SPACE SAMPLE RETURN MASTERS PROJECT PROPOSAL

ECOLOGICAL STRATEGIESa study by: Darrell Westcott

SPACE SAMPLE RETURN

New Private Parking

New Public Parking

Clear LakeNew Service Drive

15’-0” rise in elevation begins at 200’-0” mandated blast radius around any high containment laboratory facility

Lunar Sample Laboratory

Existing Parking

Space Sample Return Facility: Synopsis

In 2001, NASA completed a feasibility study that explored the possibilities of a laboratory that would house samples returned from Mars. This facility would have a state of the art laboratory with the capability to keep the Mars samples in pristine condition with no contamination from the Earth. This type of lab would be one of a kind and used to study for the existence of life outside of this planet.

The exploration needed to go further. A lab that could one day discover life from another planet, needs to be experienced by everyone. A publicly accessible lab at this level, would be the first step in a more transparent NASA. A transparent NASA will re-capture the fascination and imagination of the world, and bring new light to the possibilities of space exploration.

Overall form is based on the movement from public to private, organic to rectilinear. Organic symbolizes the intensive public exposure and movement while the rectilinear hints at the existing building language of Johnson Space Center. It captures the interaction between public and private as a frozen expression of the movement across the visible boundary.

The space sample return facility architecture will not only create an interactive and specialized laboratory dedicated to the study and detection of life, but it will also recognize and respond to the deeper phenomenological, ontological and symbolic roles that will emerge as a result of the interaction.

Select Cut and FillThe costs associated with purchasing and transportation of new soil are avoided by utilizing on-site soil to make the 15’-0” rise in building elevation and berm boundaries.

By selectively removing soil to be used for the building gradient, a natural site retention pond is created to retain water mitigating impacts of corrosion associated with massive watershed and run-off.

Rainwater collection held in the retention pond will be used to irrigate the entire site in times of sever drought. Minimal irrigation will be required on a regular basis because the entire site will be using native vegetation. Rainwater will also be used for toilet flushing in the facility.

Location of cut and fill/ retention pond is located in what is already a drainage ditch, and a scheme can be created to avoid disturbing the existing trees.

New Private Parking

New Public Parking

Clear LakeNew Service Drive

15’-0” rise in elevation begins at 200’-0” mandated blast radius around any high containment laboratory facility

Lunar Sample Laboratory

Existing Parking

Green RoofGreen Roof over part of the public side keeps the indoor environment more insulated meaning cooler in warm weather and warmer in cold weather, ultimately reducing the cooling load. It also reduces stormwater runoff and replaces square footage of what would be roof with vegetation, reducing the heat island effect.

The green roof will also help clean air pollutants and help insulate the building for sound.

Transfer

Lobby

CafeGift Shop

Offices MechanicalRestroom

Collaboration Incubator

Education Incubator

Library

Rest-room

Offices

Classroom

Security

Security

Outdoor Space

Entry

Ticketing

Exhibition

Extraction/Cleaning

Loading

Loading

Receiving

Viewing

Sample Vault

Gamma Steril

Preliminary Examination Lab

(PEL)

Shipping/Receiving

Cleaning Sterilization Facility

Clean Storage

Cleanliness Monitoring Lab

Biological Monitoring Lab

Cabinet Training Simulation Lab

Thin Sectioning

Lab

Mechanical Room

Conference Room

Data Center

Class- room

Break-room

Storage

Rest- room

Rest- room

Lobby

Office

Office

Office

Office

Office

Office

Office

Office

Office

Office

Office

Office

Office

Office

Open Office

Class- room

Thin Sectioning

Lab

Pre-CleanLab

Pre-CleanLab

Biological Examination Lab

(BEL)

PEL Storage

Inner Change

Inner Change

StatusControl

Bio-PackDecon

Outer Change

Outer Change

Viewing

BELStorage

BELSupport

Transfer

In 2001, NASA completed a feasibility study that explored the possibilities of a laboratory that would house samples returned from Mars. This facility would have a state of the art laboratory with the capability to keep the Mars samples in pristine condition with no contamination from the Earth. This type of lab would be one of a kind and used to study for the existence of life outside of this planet.

The exploration needed to go further. A lab that could one day discover life from another planet, needs to be experienced by everyone. A publicly accessible lab at this level, would be the first step in a more transparent NASA. A transparent NASA will re-capture the fascination and imagination of the world, and bring new light to the possibilities of space exploration.

