Chapter 7: Walls and Materials

 

Walls are structural elements used to divide or enclose and in the building construction, to form the periphery of a room or building. They can be framed in several different ways. The three main systems include stud walls, masonry or concrete bearing walls and column and beam structural frame walls with infill. The interior finish of these walls is the final component of the sustainable wall assembly. These finishes include gypsum board (drywall/sheetrock) which is most used. You can also use Plaster that is applied in a 3-coat system. How the space will be used helps to determine the appropriate wall finish that a designer chooses. One of the most popular finishes are paint. The paints that add a shine/color to the raw materials play a huge role in sustainability as well. Overall, you want to find finishes that have reduced levels of VOCs (Volatile organic compounds). VOCs can cause anything from nausea to kidney damage, and they can pollute the outdoor air, too. Many finishes can also contain biocides, fungicides and pigments which can harm the environment as well. So, the entire life cycle of the paint includes considerations about its use, maintenance, cleaning, durability, acquisition, manufacture, disposal, and possible recycling.

In a sustainable building, windows and doors are among the most important components of the building envelope. Most air leakage occurs around window and door openings, making them an integral part of a sustainable design solution. Doors are commonly made from wood or steel. They consist of some standard parts including panels, stiles, and rails. These elements can be assembled in several different configurations to achieve a variety of appearances. They also have several different types of operations including sliding, pocket, swinging, bi-fold and overhead. Like doors, windows are usually made from wood or metal. Aluminum and steel and both used to make interior windows. 

There are alternative eco-friendly building materials that can replace steel and concrete. These unique materials allow designers and engineers to construct green buildings with a low carbon footprint. One of the eco-friendly materials is Mycelium. Mycelium is the mass of branched fibers making up a fungus. It is a safe, strong, and biodegradable material with a wide range of uses. Mycelium composites can create low-cost and greener building materials, which could help reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based products in the construction industry. Clothing manufacturers are increasingly turning to mycelium to create green alternatives to leather and synthetic textiles. These could prove vital in reducing the carbon footprint of the fashion industry, Mycelium can be used to make standard and custom-molded packaging that is 100% biodegradable, thereby reducing reliance on plastic and polystyrene. Mushroom Packaging uses hemp Hurds and mushroom mycelium to create water-resistant and insulating solutions that compost within 30 days when added to soil. Using eco-friendly materials will be most cost-effective, especially in the long run. They have a lower impact on our environment and are thermally efficient.

Schematic of the manufacturing process of mycelium composites detailing the key stages, purpose and possible variations in the processes utilized during each stage.

Case Study: JLL Pittsburgh Office

Partitions are non-load bearing walls that separate spaces in a building. As well as spatial division, they can provide, privacy, acoustic and fire separation, and flexibility of layout. These walls could be fixed, foldable, or collapsible types. For aesthetic purposes and functionality, partition walls may be designed in different shapes such as heavy, light, thick, or thin. Their requirements revolve around the design of a building and the materials used for its construction. JLL Pittsburgh office was remodeled in May 2016. The company relocated to a 55,000-square-foot space that became a new office environment that has transformed the ways their employees work and captivated clients. 61 percent of employees cited that managing noise was their top concern. In the new design, they placed the private offices located away from perimeter walls. By strategically positioning all enclosed spaces in the core, employees in the open plan have access to natural light and clear sightlines to inspiring views of the city, improving their day-to-day productivity and wellbeing as well as contributing greatly to the appeal of the space. Teams can choose from a range of informal or enclosed meeting places, including several rooms with videoconferencing so remote employees can participate and contribute. Small-scale meeting rooms also provide hideaway places for deep-focus individual work or private conversations as needed.