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Does It Seem Like Architects and Engineers
Speak Some Secret Proprietary Language? |
It often seems that way to us. So we thought it would be a great idea to load up a page on the VectorA site with some of terms that show up in in the Team Projects and Team Vector resumes with the working definition. The working definition might be found in Webster's, Merriam's dictionaries, or at www.dictionary.com. Some of the terms might have a specific industry meaning that might not be easily researched by our clients The list here will grow and grow quite possibly never reaching completion. If you are looking for a clarification of something that is posted on this site and it doesn't show up in the Team Terminology list, send any Team Vector professional staff member an e-mail and we will answer your request and promptly add the term to this list. so thanks so much for asking. You not only help yourself but us here at VectorA, and all of our clients as well.
Adaptive Re-use - Many building are designed and built for a specific use, tailored to the functions to be performed within. Some building are no longer suited to be used for their original purpose. A school might be incapable of supporting the needs of the contemporary curriculum and teaching methods. A manufacturing plant once used for the production of electronic circuit boards of a defunct company may lay dormant and prone to deterioration. VectorA works with property owners, commercial real estate developers, and business owners to develop a strategy for adapting these seemingly valueless structures for a new and best use. Adaptive reuse increases the value of the property while improving the environment of the neighborhood. The community at large will often benefit from the availability of new jobs and increase in tax roll. Building Envelope - The building envelope is the term we like to use that described everything that protects the building and the occupants from Mother Nature; roofs, walls, windows, doors, storm drainage features like rain gutters, canopies, sun screens, awnings, insulation, and a few others. Construction Contract Management - Once our client enters into an agreement with a contractor to perform work VectorA administers the contract on behalf of our client. VectorA reviews shop drawing and material product data for conformance to the intent of our design, we review the work in progress to ensure that the plans and specifications are being followed appropriately, we regularly attend meeting with the client, contractor, and vendors to discuss and resolve any challenges that may occur during the construction. VectorA also reviews the contractor's requests for intermediate payment, making deductions for work that is not as complete as the contractor is presenting. VectorA will always act as staunch advocate for our client. Disaster Recovery - This one might seem self explanatory but there is more to the recovery of a damaged building that clean-up and repairs. The magnitude of the loss can trigger zoning requirements to be resolved anew. The requirements of the building code will also need to be properly responded to. VectorA meets with property owners, insurance underwriters, and public officials to make sure that our clients won't inadvertently reconstruct their building in violation of the law. Space Planning - Space planning is the process that VectorA will go through to determine how much space our client really needs; how many people have private offices,, will there be conferences rooms, fitness facilities, laboratories, training areas, and so forth. We interview the client's staff on all orders of their job functions; are they PC users, do they perform piece work, operate machinery, how long they break for lunch, are the comfortable or uncomfortable with their current surroundings, and many other facets of their position within the client's organization. For our industrial and manufacturing client's we find out about the current patterns of work-flow, expectations for new equipment purchases, useful life left for current equipment, warehousing, storage, shipping & receiving, and material handling needs. Manipulation of this information not only results in square foot area tabulations, but also reveals the nature of the space that VectorA will be designing; large or small, tall or very tall, rectangular or square, or some other appropriate shape. Facility Programming - On the heels of Space Planning effort, Facility Programming is the process of refining the information further by the addition of other physical attribute the spaces need. The VectorA project team will begin to organize the spaces based on these required features by; which spaces need to be directly connected, which spaces spaces need day lighting and which do not, which spaces can be near and which should be far apart. What kind of infrastructure will be required for the spaces; what are the needs for security, utilities, accessibility, power, lighting, heating, air conditioning, ventilation.
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