Who am I? by nikhita.b

Nikhita Bhagwat PRACTICE CHRONICLE ARC_48-649

Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture

PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION

CHAPTER-1

TRAJECTORY OF MY ASPIRATIONS, CHRONICLED 8-3 1. MY PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION

4-5

2. WHY AM I RIGHT FOR MY PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION?

6-7

3. WHY IS MY PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION RIGHT FOR ME?

8-9 4.WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES MY PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION FACES IN MAXIMIZING ITS POTENTIAL?

10-11

5. WHAT ARE THREE WAYS I COULD BETTER TELL THE STORY OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION? 6. WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR ME? 7. WHAT DOES SUCCESS FOR MY PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION LOOK LIKE?

12-13 14-15

16-21

8. EXISTING PRACTICES/PROFESSIONAL OUTLETS THAT REPRESENT MY PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION? 9. THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES OF PRACTICES/ PROFESSIONAL OUTLETS THAT WILL ENABLE MY PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION?

22-25

26-27

10. HOW WILL I GET THERE?

28-31 11. WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE OF MY CONVICTIONS IN THE ASPIRATIONS IDENTIFIED? (TO BE REPRESENTED AS WORK IN STUDIO DEVELOPS AND THROUGH COMMISSIONED FABRICATION)

CHAPTER-2

EVIDENCE OF MY CONVICTIONS, CHRONICLED 12. MY PROJECT

36-37

13. WHAT GOES IN IT?

38-39

14. WHO DOES IT?

40-41

15.WHAT I WANT

42-45

16. WHAT THEY WANT

46-49

17. MY RESPONSE TO THAT

50-51

-THE BEGINNING

51-55

-MOVING FORWARD

56-57

-WHERE I STOP

58-59

18. HOW IS IT REALIZED?

60-61

19. MY OBLIGATIONS -TO THE PUBLIC -TO THE CLIENT -TO THE PROFESSION -TO COLLEAGUES -TO THE ENVIRONMENT -TO MY PROJECT

62-73

20. BEING ETHICAL

74-83

21. BEING SYSTEMATIC

84-91

CHAPTER-3

PRACTICE, DOCUMENTED

23. COMMISSION

106-127

24. UNIT #28

110-111

25. THE PROCESS

112-113

26.THE PLAYERS

114-115

27. WORKFLOW (POST-FABRICATION)

116-119

28. THE PARTS

120-123

29. INSTALLATION

124-127

30. POST-OCCUPANCY EVALUATION

128-129

31. RELEVANCE

130-131

32. CONCLUSION

132-133

CHAPTER-1

MY ASPIRATION WHAT? Having completed my education so far in 3 Indian cities before moving to the States for my M.Arch degree in 2017, has certainly given me a lot of exposure to varied fields through academia. It was when I was getting my undergraduate degree at Manipal University, India, that I made it a point to do a different kind of internship every year. I learned through collaboration with different kinds of professionalsfirms involved in conservation, innovation, energy, economics- that a degree in architecture in no way restricts one from pursuing a career in a firm that does not predominantly design buildings. In fact, it prepares one to choose oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s path and avail a wide range of job prospects. While my interests may range across a wide array of possibilities, the ideal job for me would be one that gives me the ability to merge both research and design in the field of healthcare, with a strong focus on Public Interest Design.

UndergraduateThesis, 2015: A Psychosocial Rehabilitation Center with Halfway Homes 6 PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION

HEALTHCARE ? PUBLIC INTEREST DESIGN? RESEARCH? The thing I find most interesting about healthcare is the challenge of merging various technical fields with experiential settings. It is a combination of complicated technical spatial configuration with aesthetics, so as to cater to the needs of the client (in itself a set of multiple groups), both physically as well as mentally so as to adhere to existing standards but at the same time make sure that all the users experience the utmost level of comfort. While change is an inevitable constant in my life that I am always looking forward to and which truly excites me, my goal right now is to become a professional, licensed architect, with a focus in healthcare design. Since the time I was an undergraduate student, my interests were always inclined towards the design of healthcare facilities. It started with my undergraduate thesis, which was to design a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Facility with Halfway Homes. While the final product was a naive approach towards designing a facility for a very niche group of people who had the ability to afford the accommodationclassified by my reviewers as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pretentious villasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;- my research for the project was what veered my interest towards healthcare.

PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION

I was able to contact healthcare professionals to take me on tours across medical facilities in New Delhi and Bangalore, India with a focus on provisions for mental health. My observations and research both shocked me and inspired me to want to work towards making a difference in the way healthcare facilities are designed. My graduate thesis has recently veered this interest in healthcare design even further, and with it has aroused a new interest for Public Interest Design. The thesis is a live project for a US-based NGO that wishes to construct a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Teaching Hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Neply, a small village in Haiti. As the designer for this facility (under the supervision of my academic advisors and the assigned licensed architect), I have been greatly moved by the state of healthcare in the country. Growing up in India with both my parents being public health specialists, exposed me to the state of healthcare in rural areas and different facilities within the country, and it was quite shocking to witness a country where the rural healthcare provided was even worse than what I had known and grown up watching. This has led me to believe that somewhere down the line I would like to do my part in helping the underprivileged not only to be able to afford resources but also to access them. Professionally, I have also always had a strong passion for researchbased projects. While stepping out of graduate school would be the beginning of my professional career and hence afford me the opportunity to experiment and explore the kind of job opportunities that would ignite my passions further, eventually, with a considerable amount of experience, I would like to delve into the realm of strategic consulting in the field of architecture, as it has the potential to pursue both design and research and at the same time gives me the opportunity to collaborate with other professions, thereby helping me increase my knowledge base and explore other avenues as I grow professionally. This, however, might prove to be more fruitful after dedicating a few years to the design field to gain more credibility and experience.

PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION

CAREER PHASE 1

HEALTHCARE

RESEARCH

MY AVOCATION

CAREER PHASE 3

CAREER PHASE 2

PUBLIC INTEREST DESIGN

CAREER TRAJECTORY BASED ON INTERESTS

OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED IN CREATING MORE HAITIAN DOCTORS AND LOWER DEPENDENCY ON VOLUNTEER SERVICES

HOSPITAL

MEDICAL SCHOOL

CURRENT THESIS STATEMENT PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION

WHY ME? My curiosity and interest in healthcare have been further amplified by smaller projects that I was able to participate in during my brief work experience before I joined Carnegie Mellon University in 2017 to get an M.Arch degree. One of them was the designing of Human Milk Banks across India, that I did as a design consultant for a US-based NGO. This design was later published in the Indian National Guidelines for Lactation Management Facilities in the Public Sector, a feat that still gives me a great sense of achievement. This has led me to believe that given an opportunity, I would be able to work well in the field of my choice.

Throughout my architectural education, my passions have seen major shifts but I have always made it a point to follow them through the various short-term courses or internships or volunteering experiences that I did with the sole purpose of knowing whether I was suited for those roles. My passion for designing healthcare was the one that really stuck with me, and so did my sense of responsibility to help those who cannot always help themselves. The very fact that I have arrived at these conclusions through diligent experimentation and calculated conclusions, proves that I would do justice to my avocation in a professional field too. I do strongly believe that what truly drives me is the need to constantly challenge myself, which is why the various goals I wish to achieve would mean a constant change of pace, a challenge in itself. I have always surprised myself with the kind of decisions I have made so far in academics and in the relatively shorter professional career, and am confident that I will ultimately be able to merge compassion with passion and create my own niche. My upbringing in India also opened my eyes to the kind of problems that many professionals in diverse fields and locations have been trying to address within the country and neighboring countries. I feel that the root cause of most problems within the nation is the lack of access to basic resources like permanent shelter, healthcare and education. While I was always intrigued by the way rural hospitals functioned, I can now confidently say that the spatial formation of such facilities can determine in a large way how a patient heals and how one perceives such a facility.

PROFESIONAL ASPIRATION AND ME

Human Milk Banks: A short-term project done as a freelance design consultant at PATH, USA

I believe I would be able to contribute well to this field not only because of my strong passion for healthcare, but also the interest that is aided by a solid background of experience that I have been trying to gain in the field throughout my education. The abovementioned firms are examples of two of the firms that I admire the most, and also examples of the kind of career path I wish to create for myself in my practice- one that merges healthcare with public interest design. Since both of these fields, together and individually, require vast amounts of research that I also enjoy doing, I feel that I will be able to do justice if given the opportunity to work at such a firm- one that is a manifestation of my aspirations. PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION AND ME

Carnegie Mellon University, USA M.Arch, 2017 - 2019

Manipal University, India

B.Arch, 2011 - 2016

e: nikhitabhagwat@gmail.com p: +1 (412) 628-0993 a: Pittsburgh, PA; USA

NIKHITA BHAGWAT WORK EXPERIENCE School of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University

August 2017 - December 2017

Graduate Teaching

Subject: ‘Architecture and the Arts’; Recitations, office hours, grading of quizzes, assistance with instruction August 2017 - December 2017

School of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University Graduate Teaching Assistant

Subject: ‘Modern Architecture’; Recitations, office hours, grading of quizzes, assistance with instruction

December 2016 - April 2017

Delhi Infratech Ltd. Junior Architect

Sole architect in designing of residential high-rise buildings

May 2016 - August 2016

PATH

Design Consultant

Design of Human Milk Banks for the National Guidelines on Lactation Management Centers in Public Health Facilities in India

November 2014 - December 2014

Center for Knowledge Societies (CKS Consulting)

Research Assistant

Research in Innovative Solutions for Healthcare Practices

INTERNSHIPS January 2018 - December 2018

Point Line Projects Research Intern

Research and minor publications for national exhibition on American Activism in Architecture, ‘What Now?!’ June 2018 - August 2018

Locus Architecture Architectural Intern

Presentation Drawings, Practice Management, Project Management, Programming and Analysis December 2015 - May 2016

P.R Design Group Architectural Intern

Internship as part of Curriculum; Semester 10, B.Arch June 2015 - November 2015

Design Forum International Architectural Intern

Internship as part of Curriculum; Semester 9, B.Arch May 2012 - June 2012

INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art, Culture and Heritage) Architectural Intern for Conservation

Documentation of monuments in Delhi for updated national listings

VOLUNTEERING EXPERIENCE September 2018 - Present

Journeyman International

Humanitarian Designer

Design of Teaching Hospital in Neply, Haiti for NGO, ‘MyLifeSpeaks’ May 2016 - December 2016

Sahaj Marg

Volunteer Junior Architect

Design of recreational facilities across India, for a global spiritual organization January 2014-February 2014

Asare Homebelaku

Volunteer helper at home for patients suffering from psychosocial

ACHIEVEMENTS + PROFICIENCY Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk Revit Rhinoceros 3D Google Sketchup Adobe Creative Suite Microsoft Office REMRate GIS

December 2018 August 2017 May 2017

Graduate Student Conference Travel Fund

Funds awarded to travel for site analysis of graduate thesis project

School of Architecture Graduate Student Merit Scholarship

Scholarship of Merit per annum

Certificate Course: Parametric Facade-Climate Responsive Design through Automated Multi-Objective Optimization

The Resume Chronicles: Can your Experience start a Conversation for you?

