PRT System

PRT System

By: Lucas Shubert

This week’s blog is an excerpt from the paper I recently submitted to Transportation Research Forum titled Transportation Conditions and Solutions in Carbondale, IL. It is a case study of the operational PRT system in Masdar City.

Masdar City Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates was founded in 2006 as a commercial center with a very specific goal in mind—to develop a sustainable technology and renewable energy research center and use the knowledge it creates in its own infrastructure (Masdar City 2013). In fact, Masdar City translates from Arabic to Source City (Farussi 2011). The harsh desert climate of the region has taught many harsh lessons to its inhabitants over the centuries, one of which being that sustainable living is not a catch phrase, but a reality. It is for this reason that, even though Abu Dhabi controls eight percent of global oil reserves, it “has enough hydrocarbon reserves at current production levels to last 100 years (Masdar City 2013).” Masdar City is being developed in one of the wealthiest nations as well as in the world in an environment that rewards sustainable practices, making it a seemingly ideal technology laboratory and its development over the next decade, until 2025 according to the Khaleej Times, integral to the future of energy-related technology.

            Figure 8 shows a conceptual model for sustainable urban design, one to which Masdar City is attempting to adhere throughout its development and operation (Masdar City 2013). Each of the six inputs below must be intertwined as shown, including transportation planning and management. Perhaps the most important transportation-related fact about Masdar City is its adjacency to the Abu Dhabi International Airport. That, mixed with its focus on being a pedestrian friendly community, can possibly lead to the complete elimination of private vehicles (Masdar City 2013). Designers are following several strategies, including making “walking and self-propelled transport…the most convenient forms of transportation to many destinations within the city (Masdar City 2013).” Strategies as simple as shaded walks and pathways and as complex as electric transit systems will be integrated to this end (Masdar City 2013). The system being developed will function on a series of levels, starting with light rail and mass transit lines that connect the city itself with nearby population centers (Masdar City 2013). For easy travel within the city, studies of personal rapid transit and freight rapid transit that offer the comfort of private transportation with public transit efficiency are being conducted (Masdar City 2013).

            2getthere was selected to supply the PRT system for Masdar’s first phase, in which it connects the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (2getthere 2013). The system features 10 PRT and 2 freight rapid transit (FRT) vehicles operating underground on a 1.2 kilometer track accessing 5 stations (2getthere 2013). The vehicles are powered by lithium-phosphate batteries, with a range of as much as 60 kilometers, that are recharged when the vehicle reaches a station (2getthere 2013). Even though this system currently only serves 500 people per hour per day, eventually the city plans to have 3,000 PRT vehicles making 130,000 trips per day (2getthere 2013). A fleet of that size would not be necessary in Carbondale, but the vehicles and their operation methods could readily function there.

References

Masdar City. 2013. “About Masdar.” Last Modified 2011. Accessed January 15. http://masdarcity.ae/en/86/about-masdar.

2getthere. 2013. “Masdar PRT Application.” Last modified 2012. Accessed January 15. http://www.2getthere.eu/?page_id=10.

Farussi, Federico. 2011. “Smart Cities VS Stupid Men.” GH Network. Retrieved January 15, 2013.

Figure 8. Sustainability model for Masdar City (Masdar City 2013).

Martial Arts Facility

Martial Arts Facility

By: Kyle Miller

Architectural Program- Design a Martial Arts Facility focused on the behavior of children with ADHD

Introduction and Overview:

The Martial Arts Facility, located in Charlotte, North Carolina . The new Martial Arts Facility is to be built on the available 1.6 acre site in the urban downtown Charlotte. The facility will focus on utilizing martial arts as a way of discipline for students with disabilities, particularly, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). According to the National Survey of Children’s Health (2007), North Carolina has the highest percentage (15.6%) of children between the ages of 4-17 diagnosed with ADHD. This statistic reveals that North Carolina is need of a facility that will tend to the needs of children diagnosed with ADHD.

This project will concentrate on children that do not work well in a traditional classroom setting. These students need a more focused type of learning which includes discipline, structure, order, and routine. Martial arts will be the tool to help teach the students the skills to everyday life. This practice not only teaches the children how to be disciplined in martial arts, but it provides a solid foundation for the children to apply to other learning experiences.

The new Martial Arts Facility will provide the following benefits to the members:

-       A place to exercise the mind, body, and sprit

-       Develop the skills of martial arts, including strength, dexterity and motor skills

-       Learn the history and philosophy of martial arts

-       Develop a structured schedule that can be incorporated into their daily routines.

-       Learn the values of honor, integrity, and respect

-       Connect with other individuals that experience similar struggles

-       Learn self-discipline, self-defense, and confidence.

-       Be surrounded by an environment that is clear of clutter and chaos

The project will include one studio with visitor seating, two private studios, two classrooms, a main lobby, instructor offices, equipment and janitorial storage, and two locker rooms (men and women).

