To Observe and Protect
I am going to discuss the role of the architect in the construction observation process, during the construction phase of project.
The architect in most normal contracts is responsible for the design of the building. This entails the part of the design most people imagine, the layout, the elevations, the material selections and basic systems. However design also involves the integration of the local and national codes, laws and ordinances that must guide the design. From the first drafts plans of the building these codes must be part and parcel of the design. The number of exits, the width of corridors, the ramps between levels, the size of bathrooms to comply with the ADA, the fire separations between uses, the overall size of the building, and many other factors. This is part of the design.
When the design is approved by the jurisdiction with authority (a city, county, etc.), it is issued a permit that basically states this design is approved as shown in the plans, and inspections will compare the construction to the approved plans. Making the construction conform to the plans is the role of the Contractor.
The architect during the construction phase may be contracted by the owner to observe the construction, to make sure it conforms to design intent. There is a major difference between observing construction and inspecting it. Inspection is the certification that every step in process has yielded an assembly that meets the minimum standards specified in the code. Observation is keeping a record of progress, and notifying the client and general contractor that there are items that do not conform to the design intent.
For example, on one hotel project we had a corridor wall that was to rated 1-hour, and to have an STC of 55. (Sound Tansferance Coefficient) The wall was the product of off site construction, built in a factory. The contractor installed it backwards. I noted this and contacted the structural engineer for his opinion. His opinion was that it didn’t matter structurally. The wall had what is know as a sound clip, it separates the drywall from the studs to cut the transfer of noise through the wall. Instead of running continuous along the corridor it was running on the room side, interrupted at each unit demising wall. I had to inform the client and the contractor that the walls did not meet design intent, (the location of the channel that should deliver the STC 55 required by the hotel franchise) but would probably pass inspection. (still maintained the 1-hour rating and performed structurally).
This left the client to decide what to do next; have the contractor disassemble the wall sheeting and rebuild it – wasting time, but meeting his franchise requirements, or let it slide and hope it made negligible difference in the long run. As it turned out this mistake did pass inspection, because it met the minimum requirements of the code. As far as the STC rating, unless expensive and controlled experiments are performed by an acoustical engineer it would be hard to determine objectively how the wall performs. But it leaves the client room to sue the contractor if subjectively noise is an issue that effects his business – the evidence is the record of the construction that did not meet design intent.
That’s the role of the architect in this process, to record observations about the conduct and product the contractor is providing to the client. The architect documents for the benefit of the client what is being done with out making claims as to the prospect of the certification of the product. We can further serve the client by giving our opinions and professional advice to remedies to meet the design intent of the documents.
Seaside, Florida
It’s been a while since I’ve made a post. I’ve been vacationing with family in Florida and trying to get caught up on all the work I left behind. I never realized it would be this difficult taking time off when running your own business. Luckily, I kept up with email while I was gone. That could have been an ugly mess to come home to.
Seaside, Florida on the panhandle is a wonderful place. Luckily it hasn’t been affected, at least physically, by the BP oil disaster. There were a few tar balls on the beach. I’m no scientist, but this didn’t seem to be much to worry about at all.
There weren’t many tourists. Good for us, bad for the local economy.
Seaside is referred to as a new urbanist development. In 1981,when Seaside was built it was a free for all…literally. The county had no restrictions. Lucky for us, the people with the vision, Robert and Daryl Davis, hired an excellent architect, Duany and Plater-Zyberk, and created a beautiful community.
Time magazine referred to Seaside as “The most astounding design achievement of its era and, one might hope, the most influential.”
A lasting impact on modern architecture and planning has been made by Seaside. Developments are continually modeled after its success.
I took a few photos while on this trip. Check them out on my Flickr photo stream.
Architecture after Oil
Peak oil is here and industrialized civilization is facing its final challenge, the challenge that will decide if we as a species continue. Peak oil is not when the oil is gone, this is when the energy being put into drilling, pumping, transporting, refining, and finally selling the oil is greater than the energy of the oil being removed. This will happen to all resources eventually. This is happening now for oil.
But, some good news – architecture has a long history to draw on – almost all of it without industrialized oil based technology. Buildings account for around 70% of all energy use – creating building materials, transporting materials, construction, heating, power, lighting, demolition.
First what will be increasingly affected by decreasing oil supplies? Let’s start at the top, the roof. Bitumen, Hot Mop, Modified Bitumen, PVC, TPO, EPDM, tarpaper, asphalt shingles – all based on oil products. Expect these to increase in cost.
Next is flashing. Many modern flashings are EPDM. Architects and contractors know that flashings are what keep the envelope able to shed water. They are used everywhere. Metal flashings are mostly used on roofs. EPDM most often used around windows, sills and other transitions between materials. In addition to flashings are backer rods, also made of plastics (oil) these are used in expansion joints in façade materials.
The envelope of a building beyond the flashing materials discussed, there are many oil intensive materials used. Tyvek and other building wrap, including of course tarpaper are needed to make a moisture barrier are oil intensive. Vinyl based siding, EFIS – Elastomeric Finished Insulating System – is polystyrene with a thin layer of cement and latex based finish, are oil intensive.
