David Lee: Urbanism Portfolio

Project Portfolio David Lee

Urban Design // Urban Planning // Landscape

CV / Skills Personal Details

Internships

Name: David Lee Birthdate: 12 October 1984. New York, NY USA Nationality: American

2011

5th IABR Competition Entry. New York, New York (Project Role: Intern/Project Coordinator) • Competition entry proposing retrofitting existing public housing projects in New York City with new green spaces and public functions.

• Produced graphic layout, 3D model, diagrams, and base impressions.

Contact Information Address:

81 5th Street Cresskill, New Jersey 07626 USA

Email:

davlee84@gmail.com

2009-2011

2012-2014 MSc Urbanism. Delft University of Technology Reconceptualising the Periphery. Englewood, New Jersey dr. Diego Sepulveda, dr. Frank v.d. Hoeven, prof. Vincent Nadin • Thesis project proposal for regional TOD planning framework for future Northern Branch Light Rail and local urban regeneration scenario in Englewood, New Jersey.

• Demonstrated implementation of intermuncipal land-use planning model and urban design strategy.

• Received final grade of 8 (0-10, equivalent to an A in the US).

2013

Activities & Independent Projects 2011-

Co-Founder. Mass Urban Architectural & Urbanism Research Delft NL, New Jersey, San Francisco CA • Supervised four person team in July 2012 to produce a neighborhood master-plan for a community organization in Jersey City, New Jersey.

• Initiated and organized a panel discussion on urbanism issues that attracted over 45 attendees.

• Coordinated all projects with San Francisco based partner/co-founder.

The Hofplein: Healing a Fractured Gateway. Rotterdam prof. Ali Guney • Proposed elevated pedestrian walkway network and new public spaces in Rotterdam North.

• Project selected to be shown at exhibition in Rotterdam.

• Received final grade of 9 (0-10, equivalent to an A+ in the US).

Design Intern. ARCHIVE Global. New York, NY; London UK (Executive Director: Peter Williams) • Directed 4-person intern team to conduct research and draft grant proposal for ARCHIVE’s Building Malaria Prevention initiative in Cameroon.

• Initiated and produced graphic compendium of best practices for for malaria prevention via improved housing conditions.

• Produced adverts, online graphics, and public presentation materials.

Education

2014

Intern. Architensions. New York, NY (Principal: Alessandro Orsini)

.

Computer Skills

2003-2009 Bachelor of Architecture, New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, New Jersey USA

AutoCAD Architecture, Rhinoceros 3D, SketchUp Pro, V-Ray, Adobe CS (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), MS Office

2008

Languages

The Uffizi Gallery Florence, Italy prof. Michael Stephen Zdepski • Thesis studio project for new riverfront and temporary museum showcasing Renaissance-era masterwork paintings.

• Demonstrated the implementation of prefabricated building systems and an understanding of urban design.

English (native speaker), Korean (conversational), Spanish (beginner)

Interests Travel, reading, running, world history, visual arts

Projects Project List 5th IABR: Making City Competition New York, NY April 2011

Esmond Place Proposal Tenay, NJ Summer 2011

Hofplein: Healing an Iconic Gateway Rotterdam, The Netherlands December 2012 - February 2013

Reconceptualizing the Periphery Bergen County, New Jersey September 2013 - August 2014

5 TH IABR: MAKING CI TY / BROOKLYN, NY Location/

Supervisor/

New York, NY

Alessandro Orsini

Project/

Firm/

Professional

Archi[te]nsions; NY, NY

Year/

Project Role/

April 2011

Project Coordinator

An entry for the 5th IABR (International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam), this proposal focused on retroďŹ tting existing public housing complexes in NYC. Using the Lafeyette Gardens in Brooklyn as a pilot location, the intent was to address their monolithic spatial and programmatic qualities. This would be accomplised by reducing densities via new green spaces within buildings and the redistribution of public facilties. In addition, new project development models would enable the creation of self-sustaining microcommunities via private-public partnerships.

