Go Ahead, Try a Taste!

We’ve all been to COSTCO and worked our way down the main aisle sampling pizza rolls, pudding and pomegranate juice. Sometime I feel guilty making a meal of these offerings, but I remind myself that the manufacturers willing do this because it results in higher sales.

Architects frequently get asked to provide services for free and, like those manufacturers of mini hot dogs, we are generally happy to do so. Reasons for giving away the fruit of our experience, training and talent include:

Gratitude for a long-term relationship – If we have done several projects for you, it’s probably because the relationship has been mutually beneficial. For the sake of continuing that relationship we will gladly help you:

• prepare a presentation to your board
• estimate the cost of a project so you can make a budget request, or 
• do a quick zoning analysis so you can make an offer on a piece of property

To help you see the forest for the trees – If you’re managing a campus full of buildings or a facility that is busy 24/7 you may not be able to see beyond the crisis at hand. We can bring “fresh eyes” to your situation and quickly spot a simple renovation or addition that you hadn’t considered that will yield big returns for small costs.

The risk justifies the reward – Many of our commercial clients risk their time and money to make projects happen. We’ll gladly share in that risk if the reward on the back-end of the project is proportional.

You are doing a good thing – Social service agencies and community-care groups often have critical facility needs and few resources to address them. We don’t mind helping with occupancy changes, addressing code violations or helping you get permits for building projects in the name of helping you serve your community.

So, go ahead, contact us at Blue Ridge Architects and ask for the freebie. If we can help, we will do so gladly. If we can’t, we’ll either suggest other resources or respectfully explain why.   

Safe by Design

Well-designed buildings and grounds contribute to the safety of those that live and work there. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design – or CPTED, for those of you with a passion for acronyms – is a time-tested approach to making buildings and public spaces safer.

There are three components to CPTED:

• Natural Surveillance – The configuration and location of buildings should enable observation of the surrounding outdoor areas. This means windows must be placed with care, obstructions such as signs and landscaping, must be eliminated, and outdoor gathering places need to be strategically located and properly lit.
• Natural Access Control –Defining points of entry to neighborhoods, parks and developments through the use of fencing, landscaping and signage is vital. Having visitors come and go where they can be seen lets residents know who is in the area.



Harrison Heights Public  Housing -- Harrisonburg, VA

• Territorial Reinforcement -- Definition of public and private space is critical. In multi-family housing situations, making sure that each resident’s outdoor space is delineated promotes pride of ownership and encourages custodial care.  Porches and carefully crafted outdoor areas can be transitional spaces that the encourage residents to welcome visitors.

Even the safest, most well-designed spaces will deteriorate if not maintained.  Planning and budgeting for on-going up-keep is crucial.  Surfaces should be easy to clean and re-finish.  Places for junk to accumulate should be eliminated.  

If you’re interested in learning more about promoting safe behavior through good design, contact us at Blue Ridge Architects.

The 60 Minute Master Plan

A client once complained: “We pay $15,000 for a ‘Master Plan Update’ and all we get are pretty pictures of things we can’t afford to build!” 

Master planning is a process whereby organizations make sure the use of their buildings and site aligns with their strategic goals.  It is a tool for reassuring constituencies that their capital assets are being utilized fully and effectively.

Too often, however, architects focus on creating an aesthetic vision for a campus and don’t give their client the long-term data needed to make sound, present-day decisions. Other times the strategic vision is not fully in focus yet the client needs to move ahead with the first phase of development confident that they are not precluding future possibilities.  In these situations we recommend “The 60 Minute Master Plan.”

In about 60 minutes (and without spending $15,000) your architect should be able to lead you through the following considerations:

1. Environmental  Issues

• Natural Features –What streams, wetlands, woods, animal habitats, etc. should be protected and featured?
• Topography – Are there slopes on which it is too steep to build or too expensive to grade for roads and parking?
• Sun and Wind – Which direction should buildings be oriented for natural ventilation, day-lighting and/ or solar energy?
• Soils – Are there areas of soil that will not support building or will not drain properly?  Are there hazardous substances buried on the site?
• Drainage – How can disruption of natural drainage patterns be minimized?  Where should storm water management and treatment areas be placed?

2. Regulatory and Legal

• What the zoning restrictions are on uses and density of development?
• How much parking is required if the site is built to maximum density?
• Are there easements?
• Is this property subject to design reviews by governmental or civic groups?

3. Utilities

• Is there sufficient electrical power, water and sanitary waste capacity to support the maximum allowable density?
• If the property does not have public utilities, does the local government have plans to bring them to the site?
• Can utilities around the perimeter of the property to maintain interior open space?

