THE DESIGNER’S ROLE
The role of an Interior Designer is extremely important when it comes to projects such as an Autism Center. There are many different design choices that need to be made, and made with a purpose. Such as, you cannot design an Autism Center that has long corridors because the chance of a student running down the hall, or getting anxious when in a long stretch of space is a very common occurring problem these facilities have. It is also up to the Interior Designer to pick specific furniture and finishes that will not overwhelm their client, but instead work with the teachers and therapists to get their job of calming a student down, or not making them overly anxious and over stimulated.
SUSTAINABILITY
Today, designers are trying to use finishes and design choices that help the environment, not hinder it. Therefore, sustainability will be a factor that is brought into this project. However, it could be believed that this idea of sustainability will in the end help the users of this facility because it will feel like a cleaner, healthier, more breathable environment. Individuals with ASD are more aware, and more in touch with the environment around them, and by bringing in materials that are sustainable to the environment, the users will have a sense of a healthy environment which will have a calming effect.
CLIENT & USERS
The client of this building will be the Autism center itself. Their mission is to deliever an environment to their students that make them feel comfortable, secure, and safe. Their overall goals will influence the designers in their choice of design decicions. The users of this building will be elementary school children, ages 5-11. Their needs will help guide the design of this project because they can be put at risk in a poorly designed facility.
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