aesthetic opportunities | whole building design guide
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Fabric buildings create a background.
Landmark buildings stand out against
the background.
(/index.php)RESOURCE PAGE
by Mark L. Gillem, AIA, AICP
Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment(http://www.afcee.af.mil/)
Last updated: 06-08-2010
You begin with a blank sheet. Your task is to create, from the program of requirements, within the resources available,something that works and moresomething called architecture.
From the United States Air Force's guide, Achieving Design Excellence
The act of creating architecture is indeed a wonderful opportunity to create memorable places. It is more than meeting
the functional(/design/func_oper.php), technical, and financial(/design/cost_effective.php) criteria established at the
outset. There is a more nuanced aspect to architecture that deals with aesthetics and symbolism. In every project,
opportunities exist to consider aesthetic issues. Every building emerges from the ground with a particular aesthetic and
that aesthetic evolves throughout the design process. Internal to the design process are countless opportunities to
make aesthetic decisions, from the selection of window types to the choice of trim color. External factors can present
opportunities as well, from historic preservation requirements to anti-terrorism criteria.
A. Opportunities in the Design Process
The typical building process consists of at least three primary phases: 1)
programming, 2) design, and 3) construction. In the programming phase, by
identifying budgets, schedules, design principles, spatial requirements, and
functional relationships, designers are setting the stage for aesthetic success.
Low budgets and tight schedules may limit opportunities for quality design and
construction. But high visibility projects may present unique opportunities for
design excellence. Programming charrettes(http://www.charrettecenter.com/),
first pioneered by William Pea and described in his book Problem Seeking:
An Architectural Programming Primer, 4th
Edition(http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-2191068-10438326?
url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wiley.com%2Fremtitle.cgi%3Fisbn%3D0471126209&cjsku=0471126209), can be especially
effective in developing the principles that will guide the design effort. In a charrette, where the design team works at
the client's site for a defined period of time to develop the initial design principles and concepts, the distractions of the
home office are minimized and the design team can focus on the task at hand. Also, when precedents are studied and
sites are analyzed, issues related to context and compatibility can influence aesthetic choices. For example, will the
project be a "fabric" building thus necessitating a close fit with the existing architectural context?
Or, will it be a "landmark" building that can break contextual(style.php) rules
related to height, materials(materials.php), and proportion(form.php)?
Are there local guidelines or standards that can be used to enhance the design?
In the design phase, when floor plans, elevations, building systems, and materials
choices are finalized, designers make aesthetic choices continuously. For
instance, will the windows be recessed or will they be flush with the exterior
finish? Will there be any trim or details on the faade? Will there be a visible roof,
a gravel stop, or a parapet?
While issues of affordability(/design/cost_effective.php),
maintainability(/design/optimize_om.php), and
constructability(/design/ensure_integration.php) will naturally play a role in thedecision-making process, aesthetic impacts carry considerable weight with the
design team. During construction, when walls are actually built, quality
workmanship plays a significant role in the final aesthetic outcome. What should
be clear is the fact that aesthetics is not simply a matter of selecting colors and
adding a few details to the faade. A concern for aesthetics should permeate the entire building process. The
members of the design team constantly juggle issues of quality, cost, schedule, and aesthetics. Excellent designs find
a balance appropriate to the project at hand.
Will the building meet the sky with grace or ineptness?
At some point in the process, when a design firm is selected(/project/select_professionals.php) a critical choice will
have been made. While some owners may develop their own programs and others may select separate firms to
Aesthetic Opportunities
INTRODUCTION
DESCRIPTION
http://www.wbdg.org/design/ensure_integration.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/design/cost_effective.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/resources/materials.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/resources/form.phphttp://www.afcee.af.mil/http://www.wbdg.org/index.phphttp://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-2191068-10438326?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wiley.com%2Fremtitle.cgi%3Fisbn%3D0471126209&cjsku=0471126209http://www.wbdg.org/project/select_professionals.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/design/ensure_integration.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/design/optimize_om.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/design/cost_effective.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/resources/form.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/resources/materials.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/resources/style.phphttp://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-2191068-10438326?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wiley.com%2Fremtitle.cgi%3Fisbn%3D0471126209&cjsku=0471126209http://www.charrettecenter.com/http://www.wbdg.org/design/cost_effective.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/design/func_oper.phphttp://www.afcee.af.mil/http://www.wbdg.org/index.php -
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Buildings like the one shown above, with a
width of only 48 feet, are ideal for office and
classroom applications since the shallow
footprint allows for natural light to penetrate
the entire space thereby significantly reducing
energy consumption required for artificial
lighting.
