Blog #11- PSC

PSC

The last class field trip for our Materials class was to Parkhill, Smith and Cooper (PSC). The firm itself was established in Lubbock in 1945 and they began to grow in the west Texas area where they now hold 250 employees. PSC incorporates many types of design uses such as architectural, interiors, engineering, and landscaping, which leaves them ranking the top 500 design firms in the United States. PSC’s main focus is mostly on education, healthcare, and transportation, because their main thing is trying to make it sustainable.

Since PSC was first developed in Lubbock, it was the very first LEED certified building in west Texas. When touring the building it was so educational, with information about every single material that was used to develop the building, and I thought it was a great way to educate your clients or even being something to produce new ideas. When listening to the lectures and touring the building it finally hit me that I wanted to pursue my major in sustainability design. When I heard that people that were being hospitalized to become better, they were soon to come out worse than before. It really worried me and it made me aware that this was something I wanted to do, to help the people in need.  

One of the main attractions that caught my attention was the green roof and the green parking lots. The green roof was amazing since I have been really interested in plant life; the roof is covered in grass and plants that is watered by that is collected from the ground. It also develops insulation to the roof making it more expensive, but having a cheaper outcome in the end. Also, the green parking lots are a way to absorb chemicals that come off from the vehicles.

In the time period we see a lot of environmental issues that are trying to be taken care of in cautious matter. It is very important to take care of these issues, since it is growing and becoming too hard to handle. PSC has taught me so much in the sustainable design world, and it has pushed me towards pursuing a career in this field.

Blog #10- Jeff Seal Homes of Distinction

Jeff Seal Homes of Distinction

The field trip I attended to last week was Jeff Seal Homes of Distinction, and when we got to the house we were supposed to meet up at, I just how beautiful the exterior of the house was. The interior of the house was just as beautiful, but maybe just a little more than the exterior. Jeff Seal Homes of Distinction deals with home design, the design of the interiors, along with material selections, construction, and landscape design and installation.

When walking inside the unfinished house, it could have just stayed the way it was, because it was so beautiful and indescribable. The design of the house was so antique and it was made to look like as if it were a European style, which is very unique in Lubbock, Texas. The house had many uses of arches, the harringbone design of bricks, and antique cabinets. What stood out the most to me was the design of the house, obviously, but the cabinets had a great effect on me. The cabinets are antique white, and I absolutely love them, even before I stepped into the house, just anything antique I am sold.

Once we finished looking at the first house, and yes there was more to the field trip. The second house he told us about was almost like a castle, and to be honest he was telling the truth. Unfortunately the house was still under construction, but it was so beautiful the way it was being built. As you stepped inside, the entrance was ginormous and there is a great big dome at the top of the ceiling. The house had many arches, as well as groin vaults, and domes. The house was complete and had enough room for three families to live in it.

The overall field trip was amazing and it was indescribable, and throughout this field trip it made me realize what I wanted to do with my major as well as even think about interning with Jeff Seal, because it had a great effect on me, which I somehow cannot explain, but it was an a great experience.

Blog #9- Leftwich Chapman Flooring

Leftwich Chapman Flooring

I and the rest of the materials class went to a field trip last week to Leftwich Chapman Flooring. There we learned that they a high-end company specialized in many types of flooring. They are known to do flooring in residential and small commercial business, but not the real big commercial businesses. They are also know to keep up with the present styles of modern today, such as carpet, wood flooring, tile, vinyl, and laminate, that can be easily worked with your budget.

            When entering everything seemed to be sectioned off into threes, but it was the three that everyone enjoyed other than the vinyl flooring, and it was flooring such as wooden flooring, in the middle was carpet, and off to the right was tile flooring. The first section we started at was the wooden flooring and there were a variety of types of wood. If customers were looking into going the cheaper route, the engineered wood was the best way to go. There were so many interesting wood flooring that caught everyone’s eye, and that was the leather flooring and the cork flooring. They both seemed very durable, but were also very expensive.

            The next section was the carpet section and there were a lot of options to either go with the really plushy carpets that are hard to vacuum on or go with the really short pile carpets that are easier to vacuum on. It was mentioned that there was a carpet that is bleach resistant, which is just amazing.

            The next section was the tile section and there was a variety of tile to choose from. Considering that the interior design students just finished a project dealing with tile, what a painful experience that was, but it was obvious that everyone enjoy the types of tile that was being displayed. The glass tile seemed to catch everyone’s attention, and nobody could keep their hands off of them.

            This field trip taught me a whole lot more about flooring than I ever did; it also interested me to look into it even deeper to broaden my knowledge about it. This place showed everyone just all the beautiful styles out there, that everyone can enjoy, and fond over.

Blog #8- Collins Tile and Stone

Emerging to Better Flooring

            Attending the Collins Tile and Stone field trip was an amazing experience of learning about the uses of tile and stone. They do both commercial and residential, also in any size or shape. Collins Tile and Stone are known for polishing their own stone and also cutting their stone. Everybody working these stations knew exactly what they were doing, and as we were walking around these machines, we were given the chance to take samples with us, which worked perfect for out bathroom project.

            When the presentation first started he explained to us that granite countertops were used for kitchens, while marble was used more for bathrooms. I also was surprised that about the quality of these stones and their durability as far as which can take on stains, scratches, and damages in general. When he was explaining to us that granite was better than stainless steel for kitchen counters, I couldn’t believe that granite can withstand scratches better than stainless steel.

            We were then taken outside where we were presented with the actual stone that granite is made from. It was so extravagant and beautiful, that I couldn’t believe that it came off of something as rare and simple as mountain. We were then presented with the granite of after the before one and it looked so amazing, and it was so smoothed and the design was so pleasing to the eye, that you couldn’t help but touch it. There were so many designs and textures of the granites and marbles, that you couldn’t believe your eyes. I was very pleased with this field trip, with the variety of stone and tile that I didn’t know where to start. I’ve learned so many things about stone and tile, that I am now aware of their uses. I would definitely come back to this place, especially to get as much free samples as I want.