PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES: The Design Lab program at MV+A
At MV+A, professional development is a critical core value and central to our professional mission. As part of a comprehensive approach to this aspect of our practice, we have developed a variety of in-house, staff-led knowledge sharing programs.
In a previous Design Brief we covered MV+A’s commitment to helping young designers with their ARE prep. Below, we’ll get into MV+A’s Design Lab program which furthers professional development goals in ways that are specific to MV+A’s practice. Every Tuesday morning, participants gather in person and / or online to explore a designated topic in-depth.
Below, MV+A Senior Architectural Designer Dan Gilheney and Architectural Designer Priyashi Galiawala provide insights into a few recent Design Labs.
Authored by Dan Gilheney + Priyashi Galiawala
The Design Lab program at MV+A is important for disseminating current professional best-practices to our employees. The program promotes the development of our employee’s skillsets, reinforcing the level of service that our clients expect and deserve. It also provides a forum for discussion, allowing us to push ideas further and to refine design strategies in a group setting.
Design Software Skill Development
For a presentation on using SketchUp, Partner Brian Szymanski spoke to the iterative process of design concepts and translating design ideas from SketchUp to Revit. Brian explained how SketchUp provides an efficient workflow for exploring many ideas and the importance of building a well-organized model so that multiple users, and those revisiting the model in the future, can work in the model in a way that is easy to understand. Through a series of strategic live demonstrations, this design lab proved instrumental for everyone in the office to visualize the process of pushing the boundaries of a particular software application and translate design ideas for presentation and further collaboration.
In other recent design labs, Project Managers Abbey Courtney and Associate Aaron Hotaling reviewed updates to the firm’s Revit templates, helping us to provide better drawings for our clients and consultants, increasing the efficiency of workflow, and improving standards of our design documents.
Principal Brian Szymanski presents a Design Lab focused on how to use SketchUp to explore design options accurately and efficiently.
Code and Building Typology Understanding
Design Labs in this category include Senior Architectural Designer Shima Sarafrazi’s presentation about accessibility, Partner Neville Fernandes’ presentation about Form Based Code, and Associate Carole Twitmyer’s presentation about Missing Middle housing.
Shima’s presentation reminded us of many common complications in the design of kitchens and bathrooms so that we ensure that our units are able to be used by occupants with differing mobility needs. Neville explained the ways that the regulations of form based code vary from traditional zoning, and how we can navigate those regulations to design a high quality building that satisfies them and enriches the quality of life of the residents of the community. Carole described “The Missing Middle” – an often overlooked building type from the past that is crucial to reimagining a dense, walkable built environment.
These presentations are crucial for emerging professionals who are encountering complex building codes for the first time. We learn to integrate building codes with design ideas to enhance the spatial experience of the space along with making the project safe, accessible, and optimized for all users of the building.
The MV+A team gathers virtually and in person for Carole Twitmeyer’s presentation on Missing Middle housing.
New Project Introductions
Last month, Brian and Neville co-presented an exciting, upcoming project in Georgia—the redevelopment of the North Dekalb Mall into a mixed-use neighborhood. This redevelopment is taking a disinvested mall and re-imagining it as a mixed-use neighborhood where those living and working in the new community will support commerce in a way that is less dependent on car-centric infrastructure. Green space and walkable urban design make this development more human and environmentally friendly.
Introductions of new projects like this expose the staff members to the different projects happening in the office so that we can have opportunities to get involved in varied projects, which helps the staff find their niche in MV+A’s evolving portfolio.
A few slides from a Design Lab presentation on the redevelopment of the North Dekalb Mall in Georgia.
Conclusion
These bi-weekly design labs help us hone our skills and teach us how to bring our technical knowledge, software skills, and design expertise together to provide great service to our clients and deliver great buildings to the communities in which we work and live.
Noteworthy Work Anniversaries
MV+A is pleased to announce the 10-year work anniversaries of Principal Russell Zung and Associate Andy Merlo. We’ve asked Russell and Andy to share a few thoughts regarding their auspicious tenures at MV+A..
