Thesis Overview

OVERVIEW OF DESIGN PROPOSAL OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE SITE

AN INCLUSIVE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT & PROJECT VIABILITY The mission for this design and technology school is to provide students and educators an inclusive learning environment that teaches through building, provides a hands-on, student centered learning experience and fosters inspiration towards innovation, motivation and proactive thinking. The human condition and stakeholders of Tech Spark are important factors to consider throughout the design process and the user/client needs will dictate the design decisions as spatial requirements progress.

Tech Spark’s goal is to create a strong social impact and their “work must start with Toronto’s young people” (techspark.ca). I strongly believe in preparing the next generation for the future and it is our responsibility to ensure that youth of this generation receive proper education and necessary resources to successfully lead society. Throughout my research on tech ed and STEM education, I found that technology and design schools are not easily accessible in the GTA. Other tech and design schools throughout the GTA are BrainStation located at 400 King St. W. and The Cube School located at 2195 Gerrard St. E. Although these schools are located in Downtown Toronto, they do not offer the same wide range of programs Tech Spark offers. (thecubeschool.ca/brainstation.io)

PRELIMINARY RESEARCH METHODS

Analyzing research found through observational studies, interviews and online surverys via charts and graphs.

CLIENT PROFILE

“Founded to strengthen the socio-economic position of people of colour, women, youth and highly skilled newcomers through innovative tech education.” (Tamar Huggins)

Tech Spark is a tech and design school for youth ages 9 to 12 years old from inner city communities. The programs offered at Tech Spark are designed to teach students that they are more than just the consumers of the technology world and that they can be the creators of the technology they consume everyday. There are 10 team members at Tech Spark which include educators, technology designers, coordinators and directors. Classes are offered as afterschool programs, in school programs, camps, private corporate workshops, and birthdays.

Tech Spark was founded in June 2015 and aims to foster significant growth in the number of marginalized and racialized youth responsible for the creation and development of digital technology related products and services. (techspark.ca)

TRENDS EMERGING THROUGH RESEARCH

EFFICIENCY & PRODUCTIVITY

INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT

FUNCTIONALITY & SUSTAINABILITY

CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY

FAMILY ENVIRONMENT

HANDS-ON & LEARNER FOCUSED EXPERIENCE

PALETTE OF POSTURES

CONCEPTUAL APPROACH

MODULAR & FLEXIBLE DESIGN

CONNECTION TO NATURE

CONTEXT VIA RESEARCH STUDY

SCULPTURAL FORMS WITHIN SPACE CASE STUDY: GLASGLOW RIVERSIDE MUSEUM

SHARON MURAD

OVERVIEW OF DESIGN PROPOSAL OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE SITE CONTEXT VIA RESEARCH STUDY

AN INCLUSIVE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL VIEWS

HISTORICAL PROVENANCE

The site is located in a residential area with public city parking on the east side of the 2-storey building. The building is not listed as a heritage site, however, the neighbourhood that surrounds 21 Ossington Avenue carries history that is worth noting. Trinity Bellwoods is the home of Trinity College’s original site. The neo gothic building was built to “remind of the dreaming spires of Oxford and Cambridge” (torontoist.com). The park is also the original site of the Crawford Street Bridge, which is now buried beneath the north-west corner of Trinity Bellwoods Park. The character and architectural style of this neighbourhood is a factor in design decisions for Tech Sparks proposed facility.

OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS

Exterior Opportunities: Location Structural Limitations: Post and Beam Construction

SUSTAINABILITY

Social Sustainability Defined as “thoughtful design where people can satisfy a variety of needs in the space as a whole” (pg. 291). In the proposed facility, behavioural factors and the human condition will be closely considered to emphasize the interactions between the space and the user.

Functional Sustainability “Built-in flexibility means that as needs change, the space can support them” (pg. 291).

The new facility will be equipped for expansion as the company grows from teaching 300 youth to 20,000 youth by the year 2020. (linkedin.com)

Environmental Sustainability Defined as “respect for the planet” (pg. 291). Tech Spark will be a paperless environment as it is a tech school and all occupants are familiar with this method. Materials and finishes in this space will support the concept of environmental sustainability.

