Collaborations and Consultation

 

ArcS provides strategic consulting services for clients on projects around the world. We have consulted on complex and specialized architectural solutions to master planning and infrastructure projects

 

These studies described here were directed by Steve Chucovich, Principal of ArcS while working as Design Manager with BuroHappold Engineering between 2010 and 2015. Much of the work that was done during that period was high level consulting for projects in extreme and complex environments.

 

Working as an architect within a non-traditional engineering environment created the opportunity to draw upon knowledge (sometimes esoteric knowledge) and expertise not normally easily accessed within the practice of architecture. The ability to leverage this knowledge and integrative thinking is bringing new tools to the practice of design that will add great value to future work.

 

 

New Doha International Airport Master Plan Competition

Doha, Qatar 2010

(Leveraged systems approach to raising the performance of infrastructure within the desert urban environment)

 

The task was to orchestrate and deliver a firm-wide effort in the support of Morphosis Architects vision. This work was focused in three general tasks.

• Market analysis of the program as proposed by the government demonstrating than interim solutions should be studied.

• The development of a comprehensive synergistic systems plan to develop a high level environmental performance maximizing use on the site. By using new and proposed program and systems related to the airport and studying the best use, the team was able to identify an agricultural use using processed wastewater from the existing development in the interim until larger scale development was financially feasible. The study included use and reuse of energy, water, waste with proposals on enhancing transportation and services.

• The development of the metrics for this overall plan, the feeding of 250,000 people from 580 acres of hydroponic farming, doubling the present capacity, was a compelling proposal for an agricultural use within this emerging development zone. This use might ultimately become the highest and best use. 

 

ArcS has explored other scenarios where a “Hyperlight” Infrastructure may possibly be overlaid in urban settings providing a beneficial and productive use of land waiting for full development.

 

 

Najwa Resort

Wadi Rum, Jordan 2010

(The development of comprehensive realistic stand alone infrastructure concepts in one of the most inhospitable places on earth).

 

This project was an invited design competition. Our team worked with TNQ Architects of Dubai, UAE to develop a completely “off the grid” eco-resort hotel development in the desert of Southern Jordan adjacent to the Wadi Rum Protected Area (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

 

The development of this resort is as close as one could get to the concept of setting up a colony on another planet.

 

The concept was to place small groupings of structures around the desert site including elements on a cliff wall. Along with this development would be a “light infrastructure” that would connect the support facilities like reception, restaurant, spa, with a central energy gathering and water use/reuse facility. The proposal also included greenhouses to grow food  on site for use in the restaurant. Rooms and lodges would be self contained with the architecture doing the bulk of the work environmentally with shading and thermal protection with mechanical systems integrated into each of the units.

 

Issues studied and addressed included the use of the desert day/night cycle for cooling, geothermal, photovoltaic energy gathering, mitigation of drifting sand and wind, water use and recycling and hydroponic greenhouse farming.

 

 

 

Washington DC Union Station Concept Feasibility Study

Washington D.C. 2015

(The ability to quickly identify, frame and analyze complex, multi-phased design and engineering problems proposing cost effective alternative solutions)

 

A master plan for the upgrade of AMTRAK service to Union Station was completed in 2012. A component of the redevelopment will be Burnham Place, a multi phased development that will be constructed over the existing rail yard. As project lead, Steve Chucovich had the task to focus the team and manage the information gathering and orchestrate the development of design and performance criteria for the $10B station and podium development project. The work included structural concepts, life safety, site, traffic and acoustical criteria.

 

The proposed solution included a “top down” construction scenario. The team had to quickly become familiar with this construction method and develop an understanding of the implications of this construction method on the project and its systems.

 

This work was used to define the scope of a pricing and scheduling exercise by Hensel Phelps Construction.  The work was performed in a 8 month period of time and in collaboration with SBA, Akridge, AMTRAK and Union Station Redevelopment Corporation.