Adopting the The Metals in Construction magazine 2018 Design Challenge as an opportunity to conduct design research on integrating textile based tectonics with the practical concerns of a building envelope, the ARCH 507 Design 9 studio challenged the students to generate ideas for high-performance facades. The competition’s focus was on creating new types of building envelopes that can enhance workplace health and well-being through adaptive and responsive facades incorporating air and water quality, thermal control, visual connection to the external environment, and aesthetics. The facade was assigned for a hypothetical 30-story office tower located on a waterfront site in the heart of Brooklyn’s Technology Hub.

The proposed student project, Flow + Flux pushes building and façade design to embrace the flow and flux of the site’s most unique natural resources, people, information and city. This building is designed to serve the neighborhood, city, people working inside the building and the natural resources that most affect the site. To create a healthy and productive tech incubator, the building follows the International WELL Building Standards. From these guidelines, the students have chosen to focus on air, mind, light, comfort and nourishment to be integrated into concept. Flow + Flux is designed to harvest wind energy and to maximize wind collection while relieving wind loads on the structure, the facade takes on a aerodynamic shape to facilitate wind passage along the façade.