Architectural Programming 

Design Concept

gives a physical/design solution for a problem

 Architectural Programming

Programming Statement

 states the problem. no solution or strategy given

Architectural Programming

Functional Program

owner provided data for analysis/creation of a Facilities Program

Architectural Programming 

Facilities Program

the research and decision-making process that identifies the scope of work to be designed including, area minimums and adjacencies, ballpark costs and site analysis

Architectural Programming

4 Components of Programming

• Function: the objectives and needs (what it should do)

• Form: site, structure, existing components

• Economy: budget to build and to maintain/operate

• Time: the schedule needed to complete the work

Architectural Programming 

Difference of Programming and Design

• Programming finds the problems, parts, and data.
   
• Design solves the problem.

Architectural Programming 

Programming Analysis Goal

• Clarify the owner’s concerns early in order to prevent major changes in the design process or avoid too much/not enough space later. This also gets everyone on the same page, so there’s less conflict. 
• Address current issues, but also be conscious of future growth and changes that may take place after the project is complete (how would the owner add on/remodel?)

Architectural Programming 

Programming Process

• Establish Goals: What are the owner’s goals for the project 
• Gather Data: organize all site, context, users/occupancy, equipment, codes, budget, expenses, project specific information 
• Find Relationships: What things go together, what issues will be critical during the design process 
• Establish Priorities: most important function, second most, third….based on use and budget (eg: what’s more important- a fancy lobby, or equipment in the lab?)
• State the Problem: What needs to be answered in the design.

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data 

Catchment Areas aka market, trade, or tributary area

Geographic area from which the participants in an activity are drawn. It grows and shrinks with the activity.

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data  

Residential Catchment Areas

Determined by local transit systems.

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data 

 Proctor Compaction Test

Geotechnical tests to determine the maximum, practically achievable, density of soils and aggregates.

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data  

Survey 

Baseline

Parallel (line that follows latitudes of earth) used as the basis for the east‐west layout of the US Survey system

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data  

Survey 

Standard Parallels

Parallels between the baselines in the US Survey

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data 

Survey 

Principal Meridian

Meridian (north-south line that follows longitude of earth) that serves as the basis for the north‐south grid layout of the US Survey

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data 

Survey

Guide meridian

Meridians between the principal meridians

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data 

 Survey 

Metes‐and‐bounds

Verbal description of land that begins at a known point and describes the bearing and length of each side of the property until the point of the beginning is reached

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data 

Topography 

Contour Interval

Change in elevation between two contours. Smaller scaled maps typically have a larger interval for clarity

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data 

 Topography

 Crown/Ridge

Contours point “down” toward the lower elevation

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data 

 Topography

 Swale/Valley

Contours point “up” towards the higher elevation

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data 

Topography

 Hills

Concentric circles with elevations getting higher towards the center

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions & Data 

 Topography

 Depression

Concentric circles with the elevations getting lower towards the center

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions and Data

Water

Swamp

Wetland that features permanent inundation of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water, generally with a substantial number of hummocks, or dry‐land protrusions

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions and Data 

Water

 Swale

An elongated depression in the land surface that is at least seasonally wet, is usually vegetated and is normally without flowing water.

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions and Data 

Water 

Detention Pond

Low lying area that is designed to temporarily hold a set amount of water while slowly draining to another location. They are more or less around for flood control when large amounts of rain could cause flash flooding if not dealt with properly

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions and Data

 Water 

Retention Pond

Designed to hold a specific amount of water indefinitely. Usually the pond is designed to have drainage leading to another location when the water level gets above the pond capacity, but still maintains a certain capacity

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions and Data 

Water

 Riparian Rights

System of rights and duties that determine the reasonable use, duties, and allocations of water to owners of waterfront property (includes bottomland, beach, and upland, but not the water itself). Owners can use water adjacent to their property, but can’t infringe upon the rights of others to use the water.

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions and Data 

Water 

Sheet Flow

Water that flows across paved surfaces.

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions and Data 

Energy

Albedo

how much radiant energy that is reflected by a surface where 0 is a flat black surface which absorbs all heat and 1 is a mirror (rate is listed as a fraction).

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions and Data 

Energy

Conductivity

the speed with which heat passes through a material. Metals are high, and soils/sand are low.

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions and Data 

Weather/Climate

Macroclimate

based on latitude, elevation, and proximity to water. Water reduces temperature extremes.

• Islands/Costal Region = constant & moderate temperature
• Arid/Desert Region = low humidity & greater temperature variation
• Mountainous Region = winds are forced to rise

Interpreting Existing Site/Environmental Conditions and Data 

Energy

Microclimate

based on solar radiation, the angle between the ground and altitude

- Greatest sun rays = perpendicular to ground

- Winter Solstice = least hours of sun and low sun angle

- Summer Solstice = most hours of sun and high sun angle 

- Vernal/Autumnal Equinox = equal hours of sun and dark