ARBE4308: Cost Planning and Estimating

ARCHITECTURAL BRIEF

The Proiect - The NUarch School

The two proposed sites of the Newcastle CBD are prime for regeneration by appropriate upgrade of urban spaces, community uses, hospitality and tourism spaces and inner city accommodation. The brief of the project is to design the so called NUarch School.

The project will not only act as an independent, liberal, free thinking educational and cultural institution and community in itself - but also provide for a holistic seed project of urban renewal and urban linkage of the CBD to the already established coastal infrastructure. The city prides itself on its coastal connection with beach and harbour, city and country and this is being tentatively investigated and capitalised upon by your client who have identified a potential growth market and appealing lifestyle to both domestic and international students and professionals.

Proiect Brief

Given the site and background to this project, you are to develop an architectural proposal with a clear urban strategy, showing the organisation of varying patterns of use and brief requirements into a holistic whole with strong identity and character. The final design will set a strong and rigorous architectural agenda that underpins the design of public architecture, identity and place making.

This project should seek a clear architectural identity for the NUarch development, and should provide a dynamic and exciting ensemble for users, patrons, guests and staff, in addition to the public passer-by.

Given that, you will be required to develop an overall organisational and planning strategy, then successively refine with an emphasis on sectional and internal spatial relationships and characters, then ultimately through to appropriate materials selection and detailing. The proposal should be extremely mindful of its programme whilst also remaining flexible for future uses.

Programmatic Requirements

The formal functioning architectural brief requirements for the project are stipulated below. These functions constitute the brief that is the basis of the performance expectations required.

Through a rigorous analysis and interpretation of the architectural design and brief they may be manipulated (or indeed expanded upon) in an inventive and innovative architectural solution or inquiry of an idea, however, - the programmatic basic requirements must be met and they will form the basis of assessment. These specific programmatic areas and requirements are:

 

1. NUarch Entry Lobby, Foyer and Reception/ Administration Area. Approx. 50-60 sq.m.

This area requires careful consideration - as it is the public interface between the NUarch and the public at large. Entry needs legibility, consideration, contextual understanding, ambiance and presence. Guests, visitors, staff and students will arrive and require direction, information and assistance and / or simply mill about. They should also feel invited, intrigued welcomed and curious. It is a space that should evoke a strong spatial and tectonic experience. A clear direction or commencement of an architectural promenade to the rest of the complex should and surrounds is essential. Reception and admin staff require workstations, cloak room and joinery for stores and personal belongings. Enough space is required to mill before moving on, up, down or out...external sheltered space should be provided for pause in inclement weather.

Figure 10: Bauhaus students on staircase,

B + W photograph, T. Lux Feininger, c. 1927.

2. Dining/ Mess Hall. + associated Dining, Kitchen, Cool Room, Dry Storage and Service Areas.

Approx. 180 sq.m. combined total - refer to brief below:

The dining hall area is to serve as a social and gathering focal point and common area for all staff and students alike...

Consideration needs to be given to the typology and master planning of the dining hall to achieve balanced programmes of flexibility in it's envisaged operations and mode(s) of use. Will the hall engage at street and/or public level or, will it be a destination for staff and students alone and of itself? The planning decision of the location poses a multitude of varying functionality decisions and requirements based on the decision and adopted method. In terms of the programmatic requirements, the dining hall will require:

an efficient commercial galley kitchen "back" of house of 30 sq.m,

an open plan dining hall for dining tables and chairs of 75 sq.m,

a refrigerated "cool" room for fridges and freezers of 12 sq.m,

a dry store pantry of shelving of 12 sq.m,

Male, Female+ Accessible toilets, airlock and amenities as appropriate and not opening onto main dining areas.

Accessibility for deliveries of stock, goods and produce.

Good natural light and cross ventilation, open planned areas, flexibility of use.

3. Bicycle Garage, Locker Room and Store Depot.

35 sq.m.

The NUarch aims to promote an image and the encouragement of an attractive, healthy and outgoing lifestyle with a best case model for the use of pedestrian, bicycle and other non polluting vehicular transportation models. The bicycle hub and "garage" aims to serve this function and add to the pedestrianisation of the inner CBD and surrounds. The garage should be in discreet and adjacent location to the NUarch entry lobby/foyer and laneway to facilitate ease of departure and arrival of cyclists, skateboarders, skooters, rollerblades, pedi cabs et.al. from multiple approaches and axes. Within this space should be room for a bicycle hire and storage service and a small workspace for bicycle repairs.

4. Amenities Blocks.

Total sq.m. as required.

Toilets and ablution facilities for male, female and accessible staff and students. Amenities will be required on all proposed levels of the development. These facilities are to serve staff and users across all spaces of the NUarch School and should be located in positions to enable ease of use and accessibility. Basic functional requirements of privacy, hand washing, toilet, mirrors, ventilation and controlled and/or ambient lighting are required and desired. The exact number of cubicles, basins etc. will be determined from expected use envisaged due to their location within the context of the architectural programme. Public use toilets require airlocks.

