A New Federal Office Building for San Juan, Puerto Rico Project Total Square Footage: 167,505 sf Anticipated Date of Completion: November 2018 Location of Project: San Juan, Puerto Rico Type of Project: Government office building Puerto Rico has a rich architectural history deeply tied to the security function of the state. The most impressive buildings in Old San Juan the San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal castles, the city fortifications, and the Ballajá Spanish Army Headquarters all were the result of the state s effort to secure the port for the Spanish trade routes in the Amer icas. The simple strength of the forms, restrained fenestration, and articulation of volumes make these buildings well anchored to the land and as if arising naturally from the earth. Despite their external strength, they convey softer interior spaces organized around interior patios made for human interaction and living, buffering life from the harsh conditions outside. This Federal government office building design responds to its historical context, physical surroundings, and Caribbean environment. While the long axis of the building s base is aligned parallel to the campus main axis, the office volume is rotated and aligned to true north a gesture that recognizes other buildings on the campus and achieves optimal solar orientation. From the solid base, a light and transparent volume arises, well protected and armored against the elements, but allowing the fundamental function of observation, much like El Morro did in its time. The building sits on a landscape designed to improve the overall hydrological and ecological functioning of its urban site, while complying with the strict security requirements of the program and bringing elements of beauty and delight to the public realm. The upper three floors (out of 5 stories) are highly glazed on three sides to allow natural light deep into the work spaces, providing a variable ambience and expansiveness to each individual workstation, which enhance the work experience, increase productivity, and create an inclusive, egalitarian environment. We have organized the program around two public referential light wells that form the circulation hubs of the building. The two light wells also help to bring natural light deep into the heart of the building. We have designed these spaces to be both calming areas of light and inspirational spaces for all who pass through them forming natural volumes that allow people to interact and collaborate, much like the iconic interior patios of Old San Juan.
Chardón St. The US Federal Government is in need of additional office space in its central campus in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A 6-acre site (red line) within the existing campus was selected for the new building, which must integrate advanced security features. The site, within San Juan s premiere banking and commercial district of Hato Rey, is surrounded by commercial properties and the flood plain of a small urban creek. The site design responds to the general layout of the campus, in which the largest building masses are aligned with its southern boundary, opening up space towards Chardón St., which is the public face of the whole campus. View of the San Juan Federal Campus from the Northeast (view indicated by yellow arrow above)
An important consideration in placing a new building on the San Juan Federal Campus was its relationship with the existing buildings and its ability to complement the existing campus spaces. The building footprint location also responds to a new campus entrance to the north (from Chardón St.), the floodplain of an existing channelized creek to the east, and the required security setbacks from its perimeter fence. Five levels were needed to accommodate the program. The building mass is divided between a high-ceiling, one-story annex and a fivestory tower. The annex aligns to the southern campus boundary for efficiency and circulation organization, while the upper volume is rotated towards true north in response to solar angles and the existing Federal Parking Garage building. Model view from Southeast
The landscape design concept, inspired in the historical coastal meadows and wetlands that occupied the site, includes a concern for sustainability and beauty. We want the landscape to function optimally, managing storm water efficiently and providing adequate pedestrian circulation, but we also want it to be a source of delight to employees and visitors. As if surrounded by the moats of San Cristóbal, the building is surrounded by vegetated depressions (bioswales) that also manage storm water. Planted with native species, the bioswales will be able to manage all of the required storm water (95 th percentile event), provide habitat to wildlife, and soften the edges of the security perimeter without compromising its integrity. The selected plant palette will enhance the water management functions of the landscape, increase the ecological functioning of the site, and support local pollinator populations. The landscape plan also includes exterior spaces, two entry plazas and a pedestrian bridge over the western bioswale. N Vegetation (top) and Storm Water (bottom) Strategies
