IAR Design Blog

CNNC Final Boards

2008-05-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

Process Work and Some Final Stuff.. Having Trouble with the Rest of the Final JPGS

2008-05-09T08:10:00.000-07:00

Final Reception Desk
Final Reception Desk
Final Signage

Interim Model
Interim Boards

Interim Boards

Interim Models of 3 Spaces

Process Work: Reception sketch models and sketchy materials presentation

Final CNNC Boards

2008-03-19T05:57:00.001-07:00

Board Composition
Floor Plan
Elevation looking from inside toward North wall
Elevation looking from inside toward South wall

Final CNNC Perspectives

2008-03-19T05:48:00.001-07:00

Function Hall with mobile stage, seating, and dining, located on Aycock St. side of building in smaller vaulted space. Large kitchen, additional storage space, computer lab, and small conference room located behind stage.

Left side of Reception Area with glass wall showcasing Function Hall. Seating and refreshments are pictured here, reception desk would be on the right side of Reception Area. Doors to public bathrooms are also represented here.

Reception Area leads into the Office Area. Here is one set of "Office Suites" with a smaller, private meeting area behind it.

Staff Lounge/Copy and Mail room: Dining tables are in the foreground then a lounge area with sofas, and beyond that a large closet and the Mail/Copy room. Looking the other way the kitchenette and staff bathrooms would be seen.

Process Work: Preliminary Perspectives

2008-03-18T08:29:00.001-07:00

Auditorium
Office Suites
Auditorium
Staff Lounge

2008-03-17T10:37:00.001-07:00

CNNC Process Work

2008-02-28T09:40:00.001-08:00

east-west elevation 1/16" scale
north-south elevation 1/8" scale
1st solid floor plan 1/16" scale
Sketchy floor plan using movable pieces for experimentation

CNNC Process Work

2008-02-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

Bubble Diagram for CNNC Program

2008-02-11T00:24:00.000-08:00

CNNC Program

2008-02-10T21:55:00.000-08:00

Reception Area

Desk
Phone
Computer
Filing
Trashcan
Printer
Fax
Scanner
Rolling/swivel chair

Bathroom (Men’s)

Urinal
Toilet
Sink
Soap dispenser
Energy efficient hand dryer
Mirror
Trash
Grab bars

Bathroom (Women’s)

Toilet
Sink
Soap dispenser
Energy efficient hand dryer
Mirror
Trash
2 seat sofa
Baby changing station
Grab bars
Sanitary napkin disposal
Feminine hygiene dispenser
Client Seating
15 cushioned chairs with armrests
Magazines and holder
TV
Table
Coffee maker
Cups
Refreshments
End tables
lamps
Child’s Play Area
Toys
Books
Shelves
Bin/box for storing toys
Plastic playset

Private Offices

Director
Desk
Drawers
Pullout space for keyboard
Storage for computer
Computer
Printer
Phone
Bookshelf
Curtains
At least 3 outlets
Trash receptacle
Official chair
2 cushioned client chairs
Closet for coat with shelving
Filing cabinets
Plant
Desk lamp

Assistant Director
Desk
Drawers
Pullout space for keyboard
Storage for computer
Computer
printer
Phone
Filing cabinets
Official chair
2 client chairs
Plant
Curtains
At least 3 outlets
Desk lamp
Bookshelf
Desk Suites
Desk
Drawer for files
Computer
One printer per suite
Phone
Official chair
2 client chairs
Private meeting area
Table seating for 5
Single bathroom per suite
Toilet
Sink
Energy efficient hand dryer
Soap dispenser
Mirror
Trash receptacle
Large filing cabinet per suite
Fire extinguisher, alarm, sprinkler system per suite

Conference Room (Large)

15-20 person table elliptical
Whiteboard
Projector
Phone
Podium
Paper towel dispenser
Coat rack
Bookshelf
Wireless connection
Swivel/rolling chairs
Small storage closet
Fire extinguisher
Fire alarm
Trash receptacle

Conference Room (Medium)

10-15 person table
15 stackable cushioned chairs
Whiteboard
Phone
Paper towel dispenser
Coat rack
Small storage closet
Fire extinguisher
Sprinkler system
Fire alarm
Trash receptacle

Auditorium

Stage
Curtain
Podium
Microphone
Viewing screen
Projector
100 foldable chairs
3 racks
Huge closet
Sink
Shelves
Janitorial supplies
Water basin
Phone
Fire extinguisher
Sprinkler system
Fire alarm

Large Kitchen

Industrial appliances
Refrigerator
Oven
Surface units
Microwave
Dishwasher
Garbage disposal
Sink
Cabinets/cupboards
Cutlery
Silverware
Dinnerware
Extensive counter space
Rolling carts
Fire extinguisher
Fire alarm

Lounge

3 small round tables
Roughly seating for 3
2 2-seat sofas
One single “sofa”
End tables
Vending machine
Soda machine
TV
Curtains
Lamps
10 chairs

Kitchenette

Microwave
Refrigerator
Oven/surface units
Several cabinets/cupboards
Counter space
Cookware
Coffee maker
Fire extinguisher
Fire alarm

Mail/Copy Space

Computer
Phone
Paper shredder
Paper cutter
Mail machine
Paper cutter
Copier/fax machine
Shelving for packages
Organizing cubbies for larger mail
Mailboxes
Recycling bins
Trash
drawers for storing envelopes, writing utensils, scissors etc.

