WEBSITE

Here is the link to my website with my seminar research, design philosophy, precedent research, and project boards that I used for my studio presentation.

http://my.lsu.edu/Ltrapa1/

FINAL ASSIGNMENT

PART SIX: BIOPHYSICAL NEEDS
X. Biophysical Needs – Systems needed to support this facility
A. Mechanical System
1. Special Considerations: The mechanical system is to address the following issues in regards to LEED Certification Standards
a. Enhanced Refrigeration Management (HVAC)
b. Optimize Energy Performance
c. On-site Renewable Energy
B. Plumbing System
1. Special Considerations: The plumbing system is to address the following issues in regards to LEED Certification Standards and local plumbing codes
a. Appropriate Rooftop Drainage System
b. Innovative Wastewater Technology
c. Reduction in Water Use
d. Water Efficient Landscaping (Rooftop Garden)
B. Electrical/Lighting System
1. Special Considerations: The lighting system is to address both equipment requirements as well as lighting requirements for LEED Certification.
a. Elevator Equipment Closet, Laundry Equipment Housing, etc.
b. The use of energy efficient lighting mechanisms to reduce energy output
C. Service System
1. Special Considerations: The service system deals directly with the amenities and services offered by the staff.
a. Laundry Facilities
b. Valet Parking
c. Check-In/Check-Out (Reception Area)
d. Vending Area
XI. Technical Needs – Telecommunications, Security, Smart Technologies, etc.
1. Surveillance/CATV Room to monitor security in public areas and hallways
2. Smart Technologies include card access for the pool area as well as individual rooms
XII. Economic Factors – Actual Budget or statement of financial considerations
1. The fees that are listed below are for LEED Certification and Registration, and they are to be covered by the client, who is requiring LEED Certification as part of the project requirements.
2. The lists and tables that follow were taken from the USBC: Registration portion of the USGBC Website. The information has been copied directly from the site as reference for my senior capstone project.












Registration Fees
Members $450.00Non-Members $600.00
Certification Fees
Certification Fees

Less than 50,000 Square Feet
50,000-500,000 Square Feet
More than 500,000 Square Feet
LEED for: New Construction, Commercial Interiors, Core and Shell, and Schools
Fixed Rate
Based on Sq. Ft.
Fixed Rate
Design Review
Members
$1,250.00
$0.025/ Square Foot
$12,500.00
Non-Members
$1,500.00
$0.03/ Square Foot
$15,000.00
Construction Review



Members
$500.00
$0.01/ Square Foot
$5,000.00
Non-Members
$750.00
$0.015/ Square Foot
$7,500.00
Combined Design & Construction Review
Members
$1,750.00
$0.035/ Square Foot
$17,500.00
Non-Members
$2,250.00
$0.045/ Square Foot
$22,500.00
LEED for Existing Buildings
Fixed Rate
Based on Sq. Ft.
Fixed Rate
Initial Certification Review
Members
$1,250.00
$0.025/ Square Foot
$12,500.00
Non-Members
$1,500.00
$0.03/ Square Foot
$15,000.00
Note: All fees are subject to change. Sorry, no refunds.
Special Certification Fees for Projects Registered Between 2002 and 2005*
The following certification fees apply to projects registered under LEED for New Construction Version 2.1 between November 15, 2002 and November 15, 2005 (and not using LEED Online) and projects registered under LEED for Existing Buildings Version 2.0 and LEED for Commercial Interiors Version 2.0 before November 15, 2005 (and not using LEED Online).


Less than 75,000 Square Feet
75,000 - 300,000 Square Feet
More than 300,000 Square Feet
Charges
Fixed Rate
Based on Sq. Foot
Fixed Rate
Certification**
Members
$1,500.00
$0.02/ Square Foot
$6,000.00
Non-Members
$1,875.00
$0.025/ Square Foot
$7,500.00
Note: All fees are subject to change. Sorry, no refunds.
Rebates
Learn about potential rebates for LEED-certified projects.
Platinum Certification Rebates
Projects that are awarded LEED platinum certification will receive a rebate for all certification fees. The rebate applies to projects that certify using LEED for New Construction, LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED for Commercial Interiors, or LEED for Core & Shell. Projects that certify under future versions of LEED (excluding pilot projects) will also be eligible.
Registration fees, appeal review fees, and any additional fees required to expedite LEED certification will not be refunded.
3. Additional expedite fees
a. Paper Reviews - $10,000
b. LEED-Online Design and Construction Review - $10,000
c. LEED-Online Design Review Only - $5,000
d. LEED-Online Construction Review Only - $5000
e. Paper or LEED-Online Appeal Review - $500 per prerequisite/credit
appealed

