Research Workbook

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Research Workbook

• University Cancer Treatment
• And Research Center
• Evan Wittig
• Master Design Studio I
• Fall 2006
• Instructor Scott Schellhase

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Section I

• Architectural Topic Research
• Summary of Theories
• Theoretical Issues
• Architectural Precedence
• Annotated Bibliography

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Architectural Topic Research

• Inspiration
• Before I started this project, I had a handful
  of options on what type of facility to work on,
  and what my thesis would be. Over the course of
  time, my thesis statement has changed, only
  briefly, based on my personal inspirations for
  this project, but my type of facility remains the
  same. My initial reason for choosing an Oncology
  Hospital was based on the fact that it would help
  me build a stronger thesis statement than if I
  chose any other facility type.
• I had no personal motivators going into this
  project, other than the fact that a lot of my
  family is in the medical profession, and I wanted
  to make an easier work environment for them.
  However, my perspective changed while I was
  photographing my site. My mother called to let me
  know that my grandmother was diagnosed with
  breast cancer three days after a series of major
  surgeries. I wasnt sure how to take it at that
  point, but I realized that this is something that
  goes on every day for doctors, families, and
  recently diagnosed cancer patients.

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Architectural Topic Research

• Inspiration (contd)
• Its a complicated world filled with challenges
  that we have to face everyday. Cancer changes the
  lives of not only those who are diagnosed, but
  their friends, family, and loved ones as well.
  The doctors and nurses who have to break that
  news need to be in a place of serenity, a place
  that nurtures those who occupy it. By
  incorporating my thesis statement into the
  process, one could design a facility that offers
  hope to those determined to fight the disease,
  consoles those who have lost someone to cancer,
  and nurtures those who are being diagnosed.
• Whether or not my grandmother makes it through
  this trial, I am determined to make a place that
  she would have been happy to go to a place where
  she would have been under good care, and where
  the family could focus on her and not their
  discomfort in the hospital. My inspiration has
  always been my grandmother, and its a
  coincidence that she would be my main inspiration
  for this project. I do this for her.

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Architectural Topic Research

• Personal Assertions
• Hospitals should not just be where sick people
  go to get better, and should never be treated
  that way. The concept of a hospital should be an
  experience of space and color. It should be a
  worthwhile place for doctors and nurses to feel
  comfortable working. It should be a place where
  the sick feel motivated to get better, and where
  the dying can do so with a peaceful state of
  mind. Whether you spend only a few days or your
  final days in an oncological facility, your time
  there should be able to offer a glimpse of all
  the beautiful things in life, thus adding to
  psychological comfort. The unique capabilities of
  sight and touch on the psych can help play a
  large role in the healing process, and should be
  taken as far as they can.

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Architectural Topic Research

• Summary of Theories
• Topic A research-based study on the role of
  physical and psychological comfort in the
  hospital setting focusing mainly on the effects
  of visual and thermal comfort in oncological
  facilities. The overall objective is to create
  comfortable spaces that are user-specific,
  individually unique, but also easy to navigate.
• Assertion The way that patients and their
  families, doctors, nurses, and staff experience
  space within a hospital can have beneficial
  physical and psychological outcomes for all
  parties.
• Thesis By utilizing experimental studies in
  physical and psychological comfort, one can
  create a facility type that is user-friendly. All
  who work and occupy the spaces within this
  Oncology Hospital will be nurtured by all the
  various elements incorporated into the design
  that goes into this facility, and will be both
  physically comfortable and psychologically at
  ease.
• Project A 120-bed Cancer Research and Treatment
  Center based off the Texas Tech University
  Southwest Cancer Research Center.

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Architectural Topic Research

• Summary of Theories
• Theory Employed Physical and psychological
  comfort in the hospital settingmaking the way
  one feels within, and the way one experiences
  progression throughout an oncological facility a
  nurturing, and not stressful, experience.
• Physical Comfort factors are derived from two
  out of the five senses sight and touch. These
  factors applied into the design process will have
  an adverse effect on psychological comfortmaking
  one feel at ease in their built environment.

