FlexSpace
selected by a closed jury as the winner of the William Ward Watkin Traveling Fellowship in Architecture

Midtown Houston is undergoing a Renaissance because of its location on the new light rail line between downtown and the Texas Medical Center and the municipal tax advantages put into place to promote development in a zone that has been abandoned and neglected for the past thirty years.

FlexSpace was conceived as a single mixed-use development project using the entire square block carved up into 10 identically-sized parcels. The parcels rest on top of a communal underground parking garage which serves the entire development and sets design limits by fixing the locations of stair and elevator cores. The site is also located directly in front of one of the light-rail stops and contains a pedestrian easement down the center to invite the pedestrian traffic along the light-rail corridor to penetrate the site. Each student in the class was assigned a site parcel on which to design and was responsible for coordination with neighboring projects. Building heights were homogenized at five stories with the understanding that building owners would live on the top floor, use the ground floor as retail space, and lease out the intermediate floors as either office or residential spaces.

FlexSpace is driven by two main concepts: modularity and energy-efficient design concepts. Click on the boxes for Presentation Text and Sustainable Principles + Techniques on the lower left for more information on these concepts.

Man and nature have been at odds with each other in Houston for a long time, which is why this building was designed from the beginning to be "sustainable." By utilizing the best benefits of modern technology and materials and the natural climatic conditions of the site, the project enhances the quality of the living and working experience in the city. It uses less energy than a typical building its size and works with the natural climate instead of shutting it out and relying on an entirely mechanical lung to filter and circulate the air. Many of the elements of the building design serve dual functions as architectural pieces as well as sustainable design choices, such as the adoption of a building setback to direct the flow of both pedestrians and air.

The setback from Main Street forms an inviting pedestrian patio for riders of the METRORail boarding or getting off at the Ensemble/ Houston Community College stop. The platform for southbound riders is directly in front of this site on Main Street and because there is no crossing in the middle of the block this southern corner has increased importance as a pedestrian entrance to the new development and the shops in the other buildings along the arcade. It provides a space for some outdoor tables for a restaurant or café and shows the Metro riders and cars that pass by something more attractive and inviting than simply a concrete sidewalk and a storefront. It serves as an open door to come and explore the entire block of shops, offices, and apartments.

Just like an open door the setback also directs the flow of air through the site - it helps funnel breezes from the south down the arcade at the center of the development, benefiting not only the site the building sits on but all the properties on the block. The existing trees do not need to be removed from the site and will provide natural shade to complement the breeze that will blow on those sitting outside along the rail to read, eat, or wait for the next train.

energy
principle: reduce energy use via both building components(on/off uses) and building systems (always on/ automated)

techniques:
*lower HVAC system workload with double-glazed low-e glass, well-insulated walls, and use of Kalwall with nanogel for translucent panels
*double skin facing the sun cuts down on HVAC costs by screening sunlight before it reaches air-conditioned space
*generate electricity via photovoltaic cells
*use of on-demand water heaters to cut energy expenditure

water
principle: reduce water usage by building occupants

techniques:
*use of low-flow faucets and bathroom fixtures
*use of on-demand water heating reduces water use

air
principles:
*provide clean air to occupants of building, free from formaldehyde and floor glue emissions
*do not contribute to exterior civic air pollution
*take advantage of prevailing natural wind patterns

techniques:
*use of bamboo flooring with low emissions of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds
*use of fly ash concrete for building structure to reuse pollutant and strengthen building
*double skin facade opens to allow airflow through the building

sun
principles:
*take advantage of natural lighting

techniques:
*use of double skin facade facing southern and western sides allows for a moderation of the sun's rays via operable awning screens