BHDP Blog » Paul Orban http://www.bhdp.com/blog Thu, 17 May 2012 15:26:06 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Design Expertise http://www.bhdp.com/blog/design-expertise/ http://www.bhdp.com/blog/design-expertise/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:40:50 +0000 Paul Orban http://www.bhdp.com/blog/?p=316 Continue reading →]]> One could say the design of higher education environments is important, after all, they will be around for 50+ years. We’re currently master-planning the renovations for several academic libraries originally constructed in the 1960’s. Most haven’t been renovated since. New buildings on campuses will, for all intents and purposes, forever transform the experience of those that attend and support the academic institution.   The opportunity is one that should be carefully studied and developed. It is one we take very seriously. 

We must first understand the people for which we design. We must understand how they will learn, teach, recruit and retain. We must define and develop the design in collaboration with those that will ultimately inhabit and operate the space.

“Design Expertise”  is defined by the ability to balance these requirements: the people, their process and the collaborative venue to achieve great results. It is more than “cool” buildings, and it takes top talent to do it well.

]]> http://www.bhdp.com/blog/design-expertise/feed/ 0 Who is the Student? http://www.bhdp.com/blog/who-is-the-student/ http://www.bhdp.com/blog/who-is-the-student/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:05:09 +0000 Paul Orban http://www.bhdp.com/blog/?p=314 Continue reading →]]> As we prepare to plan libraries, science buildings and classrooms, the design process has typically been to quickly develop the “program of requirements”  (many times not much more than a list of spaces and sizes) and jump right into design concepts. Designers listen to what the client wants and needs. Many times this comes from the faculty and administration levels, with some or little input from the students. 1-3 years later, when the project is complete, will it meet the needs of the students?

We must strive to better understand the future inhabitants of our buildings. In a recent programming meeting, an administrator asked “do we really know what the students that will use this building will really want and need to be successful?” The question is an excellent one; do we really understand the characteristics and learning styles of the future students? Do we know how they will learn in both formal and social settings? And, do we know what they will look for in an institution of higher education, choosing one over the countless others they could attend?

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