Chris Whitenhill
urban Design & Planning Portfolio
2
I seek to create cities that are healthy, just, and adaptable through urban planning & design. I am a
Communicator Thinker Engager Optimizer Urbanist Strategist
I am inspired by
Sustainable Design & Development Diverse & Inclusive Environments Holistic Health
I am experienced in
Neighborhood Development Public Life & Civic Places Urban Transformation Education & Culture Zoning & Land Use Graphic Design Urban Design
I create solutions using
Environmental Adaptability Cultural Understanding Healthy Living Tenets Systems Thinking Design Creativity
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Mariposa Masterplan Phase 7 - Pedestrian Walk - Photo Credit: Professional Photographer
project Location: Denver, co
Mariposa Master Plan Phase 7 We were tasked with designing roughly 50 units of affordable housing while creating two street frontages and completing a pedestrian route to a transit station. But a significant asset of this location was the proximity and view from a transit station with five lines traveling through every few minutes. This provided an opportunity to create a landmark for south metro riderships headed downtown. Between materials, views, massing, and orientation, we created an urban design that activates the landscape at multiple scales, including a pedestrian street, a cohesive street wall, and wayfinding marker for the neighborhood.
Role
Mariposa Masterplan Phase 7 - Senior Public Housing - Photo Credit: Professional Photographer
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Public Engagement
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Graphic Illustrations
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Concept Development
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Schematic Design Support
Midblock connection provides more neighborhood options for mobility and public space. Additional senior units tie existing senior residents to the neighborhood: ––
Continuation of ground floor street wall for pedestrian comfort and street legibility
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Easy recognition from transit station platform
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Penetrating daylight on the mid-block pedestrian connection
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A prominent architectural feature to create a landmark in the neighborhood
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Significant Pedestrian Traffic from Park Street parkway Residential Pocket Park
Residential Pocket Park
Significant Pedestrian Traffic from neighborhoods south of 56TH
Significant Pedestrian Traffic from Galena St. and bus drop-off
Ed g
eF orc e
rce e Fo
Edg
To no pogr rth ap we hy r st to ises so fro ut he m as t
Recommended Building Area
56th Avenue is a noisy and polluting site edge Sun Path
Urban Design Forces
project Location: Denver, co
Park Street Elementary K-8 School The Stapleton neighborhood in Denver has reached its 20year build-out and my firm was selected by Denver Public Schools to design a new 10-acre, 90,000 SF K-8 school. The fast project 7-month design timeline posed a major challenge, with construction project needing to reach completion 1 year, 7 months from the start of schematic design. I managed the integration of civil engineering and landscape architecture with the overall design while leading urban design. The building location is based on topographical, circulation, and site needs. The planned neighborhood to the north will be a significant source of pedestrian students which necessitates clear form and site design for wayfinding. Both the building and pathways are designed to give a sense of ‘wonder’ using a variation of color and material as one travels around the site.
Role
Completed Facade
6
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Entitlement Management
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Urban Design Concept Development
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Contextual Analysis
Landmark
Lan
dsc
ite st S We ing d Lan
Playgrounds
ape
wa
lk
Welcome Landing
Central Gathering
Athletic Fields
Elmira Street
Galena Street
ECE Playground
56th Avenue
Site Areas
Aerial of Campus
Vision Sketches
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Image Credit: Professional Photographer
Image Credit: Professional Photographer project Location: Westminster, co
ACHA 71st & Federal Affordable Housing I was a part of the schematic design team for the Adams County Housing Authority’s new housing community as the first phase of the City of Westminster, Colorado redevelopment master plan for a new transit-oriented development community. The complex aspects of the physical concept, the spatial puzzle of commercial and residential uses in one building, and the tension between project cost and high-quality materials in an affordable housing building revealed that the goal of creating dignified affordable housing can be complicated but attainable.
Role ––
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Schematic Design Support
Delaware River Waterfront Trail - Vision project Location: Philadelphia.pa
Delaware River Waterfront MP Implementation The Central Delaware Waterfront Master Plan was in its implementation phase and I provided graphic renderings illustrating the possibilities for the new trail, including photoshop perspectives, photoshop plan view collages, and diagrammatic birds eye images. Work not pictured included, case study research of master plans, photography, and public outreach support. Role
Delaware River Waterfront Trail - Vision
9
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Public Engagement
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Graphic Presentation & Concept Illustrations
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Photoshop Perspectives
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Diagramming
Fairview Elementary School and Decatur Street
project Location: denver, co
Sun Valley Master Plan The Sun Valley Master Plan sought to redevelop 388 existing public housing units into a mixed-income community in West Denver. I contributed to the plan as a part of the planning team and implementation consultant. I managed the stakeholder focus group process to narrow priorities and establish the substance of the plan. Later I helped the calibrate the development program of the 1st and 2nd phase the master plan as a part of Humphries Poli Architects design team.
