Communicating Design Intent: Design Documentation Flashcards
What is the AV Design Package?
A written method for communicating design intent with allied trades and discussing architectural details that may impact the AV or AV enabled environment
Architectural Vocabulary - What is the Program Phase?
Refers to the needs analysis phase. Users’ project goals and needs are translated into a textual report of building design criteria, occupancy, use, space program (types and sizes), space adjacencies, project schedule and project budget
Architectural Vocabulary - What is the Design Phase?
Translates program information into drawings and specifications. Consists of the following sub-phases: Conceptual Design Phase, Schematic Design (SD) Phase, Design Development Phase
Architectural Vocabulary - What is the Conceptual Design Phase?
Follows architectural programming. A one line diagram that graphically portrays program information for space shapes, adjacencies and sizes
Architectural Vocabulary - What is the Schematic Design (SD) Phase?
The conceptual design is developed to a more detailed level using double lines for walls, door locations and room orientations. Also the architect defines the overall massing of the building the schematic narrative generally describes the major systems
Architectural Vocabulary - What is the Design Development Phase?
The goal is to move beyond major coordination issues to the basic floor plans. All major design decisions are made and finalised with the owner the building floor plan is set, engineering system selected, and detailing can commence. Intense period of design consulting and decision-making for all involved. This is usually the go/no-go decision point as enough information Has been gathered to predict how much the facility construction will cost. The end result is the final architectural and engineering design.
Architectural Vocabulary - What are construction documents?
A set of documents from which the facility will be built. This is more coordinating and documenting rather then design. The goal is to define the design in a manner in which it can be purchased. The result is drawings, specifications and contracts for the building’s materials and construction.
What is a Detail Drawing?
Indicate small items that need to be magnified to show how they must be installed
What does this symbol represent?
A grid system a.k.a. column lines. Used to indicate locations of columns, load-bearing walls and other structural elements in the building layout prior to the room locations being defined
What does this symbol represent?
Match lines - used to show how each sub-drawing matches to another page of the drawing. It may take multiple pages to depict one area of a building. To assemble separate drawings the individual pieces are aligned using the match lines as a guide. The shaded portion of the line is the side that is considered.
What does this symbol represent?
Elevation flags - are used on plan drawings to indicate related elevation drawings. The centre number indicates the Page number of the elevation drawing. The letters in a triangle portions identify the elevation drawing on that page.
What does this symbol represent?
Section cut flags - indicate which section drawing depicts a section of a master drawing in more detail.
The bottom number indicates the page number by the section drawing can be found at the top number is the section drawing identification as there are often multiple sections on a page. A line extends from the centre of the symbol indicating the path of the section cut. The right angle of the triangle is an arrow indicating the view direction of the section drawing
What does this symbol represent?
Detail flags - indicate small items that need to be blown up to show how they need to be installed.
The bottom number indicates the page number, the top number is the detail drawing identification as multiple detail drawings may be on the same page.
What is the US customary 1/4 = 1 foot scale also known as?
The 1/48 scale because there are 48 units of 1/4 inch in 12 inches.
What is a Needs Analysis?
A needs analysis, also referred to as the programming phase, consists of identifying the activities that the end users need to perform, and then developing the functional descriptions of the systems that support those needs.
How to determine an end user’s needs?
- Talk to stakeholders
- Review existing documentation
- Evaluate the site environment
- Conduct program meetings
- Write the program report
Needs Analysis Step 1 - Ask Questions?
When asking questions, use:
• Open questions • Closed questions • Directive questions
If you want the client to give a full, informative response, or just get them talking, ask open questions that are hard to answer with a word or two.
Here are a few examples:
• How do people here make presentations now? • What kinds of meetings are held in this facility? • How would you describe the current effectiveness of your training? • What would you like to see be done differently or better? Answers to questions like these tell you how your client thinks, how much they know, and what they consider important.
If you need factual or specific information, ask closed questions, such as:
• How many people will attend the general session? • Are there any windows or columns in that room? • When do you expect construction to start? When it is time to bring the client to your point of view or persuade them that one of your ideas will work well, ask directive questions.
