Lessons Learned: A Symposium on School Design
LAUSD / USC School of Architecture / J . PAUL GETTY Trust

Session: 3D - Materials and Finishes

Scribe: Craig Hodgetts

Attendees:
Craig Hodgets
David Martin
Bob Timme

Introduction:
The session on materials and finishes consisted of a summary architect's narrative, describing each project in terms of its materials and finishes, with comments to describe what they regarded as devolution or betterment of the project during the design process. A discussion after the presentation of the narratives refined the group's understanding of issues and established the common thread within the architect's experiences.

Key Issues:
During the architect's presentations, the following issues were often referred to in the context of a defining experience during the design process.

Material Selection Criteria
The criteria for acceptance or rejection of materials chosen for a project was a source of confusion and frustration for the majority of participants. Nearly every architect expressed a scenario in which their judgement was ignored or rejected by either the school board or the project manager, often by criteria which varied from job to job, or even from phase to phase.

COST
Cost was cited as a criteria by several firms, particularly as regards cladding materials, for which unit cost seemed to be used inconsistently, resulting in confusion on the part of one firm, which elected to use exposed fasteners in order to save costs, but was instructed to employ concealed fasteners at an increased cost. A similar effort to employ perforated metal as a solar control element was rejected in favor of double glazing, again at an increased cost. In each case, the architects felt their efforts to balance budget priorities had been pre-empted, requiring them to reduce quality in other areas of the project.

However, in another case, the architects believe that their choice of calwall as an exterior cladding material was rejected for legitimate budget reasons.

CONTEXT
Neighborhood context was often cited as an area in which architects, the community, and lausd were in accord, particularly in regard to materials which were predominate in the immediate area. Thus stucco and plaster, which are also cost-effective, and 'blend in ' with typical housing construction throughout los angeles, were the most-often used materials for lausd projects, even though, as one architect noted, "the school board should be building one-hundred year buildings, but, with stucco , the buildings will only last forty years."

Other cladding materials were often approved in remote or industrial context, such as standing seam metal roofs, metal panels, and corrugated metal, however these materials were consistentle rejected in other areas.

DURABILITY/UPKEEP
Maintenance was cited as a rational for rejecting fibre-cement board on one project, and as a reason for rejecting direct-indirect lighting on another, even though industry standards cite the durability of cement board and the life-cycle cost of the direct-indirect fixtures in question are substantially lower than the mandated system. In each case, the architects believe a better-informed project manager may have made a different decision.

APPEARANCE
Appearance was only rarely given as the formal reason for rejecting a material, even though many architects on the panel believed that there was an underlying discomfort with many of the materials they feel are appropriate for the funds allocated for their project. However, in two cases, c.i.p. concrete was approved as a finish material, which caused many firms to ask for better communication on the part of the lausd, as they would have explored that option had they known it was possible.

FAMILIARITY
Many firms said that the process was hampered by their inability to convince project managers that an unfamiliar product or configur ation may be equal to or better than the one commonly specified. Fibre-cement board, various types of metal panels, and sun screens were not approved even though the architects had determined that they would perform as required and were compatable with the project schedule and budget.

Role of the Architect

Many of the architects present expressed their concern that their professional judgement was often disregarded due to concerns about meeting the schedule or the budget. It was also clear to many that the limited resources of lausd, and the sheer number of projects, made it extremely difficult to lobby for any departure from a normal, generic building type, since very little time could be allotted for discussion, proof of concept, or prototypes, if required.

Nevertheless, the architects argued, their training and experience give them particular qualifications to make judgements which affect the design, and believe the school projects would benefit were they given more power to exercise their judgement in the following areas.

INNOVATION
Many firms pride themselves on their ongoing materials research, and make a special effort to keep abreast of developments in building technology. Thus they consider that their ability to bring state-of-the-art, contemporary methodology to the project is a valuable asset, and are confused when less sophisticated criteria are employed to evaluate their decisions.

SENSITIVITY TO CONTEXT
Architects are trained observers of context, and expressed surprise that they are not more involved in community discussions which seem to define the material palette of their project. Several architects noted that presentations and discussions with the design advisory council, which affirmed sensitive responses to context, were over-ridden by project managers, who were concerned about budget priorities or unfamiliar approaches to the project.

BUDGET PRIORITIES
The architects pointed out that their contract with the LAUSD obligates them to design each project within a stated budget. This responsibility, in their opinion, is sometimes in conflict with pre-emptive decisions about materials or construction methodology which do not conform to their design intentions. There was general agreement that a "piecemeal" approach to budget constraints was less productive than a "holistic" approach wherein the architect was able to balance several issues in order to arrive at a satisfactory solution.

Role of the Project Manager
Although not a specific agenda item, in general, the architects present expressed reservations about the role of the project manager. For many, the communication gap between lausd administration and themselves, combined with the discretionary power of the project managers, created a situation in which they felt that their best ideas did not receive a fair hearing.

