In this blog post, we looked at the brainstormed “purpose and solution” of the two focus areas of our project. In the solution section we discussed various possibilities to what could solve some of the problems. We finished with a timeline to help keep our project on track to success.

Purpose

The purpose of the playroom re-design is to improve lighting, storage and the “vibe” of the environment. Our client is looking for a more bright and energetic child friendly environment where the kids just want to play. Below are 2 pictures of the overall space and the duct work.

Solution

The play area for children should be a more vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. To design effective improvements we took dimensions and made note of the activity during the site inspection.

Improving the Aesthetic Appeal and Storage of the Play Area:

There are visible ducts that hang over the edge of the play area. It is important to cover these ducts to increase the aesthetic appeal of this area. A design idea we are considering is covering the area with a sheet of plywood or drywall. We are thinking of painting and cutting the material to look like a castle. This will create a more welcoming area for the children. They will be entering the castle to play with some of the toys on that side.

To create more storage space it would be an effective use of space to replace the bookshelves with more stable structures that can be used to store items. Larger shelves and drawers can be used to separate the play area from the food distribution area while also creating more space for all the volunteers. This will create a more organized environment for the children.

To make the area more aesthetically appealing for the children it is important to make the area more bright and vibrant. Adding colour to the dividers and shelves that will act as separating walls can do this. Painting over the materials can make this improvement very easy.

There is a staircase on the side that has been blocked off from the children for safety reasons. Adding in compartments underneath the stairs can increase the storage space. This area should only be accessible by the volunteers to avoid hazards. There are many palletes around the warehouse where the food is stored. It is possible to use one of the palletes as a divider under the stairs. This can be used if rollers or hinges where placed at the bottom as the support.

Purpose

The purpose of the restructuring of the food distribution was mainly to increase overall efficiency and ease of food distribution. Much emphasis was put towards the reorganization of individual stations, as our team observed many empty and high density tables. The current food bank distribution layout is provided below.

Solution

After meeting with the client again on February 26, 2014 during the time of food distribution time our team was able to gain a better understanding of the project scope and purpose. The food distribution system requires improvements to create a more efficient method for customers and volunteers.

Improving the Distribution System:

The last couple tables in the food distribution system are allocated for food return and exchange of food items. A common item that was being returned was food cans, including soup and beans. The food cans are currently being distributed at the beginning of the system (following the organic fruits). A more effective method would be to locate the food cans closer to the return area to minimize the time it takes customers at the end. By also adding more tables at the end for the return area it would maximize the number of people that can use the space, creating a more effective system.

The area where the baked goods and bread is distributed becomes crowed very easily. This is due to bread being a popular food group and the tables in that area creating a corner with less space. An improvement to the system would be adding more tables to hold the bread and baked goods. More space will help the volunteers move around easily while distributing the food. This will also create more space for the customers to move around the corner.

A concern brought up by the client was regarding the distribution of the family bags that have been prepared prior to the distribution day. The lady that volunteers at this station has trouble having to turn around to get the required items for the customer. An improvement for this area would be to align the family bags alongside of her table to minimize the distance she has to move.

Time Line

Background of Richmond Food Bank

Richmond Food bank’s history dates back to 1982, located at Richmond Presbyterian Church where it began by storing food for future use. In 1983 Richmond Food Bank was formed when the community’s hunger issues were increasing, and needed to be addressed. In 1992 Richmond Food Bank was located at  #135 – 12417 No. 2 Road in the Steveston Industrial Park, by April 2002 they moved to #7 – 12491 No. 2 Road, and in August 2007 Richmond Food Bank relocated to 100 – 5800 Cedarbridge Way. As time progressed, Richmond Food Bank moved locations to meet the needs of the community, and with each iteration, a larger facility was required to keep up with the hunger demand. The current location is also near public transportation, which improves the accessibility of the food bank.

Richmond Food Bank’s purpose

Richmond Food Bank is here to help residents in need of assistance. Everyone has a different reason why they might require access to Richmond Food Bank, ranging from cut-backs from work to prolonged illness. Regardless of the reason, Richmond Food Bank stands firm that a healthy meal should not be a luxury, but a necessity. As well as distributing food, Richmond Food Bank has a Children’s play area where they allow children to interact with one another. This replicates many of the social aspects that children are exposed to in preschool without a fee to the parents, while they’re in line to pick up food.

Vision Statement

Richmond Food Bank’s Mission:

“To be a caring organization that provides food assistance, advocacy, and related support for community members in need”

Alongside their mission statement, their vision includes:

“A caring community where no one goes hungry”

Project Scope and Goals

Richmond Food Bank would like to improve the efficiency and rate at which food is distributed. Currently, the system in place requires cans to be distributed after softer organic produce, resulting in crushed fruits and vegetables. Our leading objective is to help eliminate this current problem, along with the reduction of “bottle-necking” in line. In many cases, the food distribution lines tend to densify in one particular area causing disorder and eliminating the practicality of the distribution system.  Another primary goal involves remodelling and beautification of the children’s play area. This project scope involves the specific redesign of storage, lighting, and overall aesthetics. Richmond Food Bank hopes that by achieving this goal, the younger individuals can learn and develop in a brighter, happier environment.

Constraints

Non-negotiable constraints include the dimensions allocated for the children’s play area and food distribution. Our CBEL group has been allocated 17’ by 11’of space to be utilized for the play space and 110’ by 110’ for the distribution area. All light fixtures and additional electrical usages are limited to one outlet currently hung on the roof. Additionally, the remodelled design of the play space must hide the exposed ventilation without blocking access to the area. When it comes to negotiable constraints, Richmond Food Bank is flexible with the budget of materials needed to beautify the play area. This may include the purchasing of better lighting, paint, drywall, or other cosmetic details. The distribution tables may be moved if necessary, along with the shelving behind the tables.

Possible Solutions

When food is distributed, every individual receives fresh fruit and vegetables which are placed into their plastic bag first. The following heavier items such as canned goods tend to crush and damage the produce below it. To avoid this problem, our team plans to create a new system that rearranges the order in which goods are distributed.