Last-Minute Improvements

by cchlebda

At our pin up on Friday, my peers questioned the way that the design of my atrium forced courtroom visitors to enter and see the underside of a stair. This was an aspect of my design that I had known was flawed, but I did not think I had enough time to fix it. However, after being specifically called out on it within 15 minutes of my peers’ commentary, I realized it was probably worth taking the time to address the issue. Fortunately, the time I took to work on the stair issue over the weekend has paid off. The solution I have developed not only better resolves the underside-of-the-stair issue by making use of that space, but it also refines and resolves other issues I had with my atrium design that had not been worked out.

FRIDAY’S DESIGN: Atrium from Level 1 | Note how you can see security equipment from the atrium, the exit is not clear, and the user has to turn around to face the stair to see the double helix.

The solution to the stair issue was fairly simple: rotate the public stair at level 1 slightly and shift it over about 6 feet, which also shifts where the atrium access point from the security screening area is. This one change does so much for the design. (1) For one thing, it blocks the view from the atrium to the security screening equipment, which had been bothering me before because I didn’t want courthouse visitors to be reminded of the “hassle” of going through security during their already stressful time at court. (2) The entry to the atrium from security now aligns with the exit back into the cafe, so that a user in the atrium can clearly see the exit (not the security screening equipment, like they used to). (3) The lower space under the public stair is utilized as seating space. Since the stair was shifted, it was moved closer to the elevators, so this bench might be used by people waiting for the elevator to arrive. (4) When the user enters the atrium from security, he enters into the center of the double-helix stairs. This allows the user to really experience the double helix/separate circulation paths idea in a way that is not confusing (as approaching from the side might have been). The stairs as formal elements also create a linear dynamicism that might guide the user through the space.

CURRENT DESIGN: Level 1 Plan | Note how shifting the public stair to the left aligns entry into the atrium with the exit and blocks views to security from the atrium

CURRENT DESIGN: Atrium view from Security | Note how the user now enters into the atrium through the previously underutilized space at the center of the double helix stairs

Overall, I am very happy with the way I have resolved the atrium stair. It feels so good when working through design challenges ultimately results in richer and better solutions!