• Flexible Framework for complex, information rich work

• Multi-Disciplinary

• Iterative with many feedback loops

• It is cooperative

• Cal Poly & Mexican students working together in Puebla, Mexico. WPM, Co-instructor

The ‘Universal’ Design Process Basic Characteristics

• Problem Definition & “Acceptance”

• Site Inventory & Analysis

• Program Development & Analysis

• Ideation & Conceptual Design

• Schematic Design

• Design Development

• Construction Documents

• Bid Process

• Field Observation & Follow Up

• Post Occupancy Evaluation

Phases in the Design Process

Problem Definition• Think first ~ What is the

problem you are trying to solve?

• With Client & Team

• Consider

• Who are intended users

• Initial Site Visit

• Intended Uses

• Community Needs & Values

• Physical & Planning Context

• Other Sketch by Barry Gazo, JJR Ann Arbor MI

Site Inventory & Site Analysis

• Site inventory

• The gathering and evaluation of pertinent information about the site that is relevant to the problem you are trying to solve

• Problem definition

• Helps you decide what pertinent information to gather & evaluate during site inventory.

Site Inventory

• Includes Information Gathered on the Site

• Vegetation types and condition and location

• Aerial photographic maps, utility maps

• On site photographic documentation

• Spatial Characteristics of the site

• Experiential Characteristics ~ views, sounds, smells, etc

• Circulation Issues, access, desire paths, etc.

• Context, connections, & edge conditions for the site

• Topographic conditions, erosion, etc

• Zoning, planning reports, soils boring reports, wetland mapping

• And More

Site Visits & Site Inventory

• The information you glean from a site visit must be recorded in a clear organized way

• Photographs of the site cross referenced to a topographic base map

• Notes and sketching/diagraming on a site topographic base map

• A small tape recorder

• Or other methods

• AN ORGANIZED APPROACH TO SITE VISITS IS NECESSARY

Loyola University Chicago Site Existing Conditions

• A Site Inventory Map

• A Context Inventory for a proposed project on Lake Michigan

• Littoral Movement of Sand along the shoreline

• Politically Organized adjacent neighbors

• Existing landfills built further out into the lake

• Linkages & access and the neighborhoods

• Drawing by Bill MacElroy for JJR Ann Arbor MI

Site Analysis

• Site Analysis

• Makes critical judgment about what gathered information means

• Makes value judgments as to which are the critical issues, opportunities & constraints that must be addressed

• A SYNTHESIS site analysis diagram is prepared visually represent critical issues

• Significant projects include a text report

Site Analysis ~ Focused Category

• Spatial Evaluation

• Site form & structure

• Site rooms & character

• Linkages, corridors

• Experiential Evaluation

• Smell, visual, tactile scent, sounds

• Spirit of place: Genus Loci

• Issues, opportunities & constraints prioritized

• Student in class Study, Cal Poly SLO.

Site Analysis ~ Synthesis of Main Issues

• Analytical Evaluation

• Site under consideration

• Its cultural & natural context -- values & processes

• Connections & Edges

• Cultural & natural

• Off site and within site

• UW Student project, Bill MacElroy Instructor

Site Analysis Diagram

Dalton Lavoi Senior Design, Cal Poly SLO, Bill MacElroy Instructor

Program Development & Analysis

• Program refers the the activities, uses and major features intended for the ‘site” & their required support facilities

• “Client often has a general idea of the program he/she desires.

• Client typically wants creative development from LA

• Cal Poly LA Students Program

Program Spatial Relationship Studies

• Two Aspects

• 1) Spatial Relationships of program elements & uses to one another

• Close or removed

• Strong Connections or weak

• Image taken from “The Anatomy of a Park, Dalh & Molnar

Program Fit Analysis

• 2) Spatial Relationship of Site Uses to the Site

• Relationship of program elements to “Site Rooms” & features

• Student Program/Site relationship studies, WPM instructor

Conceptual Design

• This phase can and often does begin during the site inventory and analysis phase

• Some designers draw a distinction between the very early phases of the Conceptual Design Phase and refer to is as IDEATION

• Ideation consists of the earliest and quickest sketches and diagrams in the conceptual design phase. It is the beginning of the exploration of what can be!

Ideation & Conceptual Design

The Design Concept

• The Underlying, Unifying idea for the design

• Metaphor ~ The Site as Gateway, Passage

• Programatic ~ Maximize the expression of Water

• Poetic ~ Expresses the Journey of Life, Birth, Maturation, Family, Aging, Death

The Design Concept 2

• The Underlying, Unifying idea for the design

• Metaphor ~ The Site as Gateway, Passage

• Programatic ~ Maximize the expression of Water

• Poetic ~ Expresses the Journey of Life, Birth, Maturation, Family, Aging, Death

Design Process, Basic Characteristics

• Alternatives generated in exploration ~ Iterative!

• Hierarchical decisions -- movement from the general/big issues to more detailed issues -- within each phase through the process

• Standardized in Creative Problem Solving Pursuits

Early Conceptual Design Explorations/Ideation

• Quick & Exploratory

• Not self critical in a negative way -- free

• Think & draw simultaneously & freely

• Spatial ~ SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL PATTERN

• Considers Site Analysis, Site Structure, form, program

• Crit concept sketch w/Cal Poly SLO Student by Bill MacElroy

Student Exploration ~ Concept Ideation

• A free study of spatial flow, pedestrian movement, edge conditions.

Student Work, UW, Seattle. Bill MacElroy Instructor

Student Exploration ~ Ideation Phase

• An early conceptual design study of the structure, organization and linkages

Conceptual Design Diagram Study

• Site organizational structure, circulation, and land use distribution indicated.

