by Jeff Serbin | Oct 16, 2014 | Architectural Planning, Architecture, Blog, Collaboration, Planning, Uncategorized
Design and construction is a lengthy process not understood by many. From my experience, the typical client wants to occupy a space faster than what is feasible. I am a realist when it comes to project schedules and typically that may not be what the client wants to hear who has an un-realistic goal. I prefer to …
This industry has many moving parts, puzzles to be solved and involves multiple people; the target ‘time’ is sometimes hard to pin down. Let me describe a typical process from 10,000 feet level.
Aerial of what City?
1) CLIENT CALLS THE ARCHITECT
No two clients, no two projects, no two buildings and no two sites are alike.
(I have had a repeat client within a repeat building with repeat city inspectors using a repeat contractor. But this is not common). Determination of time to complete a project varies.
2) ARCHITECT GATHERS A TEAM
Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Structural, Civil, Interiors etc. Projects vary in building type and scale. Project schedules can be dictated by teams availability. Engineers vary in expertise. The team must be appropriate for the project. Gathering a team takes time.
Serbin Studio’s Current Office
3) EXISTING VS. NEW BUILDING
No two properties are alike. With an existing building, architects must understand what the existing conditions are and what information is available (original drawings?). Every city is unique in building codes and inspectors. When we submit drawings to the city for permitting, it is out of our control how much time is needed for a city permit review process.
4) PROPOSAL TIME
Typically with smaller and less sophisticated clients, they inquire about fees. A client is buying a service influenced by many factors, not buying a product. Teams have to be gathered based upon scope. Proposals require thought to ensure the architect has covered all services. This process takes time and it is impossible to give a quote over the phone.
5) DESIGN TIME – Let us look at a typical process at 10,000 ft level.
Phase 1 – Schematic Design
Architects are like Nancy Drew (Lara) and Shirlock Home (Jeff) to uncover all the facts. This would include time to gather information from the client, understand in-direct influences from the surrounding context, City and code constraints, the list goes on and on. The information gathered transforms into a schematic design. Good time for a cost estimate.
Phase 2 – Design Development
Once a schematic design is chosen, further development of the project includes definition of systems (structural, mechanical, electrical etc.) and building materials.
Phase 3 – Construction Documentation
Once the building systems and materials are chosen, the architect and engineers put together documents that are used for permitting and final pricing by the contractor. An architect can assist in the recommendation of a contractor. The process should take a few weeks to complete dependent on the size of the project.
Phase 4 – Construction
During construction, questions arise and the architect should be consulted. We can be your eyes to uncover un-warranted changes made by the contractor. It is common for people be stuck in their ways and build things how they have done in the past. The architect and engineer are conscious about every line, note and drawing that is on that set. A contractor should ask to deviate from the plan, not beg for mercy after the fact.
I make every attempt to follow through on promises and prefer to follow the moto ‘UNDER PROMISE, OVER DELIVER’. However the most important element is communication. No matter what field you are in, if a deadline is fast approaching and you feel that you may not be able to keep that promise, letting your client know is the best approach.
by Jeff Serbin | Sep 30, 2014 | Architectural Planning, Architecture, Blog, Collaboration, Commercial Architecture, Uncategorized
A few months ago, Serbin Studio was approached by the Buckeye Valley Historical Society with an architectural challenge. A conceptual design for the exterior of the existing ‘Buckeye Valley Museum’ so that the architecture reflects their mission, ‘To bring a better understanding and appreciation of the history and cultural significance of Buckeye Valley’.
Presentation Board
Click on it for larger image
Conceptual Design of Buckeye Valley Museum
The building today lightly reflects back to the historic architecture of Buckeye Valley and through time has blended into the historic fabric in a way that the building is not apparent to the average visitor in Buckeye.
Original Museum renovation to look like Kell store
Current museum 2014 . Beige is not the new black. Consult a color specialist when you paint your building. Did I mention Lara Serbin is a color expert.
Buckeye has a long history dating back to 1885. Prior to the mid 1970’s, the main highway from Phoenix to California passed through downtown Buckeye. But just as we have seen in the ‘CARS‘ movie, the highway system was created and now by-passes historic downtown.
If you want to get a good glimpse of the history of Buckeye, two books written by Verlyne Meck capture Buckeye through images and words. “Buckeye, then and now” & “Buckeye (AZ) images of America”.
Since being part of a 3rd generation Arizona family and member of the Buckeye Main Street Coalition, I had a good strong foundation for understanding the Museum’s architectural significance. However with every project, further research exposed us to hidden treasures that are only talked about amongst Buckeye residents.
Some inspirations were:
Kell Store built in 1890’s
Hillbilly Hilton. If you get a chance, take a tour of this snapshot in time
Our intent was to minimally alter the interior exhibits and through the use of architectural features, contextual materials and textures enhance the exterior of the building so it clearly indicates what it is, ‘Buckeye Valley Museum’. We created a sense of arrival and a clear pathway into Buckeye’s history. The exterior is now a snapshot of the history and hidden gems within.
