In Fall of 2022, Otak opened its doors to our brand-new Denver office. We reinforced our presence in downtown Denver for several strategic purposes – including a motivation to deepen our commitments to and strengthen our relationships within the greater Denver metropolitan area.
And what better way to build relationships than to host an Open House! On October 5th Otak welcomed our valued clients, teaming partners, and local community members to Otak’s downtown space in the historic Elephant Corral building.
A Variety of Practices Forging New Relationships
At the event, we had the chance for meaningful discussion with local peers in architecture, landscape architecture, planning, water resources, and transportation. With a variety of clients in attendance, it was a fantastic opportunity to get better acquainted with partners and local organizations – some of whom we’ve already partnered with on projects, and others we hopefully will in the future.
Beyond Networking
The energy in the office was uplifting as the Denver community came together to explore the space, enjoy food and drinks, engage in meaningful conversation, and foster connections. The event’s success wasn’t just measured in terms of professional connections, but in the opportunity to engage and recharge together outside of a video call. We were honored to host this event and start dialogue with the potential clients, partners, and friends in attendance.
As we continue to thrive and grow our work in the Rocky Mountain region, Otak remains dedicated to contributing to the communities we serve. We look forward to even more vibrant and interactive events in the future, recognizing that it’s not just about planning and building infrastructure, but also about building bridges between people in our communities for years to come.
Wade Creek Park represents the culmination of a 15-year vision to create a library, park, and community meeting space for the City of Estacada. This third phase of development improves the park’s utility and connections to the surrounding environment by adding a multi-use community center and converting an existing pond back to its natural stream.
A Multi-Use Community Center Designed Around a Restored Stream
From an outdoor amphitheater, stage area, and boardwalk to an indoor community room, restroom facilities, and picnic area, a number of amenities improved Wade Creek park while restoring its natural stream and adding wetland areas. The architectural design of the community center also includes a roof that drains into a rain garden featuring native plants and locally-sourced materials for the structure that highlight the local timber industry. Wade Creek meanders through the middle of the park and improving the habitat was important to the City. A geomorphic and hydrologic study determined the restoration design of Wade Creek, focusing on enhanced flood management, tree health, and aquatic habitat diversity. Multiple alternatives were presented to the public using an online survey in partnership with GreenWorks to engage the community in the design process. A hydraulic computer model was used to evaluate maximum water surface elevations for the design alternatives. The final design includes a riffle, pool, channel complex with riparian plantings, and a new fish passage culvert under Wade Street.
In support of expanding quality, accessible housing in the State of Oregon, Sunshine Park Apartments adds an influx of affordable units to the community of Roseburg. The Otak design places an emphasis on community-oriented spaces and family-focused amenities.
A Family-Focused Design Improves Community Access to Affordable Housing
The affordable housing development of Sunshine Park Apartments is comprised of 144 apartments for households with incomes up to 60% of the area median income. An emphasis on community in the design incorporates playgrounds, open landscape areas, and a communal building, with buildings oriented around a seasonal creek that runs through the development. With families top of mind, Sunshine Park Apartments offers a range of amenities, with a central clubhouse serving as a hub for community activities. The clubhouse features a fireplace, community kitchen, exercise equipment, and a covered BBQ area. The amenity spaces are strategically clustered to create a vibrant and inclusive environment, particularly catering to families with children. The project was made possible through OHCS 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits and LIFT Award funding, reflecting a commitment from the state of Oregon to making quality housing accessible.
In a span of just a year and eight months, Omar Cardoza has shown admirable curiosity and initiative, participating in multiple events, opportunities, and projects at Otak as a Design Technician within our Architecture group. We’re taking the time today to celebrate his recent achievement of earning his LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) certification. With this accreditation, Omar has taken a significant step towards a more sustainable and impactful architectural career!
What is a LEED GA?