Inspired in the traditional architecture of Old San Juan, the building mass was conceived as a solid emerging from the earth and perforated to obtain living spaces connected to nature. The building mass was formed out of four elements: Base, Core, Box, and Light Wells. The Base The building base communicates strength, as it is perceived as a stout, monolithic volume that supports the more diaphanous lightbox above. It extends beyond the box footprint to comply with a program that requires a ground floor without habitable spaces above. The Core Located on the south side of the lightbox, the Core grows from the ground level, serving several purposes. It protects the building from the strong southern exposure of the tropical sun; by containing infrastructure and vertical circulation, it frees office levels for a more open and flexible floor plan; and it provides privacy from the adjacent properties to the south. It forms a protected volume for the building s critical systems. The Box Seated over the base, it reads as a lightbox floating over the ground. It has four levels of offices and support facilities that house the most habitable spaces of the program: open offices, conference rooms, meeting rooms, and private offices. After Before S E N W The Light Wells The Box The Core The Base
N The Light Wells Reminiscent of the interior patios of Old San Juan, we have used light wells to introduce daylight into many spaces of the building that might otherwise rely entirely on artificial light. The two lanterns bring natural light deep into the heart of the building, creating more livable spaces and a better working environment. The light wells are also a device to connect to the Caribbean context of the site. The eastern linear lantern serving Levels 3 through 5 is fully glazed on the east wall to bring morning light deep into the building. The transparent membrane skylight illuminates the light well and staircase with diffused afternoon light. The western square lantern serves all five levels and creates the principal circulation hub for the entire building. The light wells are also an important strategy to comply with LEED requirements. The project was designed to achieve LEED Gold Certification. After Before
The building s core components are clustered in a linear block bordering the southern edge of the floor plate( The Core ). Passenger elevators, service elevator, egress stairs, restrooms, mechanical distribution shafts and electric and data closets are positioned and distributed along this spine or core. A central circulation spine extends east and west along this service bar, punctuated by common use spaces and connections to the light wells. The ground floor is formed by a one-story annex, which contains support functions and a service garage, and the first level of the office tower, which contains the lobby and other public areas. Two employee entrances (red arrows) and one public entrance (blue arrow) are provided. The second level is mostly dedicated to storage space, while the upper three levels are dedicated to offices, work stations, conference rooms, and other work spaces. All building systems have been designed for the highest efficiency and with the goal of achieving LEED Gold Certification.
After The building organization, with a core bar on the southern side and two light wells penetrating the volume, provides for an open and flexible floorplate that can easily adapt to the changing needs of the Federal Government. By bringing natural light deep into all work spaces, through a glass curtain wall on three sides and two light wells, an optimal working environment is created for all building users. Before
From the solid base, a light and transparent volume arises, well protected and armored against the elements, but allowing the fundamental function of observation, much like El Morro did in its time. The west, north, and east façades present alternating horizontal bands of glazing and precast elements to balance the composition. The second level, which is mostly dedicated to storage, serves as a transition between the more solid base and the more glazed upper floors. The upper three floors are highly glazed on the west, north, and east façades to allow natural light deep into the work spaces, thus reducing the energy demand of the building and providing the best work environment possible. The glass changes its transparency according to the interior s program privacy requirements. The western façade opens up to the rest of the campus with more glazing than the eastern façade. It represents the face of the new building from the old campus and recognizes the relationship between new and old. The south façade, however, is different from the other three in that it is conceptualized as a solid hard shell to protect from the southern solar exposure and contain the building s infrastructure core. The south elevation is, however, articulated by selective fenestration by way of slim light boxes that recall the controlled fenestration of El Morro or its famous garitas (sentry boxes). These slim apertures provide light to stairways, mechanical rooms, service rooms, and other building infrastructure.
