Building Evaluation Lecture

To provide an overview of building evaluation approaches, interior and exterior, especially post-occupancy evaluation and design review.

Post occupancy evaluation example outline (author, Krista Waitz)

Title

Acknowledgements

Introduction (purpose of the project, context of building, its architect, history, site, etc.)

Client (mission statement, organizational chart, staffing and major drivers of change)

Methodology (focus groups, interviews and with which stakeholders)

Summary of major findings

Heath/ safety/security

Functional/ efficiency issues

Social/ psychological/ cultural/ aesthetic issues

Time frames (critical path to make changes, drivers of change, short-term, long term)

Cost

Detailed findings

Building overall

Occupants

Activities/time

Occupant requirements

Health/safety and security findings

Functional requirements and fit to existing structure

Psychological requirements

Ambient environment (heat/cooling, olfactory, ventilation, lighting, acoustics)

Locational requirements (communication face to face, technology)

Production of product requirements

Occupant equipment requirements

Materials/finishes

Codes/agency requirements

Area

Individual space categories

Occupants

Activities/time

Occupant requirements

Health/safety and security findings

Functional requirements and fit to existing structure

Psychological requirements

Ambient environment (heat/cooling, olfactory, ventilation, lighting, acoustics)

Locational requirements (communication face to face, technology)

Production of product requirements

Occupant equipment requirements

Materials/finishes

Codes/agency requirements

Benchmarking

Identification of similar facilities

Review of programs/ space benchmarked

Literature review of state of the art for building type

Appendix

Data gathering instruments

Meeting notes

References

Initial program for building

As built floor plans

Space assignments and schedules

Building related accident reports

Records of theft, vandalism and security problems

Maintenance and repair records

Energy audits

Interior Design Theory: Building Code, Cost Estimating and Specifications

Part one of the course is designed to develop an understanding and daily use of national building codes and evaluation techniques. The second part of the course focuses on cost estimating for interior architecture and writing simple specifications as well as studying the impact on cost and design outcome.

Example discussion

Interior codes checklist (knows the requirements and is able to prepare a codes review)

Determine which codes are required (model code and other code publications, standards and tests, government regulations, local codes and ordinances)

Occupancy requirements

Occupancy classification and occupancy Loads (type of occupancy, calculate occupancy loads, review specific occupancy requirements/space, compare code and accessibility requirements)

Considerations and definitions:

Occupancy (refers to the use of a space or type of activity intended in that space. the space can be a room in a building or an entire building. what classification does the building fall under)

Occupancy load (refers to the number of people, or occupants, using a space. code determines the maximum number of people allowed at once given time.)

Minimum type of construction, building type (represents a specific class or category within occupancy)

Most common types of classifications (based on number of people occupying the space at one time and the level of hazards present)

Assembly occupancies

Business occupancies

Educational occupancies

Hazardous occupancies

Institutional occupancy (restrained versus unrestrained)

Mercantile occupancy

Residential occupancy

Storage occupancies

Unusual structures or occupancies

Common hazards may affect classification (large groups of people, specific building types, night occupants, spread of fire, toxic heat or gasses, unprotected openings, lack of adequate space, height and size of building, building code, minor occupancies, mixed occupancies, new versus existing use, design loads (dead and live loads)).

Occupancy loads (amount of square footage/occupant = load factor and occupancy load=floor area/ occupant factor

NSF/USF/RSF/GSF

Means of egress (determine quantity and type of each means of egress, calculate travel distances, calculate minimum widths, determine signage, compare code and accessibility requirements, and check all enforced standards)

Fire prevention requirements (determine fire and smoke barriers, determine through penetration openings protection, review types of fire tests and ratings required, detection and suppression systems, compare code and accessibility requirements, check all enforced standards)

Plumbing requirements (types of fixtures required, calculate number of each fixture required, compare code and accessibility requirements, coordinate with engineer)

Mechanical requirements (determine access and clearances, configure zoning and thermostat locations, determine air distribution compliance, and coordinate with engineer)

Electrical requirements (location of outlets, switches, and fixtures, determine emergency power and lighting requirements, determine types of communication requirements, check accessibility requirements, accessibility compliance, coordinate with engineer)

Finish and furniture requirements (tests and ratings, special finish requirements, special furniture requirements, code and accessibility, check all enforced standards)