PROFESIONAL ASPIRATION FOR ME

WHY IS IT FOR ME?

I truly believe that any professional aspiration can only be realized into a real profession if it is combined with passion. Healthcare combined with an interest in Public Interest Design merges both of these virtues, and while they may not necessarily be available in my practice timeline simultaneously, I feel that they are both right for me due to my interest in doing justice to both these fields, in terms of the kind of work and the amount of it I wish to do towards a social cause. I feel that this aspiration is achievable through the kind of network I am trying to develop in the field of healthcare, mostly through communication with healthcare professionals, architects, designers, civil engineers, etc. for my ongoing masters thesis that delves partly in healthcare and partly in public interest design. As I progress through the semester working on the project, it excites me to be able to work on something that provokes my passions and challenges theme with its sheer complexity, but at the same time, these are the qualities of the project that excite me the most.

PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATION FOR ME

14 CHALLENGES TO ASPIRATION The Butaro Hospital by MASS Design Group: An Exemplary way of merging Healthcare with Public Interest Design; CHALLENGING THE NORMS MASS Design Group. 2007. The Butaro Hospital . https://massdesigngroup.org/work/design/butaro-district-hospital.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES The field of healthcare is constantly progressing towards making advancements technologically and theoretically. It is up to the architect designing the facility to keep up with these advancements and necessarily stick to set ‘standards’ and ‘guidelines’ at all times. Being up to date on this front is what is the most challenging but also most critical to the field, and in doing so would mean success to that project, success to the clients, and success for me. The prevailing belief in the field of Public Interest Design is that design costs more and is only a luxury afforded by those with the means but the truth is that people from all walks of life deserve good design. This, however, is a fact that even those people towards whom Public Interest Design is inclined- those with limited means- do not truly understand that they deserve much better, that they, too, deserve well-designed spaces to live and work in. Public Interest Design aims to bring dignity to its users, but the challenge lies in the fact that they may not be completely aware of this fact. While this field is also a field that most established firms practice, the challenge in my career lies in merging my interest in healthcare with my passion for Public Interest Design. This is the field where I would like to leave a mark and create a niche for myself. I have always wanted to impact the public, the less fortunate and in some way affect their lives in a way that goes beyond creating amazing spatial experiences. Success for me lies in bringing about a change in their lifestyles- their dignity equals my success. This may not always be a smooth run, as entering a community as an outsider, trying to change the existing conditions- this may not always be welcomed by the community. In both of these fields, it is the design that must be most accountable. That, in itself, would mean success for the client as it serves all of their prerequisite purposes; success for the profession as the design helps in solving the issues addressed; and success for me, as I aid in merging the two.

CHALLENGES TO ASPIRATION

A STORY BETTER TOLD “What do you mean when you say you want to specailize in the design of healthcare facilities? There are hospitals everywhere, just copy the plan of one and place it on your site”. - Non-Architects that I have had unchronicled conversations with.

One way that architects are most misunderstood is about being professionals that focus just on the aesthetics of the space and are more often replaced by civil engineers for the ‘actual work’. This requires the spreading of more awareness. Especially in the healthcare field, it is assumed that all hospitals are already designed with the same kind of care and concern for experiential spaces, morphology, comfort, technicality, efficiency and all other factors which are otherwise essential for any kind of facility which may even remotely be institutional. If one were to talk solely about healthcare, it is often a misconception that a hospital has to look a certain way, a ‘clean’ pond of sterilized spaces. The first step is to ward off the concept of functionally institutional spaces having an ‘institutional’ appearance. Studies have shown that aesthetically pleasing spaces can (especially with more landscape), however, aid in healing of patients much faster. This can be communicated to the general public not just through imagery, but through replication of existing case studies that have successfully created highly technical spaces in highly de-institutionalized settings. A well-told story in healthcare design would be portrayed through the lives of those who were ailing, but healed in an accelerated way due to the positives settings of the institute that was built just for them. Telling the story better in the field of public interest design would be the result of spreading more awareness about the right to a better life, the right to earn a dignified living. The story of a well-designed facility for the less privileged can be told by the picture of the users post construction- the ones who seem to be satisfied with what they have gained, and are proud be using the facilities they rightly deserve. 16

ASPIRATION BETTER TOLD

Design Charettes: A way to get the public involved Poster done as part of an architectural internship at Locus Architecture,Minneapolis, USA; to spread public awareness about possible interventions for rejuvenation of a greenway

SUCCESS FOR MY ASPIRATION

An Assisted Living Facility (pro-bono) designed during my internship at P.R Design Group, Bangalore, India

WHAT IS SUCCESS FOR ME?

One of the main reasons I wish to delve into the field of healthcare in architecture is to be able to better the lives of others, may it be the ailing or otherwise. Success to me lies in the betterment of others. If I do end up pursuing the career of my choice listed above, a successful project for me would be one that is able to challenge existing norms in the healthcare system and affects the lives of those in need of healthcare services in a positive manner. Most facilities that exist right now are quite institutional, but as more and more architects are challenging this normative existence (for instance, the numerous Maggie’s Centers across UK that focusedly aid in bettering the lives of cancer patients), it is quite refreshing to know that the scope for an aspiration like this can be quite realistic as well as extremely rewarding. Hence, success to me lies in productively identifying the areas in the healthcare profession that need to be improved (in terms of properly treating patients as well as helping with their mental state) and successively working on these problems to find a feasible, durable solution; preferably one that is available, affordable and accessible to large masses. Hence, success for me can be gauged by my projects’ ability to be recognized as a precedent for all other similar practices, much like the Butaro Hospital is known for its innovative solutions. The success of my career is thus contingent on the ‘happiness index’ of my clients- it speaks through their satisfaction with the space they inhabit- temporarily in a medical facility or permanently in a home built for their needs.

SUCCESS FOR MY ASPIRATION

WHAT IS SUCCESS FOR MY ASPIRATION? Here, I would again like to cite the work done by MASS Design Group on the Butaro Hospital project. The design of the hospital was simple, vernacular yet extremely creative in terms of reinventing existing hospital standards. Although done as a form of public interest design, the project gained fame for being extremely de-institutionalized as well as for involving the public in the process of construction. In the process, the firm got recognition for being bold and at the same time extremely sensitive to social norms. Today, MASS Design Group one of the most sought-after firms for students like me. I want to have created a legacy that people look up to, and admire for its intentions. Professional success to me is when professionals of similar disciplines seek to create what I have contributed to creating, and use my works (in collaboration with other professionals) as a precedent for their own projects. That, to me, looks like what success is for people who have achieved what I aim to achieve. Hence, the indicator to my success is what I also personally consider to be success for myself- to be recognized enough to be soughtafter. This recognition can only be gained by taking bold steps to contradict what is already preached and find a way to ethically intervene in the system to introduce new and better ways to design healthcare facilities. Success for my aspiration, hence, lies in being able to help out not only the clients or the users, but also fellow colleagues.

SUCCESS FOR MY ASPIRATION

ASPIRATION BETTER TOLD

An Assisted Living Facility (pro-bono) designed during my internship at P.R Design Group, Bangalore, India

EXISTING PRACTICES

Typology 1: Public Interest Design/Non-Profit A firm that predominantly practices Humanitarian Architecture, and delves deep into the field of health and wellness mostly in underprivileged communities would be an ideal PID practice that I would like to pursue. Adhering to the vernacular language of the site location but at the same time are a non-profit culture. Public interest design, and the firms that vehemently stick to it, derive validation for their work through the people’s approval- the same people who are the clients and users. The desire is not to make profits, rather work more on the lines of solving social, political and economic issues in addition to using their design and research skills to try and solve some of these issues. MASS Design Group is the firm that reflects most what I wish to do with my life. Their strong inclination towards Public Interest Design and their continuous ongoing research -most importantly the ones that aim to focus on design and architecture for ‘healing’ - truly is a combination of all of the subjects of most intrigue to me. In addition to that, other firms that truly inspire me are UK-based firm Article 25, Italy-based firm TAM Associati, UK-based EVA Studio, to name a few. A person whose passion has been successfully combined with skill is Anna Heringer, of UNESCO’s Earthen Architecture department. These examples vary in terms of the size of the firm, ranging from micro-studios to cooperatives. These studios each employ around 200 people across regions, hence cannot be classified as large-scale corporations, but also not considered to be small-scale firms.

EXISTING PRACTICES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

HUMAN RESOURCES

SENIOR OPERATIONS DIRECTORS

DESIGN PRINCIPALS SENIOR ASSOCIATES

OPERATIONS MANAGERS

JUNIOR ASSOCIATES

INTERNS

Source of Inspiration: Morgan, Jacob. 2015. The Complete Guide To The 5 Types Of Organizational Structures For The Future Of Work. https:// thefutureorganization.com/the-complete-guide-to-the-5-types-of-organizational-structures-for-the-future-of-work/. EXISTING PRACTICES

Typology 2: Research What sets a research-based firm apart from various other typologies is the fact that there is a constant need for innovation, not only in terms of design but also those products that could successfully overcome existing issues in the given location. A research-based firm not only delivers new and innovative design strategies, but also usually has publications to its name which are meant to potentially help other firms/individuals in the architectural profession- an ethical way to share knowledge. The resultant, thus, is almost always meant to have a didactic undertone- be it written, designed or analogously realized. A firm that I admire is Ennead (mentioned earlier) due to its heavy emphasis on research. What fascinates me about the firm is the diversity of its projects, ranging from technical institutions to topics of public interest, from ecological projects to fabrication. All of their research projects are aimed at improving the lives of not only their clients and owners, but also the experience of visitors, including, at times, wildlife. Another firm that is heavily based on research and fabrication but at the same incorporates the first typology, is the New York-based firm called SITU, which, apart from constantly researching new and innovative ways of designing, has also in recent times been involved activities related to human rights and collaborates with varied organizations for the same. A firm similar to SITU that I look up to is the Venice-based firm, TAM Associati for its dedication to research and catering to the commons based on innovative solutions in terms of materiality, technology, spatial reconfiguration, etc. Similarly, Kieran Timberlake is a firm that undertakes extensive research for any project, with a diverse set of projects covering their portfolio.

