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Architect Seven: A Re-design of Mira Loma High School’s Cafeteria

By architect7 | L Redesign your school cafeteria

Overview Instructions

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The first step of the design process involves thinking about the big picture – the Overview.  It’s where you define and state the problem you are trying to solve. 

You’ll need to really understand the problem that exits before chasing after solutions.  How is your school's cafeteria designed now?  Start by making notes about what’s working and what isn’t working with the existing design.

Next, write and post a statement about out who are the people that have the need for a new design?  How long has this situation been a problem? Have others tried to solve this design problem before you?  What was the result?

Then write and post a short, but clear, success statement.  How will you know if you have a successful solution when you’re done?  When you’re nearly finished with your design project, you can go back to this success statement to see if your design has met the criteria you first proposed.

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Mira Loma High School was established in Sacramento, California as a part of the San Juan School District in 1960. Throughout the years the campus has become worn out and out dated. The school’s cafeteria is an area on the campus where students and faculty journey through on a daily basis.

Currently, the school cafeteria is incapable of accommodating the needs of 1,625 students and 100 faculty members at Mira Loma day in and day out. Multiple problems have arisen within the cafeteria such as a dysfunctional air conditioner, multiple windows that cannot be opened, and an inconvenient kitchen layout; just to name a few of the many problems.

Our architect firm, Architect Seven, has decided to take on the task of re-constructing Mira Loma’s cafeteria. Our mission is not only to improve and address all the current issues but to transform the cafeteria into a functional multi-purpose room as well as make it aesthetically pleasing. We plan to improve the facility by giving our client a functional workspace where the faculty and students will be happy to come to everyday.

-Architect Seven

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Meet Our Team:
• Director of Exterior Building Design: Lavesha Warr-Cisco
• Director of Interior Building Design: Riana de Villa
• Director of Interior Decor Design: Ikram Magzoub
• Director of Landscape Design: Michael Dodge
• Director of Community Relations: Jaleene Jemmott
• Director of Sustainability & Energy: Rebecca Malimali

Comments

Ooops. Mira Loma isn't in Carmichael. It's in Sacramento. Good writing on this tab. Nice to see pictures being uploaded.

By bgrueneberger, Educator at 12:23 pm, 05 September 2012

We will fix that right now. Thank you for your feedback!

By architect7, Student at 12:56 pm, 05 September 2012

Hey mentees! I will be your mentor for this project! You can ask me anything even if it's not totally related to the project! I am here to help you in anyway I can. If you want to know anything about pursing architecture or what the profession is like, you are welcome to ask. You are welcome to email or google chat me @ leslie.robinson722@gmail.com.

To comment - Great overview of the project! How did you guys decide on who was doing what? Is this set for the entire duration of the project?

I look forward to talking to you guys.

Thanks,
Leslie Robinson

By leslierobinson7, Architect at 07:48 pm, 05 September 2012

Hello,
it's great to finally meet you! We are glad to have you as a mentor throughout this project. We will make sure to reach out to you with all of our questions.

For us to choose the right position for each team member, we decided to let everyone share what they are best at doing and what they will enjoy doing the most. From the information that we learned about each other, we decided to discuss as a team who was the best person for each task. Every person is responsible for their part, however, all team members are encouraged to help each other by giving feedback and comments on what we should do.

Thank you,
Architect Seven

By architect7, Student at 09:50 pm, 05 September 2012

It's good that you have broken up into these categories. It is really helpful when doing research and creating separate models to integrate into an overall model if you were to do this in BIM.

By leslierobinson7, Architect at 08:53 pm, 06 September 2012

Yes, we also thought the same thing. It is making this project more fun as well as easier!

By architect7, Student at 10:38 am, 13 September 2012

Curious about the instructions for this step of this cafeteria redesign problem? >>

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In the Collect Info step of the design process, you try to gather as much information as possible about your school's existing cafeteria.  You also want to learn as much as you can about the students and staff who will use it. You can't propose new solutions until you figure out and document what the existing problems are.  That's what this step is for.

