LACIVITA by Drexel Architecture Program

CATALYST Encouraging responsible growth of dense urban cores in rural settings A mixed-used development project designed to catalyze growth. Waterfont District, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania Dominic Anthony Lacivita, Jr. Bachelor of Architecture, Thesis Project Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design Drexel University / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Class of 2015 Thesis Advisor: Robert Nalls Thesis The new mixed-use development for the small town of Bellefonte is intended to support dense urban development while protecting local culture and mitigating impending sprawl. This master plan is meant to provide an exemplary option for smart growth of small towns by providing a scheme specific to the town of Bellefonte that explores the potential of developing the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central waterfront district as the core for the future evolution of rural density. By building upon regional institutions, existing tourism, local entrepreneurship, and a goal to retain the younger generation in the area, this plan supports residences, a boutique hotel, and office space, in addition to hosting a series of amenities including retail shopping and restaurants, a small business incubator, and recreational and fitness supported program, all centered around public space, including a meeting center, park spaces, and a continuous waterfront promenade.

Goals and Objectives Ecomonmic Viability Sustainable Methods Avoid Suburban Sprawl Retain Historic and Cultural Identity Modern Design in an Historic Context Designing in a Flood Plain Embrace connections to the region

SITE Existing conditions

BELLEFONTE Town Plan

REGION Milesburg Project Site Bellefonte

Pleasant Gap Centre Hall FEMA Flood Zone

State College

PENNSYLVANIA

Waterfront District

Historic Core

Towards Milesburg t Stree heny Alleg e

hous

Mill Spillway

Court

High Stre et

The Bush House Big Spring

Logan Branch Towards State College

TOWN DIAGRAMS

Spring Creek

Railway

Water Street

Historic Town Axis

Adjacent Parks

Eagle Silk Mill Eagle Textile Company purchased land here to build a mill for the production and cultivation of silk. As a result of difficulties during the Great Depression, the plant closed in 1938. The Titan Metal Company purchased the property in 1939. The company started in the region after it bought the former McCoy Linn Iron Company between Bellefonte and Milesburg. Due to eventual inefficiencies of the the outdated plant, they established a new facitily on the site of the former Valentine Iron Works along the Logan Branch. Business boomed in the late 1920s and they expanded into the Eagle Silk Mill a decade later, which housed their shipping and receiving department. Cerro Copper and Brass Company, which had taken over Titan, purchased additional land adjecent to the former silk mill and expanded it in 1964 and in 1968. The business continues to boom, employing over 1,300 people and in 1976 merges to become the Cerro Marmon Corporation (later to be the Marmon Group and the Marmon Corporation). The Company of the Eagle Silk Mill property in 1997. Bellefonte is still the headquarters of the Cerro division of the Marmon Corporation. The building is currently used for material storage, but much of the property is currently vacant.

SITE SCALE

Site

Beaver Stadium

Olympic Track

Rittenhouse Square

The Bush House Hotel built in 1868. It was one of the first hotels in the country to have electric lighting, and Thomas Edison even stayed here for the electrification of Bellefonte. Other notable people how had stayed here included Henry Ford and Amelia Earhart. After changing hands several times, its latest use also included hosting several businesses and a restaurant overlooking Spring Creek, and held receptions of various kinds. However, the building burned down in February 2006 and was completely destroyed. This central property in the town has laid gated and vacant since.

TOPOGRAPHY

left column: town characteristic middle column: adjacent parks right column: existing site

PROGRAM Masterplan (PROJECT TOTAL) Hotel Residential Office Space Business Incubator Meeting Center Public Gallery Retail Fitness / Recreational Focused for Thesis Residential Office Space Business Incubator Meeting Center Retail

369,500 SF 65,000 169,000 30,900 38,000 18,100 1,000 27,500 20,000 160,700 SF 84,500 16,100 38,000 18,100 4,000

HOTEL 100 rooms; The community calls for another hotel on the site to replace what was lost with the Bush House Hotel fire. Possibly a restaurant on the roof to capture the view. RESIDENTIAL 122 units; A mixture of condos and various apartment types to support the new program and contribute to a higher density, and provides modern amentities and walkability.

OFFICE Area of offices space for businesses and a business incubator to encourage the new growth in the town and area.

BUSINESS INCUBATOR To promote small scale regional startups that will then become companies that contribute to the economy. First floor of this space is retail for vending goods created by the incubator MEETING CENTER A shared meeting space to strengthen tourism to the town and boost the economy. A relatively small space that will also be used for community meetings and events. This also includes separate meeting rooms and services. PUBLIC GALLERY Small gallery space for the exbihition of local artists, academic exhibitions, and traveling or local highlights.

