building momentum \\ enhancing connectivity of urban public space Chloe Bendistis Thesis Advisor: Jason Austin
BOSTON
NEW YORK HIGH SPEED RAIL 188 MINUTES | 188 MILES PER HOUR PHILADELPHIA
BALTIMORE WASHINGTON, D.C.
ACELA EXPRESS 374 MINUTES | 150 MILES PER HOUR proposal Amtrak has an ambitious proposal to introduce high speed rail to the northeast corridor, the oldest and most popular transit system in the United States. The goal is to ride from Boston to Washington, D.C. in 3 hours. My thesis shall be the design of a new high speed train station. The most important factor in successful cities today is the flow of people and ideas. The high speed station shall be a hub of activity to slow down the speed at which people travel, thereby activating the cityscape. The station is public space and shall serve a population greater than its passengers. It shall foster interactions to connect communities. According to Olmsted, public space is a democratic resource that brings together people of different backgrounds.
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
PENN STATION UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE
Baltimore
WASHINGTON MONUMENT
I chose to expand the Baltimore Penn Station in Maryland. I chose to focus on Baltimore because it is the weakest link within the northeast corridor. Baltimore is suffering from population decline with over 16,000 vacant homes. But Baltimore‘s affordability and prime location along the northeast corridor makes it ripe for revitalization. The city is home to world renowned science, research, and education institutions.
INNER HARBOR
Key Plan
0'
600'
1200'
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MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART
NORTH
Jones Falls Expressway Interstate 83
Jones Falls Expressway Interstate 83 Penn Station
Penn Station Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art
1/2 mile radius 10 minute walk
Station North Arts + Entertainment District
University of Baltimore
1/2 mile radius 10 minute walk
Commercial
Recreation
Education
Entertainment
Commercial Land Use
Public School
Visible Green Space
Bike Lanes
Theaters + Galleries
Major Roadways
Private School
Public Green Space
Recreation Centers
Fine Arts College
Light Rail
Higher Education
Private Green Space
WORK
PLAY COMMECIAL ZONES
SURROUNDING K-12 NODES HIGHER EDUCATION EDGE
site analysis
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT ZONES
BICYCLE AND GREEN NETWORKS ALIGN
To the north is the Station North Arts + Entertainment District. There is a network of green spaces and bike lanes that intersect the site. There is a periphery of K-12 schools and a strong higher education edge to the southeast with two universities. The site is located on the major commercial corridor of Charles Street.
Transit Education Commercial Office
+ Population -
Entertainment In Motion
- Duration +
Static
Interior
Exterior
Recreation 00:00
04:00
08:00
12:00
16:00
20:00
24:00
program I organized the existing programmatic resources into categories of: transit, education, commercial office, entertainment, and recreation, and mapped them according to speed and time. The intent is to find areas where these programs overlap to foster interaction and sharing of ideas.
NORTH
SOUTH
demographics The site is located between two distinct neighborhoods, stitched together by the commercial corridor of Charles Street. The northern neighborhood is an underserved black neighborhood. The southern neighborhood is a white, affluent community.