Lafayette Gardens

Credits: David Lee - Base Images, Infographics/Maps Ron Dapsis - Final Image Production

Pilot Project Location

Site Plan of Selected Community

IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC HOUSING GREEN-CORE

GREEN/PUBLIC SPACE COMMUNAL AREA RESIDENTIAL OFFICE RETAIL/RECREATIONAL

INJECTION OF PUBLIC FUNCTIONS

GROUND LEVEL: COMMERCIAL SPACE

ORIGINAL CONCEPT

ACTUAL BUILDING

PROPOSED INTERVENTION

20th-century public housing projects were often originally intended to include public and residential functions, such as gardens and retail spaces.

However, the actual implementation of these visions were rarely fully realized due to political and economic constraints, resulting in monofunctional structures.

Drawing upon the original visions of public housing, we seek to inject community and commercial spaces into existing residential towers in NYC.

NEW GREEN COMMUNITY SPACE

GROUND LEVEL: COMMERCIAL SPACE

Reducing Density / Introducing Productive Landscape

5 TH IABR: MAKING CITY

Aerial View of Selected Area

5 TH IABR: MAKING CI TY

Reducing Density / Adding Public Functions

Ground Level Path

Green Circulation Core / Environmental Strategy

Pond Walkway View

Street-Level Perspective / Paths and RetroďŹ tted Apartment Buildings

ESMOND PLACE PROPOSAL / Tenafly, New Jersey Rethinking Suburban Green Space Project/

Project Team

Self-Initiated

David Lee, Cliff Lau

Year/

Project Role/

May - Nov 2011 Co-Designer

A municipality of Bergen County and affluent suburb of New York City, Tenafly is located 24 miles from Midtown Manhattan. With a total area of 8 square kilometers, the town has an population of 14,448. The site is within the northwest part of Tenafly, on Esmond Place, a 600 meter long street. This proposal focuses on regenerating an existing street median as a vibrant, multi-functional park, rethinking conventional suburban green spaces.

2 3

Site Location: Tenafly, New Jersey

Legend 1. Esmond Place 2. Mackay School 3. Roosevelt Commons Entry Point

Circulation Path

Green Space Diagram: Located in the northwest of Tenafly, the site (1) is a street median within walking distance of two major green spaces: (2) Mackay School, and (3) Roosevelt Commons.

Site Panorama: West Streetscape View

ESMOND PLACE PROPOSAL

N

N

Site Plan North Plaza Pavilion Pavilion Courtyard

N

Pedestrian Bridge Treehouse Public Lawn Pedestrian Pathway Community Garden Repaved Road/Grassy Pavers School Garden Rain Garden South Plaza 0’

20’

40’

60’

100’

Stormwater Flow Direction Stormwater Flow

Stormwater Retention Diagram Stormwater Flow Raingardens

Site

Grassy Paver Street

Stormwater on the site flows primarily along a slope.

Introducing rain gardens and a grassy paver street will whose elevation decreases from the west to east side.

Introducing rain gardens and a grassy paver street will help help reduce flooding and waterborne pollutants.

Site Circulation Located within a dense residential neighborhood with pedestrianscale streets, the redesigned site provides the potential to draw in residents arriving from nearby streets.

The introduction of the different programmatic elements creates multiple focal points for recreational activities, such as walking, gardening or socializing.

Site Vegetation: Maple Tree Rain Gardens Goldenrods, New York Ironweed, Witch Hazel

Ground Cover Maidenhair, Wild Ginger

Existing Oak Tree Tall Grass Indian Grass, Switchgrass, Cardinal Flower

1. Native Plants

The Rain Gardens, Public Lawn and Pavilion Gardens contain native plants such as Goldenrod and Ferns. This enhances biodiversity by providing food and shelter for local wildlife.

2. Food Gardens

Existing Maple Tree Garden Crops Tomatoes, Cabbage, Lettuce, Peppers, Eggplants, Radishes

Existing Maple Tree Maple Tree

The Community and School Gardens can promote healthier diets by providing easy access to fresh produce and raising awareness of gardening amongst local residents and students.