Taking the initiative to pursue the LEED GA certification, Omar’s commitment to self-improvement is commendable. He acknowledges that while the intention was always there, it required dedicated effort and focus to attain this achievement. Now, equipped with the LEED GA certification, Omar is excited to take a more informed and conscious approach to his work. In his own words,
According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is the #1 recognized green building rating system in the world. The LEED Green Associate certification is the first of two tiers of professional green building accreditation. Referred to as “LEED GA”, LEED Green associates have demonstrated knowledge of green building practices and standards related to the design, construction, usage, and maintenance of buildings.
Why a LEED GA?
The motivation behind Omar’s pursuit of the LEED GA accreditation, to him, stems from a combination of factors. Recognizing the increasing relevance of sustainability in today’s architectural landscape, he felt the need to equip himself with the tools necessary to design and construct environmentally conscious structures in the modern era. Omar’s passion for the environment and his belief that architecture goes beyond just the physical structure to influence the lives of the people who use it further fueled his desire to earn his LEED GA.
Omar sees the LEED GA accreditation as a pivotal milestone in his professional journey. The certification provides him with a robust foundation to integrate sustainability seamlessly into all phases of project delivery. This enhanced understanding of green building practices will not only enable him to create more environmentally responsible structures but also contribute to his overall growth as a modern architect.
Doing the Work
Taking the initiative to pursue the LEED GA certification, Omar’s commitment to self-improvement is commendable. He acknowledges that while the intention was always there, it required dedicated effort and focus to attain this achievement. Now, equipped with the LEED GA certification, Omar is excited to take a more informed and conscious approach to his work. In his own words, “It acts as a catalyst for my ongoing career development, and I view it as the first step in a series of big steps to advance in the world of sustainable architecture.”
Omar’s accomplishment reflects his dedication to professional growth and his commitment to designing spaces that not only function well but also positively impact the environment and the lives of those who inhabit them, something deeply aligned with our values in design. As he continues to evolve as an architect, Otak eagerly anticipates the contributions and innovations he will bring to the realm of sustainability!
Located at a prominent corner lot of downtown Vancouver, Washington, the 13 West Apartments adds 96-units of housing to the city’s central business district. The project builds on a long history with DBG in developing affordable housing facilities throughout the northwest.
Affordable Housing meets Multimodal Access
A key aspect to 13 West is it’s specific location. It is sited in a downtown employment district proximate to both private and public sector jobs. Residents can easily walk or bike to work and also have easy access to mass transit and nearby social services in the neighborhood. The 5 story building’s ground floor includes a corner entry, community room, and management office. Accentuating the area’s multimodal accessibility is a secured bike storage, two live/work spaces, and tuck under covered parking that’s concealed in the rear with alley access.
To improve road maintenance operations and the safe processing of household hazardous waste, the Kitsap County Department of Public Works aimed to update its existing facilities. The design adds a number of new facilities across 16 acres – including a 18,500 square-foot administration building – from a more central location to better protect the environment and serve the community.
Facilities Designed for Road and Waste Operations that Protect the Environment and Community
Dating back to the 1920’s and 1950’s the original Kitsap County facilities had grown obsolete with inadequate storage space for necessary equipment and significantly increased traffic volume. With over 900 miles of roadway to preserve and maintain, the new facilities are designed to more efficiently operate a number of programs from surface treatment and snow removal to vegetation management to street sweeping. Included in the design are multiple vehicle maintenance shops, a vehicle wash and fuel station, as well as 9,600 square-feet of covered canopy for parking and storage among other road maintenance focused features. The addition of a 7,600 square-foot facility will also improve the county’s ability to collect and package household hazardous waste from a more central location, creating greater access for residents. In leading the preliminary and final design, Otak also conducted internal and external stakeholder engagement, site plan alternatives analysis, permit acquisition, and preparation of environmental review documentation in bringing these new assets to the community.
For any discussion about the future of design – modular architecture is now part of that conversation.