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Architectural Topic Research

• Theoretical Issues for Visual Comfort
• Color
• Through Nature
• Views Outside, Foliage Inside, Colors of Sunrise,
  Sunset, Etc.
• Through Art
• Famous/Recognizable Pieces, Colorful Pieces,
  Mood-driven (psych)
• As a means of way finding and denoting spaces
• To affect how you feel
• (Warm v. Cold, Light v. Dark, Happy v. Sad
  (psych)
• Assigned to types of spaces
• This also affects the moods of those who occupy
  those spaces (psych)
• Light
• Quality v. Quantity
• Natural v. Artificial
• Direct v. Indirect
• Flourescent v. Incandescent
• Mechanized Shading Devices

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Architectural Topic Research

• Theoretical Issues for Visual Comfort
• Artistic Expression through Interior Design
  (Sight and Touch, Psychological)
• Artistic Expression through Landscaping (Sight
  and Touch, Psychological)
• Space
• Orientation and sorting of spaces
• Easy Access, Convenient Locations, Separation of
  Public/Private, Wayfinding
• Experience of Arrival
• Human Scale
• Experience during Procession through Interior
  Spaces
• How different people experience space
• Natural Beauty (Also related to Comfort by Touch)
• Fish Tanks with Aquatic Life
• Fountains
• Other types of water features

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Architectural Topic Research

• Theoretical Issues for Comfort by Touch
• Texture
• Temperature
• Carpet vs. Hard Floor
• Recreational Climbing Wall
• Possible rooms for pets (depending on
  sterilization)
• Comfortable rooms with interactive access
• Games and toys for children, and interactive
  activities for adult patients

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Architectural Topic Research
Architectural Precedence
Color and Light1
Color and Light1
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Architectural Topic Research
Architectural Precedence
Experience Of Common Space2
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Architectural Topic Research
Architectural Precedence
2
Experience Of Light and Space
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3
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Architectural Topic Research
Architectural Precedence
Comfort through Landscape2
Physical Comfort in Exam Room2
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Architectural Topic Research
Architectural Precedence
Procession3
Comfort by Touch3
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Architectural Topic Research
Architectural Precedence
www.mechoshade.com
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Architectural Topic Research
Architectural Precedents

• West Dade Radiation Oncology Center, Nurses
  Station, Doral, Florida
• The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer
  Center Ambulatory Clinical Building, Houston,
  Texas
• AMBULATORY CARE CENTERRees Associates, Inc.
  Oklahoma City, OKOU Physicians Medical Office
  Building Parking Garage Addition Oklahoma
  City, OK
• Other Precedents in PDF Format
• Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center,
  Lititz, PA
• Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Outpatient Care Center and Martha Jefferson
  Hospital, Charlottesville, VA

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Architectural Topic Research
Annotated Bibliography
Clark, Roger H., and Michael Pause. Precedents in
Architecture. 2nd ed. New York John Wiley
Sons, Inc., 1996. This book is used for listing
all precedents on facility type, and shall be
relied on for determining precedents for
circulation, form, space, compartmentation, flow,
parti, and hierarchy. Many of the works broken
down in this book are from many of the most
influential architects of our time. Meier,
Richard. Richard Meier Architect (1992/1999). New
York Rizzoli, 1999. Call Number ARCH REF.
NA737.M44.A4 1999 c.3 This book is volume 3 in
the series and contains all of the major works of
Richard Meier from 1992-1999. The book is mainly
a compilation of photographs from each building
during this time, with a short introduction of
each building at the beginning of each new
building. The Getty Center is part of this
collection.
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Architectural Topic Research
Other References

• Tochihara, Yukata Ohnaka, Tadakatsu.
  Environmental Ergonomics. Kidlington Elsevier
  Ltd., 2005.
• Environmental Comfort. Somfy Architecture. 22
  July 2005. 1 Nov. 2005 lthttp//www.somfy.com/archi
  tecture/gt.
• Pheasant, Stephen Haslegrave, Christine M.
  Anthropometry, Ergonomics and the Design of Work.
  Boca Raton CRC Press, 2006.
• Mutafelija, Boris Stromberg, Harvey. Systematic
  Process Improvement Using ISO 90012000 and CMMI.
  Norwood Artech House, Inc., 2003.
• Health Design Magazine. www.healthdesignmagazine.c
  om
• www.mechshade.com

