Page 121 - Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings-Volume 2

Bay-side view of Explorato- rium piers AFTER renovaton
Planning Concept and General Design Considerations
The general design approach was to capture and channel the familiar informality of the original Exploratorium space at the PFA and, in recognition of the new historic location, to emphasize the existing character and original sense of place of the San Francisco waterfront. The ZNE design, like the architectural expression in general, harmonizes with this concept at every level of detail and is a functional backdrop to the program in the public spaces.
When the Exploratorium took over the two piers, the property consisted of the two warehouse structures, a heavily damaged pier support structure consisting of original timber pilings and a large covered parking lot that was built between the two piers. (See accompanying photo of the original pier components.) Because the parking lot had been added much later, its removal was deemed consistent with the historic renovation process.
Since Pier 17 is relegated to support space and future expansion, its structures received only basic code renovation for these purposes and is not included in the public program spaces. This ZNE Case Study No. 11 therefore consists only of the building complex on Pier 15, the renovated steel and concrete warehouse structure that was originally built in 1931 and the new building wing that is added at the end of that pier. Pier 17 is not considered part of the ZNE building.
The building design program consists of the public hands-on galleries, a small theater, a webcast studio, classrooms, training rooms and administrative offices. A separate space customized for large events, a San Francisco Bay Observatory and a commercial restaurant are accommodated in the new building wing placed at the end of Pier 15. The restaurant is a tenant space that is also not included as part of The Exploratorium’s ZNE boundary1.
Substantial structural improvements had to be done to both the piers and the warehouse build- ings. Since they would be invisible from above, new six-foot diameter piles could be installed as part of the structural strengthening of the pier decks. In addition, for Pier 15, the structural diaphragms of both the warehouse deck floor and the roof had to be stiffened substantially, re- quiring a solution that retained the historic character while contributing to the ZNE performance in a largely invisible way.
1 The one exception is that the energy used by the radiant floor heating system in the tenant space is included in the annual energy use of the ZNE building and this energy is currently supplied to the tenant without charge.
PHOTO: BRUCE DAMONTE
THE EXPLORATORIUM CASE STUDY NO. 11
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PHOTO: BRUCE DAMONTE
Embarcadero-side view of Exploratorium Pier 15 after renovaton (Left)