Digital Content Aids Revitalization

This article was orginally published in the August 29, 2007, issue of The YAF Connection, the e-Newsletter of the AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF).

Opportunities for sustainable community revitalization can bring about a unique alignment of possibilities. In particular, our wealth of existing structures and historic sites is sometimes a hidden treasure in terms of both revitalization and sustainability. We can achieve both if we mine this treasure with a new holistic approach based on the core principle of "human needs design" that takes into account the craftsmanship and human history of the site.

The successful journey toward this goal begins with early support and enthusiasm from the community and all other stakeholders. To see the vision of human-needs-based design, they need a human-needs-based experience. That's where the new digital-content communication tools come in—particularly the virtual environments that only building information modeling (BIM) can create.

New BIM tools help people envision revitalization
The vision-building journey begins with, and relies upon, the initial conceptual design proposal. To reach people in this information-overloaded, YouTube-influenced society, traditional communication tools are challenged at best. Visually based content, delivered through the fluid media outlets, is required.

BIM provides the tools to explore each opportunity fully. A 3D model of the site and structure is the central source for all content produced for the revitalization opportunity. This model creates a database that enable a virtual environment to simulate and test the proposed design possibilities. The digital content produced from this design process—including still images, simulations, and animations—is a key to reaching a large group of stakeholders.

The digital content also creates a visually based language that can be combined with written word, music, and voiceover to create a multimedia design study that approaches moviemaking. Delivery of this content through fluid media outlets offers a more personal, user-controlled multimedia experience. It helps people take the revitalization journey because they can experience it.

Digital content enables crucial early dialogue
It also enables and supports a positive—and imperative—early dialogue with stakeholders. Competition for the interest of potential supporters benefits from the digital content because a visually based communication tool can link a general-population audience to more detailed information. The digital content has interactive control of this multilayered media experience, quickly providing the specific information each individual needs, which may lead that individual to review the design concept in greater depth. This digital content and fluid media delivery allows the audience to easily share the information with others, building the group and moving toward a viral spread. The ability to access this content as schedules permit results in a quality information exchange.

Fluid media outlets allow the audience to contribute easily through feedback begining in the early design stages, when it has the most potential impact. This helps to create a vested interest in the revitalization. This interaction can be a building block; as the design matures, the latest content can be released to this building community of interested individuals. This digital content and fluid media delivery also expand boundaries, enabling global 24/7 access of the latest design content.

In turn, this interaction can inform the design—maintaining human-needs-design criteria that are specific to the site, empowered by the support and enthusiasm of a confirmed group of stakeholders. Concession building can also help to move design concepts and plans through local approval processes. In addition, the funding issues can benefit from this local base of support. This support is a great source to move these types of revitalization projects from investor-based for profit to community-based for betterment of the human condition.

Current concerns about climate change have meshed well with the green design movement. This surge of interest has spurred development of products and techniques to support the sustainable strategies that can breathe new life into the revitalization of our wealth of abandoned structures and sites. These new strategies can be limited by the ability to communicate and then provide concrete data to confirm that the design theory matches the unique condition of each revitalization design challenge. BIM provides the tools to explore, simulate, and communicate these sustainable strategies in relation to each unique opportunity.

A historic Modern building, before revitalization

Revitalizing Modern buildings: a case study
This Modern historic building ("before," at right) in an old residential area has been going through a well-established revitalization. It had been targeted as an eyesore in its abandoned state. Digital content helped the community see the inherent potential of the building as a good commercial neighbor for this residential neighborhood.

Rendering of the building, showing proposed changes Images by Owens Architects

This digital content also helped to give the residential neighborhood and the client a shared vision of what the building could become. Still images of the proposed changes to the existing structure and site allowed for a color-comparisons study, shared with the neighborhood. A walk-around animation enhanced the experience of the proposed design from a human perspective. The modern passive-solar light-control components were highlighted by a solar study animation that reinforced the qualities of maintaining these elements.

To repurpose structures and sites with community-based grassroots support is to connect and recharge a sustainable revitalization cycle to good earth stewardship.

Jeff Owens, AIA, LEED AP, is founder and principal of Owens Architects in Lawrenceburg, Ky., which he established in 2003 with a design philosophy based on “human needs design”—a commitment to sustainable strategies for the betterment of human condition. Owens Architects uses BIM design to communicate, simulate, and test a holistic design approach for good earth stewardship.