Architecture Program Descriptions:

[Studio]

The studio space within the martial arts facility will be a place for the students to practice their skills. The studio will be 1,500 square feet. The studio space should be directly connected to the main lobby, but should have doors for closure. This space will have floor mats for protection of falls during practice. Each mat should have placement dots to instruct each student where to stand during class. The material on the floor under the mats should be either carpet or wood. One wall will be comprised of mirrors for target vision and practice. Another wall should be dedicated to the martial arts flags (association flag, Korean flag, and American flag) and the picture of the Chief Instructor and the Grand Master. Along the sides of the mats there should be enough space designed for visitor seating for observation. A space of 50 square feet should be allowed for the visitor seating (about 10 seats). There should also be enough room outside the mats to allow for temporary storage of equipment during class time use. The lighting in the studio space should consist of only recessed lighting to prevent from any obstruction of practice. Windows should be located only on the sides of the studio to prevent obstructions during practice and for promotion of the association as a window front. The studio should be well lit for practice, but be able to be dimmed for performances. The ceiling should also have supports for punching bags to be clipped onto. 

[Private Studios]

A private studio will be similar to the main studio area, but smaller. This will allow for individual teaching, instructor on student. The mat area in the private studio will be a 150 square feet area. Floors under the mat area should be a carpet or wood. A table and chairs will be need alongside the mat area for discussion of students’ progress and performance. The walls will consist of a small built-in storage area for equipment and mirrors for teaching.

[Classrooms]

The classrooms will be 600 square feet. Each room will be comprised of desks and chairs all facing the front of the classroom. The front of the classroom will have smartboards for teaching. Each classroom should have windows for natural day lighting along with recessed ceiling lighting. The ceiling also should have a projector to utilize media for teaching. The floors in the classrooms should be wood or tile.

[Lobby]

The main lobby will be used to greet members and visitors. This area is essential for the organization of the association. The lobby should be 300 square feet. A desk with a computer will be needed for a receptionist to sit behind to register new students, attendance of students, a record of members, advertising of association through website, etc. A direct phone line will be needed at the desk for incoming and outgoing calls. A printer will also be needed at the desk for paperwork of incoming and existing members. A cash register will also be needed at the desk for the purchase of merchandise. Behind the desk there should be an area designed for the storage of merchandise for the students to purchase. This storage and display area for the merchandise will be 50 square feet. The lobby should also have a waiting space with a seating area. The waiting space will be 50-100 square feet. Mailboxes should be designed into the desk area for the student’s weekly information.

[Storage]

There should be two types of storage areas in the martial arts studio.

1.    Janitorial Storage: The janitorial storage should be 50 square meters. The space should include a mop sink for the use of filling up cleaning buckets. Shelving should be provided alongside the walls for the storage of chemicals and cleaning supplies. There also should be enough additional space on the floor for the storage of larger cleaning equipment such as mops and buckets.

2.    Equipment Storage: The equipment storage should be for uniforms, sparing gear, blockers, targets, weapons, punching bags, belts, shields, student’s personal items, etc. The storage should be built-in and have various organizational patterns for the different types of equipment. Some organization patterns include drawers, shelving, and closet hanging.

[Offices]

The offices should be dedicated to the instructors. Each office should be 100 square feet. A desk, chair, and computer should be included in all office spaces. Phone and internet usage should be available in each office space. Storage should also be designed for their personal items and equipment. Windows should be located in all office spaces allowing for natural lighting. Above ceiling and desk lighting should be designed into each office space. The flooring in the office spaces will consist of carpet.

[Locker Rooms]

There should be a locker room dedicated to men and women. Each individual locker room will be 500 square feet. The locker rooms should have access to bathrooms and sinks with mirrors. Lockers will be located along all walls in the locker room with bench seating in between the rows of lockers. A first aid kit should be located in each locker room. Showers will be directly linked to the locker rooms for member use after practice. A place for clean and dry towels should be provided near showers. A closed off area should be dedicated to a laundry room for the cleaning of towels. 

Orphanages in the City

Sites Pertaining to Orphanages in the City 

By: Josh Rucinski

The thesis is Orphanages in the City, and there has been a lot of hemming and hawing on where the site should be. Originally the site was to be in the United States, but there is a foster care system in the United States, that is largely broken in my opinion but is a functional juggernaut in any case. After a lot of research it could be argued that the future of orphan care in the United States may shift back to larger institutional settings like the public orphanage, but there is certainly no consensus.

The second site setting the thesis was drawn to was Haiti. There is a strong need for compassionate care of orphans in Haiti, yet there is little information to work with about Haiti. The internet is largely blank on the issue. Where is very important in architecture, the where of the project will define many aspects, from success of the program to the success of the building. Without the background information necessary to continue with Haiti, I felt the site would have been quite false as I do not know anything about the orphans themselves, nor the area they inhabit, nor is there a lot of compelling information about either online. There is a lot of antidotal information but statistics are difficult because the Haitian Government does not even have the means to perform census.

