LPDJ Architects, LLC Use Holistic Approach

April 23, 2003

by Freda Parker
renderings provided by LPDJ Architects, LLC

Leland A. Gray and Jesse M. Harris, co-owners of LPDJ Architects, LLC in Salt Lake City, Utah, believe that a holistic approach used in the design of Monolithic Domes and other concrete thin shell structures is the only way to go.

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Gray and Harris, whose friendship dates back to the University of Idaho where they graduated in 1969, both recently completed 25-year careers with AES Architectural and Engineering Services, a firm whose major client was The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). But instead of just retiring, the architects decided to continue their friendship and their careers as equal partners of LPDJ.

In his presentation at the Ninth Annual Monolithic Dome Conference this past March, Gray pointed out that despite our progress, the general public still perceives concrete thin shell construction as an "alternate, less attractive building approach" rather than a "preferred method of construction."

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"But," Gray insisted, "it does not have to be that way."

Gray and Harris advocate a two-fold plan for changing this perception: 1. avoid using conventional wisdom in designing and constructing concrete thin shells; 2. instead, use a holistic approach. That means keeping everything -- all the design elements -- in mind and not letting any one discipline dominate.

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"I see a whole lot of one-sided direction," Gray said. "It's rare to see somebody looking at the whole project. For example, you build a simple thin shell and have an acoustic problem. A quick and easy way to resolve it is to spray some sort of insulation on the inside of the shell. That solves the acoustic problem. Well, I don't buy that for a second. You don't just spray something and acoustic problems go away."

Gray said that the spraying could be "part of a solution, but not a solution by itself" and that serious consideration has to be given to the effect of the spraying on the thermal characteristics of the building. Such considerations are what Gray and Harris mean by "using a holistic approach."

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Gray listed some of the consultants or disciplines often involved in the design of most commercial and institutional buildings and in some homes: architects, interior designers, landscape architects, audio/acoustical engineers, mechanical engineers, structural engineers, electrical engineers, civil engineers, and builders. He said, "It takes real effort -- a team effort."

Harris agreed. Asked who is responsible for assembling a holistic team, Harris said, "That's what we do. It's our responsibility. We know people and their abilities." He compared the holistically organized design team to an orchestra with the architect as its conductor.

Leland A. Gray, NCARB

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About his architectural career that included some 13,000 projects, Gray said, "I had a dream job. When I was the (LDS) church architect, it was a highly sought after position. I had it for 25 years. Every other member architect in the world wanted my job."

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Asked whether he had a dream project, Gray said, "I've already built it: the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City -- amongst many, many others I couldn't even list." That Conference Center can seat more than 21,000 and was designed to last 150 years.

Jesse M. Harris, NCARB

Harris claims that two early happenings helped him decide to be an architect. As a ten-year-old, he got to work with his brother-in-law, a carpenter, on the construction of a family home. Then, as an eight-grader, he was asked to choose a job or vocation he would like and do a report on it. "My idea was carpenter," Harris said. "But the teacher suggested architect. So I did my investigation and my report. That was the germ that led to a career."

The LPDJ Team

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Gray and Harris learned of Monolithic Domes 25 years ago through David B. South, Monolithic's president. Gray said, "David called me and asked permission to put urethane foam in a project in southern Idaho for his own (LDS) state center. I was the church architect at the time, so that's how we came to know each other."

More recently, LPDJ designed four Monolithic Domes as a Head Start facility, called Centro de la Familia de Utah, in Genola, Utah.Currently, the firm is coordinating the design and construction of various Monolithic Dome projects: a nine-plex theatre (280' x 58'); an indoor rodeo arena with a diameter of 270 feet and spectator seating for 4000; several churches.

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In all these projects, LPDJ is using the holistic approach. As Gray put it, "There's no reason why concrete thin shells should be considered a cult thing or weird. We need to get to the point where they are preferred by institutional, commercial and residential clients. I know it can be done. But it's going to take a real effort of a lot of different people working together -- from architects through contractors and everybody in between."

LPDJ Architects, LLC Use Holistic Approach

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