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Amaragosa Senior Center
Amaragosa Senior Center
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Amaragosa Senior Center
APTUS Architecture worked with representatives from Nye County, Nevada and the Amargosa Valley Senior Center in order to ascertain the suitability of constructing a new facility on their current parcel. In addition, we are assisting Nye County staff in identifying environmental alternatives and researching potential grants and rebates for the materials used in the design and construction of the new facility.
While exploring multiple site options and potential locations for the new structures, the team continuously worked to develop and refine the right combination of efficiency, function, and sustainability. This included the senior center expansion and surrounding activity areas, remodel of the existing structure, addition of new senior housing, a new RV park and appropriate circulation between these areas.
Through multiple public and stakeholder meetings, we were able to narrow down the location of the new senior center within the site, and then compile multiple blocking diagrams to further pursue an efficient, functional, sustainable solution. Faced with the reality of building in a remote, rural location, the project team discovered that the simplest solution could be the most appropriate one as well.
In responding to the relationships and influences, the building has been oriented to align with solar north in order to decrease heat gain to the building envelope. The thermal walls at the southern and western edges work together with this, also providing deeper recesses for self-shading windows. A covered porch was added to the south of the lobby, providing an outdoor room extending from the central gathering space and further reducing the heat gain on the building envelope.
The concept design for the new senior center is based on the four foot module of standard building products. This can provide a more efficient structural system, reduce labor cost for cutting and installation, as well as dramatically reduce the resulting construction waste. Within this module, combinations of site relationships were respected while refining the location and adjacencies of the internal functional relationships. Environmental influences, such as the summer and winter sun paths and prevailing wind directions, were overlaid on this blocking diagram to further refine the building.
Sun studies performed by the team revealed that the north face of the building, closest to the outdoor amenity areas, would be self-shaded primarily during the winter months by the building form. By pulling the dining and activity wings apart, the team was able to provide a sheltered courtyard at the center of the building. This acts as an outdoor room that permits winter sun to warm these areas, as well as provide a shaded area in the hot summer months.
Natural ventilation is encouraged to pass through the building, when the weather permits, to also reduce the load on the HVAC system and improve the internal air quality. Operable windows throughout the lobby, multipurpose room and activity rooms would be provided to increase air flow and stack ventilation. Harsh winter winds are mitigated by the combination of walls and landscaping that would act as a wind break before hitting the courtyard area.
Overall, the efficient and functional building organization combined with passive sustainable approaches are infused to provide an aesthetically pleasing structure that can grow to fit the evolving needs of the Amargosa community.
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