Building Futures Together - A Q&A with KU's Dirt Works Studio and Apex Engineers

For over a decade, Apex Engineers has been providing structural engineering consulting services to the University of Kansas's School of Architecture & Design's Dirt Works Studio, an award-winning, third-year architecture designbuild studio.

From trailhead structures to sensory pavilions to classrooms, Apex Engineers has worked closely with Associate Professor Chad Kraus and his students to help bring students' designs to life, including this year's Phoenix House.

Hear from Chad Kraus and Apex Engineers' Principal, Michael Brunin, on what this partnership means to their respective organizations and the impact it has on students, the Lawrence community, and the future of the industry.

Chad Kraus, AIA - Associate Professor at Dirt Works Studio

How does the hands-on experience students gain from Dirt Works Studio help prepare them to be successful in the architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) industry?

The experiential learning approach of Dirt Works Studio mirrors various facets of professional practice, offering exposure to essential processes like design, project phasing, and the production of construction documents and material specifications. Collaborative efforts with design consultants, including Apex Engineers, facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the industry, encompassing aspects like cost estimation, material research, and engagement with regulatory bodies and the permitting process. Moreover, students delve into additional dimensions of the A/E/C industry, such as producing shop drawings, collaborating with subcontractors, researching and organizing the means and methods of construction, and sequencing construction activities. Essentially, the studio serves as both a practical living laboratory simulating architectural practice and a platform for expanded engagement with allied industry sectors. This immersive experience is designed to complement our conventional design studio sequence, nurturing diverse skills essential for professional success while fostering empathy and understanding in future construction partnerships.

How have Dirt Works Studio projects helped to benefit and connect students with the Lawrence community?

Aligned with our mission to educate future architects and leaders in the design of the built environment and contribute to the common good, Dirt Works Studio selects community partners whose objectives resonate with our own core values. Over the years, partnerships with organizations like the Kansas Biological Survey, Audio Reader, Douglas County Public Works, and Tenants to Homeowners have facilitated student involvement in projects addressing local issues such as land conservation, sustainability, universal design and inclusivity, and housing insecurity. Through direct collaboration with community stakeholders, students gain invaluable insights into pressing societal concerns, fostering a sense of responsibility and civic engagement. Furthermore, these projects serve as platforms for students to forge meaningful connections within both the local community and professional spheres, fostering mutual growth and collaboration.

This year's project, The Phoenix House, is a small, solar-powered, mass timber affordable support services home designed to assist members of the community transitioning from homelessness to stable and dignified housing. Can you delve into some of your studio's choices behind the design of this house?

The Phoenix House project epitomizes Dirt Works Studio's commitment to addressing the diverse affordable housing needs at the core of Tenants to Homeowners' mission, particularly supportive services housing. Prioritizing durability, sustainability, low-maintenance, long-term affordability, and aesthetics, the design incorporates innovative elements such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) for the structural shell of the home. This unconventional and pioneering choice - we believe this to be the first CLT home in Kansas - was chosen due to the material's durability and resiliency in relation to climate and severe weather; its strength and durability in relation to use; and its healthfulness in relation to occupant comfort; studies have shown that exposed wood in interior environments helps reduce stress levels while mass timber has been shown to help maintain good indoor air quality. It was also important to introduce students to a construction type that is rapidly growing in importance and will fundamentally reshape how cities respond to global climate change.

Sustainable design principles are further emphasized through common sense orientation, massing, and passive heating strategies as well as through energy-efficient systems, including a mini-split heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, hydronic radiant floor heating, low-flow fixtures, and LED lighting. By championing CLT and other environmentally sustainable materials, the studio not only is pioneering future-oriented construction practices but also underscores the imperative of mitigating the industry's carbon footprint.

Your studio explores environmentally sustainable and experientially fertile materials, such as rammed earth, mass timber, and bamboo.

In light of the urgent need to address climate change, Dirt Works Studio prioritizes materials and practices that mitigate both operational and embodied carbon emissions. Embracing materials like rammed earth, mass timber, and bamboo, the studio not only reduces environmental impact but also harnesses the inherent aesthetic and tactile qualities of natural materials. This holistic approach to sustainable construction not only aligns with the imperative of carbon neutrality but also fosters a more harmonious relationship between built environments and the natural world.

How does working with community partners, such as Apex Engineers, enhance the educational experience for Dirt Works Studio students and contribute to the success of your projects?

Collaboration with partners like Apex Engineers is integral to Dirt Works Studio's educational mission to enrich students' learning experiences and project outcomes. By bridging the gap between academia and the profession, partners like Apex Engineers provide invaluable insights and resources, enriching students' understanding of real-world challenges and solutions. Moreover, the generosity of pro-bono engineering services underscores a shared commitment to community welfare, which in turn, fosters an ethos of innovation and excellence within the studio.

Michael Brunin, PE - Principal at Apex Engineers

Could you describe Apex Engineers' role in providing structural engineering expertise for The Phoenix House project? What were some notable challenges that your team helped students navigate?

Apex provided structural engineering consulting in a traditional manner on The Phoenix House, but we were most involved in the early schematic design and development. The Dirt Works Studio had grand ideas and designs for this project from the beginning, which is consistent on all of their projects. With a few minor structural suggestions and tweaks to the design and aesthetics, their vision became a reality. There are vaulted ceilings throughout most of the home, with the CLT roof panels and tops of walls secured with exposed steel tension rods. A frost-protected shallow foundation was implemented to provide an economical foundation solution that also allowed extra insulation to heighten the energy efficiency of the home. Dirt Works succeeded in pushing the envelope of traditional design to achieve their intent.

As a KU alum, what does it mean to you to stay so heavily involved with the KU School of Architecture & Design through your work with Dirt Works Studio?

As an Architectural Engineering student at KU, I was fortunate enough to take two and a half years of architectural design studios alongside School of Architecture Students. Recollecting on the energy and enthusiasm those design studio possessed, it is always a fun and rewarding experience for Apex Engineers to have a small part in these projects. Not only do we have the opportunity to help cultivate a real-world collaborative process with the Studio during the design phases, but we also get to see the projects become a reality through construction.

What is your favorite Dirt Works Studio project you have been a part of?

It's challenging to pick just one project, but the Sensory Pavilion was one of my favorites. The project mixed several materials, including rammed earth, cast in place concrete, exposed steel rods, and a mass timber roof with a custom cantilevered design. It took several rounds of collaboration to achieve the final design.