Graduate thesis book aug 2014 i grayson by Isaac Grayson

Floods

Community Flooding

Reacting - Design Respecting Dynamic Environment Ecological

Natural EducationResponsive Aqua Trail Environment

Expanding the existing Canoe Evansville program to create ecological design solutions along Evansvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pigeon Creek that promote community resilience while communicating the importance of natural spaces through education.

01 0 1

Cover Photo: Fig 0.01 Evansville, Indiana

cOMMUNITY fLOODING; expanding

the

jULY 9, 2014

existing

Canoe Evansville program to create ecological design solutions along Evansvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pigeon Creek that promote community resilience while communicating the importance of natural spaces through education

iSAAC tHOMAS gRAYSON

BY:

a.a.s., vINCENNES uNIVERSITY

2010

b.s., sOUTHERN ILLINOIS uNIVERSITY

2012

A thesis Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Architecture. dEPARTMENT OF THE sCHOOL OF aRCHITECTURE IN THE gRADUATE sCHOOL OF sOUTHERN iLLINOIS uNIVERSITY

Thesis Approval I hereby recommend that the thesis prepared under my supervision by Isaac Thomas Grayson, entitled Community Flooding; expanding the existing Canoe Evansville

The graduate school southern illinois university Date of Approval July 9, 2014

program to create ecological design solutions along Evansvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pigeon Creek that promote community resilience while communicating the importance of natural spaces through education, to be accepted

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Architecture from Southern Illinois University.

In Charge of thesis

head of department

Recommendation concurred in Committee for the Final Examination

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Acknowlwdgements I would like to formally say thanks to everyone how helped me complete this project. The project itself feels short but the research seemed long, but in the end I feel I have learned a lot. I want to especially thank my committee, Professor Craig Anz, Professor Karen Midden, and Dr. Jonathan Remo. Thank you all very much. You helped shape this thesis from broad idea to the final product that it is. Your expert knowledge and feedback were invaluable to the outcome of this project. I would also like to thank Adulsak â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ottoâ&#x20AC;? Chanyakorn and Dr. Wendler. Your presence in studio spurred me on. Always pushing you would never let me settle and require that I continue to strive towards perfection. We may not have reached it but without you I would not have gotten this far. I would also like to give a shout out to the wonderful studio culture. Thank you to all my classmates who surround me. Thank you for being my support and spring board through this whole process. Finally to my family. Your love and support cannot be overstated. Thank you for valuing my education and helping me make the most out of this opportunity.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

thesis Statement Expanding the existing Canoe Evansville program to create ecological design solutions along Evansvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pigeon Creek that promote community resilience while communicating the importance of natural spaces through education.

Contents Thesis Approval

Acknowledgements

Thesis Statement

Contents

chapter one Literature Review

Case Studies

chapter two Program

chapter three Design Solution

chapter four design Review

Appendex Final Presentation Display

Study Model

Notes

List of Figures

Vita

Chapter one Literature Review Introduction

Living with the river

levee system

sustainable development

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Introduction

Literature Review

The convergence point of three tributaries flowing out of the Allegany Mountains marks the beginning of the Ohio River. The river flows west growing in strength and breath as the waters flowing out the states, whose boundaries are defined by the rivers path, feed its power. Fifty percent of the U.S. population resides along its coastal and inland waterways, with this number expected to rise.1 In conjunction with this floods

1. Watson, Donald, and Michele Adams. Design for flooding. 2011.

are the United States most frequent disaster. The current strategy for keeping communities safe from the rising waters involves trying to overpower the fluxing water through force. With the use of levees and dams to pacify the river, and flood walls to hold back the waters as they threaten property. This thesis will explore the development of a river’s flood plain that is susceptible to flooding. It will encourage the community to recognize the importance of flooding right of ways and attempt to create ecological awareness immediately adjacent to an urban area. Utilizing recreation as the primary tool for knowledge and passion transfer. People have always lived and utilized the flood plains. “Euro-Americans” came to the river valleys and settled in the fertile flood plains with no intentions to move.3 These new citizens of the river valley invested in agriculture and later built industrial cities. Bringing this area into the modern age of industrialization brought with it the threat of living with disaster. What is most difficult for river communities to deal with is the balance between being near enough to reap the most benefit from the river but far enough away to avoid the high-water. Not all disasters can be avoided. The goal of this thesis is not to create a design solution that is impervious to all forms of disaster, not even a solution that is capable of withstanding all levels of flooding. The goal is to address the issues of flooding that comes up multiple times a year, as part of the rivers natural cycle. Developing a design solution that can be implemented along a floodplain to create movement to the area. While in return bring community value to the area to communicate the importance of protecting this area.

2. Watson, Donald, and Michele Adams. Design for flooding. 2011. 3. Castonguay, Stéphane. Rivers and Risk in the City. 2012.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Living with the river The Netherlands are a nation that would not exist without the use of floodwalls and levees. There is a story told in many countries, not including the Netherlands, about the boy who held his finger in the crack of a dam to save the entire town. This story could be considered a more accurate portrayal of the vulnerability of flood mitigation systems in the United States. Most recently this became evident with the occurrence of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Superstorm Sandyâ&#x20AC;?, that devastated the north east cost in the fall of 2012, and Hurricane Katrina that had devastating effects on the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf Cost in 2005. The power of each of these storms was not fully recognized by residence and the nation until the media coverage after the storm dominated news feeds. For some these two storms are just abnormal occurrences that occur once or twice a generation, but others see this as the beginning marks defining a trend of larger storms to come due to the effect of a global change in the climate. In either instances storms like these show the vulnerability of communities located near waterways and bring to light poor land management that has occurred, often during the dip in natural cycle of the environment. While the Netherlands are known for their prolific success with mater management. Their desire for efficiency, often associated with euro-centric thinking, has caused them to impart devastating effects upon the intricate irrigation system in Bali.1 That produced, in the short term, a larger rice harvest while depleting the region of necessary natural resources. The system of water temples that was in place long before the Dutch began recording the history of Bali. The system was run by monks who governed the use and allocation of water to different fields throughout their providence ensuring that every family was allotted time to plant and harvest. Then the fields were given the opportunity to lay fallow and recover from the agricultural exploits. The southern basin of the Ohio River does not have the intricate irrigation system in place like Bali, but rather acts in a reverse manor funneling water out of the region and only depositing on bordering fields during times of high water or through the use of mechanical pumps. Cities require water for their functions, and as such often proliferate along rivers, then only come to see the river as a threat when more water is provided than is needed

Literature Review 1. Lansing. Priests and programmers. 1991.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

to meet the needs of the citizens. Another strange phenomena is occurring simultaneously during the flooding process. Rain falls on the abundance of hardscape throughout urban areas and has nowhere to go. Normally all this surface water would either permeate into some of the natural surfaces or utilizing underground piping and open air ditches move towards the river to be deposited or, in the case of combined runoff/sewer lines, treated through the waste management facility. During heavy rains and high flooding the ground is fully saturated. Waste management piping and treatment facilities are pushed to their limit. This leaves nowhere for excess runoff to go but to the lowest lying parts within the confines of the levee and flood wall perimeter. Retention ponds and low lying recreation areas fill up first but soon fill up streets and begin to creep into residential lots as levels continue to rise. This is beginning to occur so regularly that these urban areas now fight as much with the river coming in as with the water trying to get out. The Dutch are viewed as pioneers and the masters of building dykes and levee systems to reclaim land from the sea. They are now at the front of a new movement to give more land back to their surrounding bodies of water. The program Ruimte voor de Rivier2 is an attempt to move flood defenses further back from the river in an attempt to better be able to manage high waters. At thirty locations along the Rein River the program will make room for the river while maintaining a flow rate desirable for commercial river navigation. The program is an attempt to better react to flooding cycles of the river to keep people and property safe. A major consideration that prompted these changes is the threat of global warming. The Netherlands seem to more readily accept theories of global warming as true and creditable rather than as conspiracy or scare tactics. For this reason the Ruimte voor de River program has been able to implement their strategies at a pace that, for some, would be inconceivable in the United States. This program and other urban design methods (particularly Dutch planning methods in Tjallingiiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ecopolis3 as well as hints back to Ebenezer Howards Garden Cities of Tomorrow*) correlate with the concept of slow knowledge that David Orr discusses in The Nature of Design. Ignorance is a part of the human condition, some of this comes from our exuberance to enact information and design strategies in a rush without giving proper consideration to all aspects of a decision. In an age with an overabundance of information there is an attitude that more knowledge means better decision making, but these decisions are usually made utilizing inappropriate knowledge.4 (This thesis is itself not exempt from this claim.)

