Make It Real III

Here we are ! The final challenge, game plan. We will see how my vision of the james develin’s gym could be built. We will see differents aspects of construction like the construction plan, the budget and the raw materials. After the architect and ingeneer vision we need to know how and where the building will take place. I hope that my vision is enough clear and that my illustrations to explain it are well choosen.

Explain the game plan is a difficult task because it concerned lots of differents trades and we must focus on several important points. To show my vision, I’ve take the decision to illustrate a work meeting between differents actors of the game plan. Indeed you can see all the people around table. They will explain there roles in the construction and there research. Thanks to that we will clearly inderstand important points.

Lawyer in the building industry: the building industry is governed by many rules which must be observed to carry out construction. First of all here we need to have a building permit which will be requested to start work. We then have to set up a safety device that meets different standards on the site.

Environmental engineer: In addition, standards must be respected so that the building does not consume too much. Here my role is to develop renewable energies and to ensure that there is no pollution during construction, so as to always be respectful of the environment and to build a building that is sustainable over time.

James Develin particulary wants to put the gym in Conshohocken. He lived in this city in the off season throuhout his nfl career and he knows wheel this town. All of the major highways converge here. It's 15 from downtown Philadalphia

So I chose this place which is close to conshohocken and which is surrounded by nature. This location is easy to access, so I chose it for the construction of the building.

Site preparer: for the site to go smoothly, it is important to prepare it well and to delimit each zone.

We have the construction area marked with small red and white signs. Then we have the delivery area and the one to store deliveries if they have to wait before being assembled. We also have the containers in which the site manager and engineers work. Another is set up for the good condition of the workers. Finally, it is important to indicate that the site is closed to the public and that you must be equipped to enter the site.
Environmental engineer: when preparing the site, it is important to be sensitive to the environment, if measures are taken right from the start, the site will go well. Several measures are therefore put in place
- half-day training to raise awareness of workers on environmental issues. They will then be explained the right gestures without giving orders or constraints simply by reminding them of the impact of simple gestures.
- installation of garbage cans on the site which can be used by workers and a tank isolated from the earth so that chemicals do not pollute the soil.
- low-polluting equipment for the construction of the site

Covid prevention: workers are made aware of barrier gestures and frost is offered to them. If they are working nearby, then it is necessary that they wear a mask.

Here is my turn! I am the architect leading the project. My different choices in terms of design and layouts are presented by participation in the first competition.

To present the construction of the gym, a virtual model is effective. But to realize the building in reality and its layout, nothing is better than to visualize it in reality. So I made this model using foam. It took me a long time, but I was able to understand the difficulties of building this room and its complexity. The connection in particular between the wall and the decorative wooden planks. Or the loads on the walls so that the floor does not collapse. We can see from this model that harmony and connection with nature works well. Finally, it will provide a spatial understanding of the problems to be faced. This model is not complete because I did not have time to finish it but I intend to finish it by adding the elements inside the buildings and the plants outside.

Construction engineer: Once the site is installed, prepared and secured, the work must begin. For that we start with the foundations. They are very important because the whole edifice rests on them. A building with a solid foundation can last for hundreds of years. The foundations depend on several things. The most important thing is where the building is built. The lands are not the same in Pennsylvania as in Arizona, for example. Some soils are wetter than others and require more foundation.

You can see from the map that nationwide in Pennsylvania the ground is forest ground. So we start by installing a layer of foam so as not to have any moisture problems, and to improve insulation. Concrete slabs are then poured.

The setting up of these foundations will take about a month and a half.

Architect: we have seen and can see on the model the presence of swimming pools which allow athletes to relax and get back in shape physically. These swimming pools are all three in the same room and their construction begins quickly in connection with the foundations.

Construction engineer: indeed the installation of the swimming pools is done quickly because they are part of the foundations. When we make the foundations, we leave a hole to build the swimming pools. It is also necessary to find the location of the technical room of the swimming pool. A system of pipes is designed between the swimming pools and the room in order to then put a waterproof coating in the holes. Once the filtration system is in place, all that remains is to fill the pools with water.

Environmental engineer: to improve the energy performance of the building, the choice was made to install a water recovery tank in order to supply the building with water for washing or toilets in particular.

Construction engineer: the building requires a large amount of water and therefore the installation of a large tank buried underground for maximum performance. At the same time as the foundations, we therefore dig a hole in order to place a 5000 liter tank. We also place the pump that will raise the water and we can see the two water inlet and outlet pipes that will be connected to the roof

Materials Engineer: Now we need to start building the building. For the walls we have chosen to use non-transparent glass, glass on which a layer has been applied so that it is opaque. This choice was made to let the light pass inside the building. We then have the wooden cladding for the design.

