANTA IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. ITS FRINGE DEVELOPMENT IS A SUBJECT OF CONSTANT CONCERN AND DEBATED IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY WITH IN THE DESIGN COMMUNITY. THE SITE FOR THE NEW GEORGIA WILDLIFE FFEDERATION IS LOCATED AMIDST THIS SUBURBAN SPRAWL.

BEFORE THE MALL OF GEORGIA WAS CONSTRUCTED

IVY CREEK AND LITTLE IVY CREEK CREATED A

WATERSHED OF 11,000 ACRES WHICH INCLUDED THE

NATURE CENTER’S WETLANDS. AFTER CONSTRUCTION

OF THE MALL THE WATER PATTERNS WERE CHANGED

AND RUN OFF WATER WAS DIRECTED INTO DETENTION

PONDS AND ONCE PURIFIED PIPED INTO THE CREEK.

THIS CHANGE HAS AFFECTED THE WETLANDS

GREATLY. THEY NO LONGER RECEIVE THE SAME

AMOUNT OF WATER RECHARGE THAT THEY ONCE DID

AND ARE AT RISK OF DRYING OUT.

ATL ANTA

MALLOF

GEORGIA

KENNESAW

MARIET TA

DOUGLASVILLE

ROSE WELL

ALPHARET TA

CHATTA

HO

OCH

EE

T

RIVER

VER

LAWRENCE VILLE

CONYERS

UNION CIT Y

CHAMBLEE

RIVERDALE

TUCKER

DECATUR

NORCROSS

75

75

75

20

20

20

85

85

85

400400

400400

285285

285285

285285

185185

675675

985985575575

THE MALL OF GEORGIA’S PARKING LOT HAS A SEASONAL RELATIONSHIP. IT IS BUILT FOR MAXIMUM CAPACITY DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. AFTER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON HAS PASSED THE PARKING LOT RARELY REACH FULL CAPACITY. THIS CREATES PAVED WASTELANDS WITHIN THE LANDSCAPE.

THE PLANTS CHOSEN FOR THE GARDEN ARE NOT ONLY PLANTS WHICH COULD BE FOUND IN A MEADOW SUCCESSION IN THE GEORGIA PEIDMONT, BUT ALSO THRIVE WITH LITTLE IRRIGATION. THE GEOMETRIC FORM OF THE DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS THE SEASONAL INTEREST AS WELL AS DISPLAYS THE SPECIES PEDOGALOGICALLY.

PARKING FLUX CIRCULATION PATTERNS LINE OF SIGHT HARD/ SOFT SCAPE WATERSHED

EASTERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

DRAINAGE BASIN

WATER BODIES

DETENTION

WETLANDS

DIRECTION OF FLOW

1

2

IN BEGINNING TO THINK ABOUT THE GEORGIA WILDLIFE FEDERATION’S NEEDS FOR A NEW VISITOR CENTER, OUR TEAM’S FIRST CONCERN WAS HOW TO RECONCILE THEIR MISSION WITH THE WASTEFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF THE SITE’S SURROUNDINGS. BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES STRIP MALLS, BIG BOX STRUCTURES, AND VAST PARKING LOTS BROUGHT TO MIND SEVERAL HARSH REALITIES THAT SEEMED TO UNDERMINE THE GWF’S MISSION TO PRESERVE WILDLIFE AND THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE.

COMMERCIAL RETAIL BUILDING IS NOTORIOUS FOR USING “THROW-AWAY” BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES. THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS IS TO FOLLOW THE NEXT BIG MONEY-MAKING TREND, WHICH MEANS HIGH TENANT TURNOVER AND REMODELING COSTS. THE STATISTICS WE FOUND ARE STARTLING. ACCORDING TO THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 60% OF ALL MATERIALS FLOW IN THE US ECONOMY IS CONSUMED BY THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. 92% OF THAT CONSTRUCTION-RELATED WASTE IS DUE TO RENOVATIONS AND DEMOLITION. THIS ACCOUNTS FOR 30% OF ALL THE WASTE PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES AND WE ARE HARDLY SLOWING DOWN. BETWEEN THE YEARS 2000 AND 2030, THERE WILL BE 213 BILLION SQUARE FEET OF NEW SPACE BUILT.1

VIEW OF ADA BOARDWALK TO OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

THE REHABILITATION OF THE SITE WITH NATIVE SPECIES TO THE GEORGIA PIEDMONT IS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH A STRUCTURED FORM WHICH PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE PLANTING DESIGN AND PROVIDES A STARK CONTRAST TO THE INFILTRATION OF EXOTIC, INVASIVE SPECIES. THE AWARENESS OF WILDLIFE AND THEIR NATURAL HABITAT IS NOT ONLY A STATED MISSION OF THE GEORGIA WILDLIFE FEDERATION, BUT IS ALSO CRUCIAL TO THE EDUCATION OF FUTURE GENERATIONS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND PLACE.

NOTHING ENDURES BUT CHANGE

FLUXPEDAGOGY

3 4

5

THIS PANEL USES PLANT MATERIAL AS INSULATION AS WELL AS A FILTER FOR ROOF WATER RUNOFF

THIS PANEL ALLOWS FOR VIEWS OUT TO THE WETLANDS, AS WELL AS INVITES DAYLIGHT INTO INTERIOR SPACES.

THIS PANEL TYPE CAPTURES DAYLIGHT FOR USE IN THE BUILDINGS.

