ELEVATIONS

DLR Group teams with Colorado State for K-12 research study

truthfarmer — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:25:53 -0400

DLR Group and the Institute for the Built Environment (IBE) at Colorado State University have released the findings of a research project that evaluated the effect of green school design on occupants and long-term building performance.

The overwhelming perception of school staff is the learning environments within DLR Group schools have a positive impact on health, achievement, and behavior. The findings also show schools designed by DLR Group are more energy efficient, provide more space per student, and are constructed for less cost compared to regional averages for schools constructed during the same year.

“Design does not stop when the school opens. The design process must include coming back to a project to measure building performance,” said DLR Group Senior Principal Jim French, AIA, the firm’s national K-12 practice leader. “If both the tangible metrics of energy efficiency and the intangible metrics of student and occupant satisfaction are not being evaluated, then as design professionals we are not truly meeting the needs of our K-12 clients.”

The complete report, titled, Linking Performance & Experience – An Analysis of Green Schools, can be downloaded here.

DLR Group’s First LEED Platinum ProjectCollege of St. Benedict...

goclones — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:28:37 -0400

DLR Group’s First LEED Platinum Project
College of St. Benedict achieves LEED platinum certification

The new resident townhome project at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., is more than a place for students to live; it is a place that will prepare them for their futures. Developed specifically for college seniors, the townhomes are designed to foster independence and increase understanding of the responsibilities of ‘real-world’ living. Students are responsible for maintaining the homes, monitoring utility use and helping with everyday tasks such as snow removal.

The complex is designed to reflect a typical residential environment and blend in with the growing neighborhood while providing a direct connection to the main campus. The townhomes are organized around a courtyard to help foster a community attitude and provide a neighborhood identity. Outdoor porches, fire pit and outdoor kitchen also contribute to community sensibilities. The commons building, located between the main campus and the new neighborhood, is designed as an iconic transition point between the two entities.

This project is DLR Group’s first LEED-certified building using LEED for Homes. DLR Group’s integrated design approach was key to achieving LEED points, along with designing to a commercial-level standard of materials and systems, rather than a residential-level standard, which is typically less rigorous. High points were earned for a solid envelope/insulation, high-efficiency water, heating and cooling systems, building location and linkages to surrounding buildings, landscape and site work, and Energy Star light fixtures and appliances.

dwmurray247: Day Five – Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Today began...

dwmurray247 — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:23:12 -0500

View from the window on the flight to Eldoret. The area surrounding Eldoret is extremely fertile, and there is a lot of agriculture in the area.

This is the new site for the school. It's about twice as big as their existing site. The plan is to construct more permanent buildings on this site.

Here's the teaching staff of the Jamii School. Basilus and Esther (the founders) are with me in the front.

At the end of our stay, the students gathered to send us off with a couple of songs.

dwmurray247:

Day Five – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Today began with an early morning flight to Eldoret. Eldoret is a small city located about 200 miles northwest of Nairobi.

Upon Arrival, we headed into the slums surrounding the city. Our destination was the Jamii School. Started 5 years ago by Basilus and his wife Esther, the school now serves over 400 students in the surrounding area. The school itself looks a lot like the homes in the surrounding neighborhood: simple wood posts and limbs for the structure, and corrugated metal for the walls and roof. Despite the conditions, the school is a haven for its students. It’s a safe place for them to come together, and learn, and for some, it’s a guarantee for a daily meal they might not otherwise get. The school is crowed, though. In some of their classrooms, there are nearly 60 students, and they’ve a projected need for at least 3 more full classes of 45 students.

Despite the conditions, it’s clear both the students and teachers are extremely dedicated to being there and learning and teaching. In fact, on national exams, the students at Jamii are outperforming the students at the elementary school serving Eldoret town.

To address the pressing need for more space, the school has purchased a site a few blocks away, twice as big as their existing property. Though they ultimately plan to build a permanent two or three story structure on the new site, the immediate need is for enough semi-permanent structures on their new site to allow them to transfer all their classes to the new site, so they can stop paying rent and begin work on the permanent building. We spent the next few hours going over options for how best to phase their work, and how best to invest the time and resources for the semi-permanent construction.

As we were preparing to leave, the teachers and students at the school had a special treat for us. All 400 students gathered in the central courtyard, greeted us, and then proceeded to sing for us. Though I’d had a couple days to get used to the welcomes we were receiving from the communities we were visiting, this was by far the most endearing.

dwmurray247: Days Three and Four January 28-29, 2013 Our...

dwmurray247 — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:08:05 -0500

This is the NHC Langata Court. This government subsidized housing project is home to nearly 10,000 people.

