• ES Español (Latinoamérica)
• EN English

6.24. Design Studio VI (Mandatory)

6.24.1. Justification ↑ Back to top

Design Studio VI: Mixed-Use Building raises the program and scale complexity introduced in Design Studio V (AR2D2, prerequisite) to a taller, mixed-use building that stacks residential, commercial, and/or civic uses and requires explicit coordination with building systems (structural, envelope, and MEP). Students design a building whose viability depends as much on development feasibility as on architectural resolution, and practice the project-management skills needed to carry a complex proposal from concept through a coordinated construction-ready design. This course is the foundation for the Urban Design Studio sequence that begins with Design Studio VII (AR3D1).

6.24.2. Generales Goals ↑ Back to top

1. Design the programming and spatial organization of a mixed-use building at a scale and complexity greater than any single-use project in the sequence so far.
2. Coordinate the structural, envelope, and building-system assemblies of a taller building within realistic floor-to-floor height constraints.
3. Select an appropriate seismic lateral-force-resisting system and detail the ductility measures required for a mixed-use building of increased height.
4. Evaluate the development feasibility of the proposed building – market, site, regulatory, and financial constraints – as part of the design process.
5. Apply project-management principles (scope, schedule, budget) to the development of a complex design proposal.

6.24.3. Contribution to Outcomes ↑ Back to top

AG-A05) Applies management principles and economic decision-making, considering risk, as a team member or leader, to manage projects in multidisciplinary environments. (Usage)

AG-A09) Creates architectural designs that satisfy aesthetic and technical requirements. (Usage)

AG-A12) Possesses the design skills needed to satisfy building users' requirements within cost constraints and building regulations. (Usage)

6.24.4. Content ↑ Back to top

6.24.4.1. Large-Scale and Complex Buildings (12 hours) [Skills AG-A09] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Schierle, 2012)

Topics

1. Programming and spatial organization at large scale: stacking diagrams, core-to-perimeter ratios, vertical circulation strategies,
2. Life safety and means of egress in large buildings: occupancy-based egress design, pressurized stairwells, refuge floors, fire compartmentalization, and NFPA/IBC requirements
3. Vertical transportation systems: elevator group design, sky lobbies, express/local zone strategies, escalators, and integration of vertical transport into building form
4. Hybrid and mixed-use building design: separating and linking residential, commercial, hotel, and civic programs; transfer floors, podium strategies, and shared amenity programming
5. Phased construction and building complexity: designing for construction staging, operational continuity, future expansion, and changeable use within long-lifespan complex buildings
6. Campus and master plan design at large scale: site organization, wayfinding, public realm, phasing, infrastructure coordination, and identity across a multi-building ensemble

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the key design challenges - program complexity, life safety, vertical transport, and phasing - that distinguish large-scale buildings from smaller architectural projects [Familiarity]
2. Apply large-scale building design strategies to develop a spatial and programmatic organization for a complex multi-story or mixed-use building typology [Usage]
3. Evaluate a large-scale building design for programmatic coherence, life safety compliance, and operational efficiency [Assessment]

6.24.4.2. Building Systems and Assemblies (10 hours) [Skills AG-A09] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Allen and Iano, 2019)

Topics

1. Integration of building systems: coordinating structural frame, mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP), envelope, and interior fit-out within constrained floor-to-floor heights
2. Construction documentation for assemblies: details at 1:5, 1:10, and 1:20; section-through-wall details, sill and head conditions, and coordination between architectural
3. Construction tolerances and coordination: dimensional tolerances in concrete, steel, and masonry; clearances for MEP rough-in
4. Waterproofing and moisture management: below-grade waterproofing systems, drainage planes, vapor barriers, and flashing at penetrations
5. Fire-rated assemblies: UL-listed wall, floor, and ceiling assemblies; fire-stopping at penetrations, intumescent seals, and the architectural detailing required by fire codes
6. Prefabricated and modular assemblies: volumetric modular construction, panelized wall systems, and the design implications of off-site manufacturing tolerances

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the principal building systems and describe how they are integrated and coordinated within a multi-story building assembly [Familiarity]
2. Develop construction-level details for a building assembly that correctly coordinate structural, envelope, and MEP systems within realistic tolerances and code requirements [Usage]
3. Evaluate a set of construction documents for assembly coordination quality, identifying conflicts, missing details, and buildability risks [Assessment]