Role
Building Use on Decatur & 10th Streets
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Focus Group Facilitation
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Focus Group Final Report Recommendations
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Phase 1 & 5 Development Program Test Calculations
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Photoshop Rendering Perspectives
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Contextual Analysis
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Urban Design Analysis
10th Street
Passive Street Surveillance Opportunities
Gateway Opportunity for Site
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Site Plan
L-Shape
Basic Apartment
Traditional Courtyard
Hybrid Courtyard
project Location: aurora, co
Quari Street
Peoria Street
Elevation & Roof Style and Building Shape Concept
Intense Activity and Noisy Character on Peoria
Peoria Crossing Apartments Calm Activity and Character on Quari
This project site was situated at a multi-modal crossroads of major transportation routes and a variety of land uses in Aurora, CO. It is also adjacent to the heavy trafficked Peoria Street to the west and the Morris Heights neighborhood to
FAST LARGE SCALE
Slow
the east. With the site context and edge conditions I mind,
Human Scale
I designed an organizing structure for a neighborhood
Low Noise
HIGH NOISE
Calm
INTENSE MULTI-MODAL
Neighborhood Street
MULTIPLE USE
Residential East Quari Residences
addition that appropriately transitions from a busy street to a quiet neighborhood, while stitching together the old and new communities. The diagrams I created help communicate the intentions of the project to a skeptical community of residents.
Role
30th Street
Site acts as a buffer and transition into the existing neighborhood
12
Proposed West Quari Residences
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Public Engagement
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Graphic Presentation & Concept Illustrations
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Site Layout
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Concept Development
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Circulation and unit placements
Scale Transition from industrial/commercial density to neighborhood density
Full Central Street
3/4 Central Street
85
75
111
35
25
36
3/4 Central Street - Quari Access 180
73
47
36
70
70
36
25
25
20
20
30
30
30
45
45
45
24
24
24
24
14
14
14
20
178
43 14
30
190
14
14
60
70
100
150
120
70
60 100
60
30
40
40
15
15
65
35
35
35
105
40
40
190
35
150
37
60
20
115
38
40
30
180 45
31
18
50
Half Central Street
40
51
18
3/4 Central Street - Peoria Access
18
38
16
15
15
40
40 140
37
72
Site Circulation and Unit Distribution
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45
G
D
E E
22
F3
1926
B
C1 C C2
1947 1956
1 1
1947
1 2 TH S T.
1926
A
1956
F2
1947
B
F1 E AT ST OL IT
P CA VI
I
I
EW
H1
H2
3
E
AN
PL
2
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J3 J2
A
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E M I LY G R I F F I T H L A N D M A R K A P P L I C AT I O N - A D D E N D U M CJ1
LF
1 3 TH S T.
O
Diagram C-2: Construction Parameters Diagram
A X AV
project Location: Denver, co
E
Emily Griffith Design Guidelines
. 1926
1947
68’
ORM, MASS, &0’SCALE 50’
86’
41’
Denver Public Schools (DPS) planned to sell an historic
1956
BLOCK URBAN DESIGN CRITERIA PRESERVED AREA 272’
Site Design
school which occupied a complete Denver city block
66’
(400’ X 266’) in Downtown Denver. The City and County
60’
100’
TRANSITIONAL HEIGHT AREA
45’
200’
RESTRICTED AREA 2
of Denver recognized the need to establish special site
400’
development parameters given the high profile location
37’
10’
and development potential in central Denver. I was asked to present a study of redevelopment scenarios for various
20’
uses along with a proposal of special zoning parameters
RESTRICTED AREA 1
for the site. The collaborative effort resulted in a restrictive covenant for a future developer that respected the history ZONING-RESTRICTED AREA
of the site, conformed to the City’s urban design goals, and
180’
provided DPS the maximum value for marketing the land.
125’
Role
400’
100’
DIMENSIONS: To be confirmed by survey Building Redevelopment Guidelines PRESERVED AREA: No demolition allowed TRANSITIONAL HEIGHT AREA: Restricted height limits for new construction (maximum height 112’) ZONING-RESTRICTED AREA: Governed by land use regulations applicable to the site
200’
TRUE NORTH
DOWNTOWN NORTH
14
250’
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Project Management
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Zoning Analysis
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Form Guidelines Development
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Graphic Presentation
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Photography
No Height Restriction
Bulk & FAR Allowance as determined by DZC zone district in conjunction w/ State Capitol view plane restrictions J3 F2
~51’
C2
E
~61’ 112’ State Capitol Height Restriction
C1 D G
WELT ON S
I
F1
H1
A
T.
