THE DIGITAL CLIENT: A Forensic Examination of The NSU Regional Science Center
The NSU Regional Science Center, in Aberdeen, SD was designed by TSP in partnership with Smith Group JJR. This science facility is intended to advance educational and research opportunities for the university and the entire region. This Project acts as a lens to observe the effects of digital media’s impact on client communication and decision making. By drawing parallels between NSU and the historical role of the client we can begin to identify what a digital client is.
490 BC
MESSAGES THROUGH COURIER
​
Primitive methods for exchanging information relied on couriers for the transfer of messages by foot. This transfer of information was a lengthy process as messages could travel only as fast as those walking from the sender to the recipient. Handwritten messages were exchanged through the couriers to transmit information and knowledge.
1439
THE GUTENBERG PRESS
​
The invention of the Gutenberg Press in the 15th Century revolutionized the methods of communication throughout the world. The speed in which manuscripts were reproduced was increased. This significant shift in how information was exchanged advanced education and wide-spread communication. Existing forms for delivering information continued to be used with the new method for transcribing messages speeding up production.
500 B.C.
PHYSICAL FORUM
​
Communication that exists within public spaces identified as free-speech, is one of the primary democratic forms of communication. This forum, common in places like parks in larger cities, allows individuals to voice their own opinions to crowds of people. Translated to digital technology, this sense of public forum became an important influence on the way people communicate using the internet.
1520
THE PONY EXPRESS
Horses eventually became a replacement for couriers on foot, accelerating the process of information exchange. Early Romans began to use horses to assist in traveling great distances to transmit messages. Eventually, the Pony Express was established in the United States and could travel great distances to deliver mail, as far as two-hundred miles in one day. This early form of mail delivery in the United States decreased the amount of time it took to exchange information.
1830
THE TRAIN
​
As one of the most significant advancements in methods of transportation, the train connected parts of modernized countries that had previously been isolated from cities or required travel by horse over a great distance. While the transportation of goods and people became easier, communication methods were widely impacted as well. Mass amounts of mail could easily be transported to any place where railroads were built, spreading mass amounts of information much faster than before.
1912
MOTORCYCLE MESSANGER
​
Motorcycles, as a new form of mail service vehicles, allowed messengers to quickly travel and deliver mail across many terrains. Within cities, motorcycles proved to be an efficient delivery system. The mobility of motorcycles solved issues with transportation on a local scale, traversing busy city streets with ease.
1844
THE TELEGRAPH
​
Samuel Morse invented the telegraph in the 1830s as the earliest form of communication that allowed instant long-distance communication. This advancement connected cities to allow for nearly instantaneous transmission of messages over a wire. Information exchange found a new potential for communication from a great distance, without the requirement to travel.
1876
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL
​
Progressing the forms of communication over long distances, the Telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell as an advancement from the telegraph. Using a similar communication system over a wire, but now allowing for the transmission of voice. Within a decade of the original patent, hundreds of thousands of American citizens had access to the telephone.
1940
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION
​
The telephone continued to develop as the largest form of communication in the world, with telephone wires and poles occupying a large majority of the skyline of cities. Booths scattered throughout metropolitan areas provided the public with the opportunity to make contact through the telephone. Access to telephone communication across the entire globe eventually connected all modern civilizations, drastically improve access to information exchange.
1964
ADVENT OF THE COMPUTER
​
Computational devices have existed since the late 19th century, progressing the ability to perform digital processes that communicate data. The first modern digital computer was built in 1964 by Douglas, forever changing the landscape in which the computer existed. The advancement of computers produced the World Wide Web, connecting the communication of computers throughout the world.
2019
VIRTUAL REALITY
​
The invention of Virtual Reality has impacted forms of representation. Users have the ability to experience virtual worlds with an immersive visual and audio device. This interactive simulated environment is generated through computer software and is customized to the desired design of the virtual spatial environment.
2019
TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY
​
Modern digital technologies have transformed communication throughout society. Mobile phones and computers have combined many forms of technology; packaging together telephones, computers, emails, forums, design tools, messaging applications, video communication, social media, virtual reality, and many others to provide advanced communication access to millions of citizens globally through devices that fit in their pocket.
