The April AIA-SWO
chapter meeting was the second in what may become an annually recurring series
of presentations dubbed “Blurred
(Di)Visions” dedicated to the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration in
the conception and execution of design projects. The point of the series is to
turn a spotlight on creative partnerships involving architects and other
disciplines that are blurring the lines that once so neatly defined the
boundaries of our profession. Last year, the program focused upon the integration of building and landscape
design efforts. This time around the AIA-SWO Program Committee cast a wider
net, choosing to highlight the benefits of all types of collaboration for building
projects.
Designed and constructed by Travis Sheridan and Aaron Buckman of Willard C. Dixon, Architect LLC, the new wood-fired oven for New Day Bakery awaits the installation of its oven-front doors (photo courtesy of Will Dixon, AIA)
Travis
Sheridan, Assoc. AIA and Aaron Buckman, Assoc. AIA
Travis Sheridan and
Aaron Buckman described the genesis, process, and realization of a
custom-designed, wood-fired bread & pizza oven for the New Day Bakery, located in
Eugene’s Whiteaker neighborhood. As architectural projects go, Travis and Aaron
would be the first to admit their oven assignment was a small one; regardless,
it was a big deal for the bakery and an amazing opportunity for the two of them
to truly assume the role of creative “master builders.”
The project initially
involved converting an existing garage adjacent to the bakery to a production
area, as well as improving an adjoining courtyard. It turned out New Day could
not afford the shelter/pergola proposed by Travis and Aaron for the courtyard,
so the project scope focused increasingly on creating the perfect oven.
The problem was the
bakery’s owner didn’t exactly know what kind of oven he wanted. Travis and
Aaron would not only carefully research and study the science of wood-fired
ovens; they would also design and assemble the New Day Bakery’s oven with their
own hands. What the owner asked them to accomplish (design a dual-function
wood-fired oven capable of baking both great bread and scrumptious pizzas) was
tantamount to designing a practical flying car: baking bread requires low heat
and high humidity, whereas baking the perfect pizza requires much higher
temperatures and low humidity. The challenge was clear: Design an oven that
does both well.
Ultimately, its design
would employ “rocket oven” technology, which involves a burning chamber
separated by a chimney from the oven itself. The chimney burns most of the wood
gases, greatly reducing smoke and increasing the heat available for baking.
Building the oven using masonry and concrete provided thermal mass that retains
the heat and improves its efficiency. Aaron carefully engineered and fine-tuned
the oven’s configuration, utilizing a combination of CMU, aerated autoclaved concrete, and fire brick. It was a one-of-a-kind design, so
unique that no masonry contractors were willing to bid for the right to build
it.
So, Travis and Aaron laid
down their figurative pencils and became masons (Aaron's background does include experience as a crew foreman for a masonry contractor in Idaho). By getting their hands dirty,
they learned even more about the oven than they could have as designers alone. The
entire project harkens back to a time when designing and making were
inseparable. It also serves as a harbinger for a way of building that will
increasingly be popular and necessary—one that integrates rather than isolates
the processes that shape our built environment.
Complete Vision Center, by Honn Design & Construction (photo from Complete Vision Center's Facebook page)
Stan Honn,
AIA
Honn Design &
Construction
Nothing exemplifies
the blurring of the lines for the architectural profession more so than the
design-build method of project delivery. Design-build is an integrated approach
that delivers design and construction services under one contract with a single
point of responsibility. Owners select design-build to achieve best value while
meeting schedule, cost, and quality goals.
.
The architectural profession
has been relatively slow (particularly in the U.S.) to embrace the methodology
because of an outdated ethical canon that advocates separating design
professionals from the construction trades.(1) One consequence of this historic opposition is
there are relatively few design-build entities led by architects; most are
headed by general contractors.
Stan Honn is among
that minority of architects who is operating his own design-build company. Stan
is the first to admit that design-build is suitable for some projects but not
all. Regardless, it is the continuity of his relationships with his clients,
their shared goals, and the realization of projects that make design-build
right for him. Design-build has been his methodology of choice since founding Honn
Design & Construction in 1981.
One of the latest of
Stan’s completed projects is the adaptive reuse of an old commercial duplex
near Springfield’s historic Washburne neighborhood as the new home for Complete Vision Center. It’s a perfect
example of the benefits of design-build applied to a smaller project. Stan’s
conversion of a characterless, one-story, small box to create the bright and
cheerful optometry office is a testament to his skills as both an architect and
a contractor. He attributes the success of the project to the control and
freedom the design-build process afforded him.