ruimtevoorderivier.nl 3. Tjallingii. Ecopolis. 1995. 4. orr. The nature of design. 2002.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Levee System

Literature Review

With 50% of the population of the United States living near coastal waters and inland tributaries, with this number expected to increase as baby boomers retire, flooding will be an issue that many people will have to deal with.1 These properties often reside within the protection of flood walls and levee systems. Many communities have come to rely on these levees to protect their properties from both seasonal and abnormal flooding events. But the levee authorities would prefer that their engineered solutions be viewed as if they were not there.2 The reason for the levee authority preferring that people living

1. Watson, Donald, and Michele Adams. Design for flooding. 2011.

under the protection of a levee wall live in a state of preparedness is because while levees may reduce the risk of flooding, failure of levee systems increases the severity of flooding.3 While there are few comprehensive sources that provide information on the failure of levee systems one of the more recent examples of levee failure can be seen in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Failure of the levee put an entire community under water forcing the residence to their roofs to escape the surge of rising water. This event is now recorded as the most costly levee failure in the United States, and helped with the creation of the National Levee Database.4 The creation of the National Levee Database is an attempt to put another level of safety checks in place beyond what the Army Corps of Engineers was able to provide. The engineering solutions along the rivers have had a profound impact on how the waterways are traveled, and have had large economic benefits. The efforts put in place has produced an exponential growth in waterborne commerce that can be attributed to the addition of navigational locks and dams. As of 2012 there were 21 such structures located on the Ohio Riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mainstream. The construction of these dams and other engineering projects have allowed for agricultural expansion and led to substantial socioeconomic benefits. Unfortunately, like most forms of progress, these engineering projects were at the cost of ecological loss and the displacement of thousands of people.5 But without these engineering solutions the current standards of life would not be equal with those present today. In an attempt to control rivers many different strategies have been tried in order

2. - 4. dam and levee safety. 2012. 5. Alexander,Wilson,and Green. A brief history and summary of the effects of river engineering and dams on the Mississippi River system and delta. 2012

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

to make them more productive and predictable. Beyond the use of levees and dams engineers have straighten rivers, the Ohio River is not one of them,5 in order to try and lessen flooding and make nautical navigation easier. However the rivers that have been modified in this way are now reverting back to their original course,6 and modifications done to the channel to make navigation safe work until high water occurs and brings with it more snags while promoting bank erosion.7 This phenomenon goes to show that attempts made to control the natural course of things is often in vain, nature functions in a way that may not be the most efficient to our needs but that satisfies all the needs of its cycle. In analyzing leveeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effectiveness the cultural and psychological aspects of living behind an oppressive barrier are not taken into account.8 The value of a levee system should take into account the cost of maintaining the levee or other flood prevention measures verses the economic benefit of being near the river.9

6. dam and levee safety. 2012. 7. Alexander,Wilson,and Green. A brief history and summary of the effects of river engineering and dams on the Mississippi River system and delta. 2012 8. dam and levee safety. 2012. 9. Castonguay, StĂŠphane. Rivers and Risk in the City. 2012.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Sustainable Development

Literature Review

Aldo Leopold said man has a tendency to kill the things he loves.1 With our migration to the wild places to escape urban life and seek out more resources to satisfy our ravenous appetite. We succeeded in only expanding the reaches of man’s destructive power rather than melding into the environment we originally sought out. Our first priority should be to save wild places from the touch of man, but we have reached the end of truly wild places. Now the next best thing to do is to set aside places and let nature revert back to its natural cycles. Not taking the initiative to conserve some natural heritage will lead to a community with only “fleeting prosperity, forcing all thereafter to live in an ecological ruin and impoverishment that we can scarcely imagine”.2

1. brower, chapple. let the mountains talk. 1995. 2. orr. the nature of design. 2002. 3. brower, chapple. let the mountains talk. 1995. 4. Mooallem. Wild Ones. 2013 5. Sheppard. Flood, Rebuild, Repeatt. 2013

“Restoration means putting the earth’s life support systems back in working order,” but beyond that restoration means reintroducing how to interact with natural cycles. There is a shifting baseline4 in every generation, focusing specifically on the interaction with the river, this baseline has moved to the point that any interaction with the fluxing river is seen not as a seasonal occurrence but rather as a disastrous occurrence. An event occurring out of nature’s wrathful act towards progress and civilization. Resulting in a vendettic response of “we will rebuild”.5 3

Case Study aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Evelyn Pease Tyner Interperative Center

Falls of the Ohio State Park

Golf Cost Community Design Studio

Hamburg

Ruimte voor de rivier

Urban Ecology Center

Wesselman Woods

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

aLDO lEOPOLD lEGACY cENTER Aldo Leopold is a figure head of modern conservation efforts. His book the Sand County Almanac was a revelation in the art and politics of conservation. Inspiring many others to step up and assist on preserving forgotten lands. His influence has been constructed into an education center that continues to teach his conservation methods even after his passing. While attempting to answer the question- “How can we ensure both people and the land will prosper in the long run?”

CASE sTUDY Images Top to Bottom: Fig 1.01 Aldo Leopold, Fig 1.02 the leopold center campus layout, Fig 1.03 the leopold center building facade.

Features: • • • • • • • •

Earth Tubes Recycled Material Locally Harvested and Milled Trees Log Trusses Radiant Floor Passive Geothermal Technology Net Zero Yearly Energy Budget Carbon Neutral LEED Platinum Certified

Functions: Classroom, Meeting Room, Exhibit Hall, Library and Archives, Workshop, Offices. Totaling 12,00 sqft

Designer: The Kubala Washatko Architects

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Evelyn Pease Tyner Interperative Center The interpretive center is a call back to the prairie that once covered the expanses of northern Illinois. The center is there to “illustrate the many aspects of the prairie environment while pathways through the property allow visitors to experience the changes in the prairie through the various seasons.” (glenviewparks. org) The preserve is 32 acres of old air strip converted to prairie preserve providing natural education and energy conservation opportunities.

CASE sTUDY Images Top to Bottom: Fig 1.04 Aerial View of interpertive center, Fig 1.05 East Elevation, Fig 1.06 interperative center main entrance and green roof.