SUCCESS FOR MY ASPIRATION

SENIOR ASSOCIATES

SENIOR RESEARCHERS

JUNIOR ASSOCIATES

JUNIOR RESEARCHERS

INTERNSI

NTERNS

Typology 3: Corporate Since I wish to work in the field of healthcare, I believe that a lot of experience can be gained even by working as a junior architect at a large corporate firm (preferably in the healthcare sector) and working my way up the hierarchical ladder to reach a position that can allow me to make major decisions, and eventually head all decisions. Most corporate firms will work in a system where every succeeding level in the hierarchy supervises the professionals of the lower levels, often based on the projects/teams and their roles. This often provides a conducive environment for an entry-level professional, as there is adequate supervision and also not too many great responsibilities right away. However, this might also be a disadvantage as often these young professionals might get stuck with the same kind of job (for instance, making toilet details, parking details, etc.) for a long period of time, repeatedly. Hence, it is up to the young professional to prove himself/herself and rise up to take up bigger roles. I admire some of the healthcare design projects done by HOK and Perkins and Will, in what is controversially called ‘third-world’ countries, for instance the project ‘Kenya Women and Children’s Center’ done by Perkins and Will, the William Jefferson Clinton Children’s Center designed by HOK in Port-au-Prince. These projects, done as part of my research for notable healthcare centers, have led me to believe that it is possible for me to avail my aspirations at even a global firm that employs large groups of employees, as the working model here changes to a combination of hierarchical and flat organizational structure (Flatarchy), the flat structure within the hierarchy being specific to a niche (in this case, healthcare/humanitarian) as opposed to a completely flat structure. Other corporate firms that have been working extensively in healthcare and which I admire are Stantec and HKS. While these firms follow a hierarchical organizational structure, it is also beneficial for fresh graduates as they are most often assigned mentors so they can grasp things more easily, and the progress made throughout one’s career is more systematic.

SUCCESS FOR MY ASPIRATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRINCIPAL ARCHITECTS

PROJECT ARCHITECTS

JUNIOR ARCHITECTS

INTERNS

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Hence, while the varied sizes of the firms give me hope that I will find ample opportunities to practice a niche of my choice but in different structural manners. However, I would still want to lean towards the firms that predominantly practice humanitarian architecture and/or healthcare so as to be able to decide early on in my career whether this truly is the profession of my choice. On the flipside, though, working in a multi-disciplinary architecture firm will also expose me to other existing niches within the field of architectural design, thereby enhancing my knowledge and practice to make me more of an allrounder as a professional, and will also help me boost my portfolio so that it becomes easier for me to move on to other practices if the need arises. Hence, as a graduating student I do believe that any kind of experience will be a great start to my career and the practices will truly enhance my abilities within the field of architecture.

BOARD OF DIRECTO

HEAD OF RESEARCH

PRINCIPAL ARCHITECTS

SENIOR ARCHITECTS RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

JUNIOR ARCHITE

INTERNS

DRAFTSMEN 28

EXISTING PRACTICES

This dilemma, however, becomes more relevant once I decide (further into my career) when I would like to get into consultancy. I might want to start my own consultancy in the event that I feel confident I have a solid network or clientele, but if I do decide to work for a firm instead, I would like to stick to a large-sized firm so as to gain more diversity in terms of the clients/projects. Larger consultancies tend to have more diversity in terms of their clients, both in terms of financial standing as well as profession.

RS CONSULTANTS CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS

SENIOR ENGINEERS CTS

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER JUNIOR ENGINEERS

PROJECT MANAGER INTERN

INTERNS

DRAFTSMEN EXISTING PRACTICES

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Being part of a Hierarchy: Render for Chintels Tech Park, New Delhi, India- Done as an intern at Design Forum International, New Delhi, India (2015)

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

I believe that internships are extremely important for one to be able to get a better idea about the profession they wish to enter. I appreciate how my 5-year B.Arch degree in India included four years of studio projects (1 per semester) and one year of mandatory architectural internship (2 semesters long). I was fortunate enough to have to have interned in 2 different offices- 1 firm in New Delhi, India that employed around 100 employees, and one in Bangalore that employed just 15 employees (out of which 4 were interns). This truly gave me a great experience in learning the vast difference that exists between firms, just by the size of the firm. What also helped me to a great extent was the thorough mentorship that I got in both these firms from my supervisors, who made sure that in addition to finishing the work assigned to me, I was also getting varied types of work so that I could grasp as much about the profession as possible. Although graduating with an M.Arch degree means that I will have to look for a full-time position and hence will be expected to have a higher level of knowledge, I will still be hired as one of the lower positions and hence be able to turn to my supervisors or the higher authorities to learn from, and to grow as an architect. There is always a learning curve associated with any new position, and hence, it is up to me to take utmost advantage of it to be able to do justice to the job. It is best to learn from someone with good experience and get thorough with the kind of work that is expected of one before being given absolute authority over all decisions of a project.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

HOW ME?

EDUCATION

WORK EXPERIENCE

Timeline for my intended career path

GRADUATION WITH M.ARCH DEGREE May 2019

COMMENCE JOB AT ARCHITECTURE/PLANNING FIRM (Date Unknown)

COMMENCE JOB OF CHOICE IN LOCATION OF CHOIC (2021) SEARCH/APPLY FOR NEW JOBS IF NOT CONTENT WITH WORK JOB SEARCH

-THESIS WORK -BUILD NETWORK THROUGH COMMUNICATION WITH VARIED PROFESSIONALS -MORE EXPOSURE TO FIELDS OF INTEREST

PRESENT February 2019

THESIS REVIEW/COMPLETION April 2019

CONT

MORE EXPOSURE TO THE WORKINGS OF AN ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE

NOT TOO SPECIFIC ABOUT THE KIND OF WORK, MUST BE A WELL-ESTABLISHED FIRM OF ANY SIZE

PREFERABLY HEALTHCARE + PUBLIC INTEREST DESIGN PRACTICED COUNTRY + CITY OF CHOICE

Before joining the M.Arch course, I was greatly interested in the field of healthcare and also environmental sustainability. I was introduced to the field of humanitarian architecture through a semester-long internship that I did the at an online publication firm called ‘Point Line Projects’1. I was fortunate enough to be able to interview Prof. Esther Charlesworth of RMIT University, Australia. This further increased my interest in humanitarian architecture, and I began slowly to discover that I am greatly inclined towards the field of public interest design. This, merged with my earlier experiences, led me to believe that my aspirations lie in the field of healthcare and public interest. In search of this precise field, I was very actively applying for internships in this field for the summer, when I happened to come across a firm called Journeyman International2 , a firm that works with graduate students in architecture, where they are given a choice of existing humanitarian projects to work on as part of their theses. This is how I came across my current master’s thesis, which is to design a ‘teaching’ hospital complex in a village called Neply, in Haiti.

1 Link here: https://www.pointlineprojects.com/plp/esthercharlesworth 2. Link here: https://www.journeymaninternational.org/ 32 GETTING THERE

START JOB AT ESTABLISHED CONSULTANCY (2030+)

IF BASED IN A LOCATION OUTSIDE INDIA, MOVE BACK TO NEW DELHI (Date unknown)

DESIGN PRINCIPAL/HIGH POST OF SIMILAR STANDING (2024)

MOVE TO CONSULTANCY (2030+)

START OWN CONSULTANCY (2032+)

POSSIBLE JOB AT UNITED NATIONS OR SIMILAR ORGANIZATION (Date unknown)

BUILD GOOD CLIENT BASE WORK IN FIELD OF CHOICE WITH CONCERN FOR PUBLIC INTEREST AT ALL TIMES

TINUED RESEARCH

PUBLISH RESEARCH PAPERS INTERMITTENTLY KEEP ATTENDING/PRESENTING AT (GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY) GLOBAL CONFERENCES TO BE UP-TO-DATE WITH ALL TRENDS/INNOVATIONS IN PUBLIC INTEREST DESIGN

(FREELANCE WITH PUBLICATION FIRM?) Unknown

(Ph.D?) Unknown

REMAINDER OF CAREER DEDICATED SOLELY TO HUMANITARIAN DESIGN POSSIBLE TEACHING POSITION FOR ARCHITECTURE (PART-TIME) (Date Unknown)

GETTING THERE

The project has been proposed by an NGO called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MyLifeSpeaksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 3 which has done some notable humanitarian work in Haiti, like the design of schools. I chose to do this project solely due to my interest in healthcare and the fact that even just for a year, it has perfectly blended my passion for research, healthcare and public interest design. This project has not only established my aspirations well but has also helped me get in touch with some great professionals- architects, doctors, civil engineers, etc. who have dedicated a major portion of their careers to public interest. This project also enabled me to visit Haiti for a site visit, which has further instilled in me a great form of admiration for such professionals and the hope to grow to become one of them as I grow in my profession. This, however remote, has provided me with a few small networking opportunities which I believe could help me in some way or the other, once I am truly able express my interests. I count it as the first stepping stone to my career.

3 Link here: https://www.mylifespeaks.com/ 34 GETTING THERE

Diagrams to re-imagine healthcare in Haiti, as part of the ongoing thesis project GETTING THERE

THESIS TIMELINE + HIERARCHY ORGANIZATION JOURNEYMAN INTERNATIONAL

STUDENT DESIGNER NIKHITA BHAGWAT

MENTORS (UNIVERSITY) KAI GUTSCHOW STEFANI DANES VALENTINA VAVASIS

MENTORS (EXTERNAL) TOM RHODES

(BRADFIELD, RICHARD, RHODES AND ASSOCIATES)

BRIAN Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;NEIL

(THIRD LENS MINISTRIES)

JANUARY 2019 APRIL 2019

MAY 2019

FINAL DELIVERABLES SITE ANALYSIS BOOKLET PRECEDENT RESEARCH STANDARDS SOCIAL CONTEXT CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT-CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS

FINAL DELIVERABLES SITE PLAN HOSPITAL BUILDING DESIGN (NFC) RENDERS

FINAL THESIS PROJECT

HANDED TO HAITIAN ARCHITECT

SUCCESS FOR MY ASPIRATION

TAKE OVER

SEPTEMBER 2018DECEMBER 2018

SUCCESS FOR MY ASPIRATION

INNOVATE BOLDLY: A WAY TO GET NOTICED GHESKIO Cholera Treatment Center by MASS Design Group

MASS Design Group. 2015. GHESKIO Cholera Treatment Center. Accessed 2019. https://massdesigngroup.org/work/design/ gheskio-cholera-treatment-center.

