A study of client/user participation methods for the design process : exemplified by the design of a firehouse for Wayne Township Fire Department, and the development of a programmatic booklet for the design of firehouses

The past year has provided me with a great deal of practical knowledge that I hope others may also benefit from. To understand the potential roll of the client/user in the design process is vital for an architect who is trying to provide a successful solution to a client’s problem. My thesis is two fold; first is the study of methods for architects to involve clients and users in the design process more thoroughly, and second to determine ideas appropriate for the design of successful firehouses. The latitude and depth of this study is evident in the design of a firehouse for Wayne Township Fire Department and the development of a programming booklet for the design of firehouses. This documentation of my conclusions and findings is a small token of the knowledge I have gained about client/architect interactions and the fire profession. I believe that this documentation of my study can be beneficially used by architects and fire departments ambitious enough to pursue the goal of a better architecture for both professions.College of Architecture and PlanningThesis (B. Arch.