Features: • • • • •

4000 sqft Green Roof Solar Panel Pier Foundation Reclaimed site Geothermal

Functions: Interperative Center Walking Trails. Totaling 32 acres

Designer: Architect Wight & Company

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Falls of the Ohio State Park “Located on the banks of the Ohio River in Clarksville, Indiana is the Falls of the Ohio State Park. The 390-million-year-old fossil beds are among the largest, naturally exposed, Devonian fossil beds in the world. The park features a spectacular Interpretive Center overlooking the fossil beds containing an exhibit gallery and video presentation. The “Falls” was originally a series of rapids allowing the Ohio River to drop 26 feet over a distance of two and a half miles. This was the only navigational hazard over the 981 mile-length river formed by rock outcrops. Today much of the original falls have been flooded behind the McAlpine dam.”1

CASE sTUDY Images Top to Bottom: Fig 1.07 View of the devonian fossil beds in the world, Fig 1.08 Floor Plan, Fig 1.09 Front Entrance.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Golf Cost Community Design Studio

Testing the performance of dry floodproof assemblies. “These materials must be strong and watertight, and should combine to create a building that reinforces the enduring public value of architecture. Additionally, materials need to be affordable, in order to make a project feasible. The ways in which materials are assembled influences the amount of resistance a wall will have to high wind loads, debris impact, and hydrostatic pressure. Through the construction and the testing of various wall assemblies with flood simulations in an outdoor flood tank, the GCCDS has collected data to help business owners, architects, and engineers make decisions about the viability of dry floodproof construction.”1

CASE sTUDY Images Top to Bottom: Fig 1.10 Flooded Construction test, Fig 1.11 Construction type one, Fig 1.12 Construction type two, Fig 1.13 Test results. http://www.gccds.org/ research/floodproofconstruction/index.php

Freatures:

• A: Sheet Membrane Block, CMU block wall with a self-adhering rubberized asphalt/polyethylene membrane sheet applied to the exterior face. Vertical edges of the membrane sheet overlapped at least 2″ to provide a continuous waterproofing membrane. Furring strips on the exterior of the membrane were attached with masonry screws that penetrated the membrane. • B: Sealed Block, CMU block wall with three layers of sealant (two layers of silicone modified polyurea sealant sandwiching a layer of closed cell spray foam insulation)

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Hamburg Hamburg, Germany is a great example of living with the flood waters. There are prime retail properties in the flood zone. They have just developed a system of water tight barriers that they move into place when the water rises. I think the big thing that make these places function that much better is the presence of a walk way above the shops. Keeping life in the area even when waters rise.

CASE sTUDY Images Top to Bottom: Fig 1.14 Night scape, Fig 1.15 street with flood protection in place, fig 1.16 hindged flooding protection, fig 1.17 flooded urban street, fig 1.18 sliding facade storm coverings.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Ruimte voor de Rivier “The goal of the Dutch Room for the River Programme is to give the river more room to be able to manage higher water levels. At more than 30 locations, measures will be taken that give the river space to flood safely. Moreover, the measures will be designed in such a way that they improve the quality of the immediate surroundings. The Room for the River programme will be completed by approximately 2015.”1

Measures: • • • • • • • • •

Lowering of floodplains Deepening summer bed Water Storage Dike Relocation Lowering Groynes High-Water Channel Depoldering Removing Obsticles Strengthening Dikes

CASE sTUDY Images Top to Bottom: Fig 1.19 Lowering the floodplains, Fig. 1.20 deepening summer bed, Fig. 1.21 water storage, fig. 1.22 dike relocation, Fig. 1.23 lowering groynes, Fig 1.24 high-water channel, fig. 1.25 depoldering, Fig. 1.26 removing obsticles, fig. 1.27 strengthening dikes. www.ruimtevoorderivier. nl/english

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Urban Ecology Center “The Urban Ecology Center provides year-round educational programs for kids, families, and adults of all ages. The cornerstone program is the Neighborhood Environmental Education Project serving kids in more than 44 urban Milwaukee schools each year. This program enables students to get to walk in the woods, stand in a river in hip waders or run along the beach at Lake Michigan when they might have no other opportunities to do so.”1

CASE sTUDY Images Top to Bottom: Fig 1.28 riverside park, fig 1.29 washington park, fig 1.30 menomonee valley.

Programs: • • • • • •

Urban Adventures Weekend Youth/Family Programs High School Outdoor Leaders Adult Summer Internship Programs Citizen Science Research Projects Volunteer Activities

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Wesselman Woods Wesselman Nature Society was founded in 1972 for the purpose of protecting a 200 acre tract of land in Evansville, Indiana. The society is now responsible for the management of the Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve, Howell Wetlands, and their newest program Canoe Evansville. “Working in partnership with the City of Evansville, Wesselman Nature Society provides environmental education and outdoor recreation experiences designed to awaken the senses and enrich the lives of area residents and visitors. The Society is governed by a 21 member volunteer Board of Directors charged with ensuring the sustainability of our properties and the continued success of our programming, in keeping with our mission and strategic plan.” 1 “Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve is an Indiana State Nature Preserve and National Natural Landmark. This old-growth lowland forest is a crucial habitat for a wide variety of animal species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. A Nature Center on the western edge of the property offers hands on educational exhibits and a wildlife observation area. On-site programs are offered to school, civic, and scout groups throughout the year. No other city in the United States with a population exceeding 100,000 has within its corporate limits, a timber stand of such acreage and sylvan qualities.” 2

CASE sTUDY Images Top to Bottom: Fig 1.31 wesselman nature center entrance, fig 132 wetland pavilion, Fig 1.33 Canoe delivery, fig 1.34 canoe evansville logo.

Chapter two

Programing

Program Theory

Program Needs

Design Rules

Program Spaces

Form Study

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Program Theory Beginning into reading Tangle Roots there is a review into the formation and dream stage of the Appalachian Trail.1 Benton MacKaye initial proposal was for a trail through the Appalachian Mountains. MacKaye saw this as a way to connect and create communities. Unlike most foresters and environmental managers at the time who were focused on productivity and production to feed the growing industrial growth of the country. MacKaye saw the need for a balance between centralized and local power agencies. With the idea to let the trail be built by community volunteers, so they have investments in the project and perceive value in the project, rather than receiving a gift and later being accused of not properly taking care of the gift. There are opportunities for labor conflicts. When work begins to be accomplished by volunteers. However these volunteers do not usually possess the knowledge necessary to successfully complete a project without guidance from an expert. The expert is no longer responsible for leading other experts in the fulfillment of a project but rather guiding the volunteers. This system further breaks down the hierarchy just mentioned into a model used on different sections of the passage. Further removing the threat of a single power gaining full bureaucratic control, but not exempt from the rules and regulations that govern the trail. This kind of system should and probably already has served as the model by which the Pigeon Creek Greenway should be further established into the community and maintained into the future. What this buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose is to act as a catalyst by which this program is to further get a spring board into the future. A lot of work has been done to establish this greenway, this structure benefits from the work done on the greenways but its primary purpose is to further influence the aqua trail of Canoe Evansville. Further upstream there are two different drop points to begin a canoe adventure. However there is

programing

fig. 2.01 End of proposed canoe ramp

1. Mittlefehldt, Cronon. Appalachian Trail and American environmental politicss. 2013.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

no terminus where the aqua trail would finish. Having an established end and visible center will help bring recognition to the program as well as support for building the program and by extension preserving the floodable areas needed to protect cities and allow nature to cycle.

programing Images Top to Bottom: fig. 2.02 unloading canoes, fig. 2.03 wildlife fig. 2.04 teachable moment, fig. 2.05 Students canoeing, fig. 2.06 Evansvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pigron creek

Experiences along groups and individuals may encounter along a trip down Pigeon Creek.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Program Needs

Program

The programing for this project was primarly derived from studying the Urban Ecology centers of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Evansville’s own Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve. Utilizing a combination of internet media, online reading, and personal visits I determined that the center needed a place capable of handling large groups, particularly school groups. These groups were going to need some kind of large meeting space seperate from the primary exhibit space. Also the facility needed to be able to easily facilitate a teaching environment. Then finally the building needed to have sort of draw to gain the attention of the general public, and those passing by unaware of the program or purpose of the Canoe Evansville building. Utilizing these primary purposes I developed the following program.

Primary Activity Area Area

1.0 Exhibit Space 2.0 Multi-Purpose Space 3.0 Canoe Program 4.0 Program Offices 5.0 Overlook 6.0 Outdoor 7.0 Circulation 8.0 Misc.

Staffing Plan Position • • • •

Director Program Cordioor Naturalist/Educator Maintenance (part time)

Volunteer • Canoe Guide • Admin Assistant

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

1.0 Exhibit Space 1.1 Entry 1.2 Display

sq. Ft.