T. S 12 B
TH
Building Redevelopment Design Standards
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Illustrative Site Plan
J3 A J2
project Location: highlands ranch, co J1
B1
Shea Properties Highlands Ranch Central Park
B2
Shea Properties was developing a new retail and
B3
residential community in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. I was responsible for multifamily and retail land planning duties including site design, site specifications, parking
H3
design, and spatial visioning. I also provided illustrative plan
H2
graphics and signage system design.
H1 C1
Role
C2
G
D
F1 E1
E2
F2
E3
Signage-to-Commercial Space Correlation Map
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Site Design
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Parking Design
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Site Plan Illustrations
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Context Analysis
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Site Calculations
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Signage System Design
Building Use Site Plan
Commercial Retail Pads
Retail
Building A C D H B E F G
Extra Parking Total Retail Total Office Total
J
Residential
PHASE 1
PHASE 2
Townhomes Clubhouse Multifamily Subtotal Total
Site Area (SF) 32,803 20,501 19,830 13,675
Site Area (Acres) 0.75 0.47 0.46 0.31
296,388
6.80
383,197 100,676 483,873
8.80 2.31 11.11
56,900 40,000 96,900
DUs 20 260
Surface Parking 19 21 353 393
Garage Parking 40 0 106 146
240 17
Total
257
Parking Subtotal Total
539
280
Multifamily Townhomes
Building Area (SF) 14,000 6,000 4,500 4,000 6,800 6,800 6,800 8,000
18 0 18
408 34 442 460
411 537
D.C. Parking Required **
Provided Parking Ratio (Req Pkg. per 1000 SF)
70 13 88 20 40 30 30 124 0 415 133 548
5.00 2.17 19.56 5.00 5.88 4.41 4.41 15.50
Site Area (SF) 59,182 55,966 468,712
Site Area (Acres) 1.36 1.28 10.76
DU/Acres 14.72 24.16
583,860
13.40
20.89
192,060
4.41
58.29
192,060
4.41
58.29
775,920
17.81
30.15
Parking Provided 70 13 88 20 40 30 30 124 56 471 133 604
Comments PAD PAD PAD PAD
8.28 4* NA
588 999
*Parking calculated as a ratio of leasable s.f. ** DC referrs to Douglas County
Site Specification Calculations
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project Location: Denver, co
West Denver Renaissance Collaborative: ADU Handbook This project created a new approach to affordability in rapidly changing neighborhoods. I helped create a program to help low- to middle-income homeowners build accessory dwelling units (ADU) on their property as a neighborhood stabilization and wealth-building strategy. ADUs are small houses built on a homeowner’s residential property that are secondary to their primary house. These ‘backyard’ units provide homeowners opportunities for a new source income or extra space for family or friends to live at an affordable price. I created and published a 75page handbook for Denver homeowners that explains the process of building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU).
Role ––
Project Management
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Writing & Illustrations
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InDesign Document Creation
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Content Research
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Partner Organization
ADU Handbook Cover
Life Cycle visualization describing the multiple uses of ADU
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Visual summary illustration of the ADU development process
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Building Envelope Zoning Study
project Location: Denver, co
Platte Valley Redevelopment Plan The Denver Housing Authority (DHA) was redeveloping an entire block of public housing in the Historic District of Curtis Park. To respond to the historic district status and the strict row house zoning, I provided a neighborhood context study including a photographic study of the neighborhood, 3D zoning study, urban design analysis of adjacent blocks, and a phasing plan. These studies honed the concept development process leading to a design that provided 64 households with new units while allowing DHA to profit from selling residential lots. Role ––
Public Engagement, Graphic Illustrations, Zoning Analysis, Site Layout, Concept Development, Landmark Preservation, and Photography
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Assisted with developing multiple iterations of housing forms concepts
Building Redevelopment Transformation
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Illustrated spatial zoning parameters
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Explained neighborhood building patterns
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Photo documented surrounding neighborhood character
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1/2 Mile Building Orientation Study
38th & Blake Station 1/4 Mile
34th Street
30th & Downing Station
31st Street
30th Street
D ow ng
ni
21
Stout Street
Champa Street
Arapahoe Street
et
re
St
Platte Valley Context Diagram
Digital Streetscape Model
Pocket Park Shade Structure Concept #1
Hand-Rendered Illustrative Streetscape Plan
N
Heritage Park Distinguish Intersections & Crosswalks
Sidewalk Lamps
project Location: walsenburg, co
Walsenburg Public Realm Project The town of Walsenburg, Colorado received funds from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to develop a new pocket park and vision for future public space plans.