REFERENCED PROJECTS left column top: District Hall, Boston - incubator and meeting space in an innovation district left column bottom: SENSO Convention Center, Jiangsu, China - convention space and meeting rooms middle column top: Apartments at City Center, Washington D.C. - residential treatment middle column bottom: Southern Regional Technology and Recreation Compled - programmatic understanding right column top: RiverPlace, Greenville, South Carolina - waterfront and redevelopment plan right column bottom: Aarhus, Denmark - active waterfront treatment

RETAIL This retail is to include mostly local shops, including a grocery, and recreation equipment and rentals in conjunction with Spring Creek on the site. Restaurants and cafes to take advantage of outdoor and open planning. FITNESS/RECREATIONAL State of the art space that is available for public use and is shared by the residents and guests at the hotel.

PARKING 250 vehicles; Covered parking within the flood plain below main High-Street level, where occupied space should not be.

FALL REVIEW December 2014

site plan

tower plan

second floor plan

ground floor plan (high street level)

left: site section perspective looking north mid-left: town plan, bellefonte mid-right: massing, aerial looking south right: massing, aerial looking west

OFFICE / COMMERCIAL SPACE BUSINESS

OFFICE / COMMERCIAL SPACE RECREATION

SHARED

RETAIL / RESTAURANT SPACE MEETING / CONFERENCE / GALLERY HOTEL

HOUSING

RESIDENTIAL Rooms

Paths / Linkages

Large Program

narrow section through tower

narrow section through meeting

long section through site

above: parking level grey: east/west section through site/town

TECHNICAL REVIEW March 2015

site plan

left: looking north mid-left: slats at tower mid-right: aerial looking south right: looking north from water street

tower wall section

typical long tower elevation

above: tower elevation

typical short tower elevation

below: tower structure

standard unit

M HEAT PUMP

Natural Ventilation

right: lower tower plan left: tower section

MEETING CENTER MECHANICAL ROOM PUMP

GEOTHERMAL

FINAL THESIS REVIEW May 2015 INCORPORATED FEEDBACK Reduced amount of program to create a more cohevise and less solid base

Reinforced connections to the neighborhood to the west Explored sunshade devices at tower exterior / deepened overhangs Made riverwalk continuous to both parks by going under the bridges Activated the riverwalk more Added more vegetation / natural areas

top: aerial from north below: town plan, bellefonte

40â&#x20AC;&#x2122;-0â&#x20AC;?

Lamb Street

t ee Str ter Wa top: aerial from east bottom: aerial from west left: site plan right: view of middle site connector

High Street

Continuous Walk Along Water

Retain Existing Axis from Talleyrand Park

Link Larger Scale of downtown to smaller residential

site section perspective, looking north

parking level / water walk plan

first floor level (high street)

second floor level

third floor level

tower level

Residential Retail Meeting Center Gallery Business Incubator Office Space Hotel Fitness Center Shared Lobbies Support

top: meeting center entrance bottom: lawn and incubator space left: plaza between meeting and gallery

second floor

first floor (high street level) Retail Retail

General Lobby Double Height Large Meeting Room

Large Meeting Space

Large Event Terrace Gallery Retail

Open to PreFunction Below

Pre-Function Lobby

Kitchen

Flex

Restaurant

Huddle

Meeting

General Lobby

Cafe

Office Lobby

Open to Restaurant Below

Retail Office Space

Residential Lobby Retail

Commerical Office Space Terrace

Open Area, Divisible for Incubator Shops

Office Creation Office Space Collaborative Workspace Office

Event / Servery Computer Workspace Meeting

Office

Lawn

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upper tower plan

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wall section at tower

lower tower plan

tower elevation, east

top: west side of site mid-top: tower interior mid-bottom: looking south at incubator bottom: large meeting space

Meeting Rooms Restaurant Large Meeting Space

long section through meeting center

Shade Structure

Skylights

Large Meeting Room â&#x20AC;&#x153;Courtyardâ&#x20AC;? Space

Angled Roof

Meeting Spaces Restaurant

Elevators

Dining Terrace

Lower Level Entrance Restrooms Circulation

Formal Entrance Main Vertical Stair

meeting center, exploded view

site model; 1â&#x20AC;&#x2122;=64â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

existing

top: view looking north from water street middle: looking south from water street bottom: view of site looking south-west

fall review

final