Program

1000 3800

2.0 Multi-purpose space 1000 200

3.0 Canoe Program 3.1 Canoe Storage 3.2 Storage Area

3400 540

6.1 7.3

2.0

4.0 Program Offices 4.1 Work Space 4.2 Conference Space 4.3 Kitchnette

800 115 50

outside inside

2.1 Teaching 2.2 Storage

8.0

7.2

1.1

1.2

2.0

5.0 Overlook 5.1 Seating 5.2 Interpretive

2000

6.0 Outdoor 6.1 Paths 6.2 Teaching Areas 6.3 Landscapes

inside outside 5.0

fig. 2.07 Bubble Diagram

Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited

7.0 Circulation 7.1 Indoor Corridoors 7.2 Outdoor Corridoors 7.3 Restrooms

1000

8.0 Misc. 8.1 Maintenance 8.2 Mechanical 8.3 General Storage

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Design Rules

Program

After developing an initial program I then took to developing a list of design rules. This way I could quickly determine the requirement for the site and respond to them appropriately. This was most easily done by basically playing with blocks to explore different forms all following the restrictions I developed. In beginning to develop my rules I referenced A Pattern Language2 and pulled out that which I fould best suited for this project. Fig. 2.08 Building height rule, fig. 2.09 site building rule, fig. 2.10 determining line of sight.

4 Story Height Limit: @12’ a strory, Max haight = 48’ above 370’ seal level

2. Alexander, Ishikawa, Silverstein. A pattern languagee. 1977

Do Not Exceed 50% of the Site: site area 83,000 sqft = 1.9 acres / 50% 41,500 sqft= 0.95 acres Small Parking Spots: 5-7 cars each, keeping code in mind Outdoor Places to Observe People Archades: create covered walkways for relief and congration Paths and Goals for different visitors Close to Street: pull building close to street front for pedestrian interaction Intimacy Gradiant: between entrance and administrative work space Zen View: frame a desirable view

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Program Spaces Entry 10 x 5 x 10 Reception 20 x 20 x 10 Assembly 15 x 16 x 15 Gift shop 10 x 15 x 10 Multi-Use 30 x 40 x 20 Classrooms 20 x 20 x 15 Lecture Space 20 x 40 x 20 Restrooms 15 x 20 x 10 Overlook 10 x 15 x 10

Admin Offices 10 x 15 x 12 Restrooms 15 x 20 x 10 Kitchen 10 x 5 x 10 Storage 10 x 12 x 15 Communication 10 x 5 x 10

programing Fig. 2.11 three dimensional program space

Canoe Storage Staging Area Changing Rooms 30 x 100 x 20

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Form Study Exploration into developing a building mass from the three dimensional program shown on the prior page. Utalizing Google Sketch-Up I was able to quickly develop several different forms before deciding on a final to further modify in detail.

Programing 1 & 2. Watson, Donald, and Michele Adams. Design for flooding. 2011.

3. Castonguay, StĂŠphane. Rivers and Risk in the City. 2012.

fig. 2.12 - Fig. 2.14 form studies.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Programming fig. 2.15 - Fig. 2.18 form studies.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Form Study Entry: Entry from both north and south side.South facing with protected overhang, located near street for easy entry of pedestrians, and to provide a good image for vehicular traffic.North entry with bike lock. Primary entry from river community

Programing fig. 2. 2.19 - Fig. 2.24 form studiees.

Canoe Program: Located on main level because of ability withstand flooding without critical damage. Needs the ability to load canoes onto and from a trailer and handle large groups for canoe trail preparation

Lecture: Slight angle down to stage, located on 1st floor, concrete finishes in case of flooding, projection equipment above 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (out of flood line). Open to north to allow for lighting.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Restroms: Located on first floor near entry, additional smaller restrooms on second floor near classrooms and multi use space, private restrooms with shower facilities in office suite, natural light from above desirable

Proggraming fig. 2.225 - Fig. 2.30 form studiees.

Classrooms: Upstairs, north light, near restroom. used to handle education groups or small meetings.

Restroms: Located on second floor near classrooms and exhibition space, private restrooms with shower facilities in office suite, natural light from above desirable

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Offices: North light seperate from rest of facility

Proggraming fig. 2.331- Fig. 2.34 form studiees.

Exhibit: on second level to avoid flood waters, light from above, framed views to the west. Rentable space for events and groups.

Circulation: medium through which flow and movement happens through the building. The general desire is to attract movement up to the exhibition space and to the overlook or through the canoeing program area onto the aqua trail.

Chapter three

design

Site Selection

Research

Master PLan

Design Solution

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Site Selection

sITE sELECTION

indianapolis, In Springfield, Il

Louisville, Ky

Carbondale, Il

Evansville, In

fig. 3.01 lOCATOR mAP, FIG. 3.02 eVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

Located at the half way point between St. Louis, Missouri and Louisville, Kentucky. As well lies just three hours south of Indianapolis, Indiana. While not nearly as large as these fore mentioned cities Evansville acts and the commercial, medical, and cultural hub of the tri-state region of Southern Indiana. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The broad economic base of the region has helped to build an economy which is known for its stability, diversity, and vitality.â&#x20AC;?1

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Downtown: Encompassing the most dense urabn area in Evansville as well the most historical section. The downtown has seen some significant improvements in last several years, and continues to grow. The most recent event is the comission of a new university hospital within the downtown vacenity.

sITE sELECTION fIG. 3.03 eVANSVILLE dOWNTOWN, fIG. 3.04 eVANSVILLE cOMMERCIAL aREA, fIG. 3.05 eVANSVILLE rESIDENTIAL.

Commercial Areas: dispenced heavely along the waterway, highway, and railroad tracks. Historically the business began along the waterways, then moved out along to the highway with the first car boom and further out as highways replace local roads.

Residential Areas: These areas began their spread to the south of downtown and later further north. The tendency is for commercial spaces to act as buffers between residence and flood ways. Except in the case of low income housing, where these residences are not afforded such opportunity.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Roadways 1. New Canoe Evansville Headquarters 2. Lamasco Park 3. Fulton Park 4. Kleymeyer Park 5. Garvin Park 6. Cemetery 7. Bellemeade Park 8. Bayard Park 9. Sunset Park 10. River Walk

4 5

3 1

7 10 9

fIG. 3.06 eVANSVILLE ROADWAYS AND PARK FACILITIES.

55 MPH 50 MPH 45 MPH 40 MPH 35 MPH 30 MPH 39

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Fe m a Fl ood M a p

sITE sELECTION fIG. 3.07 eVANSVILLE FLOOD MAP.

Areas of chance of depths of 1 age areas mile; and levee

1 percent annual flood with average foot, or with drainless than 1 square areas protected by

AE: High flood risk. Base flood elevations have been determined .1 percent annual chance of flooding and a 26 percent chance of flooding over the life of a 30 year mortgage. Elev. 378â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 0.2 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. 40

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

1937 fl ood

sITE sELECTION fIG. 3.08 eVANSVILLE 1937 FLOOD, fIG. 3.09 eVANSVILLE 1937 FLOOD eNLARGED. sITE OUTLINED IN RED, BLUE FOLLOWS PATH OF pIGEON cREEK.