CHAPTER-2

EVIDENCE OF MY CONVICTIONS

Typical Rural Healthcare Facility in Haiti

Typical Rural Education Facility in Haiti

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

MY PROJECT

The selected project is a campus planning/development project in Neply, Haiti. ‘myLIFEspeaks’ is a humanitarian organization that is passionate about creating a community through education. Providing a higher level of learning for children in Neply, Haiti is an enormous step in helping create a more successful Haiti. The project is an integrative school, ‘LIFE Academy’, which merges the virtues of healthcare and education in a medical institution that provides both a hospital setting and a medical school that runs alongside the hospital. This level of integration and higher learning is a new concept for education in Haiti and myLIFEspeaks is trying to lead the cultural transformation from conventional classrooms to a more active way of learning. My role as the designer for the project will be to develop the master plan for the campus, which will include Orphan Care & Prevention, Educational and Public Health facilities. While the scope of the project is large, the designer is expected to zoom in on one particular project in detail, in this case the educational facility. The deliverables required by the firm are Not-for-Construction site drawings and detailed planning of one building, a rule set by Journeyman International. The site for this project is a plot of land that was donated to the organization, and is currently used as a sugarcane field.

THE PROJECT

Filling the Void: The Site Right Now

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

WHAT GOES IN IT? MyLifeSpeaks will begin to impact the Leogane region in 6 specific areas to start: 1. Pediatrics (Special Needs Specialty) 2. Laboratory Services 3. Urgent Care (Pediatrics and Adults)/Small Operating Rooms 4. Maternity/NICU Care 5. Internal Medicine (Specialty Clinics) 6. Rehab (All Therapy Departments) The desire is for this facility to have: 10 pediatric beds (priority given to Special Needs Care) 6 Bed NICU 10 Beds in Emergency Care 10 adult beds (priority given to Special Needs Care) MyLIFEspeaks would like to create a state of the art Medical School and General Teaching Hospital in partnership with the Haitian government, in Leogane, Haiti. This is an area in the Ouest Department of Haiti, which currently does not have this type of Medical school or General Hospital care to properly train/treat people in this region. The model of this school and hospital comes from research and gathering information from the local health care professionals on what is lacking and needed in this area. The organization would work in conjunction with Universities and Physicians in the US for excellent high-level training. They would in turn be creating excellent teachers and physicians of Haitian descent to take their place.

THE PROJECT

Reaching Out to help those in Need

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

WHO DOES THIS?

Owner: MyLifeSpeaks Clients/User : Doctors, students, patients Client Representatives : Journeyman International (the organization that introduced me, the ‘Student Designer’, to the project. Civil Engineer: Brian O’Neil of Third Lens Ministries, a humanitarian construction agency in the United States. Designer/Architect: - Nikhita Bhagwat (me) till May 2019 -Tom Rhodes (American licensed architect) from May 2019 till completion -Haitian certified architect to place stamps on the construction drawings, so as to help it qualify for the Haitian jurisdiction. Consultants: -Haitian firm for MEP consultation -Global Health Initiative NGOs that can help through consultation for design for the healthcare facilities -Haitian attorneys for jurisdictional consultations -Haitian Ministry of Health

THE PLAYERS

My Goal: To complete what has been Started

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

WHAT I WANT FOR THE PROJECT In 2012, myLIFEspeaks launched in the village of Neply, Haiti, with the goal of helping children with special needs who were cast out from their families because of the influence of the Haitian VouDou culture. It quickly became clear that helping children with special needs also meant empowering their parents and relatives, developing the community around them, educating their peers, and providing the care and assistance necessary. By providing jobs for people in the Neply community so they can provide for their families, instilling an integrated quality of education through LIFE Academy for both typically developing and special needs students, providing quality and affordable healthcare that is also educational, and walking alongside parents and families as they fight for their children. My goal is to provide the aforementioned facilities in a quiet, sustainable and self sufficient environment that responds to the local context and adheres to the needs of the clients as well as the users, which would include the local public and the villagers of other developments in close proximity to the site. Apart from the program laid out by the client, I would also like to add to it, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Physiotherapyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as a robust program rather than vaguely mentioning the aspect of therapy, as it is a highly required medical practice within the region that is not readily available to everyone. In addition to that, heavy emphasis is also laid on Open Spaces to accommodate the Haitian culture of multiple family members being in the facility to help out the patient. The program also includes prayer halls and cafeterias for said visitors just to make sure that there is ample space to accommodate large crowds.

PROJECT GOALS

Education rates in Haiti are exrtemely low

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

SUSTAINABLE HOSPITAL- A PLATFORM FOR EDUCATION One of the main aims of the teaching hospital is also to make sure that it provides good education to the students- an education that will encourage them to stay back in Haiti and improve medicine, rather than move to another country to be able to practice better, with better pay and job security. This means not only better infrastructure within the hospital, but also higher quality of education with the right resources to be able to have practical knowledge rather than textbook-learning, which is often the case in Haitian medical schools. But how do you integrate these students with the normal goings-on of a hospital, without them hindering the various tasks of the hospital staff? Learning by practice is an integral part of medical school, but can a healing environment for the ill also act as a learning environment for the young?

PROJECT GOALS

A Campus for Healing and Learning

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

WHAT THEY WANT

Mere observation in a hospital can help one know that the cause for illnesses among Haitians is also due to their lifestyle choices. Haiti has the highest rates of infant, under-five and maternal mortality in the Western Hemisphere. 2% of the people are living with HIV, which in turn also leads to children being born HIV +ve. High numbers of children die before the age of 5 due to malnutrition, a lot of them because of their ignorance about the certain NGOs that specifically cater to child nutrition and health. It is a known fact that the right kind of nutrition is also vital in the recovery of a patient, yet many patients are known to have family members take care of them in hospitals instead of employing nurses, to avoid extra costs. These visitors most often tend to secure food from nearby street vendors to avoid the extra travel- food that is fried, food that is prepared in unhygienic facilities- which can easily harm the recovery process of the patient. They do not realize that in doing so, they are also inadvertently prolonging the hospital stay, which will also add to their expenditure. How then, can one carry out a process that can help the students simultaneously teach and learn? Can a mere hospital building reach its arm far out towards community medicine? Integrating a learning environment with a healing environment might also give the medical students a greater incentive to stay back and help their nation grow. Simple steps within the household can greatly add to the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth. Is it possible that a hospital can accommodate spaces that can help carry out these tasks of educating its visitors about the importance of safe practices before, during and after healing?

PROJECT GOALS

Existing Site: How can it be Developed to help the Locals?

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

MY THESIS

Hence, this semester-long thesis aims to find a solution to the longexisting problem of inadequate medical attention combined with lack of education: HOW CAN A MEDICAL FACILITY COMBINE HEALING WITH LEARNING? Part of the designerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role includes creating a cohesive built environment that efficiently transitions between a healing and educational space in a way that makes it seem more welcoming than imposing. If said educational spaces are a director view of a visitor, they are more likely to be used and entered as opposed to separate institutions for the same. Vice-versa, first-hand experience with the workings of a hospital can motivate medical students to engage more in the simultaneous process of learning and teaching. As an architect, one can modulate the circulation within the facility and the adjacencies of spaces so to form a smooth-flowing center that eases the movement of hospital-staff as well as works as the signage that encourages them to take up voluntary education. A successful facility will help make basic education a privilege rather than an imposition, where the visitors and patients feel lured towards the knowledge of how to achieve a better tomorrow. This, encompassed within a facility that is largely self-sufficient, aims to become a precedent for all future health facilities in Haiti.

PROJECT GOALS

WHAT I SUGGESTED The concepts imagined at the beginning of the project all include the integration of outdoor landscape into the interiors of each space. Research suggests that more exposure to clean outdoor air tends to accelerate the healing process in the ailing. Since the diurnal temperature range of Haiti is quite consistent, one can try to make the outdoor space more prominent and usable.

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

In addition to that, the Haitian culture is such that the people there prefer to stay outdoors instead of cooped up inside. Hence, a well-landscaped medical facility would provide a welcome change. The images presented here are initial basic sketches of what I had visualized for the teaching hospital campus in the beginning of the thesis semester.

PROJECT GOALS

HOW IT STARTED

Based on the conceptual requirements and the area programming, 5 iterations were made for the site, based on the basic shapes/sizes of the programs. These iterations were devised on the basis of building orientations, wind movement, proximity to required programs, etc.

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

After careful consideration of all of these iterations and also weighing the pros and cons of each, the final site plan layout was selected as a combination of the first and the fifth iterations from the diagrams above. A grid was derived solely for planning purposes across the site grid derived based on built-up area requirements, optimal building dimensions for each program that can enable passive strategies and accommodate required population in an efficient manner.

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

Composting toilet

Smell prevention on land Composting toilet

FURTHER ANALYSIS

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

The grid is derived from area programming details that help one gauge the building dimensions for different facilities. This grid helps to align different facilities in line with similar/related functional facilities. It also helps one decide the perspective views. The grid was the base for multiple iterations. In addition to the grid used for planning, different ways of designing the building sections for different facilities helped identify the strengths and weaknesses of each typology, taking into consideration the spaces requirements and the need to address environmental conditions.

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

MOVING AHEAD

The site plan is thus derived from the grid and in addition to that, aims to form building clusters of programmatically similar buildings so that each cluster can be made more or less self-sufficient, which is extremely conducive to the idea of constructing in phases. This also helps the patients and the visitors have access to all the amenities required for their specific facility. The ‘Clusters’ scheme is also the best alternative for wayfinding and for reducing the circulation time within the facility as well as to other ‘Clusters’. Hence, this development of the site plan was solely based on optimizing the efficiency of the institute in terms of provision of amenities, circulation across campus, proximity to urgent requirements, orientation of the buildings based on environmental factors, use of vegetation for enhancing passive factors, etc. In addition to being able to feel comfortable within the facility, the visitors should also feel welcomed, as any visit to the hospital can be quite intimidating. The AIA also states that members should always strive to improve their professional knowledge and skill, hence this exercise in the conceptual design for the site is also based on an in-depth research of how medical institutions should work.

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

Exploded Section of the Ward: a way to be vernacular, medically

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

BUILDING DETAILS

The design development is based on the fact that the buildings within the site have to adhere to certain medical codes in terms of circulation and spatial organization, and at the same the appearance needs to be one with the surrounding buildings, i.e they should adhere to the vernacular aesthetic. Due to the rural nature of the site and its remote location within the village, it is important to make sure that the facility is self-sustained in terms of water management and electricity. This leads to the demand for on-site power generation and water treatment and recycling, along with the use of passive techniques for lighting, shading, ventilation, etc. This also gives one the opportunity to get more creative with the layout within the buildings that can improve functionality and efficiency of each building. Also, in adherence to the general obligations for an architect as stated by the AIA, I also continually seek to raise the standards of aesthetic excellence, even though in this case it is important to also in part emulate what is already existing.

