High Rise Building in Austin, Texas

Intro to Design I
Sanjiv H-K

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
 Central Question:

How can a typical community atmosphere be incorporated into the high rise building?

A community atmosphere can be incorporated in any building if it has spaces conducive

to interacting with others. Thus, the high rise includes several “public” floors that have
maximum open space. The spaces appeal to people of all personalities and ages,
ranging from a library and a garden to a gym. Rather than grouping all the public floors
together on the lowest levels, they are dispersed throughout the building, encouraging
people from all levels to explore their habitat thoroughly.

Another challenge was to fit the building into the site itself and fit with its neighbors.
Instead of having glass walls on the bottom levels, the walls have windows with round
tops as do most of the buildings around the site. This creates a more intimate and
familiar atmosphere for people entering the building.

Precedent Research

High rises are different from typical buildings in that people share spaces as well as
systems. Structural systems reflect the increased demand: the Burj Khalifa and 432
Park Avenue Condominiums have concrete cores to resist lateral and gravitational
loads, something found in ordinary one- or two-story homes. The increased space also
lends itself to multiple uses for residential and commercial areas. Designating areas is a
major issue for business, convenience, and community atmosphere. Lastly, increased
density is a fire hazard. Careful precautions, fire code, and fireproof areas are crucial to
making a high rise safe for its users.

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
 Site
The site is at the northwest corner of Congress Avenue and 4th Street in Austin, Texas.

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
 Sketches

Initial Footprint:

Initial Massing:

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
Program Idea:

After the ideas were laid in place, the levels were formed (the lobby also accommodates
necessary mechanical rooms).

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
Ground Level Lobby:

Ground Level in Site Context:

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
Library:

Café:

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
Apartment Floor Plan:

The units were laid such that each had a view of the river (the southeastern and southwestern
views have the river while the direct south is blocked by the Austonian). Unit 1 conveniently
looks into the city park just below, but Unit 2 has more square footage. Both apartments are
connected by a single hallway that also connects two sets of fire stairs placed at opposite ends.
Lastly, the freight elevator is placed directly between the apartments, ensuring that moving
heavy objects is easy.

After the program and general architecture were developed, the structural and mechanical
systems were created.

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
Gravitational Structural System:

The system consists of circular concrete columns supporting two-way flat plat concrete slabs.
The columns were also sized according to tributary area and location on a floor plan:

Column Diameter (in)

Column Location Zone 5

Zone 1 Zone 2 (F7- Zone 3 Zone 4
(F23-
(F1-F6) F11) (F12-F16) (F17-F22)
Roof)
Center 28 25 23 19 13
Side 21 19 18 13 12
Corner 16 16 15 12 12

Lateral Structural System:

The lateral system consists of a central concrete core and concrete shear walls.

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
Mechanical System (Public Floors only):

The supply diffusers generally border on the outside walls, and the return diffusers are placed
around the inside walls. This creates a boundary of temperate air that acts as insulation from
the outside.

Revit Modeling
After the program and systems were finalized, the building was modeled in Revit. Images of the
building systems and architecture were taken from the program as visual aids. The views
produced are 30-60 plan obliques.

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
 Architecture, Structural, and Mechanical Systems

View A View B

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
 Structural Gravity System

View A View B

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
 Structural Lateral System

View A View B

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
 Structural Foundation System

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
 Mechanical System (for all climate-controlled floors)

View A View B

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas
These views show that there are many factors to consider when designing a building for
many people, and that there are many solutions of which this particular high rise is just
one. Architectural engineers aspire to create functioning buildings such that they
enhance the lives of the people inside, not just to stand stably.

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Sanjiv H-K Design I High Rise Project Austin, Texas