RISD Facilities Assessment & Master Plan
LLB Architects primary project goal was to inventory and assess the entirety of the Providence, RI campus inclusive of all buildings, rooms, and systems to assist the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in their master planning efforts. Our assessment team examined 54 buildings, over 1,637,000 SF of cumulative built environment. With the campus primarily set within a Providence hillside, we focused on identifying safe, equitable, and accessible walking routes, while taking into account the steep grade conditions. To support the assessment and analysis, we developed a building inventory and assessment solution for efficient field data collection, flexible reporting, and robust information analysis.
Our database solution, combined with industry standards, allowed us to accurately and quickly gather data. We analyzed the collected data to shed light on under-utilized structures, deficient systems, or unsuitable spaces which required immediate facility upgrade attention. Our team applied a thorough inventory of condition metrics to building envelope, shell, and systems components, identifying some for deferred maintenance. Costs provided a total estimate of repair and replacement costs for these components. Our analysis allowed RISD to prioritize and compare buildings, largely influencing the strategies offered in the new campus master plan.