The Beginning of the End

a poster to make you think about what you have learned this year and also what you can learn from a tree and your surroundings. A hand-out will be given in class, do what you want with it, ask yourself the question, What is your tree. Scribble, draw rip it up, all what it wanted here is to think about it. A tree holds a lot of answers.

thanks for the open ears!
RDV

solar energy follow up, images + website

This is the follow up blog post from aleks, haomin, kaylyn and sarah


Here is an image of the solar panels currently in place at the horse palace, you can view their performance here: http://view2.fatspaniel.net/FST/Portal/TorontoHorsePalace/

Main Facade Retrofit

A comprehensive and detailed proposal is nearly finished.

Vicenta, Alex, and Maxim

Solar energy model!

This shows how the solar panels would look on the roof of OCAD, facing south (to get the most sunlight) at a 45 degree angle.

Made by me, Sarah. :)

Greywater

Greywater Irrigation May Not Be A Good Choice If:

* Soil is not suitable - If your soil is either too permeable or not permeable enough, you may not be able to recycle your greywater, or you may need a system with some modifications.


* Area too small - You need enough soil to process the greywater and enough plants to use it.


* Climate unsuitable - If it's too wet to benefit from irrigating with greywater, there may be a better way to dispose of it. If it's too cold, you will only be able to recycle in the warmer months. In cold climates, the heat in greywater may be more valuable than the water itself. See Drain-water Heat Recovery.


* Permit hassles - Many jurisdictions in North America have no clear guidelines regarding greywater processing. With water shortages looming in the near future for many regions, this may change sooner than later. Health concerns are often cited as the reason for not allowing greywater recycling, although there has never been a documented case of somebody becoming sick as a result of exposure to greywater.


* Low cost/benefit ratio - Where legal requirements dictate a complex system and there is only a small flow of water, greywater recycling is not economically feasible.


* Inconvenience - If the greywater system you are considering is more expensive and requires more maintenance than a properly functioning septic or sewer system.





Precautions

* Prevent contact or consumption - Avoid accidental connections between freshwater and greywater plumbing

- Label greywater plumbing, including garden hoses

- Use gloves when cleaning greywater filters

- Wash your hands after contact with greywater

* Microorganisms on plants - Don’t apply untreated greywater onto lawns, or fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw (eg. strawberries, lettuce, carrots)


* Breathing of microorganisms - Don’t recycle untreated greywater with sprinklers. Droplets can evaporate leaving harmful microorganisms in the air where they can be breathed in


* Use only greywater that is fairly clean to start with - Greywater containing water used to launder diapers or generated by anyone with an infectious disease should be diverted to a sewer or septic system


* Don’t store greywater - Use it within 24 hours before bacteria multiply. After 24 hours it is well on its way to becoming blackwater


* Don’t overload your system - If you’re having company and your system is designed for 2 people, divert the greywater to the sewer or septic system for the evening


* Chemical contamination - Don’t buy household cleaning products you wouldn’t want in your greywater system. Divert greywater containing harmful chemicals to the sewer or septic system

* Prevent contamination of surface water - Discharge greywater underground or into a mulch filled basin


solution

Use greywater system to supply water at grange park and street tree around ocad

aleks, haomin, kaylyn, sarah - Taking Action on Renewable Energy

Group Members: aleks, haomin, kaylyn, sarah

Proposal:

Installation of Solar panels on the flat rooftop of the tabletop structure above the OCAD’s main building.

Purpose:

Allow OCAD contribute to environmental sustainability, by switching part of OCAD’s energy use to a more “green” source. Usage of solar energy will reduce OCAD’s Carbon footprint, and overall emission of toxic chemicals into the environment by other non-renewable energy sources.

What’s been done?

OCAD’s current step toward a “greener” source of energy use was to enter into the bullfrog system for the student union building. This system allows part of OCAD to be powered by a “green” source for an increased fee on electricity.

We, however, whish to push this initiative into the next step, by having OCAD become part of the “green” source of electricity. By introducing this system of solar energy into the open grid hydro system, we not only produce electricity for ourselves, but also any extra electricity gets to be inputted into Ontario’s hydro grid.