6.24.4.3. Seismic Design for Architecture (10 hours) [Skills AG-A09] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Schierle, 2012)

Topics

1. Seismic hazards and site effects: fault rupture, ground shaking, liquefaction, landslide; site class effects on ground motion amplification
2. Lateral force-resisting systems for seismic resistance: moment frames, braced frames (concentric, eccentric), shear walls (reinforced concrete, wood), and dual systems
3. Ductility and capacity design: strong-column weak-beam, plastic hinge formation, confinement reinforcement in concrete columns,
4. Architectural integration of seismic systems: drift limits for cladding and partitions, seismic joints, diaphragm continuity,
5. Base isolation and energy dissipation: elastomeric and sliding bearings, tuned mass dampers, viscous dampers, and their impact on architectural detailing
6. Performance-based seismic design (PBSD): performance objectives (immediate occupancy, life safety, collapse prevention), nonlinear static pushover analysis,

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the primary seismic force-resisting systems and explain how building codes classify seismic risk and prescribe detailing for ductile behavior [Familiarity]
2. Apply seismic design principles to the early-stage design of a building, selecting an appropriate lateral system and configuring plan [Usage]
3. Evaluate an architectural design for seismic vulnerability, identifying plan irregularities (re-entrant corners, diaphragm discontinuities) [Assessment]

6.24.4.4. Development Process and Feasibility (10 hours) [Skills AG-A12] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Miles et al., 2007)

Topics

1. Development phases: site identification, option agreement, due diligence, entitlement (zoning, permits), design
2. Due diligence for development sites: title review, environmental assessment (Phase I and II), geotechnical investigation, zoning analysis, utility availability,
3. Entitlements and permitting: land use approvals (rezoning, variances, conditional use permits), building permits, impact fees (school, traffic, parks)
4. Feasibility study components: market support, site suitability, regulatory pathway, construction feasibility, financial pro forma (with sensitivity analysis),
5. Real estate pro forma basics: projected net operating income (NOI = gross potential rent minus vacancy allowance minus operating expenses), debt service coverage ratio (DSCR),

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the major stages of the real estate development process - predevelopment, construction, lease-up, disposition - and the due diligence [Familiarity]
2. Prepare a feasibility study for a proposed development, including market analysis, site due diligence summary, entitlement pathway, construction cost estimate, [Usage]
3. Evaluate a development pro forma for financial viability, identifying understated risk (vacancy, construction contingency) [Assessment]

6.24.4.5. Project Management and Construction Economics (8 hours) [Skills AG-A05] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Hendrickson, 1998)

Topics

1. Project management phases: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring/controlling, close-out; work breakdown structure (WBS), Gantt charts, critical path method (CPM),
2. Cost estimation methods: order-of-magnitude, schematic, design development, and construction document estimates
3. Value engineering (VE) in architecture: function analysis, cost-performance trade-offs, life cycle costing
4. Risk management for architectural projects: identifying design risks (code compliance, constructability), professional liability risks (errors and omissions),
5. Construction specifications: MasterFormat divisions (CSI), section organization (part 1: general, part 2: products, part 3: execution)
6. Construction quality management: quality plans and inspection/test plans (ITPs) aligned with ISO 9001, non-conformance reports (NCRs) and corrective actions, and compilation of the quality dossier (material certifications, test reports, inspection records, as-built verification) for project close-out

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the key project management activities for an architectural project: scheduling, cost estimating, value engineering, risk management, and quality management, [Familiarity]
2. Prepare a project schedule (Gantt chart) for a design project, linking deliverables to phases, and produce a schematic-level cost estimate using assembly-based unit costs [Usage]
3. Evaluate a project's budget and schedule performance against the baseline, using earned value management (EVM) metrics to identify cost or schedule overruns [Assessment]

6.24.5. Bibliography ↑ Back to top

Schierle, G. G. (2012). Architectural Structures. University of Southern California.

Allen, E. and Iano, J. (2019). Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods. Wiley, 7th edition.

Miles, M. E., Berens, G., and Weiss, M. A. (2007). Real Estate Development: Principles and Process. Urban Land Institute, 4th edition.

Hendrickson, C. (1998). Project Management for Construction: Fundamental Concepts for Owners, Engineers, Architects and Builders. Prentice Hall, 2nd edition.