PART FIVE: CODE RESEARCH

PART FIVE: CONTROLS
IX. Controls – Codes that should be adhered to are LEED Certification Standards for New Construction or Major Renovation and LEED Retail: Commercial Interiors Standards. Other codes to follow are the Life Safety Code on means of egress, ADA Accessibility Standards, and plumbing codes that specify number of public restrooms per the occupancy type and occupancy load. The final set of codes to follow is International Building Code.
A. LEED for New Construction, Version 2.2 October 2005 *EA section revised for projects
registered after June 26, 2007
1. Regulated by the United States Green Building Council; Local chapter is the South
Central Chapter, which includes Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma.
2. LEED for New Construction is “designed to guide and distinguish high-performance
commercial and institutional projects, including office buildings, high-rise residential
buildings, government buildings, recreational facilities, manufacturing plants and
laboratories.”
3. Mission of Local Chapter: “To educate and inspire the citizens and leaders of
Louisiana to embrace and implement sustainable design and construction in our
natural and built environments, with special emphasis on infrastructure and systems
improvements.”
4. The phone number for Chris Bankston, the local chapter leader is 985-345-5047.
The United States Green Building Council’s major headquarters phone number is
1-800-795-1747.
5. The code is relatively new since 1996, so there are still changes being made to the
code. However, the guidelines should be followed as defined by the USGBC.
B. LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors
1. Regulated by the United States Green Building Council; Local chapter is the South
Central Chapter, which includes Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma.
2. LEED for Retail has two rating systems – one for New Construction and one for
Commercial Interiors. The guidelines “recognize the unique nature of retail design
and construction projects and address the specific needs of retail spaces, including
lighting, sites, security, energy and water by providing tailored credit language and
alternative compliance paths.”
3. Mission of Local Chapter: “To educate and inspire the citizens and leaders of
Louisiana to embrace and implement sustainable design and construction in our
natural and built environments, with special emphasis on infrastructure and
systems improvements”.
4. The phone number for Chris Bankston, the local chapter leader is 985-345-5047.
The United States Green Building Council’s major headquarters phone number is
1-800-795-1747.
5. The code is relatively new since 1996, so there are still changes being made to the
code. However, the guidelines should be followed as defined by the USGBC.
C. Life Safety Code
1. Regulated by the NFPA, or National Fire Protection Association; Headquarters are
located in Mexico
2. The contact information for the NFPA’s Sales and Member Services for the United
States is 1-300-344-3555 or 1-617-770-3000.
3. The code is rigidly fixed. The most recent edition was released in 2006.
D. ADA Guidelines
1. Regulated by the United States Department of Justice; Located in
2. The contact information for the United States Department of Justice is
1-800-514-0301.
3. This code is rigidly fixed as well. The last formal revision to the code was in July
1994.
E. Plumbing Code
1. Regulated by the International Code Council; Has multiple locations in Birmingham,
Chicago, and Los Angeles. The main office or headquarters is located in Washington,
D.C. on 500 New Jersey Avenue on the 6th floor.
2. The contact information for headquarters is 202-783-2348 and there is a toll free
number 1-888-422-7233 ext. 6235.
3. The code is rigidly fixed. The last publication was in 2000 for the Louisiana State
Plumbing Codes.
F. International Building Code
1. Regulated by the International Code Council; Has multiple locations in
Birmingham, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The main office or headquarters is located
in Washington, D.C. on 500 New Jersey Avenue on the 6th floor.
2. The contact information for headquarters is 202-783-2348 and there is a toll free
number 1-888-422-7233 ext. 6235.
3. This code is rigidly fixed.

W Hotel Site Visit

Here are some notes and images that I learned from my site visit to the W Hotel on Poydras Street and the W Hotel French Quarter in New Orleans.

The ligthing in the hallways are wall sconces (one) by each guest room. If there is any other lighting in the hallway, it is centered in the hallway, and it alternates between recessed downlight and small spotlights.

Locally, the hotels both have a lot of mirrors. There is a ledge mounted above the desk with 2 black and white photographs resting on the ledge. Sequences of mirrors are placed evenly as you travel down the hallway. There are also mirrors on each floor in the elevator lobby. The elevator lobby includes a small side table with some vases for decorative appeal. Another crucial factor was the doors enclosing the elevators to reduce the noise, since this is the most common concern of guests.

Lighting for the elevator and the elevator lobby on the first floor takes a more decorative approach. There are pendants centered in the lobby with 4 smaller pendants that give an ambient source of light and create mood within the space. There is also a decorative partition that states the different floors and areas within the hotel. On the other floors, the lighting may simply include a surface mounted pendant or other decorative lighting solution that matches the wall sconces near the guest rooms.

The service areas for the guests, such as ice machines are like a recessed nook. On the main floor, this included an ATM or computer stations to quickly check your email on the way out. The lighting within the elevator consists of a cove with fluorescent or LEDs above that wash over the cove into the elevator. This lighting effect creates a darker more intimate setting for the guests.

In terms of ligthing within the rooms. They are mostly lit by natural lighting from windows. In teh typical guest room, with a king or two double beds, there are two lamps on each night stand. There also is a lamp on the desk for task lighting.

The bathrooms ar the W Hotel on Poydras are considerably smaller than those at the W Hotel French Quarter. The lighting in the bathrooms are mainly over the vanity and for general use ligthing. It was also explaained to me by the staff that there are some ADA Accessible rooms that provide theh necessary functions for these individuals.

Color schemes vary from hotel to hotel. According to thhe hotel clerk at the W Hotel French Quarter, there are standards that the hotel sets forward, but the general manager is able to assert his or her ideas into the concept. A great example of the requirements are the items that are necessary to qualify ass a living room are a small wet bar, television, seating, etc.

Some underlying design concepts for the W Hotel Designs are a minimalist approach balancing style, comfort, and harmony. The hotel clerk also mentioned that each hotel has a regional flare, and this determines the color scheme for the entire hotel.

This image is of the W Hotel on Poydras. The lobby color scheme is composed of dark walnut with a subtle blend of warm tones, such as red and yellow. However, the rooms differ slightly in that the linens are a golden color with a purple comforter. As you can see, the back wall is used as an accent and painted dark to contrast with the white walls and natural lighting.

This image is of the task lighting that is used on the desk as well as the two framed works of photography placed on a ledge. The televsion is next to the desk, and it actually sits on the edge of the desk if I remember correctly.

