Charles McDowell Landscape Architecture Portfolio by Charles McDowell

CHARLES MCDOWELL CHARLES MCDOWELL landscape architecture portfolio

design philosophy â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a love of wild nature in everybody, an ancient mother-love showing itself whether recognized or no, and however covered by cares and duties.â&#x20AC;? - John Muir

In every person there is an appreciation and respect for the natural environment. This comes from a primitive relationship with the environment that some may have forgotten, ignored, or never experienced, but it is still rooted deep within us. Through design, it is possible to provide an environment in which people can reconnect to that basic relationship with nature. Each project has a unique opportunity to reveal and expose the local environmental and cultural conditions to the users. In this way people can reconnect with nature through their own personal experience and learn to appreciate and respect the natural environment in their own way.

An extended version of the portfolio can be accessed at: http://www.wix.com/charlesmmcdowell/landscapearchitect

brush creek eco-park

mks watershed plan

north rainier t.o.d.

colorado lights

sand turn scenic overlook

construction drawings

hand graphics

photography

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

The Brush Creek Corridor was the focus of a study to assess the impacts of urbanization on stream systems and to explore what designers can do to mitigate those impacts. Through research and precedent studies, the following four project goals were determined for the Brush Creek Corridor: Improve local environmental conditions through ecological design; Connect the corridor for improved pedestrian use; Educate users to the environmental benefits of ecological design; Reveal and interpret ecological processes and phenomena through design. The project process included a corridor study which was used to determine the site for design exploration and the design of the site addressing the project goals. Proposed design solutions are represented by two different alternatives, each responding to the same design concept but envisioned in unique ways. Alternative 1 is a more costly solution to the design problem and would involve a greater amount of maintenance up front and over the long run. In Alternative 1, the site is manipulated significantly to amplify the users experience. Alternative 2 is less costly since the site is manipulated minimally and much is done to utilize vegetational changes within the existing context. Material and maintenance estimates were provided as to compare and contrast the two design ideas. The report, in its entirety can be viewed at: http://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/8761 media: ArcGIS, Google Sketchup, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop

brush creek eco-park

kansas city, missouri

REVEAL new ecologies for an urban stream corridor

proj

IMPROVE local environmental conditions through ecological design

manage localized flooding to reduce flash flooding

urban

increase stormwater infiltration

improve water quality within brush creek

stream project schedule

september

RE SE AR CH

dilemma a

design process

DEFINE goals objectives challenges opportunities

E OR PL EX

experiences beliefs ethics biases family interests education

description30 prece intent st

jject goals CONNECT the corridor for improved pedestrian use

EDUCATE users to the environmental benefits of ecological design

REVEAL and interpret ecological processes and phenomena through design

create a design language that can be implemented throughout the corridor

target selected user groups that could have a potential association with the project

promote environmental stewardship subconsciously through experience

improve access to the corridor

link up with existing environmental improvement goals and initiatives

explore new means for conveying environmental education

implement innovative strategies for environmental education

allow users to create their own relationship with the natural world in a designed setting

link the existing corridor projects

DEVELOP refine concepts explore solutions diagram

case study

review expand refine

goals stream reach classification key questions methodology site identification

PRELIMINARY

goals key questions methodology site potential site program

APPLY

story document28 board 21 design

febuary 21 - march 31

COMPETITION annotated 11 outline

final document 02 text

april

ULI

finalist stage

april

january 17 - 31

march

final document 07/ 17 . review

january

inventory analysis program15

december

november

competition

october

DEFEND

analysis exploration program

site study

REFINE

edent tudies 11

presentation document graphics text

site exploration conceptual design document design

january

case study

INVENTORY . ANALYSIS corridor study

PRODUCE

CONCEPT

final document11/ 25 . defense

improve vulnerability analysis

educate suitability analysis

500 1,000

2,000 ,0 000 0

3,000 4,000 0 Feet Fe eet 1 inch = 2500 25 500 feet

corridor

corridor analysis a n d syn t h e sis

connect suitability analysis

ÂŻ

500 1,000

2,000

3,000 4,000 Feet 1 inch = 2500 feet

ÂŻ

500 1,000

2,000

3,000 4,000 Feet 1 inch = 2500 feet

historic stream alignment

study boundary 1 3 site selection and prioritization

terrain analysis

slope analysis

viewshed analysis

r. ce bru

parking area rain garden bioswale open green space primary walkway plaza constructed wetland elevated outlook area pedestrian bridge deck overlook wetlands lowland area

