Mass Art - Architectural Studio VIII

MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN – AD 750 ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAM MARGARET OKONKWO APRIL 12TH 2011

The task in this studio is for students to design a new building for Cambridge Community Television (CCTV) using an in‐house Architectural Program developed by CCTV for their expansion into a new space. This program consists of the following:‐

Program Space SF Flexible Performance Space 2,500 SF Production Studio 1,050 SF Control Room 374 SF (2) Live Studios 252 SF ea Broadcasting Room 80 SF (4) Editing Suites 80 SF ea Experimental Exhibition Space 1,000 SF (2) Small Conference Rooms 375 SF ea (2) Computer Labs 240 SF ea Community Social gathering Space – (Student prescribed SF) 1733 SF Lobby, Concessions for events, Mailbox Area, Box Office/Security/Reception Counter – 1677 SF (Student prescribed SF) (6) small CCTV Offices – (Student prescribed SF) 720 SF Kitchenette – (Student prescribed SF) 80 SF Tenant Offices – (Student prescribed SF) 1900 SF Public/Staff Restrooms – (Student prescribed SF) 350 SF Mailroom – (Student prescribed SF) 200 SF Circulation, Mechanical/other Building systems – (Student prescribed SF) 2,500 SF Loading Dock/Storage – (Student prescribed SF) 290 SF

Upon further review of the above program, and after a meeting with CCTV personnel, we the students had a clearer understanding of their vision – they are a center for the community (both young and old) and would like to always emphasis this fact. As we were allowed to revise the program, I added the following spaces to the project:‐

CCTV Architectural Program

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Program Space Shared Lounge (for CCTV and their Tenant) Shared Work area (for CCTV and their Tenant) Shared Kitchenette (for CCTV and their Tenant) Childcare Room Kitchen (for community use) Teen Lounge Waiting Area Tenant space (To be either small Local Newsprint Company or a small Public Relations firm) TOTAL NET BUILDING SF TOTAL GROSS BUILDING SF

SF 1,200 SF 215 SF 80 SF 1,733 SF 231 SF 716 SF 215 SF 1,900 SF 18,485 SF 20, 985 SF

Original Concept: We began this project by creating individual abstract concepts that would/could be interpreted in our design. My concept was the Media as a medium for connecting as well as isolating people. For instance, we can stay connected to one another through the internet, while also being isolated from human contact as the act of using the computer is an ‘individual action’.

In my design I used the program (and in some cases, building structure) to create physical spaces that reinforce my concept. An example of this would be within the main Lobby at the First floor, where the structural grid layout allows for size variations in the space so that people gather in a large group in the middle of the Lobby, while individuals can remain on the outskirts of it, but still within the same Lobby space.

Spatial Adjacencies: As the semester and my design progressed, I found different rationales for my building form, space layout, uses and adjacencies. They were from personal instincts, one o two critiques, influences from the meeting with CCTV and a site visit to the WGBH building in Brighton, MA.

Because CCTV is ‘about the community’ and ‘security‐conscious’, my building form comprises of two separate blocks at the First floor only. Here, spaces requiring ‘an eye‐out’ are in the larger portion, with a receptionist and security‐buzzer entry system, while the smaller one contains uses that do not (such as the Social Gathering room). Uses at the First floor are ones which emphasize gathering, e.g. Flexible Performance Space, Social Gathering Space and Exterior Courtyard.

CCTV Architectural Program

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From WGBH, I was so influenced by the fact that they had spaces that encourage mingling between different departments that I created an open Work Area at the Ground floor with printers, scanners, copiers, etc to be shared by CCTV, Tenant and the community utilizing CCTV services.

In developing my building form, I discovered that some of the spaces could increase in size (the square footages we were given were minimum comfortable spaces) and by being a little creative, programs could share the same space. For instance, the Experimental Exhibition Space became part of circulation space, which allows one to experience the exhibition as they move along to other programs. Waiting Areas happen in circulation spaces to minimize the latter, while Lobby spaces also house Box Office, Concession stand and Mailbox area. The Social Gathering Room would be flexible to double ‐up as Childcare Space; the Teen Lounge and Computer Labs occupy the same space, but are separated by movable partitions. The overall program called for four Editing Suites to be used for individual work; I decided to make at least one of them big enough for group use.

At the Upper floors, the less public spaces (CCTV and Tenant Offices) are placed here. In order to encourage interaction between Landlord and Tenant, these separate uses will share amenities such as Kitchenette, Lounge, Restrooms and egress.

CCTV Architectural Program

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