Trends in the field point to it as well. Back in 2015, the Modular Building Institute notes that modular construction constituted 2.9% of all construction while expecting it to grow to 5% in 2020.
As it turns out, modular buildings now make up more than 6% of new construction in the United States. With a market now expected to grow from $89.18 billion in 2022 to $95.59 billion in 2023, modular construction is in demand because it’s become more cost effective, efficient, and flexible in design.
Modular design’s history can be traced back thousands of years to the ancient Romans who created prefabricated sections of their forts that could be assembled on-site for quick defense. And modular configurations have been commercially available since the early 20th century.
Modular units being constructed on site.
The difference in today’s approach to modularity is advances in technology. From enhanced building materials and greater precision in manufacturing, to the logistics behind transporting building components, the entire process is now done with greater quality and efficiency. The result is a modern architecture approach that’s often more innovative in design and efficient in completion than today’s traditional methods.
In this piece, we’re taking a closer look at the practice of modular design and exploring its details and advantages, as well as implications for the future of the built environment. Feel free to read on or skip ahead:
Modular architecture’s definition is rooted in the term ‘module’: where prefabricated units of a structure are assembled in configurations designed to meet different sizes, complexities, or functions.
Modular Versus Prefabricated
The relationship between modular construction and other types of prefabricated approaches like panelized construction is similar to the relationship between 3D and 2D design. While modules are three-dimensional units comprised of several prefabricated pieces, panels are individual flat pieces assembled on-site. So, one could think of modular construction as a specific application of prefabrication where floors, walls, and roofs are integrated into larger units, often comprising one or more rooms.
Simply put, prefab deals with the manufacturing of the individual units (walls, floors, and other elements) with assembly of entire spaces happening later at the construction site.
Benefits (and Challenges) of Modular Architecture
With a number of factors driving added attention to modular architecture – the rapidly growing need for adequate, affordable housing significantly among them – there are numerous benefits being found by both designers, builders, and the community who eventually uses the final product.
Of course, with the benefits of any approach also come challenges. Below we’ll take a closer look at both in some key areas.
Quality Control A modular approach to design and building allows for greater control of the overall quality of a structure. With units prefabricated in a factory setting as opposed to being subject to field conditions (i.e., short building windows in colder, wetter seasons, etc.), there’s less degradation of materials.
Also, because modular construction is simplified to an assembly process, reliance on different skill levels or unfamiliarity from on-site labor – and quality issues that can arise as a result – are dramatically reduced.
However, since units are prefabricated, often with proprietary materials and methods, if quality issues do arise, they aren’t able to be addressed on-site as easily as with conventional construction.
Constructability A huge benefit of a modular approach is time. Construction time on a modular structure takes a fraction of the time it takes to build from the ground up. The process is also safer for workers as fewer people are needed for less complicated tasks on a shorter schedule, minimizing site risks.
This benefit can be even greater when used at scale while applying templated configurations across multiple sites, as opposed to a one-off approach for each building. It’s estimated that modular approaches can reliably save at least 20% in construction costs, including the potential for an estimated $22B in savings annually across U.S. and European markets. This savings makes sense when you consider the reduced construction time that leads to a reduction in overall emissions from heavy equipment.
While site accessibility is a challenge with any project, because modular design involves the use of larger units, this can be a limiting factor for difficult to reach locations.
Construction site of an office building in Berlin.
Repeatability As mentioned, modular design lends itself to repeatability and scalability. The consistencies gained in minimizing onsite construction issues like weather or access, improve the quality of overall construction while being more insulated from the elements. Using a system of repeated building blocks leaves less room for variation in quality and creates a process that can then be repeated across multiple sites.
Sustainability Modular design is also better for the planet. The approach bakes in an emphasis on minimizing waste in the construction process because the process is primarily carried out in the controlled environment of a manufacturing facility. The units themselves are also often made using recycled materials. Almost every client values sustainable methods that lessens onsite waste and materials, because less waste not only lowers a project’s overall carbon footprint, it also lower costs associated with disposing and transporting that waste.
