Visual Arts Charrette, February 6, 2001

The following report was prepared by the Architect and will be assumed to be correct unless written exceptions are received within two weeks of publication date.

 

     Meeting                                                                

          Date:     6 February 2001                                 Report Date:  23 February 2001                      

   Location:      Henry Wells Room, Long Library    

      Project:     Wells College Academic Functional Space Programming    

           

Project No:     98048E           

     Subject:      Academic Functional Space Programming with the Division of Arts

 

 

Attendees:      Wells College                            Theodore Lossowski, Associate Professor of Fine Arts

                                                                        William Roberts, Professor of Art

                                                                        Ellen Hall, Dean of the College

 

                        HOLT Architects                      Grace Chiang

                                                                       

Discussion:

1.       Art faculty expressed the need for additional space.  Current space is inadequate, the faculty envisions that roughly 50% more space is required.  G. Chiang suggested that it is important to actually quantify the space requirements.  This allows the stated space needs to be justified and supported by data for all who might review the functional program that is developed.  The number of stations and support space and storages space should be identified for each space.

 

2.       Faculty feel that the existing painting and drawing studios are particularly inadequate in size. 

 

3.       All spaces need:

a.       More and better arrangement of electrical outlets and lighting,

b.       Incandescent, fluorescent and natural lighting sources for each space, skylights are highly desirable,

c.       Uninterrupted wall hanging space for artworks.

 

4.       Would like to be able to set up easels in the drawing/painting studio in a circle.  Also need a teaching/instructor bench and a 4’x8’ table for cutting matting and paper crafts.

 

5.       Provide a central storage space for materials.

 

6.       Provide four (4) faculty offices each to accommodate a computer station, layout table for use in reviewing student work, light table for reviewing slides, desk and two visitor chairs.  Adjunct or visiting faculty might share an office.

 

7.       In addition each faculty requires studio space.  These are private spaces for faculty work and not generally intended for collaborative work.  Each space should have a utility sink and natural light.  Studios should be in the range of 500-700 SF each, a range of sizes would be appropriate and could be assigned based on the faculty’s medium of choice.  Additionally the faculty studios should be near the teaching studios.  It’s important for the students to know that the faculty are available and for faculty to set an example.

 

8.       It was suggested that alternative spaces be provided, perhaps in the student union, for the general student population, those not engaged in art classes.  Darkroom space, space to make posters, painting and other artwork related to student activities would reduce the current problems of students using art space and materials without permission.

 

9.       In general security of materials is an issue: control of equipment and the use of spaces during non-teaching hours.  It is desirable to make these available to students enrolled in art classes but not necessarily to others.  One idea that would help things considerably is to have the buildings and materials were accessed by an ID card access system.  Ellen indicated that this is something the college is hoping to do in the near future.

 

10.   If Visual Arts shares a building with Book Arts and Art History, the classrooms requirements would be as discussed at the meeting on January 29, 2001.  If Visual Arts is in a stand alone building then at least one 30-40 seat classroom would be needed.

 

11.   3-D Sculpture Studio

a.       Needs a separate adjacent 10’x15’space for plaster work. 

 

12.   Painting Studio needs to have a supporting space adjacent for stretching canvases etc.

 

13.   Woodworking shop needs to be adjacent 3-D sculpture studio and the painting studio.  Provide space for:

a.       Large tables, workbench with woodworking tools, materials storage such as lumber.

 

14.   Kilns should be in a separate space not with materials storage and clay mixing (as it currently is).  The following kilns are needed:

a.       Large oval electric kiln

b.       Large round electric kiln

c.       Medium electric kiln

d.       Test kiln

e.       Large gas kiln

f.        Small –medium gas kiln

g.       Raku kiln (outside)

The space should be immediately adjacent to the ceramics studio with storage shelves posts, pyrometric cones, 2 storage cabinets and five mobile carts.

 

15.   Clay mixing room should be adjacent to the studio.  Mixing clays allows for more control, is more economical (raw costs are maybe 10% of pre-made clays), and has less waste product.

     

 

Prepared by

 

HOLT ARCHITECTS, P.C.

 

 

 

Grace Chiang, AIA

Vice President

 

cc: Attendees, E. Hall, L. Ryerson, J. Woolford


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