Court Yard

4 two-seat benches
bird bath
flowers
trash receptacle
cigarette disposal
walkway

Large, Outdoor Space

5 picnic tables
BBQ pit
Playground
Sandbox
Flowers
Drinking fountains

Welcome Mat China

2008-01-30T07:31:00.000-08:00

IAR 202 Welcome Mat Process Work

2008-01-29T20:51:00.000-08:00

IAR 202: Life Portrait

2008-01-25T07:02:00.000-08:00

From Dreamland to True Democracy

January 20, 2008 began as a seemingly ordinary Sunday breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Hickory, North Carolina. But the breakfast date between Renee Chaput, Katherine Atkinson, and Atkinson’s former employer at Boyle’s in Hickory’s Furniture Mart, Mehdi Amrani, quickly turned into a roundtrip flight to the enraptures of the North African country of Morocco.
Amrani began his tale as a child growing up in an affluent Moroccan family in the city of Tetuan. He stressed the relaxed and friendly nature of his native people. He described his home country as a “dreamland” where he could relax in his open courtyard, where no one was ever in a hurry, where the family could count on one another and came together for meals which may take hours on end. We were shown pictures of the architecture so brilliant with color and so meticulously hand-carved, painted, and tiled. It still amazes Amrani to this day that such architecture could survive since the twelfth century while nothing in America is more than 200 years old. With a smile, he spoke of the maids that lived with his family that would bathe them in their Turkish bath.
His world was tropical and mountainous all at the same time. Spain could be seen across the Mediterranean if he stood at the very tip of the city of Tanger where he would begin his tours when he worked as a Moroccan tour guide by bus. After becoming interested in Hospitality at school in Switzerland and Spain, Amrani would tour all over Morocco enlightening tourists at every stop from Tanger, down the Atlantic coast to Rabat and Agadir, then up toward the middle of the country through Marrakech. He practiced the many languages that he’d learned, including English, simply by talking to strangers. Morocco has a very diverse culture with three primary languages spoken: French, Spanish, and Arabic. When the tour guiding in the northern part of the country slowed down during the winter months, Amrani decided to venture over to the States.
After going back to Morocco for more tour guiding, at age 30, Amrani decided to begin a life in the states where he met his now ex-wife. He was contacted by a Vermont man who had met him while touring Morocco and wanted his expertise on importing antiques from Morocco. Amrani als During this same time, in Montreal, the synthetic fur business was heating up. Montreal businesses were opening synthetic fur shops in Vermont at which Amrani found himself working. Amrani simply walked into the store in his suit with no appointment and was directed to the manager’s office. The manager, being equally as foreign as Amrani, made an instant connection and hired him on the spot with no experience whatsoever. After 3.5 years the store closed down and Amrani became interested in the furniture market.
Amrani made some telephone calls to the large and expanding corporation known as Halfmancoeurs, centralized in New Jersey. He traveled there for an interview and was, once again, hired on the spot by the African American president of the company. That month, and every month and year after, Amrani earned rank as the top selling employee. “It’s all about people skills and connections.” After 13 years, the company had begun to go under and Amrani was ready for a change. After he and his wife divorced, Amrani moved to North Carolina where he had a brother living there. After a few months of relaxing, Amrani began searching for a new job.
Being the furniture giant that North Carolina is, Amrani knew that it was the perfect place for him. He made an appointment with the president of the Century Firm through a connection he had in New Jersey. After being told that there were no more positions, he received a call from the Vice President requesting an interview. Loving Amrani’s impressive record from New Jersey, he offered him a job and Amrani has been working at Boyle’s ever since.
And now, at 60 years old, when asked if he had any regrets, he simply replied, “I wouldn’t change my life for anything.” Amrani has no intentions of retiring any time soon or venturing back to Morocco for good for he does not intend to put up with the lack of a “true democracy.” He feels, as many of us do, that Americans often take their freedom for granted.

IAR Proverb

2008-01-15T19:45:00.000-08:00

An inch of time is an inch of gold, but you can't buy that inch of time with an inch of gold.