Week 13 marked a pivotal moment in our DesignBuild Program journey. On May 6th, we stepped into the Olver Design Building Presentation Hall, ready to showcase the work we have refined since we chose the direction of our project at the Midterm Review.

Although we did not spend as mush time practicing the presentation as we ideally would have liked, we managed to get the slides put together in the order of who would be in charge of what section of the presentation. This way, each team member got an opportunity to speak in front of our critics.

The presentation was began with the Site Team presenting the site context, location, site design, and plantings. We then moved to the Floor Plan and Elevations Team, where they walked us through the layout of the interior design and explained the how the building’s porch was added to the front of the house in order to provide protection from the elements — appreciated by our future occupants. the Interiors Team was up next, followed by the Building Sections Team. That completed the ‘build aspect’ of our project. 

Since we had the goal of making the Eighth Sister as efficient as possible, Asher Thomas took charge of the Energy Modeling Results and spoke to our critics about the International Energy Conservation Code from 2021 versus 2024. Through a series of graphs we are able to see how the evolving code has substantially improved the building energy efficiency. Last up was the Carbon Team who demonstrated totals related to CO2e emissions, carbon storage, and finally net emissions; emphasizing materials choices for the projects and the impact on net emissions that these selections, plus or minus, created.

At the conclusion of the presentation we were able to gather around the architectural model of the site with the 8th Sister in place. We reiterated to our guests how the house will interact with its surroundings, how the house will be laid out on the site, and where a potential addition could be added to the Eighth Sister.

That week ended with us submitting our final drawing sets to be reviewed and approved for the Build aspect of the DesignBuild Program. We ended our last class together on an exciting note by receiving our tools and hard hats.

We all are ready to start building the 8th Sister!

Week 12 is here and it is the last week before our final presentation. All of Monday was another full class review where each team gathered around the central table to go over everyone’s most recent changes to the construction documents. The Energy team presented for the first time to explain how the 2021-2024 International Energy Conservation Code changes have significantly increased energy efficiency in buildings. We learned how just a change in code can create such a big difference in energy usage and costs!

Next the Carbon Accounting team presented their findings on the carbon emissions of all the building materials we will use in the house and compared it to last year’s build. The main goal is to reduce as much carbon emissions as possible! This step is important in comparing different materials and choosing the most responsible and planet-friendly options.

We also heard from the Systems team for the first time where they presented the electrical and plumbing plans. There was some debate on lighting placement in the bedroom and whether uplighting or overhead light is most appropriate for a sleeping environment and after some group deliberation we decided to place two wall sconces on either side of the bed and one central overhead ceiling light. By the end of Monday, we had finalized most of the design and systems of the house and all that is left is to prepare the final presentation for next week.

Wednesday was a full workday where everybody took advantage of the studio time to consult with the professors and each other and ask questions to make sure the whole class was on the same page. It is crucial that we keep communicating with one another to produce accurate and consistent documents. We ended class by going over the requirements for the slideshow presentation and the printed boards and construction documents for Monday. One thing is for sure, while the design has come a long way, there is still much more to do!

Since the deadline is almost here and everybody is in overdrive working to produce the final drawings, renders, construction documents, and physical models, the studio is busier than ever during the weekend. The Interiors team took a trip to solicit material donations and stopped by EcoBuilding Bargains to search for any recycled building materials that we could use.

On Sunday evening we decided to meet as a full 12-person group for the first time out of class to practice the final presentation together. While nerves are high, we are very excited to get to present our work and see the final product come together!

More on the Presentation to come but here is a sample —- The Structural Model.

Monday: Group Progress Presentations

Week 11 started with our usual Monday and Wednesday schedule. This week, the group were tasked with presenting each team’s progress. For Design Build 2024, this year’s group of consists of 12 interdisciplinary students. Each student was then put onto two different teams, allowing for 8 different teams! These teams include: Site Plan, Floor Plan, Exterior Elevations, Structure, Sections, Mechanical Electrical Plumbing (MEP) andHeating Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC), Energy Model, Carbon Model

During the presentations, drawings were presented and discussed, allowing for teams to receive feedback on their documents and guidance on how to revise their work.

What became apparent throughout our group presentations was the need of collaboration between teams. Several team’s decisions relied on other team’s choices, making this process a challenging group effort to remain on the same page.

Wednesday Work Day

Coming back to studio on Wednesday, DesignBuild started off with useful insight from Professor Mike Davidsohn from the Landscape Architecture Department. Professor Davidson help our Site Team to create a welcoming outdoor area in the front lawn. Suggestions were made so that the families within the adjacent building complex (which have no private yard) would have the opportunity to enjoy several spots around a more park like landscape.

While the site team was occupied, the rest of the group began their work time faculty was working closely with teams to ensure that all questions were answered and decisions arrived at. Since students were involved in two teams, the classroom got very busy with multiple discussions on multiple topics.

One of the most important tasks of the day was completing the Window Schedule for Pella! With the lead time reaching well into the Summer, we had to put the order in to ensure we were on track for the Summer Build. With a few final revisions, the group was able to come to a consensus and we were able to complete the order.

Eventually, the Site Team returned from meeting with Prof. Davidson and met to review the suggested changes to the design. For starters, the floor plan got flipped, due to the revised parking requirements. The parking needed to be moved to the opposite end of the home, resulting in a mirrored version! Additionally, there was the need to shrink the floor plan slightly caused by the addition of a vented drip edge at the roof termination along the North and South Elevations which still needed to adhere to the 16′ wide transportation requirements. We were then up to date and moving forward!

