Visit-The Freelon Group / Discussion-Paula Carr

The Freelon Group is a well known architecture firm, so having the opportunity to visit it was exciting! Their style is modern and open, we could see that in their office as well as the library they designed. Everyone who spoke to us was excited to explain the types of projects they worked on and gave helpful insight into the many tasks an architect, designer, marketing person, or model builder is involved with. I appreciated the straight forward, solid advice we were given on how to market ourselves as new designers. As we toured the first floor of The Freelon Group, I gained an understanding of how involved the design process is. It starts in the conference room where the architects and designers talk with the clients about their ideas for a project. Then several people start working together and ultimately end up back in the conference room with a polished presentation for the client. This is repeated on projects such as the Durham County Library, as we clearly saw the level of attention this Freelon project received. Not only does The Freelon Group give attention to the design, but the firm was established with 'two fundamental principles in mind: that clear, strong ideas drive design excellence and that the REACH of architecture – the buildings and the profession – can and should extend beyond traditional limits.' Their project list has so many public places that were designed in the hopes of 'providing venues for the exchange of ideas.' I was impressed by the specific projects that will be on exhibit at MIT later this month. The theme REACH is so appropriate. And we are all very impressed that they have won the competition to design the new African American Museum that will be built on the Washington, DC Mall!
Being exposed to firms like The Freelon Group, and earlier in the semester tvsdesign, expand my previous knowledge of the types of jobs that will be available to me when I graduate. It was convenient that The Freelon Group is close to UNCG, because being able to visit the firm gave me a better understanding of the type of firm it was. I don't have a full picture of tvsdesign even though Paula Carr's presentation showed their projects. Since she focused more on her personal design process, her final designs, and less about the firm itself, I felt more connected to her as a designer than I did at Freelon. I think starting zoomed in with Paula and then zoomed out with Freelon has given me a full range of what to expect when I become a degree holding designer.

Durham County Library - The Freelon Group

Sample model and presentation board - The Freelon Group

"Computing in Architectural Design"

Architects and designers have come along way from just using a compass and straightedge in computing components of a building. Computers have proven to be incredible assistants to humans and over the years they have become even more powerful tools. Since the 1960s universities have been a leading force in the development of computer aided design to service the building industry. Their first systems were slow and only really helped with basic lines and geometry. By the 1970s they were being used for more complex curves, manufacturing abilities, structural tolerances, and space planning. In 1974 the Computer Aided Engineering and Architectural Design System were designed to analyze habitability, energy use, and building specifications. By the Second-Generation CAD Systems many advances in such things as the personal computer and the mouse made these systems affordable to the larger architectural community. In 1984 the Macintosh and ink jet printers made greater output possible but the systems did lack the ability to include unique details of a building. In some areas of CAD it seemed like things were "dumbing down" but there were other areas the were becoming more intelligent. The search for technology to serve many different roles is always evolving to become more intuitive for the designer and ultimately more helpful. They can help us see beyond our own eyes and catch things humans may overlook. To this day, Third-Generation CAD Systems are still being developed to handle more complex operations. Their role is to be our tool in the design process. They draw, are a measuring instrument, and produce modeling to help us visualize every step of the building process in a more complete and complex way then the industry could have ever imagined.