Technical information:

Structural requirements:

The rooftop of OCAD’s tabletop structure measures approximately 83 meters by 31 meters, which translates into approximately 2500 square meters of area available. We propose to use half of that area, which is about 1250 square meters or approximately 14000 square foot of available space for installing the solar panels.

There should be no additional strain to the building from the extra weight, as the original architect that designed the Sharp Center had proposed that prefabricated student pub or lecture hall can be hung from the tabletop. Thus, the extra weight shouldn’t pose any problems.

The solar panels needs to be south facing, and inclined at about 45° angle. The Sharp Center is completely unobstructed from the south side, making it perfect for the solar panels.

Technology:

We decided to do a comparison study between what we are proposing and another case study that was done at the Horse Palace at the Exhibition place, in late 2006. Their solar panels covered approximately 15000 square feet of area, which is similar to the area we r proposing to cover on OCAD’s rooftop. They chose between two systems, a 50kw system and a 100kw system, which will produce 120,000 kWh of electricity per year. In the end, they decided to opt for the 100kw system, as it was a lot more cost efficient to install.

We propose to do the same, and install the 100kw system at OCAD. Also, because Carmanah Technologies had done a system of this scale for the case study, it would be a lot more efficient to use the same company, as they have the experience to create a smooth operation.

Budgeting and Incentives:

The costs for solar panels are according to the energy produced by the system. To create a 100kw system costs about $1.1 million (where as the 50kw system require about $750,000, about $15,000 per kw) averaging about $11,000 per kw.

From our research, we understand that OCAD’s sustainability taskforce only has about $518,000 in their budget. However, the government gives many incentives toward those that wish to build systems of energy production based on sustainable sources. The case study at the Exhibition Place built their system primarily based on government incentives. They received a grant of $250,000 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and a grant of $250,000 from the Toronto Atmospheric Fund. In addition, they were also able to apply for a $600,000 interest free loan from the Better Buildings Partnership.

We understand that we might not receive the same type of grants from the government, because the case study was a pilot program. However, the existence of these grants and loans will be able to make the project feasible. As well, the government also has another incentive – for every kilowatt-hour produced by the renewable system, the government will pay back 42 cents, thus allowing the system to pay for itself in about 22 years.

Interior Environments Proposal

The Problem
Our Group has decided to focus in on improving the overall air quality indoors, specifically on the 6th floor of the O.C.A.D. Sharp Building.

Research
Our group conducted quantitative research on the databases and the internet on information regarding possible health effects of poor air quality, OCAD's sustainability task force, previously implemented green walls, and companies that would be able to set up a green wall. We also conducted a survey of OCAD student opinions on the prospect of a green wall in their school via facebook.

Possible Health Effects
* Headaches
* Dizziness
* Trouble concentrating
* Fatigue
* Eye dryness and/or irritation
* Stuffy nose and/or sneezing
* Sinus congestion
* Sore throat and/or husky voice
* Dry cough
* Wheezing and/or shortness of breath
* Nausea
* Skin dryness and/or rashes

Our Solution
A proposal for the implementation of a small scale Green Wall on the 6th floor.

What is a Green Wall and how does it Work?
A green wall is a wall or a free standing structure that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and, in some cases, soil or an inorganic growing medium.
There are 2 main types of green walls, the Green Facade and the Living Wall.
We are proposing the implementation of a Living Wall which is a pre-fabricated separate structure of vegetation that would then be attached to the wall or frame.

The Benefits
The benefits of implementing a Green Wall at O.C.A.D. are: First of all it has been proven that having plants in a workplace reduces the amount of stress, also an improvement in overall air quality, improved insulation which also would decrease heating costs, and finally overall it would be a physical representation of the steps that O.C.A.D. has made to becoming more sustainable.

Daren, Mariz, Joe, Alex,

Metro Access Around the World

Transportation - Metro Access - Stephanie M

The Octopus Card (Hong Kong)







- launched in September 1997
- It is rechargeable and contactless.
- Can be used as a form of payment in convenience stores, fast food restaurants, vending machines and parking meters
- Different cards for Children the Elderly and Students (Yellow one: standard Adult pass)

Adult: card is sold for HK$150 with an initial value of HK$100
Children/Elderly: This card is sold for HK$70 with an initial value of HK$20
Student: his card is sold for HK$100 with an initial value of HK$30 and a handling charge of HK$20. Students may also qualify for this card at $90 with their pictures and names.


