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2009 Student Design Competiton FAQs
Written Program
- Is there a logo for Harbor House itself?
No
- Is the Sandwich Shop open to the general public?
Yes
- May users pass through the Sandwich Shop to get to other program elements if there are no doors on the Sandwich Shop?
Yes
- In the program it states that the west/south side of the building is on a main street. I am assuming that this would be the main entrance to the sandwich shop since the only other entrance option would be down the alley. The Harbor House entrance also has to be on that side so it is visible to runaways. Here is the issue we are having with that....If the kitchen is downstairs, how would they get food up the stairs/elevator without passing through the Harbor House entrance? Going through the back stair would be too long of a distance.It would not make sense to put the sandwich shop by the elevator because then the public would have access to the residential floors (since it is not closed off). I don't think that would be a great plan for safety reasons.
There are ways for the public not to have access to the entire building, for example, the residential floors could be a “keyed only” access from the elevators, and locked on the stairwells, with panic access from the floors to the stairwells for emergency egress.
- Since we can't change the doors or windows (convert windows to doors)...it makes it very difficult to solve the problem effectively. Any insight you have would be appreciated.
General deliveries for the sandwich shop’s supplies could come from the alley entrance. Supplies for the day’s service could be brought up to the shop level before it opens via the elevator.
- Is the intent of the kitchen to attract runaway teens or does the sandwich/soup kitchen serve the community?
The kitchen is designed to serve the community and by doing so generate funds for the center.
- What is the flooring structure of the 1st floor? Can a stained concrete floor be poured for the sandwich/soup kitchen?
The flooring structure is not specified; hence, a poured concrete floor can be proposed.
- What is the role of the receptionist on the first floor? For example, to safeguard entrance into the offices and residence halls or to greet guests in the cafe?
It is designed to safeguard the entrance, residents, and offices of Harbor House.
- It is our understanding that a furniture schedule must be provided by the entrant with each piece of furniture included on it. However, the design requirements are not clear about whether or not the entrant is required to select and/or specify each and every piece of furniture, or if the entrant should only select and/or specify those pieces that are noted: i.e., the furniture in the common area and the seating and tables in the cafe. For example, is the student responsible for the furniture selections in the mentoring rooms, group meeting room, bedrooms, etc.?
Please refer to the “notes” column in the Project Design requirements. The only furniture that the entrant must specify is indicated in the notes. All other pieces are to be included in the design, but do not need to be specified.
- With 6 square tables and 30 chairs, are the extra six chairs to be located on the side of the room? Or, can I provide round tables instead?
The design of the meeting space based on the parameters given, is your choice.
- Are there any materials identified for the interior of the building? Some of the students asked if they could assume there was exposed brick or old wood floors in the space. There are no materials identifies for the interior of the building.
- Are the columns dimensions shown on the plan finished drywall or do the students need to plan on adding finished drywall to them?
These are unfinished columns.
- Would you consider the stairwell that exits out into the alley the second fire exit? It is technically "subject to closure by doors" with the door leading to the stairwell. If not, that leaves the double doors out to the alley as the only option for the secondary exit. We know you cannot exit through a room to get to a fire exit but that technically is not a room. It is a path to an exit (that has a door on it).
It is a second fire exit.
- Can a column run down the center of the corridor, if on one side of the corridor there is 44"?
Yes
- The program on the first floor call for two standard stalls and one handicapped stall in the men's and the women's restroom? The first floor is mixed use: occupancy A-2 (restaurant) and B (business). According to the International Plumbing Code Table 403.1, the minimum number for "B" is 1 per 25 for the first 50 and 1 per 50 for the remainder exceeding 50. For A-2, the IPC states that only one stall is needed for each restroom up to 75 people. Would it be more accurate that one standard stall and one handicapped stall be the minimum needed for each restroom?
Thank you for your research on code requirements for this building type. It was determined that this requirement should not just be minimally met, due to the nature of the users of the space--potentially troubled teenagers, professional staff, delivery personnel, and sandwich shop customers. In order to best secure these facilities, it was determined that three stalls were necessary, in the event that a resident needed to be observed, while others also might need to use the facility. The intention was to err on the side of safety and security.
- Please explain if we are only to create schedules for Furniture and FF&E in the specific areas as pointed out in the requirements, or if we are to create schedules for everything!
CREATE A FURNITURE SCHEDULE FOR ALL OF THE FF&E IN THE SPACE. CREATE A FINISH SCHEDULE FOR THE FINISHES YOU SELECTED IN THE SPACES FOR WHICH YOU WERE REQUIRED TO SELECT FINISHES--The following are the ONLY materials to be specified:Flooring materials: First Floor (Sandwich Shop, Hallway, 1 Restroom, Reception Area) and Second Floor (Corridor, 1 Residence Room, 1 Bathroom, Common Area) (3 must be LEED/ sustainable selections) b. Wall materials: First Floor (Sandwich Shop, Hallway, 1 Restroom, Reception
Area) and Second Floor (Corridor, 1 Residence Room, 1 Bathroom, Common Area) (3 must be LEED/ sustainable selections) c. Countertop material: Sandwich Shop (1 must be LEED/ sustainable selection) d. Ceiling material: Sandwich Shop (must be LEED/ sustainable selection) Sandwich Shop
- Can you tell us what the total occupancy load is including staff and residents?