Establishing Design Goals for Clients The benefits of modular design also extend away from the job site. While of course not exclusive to a modular approach, the use of 3D visuals can be particularly useful in facilitating a discussion that requires an extra degree of predefined design decisions with the client.
A discussion including a modular architecture approach can draw out a client’s true goals for the project, like if they want resilient products that are easy to maintain for a buyer that can be weatherproofed during the short build season. Different components of the structure can be modular in an ‘a la carte’ type approach to meet the design, avoiding the challenges that come with limited variety and allowing for design flexibility.
Example 3D rendering of a sustainable house, using modular design.
A Modular Design Approach: What Makes a Project a Good Fit?
It’s one thing to consider a modular design approach, but it’s another to decide which projects are most suitable for it. The reality is it’s a different design process from what traditionally takes place and might not always be the right solution depending on the project details.
For one, designers have to think in a more integrated way because the pieces of the puzzle are bigger. Units also must be designed to thorough specifications to make sure everything fits just right when it comes time to build. Architects need to think about how one gets the most customization in the fewest components, while also considering the need for flexibility. Owners also tend to invest more in early phases of the project so the prefab process can begin, meaning decisions need to be made early so that can be conveyed to financiers.
Consideration of a modular approach is best done early in the design process to truly reap the benefits in identifying projects that are a good fit.
An Answer to the Housing Crisis: Modular Residential Home Design
Modular architecture can be especially useful for residential home design. With the growing housing crisis plaguing the United States, it’s estimated that 3.8 million more homes must be built now to keep up with population growth in the future, and modular design lends itself to the need in a unique way.
Given its repeatability, scalability, and time-saving capabilities, modular construction allows for a number of cost-effective solutions to building houses en masse. Rather than a one-off approach with a traditional stick-built home, modular home design delivers a shortened schedule, material cost savings, and a more sustainable project, ultimately getting people into homes – and developers paid – more quickly.
Modular Housing Common Questions
When considering modular architecture for housing projects, there are a few common questions to consider:
Can modular homes be stacked?
Modular homes can be designed as a single standalone structure or multiple story building by stacking them. Bottom line: there are many structural and design possibilities.
Can modular homes be renovated?
Modular homes can be modified and renovated, though much depends on the initial structural integrity and design which may require specialized knowledge and resources.
Can modular homes be built anywhere?
One of their greatest benefits is that modular homes can be placed just about anywhere. There are some constraints since the larger components need to be able to be accessible to a site.
Modular Architecture for Commercial Buildings
Large-scale projects don’t just include housing. While not currently as common, commercial buildings are increasingly being built using a modular approach.
Modular construction site.
In cases where there is a need for meeting rigorous quality standards (due to regulation or client specifications) a modular approach can help ensure those standards are met. This is especially common in advanced manufacturing and the automotive industry for example. Efficiency with energy, materials and construction timelines are also goals that lend themselves well to a modular approach to commercial facilities.
Modular Architecture as A Growing Application in Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare is another area where modular design is growing in popularity, and the concept is gaining hold for several reasons.
While the priorities of healthcare have evolved over time to place a greater emphasis on patient-centric model that emphasizes convenience and experience, the physical infrastructure for the industry has comparatively lagged. An effort to catch up has turned many to the benefits of modular design for the development of new healthcare facilities.
Example of modular units.
Modular architecture is helping bridge that gap with healthcare facilities by simplifying coordination and install of multiple, complex infrastructural components that are often needed.
In addition to being more innovative and scalable in design, the cost-efficient nature of a modular approach is especially fitting an industry where creating the convenience for communities of nearby facilities is a priority. Considering the size of these projects, insulation from factors that often cause delays in construction (weather, labor shortage etc.) and other on-site complications is also an important consideration in getting healthcare facilities operational on schedule. These efficiencies also translate to cost savings and a better return on revenue.
