Design Tools
Our design process combines time-honored techniques—listening, critical problem solving, and hand sketching—with the latest computer visualization and analysis technology. Following are some of the tools we use to enhance the collaborative exchange of ideas and arrive at a singular vision for each project.
Charrettes:
A charrette brings together project team members, clients, and stakeholders to jointly brainstorm ideas during a session lasting from four to eight hours. Focused on specific project issues, these group meetings are conducted throughout all design phases. Participants sketch, build models, write and discuss options. Taking advantage of the collective input and multiple points of view, charrettes enable us to quickly develop a design direction based on thoroughly vetted ideas.
3D Rapid Prototyping:
During early programming, this interactive design tool allows stakeholders to participate in building design by quickly testing different functional layouts. As specific information is acquired during client meetings, we build a working 3D model of each functional area. By evaluating massing and spatial arrangements in real time, we immediately see how different decisions impact flexibility, adjacencies, and overall building form. Using this tool, we build client consensus, greatly reduce project risk, and avoid later changes that can impact cost and schedule.
Deep Dives:
The "deep dive" process involves studying a key issue in much greater detail than is typical for a particular phase of the project. This early investigation often uncovers opportunities that may have been overlooked due to late integration into the project design schedule. For example, on a recent project we reduced the overall building area by 15 percent while increasing the lab bench top space available for research. To achieve this considerable savings, we worked with each lab user group during programming and early schematic design to specifically lay out each piece of equipment.
Conceptualizing:
Once we have a basic understanding of programmatic, contextual, and aesthetic issues for your project, we start to investigate the project's formal architectural expression. We develop massing, materiality, and exterior/interior spatial relationships. To generate multiple options or solutions, we use quick-study 3D software such as Google© SketchUp. Through internal design reviews and interviews, we refine options to identify a single unified direction.