Project 1.2.

1 Design Charrette
Introduction
The White House is more than 200 years old. During that time the White House has been a
testing ground for technological innovation. The White House was one of the first facilities to install
plumbing, gas lights, elevators, and air conditioning. On Earth Day 1993 it was announced that the
energy and environmental performance of the White House would be evaluated and that changes
would be made based on the evaluation. This initiative was known as the “Greening of the White
House.” In order to achieve project objectives, over 90 government experts and individuals from
the private sector collaborated in a charrette sponsored by the American Institute of Architects.
Equipment
 Internet access  Optional – presentation software
 Paper for sketching  Optional – 3D modeling software
Procedure
In this activity you will work in a group to complete a design charrette. At the conclusion of the
charrette, you will present your idea in persuasive format to the instructor.
Design Charrette
A design charrette is often described as a brainstorming/planning method used at the beginning
stages of a structure, building, community, or other urban setting project. A charrette is an
intensive workshop in which various stakeholders and experts are brought together to address a
particular design issue.
1. Your team is the whole class.
2. Familiarize yourself with the scenario that you have been assigned by your instructor. Assign
each team member a role as a stakeholder from the list below.
3. Individually research the job responsibilities of your chosen stakeholder and complete
Stakeholder Role to prepare for the charrette.
4. As a professional, take personal notes of the meeting to record the discussion and
conclusions.
5. Within your group introduce yourself and explain what you see as your role in the charrette. Be
sure to record the name and role of each participant in your notes. In addition, everyone in the
group should consider the role of building user during the brainstorming session.
6. As a team create a preliminary proposal to address your scenario. Your teacher will circulate
during the charrette and act as the building owner, so keep a list of questions to pose to the
owner when he/she is available.
7. At the conclusion of the charrette, your group must provide an official record of the meeting.
Create a typed document that each member of the charrette will sign to indicate that the
minutes are accurate.
8. Present your team’s ideas to the class. You must provide the following at a minimum for the
presentation.
o Introduction of each stakeholder and a brief job description.
o Statement of the problem
o Sketches (hand or computer-generated) to illustrate the vision
o A bulleted list of the benefits of your plan
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010
CEA – Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Project 1.2.2 – Design Charrette – Page 1
 o A bulleted list of unanswered questions and potential barriers, along with
suggestions for answers and ways to overcome identified barriers
Potential Stakeholders
 Architect  Interior Designer
 Architectural Engineer  Landscape Architect
 Health and Safety Engineer  Urban Planner
 Commissioning Agent  Civil Engineer/Site Planner
 Construction Contractor/Manager  Building Inspector/Code Enforcement
 Environmental Engineer  Structural Engineer
 Energy Consultant  Cost Estimator
 Construction or Building Inspector
Scenario
The city of Newark is considering purchasing a vacant warehouse in a blighted section of
town. The area was once a busy manufacturing district along a riverfront near the
downtown area. The city would like to convert the warehouse to a facility that provides a
community service. The goal is to encourage redevelopment of the area.
Conclusion
1. Why is it important to recognize challenges and barriers during the charrette and then identify
solutions?
To find and define all the variables and obstacles you have to deal with as well as understanding the
situation you have.

2. Among the ideas or thoughts that you prepared for the charrette, were there any that were
disregarded by the group? Why? Do you think it was the right decision?
A skate park was disregarded due to the fact that the whole team didn’t feel it was a safe choice to
make one.

3. What is the value of using a charrette to investigate the feasibility and development of a
building project? Describe specific advantages over a traditional approach in which the client
meets with an architect and the architect develops the plan.
It is important because it allows the members of the team to evaluate who they need for what job and
can help them decide what they want to build and how they will do it.

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2010
CEA – Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Project 1.2.2 – Design Charrette – Page 2
 4. Identify and explain a potential drawback of the plan your team drafted.
-A potential drawback could be the time in order to build the idea we want.
-The funding required to build and maintain the building.

Stakeholder Role
Online sources of information
o Sloan Career Cornerstone Center at http://careercornerstone.org/index.htm
o College Career Life Planning at http://www.collegecareerlifeplanning.com
o The American Society of Civil Engineers Find Your Dream Job at
http://content.asce.org/asceville/find-fields.html
o Junior Engineering Technical Society Explore Engineering at
http://jets.org/explore/index.cfm
o Occupational Outlook Handbook at http://www.bls.gov/oco/
o Engineer Girls at http://www.engineergirl.org/
o The American Society of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering Careers at
http://www.asce.org/kids/careers.cfm
o Discover Engineering at http://www.discoverengineering.org/
o American Institute of Architects – Careers in Architecture at
http://www.aia.org/professionals/careers/index.htm
Instructions
Now that you know who your team members are, the scenario, and your role, prepare for the
charrette activity by completing the items listed below.

 Stakeholder Identity:
Civil Engineer

 What is the nature of your work? What are your areas of expertise?

I would work on the structure of the building. I make sure the building will be able to function and if the
building will be safe for use once the building is complete.

 What issues are you responsible for that potentially no other stakeholders would know about?

The framework of the building as well as safety cautions.

 Going into the charrette, list the top five issues in order of importance that you want to address
during the meeting.
Health and safety, Costs, placement of tables chairs, arrangement, and framework design.

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2010
CEA – Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Project 1.2.2 – Design Charrette – Page 3
 List any other important notes to yourself as you prepare for the charrette.

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2010
CEA – Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Project 1.2.2 – Design Charrette – Page 4