HOSPITALITY GROUP PROJECT

I researched for the group project Wednesday, August 29th and found about six sources. I began my research by studying the evolution of hospitality, the transition from then to now. The sources I found are from Hospitality Design Magazine, The Gettys Hotel of Tomorrow Project, the Architectural Products, and two book sources. The first book source is Hotel Design, Planning, and Development by Rutes, Penner, and Adams. The second book source is New Hotel by David Collins. The first source had an interesting chart discussing the different branches of the hotel industry. There is also a timeline that shows the progression from ancient times to the present condition. I found it very interesting that hotels began as inns and boarding houses that were for pure functionality in the trade and travel industry. Now, hotels are designed for the purpose of luxury, sophistication, escapism, and fantasy.

The Hotel of Tomorrow project was designed by a company called Gettys, based out of Chicago, and the Hospitality Design Magazine. The company is focused on creativity and innovation through technological advances and new ideas about the use of the space. This bed is retractable and also can serve as a single sleeper of a king side bed.

According to the Architectural Products Magazine, the future of the hospitality industry lies with a more residential feel as well as a focus on green design. I sited several examples of the growing industry from the Lygon Arms Hotel (earliest form of hotel is inn) to the Grand Hotel in Europe to the development of green design shown at The Orchard Garden Hotel in San Francisco.

I also began by creating a template for the powerpoint presentation and putting my research into these slides. I emailed the template to my other group members. We had a group meeting yesterday on Thrusday, August 30th and brought our resources that we each independently researched.

Fieldtrip to CEBA

Within the C x C lab in CEBA, there are approximately 13 to 14 computers and 10 seats in a seating area. When there are a lot of people in the space, circulation within the space becomes congested. The computers are on the left side of the room and the seating group is on the right side of the room with a path that goes between the two areas. There are also two cubicles in the far back corner, which are for the professors that work there. There is also a cutting station in the back with a large plotter and 3d modeling machine that makes plastic models from a 3d program called Solid Works or Viz. When first entering the space, there is a desk for the student worker. Adjacent to the desk is a literature rack with helpful tips on how to write technical papers, poster design, executive summary, etc. This aspect of the room helps to foster written and visual skills. Also on the opposite side of the clear glass panels and wall is a conference room. Within the room is a conference table, a white marker board, and digital media to make presentations with. You can choose to have yourself taped as well so that one can work on their communication skills, a crucial goal of the C x C labs. The technological aspect of the lab is apparent with the computers provided, the plotters, and the ability to tape your presentation for improvement purposes.

The female professor advised me to take into consideration the space. For them in CEBA, a wider space would be more beneficial as well ass adding more group gathering spaces. The chairs in the seating area are mobile and also have desks attached so that people can form their own groups as desired. I also noticed the projection screen above the wall separating the conference room from the main area. This projection screen is used if there is a presentation in the room. Also the female professor stated that the magnetic cabinets were a great asset to the space. The other professor explained that ideally an office that opens to the student work area would be a better work space for him to concentrate within than the cubicles that they are provided with.

Another important feature of the C x C lab are the graphics posted on the walls. There are posters that provide tips on visual communication as well as services offered by the lab, such as the Solid Works plastic modeling machine.

The picture above is of the student work spaces. They seem spacious enough. The table as two semicircles out together to create one circular unit. All of the furniture and seating is mobile within the space allowing for different configurations or rearranging in the future. There is one table that is rectangular, and the table is able to hold 4 computers. The last two views are looking into the conference area and view of the left side of the room with the students' workstations.