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

HOW IS IT REALIZED?

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

CONSTR DOCUM

WORK FORCE SIZE=5-8 (ARCHITECT, ENGINEERS, CONSULTANTS, ETC.)

WORK FORCE SIZE=1 (+5 CONSULTANTS=3 ACADEMIC+2 PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS)

JANUARY 2019

EXHIBIT WORK AT MILLER GALLERY, CMU

MAY 2019

DECEMBER 2

TAKEN OVER BY AN AMERICAN LICENSED ARCHITECT

STAMPED BY ARCHITECT

The 5 stages of the design process are modified by virtue of the fact that the processes have to take place within the United States as well as in Haiti, hence require more communication between parties. In addition to that, since this also has a link to an academic project, some of the proposals made by the student designer (me) may not be accepted by the licensed architect while taking over and might be changed.

DRAFTED IN USA

P FINAL DESIGNS

PRODUCTION DRAWINGS

BUILDING DETAILS

SITE PLAN ITERATIONS

BUBBLE DIAGRAMS/CONCEPTS

ACADEMIC WORKP

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

2019

Y HAITIAN

INTERNS, DRAFTSMEN, CONSULTANTS, ETC.)

WORK FORCE SIZE= UNKNOWN (MEP, CIVIL, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS; CONSTRUCTION LABORERS

BIDDING JUNE 2021

USUALLY TAKES 5% OF THE WORK AND TIME, BUT THE CONTRACTORS TO BE CHOSEN ARE ALREADY IBN AGREEMENT WITH MYLIFESPEAKS

RECRUITING OF SKILLED/UNSKILLED

RUCTION MENTS WORK FORCE SIZE=20 (ARCHITECT, ENGINEERS,

UNDER HAITI JURISDICTION

P ROFESSIONAL WORK

CONSTRUCTION

OCTOBER 2021 PHASE-1

PHASES TO BE CONSTRUCTED OVER EVERY 3 YEARS

This implies that more communication between a student who is, keeping in mind all of the existing ‘real’ problems, also suggesting some theoretical ideas (like the water management systems, waste management, etc.) which may not work out the way that they have been presented in the thesis; and a licensed architect, engineer, etc. are needed to oversee these things and make sure that the design is appropriate in terms of its responsibility towards the public, the profession, other colleagues within the profession, and to the environment. CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

MY OBLIGATIONS 1. TO THE PUBLIC The ‘public’ in this context majorly refers to the people of Neply and nearby villages, along with the occasional emergency patient flown in by the Air Ambulance of Haiti. One of the major obligations to the public here is to provide services in a quick and efficient manner. This, in turn, means: Ease of access. WAYFINDING is crucial. A person with an emergency medical condition should not be wasting time trying to look for the right building. Considering the different programs are spread across the site, it is absolutely essential to segregate the pedestrian paths from the vehicular transportation paths. ECONOMICALLY ACCESSIBLE: Since the population is too poor to be able to afford high-quality, private healthcare facilities, it is important to formulate a way that makes the available facilities much more affordable. Although the architect can only control very little of this aspect, one can certainly design a facility that makes it more welcoming and approachable for the public. Providing manually— operated amenities (for instance, hand pumps, composting toilets, cleaning/sterilizing ward spaces, etc.) provides the public with an opportunity to pay with services in place of money, which will mean that they are still able to avail medical treatment and the facility is able to reduce its expenses on staff.

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

MORE LANDSCAPE: Since the facility aims to become a healing environment, it is crucial to make use of the outdoors as much as possible to incorporate a soothing ambiance. PROVIDE THE MOST ESSENTIAL SERVICES: The aim is to provide those facilities that do not exist for the public in the region, at the very least. This means not only emergency care and operation theaters, but also a teaching facility to aim allow the public to attain an affordable medical education. It also means providing space within the facility to allow for temporary construction, like dentistry camps, vaccination camps, or more importantly, accommodation in case of a disaster, as Haiti lies in a high-risk earthquake zone. This translates to large open spaces, multiple permanent outdoor toilets and water fountains, as well as larger semi-covered spaces to accommodate beds and other emergency furniture. The designers as well as the management should aim to render greater public interest services, including pro bono services, in aid of the users and the public. The management and all the players involved in all the processes of this facility, shall disclose when they are being compensated and by whom, for any new activity taking place regarding the facility. They will be honest about their economic interests or profits related to the All of these should be done in accordance with the law, ETHICALLY. No undue advantage shall be taken in any form, monetary or otherwise, for special favors to or from the public. There must be utmost TRANSPARENCY in the way the construction of the facility and the management is being conducted.

ETHICAL POSITIONING

REHABILITATION

STUDENTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CLU

ENTRANCE

PEDIATRIC CLU

OPEN WAITING AREAS

Providing what is suggested in a timely, efficient manner

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

2. TO THE CLIENT

Considering the fact that the client runs on a tight budget, it is the responsibility of the designer to make the construction as well as management of the facility as cost-effective as possible. This means making use of passive techniques for especially thermal comfort and ventilation, and making sure that the clients are comfortable physically, mentally and have adequate privacy in their respective spaces. Segregation of programs is essential for control of infections and also to prevent further spreading if there are contagious diseases prevalent within the facility. The client here refers to the owner of myLifeSpeaks as well as the users, which includes doctors, students and patients. The Client should be served in a timely manner and be given the facilities that have been promised. All decisions made in the design process will be communicated to myLifeSpeaks immediately, and it is th duty of the American parties working on the project to make sure that none of the construction/final documents are signed or sealed by them, rather handed over to the Haitian parties. The project needs to be carried out in a timely and efficient manner to meet the needs of myLifeSpeaks. Other qualified persons are encouraged to be involved in the project as consultants, to achieve the utmost level of competency. At no point can the construction team or the design team materially alter the scope or objectives of the project without the approval of myLifeSpeaks.

ETHICAL POSITIONING

STUDENTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CLUSTER

PEDIATRIC CLUSTER Being considerate of the existing demography

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

3. TO THE PROFESSION

The architect should be ethical and be considerate of the context of the project, which is a currently a sugarcane field in a remote location with no access to paved roads within 1.6 miles radius, and in a povertystricken village. Hence, at every step of design development, care should be taken to minimize costs. This means using local materials at all time, which is also easier for the local labor to construct with, as their illiteracy obstructs them from learning methods and technique of construction very easily. It also means not building an outlandish building that gives the appearance of housing all of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;latestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; medical equipment, rather constructing something that fits in with the surrounding context so that it feels more home-like for visitors, making them more comfortable and confident. Honesty and trust are key components desirable in every architect. No promises are to be made to any of the parties involved, including the public, which may be false or misleading. In this particular setting,it is important for all members to realize that the governing jurisdiction will be based in Haiti, hence all adherence should be to the Haitian laws and codes of conduct to be ethical. No one from the team is to sign or seal any drawings, specifications, reports, or other professional work for which they do not have responsible control. They shall also not make statements of material fact, which means that information will be clearly stated with no misleading, deceptive or false statements.

ETHICAL POSITIONING

Being considerate of the existing demography

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

4. TO COLLEAGUES

Through my research and a bit of networking, I have come across many architects and architecture professors who have shown a keen interest in the project. It has been a great learning experience as each of them shared their own respective ideas and design suggestions which have helped me tremendously. I in turn, after having visited Haiti, have been able to share the experience and interesting architectural facts with them that has also greatly helped them. Hence, I think within the architectural profession, SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE is of utmost importance, especially between colleagues working in similar fields as ultimately, in a project like this, the practice of knowledge-sharing is going to benefit the public, which is the whole point of a Public Interest Design project. That being said, once I withdraw from the project (after the Schematic Design phase), I will not hold on to any official documents that belong to the project. All credit is to be duly given to all members based on their contributions. Obligations to colleagues working on the same project, however, will be more formal and official, like: a.Timely delivery of all drawings as mentioned in the contract- stick to schedule b.Notify the colleagues of an addenda to the contracts c.Stick to budgets as mentioned in the contracts d.Notify immediately any design changes after submissions of documents

ETHICAL POSITIONING

Work done on the MyLifeSpeaks Project 72

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

5. TO THE ENVIRONMENT

This project requires the use of passive environment in its construction and design due to the low availability of electricity sources, and also proper water management systems. This requires one to be very cautious of the ramifications of harming the environment, and the following steps should be taken into consideration: a.Use of passive techniques to reduce energy-loads on site b.Waste management in Haiti is almost non-existent. It is the responsibility of the architect, therefore, to use more biodegradable materials and also make sure that the on-site water management releases no effluents into the nearby river c.Reduced use of concrete and instead resort to materials like wood, which are more easily available and are also environmentally biodegradable

ETHICAL POSITIONING

Creating a Facility that is Available, Affordable and Accessible to all members of the Public

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

6. SPECIFIC TO MY PROJECT

As mentioned in the obligations to the client and to the environment, keeping in mind the poor financial conditions of the village and hence the users, and in general the context of the project, the major driving factor of utmost priority for the project has to be economics. This means that all the resources provided here are not just always available, but also accessible and affordable. In addition to that, the project also aims to have a didactic quality to it in terms of the construction technique and also as a facility that merges successfully the virtues of education and healthcare. However, the weakness of the project lies in the fact that even though research can prove that there are methods other than the existing construction technique that might prove to be more effectively passive-environment oriented and also might be more cost-effective, but the reality is hindered by the fact that in the past, construction laborers have proved to be stubborn about not wanting to learn any new technique and sticking with their learned and practiced ways. This has also been the reason behind Haitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s less than efficient earthquake-resistant construction. Hence, more incentives need to be provided to the manual labor.

ETHICAL POSITIONING

BEING ETHICAL

HOW TO BRING THIS PROJECT TO FRUITION? Project Management

MyLifeSpeaks

Client Organization that wishes to build the facility

Dr. Cobu

Journeyman International

American Organization working with M.Arch students on designing humanitarian projects internationally

Brent Rutl Rhonda N T Carmella C Dr. Kelv Dr. Ric Bon

Dr. Tyler G

Tom Rhodes

American Architect in a contractual agreement with MyLifeSpeaks to work on the project

Brian O’ Neil

Dr. Paulo D

Head of Third Lens Ministries American Civil Engineering firm in a contractual agreement with MyLifeSpeaks

In a contractual agreement with Journeyman International to act as supervisor to student designer

Nikhita Bhagwat ME ‘Humanitarian Designer’ for Journeyman International -Written agreement to work on DD and SD phases till May 2019 -Written permission to use said project as Master’s Thesis

Ch Stef

Waste management River pollution Land pollution Air pollutants by generators, mechanical equipment, etc. Traffic caused due to visitors etc.

