Literature Review

Architectural Project Process

Early unselected massing strategies

A C

B

A and B show that originally there had been plans to integrate another building with the event center, most likely restuarants. These were changed due to a shift in the angle of the pedestrian path, and insufficient space.

D

C and D play with the idea of bridging across the pedestrian path to enlarge the event center. These were rejected as a bridge would have interrupted the view of the Boston Avenue Church at the end of the path.

E G

F

E and F increase the amount of exterior space immediately connected with the event center, however they do not include sufficient areas for unloading and the entry sequence.

H

G and H start to introduce the idea of folding and using interior elevation changes to continue the exterior changes in topography. H was selected to add space on 12th street for a delivery and loading area, and to better extend the main atrium across both sides of the building.

Environmental Psychology - Wayfinding

ARTICLE Evaluating the impacts of color, graphics, and architectural features on wayfinding in healthcare settings using EEG data and virtual response testing 1 Journal of Environmental Psychology

INFORMATION Subjects were asked to navigate a medical facility with one of three variations of architectural wayfinding features to understand if certain features made wayfinding easier.

DESIGN FEATURE : Wall colors, sign design, and architectural features

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR : Amount of time spent looking at signs, or traveling in the right direction, etc.

OUTCOMES AND APPLICATION : Variations with special wall colors, non-generic sign design, and enhanced architectural features improved wayfinding compared to variations with only some or none of these features.

Environmental Psychology - Wayfinding

Wayfinding in Multi-Level Buildings

ARTICLE Up the down staircase: Wayfinding strategies in multi-level buildings 2 Journal of Environmental Psychology

INFORMATION Subjects were asked to navigate a conference center while vocalizing their thought process to understand which strategies were more successful.

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR : The different strategies were grouped into four categories, with one proving to reduce time spent on navigation and getting lost.

OUTCOMES AND APPLICATION : The strategy of getting on the right level first and then proceeding proved the most effective, though this was the least used strategy. Using vertical circulation as a landmark to position oneself in the building regardless of the level would encourage this strategy and improve wayfinding.

THREE STRATEGIES

“The central point strategy of finding one’s way by sticking as much as possible to well-known parts of the building, like the main entry hall and main connecting corridors, even if this requires considerable detours.”

“The direction strategy of choosing routes that head towards and lead to the horizontal position of the goal as directly as possible, irrespective of level-changes.”

“The floor strategy of first finding one’s way to the floor of the destination, irrespective of the horizontal position of the goal.”