RAISING THE PAVILIONS UP OFF THE GROUND ALLOWS FOR A MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE SITE, AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS UNDERNEATH THE BUILDING. THIS MAKES MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT UNDERFLOOR AIR SYSTEMS FEASIBLE

WALL PANEL TYPES

RAIN WATER COLLECTING MODULAR ROOF

INTEGRAL SLOPED PERFORATED GUTTER WATERS GREEN WALL

VIEW FROM EXISTING WETLAND-WALK

PACT ON NNNITY

AAAAAAKEKK S OOR AIR

WALLPANEL

ATERCTINGAR

ALDRATED RS WALL

FOOTING DETAIL

VIEW FROM MALL PARKING

FLOORPLAN

SCALE: 1/8 “ = 1’

VIEW FROM INDOOR VIEWING AREA VIEW PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE

ADDITIONALCONFERENCING

PERMENANT CONFERENCING

BREAKROOM/SERVERY

OFFICE

RESTROOM

RETAIL

OUTDOOR VIEWING AREA

COVERED ENTRY/VIEWING

PHOTO/EXHIBIT DISPLAY WALLS

INDOOR VIEWING AREA

ADA ACCESSIBLE BOARDWALK TO

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM &

WETLAND-WALK

POST-INDUSTRIAL COMPOSITE WOOD PLANKS

VACANT SPACE FOR WATERCOLLECTION INFRASTRUCTURE WATERING LIVING WALL

MODULAR STEEL INSERTSFOR SUPPORT.(CONNECTIONTO PYLONS.)

BOLT/FLANGE FRAME FOR VERTICAL WALL MODULE (GLASS SHOWN)

STEEL VERTICAL SUPPORT WITH BOLT FLANGE.(CORNERSUPPORT SHOWN)

BOLT/FLANGE FRAME FOR VERTICAL WALL MODULE (GLASS SHOWN)

MODULED REINFORCEDBLAST FURNACE SLAG.

PYLON FRAME SUPPORTAND GROUND FOOTING

LOW IMPACT WETLAND BOARDWALK DETAIL

POST

RAIL

DECK

HELICAL PIER

5

INTERIOR DOWNSPOUT DIRECTS EXCESS WATER TO TANKS BELOW

GEOTHERMALLY HEATED WATER TANK

WATER SYSTEM

SOLAR POWER SYSTEM

PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL INTEGRATED GLASS WALL PANEL

ENERGY COLLECTING SOLAR BATTERY CELL

POWER OUTLETS

HVAC UNIT (UNDERFLOOR AIR SYSTEM)

IT MAY BE FRIGHTENING, BUT WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETHINK THE WAY WE BUILD. GIVEN THE MISSION OF THE CLIENT AND THEIR INTEREST IN PRESERVING NOT ONLY THE IMMEDIATE BUILDING SITE, BUT THE EARTH IN GENERAL, WE FELT THIS WAS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A CHANGE. THE PROJECT HAS THE ABILITY TO SERVE AS A SHOWCASE FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING OPTIONS AND, BEST OF ALL, THEY CAN BE USED TO BUILD FOR LONGEVITY BY THEIR EVER-CHANGING RETAIL NEIGHBORS. CHANGE IN THE RETAIL WORLD SEEMS TO BE INEVITABLE, SO WHY NOT MAKE IT EASIER? WHAT IF BIG BOXES WERE MADE UP OF SMALLER BOXES? WHAT IF WE MODULARIZED THE PIECES NEEDED TO MAKE A BIG BOX, AND WHAT IF THOSE PIECES COULD BE USED AGAIN AND AGAIN TO MAKE OTHER BIG OR SMALL BOXES? WE BEGAN TO RESEARCH THE CONCEPT OF DESIGN FOR DECONSTRUCTION (DfD).

BREAKINGDOWNTHE BOX.

BEGIN.

LOW-E VISION GLASS W/ARGON GAS AIR CAVITY

GLASS WALL WITH EMBEDDED PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS

POROUS ROOF DETAIL

CORNER DETAIL

FLAX WASTE AND PLASTER BOARD COMPOSITE WALL BOARD

STEEL STUDS

RESIN PLANTING CONTAINER MODULES

PLANTING MATERIAL

VISION GLASS

WE HAVE DESIGNED A SYSTEM OF PIECES THAT, IN THIS CASE, FORM SIMPLE PAVILIONS THAT SERVE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE VISITOR CENTER. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN PULLED APART IN ORDER TO ALLOW IT TO BE INTERRUPTED BY NATURE ITSELF. THE FLOW OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES ALLOW FOR A VARIETY OF WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THE WETLANDS. EQUAL ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO HOW THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM WORKS AS TO HOW THE NATIVE PLANTS AND WILDLIFE WILL INHABIT THE SITE. AS THE PAVILIONS ARE MADE UP OF MODULAR PIECES THAT CAN CONFORM TO CHANGING PROGRAMMATIC REQUIREMENTS, THE PLANT LIFE HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO REINVENT ITSELF WITH THE CHANGING SEASONS AS WELL.

ANENLIGHTENED

COMMUNITY

THE CONCEPT HAS BEEN USED THROUGHOUT HISTORY. THINK TEPEES. THINK IGLOOS. THINK THE POMPIDOU CENTER. THESE ARE STRUCTURES THAT WEAR THEIR SKELETONS PROUDLY. ANYONE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WERE PUT TOGETHER JUST BY LOOKING. IN ORDER TO DESIGN WITH DECONSTRUCTION IN MIND, THE PIECES HAVE TO BE MODULAR AND INTERCHANGEABLE, AND THE ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY HAVE TO BE APPARENT AND WELL PLANNED.

ANAESTHETIC

CULTURE

A

CB

D

D

E

E

F

G

I

ABC

D

EF

G

I

STORAGE/FUTURE OFFICE

D1

H

JK

H

J

K

4 VIEW FROM EXISTING WETLAND-WALK3 VIEW FROM MALL PARKING