Vegetated Bump-outs
I illustrated streetscape plans options for their main street as a part of a long-term vision for boosting tourism in a community that has lost visits to the I-25 bypass. Part of the vision included a regional trail system that would connect
Vegetated Medians
a recreational regional park with the downtown bike lane system to attract nature tourists. I provided an illustrative plan of a concept for a regional trail. Role
Pocket Park Location
Streetscape Concept 1
22
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Site Plan Illustrations
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Context Analysis
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Public Engagement
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Conceptual Regional Trail Visioning
Pocket Park Shade Structure Concept #2
Bike Trail Vision Plan
Walsenburg-Lathrop Bike Trail Concept
Public School
4
Tennis Court
5
Spanish Peaks District Library
Creek
6
Supermarket
Interstate
7
High School
Highway
8
High School Field
9
City Waterpark
10
Community Park
11
Future Pocket Park
12
Walsenburg Golf Course
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Lathrop State Park Visitor Center
14
Horseshoe Lake
15
Martin Lake
16
Walsenburg Reservoir
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Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center
-25
Lake
3
To Denver
e1
Bike Trail
Safeway
tat
Courthouse
ers
Int
1 2
Walsenburg Golf Course
ple
Ma
Planned Bike Routes
8
St
t er S
Eld
6 7
Welton Ave
Ind
e
a Av
ian
5
4
t 5th S
1
4th St
2
3 11 Main St
Hendren
9
6th St 7th St
e
o Av
rad
Colo
St on
Pin
Ave
10
12 15
14
ta 0 6 a Ve To L way 1 h Hig
0
ay 16
Highw
13
17
16
1 Mile
23
y 10
hwa
Hig
2 Miles
N
Illustrative Site Plan
project Location: pueblo, co
R7 A1
CDOT2 Headquarters Use
POTE
A1
The Colorado Department of Transportation was
NTIA
S1
AD
L RO
developing a new maintenance facility in Pueblo, Colorado. I analyzed the land use and zoning for the surrounding area and provided an illustrative site plan for the facility.
A1
10
B3
Role
B3
POTE
CDOT REGION 2
A1
AL
NTI ROA
B2
D
SITE UTILIZATION STUDY
R4
R2U
Adjacent Context
NEENAN/HUMPHRIES POLI 12.1.2015
R2U
B3
NORTH 400’
200’
100’
0
50’
1” = 100”
PUD
*Zone District Boundaries are not exact
Proposed Contextual Land Use & Building Figure Ground Map
24
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Site Plan Illustrations
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Zoning Analysis
Context Study
NOTES: project Location: Mancos, CO
ENTRANCE EDGE / FACE OUTWARD FACING BUILDINGS
Entering Football Field Experience K WORK T TEACH. 201
CLASSROOM 115
ART ROOM 107
Recycling Center Dirty Unorganized
Mancos High Campus Renovation
LIBRARY 206
CLASSROOM
CLASSROOM 102
BASKETBALL ARENA CLASSROOM 101
CLASS ROOM 125
CLASS ROOM 120
TO CUSTODIAL C M CLASSROOM 121
ISLAND BLDG.
CLASSROOM 106
P. EQUIP. H ATHLETIC 132
CLASSROOM 107
CLASSROOM
PLAYGROUND EDGE
KITCHEN
CLASSROOM 120
M. BOILER RM. CLASSROOM
MECH. H EQ EQ. 117 1 17
WRESTLING CENTER
TRAINING / DRESSING
CLASSROOM
CLASSROOM
LOCKE RM. GIRLS LOCKER. 115
EQ. STOR. 116
MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM
CLASSROOM U18
CLASSROOM U21
CLASSROOM
CLASSROOM
Lacking Sports Entry Utilities School Pride
CLASSROOM U20
campus spaces. I provided context analysis, campus
MULTI-PURPOSE
planning, and circulation concepts that laid the ground
I PTION P RECEPTION
UNDERDEVELOPED POTENTIAL
CE OFFICE O T F ADMIN / STAFF
work for an architectural renovation to improve overall
MUSIC
SHOP
Mancos High School had a dysfunctional campus layout necessitating a coherent hierarchy and flow between
CLASSROOM U11
GIRLS VARSITY
BOYS VARSITY
Parking Lot to Football Field No Official Entrance Unique Bridge Gorgeous View
STOR.
