COR / Oppenheim Architecture + Design

Written by Kelly Minner
Published on November 08, 2010

Miami’s Design District will soon be home to not just another building, but to COR. The ambitious project to design the first sustainable mixed-use condominium in Miami has been getting a lot of buzz and rightfully so. At 400′ tall it represents a dynamic synergy between architecture, structural engineering, and ecology. Extracting power from its environment utilizing the latest advancements in wind turbines, photovoltaics, and solar hot water generation COR upon completion will be seeking a LEED Platinum certification. The polka dotted hyper-efficient exoskeleton shell simultaneously provides building structure, thermal mass for insulation, shading for natural cooling, enclosure for terraces, armatures for turbines, and loggias for congregating on the ground. Comprising commercial, office, fitness, live/work, and pure residential spaces (113 residences from studios to penthouses)—COR provides a uniquely flexible platform for lifestyle enhancement.

Last week on ArchDaily we featured our interview with Chad Oppenheim founding partner of Oppenheim Architecture + Design. Below is a portion of the interview regarding the design of COR, and the full interview can be found here.

Follow the break for drawings and renderings of COR, along with a list of environmental design techniques incorporated into the design.

Architects: Oppenheim Architecture + Design Location: Miami, Florida, United States Project Team: Chad Oppenheim, Carlos Ramos, Juan López, Carolina Jaimes, Juan Calvo, Hugo Mijares, Jessica Santaniello Barrera, Rodrigo Londoño and Camilo Orozco Client: Nexus Development Group Project Area: 480,000 sqf Project Year: Estimated 2011 Renderings: Dbox

Environmental design techniques incorporated into the design:

On-site renewable energy (e.g., photovoltaic panels, wind turbine): Wind turbines, solar hot water

Gray water system

Green roof of penthouse units and with low-water landscaping, pool area with Renewable materials (e.g., bamboo flooring)

Bamboo Floors

Recycled glass tiles

Offering option of Concrete or “Paper Stone” counter tops options for residential units

High efficiency plumbing fixtures

Waterless urinals

Dual flush toilets

White single-ply thermoplastic membrane roofing on mechanical area

Green Roof: Penthouse unit terraces and gardens

Highly insulated walls and roofs

Low-e glass

Operable windows for office and residential

High fly ash content in all concrete

Low VOC paints and adhesives

Local stones and materials rather than imports with embodied energy

Bicycle infrastructure: Encourage residents and office employees to bike; bike racks located in parking levels

Access to public transit: Walkable distance to bus stops

The skin is a concrete structural sheer wall; providing thermal mass and solar shading for natural cooling, and reduction of solar gains. Reflective nature o white façade further resists solar gains

In working with the structural engineer and green consultant, a thermal mass analysis will define the thickness of this wall to efficiently cool the interior spaces

The south façade will be set back 6′-0″ from this wall to further reduce solar gains to interiors, while providing double height terraces, with opportunities for natural ventilation of duplex units