Drawing by Andrew Wickham, Cal Poly SLO. Bill MacElroy Instructor

• Conceptual Design Characterized by

• Quick Exploration

• Alternatives

• Iterative Refinement

• Organizational Structure

• Key Program Elements

• Bold & Expressive• Concept Design Sketch by

Ken Cobb, JJR Ann Arbor MI

Conceptual Design Process

Conceptual Site Plan Diagram

• Subsequent to ideation, clarified conceptual design diagram options may be prepared

• clear site organization, circulation, placement of site features

• It does not offer detailed information, it is still a refined ‘bubble’ diagram

Early Schematic ~ Conceptual Design Exploration

• Doodle for a small custom stone garden fountain

• Loose sketch exploration yet some detail

• Design & doodle by Bill MacElroy, Olympia WA

Conceptual Master Plan Diagram

Senior Design work by Dalton LaVoie, Cal Poly SLO. Bill MacElroy Instructor

Schematic Design

Schematic Design Illustrative

Senior Design work by Dalton LaVoie, Cal Poly SLO. Bill MacElroy Instructor

Andrew Wickham Senior Project Drawubg

• Large Scale Urban Master Planning & Design on the Water Front, San Francisco

• Cal Poly SLO. Bill MacElroy Instructor

• Give a sense of realism

• People included

• Water feature becomes interactive

• Water feature takes advantage of grade fall

• Seating planters placed over structural beams below

• Design & Rendering by WPM, Rich Haag Associates

Detailed Illustrations for Schematic Design

• Section Elevation shows view beyond

• Elevation changes of the surface

• Central Features

• Transparency of vegetation to reveal federal architecture

Schematic Design is Illustrative

Schematic Design Master Plan

• Mixed Use Urban Water Front Renewal w/ thousand boat marina and mixed use facilities.

• Scale indicator, marina is 800 +/- boats averaging 40’ in length

• LA Lead Design Consultant

• Close work with Costal Engineer

• Major Design Development & Rendering by WPM with JJR, Ann Arbor Michigan. Site in Kenosha Wisconsin

Bridging Schematic & Design Development

Loyola University Chicago

• Schematic Plan for 19 Acres of Lake Fill

• Form determined by Littoral Movement studies and wave tank studies for shore line protection

• ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING

• Design Drawing by Bill MacElroy for JJR, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Loyola University Chicago

Lake Front Plaza Section Elevation ~ Design Development

Drawing by Bill MacElroy for JJR, Ann Arbor MI

Loyola University Chicago

• Schematic/DD Design Plan to provide pedestrian setting at heart of campus overlooking improvements and lake

Design & Drawing by Bill MacElroy for JJR, Ann Arbor MI

Loyola University Chicago

• Design Development Section Elevation thorough plaza access corridor.

• Growing refinement in dimension, form, vertical elevation (grading), materials

Design & Drawing by Bill MacElroy for JJR, Ann Arbor MI

Design Development

• Level of detail increases over schematic by degree

• Grading more detailed to existing conditions

• Illustrative

• Design & Sketch by WPM, Bellingham WA

Bridging Schematic & Design Development

• Plaza Sections

• Sense of scale with people and other features

• Understood by viewers

• Key dimensions, grade change & landscape planting illustrated.

• Design & Drawing by WPM for Rich Haag Associates in Seattle WA. Project in Bellingham WA.

Barkley Villiage, Bellingham WA

• Illustrative at development entry

• Architecture, circulation, paving, landscape, parking indicated accurately with true dimensions and understanding of topographic issues

• Program fleshed out and illustrated

• Design & Drawing by Bill MacElroy, Rich Haag Associates, Seattle WA

Barkley Villiage, Bellingham WA

• Schematic Design Options for a small sculpture garden on arrival axis

Design & Drawings by Bill MacElroy, Rich Haag Associates Seattle WA

Contract DocumentsTechnical Design Drawings Used to Bid & Build the Project

• Give a sense of realism

• People included

• Water feature becomes interactive

• Water feature takes advantage of grade fall

• Seating planters placed over structural beams below

• Design & Rendering by WPM, Rich Haag Associates

From this to.......

• How to build & bid

• Vertical & Horizontal Configuration Geometry

• Materials & detail design

• Performance & Safety liability

• Detail & Technical Design by Bill MacElroy. Rich Haag Associates, Seattle

Construction Documents

Contract Documents

• Aesthetic Detail Design

• Technical Detail Design

• Knowledge of Materials

• Spokane Federal Courthouse Plaza

• Coordinate with & manage other disciplines

• Technical & Detail Design by Bill MacElroy, Rich Haag Associates Seattle WA

The ResultRammed Earth Wall ~ Detail Design

• Reflecting regional character in material design

• Place Making

• Cutler Anderson Architects

• Understand technical requirements for performance and durability

• Use design tools to create interest at the human scale

• Contrast, light & shadow, proportion, texture, color, etc.• Article by WPM & Daniel Winterbottom,

UW, Seattle

Technical & Design Skill in Detailed Design

• Stone Veneer wall on CMU block core wall

• Notice joints, very nice and tight fit

• Note scale change in size of pieces to create contrast & interest

• Understand craft to create detail @ human scale

Understanding the Craft of Detail Design

• Erosion Control?

• Just outside Portland Oregon

• Dream homes here?

• Oregon environmentally enlightened so how does this happen?

• What can LA do?

Field Observation during Construction

The End of Our Design Process Presentation!