ESMOND PLACE PROPOSAL

A South Garden

N

B Community Garden

C Public Lawn

D Treehouse & Pavilion

Site Section

0’ 1.5’ 3’

A. South Plaza Transverse Section

B. Community Garden Transverse Section

C. Public Lawn Transverse Section

6’

15’

D. Pavilion Courtyard Transverse Section

East Perspective: Community Gardens and Permeable Streetscape

East Street View: Community Garden

Treehouse Perspective

South Perspective: Public Lawn, Treehouse and Pavilion

Pavilion Interior Perspective

The Hofplein: Healing a Fragmented Gateway / Rotterdam, The Netherlands Instructor/ Ali Guney

Project/ Academic

Institution/

Year/

TU Delft

Dec 2012-Feb 2013

Location/ Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Project Summary

Hofplein

City Center

The pre-war structure of the Hofplein areacontained a diverse range of circulatory connections that integrated Rotterdam North with the rest of the city. Likewise, prior to being destroyed in WW2, the pre-war Hofplein station area served as a major civic space as well as a transit hub.

Presently, the former spatial and circulatory connectivity of the Hofplein has been erased by the elimination of the Schiekade canal and the addition of a traffic roundabout.

The resulting high levels of car traffic has led to an incoherent circulation system for walking and cycling, as well as the Hofplein square being closed off from pedestrian traffic and access.

Healing this currently fragmented structure presents an opportunity to transform its critical location within the city from being a liability into a key asset in the revitalization of Rotterdam North. By rediscovering the area’s history as a vibrant civic hub, this intervention can help to rejuvenate the Hofplein as a key iconic centerpoint.

The Hofplein

The Hofplein

Perspective of Railway Park facing New Shops & OfďŹ ces

Hofplein as Iconic Gateway of Rotterdam North In reponse to the Hofplein’s unique position near the city center and as a critical intersection of Rotterdam’s major circulation routes, the area can be re-imagined as a true gateway to Rotterdam North in a symbolic as well as a functional sense.

Moreover, the monumental scale of the surrounding context and the site’s visibility demands that the Hofplein square itself have a highly public presence.

The introduction of an iconic 60m tall “Light Tower” allows the area to be a visual and urban attraction.

Hofplein Perspective from Elevated Walkway

Hofplein Square Transverse Section

0m

25m (164 ft)

100m (328 ft)

In order to bypass the problemmatic 40m wide crosswalks on the Hofplein roundabout, elevated pedestrian/cyclist paths are placed above existingcrosswalks and main pedestrian paths, streamlining connections to the city center and Rotterdam Central Station. New connections are also created to a newly accessible Hofplein, generating a complementary system of elevated paths.

Hofplein Area Plan

Walkways Concept

Steel Railing Wood Flooring Steel Beam 60x60cm Steel Column

Elevated Paths to Avoid Traffic

New Street-Level Public Spaces

New Buildings

New Pedestrian Paths

Elevated Pedestrian Walkways

New Facades

60m High “Light Tower”

Luchtsingel

New Bike Paths

The Hofplein

Perspective of Hofplein from Luchtsingel connection

The Hofplein

25m (82 ft)

0m

50m (164 ft)

Site ProďŹ le Section Railway Plan Legend 1. Pedestrian & Cyclist Route

6. Ground-level Path to Elevated Walkways

2. Public Park & Square 7. Luchtsingel 3. Shared Street(15 km/hr zone) 8. Cultural & Arts Center 4. RetroďŹ tted Parking Garage: New Facade & Ground-level Shops 9. Retail Shops/Restaurants 5. Redesigned Petrol Station & Parking Lot

1.

7.

2.

5.

8.

3.

10. Redesigned Petrol Station & Parking Lot

By providing human-scale green spaces, legible pedestrian paths and permeable facades, the Railway Park aims to transform dead open space into a spatially rich transition zone between the Hofbogen and the Center. This area seeks to complement the expansion of an existing elevated bridge, the Luchtsingel.

4.

6

10.

9.

