Browsing by Author "Black, Kenneth Allan"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    Clinch River Valley Regional Visitor Center Conceptual Design
    Gilboy, Elizabeth; Schellhammer, Christopher; Black, Kenneth Allan; Burg, Gardner; Houck, Chris; Saeidi-Rizi, Fatemeh; Walker, Harley (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2013-06)
    St. Paul is a small but vibrant town in southwestern Virginia with a rich history. Situated along the Clinch River and holding land in both Russell and Wise Counties, it is strategically located and poised to serve as a gateway to the region’s natural assets. The Clinch River is internationally renowned for its biological diversity and is a regional asset. Thus, the Clinch River and other complimentary assets (existing trail systems, Wetlands Estonoa, etc.) are a primary focus for a new creative economy dealing with tourism.

    To enrich the new plan for economic development and to communicate the ecological and tourism potential of Southwest Virginia, the region’s advocates are exploring the concept of an entry gateway. This gateway would serve four counties and the City of Norton and act as a regional visitor center.

    The Town and Russell County received permission from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to develop an entry gateway along US 58 on a piece of property bound by US 58, St. Paul Road, and County Road 640 (Frosty Road) and recently conveyed the site to Russell County. Elements envisioned for the space include a LEED certified regional visitor center that highlights the four counties along the Clinch River in Southwest Virginia, enhanced plantings, signage, parking, an informational kiosk, and possibly a small covered shelter. Vehicular entry to the site will be provided from County Road 640. The site and structure would highlight and respond to the Clinch River, offering views to the nearby river as well as educational and recreational information about the Clinch.The Town and Russell County received permission from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to develop an entry gateway along US 58 on a piece of property bound by US 58, St. Paul Road, and County Road 640 (Frosty Road) and recently conveyed the site to Russell County. Elements envisioned for the space include a LEED certified regional visitor center that highlights the four counties along the Clinch River in Southwest Virginia, enhanced plantings, signage, parking, an informational kiosk, and possibly a small covered shelter. Vehicular entry to the site will be provided from County Road 640. The site and structure would highlight and respond to the Clinch River, offering views to the nearby river as well as educational and recreational information about the Clinch.

    Funding for this project has been provided by a USDA Forest Service (Region 8) Competitive Grant through the Southern Group of State Foresters in partnership with the Virginia Department of Forestry. In the spirit of this partnership, the project will build awareness of regional forestry-related industries through the thoughtful design, specification and implementation of landscape architecture material, architectural material and construction practices. The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was asked to assist the Town of St. Paul and St. Paul Tomorrow, Inc. with a conceptual master plan for this entry gateway. CDAC worked with St. Paul Tomorrow, Inc., Town Council, VDOT, and the local community to refine the program and develop a concept for the visitor center. This report is a compilation of these design concepts.
  • Thumbnail Image
    The influence of roof reflectivity on adjacent air and surface temperatures
    Grant, Elizabeth J.; Black, Kenneth Allan; Werre, Stephen R. (2017-03-04)
    An experimental study was conducted to answer questions about the thermal effects of roof reflectivity on the neighbouring built environment. Temperatures were recorded at the surface of black ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and white thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membrane overlay areas; in the air and at electrical metallic tubing (EMT) above them; and at opaque and glazed wall surfaces adjacent to them. The surface of the EPDM roof was significantly hotter than the TPO roof by 36°C and 26°C on two test dates. Air temperatures were 2°C higher above EPDM versus TPO up to 14 cm, with no significant differences above this height. Temperatures were 2°C higher at EMT above the TPO surface than above the EPDM. A precast concrete panel wall was 3°C to 5°C warmer adjacent to TPO versus EPDM. Exterior glazing surface temperatures were 2°C warmer adjacent to TPO versus EPDM.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Learning by Doing: Knowledge Sharing through Design Pedagogy and Decision Support Systems
    Black, Kenneth Allan (Virginia Tech, 2017-03-27)
    This study into the architectural profession reviews developed decision support frameworks (graphics to inform and improve decision making through access to more information) as knowledge sharing devices. These developed frameworks first, influence decision makers: the students and their decisions in their personal architectural design process and second, develop a framework on vegetated assemblies (building assemblies that incorporate plants such as green roofs and walls) as vegetated assemblies relate to color theory and its implications in design methodology. This decision support framework assists students in their design process in studio and studio-like educational environments. The purpose of this decision support framework is to influence the students in using vegetated assemblies in their future design inquiry. After implementation, the purpose was to determine the worth of the framework as a mechanism for knowledge sharing. Both purposes were reviewed in developing the framework using immersive case studies, classes both in traditional studios and studio-like courses, website development and member feedback. The evidence of the resulting improvement of decision making or design work was found through the use of surveys, student reflective writing, and personal interpretation of student works and my own immersive design studies, classes, and development of the framework and its website. The surveys and reflective writing were collected from multiple years of involvement in traditional studio and studio-like classes to refine the framework and its use. The results of the study suggest that students do have a larger body of knowledge to make decisions about utilizing vegetated assemblies than before the use of the framework and go on the continue using vegetated assemblies in design work. The framework presents the various factors that impact decisions into vegetated assemblies and develop future designs. By influencing and improving knowledge of such factors on the design of vegetated assemblies early in a student's education, improves decision making in future designs and later professional work. Future work would be targeted at refining the framework and potential courses to include other topics of interest in relation to vegetated assemblies. Finally, the framework could be adapted into a more codified, interactive tool in the future.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Planning for Resilience: Predicting Vegetated Roofs’ Runoff Reduction
    Grant, Elizabeth J.; Black, Kenneth Allan; Jones, James R. (2014-06-09)
    The rate of incorporation of vegetated systems into urban buildings is on the rise. These systems represent a psychological link to the natural world that city-dwellers have left behind and a physical filter to temper the effects of head, flooding, urban noise, and pollution. The main premise behind this trend is the ability of vegetation to dampen extremes of temperature and rainfall, which will become more unpredictable as climates change. To study the rainfall retention capacity of vegetated roofs, researchers at Virginia Tech have compared the runoff volumes flowing off three different depths of modular vegetated roofing systems to those flowing off a white reflective single-ply membrane roof. Results of this study demonstrated roofing systems to those flowing off a white reflective single-ply membrane roof. Results of this study demonstrated significant reductions in runoff in all the vegetated roof samples. Relationships among variable such as average temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, and time between storms, and their effect on runoff reduction at the treatment platforms, were identified. Statistical analysis of the data has yielded a function relating these weather variables, with predictive capacity for future implementation of modular vegetated roofing systems. Armed with tools such as these, architects and roof consultants can better design buildings prepared to accommodate the evolving global climate.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Reflective Roofing Research: Influence of Roof Color on Adjacent Air and Surface Temperatures
    Grant, Elizabeth J.; Black, Kenneth Allan; Werre, Stephen R. (2017-03-19)
    An experimental study was conducted to answer questions about the thermal effects of roof reflectivity on the neighbouring built environment. Temperatures were recorded at the surface of black ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and white thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membrane overlay areas; in the air and at electrical metallic tubing (EMT) above them; and at opaque and glazed wall surfaces adjacent to them. The surface of the EPDM roof was significantly hotter than the TPO roof by 36°C and 26°C on two test dates. Air temperatures were 2°C higher above EPDM versus TPO up to 14 cm, with no significant differences above this height. Temperatures were 2°C higher at EMT above the TPO surface than above the EPDM. A precast concrete panel wall was 3°C to 5°C warmer adjacent to TPO versus EPDM. Exterior glazing surface temperatures were 2°C warmer adjacent to TPO versus EPDM.