PBL Lab: River2021 global student team - "NEXT YEAR'S SPRING" Project Evolution Story

Welcome to the 28th AEC Global Teamwork Virtual Event

Introduction and Context

• Renate Frutter introduces the event, highlighting its 26-year history at Stanford University. The focus is on global student team presentations.

• Despite COVID-19 challenges, the event continues to foster collaboration among students worldwide, emphasizing innovation in teamwork.

Acknowledgments

• Gratitude is expressed towards partners in the AEC global learning network, including faculty, industry mentors, alumni, and sponsors for their contributions.

• Special thanks are given to DDR Construction, Swingerton Builders, and HOK for their sponsorship this year. Their support has been crucial for project development amidst pandemic restrictions.

Project Challenges

• This year's challenges include sustainability (15), Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) (12), and technology focusing on parametric adaptability. Students are encouraged to develop creative solutions addressing these issues.

• The integration of emerging technologies such as AI and VR into daily practices is emphasized as a means of enhancing learning experiences during virtual collaboration.

Team River Presentation Overview

Team Introduction

• Team River consists of students from various universities across different disciplines: architecture, engineering, construction management, and financial management. They represent 16 nationalities globally.

Project Location and Hazards

• The project site is located in Weimar, Germany near the river Ilm within a UNESCO heritage area known for its historical significance but also presents hazards like flooding and strong winds that must be addressed in design plans.

Design Development Process

• Initial concepts included large cantilevers which were refined over time; a decision matrix was used to select the final concept for development based on team input from owners and stakeholders.

Historical Inspiration

• The project draws inspiration from Gerd's legacy—a German renaissance figure—aiming to bridge past influences with future innovations through sustainable design practices focused on intergenerational equity as a key principle of sustainability efforts.

Sustainable Building Practices and Intergenerational Equity

Importance of Sustainability in Construction

• The discussion emphasizes the need for social, economic, and environmental sustainability to conserve resources and maintain quality of life for current and future generations.

• A focus on low CO2 emissions is highlighted, particularly through sustainable material use. The BOM tool is utilized to assess the sustainability of materials based on their usage rather than inherent properties.

Collaboration with Educational Institutions

• The project involves a partnership with local educational institutions, specifically the engineering faculty, fostering intergenerational equity by engaging the next generation in workforce development.

• Students are encouraged to participate in pre-fabrication processes and a 10-year virtual lab initiative aimed at enhancing practical skills.

Site Orientation and Natural Resource Utilization

• The building's orientation maximizes benefits from natural elements like sunlight and wind while preserving three historic trees that provide additional shading.

• Design choices include utilizing ramped earth materials inspired by vernacular architecture to enhance site integration with natural surroundings.

Addressing Environmental Challenges

• Flood risk management is crucial due to annual flooding along the river; waterproof concrete slabs are employed alongside anti-erosion measures to protect structural integrity.

• High groundwater levels necessitated a shift from pile foundations to densely spaced micro-piles, optimizing usable space without compromising historical soil layers.

Innovative Structural Solutions

• Self-drilling hollow cross steel micro-piles are used for foundation stability without requiring extensive excavation or dewatering processes.

• The entrance design features curved load-bearing structures that regulate indoor climate while providing interactive information displays for accessibility and event scheduling.

Dynamic Architectural Design and Sustainability

Integrating Past and Future through Technology

• The design philosophy emphasizes a connection between past and future by utilizing natural elements alongside smart technology, allowing for flexible adaptations based on data collected about space usage.

Structural Dynamics and Material Choices

• A dynamic international gesture in architecture is highlighted, focusing on visual connections to the park while ensuring structural integrity with materials like shrimp earth for internal walls and CLT for panels. This choice reflects a commitment to sustainability.

Sustainability in Building Materials

• Transitioning from glue-laminated timber to pure softwood sourced from evergreen conifers enhances sustainability; although softer, it meets structural requirements while reducing global warming potential.

Load Transfer Mechanisms

• The building's load transfer system is designed systematically: gravity and lateral loads are managed through slabs, beams, columns, shear walls, and braces down to micropile foundations. Deflection measurements ensure compliance with safety standards.

Energy Efficiency Systems

• The selection of MEP systems prioritizes energy efficiency tailored to local climate conditions; ground source heat pumps work effectively with radiant flooring and chilled beam systems for optimal indoor climate control. Additionally, outdoor air systems enhance humidity management.

