Workplace Trends

Culture

• collaboration
• teamwork
• innovation
• generational shifts
• global influence
• areas of relaxation/warmth
• teamwork
• areas that encourage innovation
• casual team meeting areas
• highly interactive areas adjacent to individual work
  

Corporate Identity

• qualities in the environment
• environmental awareness
• standards and guidelines
• image and branding
• economic value and efficiency
• space utilization
• efficient use power/data
• address acoustics
• balance privacy
• correct workstation size
• benching
• home office
• hoteling

Attraction and Retention

• visual interest
• open and transparent
• bring nature inside
• transparent/exposed/environmental
  
• playful/invigorating
• comfortable

Northern Guilford High School

General

• foyer - main office - guidance - ptsa
• atrium area - where students gather - lots of natural lighting
• designed as the heart of the school
• college/career center for information about different colleges

Media Center

• lots of natural lighting
• furniture is on wheels, allos for flexibility
• seating area (small nook)
• central desk (should be raised) - easy space to supervise
• problem corner (easy exit)
• space for a digital studio
• easily accessible computer lab
• hard to display and hang things

Auditorium

• balcony space
• color scheme
  
• no fly system in stage area
• tech booth located in back
• storage
• rehearsal rooms for students - located near stage - ability to change settings in space
• dance studio
• different wings for different subjects

Observations

• natural light was used throughout the spaces
• interior signage @ both schools (not very much permanent signage, not displayed at top quality)
• create a corridor space, not just a walkway
• courtyards were not being used to full potential
• work on interaction between grade levels; and better color schemes for each wing (feel a connection) (use student work - tackable surfaces)
• disconnect between middle school and high school
• communcal space (hallways + courtyards + individual classrooms + front entrance.
  

Northern Guilford Middle School

Entrance:

• innovative design
• security forces you to enter the main office
• living machine - water filtration process - water is used 2 or 3 times
• energy star rates school
• water retention ponds run off solar power to recirculate water

Media Center

• rarely turn lights on
• building is on 10 degree axis from the sun
• raised floor system - air is floating underneath floor - no duct work
• variable speed fans
• system automatically switches from heat to air
• carpet tiles (underneath is a concrete hybrid over top of subflooring access for HVAC)

Gym

• use natural lighting, fabric baffles to direct lighting into the space
• even light distribution
  
• use of fluorescent lights in space

General

• Separate wings for grade levels (fairly isolated)
• different schedules for different grade levels
• rooms are illuminated with daylight that is glare-free diffused sunlight. Provides full lighting levels during 2/3 of school hours
• under floor access available throughout school
• color strategy? - hallways have different colors and different colored lockers
• greenhouse on campus
• trying to avoid the use of mobile units
• exterior light shelf, helps to bring light into the space
• overflow spouts (water from roof)

Interior Light Shelf

• occupancy sensor
• light meter - measures footcandles, adjust the threshold for how much light is used in space
• complaints from teachers about having to much light in space, making it hard to see AV screens

Solar Domestic Water Heating

• Solar thermal panels preheat water to provide over 3/4 of the school kitchen's needs
• angled roof to catch daylight from all angles of building

Classrooms

• on average holds about 26 students
• teachers love natural lighting; but allow issues for screen
• no ability to open windows in the room
• desks allow for flexibility in space
• lots of storage - also personal storage

More Pics from Atlanta

Pics from Atlanta

The Dirty Dirty - Atlanta

So everyone (well almost everyone . . ) in fourth year traveled to the great city of Atlanta for a class field trip. We got some free time on our own to explore the city and look around, and while doing this we got to enjoy some beautiful SNOW!! On Monday and Tuesday we went to different design firms and showrooms throughout the city. It was so interesting to hear professionals talk about their careers and how they got there, and some of the work they do today. We actually met with a designer who graduated from UNCG about four years ago. It was very inspiring to meet someone who actually survived Iarc and is making it in the real world. It definitely gives me hope for the future, and the motivation to reach big. Something that I really enjoyed before leaving on our trip was creating a teaser card to market myself to the design firms that we met with.

Little Black Book of Connections Part II

Rules of Connecting

1. Be friendly first, and everything else falls into place.
2. Project your self-image in a way that breeds confidence in others.
   
3. Your ability to look someone in the eye as you speak to them is a tell-tale sign of your own self respect.
4. Your consistent positive attitude will breed positive responses and positive results.
5. No connection is made without some form of risk.
6. The principle is: Ninety percent of success is showing up prepared.
7. The less you focus on your motive to meet, the more likely it is that your connection will be successful.
8. Take a genuine interest in other people before you ask them to take a genuine interest in you.
   
9. The sooner you can find something in common with the other guy, the sooner all the barriers will disappear.
10. The higher up the ladder you go the more cautious people will be of your advances.
11. Your projected image will often determine your ability to make a real connection.
12. People judge you by every action that you take.
13. Provide value
14. Transferring your message with excellent communication skills.
15. Staying in touch is more important and more valuable than making the initial connection.
16. Since you don't know what day a powerful connection will be made, you must be ready everyday.
17. Your present reputation determines your future fate.
18. Be yourself, talk real, act real, be real, and you will find that others will do the same in return.