5. Printery.

25 sq.m.

A well naturally ventilated space to serve as a destination for plotters, printers, scanners and other digital reproduction and copying equipment and hardware. Space for hardware and benchspace for layout. Secure storage joinery for all associated consumables.

6. The NUarch Studio Space.

Space for 5 years of curriculum - 205 students total.

Year 1 - nom. 65 students

Year 2 - nom. 45 students

Year 3 - nom. 35 students

Year 4 - nom. 30 students

Year 5 - nom. 30 students

Area required approx. 1350 sq.m. total (based on 6m2 /student+ 10% circulation).

Open planned flexible and adaptable floorspace to accommodate use as an architectural studio. These areas should foster a collaborative environment for the free flow of ideas, communication and inspiration. Enough space will be required for all students across various stages of their education to have a workstation desk area and locker. Dependent upon conceptual approach the arrangement of these areas may take a myriad of approaches. It may be hierarchical, mixed or zoned as best argued for your design. Will students move year by year? Will a black market develop for the "best" spaces? Are spaces for the duration? Are positions and locations based on academic performance? Is there a lottery or a ballot? Are they designated by the lecturers? Is it a free for all?

How you envisage and argue the operation of this space is essential for your design approach. These areas are the "engine room", as such they require aspect, light, cross ventilation and sectional qualities.

Figure 11: Exhibition of student works at VKhUTEMAS, Moscow, on "the revelation and expression of mass and weight" in the lecture hall, 1927-1928.

7. Critique Spaces/Forums x5.

Approx 40 sq.m each.

Five areas of open plan with gallery type blank wall space to at least one elevation (for pin up, projection and display) to function as critique and open discussion forum or class areas. It is envisaged that these areas are to be associated or with proximity to the Studio and be flexible multi use space for anytime required.

8. Raked Floor Lecture Theatre.

220 sq.m.

A raked floor lecture theatre space suitable for the delivery of lectures and presentations for up to 200-250 attendees. The space should be adaptable and be capable of fulfilling a myriad of diverse and multiple tasks such as presentations, lectures, seminars, reviews, performances and conferencing or meeting room functions. The space is to be capable of "black-out" and controlled lighting for delivery of such functions. All the seating and its configuration must make diligent analysis and formulation of sightlines, acoustics and critically, distance from the stage /rostrum proper. Many configurations are possible, however all will be deemed successful or not as determined strictly by these criteria and particular attention and careful consideration must be given to these design factors.

9. Academic Staff Offices (x10).

10 sq.m. each

Ten (10) offices are required for lecturers and academic staff assuming a staff allocation of 2 full time academic and practising staff members per year. They should each have their own door and privacy with outlook and good access to natural light and ventilation. Each office should be a minimum of 10 sq.m with a fit out for a comfortable office and workspace. The offices are to have equal hierarchy and egalitarian qualities as much as possible.

10. School ARCHive and IT space.

40 sq.m

An archive and repository for primarily digital and very limited selected hardcopy works and projects produced by the staff and students of the NUarch School.

11. Repose/ Reflective/ Retreat Garden space(s).

Total sq.m. as proposed or suggested...

Space(s) within the School to function most importantly as a restful retreat from the bustle of the School and its day to day operations. Comfortable sheltered areas to relax and repose with good ventilation and lighting and/or possible relaxing views and vistas is required.

These area(s) should be carefully planned and designed to emphasise solitude and reflection rather than the largely communal nature typical of other areas in the project brief. Typically, they might be viewed as breakout spaces with views to gardens, landscaped voids, "Zen" gardens / abstracted foci points, views or reflective water features and installation spaces should be incorporated throughout the development to especially counter some of the more internalised areas of the brief.

These represent an opportunity to investigate interest in sectional qualities of the proposed scheme, provide visual, spatial and atmospheric relief from adjacent spaces, provide opportunity for ventilation and climate control, offer a possible place for installation or artwork, as an area to merely watch clouds or people float by or some combination or all of the aforementioned...

12. Solar Terrace.

Total sq.m. as proposed or suggested...

An open-air terrace with mix of spaces for sun or shade and protection and /or exposure to the exterior elements. The terrace should be relatively accessible to staff and students who may use the space as an outdoor exhibition space, an entertainment or event venue, a place to hold critique or overflow tutorials or all or more than suggested above.

It may dependent on the architectural approach taken be closely associated with the dining / mess hall / kitchen spaces spaces or be a distinct destination in itself.

The terrace may capitalise on views or context close at hand or vistas further a-field.

It may contain a mixture or landscaping and surface textures as appropriate to the architectural concept.