Rotterdam Central Station Rotterdam, Netherlands
Road routed below to maintain porosity of open air plaza
Overhang faces south, for dramatic shadows on the extruded form south
Benthem Crouwel Architects + MVSA Architects + West 8
Superkilen Copenhagen, Denmark
495,000 square feet Completed in 2014 Photo Credit: Jannes Linders, Luke Harley, Rijksoverheid, Team CS, Gemeenten Rotterdam
BIG Architects, Topotek 1, Superflex Outdoor Plaza 323,000 square feet Completed in 2012 Photo Credit: Iwan Baan Street Edge
100,000 passengers per day
Ceiling slopes up to light-filled concourse
Compression
Passage
Expansion
Expansion
Compression
Exterior View of Plaza and Main Entrance The short entry plaza and overhang heighten compression
King’s Cross Station London, United Kingdom Superkilen Copenhagen, John McAslanDenmark + Partners
Compression
Street Edge Exterior View of Main Entrance Recreational Red Zone
Impervious Black Market
Recreational Red Zone Aerobic Fitness Horizontal Open Space Large Spaces Big Movements As seen in: Thai Boxing Ring
Compression
Aerobic Fitness Horizontal Open Space Large Spaces Expansion Big Movements
Passageway
As seen in: Thai Boxing Ring
Passage
Sections
contemporary precedents Indoor
Relaxation Seating Areas Shade Small Games
Skylight emphasizes large volume of main hall Outdoor
Indoor Outdoor Spaces Reflect Indoor Programs
Expansion
Lush Green Park Lush Green Park
Impervious Black Market Outdoor
west
Recreational Red Zone
Program, Speed, and Time
BIG Architects, Topotek 1, Superflex Completed in 2012 Photo Credit: Hufton and Crow, Phil 323,000John square feet Adams, Sturrock Completed in 2012 Photo Credit: Iwan Baan 128,000 passengers per day
Program, Speed, and Time
Mezzanine levelRed maintains Recreational Zone compression and length of entry
Open Public Space in Urban Void
Organized Games Playing Fields Turf Team Sports
I examined the historic City Beautiful stationsAsasseen historic precedents. I also studied contemporary examples. As seen in: in: Outdoor Spaces Basketball Court Chesscontraction Boards RotterdamReflect Central Station uses expansion and to create an arrival sequence. Superkilen has Indoor programmed outdoor areas; from loud zones for Thai kick boxingHousing to more quiet areas to play chess. Programs Massing Create Semi-Private Public Space in Courtyards
Impervious
cover Interstate 83 is a divisive force that travels below and above grade level, bisecting these neighborhoods. The station is surrounded by subterranean highway and railroad. As a pedestrian, you feel vulnerable walking these large blocks with an opaque fence beside you. My proposal is to cover the subterranean highways and railroads to create walkable city streets.
INTERMEDIATE REVIEW
north
600 feet
strategies I created two strategies for developing the area around the station. I struggled with overlapping the orthogonal grid of Baltimore city and the off-axis of the historic station. The jurors questioned how this master plan would inform my building. They said I needed to emphasize differences in time and speed when understanding the building users and the architectural experience.
Penn Station
Site Plan
3D View
MAINTAIN AXIS OF OLD STATION BREAK CITY GRID Penn Station
Plan Parti
Section Parti
north
600 feet
Penn Station
Site Plan
3D View NEIGHBORHOOD EDGE
GREEN
TRANSIT
Penn Station WORK
GREEN
PLAY
URBAN CAMPUS EDGE
INTERMEDIATE REVIEW
Plan Parti
Section Parti
PROCESS MASTER PLAN MODEL
models The horizontal version of the concept model demonstrates how expansive public space can stitch together two separate components. The model is partially submerged to display the sectional qualifies of the program below and above grade. The vertical version of the concept model illustrates how ascending and descending are important experiences for the train station. This model also demonstrates how the first level shall be open and porous to promote access across the site.
CONCEPT MODELS
The process master plan model is meant to show a gradient mediating the highdensity urban development along the commercial corridor with the lower density neighborhood of rowhomes. It also shows how voids can reveal the highways and railroads below.
01.CONNECT COMMUNITIES Create democratic resource through public park. 02.JOIN EAST-WEST NEIGHBORHOODS Cover highway and break supergrids into walkable streets. 03.PRESERVE OBJECT OF STATION Contrast orthagonal grid by following off-axis of historic station.
04.EXPAND HIGHER EDUCATION EDGE Build high-density, transit-oriented development. 05.STRENGTHEN COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR Fill in gaps of commercial development along Charles Street.
master plan As part of my project I came up with a master plan for the buildings to be located on the new city blocks. Baltimore recently rewrote their zoning code and assigned this area as high-density transit oriented development. TECHNICAL REVIEW
RETAIL
EDUCATION
TRANSIT
LOWER LEVEL PLAN DIAGRAM
CONNECT NORTHEAST CORRIDOR Add high speed rail adjacent to existing rail lines to reuse existing resources.
STRENGTHEN URBAN EDGE Concentrate development along established commercial corridor of Charles Street.
GROUND LEVEL PLAN DIAGRAM
UPPER LEVEL PLAN DIAGRAM
ROOF LEVEL PLAN DIAGRAM
CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS Walking paths connect communities and create meeting spaces.