Applying Creative Design Approaches to Architecture
Every project is unique and the options for bringing them to completion are numerous. The ability to deliver creative designs that meet a diverse set of client goals and project types is at the heart of our architecture practice. Modular design is just one approach in a world of possibilities to consider.
Take a closer look at our architecture work and learn more about a design-forward mentality that fits into a unique set of multidisciplinary capabilities.
With the goal of making modern residential housing more beautiful, sustainable, and attainable, Quantum Assembly aimed to pair the efficiency of their prefab process with designs to match.
An Attractive, Efficient, and Permittable Design Approach to Modular Home Construction
In offering modular home construction to a wide range of clients, established design standards would be needed to deliver projects at scale. Alignment between the prefabricated manufacturing of units and flexible design configurations emphasizes efficiency in both building materials and installation. The architectural, structural, and visual design for Quantum’s modular homes also account for state-level permitting, leaving only site permits needed for projects.
Time to raise glasses at Otak! We’re happy to report three of our projects took home awards at the 2023 DJC Top Projects Gala! We’re taking a closer look into the three projects that took home some hardware, so check out the work below.
Located in Vancouver, WA with primetime views of downtown and the Columbia River, our client, Kirkland Development, made it a priority take full advantage of the location. Enter a 12-story luxury condo tower with 40 units, and the boutique-style Hotel Indigo, a 138-room high-rise.
Otak provided comprehensive planning and design services for the mixed-use property, which also includes 10,000 square feet of retail and 7,700 square feet of restaurant space. The design highlights the hotel chain’s signature brand while creating an iconic destination on the prime site. A six-story atrium, second-level meeting and conference hall, rooftop bar, expansive terrace, and valet parking will provide visitors and residents with luxury amenities and an inviting setting to enjoy the riverfront festival street and parks. The hotel, one of the few Indigo properties west of the Mississippi, is within easy walking distance of downtown Vancouver.
Taking home 2nd place in the Hospitality & Other Special Purposes category, this project will provide a unique mixed-use hospitality and residential environment for visitors and residents on the Vancouver waterfront. Otak is excited to see this project come to life and earn recognition for its efforts to create a vibrant new community along the Columbia River.
Originally constructed in the 1970s, the unused two-story structure on Casino Road has found a new purpose as an administrative headquarters for a bustling transit company, Community Transit. A complete rehabilitation of the 70,000 square-foot concrete tilt panel building involved full design from our team – from programming through construction documents to ultimately becoming the new home of a number of groups’ operations.
Key to this design was an adaptive re-use project delivery method, including an upgrade to nearly all building systems to meet current building, fire protection, energy, and electrical codes. An added data facility that required enhanced security was also solved in the renovation plans. Added daylighting throughout the building is one element of this energy efficient design.
With 14 user groups set to call the admin building home, the needs of each were considered throughout the process. Through continuous visioning sessions and interviews with key stakeholders, a consensus was met in designing an open office environment that features a large, stadium style gathering space as well as a rooftop deck that offers an employee lounge and amenities.
Taking home 2nd place in the Tenant Improvement & Major Renovation category, this is another project we hang our hat on – exemplifying a dynamic relationship between community, innovation, sustainability, and quality design.
Otak CPM is proud to be a part of this award-winning project, made possible by close teaming with our partners at: Pacific Medical Buildings, ZGF Architects, and Andersen Construction. With over 121,000 square-feet added as a apart of their three-site expansion program, The Vancouver Clinic grew its ability to provide healthcare services for communities across Southwest Washington.
Utilizing a Lean Integrated Design / Design Build approach, the Vancouver Clinic expansion designed all three facilities concurrently. The design processes were augmented by full-scale mock-ups to confirm functionality while leveraging the experiences of clinical staff and medical consultants to prioritize patient care with optimal clinic workflows.
