Design Charrette as Methodology for Student Learning Assessment Relative to Building Safety and Security

Abstract

A clear understanding of design strategies for the enhancement of building safety and security has never been more important for interior designers to comprehend than in recent times. Natural disasters, terrorism, and workplace violence represent but a few of the dangers, which threaten our built environments in unimaginable ways, and jeopardize the foundations of society and personal welfare. The application of building codes and life–safety regulations alone are no longer enough to mitigate for unforeseen disasters. Further practices and methodologies must be introduced in academic institutions to prepare future practitioners for the challenges that await them relative to designing for the safety and security of building occupants, particularly in commercial structures. This exploratory pedagogical study postulates that interior design students who employ safety and security strategies in applied scenarios retain a deeper understanding of the difference between building codes and supplementary techniques relative to enhanced protection of building occupants. This paper advocates for the use of charrette as an instructional method in studio–based coursework to reinforce a contextual understanding of safety and security concepts, and urges educators to be cognizant of charrette as a teaching approach to effectively assess student learning outcomes as well as potentially impact the body of knowledge.