Exposition: Extended Designing an adaptable temporary event to spark urban development and social-cultural advancements
Student: Caitlin Brady | Process Book | Advisor: Alan Greenberger
Inspiration: 2015 Milan Expo The Milan Expo, “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life,� ran from April to October 2015 on a previously undeveloped, 490 acres site north of Milan. 22.2 million people attended the expo which featured contributions from 145 different countries. Much of the built environment was demolished after the expo, leaving just a few key buildings for reuse.
During the Milan Expo
After the Milan Expo
Exposition: Extended International exhibitions are temporary events, held every five years, that bring individuals from all over the world together to share ideologies and opinions. Exposition sites typically consist of temporary entertainment venues, exhibits, and modular pavilions, designed by contributing countries and private corporations, showcasing their architectural and technical prowess. The host country’s pavilion does not fall into the typical pavilion module and therefore becomes a landmark of the exposition. This building functions as the exposition’s headquarters as well as the exposition’s chief exhibit. For six months, the exposition will function as a vibrant, diverse community of the finest ideas and innovations of the age, visited by millions of people from all corners of the world. After the exposition, the site will drastically change. Temporary structures will be demolished or moved; tourist visits will decrease to almost zero; and economic investments will dwindle, preventing site owners from executing basic site maintenance and upkeep. Most expositions do not thrive after their expiration date. They become abandoned, under-utilized, or forgotten. They are too large and too haphazardly planned to successfully transition into permanent communities, therefore they often fail.
How can I design a temporary exposition that can become a permanent community?
How can the host pavilion unify and energize this community?
Site: Puerto Rico Puerto Rico fits the three major criteria for my international exposition’s site: located within the United States, accessible, and ripe for change. The island was originally settled by native tribes, then overtaken by Spanish settlers. In 1898, Puerto Rico became part of the United States. The island has a rich diversity of Latin, European, and American cultural influences.
2016 1000 Arawak Indians settle on “Boriquen”
1520s
1917
1952
1998
San Juan Bautista is renamed “Puerto Rico”
Jones Act grants Puerto Ricans U.S. citizenship
Becomes a selfgoverning commonwealth
Residents vote and refuse to apply for statehood
1493
1898
1948
On his second voyage, Columbus claims Boriquen for Spain, renames it “San Juan Bautista”
Spanish American War ends with the Treaty of Paris, giving the U.S. possession of Puerto Rico
Sends its first team to the Olympics
1508
1900
Ponce de Leon establishes the 1st Spanish settlement
Declared a U.S. Territory
Defaults a second time with payments around $37m. The economy continues to struggle
1972
2015
2017
Baseball hero, Roberto Clemente, a former Pittsburgh Pirate, is killed in a plane crash
Defaults on its debt for the first time with payments more than $50m
Declares bankruptcy
Site: Puerto Rico Most recently Puerto Rico declared bankruptcy. The island, once reliant on tax-reduced industry, has lost 20% of their jobs and 10% of their population with a change in tax policy. An increase in tourism is one possible way for Puerto Rico to revive their economy. Other Caribbean countries have significantly larger tourism-focused economies and benefit greatly from visitors coming to enjoy their warm climates and beaches year-round.