4. Circulation

• How can vehicular circulation and parking areas on the site be minimized?
• Are adequate provisions made for safe pedestrian and bicycle circulation?
• Is the site accessible to public transportation?

5. Building Design

• Can buildings be clustered to minimize disturbed areas?
• Are initial phases of development located close to existing site entry points to keep future options open?

Consideration of these basic issues can help you avoid most planning mistakes.  Blue Ridge Architects can help you chart a plan of development that assures the highest and best long term use and provide sound data for near-term decisions. For more information, contact us at info@blueridgearchitects.com

Defining Good Architecture: Well-Crafted

The difference between an ordinary building and an excellent building is the attention to detail.  Well-crafted buildings sweat the details both in planning and execution.

Attention to Detail in Design

Often the pressures of time and limited fees tempt us to design the basic layout and “look” of the building and not worry about where the switches, drawers, and diffusers go – letting that up to the client and contractor to work out during construction.  Often the persons that will live and work in the space are not the ones making decisions during construction.  The result is work areas that aren’t efficient or devices located randomly on walls or trim and hardware that don’t match the rest of the building.  A little care, or one more conversation between architect and client, could have gotten the fire alarm device aligned with the light switch or the extra file drawer needed in the nurses’ station.

A Quick Story

My favorite example is the client who wanted a “hip, cool” work space for his software company.  He told us to “just give him a floor plan to get a permit” and he would work out the details during construction.  We introduced some interesting angles and suggested how he could use changes in the ceiling and flooring to define work zones without using walls.  

When we went to the grand opening, we congratulated him on the bold colors, bamboo floor and funky lighting. Then we saw that he trimmed the doors with colonial, residential molding and used Victorian-looking door hardware – we couldn’t decide if he was being ironic or didn’t realize the incongruity.

It takes a Skilled Workers

But even the best designed details need skilled execution.  We’ve all toured the spec-built home where cabinet doors don’t align or bind or you can see the joints in the drywall.  Some people may not be attuned to seeing details whether good or bad, but once a person’s eye is trained to recognize good craftsmanship, its absence is discouraging.

 

A simple building well-detailed and carefully built will always be more satisfying that an ambitious design poorly executed.

Jump-Start Your Project

Do you have a building project that has stalled?  Maybe you're having a hard time getting all the stakeholders behind the project.  Are you confused about the options and what your project will cost?

One solution is to hold a design workshop.  A design workshop brings together your building committee, organizational leadership and key stakeholders with Blue Ridge Architects and your contractor for two days of intensive study of your project. Typically we work at your site or some other venue accessible to your organization and where we can avoid the temptation of mobile phones and email.  Here's how it works:

Pre-workshop:  Through phone interviews and questionnaires we gather information about your program, budget and site

Day 1:  The design team starts roughing-out two or three concepts.  Throughout the day the client is welcome to stop by and observe progress.  We are constantly in dialogue with the contractor about appropriate materials and systems

Evening 1:  We present the initial concepts -- with plans and sketches -- to your project team which can be as large as 12 to 20 people.  Each concept has a corresponding budget. We come armed with tracing paper, flip charts and calculators so we can try out different ideas and crunch numbers during the meeting.  We take notes and usually get to bed late

Day 2:  Using the comments from the previous evening we distill the multiple concepts  into one preferred scheme.  We'll build simple computer models to show you what the building will look like

Evening 2:  We show the day's work and listen carefully to your feed back.  You leave the meeting with a conceptual design, a tested budget and timeline for implementation -- all vital tools for decision-making, communication and fund-raising


Follow-up:  We prepare a final package that includes updated floor and site plans, a photo-realistic rendering of the building and a narrative of project scope and budget


Benefits of design workshop:

1. Better Ideas -- We believe a group of people committed to a common goal can produce a result that is greater than any individual could produce by him or her self.  You will have the confidence that you have fully explored your options

2. High-Quality Information -- With your contractor working beside Blue Ridge Architects, not only will you have a functional plan, you will have a scheme that is "build-able".  You will have a contractor-tested budget and a realistic time line for implementation.  You can move forward with realistic expectations

3. Faster Consensus -- Most not-for-profits, service agencies and churches have a diverse constituency.  Participation in the workshop gets all of your stakeholders pulling in the same direction faster.  It helps cut down on second-guessing

4. Momentum -- The process is fun and people leave the meetings anxious to see the project move to the next step

For those of us in the design and construction industry who are committed to collaborative design and construction, a design workshop is a vital first step.  If you want more information, call or email Blue Ridge Architects