Fact List for Architectural Programming

FACT LIST FOR ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAMMING

TO GATHER IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN ING

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNING

Below are some TYPICAL traditional architectural fact categories. For any specific situation some are more relevant than others. Groupings may also be different depending on the problem (pertain to and involve important building consequences).

1. Similar projects and Critical issues (Competition)(Hard Data)

a) past projects of similar quality (goal issues) ,function (performance issues), circumstances and scope .Also called review of literature.

b) critical issues involved in the building type ( quality goal issues)

c) trends or development in the field (competition, forces)

2. Clienta) client Mission Statement(MS), Goal

Statements(GS) & Performance Requirements/Specifications(PRS)

b) philosophy of the organization and vision statement(VS)

c) goals (GS) of the client’s process – sub goals to achieve main goals – user goals

d) staff organization and framework – personnel diagram or organizational chart (for space adjacency)

e) rank and role /responsibilities of personnel (for space size and space adjacency)

f) major departmental divisions within the organization – role of each goals and sub-goals within the overall process

Client , cont’dg. critical issues involved in the organization

(people to people relationships, “channels”)h. does organization usually operate the way it is

structured?I. divergence of present operations form

expressed goals – possible improvementsj. degree of achievement of sub-goalsk. individuals of committees responsible for

planning with architect – role and responsibility in decision making

l. related (non-client) organizations which might affect planning

m. impact of change or growth of related organization

3. Financial (Cost)

a) budget – firmness , degree of flexibilityb) funding methods – bonds, loans, fund

raisingc) timing – construction costs, escalation,

interest rates, concurrent similar projects taxing public support

d) construction phasing – prices, local construction market, strong and weak local trades, incremental construction

Financial, cont’d

e) design requirements of lending institutions

f) f. comparative cost data on similar projects which have been constructed

4. Building Codes

a) architectural plans occupancy allowed, minimum size of rooms, minimum heights of ceilings, maximum heights of buildings/structures, towers if any

b) structural loads allowedc) exits requiredd) stairs (number type, access, fire rating,

size, minimum distances to reach stairs)

Building Codes , cont’d

e) fire ratings required of materialsf) ventilation – openingsg) toilets (number and fixtures of each)h) fire sprinklersi) alarm systemsj) security systems (ex. cctv, door

controls,)

5. Planning by related organizations

a) duplication of servicesb) review boardsc) approval boards (local and national

regulations, by-laws, planning criteria)d) projected construction of similar projects

6. Function

a) operational system – including links beyond the building

b) critical issues in insuring success in the system’s operation

c) needs-internal and external facilities, utilities, furniture and tools, fittings, and equipment which are supporting to operation (lounge, waiting, toilet, janitor)

d) main operational sequences –“feeder sequences” which support main sequences

6. Function , cont’d

e) divisions or departments in the systemf) general departmental relationship

affinitiesg) number and type of people involved

(task categories)h) operations performed and furniture,

equipment/machine by each type of person

I. systems of people movement/circulation

1. points of origin and destination2. frequency and pattern (continual or

intermittent)3. degree of urgency4. role in overall operation5. peak loads

j. systems of information movement (include paper flow,

phones, computer hookups, multi-media conversation, etc.)

1. points of origin and destination2. frequency and pattern (continual or

intermittent)3. degree of urgency (speed required)4. role in overall operation5. form

systems of information movement (include paper flow, phones, computer hookups, multi-media conversation, etc.), cont’d

6. storage implications and special vaults 7. operations performed on information

(including production and removal of trash)

8. peak loads

k. systems of material movement ( raw and finished material, utility services as paper and foods, furniture, equipment, etc.)

1. points of origin and destination (including delivery and pickup)

2. frequency and pattern (continual or intermittent)3. degree of urgency (speed required)4. role in the overall operation

k. systems of material movement ( raw and finished material, utility services as paper and foods, furniture, equipment, etc.),cont’d

5. form (size, weight)6. special considerations7. operations performed on information

(including production and removal of trash)

8. storage implications9. peak loads

L. work nodes (stations where work is performed)

1. number, type and relationships2. number and type of people at each3. nature of tasks performed4. key issues in successful of tasks5. identification of possible sources of

strain in performing tasks6. furniture and equipment required for

each person (including visitors, clients)

L. work nodes (stations where work is performed) , cont’d

7. area requirements for each node8. circulation patterns within each node

(people, material, information)9. safety and security requirements (open,

closed, locked)10. general electrical requirements at each

node11. criteria for selecting architectural surfaces

and detailing12. special relationships with other work

(13) lighting requirements

a) intensity required at taskb) incandescent vs. fluorescentc) direct vs. indirectd) skylight vs. windowe) need for total darknessf) need for controlled lighting

(14) sensory

(a) type and intensity stimuli produced (noise, odors, vibration, dust, electro-magnetic radiation, bacteria)