Evansville, Indiana during the 1937 flood when the river rose 53+ feet. (19 feet above flood stage) Site can be seen in lower right corner competly submurged.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

eVOLVING cITY

A city should never be stagnant. Following this constant state of flux there has been a recent proposal for removing the stone yard. Evansville a few year ago was able to get hold of a LST. The reason for which was that during World War II a boat yard was constructed and Evansville was responsible for producing a great many of these Landing Ship, Tanks. The LST foundation was able to acquire one from Italy and sailed it back to the states where it made a sort of victory/living history tour before settling into its home port. Evansville won the honor of housing this boat for a several years. However with their contract running out other cities are making bids and promising better docking facilities.1 Currently the LST is docked on the other end of the greenway trail. Actually beyond the terminus of the trail. Along a narrow flood prone road situated on the states border. The current location makes it impossible for pedestrian traffic to visit the boat and difficult as well for vehicular traffic.

rESEARCH

fIG. 3.10 eVANSVILLE, iNDIANA PROJECT SITE.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

In an attempt to secure the LST’s fate in Evansville there have been some discussions as to moving the boat to a different slip that is currently occupied by the casino boat.2 This is a permanently docked vessel and will remain as such until the gambling laws are changed at which time it will move on shore to a different facility that is easier and less costly to maintain. The proposal for the LST was that if the Casino was moved on shore that the LST could take its place. Another proposal was the removal of the Mulzer Crushed Stone facilities and building a new slip to accommodate the LST. The removal of Mulzer Stone will probably come to fruition sometime in the future. However currently it is hard to tell if this is a good thing or not. This is the last piece of working riverfront in the downtown area. David Owen makes the point that while places like this seem like an eye sore. And produce large amounts of noise and dust. Places like these are the reason people come down to the river. The activity and strangeness that they can’t find in their daily lives draws them to these places.3 While it is hard to watch the goings-on of this factory behind the hedge row that has been placed to impede dust travel, I think this mysterious value adds to the allure of the unknown that is found nowhere else along Evansville’s riverfront. So while their removal from their existing location is very probable, removing the last piece of working riverfront should be something that should be exercised with caution.

RESEARCH

fIG. 3.11 lst 325 cURSING NEAR EVANSVILLE.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Borders and Movement Amalie Wright in her book Future Park discusses three types of linkage parks. The first is to connect existing separate parks. Second connect new and current public realms with the regeneration being led by transit. The third type of park is that which is currently most applicable to the Evansvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pigeon Creek Greenway. A linkage park that is the result of development or reconsolidation of existing corridors.1 The existing greenway has already undergone much of the redevelopment. The greenway consists of three sections beginning downtown near the river and meandering adjacent to Pigeon Creek and through the industrial corridor and ending along the middle levee corridor near Garvin Park, a large public park. The corridor has been developed, so the focus of this thesis is not to develop that corridor, but rather to focus on the end node where the industrial corridor transitions into the riverfront corridor. At the end of Pigeon Creek the greenway makes a distinct change in direction. Turning east the path rides the top of the levee wall between downtown Evansville and the Ohio River. This junction of two different greenway corridors is made a formal node by the presence of a memorial. The Shirley James Gateway Plaza and the adjacent parking lot currently draw very little interest. This could also be the result from the location. The site is bordered to the North by an elevated highway, to the East is a busy thoroughfare, Fulton Ave. The south is near a gravel distribution center but separated by a narrow road way that receives a large

RESEARCH

fIG. 3.12 Existing pedestrian and bicycle corridor shown in blue. Pigeon Creek Corridor in orange.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

amount of traffic because it acts as a short cut for locals trying to avoiding the expressways numerous traffic lights. Then to the west is the Pigeon Creek waterway, but through the middle of the site lays a railroad track that services a large plastics factory. All these factors remove the motivation factors for pedestrians venturing to this point on the greenway in larger numbers. It seems that the easiest solution, and one that I toiled with, would be to just turn the entire lot into a large park. Jane Jacobs notes in her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities that poorly planned parks and spaces can make a city less livable.2 As someone who enjoys open spaces and has not grown up in a dense urban area I didn’t fully understand her observations. To create a further appreciation for this I had to interoperate David Owen’s observations about New York City. Green Metropolis is Owen’s argument for why New York City should be considered as the model of sustainability. He argues that small blocks of densely packed mixed use occupancy encourages people to walk and abandon their vehicles. He compares his time in NYC with that of his current living situation in rural Connecticut. While living in the dense urban area Owens noticed that there was a tendency to walk without realizing the distance that was covered.3 This versus the walking in rural areas where the same distance feels unusually long. While my existing site is adjacent to downtown, a rather sparse downtown full of open parking lots and lacking in density. The point where the greenway makes its turn it enters an industrial zone that resembles more of a wasteland these days. Recreationalists must move West towards Pigeon Creek for nearly three hundred yards between a tall chain link fence topped with barbed wire, protecting a large mound of dirt, and an industrial rail road track used to deliver plastic pellets to the nearby plastics factory. Besides just the physical surroundings there is an issue with the expansiveness between Fulton Ave and Pigeon Creek. As Jane Jacobs calls out borders do not facilitate cross traffic. She makes note that parks are no exception their vastness does not always encourage people to travel through them particularly at night. Currently this site acts in much the same way. There is no traffic or business activity occurring. This is particularly

fIG. 3.13. Existing movement on site. Blue- River Access, Red- RailRoad, Green - Pedestrian, Yellow- Vehical Traffic

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

true in the evenings when the nearby businesses are closed, with the exception of the adult book store very near the site. Another positive would be that the site is in close proximity to the downtown casino and a small bar district. While this has the growing potential to bring movement near the site, again the expansive emptiness of the site removes all traffic though the site. An added level of difficulty is that the entire site lies on the wet side of the levee. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not to say that there has never been any business here before. This site has housed several industrial businesses and ware houses that have since moved out to industrial parks. Then well before all of this the site held the Evansville train depot but was tore down in the seventies and the tracks pulled out with it. While my proposed Canoe Evansville building located closer to the creek is situated in such a way as to be lifted above the hundred year flood zone. This strategy of basically using piers will not work in establishing retail or other entry creating shops. Hamburg, Germany has several great examples of flood barricading systems that allow for storefront windows even in a floodplain. However as expected these would come with a steep price, but have the potential to turn a levee wall into a functioning profitable piece of the urban environment.

RESEARCH

fIG. 3.14 FEMA Site Flood map, Primary site shown in red.

Areas of 1 percent annual chance of flood with average depths o f 1 f o o t, o r w i t h d r a i n a g e a r e a s l e s s t h a n 1 s q u a r e m i l e ; a n d areas protected by levee

0.2 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.

AE: High flood risk. Base flood elevations have been determined .1 percent annual chance of flooding and a 26 percent chance o f f l o o d i n g o v e r t h e l i f e o f a 3 0 y e a r m o r t g a g e . E l e v. 3 7 8 â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Location of levee 46

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Site Masterplan

dESIGN

1 2 5 4

3 8

1. Existing Memorial The site is an existing node connecting the Greenway Trail to the Riverfront Path. This transition is marked by Shirley James Gateway Plaza, which illustrates the history of transportation in Evansville.

3.16 sHIRLEY jAMES gATEWAY MEMORIAL, FIG. 3.17 nEW pAVILION.

2. New Pavilion Proposed pavilion located next to parking lot. Provides an area for congregation immeditally adjacent to the parking lot. Leaving room for bicycle and pedestrian circulation. 48

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

3. trailer Parking Trailer parking gives lots of room for people to park vehicals with trailers and pull through to loading area.

MASTERPLAN

4. Flush Railroad Crossing All railroad tracks will be equiped with flush ADA compliant crossings. The railroad track is a low traffic, low speed track making deliveries to a local plastics factory in the area.

fIG. 3.18 wESSELMAN FACILITY BUS, fig. 3.19 ADA railroad crossing, Fig. 3.20 Community Car show, FIG. 3.21 Local farmers market, fig. 3.22 hamburg sliding facade storm coverings

5. Additional Parking Additional parking will be be placed along the North East corner of the site. Currently in this location is an old concrete pad. Providing this additional parking provides place for potential community events. These events could range from farmers markets to evening car shows. Parking lots are not always the ideal place to hold community gatherings, but in this community the car is king. And as such activities are often located around individuals vehicals and being in close contact with them.