Chicago, particularly Bridgeport became the site. I did a lot of work of site analysis, but throughout the work I was largely operating with little inspiration or passion about the work. Since the programmic requirements of an orphanage requires orphans and since almost all orphans live in foster care, was I chasing a dragon? Something unreal.

Reset again, this time Egypt. I am hoping that I will be able to find a happy medium in pooling the information I've gleaned about Egyptian Orphans and apply it along with professional experience of SIU alumi to have an inspiring program.

So to recap, isn't about Ethics after all? I want to place an orphanage in the best possible place. Isn't that someplace that there is a wealth of information and yet a high need at the same time? The United States has a wealth of information, but low need. Haiti has a high need, but no information hardly. Egypt seems to have both.

ARC Printing Lab Tips

Spring Semester Jumpstart – Quigley ARC Printing Lab Tips
By: Jonathan Smith 

I would like to welcome back everyone to what I hope was a fantastic Winter break. I realized recently that this was my last official “break” away from school before I eventually graduate and move on to bigger and better things. In some ways I wish I had done something grandiose or more spectacular, but it turns out some good time with family and friends was a perfect break to get things ready for the Spring Semester. Hopefully there will be some significant updates to my personal Thesis Work in the blog articles to come.

As a lead GA in the Printing Lab, I would like to point out some tips for students to have an easier time printing in the lab and help make it easier on the Graduate Assistants working there. Below is a small list of these tips:

SOA PRINT LAB SPRING 2013 TIPS:

· Give yourself TIME to print. A good 24 hour window works miracles for crunch time to ensure that you have plenty of time to plot your project.

· Come in roughly a WEEK prior to your deadline and complete a test plot of some sort to get an idea of what your final product will be looking like.

· Make sure you have your final plot files in a common format in order to make plotting easier; ex: PDF, JPG, PNG. ETC.

· The last hour of the evening print shifts are dedicated to finishing the print queue. Don’t expect to come in twenty minutes before closing time and get a plot finished.

· Avoid relying on morning lab hours, as they are scarce this semester. The lab during the days this semester is primarily going to be dedicated to being used as a lecture lab. So students that want to get things printed during the short day hours will have a limited opportunity to do so and are at the discretion of the professor using the lab. This means that if they are lecturing and wish not to be disturbed, you will be unable to do some prints. Plan accordingly.

· If all else fails, and you are unsure, ask the Grad on duty before sending a file to a plot queue.

· If you ever need another 11x17 or 8.5x11 printer in color or black and white there is another lab that mirrors ours in the lab in Faner. It is the computer lab in Faner closest to the student center.

Keep these few things in mind, and it should help make things a lot easier in the printing lab for those who found it stressful before. Thanks and have a great beginning to the Spring Semester!

Nashville TN

Nashville, TN

By: Jabina Shrestha

Happy New Year 2013 and Welcome back everyone. I hope you all had a good break. As we all know the architecture graduate students have a big semester coming up. We all are expected to work on our Thesis project on our own time. Well, it seems this semester will be a bit lighter because we have a lot less “class” time but on the other side of the spectrum, I won’t have much free time. I for one will have to really schedule my time for thesis, other classes, GA and Lab work accordingly. 

Well, knowing all that, I had promised myself to work on thesis over the break right before the final presentation of Comprehensive Design Studio fall 2012. I was able accomplish all sets of work that was required but self satisfaction is a big thing which I was not. I could not find my work to a level of professional work. And the main reason behind it was lack of time towards the end. Of course, we had plenty of time, the whole semester. It was due to habit of "procrastination". So I decided to follow "Do it today because Tomorrow will be today tomorrow". With that note, I met my chair person, got several books to read , planned to make a schedule for the semester, do a site visit and analysis. And still, I accomplished nothing thesis-related over break. All of the time was eaten up by family and friends gatherings, visit to Nashville Tennessee, smoky mountain, Christmas parties, new year's celebrations.

Apart from all, the best part of the break is a visit that I along with my family members had made to Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville Tennessee. On the banks of the Cumberland River, Gaylord Opryland was a short drive about 20 minutes from downtown Nashville. It was first time in my life where I got chance to experience the energy and excitement of Music City. I could see the glass atrium that lied an extraordinary selection of dining, shopping and recreation options that helped to create the perfect setting for a complete getaway.

I was totally amazed to find Cascades Lobby, restaurants Solario and Ravello, lounges, water falls and The Conservatory Bar and Magnolia Guest Rooms all in one roof. As we walked by, we were astonished by the nine acres of indoor gardens, cascading waterfalls and the indoor river with its own Delta flatboats beneath our glass atriums inside the hotel. Specially during Christmas, could see millions of decorative lights decorated all over the places with animatronics in all three atriums.

