HUB( t )
ACSA Steel Competition - Urban Food Hub
Woodbury University | Instructor: Matthew Gillis
The HUB( t ) supports the underserved urban community around Long Beach Ave. and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. as an agricultural processing and distribution center expanding knowledge of sustainable farming techniques, access to the fresh and healthy food supply, and education for preparing healthy food. By leveraging the Quonset hut structural system, both workers and community members benefit from a versatile and efficient space. The design maximizes the advantages of a simple and quick-to-assemble framework consisting of steel arches and beams, resulting in a highly functional and adaptable environment.
The design utilizes a series of Quonset-type spaces to create a campus layout that balances both cohesion and openness. The circulation and programming within these spaces are organized around interconnected corridors, which promote movement and engagement. Walkways, galleries, and courtyards enable individuals to actively participate in the surrounding yards, encouraging a sense of involvement. The enclosures serve as versatile spaces for gathering, studying, playing, or dining, providing functional areas for various activities within the campus.
The administrative section transitions smoothly into the public areas, including classrooms, kitchens, and restaurants, ultimately leading to a greenhouse that integrates the architectural elements with agricultural interests. Additionally, scattered throughout the fields, there are smaller buildings serving as gathering spaces. These structures provide shade and function as multi-purpose classrooms and kitchens, facilitating direct farm-to-kitchen teachings. The overarching concept aims to redefine the Quonset hut's traditional use and transform it into an inviting and welcoming design for a modern educational food hub campus.
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Steel plate shear walls (SPSW) or steel plate walls (SPW) are structural systems that employ thick steel plates as walls to withstand lateral forces. These systems are highly desirable due to their excellent capacity to dissipate lateral forces. The versatility and space-saving nature of SPSW/SPW make them popular choices among architects. These steel plate walls provide effective structural resistance against seismic loads while allowing for efficient space utilization in building designs.