Pt ranch
PITKIN COUNTY, ColoradO
Project details
ROLE: PROJECT DIRECTOR/OWNER REPRESENTATIVE
Duration: August 2007 - December 2014
Client: PT Ranch House, LLC
Project Size: 15,000 sf
Project team
Design Architect: VJAA, Minneapolis, MN (2012 AIA firm of the year recipient)
Climate Engineer: Transsolar, New York, NY
Facade: Front, New York, NY
Structural Engineer: KL+A, Basalt & Denver, CO
MEP Engineer: Beaudin Ganz (BGCE), Avon & Denver, CO
Planning Consultant: Davis Horn, Aspen, CO
General Contractor: Brikor Construction, Carbondale, CO
Timber Frame (3D-CAD/CNC) Subcontractor: Spearhead Timberworks, Nelson, BC
Corten Cladding Subcontractor: CCF/Brikor, Cape Cod, MA & Carbondale, CO
PV Array Subcontractor: Namaste Solar, Boulder, CO
Audio/Video/Building Controls Integration: Paragon Technology Group, Aspen, CO and Long Controls, Denver, CO
Project narrative
The project consists of a 15,000-square-foot high-end residence with a caretaker dwelling unit and 5-acre site development requirements. Building function transcends traditional residential living and serves as a ‘mini-hotel’ to accommodate up to 16 guests, and serves as a ‘museum’ for a significant art collection, both interior and exterior.
Innovations
The ownership program included a set of ambitious environmental goals promoting energy efficiency and conservation. The design process embraced bim modeling from the outset to ensure efficient and accurate coordination of all building systems. The architects deliberate design process was carefully orchestrated to insure logical choices for the owners. The expectation for quality and resulting execution significantly raised the bar for what is possible in residential buildings.
“… PT Ranch is truly unique in that reduced energy consumption was established as a highest priority at the outset and remained resolute throughout the entire design process. Early in conceptual design, Rich and the project architect orchestrated a rigorous climate and energy analysis process. The local climate was thoroughly studied and multiple passive and active strategies were identified. These strategies were modeled and analyzed in great detail. The most effective strategies were then incorporated into design. The result is an enduring and beautiful building with extremely low energy needs over its lifetime.”
Project -Workshop identified and recommended the design architect, VJAA, for the project. Key consultants were identified and engaged early in the process, including: world-renowned firm of Transsolar, climate engineers, and the acclaimed firm of Front, building envelope engineers, along with local mechanical engineering firm, Beaudin Ganz consulting engineers. They provided detailed initial data such as solar, wind, and thermal (trnsys) analysis and created strategies that were incorporated into the design: a) maximally insulated opaque walls clad with a ventilated facade, b) highly insulated, spectrally selective windows with thermally broken frames, c) passive solar space heating, d) efficient solar shading, e) buried pipe for ground temperature stabilized outdoor intake air, f) exposed thermal mass for temperature stabilization, g) mechanical ventilation with enthalpy recovery, h) radiant heating and cooling, i) natural ventilation in summer and intermediate seasons, j) photovoltaic array (30kw) (will allow for excess power sale back and has 13 year payback), k) direct geothermal cooling (well), and l) a building management system (bms), monitoring 450 + points, to precisely control HVAC system, shades, lighting, and geothermal. Utilization of these strategies (selected for reliable function and sensible cost) were projected to result in a 70% energy reduction annually over the established base case.
“…by managing a complex team with a combination of firmness and finesse, Rich proved to be an exceptionally skilled leader. ”
The pre-existing structures (totaling 18,000 sf) on the property were carefully demolished with considerable building elements and contents donated to Habitat for Humanity for redistribution into the adjacent communities. The property (deforested in the early 1900s for mining timber needs) was restored with over 1,500 new trees. The building employs a ventilated facade for aesthetics, longevity, and maintenance free service that consists of a 6 foot wide, ½” thick weathered corten steel panel. This innovative system incorporates a pre-weathering process that required four months of continuous wet dry cycles to achieve a stable, deeply developed and beautiful oxide layer. The challenges of facilitating this process and offsetting the risks, was a large responsibility for Project-Workshop. With large areas of unobstructed, optically superior glass, 1 1/2 “ thick granite floors for thermal mass and aesthetics, extensive Sapele (sustainable source) millwork, highly well scaled and livable spaces, the building is truly exceptional.
Management responsibilities: integrated project delivery coordination and management, land acquisition issues coordination, planning submission coordination with planner and local jurisdiction, direct coordination of neighborhood compatibility issues for successful approvals, coordination of pv array neighbor opposition for successful approvals, water rights issues coordination, coordination of adjacent creek improvements with US army corps of engineers, fema, and pitkin county.