This projects mission is to create a design process that leads to the integration of energy storage throughout urban settings in a way that uplifts and benefits communities. This will be done by researching each site and connecting the community’s needs with the environmental ones. The outcome is an energy storage installation that beautifies the urban landscape and brings communities together in a way that supports environmental sustainability. This type of visibility, interaction and relationship between the public and well designed energy storage will normalize this technology within urban spaces and help to push widespread adoption.

Research

I took all of the research that I conducted and distilled it into a list of design opportunities.

The five categories on the top of the list represent the needs of my five main stakeholders. The options below are actionable steps that can be used by the designers, artists and engineers to address the stakeholders needs.

I used this list throughout my project to help me find ways to address different spaces needs around the city. This list became my stakeholder criteria checklist, a key tool in my design process.

Stakeholder Criteria Checklist

Each applicable step that will be used will be highlighted. The idea is that the researchers, designers and engineers can access, comment on and edit this checklist though a collaborative online space.

Although different disciplines are responsible for different criteria, this is where they all come to form the big picture. The SCC can also be posted at the physical site of the installation or online for the public to see. It is an easy and transparent way to present the distilled research and give the viewer an idea of the installations function. If more information or justification is needed, the highlighted criteria can be clicked and it will link the viewer to the in depth research package that led to the decision.

Installation Research and Development Journey

This is each energy storage installations journey from start to finish. The first half of the process is the research phase, the second half is the development phase.

Overview

Here you see people enjoying the shade and seating next to the weekly market.

Input from community members through surveys and interviews helped to guide this design. They requested interesting seating, shade and shelter from the elements and an art installation.

The size of the battery chamber is dictated by the energy needs of the community centre and surrounding neighbourhood. It was lifted above the ground to provide the shade that the community requested.

According to my research and conversations with community centres around Toronto, seating outside of their buildings is important because it is a space where loitering is welcome before and after programming. It is a social extension of the space and connects the use of the park with the use of the centre. 

Overview

Due to the spacial constraints I designed the energy storage to be off of the ground by utilizing an already existing cavity of the building. This placement is unique because it is one of the only areas around the mall that has parking, making it ideal to incorporate EV charging stations. The land owners can sell energy for additional revenue. At the base of the posts are seats that can be used by pedestrians or people waiting for their car to charge. With the fast paced nature of downtown, seating provides a places to sit, pause and enjoy the outdoors and cityscape.

It is important for people to see and interact with this technology in a positive way. Clean technology is adopted through social phenomenons. Creating a positive interaction between people and energy storage will help to get people to love this technology and want to be around it. This could be a huge driver for cities to transition to clean energy.