As owner’s representative, Otak CPM was involved through the design and early site work of the Salmon Creek 2 medical office building. At the onset of the pandemic, the project delivery method changed from Design Build approach to a developer-based project with Pacific Medical Buildings (PMB). The original Design Build team of Andersen Construction and ZGF Architects was retained to construct the building in partnership with PMB, with Otak CPM remaining in an advisory role to Vancouver Clinic through the conclusion of the project.
We would like congratulate our partners: Andersen Construction, ZGF Architects, Pacific Medical Buildings, and our client Vancouver Clinic on this wonderful award.
Critical to the design process in our architecture practice, the charrette represents a crucial step toward achieving practical, beautiful buildings with the needs of the community in mind. But what exactly is a design charrette?
Simply put, the design charrette is a short and collaborative meeting during which an architect or client can share their work with team members. It’s here where most ideation is done, where they can talk through, collaborate, and sketch while exploring and sharing diverse design ideas.
These charrettes are especially useful for projects that require many hands and even more inspiration. Given the importance of stakeholder engagement in this process, a unique approach (including Legos) seemed a natural fit in working with a non-profit aiming to inspire creativity in a new clubhouse.
“We center youth voice in all of our work and the decisions that we make. This feels like a great moment for the kids to see their ideas come to fruition, its empowering for them in a world where they aren’t often empowered.”
Allison Pauletto, Executive Director – Friends of the Children-SW Washington
Who is Friends of the Children?
Friends of the Children-SW Washington is a chapter of a national organization established in 1993 in Portland, Oregon. The non-profit seeks to provide mentorship, care, and consistency for disadvantaged youths. It was founded on the principle that one of the strongest protective factors a child can have is a long-term, nurturing relationship with a consistent and caring adult.
Starting with just 24 kids and three adult ‘Friends’ in 1993, the organization has since grown to serve locations across the country including this Southwest Washington chapter. With great growth comes a great need for facilities that are innovative and built with community’s needs in mind, the community in this case being the kids Friends of the Children-SW Washington serve.
Designing a Unique Charrette Process
While no two design charrettes are exactly alike, some are more creative that others. Given the goals for Friends of the Children in Southwest Washington, a unique approach to the design charrette process included the imagination of the same children who would eventually call the new clubhouse their own.
The architecture team ultimately designed two charrettes to gauge the needs of the organization and incorporate them into the facilities’ design.
Preliminary Brainstorm
To kick things off, the architects hosted a brainstorming activity to learn more about current facilities and what they mean to both the children and their ‘Friends,’ as well as the greater community. Five questions were posted on the wall meant to help us understand what the group already loves about their clubhouse. The purpose of this was to not lose the original vision of the clubhouse, but instead expand upon it — letting the children and their ‘Friends’ inform the design process directly.
In charrette number two, four more questions were posted on the wall, encouraging participants to use their full imaginations in ideating what the final project delivery should look like.
Responses to each brainstorming activity were placed on the wall with sticky notes, ultimately creating word clouds and design concepts, all of which were used to find out what the clubhouse means to the Friends of the Children-SW Washington.
Lego Charrette: Creation Stations for a Reimagined Clubhouse
After these brainstorming sessions, three groups were created for breakout sessions and assigned one of three ‘Creation Stations,’ complete with Legos to define how the pieces of the new clubhouse could potentially fit together, using the brainstorm and Otak staff to inform their design choices.
“These are the connections our kids need to make them understand architecture, where they can see how art and creativity are used in the real world.”
Allison Pauletto, Executive Director – Friends of the Children-SW Washington
Broken into the categories, “Interiors, Adjacencies & Outdoor Spaces, and Landscape”, the Legos used at each Creation Station were strategic. Allowing the children to figuratively build their own space exposed them to the exploration of architecture and landscape architecture in a tangible, tactile way, inspiring imagination and creativity even further.