6. New Development

Besides my main building I am also proposing a development of the South East corner. Situated on the Corner of Fulton Ave and Ohio St. What I am loosely proposing falls along the line of providing space for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;creative classâ&#x20AC;?1 to inhabit. This would be an area where the flood mitigation techniques utalized in Hamburg, Germany could be employed. With the possibility of the buildings acting as a new levee wall. 49

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

The area needs to be tough to match the surrounding industrial facilities in the vacenity. But it also needs a softness and a curosity that will invite people to explore and inhabit the area. I believe both of these needs can be accomplished in this area with an industrial sculputre park. MASTERPLAN

7. Detention Pond Detention pond help to retain some water on site in the events of heavy rains. The pond has the ability to hold water for up to 24 hours to be relieced after peak flow hours.

fIG. 3.23 Industrial scuplture park, Fig. 3.24 Detention Pond, Fig. 3.25 Speed islands, Fig 3.26 pedestrian bridge

8. Speed Islands Pedestrians and Cyclisys are the proprity on this site. As such they are given proprity through the use of speed islands. So at pedestrian and vehical intersection the vehicals encounter a change and not the pedestrian.

9. Pedestrian Bridge Existing pedestrian bridge recently refinished is now a major destination for pedestrian and cyclists traveling along Evansvilles pathways.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Design

Main Entrance: Northeast corner of building highlights the canoe dropoff zone, and second level pedestrian access.

fIG. 3.27 Northeast corner main entrance.

fLOORpLANS

Design fIG. 3.28 Site plan, Fig. 3.29 First floor plan.

Site Plan

exhabit Space

storage

Canoe Program Retail Space/coffee shop

First Floorplan

n 53

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Design fIG. 3.30 Southwest corner rendering, Fig. 3.31 Southwest corner flooded.

Southwest Perspective

Southwest Perspective Flooded 54

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Design fIG. 3.32 Third Floor Plan, Fig. 3.33 Second Floor plan. Mechanical Space

Mechanical c Space

Exhibit Space a Below

Top Overlook l

n Third Floorplan

ramp to greenway

Exhibit Space c

CClassroom s om ssro

Rotating Exhibit h Space Off OOffice fff

Midlevel Overlook

n Second Floorplan 55

385’ elev. / 40’ relative

397’ elev. / 52’ relative

345’ elev. / zero’ relative

370’ elev. ev / 25’ relative

378’ elev. / 33’ relative, Base Flood elevation (100 year flood

53.74’ relative, 1937 flood

405’ elev. / 60’ relative

410’ elev. / 65’ relative

leve lev eve eev vvel on o e

level two

level threee

level four

level five

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Design

fIG. 3.34 Site section and south building elevation.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Design Fig. 3.35 Southeast corner road view, fig. 3.36 Overlook rendering.

Southeast Perspective: This street front will be the primary side through which vehicals will interact with the building.

Overlook Perspective 57

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Design fIG. 3.37 northeast stairwell

Northeast Stairwell

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Design fIG. 3.38 Office rendering, Fig. 3.39 Office floodplan.

Office Prespective: Open office plan with lots of group space for volunteers to participate in the Canoe Evansville program

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Design fIG. 3.40 Isometric wall detail rain screen to glazing.

Chapter four

design review

Committe Comments

Personal Review

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Q&A

Design review

“What were the design rules?” - I need to identify and illustrate further the design rules I used to develop my building form. “There is a ramp going over the parking lot?” - The ramp that begins on the west side of the memorial then serpentines up over the bike path and canoe ramp. It then ends into the second floor giving direct access to the second floor facilities. Not having a physical site model I can see how this may have been confusing and in hind sight I think a physical site model would help. - Not having a physical model added to this confusion. Having a physical model, all be it study quality, would have helped immensely to explain the flow of the site and in hind sight it could have served a greater purpose than the rendered site, except maybe for the purpose of compiling information into this book. “Are there flood maps for the site and how have they changed with the new manipulation of the site.” - Flood maps for the site can be seen presented in the design chapter. I do not have a new map taking into account the site changes I have made. However I believe it would not have changed much. My design was not to make the site flood proof but to better handle events of heavy rain and events of low-level flooding. And as such the flooding map would have changed, I believe, very little. “Why is there no vegetation on the site plan?” - I didn’t get to it. But there will/has to have vegetation especially on the river bank to hold the soil in place. It is especially bad on my part that I didn’t have more for Karen Midden to view on my poster. “The site could have responded more too different stages of flooding. Particularly think about referring to some Italian plazas that were built to accommodate tidal flooding. This sort of thing could really be played with to accentuate different levels of flooding. It has the ability to create a park where people can feel the different heights of various flood levels. Allowing the site to illuminate and educate rather than just using pamphlets or handouts.” - The manipulation of the site further could be done but the difference in my site is that the flooding is not typical. There is a cycle to it but the consistency is not there like with ocean areas.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

“Pulling the building close to the side walk seems to create a nice area. A place where people will congregate and hangout.” - I didn’t show it in a rendering in my final because it wasn’t on my priority list. But that was part of the thought behind the second level overhang and using a short gabion to create spaces for people to sit and hopefully socialize. This can also be seen in the design rules, with the effort to make arcades. “Should you build in a floodplain?” - No. But I feel I am able to justify the placement of my building in the flood plain because the building I am proposing has the potential to create a passion. To create interest in the creek that works to act as catalyst to create an attitude of preservation through recreation. “If you build in a floodplain should the architecture reflect it?” -The big thing with this notion is that a building located in the floodplain should be lifted up on stilts. So that as you drive deeper into a flood zone you can feel the buildings around you rise, and in theory are safe from flood waters. This can be done but also I believe this technique provides a false sense of security. This method has the potential to protect buildings but it also encourages people to build in these areas where they shouldn’t be. As I stated in the previous question there should not be building in the floodplain. And these techniques the work to respond to flooding often do very little reacting, but do more fighting. We should not expand our development into flood prone areas, and with the changing climate I also believe that areas that go through flood events should not be rebuilt but required to move. And as such we will get the point where the built environment will not illustrate the flooding but rather the lack of will be a marker that not all areas are meant to be built on. “Under a similar notion of building in a floodplain should we build anything at all? No matter what we are creating an impact.” -This is something I wrestled with particularly when I was reading Orr and Brower pertaining to the preservation of wilderness. But ultimately we have to build, that is after all the profession I am pursuing. Even if nothing is produced the presence of man in a natural environment still creates an impact. This just needs to be kept in mind when designing. Can space be an indicator of weather patterns? -More to do with developing the site the physically to represent the patterns of nature and weather. Not only with the site itself but also with the interaction between the building and the site. There were strong suggestions to add more signage and other communicator devises like marks and designs in the sidewalk as well as marks on the building. “How do you store canoes?” - Checkerboard of slots, or other suspension system. Stacking approxi-

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

mately 3 high, upside down to promote water drainage and group shoulder carry. (The orientation of the canoe would not be of real importance.) However consideration should also be given to kayaks and the possibility of other rental boats. Which I had not originally thought of when designing. I was really designing more for large plan ahead groups and not individual walk up rentals. I could be done but the canoe storage space would need some modification to better monitor this kind of activity. “Be sure to look at the Lewis and Clark Center in Missouri and add it to your case studies” - I looked at the building and it seems to function in much the same way my design does. The lower levels are designed to flood, while the second story holds a Lewis and Clark museum space. “Did you consider a floating structure or some kind of wharf boat?” - Very briefly I had considered recycling some type of barge as the main structure or piecing apart a retired barge and using it throughout the building. However I didn’t follow this through with the thought for very long. Why? I’m not sure. I just had in my mind to a more “traditional” building and explore other means of flood mitigation. However in hind sight building on a floating structure would have forced me to design with a greater attention towards sustainability. As the facility would have worked best independent of all land utilities. However also a consideration with this decision would have been location. If I were to use a barge as my site I would have most likely located it in the Ohio River just south of my current site. Otherwise I would have had to create space to float it into place on my existing site. Which I believe would have created a place for the trash and debris to gather, much like what happens around docks. Also the downtown may be undergoing a change as they look for a new home for the LST and try to legalize main land gambling there by removing the casino boat which is very near the place where I would tie up. Also I want to avoid being in the Ohio River because I do not want inexperienced boaters entering these commercial heavy turbulent waters.

