My most recent blog post focused on one of the best days on the construction site: the day concrete slabs are poured. This time, I'd like to discuss the opposite; one of the worst days on the construction site. These days are usually preceded by the feeling that everything is going just fine. The project is on schedule, you're on budget, and the building's design is coming to fruition as planned.
And then it hits you like a slap in the face. Except it's not your face, it's the building's face, as unexpected blemishes start appearing on the façade. As architects, we obsess over every detail, especially the façade. And yet on most projects I work on, the same recurring challenge keeps rearing its ugly head: unanticipated, unwanted or unplanned utility penetrations wreaking havoc. Given the amount of time and energy that architects put into design, I'm frequently amazed how often this happens. And worst of all, many of these façade faux pas become apparent toward the end of the project, a critical time during which spending money or delaying completion in order to correct an otherwise superficial problem is not an option.
Like a cut that just won't heal, it appears each blog entry that I write usually boils down to a similar theme: how we communicate with our consultants is one of the key components to a successfully executed project.
The challenges of building façades that we experience on the construction site are related to scope emanating from our consulting engineers. It's very rare when architects don't think about the placement of a door or window, and we even excel at placing light fixtures exactly where we want them on the façade. But how often do we think about the location of a peck vent? In New York City, the local utility, Con Edison requires a peck vent (an elbow shaped vent with the vent facing down) for each gas regulator in the gas meter room. Con Edison even dictates the location of these vents relative to building fenestration. Generally speaking, it's the type of device that can alter an architect's original design and vision. Not to pick on the peck vent, but this issue is indicative of what happens when we don't work closely with our consultants about engineering scope that impacts our façade. I'm certain that the plumbing engineer is quite familiar with the peck vent, but only from his or her perspective. For this reason, I believe that it falls upon the architect to fully understand not just the peck vent, but every other mechanical, electrical, or plumbing/fire protection device that penetrates the façade.
So what's an architect to do? One way to avoid these issues is to schedule a "day of beauty" during the design of the building. Better yet, several days of beauty could be scheduled during the design development and construction document phases. These special days could be part of the quality assurance review where each consultant is invited to the QA equivalent of a spa visit. While serving champagne and a light lunch is optional, pampering is a must in order to exfoliate critical façade information from your consultant. Follow up by treating your engineer to a building facial. During this process, layers of information concerning unsightly surface nubbles are gently peeled away in order to give the façade a smooth and finished appearance. I recommend skipping the manicure, pedicure, and hair styling for obvious reasons and focus on the sampling of MEP items below. Options for your day of beauty might vary from this list depending on project type and program.
ELECTRICAL DEVICES
- Lighting
- Electrical outlets
- Tel/Com devices
- Security devices
- Meters
PLUMBING DEVICES
- Hose bibs
- Sanitary pipe vent
- Vacuum pump vents
- Vents for gas regulators in meter room (peck vents)
- CO² fill boxes (McDonald's uses these for soda machines)
- Meters
SPRINKLER/FIRE PROTECTION
- Siamese(s) and locations
- Test header for standpipe
HVAC
- Fuel oil fill box
- Fuel oil tank vent
- Fuel oil rupture tank vent
- Fresh air intakes
- Exhaust louvers
After reading this, you might think all of this is for the benefit our consulting engineers, however, it is really the architect who is the beneficiary. By not having to address unexpected façade issues toward the end of construction, the architect will experience a sense of inner calm and relaxation that only comes from a day of beauty.
And then it hits you like a slap in the face. Except it's not your face, it's the building's face, as unexpected blemishes start appearing on the façade. As architects, we obsess over every detail, especially the façade. And yet on most projects I work on, the same recurring challenge keeps rearing its ugly head: unanticipated, unwanted or unplanned utility penetrations wreaking havoc. Given the amount of time and energy that architects put into design, I'm frequently amazed how often this happens. And worst of all, many of these façade faux pas become apparent toward the end of the project, a critical time during which spending money or delaying completion in order to correct an otherwise superficial problem is not an option.
Like a cut that just won't heal, it appears each blog entry that I write usually boils down to a similar theme: how we communicate with our consultants is one of the key components to a successfully executed project.
The challenges of building façades that we experience on the construction site are related to scope emanating from our consulting engineers. It's very rare when architects don't think about the placement of a door or window, and we even excel at placing light fixtures exactly where we want them on the façade. But how often do we think about the location of a peck vent? In New York City, the local utility, Con Edison requires a peck vent (an elbow shaped vent with the vent facing down) for each gas regulator in the gas meter room. Con Edison even dictates the location of these vents relative to building fenestration. Generally speaking, it's the type of device that can alter an architect's original design and vision. Not to pick on the peck vent, but this issue is indicative of what happens when we don't work closely with our consultants about engineering scope that impacts our façade. I'm certain that the plumbing engineer is quite familiar with the peck vent, but only from his or her perspective. For this reason, I believe that it falls upon the architect to fully understand not just the peck vent, but every other mechanical, electrical, or plumbing/fire protection device that penetrates the façade.
So what's an architect to do? One way to avoid these issues is to schedule a "day of beauty" during the design of the building. Better yet, several days of beauty could be scheduled during the design development and construction document phases. These special days could be part of the quality assurance review where each consultant is invited to the QA equivalent of a spa visit. While serving champagne and a light lunch is optional, pampering is a must in order to exfoliate critical façade information from your consultant. Follow up by treating your engineer to a building facial. During this process, layers of information concerning unsightly surface nubbles are gently peeled away in order to give the façade a smooth and finished appearance. I recommend skipping the manicure, pedicure, and hair styling for obvious reasons and focus on the sampling of MEP items below. Options for your day of beauty might vary from this list depending on project type and program.
ELECTRICAL DEVICES
- Lighting
- Electrical outlets
- Tel/Com devices
- Security devices
- Meters
PLUMBING DEVICES
- Hose bibs
- Sanitary pipe vent
- Vacuum pump vents
- Vents for gas regulators in meter room (peck vents)
- CO² fill boxes (McDonald's uses these for soda machines)
- Meters
SPRINKLER/FIRE PROTECTION
- Siamese(s) and locations
- Test header for standpipe
HVAC
- Fuel oil fill box
- Fuel oil tank vent
- Fuel oil rupture tank vent
- Fresh air intakes
- Exhaust louvers
After reading this, you might think all of this is for the benefit our consulting engineers, however, it is really the architect who is the beneficiary. By not having to address unexpected façade issues toward the end of construction, the architect will experience a sense of inner calm and relaxation that only comes from a day of beauty.