The image to the left is the king size bed in the typical guest room setup, such as the Wonderful or Spectacular Rooms discussed in my capstone research. Again, there is the dark accent wall. The main difference between the room with the two doubles is that there is a chaise lounge by the windows, and there is an additional floor lamp there to serve reading purposes.

This image is within the same room, but it gives a better idea of how the television is set up on the edge of the desk. It also shows the small area in the corner that looks to have some glasses for drinks and shelving.

This image is of a wall sconce that is used in the hallway, and there is a pendant at a larger scale in the lobby. It is a clear glass box open at the bottom end with chandelier glass elements that are lit from within. This was the pendant used at the W Hotel on Poydras. At the W Hotel French Quarter, they actually used chandeliers.

This is the chandelier version of the sconce referenced above. In this image, you can also see thhe mirro and side table with vases that I mentioned in my earlier description of the elevator and lobby lighting and furnishings.

This image shows the unique ligthing that is used to set the mood to the entire hotel. Theh light in the center is the Louis Poulsen Artichoke Light, which I thought was neat to see up close and personal. They use the red wall in the back to accent the panels and lighting behind the partitions.

The bar area is separated from the lobby with a partition and the reception counter for check-in and check-out procedures. According to the doorman or greeter for the hotel, the bar comes to life at night and what seems quiet during the day comes to life at night.

This photograph shows a library area beyond the bar that offers the guests. The shelves contain magazines and books. There is also a stairwell masked in this area.

This is another example of the mirrors used throughout the space. I find that the mirrors offer interesting views into the space. This is directly next to the reception counter as you approach the elevator lobby.

This is a view looking our of the front entrance. There is a small outdoor seating area secluded into a small landscaped area.

This is an example of the bedroom in the WOW Suite. The desk area is separated from the living area, and it has a computer, printer, and fax machine. This room offers a large panoramic view of the river and the city.

The WOW Suite has a sofa and as is pictured in the next image of the dining table for four.

This is an example of the decor that is used in the rooms. This particular table and vases are in teh WOW Suite. This is part of the small foyer and hallway that leads to the living area.

This is the exterior view of the W Hotel on Poydras Street. The main characteristic of the exterior is the large W. The hotel's exterior palette reflects the interior paletter of red and white.

This room is in the reception area at the W Hotel French Quarter. This hotel has the large mirrors as well as can be seen in the image with the benches.

This is the king size bed guest room offered at the W Hotel French Quarter. The color scheme is more natural within the rooms. There is an accent wall with a textured wall paper that matches the linens. Where the W Hotel Poydras had a accent wall, the rooms at the W Hotel French Quarter have solid wooden headboards.

The regular rooms have smaller televisions. The rooms here are less contemporary so there is an actual entertainment unit.

This is a view of the desk area in the room.

There is a small area for seaeting with a table and lamp.

Spatial Requirements for Senior Capstone Project

PART THREE: PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Overview of Spaces
Retail
The retail spaces are intended to take up the entire first floor,
approximately 8,000 square feet.
The only space that is designated for hotel use within the first floor in an
entrance and lobby area that allows the guests to access their hotel room.
Hotel
The hotel will consist of floor 2-7, with approximately 6,500 square feet per floor, totaling 45,500 square feet.
The rooftop terrace is separate from the provided square footage.
The hotel rooms and suites should maximize the windows to provide the guest with beautiful views of the Mississippi River, the Shaw Center for the Arts, and city views of downtown Baton Rouge.

Detailed Spatial Requirements
With 8,000 square feet of space on the first floor, I think that I will propose 6 retail spaces.
Two of the spaces will be approximately 2,000 square feet, and there will be four smaller spaces of 1,000 square feet.
- Additional space not needed by the vendors will be used for the hotel lobby.
- Each of the retail spaces should include proper storage and display of merchandise.
- Front Stage Spaces should include the cash wrap, the main floor area, and fitting rooms (only necessary for clothing store).
- Back Stage Spaces should include storage for deliveries, the staff break room and restroom.

Store Types and Square Footages
- Experiential Space: Fragrance Store (2,000 square feet)
- Different fragrance scents (eucalyptus, jasmine, chamomile, etc.) that you can create your own custom fragrance
- Employees will have information on the effects of different types of scents (For example, jasmine is used for a calming effect)
- Clothing Store: Formal Attire Shop (1,000 square feet or less)
- Capable of Doing Alterations and Offers Cleaning and Steaming Services
- Allows locals to have their clothes cleaned and pick them up on the way home.
- Also allows visitors options for business professionals attending conventions if their luggage was lost.
- Shoe Store???
- Hair Dresser/Barber Shop (1,000 square feet): Space designed to accommodate downtown residents, business professionals, and visitors perhaps going out for a special occasion.