These things are the stock and trade of modern building across all spectrums of typologies. So how can we build without these materials? Look at history, what’s been used before oil. Additionally reuse the oil intensive materials we’ve already manufactured.
First is masonry. Bricks have been in use for thousands of years, and before that mud bricks. Bricks made in the modern way use powerful gas fired kilns to cure the clay. Transportation can be a big oil use in bricks, so finding a local manufacture is a good way to reduce oil dependence. Reused bricks are another resource to look for.
Stone is another pre-oil resource, but quarrying and transporting it is very oil intensive now, but reusing stone into new construction is not. The pyramids of Giza, originally covered in white marble, but over the millennia after the Egyptian dynasties, the marble cladding was scavenged for use in Cairo. This is the fate of all un-used monuments.
Wood has been our other medium of choice for thousands of years. Our timber and lumber industry is geared to produce trees for the housing market. The large trees are gone or protected and the production forests are harvested as soon as possible to make the standard lumber we are familiar with. But standard lumber is not the only way to build with wood, it’s just what is most available and economical for commercial purposes. Every climate that has trees the culture has found a way to use this resource. From Pueblo dwellings that reuse the same logs (hence they stick out), to huts and yurts, log cabins, or long houses. In these modern times, reusing the older lumber locally is another lower oil impact resource. Another is urban logging that can recover wood from trees felled in storms or during development. Many times these mulched, but alternatively for construction or millwork. (Especially veneers and laminates)
Going back up to the roof, the most important surface that keeps the rest of the envelope working efficiently; there are certain factors that must be re-examined. I started listing all the oil-based products used in roofing. Prior to the miracle of bitumen-based roofing the options were slate, tile, thatch, metal and wood. These components work, but they all require attention to detail. The bitumen roofing systems have much simpler details, and can be rolled out (literally) very quickly. Building large flat roofs is a modern edifice. Pitching a roof is the easiest way to get the water off the materials. Only with the seamless and impenetrable surface of bitumen products can you have the 1/8” per foot slope, and have pools of water on a roof. All other materials are assembled in such a way to shed water. However, our modern technology has developed the living roof. By using the impenetrable EPDM or TPO as a substrate and then using modular trays to hold soil and succulent vegetation these two work together to make a living breathing surface. The soil and plants protect the EPDM from UV rays, and the plants can absorb the water that sits on top of the roof material. The green roof reflects heat, cutting heating and cooling costs, and absorbs some water that would enter the storm system.
The biggest hurtle architecture will face is localism. We as an industry are accustomed to getting our materials and equipment from across the country, even the world. As oil becomes more expensive, transporting construction materials will force us to look at local resources. So get to know your local industries, your local machinists and manufacturers. Where do these local manufactures get their resources, their equipment? We need to reexamine our details, specifications, and notes.
Links:
Green America’s National Green Pages, building materials
I can not live without books
“I can not live without books” -Thomas Jefferson
Pictured here is “Time-Savers Standards for Building types-2nd Edition”, Joseph De Chiara & John Callender (1980), a 1280 page tome that is an excellent time capsule of late 70’s design thought in architecture. I found it in a used bookstore. First, I was ecstatic they had it, then I saw it was priced at five bucks! Then it hit me – this is here because some architect is selling his books to make rent. I bought it anyway. And I’ve been there too this year, selling books and videos to get grocery money.
I think that is sign of the times, architects parting with their books. It’s hard to do. Architects love their books; the monograph of the firm or designer that we aspire to be like. The books on theory, design manifestos and ideas, esoteric and academic they inspire us to look outside the box. Our books of design standards – details, advice, and lessons learned we incorporate into the construction plans. Finally, there are the vital but dry codebooks, laboratory tested design books, and other engineering manuals.
I bought the book anyway. Why? First, I had over Five bucks in my pocket. Second – I believe I’m going to need it. Will I really need it? No. But I just can’t pass up a book full of plans, program and space organization information and other knowledge. It is horribly out of date, the cover has the twin towers on it, space planning predates the ADA, and has no mention of environmental design. Despite that, it is still knowledge. Importantly it gives me insight buildings of that period.
So 30 years from now, children yet to be born who will be in their architecture career, will they have collections of books? What do you think?
Weekly Town Crier
After a long hard week, enjoy this list of random links that we feel you may want to check out. Some may involve design, some may involve small business and others may just be something random we find interesting. Keep checking our site each Friday to find out what inspires or interests us. Feel free to email suggestions.
Follow us on Twitter.
Join our Flickr group.
Mmmm hummus, great recipe!
I think someone knows something we don’t.
Talk about a bad traffic day!!
Matt SO wants one of these! (Actually, one of these…)
A great post on sharing the love.
A great artist Matt likes:
5 (Free) Serif Fonts
Sometimes it’s easy to quickly overlook serif fonts in graphic design. At least I do. There’s just something in your head that always says “Times New Roman” and you want to get as far away as possible. Lately, though, I’ve been finding a place for serif fonts and learning to appreciate their unique characteristics and what makes them look so nice. I’ve actually been a little obsessed with Droid Serif lately. It’s such a clean, well conceived font. Here are a few free serif fonts to download and try with your next design.
