pre-construction-design-drafting

[pre-construction-design-drafting]

What Architectural Design Features Are Specific to Schools?

Nurturing, guiding, educating and preparing the minds of tomorrow for the challenges of the future, schools and their design must evolve to keep pace with societal changes. Some design features, though, are constant. Incorporating school design principles with functionality, architects and designers must be committed to careful consideration and best practice methods while designing a school. Reliable architectural CAD drafting services and accurate architectural BIM services can strengthen the impact of a well-thought out design, making it easy to edit and modify design features.

Some of the most fundamental requirements for a school’s architectural design are integration of technology, safety and security, multipurpose areas and outdoor learning.

Integration of Technology

In today’s world, many children are unable to fathom a world without the internet. Modern schools must innovate so that students can access networks from any space on the campus and be able to view or present their work at any point in the school building. It becomes important to wire the entire school, even outdoor spaces.

In a relatively short space of time, screens, projectors and sound systems are moving to halls, common areas, cafeterias and even staircases, rather than stay put in classrooms. Stairways can feature carpeted student seating, overhead projectors, large screens and wireless access to lectures and presentations during project-based learning. This will prepare them for modern work environs.

Safety & Security

Increasingly, especially in Western countries, schools have become unwilling venues for terror acts, besides regular student bullying. To guard against intruders, schools typically have a single-entry point and limit access to outsiders. Currently, an increasing number of schools are installing double lock entries (2 locked doors to pass through) with sign-ins and video surveillance.

Helping to prevent bullying is slightly more complicated. Since most incidents of bullying occur in cafeterias, playgrounds, hallways and stairwells, away from adult supervision, school building design needs to be more open, with an increased number of windows, clear lines of sight and in some cases, transparent classroom walls, such as glass floor-to-ceiling walls. The classrooms can connect to a central collaboration space, so that teachers can see students in classrooms, hallways and collaboration spaces from anywhere on the floor.  

Multipurpose Areas

As education and the curriculum changes in so many ways in short times, it’s important to institute spaces that can keep pace with those changes in a school building. Multipurpose areas must be flexible enough to accommodate changing modes of teaching, learning and sharing for the long term. Every part of a school must contribute in some way to learning. As hallways widen to change into classroom extension, stairs become seating spaces and walls become writing surfaces or feature TV screens with Wi-fi, these spaces are meeting the growing needs of the student population. 

Previously used only as cafeterias and libraries, these spaces are morphing into hybrid theatres, media centres and workshop spaces. Educators can create instructional variety, encourage group projects and independent work areas by modifying the environment. Light chairs, beanbags, large rugs, tables of different heights and movable walls can create quiet spaces or large enclaves within a multipurpose area.  

Outdoor Learning

Improved creation and reduced stress are proven results of outdoor learning. Outdoor learning helps students become more focused on the curriculum and test well academically. When most of the school day is spent indoors, an outdoor class with several benches, an amphitheatre or a partly covered space with Wi-Fi for presentations, individual or group work can be refreshing.

The study of science and energy generation can be made interesting and relevant when students can collect data or compare fossil fuel to solar, wind and geothermal power.

Basic Architectural Guidelines for School Design  

Teachers and institution heads can provide their input to the architect.

School floors should be high enough to prevent water logging or flooding during the rains.

 A school building that face south helps sunlight enter the classrooms during winter and shades the classrooms from the direct summer sun.

The building design should accommodate free air circulation, natural light, hygienic restrooms and a multipurpose area.

The school should provide a place for meals or refreshments, a teachers’ common room and related rest rooms, reading room and library, a visitors’ room, an office room, a headmaster’s office and a well-equipped laboratory.

The right amount of space must be given to classrooms, multipurpose rooms, halls, staff rooms, office rooms, common room, the library and reading rooms. Ideally, the classroom should have 600 sqft of floor area.

Physical education facilities must include toilets.

Play areas, footpaths and a bicycle parking area are required features.

The school campus should be attractive and stimulating.

School campuses must include green spaces, with trees, plants or grass.

The main school entrance should have overhead protection from the rain or other extreme climatic elements.  

Though a classroom’s shape, interior area, wall colours, furniture layout, flooring and amount of light can significantly influence student learning, certain features are best maintained in any classroom. Classroom design should ideally include the following features:  

Adequate space between desks

Many large windows, with translucent blinds to avoid glares

Recessed windows as protection from rain and excessive sun.

Hidden rain pipes

Rooms should have sufficient natural light.