Furthermore, the construction and remodeling process will be designed for the interest in the planet.

Financial Sustainability Defined as “return in investment [that] must be sufficient to justify action” (pg.

291). The proposed facility will have secondary occupancies where revenue can come in to support the not for profit organization, such as the digital cafe and the bookstore/supplies store.

Political Sustainability Defined as “a space [that] needs advocates if it is going to continue to exist” (pg. 291). There is a high demand for youth to learn technology and understand that they can be producers instead of consumers. (techspark.ca) This demonstrates that the facility will have political sustainability. The design of the proposed space will emphasize the need for tech and design education in the Greater Toronto Area.

Aesthetic Sustainability Defined as “successful spaces [that] continue to provide new pleasurable experiences to users” (pg. 291). The design of the new facility will motivate learners to innovative and inspire proactive design thinking. The goal of this space will be to create a stimulating environment to keep learners and educators engaged.

SHARON MURAD

OVERVIEW OF DESIGN PROPOSAL

AN INCLUSIVE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL RELATION MAP OSGOOD STATION

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

CONTEXT VIA RESEARCH STUDY

OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE SITE

HIGH INCOME

How can an education facility be designed to promote and inspire learners towards innovative, motivated, and proactive thinking?

34 minutes

MIDDLE INCOME LOW INCOME

How can an education space be designed to provide a calming but stimulating environment?

How can design promote a hands-on learning experience?

How can design emphasize the learner focused approach?

16 minutes

15 minutes

PROGRAM ANALYSIS Area

Ar e a of R e s e a r ch I d e a E m e r ge d From O r ie n t a t ion Spa ce s (onlinelibrary.wiley. com)

Reception/Welcome Centre

Classrooms

T e ch Spa r k

L o u n ge A r e a

L o u n ge A r e a s (myturnstone.com)

Purpose/ Function

G e n e r a l Cr it e r ia

Clie n t Spe cif ic Elements

Con n e ct ion t o t h e Sit e (V ie w s , A cce s s , Su n , W i n d)

Adjacency/Privacy Conditions

-Registration Attendance -N e w S t u d e n t Orientation -Camera Surveillance -Filing/ Storage

-A r e a f o r o n e s t a f f m e m be r t o pe r f or m r e ce pt ion du t ie s -S p a c e f o r orientation events/activities.

-Camera Surveillance f o o t a ge a c c e s s i b l e f r om r e ce pt ion computer -P a p e r l e s s z o n e .

-V i e w s f r o m t h e ou t s ide in t o t h e r e ce pt ion a r e a -V i e w s t o w a r d s t h e m a in e n t r a n ce - G e n e r a l L i gh t i n g - T a s k L i gh t i n g

-M a i n e n t r a n c e

-1 s m a l l p r i n t e r -1 c o m p u t e r

-T h e c l a s s r o o m f u n ct ion s a n d activities

-M o d u l a r s p a c e -E a c h c l a s s r o o m d e s i gn a t e d t o a s i n gl e s u b j e c t

-C l a s s r o o m l a y o u t t o r e s e m ble a “ t y pica l cla s s r oom ” -G r a p h i c s t o m ot iva t e a n d inspire

- N a t u r a l d a y l i gh t .

-E x t e r i o r v i e w s t o be ple a s a n t bu t n ot distracting - G e n e r a l L i gh t i n g - T a s k L i gh t i n g

-Lunch/ s n a ck a r e a -Workshops -B i r t h d a y p a r t y rooms

-Desks -Chairs -Laptops -Classroom supplies

-A r e a f o r p a r e n t s , -C o m f o r t a b l e h o m e e du ca t or s a n d environment s t u d e n t s t o l o u n ge -S o c i a l e n v i r o n m e n t

-Games -B r i n g a s o c i a l a s pe ct in t o t h e space.