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Section II

• Facility Research
• Summary of Facility Requirements
• Epistemology of Facility Type
• Excerpts from Related Precedence/Case studies
• Interviews
• Facility Issues
• Systems Analysis
• Activity/Spatial Analysis
• Unique Requirements and Equipment
• Architecture Precedence

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Facility Research
Summary of Facility Requirements
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Facility Research
Summary of Facility Requirements

• Additional Spaces to be Added
• Restaurant
• Kitchen
• Waiting Rooms
• Educational Classrooms
• Mechanical Rooms
• Storage / Supply Closets
• Janitorial Supply
• Restrooms (Apart from Bedrooms)
• Locker Rooms / Showers
• Service / Supply Dock
• Laboratory
• Doctors Offices / Nurses Offices
• Instructors Offices

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Facility Research
Epistemology of Facility Type
The 19th century saw the birth of scientific
oncology with the discovery and use of the modern
microscope. Rudolf Virchow, often called the
founder of cellular pathology, provided the
scientific basis for the modern pathologic study
of cancer. As Morgagni had correlated the autopsy
findings observed with the unaided eye with the
clinical course of illness, so Virchow correlated
the microscopic pathology.This method not only
allowed a better understanding of the damage
cancer had done to a patient but also laid the
foundation for the development of cancer surgery.
Body tissues removed by the surgeon could now be
examined and a precise diagnosis made. In
addition, the pathologist could tell the surgeon
whether the operation had completely removed the
tumor. Over the course of time, cancer treatment
and research has dramatically improved, and the
facility type is becoming more technical through
advanced practices. This new facility is going to
have to be able to adjust to the non-stop
advancement of technology and modern medicine,
while not forgetting where its roots are from.
This type of facility started from the most basic
studies of cells, and is now what can only be
described as a remarkable building type that is
constantly needing upgrading due to advanced
research.
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Facility Research
Excerpts from Related Precedence
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Facility Research
Excerpts from Related Precedence
Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center
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Facility Research
Interview
Theresa M. Wittig, R.N. While asking my mother
what she thought was one of the biggest issues of
working in one of San Antonios largest hospitals
for over 20 years, she said that it was just too
much walking. She immediately followed by
saying, All nurses have had the same problem
since Ive been here they just hate how much
walking they have to do everyday. Her response
made a lot of sense to me because when she told
me how the stress of the job alone was more than
enough to handle, putting their body to the
limits on long shifts took a lot out of them. She
said that one of the main reasons why she left
was because of just that long walks every day
have a long term affect on the psychological
aspects of the job. If only comfort levels were
improved, and walking distances were subtracted
substantially, maybe the retirement age of nurses
wouldnt be so low.
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Facility Research
Systems Analysis
The structural system for this facility type will
be structural steel building with castellated
beams on a 20x20 primary grid. Secondary grid
types will be based on a specific case-by-case
basis. A combination of glass curtain walls,
Texas stone, brick, and any native materials that
will help the facility fit into context. A
parking garage and skywalk will have separate
structural systems from the main building.
Building Structure
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Facility Research
Facility Issues

• Sterilization of Spaces is a concern for this
  type of facility, which is why vegetation isnt
  usually allowed. However, access to views of
  natural vegetation and plants could and should be
  an alternative solution.
• Security is always an issue in an hospital type,
  and should never be ignored. While spaces can
  still be open to great views, as well as close to
  other important spaces, they should still be
  secured by keypads in order to keep out any
  unauthorized personnel.
• Other facility issues would be way finding
  through the building, location of nurses
  stations, walking distances, and fire escape
  access routes.
• This building is most likely going to be broken
  down into compartments or user-specific areas,
  such as educational, laboratory, public spaces,
  ERs, and ORs. This will hopefully help avoid
  confusion of way finding, and will also promote
  better security of private spaces.

