Log

Tuesday, October 28th
Today I was able to finish my final solution floor plan. The drawing contains all the room sizes, layout, door placements, and window placements. The drawing took three class periods to complete and I am relieved to have a finished floor plan. Yesterday I began preparation for the formal progress update this week and will continue to do so.

Log

Friday October 23rd
Yesterday we were able to complete our rough conceptual model of the building, along with the surrounding plot and street. The model was constructed out of presentation board and took 3 days to finish. The model will help to show building placement, parking lot flow, ambulance entrance, and traffic flow around the lot.

Log

October 3rd, 2008
Yesterday our group, along with the other TSA Architecture group, visited Centra State Medical Center to take a tour of the Emergency Unit. The tour was extremely helpful to our research, and our planning of the room/building sizes. We were able to see first hand the amount of space we needed for each type of room. We were also able to see the type of equipment needed, and the space that equipment took up. More about the trip to Centra State can be found under Research- Centra State Medical Center.
This week I have continued work on my floor plan, and using the AutoCAD Architecture Program I have began work on a drawings that only depics the spacing of the rooms. This will give us a good idea of the sizes of our building, in relation to our lot. I will begin to work on more mentor contacts, and trying to get into contact with my main mentor.

Log

September 26th, 2008
Today during systems I was able to begin preliminary work on the model, working out dimensions, scale, and the location of the building on the plot. I was also able to begin working on my floor plan drawings, and the dimensions for the building. I was also able to send an email to my mentor, asking if he had recieved my previous messages, and if he had any comments on my project as of now.

Log

Tuesday September 23rd
Today our group accomplished much. We were able to clarify what exactly our model needed to look like. We learned that our model must display the location/site for our building. It must include a 3D model of the building, on it's actual site, and the surrounding area. The model must be able to display traffic patterns, emergency medical vehicle access, as well as the floor plan of the building. This was a good starting point to begin formulating the model, and the presentation.
Today we were also able to redo our testing procedures. The testing procedures for our project now more accurately reflect what needs to be evaluated, and how we are going to go about doing it.
For the next few days this week I need to focuse on expanding my calender, and try to get in contact with my mentor.

Testing Procedures (revised)

How the Final Solution Should Function
The final solution should function in a very specific way, and under certain parameters. The EMC must be easily accessible by cars and ambulances in emergency situations. The EMC should be sectioned off into employee and patient sections. The EMC should be able to accommodate a range of medical needs, from a simple illness, to an emergency situation. The EMC should have proper storage for the large amount of patient files, proper reception area, at least 6 patient rooms with ample space, patient, employee, and waiting rest rooms, doctors offices, conference rooms, correctly sized trauma centers, and radiology unit.

When a patient seeking non-emergency medical attention comes into the clinic, they will first go to the reception desk which will allow for them to be processed and have their insurance registered with the clinic, they will then wait in the waiting room, until the nurse can call them into one of the six examination rooms to be treated.

In an actual emergency such as a broken ankle a patient would first be put in a wheelchair and taken to the x-ray room. The x-rays would then be read by the radiologist and he would make a diagnosis. If needed, a cast would then be put on. In the event of a trauma emergency, such as a patient being brought in from a car accident, the ambulance will pull into the ambulance designated zone in the parking lot, which has the closest acess to the trauma center entrance. The patient will be brought to the trauma center through the trauma center entrance, where medical attention can be administered.

How the Testing Procedures Will Work
Testing Conference
A critiquing conference will be held after the completion of the project to evaluate the designs function and plausibility. The conference must be set up at least 2 months in advance, to ensure that the proper evaluators are present, and that everyone will be able to attend. Proper personnel to attend this meeting would be emergency medical technicians, doctors, architects, and Asbury Park town officials. This will ensure that all aspects of the project will be critiqued and evaluated. The emergency medical technicians will be able to evaluate the trauma unit, the doctors will be able to evaluate the examination rooms, offices, and radiology, the architects will be able to evaluate the structural aspect of the building as well as exterior/interior design and the floor plan. The architect will also be able to professionally evaluate the drawings done.
A presentation will be given by the project members to inform the evaluators of the project, rationale for the design, specifics of the design, processes of development involving design, and the final solution specifications. After the presentation is given, the evaluators will be able to critique the project as a whole. This would allow for honest feed back and responses to our project from a professional stand point. After the critiquing session is over, the evaluators will have a survey to fill out, giving specific feed back on certain areas of the project. Each survey will be different, pertaining to the evaluators specific area of expertise.

Numbered Steps
1. Schedule a date for the conference
2. Schedule a location for the conference
3. Speak with possible evaluators/mentors for commitments
4. Prepare presentation/posters
5. Prepare model for evaluation
6. Present the basic design of the project, including rationale and thought processes.
7. Go over individual sections of the design, including floor plans, wall sections, window and door schedules, exterior wall elevation, and interior drawings.
8. Discuss site layout
9. Discuss roof choice, and wall support systems.
10. Have the feed back session
11. Give survey out to evaluators.

Survey
Mentor Survey

1. How professional and accurate are the architectural drawings?
2. Are there any major errors in the architectural drawings?
3. Are the architectural drawings sufficient in displaying the design and layout of the building?
   
4. What design/structural problems are there if any?
5. In regards to design and layout, what would you have done differently?
6. Are the room dimensions accurate and appropriate?
   

Medical Evaluator Survey

1. Does the layout of the building coincide to that of other medical facilities?
2. Would the layout of the building provide sufficient space for an emergency situation?
3. Would you be able to operate and conduct the medical procedures necessary in such a facility?
   
4. What changes would you make to the overall design and layout of the buildings?
   

"Flickr." Final thesis critique. 19 Sept. 2008.

"Not One Positive Plan of Action." Brotherpeacemaker. 24 Sept. 2008 .

Log

Friday September 19th,
I have created and posted my alternate solution. I have also completed the write up for my alternate solution. I have also posted the selection/rejection/intention report. I have begun to learn the AutoCAD Architectural program, and am now able to draw walls, doors, windows, and other portions of a building. I have also posted my brainstorming which includes ideas on the location of the EMC and what the building should contain.