Steel Pipe Bending for a “Green” Greenhouse


Loyola University of Chicago has a new building going up called the Center for Sustainable Urban Living.  The bending of pipes 5-inch and 8-inch in diameter to various radiuses from 250ft to 12ft was used to help create the shape of the greenhouse..  The resulting structure forms a truss for a glass curtain wall designed to maximize sunlight in the winter garden’s growing area and to minimize glare for the surrounding buildings.

Steel Pipe Bending for Greenhouse

The greenhouse will be used to grow food and other plants year-round and to supply a cafe in the building.  The greenhouse and attached labs will function as a constant demonstration of urban agriculture making a closed food loop.

The center will incorporate distinctive green technology that will help show how living practices affect energy consumption.  This greenhouse is striving to become certified by the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED Gold Project.  The winter garden is shaped to assist natural ventilation, reducing the need for mechanical heating and cooling systems.  The unique curved shape of the winter garden also facilitates rain water harvesting.  A process of storm water collection will be used for irrigation in the greenhouse, and grey water systems will repurpose water from showers.

Archives

Copy link
Powered by Social Snap