d or nc co t ur co

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

/ y 71 e hwa hig driv kins wat

alternative one

10 11 9

5 6

wo ood odlla an a nd d

4 3

sw s wop pe p pa ark rkwa way

9 aven av enue

vegetation zones

em anu el c lea ver

II b oul eva rd

12 area of flood inundation

proposed stream alignment

proposed existing

d or nc co t ur co

vegetation zones

1 2

area of flood inundation

ave av en nue e

proposed stream alignment

wo w ood odlland nd

r. ce bru

/ y 71 e hwa hig driv kins wat

alternative two 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

parking area rain garden bioswale open green space vegetated filter strip plaza constructed wetland elevated outlook area pedestrian bridge wetlands stormwater collection area off of bridge lowland area

em anu el c lea ver

4 9 3 swop sw ope pa park kwa ay

II b oul eva rd

bioswale

rain garden

up slo lan pe d s

bioswale

d n a l es p u lop s

upland transit ional brush creek

watershed plan

manhattan, kansas

Manhattan, Kansas will grow by over twenty thousand people in the next ten years due to the relocation of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility and the initiation of the Base Realignment and Closure which will effect the military base at Fort Riley. Currently Manhattanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community plan and vision will not handle this increase in population effectively. The current political boundaries are not consistent with watershed boundaries. Existing zoning and subdivision boundaries cross watersheds, making it difficult to effectively manage water resources. There is little evidence of environmental stewardship in the community, illustrated by the inadequate protection of agricultural and open space areas. There is an extensive park and trail network within the existing city but there is a lack of connectivity. The solution to the design problem is a framework for planning by watershed which highlights the concepts of preserving natural and cultural resources, including the prairie ecosystem and agricultural lands, while promoting stewardship through community education. Through stream setbacks, and land use proposals a set of typologies have been created to set the framework for new development within the watersheds of Manhattan, Kansas. The design team consisted of three landscape architecture graduate students. media: ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop

I MKS

food sources

stream classification

education

wildlife corridors

trails

land use

! !

schools and parks

big blue river buffer type 1 buffer type 2 buffer type 3 conservation land agricultural land urban land

agricultural lands

parkland kansas state university existing schools, food markets existing trails city proposed trails proposed trails existing city of manhattan

proposed land use plan

flood prone areas

trail

stream type 3 residential development

stream buffer

residential development

• native vegetation • stormwater best management practices • low impact development

• wildlife corridor • trails • healthy ecosystem

• native prairie grasses • woodlands • wetlands

• stormwater retrofits • transitional buffer areas • pedestrian connectivity • runoff managed in watershed

trail

50 ft. setback

trail

50 ft. setback

stream type 2 stream stream buffer buffer

kansas state university agriculture i l land l d

100 ft. setback

• wildlife corridor • trails • healthy ecosystem

kansas state university agriculture i l land l d

• native prairie grasses • woodlands • wetlands

riverfront park • community events • community celebrations • community center • agriculture education

community green space

stream buffer • passive recreation • active recreation • community involvement • environmental education

land use typology sections

trail

community agriculture

trail

outdoor classroom and green space

300 ft. setback

• wildlife corridor • trails • healthy ecosystem

stream type 1

stream buffer

300 ft. setback

• native prairie grasses • woodlands • wetlands

trail

500 year floodplain 100 year floodplain

trail

natural area

100 ft. setback

wetlands • stormwater management • stormwater treatment • restored ecosystem

commercial produce agriculture • highly fertile soil • vegetable and fruit production • local employment

function

buffer

natural

output

buffer

parkland

output

buffer

agriculture

output

buffer

urbanization

bmp

stream

buffer

output

residential development • native vegetation • stormwater best management practices • low impact development

• stormwater retrofits • transitional buffer areas • pedestrian connectivity • runoff managed in watershed