Passive solar buildings allow the sun to
naturally heat the interior spaces during the
winter while using deep overhangs and
landscaping to block the high summer sun.
complete the programming phase, all owners establish criteria for selection of a designer. The criteria may be as
simple as a successful previous working relationship between the owner and the design firm or the criteria may fill a
three page Request for Qualifications. Federal agencies must go one step further and use a transparent selection
process following the Brooks Act(http://www.acec.org/advocacy/brooks.cfm). Fortunately, even these public agencies
can select design firms not on price but on experience, qualifications, capabilities, and even previous design awards.
But previous experience in working with the owner should not always be a deciding factor. For example, on a recent
Air Force project, the government selected a firm that had extensive experience in the building type but no prior federal
experience. The firm quickly grasped the intricacies of the federal bureaucracy and designed an award-winning project
that was built under budget and ahead of schedule.
Throughout this process, the role of the owner or client cannot be discounted. As Dana Cuff found in a detailed study
of architectural practice, perhaps the most significant sign as to whether a project has the potential for excellence is a
client's early and appropriate demand for quality. Also, excellent projects respond to the complexity of the building
process through simplicity by using streamlined operations, simplified decision-making, and an insistence on face-to-
face interaction. In each case, the client plays a significant role in establishing a working relationship that leads to
projects that take advantage of the aesthetic opportunities inherent in the building process. Although the client may
select any number of contracting methods to execute the project (e.g. design-bid-build, design-build, fast-track), all of
these methods still rely on effective programming, design, and construction to create exceptional projects.
B. Additional Opportunities
Beyond the opportunities created by the players or inherent in the design
process, a wide range of issues may offer designers additional
opportunities for addressing aesthetic issues. While each project is
unique, some common issues that may influence the design include
energy efficiency and sustainability(/design/minimize_consumption.php),
security design(/design/secure_safe.php), value
engineering(/design/use_analysis.php), charrettes(charrettes.php),
operations and maintenance(/design/optimize_om.php), public review, and
historical standards. Energy efficiency and sustainable design are
increasingly important to building owners and represent a significant
opportunity for the designer to introduce aesthetic issues. For instance, in
office buildings(/design/office.php), artificial lighting accounts for nearly
half of all energy consumption. Research at Carnegie Mellon's Center for
Building Performance and Diagnostics shows that buildings with
increased periphery and more glazing receive an energy benefit through
daylighting(daylighting.php) and natural ventilation(naturalventilation.php).
The increased periphery is due to the elongated aspect ratio (e.g. 5:1) as compared to compact buildings with a
smaller (e.g. 1:1) aspect ratio. Elongated buildings can have up to a 25% reduction in energy use over a similar sized
compact building. According to Vivian Loftness, "The first commitment to a healthier
workplace(/design/promote_health.php), and to environmental consciousness in the Intelligent Workplace, is the move
away from large, deep floor plans with minimum window area, to a window for every workstation." Strategies that
increase glazing, reduce a building's width to allow increased diffusion of natural light, and enhance shading all haveaesthetic impacts.
Likewise, security design features have a clear aesthetic impact.
Recommendations for increased setbacks, minimal glazing on street side
faades, elimination of re-entrant corners, and elevated ground floors
have aesthetic impacts that may conflict with
accessibility(/design/accessible.php), energy conservation, and
sustainable design strategies. A careful balance is required.
Activities that may be incorporated into the design process also have a
direct impact on aesthetics. For example, in a value engineering
exercise, attractive overhangs, applied detailing, and recessed windows
may be eliminated on the basis of having no perceived economic
benefit. While the designer may have selected these items primarily on
aesthetic grounds, the building may suffer in many ways because oftheir loss. Additionally, if not managed correctly, charrettes, which are
run like intensive, on-site design studios, may raise public expectations
for the project that cannot be met when the final design is completed.
But charrettes are also an excellent opportunity to garner public support
for a project, especially if members of the public participate in
developing design principles and design ideas. Furthermore, design reviews for constructability, maintainability, and
operability will flag problem items and may present an opportunity for the designers to specify higher quality, lower
maintenance materials that have an aesthetic impact. For example, clad wood windows may be preferred to vinyl
windows due to their potentially longer life span. Finally, historic preservation standards may force designers into using
better and perhaps more attractive products that match the original character of the building. Non-conforming aluminum
sliders may be replaced by more historically accurate divided light, wood casement windows. The aesthetic impact
could be significant. In the end, designers should realize that every decision has an aesthetic consequence.