Heaters/air-conditions or vents should be placed high on the walls.

Flooring should be water-resistant and long-lasting.

Entrances, exits, classroom and bathroom doorways should be planned to facilitate wheelchair use.

Roofs must have parapets and no chimneys.

 The shape and size of a school building, including the number, size and type of classrooms, will naturally be different for each school, based on many factors, including the student and teacher populations. Building shapes are dependent on these factors, but the more popular types are as follows:  

I Type – Have a single row of classrooms.

L Type – The I type has an extension that is perpendicular

T Type - The I type with extensions both ways on one side

U Type - Two I types joined on one side         

Within these types of school buildings, it is important to maintain certain design standards for each part of the school. They are as follows:  

Ceiling Heights – This varies according to the size and function of the space. Multipurpose rooms are large, and hence, they should have higher ceilings, taking into account any special equipment that will be used there. The general minimum floor-to-ceiling height of classrooms is typically 3m.

Wall-to-floor Ratio – Lower wall-to-floor ratios results in a more efficient building layout, but this needs to be balanced with the educational requirements of the space.

Room Groups – There groups of school spaces are Teaching/Learning, Administrative and Ancillary. Teaching/Learning spaces should be prioritised in terms of orientation, daylight and ventilation. The offices and multipurpose rooms should be placed so that they can be accessed without entering the Teaching/Learning areas.

Circulation – Students, teachers and visitors should be able to access any part of the school from any entrance without encountering congestion. Hallways should have a minimum clear width of 1.8m. Handrails on balconies or stairs should have a minimum height of 1400mm. Entrance lobbies should have a secure door to access the internal parts of the school.

Ventilation – Permanent wall vents, with baffles for noise, wind and rain, and windows with open sections are ideal for natural ventilation.

Acoustics – Ideal school acoustics should enable clear communication between teachers and students while not disrupting study activities.

Finishes – Non-slip, chemically and water-resistant floors are recommended. Wall finishes should be durable and easy to clean.

Fittings and Furniture – Those fittings which are fixed, such as sink units, hat/coat hooks, rails, blinds, shelves, white boards, blackboards and notice boards should be part of the building contract.

School design is of paramount importance for the benefit of future generations, since design has a profound impact on learning. Incorporating changing technologies, lifestyles and work environments, school design must adapt, modify and modernise to optimise their impact. To facilitate the continuous innovation of school design requires a new breed of designers and design professionals and sometimes even the aid of offshore architectural drafting solutions. In particular, countries such as India offer a wealth of talent to provide architectural CAD services that are precise, cost-effective and easily adaptable. Therefore, it is now possible to customise school design without worrying about design skills, costs and accuracy.

[pre-construction-design-drafting]

Architectural Design Drafting - Concept To Construction Documentation Stage

Architectural design drafting involves a process that is essential to construction, developed into a progression of stages, namely: Concept, Design, Design Development and Construction Drawing.

It was the architect Louis Kahn from Philadelphia who said that ‘architecture is the thoughtful making of space’. The thoughts, concepts and design that drives ‘the making of space’ constitute the framework of the architectural process.

Architectural design drafting, or architectural drafting, involves a process of services that are essential to the creation of structures. This process has been developed into an established progression of stages, namely: Concept, Design, Design Development and Construction Drawing.

Architecture has been both an art and science for thousands of years. It has evolved to embody certain standards of practice. Technology has contributed significantly to the development of these standards, while retaining basic principles. The prime objective is to design and construct a building that is well planned, which means that decisions will be taken, modified and changed throughout the course of the project, and CAD design services are used extensively to cater to these needs.

Examining the process and its stages helps understand its relevance to the current state of the industry.

Stage 1: Concept or Schematic

This first stage of the architectural design process is marked by information gathering and discussions. The architect and client discuss the project in detail and fully understand client requirements, such as budget, aesthetics, location and type of community. Information from the client, field surveys and other sources are assembled, discussed and contemplated in length. Architects research and analyse the site, paying attention to zoning and building codes. Programming begins and the client lists the spaces in the building. The architect then determines sizes, number of rooms, locations, construction material, sustainability and relationships between the listed spaces. All ideas are explored and considered. Generally, 3 or more design options are then provided for client consideration, based on the rooms and features required. These are presented as sketches.

