Benjamin Thurston 2007 - 2012 Bachelor of Landscape Architecture University of Rhode Island Email: Benthurston@my.uri.edu Cell: (207) 650-6051
Table of Contents Biscuit City Historic Park • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 & 2 Biscuit City Road, South Kingstown, RI is home to one of the oldest historical buildings in the town. The site once had a mill and many other features. Goals for this project were restoration and functionality. Through clean-up phases, clear signage, and the management of natural forces, the 2011 LAR Junior Studio Class won the American Planning Association Outstanding Undergraduate Student Project Award.
Hand-Drawn/R.I.D.O.T. Courtyard• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 3 Rhode Island Department of Transportation Courtyard is located in Providence, RI. With limited space and a concept of tying R.I.D.O.T. into the design, a courtyard for outdoor gatherings was created. The project illustrations were produced by hand and the final poster was put together on the computer.
Hand Sketches • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4 This page consists of a perspective, section view, and tree sketches.
AutoCAD Work • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 5 & 6 While working with AutoCAD, many different projects were produced and several features of the program have been used. Road alignment, grading plan, layout plan, and construction details are shown on these two pages.
Deck Project • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 7 & 8 Located at an unknown address was a residential house with the need of a deck. The design had to include a deck, a pergola, and a fence. All features were to be designed and placed accordingly. Layout plans, cost estimate, Google Sketch-Up model, and 3D model were all produced for the client.
Sketch-Up Work • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9 Woodward Hall Courtyard was located in front of the new Pharmacy building and adjacent to Tyler Hall and Woodward Hall at the University of Rhode Island campus. The courtyard was designed for student-faculty interaction and to accommodate an immense amount of traffic. The final product was produced in Google Sketch-Up.
Westerly Park • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 10 Professor Richard Sheridan’s LA Junior Studio class was given the opportunity to create a successful business proposal on a site in Westerly, Rhode Island. The site featured a large empty building near an airport with a large amount of space. With very few limitations of what could be done, many students proposed a wide variety of business ideas. The company in this design is a Stone Masonry Design-Build Firm with an outdoor display / gathering space in front of the building.
Community Planning• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 11 & 12 The community planning designs on these two pages include a thirty-lot development with open space, man-made pond, and a trail system through the site. The second development includes attached housing, a clubhouse, tennis court, playground, pool and a trail system around the existing pond.
SKHS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 13 & 14 The South Kingstown High School (SKHS) is the initial start of a sustainable movement through school systems in the surrounding area. Many students and faculty at SKHS are motivated to clean up, reuse, and save their school campus. Under the champion slogan of Re-visualizing the Rebels, LA students produced ideas of ecological connections and sustainable practices that could change the face of the SKHS forever.
Emporium Planting Design • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15 The emporium located at the University of Rhode Island has little to no vegetation and consists mostly of asphalt. The goal of this design was to break up the pavement and parking without taking away from the functionality of the area. The vegetation in this site helps with storm-water runoff, air quality, and aesthetic appeal.
Sustainable Homestead • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 16 The site is located in West Kingston, RI. The homestead has minimal impact on the land and features many different sustainable practices. The property is designed for a home owner looking to live with a low carbon footprint.
URI Orchard • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 17 The site is located at the University of Rhode Island campus. Due to invading development on the farmlands around the campus, LA students created purpose and function for these areas to ward off potential developers. The existing Gardner Agronomy farm will be transformed to accommodate vast food production, a storage barn, and a large apple orchard for all community members to enjoy.
San Mateo School • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 18 Located in San Mateo, Ixatatan, Guatemala, a newly built school will hold a storm-water catchment system with an interaction space for the students. The design can be applied anywhere, but this page shows a model for the students to enjoy and cherish. A space that is unique to their culture and climate.
Flagpole Garden - Internship • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 19 - 22 The flagpole garden is the focal point of the parking lot at the Woodlands Club in Falmouth, ME. Proper plant selection, daily watering and with the goal of making the garden pop at the time of Member-Guest (the biggest tournament of the summer for the Club) made this garden successful.