Kibera Slum (photo courtesy wikipedia). This is the largest slum in Kenya, and is located directly adjacent to the NHC Apartment complex.

There is a lot of campaigning going on now, and the traffic is crazy!

dwmurray247:

Days Three and Four

January 28-29, 2013

Our primary meeting for Day 3 was with David Gatende, Deputy CEO at Davis & Shirtliff. D&S is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of solar panels, wind generators (domestic scale), and solar hot-water panels, and bore-hole (well) equipment in Eastern and Central Africa.

David, and members of his staff explained to us the state of the solar industry in Kenya (note: all new homes are required to have solar hot water), and shared what the most appropriate systems for our project would be. It was interesting seeing such a forward thinking policy applied in a developing country, when it is such a challenge to get similar policies considered at home.

Day Four.

We began the day by heading south to Langata. There is a large government housing project here, that houses almost 10,000 people. This project, called NHC Langata court, is located directly adjacent to Kibera, the second largest urban slum in Africa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibera). Estimates, widely varied, put the population of Kibera anywhere from 107,000 (2009 census) to 2 million.

From here we continued on to our first appointment, a meeting with Patrick, a retired pastor who now runs Oikos-Kenya (part of the Hope Teams International group). Patrick’s group is working to address the many issues facing the displaced youth in the area, abandoned or orphaned as a result of the ongoing AIDS Epidemic.

Though the original purpose of our meeting was to see if our housing concept could be adapted to Patrick’s site, it became clear during the meeting that they would need a different solution. Though we didn’t end up providing a new solution for Patrick, we were able to sit and review the design they used for their existing building, and make some recommendations on how it could be easily modified to meet their evolving needs.

In the late afternoon, we returned to the heart of Nairobi, where we met with Joseph Njoroge. Joseph was the contractor for the New Dawn project (See Day 1). Joseph is a wealth of information and was able to provide a lot of insight regarding building techniques appropriate to our project in Kangundo. It was really great to sit and discuss the design and the project goals with someone that could provide a knowledgeable, local perspective. I’ve much to share with the rest of the team when I return to the office!

Dan Murray in Kenya to finalize pro-bono design of vocational...

truthfarmer — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:10:10 -0500

Dan Murray in Kenya to finalize pro-bono design of vocational campus.

Architect Dan Murray and several employees in DLR Group’s Seattle office have launched a pro-bono design project with Kizimani, a grass roots organization established by Kenya natives that is based in Portland, Ore.

Kizimani provides assistance to impoverished areas of Kenya. Murray and the Seattle team are designing a vocational school campus to support the impoverished Kangundo community in Kenya.

The concept for the vocational school campus responds to trades and industries prevalent in central Kenya. The overarching goal is to help people in Kangundo become self-sufficient and end the cycle of poverty that today defines the community.

The campus plan includes two classroom buildings, a clinic, and a retail space to sell items made on site. Phase I will establish a scalable prototype for classroom buildings and provide an overall site design for outdoor programs as well as future campus development.

Murray will be in Kangundo from January 24-31 to complete the pro-bono design efforts. His trip was funded through a grant program administered by Senior Associates in the Seattle DLR Group office. His trip is model for future international pro-bono projects. As the work continues, the project team will track their time and effort, and also catalog how design can have a positive impact on a global environment.

“This project has shown many of the next generation staff in our office, myself included, the value our profession and education truly provides. We’re not one of a half dozen architects clamoring to get a fee to do this work, where the value of our skillset is clouded by the need to compete for fee. In our pro-bono effort, the value we bring to Kangundo and Kizimani is seen in stark relief, and it is powerful,” said Murray.

Murray will be posting his experiences and impression from Kenya at this site. Please check back to follow his progress.

dwmurray247: Kenya Day Two January 27, 2013 Our second day in...

dwmurray247 — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 01:54:48 -0500

The Committee members from the USMCC, gathered around the top of their bore. The pump house, and a tank for thier Drip irrigation installation can be seen in the background

UMCC - model garden and drip irrigation system

UMCC - 150 cubic meter tank. This tank serves the 356 homes they have connected to their system and the kiosks they've set up for selling water to others.

