So, I was poking around the OSU Knowlton School of Architecture last week during the career fair, and came across an example of what the students are learning in their construction class.  There was a large display of a wall section in the gallery.  It was pretty clear that the student whose work was displayed is interested in detailing, but it was also woefully apparent that he didn’t have a clue how things go together.  I can’t blame him, I didn’t know any of that until much later in my career.  But, I can worry, since I believe at my core that one needs detailing knowledge at their foundation….. in order to design WELL.  If the architect simply draws a glossy picture and the real detailing is figured out by a contractor, we are all in big trouble.  Think proportion, grace and sophistication.

Above, I inserted a detail into this post.  This is a section detail through the skin of Knowlton Hall that our firm did for the marble shingles.  This detail looks simple, but it actually was the result of hours and hours of exploration related to the attitude and aesthetic of the skin of the building.  Thermal properties, wind infiltration, water-tight characteristics, long-term durability, and aesthetic properties were explored.  We even had a mock-up prepared and wind and water tested in mid-Pennsylvania.  Yes, detailing is important.  It is critical to the success of any building, and I am very concerned that our young architects are being taught that this is something that can be learned in practice alone.

When I was at OSU, there were professors who were passionate about expressing ideas at the detailed level.  As a result, and perhaps due to my personal interests, I developed a passion for detailing.  My favorite part of the architectural process is detailing.  Once we have decided upon the concept, for me, the next step is to begin to imagine the details.  I often tell my employees that there is a process….go global (conceptual) and then zoom into the details.  Come back out…(not as far out) and then dive back into the details.  The details inform the concept and vice versa.  Harmony results from the synergistic meeting of both pursuits.

But, the most that I learned about detailing resulted from doing.  When we added on to our house and I did the gypsum board, trim, doors, and flooring…..I learned some very valuable lessons which improved my understanding of what we can ask contractors to do.

I think I will host a seminar on detailing….maybe we could inspire better design!

CompuServe World Headquarters; Hilliard, Ohio; circa 1995.

This evening, I completed a survey for the American Institute of Architects.  We participate in the annual firm leaders survey, which helps publish and collate important data that the Institute utilizes to share knowledge.  It is an important project…and I have found that the process is rewarding and can be very valuable to me as well, as a leader of a mid-sized practice.  This year, after I had sifted through all of the various data, I became aware that nearly 80% of our work is the result of leveraging existing and past clients, vendor relationships, and industry partners.  Our firm has always been blessed by rich relationships and repeat clients, but I had no idea to what extent this continued patronage had benefited us over the years.

In 1993, when I returned to Columbus, Tom and Bob put their full faith in me as the Project Designer and Account Manager for CompuServe.  This client was a long standing corporate client, with whom our firm had solidified a solid relationship over nearly fifteen prior years of service.  In 1993, we were working on a new corporate campus for them in Hilliard, Ohio.  Shortly after the buildings were completed, the corporation was purchased by both WorldCom and America Online, and the former later became a part of Verizon Wireless.  The project had been a major undertaking and has always been very special to me, especially since it was my first major project as a young architect.  The interesting thing about this project is the amazing relationships that the work spawned for me and the balance of individuals at WSA Studio.  We gained a corporate office expertise, experience with various complex building systems, experimentation with alternative construction delivery systems, and massive engagement in progressive audio/visual and data center infrastructure needs.

But, I never really recognized just how powerful this project was to establishing a firm foundation upon which our practice has evolved.  Over the past few years, many of our projects continue to result from relationship links to this mega, past project.  Former client representation and project partners have worked for more recent clients including NetJets, Grange Mutual Insurance, Buggyworks Authentic Urban Lofts, and The Seneca.  Countless vendors, contractors and specialized consultants remain engaged with us on current projects.

We are proud to have remained at the top of the list of many of our past client representatives.  To us, it shows that our staff has provided value, patient counsel, and ultimately improved the human condition for these folks.  And, above all, I know that our design leadership has been the most beneficial contribution.  The timeless nature of our design philosophy has allowed our relationships to endure….since many still appreciate the projects, the process, or the project parameters.

So remember, the next time you get frustrated with today’s hectic pace…patient service with an eye on the big picture is the mark of a long standing contribution within our honorable profession.

Design, revise, repeat.  Skip ahead.  Re-engage.  Design, revise, repeat.

This 6,000 SF single story building is designed with both medical office suites and a pharmacy situated around a central lobby.  The architecture responds and connects to the historic and rural context by matching the adjacent scale and using local building materials.  Located adjacent to the Madison County Courthouse in London, Ohio, this pharmacy and medical office building is the first new building to be constructed in the downtown historic district in more than twenty years.  This modern medical complex replaces an abandoned gas station that has been considered to be a blight in the downtown neighborhood for years.