The tenth week of the DesignBuild was unlike any other week, starting off with a rare event, a total solar eclipse, at 3:27pm on Monday. The eclipse was visible from three surrounding states: Vermont; New Hampshire; and New York, so we were given an optional class day for an opportunity to watch it. Picking up a free pair of eclipse glasses from UMass, I drove north to Rock River in Vermont where I watched the eclipse while listening to the water flow and admiring nature. Watching how the moon slowly began to cover the sun and then eventually turning everything momentarily dark, was an eye-opening experience and a humble break from the work rhythm of the studio.

On Wednesday we were back in class as usual, beginning the day with an in-detailed conversation about energy modelling led by Mark Rosenbaum. Using his proprietary spreadsheet, we went over the whole process for calculating the net energy consumption of a house by unpacking the different variable and constant components that play a role in the energy cycle of a home. Analyzing energy systems is essential in designing net zero architecture and hence minimizing the impact of the build on our environment.

While on one hand, there is a huge responsibility to build net positive buildings, on the other hand, few of us understood and had been exposed to the application of energy calculations in the built environment. As such, this conversation involving all working groups (not just the team responsible for energy modelling) was extremely insightful and necessary to all of our careers.

To wrap up the week we delved deeper into the structure and envelope of the home with a group discussion led by Professor Kent Hicks finalizing unclear components: the type of insulation, roof and floor trusses, as well as roof type. Through this we were finally able to identify the effects of the loads of each component in the assembly, the connections between wall to roof and wall to floor, and the vapor barrier wrapping the whole structure. Understanding the assembly of a home is essential for ensuring protection from the external natural elements, home efficiency, thermal transmissions and comfort, as well as durability of a home.

Unlike what we had initially planned, a generous donation of wood fiber batt insulation led us to abandon the choice to use a densely packed cellulose wall. Both having the same resistance to heat flow, simultaneously sequestering carbon, and having similar application processes. The switch in insulations was relatively effortless requiring few changes at this stage. Moreover, we were also able to use a physical model of a double 2×4 dense packed cellulose high performance wall to rapidly understand and study the wood batt assembly. The specificity of studying a constructed wall with manufactured materials was insightful and helped bridge the gap between theory and application.

Furthermore, to go with the double pitch offset gable roof of the design, we learned about a unique solution involving the implementation of two different types of trusses, both sets designed to accommodate their appropriate roof slope and load. Through the process of understanding the trusses, we were introduced to truss technical drawings and important measurements assigned to each truss including the deflection and snow load, to ensure that the structure of the trusses is strong enough to withstand the code required parameters. The design and construction of the trusses is undertaken by UFP Site Built under the auspices of Brian Tetreault and is vital to preserve the structural durability of the home and protect the safety of its inhabitants.

Lastly, we identified the continuous air barrier around the building envelope created by a thick layer of Zip sheathing. Moreover, this sheathing also aids in stabilizing and aligning the connections of the whole structure. This discussion was critical for deviating from the conventional uses of each material and instead, identifying its properties and thus, its role in the assembly.

The discussion was extremely specific to our design, bridging the gap between building science theory and actual application; simultaneously taking us through the thinking process of the assembly, from component to component to understand how exactly they are interacting. Next, we take on the challenge of designing aesthetic protection for insects to keep our walls healthy for as long as possible!

This week, we have been immersed in a whirlwind of educational design activities that have both challenged and expanded our understanding of sustainable construction. From technical lectures to hands-on tutorials, the journey has been inspiring.Mechanical Systems: Backbone of Sustainable Construction

Our week kicked off with an engaging lecture on Mechanical Systems by Professor L. Carl Fiocchi. Mechanical systems are part of the backbone of any building, ensuring occupant comfort, functionality, and efficiency. Professor Fiocchi’s expertise stood out as he explained the intricacies of integrating these systems into sustainable design. His emphasis on the importance of achieving energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints resonated with the team, as we prepare to apply these principles in our UMDB Project.

Professor Naomi Darling brought us another invaluable Autodesk AutoCAD tutorial. As we dove into the design software’s capabilities, we learned how to translate our ideas into precise digital representations for inclusion in our construction documents. With xrefs in AutoCAD, the linking of drawings to one another keeps everyone in the loop on changes and updates and allows teams to work on linked drawings without conflicting with one another. Professor Darling’s approach has empowered us to create a comprehensive document flow with our detailed plans, sections, and elevations for our project.

Design Finalization: Turning Visions into Drawings

The latter part of the week was dedicated to finalizing our designs and setting up our working groups for the project. This phase was a testament to our growth in developing concept designs for small homes, as we refine our schematic design, and Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) System selections into practical, buildable plans. Instructor desk critiques provided constructive feedback, pushing us to consider every aspect of our designs – in this design challenge it is incredible to see how important inches matter.

Carbon Modeling Workshop: Climate Responsibility

Finally, we wrapped up the week with a workshop on Carbon Modeling led by Diana Brito Picciotto. This session was particularly eye-opening, as we explored the tools and techniques for assessing the carbon impact of our designs. Understanding the carbon footprint of building materials and construction methods is crucial in our quest to create environmentally responsible architecture.

Reflections and Looking Ahead

As we reflect on this week’s activities, it is clear that the UMDB Program is not just about designing and constructing buildings; it is about constructing a better future. Each lecture, tutorial, and workshop brings our team closer to becoming architects and builders who can make a tangible difference in the fight against climate change.

As we look forward to the remainder of the semester, we are excited to continue this journey of learning and discovery. With the foundation laid this week, we’re ready to tackle the challenges ahead as a team and contribute to a more sustainable world, one building at a time.