Download okw fays point case study, click here

[In the following pages, we will use our design for The Marina at Fays Point,
part of an ongoing residential and marina development in Blue Island Illinois, as a
Case Study.
The Marina at Fays Point is a 5,000 square foot building that celebrates both the
restoration of the natural habitat and landscape as well as the community that
surrounds it.
Composed as a pair of similar pavilions resting above the restored
bank of the Little Calumet River, the marina houses both and community center
and a restaurant, as well as boater support facilities.
Embracing the best of
sustainable design practices, the marina not only sensitively engages the site, but
it also employs advanced passive energy design as well as sustainable material
practices.
methodology
The following pages will illustrate the
and deliverables
that OKW will provide throughout the process of design and construction document
services for the Interpretive Center.]
imagine create inspire
project
definition
Fays Point is a peninsula of
fallow land between the Little
Calumet River and the Cal-Sag
Channel.
Historically used as
farmland, followed by a boat
storage and maintenance yard,
Fays Point was characterized by
fly-dumping of concrete waste,
collapsed structures, a concrete
river edge, sunken boats and
invasive plant species.
[site plan and existing conditions]
Led by Arvydas Laucius, Fays
Point
LLC,
assembled
the
property in late 2003.
In
early 2004, Fays Point LLC,
sought
and
selected
OKW
Architects for master-planning
and
architectural
design
of
the entire site, including all
residential
buildings,
marina
and site amentities.
The development of the marina
required the landscape and
habitat restoration of over 1000
ft the Little Calumet River bank,
restoration of wetland areas,
dredging of the river area, and
the placement of docks for 80
pleasure craft.
schematic
design
The schematic design began
with
the
presentation
and
analysis
of
broad
level
masterplan strategies, and the
presentation of a variety of
images of buildings, landscapes
and materials to establish a
vision, in broad terms, of the
character, "feel" and spirit of
the landscape and building.
[images for visioning exercises]
The
area
and
functional
requirements of the marina
/
community
center
were
defined thru discussion and
narrative text. OKW then began
to explore building plan and
massing strategies, presenting
initial design ideas in black
and white plan and perspective
views.
[intial concept]
[early concept 3D design modeling]
[OKW works is very adept with three dimensional cad software and use it to its
presenting variations on
maximum advantage,
design strategies to the client in multiple viewpoints and techniques.]
schematic
design
The initial plan was defined
by a linear shaped building,
perched
above
the
river
and split into two pavilions,
one housing the community
center and toilet rooms, the
other housing a restaurant.
Two dominate design themes
emerged:
A "butterfly roof"
that would shade the expansive
south facing glass areas, and
a fabric structure that would
define a gateway thru the
marina to the restored river
edge and docks.
[revised plan concept]
Site plan requirements included
parking for 100 cars, as well
as large outdoor terrace areas
facing the restored river and
dock area.
Early planning schemes were
reviewed and discussed with MEP,
structural and civil engineers,
as well as contractors.
During the schematic design
phase,
early
reports
from
the Army Corp of Engineers
came through that redefined
the "floodway" of the Little
Calumet River, necessitating an
early design change - breaking
the linear design shape of the
building to pull the structure
out of the floodway. This "fold"
in the building was embraced
as a new design theme, and
the
architectural
massing
became less symmetrical and
pure, and more fragmented
and asymmetrical.
The "fold"
in the building then became
an opportunity to create series
of stepped terraces that step
down to the river bank.
[ stepped terraces step down to the river bank ]
design
Development
Once the plan and massing
strategies for the building were
established, OKW investigated
the
design
with
a
more
focused lens, and began a
more
rigorous
coordination
of structural and mechanical
systems.
Drawings take on
the
format
of
construction
drawings in which plan and
section details are studied, and
constructability issues resolved.
Alternate
structural
systems
and materials were analyzed with water salvaged, old-growth
spruce from Alaska selected
for both the primary structure
and the roof decking, and for
its sustainable origins.
The cost/benefit of the roof
overhang as a sun shading
device for the south facing
glass was studied in detail to
assure that key exposures were
protected at the hottest times
of the day / year.
10 am
12 pm
3 pm
design
Development
Two specific design elements
were
presented
in
multiple
studies - the link between the
two pavilions was computer
modeled
in
several
modest
variations that could be shared
and discussed with the client
through email.
Likewise the
fireplace of the community room
was studied as a sculptural and
material form, presented in
three dimensional and elevation
studies.
[link studies]
[fireplace studies]
[ Because the timber frame was such an important part of the
architecture,
the detailing of the timber connections were
studied and discussed with the entire team ]
design
Development
Lighting
fixtures,
material
color and selection, as well as
furniture layout and selections
were presented and selected.
Final renderings, both computer
generated and hand drawn were
created by OKW for use by the
client in marketing and press
releases.
Throughout
the
design
development process, material
and construction cost analysis
was done, for both architectural
and MEP systems.
[site furniture studies]
construction
documentation
Construction documentation is a
seamless transition from Design
Development.
In fact, there
is no hard edge between the
two phases. Most fundamental
decisions of system coordination,
material and finish selection,
and structural and envelope
design are made during design
development.
Construction
documents focus on defining
critical
construction
and
design conditions, the scope
of all work, and performance
specifications.
While the Marina at Fays Point
is a complex building, the
construction
documents
are
a concise set of documents—
graphically very legible, well
organized,
and
rigorously
detailed.
bidding
and construction
permitting,
While
yet
to
begin
formal
construction of the building,
multiple aspects of the project
have been coordinated through
permitting and bidding. As part
of a master-plan for the site,
permits with the Army Corp of
Engineers, the Illinois EPA, as
well as the City of Blue Island
were implemented early in the
process.
Because of its special sourcing,
the salvaged old growth timber
was pre-purchased from Alaska.
OKW assisted in establishing
the scope of that purchase
and reviewing submittals and
specifications of the material.
[As part of the marina complex, OKW designed
structures
gate
for access to the docks. They are based
on the architectural design and detailing to be used for the
marina building ]