Echo Lake Residence
General Process
This was a pretty standard design process. We worked with the client from the onset of the project to establish the program, assess the site, and establish performance goals. Once the house was under construction, we continued to work with the owner and selected general contractor to revise and refine details where the builder had preferences other than what was drawn and/or specified.
Design for Adaptability: The house is essentially a clear-spanned box, so interior arrangement of spaces is completely adaptable in the future without having to make significant structural alterations.
Software Tools
Software Tools: Autocad was used to generate the construction drawings.
General modeling information: REM Rate was used to model the building and estimate design loads.
Lessons Learned
Outcome of project goals: I think the house generally met expectations for aesthetics and performance. There were a few glitches though.
The tilt-turn windows were a bit of a disappointment. They preclude putting anything on the nice deep window sills (they were installed as "outies") if you are going to use the in-swing function. Also, there is no restraint capability on that in-swing function, so in effect, if they are open they are "swinging in the breeze".
Also, the owner requested that the attached garage be well insulated and heated to 40 degrees in the winters with a ceiling mounted unit heater. We went so far as to devise a more weather tight overhead door track assembly. As a result, the garage was warm enough to melt the snow off the cars, but the exterior temperature was well below freezing, so the frost build-up on every wall, window, and door surface was substantial.
Discrepancies: The energy model and the monitored performance of the house were quite similar.
General Process
This was a pretty standard design process. We worked with the client from the onset of the project to establish the program, assess the site, and establish performance goals. Once the house was under construction, we continued to work with the owner and selected general contractor to revise and refine details where the builder had preferences other than what was drawn and/or specified.
The house is essentially a clear-spanned box, so interior arrangement of spaces is completely adaptable in the future without having to make significant structural alterations.
Software Tools
Autocad was used to generate the construction drawings.
REM Rate was used to model the building and estimate design loads.
Lessons Learned
I think the house generally met expectations for aesthetics and performance. There were a few glitches though.
The tilt-turn windows were a bit of a disappointment. They preclude putting anything on the nice deep window sills (they were installed as "outies") if you are going to use the in-swing function. Also, there is no restraint capability on that in-swing function, so in effect, if they are open they are "swinging in the breeze".
Also, the owner requested that the attached garage be well insulated and heated to 40 degrees in the winters with a ceiling mounted unit heater. We went so far as to devise a more weather tight overhead door track assembly. As a result, the garage was warm enough to melt the snow off the cars, but the exterior temperature was well below freezing, so the frost build-up on every wall, window, and door surface was substantial.
The energy model and the monitored performance of the house were quite similar.