Hotel
- 1st Floor: Entrance and Lobby into the W Hotel Baton Rouge
- The most important spaces for the guest are the lobby and check in area of the hotel.
- The first floor of the hotel should also contain the laundry facilities for the entire hotel. This depends largely on the number of rooms within the hotel. The laundry facility for a larger hotel would comfortably be 500 square feet. This area included ironing stations, dryers, washers, and folding areas for the linens.
- I am not sure of the quantity needed, but this rooms requires washers and dryers that can handle larger loads than typical machines used in the household.
- Cabinets are needed for folding, and there is also a sink by the cabinet area. There are wall mounted ironing boards that fold down during use. There is typically a small electrical closet connected to the laundry area.
- Other areas on the first floors of hotels are offices for the general and sales manager, areas for the staff (break room), and a surveillance room.
- The sales manager’s office is typically 75 square feet. The general manager’s office is a little larger at 100 square feet. The equipment for these offices includes a desk. Another added benefit is privacy.
- The Wonderful Room and The Spectacular Room (2nd Floor)
- The rooms are approximately 300 square feet, with about 21 rooms on this floor.
- The bed offered is either two doubles or a king size bed.
- The main difference between the Wonderful Room and the Spectacular Room is that the Spectacular Room offers a view of the city and/or the river.
- There is an entertainment center with a 27” television. The room contains a desk and seating area in addition to a small closet for additional storage. Internet access is available for these two rooms.
- The Fantastic Suite (3rd – 6th Floor)
- This suite is approximately 525 square feet, with about 12 suites per floor for a total of 36 rooms.
- The bed size is king size.
- The suite offers a separate living area for entertaining and contains a separate dining area for four people.
- There is an oversized desk, fax, copier, and high speed internet access.
- The bathroom is divided into his and her areas for more privacy with a vestibule that connects to the closet.
- The Wow Suite (7th Floor)
- This is the largest suite available to guests staying at the W Hotel, at approximately 700 square feet, with about 10 of these suites available.
- The suite offer a king size bed separate from the living area.
- The living area is intended for entertaining and dining. In terms of entertainment there is a wet bar and additional powder room.
- The bathroom contains a spacious Jacuzzi tub and spacious closet for storage. The room is available with a city and/or river view.
- This suite also includes a large spacious work desk, copier, fax machine, and high speed internet are among the amenities offered in this suite.
- An additional feature for the bathroom is a 42” plasma television besides the one contained in the bedroom area of the suite.
- The Rooftop Terrace

Existing Equipment
- Elevators and Stairwell Locations

Site Visit to Sheraton Hotel in Metairie

The Sheraton Hotel is part of the same hotel chain as the W Hotel. I went and viewed the guest room with a king size bed to get an idea of the spatial arrangements for the hotel. The hotel is seven floors high and contains 181 rooms.

Here are some of the images from the site visit.

PART TWO 11/7/07

PART TWO
I. Clients and Users
A. Provide the hypothetical client’s name, address
1. The hypothetical client is Helena Bryan at the W Hotel Corporate Office. The location is 601 West 26th Street, Suite 830 in New York, New York 10001.
B. List the client’s concerns and/or needs…what is required for the proposed business to be successful? Are there any special needs?
1. Client’s Concerns and Needs
a. The client’s concerns are that the hotel reflects the regional vernacular of downtown Baton Rouge.
b. The client needs a space that can accommodate local amenities through commercialized retail spaces as well as visitor needs for a place to stay while in the city of Baton Rouge.
c. In order to ensure the success of the hotel, the hotel must be strongly geared to service. Service can encompass local residents and business workers as well as tourists.
d. Services that should be offered by the hotel are amenities, such as the conferencing center discussed in the client’s needs.
e. Another service offered by the hotel to the guests and locals is retail space provided on the lower floor.
2. Special Considerations
a. I want to add an overhang or cantilever a structure over the existing walkways facing Convention Street and Lafayette Street to attract more retail customers.
b. By adding this cantilevered canopy, the retail space will address a more pedestrian friendly environment as supported by Davis Rhorer, the executive director of Downtown Development in Baton Rouge.
c. Another benefit of this cantilevered element is that it will create an open space that attracts both locals and visitors.
C. Identify each user or user group (this should not be by name, but by title)
1. List the users’ needs
a. Business travelers: lodging that is multi-faceted and offers conferencing for conventions or meetings that need to be held.
b. Business Workers of Downtown Area: Place for leisure activities or retail destinations that they can stop off at before going home for the evening (on the way home from work).
c. Tourists: Another group of people that may be travelling to the area. The idea is to provide areas within the hotel for attraction as well as to draw them onto the streets. Exploration and experience is the main factor for this group of people so that they can learn about the culture of Baton Rouge.
d. Employees: As people who work in the facility, these people should be offered appropriate employment opportunities, salary, and benefits from the employer. Employees are expected to act professionally and conduct themselves in a manner that reflects W Hotel’s goal of creating a great experience for the visitor.
II. The Function – Determine the operational requirements
A. How should the facility work both now and in the future?
1. Operational requirements are the qualitative and quantitative parameters that specify the system’s capabilities and determine the operations effectiveness as a system (http://www.learnthat.com/define/view.asp?id=4871).
2. There are five business goals based on the defining of clear goals by the client, which are determining the scope of the project, priorities, critical qualities, growth factors, and safety margins.
3. Scope of the project
a. Appropriate drawings of the hotel and retail spaces (floorplans, furniture layout, reflected ceiling plan, and details for construction documents)
b. Room typicals based on suite type and square footages
c. Meet requirements for LEED Certification, i.e. rooftop terrace
d. Preliminary planning: bubble diagrams, block diagrams, and stack diagrams
e. Code Research, such as the Life Safety Code
f. Renderings of the typical rooms for the hotel space will be produced in a 3d rendering program, i.e. Sketchup or Dialux.
g. Renderings for a few of the retail spaces and the exterior entrance approach to the hotel.