Design challenges(aestheticchallenges.php) can be transformed into opportunities at every scale of design. At the
building scale, one example is an office building at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. The project could have
been built with a maze of systems furniture, few windows, and large floor plates. But during the charrette process, it
became clear that all users wanted access to natural light. Additionally, the organizations moving into the facility
wanted to maintain some sense of identity. The solution was to create a building with narrow (48') wings that allowed
APPLICATION
http://www.wbdg.org/resources/aestheticchallenges.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/design/accessible.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/design/promote_health.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/resources/naturalventilation.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/resources/daylighting.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/design/office.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/design/optimize_om.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/resources/charrettes.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/design/use_analysis.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/design/secure_safe.phphttp://www.wbdg.org/design/minimize_consumption.phphttp://www.acec.org/advocacy/brooks.cfm -
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light to penetrate across the building while, at the same time, giving each organization their own wing.
An award-winning office building at Ellsworth Air Force Base incorporates narrow wings
that allow for abundant daylighting while creating an aesthetically pleasing exterior
image.
At an urban scale, an award-winning plan for a lodging and retail complex at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio
used the buildings to form a campus-like setting. Rather than create one large object building, the smaller buildings
create an attractive interconnected public realm.
A master plan for Youngstown Air Reserve Base in northeast Ohio
used the buildings to shape "outdoor rooms" thereby recognizing
the importance of integrating landscapes and buildings.
In addition to the processes discussed under aesthetic challenges(aestheticchallenges.php), many organizations have
established their own design standards and programs. For example, the General Services Administration has
established a Design Excellence Program(http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?
P=PC&contentId=8145&contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW) and it honors outstanding federal projects in an awards
program. The National Park Service has developed standards for the treatment of historic properties. The Air Force
Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE)(http://www.afcee.af.mil/) has published Achieving Design
Excellence, which outlines principles for planning, building design, and interior design. AFCEE has also published
design guides for a range of building types, from maintenance facilities to office buildings and they sponsor an annual
design awards program. Professional organizations, from The American Institute of Architects(http://www.aia.org/) to
the American Planning Association(http://www.planning.org/) sponsor awards programs and provide resources for
designers. Other groups, like the Society for the Advancement of Value Engineering(http://www.value-eng.org/) and the
International CPTED Association(http://www.cpted.net/) promote processes that impact aesthetics.
WBDG
DESIGN OBJECTIVES
Cost-EffectiveConsider Non-Monetary Benefits such as Aesthetics, Historic Preservation, Security, and
Safety(/design/consider_benefits.php)
PRODUCTS AND SYSTEMS
Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers:
07 30 00 (07300) Steep Slope Roofing(/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8046)
07 50 00 (07500) Membrane Roofing(/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8048)07 55 63 (07530) Vegetated Protected Membrane Roofing(/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8049)
08 14 00 (08210) Wood Doors(/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8051)
08 50 00 (08500) Windows(/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8052)
12 10 00 (12100) Artwork(/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8068)
12 59 00 (12700) Systems Furniture(/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8070)
32 90 00 (02900) Planting(/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8082)
Federal Agency Design ResourcesAir Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE)(http://www.afcee.af.mil/) AFCEE's Design and
Construction Directorate (DCD) publishes a wide range of design
guides(http://www.afcee.af.mil/resources/designandconstruction/familyhousingpublications/index.asp) and sponsors
an annual design awards
program(http://www.afcee.af.mil/resources/designandconstruction/usafdesignandconstructionawards/index.asp)
recognizing excellence in Air Force design and construction projects.
Achieving Design Excellence(http://www.afcee.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070919-066.pdf). A brief andinspirational design guide. (PDF 2.1 MB)
General Services Administration (GSA)(http://www.gsa.gov/) The GSA has established a design excellence
program(http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW&contentId=8145) to hire
top-quality design firms for public projects. They also have a design awards program held every two years that
honors the best federal projects. The 2008 awards can be found on GSA's Web
RELEVANT CODES AND STANDARDS
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?programId=14608&channelId=-24327&ooid=8148&contentId=24604&pageTypeId=17109&contentType=GSA_BASIC&programPage=%2Fep%2Fprogram%2FgsaBasic.jsp&P=PMBhttp://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW&contentId=8145http://www.gsa.gov/http://www.afcee.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070919-066.pdfhttp://www.afcee.af.mil/resources/designandconstruction/usafdesignandconstructionawards/index.asphttp://www.afcee.af.mil/resources/designandconstruction/familyhousingpublications/index.asphttp://www.afcee.af.mil/http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8082http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8070http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8068http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8052http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8051http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8049http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8048http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_doc.php?d=8046http://www.wbdg.org/design/consider_benefits.phphttp://www.cpted.net/http://www.value-eng.org/http://www.planning.org/http://www.aia.org/http://www.afcee.af.mil/http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?P=PC&contentId=8145&contentType=GSA_OVERVIEWhttp://www.wbdg.org/resources/aestheticchallenges.php -
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site(http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?programId=14608&channelId=-
24327&ooid=8148&contentId=24604&pageTypeId=17109&contentType=GSA_BASIC&programPage=%2Fep%2Fprogram%2FgsaBasic.jsp&P=PMB).
