Parrish Street Office Building
Durham, North Carolina

Located in the heart of downtown Durham, North Carolina, this mixed-use project seeks to preserve and redevelop a historically significant block that was once bustling with commerce and diversity. Though the structures currently on the site are identified as non contributing to the district, it is the rich fabric which they maintain that is so valuable to the city. This design proposes a “celebration” of the intersection of new and old through the creation of a 2-story blockface structure nestled into the existing condition . This previously developed trapezoidal lot becomes fully reengrained into the urban fabric through 30,000 sf of pedestrian-friendly retail and commercial space.

A high tech modern office tower hovers above this mixed-use plinth, offering occupants incredible skyline views and access to multiple active green roof terraces. Seeking a LEED Gold rating, the design features open office floor plates, high tech solar shading devices, and significant amounts of productivity-enhancing natural light.

Built Form’s objectives in creating this contemporary office building is to meet the needs of the creative class tenants for whom this building is built. This requires large, flexible floor plates, abundant glass for maximum daylighting, and technologies that allow the facility to be a benchmark for sustainable design practices. The innovations used in this building demonstrate the historical character of Durham, its inventiveness, inclusion and diversity as well as the physical character of the public realm.

The exterior envelope of the building is the single largest challenge in developing a sustainable design strategy. Using a modeling system for lighting analysis, we compared exterior louver layouts at different sizes, spacing, and distance from face of building. The goal was to find an optimal solution which would provide the maximum daylighting, shading, and thermal performance, while utilizing common building components for an economical solution.

1. Maximize Daylight – improve light quality and reduce need for artificial light through the use of clear glass and reflective louvers to bounce light deep into the interior
2. Minimize Glare – eliminate hot spots that are created at light level exceeding 200fc by adjusting the spacing of horizontal louvers
3. Minimize Solar Heat Gain – decrease direct solar radiation by stopping it outside of the building envelope with heat-dissipating perforated aluminum louvers.

In order to achive a more holistic sustainable design, the building will utilize a high performance raised floor system and ceiling plenum for low pressure air supply and return.