Breanna Sheeler

This project was a submission to the 2018 Race to Zero Competition and was announced as one of the forty finalists which presented at the national conference in Denver, Colorado.

 

How can a school exceed established standards of net‐zero design while simultaneously adapting them to a new context? Sharswood Crossing introduces construction and mechanical systems proven in rural net‐zero projects to the urban streetscape of Philadelphia. Analysis of existing zero‐energy schools in Climate Zone 4A identified Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) structure and enclosure systems and ground-source heat exchangers as standard practices in this typology. Utilizing ICFs provides a durable envelope with a high R‐value, reducing requirements for building HVAC and providing material savings. Ground‐source heat exchange systems use the more consistent temperature of the earth to condition the building, reducing the requirement to fully heat or cool a space in order to achieve desired occupant comfort levels. The strength of Sharswood Crossing’s design and programmatic strategies radically improve the educational outlook of more than 500 students from the surrounding neighborhood.

 

The design of Sharswood Crossing combines a sensitive vernacular response with a prudent energy strategy and an efficient systems approach. The school uses Redner Street, a disused one‐way road, as an axis for the organizing strategy for its programmatic and mechanical distribution. This central spine embodies the energy of the city street, facilitating the movement and interaction of people, connections to a larger neighborhood, and distribution of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. The spine strategically organizes the building’s program and systems, thereby eliminating excessive duct and pipe runs, allowing for more efficient systems delivery, and reducing waste.

 

Design 8 - spring 2018

 

Team Members:

Kevin King, Alison Eberhardt, Ryan Allsop,

Dana Sweeney, with additional consultants