Try This

  • Do a site visit of your school's existing cafeteria and kitchen facilities and make notes, sketches, and take lots of photographs. Note conditions that are unsecure or less than ideal.

  • Sit and study photographs of your site visit.  Post images and comments of what you remember and note where you might change things and how.

  • Interview your school's head cook and least 4 other students and ask them what they like and dislike about the current cafeteria.

  • Calculate the number of students who eat in the cafeteria each day. How many different lunch periods does your school have?  Consider how this information will affect your redesigned cafeteria.

  • Do an analysis at different times of the day, week, or school year and create a chart or diagram with average usage and high / low points.

  • View an aerial photo of your school on Google maps. Note where the existing cafeteria is located.  What are the existing overall dimensions of the cafeteria?  IMPORTANT! Post a screencapture of this aerial photo and explain its location so everyone can understand the relationship between your school building as a whole and the proposed location of the new cafeteria. Describe the other rooms in the school surrounding the cafeteria.

  • Draw a basic floor plan sketch of the existing cafeteria and note surrounding rooms.  Include dimensions on your sketch so every can understand the size of the cafeteria. IMPORTANT! Post this existing floor plan.

architect7's work for the Collect Information step:

Summary
In order for our team to please our client, we had to pay a visit to Mira Loma High School’s cafeteria.
This is the more improved sketch up design we have. As you can see the structure on the far left is...
8 comments
Satellite image of Mira Loma High School. The circled red area is the cafeteria.
2 comments
Exterior shot of Mira Loma's cafeteria. As the Landscape Design Artist I plan to put bark...
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Here's a picture of the inside of the cafeteria without students using it. The current...
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This is a picture of the cafeteria while it is being used by the students. As you can see, it is...
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On the right is a picture of the small kitchen while on the left is a picture of the cafeteria...
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Mira Loma's cafeteria has two main doors and two back doors. On the top left hand corner is...
12 comments

Curious about the instructions for this step of this cafeteria redesign problem? >>

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In the Brainstorm Ideas step of the design process, you start to be inspired by new places and you put some early ideas down on paper that show what you've found in the Collect Info step.

Try This

  • Go online and research other schools, universities, or restaurants to determine good / bad examples of how these eating spaces are designed. What inspires you?

  • Save copies of these images and post them in the slides for your project.  Include a hyperlink to the photo in the caption, to credit the photographer.

  • Gather all your notes from your interviews and post a summary of the results in the text box for your project.

  • Make a list of all the unique spaces and features you plan to have in your cafeteria.  Write this list of items in the text box for your project. 

  • You may redesign the interior of the existing cafeteria space, expand on the existing space, or design a completely new addition on to your school building.  It's your choice.
  • Your cafteria can include any types of spaces and features you feel are most important for your particular school, but here are a few suggestions:
    + variety of seating options for students
    + kitchen with food prep, storage, and clean up areas
    + oudoor access for student seating, if possible
    + outdoor access for food deliveries and waste
    + sustainability issues and the environmental impact of your design
  • Determine the best location for your new cafeteria. Make side notes of where new elements may go or how you would change what is currently in place.

  • Take note of conditions that do not make sense, for example: not enough space for all students to eat; confusing patterns for moving through the lunchline; not enough food choice areas; no opportunities for quiet areas to study during lunch.

architect7's work for the Brainstorm Ideas step:

Summary
Our team brainstormed their ideas through finding inspiration from unique architecture. Each member took pictures of what buildings that helped them find their inner creativity.
Michael Dodge, our Director of Landscape Design, found inspiration in this sidewalk. He thought...
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Riana de Villa, our Director of Interior Building Design, found inspiration in the Crocker Galleria...
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As Director of Interior Decor, I found inspiration in a cafeteria in Burj Khalifa, Dubai. I tink...
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Here's one of our rough drafts for the area near the boys' bathroom.
3 comments
Lavesha Warr-Cisco: Director of Exterior Design wanted to have lots of space and room for students...
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Our team thinks that it would be a brilliant idea to have our main entrance have a unique design...
0 comments

Curious about the instructions for this step of this cafeteria redesign problem? >>

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In the Develop Solutions step, your rough ideas come together with drawings and models that can show others your solutions for a new cafeteria.