Construction engineer: the method here is pre-fabricated, this allows for quick and easier construction. The different glass parts will be built by a company and not on the site. These glass pieces will be transported to the construction site and assembled directly on the site. This helps reduce construction time. Indeed the order can be made now and while the walls are designed we can prepare the site.

covid protection: the pre-fabricated method means that workers do not cross paths because the installation company is only present on the site, not the construction company.

Architect: to recall nature on the facade of the building, an assembly of wooden planks is placed horizontally on the facade of the building. Large pots with plants are installed and give the impression of a green facade.

Construction engineer: like glass parts, wood parts are built outside the site and are transported once the glass walls have been assembled and put in place. Some parts of glasses have holes as can be seen in the previous step. This makes it possible to pass a piece of metal to which each wooden part will be fixed.

Once the walls are in place we can move on to the partitions. These are made of wood that is assembled on the job site and placed in the right place. The partitions between the office and the conference room are flexible to be able to enlarge the meeting room.

The partitions in red are different because they are load-bearing walls for the roof.

Architect: once the structure of the first building has been created, we must add a roof to them. The roof of the main building will accommodate a second floor while the roof of the second a green roof or a vegetable garden. The first must therefore be resistant to a large load while the second to the weight only of the earth or men.

Construction engineer: for the main building we have to build some thicker partitions. They will support the weight of the second floor. We therefore choose the partitions in red on the image . These partitions are made of concrete and thicker. Once these partitions are built, the roof can also be made of concrete.

Architect: at the edge of the second building a large glassworks allows light to enter the building and the futuristic design of this large glass space shows the peculiarity of this unique.

Construction engineer: most of the glass is not manufactured on the site but before. They are set up within a metal structure and the concrete roof.

Architect: another particularity of this place, access to the swimming pools is via a "lazy river". The changed person settles in this water tube which then directs them peacefully towards the second building. Access for people with reduced mobility is installed, it consists of a tunnel leading directly to the swimming pools. They can also be borrowed by people who do not wish to go through the tubes. We make two tubes and two tunnels so that people do not cross each other and this therefore makes it possible to respect barrier gestures.

Construction Engineer: These tubes are tubes () like water attraction tubes. They are in several parts, two straight parts that connect to the building and the curved part. These parts are built to the correct size off the job site. On delivery, these different parts are securely fixed with large screws and large bolts. The tube is inserted into the building through a hole provided for this purpose, it is fixed and a membrane is placed between the tube and the walls of the building so that there is no water or air leakage.

The tunnels are also checked and secured together in the same way. They have no water inside they only allow a passage on foot to get to the swimming pools.

Architect: to recall a peaceful temple, it was decided to put large pillars around the building supporting a structure leading to the second roof.

Construction engineer: these pylons are made of concrete and are wide because they have to support a structure. They are built directly on the site

To design a staircase we use Blondel's formula, developed by the mathematician of the same name. This relationship makes it possible to build a staircase that is pleasant to climb. In this relationship twice the height of the step (rise) added with the tread (going) should give a result between 60 and 65 cm (1.9-2.15 ft).

Here we therefore set up treads of 25 cm (0.8 ft) and a rise of 18 cm (0.6 ft). 2x18 + 25 = 61 cm (2x0.6 + 0.8 = 2 ft) we are therefore in the right proportion and our staircase will be Grenoble to climb, neither too steep nor too horizontal. We therefore create this wooden staircase with twelve steps and a second in the other direction of twelve steps to optimize floor space.

The elevator :

Construction engineer: after the stairs, an elevator is set up to allow access to the gym for as many people as possible. To put an elevator, we create a “cage” in which the nacelle will move and then we build the nacelle.

Architect: the second floor is the main part of the building, the sports hall equipped with its machines and the various sports spaces. This space is made up of large windows to provide maximum light and to be able to circulate air.

Construction engineer: each wall and the wave are made of wood and are created outside the site. Once again, this saves time on the site. These walls are directly assembled between them on the site and this can be done in a single day. The next day we put all the windows. This time makes it possible to arrange the equipment and put the structure on them the same day.