This is the site for the temporary clinic

dwmurray247:

Kenya Day Two

January 27, 2013

Our second day in Kenya began with a drive out to Tala, to visit the Upper Manza Community Center. The UMCC began in 2007 in an effort to bring clean water and community identity to the area east of Tala. At the time, the Upper Manza region consisted of scattered residences, with little or no services provided, and little or no sense of identity. The most important of these missing services, was clean water. In 2007, 35 members of the community formed a committee, and began a project to address these needs. Now, 6 years later, they have succeeded in procuring and installing, by themselves, a well, pump, tank and distribution system. Through this system they provide clean, fresh water directly to 356 homes in the area. Their new Community Center also provides a meeting space to discuss community issues and plan future initiatives, and also a testing ground and model for projects community members can execute on their own (for example, they have a model and drip irrigation system, that can be easily replicated on an individual level).

From the UMCC, we visited the site of the temporary clinic for the Kangundo Project. One of the primary services the Kizimani Organization provides to the Kangundo Community is an annual medical examination. Doctors from the US, and Nairobi, visit the Kangundo site for 3 days, and during those 3 days see nearly 1,000 people, for whom access to medical services is difficult or impossible.

One of the next steps for our team, in Seattle, will be to help finalize a quick design for this site, as they will start building here in April, with the goal of having this clinic up and operational by August.

While on site, we met with Isaac, the individual donating the land for the clinic, and the school project. Isaac, is a retired newspaper man, that now operates his family farm. It is a portion of this farmland that will be donated for the school. The rest of the afternoon was spent touring the site with Isaac, and evaluating different options for the design of the campus and temporary clinic. More on that to come!

dwmurray247: Day One in Kenya Saturday, Jan 26, 2013 I spent...

dwmurray247 — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 23:32:22 -0500

New Dawn School

Interior of Phase I classroom. The conduit and much of the construction details were left exposed.

Interior of Phase II classroom. Still made of only two shipping containers, there was a gap left between the two was infilled with hollow construction that allowed them to conceal the infrastructure.

Giraffe Sanctuary

Yum

dwmurray247:

Day One in Kenya

Saturday, Jan 26, 2013

I spent today with Nelly and her Husband Nick. They manage Kizimani’s projects locally. We started by viewing another school project, recently done, in the Nairobi area. The project, “New Dawn”, is a high school serving an impoverished area adjacent to one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Nairobi. The juxtaposition of the two neighborhoods is quite striking. On one side, you have all the residences for the members of all the foreign embassies, many at 5,000 – 7,000+ SF. On the other, a slum, with shacks cobbled together from found materials, with no power or running water. However, the New Dawn project is a beacon in this slum. Completely supported through donations, the high school serves 160 students from the surrounding slum, and sees 25% of those students qualify for admission to the state university.

The construction for this school is different from what we’re looking at. Made from donated shipping containers, the project is a great example of using available resources in an innovative manner.

The school was constructed in 2 phases. The first, completed in 2006, was made of four shipping containers. The containers were arranged, two by two on the first floor, with the interior panels of each pair cut out, and the seams of the adjoining containers welded together. The removed panels were then used to construct the exterior walls of the second story classrooms. The result was a wide classroom, that seats 40 students.

The second phase was a little different, each classroom on the 1^st and 2^nd floor was still made of a pair of shipping containers, with the removed panels used elsewhere in the project. But the changed how they finished the interior surfaces, and actually left a gap between the containers, and in-filled that gap with wood construction, that allowed for all the utility routing to be concealed.

The project was a great example of applying lessons learned from one phase to the next.

We spent a fair amount of time going over some of the construction techniques used. Even though this is a different construction system that what we’re proposing, New Dawn is a great indicator of the methods, systems and materials at our disposal.

What was also remarkable about the New Dawn campus was how they used every square inch of their property. They grow greens and onions on site, in both an open field and a green house. The have 3 cattle for milk production, and they use the manure to provide bio-gas (methane) for the kitchen. The have to purchase beans and corn for the kitchen, but all the other ingredients for the school meals are grown on site.

Though we’ve discussed the possibility for growing food on our site, and integrating areas for it in our site design, it was great to see an example already built and up and running.

After New Dawn, it was time for a brief tourist experience: a trip to the Giraffe Sanctuary. The giraffes in the sanctuary have all been rescued from recently developed lands or poachers. They are extremely friendly and gentle.

