Fwd: OST with architects; compiling os stories (Long)

Zelle Nelson zelle at knowplacelikehome.com
Fri Jun 29 21:54:53 PDT 2007


Here is a list of stories involving architects compiled by Lisa Heft  
almost a year ago:

with grace and love,

Zelle

Zelle Nelson
Know Place Like Home/Engaging the Soul at Work/State of Grace Document

www.knowplacelikehome.com
www.engagingthesoulatwork.com
www.stateofgracedocument.com

zelle at knowplacelikehome.com

work/home: (001) 828.693.0802
mobile: (001) 847.951.7030

Isle of Skye
2021 Greenville Hwy
Flat Rock, NC 28731
USA


> From: Zelle Nelson <zelle at knowplacelikehome.com>
> Date: July 6, 2006 2:21:04 PM EDT
> To: lisaheft at openingspace.net, OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> Subject: Re: OST with architects; compiling os stories
>
> Bless you Lisa!
>
> I was reading Jennifer's post and thinking, "When did I write about  
> architects and open space and where is it so I can re-post to the  
> list." And then I read your beautiful email and find it has already  
> been done.
>
> Thank you, thank you, thank you!
>
> You truly are the Access Queen!
>
> The movie of my work with bp in Scotland is now on the website  
> www.knowplacelikehome.com - there is also some info on Open Space  
> there too.
>
> Also, what do you have in mind for compiling OS stories? At one  
> point I was putting together a document for "those new to OST"  
> looking at common questions and the many great answers given on the  
> list (everything from non-convergence to voting to holding space).  
> I get the sense that the stories are just that, stories and that  
> the document I have (very unformatted, very proto-user-friendly) is  
> something different.
>
> You are fantastic!
>
> with grace and love,
>
> Zelle
>
>
> On Jul 6, 2006, at 1:37 PM, Lisa Heft wrote:
>
>> Hello, again -
>>
>>
>> Jennifer wrote:
>>
>> < Hello everyone.  I may be holding space for a group looking at  
>> school design issues.  The group will include architects, parents,  
>> and teachers, and will be exploring the issues in general (not  
>> designing a particular school).  I know many people have posted  
>> resources and links here before.  Could someone point me in the  
>> direction of resources about: 1. OST with children 2. OST around  
>> architectural design issues 3. OST related to schools>
>>
>>
>> As I mentioned in my earlier email, I have been collecting OS  
>> stories for a database I am building that you all will one day be  
>> able to access for these questions.  I have divided my response to  
>> Jennifer into 2 separate emails with adjusted titles in case  
>> anyone tries to find these topics in the future in our archives.   
>> The first was for using OS with schools. This 2nd part of my  
>> message shares with you how some of our colleagues have used OS  
>> with architects and the organizations or communities they have  
>> been working with…
>>
>>
>> Joelle wrote:
>>
>>
>> I have been working with an organization which is preparing to  
>> move to a new building.  In this case, the building design was  
>> already finished (with much staff participation in the design  
>> process).
>>
>>
>> About the time ground was broken for the construction, the entire  
>> staff was invited to an all-day Open Space convened to discuss the  
>> challenges presented by this move.  Groups quickly self-organized  
>> to plan the allocation of storage space, work out how to be  
>> comfortable with the change to open offices with cubicles, talk  
>> about the changes in work relationships that would come with  
>> bringing together staff from two offices, security concerns about  
>> the isolated rural site, and the generalized grief that always  
>> comes with change.
>>
>>
>> Today, the building is taking shape (and it is beautiful!), task  
>> groups that came together at the OS are continuing to plan the  
>> various changes that will be required, managers are covering  
>> people's jobs so that newly-constituted work groups can design  
>> their own new jobs and working relationships.  It has been  
>> wonderful to watch this organization move from griefs and concerns  
>> to ownership and excitement!
>>
>>
>> Joelle Everett   JLEShelton at aol.com
>>
>>
>> Harrison wrote:
>>
>> Some time ago, Virginia Burt, a Landscape Architect from Canada  
>> began the practice of using Open Space as the introductory element  
>> for her consultations with clients. Initially, she did this with  
>> Birgit Williams, and I am not sure whether she continues the  
>> practice – but her stories were marvelous. I remember in  
>> particular one in which Virginia had the assignment to do the park/ 
>> garden for a/the Canadian Military College, This was a large  
>> project covering multiple acres, and apparently it had been under  
>> intense discussion for years, and not very productively. As I  
>> recall, she said that is was normal to spend several years on a  
>> project with multiple changes and no small amount of hard feelings  
>> all around. With Open Space, the design time shrank to 6 months  
>> with few if any changes. And changes in design, once the project  
>> has started are what drive everybody crazy, if only because they  
>> inevitably drive up costs and time required to produce a finished  
>> product.
>>
>>
>> Harrison Owen  hhowen at verizon.net