Presentation Board
The museum had a re-opening on September 27, 2014 and is open Friday’s and Saturday’s from 11 am – 4 pm. The interior renovation is complete. The museum is now on a fund raising campaign to raise money and materials to complete the exterior facade upgrades. For further information, contact the Buckeye Valley Museum at 602-230-1299.
by Lara Serbin | Aug 16, 2013 | Architectural Planning, Architecture, Blog
Buckeye, Arizona is a fast growing Town located about 45 minutes west of down town Phoenix. Serbin Studio’s is minutes away from historic Buckeye so we spend a lot of time in Buckeye. One of Buckeye’s long standing traditions is funerals. Buckeye is a tight knit community where people recall going to kindergarten with their accountant or meeting their future husband when they were 5 years old at a garden party. I have been around long enough to know that funerals are big social events in Buckeye. Today, I showed up on the wrong Friday for a funeral but it turned out great because I took photos of the 1928 Spanish Colonial Ganley’s Buckeye Funeral Home. Could you just see me with my big camera taking photos of the building with everyone standing outside being all respectful. I got all my photos out of my system for next Friday. I was lucky to be able to chat with the owner Phil Ganley who is the second generation of Ganley’s Buckeye Funeral Home. While he was moving a casket out of his suburban at 9:00am in the morning at the corner of Baseline Road and Central Boulevard I asked him if I could take some photos of his building.
During the late 1920’s this building was part of an expansive idea to create an upscale town called Valencia just north of the train tracks and Buckeye Canal. The Miller Cattle Company was the developer who surveyed the land and commissioned this building to serve as a retail anchor. When the Ganleys moved to Buckeye in 1939 they occupied this building which was built with retail in mind originally, but the Great Depression created a change in direction. Phil explained that when he was a boy the family lived on the second floor and he would stand on the balcony in the photo above and look at the southern mountain range with down town Buckeye in the foreground. Ganley remembered nothing being around this building when he was a kid. He would ride his bike into down town Buckeye to see what was going on.
The building has been well preserved and still has charming detail. Indigo and terra cotta ceramic tile was a sustainable choice for the base of the arched storefront. The stucco is smooth and reminds me of Andalusian architecture of Spain the way it is scallops cut outs adorn openings. The white stucco contrasts with the vintage terra cotta roof tiles. The doors and window frames are original wood frame and maintained with many layers of teal paint. I did take a peek through the corner window. I was standing under a petite black metal light fixture where a bird had made a nest in the cage like housing. The white lace curtains seemed they had been drawn back for hundreds of years. Faded floral wall paper, pastel wood trim and vinyl squares made up the interior finish. I could imagine someone named Joy or Marty arranging a floral arrangement in front of the reach in cooler. Thanks to the Ganleys this classic building is still in operation and continues to creates an elegant place for local families to gather and pay their respect to ones who have died. With the help of my book Buckeye The First 100 Years 1888-1988 I can safely say that when this book was published in 1988, “Of the approximately five thousand people in the three cemeteries, he (Phil’s father, Paul Ganley) has buried at least four thousand of them during his 47 years in Buckeye.”. If you want to see some great examples of sustainable architecture take a visit to Buckeye, Arizona.
by Lara Serbin | Aug 8, 2013 | Architectural Planning, Architecture, Blog, Interiors, Planning
Here at Serbin Studio we like historic architecture. I was in downtown Phoenix a couple weeks ago and went inside the historic Luhrs Tower. Just for fun. It was the art-deco elevator door detail, the ornately painted ceiling beams and round button chandelier that enticed me to climb up the tight stair case that was behind the elevators. The finishes were consistent on all floors and walls so I had no sense of differentiation per floor.
At the top of each stair landing was a restroom either Men or Women alternating every other floor. The co-workers must have had a tight knit social environment rubbing shoulders walking the stairs and waiting for the coast to clear until exiting the restroom. The drinking fountains are original and so tiny that potted plants have taken residency. One of the landings had a functioning office reception. A few framed vintage Life Magazine covers were equally spaced behind a dark wooden desk. I was surprised a gum chewing receptionist wearing a polka dot dress hiding spectators under the desk didn’t look up at me. You must understand this building is an icon situated in the down town core of Phoenix, Arizona. As a German immigrant, George H.N. Luhrs came to Phoenix in 1878 and commissioned the art-deco Luhrs Tower in 1929. It has a sibling, The Luhrs Building, a block away on Central Avenue and Jefferson Street.
With new city center projects erupting these days, I believe that it is important to preserve what history we do have in Phoenix. The photo above on the left is what I like to see. The complex fussy detail against the sleek gray panels of the high rise in construction. The building skin on the gray modern building sheds all unnecessary detail, it is about efficiency for the height of the structure. The detail on the metal and glass canopy of The Luhrs Building is closer to the eye so it has more detail, it was modern for it’s time.
The upper double digit floors had the most current construction activity. Simple renovations like replacing deteriorated window and door frames with mahogany to match the existing finish the interior throughout. I loved the restroom doors too even though they practically opened out into the stair enclosure. Who paints gold leaf letters on glass anymore, and that “O” is too cool.
The fish scale black and white tiles are wonderfully decayed. The tiles were being replaced with like replacements. One of the windows in the renovation clutter was left ajar and so I captured the view looking towards South Mountain. This is probably more what it looked like when it was first built. Back in the day, the Luhrs Tower was one of the tallest buildings in downtown Phoenix. I felt great appreciation for the care taker of the Luhrs Tower as I explored as high as I could climb up those marble steps.
