architectural design programming

1. TO GATHER IN ARCHITECTURAL
DESIGN ING

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

3. a) past projects of similar quality (goal issues)
,function (performance issues), circumstances
and scope .Also called review of literature.
b) critical issues involved in the building type (
quality goal issues)
c) trends or development in the field
(competition, forces)

4. a) client Mission Statement(MS), Goal Statements(GS) &
Performance Requirements/Specifications(PRS)
b) philosophy of the organization and vision
statement(VS)
c) goals (GS) of the client’s process – sub goals to achieve
main goals – user goals
d) staff organization and framework – personnel diagram
or organizational chart (for space adjacency)
e) rank and role /responsibilities of personnel (for space
size and space adjacency)
f) major departmental divisions within the organization
– role of each goals and sub-goals within the overall
process

5. Client , cont’d
g. critical issues involved in the organization (people
to people relationships, “channels”)
h. does organization usually operate the way it is
structured?
I. divergence of present operations form expressed
goals – possible improvements
j. degree of achievement of sub-goals
k. individuals of committees responsible for
planning with architect – role and responsibility
in decision making
l. related (non-client) organizations which might
affect planning
m. impact of change or growth of related
organization

6. a) budget – firmness , degree of flexibility
b) funding methods – bonds, loans, fund raising
c) timing – construction costs, escalation, interest
rates, concurrent similar projects taxing public
support
d) construction phasing – prices, local
construction market, strong and weak local
trades, incremental construction

7. Financial, cont’d
e) design requirements of lending institutions
f) f. comparative cost data on similar projects
which have been constructed

8. a) architectural plans occupancy allowed,
minimum size of rooms, minimum heights of
ceilings, maximum heights of
buildings/structures, towers if any
b) structural loads allowed
c) exits required
d) stairs (number type, access, fire rating, size,
minimum distances to reach stairs)

9. Building Codes , cont’d
e) fire ratings required of materials
f) ventilation – openings
g) toilets (number and fixtures of each)
h) fire sprinklers
i) alarm systems
j) security systems (ex. cctv, door controls,)

10. a) duplication of services
b) review boards
c) approval boards (local and national
regulations, by-laws, planning criteria)
d) projected construction of similar projects

11. a) operational system – including links beyond
the building
b) critical issues in insuring success in the
system’s operation
c) needs-internal and external facilities, utilities,
furniture and tools, fittings, and equipment
which are supporting to operation (lounge,
waiting, toilet, janitor)
d) main operational sequences –“feeder
sequences” which support main sequences

12. 6. Function , cont’d
e) divisions or departments in the system
f) general departmental relationship affinities
g) number and type of people involved (task
categories)
h) operations performed and furniture,
equipment/machine by each type of person

13. 1. points of origin and destination
2. frequency and pattern (continual or
intermittent)
3. degree of urgency
4. role in overall operation
5. peak loads

14. 1. points of origin and destination
2. frequency and pattern (continual or
intermittent)
3. degree of urgency (speed required)
4. role in overall operation
5. form

15. systems of information movement (include paper
flow, phones, computer hookups, multi-media
conversation, etc.), cont’d
6. storage implications and special vaults
7. operations performed on information
(including production and removal of trash)
8. peak loads

16. 1. points of origin and destination (including delivery
and pickup)
2. frequency and pattern (continual or intermittent)
3. degree of urgency (speed required)
4. role in the overall operation

17. k. systems of material movement ( raw and finished
material, utility services as paper and foods, furniture,
equipment, etc.),cont’d
5. form (size, weight)
6. special considerations
7. operations performed on information
(including production and removal of trash)
8. storage implications
9. peak loads

18. 1. number, type and relationships
2. number and type of people at each
3. nature of tasks performed
4. key issues in successful of tasks
5. identification of possible sources of strain in
performing tasks
6. furniture and equipment required for each
person (including visitors, clients)

19. L. work nodes (stations where work is performed)
, cont’d
7. area requirements for each node
8. circulation patterns within each node (people,
material, information)
9. safety and security requirements (open, closed,
locked)
10. general electrical requirements at each node
11. criteria for selecting architectural surfaces and
detailing
12. special relationships with other work

20. a) intensity required at task
b) incandescent vs. fluorescent
c) direct vs. indirect
d) skylight vs. window
e) need for total darkness
f) need for controlled lighting

21. (a) type and intensity stimuli produced (noise,
odors, vibration, dust, electro-magnetic
radiation, bacteria)
(b) type and intensity of stimuli which must be
excluded or screened (including visual privacy)
(c) important environmental situations (mood,
atmosphere)

22. (a) heat generated by equipment and people
(b)special air circulation or ventilation
requirements (isolation, 100% exhaust,
decontamination)
(c) special temperature requirements
(d) air additives
(e) special controls over air conditioning