The exterior materials chosen help emphasize our interpretation of a modern age fortification, allusive to the historical structures of El Morro and San Cristóbal, but they also relate to the immediate context of the building. Textures, colors, and feel are used to express the intention and function of the various building components, delineating a clear hierarchy of elements. The exterior articulates the relationship between interior program and campus elements as well. The Annex and Base are made of very rough precast concrete panels. Their petrous texture and dark organic colors emphasize the sturdiness and solidity of the structure s grounding element while at the same time alluding to the walls of the historical fortifications of Puerto Rico and the brutalist language of existing campus buildings. After The service core, expressed as an element growing out from the earth, is also cladded in precast panels with a slightly smoother texture. Their color and finish help emphasize the core s role as vertical support element and shield from the southern sun. The Box is articulated in light-colored polished precast panels that, along with the glass curtain wall and anodized aluminum elements of the fenestration system, acquire an almost diaphanous appearance. North Curtain Wall South Wall Before
The entrance sequence from the visitor screening facility to the building entrance will feature a small plaza, planting structures, and views of the bioswales. These areas are intended to create a welcoming environment that is simple yet dignified. A dry moat or ha-ha wall along the northern fence provides the required security while reducing the apparent height of the fence and permitting uninterrupted views from the parking to the main building façade. From the solid base, a light and transparent volume arises, well protected and armored against the elements, but allowing the fundamental function of observation, much like El Morro did in its time. The second level, which is mostly dedicated to storage, serves as a transition between the more solid base and the more glazed upper floors. The primary office façades present alternating horizontal bands of glazing and precast elements to balance the composition and a vertical louver system controls solar exposure to the glass curtain wall. Perspective from the Public Entrance (Northwest)
The building is envisioned as emerging geologically from its site, projecting an image of strength and resilience. The first floor base has been integrated in form and function with the rest of the building such that it provides a datum from which the rest of the structure can be read, as well as a strong articulation with the ground plane of the site. The solid base, made out of precast elements, also harbors the special secure program components and forms an elongated, horizontal structure that balances the vertical nature of the office floors above. The Core or building spine projects from the southern façade and expresses with darker materiality its protective and functional nature. Slim fenestration, as if light boxes penetrating the hard shell, provide natural light to infrastructure spaces, stairwells, and elevator lobbies. Manufacturing / Warehouse Perspective from the Southeast
The interior experience of space is very much articulated by the light wells. The eastern, elongated light well (middle drawing) serves Levels 3 through 5 and provides a warm and inviting common space for the government employees working in the building. It connects Levels 3 and 4 through a sculptural staircase. The western, square light well (bottom drawing) serves as the main employee lobby and circulation hub on the first floor. This light well is open throughout all levels and functions as a covered interior patio. Atrium walls contain voids, wood-finish panel, clear glass or translucent glass in response to program requirements related to security and privacy zones. The annex, while structurally continuous with the office tower, contains specialized support functions. After
The public Reception lobby was designed to be warm and welcoming, with glazed walls that allow views out onto the bioswales and the rest of the campus. After Similar to the exterior expression, the interior color and material palette takes a contextual approach in its design, influenced by local geography and climate, and recalling a contemporary notion of Caribbeanness. The site s proximity to the ocean suggests a transparency and tranquility, with the colors of coral providing a framework for the interior palette. Civic buildings experience very high pedestrian traffic in the public areas and, therefore, the materials and finishes for the building were selected, not only for their visual impact and their ability to convey the civic importance of the building, but also for their long-term durability and ease of maintenance. Before Public Reception Lobby
After The New Federal Building has been organized around a central referential space formed by the western light well, which penetrates all of the building s five levels. All staff enters and circulates through this space. This staff lobby has been designed to be both a calming area of light, and a source of inspiration to all who pass through. It forms a natural space to allow people to confer and reflect. The multi-story light well serves as both a point of arrival and a point of departure for the building staff and government visitors. Before Western Light Well and Lobby
We have introduced daylight into many spaces of the building that might otherwise rely entirely on artificial light. The two lanterns bring natural light deep into the heart of the building. The eastern linear lantern serving Levels 3 through 5 is fully glazed on the east wall to bring morning light deep into the building. The transparent membrane skylight illuminates the light well and staircase with diffused afternoon light. Serving a more intimate space, the eastern light well s interior finishes speak of warmth and comfort, while the bath of diffuse light activates the space for social interaction and collaboration. There are a number of unique features that enhance the aesthetics of the interior space. The use of wood panels in the day-lit open light well spaces celebrates their use as social gathering and breakout space. The eastern light well space is animated with an angled open staircase that connects floors three and four, encourages interaction, and provides access to the adjacent array of teaming and meeting rooms. After Before Eastern Light Well and Lobby