These are questions that suggest their own answer, usually the one you want to hear. Examples include:
• Can you see the added value of a maintenance agreement to protect your equipment investment? • Wouldn’t it be great if everyone knew how to take full advantage of this room? • Would you get more use out of the plasma screen or the projector and installed front screen?
Needs Analysis Step 2: Review Existing Documentation
Existing documentation can consist of items such as scale and engineering drawings (blueprints, computer-aided design (CAD) drawings), architectural program documents, organizational project directories, design manuals, standards, best practices, and other owner and end user information. Ensure that you have a full set of drawings for the rooms that your design and installation tasks will address. Be sure to examine all of the elements that may potentially affect the layout, mounting, installation, and operation of the AV system components. If no documentation is available you may need to create new material based on existing conditions
Needs Analysis Step 3: Evaluate the Site Environment / Benchmarking
If the AV systems are to be installed in an existing facility, it is important to tour these areas during the needs analysis process to gather information about the physical aspects of the spaces and how the spaces are currently being used. Determine with the client if there are any constraints such as work hours, noise levels, or security issues that may affect the project. It is important to learn about any issues that may impact your ability to work at the client site once the design and installation tasks begin.
When touring the existing facility and evaluating the site environment, take special note of the acoustics, lighting and seating. Use handheld light meters and handheld audio analyzers for quick, useful measurement. You’re not trying to make a detailed acoustic analysis; you’re just getting to know the space.
You should also consider visiting other similar facilities for review and comparison. This is known as benchmarking. This activity gives the owner and the design team a common (and sometimes expanded) vision of what the user wants and needs. Seeing a number of locations of similar size, type and usage establishes a benchmark or guide on which to base the new facility design.
Needs Analysis Step 4: Conduct Program Meetings
During these meetings the architect, AV professional and other design team members discover the end users’ needs by examining the required application(s), the tasks and functions that support the application, and the wishes and desires of the end users.
Programming meetings should include representatives of both the design team and the owner. The purpose is to gather and exchange information in real time that will help determine what functions are required to support the end users’ applications.
Usually, one or several people will use the equipment in the AV system you create. Others may manage it or maintain it, and others may control paying for it.
So it follows that some will care about its functionality, others about its upkeep and protection, still others about its cost. A safe way to find out how decisions are made in this client organization is to ask your contact, “Who in addition to you will be involved in making this decision?” This actual wording is important because it doesn’t suggest that your contact has no authority and it doesn’t insult anyone. Don’t leave out the “in addition to you” phrase!
Needs Analysis Step 5: Write the Program Report
At the conclusion of the program meetings, the information is captured in a written report of the findings, including an interpretation of the user’s needs with respect to the AV systems. The report should include a conceptual/functional system description along with any needed information about its impact on spaces that have already been programmed, designed or built.
The program report is not an equipment list proposal, but rather a functional description. Still, many designers will include a list of equipment in the program report without the model numbers because it helps with the cost estimation.
The objectives of the program report are to:
- Communicate to the decision-makers about the overall systems and the budget.
- Communicate to the users the system configurations that would serve the needs identified during the programming meetings.
- Communicate to the design team a general description of the AV systems and what impact they may have on the other trades.
- Communicate to the AV designer the scope and functionality of the AV systems to be designed and installed.
Program Report Common Contents
- Executive summary: This section provides an overview of the project, project programming process, systems, special issues, and overall budget.
- Space planning: This section provides advice to the design team, where necessary, as to any special requirements of the audiovisual systems. This may include equipment closets, projection rooms, observation rooms, dressing rooms, internal room layouts, room adjacencies, etc.
- Systems descriptions: This section is a non-technical description of the owner’s desired functionality for each system. This section may include AV sketches, drawings, diagrams, photos, product data, and other graphics such as touchpanel interfaces to exemplify the capabilities of the proposed systems.
- Infrastructure considerations: This section includes a description of the electrical, voice, IT infrastructure, mechanical, lighting, acoustic, structural, and architectural infrastructure needed to support the audiovisual systems.
- Budget recommendations: This section outlines the probable costs to procure, install and commission the proposed AV systems, as well as any additional costs such as tax, Builders Work in Connection (BWIC), markups, service, support, and contingencies.