Haitian Architect for Stamp Construction Team including engineers- structural, MEP, civil, etc. Construction laborers Unemployed Haitians

Details to be Checked Building heights and setbacks Earthquake resistance/construction parameters Plot adjacencies Medical Facility Management Standards

Diagram of Implementation 76

Things to consider for Review (Pre and Post Occupancy)

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

Haitia

General operating and administrative costs through corporate and Private donors for the first 3 years of operations. Long-term partnerships to help in the areas of shortcomings on the budget, after the first 3 years: -Use of social media and funding/donation requests to NGOs -Fundraising initiatives across Haiti/US

Consultants

urn Allen (myLIFEspeaks BOD member & Medical Director) land MBA, MPH (myLIFEspeaks BOD Chair) Nisbett PT, DPT (myLIFEspeaks Director of Therapy & Public Health Liasion) Celestine NP (LIFE Clinic Nurse Practitioner) vin Shaw (myLIFEspeaks BOD member) nnell (consulting & adding Diabetes Clinics, which already exist in Haiti) Goldberg (joint replacement orthopedic surgeon) o Pinho (family practitioner and Medical Director for Prudential Insurance) Tim Tebow Foundation University of Florida University of Texas @ Austin Ascension Healthcare hief Deputy Jean Wilson Hippolite fan Gilles (former Chief Consul Haiti)

Jurisdiction Haitian Government Chief Deputy Hippolite (Leogane representative in Parliament+Chief Deputy of Haitian Government)

Stefan Gilles

Former Chief Consul, Haiti

Neply Village Head Commissioned Public Surveyor for Leogane Land Surveyor

Haitian Building Code Building codes to dictate the building setbacks, heights, requirements, etc.

Air Ayithi Air Ambulance service in Haiti

Government-employed attorney to oversee all clauses related to Haitian jurisdiction

an/American attorney employed by MyLifeSpeaks Users

Doctors Medical students Patients

Finances

Privately funded under the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Government : Private modelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; $1 Million annual operating budget for the first 3 years $500,000 Annual staffing budget for the first 3 years $5 Million construction of MLSMSH Complex $0 Land cost*. The land is donated by a local Haitian (David Decayette) who both sees the need for and desires this project. (Estimated Land Value: $250,000 USD)

PATH TO IMPLEMENTATION

City of Pittsburgh, Department of City Planning 200 Ross Street, Third Floor Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219

Division of Zoning and Development Review ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

HEARING AGENDA

Date of Hearing: March 21, 2019 Time of Hearing: 9:00 Zone Case 73 of 2019

Past Cases & Decisions: N/A Notes:

315 Grandview Ave

N/A

Zoning District: GPR-A Ward: 19 Council District: 2,Councilperson Theresa Kail-Smith Neighborhood: Mt Washington Applicant: Elagin Architecture Owner: City Of Pittsburgh Library Renovation and expansion of existing library. Special Exception: 921.02.A.1 expansion of legal nonconforming use is permitted up to 15% in residential zoning district Variance: 921.02.A.1

expansion of legal nonconforming use is permitted up to 15% in residential zoning district, 49% increase requested

Variance: 914.02.

two parking spaces required, none proposed

Variance: 919.03.M.3

electronic non-advertising sign not permitted in GPR-A zone

Appearances For Appellant: Objectors: Observers:

Page 1 of 8

March 21, 2019

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

BASED ON EVIDENCE...

Based on the meeting listed here, a few of the players that might be included in the project could be assigned certain positions within the project. Division of Zoning and Development Review - Zoning Board of Adjustment March 21st 2019 This hearing is a public hearing scheduled on Thursdays of every month to review changes and variances requested by various entities in zoning for development in the city of Pittsburgh. The hearings are conducted at 200 Ross Street, Pittsburgh in the first floor conference room. The hearings are open to public as the cases are reviewed as per the agenda established by the board in advance. The board consists of experts, community member, and the officials from the city planning department of City of Pittsburgh. The hearing attended was scheduled on 21st of March 2019 at 10AM. The board was presided by Alice Mitinger (lawyer, chair of the zoning board) who has been a zoning attorney for last 30 years. The other members of the board included JJ Richardson (public attorney), Lashawn Burton Faulk (director of a non-profit organization) and Jack Millern (Zoning Code Administration Officer). After hearing all the cases, the board has approximately 45 days to respond with a decision for each case.

PATH TO IMPLEMENTATION

The Zoning Committee Meeting with Applicants

The meeting attended on 21 March, 2018 had members of the zoning committee of Pittsburgh, contractually-linked attorneys and head of an NGO, which, after speaking with my professional supervisor (American architect Tom Rhodes) and trying to make it analogous with the Haitian jurisdiction, would be the kind of parties involved in my project. The applicants for the myLifeSpeaks project would be the head organization myLifeSpeaks, and probably the land owner who donated the land (to provide the necessary documents, like signatures, land deeds, etc.).

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

The Zoning Committee Meeting with Applicants

Although the jurisdiction for my project involves players from the United States as well as Haiti and hence involves more steps in the process of communication due to the existence of two large parties involved, I would guess that the jurisdiction within Haiti would be prioritized since the most construction and all of the legal documents drafted are within Haiti. The decisions made within the States, however, are mostly contained within the Schematic Design and the Design Development, which includes all of the standards and guidelines used for medical facilities, more specifically the FGI Guidelines which are used by most firms that specialize in the healthcare department.

PATH TO IMPLEMENTATION

The Documents used by the Air Ambulance in Haiti to identify the Site

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

Here, the motivation of the CLIENT/APPLICANT is to provide a healthcare facility within the village of Neply, Haiti which will benefit the PUBLIC- the locals as well as people from surrounding villages. The JURISDICTION exists to make sure that all of the facilities constructed remain within the bye-laws and that processes involved in the same are ethically conducted. These processes might include importing material for construction (for instance, the rebar for the reinforcements is being imported from Turkey) and paying the necessary taxes, local laborers are reasonably compensated, the construction remains within the allotted plot, the environment is not unduly harmed, etc. In addition to that, the attorneys might also be required in the case of addenda or disagreements between parties. The CONSULTANTS for the project not only help with the cost estimation and other details necessary for construction, but also include professionals who would be helpful even post-construction. In addition to that, a few of the players involved are in a contractual agreement with multiple other players within the setup. The table gives a brief idea of the various interlinked connections/communication settings involved in the review process and the succeeding implementation of the project. The chronology is depicted by the heights of the various â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; labels. The jurisdiction in this case also would play an important role regarding funding, as multiple parties will be involved during different phases of the construction/management process which will need to be monitored on some level.

PATH TO IMPLEMENTATION

The Site Location

The Site 84

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

The CLIENT for the project will also act as the OWNER, hence the jurisdiction will have to hear their needs and requirements and will be presented with the necessary documents that indicate their ownership of the land (which will include the document that states that it was donated to them, duly signed and sealed by the former owner). In addition to that, all of the geotechnical documents will have to be provided to make sure that construction on this plot is in fact possible. The fact that the plot adjoining this Site is presently a mining site for gravel will be of major concern to the jurors as it may not be the most conducive for construction of a healing facility. The owners might be asked to justify the same. In addition to that, there is a river that flows to the north of the site, just 1.6 miles away (aerial distance). One of the concerns that might stem is the possible polluting of the river from hospital effluents, waste management, etc. which might also have to be addressed under the jurisdiction.

PATH TO IMPLEMENTATION

BEING SYSTEMATIC Project Management

MyLifeSpeaks

Client Organization that wishes to build the facility

Dr. Cobu

Journeyman International

American Organization working with M.Arch students on designing humanitarian projects interntionally

Brent Rutl Rhonda N

Carmella C Dr. Kelv Dr. Ric Bon

3. PRE-DESIGN DESIGN Tom Rhodes

American Architect in a contractual agreement with MyLifeSpeaks to work on the project In a contractual agreement with Journeyman International to act as supervisor to student designer

Nikhita Bhagwat ME ‘Humanitarian Designer’ for Journeyman International -Written agreement to work on DD and SD phases till May 2019 -Written permission to use said project as Master’s Thesis

Dr. Tyler

Brian O’ Neil

Contractually involved players workin Dr. Paulo from Design Development Stage to D Construction till project is completel built.

-Haitian MEP Agency -Haitian Services for provision of Water management, Electricity (produced on-site using solar panels), waste collection/management

Contractually involved players workin Ch during Construction and Stef Post-Construction phases.

Head of Third Lens Ministries American Civil Engineering firm in a contractual agreement with MyLifeSpeaks

Student Designer working on the project on purely voluntary basis, not contractually bound.

Haitia

4. CONSTRUCTION Construction workers employed locally by MyLifeSpeaks. The workers may be highly skilled or will learn on-site from those Haitian for Stamp skilled, as the aim isArchitect to provide employment to Construction Team including those in need. engineers- structural, MEP, civil, etc. Construction laborers Unemployed Haitians Since funding is inconsistent and is based on income flow annually from different parties, construction is done in PHASES to be able to construct every succeeding phase to completion and also function efficiently.

Diagram of Team-Building 86

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

General operating and administrative costs through corporate and private donors for the first 3 years of operations. Long-term partnerships to help in the areas of shortcomings on the budget, after the first 3 years: -Use of social media and funding/donation requests to NGOs -Fundraising initiatives across Haiti/US

Consultants

urn Allen (myLIFEspeaks BOD member & Medical Director) land MBA, MPH (myLIFEspeaks BOD Chair) Nisbett PT, DPT (myLIFEspeaks Director of Therapy & Public Health Liasion) Celestine NP (LIFE Clinic Nurse Practitioner) vin Shaw (myLIFEspeaks BOD member) nnell (consulting & adding Diabetes Clinics, No construction can which already exist in Haiti) Neply Village Head take place/start unless Goldberg (joint replacement orthopedic the Survey results are surgeon) ng legally presented and oo Pinho (family practitioner and Medical Director for Prudential Insurance) approved. ly Tim Tebow Foundation University of Florida University of Texas @ Austin Ascension Healthcare ng hief Deputy Jean Wilson Hippolite fan Gilles (former Chief Consul Haiti)

Jurisdiction Haitian Government Chief Deputy Hippolite (Leogane representative in Parliament+Chief Deputy of Haitian Government)

2. LAND SURVEY Stefan Gilles SOIL TESTING Former Chief Consul, Haiti GEOTECHNICAL DATA COLLECTION Land Surveyor

1. LAND ACQUISITION (DONATED)

Air Ayithi Air Ambulance service in Haiti

Site specified based on the donated plot.