Results of the Charrette to Define the School of 2025

goclones — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:53:00 -0500

Thanks to everyone who attended our session on the School of 2025 at the Learning Environments Conference in Orlando January 30.

Below are three concepts discussed in the breakout groups.
Parent University: One group discussed Parent University, a concept to offer resources and tools for parents to re-educate themselves and be actively engaged in their child’s learning and lessons. In this scenario, learning would occur 24/7, not just during the traditional school day setting of 2013.
Center of Community: Another group talked about how schools would become the center of the community and should reflect real world lessons. This group discussed whether or not a school building would be necessary in 2025, but the group ultimately decided a building would support the concept of the community hub and gathering spot.
School City: One group of higher education professionals and designers proposed a School City that would create an environment that pairs personal interests with local businesses and organizations in a master planned community. The campus would be interwoven with the local community and leverage partnerships with businesses, restaurants and organizations. In this scenario, a student interested in culinary arts would spend part of their day in various restaurants learning the craft of cooking, as well as the business of operating a restaurant.

Watch for more detailed information about our session and photos soon.

Thanks to our charrette facilitators, including DLR Group professionals Jim French, Bill Taylor, Todd Ferking and Tim Wagoner; as well as Dr. David Peterson, Superintendent of Scottsdale USD (Ariz.); Tony Monetti, Superintendent of Roseville High School District (Calif.); and Mike Bosley, Executive Dean of Valencia College (Fla.)

KANGUNDO VOCATIONAL SCHOOL PROJECT These are some of the images...

dwmurray247 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:46:00 -0500

Rendering of one of the construction options we're investigating

Rendering of the Community Center - part of Phase II

Proposed Masterplan for the site

KANGUNDO VOCATIONAL SCHOOL PROJECT

These are some of the images from the early design work we’ve done on the project. The site plan shows what the site will be after Phase I and Phase II are complete.

Public Building Commission- Engine Company 109 Firehouse Under...

truthfarmer — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:58:00 -0500

Public Building Commission- Engine Company 109 Firehouse

Under Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Neighborhoods Alive program the Chicago Fire Department and the Chicago Public Building Commission are jointly bringing advanced new fire houses to every part of Chicago.

Engine Company 109 Firehouse is a new, a new one-story, 14,670 SF facility consisting of steel framing with exterior brick veneer, a burnished block interior, and terrazzo flooring replaces a station that dates back to 1907.

Certified LEED Gold, examples of sustainable features include:

A green roof that reduces storm water runoff.
On-site storm water retention system repurposes water for washing fire trucks and irrigation Permeable paver parking lot aids in the management of storm water on site.
Drought tolerant landscaping
Geothermal heat pump mechanical system

Engine Company 109 offers accommodations for up to 20 firefighters, which includes four officer quarters. An apparatus bay with three inbound and outbound doors service all fire vehicles. Also part of the site development is fenced parking for 23 vehicles and site landscaping.

Greening The Linc for the Eagles

truthfarmer — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:05:00 -0500

Greening The Linc for the Eagles:

Click the headline.

Nice video from the NBC affiliate in Philadelphia touting DLR Group’s design of integrated wind and solar systems for NRG Energy at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Linc will soon be the most sustainable sports venue in nation. Yes, you have to endure 15 seconds of a random commercial promotion, but its well worth the wait.

Patterson Technology Center Effingham, Illinois Patterson...

truthfarmer — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:41:00 -0500

Patterson Technology Center
Effingham, Illinois

Patterson Technologies is a national company providing software solutions, equipment, and supplies to the health care profession. The start-of-the-art building enables Patterson to simulate dental, veterinary, and rehabilitation environments that showcase the newest technology and seamless integration capabilities to its clients. A software usability lab allows developers to observe direct participant feedback and how users interface with the software in real-time simulations. The 100,000 square foot facility includes food service and fitness amenities and is designed to house 540 employees.

Patterson Technology Center sits at the edge of a natural birch forest and the building is tucked into a natural slope. There is continuous glazing from desktop to ceiling to provide views to the forest. The ecologically restorative landscaping concept utilizes low-maintenance buffalo grass and native prairie plantings with bioswales for storm water run-off.

On the exterior, a high-performance fiber-cement rain screen reflects Patterson’s technology ethos while imparting richness through variegated color and texture. The building is designed for flexibility with column-free spans from the core to perimeter walls. The project’s main entrance, training rooms, and cafeteria are offset to take advantage of views and create a hinge point for future expansion that aligns with the existing natural contours of the site.