Railway

Railway Park Plan

75m

Parking Garage + Shops

Railway Park Section

Reconceptualizing the Periphery / Bergen County, New Jersey NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA

Metropolitan Expansion Area New York City Urbanised Counties Suburban/Rural Counties

34,493 KM2 (75% OF THE NETHERLANDS)

Instructors/

Project/

Diego Sepulveda, Frank v.d. Master thesis Hoeven, Vincent Nadin

Institution/ TU Delft

Location/ Bergen County, New Jersey

Year/

Sept 2013-Aug 2014

0 km

30 km

Project Summary Part of the New York metro area, North Jersey is a dynamic, urban sub-region which is facing complex socio-spatial challenges, e.g. demographic transformations, mobility gaps. These are now exacerbated by a sectoral, path-dependent planning system which reinforces a divergence between regional and localscaledemands. Focusing on a proposed light rail line in southern Bergen County, this thesis project provides a two-fold approach. First, is an Integral Regeneration Framework that aims to improve upon existing TOD planning processes. Next, the feasibility of this framework is tested through a set of Urban Design guidelines and local-scale TOD regeneration scenario, which illustrates more optimal spatial possibilities resulting from the Integral Framework.

60 km

Reconceptualizing the Periphery

Urban Design Scenario/ Light Rail Station Area, Englewood,NJ The streetscape perspective illustrates potential spatial improvements of an existing industrial zone slated for a future light rail station. These stem local-scale design guidelines which are in turn derived from an intermunicipal TOD planning framework: the Integral Regeneration Framework, focusing on the Northern Branch Line, a major gateway.

NORTHERN BRANCH LINE EXTENSION PLAN REGIONAL GATEWAY 87,000 COMMUTERS TO NYC

Englewood // REGIONAL HUB

MAJOR REGENERATION POTENTIAL

7 // Medical Center

Englewood // Town Center

6 // CBD/SME Area Route 4

5 // Mixed-Use Industrial Zone Englewood // Englewood South

I-95 Highway

Leonia

0 km

2 km

4 km

George Washington Bridge

INFRASTRUCTURE

Palisades Park

RidgeďŹ eld

New York City

EXISTING OR PROPOSED LAND-USES*

Northern Branch Line

Mixed-Use Industrial Area*

Light Rail Stop

Medium-Scale Industrial/Retail*

Alternative Light Rail Stop*

Cultural/SME Zone*

TOD Area

Existing Business Area

I-95 // Interstate Highway

Existing City/Town Center

Route 4 // State Highway

Existing Business Areas

Local Arterials/Bus Routes*

Existing Commercial Center

Local Streets

Overpeck County Waterfront* Meadowlands District (Wetlands Area)

North Bergen // 91st St.

0 km

0.5 km

1 km

A regional economic and mobility hub, the city of Englewood was chosen as the key location to evaluate the local spatial potentials of the Integral Regeneration Framework.

Reconceptualizing the Periphery TOD-LOCAL SCALE GAPS //

Local Integral Design Principles

REGIONAL DIAGNOSIS //

No Regional Vision

Regional Vision

+ Ignoring Local Diversity

Inclusive TOD Tools

+ No Mobility Integration

Integrate Mobility Networks

+ No Flood Risk Strategy

INTEGRAL PLANNING MODEL

NO PLANNING CULTURE

?

Integral Multi-Modal Network

Fine-Grain Block & Lot Patterns

Cohesive, Flood-Adaptive Public Spaces

Mix of Land Uses & Functions

Integrate TOD & Flood Risk

Regional Diagnosis

Local Design Scenario / Englewood South

Integral Regeneration Framework/ North Jersey’s existing TOD planning processes reveals significant operational gaps such as a lack of integrated mobility networks and incorporation of flood-risk, as summarized in the TOD-Local Scale Gaps.The Regional Diagnosis seeks to improve the existing TOD model by specifically focusing on these four major deficiencies. These general policy guidelines are translated into more concrete, localscale design principles.

These provide planners and designers with a practical toolkit for improving upon existing spatial structures.

With its unique functional profile and proximity to major transit infra, the southern part of Englewood, Englewood South, serves as the starting point for evaluating a local-scale TOD scenario derived from the Integral Regeneration Framework.

COMMERCIAL LAND INDUSTRIAL LAND

0 km

1 km

2 km

Local Design Scenario / Englewood South Design Concept / Light Rail as Connective Corridor

X

X X X

Current Situation // Railway as Barrier

Light Rail as Connective Corridor

Initial Spatial Fabric Improvements

0m

Step 1 / Multi-Modal Streets

Step 2 / Increased Public Spaces

Englewood South / Structural Plan Station Area Programmatic Strategy //

The ďŹ rst ďŹ gure above shows the primary design concept, where the light rail is a central spatial anchor for regeneration. Next, is the initial set of station area-scale improvements which serve as a foundation for subsequent programmatic and plot-scale developments. This is facilitated by the Structural Plan, which provides land-use guidelines that promote inclusionary mixed-use functions.

