SENV 7006
Case Study
Spatial
As an office building in the State of Iowa Capitol Complex, the Iowa Utilities Board office of the Consumer Advocate (IUB-OCA) building is designed as two separated parts, the north wing for the State Utilities Board, while the south wing for the State’s Consumer Advocate Office. These two parts are connected by the central lobby. So the function and distribution are simple and distinct. [1]
Fig1. Location of IUB/OCA Building. [1]
Fig2. Space Relationship around the project
Sociological Needs
The IUB-OCA project is located within the State of Iowa Capitol Complex. Nowadays sustainable architecture and energy saving are in the national interest. Iowa Utilities Board is a department which regulates the electric, natural gas, water utilities, and the services of communications utilities and etc. Naturally, the IUB should be a model in energy saving.
As a gateway to the Capitol Complex at its Southeast corner, the IUB-OCA building would be the symbol and representative of the local government. So from the figure shown above, we could see that the north wing of this building directs to the Iowa Capitol Towers. At the same time, owners and designers want to prove that the challenge of elegant design and exemplary performance can be solved within limited budgets. [1]
Open Space
The IUB-OCA building is located at the cross of SE 14th Street and E Court Ave, along with the railway in the south. It can be easy to reach. Around this building, there are lots of open spaces, like the parking lot, green space. So functionally, the IUB-OCA building meets the needs.
As it is shown in the figure, the building only consumed about 1/3 of the total land. The other land was used for parking and planting. Considering the climate of this state, which often had flooding in recent years, designers designed a stormwater processing system on this site, which was used for showing the water quantity and quality control strategies for agriculture to the whole state.
Fig3. Land Use and Site Ecology
Transportation
The Capitol is a significant hub for metro transit options. For sustainable and green purpose, preferred parking is available for vanpools and alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles. Parking was also limited to the minimum allowed by the local code. At the same time, showers are provided in this building to encourage people cycling and walking. [1] All of these methods are taken for encouraging green travel and reducing the energy consumption and pollution.
Facilities
Around this site, there are Iowa Department of Human Services, Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Capitol Tours, Iowa Department of Education, Child Care Center and some memorial places. So we could see that because of the particularity of this site, the facilities near the building are unitary. Most of them are offices and not high. So the total environment is open and loose. And restricted by the amount of employees, this IUB-OCA building could not be very big.
The IUB/OCA Building
Fig4. Facilities near the site. (from Google)
Fig6. The Entry Picture of IUB/OCA Building. [1]
Fig5. The Rendering of Entry of IUB/OCA Building
The entry of building faces the parking lot, which provides convenience. At the same time, V-shape entry court has good visual direction and becomes good junction.
“We moved from a converted warehouse with very few windows and tall partitions into a daylight-enhanced building with low-partition systems furniture”. [1] This is owner’s narrative. We could see that the new partition creates a comfortable environment. So in the spatial aspect, the building is suitable for the dimensions of human. Not too huge or too small. The two long wings gives flexibility. The report shows that “a means to support efficiency and long–term growth, is articulated in a repeating bay rhythm of 21-foot-wide occupied zones separated by 4-foot side cross aisles”. [1] The modularity ensures alteration of the internal partitions in long term. At the same time, movable partition is used for different usage and provide flexibility.
Fig7. First Floor Plan. [1]
Fig8. Second Floor Plan. [1]
The building is divided into two main parts, the south one is for OCA, while the north one is for IUB. The IUB has different employees with OCA office. So from the building floor plans, we could see that the northern one is bigger than the southern one. The spatial distribution is suitable to the amount of occupants. The rectangle shape makes this building much simpler and easier to be modularized. So in the building floor plans, the layout is orderly, which makes this building become efficient and fully used. The design of junction between two parts emphasizes the importance of entry and has good function in distribution of people.
Fig9. Interior Space of IUB/OCA Building. [1]
In the color aspect, as it is shown in the interior figures, lots of light color materials and woods are used for the decoration. French windows and some other big windows are provided for the good visual performance. At the same time, the good visual performance also shows people who work inside a good sense of scale.