Outlining Clubhouse Site Facilities
Each of the three groups arrived at Creation Station #1 to find a 24”x24” piece of green poster paper and premade 3-dimensional shapes built with Legos that represented (to scale) the new clubhouse and other features, including the parking lot and exterior patios.
The groups were presented with the story that a big, new gym building had come down from the sky and landed in a large, grassy field (think Dorothy’s house in The Wizard of Oz). Each group’s job was to arrange the nine primary outdoor activities around the gym building.
One by one, the kids talked about where each of the functional areas should be. They sometimes explored a possibility only to discover a better location.
This exercise led them to consider what activities function well next to each other and what activities require space or separation. For instance, the children considered placing quiet activities next to quiet, noisy next to noisy. The kids were eager to add things initially overlooked, such as a pond, a basketball court, bicycle riding trails, a bicycle storage room, and a barbecue area, to name a few.
Identifying Ideal Interior Amenities
The focus then shifted to the clubhouse’s interior, and the children and their Friends were tasked with imagining the type of amenities the new clubhouse should have, either building their idea with more Legos or illustrating it.
Everything from new gaming consoles to interactive furniture to places to do homework, the children wasted no time in imagining what their space could be. Their Friends also identified needs for a coffee station, a full kitchen, a break room, and more board games. The design element is especially important here, as the needs of the organization directly informed Otak’s choices for the project for the greater community’s benefit.
Creating Outdoor Spaces
The three groups were then asked to represent their outdoor activities and desired amenities through, you guessed it, more Legos. Several children built creations that represented outdoor equipment (i.e., basketball hoop, tree house) while others created scenes that captured different activities or amenities (i.e., pond with a basketball court, a game of rock tag).
The groups were then given markers and trace paper overlaid on a large aerial photo of a potential clubhouse site. They were asked to brainstorm what types of activities they wanted to see outside the clubhouse and then identify the best locations for each. The kids discussed and made decisions as a group on where facilities or activities should be located and the spatial arrangement and relationships between them.
Some key themes emerged between both the kids and their Friends:
Creating a ‘backyard’ for the children, Friends and community that provides different spaces, facilities and activities that evoke a sense of belonging or ownership.
Providing a balance of loud outdoor areas and quiet spaces throughout all seasons.
Separating activity areas to accommodate different age groups and activity types.
Connecting indoor and outdoor spaces
Providing access to nature and the environment through outdoor learning spaces
Preserving friendships through outdoor art or installations that live across generations
Establishing a safe and secure clubhouse and backyard (i.e., perimeter fencing, no pool, no trampoline)
Concluding the Design Charette: A Roundtable Discussion for Preliminary Decision Making
The final session in our second charrette with the Friends was a roundtable open discussion and preliminary decision-making process to identify the necessary spaces that would be designed in the clubhouse, and determine a sufficient square footage or size for each space.
As the group discussed each space, significant feedback from the Friends provided insight into what is needed for these spaces to function successfully, be fully utilized, and accommodate long-term growth.
Establishing Project Programming
This exercise regarding programming set the precedent for the following discussion about adjacencies and how the programming would translate into a visual spatial arrangement. As an example, the group was shown a Lego model created by the children at Creation Station #2 reflecting their thoughts on where different spaces should go and their relationship to others.
The goal was to encourage everyone to reflect on how they move and function throughout the current clubhouse and imagine their role in these new spaces, and a roundtable discussion is perfect for hashing out the multitude of ideas the children and their Friends came up with.
Friends of the Children at Otak’s Vancouver office with the architecture team
A Closer Look at Community-Focused Design
Throughout this unique design charrette process, community engagement and stakeholder involvement were paramount, and baked into the ideation phase seamlessly to understand the needs of Friends of the Children-SW Washington from not just an adults perspective, but from active users of the space – the children. This approach is critical to the ‘why’ of not just Otak Architecture, but Otak as a whole.
Check out more work from our architecture team, and we can’t wait to continue to report on this unique project. Thank you to Friends of the Children for having us, and we’re excited to get started!
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