Anjelo Hana
ahana@ltu.eduAnjelo Hana, known as AJ, is nearing completion of his BArch at Lawrence Tech. As he looks to the future, he envisions pursuing various paths, including different master's programs. His goal is to design structures that rejuvenate communities affected by historical injustices. He aims to integrate sustainability and local cultures to support affordable housing in fragile communities.
TITLE 
The Ashmun Addition
MajorArchitecture [BS]
DescriptionEvery proposal starts with a unique question, this question frames the design process - informing every choice throughout the building: How can a structure blend with the surrounding landscape, while creating an impact on site? That was the question powering the design process of the Ashmun Addition.
This proposal connects two pre-existing high points within the site's topography, creating a sweeping series of earthen forms. The building itself intersects these forms, puncturing the landscape to the shoreline - elegantly cascading over Ashmun Bay. This resulted in 3 distinct building regions, all having unique structural systems as well as programmatic needs. These two elements create a subsequent HVAC system, mirroring each sector's specific HVAC requirements.
Supporting the bulk of heating and cooling within the structure is a Hydronic Variable Refrigerant Unit (H-VRF) system. This advanced HVAC solution pumps water from Ashmun Bay throughout the building. At the end, storing it in underground water tanks supported by Geothermal heating - for recycled reuse during colder seasons. These systems help the structure control both its refrigerant emissions, and overall carbon footprint - inching it closer to the Living Building Challenge’s Standard’s (LBC) for a Living Building.
The enclosure is composed of prefabricated Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) units. When stacked, creating a CLT diagrid acting as a secondary structural system. These units boast a dense packing of differing insulation types, amounting to an approx. r-value of 45 - 50. A structural system, and an insulative system all wrapped up in a thin corten steel finish - simple and efficient. This finish complements the incorporated naturally occurring limestone on site, acting as the primary cladding for the retention walls which support the earthen mounds described previously.
The Ashmun Addition is the genesis of design, and advanced construction methods. The building takes inspiration from the local ecologies of the region, all with the intention to answer its sole question - blending the line between accessibility and landscape design.