200m

Integral Public Space & Mobility Systems //

R-X // Existing Residential

New Green Spaces

RM-1 // Residential Mixed-Use

Existing Green Spaces

C-X // Existing Commercial/Retail

Highway

CM-1 // Commercial Mixed-Use Overlay

Regional Arterial

PM-X // Existing Small-Scale Industrial

Local Arterial

PM-1 // Small-Scale Production Mixed-Use

Collector Road

PM-X2 // Existing Large-Scale Production

Living(Local) Street

PM-2 // Large-Scale Production Mixed-Use

Bike/Pedestrian Path

400m

Reconceptualizing the Periphery

Englewood South / Station Corridor The ďŹ nal Plan iiteration emerged from testing two different options for the corridor concept, an area of 80m x 600m,using the following criteria: 1) Integration of the railway with the spatial fabric, 2) Potential for mixed-use development and 3) Potential for accessible public spaces.

Station Corridor Scenario 1 Scenario 1 shows the future light rail line being moved approximately 40m (131 ft) to the east. While providing space for an integrated corridor, only 30m (98 ft) was left on the remaining areas. This proved inadequate for viable mixed-uses or public spaces.

Station Corridor Scenario 2 Scenario 2 keeps the light rail in its existing location. This allows space for the integration of the light rail as a urban boulevard. Likewise, with 70-80m(230-262 ft) left over, there is sufďŹ cient room for mixed-uses and a public space network. Hence, Scenario 2 was chosen as the most optimal choice.

Local Design Scenario / Englewood South

13.4m max bldg height 5m set back above base

Tax incentives for rooftop PV/renewable energy systems* Tax incentives for ‘Cool Roofs’: high-albedo rooftop surfaces

7.6m max street wall height

Affordable housing: for apartment bldgs, min 40% of units must be mix of middle& low-income units

Tax incentives for low-impact, recyclable materials: locally sourced wood, aluminum etc.

Tax incentives for green roofs/rain gardens*

Tax incentives for low-impact, recyclable materials: locally sourced wood, aluminum etc.

Tax incentives for ‘Cool Roofs’: high-albedo rooftop surfaces

Tax incentives for rooftop PV/renewable energy systems*

29m max bldg height 18.4m max base height

Parking permitted within, to the rear of buildings or on on-street bays. 40% max. of street wall allowed for car parking

Parking permitted within, to the rear of buildings or on on-street bays. 60% max. of street wall allowed for car parking

7m max distance b/w doors, min of 7 doors per 56 metres

5m set back above base

56m max street wall length, 30% max. for blind street walls Tax incentive for planting & street furniture

On-street parking bays (5m x 1.8m) Open areas b/w street walls & street must be planted*

1.4m raised landing or shops/offices, garages or workshops (1000m2 max)

Affordable housing: min 40% of units must be mix of middle- & low-income units

1.4m raised landing or lobbies, shops/offices, & workshops

5.5m max for garage entries, 30% max. for blind street walls

R2 // Medium-Density Residential District Lot Area (min): 171 m2 Front Yard (min): 2.5 m Lot FAR (max): 1.70 Rear Yard (min): 9 m Lot Coverage: 50% Building Height (max): 13.4 m Street Wall Height (max): 10.4 m

Urban Design & Building Typology Guidelines In order to ensure high levels of spatial quality and plot-scale development, a set of proposed design and building typology guidelines which complement the Structural Plan are provided. They promotes TOD-compatible mixeduses which provides a diverse range of housing, commercial and production development options. Likewise, design aspects such as frontages, accessibility and sustainability are incorporated.

R3 // High-Density Residential District Lot FAR (max): 5.0 Building Height (max): 29 m Lot Coverage: 80% for Base Height: 12m(min)-18.4 m(max) corner lot, 60% for interior lot

Reconceptualizing the Periphery

Station Corridor / Aerial Perspective Integration of transit with the local spatial structure and inclusionary mixed-use zoning catalyzes a diverse mix of functions, public spaces and typologies.