Friday, June 29, 2012

Week 5

At the VA changes are always being made and departments are constantly being moved around.  As our designers scatter around to achieve the best solution while trying to maintain organization and efficiency, this can be quite a challenge.  Each department has move dates in place but it isn't always accurate.  Many arrangements and tasks must be completed before a move can even take place.

As mentioned last week, when a department is moved the space they move to isn't always the same causing a problem for furniture needs.  The space must also be prepared by making sure the phone, data, and all electrical needs are in place and safely equipped before the move.  As you may have guessed this all takes time which could delay a move, and because of limited moving staff and avoiding chaos only one department is moved at a time or by day.  So you could imagine what a problem it is when a move is delayed!
Mobile VA
The interior designers here in Biloxi are amazingly taking on the work orders and design needs at all the VA locations on the coast.  Over the week we got to visit a sister VA clinic in Mobile, AL.  The Mobile clinic is much older, smaller, and shares a building with The University of South Alabama Medical Clinic.  Because the space is so much smaller it is more cramped then the Biloxi VA.  The spacial needs of this clinic are a big problem.

Here is an example of one of the space planning issues faced:
There are 3 work stations in this room all requiring a desk and task chair while keeping all furniture and equipment shown.  On the far left of the picture there is a door limiting where to place the desk and chair to keep it from interfering with the walkway.  Because there is a workstation with a desk behind the curtain, my idea was to place the desks back to back allowing room for the equipment to be placed on the wall.
This is another work station in the same room.  Notice how small this station is (all stations are the same size).  Again the requirement is that all stations must have a desk with a chair so employees may sit.  It is a challenge to make the space comfortable and functional that contains all needed equipment (shown in picture) while adding a desk and chair.

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