Design review

“When you build a thing you cannot merely build that thing in isolation, but must also repair the world around it, and within it, so that the larger world at that one place becomes more coherent and more whole.” –Christopher Alexander

“What were the 1937 flood levels? Show them in your site section.” - The 1937 flood reached 53 feet. I believed I had used this number in my original calculations when determining the height of my second floor. However after checking this number I’m sad to say that I was sorely mistaken. If the 1937 flood levels were to reoccur they would reach all the way up to the third floor. A mistake that needs to be addressed, however at this point I am just calling my mistake and moving on. In reality my second floor would need to be raised up 13 more feet to surpass the high water mark of the 1937 flood. If I were to do things different I would also need to make some significant modifications to the site. One of my rules was maintaining some sort of connection with the ground and second level. So a human scale was preserved. The other theory is when do you stop designing for the possible? There has to be an extent to which we build. Where should we draw the line? The 100 year flood the 500 year flood? Does any of it really matter? No matter what you design to something will always exceed the design expectations. “The site plan reads unclear. There should be a greater presence of the river, as well as

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

road labels.” “Where is the mechanical space? Also what system is going to be used?” - It is located on the on the third floor. I would like to utilize a solar thermal system. “What are the soil types?” - It is honestly not something I looked at. I do know that I will need pier footings to stay in place during flooding events and possible washouts and scoring. Because I am close to two water sources I made an assumption that the soil would require a pier system, also because of local seismic conditions, but that is something I will have to look further into to verify.

Design review

“What is the site history, any settlements?” - I briefly covered the recent history of the site during my presentation. But a deeper history is one I have established from random readings and verbal story telling. I am pretty sure most of the major happenings occurred across the creek from my site, which used to be an ice pond/log chute, and later filled while acting as the city dump. “What is the width of the creek at the site?” - Somewhere around 100 Feet across at the site, depending on water levels. “This is a small project. And as such you need to show more details, structural decisions. Show you know what you’re doing to get a job.” - I have those details, and I will be sure to illustrate them in the book. I just don’t feel an oral presentation with mixed company is the place to discuss such technical aspects. “Finalize the foundation, addressing erosion and scoring” - Similar to above these details will be called out in the book. “Does the glass come in contact with water during a flooding event?” - No, there is a system in place much like that used in Hamburg Germany. Toilets on main level and flooding. - These facilities are surrounded by CMU flood compliant construction so they would be safe during flooding events. “How do you deal with mud and debris from after a flooding event?” - Debris would mostly be handled by the fence and gabion wall construction. The mud would be cleaned up about the only way you can clean up mud, with a high pressure hose and scraping. What the building would need to better address this is a high pressure hose hookup and landscape consideration be given where the mud will be pushed to. This act of removing mud could also be made easier by pitching the floors, or even designing around a drain much like what was done at the Piazza del Campo.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

“How often would it flood to the level displayed in the rendering? How often would it reach other levels?” - Flood levels are not based on how often they occur over time, but the chance of them happening in any given year. It is more like playing the lottery than planning a yearly doctor’s appointment. But over the time of a 30 year mortgage there is a 1 in 4 chance of being flooded by the 100 year flood.1 “How is this location unique, and how did you respond to its environment?” - I believe the uniqueness of the site can be seen in development of my design rules. There rule may have been similar but with subtle differences to reflect a different site. “How will the site change over time with the influx of flooding and other natural and unnatural pressures?” - That is something I would need to coordinate with someone more knowledgeable than myself, and could even require some extensive research to map the actual floodwater fluctuations on and adjacent to the site.

Design review 1. https://msc.fema.gov/ webapp/wcs/stores/ servlet/info?storeId=100 01&catalogId=10001&lang Id=&content=floodZones& title=FEMA%20Flood%20 Zone%20Designations 2. brower, chapple. let the mountains talk. 1995.

“How happy are you with this project, and did you pick the right subject?” -I would say I am mostly satisfied with the project. Really I go through phases of highly satisfied to less than satisfied. There is always going to be more I could have done to produce a better project. However I am pleased with the direction the project took. When I first started my scope was so large I wasn’t sure what the outcome of the project was going to be, but I will say that I am happy with the direction this project took. I think the subject was satisfactory for exploring the theories I was most interested in. In my reading those tended to be subjects on wilderness preservation and creation, when the built environment is necessary, and communities reactions to the transitions between built environments and natural spaces. I think this is an effort on my part to combine my experience working on trail crews and hiking the Appalachian Trail with my architectural education. The facility that I designed for this project has that potential to bridge the gap between urban and natural areas through the use of recreation. With the thought that awareness has the potential to foster passion. However this passion needs to be kept in check by through the awareness of Aldo Leopold’s quote “man always kills the thing he loves, and so we pioneers have killed our wilderness”.2

Appendix final presentation display

Study Models

biblography

list of figures

Vita

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Appendix Final Presentation Display

Springfield, Il indianapolis, In

Louisville, Ky Carbondale, Il

Site Flooding Map

Route from proposed center to canoe launch

Flooding Map Key Areas of 1 percent annual chance of flood with average depths of 1 foot, or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile; and areas protected by levee

Evansville, In

Appendix

0.2 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.

Evansville Flooding Map

poster

Pigeon Creek Site Location

Evansville, In

Commercial

Downtown

residential

Water Access Canoe Launching Area to begin journey down river.

Pedestrian & Bicycle Paths

Railroad

Joan Marchard Bridge 535 steps =0.27 miles Franklin Street 670 steps = 0.34 miles

version 1

Learning the fundamentals of safe and fun boating

Lamasco Skate Park 1413 steps = 0.71 miles

G r e e n way

Dress Plaza / Riverfront 1680 steps = 1.25 miles Observing the importance of different habitats

Four Freedoms Movements 2500 steps = 1.25 miles

version 2

Pagoda Visitor Center 2820 steps = 1.41 miles

R o a d Ways

Evansville Museum 3090 steps = 1.55 miles

Identifing historical structures along Aqua Trail

Sunset Park 3540 steps = 1.77 miles

version 3

Uhlhorn Trail head 7000 steps = 3.5 miles Heidelbach Canoe Launch 10400 steps = 5.2 miles

S i t e A n a ly s i s

Team building and alternative education education

Existing PATHS & TRAILS

Aqua Trail Experiences Route from proposed center to canoe launch version 4

version 5

Canoe Trailer Parking

G r e e n way Pav i l i o n

Existing Memorial

Flush Railroad Crossings

Event Space & overflow Parking

Speed Islands

Corner lot holds the potential for a industrial sculpture studio and park. In keeping with the existing industrial nature of the surroundings the sculpture park provides a interactive barrier between downtown and the proposed Canoe Evansville Center and Greenway Trail. Case studies for construction in a flood zone include Hamburg, Germany and Golf Cost Community Design Studio.

Detention Pond

Existing Red Bridge

New Growth / Industrial Sculpture Park

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Office Space Perspective

South East Perspective

Mechanical Space

Appendix Exhabit space Below Top Overlook

fig. A.02 Part one final poster Level three Plan 20

R a m p t o g r e e n way

North East Perspective Isometric Section

Storage

ClassRoom

Rainscreen to c u r t i n w a l l t y p.

