Chapter 6 Formulation of the design brief
6.3 The Brief
• Ability to expand at the same site.
In addition to these aspects, Putnam Gould (1986, 50 - 51) lists:
• Access to utilities as the building is a heavy consumer of power and water, and has specific waste disposal requirements.
• Consideration of the surrounding environment as noise, dust and vibrations may be detrimental to the building functions.
• The immediate and surrounding environment should be pleasant (with views, landscaping etc.) to be a positive factor in recruitment of personnel.
6.2.8 Architectural form and massing
The site plan should be simple, orderly and regular and should allow for expansion. The visitor's entrance should be obvious and signposted to minimise visitors wandering around on site (Griffin: 2000, 27). In addition, Griffin (2000, 28) suggests that a single-storey laboratory component is optimum as multi-storey requires vertical ducts which increase the risk of the spread of fire [also confirmed by Seitter: 2007] and increases the building construction costs with added circulation. This obviously needs to be balanced with other design considerations.
6.2.9 Design objectives
The major design objectives are to create a pleasant environment for human habitation while still providing the functional requirements that facilitate research as well as providing for a 'social building'. "Science functions best when it is supported by architecture that facilitates structures and informal interaction, flexible use of space, and sharing of resources". (Watch: 2007, n.p.) The building also needs to be appropriately serviced.
6) Parking
An appropriate amount of parking needs to be provided. Local Authority regulations require a ratio of bays to total area of the entire facility, but this results in a gross oversupply of parking needs for the amount of users indicated. fllf parking spaces must be computed on the basis of gross floor area per space for all occupancies, the number of spaces for a lab may be unduly high" (Putnam Gould:
1986, 51). It is therefore appropriate to exclude mechanical spaces as these are unoccupied and laboratory spaces as there is a duplication of occupation with the research office space.
requirements
2) Laboratory Support Spaces:
Facilities such as storage, glassware wash up, and locker rooms are included.
3) Researcher offices
Individual offices for senior researchers as well as functions that require privacy and open-plan offices for individuals involved in teamwork research are included. Amenities such as meeting rooms and break-away spaces will also be included
4) Administration offices
General administration functions will be accommodated, separate from the laboratory environment. Included in this section is building support functions such as a central computer server room and general purpose conference rooms.
5) Social Amenities
Apart from the incidental social spaces, specific social facilities also need to be included. These include a cafeteria, library and outdoor seating area.
are both open and closed laboratories with particular 1) Laboratory spaces:
Included in this laboratories and
6) Parking
An appropriate amount of parking needs to be provided. Local Authority regulations require a ratio of bays to total area of the entire facility, but this results in a gross oversupply of parking needs for the amount of users indicated. fllf parking spaces must be computed on the basis of gross floor area per space for all occupancies, the number of spaces for a lab may be unduly high" (Putnam Gould:
1986, 51). It is therefore appropriate to exclude mechanical spaces as these are unoccupied and laboratory spaces as there is a duplication of occupation with the research office space.
requirements
2) Laboratory Support Spaces:
Facilities such as storage, glassware wash up, and locker rooms are included.
3) Researcher offices
Individual offices for senior researchers as well as functions that require privacy and open-plan offices for individuals involved in teamwork research are included. Amenities such as meeting rooms and break-away spaces will also be included
4) Administration offices
General administration functions will be accommodated, separate from the laboratory environment. Included in this section is building support functions such as a central computer server room and general purpose conference rooms.
5) Social Amenities
Apart from the incidental social spaces, specific social facilities also need to be included. These include a cafeteria, library and outdoor seating area.
are both open and closed laboratories with particular 1) Laboratory spaces:
Included in this laboratories and
6.3.2 Accommodation schedule formulation
In the formulation of the brief. an analysis of areas of precedent and case studies was prepared, attached as Appendix B. From this analysis, an average ratio of spaces was determined. The client's needs were then used to determine an initial accommodation schedule. This was then compared and contrasted with the averages determined to adjust the area allocation to be more accurate. The accommodation schedule is attached as Appendix A.
6.3.2 Accommodation schedule formulation
In the formulation of the brief. an analysis of areas of precedent and case studies was prepared, attached as Appendix B. From this analysis, an average ratio of spaces was determined. The client's needs were then used to determine an initial accommodation schedule. This was then compared and contrasted with the averages determined to adjust the area allocation to be more accurate. The accommodation schedule is attached as Appendix A.