<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>New Building Specs</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> I need some advice, guys.  Much to my shock and surprise, the University has hired an architectural firm to begin the planning & design process for a new School of Music.  I mean, our current building is only 55 years old, and it has fully half of the space we need!  Anyway, the Director sent out a draft of the space needs for the new building on Friday.  The draft recommends 600 sq ft, with an inventory of 175 or so pianos.  I think I’ll need more than that.  Some questions for you: I’m sure some of you have moved into a new building in the last 10 years or so.  What kind of shop facility did you get, how involved were you, how did you justify your recommendations (if any)?  How is it working?  Anything you should have done differently, or any features you wouldn’t trade for the world? Does anyone know of any “authoritative” source I could use, other than the Guidelines & Steinway’s ISP, particularly one that directly addresses shop size? The University has hired Susaki Architectural Associates from Boston.  Anybody familiar with these guys, good, bad or indifferent?  You can reply off-list if need be :-) Thanks for any and all comments, Ken Z. -- Ken Zahringer, RPT University of Missouri School of Music </BODY> </HTML>