Client Meeting – Exhibition Room

Office C

February 7, 2008

Minutes

Present at the meeting:

Client: David Krawitz, John Rousham

Students: Valerie Zollman, Michal Gorczyca, Ravi Handa, Kieron Smith, Antonina Cagara, Jennifer Ho

Minutes: Jennifer/Antonina

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“Gallery Space” Concept

One that is fairly spare/open (uncluttered) and can be easily adapted to the various activities that occur in the space (including ones outside the school of architecture)

General info:

  1. History
  2. Previously used as both a chemistry lab and a wood-working workshop
  3. Much of what exists right now is ad-hoc, built over the years for specific exhibitions etc.
  4. Ventilation
  5. No air-conditioning, the windows can provide the natural ventilation
  6. Vestibule
  7. cannot move due to electrical paneling that has been installed in place
  8. Electrical
  9. two electrical circuits in the exhibition space service, one for each half of the room servicing the outlets
  10. Existing panels
  11. along the window wall are 3/4” plywood, with metal rail, supposedly movable continuous panel system
  12. the others were built roughly 7 years ago, originally suppose to be temporary, also out of plywood
  13. Fire codes (as a guide)
  14. Without the 1st floor studio door open, maximum 60 people
  15. With the 1st floor studio door open, maximum 100 people

Main Design Priorities:

Exhibition space to be flexible

Keep in mind that this room is used also for outside activities, such as book launches, vernissages, as well as exhibition space

Sturdiness, quality, and openness as key

  1. radiators
  2. client wishes to have a cleaner aesthetic, thus covering the radiators
  3. some tiles along the bottom walls + radiators are cracked
  4. storage
  5. new storage units to be installed in the exhibition room
  6. suggestion by client was continuous along the window wall, allowing it to cover the radiators at the same time
  7. client foresees storage for vernissages
  8. lamps, napkins, glasses, etc
  9. display panel system
  10. install new display paneling
  11. Client suggestion is not to use plywood, but more like the red bulletin material that is on the 2nd floor (name of material to be checked)
  12. make sure to keep the same amount of wall space as it exists right now (especially for Crit purposes)
  13. Along the window wall, if remove paneling to open up the windows, make sure the wall space removed is relocated elsewhere
  14. Be aware of user comforts
  15. Ex: being able to pin-up easily, reach, sitting etc.

If extra budget:

  1. lighting
  2. address the ugly fluorescent lights
  3. address the current spotlights
  4. at the moment, they are fixed on the top edge of the panels (and even on the supposedly movable ones)
  5. ventilation
  6. Improve the natural ventilation (with the windows perhaps?)
  7. Installing ceiling fans or something of that sort
  8. painting
  9. Client has a preference for natural colour tones (‘woody’) and one that is adaptable and flexible

Construction Information:

  1. On-going Exhibitions
  2. Prof. Ricardo Castro will be having an exhibition (Greece and Italy) during the three weeks that the renovations will take place
  3. There is a possibility to speak with Prof. Castro about the display set-up and how we might be able to work around/with it.
  4. Hours
  5. Exhibition room is open Mondays to Fridays 9am-5pm. It is closed over the weekends. David Krawitz has kindly offered to give us the keys should we decide to work at nights or over weekends.

Other Notes/Design options:

  1. Equipment
  2. Permanent installation of equipment (such as projectors, speakers) were discouraged by client, to keep the space as flexible as possible
  3. Plinths/benches/shelving
  4. A possibility to incorporate if we can find a way to store them easily
  5. Consider display options for models during crit, and a way to store those displays (ie, fold-outs?)
  6. Built-ins options (furniture, shelving)
  7. Re-use
  8. Perhaps re-use of existing panels into something else?

Café Client Meeting

February 7, 2008

Present from Group B: Anna Sampson and Per Kefgen

Café Closure

-The café will close for use for a week

Codes

-There are certain things that we can and cannot get away with because of the food code. Most importantly, wherever food is served we cannot have openings in the walls or ceilings.

