Project by: Jessica Smith, JP Silva, Andrea Pietro Grioli, Ayesha Bega, Kevin Valido, Emma Yergat
The Detroit Interdisciplinary Grade School is situated on a complex site: disinvestment and systemic failure have taken their toll on the built environment, leaving a neighborhood full of contaminated vacant lots from lead and asbestos-containing structures that formerly stood there. In response, the building is situated on a clean portion of the site so that excavation spoil from its construction can be used for future remediation of neighboring contaminated sites.
The Life Cycle Analysis showed that the majority of environmental impact occurs during the product stage and end-of-life phase, and it allowed us to compare the global warming potential of different material combinations. We prioritized natural materials, particularly wood, since it can be sourced regionally. The facade system also evolved through the use of reclaimed wood, lowering environmental impact while extending material lifecycle.