Without waiting any longer went to get some information at front desk and found out that with more than 600,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, Gaylord Opryland is the largest non-gaming, in-hotel exhibition space in the world. It can handle from a large exhibition to small team building session.

There are basically 5 major areas in the hotel. First one is the Magnolia is the lobby and retail area of the hotel. Second is the Garden Conservatory. It's the first atrium constructed, and considered to be the heart of the hotel where I saw a wedding ceremony happening near the Lionhead Fountain and Crystal Gazebo. Next is the Cascades which is the second atrium constructed. It features the Cascades American Café as well as Wasabi (a Japanese sushi restaurant) which had really good food, and the hotel's largest beautiful waterfalls. Delta, it is the third and largest atrium constructed which is the main center of activity. The largest convention area in the Tennessee is the Convention Center with three main exhibit areas and five ballrooms.

Apart from all excitements and good experience, I found out too confusing to navigate from one area to another and to link them. I found out that it is due to its continued expansion, the hotel does not have a universal structure layout. But I suggest everyone to make a visit to Gaylord Opryland hotel at least once in their life to see how one can make use of space and create a different world that we can imagine to have it all under one roof.

The Village at Penn State

The Village at Penn State: A Case Study for University Affiliated Retirement Communities

By: Colleen O’Malley

Campus living is not only for young teens anymore. There is a growing number in retirees residing to university-linked retirement communities because they offer a sense of home, easy living, access to classes, and university facilities, and health services. Penn State is one example out of the 23 universities directly linked to a retirement community.

In 1995, alumni expressed to Dr. Graham Spanier, President of Penn State University, an interest in returning to the university because they understood the area had multiple opportunities in education and culture which created a vibrant environment. It was clear that the alumni are attracted to a small town atmosphere and the stimulation of university life.

Bringing back the alumni for retirement not only allows for endless opportunities for the retirees but for the universities. Creating a connection between retired alumni and the university allows for the reservoir of knowledge the retirees possess be shared among the community. Dr. Spanier envisioned residents would contribute to the university with volunteer hours, mentoring students and teaching lectures. Additionally, nurturing and strengthening the relationship between the alumni and the university allows for potential opportunity to enhance alumni giving.

Retired alumni also reap many benefits from the connection to the university. At Penn State these benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Attend classes free on a space-s available basis.
• Enjoy priority access to Penn State football and basketball tickets.
• Receive advance opportunity to attend events in the Bryce Jordan Center and the Center for Performing Arts.
• Take part in University cultural and educational seminars.
• Take lessons in golf, swimming, tennis and more from college athletes.
• Contribute to campus life as a mentor, project assistant, or many other ways.
• Use University tennis courts and Natatorium.
• Golf on the Penn State courses at reduced rates.
• Scoop up Penn State Creamery ice cream at the on-site Village Creamery.
• Simply enjoy the stimulating University atmosphere.

Overall, university-linked retirement communities create multiple benefits for both retirees and universities. Dr. Spanier’s vision was to create a vehicle through which aging alumni and the Penn State University community could engage one another in a mutually beneficial relationship and discover synergies.  Today, Dr. Spanier’s vision is a reality. The Village at Penn State took eight years to develop and is now located on University-owned land within eyesight of the campus. The Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) totals approximately 240 units of independent living apartments, cottages, assisted living units and skilled nursing units at full build-out.

http://www.villageatpennstate.org/index.html

The Importance of Site Visits

The Importance of Site Visits
By: Chris Pacanowski

        When doing any type of projects location is key. Location grounds the whole project and can also make the project better or worse depending on how you design to the location. When looking at a site to pick for a project the thing to look at is the surroundings, races, economy in the area, what types of benefits does the area hold, and safety. When researching these factors you can only go so far when looking on the internet. You can find all of the climatic, race, and economic data, but one very important factor is missed. Does the area work? When going on a site visit you analyze the area for function, and how the area is being used. Is there a specific area of the site that has more traffic flow and would be bad for living, but good for businesses? what types of noises are at the site, that could also help you decide what to put there. are there parks already there, and are they being utilized? all of these questions should be answered on a initial site visit.

        With my thesis project I had done a site visit over break looking at all of those type of factors to see if this location is a good location for my project. After looking at all factors and the surrounding area i came to the conclusion that this area is perfect for what I want to do with this project. The key things that I had noticed that had helped me decide that were the great opportunities to mix residential and business together into one cohesive area. another thing that was great was the combination of residential areas. they had high-rise residential, college housing, and town home type houses in the area, giving a variety of building types to work with. Many of these things would have only found out by visiting the site showing how visiting sites can kick start a project and begin to build the program of the project.