A rough cost estimate may be provided for each option to help make more informed decisions. At this point, clients may ask for modified options and can even make major changes in design requirements. This stage is concluded by the selection of one of the design options. Typically, 15% of the architect’s fees and work is accounted for at this stage. The primary objective of this stage is to resolve the shape and size of the building, showing the basic plan. Also, the look and tone of the building is developed. Several sketches, plans and elevations are created and several meetings take place. Generally, the drawings are loose, hand-drawn at 1/8” = 1’-0” scale.

Stage 2: Design

In this second stage of the architectural design process, an initial design drawing is developed based on the discussions, site analysis, decisions and budget restrictions agreed on during the first stage. This design would show space provisions, planning relationships, proposed layouts based on site views, orientation and access. The design will show the intended concept and form of the building. Layouts will be developed into formal ‘sketch’ floor plans and 3D perspectives to represent the style of the building. As and when the client approves, reviews and comments on this design, further details will be added to the design, such as proposed materials, technical and functional features. For example, this could involve the representation of building sections, detailed dimensional plans showing door and window placement, proposed furniture layouts and building elevations.

Any significant services which could affect the design, such as solar panels, water tanks, etc. This process is likely to take some time, as communication will go back and forth till all parties arrive at a satisfactory outcome. Further review is made of the plans and budget and the scope of the project may be reduced. Conformity regarding rights of use and building restrictions, such as height restrictions, building lines, etc. of the site, will be reviewed. In case of larger projects, quantity surveyors can update earlier cost estimates and provide new cost estimates at this stage, depending on any changes to the initial design. These drawings can be in 2D and 3D, using computer-aided design software (such as AutoCAD).

Stage 3: Design Development

At this stage of the architectural design process, architects and clients work in collaboration to select a variety of materials, such as interior finishes, fittings, windows, doors, appliances, fixtures, etc. Drawings are revised with greater detail. Engineering plans will start, involving structure, plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation systems, energy analysis and other project-related systems. Towards the end of this stage of the design process, a significant part of the product selection and services and systems design should be completed. At the end of Design Development, both the interior and exterior design of the building is decided on by the architect and the client. A general contractor is hired.

With a fixed design in place, a permit is required. Following a series of lengthy review processes at municipalities, all required drawings for a building permit incorporating the full interior design of the project are created. Then, permit drawings and room layout drawings are produced and submitted to the relevant authorities. At this juncture, a detailed 3D model is produced to help finalise design decisions. The 3D model also helps the extensive coordination process with structural engineers, and the engineering, construction systems design and detailing of the project is completed. Changes updated at this time could include any increase or decrease of thermal protection materials, inclusion or removal of solar panels, rainwater harvesting and interior and exterior finishing. During this phase, architects generally complete 20% of their work and charge 20% of their fees.

Stage 4: Construction Documents

Once the final design is set, drawings, notes and technical specifications required for bidding, construction and permit applications are prepared. Blueprints are created. Further detailing, interior elevations and further material selection occurs during this stage. All technical and engineering design is finalised, namely structural engineering, heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems, plumbing, electrical, gas, energy calculations. Other items included in

Construction Documents (CD) are detailed foundation plans, roofing, layouts, window and door sizes, openings, flooring, cabinets, bedroom and kitchen detailing. All fixtures and materials are selected and scheduled. Multiple drawing sets are created. Filing sets for approval and a set of construction documents are produced.

Construction Documents can be customised so that an electrician receives drawings showing only electrical work and the concrete contractor may receive drawings for foundations and concrete work, so as to reduce on-site confusion, correctly price jobs and understand work responsibilities clearly. Generally, building services, plumbing, piping, wiring and HVAC systems are finalised and represented in the design. Structural details, such as roofing, internal and external walls, ceiling, tiling, are also included in these documents. All items are attached with detailed dimensions. Façade options also feature in these documents.

On acquisition of the permit or building approvals, the remaining documents are finalised and grouped together into a set of documents to construct the building. Designs of the approved design development documents are refined with construction details. The construction documents shall are refined. Final selections of products and materials take place. This phase is typically the longest and most expensive stage of the process, since most of the detailing and coordination takes place at this point. The Construction Documents stage in a project may be long, but it is also worthwhile, because working through this stage will distinguish barely planned projects from fully customised and elegant homes. During this stage, typically 40% of the architect’s work is completed and 40% of the fees will be charged.

The methodical completion of the architectural design stages help expedite and improve the finished quality of building projects. It is critical for design team members to understand the evolution of the architectural drafting and design process. This way, when a project is ready to be constructed, most of the financial and technical issues have been taken care of and delays are reduced or eliminated.