Month: February 2013

 

At this point the project is well underway. After meeting our correspondents at Science World on February 1^st to gain a better understanding of the scope of the project, much progress has been made. Last Thursday, a team meeting was held to discuss the best possible course of action to deal with the traffic problems Science World has faced after renovations. After realizing how large of an area we were dealing with, we decided to divide our team into two smaller groups of three.

 

Herman, Jordan, and Janlie were assigned with coming up with solutions to the issues involving the north side of Science World. Major issues in this area included proper signage for bike paths and the Sea Wall as well as blocking unwanted vehicle traffic from travelling down the Sea Wall.

 

Baitao, Brian, and Daniel will be dealing with the South Side and loading bay. Tasks here include coming up with an efficient way to get large trucks from the parking lot to the loading bay without jeopardizing the safety of cyclists and pedestrians on the bike path.

 

Both groups will come up with individual solutions for the parking lot and share these ideas after the reading break. The best way to utilize the drop off zone seems to be an area of concern for Science World and the City of Vancouver. In addition, prevalent exterior signage is needed along Quebec Street to ensure truck drivers know which entrance they are suppose to use.

 

Here is a map of the major areas of interest around Science World.

At this point there are four major milestones left in this project.

 

 

1-     The 2 smaller groups collaborate and come up with solutions to the problems in their respective areas as well as a solution to the parking lot.

 

2-     The two groups join together, presenting the ideas, and deciding which way is best to handle the parking lot issues

 

3-     We draft a report of our findings and solutions  to the client (Science World)

 

4-     Create a poster of our completed CBEL project and present it on March 25^th in the Design Studio

 

 

We will post our progress again in two weeks after reading break.

Vancouver Science World, or known as the Telus World of Science, states their mission statement on their website as such:

“Science World British Columbia is a not-for-profit organization that engages British Columbians in science and inspires future science and technology leadership throughout our province.” #

Most Vancouverites know Science World through it’s crazy exhibitions in the past or through a field trip opportunity. This means that the organization is doing just what their mission statement indicates, “engages British Columbians in science and inspire”.

Science World was created back in 1977, as the Junior League of Greater Vancouver and the Vancouver Social Planning Department joined forces to create a place to “engages British Columbians in science and inspire”. Now, more than 35 years later, the non-profitable organization known as Science World still exists and more influential than ever.  Renovation of the Science World began in late 2009 and early 2010. New galleries was created, the lobby was expanded, as well an outdoor exhibition space now known as the Ken Spencer Science Park. Now the question is, what to do with the traffic flow and parking space outside of the centre, now that everything is newly renovated and changed?

We find out what our client expect from this group in this project through an arranged meeting, set on Friday, February 1st, 2013.

[Information taken from http://www.scienceworld.ca]

 

The following areas will be  carefully reviewed and a revision plan will be delivered to our client.

Currently, the delivery trucks need to cross the bike path to get to the loading bay. Signs are needed to warn cyclists for possible incoming traffic.

There is no exit onto Quebec St. because the parking lot only allows one-way traffic, we will consider the feasibility of changing it into two-way driveway to allow more flexibility.

Signs are needed to deter cyclists from entering the parking lot and redirect them to the designated bike path.

Loading information signs need to be updated to provide the correct directions to the loading bay.

 

The signs at the bus drop off zone need to be consistent and updated.

Consideration of allowing private cars/vans to drop off visitors.

 

The internal road should only provide direct access point for emergency vehicles, such as fire engines and ambulance. Signs will added to prevent public vehicles from entering that area.

 

We will post our progress in two weeks.

 

Photo Source: Daniel Song Feb 2013