Try This

  • Use cardboard to create a 3D study model of early ideas. Or use create a rough digital study model of your ideas. These models don't need to show detail, just the overall size and massing for your cafeteria.

  • Try out different ideas and save each “version”. You do not want to lose a good idea later!  Other people viewing your project - other students around the country, your teacher, and mentors - want to see how your ideas have changed over time. This means that if you're working on your digital model, you’ll want to be sure to keep re-saving it with a new file name every few days as you work through the steps.  If you're working on a physical model, take photos of it before working on it each day.
  • Show your ideas to your teacher and peers for some feedback. You can also review your progress with the test group you may have interviewed and test whether your design would meet their needs or address their concerns. Learn from the feedback you receive and incorporate into your final design solution.
  • Be sure to check out and make comments on other student design projects.  Post a link to your project on your Facebook account.
  • Do not leave work for the last minute! Going through a detailed design process requires time to gather information, develop ideas, and make improvements. This is difficult or impossible if you try to pull everything together a week before your project is due. Projects that are researched, developed, and well executed will always stand out!

architect7's work for the Develop Solutions step:

Summary
After touring the city of San Francisco last week, our firm was greatly impacted by the beauty and the architecture in their many buildings, old and new.
This is a picture of the new food service area. Our team and some of the adults were concerned...
6 comments
Here is our new office. The office desk can be used by four people at the same time. It is loaded...
5 comments
This is our first floor. As Director of Interior Decor, I decided to go with a more modern layout...
11 comments
This is our second floor. It has both inside and outside seating for the students to choose from....
15 comments
This is a picture of the activities room upstairs. I chose to add this room as an entertainment...
18 comments
This is the progress our group has made on our 3-D model of our re-design of Mira Loma High School...
5 comments
This is a rough view of what our community garden will look like. In the planters are different...
6 comments

Curious about the instructions for this step of this athletic cafeteria redesign problem? >>

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The Final Design step of the design process is to create more finished drawings and models that illustrate your ideas to others. Remember, your explanation text, and the types of drawings, images, and models you share need to tell the whole story of your project to someone who may or may not have ever visited your school.

Try This

  • Review your design and test it against your original sucess statement that you wrote for the Overview. Does it meet this criteria?

  • Does your final design meet the expectations of the students and cafeteria staff that you interviewed?  If not, you may need to go back to the drawing board and revise your design.

  • Make a list of your ideas, sketches, and study models. For your final design you will want to write and post a short but effective paragraph of your process and the unique solutions you developed.  Tell us about your ideas.

  • Your teacher (and architectural mentors, if you're working with any) will be looking for these things:

    + originality in your design
    + your ability to creatively solve the design challenge
    + the quality of images, sketches, drawings, and models you have uploaded in each of the five design process steps (Overview, Collect Info, Brainstorm Ideas, Develop Solutions, and Final Design).
    + how well you have written about and explained your thinking in each of the design process steps

architect7's work for the Final Design step:

Summary
As of 2012, Mira Loma High School’s cafeteria is crowded, warm, and in bad condition. Our group, Architect 7, has a new approach to renovate this out-of-date cafeteria.
This the first and second floor of our building. you can see all of the seating and free space and...
1 comment
As the Director of Interior Decor, it is my job to represent Mira Loma High School's students...
1 comment
Our finalized kitchen. Every two kitchen worker will share a station.
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The elevators from the first floor to the second.
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Our six lunch line booth and where the food will be served and the students can scan their I.D....
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Landscape in front of the cafeteria.
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