Building Structure
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Facility Research
Activity/Spatial Analysis Horizontal Diagram
Building Structure
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Facility Research
Unique Requirements and Equipment
Equipment CT Scan (Computerized
Tomography) MRI Radiation Simulator Bone
Scanner Nuclear Testing Blood Lab Pyxis Supply
Stations Staffing Surgical Specialists Pediatr
icians Anesthesiologists Hematologists Areas
Operating Rooms Infusion Rooms Outpatient
Facilities Inpatient Facilities Diagnostics X-r
ay Emergency Room Bone Marrow Transplant Unit
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Architectural Topic Research
Architectural Precedents

• Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center,
  Lubbock, TX
• Other Precedents and Excerpts in PDF Format
• Wake Forest University Baptist Medical
  Center-Comprehensive Cancer Center,
  Winston-Salem, NC
• Lobby Space and glass curtain wall
• CyberKnife Center, Saint Josephs Hospital,
  HealthEast Care System, Saint Paul, MN
• Interior waiting spaces and examination rooms
• Floyd and Delores Jones Cancer Institute at
  Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA
• Interior Design (materials, color, lighting)
• Huntsman Cancer Research Hospital at the
  University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
• Landscaping, views, natural daylighting
• Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca-Radiation
  Medicine Center, Ithaca, NY
• Interior waiting spaces and examination rooms
• NYU Clinical Cancer Center, New York, NY
• Materials and lighting

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Section III

• Context Research
• Site Context Analysis
• Site Utilities
• Site Image Analysis
• Contextual Issues
• Architectural Precedence

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Context Research
Site Context Analysis
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Context Research
Site Utilities at UMC
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Context Research
Satellite Image of Site
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Context Research
Site Image Analysis
Access / Point of Entry
Visual Link to Umc
Existing Landscaping
Bridge over creek bed
Access / Point of Entry
Existing Playa Lake
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Context Research
Site Image Analysis
Existing Landscaping
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Context Research
Site Image Analysis
Panoramic Image of Site
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Context Research
Contextual Issues
Theres a lot of natural beauty that this site
has to offer, that can easily be molded and
altered in order to benefit the new Oncology
Hospital. Its direct links to UMCs Southwest
Cancer Treatment and Research Center, as well as
all of the other departments of UMC, make this
site capable of interacting with its neighboring
facility while still having a sense of privacy
and independence. Because the roads leading to
the proposed site are not yet completed, there is
still plenty of freedom for how those roads are
directed before reaching Quaker. With more than
enough room to build on before getting too close
to setbacks and boundaries, and natural
landscaping that already enhances the beautiful
views from this semi-secluded site, I feel
confident that this site can take any design
above and beyond where it wants to go.
Observations About Site- Location of site is
fairly flat, but surrounded by unique
topography- Located to west of playa lake and is
surrounded by major access roads- Water drains
towards playa lake- Secluded enough for
beautiful views of West Texas Sunsets and
Daybreaks- Beautiful natural landscaping _at_ Field
Research and Tree Nursery- Solar factors are
favorable for solar power (No Obstructions to
daylight)- Can share utilities with HSC and UMC
and branch tunnel access from CHACP 2- Not
threatened by any current utilities other than
irrigation lines (can be moved or removed)
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Context Research
Architectural Precedence Based on Context
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Context Research
Architectural Precedence Based on Context
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Context Research
Architectural Precedence Based on Context
Most of the precedence based on context for the
area is focused towards the Texas Tech University
System of Spanish Renaissance Revivalism, and the
University Medical Center. Though the new
Oncology Hospital may not take the same
architectural approach as have the two different
university systems, it will be able to adapt
itself to the two, and fit within the context
that is West Texas. The way it will do that is by
feeding off the strengths that the Lubbock Plains
have to offer beautiful views of the West Texas
sunsets and daybreaks. Other contexts in which
this new facility will use as precedence is the
existing Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research
Center, which is based off of UMC. The unique
design given to this building is a fine example
of a different type of architecture fitting
itself within its natural context and
environment. It will be a valuable starting point
for the design process.
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End of Research Workbook