4. Priorities
a. Completion of Phase One of the design by May 2008.
b. Meeting the diverse needs of the users and client
5. Critical Qualities
a. Security is a critical issue in the operation of the W Hotel Baton Rouge. To ensure security, there will be surveillance cameras placed within the hotel’s public spaces.
b. The rooms are all secured through electronic keycard access.
c. In addition, the security of the retail space will also involve surveillance.
d. Financial information will also be treated in a secure manner by securing transactions with third party businesses and organizations.
6. Growth Factor
a. The current expectations are to provide a hotel space with conferencing solutions and a retail space on the lower level.
b. In the future, the hotel intends to expand to include a restaurant and bar. These areas will promote the atmosphere of Baton Rouge’s night life. These spaces will be open to public just as the retail space is open to public.
7. Safety Margins
a. These margins are created as an estimated time frame for completion of Phase One of the retail and hotel spaces by May 2008.
b. Phase Two will take approximately one year to complete from their start in February 2008.
c. The hotel intends to provide a competitive market in the hotel industry for downtown Baton Rouge.

Some information was taken from the following site: http://docs.sun.com/source/819-0058/bus_analysis.html

PART ONE OF OUTLINE

Program Outline
Part I
I. W Hotel Baton Rouge
A. Location: 200 Lafayette Street
B. Designer: Lisa Trapani
C. ID 4720 Fall 2007
II. Table of Contents

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
Title Page………………………………………………………………….……..................1
Table of Contents………………………………………………………..........................2
Introduction…………………………………………………………...........................….3
Site Environmental Factors……………………………………………......................4
Area Map……………………………………………………………………….....................5
Site Plan………………………………………………………………………...................6-8
PART TWO: CLIENTS AND USERS ADDRESSING FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Clients and Users…………………………………………………………………..............9
Functional Requirements………………………………………………………............10
PART THREE: PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Overview of Spaces……………………………………………………………................11
Detailed Spatial Requirements…………………………………………..............12-15
Existing Equipment……………………………………………………………................16
PART FOUR: RELATIONSHIPS
Adjacency Matrix……………………………………………………………….................17
Bubble, Block, and Stacking Diagrams: Zoning and
Spatial Adjacencies.......................................................................................18-25
PART FIVE: CONTROLS
Codes ……………………………………………………………………..….........................26
PART SIX
Biophysical Needs……………………………………………………………....................27
Technical Needs………………………………………………………………....................28
Economic Factors………………………………………………………….....................…29
Concept…………………………………………………………………………......................30
Summary Statement……………………………………………………………................31
III. Introduction
A. Problem Statement:
B. Brief Description of Project:
C. Indentify the Client:
IV. Site Environmental Factors
A. Area Map
B. Site plan
1. Existing Conditions
2. Orientation
3. Influences upon the site
a. Context
b. Setbacks
c. Access
4. Field Measurements/Building Documentation
5. Special Considerations

Final Preliminary Proposal

Committee
Designer/Mentor:
To be Assigned by instructor
Consultant:
I contacted Helena Bryan at the W Hotel Worldwide Office in New York to see about getting some typical color selections and room layouts to study and adapt for my project

Building:
The Hotel King
A copy of the drawings is included on the next several pages.

Preliminary Proposal
Client:
The owner of this business is the W Hotels Worldwide, and their corporate office is located in New York. W Hotel currently owns and operates 21 properties in crucial cities worldwide. The W Hotel strives to inspire and indulge its guests with unique experiences. W Hotel is now the fastest growing hotel chain, and offers its guest “ a mix of innovative design, comfort, and cultural influences”.

Taken from the W Hotel Website at http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/about/index.html

Spatial Type:
The buildings’ use will be designated for hotel and retail purposes. The reason that I am interested in pursuing these two areas is because I want to pursue a career in hospitality design, and I have not had any experience with a retail space yet. I think that the two spaces would compliment one another in the downtown Baton Rouge area
Focus:
The two focuses I plan on incorporating into my design are LEED Certification and/or Construction Documents.
Building:
The building that I have chosen is the Hotel King. The reason I chose the site is to provide competition with the Hilton Hotel across the street. Another reason that I chose the Hotel King is because it is currently being proposed as a boutique hotel, and the square footage will accommodate the retail and hotel space that I am proposing. There are 7 floors and the roof is accessible. The hotel also has incredible views of the river and the rooftop terrace at the Shaw Center.
Scope of the Project:
The scope of the project will include the appropriate drawings of the hotel and retail spaces. There will be room typicals that are developed for the hotel space depending on the type of room and square footage requirement. As part of LEED Certification, I would like to develop a rooftop terrace or possibly incorporate smaller rooftop spaces into a higher end suite. The design work will include preliminary planning beginning with bubble diagrams and organizing the space according to functions. Some time should also be designated to the research of codes that pertain to retail and hospitality spaces, such as the Life Safety Code.
The drawings include floorplans, furniture plan, reflected ceiling plan, and necessary details for the production of a set of construction documents. Renderings of the typical rooms for the hotel space will be produced in a 3d rendering program, i.e. Sketchup or Dialux. I would also like to see 3-dimensional drawings for a few of the retail spaces and the exterior entrance approach to the hotel.

Final Preliminary Proposal

Committee
Designer/Mentor:
To be Assigned by instructor
Consultant:
I contacted Helena Bryan at the W Hotel Worldwide Office in New York to see about getting some typical color selections and room layouts to study and adapt for my project

Building:
The Hotel King
A copy of the drawings is included on the next several pages.

Preliminary Proposal
Client:
The owner of this business is the W Hotels Worldwide, and their corporate office is located in New York. W Hotel currently owns and operates 21 properties in crucial cities worldwide. The W Hotel strives to inspire and indulge its guests with unique experiences. W Hotel is now the fastest growing hotel chain, and offers its guest “ a mix of innovative design, comfort, and cultural influences”.

