Talking Stick - November/December 2012 - 32

From Post-Its to Paper and 3D Design Tools
Once all the Post-it® ideas from focus groups have been crafted into a strategic vision and a decision-making team is in place, it is time for the design team to begin translating that program into building concepts and creating the context for the architectural opportunity. This might entail conceptual hand sketches

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RENDERING

Adobe Photoshop or V-Ray techniques. “It is a way to get a sense of things before diving in too deeply,” Carlson-Reddig continues. Shannon Meyer, director of interior design at KSQ Architects in Tulsa, Oklahoma, agrees: “We like to give very loose concept options early on to get initial feedback in developing the idea. Models shouldn’t be so detailed that it appears the design is complete before the client has had an opportunity to provide input.” Other modeling can demonstrate the effects of strategies for sustainability, such as the effects of sun and wind on a site. Another can help with site evaluation and assessment of how much earth might have to be moved or how many retaining walls might be needed – things that can run costs up quickly, particularly on large-scale projects. As initial concepts progress to the next phase, schematic design, the program becomes more refined. Then ideas may progress into 3D renderings, to give a better idea of materials and space. Context may begin to dictate building material choices. Again, designers don’t just rely on visualization tools. They present physical samples of bricks, carpet, and tile so that the true values of these materials can be understood. As helpful as the technological tools are, there are shortcomings. For example, not all computer screens see colors the same way. Physical samples ensure that there are no misunderstandings. The ability to illustrate potential options at the moment of decision saves time and contributes to the overall effectiveness of the design process. Clients can understand the scale of a space and can see how a ceiling and floor connect. Mark Bragg, principal at KSQ, recalls one instance where the building code required a ramp between two levels. “Although we explained the ramp would use a lot of floor space, only when the client saw it in a 3D model did they understand and decided to use a lift instead.” Bragg recalls the clarifying moment when they said, “We didn’t know it would look like that!” Finally, design development resolves most design issues before construction drawings are prepared so the project can be bid and built. By this time, the design team will be using another technological tool, Building Information Modeling. One example is Revit®, a collaborative tool that holds all the project information,
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rendering of toLL drive houSing Project at Stony brook univerSity in Stony brook, new york by kSQ architectS.

and drawings, with pencil, or a variety of 3D visualization tools to assist stakeholders in the complete understanding of a project’s potential. “These visualization tools are very helpful for clients. They get a better sense of what they’re paying for. There aren’t as many surprises. They can see what they are imagining at a level they couldn’t before,” says Carlson-Reddig. In fact, clients have come to expect it. He notes, however, that that this kind of visualization is only one part of the process: “3D is a tool. It doesn’t replace all the other ways of exploring ideas, including sketches and physical models.” SketchUp is one modeling software tool that can take programmatic elements and associate them into three-dimensional masses. As part of the programming effort, these tools can assist in the development of the final program document and the development and assessment of options, including the number of rooms, functions, and other requirements. These are generic spaces, and, at this stage, designers might produce a 3D image that is more line-like but with suggestions of color or material enhanced by

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Talking Stick - November/December 2012

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