DLR Group Names Two Senior Principals Seven integrated design...

truthfarmer — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:54:00 -0500

DLR Group Names Two Senior Principals

Seven integrated design professionals also named as principals

(DLR Group – Nov. 12, 2011) — DLR Group has appointed J. C. “Andy” Anderson Jr., AIA, LEED AP, and Pamela Touschner, FAIA, as Senior Principals.

Anderson joined the Kansas City office of DLR Group in 1995. He is the firm’s Southeast Regional Leader, managing operations across 15 states and mentoring staff in Kansas City and Orlando. Anderson has led the strategic development of the firm’s Corporate, Higher Education, Justice+Civic, K-12, and Sports practices in the Southeast. He leads integrated design teams to create innovative, functional buildings that meet the needs and reflect the values of his clients.

“Andy is the epitome of a collaborative leader,” said DLR Group Managing Principal Griff Davenport, AIA. “He is a talented architect with the ability to truly make those around him better, carefully challenging when appropriate, and lending a hand when needed. Andy is a cornerstone of our firm.”

Touschner leads DLR Group’s Practice Forum. In this key leadership role she champions integrated design, ensures the firm’s course to achieve Architecture 2030 benchmarks, directs the implementation and mastery of BIM and other technology, and oversees quality assurance. She joined DLR Group in 1993 and works from the firm’s Riverside location. Touschner is past president of the AIA California Council and the AIA Inland California Chapter, and is a past AIA Regional Director.

“Pam is a strategic thinker and a creative problem solver,” said DLR Group Managing Principal Jon Pettit, AIA. “It is with incredible pride that we welcome Pam as a Senior Principal. As Practice Forum leader she is a passionate champion for integrated design, and her love of architecture is an inspiration to her clients and teams.”

DLR Group also named seven new Principals:

John Badami, AIA, architect – Lincoln, Neb.
Bryan Jehling, PE, electrical engineer – Phoenix
Brad Kiehl, AIA, LEED AP, architect – Kansas City
Julianne Laue, PE, , LEED AP BD+C, mechanical engineer – Minneapolis
Todd Orr, AIA, architect – Orlando, Fla.
James Torres, AIA, architect – Omaha, Neb.
Lawrence Yuan, AIA, architect, Asia Region Leader –Shanghai

“A DLR Group Principal is a leader who proactively and ethically carries DLR Group forward to attain the firm’s mission and live its values,” said Pettit. “As invested employee-owners, each of our new Principals demonstrate these traits every day and represent DLR Group, our clients, and the practice of architecture with professionalism.”

About DLR Group DLR Group is an integrated design firm providing architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design from offices coast-to-coast and in China. We are ranked #1 in the United States by ARCHITECT, the official publication of the AIA, in its 2012 ARCHITECT 50 ranking of U.S. firms. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients, local communities, and our planet. DLR Group fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge and is an initial signatory to the AIA 2030 Commitment. Visit dlrgroup.com and follow us at LinkedIn and Twitter. # # #

On May 22, 2011, one of the deadliest tornadoes in the history...

truthfarmer — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:09:50 -0500

On May 22, 2011, one of the deadliest tornadoes in the history of the United States ripped through Joplin, Missouri. On the ground for 13 miles, in 20 minutes it claimed 161 lives and caused $151 million in damage. Ten schools were damaged and Joplin High School was a total loss.

In response to this tragedy, DLR Group led an integrated design team to transform a 96,000 SF vacant big box retail space into a comprehensive 21st Century high school – design to construction – in just 55 business days.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan proclaimed the school a model for the nation following an onsite tour.

The Council for Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) recognized Joplin Interim High School as the recipient of its 2012 James D. MacConnell Award. The MacConnell Award is the most prestigious award for K-12 education design. It recognizes a comprehensive planning process that results in educational facilities that serve the community and enhance the educational program.

MacConnell Award Jurors commented “the well planned engagement with the community on such a tight timeframe has given opportunities for rethinking learning spaces and stretching the vision of what learning environments can be.”

DLR Group is the first architecture firm to receive the MacConnell Award two years in a row. Its design for the Marysville (Wash.) Getchell Campus received the 2011 MacConnell Award.