functionality. Role SCHOOL / FOOTBALL FIELD EDGE
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Contextual Analysis
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Campus Planning Concepts
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Circulation Conception
TRACK + FIELD
TREE GROVE AND RIVER
Existing Conditions Study 0’
50’
100’
200’
URBAN DESIGN ISSUES
25
April 12th, 2016
Waverly
Waverly
Wellington Douglas Lake
Teds Place
Wellington
Windsor Reservoir
Douglas Lake Cobb Lake
Bee Lake
LaPorte
Bellvue
Terry Lake
Ca c h
Library District Boundary
Bee Lake
Long Pond
e La P ou
Claymore Lake
d
re Ri ve
r
Vine
Summit View
er
Overland Trail
Lemay
Timnath
County Rd 9
Shields
Timberline
Dixon Reservoir
College
Horsetooth Mountain
Taft Hill Rd
Drake
Reservoir
Horsetooth
Park
Weld County
La P o e Ri v
Ca c h
Timnath
Prospect
Fort Collins
ud r
Terry Lake
Park
e Cach
LaPorte
Bellvue
Lory State
voir Reser
Cobb Lake
Mulberry
tooth Horse
Windsor Reservoir
Library District Boundary
Downtown Fort Collins Airpark
Teds Place
Timnath
Harmony
Long Pond
e La P ou
Claymore Lake
d
re R
iv e
Fossil Creek Reservoir
r
Masonville
Donath Lake
Loveland
Downtown Fort Collins Airpark
Summit View
Boyd Lake
County Rd 9
Timberline
Lemay
College
Shields
Horsetooth
Park
Timnath
Harmony
Madison
Wilson Ave
Big T h
Lake
Johnstown
o mp
on
er
Lincoln Ave
Boedecker Taft Ave
Overland Trail
Taft Hill Rd
Timnath Reservoir
Eisenhower Blvd
100
W 1st Street
i
Dixon Reservoir
Lake Loveland
R
e Ri v
er
Drake
Horsetooth Mountain
Loveland
s
La P o ud r
Fort Collins
Weld County
Timnath
Prospect
e Cach
ir ervo
Park
Airport
Horseshoe Lake
Mulberry
Res tooth Horse
Lory State
Windsor
Fort Collins
Vine
14th St SW
8
Library Location Study - Fort Collins, Colorado Population Concentration
Fossil Creek Reservoir
Masonville
project Location: windsor, co & fort collins, co
Donath Lake
Windsor
Fort Collins Loveland
Library Location Studies
Airport
Northeastern Colorado, north of the Denver Metro, is
Horseshoe Lake
rapidly growing in population and hence the need for increase capacities for civic institutions such as libraries. I analyzed the spatial and contextual geography of Windsor,
Madison
Wilson Ave
Boyd Lake
Loveland
CO and Fort Collins, CO to provide recommendations to
Lake Loveland
municipal agencies on future library locations.
Eisenhower Blvd
100
on
Ri
er
Taft Ave
Lincoln Ave
Boedecker Lake
Johnstown
o mp
s
Big T h W 1st Street
14th St SW
8
Library Location Study - Fort Collins, Colorado - Incorporated & Unincorporated Areas
26
Role ––
Large-Scale Contextual Analysis
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Spatial Analysis
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Graphic Communication & Diagram Production
Library Location Study - Windsor, Colorado - Potential Sites
Feasiibility Study for A New Clearview Library District Library
27
31
Image Credit: Professional Renderer
project Location: Denver, co
Atlantis Community Foundation Headquarters As an established member of the Baker neighborhood, the Atlantis Community Foundation (ACF) desired a bold and visionary design for its new home and to ‘set the bar as high as possible’ when considering possibilities. Atlantis’s new facility needed to mediate between the traditional character of the neighborhood and the visionary aspiration of the organization. Given the universal design goal for the architecture and the proximity to many neighborhood amenities, I conducted a multi-scaled urban design study to find solutions that increased accessibility, ease of mobility, compatibility with neighborhood character, and appropriate spatial transitions to and from the building.
Role
Figure Ground of apartment project
28
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Graphic Illustrations
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Neighborhood Context Study
Site Interior Outdoor Walkway Concepts
Entry from Parking
Entry from Parking
Neighborhood Transparency & Pedestrian Access Points
Residential Lobby
Entry/Display
Public Zone
Amenities
Outdoor Green Space
Shared Zone
Architectural Adjacency Diagram
29
Entry from Street
Entry from Street
Community Room
Atlantis Office
Elevator/Core
Resident Zone
Private Residential Green Space
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