Taken from the W Hotel Website at http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/about/index.html

Spatial Type:
The buildings’ use will be designated for hotel and retail purposes. The reason that I am interested in pursuing these two areas is because I want to pursue a career in hospitality design, and I have not had any experience with a retail space yet. I think that the two spaces would compliment one another in the downtown Baton Rouge area
Focus:
The two focuses I plan on incorporating into my design are LEED Certification and/or Construction Documents.
Building:
The building that I have chosen is the Hotel King. The reason I chose the site is to provide competition with the Hilton Hotel across the street. Another reason that I chose the Hotel King is because it is currently being proposed as a boutique hotel, and the square footage will accommodate the retail and hotel space that I am proposing. There are 7 floors and the roof is accessible. The hotel also has incredible views of the river and the rooftop terrace at the Shaw Center.
Scope of the Project:
The scope of the project will include the appropriate drawings of the hotel and retail spaces. There will be room typicals that are developed for the hotel space depending on the type of room and square footage requirement. As part of LEED Certification, I would like to develop a rooftop terrace or possibly incorporate smaller rooftop spaces into a higher end suite. The design work will include preliminary planning beginning with bubble diagrams and organizing the space according to functions. Some time should also be designated to the research of codes that pertain to retail and hospitality spaces, such as the Life Safety Code.
The drawings include floorplans, furniture plan, reflected ceiling plan, and necessary details for the production of a set of construction documents. Renderings of the typical rooms for the hotel space will be produced in a 3d rendering program, i.e. Sketchup or Dialux. I would also like to see 3-dimensional drawings for a few of the retail spaces and the exterior entrance approach to the hotel.

SEMINAR PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL IDEA

In Seminar today, I addressed a few questions with June. I have determined that I want to produce a chain hotel, preferably something similar to the W Hotel. I contacted Helena Bryan at the New York Office for W Hotel, and I am trying to see if there is someone that would be able to provide me with the typical room layouts and the color schemes that are used for the W Hotel Chain. She is supposed to be emailing me or contacting me by phone within the next day.
I am unsure of what direction I should be going in for the hypothetical client. I am using the Hotel King for my building because of its location across from the Hilton Hotel and proximity to the Shaw Center for the Arts. The hotel is currently being proposed as a site for a boutique hotel. This building has amazing views of the river and over looks the roof terrace of the Shaw Center. The spatial types that will be contained in this building are retail on the ground level and a hotel on the upper floors. The two potential focus topics are sustainable products and initiatives involved with becoming LEED Certified or construction documents. The scope of the project, if choosing construction documents, will be based more on technical drawings and renderings. If I choose to do LEED Certification and Design criteria, then the space will incorporate different principles to acheive that certification. These are all of my initial thoughts on the preliminary proposal, and I plan on elaborating on them more for Wednesday's deadline.

PRECEDENT RESEARCH BOARDS

As I began to wrap up the research portion for the precedent studies and after my meeting for revisions to my proposal, I found information on some other types of stores besides the ones originally blogged about.

Here are some of the architectural drawings for the spaces that I have previously researched. This is the Fornarina retail space, and the images came from the architectural record website. The link is as follows: http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/bts/archives/retail/05_fornarina/photos.asp






The following image is a conceptual section drawing of the interior space. This shows the organic forms and shapes that are the main feature of the Fornarina Store. The link to this source is the same as the above link.

Here is a photograph of the shoe display area with the very organic amoebic like display units.

Some more interesting information that I learned about the space is that the ceilings are 29 feet high. Some designers that influence the space are Salvador Dali and Elsie de Wolfe because of the white interiors and the melting organic forms. The gross square footage of the space is about 2,350 square feet.

Continuation of Precedent Research

I noticed a trend in the spatial types I am interested in. All of the spaces are service and concept oriented but also have an interactive aspect. For example, the flower shop with the consultation area and bouquet making station. Another appication of this is the shop that sells spa products. Perhaps the jewelry store could also serve as a space that allows you to purchase jewelry or rent the jewelry for an event. I envision this retail space to be filled with specialty shops to make the visit in Baton Rouge more experiential.

The next space I was referencing for my precedent research is the Bailey Banks and Biddle Store in Houston, Texas. This store is classified as a specialty store, and the sales area is between 5,001 to 10,000 square feet. There is a detailed description of the materials and finishes that were used for the project. It is broken down into fixtures, furniture/upholstery, carpet, glass, laminates, mirror, paints, stone, and more. The target audience for the store is 35 to 40 year old women with sophisticated tastes. They were also trying to take a residential approach to the interior of the store. The way that the designers tried to accomplish this was through a natural palette using cherry wood and nickel finishes.

The design was completed by RYA Design Consultancy in Dallas, Texas. The creative director/partner is Mike Wilkins, the CEO/Partner is Tom Herndon, and the project manager Chris Chavez.

Fornarina is a specialty retail store in Mandalay Place, Las Vegas. The sales area is approximately 1501 to 3000 square feet. The design and architect for the space is Giorgio Borruso located in Marina del Rey, California. The architectural firm is Gensler from San Francisco. The general contractor for the project was Fineline Group out of San Francisco. Themain feature of the space are the fiberglass and resin panels as well as the amoebic looking units for shoe display. This store was named Store of the Year in 2004 International Store Design Competition. The space is filled with organic forms and shapes, bold colors, and a sense of movement. The space is designed to create a dreamy experience. The lighting consultants, North Shore Consulting Firm, helped the client to create the unusual lighting elements near the cash wrap. Judging from the image, there are about 20 pendant lights above this area hung at various levels.

All of this information was taken from Stores and Retail Spaces 7.

