BRANDON PARSONS 717 Mathews St., Fort Collins, CO 80524 brandon.a.parsons@gmail.com 512 517 4001
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emergent Park Location Detroit, Mi The Detroit River creates a critical linkage between Lake Michigan and Lake Erie to the south. This strategic location has allowed the city of Detroit to flourish on its banks and profit from its natural resources. However, in recent years the city's glory has faded into muted aspirations. In 2003, the Detroit River Front Conservancy was formed with the hope of transforming 5 miles of the River Front into a destination for its citizens and a buffer between the hard degraded scape of the city and soft natural green scape that once flourished in the region. Emergent Park is the culmination of this greenway initiative.
Site: 130 acre site Approximately 1 mile long Home of freight consolidation services.
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Perimeter
Access
Views
Rails
Fusion with the built environment is key to achieving a regenerative design. Capturing storm water runoff from the roofs of new mixed use developments will provide a clean source of water for on-site irrigation.
Performance Space Activity Spaces
River Flow
Community
Personal Spaces Historical Context
Environment
Ecologic Responsibility Urban Agriculture Outdoor Learning Mixed Use Development River Connections Community Connections
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Urban Renewal Connections
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A. Planted Entryway B. Cherry Orchard C. Undulating Path D. Big Green E. Shipping Container Water Storage F. Pedestrian Promenade G. Rail Garden H. Outdoor Education Center I. Children’s Garden J. Boardwalk K. Clean Lagoon L. Amphitheater M. Intimate Oak Grove N. Permaculture Garden O. Community Garden P. Farmers Market Q. Pedestrian Plaza
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Phytoremediation plays a key role in this park’s form and function. The fluidity of this process is represented in the meandering character of this channel gesturing to the natural action of the river. As the dirty water from the Detroit River passes through the site, plant material bordering this remediation channel cleanses the water before it empties out into the protected lagoon.
Cherry Orchard
Big Green
Pedestrian Plaza
6 Lagoon: Phyoremediation diagram representing the vegetation used and species hierarchy created.
Rail Garden
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Pedestrian Plaza
Boardwalk
Lagoon
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High Peaks Camp Estes Park, CO Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the Salvation Army’s High Peaks Camp currently holds a variety of outdoor learning programs aimed toward educating inner city youth, families, and passersby on the benefits the natural world can instill. The study of current environmental systems, views, circulation, and existing structures was essential to developing a cohesive interactive design that suits participants of all ages and backgrounds. To establish this cohesion, I reorganized the circulation structures and modified the stagnant natural elements to provide dynamic regenerative systems, while also accounting for the anthropocentric experience through a variety of entertainment areas, gathering spaces, personal explorative routes, educational centers, and naturalistic viewing platforms. Ultimately this design meets the desired criteria of the Salvation Army while paying homage to its founding principles, participants, and natural areas that make it special.
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Circulation
A. Amphitheater
Existing Structures
Views
Environment
Concept
B. Dorms
E C. Plaza
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A D. Activity Area D
E. Lodge
Wetland Boardwalk
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Children’s Play Fort
Nature Trail
Amphitheater
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Fort Collins Framed Fort Collins, CO This PARK(ing) Day installation is a testament to sustainable “cradle to grave� construction practices, while also promoting community through the creation of SUSTAINABLE public space. The lumber used in the construction of our (PARK) was sustainably harvested from a recent burn area, milled by us, and found a second life cycle in the form of a chicken coup shortly after its original use. The chalk boards have been saved as a display of what Fort Collins stands for and what it aims to be. The bike parts and bus seats have been donated to provide alternative transportation in the future. Lastly, the picture frame now has a happy future promoting local artists. Fort Collins Framed created NO waste!
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Constructing the ch
halk boards
Milling the lumber
Community Input
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Public Enjoyment
Village Retreat Ridgecrest, CA This courtyard is the epicenter of the new Village Retreat Apartments. My role was to develop a sustainable landscape system that used water and resources efficiently. The entire system runs on grey and storm water coupled with naturalistic design systems that increase efficiency.