2015: Travel and Tourism’s Total Contribtution to GDP
57 1% 57.1%
46.9%
29.3% .3% 3%
16.3% 3%
15.1% 1%
10.1% .1% 1%
9.8% 8%
8.6% 6%
8.5% 5%
7.2%
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Jamaica
Dominican Republic
Mexico
Cuba
World
Americas
Trinidad and Tobago
Puerto Rico
Travel and Tourism’s Total Contribtution to Employment
55 4% 55.4%
51 6% 51.6%
26.6 6.6
15.9% 9%
15.0% .0% 0%
11.3% .3% 3%
9.7% 7%
9.5% 5%
9.3% 3%
6.2%
Bahamas
Antigua and Barbuda
Jamaica
Mexico
Dominican Republic
Trinidad and Tobago
Americas
World
Cuba
Puerto Rico
An international exposition will: 1. Stimulate development of urban spaces and infrastructure 2. Boost international awareness of a city 3. Increase tourism and business 30 Million
DENSE
100 Acres
22 Million
ACCESSIBLE
22 Million
427 Acres
271 Acres
73 Million
121
145
531 acres 200 States + Countries
1304 Acres 192 155 18 Million
41 Million 36 18 Million
98 Acres
54 22 Million
172 Acres
395 Acres
531 Acres 108
75 64 Million
50 Million
81 Acres
988 Acres 62
Site
DIVERSE
1967
1970
1986
1988
1992
2000
2005
2010
2015
2025
Montreal Canada
Osaka Japan
Vancouver Canada
Brisbane Australia
Seville Spain
Hanover Germany
Aichi Japan
Shanghai China
Milan Italy
San Juan Puerto Rico
Appropriate site selection was determined by the size, participant, and visitor calculations of previous expos. I estimated that a site of 100 acres would be appropriate for approximately 200 country/ state participants and 30 million visitors to Puerto Rico’s exposition.
Expo Size (acres) Participating Countries Visitors (millions)
San Juan
Nature Reserve Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Shipyards Landfill Sports Complex
Roberto Clemente Sports Complex
ANALYSIS INFLUENCED DESIGN Expo Commercial Neighborhoods
Summer Solstice
Equinox
Connections
Water Connection
Winter Solstice
N
EXISTING CONDITIONS Prevailing Winds
Playa Isla Verde La Torrecilla Lagoon
Los Corozos Lagoon
EXISTING CONDITIONS Existing Buildings
Existing Fields
Mangrove Forests
Dense Trees
Roman Baldority de Castro Expressway
Luis Munoz Marin International Airport
Iturregui
CIRCULATION Highway
Light Rail
Avenue
Bus
Water Traffic
Atlantic Ocean
z Suare Canal
San Jose Lagoon
San Jose Lagoon Depth: 36’
SITE
WATER IMPACTS Existing Water
[San Juan]
5’ Above Sea Level
2% Flood Hazard
2500 0 SSingle Fami y Units Family Fam U it
1500 SSingle ingl gle Faami Family mily Units
LAND USE Single Family Units
[Carolina]
N SITE EXTENTS
Multi-Family Units
Commercial
Airport
Park
Host Pavilion 160,000 SF
Expo Program BIE Class: Universal Exposition Category: International Registered Exhibition 30
Pavilion Modules (100) 1,000,000 SF
Americas
Canal
United States
Parking (Temporary)
30 50 200 Pavilions
Europe
Visitor Services 1,500 SF
Companies
15 25 Asia Africa
Duration of Exposition: May 5, 2025 - August 31, 2025
50
Toilets, Lost & Found, Information, Security 3,500 SF
100 10,000 SF Blocks 250 Individual Pavilions of varying sizes Participants: 48 Corporate Participants 52 US State/ District Participants 150 Country Participants
A A
Program: Temporary Services [Visitor Services, Toilet Facilities, Lost & Found, Information Kiosks, Emergency & Fire Control Center, Security & First Aid Center, Support/ Storage, Waste Facilities]
Total Module: 100’ x 100’ Pavilion Module Options: A: 3400 SF, B: 1400 SF, C: 2000 SF, D: 800 SF, E: 2600 SF
B
C B
C
Structural Grid: 20’ steel frame grid, with possibility to build on a 40’ grid. This facilitates the building’s transition into a permanent, high rise structure if determined necessary in the future Possible Level Heights: 22’ and 10’
Visitor Infrastructure [Transit Stops, Hotels, Parking [Guest Parking (1,500 Spaces), Employee Parking (1,500 Spaces)]
Hotels 240,000 SF
Guest Infrastructure
Entertainment
Country: United States Commonwealth: Puerto Rico City: San Juan (Carolina) Coordinates: 18°25’15.83” N 66°00’04.74” W