Opportunities and Constraints:
Architects at the symposium expressed their belief that there were a great many reliable construction materials which would benefit the lausd program if there were a more predictable review process. Many had developed successful approaches to the use of "non-standard" materials which they believed would deliver specific benefits in the following areas:

COST
LAUSD approval of the following materials and would be likely to result in cost savings according to the architects present at the symposium.

C.I.P. CONCRETE
Use as a finish material will eliminate cost for framing, drywall, painting.

FIBRE CEMENT
Exterior finish is impermeable, low maintenance, inexpensive

METAL PANELS
Lightweight, quick erection, design flexibility, inexpensive

AWNINGS
Lightweight, inexpensive, add color and luminosity

PERFORATED METAL
Effective sunscreen, inexpensive

STAINED CONCRETE
Low maintenance replacement for vat

CALWALL
Translucent exterior cladding with desirable r-value, reduces energy consumption by enhanced daylighting

SHADING DEVICES
Reduce heat loads, thus A/C and energy consumption

CORRUGATED METAL
Lightweight, quick erection, design flexibility, inexpensive

CHANNEL GLASS
Common in europe. Inexpensive if approved and imported in quantity.

QUALITY
The performance and comfort of school buildings would benefit from LAUSD guidelines which encouraged architects to employ the following strategies in their designs.

DIRECT/INDIRECT LIGHTING
produces a more comfortable, glare-free environment at a comparable or reduced cost

SOLAR TUBES
conduct sunlight to interior spaces, reducing energy consumption and fixture cost, with zero maintenance

HIGHER CEILINGS
permit clerestories into circulation areas and higher exterior windows to improve daylighting throughout a project

TRANSLUCENT MATERIALS
reduce glare and diffuse light evenly, producing a more comfortable learning environment

AWNINGS
allow configuration of shading devices to vary depending on season, producing energy savings and better comfort level.

OPERABLE WINDOWS
potential to reduce air conditioning/heating load while enhancing comfort.

PLANT MATERIAL
strategic location of trees, shrubs, and vines will reduce solar gain on walls and windows, if deciduous will cycle with seasons.

SOLAR PANELS
joint program with the DWP provides photovoltaic panels on a partnership basis, produces savings in energy consumption. Educational value.

MAINTENANCE
Many architects cited their experience in reducing the maintenance costs of projects by the use of the following materials:

GALVANIZING
Structural steel and miscellaneous metals exposed to the weather may be galvanized for long term protection which eliminates the need for conventional maintenance and paint.

CAST IN PLACE CONCRETE / TILT UP WALLS
The use of concrete as a basic construction and finish material yields building which requires only minimal maintenance.

Examples:
Among the many current projects, several were notable for successfully introducing new materials and methods into the approved vocabulary.

CENTRAL LA HIGH SCHOOL - PERKINS AND WILL
The architects for this project stated that they had worked very diligently to gain acceptance of the materials they believed best suited the project. From their presentation it was clear that even though many of their proposals were rejected, they continued to introduce alternatives until they found solutions which were acceptable to the district.

This dialogue was among the most positive of those discussed by the architects, suggesting that a thoroughgoing process, in which the design team, the project architect, and the school board participated equally, could achieve results that were satisfied many criteria, while producing an exemplary design.

JOHNSON FAIN ARCHITECTS
This project 's answer to the budget gap, which appears to leave few alternatives to stucco as a basic building material, is to substitute c.i.p. concrete for superstructure and finish materials. Concrete columns, a two way slab, and shear walls were found to be cost effective when compared to conventional stick and stucco construction due to the elimination of many finishes, and savings due to the improved construction schedule. It was also stated that savings in maintenance and upkeep throughout the project would further produce cost savings to the district.

BELMONT #6 - PERKINS AND WILL
For the belmont project, perkins and will employed a basic vocabulary of hot-dipped galvanized steel for the structural frame, planters, and sunshades. They also specified a unique window system of brake-formed galvanized steel, to produce a harmonious design which did not require the constant maintenance associated with painted steel components. Budget constraints forced a reduction in quality for the remainder of the building- from cmu and wood to a masonry veneer system, but the architects expressed satisfaction with the process of design, which they believe achieved the required balance of practicality, aesthetic quality, and cost.

KATE DIAMOND
Tilt-up concrete walls and stained concrete floors were employed in this project, with galvanized miscellaneous metal components. The architect explained that these materials were extremely cost-effective and maintenance free, and were readily accepted by the district for those reasons. However, the architect did not agree with the district's rejection of direct-reflected lighting due to maintenance concerns, since the district's current lighting specification utilizes a technology which is obsolete and therefore will cost more in the long run.

Recommendations:
Process
Education
Dialogue
Review
Selected Vendors List
Integrity
Authority Of Dac
Design Changes
Cost/Innovation
Buying Power Of District
Motivate Manufacturers
Communications
Web Site