Government-employed attorney to

an/American attorney employed by MyLifeSpeaks

6. POST-CONSTRUCTION Users

Doctors Medical students Patients

5. FUNDING

Commissioned Public Surveyor for Leogane

all clausesisrelated Sinceoversee construction done to in Haitian phases, the users play jurisdiction an effective role in maintaining and improving the efficiency of the facility by way of consulting the architects about their experience and how the facility could change and improve. Hence, every successive phase acts an a new, improved iteration of the previous phase.

Finances

BUILDING THE TEAM TO BUILD

Taking over to Finish what was Started

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

THE TEAM

The implementation process for the project involves a lot of the players mentioned in the previous Diagram of Implementation, as they are very crucial members required to carry out the processes of funding, construction, management, etc. The process begins with the Schematic Design phase which is, under constant supervision from academic and professional advisors, to be undertaken by the student designer (me). The agenda states that the student keeps working till May 2019, which marks the end of my academic semester, after which it is to be taken over by the licensed American architect involved in the project. The licensed architect will then collaborate with the civil engineering firm based in the United States, where the Design Development and Construction Documents phases will take place while also being constantly in touch with the players based in Haiti. The engineers for the other details, like the water systems, water treatment, MEP, solar power harnessing, etc. will be consulted within Haiti as they will be better acquainted with the equipment providers.

BUILDING THE TEAM TO BUILD

Funding the Project to provide what is not Available

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

One player that is absolutely necessary in the successful implementation of this process is a licensed Haitian architect who is willing to sign the construction documents and stamp them with the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seal, so that the jurisdiction is able to conduct the following processes more smoothly. Once the project is approved by the Haitian jurisdiction, searching for funding for the project is the next step, or rather a step that has been going on simultaneously while the documents have been worked on. Since the funding is expected from mostly private agencies and a bit from the Haitian government, it is important for the construction to take place in phases as the income flow will not be abundant at any point of time to build the entire facility in the first phase. Hence, the project has been worked out in a way that expects $5 million per annum for the first 3 years from multiple funding agencies, after which point the facility can begin to generate its own income and in addition can also have finalized a few loyal funding sources.

BUILDING THE TEAM TO BUILD

Connecting to the Outdoors

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

WORKFLOW

One of the advantages of constructing the project in phases is the fact that the users can be available as useful consultants for the next construction of the next phase. They can be approached by the architects for advice on their comfort conditions and efficiency of the institute, so that each successive phase can act as a better iteration of the previous phase. This, in turn , also creates the true sense of Public Interest Design where the project and the design cater to the wellbeing of the public and the provision of basic amenities. The land that was donated is very poorly connected, by road or in terms of the various infrastructure needs within the site. This calls for a separate body involved in the infrastructure within the site as well as around the site so that transportation to and from the hospital will be made easier, and in addition the provision of basic facilities on site will be made much easier.

BUILDING THE TEAM TO BUILD

WORK DOCUMENTED

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

FINAL PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

Building Section responding to the Vernacular Architecture

While the final design was more of a campus-planning thesis and focused more on the spatial quality of each part of the campus and less on the technical details, the final design is still a schematic design in the actual construction aspects of the hospital and hence, aims to create the idea of a facility that is not only about to accommodate the basic criteria required for any medical facility along with the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs, but also an experimental set-up that challenges the existing norms and aims to create an exemplary institute for the people in and around the region.

FINAL PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

FINAL PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

100

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

FINAL PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

101

102

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In addition to trying to realize the ideas conveyed in the beginning of the semester, the design also takes into account the various vernacular architectural techniques prevalent in the region so as t respond to the surrounding context as well as make sure that the construction takes place within the budget constraints. The final design also takes into account the basic parameters for hospital design, which includes the minimum spatial requirements for circulation, lighting conditions within different spaces, etc. Thus, the final design for the myLifeSpeaks Teaching Hospital project is an amalgamation of all of the factors as opposed to focusing on one specific aspect of the campus and designing it to perfection.

FINAL PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

103

104

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FINAL PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

105

106

WORKING TOWARDS MY ASPIRATIONS

An important part of the design process is the presentation of the design so that all the ideas and intent behind it are clearly represented to the client, the user, the supervisor, etc. Hence, the presentation should be clear and precise. The final presentation, thus, included a sectional model that was able to clearly helped the viewers visualize the experiential quality of the campus. Trees also play an important role in the designing of the campus as they are a device to passively shade the different parts of the campus, both indoor and outdoor. The wards, being the most repetitive buildings across the site, have been depicted in section as well as the whole, each being in a different orientation so as to the optimize the lighting and ventilation conditions within the building. The final documentation, thus, is a compilation of the research, the conceptual drawings, the final drawings, etc. so as to create a complete presentation that can be understood by all viewers regardless of the absence of verbal communication.

FINAL PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

107

CHAPTER-3

POST-OCCUPANCY ASSESSMENT

CONSTRUCTION/ IMPLEMENTATION

MATERIAL POSTPROCESSING

FABRICATION

PROCUREMENT

DESIGN/PRODUCTION

COMMISSION

108

04/10/19

CONFLUENCE: Collaborative designing (rough sketch) of a series of components as a continued form

04/16/19

SHOP DRAWINGS: Creation of technical drawings in pairs, for submission to McKamish

04/18/19

04/24/19

FABRICATION: On-site observation of fabrication at McKamish facilities

05/02/19

DELIVERY: Delivery of fabricated pieces to site of installation (SOA),in separate pieces

05/03/19

TEST FIT/EVALUATION: Layout of pieces to test their quality and accuracy in the overall unit

05/06/19

FINISHING: Cleaning and coating of metal components with acetone and urethane coating

05/08/19

INSTALLATION: Installation of prototype assembly on site

05/09/19

POST-OCCUPANCY EVALUATION: Gauging the ‘success’ of the unit in terms of its use and aesthetics, and looking out for shortcomings in the overall design

05/10/19

REPORT: Reporting said shortcomings and successes in the chronicle

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

The work of an architect cannot be judged solely by the final product. A lot of steps go into the making of a design, and often they go unnoticed, partially due to the negligence in documenting every step. The Commission here is to design and build a wall-hanger to hold workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hard hats in the School of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University. The project is done in a class of 90 students as a group of 45 pairs of students. Each group has to individually design one steel hanger that is documented as an AutoCAD drawing and transferred to the McKamish Center for CNC routing. All the individual pieces are then combined as one long line of hangers that add up, aesthetically and functionally, as wall-hanger for 45 hats on the wall. This unit is compiled as a result of overlapping of the individual units, which are then screwed together to each other and to the wall. The project, just as seen in a design-build workshop, is a series of iterations which can be worked and reworked on but always in collaboration with other groups, just as seen in the professional world. Since the unit as a whole is formed as a result of overlapping every succeeding piece with the previous piece to form a linear series of overlaps, each group (of 2) is expected to collaborate with 2 other groups- the group preceding it and the group succeeding it. Hence, the group and collaboration taking place in this dynamic is multi-fold: a. Collaboration within the group of 2 b. Collaboration between 2 groups of 2 each c. Collaboration among all groups to form a continuous series of contours

COMMISSION

109

CL BRAKE

90째 BRAKE: DOWN FOR COMPONENT TYPE A UP FOR COMPONENT TYPE B

HYPOTHETICAL CUSTOM CURVE

1'-0"

/4" 23

BOUNDARY REGION FOR CUSTOM PROFILE

OFFSET DIE

MAX OVERALL PLATE LENGTH

FIXED CUT

ALIGN

FIXED CUT

CL BRAKE

1 90째 BRAKE UP

MIN. CUSTOM PROFILE BOUNDARY, TYP. FIXED CUT, TYP. 1/2 "

MIN. CUSTOM CURVE BOUNDARY, TYP.

CL T O SL

1/2

1/2"

5 1/2"

1'-1" MAX OVERALL PLATE WIDTH

45째

PART #: 27 OF 45

110

KEYNOTES: 1. 1/8" THICK STEEL PLATE 2. HOMASOTE WALL COVERING 3. CMU SOA ULINE HARD HAT

45째

NAME: Stephanie Huang, Tony Kosec

27 PLATE PART LAYOUT

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

SCALE: 6" = 1'-0"

P R O T O T Y P E PLATE PART LAYOUT SCALE: 6" = 1'-0"

15 APRIL 2019 DRAWN BY: A.C./F.C.

COMMISSION

A100

CM U S C HO OL O F A R C HI T E C TU R E

UNIT #28

In the case of this project: Piece no.28 of the 45 pieces joined in the unit, the group formed is me (Nikhita Bhagwat) and third-year student Owen D. Haft. Group no. 28 has to collaborate with group no. 27 (Anthony Kosec and Stephanie Huang), where they have to share their dwg file with our group after designing their piece, unit no. 27. This piece was designed after having collaborated with team no. 26. Once piece no.28 is designed as a continuation of piece no.27, is shared with team no. 29 (David Suchoza III and Jihee Kim) so that their piece can be formed as a continuation of piece no.28, and so on. The bolt holes are to be aligned so as to carry out the overlapping process and make sure that all the pieces are aligned. The end result is a series of contours overlapping each other. The series is a group of alternating piece orientations, Component A and Component B: Component having the hanger rest above the customized metal profile, and Component B having the hanger rest below the customized profile.

COMMISSION

111

112

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

THE PROCESS

-The AutoCAD (dwg) drawings are collected, placed, and nested using “ProNest Nesting Software”. One person operates the software to place and nest each dwg to form the shape. The 60” x 120”, 1/8” thick Sheet Metal is placed on the plasma cutter table. 2 of these sheets needed to fit all 45 nested pieces, plus material for recuts. The “HyPerformance Plasma HPR206” plasma cutter cuts out the pieces. This machine is capable of cutting inch thick sheets. Approx. 90 seconds is needed to cut out each single piece. The entirety of all 45 pieces, when rasterized, consisted of about 65,000 lines in this particular project, for the cutter to make. The plasma cutter is manned by a single technician. The worker labels each piece with its respective part number. The rough edges of the pieces from the plasma cutter are sanded smooth. The Offset and Hook Bends are done on a CNC and a manual Press Brake. The order of Press Brakes is not important, but both Press Brakes hold interchangeable dies. The CNC Press Brake is used to achieve the 90° bends of the hook. Manual Press Brake holds the offset die to make offset on each of the pieces. Each Press Brake is manned by one person The pieces are then finished and transported to the client (SoA) for installation.

