Revit Office Design

Overview of Office

This is my first design with the use of Revit. This project was a combination between my Interior Building Systems and 3D Digital Modeling and Management classes. The objective for the Building Systems class was to apply the concepts of natural daylight in combination with application of artificial lights.  The office was to include 10 workstations, a kitchen/ break room, and a conference room. The first design I developed was very basic, I was still learning the program, but after a school visit from Steelcase, I was introduce to new ways of designing an office space for the evolving work place. Steelcase introduced new concepts how people are not always working at their desks, and being more mobile in their work places. Therefore the design of the space shall accommodate the different types of work situations that take place. There is the original work stations and a conference room, but the other spaces in the office shall be open to encourage collaboration.Working with Steelcase furniture systems, I learned how to navigate the manufacturers' website to find products to use.

Conference Room

Waiting Area With Bookshelf Divider

Receptionist Desk

This design also required a small amount of programming to determine the required amount of artifical lights as well as natural light to control the amount of light inn the space.

Community Service Project: Conceptual Development

This community service project was a great learner experience as there was a real client whom we talked to and discussed the goals and requirements of the design. The goal was to create a venue space on an island of the park where it mostly is rented as a wedding venue, as well as other community gatherings. I was face with several challenges while designing the conceptual layouts. I first worked in concept development where I took similes and metaphors relating to marriage and the venue. I came up with several ideas such as the island is a secret garden, the island is a hidden gem, Love is infinite… the concept I moved far with is life is like a journey, where I further found the quote “Where there is love, there is life”  by Mahatma Gandhi. I thought this quote fit perfectly as I wanted to incorporate both the celebration of love in the nature setting.

Several factors I was faced to with were preservation of totem poles of the island, privacy issues, and sound issues, keeping a light footprint on the island, as well as using existing buildings as a commercial kitchen for catering as well as restrooms and a bridal area.

Addressing each of these issues caused me to think logically and critically about how I would go about working with these issues. My ideas to work with them are as follows:

Relocate totem poles to different locations of the park for both better picture opportunities as well as having them be seen by more people, allowing for more learning opportunities for their history.

As this is a public park and people have the right to travel through the park as they please, privacy will be an issue while events are taking place. My proposal would be to add a new bridge spanning on the South side of the island that connects two existing bridges. Not only will this allow for great up close views of the river, but the public can conveniently move around the wedding without interrupting.  

The sound can get very loud when the river is active, so I thought the best plan of action was to put the ceremony space where there is an existing amphitheater which will help direct the noise toward the crowd while blocking the sounds of the river. I also tried to bring the reception and ceremony space inward of the island so they are not directly next to the loud noise.

Working with Revit I was able to develop several renderings that show the existing buildings as a new commercial kitchen for catering, restrooms, and a private space for a bride and her bridal park to get ready.

Traced Revit model of building exterior, hand drawn scenery additions

I also worked with the Landscape Architecture students to help me choose appropriate plants and greenery to incorporate in my design.

Aerial view of wedding venue in color pencil

Overall I took a minimalist approach as the island had many useable features and did not need a lot of renovations. The biggest change would be relocating paths to push closer to the edges of the island, and additional plants, flowers, and greenery. I feel I grew in my concept development skills and ability to work with client requirements and provide a great venue space.

From Upper Left: Venue Plan, Inspiration Images, Concept Statement, Aerial View of Venue

From Upper Left: Totem Poles, Ceremony View, Landscape options
From Upper Right: New Bridge Proposal, Demolition Map, Commercial Kitchen/ Bridal Area Plan

Pufferbelly Depot Renovation

Redesigning Pufferbelly Train Depot in Pullman, WA into a Gallery, Studio space, and residence for a glass blower, was a long process of concept development, trial and error, and working with codes and regulations. This specific project was a new experience in having to consider applying elements for ADA codes in the public space, as well as considering Universal Design elements for the residence as the artist's spouse had a visual impairment. In addition, this was a historic preservation project, requiring the ticket wall and stairs wall to remain in the new building.