Navigo Pass (Paris)














- Introduced in 2001
- Implemented as a smart card with the Calypso system
- Enables authenticated access at turnstiles by waving the card near an electronic reader
- The Navigo pass can be reloaded monthly or weekly.


Metro Card (NYC)














- Thin, plastic card on which the customer electronically loads fares. It was introduced to enhance the technology of the transit system and eliminate the burden of carrying and collecting tokens.
- Unlimited Ride Metro Card: Daily, Weekly and Monthly
- You get an automatic free transfer between subway
and bus, or between buses.


Oyster Card (Greater London)
















- It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems including London Underground, buses, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, trams and some National Rail services.

- a contactless smartcard which passengers must pass over electronic readers when entering and leaving the transport system in order to validate it or deduct funds. The cards may be "recharged" in person from numerous sales points, by direct debit or by online purchase


Tap Card (Los Angeles)









a reloadable fare card you can use month after month. TAP cards replace
Paper passes and will soon allow one to travel on different carriers using one card.

Costs the same as a monthly/weekly pass.

can be purchased at Metro Customer Centers or at Metro Pass retail vendor locations.

AGO

This is the second time I've visited AGO (the first was during the construction of the new extension). This time I wasn't able to see all of the galleries due to a lot of time being wasted figuring out the locations. We spent most of our time on the second floor. The flow of the place was confusing, and we had to constantly double back, or walk through the same galleries repeatedly to figure out our own location and where we should head to next. Of the artworks I had seen, I wasn't too impressed, especially the paintings. Most of them were landscapes, and many had large snowscapes with tiny people badly drawing in. The affect was the feeling of stinginess instead of grandeur, especially when the paintings themselves are the size of a small book. Some of the Group of Seven art works where wonderful, however. They featured large landscapes with simple detailings that emphasized the size and gave a feeling of awe. The European art works also were great, they were what was typically seen in their periods, but their weight and mood is no less significant.

lets go to the A-G-O! YA

My favorite exhibit at the AGO was "The Urban Trailer". As I was walking around with two other classmates, we came upon this piece at the very end of our journey. It had glowing lights, and a very vibrant exterior that intrigued us to discover it. Upon entry of the trailer, they had a few instructions as to how to experience this exhibit. Inside the trailer you were encouraged to play various mini records and watch black white videos.

It was the most interesting exhibit by far, and one that the user could actually create their own experience much like in the class in year 1, experience design.

 

Green Walls

For our original research area we worked on buildings. We decided to create a "green wall" on the outside of the OCAD building. This project touches upon our individual areas or research, building materials, green roofs and energy efficiency.
Green walls are beneficial in a number or ways. They provide air filtration for the outdoor environment as well as insulation in the winter and cooling in the summer which can help with the buildings energy use for heating and cooling. Green walls are also a nice alternative to the plain brick facade and can provide a more welcoming and visually appealing environment.
Any wall would serve, but we were thinking about the side wall closest to Dundas (where the loading areas is) and the one facing Butterfield Park.
We are going to do further research into materials, budget, the benefits of the "green wall", location and what kind of permission we would need as we go along.

Alexandra, Maxim and Vicenta

The New AGO

Walking into the AGO for the first time since the renovation, I was really skeptical that the building was even finished. It seemed like just few days before that it looked like there was a whole piece missing out of the side, and scaffolding was everywhere.
I was very pleasantly surprised though by the building, sure there was a few displays and corners that were not remotely set up yet but the building as a whole seemed relatively complete. This aside from the amazing winding staircase in the center which would have been interesting to walk on, but was not finished being constructed.
My favorite part of the new AGO had to be the gallery that was the long hall following the completely windowed side of the gallery, it was the one gallery that made you really feel and see, and know what kind of a building you were in, it also contained a few very interesting pieces using these huge tree trunks.

AGO

I was pleasantly surprised by the new additions, and I actually really liked the glass covered walk along Dundas. I thought it was a really nice space, especially in the evening. Though I wasn’t crazy about the exhibition, I thought it worked well in the space. I thought the winding staircase looked good too, and I’ll be interested to see what it looks like when it’s finished.

