Page 20
DG 1110-3-124
August 1976
2-13 Found Space In
There are facilities on many installations that no
a.
longer serve their designed purposes. Finding and adapting
space in such buildings to other functions may be a solu-
Existing Buildings
tion to the space needs of an Arts and Crafts Center. How-
ever, a careful analysis of functional suitability and eco-
nomics is required before such a decision can be reached.
b.
In order to determine the validity of using found
space the planner should, in the preliminary stage, prepare
an inventory of existing buildings that are available for the
intended use. Any existing facility considered for long
term use as an Arts and Crafts Center should, as a first
principle, fit within the land-use parameters of the
installation master plan. An analysis of the suitability of a
particular facility for its proposed adaptive use should fol-
low a progressively more detailed evaluation. A primary
test of suitability should include:
Location and accessibilityAn otherwise suitable
(1)
building which is in the wrong location is not a viable
solution unless other factors, such as the addition of
bus service, can be introduced.
Site SizeThe site must be adequate for its proposed
(2)
function which may also include building additions.
Comparability of FunctionsThe Arts and Crafts
(3)
Center must be compatible with adjacent facilities.
Availability of UtilitiesAn advantage of found space
(4)
may be the cost savings resulting from existing utili-
ties. Conversely, lack of basic services may be grounds
for rejecting such space.
c.
Facilities that appear to meet the foregoing primary
test can be surveyed to determine the feasibility of con-
verting or remodeling. The survey of an existing structure
should follow an analytical format to permit value judge-
ments of its suitability.
d. There are a number of evaluation techniques in use
today. The best generally accepted methods rely on a
numerical scoring system to arrive at an index of eco-
nomic and functional acceptability. All methods are
necessarily subjective to a greater or lesser extent, and the
judgment and experience of the surveyor is an important
factor.
e.
The chart on page 21 illustrates one analytic format
which is suitable for the level of complexity of an Arts
and Crafts Center. It establishes a numerical framework
within which the intrinsic value of a potential "found
space" building can be approximately determined.
f.
The 12 major site elements and 15 major building
are assigned a percentage of
elements listed in column
the cost for a complete building. The percentages listed
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