The Challege

The project to be built is an interactive classroom that aims to provide youth from low income neighborhoods the possibility of learning – at no cost- skills in the fields of graphic design, computer programming, management, and multimedia skills. The intention is to use the latest technology to give students working tools to improve their quality of life and to help provide for their families.
The digital classroom project is supported under its own model of labor skills, looking first to expand opportunities in order to work with the students. Secondly, to encourage the student’s best performance, increase staff productivity and competitiveness.

The School

The school was founded in a place called Ferrocarri del Pacifico in 1947, by Eugenia Pacelli and used to be located in the La fuente community. The supplies of the school such as desks and blackboards were provided by the church Cristo Rey. In 1968, the school re-located its current location called Barrio Colombia.
Today the school serves 900 students. The school serves the lowest stratas (economically poor) children of the area, 86% percent of the children that go to this school live below the poverty line.

Link to Video on Youtube (Students and Thier Ideas at Liceo Eugenio Pacelli)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PifJiAbxAFI&feature=channel_page

The Proposal

This design is takes into account the students ideas for design, and also why THEY think they need a virtual class room. The students decribe thier visions and dreams for the new classroom in the video that is submitted by us.

Surrounding Urban Area

This project offers a constructive solution, which can also become a symbol or landmark, which also enhances the aesthetic level of the school.

Illumination

The place is naturally illuminated by 6 windows, and the panels are installed in the walls of the modular 1.77 x 1.50 meters. 3 are located in the north side, and 3 are located on the south side, which enable us to have a total of 15.93 meters square of the window space, this corresponds to the 15.50 total surface area of the walls. On top of the windows are the curtains, these control the entry of the illumination, when making a presentation on the video screen. There is also a light that comes from above, when the acyclic roof is open (partially open).

The roof supports itself, and can turn or open 180 degrees. One half of the roof overlaps over the other allowing full enjoyment of natural light and air. There are four rails that support curtains which are installed on four horizontal shutters. The shutters absorb light and heat which is controlled manually by pulleys so that the sun can does not come directly.

Ventilation

It's ventilation system is totally natural, is presented through six
grids, which are controlled manually from the inside, the grids are located on top of the modules of the windows, which operate independently from the windows, the total area of vents is 11.40% of total surface area of walls. The important thing is that it is natural ventilation that has the opposite distribution of the vents, allowing permanent circulation of fresh air.

Architectural Aspects

The proposed solution includes some aspects that that define the function, shape, the building and its surroundings, and the structure is independent from other surrounding buildings. The geometric Shape is an Octagon inscribed in a circle, and the entire space is dominated by the geometric shape, and the area is characterized by the serene and continuous octagon shape.

The building is characterized by a cylinder or tubular shape (a dome), and is characterized by its geometry, color, and windows. A natural light goes through the windows, which are all located symmetrically, and a natural cross-ventilation is located above the windows. The wind encounters the facade creating a natural ventilation system.

The roof is its own individual structure. There are two parts of the roofs, where one part slides under the other in order to open. The classroom is 29 meters in circumference, and has 6.50 meters in height. The structure will have a smooth surface, and has metallic colors, making the building more autonomous from other surrounding structures.

Access

The elevation of the room increases from an average of 37 inches in the grounds, which makes access easier because a ramp of 3 meters long and 1.82 meters wide, with a maximum gradient of 12%, allowing easy access into the classroom. The floor appears as if it is built above the ground, when actually the structure is to be constructed on a slope. It has an effect that looks like it suspends in the air by the pillars below the building.
The design process was conducted with the participation of students, they were instructed with some help of the Currki educational website about sustainable development. They drew the basic ideas of the proposal which is implemented in the final design. This was a process that included feedback, pictures, video, and the children provided ideas about the shape, construction materials, color, supplies and equipment required for a model for a interactive classroom.

Materials

The materials that will be used meet the guidelines of sustainability, durability, and require a low maintenance cost.
The materials used are:
The foundation of the metal structure are reinforced by a concrete metal structure of steel, with a tubular structure covered with layers of acrylic and melatonic. The door, windows, and vents are covered in aluminum and glass; the walls have dry wall that is insulated with fiberglass. The floor would have a finish with concrete in laminated tablet chipboards.
Materials for construction are easy to get access to in the region, as the metal structure, the dry wall, glass, acrylic, are all non toxic, resistant to fire (not oxidizing) and are all environmentally friendly.

Location