Overall form is based on the movement from public to private, organic to rectilinear. Organic symbolizes the intensive public exposure and movement while the rectilinear hints at the existing building language of Johnson Space Center. It captures the interaction between public and private as a frozen expression of the movement across the visible boundary.

The space sample return facility architecture will not only create an interactive and specialized laboratory dedicated to the study and detection of life, but it will also recognize and respond to the deeper phenomenological, ontological and symbolic roles that will emerge as a result of the interaction.

Underfloor Air Distribution System

UFAD systems rely on the natural stratification that occurs when warm air rises due to thermal buoyancy. In a UFAD design, cold, fresh air stays in the lower, occupied part of the room, while heat sources such as occupants and equipment generate thermal plumes, which carry the warm air and pollutants towards the ceiling where they are exhausted through the return air ducts. The optimal ventilation strategy controls the supply outlets to limit the mixing of supply air with room air to just below the breathing height of the space. Above this height, stratified and more polluted air is allowed to occur. The air that the occupant breathes will have a lower concentration of contaminants compared to conventional uniformly mixed systems.

Like other HVAC systems, the underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system will rely on air handling units to filter and condition air to the appropriate supply conditions so it can be delivered to the occupied zone. While overhead systems typically use ducts to distribute the air, the UFAD system will use the plenum formed by the raised floor. The plenum generally sits about 36in above the structural concrete slab, and has specially designed floor diffusers which will be used as as the supply outlets.

warm air and pollutants

air strati�cation zone

under�oor air distribution plenum

Fiber Reinforced ConcreteA material that consists of fibers mixed with concrete, is much lighter than concrete alone and very durable. The kinds of fibers used may be glass, steel, and various other natural or synthetic fibers. This compared to regular concrete, has significant lower waste, and contains more recycled content.

With the current durability concerns for our concrete infrastructure, the use of sustainable, bio-inspired fiber reinforced concrete for both new construction and repair appears highly promising. Fibers control shrinkage cracking, abate micro-cracks from coalescing and enhance ductility, toughness, impact resistance and fatigue endurance. With their high resistance to crack nucleation and growth, fibers reduce the permeability of concrete and prevent the ingress of deleterious agents thereby delaying both material degradation and steel corrosion.

Reinforcement specifically using Cem-FIL® AR fibers, will reduce the weight and thickness of the concrete by up to 10 times compared to conventional panels. They are 100 percent recyclable; and enhance building life and durability with resistance to corrosion, fire, UV light and temperature variations.

With a high albedo, the roof will not collect heat, thus reducing the heat island effect. This, in turn will not raise the temperature of the surrounding environment, and will not harm the current ecosystem.

FibreC has shown outstanding results regarding construction biology and ecology in the IBO product test:

- Fire Protection due to non-inflammable facade cladding- Product is largely made of mineral components (more than 95% of fibreC consist of sand, cement and glass fibres)- Good eco-profile during manufacturing- No adverse health or environmental effects - Problem-free waste disposal- Integration of Security, Healthy and Environment into Strategy and Quality Management- Initiatives for the implementation of intra-company environmental goals- Environmental management system ISO 14001

The IBO Certificate is considered as an approved and independent Austrian Environmental Label that recognizes products that meet strict biological and ecological criteria. It enables transparency and gives trustful decision guidance. IBO guarantees, that fibreC is a sustainable product.

The Austrian Institute for Construction Biology and Ecology awarded the IBO-Label 2007 to fibreC. The panels made of glass fibre concrete with a thickness of 8, 10 and 13 mm have been evaluated as outstanding ecological products regarding human being, buildings and environment.

Zaragoza Bridge PavillionArchitect: Zaha Hadid

FNB (Soccer City) StadiumArchitect: Populous

BibliographyFibreC by Rieder: http://www.rieder.cc

N. Banthia, “FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE FOR SUSTAINABLE AND INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE” http://www.enset-oran.dz/sbeidco/Papers/270_Paper.pdf

Todays Concrete Technology: ‘FibreC Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Panels’ http://www.todaysconcretetechnology.com/newly-redesigned-soccer-city-stadium-features-glass-fiber-reinforced-concrete-azom-com.html

Underfloor Air Distribution System: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underfloor_air_distribution