AGO 3/4

My favorite part of the AGO are the yellow Home Depot construction lighting for the main stairwell, and the restricted access to the funky stair. I would not have cared to wait for the finished thing. After all, you would not exhibit unfinished art. I hope it's finished properly, and am looking forward to the visiting when it's ready.

My Exploration of the AGO

Our class had the opportunity to visit the AGO last week and I was quite curious to see what they had done inside. As a 'newbie' to Toronto, this was my first time to see the interior and exhibitions of the AGO. From our classroom, we can see the backside of the AGO and I can't say that I was impressed with how the new building was integrated into the old structures. I kept thinking that they would be peeling off the 'blue film' and revealing some amazing finish but the final finish is the blue finish. Also as a design student, I found that the exterior staircase to be an odd shape and didn't integrate well into the building...it looked like someone just stuck it on the side of the building.

I'm a big fan of contemporary art and have visited many museums in North America and Europe to see many different exhibitions. The AGO has their collection of contemporary art on the 4th and 5th floor. I have to say that the collection was under-whelming. I found the gallery space to be quite small relative to other museums that I've been to.

My favorite piece would have to be the piece by Attila Richard Lukacs who is a Canadian artist and a graduate of Emily Carr. I'm a big fan of his work due to the provocative nature of his works. He first appeared on the art scene with his large scale images of homosexuality and skinheads. The AGO has a policy of no photography and I was unable to 'sneak' an image of the actual work...the security guy kept hovering around me. Instead I've chosen to post another piece of Lukacs work to give everyone an idea as to what his work is like.

AGO-my favorite part.......

I went to the AGO on the weekend of its opening. My favorite part was the Ship Collection that was situated under neath the main hall. The collection is apart of Ken Thompson rare artifact collection. I enjoy craftsmanship and models and seeing those ships just blew my mind. The detail in the pulleys, sails and connections of the fibers, ivory and exotic woods. What I gathered from reading the plaques was they were made by French prisoners of war while in captivity by the British. The casing for the ships were there own piece of art, curvilinear glass that creates a space that looks fluid with the ships elevated at different heights. The Douglas fir stairwell was interesting, it renews the classicist space with the warm wood and protrusion through the skylight. It was still under construction when I went but i"ll be back.........
Rachel De Vries

AGO

I didn't really have any expectations going into the new AGO, i think I've only been in once or twice before and i kind of forget what was in it, but i liked what i saw once i was in there and i hope i wont forget about it this time.
My favourite part of the AGO was the contemporary art. There was this one piece that had a house or a boat or some structure sinking in water, but the water frozen in place. you could see all the bubbles and splashing created by the structure hitting the water but it was frozen in time; it was like looking at a three dimensional photograph. i thought that was cool.

The New & Improved AGO

I was pretty skeptical of the AGO re-design by Frank Ghery when I saw the frames being build up to what it is now over time. But after this recent trip to the new and improved AGO I was at peace. I really like the over all re-design of the whole art gallery. I especially loved the new part where you can look over dundas street. It was a pretty amazing experience, especially at night time when the lights are turned on.

assignment 3 project idea [Jandy and Anna]

The idea of our project is removing the black garbage cans in the school and putting more recycling bins around the school. There are VERY FEW recycling bins and  A LOT of black garbage cans. So, even if people have this brief idea that they would like to recycle every time they throw out their garbage, the problem is that the black garbage cans are everywhere and the recycling bins are only at where the elevators are. 

People, including me are lazy. They would not want to walk all the way up to the elevators  to throw out their garbage to recycle. 

Also, at the Butterfield park (the circle area where people sit down and chill) there is only ONE GARBAGE CAN which just encloses recycling idea. 

Therefore, we want to talk to the student union or the OCAD people so they could remove the garbage cans and put more recycling bins inside of the school AND at outside of the school, which helps improving the image of school, so recycle bins are the only way to throw out the garbage.

favourite part of AGO

My favourite part of AGO was the Canadian painting art section.

The room was full of paintings and before you enter the room, there is a little staircase on the left side so you can go upstairs and see the room with the upper view. 

Personally, i just love paintings and that view from the small room and having upper clear view of the painting room was very peaceful because  it stopped from getting distracted from a lot of noise or the light that reflected on the paintings.