Studio Observations

Alyssa Hankus

03/25/12

IAR 302

Learning Environments Essay

“We are IARc,” a statement that needs to read within the studio space in every aspect. We need to be branded. This concept is something that stood out to me within the presentations. It is our job as a student body within IARc to leave our mark, and our legacy on the department. The students complain, myself included, about how blank the studio space is instead of creating an identity. When Patrick said “we teach in your studio space, not ours,” that resonated with me.

“Create your own experience, and bring your own identity to it.” It is my goal as I set out to redesign the studio to allow the students and the professors to make the space their own within the designed parameters. Relating this idea back to “Buildings that Learn” the text suggested that it was optimal to have a space that can be customized again-and-again. Now that the “new” has worn off of the building it is time to take charge of it and make it our own.

During the social behavioral group’s presentation they stated that we as individuals require human interaction/relationships, customizable spaces, and boundaries. This group also recommended that we as individuals need opportunities to personalize our environment (as a whole and individual spaces). These are all elements that need to be addressed when redesigning the studio (both 3^rd and 4^th floors).

 It was the desire of the student body of IARc when polled to have elements such as a “cozy corner,” task lighting, an increased amount of computer space outside of the digital lab, places for photography staging, food supply/preparation, showers, storage, personal tackable spaces, and improved sound barriers. It is my goal to tackle the majority of these projects and address their needs as a department. I have chosen to team up with four others in order to accomplish this goal.

As a group we will be working on individual aspects as well as pairing for schematic design, FF & E, schedules, and other targeted goals that the group has agreed upon. It is an objective for this to be an all-encompassing project, but one that each of can walk away from with something individual for our portfolios.  Individually I will be designing break out spaces for technology, as well as collaborating with Brian Peck on proposed furniture designs, and assisting on the group sections spoken about before (FF&E, schematic design, etc…).

Currently our studio has quite a few problems that we as a whole are concerned about and will address. An example of this would be technology accessibility. The outlets we have in the floors do not service us well. They are either covered, or not within reach in many cases. Another problem is acoustic within the studio as a whole. Sound carries between studio sections as well as through the different floor levels. Lighting is a huge problem as well. The lighting system we have now is unreliable and does not provide enough light at night, or enough light for tasking. Temperature control is yet another issue. It is our group’s hope that we can address as many of these concerns and more as possible.

Cultural Self-Portrait

Anthropometrics

(click image to see in entirety) 

I chose to measure myself and my boyfriend, Michael for this exercise in ergonomics. I found that for each of us, our wingspan was almost equal length to our heights. There were not many similarities between our measurements to one another. He is 6’3” and I am 5’6”. This made for drastic differences in our measurements. With that said this made me consider how I would design for two individuals with heights that are dramatically different. For one, the heights of cabinets, counter tops, sinks, the arms on chairs, tables, and shower walls/shower heads would have to be taken into serious consideration. All of these items would have to be to at such a height that both people could use them comfortably. I believe most of these would have to be adjustable (shower head, cutting surfaces, etc…).  In his current home he has to bend his head to an uncomfortable degree just to be able to wash his hair. As designers we need to design these elements to suit the needs of our clients and not depend on industry standards to determine what we place in homes and commercial buildings. It is our job to consider humans, and that means in totality (height, weight, shape, disabilities, likes and dislikes, etc…).

Sketch Series 5.5

Light Sketch Series 5

Vanstory Lighting Company Field Trip

After visiting the Vanstory Lighting Company I came away having learned a tremendous amount about the differences between the use of LED lights and Fluorescent. I found it interesting that based on the markets now (at a commercial level) it almost as cost efficient to use LED lighting as compared to Fluorescent. I was also surprised at the amount of options of light fixtures that are available with a LED lamp. I went into the field trip expecting LED lights to be dimmer and more incandescent than Fluorescent. I was pleasantly surprised that they produce a similar amount of light, and yet their lifespan is much greater, and they are a greener product.

Light Sketch Series 4

Freight Elevator

IARC Library

Small Elevator

(image finished and waiting to be downloaded)

Freight Elevator:

1.

a)    Down Light

b)   Recessed

c)    2 Luminaries, 4 lamps, CFL, CRI 62, CCT 4200 lamp life >8000 hours

d)   Bi pin base

e)    Sylvania osram

f)     Lumens=135      Lighting Distribution= 2x8

g)    Brushed aluminum casing with acrylic filter

h)   Diffused acrylic

i)     Fixed

j)     2 Ballasts

k)    Elevator- dry

l)     N/A no louvers or baffles

2.

a)    Vertical Circulation

b)   Ambient

c)    Luminaries relies on refraction of metallic surfaces

d)   Change filter to baffle system in order to diffuse the light

IARC Library:

1.

a)    Down light

b)   Suspended

c)    16 Luminaries, 32 lamps, CFL, CRI 62, CCT 4200 lamp life >8000 hours

d)   Bi pin base

e)    Sylvania osram

f)     Lumens=135      Lighting Distribution= 2x8

g)    Aluminum casing

h)   Diffused acrylic

i)     Fixed

j)     2 Ballasts

k)    Dry

l)     Baffle

2.

a)    Reading/research

b)   Ambient/ task

c)    Casts light downwards + upwards – washes the room

d)   Provide different luminaries to allow for reading and other activities

Elevator (Smaller one)

1.

a)    Down light

b)   Recessed

c)    Incandescent 2500 hours, 36 luminaries, 36 lamps

d)   Single contact medium screw

e)    Phillips Lighting

f)     Lumens – 935, light distribution – wide beam

g)    Aluminum casing

h)   Glass

i)     Fixed

j)     None

k)    Dry

l)     N/A

2.

a)    Vertical circulation

b)   Ambient

c)    Produces warm light that reflects off metallic walls

d)   Brighten the space, and add lights that provide more luminance. Currently the space is too dim.