Interior Building Systems

 Chapter 11 – Interior Building Systems

This chapter discusses sustainable energy control methods and types and how to incorporate the appropriate security features into a design project. It also applies the principles of good security designs to projects and teaches us how to differentiate between the multiple forms of vertical circulation within a building. To sum it up, the chapter shows us how to effectively and appropriately integrate furniture systems into a building’s structure.

Data, Voice, and Telecommunications and Security

In today’s society, internet connections and telephone lines are crucial to the modern interior environment. Especially when it comes to wireless services, these result in the need for specific placement of routers to enable equal service throughout the entirety of a space. There are two types of voice and data signals: digitally and analog. Data and video signals are typically encoded digitally, while voice is capture in analog form. On the other hand, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) differs by transmitting the voice digitally over the Internet. The integration of these systems into an interior environment is similar to electrical integration.

When it comes to rooms that hold a large amount of people, teleconferencing is key. This room is
required to accommodate a projection screen and a calling device that is placed centrally and allows people to call out to another site a speak. Projection screens should be placed in the room so that everyone has a clear view of the image area. In addition, the screen should be no more than two times the height of the closest viewer and the top of the screen should be angled no more than 30 degrees from the horizontal sight line of the viewer.

When it comes to the security of such spaces, it is important to note that specific spaces require specific security controls. When it comes to places like hospitals, retail space, banks, courthouses, jails, and airports security-intensive interiors are key. These systems range from space-planning issues to actual alarm and control systems which makes it important for the designer’s to be aware of both types of security. The organization of a space should portray an overall sense of security and visual control should be included because it plays an important part in safety and security.

There are three basic types of security systems: perimeter systems, area or room systems, and surveillance systems. Perimeter systems monitor the perimeter of a building and typically include magnetic contacts at doors and windows, glass break protectors, and alarms. On the other hand, area or room systems used detectors, pressure sensors, and photoelectric beams. Surveillance systems use access-control systems like finger printing, hand printing, retinal scans, card readers, numbered keyboards, or punch card access.

Conveying Systems: Vertical Circulation

Vertical circulation is the way people or objects move from floor to floor or level to level within a
space. These circulation methods include elevators, stairs, escalators, and ladders. The overall layout of stairs is determined through the amount of space required on each floor to accommodate the stairs. Different building codes regulate the specific sizes of stair treads and riser heights and the overall width of the stair. A system of stairs can be constructed with wood, metal, and concrete, and the risers can either be opened or closed.

Guardrails and handrails differ drastically but codes still regulate the height of both. Guardrails are the horizontal restraining railings that are located at landings and the top of stairs. Handrails, however, follow the slope of the stairs and are required to extend on tread length beyond the first tread. The height of a handrail ranges from 34 and 38 inches and guardrail must be 42 inches high and is required anyplace that the change in floor height is more than 30 inches.

Systems Furniture

Systems furniture provides flexibility within an open space. With these systems, interior spaces can be reconfigured to address the needs of a client, as well as maximize the number of occupants and create opportunities for interactive environments between and around certain areas. It is important to note that concerns of these systems relate to the coordination of layouts with lighting and existing fenestration. When it comes to desks within an office space, for example, they need to be cross lit. This means that the desk needs to be situated perpendicular to the layout of the lighting where possible. The correlation between these furniture systems and the building shell are just as important. They must be carefully placed in relation to a building’s fenestration to avoid running panels into windows or in front of windows. The relation to electric lighting impacts user performance and the acoustics.

Lindner Tower on the Judson University Campus

When accessing the hotel-esque building off I-90 in Elgin Illinois, the possibilities seem endless. With two double door entries in the front, a single door on the side, and two double door exits in the back – not to mention the service door between the back doors – there is an overwhelming array of accessibility. Once inside the building, most people use the two elevators off the left of the main entrance, however, the stairs right next to them and the service elevator in the back are just as operable. It is clear that the stairs are used in case of an emergency based off the exit signs above them, however, that doesn’t mean they are used to go up, just as much as the elevators are. The service elevator is the same way, but it doesn’t have access to the staircase because it is on the opposite side of the building and the building only has one staircase.

When it comes to the classrooms, the double one in particular, the seating is arranged so that all eyes face the front – understandably. Two monitors are placed close to the central, but if you pull out the wall in the middle and split the classroom, the monitors are off the side as opposed to central. This could be because it is able to open up into a large room, but regardless the monitors are in an inconvenient spot. The outlets around each room are on the floor and the back and side wall, but if someone upfront needed an outlet, they would have to move to one of the back rows. These are not the most ideal conditions and the placement of the outlets I can look past; however, the placement of the monitors is a little more eye catching. It would be more beneficial if each room was treated as such because even when they open up to one big classroom, each side still has access to the monitor on their side.