(b) type and intensity of stimuli which must be excluded or screened (including visual privacy)

(c) important environmental situations (mood, atmosphere)

(15) air conditioning requirements

(a) heat generated by equipment and people

(b)special air circulation or ventilation requirements (isolation, 100% exhaust, decontamination)

(c) special temperature requirements(d) air additives(e) special controls over air conditioning

(15) air conditioning requirements , cont’d

(f) groupings of similar air conditioning requirements

(g) total needs(h) space required for mechanical

equipment(i) vibration control(j) heating and cooling seasons 

7. Site Conditions

a. legal description of property (boundaries and property lines and secure concrete monuments, dimensions, rights of way, deed restrictions, easements, curbs, curb cuts, hydrants, poles)

b. zoning1. present allowable uses whether residential,

commercial, industrial, agricultural, etc.2. Setbacks3. access points4. relation to street lights and median breaks5. Density6. heights allowed7. parking required

c. utilities

1. locations2. distances to site3. depths4. telephone, gas, water, sewer,

electrical , drainage5. capacities (present and projected)

d. soil conditions1. Percolation2. bearing3. chemicals4. density

e. land contours5. Elevations6. drainage patterns including from and to

adjacent land7. flood basins (tides)

e. land contours , cont’d

(4) blocked visual access due to mound and ridges

(5) points of visual emphasis (6) flat areas (7) slope orientation to surrounding

areas (visually)

f. significant features (1) rock outcroppings (2) existing buildings

f. significant features , cont’d3. Ditches4. water5. trees

g. existing foliage6. tree types7. limb spread8. Heights9. ground cover (where drainage may be

affected)

h. sensory 1. noise/audibility (direction, intensity,

frequency, pattern, probability of continuance)

2. odors/olfactory (direction, intensity, pattern, type, probability for continuance)

3. visual/visibility (poor views, good views, public and private zones, reliability of continuance of views)

i. time-distance1. car-pedestrian2. to and from significant points3. time-distance on site

j. existing pedestrian traffic on and around site

4. Volume5. location

j. existing pedestrian traffic on and around site , cont’d

3. frequency and pattern4. nature5. possible contribution to these activities

k. existing vehicular traffic (bicycles, motorbikes, tricycles, cars, buses, trucks, etc) on and around the site

6. Volume7. location

k. existing vehicular traffic ,cont’d

(3) frequency and pattern(4) nature(5) possible contribution to these activities

l. surrounding physical environment

(1) surrounding zoning (2) possible development on

adjacent and surrounding property

(3) profile (skyline)(4) scale(5) image(6) materials(7) forms(8) density(9) light (shade and shadow)

l. surrounding physical environment , cont’d

(10) orientation (views of the site from other points)

(11) landscaping forms(12) details(13) geometry (existing paving patterns,

building edges and heights, axes, walls, modules and rhythms)

m. surrounding social environment

1. identifiable patterns2. ethnic groups and values3. relationships between groups

n. shadow patterns on the site (trees, adjacent buildings and other structures)

o. parking and site circulation (for bicycles, motorbikes, vehicles)

1. needs (present and projected)2. area required3. drop-offs required at entry4. lighting and signages required5. special controls (restricted parking)6. on-site circulation required

(between buildings)

o. parking and site circulation , cont’d

7. supporting circulation (to lunch, to work)8. volume and frequency patterns (peak

loads)9. patterns of direction of entry approach

and departure (people and cars)10. existing roads11. surrounding land values

p. check with government agencies nature and location of lot if away from earthquake fault line (Phivolcs in

the Philippines) and disaster history in the area.(storm surges, floods, landslides ,tsunami)

q. Highest And Best Use (HABU) consideration

8. Climatea. rainfall (frequency, volume, patterns)b. sunlight (critical vertical and horizontal

angles)c. temperatures (seasons, extremes)d. wind, breezes (seasons, directions,

velocity, extremes)e. snow (seasons, percentages)f. humidity (seasons, percentages)g. potential natural catastrophes (tornado,

hurricane, earthquake, flood)

9. Growth and Changea. present and projected supporting market

of public servedb. projected staffing (number and type)c. projected goals and supporting sub-goalsd. anticipated deletion of departments and

addition of new departmentse. areas of expected changes in operations

(layout and building perimeter implications)

f. projected changes in information or material systems (disposables)

9. Growth and Change , cont’d

g. influence of growth and change of one department on all others

h. future area needs (construction, cost, design and parking implications)

i. projected utility needs – comparison with present and projected supply capacities

C. each of these fact categories may be EXPANDED to more DETAIL depending on the design requirements. There are also many other fact categories not listed here that pertain to some of the other programming FORMS (long range plan).

 Every fact and category and specific fact

contained under its heading involves CONSEQUENCES that the building has on its environment and contained functions and which the environment has upon the building.