The Latin root of portal, porta, mean gate or entryway. My group our building Portal 32 as it is located at 32 N Howard Ave. Croswell, Michigan, but also because our building serves as a gateway to the community.
We emphasized Croswell’s existing industrial context and integrated similar existing structures and sustainable materials to create Portal 32.
We emphasized Croswell’s existing industrial context and integrated similar existing structures and sustainable materials to create Portal 32.
Portal frame and container-based architecture best serves as the primary construction method for a mixed use building in Croswell Michigan. Through our exploration of Croswell, we placed a high importance on the existing materials found in the area. There are multiple building structures that utilize the portal frame approach along with shipping containers scattered throughout the city. We also paid close attention to the wildlife of the surrounding area so we could create a vernacular design.
Financial and sustainable awareness was something that we wanted to implement in our design proposal as Croswell is predominately a low-income area. With the use of portal frame construction, we are able to provide a large uninterrupted space at a low cost per square foot. The recycled shipping containers then slide into the portal frame structure to create sub spaces within the building. By utilizing both of these strategies, our building proposal is taking environmental and financial awareness into consideration while also reclaiming the industrial architecture of the region.
To go even further with our design process and sustainable architecture, we have implemented solar panels that act as a shading system for our large atrium space while also converting energy. There is a rain water collection system implemented throughout our roof and garden designs that allows the building to run off of its own water supply. Lastly, we have implemented a geothermal system for our building as there was an existing fifteen-foot hole on our site from a previously existing gas station.
Financial and sustainable awareness was something that we wanted to implement in our design proposal as Croswell is predominately a low-income area. With the use of portal frame construction, we are able to provide a large uninterrupted space at a low cost per square foot. The recycled shipping containers then slide into the portal frame structure to create sub spaces within the building. By utilizing both of these strategies, our building proposal is taking environmental and financial awareness into consideration while also reclaiming the industrial architecture of the region.
To go even further with our design process and sustainable architecture, we have implemented solar panels that act as a shading system for our large atrium space while also converting energy. There is a rain water collection system implemented throughout our roof and garden designs that allows the building to run off of its own water supply. Lastly, we have implemented a geothermal system for our building as there was an existing fifteen-foot hole on our site from a previously existing gas station.