CONNECT TWO STATIONS An upper level bridge shall provide passengers with access from the historic to the new station.
OVERHANG CREATES MEETING SPACE The roof overhang encapsulates pulic space in and around the building.
massing
TECHNICAL REVIEW
During the technical review, I received feedback that I needed to define the term “democratic” architecturally. Also, the jurors questioned how I imagined this project 10 years from now. Lastly, they recommended that I imagine the building not as a large object, but an expression of form and space.
MASSING: PLAN PARTI
FAST | LOUD PRIVATE QUIET | SLOW POROUS MASSING: SECTION PARTI
massing The form aligns with the city and neighborhood grid, but includes public space along the off-axis. The ground level is meant to be active and porous. The building becomes more private and enclosed as you travel upward. Loud program areas are organized along Charles Street and quiet areas towards the neighborhood.
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PROGRAM: PLAN PARTI TRAVEL
WORK
PLAY
SECTION A PROGRAM DIAGRAM
SECTION B PROGRAM DIAGRAM
program The transit component carves into the form and demonstrates the off-axis of the tracks below. To provide democratic resources, the retail includes short term and long term spaces. The buildings includes co-working office space and classrooms. Shared spaces promote interaction between users.
SIDE LIGHTING DAYLIGHTING
TOP LIGHTING
RAIN GARDENS GREEN ROOF STORMWATER
systems
STRUCTURE
There are several daylighting strategies incorporated to blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor. Also, to break up the large form. Light wells along this corridor promotes wayfinding.
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sections To celebrate the educational component, classrooms on the upper levels are illuminated with roof monitors to provide diffuse natural light for quiet concentration.
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the concourse In terms of experiential sequence, the concourse is made up of large forms and textured walls to illustrate the heaviness of the subterranean level. A large void is cut in the ground level to provide soft northern light to the concourse level and illuminate the vertical circulation to assist in wayfinding. The thick slab edge serves as a threshold as you transition from the quiet, enclosed journey of the train ride to the loud, multifaceted activity of the city. The glazed wall across the stairs provides view to the outdoors. waiting hall The waiting hall on the ground level is very porous and active. The seats are set within channels in the floor, so they slide as needed to suit large groups or individuals. Linear patterns of glass block are carved into the slab, providing fractured, soft daylight to the concourse below. Also, the glass block pattern illuminates when the train is arriving.
RENDERINGS
office space As you move to the office space higher in the building, the envelope becomes less porous and the finishes are more serene, thereby creating an environment for focused work. In the busy open plan office area, punched window openings provide a pattern of shadow and light, and views of the city skyline. In the classrooms, roof monitors provide diffuse, soft lighting, indicating quiet concentration.
open event space The open event space utilizes the sloped roof opposite the large plaza to create a sense of expansion. Oversized sliding door panels blur the boundary between interior and exterior. The space can be opened and configured to the outdoors, or the sliding panels can divide the large volume into smaller meeting areas. The structural frame breaks down the large volume into more intimate spaces. The frame can host shade structures in the summer or stalls for a market.
RENDERINGS
RUSH HOUR MON - FRI 8:00 AM TO 10:00 AM 4:00 PM TO 6:00 PM EARLY MORNING EXERCISE PASSENGERS WALKING THROUGH REMOTE WORK SESSIONS
DAYTIME MON - FRI 10:00 AM TO 4:00 AM CLASSROOMS REMOTE WORK SESSOINS
FINAL MODEL DAYTIME SAT-SUN 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM OUTDOOR MARKET AFTERNOON WALKS
public space
EVENING SAT-SUN 7:00 PM TO 10:00 PM CONCERT
The open event space is meant to be used all day every day. In the mornings it serves commuters for remote work sessions. The outdoor classrooms can be used for yoga classes. During the day the large space is broken into smaller classrooms and meeting spaces. On weekends people can set up stalls for a flea market or a farmers market. Lastly, it can open up into a large open venue for a concert. The high speed train is an expensive investment. In order to promote sustainable growth, Baltimore shall invest in people and experiences. My project demonstrates ways in which people can experience the city and connect with others. Ultimately the goal is to improve quality of life for residents and visitors.