Innovative Learning Spaces

Student Interaction Areas

• Open student areas on level 2 promote informal interactions between students and professors, featuring spaces designed for collaboration such as the orange room with a glass roof that fosters an open-air atmosphere. VR project-based learning will occur in dedicated rooms below this level.

Faculty Office Orientation

• Faculty offices are strategically oriented northward to provide views of the park and river; overhead mixing ventilation is utilized due to lower ceiling heights in certain areas of the building layout. This design consideration enhances user experience within confined spaces.

Flexibility in Interior Design

• Interior walls made of rammed earth can be reconfigured as needed, allowing adaptability for future changes in student needs without significant structural alterations—demonstrating foresight in architectural planning.

Challenges in Structural Coordination

Managing Space Constraints

• Significant challenges arose regarding coordination between structural elements (beams) and mechanical ducts; maintaining at least 2.4 meters of clear space was prioritized during design phases to avoid conflicts that could impact usability across levels one and two.

This structured approach captures key insights from the transcript while providing timestamps for easy reference back to specific parts of the discussion.

Designing Efficient Building Structures

Beam and Duct Integration

• Beams can be penetrated effectively by cutting holes in the middle 50% of both the beam span and depth to avoid shear and moment bearing zones.

• In spaces with shallower beams, 30 cm ducts are used, while 20 cm ducts can penetrate beams; circular saws are utilized for on-site hole cutting.

• The design emphasizes visual connections between floors, enhancing accessibility to faculty offices and student areas.

Fire Safety Considerations

• The building is divided into separate fire zones, utilizing designated fire exits; fire curtains and glass doors provide secondary evacuation routes.

• Wood retains residual load-bearing capacity when exposed to fire due to a protective char layer; regulations require buildings to withstand at least 60 minutes of fire without collapsing.

Structural Design Features

• Structural elements are designed considering jarring rates and cross-section dimensions for stability as we transition from level two offices toward the auditorium area.

• Collaboration spaces throughout the building encourage spontaneous interactions among students and faculty, supported by natural daylighting.

Environmental Quality Initiatives

• The use of exposed rammed earth walls, timber framing, and CLT slabs contributes positively towards DGNB environmental quality certification points.

• Instructional labs feature small collaboration nooks; displacement ventilation is employed for effective air circulation in high-ceiling spaces.

Prefabrication Goals

• Aiming for at least 40% prefabricated components including beams, CLT panels, columns, ducts, curtain wall panels, and rammed earth walls enhances construction efficiency.

• Stability is ensured through ring beams every three meters along rammed earth walls; truss systems support large spans in auditoriums.

Green Roof Design Benefits

• The green roof serves as an extension of the park with accessible areas for users to work or relax while maintaining the park's footprint.

• Incorporating a green roof supports DGNB platinum rating goals by contributing positively to environmental quality metrics despite initial considerations for photovoltaic panels being deemed inefficient.

Weimar's Flood Risk and Green Roof Solutions

Green Roof Benefits

• The Weimar area experiences nearly a meter of annual rainfall, increasing flood risk.

• The green roof can capture and retain over 35,000 liters of stormwater, significantly reducing runoff.

• Excess water is managed through an integrated drainage layer to on-site rainwater collection tanks for filtration and reuse in processes like toilet flushing.

Cost Savings from Rainwater Collection

• Implementing rainwater collection saves over €1,200 annually in water costs.

• The green roof is accessible via a stairwell connecting to the building's exterior, enhancing user experience.

Design Decisions Impacting Energy Efficiency

Environmental Considerations

• Emphasis on low-cost buildings that also minimize energy and resource demands for users and owners.

• Key design decisions aimed at decreasing energy demand during the building's use phase were made based on sustainability targets.

Sustainable Target Value (STV) Insights

• Selection of ground source heat pumps and hydronic systems improved efficiency while passive measures like thermal mass reduced system loads eligible for economic incentives.

• STV helped track changes in carbon, energy, and water impacts as design evolved; initial high water use prompted benchmarking against other university buildings.

Material Choices and Their Environmental Impact

Rammed Earth Material Analysis

• Rammed earth was central to the design; understanding its environmental impact was crucial for decision-making.

• Utilized the Buildings and Habitats Object Model (BAUM) life cycle assessment toolkit to quantify material impacts effectively.

Data Integration for Design Optimization

• Building geometry was imported into Grasshopper using BAUM data connectors for real-time material impact analysis as designs changed.

• Evaluated multiple material options across various components leading to 576 possible combinations analyzed for global warming potential (GWP).

