The concept is an exciting integrated design that fuses wind energy generation with a high-rise building’s structural and architectural form. The concept places vertical axis wind turbines between each floor and incorporated into the building skin. The independent turbines at each floor are energized by wind from any direction and flush doors can be actuated to maximize efficiency. The final building concept combines wind power and solar power generation to maximize year round energy generation. Initial estimates are the wind power system will offset 10% of the building’s energy consumption on an average day with 13 mph wind and 100% on a day with 28 mph wind.
The architecture is shaped by the forces of wind. It is known that wind turbulence occurs around high-rise structures. We have created a structure that allows the wind forces to drive vertical axis turbines incorporated into the building skin. These 4’ tall carbon-fiber-finned turbines placed horizontally between each floor to generate power for the structure. The turbines are independent at each floor and can be activated by wind from any direction. Flush fin doors can be closed over sections of the fins to ensure maximum benefit from the directional wind force. This design creates architecture that “works” rather than being static and energy-absorbing/consuming.
Research will develop and demonstrate unique wind power generation with a turbine allowing integration with building structures. The research will focus on the design and development of the turbine geometry, bearing, and power generation system. The final concept will be developed for 3 separate scenarios, fully integrated building, retrofit and stand-alone units. In the former case, the building produces the majority of the power it consumes from the local wind. The proposed research will demonstrate power generation capability, measure turbine efficiency, determine how much power can be extracted by estimating the power coefficient, determine the impact of windbreaks (screens) on efficiency, determine the impact of cascade design, blade shape and spacing, and design and test a rotor bearing and power generation concept.
The sustainable features include:
Carbon-fiber vertical axis turbines that use the wind to create power
Reduced wind turbulence due to aerodynamic form
Rainwater collection
Solar film on the triple insulated low e curtain wall glass system
There is no “roof” or contributed heat island effect
Polished stainless steel skin provides heat reflection
Building base design deflects façade downdraft wind
Lower level glass covered lobby with water sheeting over the glass to reduce heat and create atmospheric space below
Parking is planned for an adjacent garage or underground
Project Facts:
Total Building Size: 616,647 s.f.
Site size: 144,400 s.f.
Retail size: 119,286 s.f.
Tower size: 497,361 s.f.
Building Height: 774 feet
Total number of stories: 48
Maximum width of building – 300 ft. diameter
Projected Construction Cost: $300,000,000
United States Patent No. 8,253,266
Filed on January 19, 2010; issued August 28, 2012
Project Team:
Rand Elliott, FAIA, Design and Lead Investigator
Elliott + Associates Architects
Brian Eyerman, Visualization
Skyline Ink
Jeanette Elliott, Copy Editor
Ackerman McQueen
Ackerman McQueen
Jamey D. Jacob, PhD, PE, Co-investigator
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University
David M. Battle, CPE, Cost Consultant
Pre Construction Services Inc.
Wind turbine studies conducted at Oklahoma State University.
Turbinomics real-time animation
