Working share link to your Forma project
One page facade comparison showing both options with their metrics
Typical floor plan image with unit types or zones labelled, plus the unit mix schedule
One AI render of the chosen scheme
Design memo of 300 to 500 words: how the massing changed from Week 2 and why, what the facade studies showed, what you chose, and where you overrode the automation
For Module 3, I wanted to take the design I started in Module 2 and turn it into something that felt more like an actual building. Instead of just focusing on the outside shape, I started thinking more about how people would use the space and how I could make the building functional while still keeping a good overall design. I decided to create a six-story office building with a simple layout that would allow me to organize the interior spaces efficiently. One of the biggest changes I made from Module 2 was simplifying the overall shape of the building. I felt that having a more consistent layout would make it easier to organize the different rooms and keep everything connected. I included open office areas, meeting rooms, break rooms, collaboration spaces, bathrooms, stairwells, and an elevator. I also spent a good amount of time figuring out where to place the doors, hallways, and stairs so that people could move throughout the building without it feeling confusing. My final design ended up having approximately 106,324 square feet of gross floor area. For the façade comparison, I tested two different window-to-wall ratios to see how changing the amount of glass would affect the building. My first option had 45% windows, while my second option had 30%. I kept the building's overall shape the same so I could focus specifically on the difference between the two façades. I used Forma's sun hours and daylight analysis tools to look at how sunlight interacted with the front and back of the building. One thing I noticed was that the building's orientation and the surrounding buildings played an important role in how much sunlight different sides received. I also learned that adding more windows does not automatically mean a better design because you have to consider things like heat gain and energy efficiency. I ended up choosing Option 2 with 30% windows because I liked the balance it provided between natural lighting and the overall appearance of the building. I also felt that having slightly less glass worked better with the terracotta exterior I chose. Although Forma helped with some of the design process, I made a lot of the decisions myself. I adjusted the interior walls, organized the different rooms, placed doors, and worked through the floor plans to make sure the building made sense. Overall, this module helped me understand how much thought goes into designing a building beyond just making it look good.