PLUMBING NETWORK

Construction engineer: we can see in the first image the installation of the plumbing network. This network goes first through the city network. This water then goes through the plumbing networks to the sinks in the building, those of the toilets but also to the massage room which has a water inlet. Another network arrives from the network from the city but passes through the water heating panels to then go to the showers. Finally, a third network comes from the water collection tank (the city network takes over if the tank is empty) and ends in the toilets and in a sink next to do the housework. It also leads to a watering tome for the many plants.

ELECTRICAL NETWORK

The electricity grid is simpler but goes to more places. Electricity comes from solar panels and if they are not enough, a generator takes over. Networks extend to all rooms and also to the second floor. The cables then lead to low consumption lamps.

VENTILATION

Construction engineer: the equipment of the first floor, the ring, the machines etc. are installed at the location of the second floor before it is assembled and in the same day the walls are assembled and the equipment can be assembled after that.

The ground floor equipment is also set up going directly through the entrance. So we have the furniture, sinks, toilets, lockers, showers, chairs and computer equipment.

Architects: For the ground floor we saw that the furniture is quality furniture built nearby. This allows for a durable and environmentally friendly material.

DETAILED EQUIPMENT

ENTRANCE: reception with a large display, several chairs to be able to wait and passages for people who come to the room.

OFFICE OF THE MANAGER AND FOR MEETINGS: good quality chair to be able to spend time there, large desk and two chairs for meetings.

MEETING ROOM: small desk, around 10 chairs, a video projector and a protective screen.

MASSAGE ROOM: two massage beds and massage equipment.

TOILETS: 2 toilets and 2 sinks.

CHANGING ROOMS: 4 changing cabins and 4 showers including 2 cabins and 2 showers adapted for people with reduced mobility. Locker that opens from both sides with keys.

TOP DIRT: 5 running lugs, 2 weight training chairs. Shelves with weight. Cage for street workout. Box ring and boxing equipment. Benches, bins and lockers for the upper locker rooms.

STADE INDOOR: synthetic grass covering and two small goals. Equipment for training different exercises (cups for example)

Environmental engineer: it was decided to set up a network of solar panels on the roof of the building to supply it with energy.

In addition, the surface on the roof of the second building can be used to set up a green roof which saves on consumption and makes the landscape even more vegetal.

Construction engineer: As we saw during the second competition, the solar panels are placed in a place where they receive sunlight all day. They are therefore installed there in the right direction.

To create a green roof, you must first apply an insulating layer on the roof, then apply a drainage for water, a substrate in which the roots of the plants will develop and finally put the plants on this substrate.

Architect: the strong link with nature goes through the installation of numerous plants in the heart of the building. They are found on the face, on the roof of the first building and also at the entrance to the building.

Environmental engineer: the installation of a plant allows the flora to develop. In fact, when we build a building we greatly reduce the flora at the place of construction because we concrete the space and the plants can no longer grow. Here we are therefore trying to reintroduce plants as much as possible.

We can see here the overall schedule broken down into months. Construction should be able to be completed in less than a year. Of course you also need the time to build the elements. There are therefore six months before during which the elements are under construction and the site does not start immediately.

Responsible for the budget:

We are going to tackle the budget here, this notion is very approximate and is based on a lot of research on buildings already built.

For the foundations we have to develop about 300m3 of concrete and the concrete costs $ 120. We therefore have a budget of $ 36,000 for foundations.

The pools will cost $ 90,000, the price is explained by the complexity of the pipes, the different pools and the showers. A filtration system is also in place and the access tubes are included in this price.

the water collector costs $ 5,000 because the tank is large.

Then the price for the walls includes glass walls, wood siding and partitions. We can put in about $ 100,000 for the first building and $ 60,000 for the second, which is smaller.

We now move on to the various load-bearing walls and the roofs of the buildings. So we have several concrete structures as well as the glass structure of the second building. So it will cost $ 200,000

We add $ 25,000 for other concrete parts such as pylons.

For the second floor, we will count $ 60,000 for the 4 walls and the glass doors.

For the stairs and the elevator we will count $ 30,000

The numerous equipments are then put in place. Given the quality equipment used, we count $ 50,000

The solar panels and the green roof will cost together $ 40,000

Finally the plants will cost $ 5,000 for the many spaces to vegetate and the establishment of quality and sustainable plants.

That gives us a total of around $ 700,000. It only corresponds to the construction itself.

I hope you enjoyed it. I really enjoyed participating in these competitions which taught me a lot of things. I would like to get in touch with James if he wants to show him the progress of the model and discuss. I can tell him about a folder made for the gym design and even send him a hard copy