• • • • • Walkways were eroded
Major erosion problems onsite Management of storm-water is crucial for the functionality of this site
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Remembering the historical significance of the site
Existing pond affects the entire site Conditions of existing structures
Making sure the restoration process did not destroy any artifacts
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Need to be elevated and material needed to fix them
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Existing Conditions
Biscuit City Road
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Restoration Design
Pathway Perspective
Structure Perspective
Pond edge is easily walkable and will serve as a perfect habitat for wildlife in the area
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Proper material is used Pathways are graded to push runoff to swales down the center of the site
Pond Pond Edge Perspective
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Plan
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Wet Pond Schematic BMP
Structures are renovated appropriately Runoff is directed into swales and down into the sediment trap Water flows into the pond where it sits and slowly filters out through a waterfall on the lower side
Invasive vegetation is cleared out and natives are planted for soil stability
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Hand-drawn Design
R.I.D.OT. courtyard
Design consists of stonewalls to create separate spaces
These spaces are designed for employees on a lunch break or anyone wanting to enjoy a beautiful day in this limited environment
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Master plan shows garden beds, sitting areas, stone walls, and an outline of the surrounding building
Hand Sketches
Tree Sketches
Section View Sketch
Black & White Perspective Sketch
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
CAD Plan Views: PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
AutoCAD Plans
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
-Layout Plan -Road Alignment -Grading Plan
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Concrete cellular turfgrids
Finish grade Steel railing 2” dia.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Separator fabric 4” Aggregate base
16” x 5 1/2” typ. Granite tread riser 1/2” expansion joint
Concrete Footing (Reinforced as required) Aggregate Backfill
Prepared subgrade
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Dry-Laid Stonewall
Wood Bench PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Finish grade
Wall has a slope of 6” rise over 1” run
Prepared subgrade
1’x1’ Concrete blocks for bench to be placed on 6” Aggregate backfill Prepared subgrade PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
6” Aggregate base
6” long wooden bench with steel framework PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Stones placed into ground below frost line
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
4”x4” Concrete base for steel railing
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AutoCAD Details
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Filled turf grids with top soil, mix with lime, fertilizer, and top with seed 2” Sand setting bed.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Stone Steps w/ Hand Rail PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Concrete Turf Pavers
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Deck Design - Layout
Residential home with wrap-around deck The deck is located in the back yard of this home Design includes: -Grill -Sitting area with table -Pergola over side entrance -Fence blocking views into backyard from road
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Deck Model
-Models were built in teams of 3 -You had to buy materials within a budget -Deck framework (Joists, Beams, Flooring, etc..) had to be shown -Shrubs, doors, and deck amentities were extra credit for creativity
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Woodward Courtyard
Sketch-Up Work
Design creates an inviting experience that ties the three surrounding buildings into a pleasant, functional area for student-faculty interactions
Sketch-Up perspectives show great eye-level views of what it would be like to walk into this space
Section cut line shows the topography change in the courtyard
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Westerly Park Design
Beautiful perspectives show the open yet secure environment that the front of this complex can offer Plan
Section view across the entire site shows the relatively flat topography
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Community Planning
Thirty-Lot Development
Development features:
-Plenty of open Space -Retention pond at the lowest point -Trail System -Sidewalk for pedestrian travel -Two entrances to the development -Plenty of privacy
Road Section Illustration 11
Community Planning
Attached Housing Development
Development features: -Plenty of open space -Retention pond for storm-water -Trail system -Sidewalk for pedestrian travel -Two entrances to the development -1 bedroom / 2 bedroom homes - 2 bedroom has garage -Clubhouse with pool -Tennis court -Playground 12
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Vehicular Circulation Looked into how cars and buses moved through the campus and pointed out areas to address
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Looked into how students and faculty moved through the campus and pointed out areas to address
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SK High School
Pedestrian Circulation
-South Kingstown High School site analysis was thorough and optimistic -Circulation and other built features as well as the natural environment were all included in the analysis -The class looked into history of the school, its surrounding community, and school programs that use the campus -A 2-hour workshop was held and many community members helped complete the research
SK High School
Outdoor spaces for a variety of purposes
Safe pedestrian routes with plenty of vegetation
Plan Rendering by: Sean Condon
Rendering by: Sean Condon
Rain gardens to deal with storm-water flow through the parking lots
Functionality around the school was vital for heavy traffic success
Rendering by: Matt Fountaine
-South Kingstown High School re-design had a theme of ecological connections between water system & woodland area
-Circulation and other built features were a top priority when looking at functionality of the re-Design -Outdoor educational spaces, parking areas, trail systems, and storm-water control are all addressed at SKHS -The campus is greatly improved and becomes a center for sustainable iniatives in the surrounding areas
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Emporium Planting Design
Stonewall and shrub illustration shows the relation between the two features.
Planting plan was created to fix storm-water problems and add plant life to an urban environment
Beautiful views down emporium corridors Plenty of pedestrian movement and parking spots
Section views show the importance of curb heights for storm-water management
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In-depth illustration of tree planting
Chicken coop next to back-yard greenhouse and vegetable garden
The land has minimal disturbance and the house uses many sustainable practices
Shed behind house to store equipment and tools
Sustainable Homestead
The entire house lot has a very low carbon-footprint
Entire yard is fenced-in to keep out predators Plan
Fence was built with wood created from cutting trees down in order to make room for the house
Turn-around with maple tree grove Plenty of parking Wrap-around deck for entertaining visitors Solar panels and rain water systems are all included
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Plan
Rendering by: Mike Doucette
URI Orchard
Apple Orchard
Barn
Vegetable Gardens
Goals: To preserve a traditional style of agriculture on campus
Vegetable gardens will be placed around the barn for easy maintenance and security from wildlife
To provide enough corn for a variety of uses
Barn will provide necessary machinery storage and outdoor farmers market
To tie the heritage of Rhode Island into the design To provide enough apple picking and supply for the entire student body Site Includes: -Proposed Barn -Vegetable Gardens -Corn Fields -Large Apple Orchard -Pathways -Stonewall to separate turf farm and orchard 17
Storm-water Catchment Interaction Space
San Mateo School
School 3-dimensional model
The design consists of a small intimate space for all ages and abilities With making use of the climate and amount of rain they get, the shallow pool will be emptied and refilled every few weeks to guarantee clean water There are trees for shade and different gardens for water filtration The different landings blend into the topography
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Woodlands Club
The Flagpole Garden - Focal Feature of the Clubhouse Entrance / Drop-Off Area
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-Cleared out dead vegetation -Removed some of the ornamental grass -Fixed parts of the stone wall
Woodlands Club
Existing Conditions:
-Brought in material made on course -Material is a soil composition made of: -Replaced bunker sand -Grass clippings -Loam made from aerating the fairways
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Woodlands Club
The design process consisted of on-site layouts and computer-generated imagery There was some on-site drawings to visually show sections of the garden
When the garden was fully installed, there was vigorous up-keep and maintenance done to guarantee growth and establishment
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Final Product at the Beginning of August
Woodlands Club
The garden was fully established Colors popped, the tree design was full, and everyone was happy
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Thank You!