A case in point: Stan
would frequently find himself onsite all day during the construction period. As
both the designer and the builder, he could immediately address the
inevitability of unforeseen conditions (inherent in any remodeling project),
tweaking and adjusting his design to fit the particulars of the job conditions.
In some instances, there were pleasant surprises, such as when Stan discovered
he could reposition some walls he initially believed were locked into place by
existing plumbing. Moving these walls created more equally sized examination
rooms, which are optimal for an optometric practice. Stan effected design
changes on the spot, knowing they were beneficial to the finished product and
fully cognizant of whatever impact they might have upon the owner’s budget.
Because Stan wears two hats and is so
thoroughly engaged throughout all phases of a project means his ability to take
on more than one commission at a time is limited. That’s fine with him; his
satisfaction comes with providing turnkey services that translate his clients’
visions from concept all the way to reality. The buck stops with Stan, just the
way he likes it.
"Rain Funnel" by Mayer/Reed & PIVOT Architecture
Michael Reed
Michael Reed is a founding partner of Mayer/Reed, a
multi-disciplinary Portland-based design studio providing urban design,
landscape architecture, product design, and graphic design services. His
function as a collaborator breaking down the barriers between design
disciplines was perhaps the most conventional of the meeting’s presenters.
Nevertheless, Michael’s work and his philosophy of integrating the efforts of
various design disciplines neatly fit the theme of “Blurred (Di)Visions.”
In Michael’s opinion,
humility is the most characteristic trait of successful collaborators. That
being said, a lack of ego doesn’t minimize the importance of strong ideas.
Well-conceived, resilient concepts remain as important as ever; however, they
are increasingly the product of teamwork. More and more, clients are
recognizing this and demanding that room is available around the table for many
different voices. They understand there is always more than one way to realize
the most successful projects. The common thread is working with those who
embrace collaboration.
Mayer/Reed has been
an exemplary collaborator on dozens of noteworthy, award-winning projects.
Michael shared just a few of these with us; they included:
- Way-finding for the Wayne L. Morse Federal Courthouse (with Morphosis and DLR Group)
- Site design and integrated art for Bud Clark Commons (with Holst Architecture)
- Environmental graphics for the University of Washington’s Odegaard Undergraduate Library (with Miller Hull Partnership)
- Environmental graphics for the Port of Portland headquarters (with ZGF)
- Landscape architecture for the Darlene Hooley Pedestrian Bridge (with CH2M Hill and Kevin Petersen, bridge architect)
AIA-SWO member firm PIVOT Architecture enjoyed the opportunity to join forces with Mayer/Reed on the
design of the “Rain Funnel” at Lane Transit District’s Springfield Station.
PIVOT principal Toby Barwood, AIA joined Michael in describing this particular
project to the audience. The two explained how the design process for the site
landmark was a journey in understanding how the Springfield community views itself
and the values it attributes to its collective sense of place. Mayer/Reed
and PIVOT’s eventual solution evolved from clock tower to sign monument to
abstract artistic expression. The resultant 30-foot tall stainless steel
and cast glass piece references the artifacts of place, in this case the water
towers associated with the lumber mills that once surrounded the site.
“Rain Funnel” would
be the product of many hands, among them glass artist Linda Ethier and the
metal fabricators. Michael and Toby surprised the latter when they visited the
fabrication shop to inspect the stainless steel components. The workers didn’t
realize the modules they were assembling would become piece of art. They simply
believed they were intended for a utilitarian function and yet the level of
care and precision they demonstrated in their work was outstanding.
* *
* * *
*
Projects are increasingly complex, not
less so, and timelines are progressively shorter. Embracing collaboration—and
blurring the historic divisions between disciplines—is critical to ameliorating
these trends. The advent of integrated project delivery (IPD) and building
information modeling (BIM), even for smaller projects, underscores this point. If
there’s a takeaway from the April AIA-SWO meeting it is that the ability to
collaborate effectively is now a prerequisite to the success of every
architectural practice.
If there are future editions of
“Blurred (Di)Visions,” I’m certain they’ll prove as insightful as the two
already under our belt. We all benefit from sharing lessons learned
with each other, particularly when it comes to the subjects of our changing
profession and working toward common goals.
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