The occupancy load based on institutional areas with sleeping is 28 per floor.
- Is there a specific template/layout for the specifications and schedules that ASID would like the students to use?
No
- Should all of the finishes be commercial rated throughout the Harbor House?
Yes, all finishes should be commercial grade.
Drawings
- Second Floor, Entry Area; are we to assume two entry areas at 50 sf each?
Yes, each access/egress point will need an entry area.
- We would like to verify that those are indeed columns down the center of the plan.
Yes, those are indeed columns.
- How is the kitchen in the basement accessed? Do the stairs continue down and how? Does the elevator continue down? Basement is accessed from the rear entry by stairs and yes, the elevator continues down .
Because the basement is not part of the program, these details were removed from the drawings.
- We are preparing bubble diagrams and need a question answered as soon as possible. We want to know if the entrance is through the two single doors on the west side of the building or through the double doors on the east side?
The main entrance to the building is through the two single doors on the west side of the building.
- First, we were curious about the fact that there are men’s and women’s rest rooms on the first floor, but only one rest room and shower room on the second floor; are these unisex? My students thought it seemed odd that there would be a unisex shower room.
As stated in the project overview and client profile: "The second floor and third are identical—each provides gender neutral residence rooms, a counselor station, two lounges, computer area-reading room. The counselors do not live on the premises and will provide 24 hour supervision."--one floor would be for male residents and one floor would be for female residents; hence, the requirement for only one shower room and rest room on each of these floors.
- Also, the description on the first page describes the second floor as housing ‘two lounges and a computer area-reading room, but in the matrix with the second floor requirements, it is calling for one 500 s.f. common area. We would appreciate some clarification on whether or not the ‘common area’ can be split into two distinct areas – ‘two lounges’ or if it really matters.
The common area of 500 s.f. can be configured as one large area or split into two distinct areas.
- The east elevation has glazing and exterior double doors. Is it correct that this opens into the alley?
Yes, that is correct.
- The space planning on the first floor is extremely tight with the minimum amount of square footages given. There leaves very little room for circulation. My question is how were these square footages determined and is anyone else having this issue and in judging how much weight is placed on meeting sq. footage requirements?
The space planning on the first floor, based on the minimum square footages given, is quite tight.It is expected that reasonable compromises may have to be made and the competition jurors are instructed to take that into account.
- The 2nd problem is the mentoring rooms and harbor offices. I am wondering if the minimum requirement is for each office and room, or its 2 rooms together?
The minimum requirement is for each office and room.
- I would like to know if the reception desk could be altered as it seems quite large?
The desk is an existing piece and must be included as specified.
- Typically the men's restroom can be somewhat smaller than the women's and contain urinals in lieu of one or more of the toilet stalls. It seems odd that they are both so large given the size and occupancy of the rest of the space, is it possible to minimize the square footage requirement for the men's room?
The space requirements on the first floor are quite tight. The competition jury will be advised to take this into account when evaluating the submissions.
- Are there two separate Harbor House offices at 120sf each -- or are there two workstations in one 120sf area?
There are two separate Harbor House offices at 120 square feet each.
- In the Sandwich Shop are we to include tables and seating in addition to a counter that can accommodate 12?
That is your choice, you certainly may if you’d like, but you are not required to do so.
- I understand that the rear stairwell a fire exit. Does it also run down to the basement (not shown in the floor plan)? - If yes, then can kitchen deliveries come in via the alley entrance and go down to the kitchen via this stair well. Or do all deliveries need to go down the elevator/stairwell near the front entrance of the building?
No – Both entries can be used.
- What is the ceiling height of the space?
9’ – 0” – refer to the elevation
- In the past, ASID has asked that students include specs on the backs of submitted boards. However, given that there is no back to a digital board, may the students provide a separate specification document (electronically)? Or, is the requirement that they include specifications on the boards as well?
Please include specifications directly on the boards
- Is there a specific template/layout for the specifications and schedules that ASID would like students to use?
No
- If we use something smaller or more modern/practical than the U shaped desks will we be disqualified?
The u-shaped desks are pieces the facility owns. To replace them would require additional budgeting that has not been allocated for the project
- Can the electrical plan for the sandwich shop be combined with the reflected ceiling plan or do they need to be shown as separate drawings?
As long as the drawings are accurately labeled, they can be done completed either way.
Competition Submission Requirements
- What are the guidelines about making it a group project or individual?
Each entry must be submitted as an individual project.
- I see that the submissions are to be digital, and that no identifying information is to be on them – rather, that each CD will be given a code. However, with no identifying information, how will ASID know who the code belongs to? The students must be able to include their name and school somewhere – is this to be on the face of the CD?
Each submission must be sent with an entry form and a $25 entry fee. Once that is received a code will be placed on the CD and entry form as reference.
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