Entertainment [Pavilion Modules, Preview Center, Host Pavilion, Outdoor Amphitheater, Park Space]
Transit Stops 1,500 SF
Preview Pavilion 50,000 SF
Total Area: 150 Acres Expected Visitors: 30 million people
Participating Regions of the United States: 52 Participating Corporations/ Organizations: 48 Participating Countries:150
Outdoor Green Space
Total Height: 32’
D
E D E
Courtyard: 3200 SF to be used as shared outdoor space for the module tenants during the exposition. Afterwards, this space may be incorporated into a building extension
Employee Lot 270,000 SF
Event Services (Temporary)
Storage 5,000 SF
Guest Lot 270,000 SF
Waste Facility 5,000 SF
Community Program Concept: Thriving urban center developed from the permanent elements of the 2025 Puerto Rico International Exposition Total Area: 250 Acres Residential: 2 million SF Commercial: 1 million SF Retail: 600,000 SF Expected Inhabitants: 6,000 people Average household size in Puerto Rico (per 2015 census): 2.81 Average family size n Puerto Rico (per 2015 census): 3.46 Country: United States Commonwealth: Puerto Rico City: Carolina Coordinates: 18°25’15.83” N 66°00’04.74” W Transportation: Tren Urbano Expansion Road Connections to surrounding areas (travel limited during exposition)
Host Pavilion Program
Information
Lobby Administration Offices
Theater
Sporting Venues
Small Theater Event Space Restaurant Storage Interactive Spaces Office Food Service Closed Offices Classrooms/ Lounges Toilet Rooms Teledata Mail Room Community Rooms Loading Dock Mechanical
Lobby Event Space
Business Space
Community Center Program
Sports Courts Fitness Areas
Community Center
Exhibit Theater and Support Spaces Small Theater Exhibit Space Event Space
Theater
Community Rooms
Service
Food Service Restaurant Office Food Service
Cafe
Toilets
Front of House Lobby Information Administration Offices
Administration Closed Offices Open Offices Meeting Rooms Conference/ Working Rooms Lounges
Recreation Theater and Support Spaces Small Theater Sports Courts Event Space Community Spaces Lobby
Food Service Restaurant Office Food Service Administration Closed Offices Support Toilet Rooms Storage Loading Dock Mail Room Mechanical Teledata
Support Toilet Rooms Storage Loading Dock Mail Room Mechanical Teledata
Exhibit Space
Event Space
Expo
Theater
Administration
Service
Cafe Toilets Information
Lobby Administration Offices
Theater
Exhibit Space
Small Theater Event Space Restaurant Storage Open Offices Closed Offices Conference/ Lounges Toilet Rooms Teledata Mail Room Meeting Rooms Loading Dock Mechanical
Office Food Service
160,000 SF Estimated Total
Front of House Lobby Information Administration Offices
Expo Precedents: During & After
1893 Chicago Expo
1962 Seattle Expo
1876 Philadelphia Expo Today: Centennial Park Area: 74 acres Participants: 24 countries Attendees: 6.6 million Organizer: Edward E. Carlson Legacy Projects: Seattle Space Needle, Alweg Monorail, Key Arena, Cornish Playhouse Today: Seattle Center
Area: 690 acres Participants: 46 countries Attendees: 27.3 million Organizer: George R. Davis Legacy Projects: Palace of Fine Arts, World’s Congress Auxiliary Building Today: Jackson Park & Midway Plaisance
2000 Hanover Expo Today: Neglected Commercial Park
1986 Vancouver Expo
1988 Brisbane Expo
1893 Chicago Expo Today: Jackson Park Area: 175 acres Participants: 54 countries Attendees: 22.1 million people Organizer: Jim Pattinson Legacy Projects: SkyTrain, Science World, BC Place Stadium, Canada Place, Plaza of Nations Today: Residential towers and sports complex
1962 Seattle Expo Today: Seattle Center
Area: 100 acres Participants: 46 countries Attendees: 15.8 million Organizer: Joh Bjelke-Peterson Legacy Projects: Monorail, Skyneedle, South Bank Parklands, Brisbane Convention Centre Today: Queensland Cultural Centre
Master Plan Precedents 1967 Montreal Expo