PRECEDENT RETAIL RESEARCH

The first retail space that I am referencing is a floral shop called Bloom at the W Hotel in New York, NY. According to the author, this space is defined as a CONCEPT SPACE. Concept space is defined as creating a space that is intimate and provides a challenging environment. The nature of the merchandise is the main emphasis of the concept store. This type of retail application is focused on many styles and genres, such as art gallery, art installation, and bars.clubs. The architect for the store is Janson Goldstein Architects located in New York, NY. The space was created to view the making of floral arrangements but also a space to spend time in. The facade is a 13 foot glass construction to allow the passerby to see into the store. There is a pool set into the floor that contains water plants to add to the theatrical mood of creating floral arrangements. There is a consultation area, where one can meet and discuss their purchase. This area is designated by an area lined with retractable drapes so that the space can function and public or private space. The display stands or troughs are oval shaped and made of tarnished stainless steel. The flooring is a neutral concrete slab, and the flooring also draws attention to the reflecting pool. The area for making bouquets and floral arrangments is set up like a bar. There is a stainless steel countertop with shelving behind that holds a variety of vase sizes and shapes. The floorplan , pictured below, shows the simple open plan and the images of the space reflect sophistication and a feeling of romance.

Information was taken from The Inspired Retail: Attract Customers, Build Branding, Increase Volume

Another retail space that I am researching is the service oriented store. A good example of this space is the Canyon Ranch's Living Essentials in Las Vegas, Nevada. The store is a health and beauty boutique. The space serves as a companion to the spa and the fitness center. The space is approximately 1200 square feet boutique. They are trying to incorporate the vision of the project with the entire brand to create a uniform design solution for the corporation. Canyon Ranch's Living Essentials was designed by the architect, MOVK. The motif for the space is based on botanicals, i.e. abstraction of an aloe plant, to emphasize healing and relaxation. The space was designed to counteract the typical Vegas setting, using simplicity and references to the natural color schemes of the desert. The desert theme is reflected in the materials, such as the river stones that outline the floor and a combination of light and dark woods. The lighting also promotes a relaxed setting, and lanterns are used in the fitting room. The epitomy of the sense of relaxation was the water wall on the 13 foot paneled wall. The plan is not shown in this excerpt, however, there are very good visuals of the space and the use of built-in furniture for displays.

PRECEDENT RESEARCH

I began researching the precedents for my Senior Capstone Project today in class. We are required to find five precedents of each individual type of space we are creating for the project. Since I am planning on doing retail and hospitality, I researched some existing examples of retail and hotel spaces that are used jointly. The names of the hotel/retail space are Bridemarket in New York and the Terence Conran Shop designed by Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates and the Bellagio Hotel i Las Vegas. I also researched some books to get from the library once studio and seminar class are both over.

The names of the books are as follows:
1. Design for Shopping: New Retail Interiors
2. The Inspired Retail Space: Attract Customers, Build Branding, Increase Volume
3. Stores and Retail Spaces 7
4. Stores and Retail Spaces 2
5. Hotel Design by Otto Riewoldt

The first hotel that I began researching from the library materials is The Metropolitan in London, and the interior designers are United Designers. Another hotel space that I found is known as the Meridien Lingotto in Italy, an the interior designer is Franco Mirenzi, Unimark. The unique shell incorporates the outdoors by having a glass corridor crossing a nicely planted courtyard in the center.

Some of the retail spaces that sparked my interest are the Liquor Control Board of Ontario with a tasting center and ask us stations. The spaces are created to emphasive movement and interaction within the retail setting. The other two places that I researched were a clothing store and a coffee shop. These are some of the different types of spaces that I want to create in my retail plaza. I also looked up the design on a smaller more portable solution to retail, the Kiosk. The example that I found is Fossil Kiosk at the American Airlines Terminal, JFK International Airport in Jamaica, New York.

Continuing my Development of Design Philosophy and Influences

Review Influences
Some of the project types that I have worked on throughout my academic career are office spaces, hotel design, a university (educational setting), healthcare, and an A. Hays Town residential project. To further expand my portfolio, I would like to create a retail center and hotel space. I think the combination of these two spaces will create a different type of hotel experience, one that encourages the visitors to go out on the streets and explore the area. According to Garvin, the author of The American City: What Works What Doesn’t, everything cannot be provided for the public in one central place. Otherwise, the people will not remove themselves from that single setting and search for the other goods that they desire. The retail space is intended to do this, by making a space for the hotel’s occupants and the public.

In the near future, I plan on attending graduate school for architecture. After graduating with my bachelors in Interior Design, I want to seek a job in a very competitive industry, such as hospitality or retail design. I am seeking to design a space that is able to adapt to the future demands of the changing market. Directly related to the changing market is the evolution of the design industry towards sustainability and green design. I hope to become LEED Certified to increase my marketability with employers.

Another consideration for my location is that there are currently two major hotels in the downtown area: The Hilton and The Sheraton. Based on the lecture given by David Rhorer, the Executive Director of Downtown Development in Baton Rouge, the downtown area is trying to create a built environment that “compliments the city.” The location that I chose is The Kress Building because it is located towards the opposite end of downtown from The Sheraton Hotel on 102 France Street and The Hilton Hotel on 201 Lafayette Street, which gives the downtown another tourist attraction, but also provides residential and commercial interaction. I envision the bottom floor to have a more outdoor and recreational use with the upper space (hotel) serving as a plaza overlooking the downtown area. This hotel will generate revenue for the downtown area in addition to providing an entertainment venue.

