Tentative Design --- input?

Started by pleezel23 on 20 June 2005. 2 replies.

Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 3919.

After over a year of looking diligently for the "right" place, I've finally signed the paperwork and received the keys. Now comes the daunting task of layout. I've been lurking in this forum for several months and have learned tremendously. Thanks to you folks, I was alble to arm myself with enough information to make what I feel was an informed real estate decision. I have also posted this topic on recording.org's studio design forum, so my apologies if you've seen this posting twice. Please let me preface the following by saying I am NOT visually inclined at all. The pics are 1) how the building exists, and 2) a tentative design. Rough dimensions are 100' x 40' x 20' apex on a "bowed roof" with two small skyllights in the rear. HVAC exists on the roof toward the front of the building. The exterior walls are concrete block.
External image, not preserved — original: http://www.terrestrialrecords.com/miscfiles/hawthorne_before.jpg
External image, not preserved — original: http://www.terrestrialrecords.com/miscfiles/Studio_fp1.jpg
For those with a fast connection and Quicktime, here's a ridiculous little movie that will hopefully give you a good idea of the interior. Hooray for iMovie! Built in 1955, the building has been used as light industrial over the years and lies in a residential zone on a relatively busy street. Care was taken in the original construction to minimize noise leakage in the rear of the building, which butts up against an alleyway shared with homes behind. Suprisingly enough, it's hard to hear traffic noises in what will eventually become the studio area. Pretty solid building. Zoning issues have been cleared to live and work on premesis. I sketched in the living area where it is due to the location of the existing plumbing. The rest is relatively movable. Again, sorry for the poor quality. Hopefully this can at least provide an idea of what I've got in mind. I'm working with an experienced contractor and architects, though neither have had significant studio building experience. I've directed them toward this forum as well as recording.org's. Does this design look doable? Any obvious issues you can see? I'd love to preserve the height of the tracking room if at all possible. What would be a good plan of attack for the ceilings in a "bowed roof" environment? Hope I haven't forgotten anything. Again, thanks!
you might want to post this in the design forum, although the mods could just move it I guess.
also, even though you've avoided a square studio space, you've still pretty much got two sets of parrallel walls, you'll want to avoide that, unless you're going to try to slant your walls, which is a daunting task.