National Park Service (NPS)(http://www.nps.gov/) The NPS has developed the Secretary of the Interior's
Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. These standards have been adopted by communities across
the country and cover the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction of nationally and locally
designated historic structures. Access the guidelines here(http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/standguide/).
Organizations/AssociationsThe American Institute of Architects (AIA)(http://www.aia.org/)
American Planning Association (APA)(http://www.planning.org/)
American Society for Aesthetics (ASA)(http://www.aesthetics-online.org/) The ASA is a scholarly organization
concerned with aesthetics, philosophy of art, art theory, and art criticism. Established the Journal of Aesthetics and
Art Criticisms(http://www.temple.edu/jaac/).
International CPTED Association (http://www.cpted.net/) The International CPTED Association is an advocacy
group that believes that good design can lead to reduced crime and fear of crime thus improving quality of life.
SAVE International(http://www.value-eng.org/) SAVE is devoted to the advancement of the Value Engineering
process in construction as well as in other fields.
PublicationsThe Aesthetics of Architectureby Roger Scruton. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1979.
Architecture: The Story of Practiceby Dana Cuff. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1991.
The British Journal of Aesthetics(http://www3.oup.co.uk/aesthj/)
The Concise Townscapeby Gordon Cullen. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1971. This book briefly
summarizes Cullen's theory of "townscape," where architecture is used to give visual order and coherence to the
urban environment.
"Environmental Consciousness in the Intelligent Workplace" by Vivian Loftness, et al. NeoCon94 Proceedings.Chicago, IL: NeoCon, 1993: 20-30.
Problem Seeking: An Architectural Programming Primer, 4th Edition(http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-2191068-
10438326?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wiley.com%2Fremtitle.cgi%3Fisbn%3D0471126209&cjsku=0471126209) by
William Pea. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2001.
OthersCenter for Building Performance and Diagnostics(http://www.eng.nsf.gov/iucrc/directory/iucrc_u.htm)Carnegie
Mellon University. The center conducts wide-ranging research on the performance of building systems.
Charrette Center(http://www.charrettecenter.com/)Offers tips and tools to help architects run design charrettes.
National Trust for Historic Preservation(http://www.preservationnation.org/)The National Trust for Historic
Preservation provides resources and support in the effort to preserve and revitalize America's historic structures
and communities.
Traditional Neighborhood Design(http://www.tndhomes.com/feature.htm)Access numerous links to designers,
organizations, and projects that promulgate principles of traditional neighborhood design.
National Institute of Building Sciences(http://www.nibs.org/) | An Authoritative Source of Innovative Solutions for the Built
Environment
1090 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 700 | Washington, DC 20005-4950 | (202) 289-7800 | Fax (202) 289-1092
2010 National Institute of Building Sciences. All rights reserved. Disclaimer(/about.php)
http://www.wbdg.org/about.phphttp://www.nibs.org/http://www.tndhomes.com/feature.htmhttp://www.preservationnation.org/http://www.charrettecenter.com/http://www.eng.nsf.gov/iucrc/directory/iucrc_u.htmhttp://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-2191068-10438326?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wiley.com%2Fremtitle.cgi%3Fisbn%3D0471126209&cjsku=0471126209http://www3.oup.co.uk/aesthj/http://www.value-eng.org/http://www.cpted.net/http://www.temple.edu/jaac/http://www.aesthetics-online.org/http://www.planning.org/http://www.aia.org/http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/standguide/http://www.nps.gov/http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?programId=14608&channelId=-24327&ooid=8148&contentId=24604&pageTypeId=17109&contentType=GSA_BASIC&programPage=%2Fep%2Fprogram%2FgsaBasic.jsp&P=PMB