Walls

Delia Tacheny
INT 322 - Building Systems

Weekly Summary 

This week we are studying all about walls from start to finish. We reviewed the three primary structural systems: 1) stud walls, 2) concrete and masonry bearing walls, 3) and structural frame walls, and then went into depth about each one. I will summarize below:

Stud walls are built from wood or light gauge steel. The studs are usually 2 by 4s or 2 by 6s (nominal) and are spaced 12, 16, or 24 inches apart on center. After the framing is put up, sheathing-- usually plywood or OSB -- is installed. (Sustainability-wise, it's important to note that both contain VOCs).

A concrete or masonry building wall consists of a monolithic material of either brick, stone, or reinforced concrete. The challenges often faced with this type of structure are placing electrical wiring, boxes, and switching; making penetrations for plumbing and HVAC; and attaching interior finish materials and artwork.

Structural frame walls utilize a column and beam system, infilled with a variety of materials such as studs, and insulation panels; structural insulation panels are made from wood or steel. In most cases, the exterior walls are insulated, but the interior walls will not usually need to be insulated unless for acoustical purposes.

Insulation is an important part of a wall for both thermal and acoustical reasons. The traditional materials for insulation are cellulose, batt, or rigid boards. Alternative options, primarily for sustainability reasons include recycled paper, recycled blue jeans, other natural fibers, or Icynene/spray foam (castor oil spray). Another component of a wall is the Vapor Retardant which prevents build-up of condensation within the wall cavities (which occurs when the exterior temp. is substantially different from the interior). The Vapor Retardant is always installed closer to the warmer side, which depends on the climate. 

Having discussed the structural and internal aspects of the wall, we've now come to the final layers! Exterior material options are certified wood shingles/boards, concrete, stucco, siding, metal, brick, or stone. The Interior wall is layered with gypsum wallboard (aka dry wall/ sheet rock) or plaster (which is more sustainable but more labor intensive with three coats and a lath). The interior wall can then be finished with all sorts of fun options: paint, tile, wood, brick/stone, or even wall textiles.

Paint is almost always used on an interior wall and adds a clean look or colorful pop to a room, but when picking a paint, it's important to consider the VOC content, life cycle, noise reduction, scrub-ability, and light reflectivity. Tile is a typical choice for wet areas such as bathroom and kitchens; it comes in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and colors and adds beauty, texture, and culture to a room. Wood paneling can be applied to the wall studs or over gypsum board, and can add warmth and a natural element to a room; varieties of finishes include wall panels, wainscot, shiplap, board and batten, etc. Brick or stone can simply be a continuation of the exterior wall or a decorative applied finish. Wall textiles may be used for acoustic and/or aesthetic purposes. I enjoyed learning a little bit about the different moldings and styles of casework, like the difference between a supportive molding vs. a terminating molding, as well as the history behind them. There is an endless variety of finish options and combinations which only makes the job of an Interior Designer so much more fun.

The last few considerations when it came to construction of walls from an interior design perspective were 1) understanding acoustical partitions, 2) understanding fire ratings for walls, 3) understanding doors and windows and 4) knowing what walls are load bearing and cannot be touched by the Interior Designer. Interior Designers are in charge of creating wall and door schedules, as well as finish schedules and plans.

Weekly Summary - Steelcase Case Study

The case study I read was a design of Steelcase’s Munich Learning + Innovation Center (LINC). The designers were trying to improve the everyday function of a diverse community of workers and also meet the modern needs of hybrid work.

Their concept:

"The designers drew inspiration from urban planning to create an array of interconnected neighborhoods that will enable people to easily flow from one work mode to the next and to interact with each other throughout the day. Neighborhoods become a destination where people feel comfort and confidence they can find their teammates and the tools they need to do their work. They are designed to provide a more humanized hybrid experience based on creating spaces that are more equitable, engaging and easy to use."

The design sought to encourage circulation and create a vibrant community between all departments, while also having spaces for quiet, concealed work and private meetings. In fact, the interior design director was quoted for noting their consideration of psychological, acoustical, and visual privacy." This leads me to talk a little bit about their use of partitions. As cool as the entire space is, since we talked about walls this week, I want to focus on my observations about their partition use. Though the study didn't talk directly about the technicality of any partitions, I was able to make some observations through the pictures:

1) I noted that there are multiple uses of partial partitions in community areas simply to define space and circulation. 2) The partitions used in meeting areas or more private spaces use partial glass to still incorporate a continuous flow throughout the building. 3) I can only assume based on the quote above and the function of the space, that the partitions used to create meeting spaces and private offices must have secure acoustics for privacy. 

Overall, the entire interior is gorgeous, innovative, and clearly serves a purpose. These pictures show the various uses of partitions that I mentioned.

Reinventing the Munich LINC - Steelcase