Eco Community Tower

Eco Community Tower

BY: ADMIN | JANUARY - 18 - 2010

Green Skyscrapers
In the next few days we will showcase 25 innovative proposals for green skyscrapers. These projects were submitted for the Annual Skyscraper Competition from 2006 to 2009.

Project 13 of 25

James Kerestes, Juliet LeeUnited States

Eco Community

The commercial district of Philadelphia is located between 30th Street Station, the city’s major transport hub, and City Hall. The zone encompasses at least 25 city blocks of active commercial businesses and hotels. What this area lacks is a sustained urban community where permanent residents and commuters can interact, a destination point within this dense urban fabric. Therefore, this proposal is for the design of 580 feet-tall mixed-use tower located at 18th Street and Arch Street. The site will be indicative of integrating the densities of people, culture, activity, commerce, and the environment built form.

Eco Community tower is a departure from the prototypical Philadelphia high-rise; heavy and opaque rectilinear boxes with highly fixed programs. Eco Community was designed with environmental constraints, such as sunlight and winds. The envelope is a registry of the southwest winds, sun exposure and optimal ventilation. It can be programmed in a variety of ways, for private and public functions. The resulting structure promotes interaction between the city’s various community at all urban levels.

From fluid dynamic CAD simulations the design components were developed as interchangeable geometries. The customization of these stackable components depends on the current city’s needs, allowing a flexible building that adapts to a dynamic urban community.

Eco Community - 1