13. Student Accommodation Dormitories. Double Shared Rooms (x25)

Individual Rooms (x15)

Approx. Total of 40 x 20 sq.m. each = 800 sq.m.

Twenty Five (25) dormitory rooms shared between 2 students each room and Fifteen (15) individual / sole occupancy rooms to offer non inflated and low cost rental and subsidised means tested accommodation to students. These rooms should each have a toilet and handbasin area whilst bathing and dining areas are provided by other areas within the brief. Rooms should be designed as good quality rooms with open-able windows or break out for natural light, views and ventilation. They should accommodate a bed, writing/work desk, joinery for clothes and belongings / luggage, space for a mini bar, television and communications infrastructure.

Figure 12: "Bauatelier Gropius" -Bauhaus Student Review installation. B + W Photo by Edward Curtis 1927-28.

14. Accommodation Communal Bathing Facilities.

Total sq.m. as required.

For the student accommodations there should be a shower or bathing room on every proposed level of accommodation, the size determined as required by access and the number of accommodations utilising each area. Light and essentially cross ventilation required to these wet areas.

15. Public Shopfront Gallery.

45 sq.m.

A ground level cafe space operated by the NUarch School as a commercial venture and publicity space for the School. The cafe should address street and be usable by commuters, staff, students and passerby alike. As part of the publicity approach one wall of the cafe or internal area should be utilised as a miniature gallery for models, drawings, photographs, media et.al. produced by the School's staff and /or students.

16. Workshop Facilities and Loading Dock/ Deliveries Area.

90-100sq.m

A largely column free open plan factory floor area of durable finishes and surfaces to serve as a workshop for various fabrication and manufacturing equipment and processes.

Well lit and importantly well ventilated.

Emergency wash down shower facility also required in addition to the workshops own toilet facilities (may be unisex). Considered storage for handtools and materials.

Requires direct access to Goods Lift.

Allow 10 sq.m within for a managers office.

17. Deliveries and Goods Lift.

9sq.m

An area for delivery of stores, goods, furnishings, laundry and their vertical distribution across all floors of the complex via a double-sided goods lift accessible from ground level is required.

18. Plant Room.

30 sq.m

A large open and flexible space as column free as possible with external access for servicing of mechanical plant and servicing requirements for the NUarch. The area should be located to allow for external ventilation to 3 sides and the top with materials and detailing selections reflecting the utilitarian and functional requirements.

19. In House Laundry / Laundromat.

25 sq.m

A commercial grade industrial laundry facility for servicing the project and other nearby businesses and offer an additional employment economy for students of NUarch. Required to be directly accessible to vertical circulation and deliveries/goods lift described above for ease of operations. Requires ambient daylight and natural ventilation for workers and staff.

20. Substation.

20 sq.m.

An electrical substation and back up generator room adjacent and associated with the Plant Room above. This area should also be as flexible and open plan as possible to allow for fitting out by specialised consultants. Area should be acoustically isolated from the major public areas.

Hydraulics Risers + Air distributions.

Consideration in design and planning of sections and proposed construction systems is essential for vertical and horizontal distribution of hydraulics and specialised air conditions / humidity's.

Plan these in early on in your project proposals when investigating your structural solutions and framing (your buildings bones...)

*** IMPORTANT GENERAL NOTE ON CIRCULATION. ***

All circulation strategies between areas and spaces must allow for universal access for all users especially with regard to disabilities or mobility considerations. This is of particular note across ALL schemes and strategies involving numerous floors and vertical circulation. Disregard of this fundamental element in a project heavily reliant on urban infill and section arrangement strategies will be severely penalised as it represents a compromised solution.

Programmatic Space Table	Area (sq.m)
1. NUarch Entry Lobby, Foyer and Reception / Administration Area.	50-60 m2
2. Dining and Mess Hall + associated kitchen/ stores.	180 m2
3. Bicycle Garage I Store I Locker	35 m2
4. Amenities	As required.
5. Printery	25 m2
6. Studio and Workstations	1350 m2 total
7. Critique Spaces/ Forums (x5)	5 x 40 each = 200 m2 total.
8. Raked Floor Lecture Theatre	220 m2
9. Academic Staff Offices (x10)	10 x 10 each = 100 m2 total
10. School ARCHive/ IT/ Server	40 m2
11. Repose/Reflective Garden space(s).	As required/ suggested.
12. Solar/ Outdoor Terrace	As required/ suggested.
13. Student Accommodation Dormitories.	40 x 20 m2 each = 800 m2 total.
14. Communal Accommodation Bathrooms	As required.
15. NUarch Public Shopfront Gallery	45 m2
16. Workshop/ Loading Dock/ Deliveries	100 m2
17. Large Goods Lift - links to Workshop and Loading Dock	9 m2
18. Plant Room	30 m2
19. Laundromat	25 m2
20. Substation	20 m2