The challenge for the 2011 Urban Land Institute/Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition was to redevelop the 33.5 acre site as a transit oriented development that is focused on improving multi-modal transportation, carbon neutrality, stormwater management, cultural identity, and creating a profitable market. The interdisciplinary team was comprised of three landscape architecture graduate students, one architecture graduate student, and a business graduate student whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emphasis was in real estate. The Competition Stage was a two week period where the team focused on a conceptual strategy to address the project needs while creating a unique urban environment focused around the Mount Baker Transit Station on Rainier Boulevard. The concept for the Rainier Transit Oriented Development was based on the local and regional juxtaposition between the city, the land, and the water. Through research, our team discovered that, in the pre-developed history of the site, a large stream draining the valley, existed and was eventually piped into an underground drainage network. The design proposal reconstructs and exposes the idea of the stream that flows through the site. Although the proposal does not daylight the underground stream, the proposal collects all on-site stormwater in a corridor which symbolizes the historical stream. media: Marker, ArcGIS, Google Sketchup, AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop

north rainier t.o.d.

seattle, washington

urban land institute

gerald d. hines student urban design competition

design process d process design p sign process des design process

design process sign pro design

7 7 8

9 8

1 mt. baker light rail station 2 elevated office campus ground level bus transfer station 3 iconic pedestrian bridge 4 north rainier square 5 stormwater stream corridor 6 rooftop agriculture plot 7 residential tower 8 residential node 9 art studios and boardwalk

2 1

terrain analysis

historic hydrology overlay

slope analysis

10 0

ArtSpace Collaboration

Sustainable building typology

creating housing opportunities for artists in the Seattle region

including balconies and setbacks for shading, daylighting, and ventilation while considering solar orientation

Rainier Boulevard

Greenroofs

Site Section

Geo-exchange thermal systems

sustainable initiatives 0

100

150

200

uses ground source temperature to efficiently heat and cool structures

Building atrium

a green corridor connecting to downtown Seattle, creating a pedestrian environment that supports multi-modal transportation

vegetated roofs increase biodiversity, infiltrate water, and reduce the heat island effect

provides natural ventilation and sunlight

Linear greenway

Stormwater planter

text

structured network that collects stormwater runoff filtering and infiltrating water

Stormwater cisterns collect stormwater runoff buildings for greywater use

150

walking network analysis

300

450

transit times from north rainier t.o.d.

600

Art space boardwalk main art space contianing studios, galleries, and exhibit spaces

Photovoltaic panels Rooftop garden

provides renewable energy to powers electric charging station in carpark

provides produce to inbuilding grocery store

Bioswale collects stormwater runoff filtering and infiltrating water

Urban stream corridor increasing biodiversity, collect on-site stormwater runoff, filtering and infiltrating water, sequestering carbon, and providing and urban aesthetic

Structured parking supporting residential and retail needs

5 minute walk with transit 10 minute walk with transit 5 minute bike with transit 10 minute bike with transit light rail station central link light rail line north rainier t.o.d. mount baker light rail station

colorado lights

denver, colorado

Colorado Lights is an outdoor mall located within a mixed-use development at 9th Ave. and Colorado Blvd. in downtown Denver, Colorado. This development encompasses approximately twelve blocks formerly the site of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. The project was broken into two phases, the first being to determine site potential by designing a mixed-use development while retaining existing historical or iconic buildings for adaptive reuse. The second phase of the project was to look at a specific site within the redevelopment to design in more detail. Colorado Lights is a linear outdoor mall surrounded by mixed-use retail and residential units. The focal point of the space is a low wall that undulates both horizontally and vertically. The wall is lit from within with LED lights that can be programed to change the lighting scheme throughout the night. Running directly along side the wall is a bioswale which collects all the water that runs off of the plaza. Water is also taken from the surrounding buildings and channelled across the walkways through grates into the bioswale. The vibrancy and activity of Colorado Lights makes it a unique place within downtown Denver and creates a new sense of place for the entire development. media: Colored Pencil, Google Sketchup, AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop

ioswale development s and b k e t c wall hes led

detail plan longitudinal section

LED wall concept sketches

detail section

materials section

The Sand Turn Scenic Overlook is the proposed location of the Highway 14 Forest Portal for the northeast entry of Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming. The proposal includes a pedestrian oriented overlook with interpretive signage, a trail head for a proposed short loop trail, as well as the siting of a new toilette facility. The pedestrian overlook responds to the lines and geographic formations of the surrounding mountain landscape. Users can view informational signage as they drive up, from their cars, or they can walk to the viewing area where they have a better view and can read more information about the Powder River Basin and surrounding context. The overlook has three viewing areas that can be directly accessed from the parking area. These areas support elevated viewing and allow for access to a short trail. The viewing area located at the bottom of the ramp and stairs has signage integrated into the barrier walls and allows users to move closer to the edge of the site for unobstructed views. media: ArcGIS, Google Sketchup, Pen & Ink

