There didn't used to be a need to create an architectural aesthetic beyond ... Master planning the entire distribution c
Ds Design
Big box aesthetics words Jay Todisco, vice president, ware malcomb
As industrial distribution buildings have increased in size throughout the last several decades so too has the fundamental design challenge. These buildings, which used to be very simple to design, are now more challenging projects due to the complexities of scale. Not long ago the largest distribution centers in most markets were 200,000 square feet and had a 24-foot clear height. Now buildings that are 32-foot clear height and in excess of 1 million square feet are commonplace. The overriding drivers of this building type are functionality and economics, two things that present a significant design challenge as buildings increase in size and municipalities desire more articulated architecture. Historically, distribution buildings are located in industrial zones, near ports and rail yards or adjacent to inner cities on inexpensive land parcels that were less desirable for higher uses. There didn’t used to be a need to create an architectural aesthetic beyond that which stemmed naturally from a building’s utilitarian function. These buildings were designed to provide space to store and distribute goods — nothing more. 1.1
Those days are in the past. As traditional industrial zones were built out, conventional
Vice President Jay Todisco leads Ware
distribution buildings became obsolete. Urban renewal required that buildings be
Malcomb’s Chicago office and oversees the
adapted for alternative uses or demolished to make way for new buildings and zoning
company’s New Jersey and Toronto offices.
changes. Urban renewal was driven by the proximity of these sites to population centers
He has more than 26 years of planning and
as well as rising land values. Industrial developers, end users and their business parks
architecture experience, including the design
were driven out to fringe suburban sites situated along arterial roads and the interstate
of industrial distribution offices, medical
highway system.
offices, retail and hospitality facilities, and
Another key driver of this evolution is the need to accommodate the ever-increasing
parking structures. His areas of expertise include
size of these distribution centers. This demand for larger buildings forced industrial
logistics and complex intermodal projects.
distribution development to go out to large, less-expensive, undeveloped land parcels in locations that are easily accessible to transportation networks. In response to the changing dynamics of industrial development, architects and builders must address a new series of considerations for distribution projects. What strategies can be employed by the architect to design buildings that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing? How does one design distribution centers that complement the local community while also meeting the requirements of the developers, the end users and the municipalities in which they are built? Master planning the entire distribution center site is one of the most effective ways of creating attractive big-box distribution buildings and business parks without increasing the project cost. Proper planning of road networks will dictate the evolution of a business park for decades to come. Master planning an entire land parcel with multiple buildings before users or market influences are identified will allow the architect to locate and position future buildings, mitigating direct views into the truck yard. Universally, planning officials and communities consider direct views into the truck yard as the most objectionable 28
Midwest Commercial Journal
part of a project. Ironically truck yards and all corresponding activities (maneuvering,
Throughout time many techniques
trailer storage, loading and unloading) are the only reasons these buildings exist in
have evolved to address the need for
the first place. Above all, simple, direct and efficient movement of trucks is the most
more expressive architecture. Architectural
important site design objective for the architect.
treatments such as exposed aggregates,
In addition to creatively positioning the truck yards, well-placed and generous landscaped
form liner, reveals, recesses, multi-colored
areas can mitigate undesirable direct views by providing natural screening. Previously,
paint schemes, fin walls, fly walls, trellises,
wide landscaped berms and screen walls were the primary design tool used to address this
staggered horizontal and vertical building
challenge. However, this approach was typically viewed with reluctance by developers due
facades, and lapped wall panels were all
to the negative impact on land coverage and the increasing cost of land.
used with varying degrees of success.
With the emergence of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
In practice the architect must compose
certification and associated sustainable site design strategies, the architect can now
these simple materials in very creative
justify the additional acreage given to these buffering areas. By introducing vegetated
and ingenious ways. Not unlike a sculptor or
bio swales (storm water runoff conveyance systems) in conjunction with berms and
painter, the architect must create interesting,
landscaping, truck yards are more sensitively screened from view and provide the
abstract design compositions that trick
dual function of treating storm water runoff through natural filtration before it percolates
the eye to break down the bulk and mass
into the underground water aquifer system.
of the building.
Distribution buildings by function are tall, long and rectangular. The economics
Architects and design professionals have
of the basic building materials drive their aesthetic expression. Large flat roofs, tall
an overarching responsibility to create
concrete wall panels and the lack of windows can create plain, flat, expressionless
industrial distribution buildings that first
structures. The architect’s challenge is to utilize these commodity materials in both a
and foremost meet their functional and
creative and practical application.
economic objectives. They must also
Objectives should include making an appealing architectural design statement that
transcend their utilitarian use and become
ensures the functionality of the building while simultaneously making the building
proud expressions of the companies that
affordable to construct.
occupy them. £ 1.2
1.1
1.3
1.1 A 314,978-square-foot building in Denver’s Stapleton Business Center 1.2 The 330,000-square-foot Hafele America distribution center in Torrance, California 1.3 A 317,000-square-foot building that is part of Vesta Park in Toluca, Mexico May 2009
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