23. (15) air conditioning requirements , cont’d
(f) groupings of similar air conditioning
requirements
(g) total needs
(h) space required for mechanical equipment
(i) vibration control
(j) heating and cooling seasons

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

25. b. zoning
1. present allowable uses whether residential,
commercial, industrial, agricultural, etc.
2. Setbacks
3. access points
4. relation to street lights and median breaks
5. Density
6. heights allowed
7. parking required

26. 1. locations
2. distances to site
3. depths
4. telephone, gas, water, sewer, electrical ,
drainage
5. capacities (present and projected)

27. d. soil conditions
1. Percolation
2. bearing
3. chemicals
4. density
e. land contours
1. Elevations
2. drainage patterns including from and to
adjacent land
3. flood basins (tides)

28. e. land contours , cont’d
(4) blocked visual access due to mound and
ridges
(5) points of visual emphasis
(6) flat areas
(7) slope orientation to surrounding areas
(visually)
f. significant features
(1) rock outcroppings
(2) existing buildings

29. f. significant features , cont’d
3. Ditches
4. water
5. trees
g. existing foliage
1. tree types
2. limb spread
3. Heights
4. ground cover (where drainage may be
affected)

30. h. sensory
1. noise/audibility (direction, intensity,
frequency, pattern, probability of continuance)
2. odors/olfactory (direction, intensity, pattern,
type, probability for continuance)
3. visual/visibility (poor views, good views,
public and private zones, reliability of
continuance of views)

31. i. time-distance
1. car-pedestrian
2. to and from significant points
3. time-distance on site
j. existing pedestrian traffic on and
around site
1. Volume
2. location

32. j. existing pedestrian traffic on and around site ,
cont’d
3. frequency and pattern
4. nature
5. possible contribution to these activities
k. existing vehicular traffic (bicycles,
motorbikes, tricycles, cars, buses, trucks, etc) on
and around the site
1. Volume
2. location

33. k. existing vehicular traffic ,cont’d
(3) frequency and pattern
(4) nature
(5) possible contribution to these activities

34. l. surrounding physical environment
(1) surrounding zoning
(2) possible development on
adjacent and surrounding
property
(3) profile (skyline)
(4) scale
(5) image
(6) materials
(7) forms
(8) density
(9) light (shade and shadow)

35. l. surrounding physical environment , cont’d
(10) orientation (views of the site from other
points)
(11) landscaping forms
(12) details
(13) geometry (existing paving patterns, building
edges and heights, axes, walls, modules and
rhythms)

36. m. surrounding social environment
1. identifiable patterns
2. ethnic groups and values
3. relationships between groups
n. shadow patterns on the site (trees,
adjacent buildings and other structures)

37. o. parking and site circulation (for
bicycles, motorbikes, vehicles)
1. needs (present and projected)
2. area required
3. drop-offs required at entry
4. lighting and signages required
5. special controls (restricted parking)
6. on-site circulation required (between
buildings)

38. o. parking and site circulation , cont’d
7. supporting circulation (to lunch, to work)
8. volume and frequency patterns (peak loads)
9. patterns of direction of entry approach and
departure (people and cars)
10. existing roads
11. surrounding land values

39. p. check with government agencies
nature and location of lot if away
from earthquake fault line (Phivolcs in
the Philippines) and disaster history in
the area.(storm surges, floods,
landslides ,tsunami)
q. Highest And Best Use (HABU)
consideration

40. 8. Climate
a. rainfall (frequency, volume, patterns)
b. sunlight (critical vertical and horizontal angles)
c. temperatures (seasons, extremes)
d. wind, breezes (seasons, directions, velocity,
extremes)
e. snow (seasons, percentages)
f. humidity (seasons, percentages)
g. potential natural catastrophes (tornado,
hurricane, earthquake, flood)

41. 9. Growth and Change
a. present and projected supporting market of
public served
b. projected staffing (number and type)
c. projected goals and supporting sub-goals
d. anticipated deletion of departments and
addition of new departments
e. areas of expected changes in operations (layout
and building perimeter implications)
f. projected changes in information or material
systems (disposables)

42. 9. Growth and Change , cont’d
g. influence of growth and change of one
department on all others
h. future area needs (construction, cost, design
and parking implications)
i. projected utility needs – comparison with
present and projected supply capacities

43. C. each of these fact categories may be
EXPANDED to more DETAIL depending on
the design requirements. There are also many
other fact categories not listed here that pertain
to some of the other programming FORMS
(long range plan).
Every fact and category and specific fact
contained under its heading involves
CONSEQUENCES that the building has on its
environment and contained functions and
which the environment has upon the building.