Carbon Neutral Design at VHGA

We are looking into carbon neutrality for some of our future projects and will be utilizing the latest in energy modeling software to analyze the carbon footprint of our designs.

Being carbon neutral, or carbon neutrality, refers to neutral (meaning zero) total carbon release, brought about by balancing the amount of carbon released with the amount sequestered.

It refers to the practice of balancing carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels, with renewable energy that creates a similar amount of useful energy, so that the carbon emissions are compensed, or alternatively using only renewable energies that don't produce any carbon (this last is called a post-carbon economy).

BIM'ming on the Forefront

VHGA has recently purchased additional licenses/subscriptions of Revit. We now have as many licenses of Revit as we have of AutoCAD Architecture (we also have a license of Microstation and IRAS/B). Van H. Gilbert Architect has made a firm commitment to being at the forefront of BIM technology within the office. We analyze each project to determine the most appropriate software application before we begin design. Also exciting to us is that our consultants are becoming well-versed in BIM applications. The creation of a more complete BIM will assist the team during design by providing real-time coordination.

Building Information Modeling - BIM

How much BIM are you looking to achieve? Here at VHGA we are making BIM happen in every way available to us. We are working with our Consultants to develop a BIM strategy. We are attending conferences and discussing the concept with local and national contractors.
The image above represents a Revit project that the office has recently completed through the construction documentation phase and is now out to bid. We built the architectural BIM and modeled the structure. In our next project we hope to include our Engineering Consultants in the BIM process.

Solar Hot Water Panels

The new APS Prototype Elementary Schools have been designed to have Hot Water for the Kitchen and the entire building be provided with preheated solar hot water. Three four foot by eight foot panels will be located near the front entry to the building, and have a dual function - providing shade from the sun for the windows in the administration area. This sustainable design practice along with a high efficiency HVA/C system will reduce the energy consumption of the building by an estimated 47%!

New Mountain Lion and Bobcat Exhibit

The California Living Museum (CALM), Bakersfield, CA – New Mountain Lion and Bobcat Exhibit - Owner: Kern County School District. Proposed $1.65 million addition to the zoo

Coffee Bar Scheme 1B

Coffee Bar Scheme 1B from vhgarchitect and Vimeo.

Coffee Bar Scheme 1A

Coffee Bar Scheme 1A from vhgarchitect and Vimeo.

Classroom Wing

Albuquerque Public Schools Classroom Wing with retaining wall east of the student entry

Kindergarten Wing

Albuquerque Public Schools Prototype Elementary School site conditions at the Kindergarten wing

KOAT TV Prototype Elementary School Report

KOAT News Story - APS Prototype from vhgarchitect and Vimeo.

APS Prototype Elementary School

APS Prototype School Process Video from vhgarchitect and Vimeo.

Albuquerque Public Schools Prototype Elementary School process video with a SketchUp model animation at the end

V. Sue Cleveland High School Rendering

New rendering looking north

V. Sue Cleveland High School Construction Photo

The new High School is now under construction! The team issued a site and foundation package to the contractor before the remainder of the design is completed.

Albuquerque Public Schools Prototype Elementary School Site 1

We are now in the Construction Document phase of the design. A large change as noted in the rendered image is that we have moved the entire classroom wing (right side of building) down one level.

This was an interesting exercise in Revit Architecture 2008.

• First, we created a new "lower" level.
• Then, we copied the second floor interior partitions, ceilings, rooms, etc., onto the new level and deleted them from the previous "second" level.
• We extended the exterior walls down to the new lower level and then moved the windows from the second level down to the lower level.
• Finally, we made fine adjustments such as deleting the former second floor roof and modifying the first floor roof to cover the classroom wing.
• We have left the second level in the project for use as a clerestory plan at the higher roof areas.

Also new since the previous postings is the site topography. The site requires extensive reworking to accommodate the new school, so we "created" a topography that approximates the final grading. The actual grading plan, done by the Civil Engineer, will be as indicated on the Civil drawings.

The Kit of Parts Matrix

The team’s focus was on the development of a Program that could be adapted to different site constraints while maintaining the adjacency requirements of the Program’s major elements. This approach led to establishing a “kit of parts” strategy to be utilized in different configurations as required for the different school sites. This kit of parts includes the following components:

1. Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten Classrooms
2. Intensive Support Program Classroom.
3. Classroom Pods for One – Fifth Grades
4. Administration Area
5. Gymnasium
6. Cafeteria/Kitchen
7. Media Center

V. Sue Cleveland High School

Main Student Entry for 2,400 student V. Sue Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Conceptual Drawing from Sketch-Up Model

The Albuquerque Public Schools Prototype Elementary School Project includes establishing the program requirements for five elementary schools to be designed and built during the next two to three years. Three of the five sites have been selected and are scheduled to be completed by January 2009.

New Van H. Gilbert Architect PC Blog!

Welcome to VHGA's new blog: VHG Architect

Please look around and view posts about our work and our office

We are architects practicing in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Our areas of concentration include aquariums & zoos, universities & higher education, k-12 schools, commercial projects, public & cultural facilities, and interiors

For a complete portfolio of our projects, visit http://www.vhgarchitect.com/