Donald's Design
Donald’s architectural design became an underground emergency building; he now remembers his plans as helping bring about the world’s end.
Story so far
Donald first drew the design for a senior-year biotecture class: a cylindrical building roughly one hundred stories tall, mixing housing, work and shopping. Paul Thurman asks him to adapt it for underground use without sunlight, addressing traffic flow, block plans, HVAC and hydroponics within supplied dimensions. Donald imagines sheltering workers from a spill, fallout or terrorist attack. He adds groups of identical wedge-shaped apartments and plans further storerooms, hallways and living space.
The building is intended for a worst-case emergency. Donald says it would be the world’s tallest if built above ground, while Helen recalls his doubts that his contribution is necessary or will ever be used. Revisions move the emergency staircase into the middle of the central shaft and, at the medical board’s request, remove every lift, including the service lift. Execution brings further changes, including painted bars and a large wall screen. Donald later remembers his architectural plans as having helped bring about the end of the world.
Appearance
The drawing depicts a tall cylindrical structure with mixed-use floors and wedge-shaped apartments. Its revised central shaft contains the emergency staircase, and all lifts have been removed from the design.
Role
The design supplies the architectural basis for an underground emergency facility and becomes a source of Donald’s remembered responsibility.
Relationships
Sources — 16 recorded facts, by chapter
- Donald originally produced the architectural drawing for a senior-year biotecture class.
- Donald’s design depicts a cylindrical building roughly one hundred stories tall.
- Donald’s design mixes housing, work, and shopping levels.
- The proposal asks Donald to address interior traffic flow, block plans, HVAC, and hydroponics.
- Thurman wants the building redesigned for underground use without sunlight.
- Donald’s design includes groups of identical wedge-shaped apartments along a hallway.
- Donald plans to fill additional floors with storerooms, hallways, and apartments.
- Donald approaches the bunker design by imagining workers sheltering from a spill, fallout, or a terrorist attack.
- Donald is developing his design within dimensions supplied by Thurman.
- Donald’s building is intended only for a worst-case emergency.
- Donald says his underground building would be the tallest in the world if erected above ground.
- Helen says Donald has admitted during moments of self-doubt that his part of the project is unnecessary and will never be used.
- The revised design moves the emergency staircase from the side of the central shaft to its middle.
- The medical board’s requested design eliminates all lifts, including a service lift.
- The bunker design is being altered in execution, with bars being painted and a large wall screen being installed.
- Donald remembers his architectural plans as having helped bring about the end of the world.