studios architecture: earthsmart hub

earthsmart hub by studios architecture image courtesy studios architecture

studios architecture designed a space that aims to encapsulate the company – earth’ smart mission. a monumental folded section serves as an organizational device for the numerous functions. the plane of the north sidewalk flows directly into the building as an entry apron, sweeps vertically 5 storeys to the roof level where it once again levels out toward the south horizon.  the animated elements hovering north of this fold are assembly spaces, which activate the street exposure.  the functions requiring larger flexible floor plates are located to the south ‘under’ the fold.  in the southwest corner, a portion of an existing masonry building will be retained to serve as a mock up for the installation of environmental products.

the central void between the north and south hemispheres is a full height atrium that is spanned by pedestrian bridges. all of the program elements open onto this central heart, which also serves as the stack effect ‘chimney’ to augment perimeter natural ventilation. the folded plane also provides a surface for two innovative sustainable elements. on the east end a landscaped garden serves as exterior seating for the ground floor café. the vegetation runs past the side entry up the sloping vertical surface and then covers most of the roof, mitigating storm water runoff and solar heat gain. on the west end, a water wall descends five stories in front of fresh air intake fans, providing low-energy evaporative cooling to the spaces opening onto the atrium.