ARCHITECT magazine recognizes DLR Group as the #1 architecture...

truthfarmer — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:30:40 -0400

ARCHITECT magazine recognizes DLR Group as
the #1 architecture firm in U.S

DLR Group sits atop the 2012 ARCHITECT 50 List

(DLR GROUP–Sept. 24, 2012) — ARCHITECT magazine, the official publication of the American Institute of Architects, has recognized DLR Group as the #1 firm in the United States. ARCHITECT published the annual ARCHITECT 50 ranking of U.S. firms in its September issue.

The ARCHITECT 50 list is compiled by weighting three key components of practice: design excellence and pro bono, sustainability, and business. DLR Group has ranked in the top 10 of U.S. firms each year since the ARCHITECT 50 debuted in 2009.

“ARCHITECT’s scoring is a direct reflection of our promise to elevate the human experience through design,” said DLR Group Managing Principal Jon Pettit, AIA. “This recognition validates the efforts and investment of our employee-owners to transform DLR Group into a recognized design firm.”

According to ARCHITECT, the aim of its Top 50 list is to reward accomplishments according to the broadest possible criteria: “The list is designed to celebrate practice of all kinds – practices that are as adept with building technology as they are in business, that can win design awards and also give back to their communities. The overall winner? A big hand for DLR Group, which drew raves for its Joplin Interim High School in tornado-ravaged Missouri.”

In addition to being the leading K-12 education design firm in the United States, DLR Group partners with an envied list of clients including The Boeing Company, Google, Hyatt, Mall of America, NRG Energy, Kaiser Permanente, and with college and university campuses and public agencies across the nation.

“Client success stories like Joplin illustrate the effectiveness of DLR Group’s integrated design approach,” said DLR Group Managing Principal Griff Davenport, AIA. “This honor is really the outcome of the faith that clients have placed in DLR Group during the past 50 years. On behalf of our employee-owners, I want to thank every client across the country that has entrusted us to deliver their dreams and visions.”

DLR Group practices in the Corporate (hospitality, retail/mixed-use, workplace), Justice+Civic, Higher Education, K-12 Education, and Sports markets. The firm has offices in Chicago, Colorado Springs, Denver, Des Moines, Honolulu, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Lincoln, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Omaha, Orlando, Pasadena, Phoenix, Portland, Riverside, Sacramento, Seattle, Tucson, and in Shanghai.

About DLR Group
DLR Group is ranked #1 by ARCHITECT, the official publication of the AIA, in its 2012 ARCHITECT 50 ranking of U.S. firms. We are an integrated design firm providing architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design from offices coast-to-coast and in China. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities; and our planet. DLR Group fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge and is an initial signatory to the AIA 2030 Commitment. Visit dlrgroup.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

###

GoogleKirkland, Washington For the renovation of the second...

truthfarmer — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:24:00 -0400

Google
Kirkland, Washington

For the renovation of the second floor of Building A on its Kirkland campus, Google sought to quickly effect a paint-and-carpet refresh of workplace spaces to accommodate expanding teams.

DLR Group’s design for this project capitalizes on additional opportunities to make significant spatial impacts within the original schedule and budget parameters.

By removing a significant number of existing interior walls, the design dramatically opens spaces and creates a fluid connection across the open office environment, both around and through the secure building core. While the scope of work included preserving existing workstations, perimeter offices and conference spaces using DIRTT wall systems, the team took opportunities to re-plan collaboration areas, social spaces and privacy rooms for improved accessibility, visibility and experience of space.

New FF&E in these shared areas not only provide wayfinding cues, but also create a fun, funky, energetic workplace atmosphere relating to Google’s region-based building theme of “Northwest Music Scene.”

Garden City High School Garden City, KS Garden City USD 457’s...

goclones — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:16:00 -0400

Garden City High School

Garden City, KS

Garden City USD 457’s vision is that diversity is a strength and school is a total learning community where anyone can learn anything, any time, any place. With a Hispanic student population more than three times that of the state average, Garden City is one of the more diverse communities in Kansas. However, an outdated learning environment was hindering students’ success and community building at the high school level.

The new 2,000-student Garden City High School represents an opportunity to positively impact the entire community and help shape the future of Western Kansas. The school is a dynamic showpiece which positions Garden City as a progressive community committed to preparing the next generation of leaders for the state.

DLR Group’s unique architecture of Garden City High School is complementary to the agricultural based western Kansas biome. The durable exterior material palette is reflective of the regional context. A large, radius loop road surrounding the school provides a clear way-finding device that metaphorically represents irrigation circles, and the growth and nurturing of students within the circle.