COMMISSION

113

114

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

THE PLAYERS (on site)

The manual and hydraulic press break are run by one person. IAN YOUNG is a 24-year-old SHEET METAL APPRENTICE. He is working under Terry Sr. and has been with McKamish for about 2 years now. He is also in the Local 12 union. With his Union dues he is able to go to classes on how to calculate sheet metal before it is set out to the shop so no extra waste is used. He also gets classes on CAD and welding too. Nick Clemente is the son to Jamie Clemente that helped the students with the tour. He is 36 years old and has been working there for 2-3 years. His job is to run the plasma cutter and also. He was responsible for a few setbacks to this particular project which meant that the pieces were not properly cleaned, hence, he was responsible for cleaning up after his mistakes and making sure that the client Terry Sr. is the Shop Foreman and has been working there for 14 years. He helped out with the nesting of the project and the planning too. Ian also helped with the planning process too with Terry Sr. Jamie Clemente is 64 years old and is the special group manager and has been working there for 36 years. He is the older gentlemen that took us on the tour of the whole building facility. Terry Jr. is non-union and his job title is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Project Managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

COMMISSION

115

Before

Step 1

Step 2 116

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

WORKFLOW (post-fabrication)

Unit Conditions -The unit’s condition is not as smooth/polished. Most of the back edges are sharp and need more sanding. The exterior edges are quite smooth after sanding them down -The unit as a whole is slightly warped on either side of the hanger, hence does not hang stable on a flat surface -Dents and scratches are very noticeable on both faces, which can only partially be hidden by cleaning/polishing STEP-1 The unit is cleaned with Acetone. In this particular instance, since the wood shop ran out of acetone, denatured alcohol was also used to clean the unit. This step ensures that the unit is rid of all dust particles and other defects like unwanted erasable marks, since once the polishing is done it is hard to go back to these steps and particles might get stuck to the unit. STEP-2 After cleaning, the unit is polished with Polyurethane, an oil-based liquid used for a “clear satin” finish. It is expected to dry in about 2 hours. This step is important for giving the product a sheen that can also be helpful in preventing the metal from rusting.

COMMISSION

117

The process of cleaning and polishing take a total of about 30-45 minutes depending on how meticulously it is done. Once the units are individually cleaned and polished, they are placed together on a table, separately, to dry, which takes as long as 2 hours. 118

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

It is easier to place them on nails so that both faces of the units dry simultaneously and thus take a lesser amount of time. Once all the units are dry and ready to be installed, they can be laid out in the order that they form the unit. COMMISSION

119

METAL PROFILE

BOLT HOLE PILOT HOLE

OFFSET DIE

90° BREAK 90° BREAK

COMPONENT B

COMPONENT A+COMPONENT B 120

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

THE PARTS

-Screw: No. 10 (1/4” dia. ) screw with black oxide is first drilled into the wall (terrocotta blocks covered with homosote) to make a hole. Then a multi-impact drive with a screw of 5/16” dia. is used for the screw to hold the unit to the wall. -A Philips rounded head 2.5” long 3/4” black oxide fender washer is used so as to not let the screw get driven too deep into the wall. -Urethane spacer sleeve 5/16” diameter, 1/2” length are used between the connecting parts to reduce the impact of vibrations. -A Twist-resistant black anchor is used to make sure that the units are all held together stiff and rigid. -The total project budget is $900, with a total of 14 hours of labor

COMMISSION

121

Drawing Source: CMU-SOA_COMMISSION_SHOP DRAWINGS FOR FABRICATION_V06_2019_04_22.pdf

The elevation drawing is important for one to know during the installation process where the unit hangs in relation to the adjacent walls, the floor, and also helps one estimate how much of the wall is being covered by the unit so that the aesthetics of the wall are easier to imagine.

Drawing Source: CMU-SOA_COMMISSION_SHOP DRAWINGS FOR FABRICATION_V06_2019_04_22.pdf 122

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

The wall section here clearly describes how the hangers are held on the wall and how the hard hats hang on them. The height for the entire unit is decided based on anthropometric requirements so that people of all heights are able to access the unit comfortably. Ergonomics plays an important role in these units as their primary purpose is to be used for holding physical objects and thereby declutter floor/table spaces.

COMMISSION

123

Installation, Documented 124

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

INSTALLATION The installation process in this case was demonstrated by Prof. John Folan, and is carried out as mentioned in the previous sections. Care is taken to avoid unnecessary damage to the pieces or the wall.

The cost estimation allows us to gauge the kind of effort plus money that goes into a project of this scale, and how much time it takes in the process of shop drawing production, procurement, fabrication, material post processing, construction/implementation, and Post Occupancy/Post Use Assessment. COMMISSION

125

Drawing Source: CMU-SOA_COMMISSION_SHOP DRAWINGS FOR FABRICATION_V06_2019_04_22.pdf

The wall unit is assembled on Wednesday, 8 June, 2019. Despite a few defects in the individual pieces, the unit hangs quite consistently across the wall. The installation of the 45 pieces starts in the reverse order from piece #45 to piece #1. Every Component A is paired with a Component B, which are distinguished by the 90Â° break that bends on either side. The end result is a wall-hung unit for hanging hats, bags, coats, etc.

126

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

The installation takes a total of approximately for hours and finally, is ready to use right after being installed. Since the unit is placed in an enclosed environment (indoors), it is not that prone to corrosion and requires very little maintenance. This leads to the conclusion that many project types can include such low-maintenance, relatively cheap components to use as aesthetic parts that also serve a purpose, just like this hanger fills an unused wall.

COMMISSION

127

128

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

POST-OCCUPANCY EVALUATION The post-occupancy evaluation enables one to understand whether the proposed project that was realized, was a ‘success’. In this case, success to the unit means that it was utilized by all the users of the room and by wearers of hard hats, coats, etc. It should give the impression of a product that is required by passersby and something that can be trusted to hold/bear/hang the user’s possessions and can be relied upon to hold the weight as well. Hence, the fixtures were also given due consideration and screwed to the wall tightly so that there was no opportunity for the unit to move or rotate. All the pieces have been attached to each other in a manner that fixes them tightly to each other to avoid sagging of the unit as a whole. By the looks of how the unit hangs on the wall and how multiple users are making use of it to hang different objects, one can safely say that the project can be called a SUCCESS. However, certain improvements can certainly be made so as to improve the unit for the next batch. The spacing of the components is such that not too many diverse objects can be hung. For instance, a unit like this has the ability to be standardized and used for multiple objects to be hung, like backpacks, coats, hats, models, etc. and increasing the angle between the two arms for the customized pieces would certainly make the unit more multi-purpose. A considerable amount of material can be saved if the overlap is reduced between adjacent components and the pilot holes are shifted towards the edge of the customized profile. Another comment that came about personally trying to make use of the unit is that it can afford to be hung approx. 6” lower than its existing elevation, as it should be comfortably accessed even by people of shorter heights, and if its purpose is to also be used for faculty kids’ backpacks, or physical models which are best seen at eye level, a slightly lower height might prove to be more beneficial.

COMMISSION

129

130

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

RELEVANCE

This fabrication assignment is relevant to my thesis project as it helps in cost estimation and also since steel is abundant within the region, a lot of the elements of the buildings, structural and aesthetic, can be made with steel. Apart from the larger elements of the building like the steel trusses, one might also be able to use fabrication of a similar nature for use within the hospital rooms, like hangers for lab coats, shelves for laboratory equipment, bedside equipment holders, etc. Since cost plays a major role in influencing the design and construction of the hospital project, it is important to note that CNC Plasma cutting might not be ideal as the equipment might be more expensive than if done by local craftsmen. However, this process of fabrication can be quite useful in other projects with a higher budget, as designs can be duplicated and fabricated within a couple of days, which will be ideal in a project like the hospital where multiple rooms will require the same kind of shelving and/or equipment. For the MyLifeSpeaks hospital, all fabrication will in all probability be hand-made by the local craftsmen and laborers who are very skilled in metal lattice work and other aesthetic elements which are commonly use in Haitian buildings. Such metal fabrication is extremely useful for the interiors of the hospital, since a lot of the furniture can also be made by bolting together CNC - routed metal pieces.

COMMISSION

131

ytisrevinU nolleM eigenraC erutcetihcrA fo loohcS

132

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this chronicle is a useful documentation of my aspirations as a bigger picture my way of approaching them in a more realistic manner, and my experimentation in realizing my aspirations in a small but manner to understand the importance of Attention to Detail in the profession of my choice. Through the course of this semester, the research that has gone into the making of this document has been useful in specifically trying to figure out all the different career paths that can be taken by me after graduation, and has also helped me understand the importance of time and the amount of effort that goes into the creation of every element of a building, right from designing it to constructing it. The process has become more evident at all scales, being it wall installations within the building or the building itself. While I intend to pursue what I have stated throughout the book, in the event that my desire to work in the fields of public interest design and healthcare doe change, this can be a valuable document to refer to, know how my thought process was shaped in the School of Architecture and how my thinking has the ability to be moulded by circumstances, and hopefully is strong enough to shape my career. This chronicle also aims to supplement my portfolio of works and aims to describe my convictions in detail, in addition to aiding in justifying said convictions.

COMMISSION

133

CITATIONS

Pg.18, Img. 1 : MASS Design Group. 2007. The Butaro Hospital . https://massdesigngroup.org/ work/design/butaro-district-hospital. Pg. 23, Img. 1: MASS Design Group. 2015. GHESKIO Cholera Treatment Center. Accessed 2019. https://massdesigngroup.org/work/design/gheskio-cholera-treatment-center. Pgs. 27, 29, 31; all images inspired by: Morgan, Jacob. 2015. The Complete Guide To The 5 Types Of Organizational Structures For The Future Of Work. https://thefutureorganization. com/the-complete-guide-to-the-5-types-of-organizational-structures-for-the-future-of-work/. Pgs. 24-25 ; Inspired by: Barrera, Nicole. n.d. Architecture Firm ( Organizational Chart). Accessed 2019. https://creately.com/diagram/example/i55hc5nl/Organization+Chart+for+Architecture+Firm?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=pinorgchart. Pg. 122, 123 Img. 1, Img. 2: CMU-SOA_COMMISSION_SHOP DRAWINGS FOR FABRICATION_V06_2019_04_22.pdf Pg. 126-127, Img. 1: CMU-SOA_COMMISSION_SHOP DRAWINGS FOR FABRICATION_V06_2019_04_22.pdf

All photographs have been clicked by the author All diagrams are self-authored

134

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS

COMMISSION

135

136

BUILDING MY ASPIRATIONS