Recently, the Downtown Development Program has implemented a new ordinance, known as the Demolition and Relocation Ordinance. This ordinance makes historic preservation necessary by stating, “It shall be unlawful for the owner of any historic building within the Downtown Development District to undertake or contract for the demolition or relocation of any such building within such area without having first obtained approval from the Planning Commission.” A historic building is defined as a building that is at least 50 years of age. The demolition and relocation process involves holding a public hearing with proper notification between 10 and 20 days prior to the hearing. After the hearing, the Planning Commission must view the plans for the historic property. If there is opposition by a person who is affected by this decision, the appeal must be made within 10 days of the Planning Commissions’ publication of the decision. Currently, the Kress Building’s front facade on the first level has been demolished. For my Senior Capstone Project, I want to respect the historic nature and elements of the facade, but I also want to adapt them to the changing market. In order to create the plaza effect I intend on implementing, I will be demolishing the back wall as well. I feel that the side wall facing Laurel Street should remain since it creates a barrier for the adjacent parking lot. In the future, the wall may contain openings for elevators and an adjacent parking garage.

Another important concept that Mr. Rhorer discussed was the Facade Growth Program and way finding signage for pedestrian and vehicular use. The Facade Growth Program is taking a new approach to the street scape with pedestrians in mind. A great example of this consideration is awnings that shelter pedestrians from rain or direct sunlight. Another growing concern for the population is being able to see into the space. The open plaza I am proposing makes this possible for the pedestrians as well as enhancing the urban applications of my design. In continuation of the design for pedestrians, new interpretive signage is being incorporated onto the streets. This signage benefits not only the locals who work and interact in the setting on a daily basis but also the tourists who are unfamiliar with downtown Baton Rouge.

Naturally, the riverfront is an important feature to the downtown Baton Rouge area. Like the new terrace decks that are being implemented, similar spaces need to be implemented into my design of the hotel and plaza space. The way that I plan on taking advantage of the natural features is through a rooftop terrace and wonderful views of the waterfront on the North Street side of the hotel.

Identify Your Perspective
After 4 years in the Interior Design Program at Louisiana State University, I have learned that every space is uniquely determined by the users. In relation to this project, I am concerned with the reaction produced by the outdoor recreational space (retail) on the urban setting and the overlooking hotel. The execution of my design concept will be determined by the selection of materials, finishes, and furnishings of the spaces as well as the execution of technical drawings. Furthermore, my design will give consideration to broader aspects of design, such as urban development, environmental responsibility, and historic preservation.

I envision the independent study project to cover the following areas: 1. Selection of materials and finishes (Sustainable materials with green design as a focus), 2. Development of computer aided drawings (possibly with a set of construction documents as my focus), 3. 3-d renderings of a typical hotel room, the hotel lobby, and the retail space, 4. An additional rendering or drawing dedicated to the new facade of the Kress Building, 5. Consideration of historic facade, 6. Maintaining a budget of the materials, finishes, and furnishings that are used within the spaces, 7. Preparing specs for the furniture selections for each typical room type in hotel, and 8. Provide innovative solutions in the development of the retail space (innovative designs to make the space attractive to pedestrians).

Consider a Focus
The two focuses that I am considering for my project are either sustainability through green design or developing a set of construction documents. Here is a brief listing of why I chose sustainability and construction documents.

Sustainability
Environmental aspects
To learn more about the materials involved and different applications (roofing systems, water runoff, etc.)
To produce a space that reflects the outdoors in the interiors (the open recreational purpose of the plaza in relation to the interior spaces of the hotel)
I am very interested in learning about the principles and materials involved because of the growing importance of LEED Certification
Hesitant because we are going to implement sustainable materials in our healthcare project this semester

Construction Documents
To have a full set of construction documents that pertain to a commercial application
To illustrate the concepts of my design fully (plaza facade and hotel facade in relation to one another)
Since we are focusing on the needs of the downtown area, I find it important to research how the plan fits into the urban environment and surrounding street facade.

Developing my Design Philosophy

According to the project handout, the design philosophy is "to prepare a statement articulating your personal design philosophy that is meaningful to you and intelligible to others."
Consideration should be given to the student's experiences in education and design, personal interests, and goals for the future.

Here are some of the ideas for my design philosophy:
1. Keep the users of the space as the primary focus (function of the program): independent
agent to the client
2. Focus on commercial and residential interiors
3. Importance of sustainability and LEED Certification to the future of the profession
4. My ambitions to go to graduate school for a masters in architecture sometime after I
complete my bachelors degree in Interior Design

Seminar/Building Update 10/01/07

Today in class, we were given the building drawings for four of the buildings for our Senior Capstone Project. The buildings we were given plans for are the Kress/Levy Building, the Fuqua Building, the Hotel King, and 232 Third Street. After visiting the downtown area, I am debating about which location will be the best for my intended use.

I am looking mainly at the Kress/Levy Building and the Lyceum. They both have distinct architectural features, which may be the focus for my project. I would like it to be an eclectic mix of the Greek architectural elements and a more contemporary interpretation of the interiors. I do think that the historic character is important to preserve in downtown areas, but the area should not look neglected at the same time. I am debating on the focus being either historic preservation or sustainable initiatives (green design).

If it is feasible, I am very interested in the relevancy to urban planning, and I would like to incorporate concepts from Architecture 4062, Urban Planning, into my Senior Capstone Project. Part of this has already been incorporated into my design concept by observing the downtown area and the needs of the area. I think that a hotel would serve the area well if it has some other areas, such as a restaurant and bar with retail shopping area in a basement area of the hotel or somtething on those lines.