1410
THE WOOL GUILD OF FLORENCE
​
In 15th Century Florence, a majority of the city’s income came from the wool industry. The Wool Guild was a leading corporation in control of the city’s arts and trades. This committee identified the need for a cathedral to reflect the economic status of Florence as one of the most prosperous cities in Europe.
1418
DUOMO OF SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE
​
Upon initial design, the dome was conceived to be the largest to date. With no description or understanding of how to build the structure, a competition was announced in 1418 to solve the difficulties in constructing the dome.
1418
ORTHOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION
​
With more than a dozen entries, Filippo Brunelleschi presented a series of orthographic projections and physical models in a forum with the Wool Guild. The evidence and material provided ultimately convinced the Wool Guild to choose Brunelleschi as the winner and architect of the Duomo.
UNKNOWN
THE VATICAN OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA
​
Forums are crucial to the development of a project. The discussions within them determine the crucial details of a project. Seen on the right is one of the numerous biblical depictions of the construction of the Tower of Babel. This shows the forum between the stonemasons and the patron of the project.
1506-1547
THE VATICAN & ST. PETER'S BASILICA
​
The image at the left depicts the physical forum held with Pope Julius II to discuss the architecture, painting, and construction of what was to be St, Peter’s Basilica. Architects Bramante and Raphael, along with Artist Michelangelo presented a series of orthographic drawings and paintings of what
the basilica would entail. This forum was an instance of the importance of communicative devices architects and artists used to portray ideas to clients. The decisions made by Pope Julius II were based on the information provided during these forums.
2012
FACEBOOK'S WESTERN CAMPUS
​
In 2012 architect Frank Gehry met with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to design the new western headquarters of Facebook. Compared to the historical role of the client, cultural influences once desired public notoriety for new commissions. The forum between Frank Gehry and Mark Zuckerberg showed a shift towards the desire for a building that is unnoticeable to the public eye.
1955
SEAGRAM BUILDING
​
Mies Van Der Rohe and Philip Johnson met with client Phyllis Lambert to discussing the design of the Seagram Building in New York City. Forums within architecture are crucial to the development of a project. In this instance, Phyllis Lambert would be the heir to Joseph E. Seagram and had the potential of a limitless budget. Developing a close relationship to Lambert Mies and Philip could develop the project to their desires.
1991
THE ADVENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION
​
Through the advent of digital technology, forums could be conducted at a much greater distance. In 1991 Cambridge University developed the first webcam. From this moment telecommunication was adopted into the profession of architecture. Through visually connecting clients and architects at a distance, face-to-face communication could happen instantaneously from anywhere. This progression of digital communication could also allow for easier collaboration between architects and consultants from a distance.
2019
VIRTUAL REALITY
​
The tools used during forums is just as important as the forum itself. The attempts of virtual reality stem back to the orthographic stereoscopic photos of 1838. Through the advancement of digital media and recent advancements of technology has pushed virtual reality to become nearly seamless. The use of this technology as a representational tool during these forums can convince clients in investing in ideas.
2016
NSU FORUMS
​
Within the process of the Regional Science Center, five physical forums took place up to the construction phase of the project. First was the initial interview on August 22nd, 2016, two occurred during Pre-Design in September and October of 2016, one in Schematic Design on June 08th, 2017, and one during Design Development on August 17th, 2017. These forums, described as workshops, were the point in which team members from the Design, Client, and Contractor committees physically met to discuss the project and make decisions.
19TH CENTURY
DURAND'S TEMPLATES
​
Early 19th-century French Architect Jean-Nicolas-Louis Durand developed Precis des lecons d’architecture, a book intended to teach students typological standards within Neoclassical architecture. In the book, Durand catalogs a series of stylized physical elements and standard programmatic spaces. These elements and spaces are formatted as templates to understand and arrange their physical relationships in accordance with the neoclassic typology.
2017
NSU GUIDEPLATES
​
Smith Group, with their experience designing science education facilities, developed a series of guide-plates through Revit, that catalogs programmatic spaces and could be updated instantaneously based on the client’s needs. In the project of the NSU Regional Science Center, Smith Group and TSP used and developed thoroughly 53 guide plates. These parametric tools were intended to relieve the complicated requirements needed for the equipment within science education labs. This tool gives clients the capability in being included within the design process along with customizing the space for the end user. However, this becomes a moment of product selection rather than the customizing of spatial layout.