Exhabit Space

Rotating Exhabit Space Office

Midlevel LookOut

Form Development

End of canoe launch

Canoe Program Learning Center

Level Two Plan

Staff

N Exhibit Space Perspective

version 6

version 7

Exhabit Space Storage

Canoe Program

Rental Space /Coffee Shop

Level One

South West Perspective

South West Perspective Flooded

Midlevel Lookout

410’ Fasl / 65’ Relative

Level Five

405’ Fasl / 60’ Relative

Level Four

397’ Fasl / 52’ Relative

Level three

385’ Fasl / 40’ Relative

Level Two

370’ Fasl / 25’ Relative

Level One

Base Flood Elevation

378’ Fasl / 33’ Relative

5 345’ FASL / Zero’ relative

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Study Models

Appendix fig. A.03 Study Model one, Fig. A.04 Study model two, Fig. A.05 Study Model three

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Study Models

Appendix fig. A.06 Study Model four, Fig. A.07 Study model five,

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Notes

Appendix

Chapter one 1. Watson, Donald, and Michele Adams. Design for flooding: architecture, landscape, and urban design for resilience to flooding and climate change. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. XX. 2. Watson, Donald, and Michele Adams. Design for flooding: architecture, landscape, and urban design for resilience to flooding and climate change. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. XV. 3. Castonguay, Stéphane. “Rivers and Risk in the City: The Urban Floodplain as a Contested Space.” In Urban rivers: remaking rivers, cities, and space in Europe and North America. Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2012. 131.

introduction, pages 12-15

1. Lansing, J. S. (1991). Priests and programmers: technologies of power in the engineered landscape of Bali. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. 2. http://www.ruimtevoorderivier.nl/ 3. Tjallingii, S. P. (1995). Ecopolis: strategies for ecologically sound urban development. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers. 4. Orr, D. W. (2002). The nature of design ecology, culture, and human intention. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 39

living with the river, pages 12-15

1. Watson, Donald, and Michele Adams. Design for flooding: architecture, landscape, and urban design for resilience to flooding and climate change. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. XX 2. - 4. Dam and levee safety and community resilience a vision for future practice. (2012). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. 5. Alexander, J.S., Wilson, R.C., and Green, W.R. (2012). A brief history and summary of the effects of river engineering and dams on the Mississippi River system and delta. U.S.

levee system, pages 12-15

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Geological Survey Circular 1375. 3. 6. Dam and levee safety and community resilience a vision for future practice. (2012). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. 7. Alexander, J.S., Wilson, R.C., and Green, W.R. (2012). A brief history and summary of the effects of river engineering and dams on the Mississippi River system and delta. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1375. 3. 8. Dam and levee safety and community resilience a vision for future practice. (2012). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. 9. Castonguay, Stéphane. “Rivers and Risk in the City: The Urban Floodplain as a Contested Space.” In Urban rivers: remaking rivers, cities, and space in Europe and North America. Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2012. 132.

1. Brower, D. R., & Chapple, S. (1995). Let the mountains talk, let the rivers run: a call to those who would save the earth. San Francisco, Calif.: HarperCollins West. 134. 2. Orr, D. W. (2002). The nature of design ecology, culture, and human intention. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 99. 3. Brower, D. R., & Chapple, S. (1995). Let the mountains talk, let the rivers run: a call to those who would save the earth. San Francisco, Calif.: HarperCollins West. 92. 4. Mooallem, J. (2013). Wild ones: a sometimes dismaying, weirdly reassuring story about looking at people looking at animals in America. New York: Penguin Press.

sustainable developmentpages 12-15

From here is where I first head of the idea of shifting baseline syndrom. (First heard it on Roman Mars 99% invisiable podcats1) Where every generation assesses the world they inhabit based on their observations. But what they view is different from what their parents observed. “As Mooallem explains it, overfishing may deplete fish stocks, but the generation doesn’t ‘see the oceans as depleted; that depleted condition becomes their baseline against which they’ll measure any subsequent losses in their lifeline.’”2 1

Mars, R. (n.d.). 99% Invisible-91- Wild Ones Live. SoundCloud. Retrieved July 20, 2014, from https://soundcloud.com/roman-mars/99-invisible-91-wild-ones-live 2 Crist, M. (2013, June 29). Recall of the Wild. The New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/30/books/review/wildones-by-jon-mooallem.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 5. Sheppard, K. (2013, July 29). Flood, Rebuild, Repeat: Are We Ready for a Superstorm Sandy Every Other Year?. CityLab. Retrieved July 20, 2014, from http://www.citylab.

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

com/politics/2013/07/flood-rebuild-repeat-are-we-ready-superstorm-sandy-every-otheryear/6352/ Aldo Leopold. (n.d.). The Foundation. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://www.aldoleopold.org/AldoLeopold/leopold_bio.shtml

Aldo leopold center, pages 16

Kent Fuller Air Station Prairie / Tyner Center - Glenview Park District. (n.d.). Glenview Park District. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://www.glenviewparks.org/facilitiesparks/kent-fuller-air-station-prairie-tyner-center/

Evelyn tyner interpretive center, pages 17

Greenroofs.com Projects - Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center. (n.d.). Greenroofs. com Projects - Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=1386 Into the Wild. (n.d.). Chicago Wilderness Magazine — Weekend Explorer: Air Station Prairie. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://www.chicagowildernessmag.org/CW_Archives/issues/summer2009/itw_airstation_prairie.html 1. “Falls of the Ohio State Park.” Falls of the Ohio State Park. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 July 2014. <http://www.fallsoftheohio.org/>.

Falls on the ohio, page 18

LOUISVILLE DISTRICT. (n.d.). Louisville District > Missions > Civil Works > Recreation > Lakes > Falls of the Ohio. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://www.lrl.usace. army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/Lakes/FallsoftheOhio.aspx 1. GCCDS. (n.d.). GCCDS. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://www.gccds.org/research/floodproofconstruction/index.php

golf coast design studio, page 19

Flood-secure bases instead of dikes: safe from high water in HafenCity. (n.d.). HafenCity RSS. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://www.hafencity.com/en/concepts/flood-securebases-instead-of-dikes-safe-from-high-water-in-hafencity.html

hamburg germany, page 20

Valentino, S. (2013, September 20). Hamburg Holds Lessons for Post-Sandy New York. WNYC News. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://www.wnyc.org/story/see-how-newyork-can-survive-flooding-look-hamburg/ 74

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Hamburg. (n.d.). Hamburg. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://www.floodresilience.eu/ en/case-studies/hamburg 1. English. (n.d.). Ruimte voor de Rivier. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://www.ruimtevoorderivier.nl/english

ruimte voor de rivier, page 21

1. What We Do. (n.d.). Urban Ecology Center. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://urbanecologycenter.org/what-we-do/what-we-do.html

urban ecology center, page 22

1. “Wesselman Nature Society: Nature Society.” Wesselman Nature Society: Nature Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 July 2014. <http://www.wesselmannaturesociety.org/society/ index.php>. 2. “Wesselman Nature Society: Woods Nature Preserve.” Wesselman Nature Society: Woods Nature Preserve. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 July 2014. <http://www.wesselmannaturesociety.org/woods/index.php>.

wesselman, page 23

Chapter two 1. Mittlefehldt, S., & Cronon, W. (2013). The Appalachian Trail and American environmental politics. Seattle, Wa: University of Washington Press.

Program theory, page 25

2. Alexander, C., Ishikawa, S., & Silverstein, M. (1977). A pattern language: towns, buildings, construction. New York: Oxford University Press.

design rules, page 29

Chapter three 1. “Evansville, Indiana.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 July 2014. Web. 26 July 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evansville,_Indiana>.

Site Selection, page 25

1. Koesters, M. (2014, April 22). Most Recent - Indiana Economic Digest - Indiana. Most Recent - Indiana Economic Digest - Indiana. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://www. indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&ArticleID=74401 2. Wilson, M. (n.d.). Most Recent - Indiana Economic Digest - Indiana. Most Recent -

Evolving City, page 29

Community Flooding: Ecological Design in Evansville Downtown Adjacent

Indiana Economic Digest - Indiana. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&subsectionID=235&articleID=74437 3. Owen, D. (2009). Green metropolis: why living smaller, living closer, and driving less are keys to sustainability. New York: Riverhead Books. 1. Wright, A. (2013). Future park: imagining tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urban parks. Collingwood, Vic. Australia: CRISO Publishing. 2. Jacobs, J. (1961). The death and life of great American cities. New York: Random House. 3. Owen, D. (2009). Green metropolis: why living smaller, living closer, and driving less are keys to sustainability. New York: Riverhead Books. 177

Borders and Movement page 25

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