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Douche Hose Aluminum Die Casting Brace Plant Material
Steel Support Polypropylene Box Imbedded Bolt Green Mat Cement Wall
2� Caliper Western Sand Cherry
3� Bark Mulch Root Ball
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Compacted Substrate
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Spruce Room Natural Installation Element
“Spruce Room� is a unique landscape element that uses the natural void created by the cascading bran spruce tree to form a modern sanctuary for the designed landscape. This installation blends seamlessly into the landscape and is disguised during the day by the existing foliage of the spruce tree. However, as night draws near its presence becomes illuminated creating a warm glowing sanctuary where the natural and anthropocentric world fuses.
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Modular design makes for easy construction with minimal impact.
nches of a
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Exterior
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Interior
Captivating Illumination
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Green Roof Fort Collins, CO The new Behavioral Science Building on the Colorado State University campus is a LEED certified Gold building which creates a precedent for future green building in the city of Fort Collins. This green roof plays off the existing architecture and views established by the building to foster a soft creative outdoor space in a hard structural environment. Establishing an outlet for environmental interaction and sustainable architectural innovation, the Green Roof at the Behavioral Science Building will usher in a new era of “green� design.
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Irrigation for the green roof will be prima of storm water that are then funneled do
The planting areas themselves contain a medium that exists on the green roof.
Growing Medium Root Barrier Drainage Filter Protection Layer Waterproof Membrane Insulation
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Vapor Barrier
arily driven by storm water. The surface area of the Behavioral Science Building will act as a catch basin for vast amounts own a series of down spouts into an advanced drip system irrigating the planting beds with zero evaporation.
a variety of alpine vegetation, such as sedums, that can tolerate the intense conditions and shallow growing
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Evening Studies
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Winter Overlook
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Photography
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EDUCATION:
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, 2013
The Urban Lab: 1501 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523 (970) 491-5041 www.urbanla • Founding Member • Steering Committee Member • Responsible for working with city officials involved in current policy biodiversity • Identify potential city projects prime for interdisciplinary involveme
Minor in Global Environmental Sustainability TECHNICAL EXPERTISE: Proficient In: Auto CAD Adobe Suite Sketch-up MS Office Suite ArchGIS ACHIEVEMENTS: President of TEDxCSU (CSU’s TED talks) Published in the Journal of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Excellence Permaculture Design Certified Steering Committee Member of the Urban Lab Member of the CSU chapter of ASLA REFERENCES: Jane Choi Assistant Professor of LA Jane.Choi@colostate.edu 970-491-4298 Brian Dunbar Executive Director of IBE, LEED Fellow brian.dunbar@colostate.edu (970) 491-5041
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The Food School: 4825 S. Lemay Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (970) 672-7356 • Lead Designer and Phase One Project Manager • Responsible for developing an aesthetically pleasing educational out nutritional independence • Engage in material acquisition and individualized bids
Urban Oasis: Landscape Design Firm: McConnell Dr, Lyons, CO 80540 (303) 823-2389 • Design Build Technician • Learned and executed essential landscape construction elements • Designed innovative landscape elements through hands on construc
Institute for the Built Environment: Blue Dot House: 1501 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO • Landscape Architecture Consultant • Landscape Design for Blue Dot prototype sustainable house • Developed a regenerative landscape system irrigated fully by grey an
City of Fort Collins: Department of Advanced Planning: 281 North College Avenue, Fort Col • Landscape Architecture Intern • Worked closely with the City of Fort Collins Landscape Architects an • Focused on advancing the graphic imagery that the city currently us • This experience has allowed me to get hands on experience with the actually taking a project from design to implementation
Rainforest Partnerships: 505 Willow St., Austin, TX 78701 (512) 420-0101 • Lead designer for the Artisan Studio in the village of Chipaota, Peru • Worked with indigenous people to produce local artisan goods from native materials in the village of Chipaota, Peru • Developed a management plan for sustainable agriculture based on practices
ab.colostate.edu
(September 2012 - Current)
y development in order to implement programs that encourage civic engagement and
ent and establish local connections to achieve a successful outcome (August 2013 - December 2013)
tdoor environment aimed at fostering community growth and personalized
(May 2013 - August 2013)
ction
O 80523 (970) 491-5041
(August 2012 - December 2012)
nd storm water
llins, CO 80524 (970) 221-6760
(February 2012 - June 2012)
nd City Planners to develop a new streetscape standard for the city ses to represent these streetscape designs e professional design process and has enabled me to understand the intricacies of
(July 2010 - December 2010)
the hierarchical system of vegetation in the rainforest to diminish slash and burn
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