sand turn scenic overlook

bighorn national forest

concept sketches

construction drawings

manhattan, kansas

dimensioning and layout plan

Section Sub Cut Area(s) sq.ft. C1 C2 C3 Section Cut Area(s) sq.ft. TotalSub Sub Cut Area C1 318.53 =ȈC1..C10 C2 3324.85 C3 1535.38 Adjusted Total Sub Cut Area for K 5178.76 =ȈC1..C10 Total Sub Adjusted for K Cut Area Total Sub Cut Area 5192.82 =(ȈC1..C10)+(ȈK1..K10) =(ȈC1..C10)+(ȈK1..K10) Section Vertical Exaggeration

519.28

=Total Cut / Vert.Exag.

Corrected Sub Cut Area sq.ft. =Total Cut / Vert.Exag.

Sub Fill Area(s) sq.ft.

5178.76 360.83

F1 F2 F3 Total Sub Fill Area =ȈF1..F10

173.80 0.00 534.63

5192.82

10.00 Section Vertical Exaggeration

Corrected Sub Cut Area Section Vertical Exaggeration sq.ft.

2+51.75 Sub Fill Area(s) sq.ft. 318.53 3324.85 1535.382+51.75

Corrected Sub Fill Area sq.ft.

K3 Total K Area =ȈK1..K10

K (Cut in Fill Area) 360.83 173.80 0.00

F1 F2 F3 K (Cut in Sub Fill Area) Total Fill Area K1 14.06 =ȈF1..F100.00 K2

534.63

14.06

0.00 14.06

10.00

10.0053.46Section Vertical Exaggeration

10.00

=Total Cut / Vert.Exag.

519.28

Corrected Sub Fill Area sq.ft.

53.46

=Total Cut / Vert.Exag.

Sub Cut Volume for Sections 2+51.75 2+90.60 Sub Fill Volume for Sections 2+51.75 2+90.60

grading plan

14.06 0.00 0.00

K1 K2 K3 Total K Area =ȈK1..K10

earthwork estimation

Corrected Sub Cut Areas sq.ft.

519.28 706.57 Corrected Sub Fill Areas sq.ft.

53.46 3.47

Average SubSub Cut Cut Area Volume for Sections sq.ft. 2+51.75 /2 = (Sta1+Sta2)2+90.60 Sub Fill Volume for Sections

612.93

2+51.75 2+90.60

Distance Average Sub Cut Area Sub Cut Volume Sub Cut Volume Distance Sub Cut Sub Cut Volume BetweenVolume sq.ft. cu.ft. cu.yds. Sections = (Sta1+Sta2) / 2 Between cu.ft. cu.yds. 612.93 38.85 23812.17 881.93 =Avg Cut Area * Dist. Sections =Cut Volume / 27 Distance Sub Fill Volume Average Sub Fill Area

Corrected Sub Cut Areas sq.ft.

=Avg Cut Area * Dist.

=Cut Volume / 27

519.28 706.57

Corrected Sub Fill Areas sq.ft.

sq.ft. = (Sta1+Sta2) / 2

38.85

53.46 3.47

28.47

Between Sections

Sub Fill Volume cu.ft.

23812.17 38.85 1105.91

cu.yds. =Fill Volume / 27

881.93

40.96

Average Sub Fill Area sq.ft. = (Sta1+Sta2) / 2

Distance Between Sections

Sub Fill Volume cu.ft.

Sub Fill Volume cu.yds. =Fill Volume / 27

28.47

38.85

1105.91

40.96

hand graphics

photography

professional projects grand boulevard streetscape plan . kansas city, missouri tuscaloosa forward - detail area planning and design . tuscaloosa, alabama rebuildspringfield - final document production . springfield, massachusetts sand turn scenic overlook . bighorn national forest, wyoming ranger creek campground . bighorn national forest, wyoming

CHARLES MCDOWELL 7305 nw tomahawk ln • platte woods, mo 64151 • usa phone. 816.878.3965 • e-mail. charlesmmcdowell@gmail.com website. http://www.wix.com/charlesmmcdowell/landscapearchitect