Why is it designed that way?

Why is it designed that way?  It can be a common question when touring facilities on assessment or in a recent case during an interview. Still I wonder why more people do not ask that question on a day to day basis. 

I do.  It is common fascination when touring facilities.  Looking a strange cabinetry and realizing the room was originally for a sewing class or once in Mexico, showing a whole group of guys that you need to pull a pin out to release the spare tire from under our stuck vehicle.  Designers normally do not place things willy nilly yet understanding the function of a design can be elusive. 

No matter the effort in programing and design, new users are always present for when the building opens, who don’t know why decisions were made on the placement of switches and amenities or arrangement of spaces.  On the operational side, including servicing heating and air conditioning and cleaning finishes, there are manuals that are created, but, on the functional side, users are left to wonder.  Even in a school that had only been open for a few years, I was asked, “Why did they do that?”  Sometimes I can tell by careful investigation, but, other times, I have no answer. 

Let’s make an answer.  Consider requesting a simple user guide for users of the spaces like there are manuals in the commissioning documents for equipment and maintenance.  Some places are moving in this direction.  Stanford in one classroom building has diagrams posted on the wall of each classroom with furniture arrangement options.  If you have ever looked for a new home you know how this goes; you walked into a room and say, "what in the world is this used for?"  Let’s prevent that question, especially when pushing the envelope in learning spaces. 

No design and construction project on the horizon?  That is ok, look around and ask yourself, why was this designed this way?  One of the most common things we are challenged with in education, like fashion, is everything is cyclical.  Well there may be hidden gems in your closet and at your school

Courtyard between pods of classrooms

if you just look at things with a fresh eye.  I often take my son on wagon rides through a high school near my home.  It was designed with pods of six classrooms surrounded by center workrooms.  In-between a set of pods are courtyards.  Well look at the staff collaboration and break out space potential of that design.  Still, they don’t seem to be used that way.  Installing additional outdoor tables (and maybe blackboard or whiteboard paint if you are really daring) and cleaning out center sections could go a long way with a little money to update.  

Are there places where you wonder why they are built the way they are?  Tell us about it!