Garden City High School features the latest innovations in education, including small and large group gathering areas, and collaboration spaces to support project-based learning. The flexible design also has the ability to adapt to future educational models and enrollments.

The 384,000 SF design consists of four small learning communities (SLCs) to subdivide student/teacher populations and encourage interaction between students and staff. After completing the Ninth Grade SLC experience, students choose a SLC based on personal interests and future aspirations in Education & Finance; Information Technology; or Health & Agriculture.

Each SLC houses a de-centralized administrative and counseling team, core and elective classrooms, outdoor gathering areas, and student living rooms and resource centers. Student living rooms are social spaces with Wi-Fi access, flexible furniture and soft seating where students can interact before and after school and between class periods. Student resource centers are flexible, studio-like environments that support group gatherings, presentations, demonstrations and project-based learning activities.

University of Oregon PK Park Eugene, OR PK Park at the...

abbytheintern — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:43:00 -0400

University of Oregon PK Park

Eugene, OR

PK Park at the University of Oregon embodies the excitement and ambition of the Ducks’ newly-resurrected baseball program. Meant to continue the tradition of the University’s top-quality athletic facilities, the new ballpark sits adjacent to the famed Autzen Stadium.

The architectural style of the ballpark creates an appropriate and memorable experience for patrons and participants. Stylistically the facility reflects the culture of athletics at the University of Oregon, as well as provides an aesthetic that is particular to the game of baseball and to the Pacific Northwest region. The facility incorporates massing and materials to identify its unique function, as well as to integrate itself into the surrounding athletic complex.

Facility Highlights:
- 3,000 fixed seats with total capacity of 4,000 fans through suites and other areas
- Press facilities on upper level
- Eight Suites on upper level
- Canopy over seating areas
- Daylit locker rooms and players lounge
- “Fowl Territory” party plaza located at field level to interact with the players.
- Vertical banners along concourse
- Synthetic turf playing field

Award and Recognition: 2012 Distinguished Single Field Award from the American Sports Builders Association, 2010 Best Sports/Recreation Project from Northwest Construction.

County of Kings Superior Court Hanford, CA Within the...

abbytheintern — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 10:07:00 -0400

County of Kings Superior Court

Hanford, CA

Within the constructed landscape, the new Kings County Courthouse will present itself as a territory within a landscape. It will have its own clearly defined edges and presence while still harmonizing with its immediate surroundings.

The transition between residential and commercial zoning challenged the project to create its own rhythm and orientation that will affect the future development of the area. The building is placed near the south-east corner of the site in proximity to the existing jail facility. This relationship allows for the two buildings to be connected by extending the existing underground tunnel.

The design team oriented the building on an east-west axis to capitalize on the energy-reducing advantages of this solar orientation. This passive technique reduces the heat load in the summer and allows the sun to come in during the winter, thereby helping to achieve the overall energy efficiency goals of the project. Additionally, the orientation is aesthetically advantageous, providing a view to the mountains from all north facing offices while keeping the jail primarily out of view.

The courthouse building itself is organized as a simple 4 courtroom-per-floor bar building, with chambers and other services attached to the back side for relatively close access to the courtrooms. Off of the atrium are all counters for each department, creating an open and accessible area for the high traffic volume.

All department and building functions feed off of the separate, secure corridor to the north. A partial basement houses the central holding facility which is accessed only by the northwest stair and the in-custody elevators located between courtrooms. This approach optimizes efficiency by accommodating, through relative adjacencies, the various functional interrelationships of these components while directly enhancing ease of access and security.

The courthouse is expected to be completed by early 2013.

United Launch Alliance Denver, CO The United Launch Alliance...

abbytheintern — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:54:00 -0400

United Launch Alliance

Denver, CO

The United Launch Alliance (ULA), a 50-50 joint venture owned by Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Company, sought to create a transformative office space that displayed ULA’s mission and culture while consolidating its 11 office locations into one campus. ULA brings together two of the launch industry’s most experienced and successful teams – Atlas and Delta – to provide reliable, cost-efficient space launch services.

DLR Group’s design resulted in a unified and consistent work environment which created synergies for all ULA employees. Key adjacency with clients, customers, business and technical functions were imperative to improve efficiency, increase productivity and accelerate perfect product delivery.

Natural daylighting, mountain views, formal and informal collaboration spaces, cafeteria, fitness centers, bike storage, and proximity to public transportation along with sustainable finishes contributes to an improved and sustainable workspace.