Key Design Decisions Based on Environmental Impact

Material Selection Outcomes

• Significant shifts included switching from steel to glulam framing due to lower GWP; further reduction achieved by opting for softwood materials later on.

Construction Challenges with Rammed Earth Walls

Prefabrication vs On-Site Construction

• Discussed feasibility of prefabricating thick curved rammed earth walls versus constructing them on-site due to flooding concerns in wet climates.

Simulation Insights

• Conducted simulations focusing on cost, delivery timelines, CO2 emissions, and energy use as key performance indicators (KPIs).

Vehicle Sizing and Topography Considerations

Key Insights on Vehicle Dimensions

• The project required accurate topographical data to determine vehicle sizing, concluding that the optimal dimensions for vehicles at the site are 10 meters in length and 2.5 meters in width.

Panelization Methods and Cost Efficiency

Performance of Different Ratios

• Various panelization methods were evaluated, with a three-to-one ratio identified as the most efficient, leading to faster construction times and reduced costs.

Prefabrication Challenges: Earth Material Costs

Focus on Formwork Optimization

• While rammed earth is inexpensive, formwork represents a significant cost. Optimizing formwork is crucial for enhancing overall process efficiency.

Design Iterations and Parametric Modeling

Development of Curved Railway Walls

• The design involved creating curved railway walls from a unified ellipse, allowing for parametric modeling where one mold could be used for multiple walls.

Efficiency Through Parametric Design

Reducing Labor Intensity

• Utilizing parametric design allows rapid iteration without physical modeling, significantly lowering labor intensity as the script evolves.

Integration of Revit and Grasshopper

Geometry Analysis Workflow

• The workflow involves extracting grid lines from Revit to build geometry in Grasshopper, optimizing it with plugins before reintegrating into Revit.

Human Scale Considerations in Design

Importance of Human-Focused Parameters

• Key parameters include ensuring panels accommodate human scale and limiting span widths for ease of transport.

Commitment to Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Targeting Intergenerational Equity

• Aiming for 70% of systems sourced from SMEs emphasizes environmental sustainability while fostering long-term equity across generations.

Sustainable Prefabrication Metrics

Joint Program Development

• A collaborative program with universities aims to explore sustainable materials beyond rammed earth while measuring outcomes through three main metrics.

Progress Towards Sustainability Goals

Current Achievements in Prefabrication

• As of now, 52% prefabrication has been achieved against a goal of 40%, with 92% building systems sourced from SMEs exceeding the target of 70%.

Supermarket Approach for Construction Logistics

Just-in-Time Delivery Strategy

• A supermarket model located five kilometers away will serve as off-site storage for prefabricated parts, facilitating just-in-time delivery to optimize logistics.

Manufacturing Tracking System Implementation

Centralized Order Management

• The use of 'manufactur' software integrates BIM models with production tracking, improving visibility into supply chain stages and productivity monitoring.

Understanding the Stages of Construction Management

Multi-Dimensional View of Supermarket Operations

• The analysis of moving and mixing stages revealed a need to increase crew numbers, emphasizing the importance of a multi-dimensional perspective in understanding supermarket operations.

• Initial iterations involved using various programs: starting with Alice for on-site activity optimization, followed by Fuser for logistics checks, and then manufacturing for procurement insights.

Iterative Process and Scheduling Challenges

• The first cycle overlooked student availability during summer and winter breaks, necessitating a repeat of the process to refine scheduling.

• During peak workflow days, multiple truck deliveries were coordinated to ensure standards were met for rammed earth construction, utilizing Bauhaus University for wall testing.

Equipment Utilization and Sustainability

• Electrically operated equipment was prioritized alongside permanent renewable energy generators to charge tools on-site, promoting sustainability in construction practices.

• The transition from conceptual design to construction involved using Alice and Fuser VDC for scheduling investigations while optimizing productivity through supply chain tracking.

AI-Driven Optimization Techniques

• Alice serves as an AI-driven schedule optimization tool that provided multiple construction sequencing options; zoning constraints were tested against unconstrained scenarios.

• Unconstrained zoning led to significant time savings (up to 50 days), prompting a focus on maximizing efficiency without strict zoning limitations.

Crew Utilization Insights

• Variations in schedules based on crew numbers highlighted assembly needs on-site; crane availability limited productivity despite increased crew sizes.

• Cost reductions were achieved by focusing on carpenter crew utilization while redistributing purchasing costs across scheduled durations from pre-construction through closeout.

