Radiolab - The Poop Train

If you are working on a Living Machine you may want to listen to the Radiolab podcast called "The Poop Train" that takes you inside one of the New York City wastewater treatment facilities.  And talks about what to do with all the solids left over from the process.

http://www.radiolab.org/series/podcasts/

Hey Everyone,

I got a chance to stop by the Omega Center for Sustainable Living while I was in NY this weekend.  I have more pictures to show in class but its a very well thought out design and takes up a very small footprint considering the size of the entire campus.  I was not able to get inside (First Picture is through glass) which was disappointing as it was one of the more interesting features I was hoping to see.  Now working on trying to scale an appropriate Living Eco-Machine to this precedent to fit within our site.

JC - Updates

Update #1

I've considered adding smaller separation module to help remove solids (purple foam) at the upper levels. This then channels "sludge" to the filtration cells located on the upper levels. These upper levels have access to more sun light. I've used the sun's angle (approx 40° in the summer) to cut into the upper half of the building. Making sure cell plants (green) get light. Grey water (blue) is the distributed using gravity. 

Update #2

Ive made the mass taller this time around. Building off of the terraces from the previous iteration I've added several more terraces on the West side. The West wall of the building is tapered, again to help expose that side to the sun.

The panels on the West side are: White vertical = anaerobic panels that have bacteria to process water. Horizontal panels = wetland environments to denitrify water. I can also add the "polishing" modules to the panels too.

Passive Ventilation System Sections

Here are two sections illustrating passive ventilation systems. One draws are air from the side of the building and the other from the ground floor. Both systems condition the incoming air via underground cooling tanks which use cold water from the harbor. The water that is drawn out of air as it passes through the tank could be used again as gray water in the building.  

Below are two sketch models that focus on drawing air into the building from the Purchase St. side of the site. The goal is to configure the space to maximize airflow into and around the building.  

  

Site Visit - Dewey Square

I have had a chance to visit the site several times, mostly during the weekdays on my way to or from work.

On weekday mornings, the site is fairly vibrant with commuters arriving (primarily) in Dewey Square from South Station and the I-93. The pedestrian flow is directed outwards from South Station as people are making their way to work.

On weekday afternoons Dewey Square is filled with pedestrians buying lunch from the several food trucks that visit the site from 11am to 6pm daily. There are people using the tables and chairs to eat food and socialize, or just enjoy the public space on nice warm days. The vehicle traffic is heavy in northbound, and westbound directions at this hour. 

Food trucks at Dewey Square on a weekday afternoon (51 Hig Street in background).

The 51 High Street site is bordered by one way streets in the North and South, with bike lanes on both streets. The sidewalk on the southern side of the site, along Purchase St, is a popular pedestrian route, especially around lunch time on weekdays. The rain garden is a popular destination for passer-bys and regulars alike, especially with the new mural going up in to the East of the Square. 

New mural going up near the project site. 

 

 

 

 

The site is directly adjacent to more industrial use buildings, but is located near to a variety of cafes, bars, restaurants and shops. This brings an overall vibrant feel to the area during the day. However, due to the I-93 exit onto Purchase Street, directly in front of the site, the public spaces and sidewalks feel safe but exposed due to the heavy vehicle traffic on either side of the Greenway. 

So far, I foresee that the major issues to watch out for on the site will be sunlight exposure (to support algae production), connections to bike and pedestrian circulation.

PARTI - The "decision" here comes from the sun facing facade. I'm hoping that I might be able to combine my Living Machine system with a hanging green wall. This would allow me to utilize that whole facade to clean the water that runs trough the building. Am hoping that in part, the water without solids would be possible to run through a "hanging garden."

SYSTEMS - I've tried to located two of the major components of my system. The cells that process the water and the tanks that store the water in its initial stage. The two tanks at the bottom are hidden under grade/stairs. This would allow for the extraction of the solids from the building through that side. The two tanks above are for showers. Which have significantly less solids than the other parts of the black water..

Feedback

For those of you who posted your observations on the site, thank you.  I appreciate the range of subjective and qualitative observation (compared to simply quantitative).

If you haven't had a chance to visit the site during the week, you should make a point to go there during a rush hour.  It's very different than on the weekend.

If you noticed or commented on the activity of the homeless, you may be interested in the work of Walter Hood.  In his seminal Work "Urban Diaries" Hood describes the act of observing all of the populations that use a space, their dynamics, and designing spaces suited to their activities.  As we pass through downtown it is easy to see the business people and the tourists, and filter out other groups.  

The truth is that an amenity like the bicycle transit hub could potentially be a resource for homeless looking for a shower - although shelters around the city and surrounding neighborhoods do provide that oas well.

Again, if that interests you, look at "Design Like you Give a Damn" by Architecture for Humanity.