-Round corners, no splinters, tempered glass

Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing

-To change anything with the electrical, mechanical or plumbing it requires a licensed contractor

-Electrical may need to be brought up to code

-If we remodel the plumbing a dedicated hand wash sink must be part of it according to the food code in use, McGill will provide this

Access and Delivery

-Food delivery needs to be brought into a place where it cannot be touched by the public

-Wheel chair accessibility is a priority in all McGill spaces, 36” wide spaces

Appliances and Required ‘Objects’

-McGill Food Services may consider fundingfor some new appliances such as a warming stove and lower fridges providing that we integrate them into the design

-It would be nice if the customers could see the food in the fridge

-Integrate a space for the cash register in the design

-New energy saving appliances and possible solutions (mechanical or passive) for expelling heat may be incorporated into design

-A device that would only allow the windows to open about 2” in the winter would work to cool the place down without letting snow in

-Sneeze guards must be protecting the food

-Managers would like to keep transparency under counter for the most part

-Important to keep the piano

-Coffee machines could come out from behind the counter and become completely self-serve if is there was an efficient way to replenish it

-The drink fridge could be smaller

Energy

-McGill has made it a priority to integrate energy saving solutions into their buildings

Spatial Dilemmas

-Considering space as a whole for food serving.

-The line takes up a lot of space, push it out if possible

-Space for employees is really tight right now

-Café managers would like to keep the direct contact relationship that they have with their customers

-Managers would like the windows (views and natural light) unblocked

-New counter can be positioned in one of two places, along the west wall (Montreal grid) or along the north wall. The West wall is more welcoming but the North wall might provide more space

-Storage is needed for food, front counter might provide a place for this

-Would prefer that the under the bench storage is not the primary storage

-Currently seats about 30 people and the managers are fine with that, extra seating could be placed in the hallway

Client Meeting – Recruitment Booth

Office C

February 7, 2008

Minutes

Present at meeting:

Client: Mary Lanni Campoli, Robert Mellin

Students: Liz Paden, Wendy Schuster, Austin Durban, Tania Delage, Geoff Keith, Andrew Chau

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Robert Mellin’s “Wish List”:

1) Traveling Exhibit

  • Fit in taxi / lightweight / stability
  • Unfolding (fit on a table top)
  • Insert for laptop or preferably flat panel screen
  • Inspiring architectural design
  • Name of school prominent
  • Modern Appearance
  • Industrial materials, illuminated?

2) Fixed Exhibit Booth (Demountable)

  • Use in the lobby? Open house
  • Self-supporting (no table)
  • Shelves for brochures
  • Model or part of model behind plexi, illuminated
  • Stability
  • Flat panel screen behind (secured)
  • Same last 5 requirements as above

It was suggested (by Tania) that these two be combined (the travel panels can be removed from the rest of the booth). This is a great idea.

Role of the booth for travel and recruiting:

  • If the booth is well designed it could act as a template for other McGill faculties who want to create their own booths (for consistency).
  • The entire booth will be used at education fairs (possibly be sent to Toronto or Vancover)
  • The travel panels will be removable and will be used when they go to the CEGEPs or for other local purposes.
  • Prof. Mellin will be burning us a c.d. of photos of an exhibit in L.A. where local architects designed trolleys, roughly 4’x2’ to exhibit their work.

Role of booth in lobby:

  • T.V. screen could have a slideshow running, announcements, video footage, welcomes visitors, provides information (pamphlets)
  • Could have a map or directory, what current work is going on
  • Could house a model or part of a model
  • Should be self-explanatory
  • Plan for the siting of it

Extra requirements:

  • Lighting- indirect would be nice, should be protected for transport
  • Flat screen- housing should be hidden, enclosed
  • Wheels would be good
  • Colour scheme and graphics: should include a punch of red (creatively) and McGill Logo (possibly w/ help of graphic designer)
  • Storage is not a priority but would be great
  • Find out the size of the new brochures being made by McGill recruiting office
  • This should inspire prospective students!!