WSA Studio was able to transform the Office of the State Architect over a ten year period, commencing in 1996 with the relocation of this agency to a renovated manufacturing facility on the city’s west side.  In 2004, the firm was retained to “complete” the move with the addition of a new entry piece.  The simple nature of this addition provides a cohesive point of entry to the previously completed, award winning renovation.  The addition houses a waiting area and security checkpoint, using existing materials to accentuate the industrial nature of the building.   The notion of entry from the main road is supported by the design of a vertical sign and its supporting structure.  As part of this renovation, modifications were done to the existing south facade, providing natural light in the interior office spaces, as well as replacing some of the existing materials on the exterior of the building.

This renovation project aims to evolve the function of the library on campus.  Often seen only as a resource center, the administration at Ohio University challenged the design team to design a place that will draw students to the library as a centerpiece of college life on campus.  The entry to the facility beckons students to enter through media displays and information kiosks.  Once inside the library, there are areas set aside for social interaction, community meetings, and secluded study.  The staff of the library are all centrally located on the “public” level of the library, with active seating and research areas adjacent to the main circulation and reference desk.  Meeting rooms are also close by and feature glass fronts to increase safety and security.  The upper level of the library features quiet areas and all of the stacks to support independent research and and knowledge collection.  Additionally, the upper level accommodates quiet study areas for students and student teams.  This project is also a renovation in an existing building and includes complicated logistics to swing the library to functional alternative space, and difficult decisions regarding anticipated costs for renovations to specific areas of the building.  The project budget also includes a comprehensive roof replacement and upgrades to rest rooms and athletic facilities on the campus as well as the library.

This new facility houses all three sections of the Knowlton School of Architecture.  WSA Studio partnered with Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects on the design of this project.  Located adjacent to Ohio Stadium, the building is a major feature on the northwest corner of the academic core of the campus.  The structure is post-tensioned concrete construction and features a sophisticated exterior wall “rain screen”.  Marble shingles and glass create a unique exterior aesthetic, while the interior is highlighted by a raw, stark exposed concrete and steel vernacular.   The building harnesses state of the art cutting-edge technology to support the architectural educational process, and the open visually connected studios promote cross-discipline intellectual growth.  Additionally, students are able to see the work of older/younger students which promotes academic mentorship.  Central to the plan is an “inclined plane” which serves as the functional connector between studio spaces and also fosters collaboration among each discipline.  A one thousand student auditorium, a centralized meeting area, a gallery, a third party cafe and a nationally award winning library are featured spaces within the building.  Furnishings for this facility were either custom designed or are part of a collection of classic modernist furniture, designed by famous architects and designers.

This congregation approached WSA Studio with a concept to expand their existing sanctuary.  After a master planning session, it was agreed that the best and most rewarding investment involved the design of a new sanctuary with the renovation of existing sanctuary space to accommodate fellowship needs.  This addition would also make the church have a stronger community presence and a welcoming attitude towards worship.  Circulation patterns in the church would also be addressed by the addition.  The resulting addition is rich with articulation of the interior worship space, utilizing wood paneling and heavy timber framing to evoke an aesthetic that is reminiscent of their original sanctuary, yet allow the congregation to engage in a more modern fashion.  The new sanctuary supports an infinite variety of worship settings through the use of pew chairs which mimick a pew system yet allow flexibility of placement.  the south end of the new sanctuary supports a new, re-worked pipe organ and musical settings, and the north end of the sanctuary features a semi-circular apse which can also support music or special service concepts.

This renovation project aims to provide much needed collegiate classroom space for Ohio University on their main campus in Athens. The university is currently transitioning to a semester based educational calendar, and this change has driven the demand for classroom space. The Athena is a University owned theatre, which currently supports the College of Arts and Science. WSA Studio and Scheeser Buckley Mayfield have worked diligently with University representatives to transform this theatre into a viable classroom environment. The lighting, HVAC system, technology, and accessibility have all been addressed as part of the project. Additionally, the project is a landmark within the Athens community and the design team is working to ensure that the building does not lose its ability to support the burgeoning arts community.

This project consisted of the renovation of the historic Seneca Hotel, a national historic landmark situated on an urban site in downtown Columbus. This project has created a significant impact on the downtown Discovery District, since the existing landmark facility had sat vacant for nearly twenty years. The facility had deteriorated to a point that the city had ordered that the building be demolished, and the current owner purchased the building in an effort to save the landmark.Construction cost for the project are just over $15 million, with additional costs allocated to site improvements and retail improvements that have not yet been completed. The 139,000 SF facility is located near three colleges and university including Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus State Community College, Franklin University and Capitol University Law School.  Executed in conjunction with schematic architects, PZS Architects, of Philadelphia, the design includes retail spaces on the first floor and market rate-apartments on the remaining nine.

So, as 2012 ramps up….I commit to this being the year of focus and investigation of what is uniquely Columbus.  What is it that embodies our DNA and how can we best express this in our design?  We will look to explore the nature of Columbus as we journey through our year.  Help me find it.