>>
>>
>> Birgitt wrote:
>>
>>
>> The actual turnaround time for the landscape architect design back  
>> to the client after the OST meeting was only 40 days (incredible  
>> when compared to the two years it usually took). When the client  
>> was presented with the plan, 95% of it was immediately approved  
>> (again almost unheard of in that industry). To read about the OST  
>> process that was designed for Virginia to do her magic as a  
>> landscape architect, go to http://www.openspacetechnology.com/ 
>> articles/landscape.html   The article has a lot of tips on how to  
>> design an OST meeting when a specialty such as a landscape master  
>> plan is to be the end product. In this situation, the Military  
>> were the client, AND Virginia was my client. If the OST meeting  
>> had not generated enough data for Virginia to do her work, she  
>> would have been in difficulty with her client, the Military  
>> because she would have been unable to deliver on our promise of a  
>> quick turn around time.
>>
>>
>> Two years after this OST meeting and the final approved landscape  
>> master plan, I was leading a workshop in another part of the  
>> country. Michael (a participant) said he had a story to tell. He  
>> told us that when he was getting ready to attend the workshop, he  
>> explained where he was going to his elderly father, assuming his  
>> father would not be able to grasp OST (especially since his father  
>> was a very traditional military man who liked order). As Michael  
>> was explaining to his father, the father said "I know what this  
>> OST is. I was in one of those meetings at the military college.  
>> And it sure produced results." Michael then told us that a few  
>> weeks before, his father had been the one to lead the military  
>> parade in the opening ceremony of a new archway on the property--- 
>> the master plan for the landscape had been followed and Michael's  
>> father was very proud of it all, including his participation at  
>> the meeting where they came up with all the ideas. And he was full  
>> of praise for the efficiency of the process of OST to get them  
>> where they needed to go, and without conflict.
>>
>>
>> Birgitt Williams  birgitt at dalarinternational.com
>>
>>
>> Zelle wrote:
>>
>>
>> My experience with Open Space and an architect/design project is  
>> actually from a project I worked on with BP in Scotland. The 60  
>> person business unit I was working with was moving from one part  
>> of the building complex to another (most would agree the space  
>> they were moving into was the worst space in the building). I  
>> started with an Open Space Visioning meeting where in addition to  
>> the usual markers and paper for Open Space I added magazines  
>> (design, nature, home furnishings, etc.) a big roll of paper,  
>> scissors, and glue. I invited the group to talk about what they  
>> envisioned the ideal work space to be and to cut out pictures from  
>> the magazines, use words, and pictures to create a collage of what  
>> the new space might feel like.
>>
>>
>> We took this collage, along with the results from the Open Space  
>> and shared this with the architects and designers (the designers/ 
>> architects were invited to be at the visioning Open Space)  
>> assigned to the project. Some incredible ideas that I could never  
>> have thought of on my own, along with the many concerns about  
>> moving to "the worst space in the building" were folded into the  
>> design process which also took into account budget constraints and  
>> site needs/requests.
>>
>>
>> The design team then came back with a design for the new work  
>> space (which included skylights and a "yellow brick road" gleaned  
>> from the first Open Space). We took these sketches/blue prints and  
>> went back into Open Space with cut out furniture options and  
>> pencil and paper. Each team then looked at the areas available and  
>> filled in the design details specific to their needs. Conversation  
>> and negotiation took place between the different teams and a  
>> consensus design was reached.
>>
>>
>> The final result was an exceptional work space that was loved by  
>> the business unit and the "worst space" in the building is now  
>> considered the best place to be.
>>
>>
>> Along the way, I worked with individuals and teams around learning  
>> how to create places that work for them instead of trying to fit  
>> into someone else's design. I gave them, tools and a language to  
>> find the best mix between personal and team needs.
>>
>>
>> I have a digital story (mini movie) which describes the process  
>> and the transformation in more detail. If you would like to see  
>> that I could send it to you. You could also visit my website  
>> www.knowplacelikehome.com   to find out more.
>>
>>
>> Zelle Nelson  zelle at knowplacelikehome.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I shall collect the rest of the stories you share on these topics,  
>> my colleagues, and add them to the growing resource I am growing…
>>
>>
>> Cheers, Lisa
>>
>> ___________________________
>>
>> L i s a   H e f t
>>
>> Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
>>
>> O p e n i n g  S p a c e
>>
>> lisaheft at openingspace.net
>>
>> www.openingspace.net
>>
>>
>>

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