Area: 900 acres Participants: 62 countries Attendees: 50.3 million Organizer: Pierre Dupuy Legacy Projects: Habitat 67, Environmental Sciences Museum, 1976 Summer Olympics Today: Parkland
Savannah, Georgia
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
James Oglethorpe, 1730s Concept: Grid streets planned around neighborhood squares
Designer: Davies, Bor, de Monchaux, 1970s Concept: Grid system with a dense commercial zone at center
Canberra, Australia
Magic Kingdom, Florida
Designer: Walter Griffin, 1910s Concept: Three major nodes created by major roads surrounding a public core
WED Enterprises, 1970s Concept: Major circulation with minor loops extending from the main route
London Olympic Park,
Seaside, Florida
London Legacy Development Corp., 2010s Concept: Linear layout with public uses along water, residential along land
Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, 1980s Concept: Radial public zones with minor streets aligned on a grid
2015 Milan Expo
Area: 490 acres Participants: 145 countries Attendees: 22.2 million Architects: Stefano Boeri, Richard Burdett, Mark Rylander, Jacques Herzog Legacy Projects: Italy Pavilion Today: Park
Expo/ Final Master Plan
Expo Master Plan Parti Expo Commercial Waterway Green
Expo Master Plan Features Node Circulation Access
Temporary Pop-up Exhibit and Recreation Space
Expo Master Plan Land Use Specialty Pavilion Standard Pavilion Commercial Green
Pavilion Modules 250 Acres for Future Development
Host Pavilion 200’ Wide and 6300’ Long Man-Made Canal 3000 Visitor and Staff Parking Spots Temporary Preview Pavilion
200’ Deep Green Belt along Canal Local Transit Stop
Expo Hotels
Commercial Corridor to Link Expo Development to Existing Neighborhood
150 Acre Expo Development (Excluding Canal) Temporary Event Services and Exhibit Spaces
Phase 1 Expo, Canal, Neighborhood Commercial
Phase 2 Fill-in Commercial
Phase 3 Expand Commercial Development
Phase 4 Fill-in Residential
Phase 5 Extend Commercial and Residential
Tenth Floor: 12,000 SF Event Space
Small Event Space
Host Pavilion/ Community Center
Large Event Space
Communicating Stair
Typical Floor: 12,000 SF Business Rental Space Typical for floors 4-9
Rentable Business Space
Rentable Business Space
Community Rooms
Second Floor: 24,000 SF Fitness and Community Spaces
Typical 20’ Steel Column Grid
Administrative Offices
.1mi Running Track
Community Rooms 160 Seat Theater
Fitness Rooms Cafe
First Floor: 41,000 SF Major Public Spaces Sports Courts, Cafe, and Theater
Two story rock wall
Administrative Offices
Cardio Room
Youth Basketball Courts
Daycare Window Display 160 Seat Theater Lobby Locker Rooms
Fitness Rooms
Two story rock wall Cardio room
Secondary Entrance
Floor Plan Legend Community/ Cultural Fitness/Sports Event Business Rental
Community Rooms
Second Floor: 24,000 SF Fitness and Community Spaces
Typical 20’ Steel Column Grid
Administrative Offices
.1mi Running Track
Community Rooms 160 Seat Theater
Fitness Rooms Cafe
First Floor: 41,000 SF Major Public Spaces Sports Courts, Cafe, and Theater
Two story rock wall
Administrative Offices
Cardio Room
Youth Basketball Courts
Daycare Window Display 160 Seat Theater Lobby Locker Rooms
Fitness Rooms
Two story rock wall Cardio room
Secondary Entrance
Floor Plan Legend Community/ Cultural Fitness/Sports Event Business Rental
B 1’x10’ Perforated, White Metal Panel Curtain Wall Mounting Bracket to Hold 10’x10’ Modules Concrete Floor Slab
1’x10’ Perforated, White Metal Panel Angled Support Bracket 10’x10’ Module Grid Supports Roof Parapet
B A
A
“Expositions are the timekeepers of progress. They record the world’s advancement. They stimulate the energy, enterprise, and intellect of the people, and quicken human genius. They go into the home. They broaden and brighten the daily life of the people. They open mighty storehouses of information to the student. Every exposition, great or small, has helped to some onward step.” - President William McKinley, 1901