Site Plan of Pufferbelly Depot

Exterior Elevation of Depot

With the guidelines in place, I tarted off with concept development, I explored the history and inspiration from a picture of this concrete slab with purple and blue glass circles embedded in the concrete outside of the building. I was drawn to the colors, shape, and history behind them as they had changed color over time, and were used for a skylight to the basement. I explored lines and cracks within the concrete, representing paths people take in life, whether they be easy are hard (thick and thin lines), to the element of light and changing over time. The most powerful images and ideas that came from this exploration was circles, change, and repetition.

Inspiration Picture

After completing several pages of idea generation, I compiled multiple parti sketches, demonstrating my three inspiration words: Shape, Color, and Repetition. These words would derive and form the rest of my design process. With four of my favorite parti sketches chosen, I took two of them and developed modules to be placed several patterns that would soon be taken and made into a textile that would be incorporated into my design. I used this textile as a wallpaper in the Gallery bathroom, paired with white subway tiles that are currently used in the building.

Gallery Bathroom: Textile inspired Wallpaper

With my concept development in progress, I developed a bench design that will be placed the entrance of the gallery space. Developing the bench was a challenge because glass and concrete were the two important materials that I wanted to incorporate in the design, so figuring out how to combine them in a unique way was difficult. My original design proposed a challenge in how the bench would be able to balance properly, therefore I had to redevelop a bench with some sort of leg. I came up with 9 cylinder legs on each side reflecting the number of glass tiles and in a repetition form.

The biggest part of this project I found challenge was spatial issues due to the glass blower needing a very large studio space, taking away from the residence and gallery. I knew for the gallery space, I wanted an open space that could be versatile to the different displays and pieces he makes. In relation to having a retail space within the gallery for sales, I kept the original ticket window in this space and this also connects the gallery space to his office, storage and studio space for a nice transition to all the public space. In the residence space, I wanted there to be an open living area and a more private bedroom area. To achieve this, the entrance opens to a little hallway with a storage closet to the left and a circular bench to the right. Stepping farther into the space, an open plan combines the laundry/ 1/2 bath, dining area, kitchen and living space while giving the bedroom and master bathroom it's own private area to the side. I found using the study model was very useful in developing spatial awareness of room and how the design would truly work outside of 2D paper space.

3D Study Model

Overall throughout the design, I incorporated my concept and ADA/UD elements into the design. All doorways are 36" wide, all passing hallways and barriers are no less than 36" wide, and high contrast of colors are included to accommodate people with vision impairments. Natural light was combined with additional levels of lighting throughout the space. Tying into both UD design and the use of colors blue, purple, and grey textiles and paints from my concept can be seen throughout the design, as well as circular furnishings. Darker floors and lighter walls allow for clear determination of the floor versus the walls. Also, a sustainable factor was taken into  desperation, keeping a few existing walls in addition to the two required wall, sustainable materials, and shared water walls. The drawings that were completed in the project reiterate and demonstrate the applications of these concepts as seen in the Egress Plan, Demolition Plan, and Furniture Floor Plan.

Furniture Floor Plan

Demolition Plan showing walls and doors to remain, be added, and torn down.

Egress Plan: Farthest travel distance to a safe exit and ADA space requirements.

This project took my work as a progressive Interior Designer to a new level. New technical aspects that I was expected to incorporate were applied, following real building codes, and overall working in a time frame that pushed me to be both creative and accurate. Creatively, I believe I improved on developing a concept and carrying that throughout my design and not losing sight of my direction. I In addition to working on my creativity, I was able to practice on my rendering skills and perspective drawings (seen below). Another aspect that I gained sight on is all the different paths I can take with an Interior Design major, whether that be commercial design, residential design, furniture design, textile design, and even being a person that develops concepts and does research on projects. I really enjoyed this project and think it was a great learning experience.

Gallery Perspective with ticket wall to the left.

Studio space with fire resistant concrete floors and existing brick walls.

Entrance of residence, looking into kitchen and living area.

Master bedroom, with view of master bath and walk in closet.