- N a t u r a l d a y l i gh t -Views consideration - G e n e r a l L i gh t i n g

-Lunch/ Sn a ck A r e a - D i gi t a l C a f e - L e a r n i n g Commons -Reception -D e -s t r e s s A r e a

- L o u n ge f u r n i t u r e -A c c o m m o d a t e a l a r ge o c c u p a n c y -TV - V i d e o ga m e h u b

-A s p a c e w h e r e ch ildr e n ca n d e -s t r e s s f r o m t h e i r day

- N a t u r a l D a y l i gh t - T a s k L i gh t i n g - G e n e r a l L i gh t i n g -Views con s ide r a t ion t o inspire

-Classrooms -D e -s t r e s s A r e a -Learning Commons

-Chairs -Desks -W h i t e B o a r d s -C h a l k B o a r d s -S u r f a c e s t h a t a l l o w messiness.

-M a t e r i a l s a n d f in is h es t h a t s u s t a in i n d u s t r i a l c l e a n i n g products.

Furniture/Built-in Element(s)

I n s pir a t ion H u b

Ca s e St u die s

-I d e a t i o n z o n e -C r e a t e a n d s k e t c h b e f o r e p r o d u c i n g in t e r f a ce s a n d a pps -M e s s y z o n e

D i gi t a l C a f e

-3dprinting.come - S u e ’s T e c h K i t c h e n

-A s p a c e w h e r e -O p e n s p a c e t o t h e ch ildr e n ca n community s h ow ca s e t h e ir w or k in a n in t e r a ct iv e m a n n e r .

-I n t r o d u c e s a n e w w a y t o din e a t t h e t a ble w it h t h e family.

-P r o v i d e s a v a r i e t y of le a r n in g s t y le s in t h e f a c i l i t y .

-C h i l d r e n a n d t h e i r pa r e n t s w ill e x pe r ie n ce t h is s p a c e t o ge t h e r .

- N a t u r a l D a y l i gh t -E a s i l y A c c e s s i b l e f r om t h e s t r e e t t o ope n t o t h e community -G e n e r a l a n d a c c e n t lighting

-Reception -Learning Commons - L o u n ge A r e a -Lunch/ s n a ck a r e a

-O r d e r c o u n t e r -3 D p r i n t e r s -F o o d d i s p l a y -I p a d s t o d i s p l a y interfaces - D i n i n g s e a t i n g - L o u n ge f u r n i t u r e

D e -s t r e s s A r e a

-T e c h S p a r k

-A s p a c e w h e r e s t u de n t s ca n r e la x a n d d e -s t r e s s f r o m t h e ir da y -A s a f e a r e a

-A s a f e a r e a c a n s t u de n t s f e e l f r e e - P l a y a n d l e a r n i n g blu r s e a m le s s ly

- V i d e o ga m e z o n e -L o c a t i o n t h a t in t r odu ce s Te ch Spark

- N a t u r a l D a y l i gh t - G e n e r a l L i gh t i n g

-Reception - L o u n ge A r e a - D i gi t a l C a f e -Learning Commons

-TVs -V i d e o G a m e s - L o u n ge f u r n i t u r e -Games -Puzzles

-T e c h S p a r k

-S t o r e f o r s t u d e n t s a n d pa r e n t s t o pu r ch a s e book s a n d s u pplie s t o e n h a n ce t h e ir e du ca t ion a t h om e

-A l l b o o k s a n d s u pplie s t o be r e la t e d t o cou r s e s of f e r e d a t Te ch Spark.

-Influence in n ova t ion a t h om e

-O p e n t o t h e community

- N a t u r a l L i gh t i n g - G e n e r a l L i gh t i n g -Views Considerations -A c c e s s i b l e f r o m t h e ou t s ide t o ope n t o t h e com m u n it y

-Learning Commons - D i gi t a l C a f e -Reception

-R e t a i l d i s p l a y -C a s h a n d w r a p -inspiration graphics

Bookstore/Supplies store

-Promote messiness -Promote innovation

SHARON MURAD