Liquidity Planning's Impact on Construction Costs

Importance of Liquidity Plans

• Implementing liquidity plans significantly reduced interest payments compared to projects without such planning; this insight drove the necessity for structured financial management.

• Optimal scheduling iterations identified potential savings (e.g., €21,000 with two curtain wall crews), underscoring the value-added benefits of strategic planning.

Site Logistics Challenges

• Initial site layout setups faced challenges due to insufficient insights from 3D presentations; vehicle tracking tools aided but did not fully address site restrictions.

• Bottlenecks emerged from mobile crane relocations blocking truck access during critical phases; addressing these issues was vital for maintaining workflow efficiency.

Data Integration and Task Sequencing

• Utilizing different element IDs facilitated data integration between Alex and User systems, enhancing operational insights regarding task sequences during construction processes.

• Effective task sequencing proved crucial in identifying peak workflow days; accurate estimates indicated that 13 personnel needed outdoor presence simultaneously with material handling.

Construction Risk Management and Financial Analysis

Delivery and Logistics Planning

• The delivery of ram panels and beams requires three tracks from the left lay down area, with arrival times determined by election plan trust volume capacity and unloading rates of construction equipment.

Site Restrictions and Safety Measures

• Site restrictions were identified as barriers; a 17-meter long element was divided into three pieces for easier lifting and placement. A stormwater pollution prevention plan was also developed to protect the environment.

Risk Identification and Analysis

• Identified risks included flooding, with 15 risks categorized into avoid, transfer, mitigate, or accept. Quantitative analysis was performed using at-risk software to assess impacts on time and costs.

Contingency Planning

• For accepted risks like flooding, contingency costs were integrated into construction duration. A Monte Carlo simulation predicted a 5% cost contingency at a 90% confidence interval.

Construction Process Overview

• The construction process involved excavation, micropile boring, concrete pouring, waterproofing slabs, with cranes managing deliveries efficiently while accounting for potential flooding interruptions.

Schedule Optimization Insights

• Optimizations led to a two-month reduction in the on-site construction schedule. The project timeline is strategically planned between flood and snow seasons.

Cost Management Strategies

• Initial costs exceeded €10 million but were reduced significantly after omitting certain structural components like 3D printed slabs in favor of ramped earth walls.

Lifecycle Financial Management

• Changes during operation incur higher costs; thus financial models are crucial for future planning. The project is expected to break even within eight years with an internal rate of return of 19%.

Conclusion on Financial Viability

• Total lifecycle costs are projected at €18.1 million against a budget of €24.5 million. This includes annual contract allocations aimed at ensuring financial sustainability throughout the project's life cycle.

Team Collaboration and Project Execution

Team Dynamics and Tools Used

• The team emphasized effective communication, collaboration, and cooperation throughout the project. They utilized various software tools to facilitate these processes, involving mentors and stakeholders effectively.

• A digital planner was used for scheduling, with communication occurring over Discord and meetings held in VR as well as Zoom. This multi-platform approach enhanced team interaction.

• Miro served as an online sketching tool where ideas were visualized before moving to Revit for detailed modeling. Data was then shared via OneDrive and analyzed in Excel for accuracy checks.

BIM Execution Plan

• An early-stage BIM execution plan was created to outline collaboration strategies, detailing levels of design detail in Revit models and naming conventions for clarity.

• Clash detection was managed using Autodesk's BIM 360 tool, ensuring that potential issues were identified early in the design process.

Virtual Reality Integration

• The project included a two-part virtual reality journey: one part focused on regular stand-up reports using Medium VR to foster team bonding; the other part involved Iris VR for making design decisions by experiencing the building's layout firsthand.

• Iris VR helped identify soft clashes during walkthroughs of the building model, allowing for real-time adjustments based on physical interactions with the space.

Challenges Faced During Project

Building as a Product Challenge

• The supermarket approach was adopted to create a prefab brand kit while integrating liquidity planning with risk management strategies alongside KPIs and stakeholder commitment plans within a PPP contract framework.

Parametric Adaptability Challenge

• Tools like Dynamo, Grasshopper, Alice, and BOM were employed to transfer data from models which informed liquidity planning and material impact assessments leading to innovative designs such as curved walls parametrically generated through these tools.

Equity Challenge

• The project aimed at teaching current generations about sustainable solutions while ensuring that future generations maintain their right to good air quality through careful selection of materials that minimize negative impacts on future environments. This included avoiding harmful materials like concrete in favor of more sustainable options like wood.