ELIA ELIZABETH SORICE Urban Design & Architecture Portfolio
INDEX
ABOUT HALKET STREET TOD: Creating the Third Place Carnegie Mellon University KIGALI SUSTAINABILITY METRICS: Exploring Performative Approaches to Urbanism Carnegie Mellon University CHICAGO MARITIME AND HISTORIC CENTER University of Notre Dame Senior Thesis FRESHMAN RESIDENTIAL HOUSE FOR HARVARD YARD University of Notre Dame CRAIG STREET BASE CONDITIONS STUDY Independent Consultant: Carnegie Mellon University STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PLAN: Tarentum, PA Urban Design Associates TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CLASSROOM ADDITION Goodywn, Mills, & Cawood NEW HARTSELLE HIGH SCHOOL Goodywn, Mills, & Cawood
ELIA ELIZABETH SORICE PROFILE
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
EXPERIENCE
55 SW 9th Street Apt 1509, Miami, FL 33130 330.716.1009 | elia.e.sorice@gmail.com www.eliasorice.com
Urban design and planning professional committed to improving, restoring and shaping the public realm through sustainable community development. Professional planning and architecture experience in the public and private sectors with essential roles in site plan design, zoning code administration, development review, project management, and comprehensive planning. Demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines, effectively communicate verbally and graphically, and achieve rapid and multiple deadlines in team-oriented environments. Acquired global understanding of urban design and architecture practices and the significant social and environmental impact of successful comprehensive planning through design experiences in Italy, Rwanda and Chile. - Zoning Code Administration and Analysis - Land Use Planning - Public Outreach Facilitation City of San Jose Planning Division, San Jose, CA Planner II - Project Manager
- Architectural Design and Detailing - Design Guidelines - Sustainable Design Jan. 2017-Aug. 2017
Project Management: Successfully managed over 50 land-use entitlement and preliminary review applications including zonings, site development permits, and conditional use permits. Cultivated and strengthened diverse working relationships with City departments, outside agencies, and project stakeholders to maximize development opportunities, ensure highest levels of productivity, and to meet established City and client deadlines and goals. Problem Solving & Analysis: Identified development options and aligned formal proposals with City Policy and Ordinance through technical project review, analysis, and strategic design recommendations. Prepared and delivered written and oral reports based on results of the development review process at Director’s Hearing, Planning Commission, and City Council. Public Service & Engagement: Upheld the City’s commitment to superior customer service through administration of regulatory documents, facilitation of community meetings, and effective communication of complex planning issues. KTGY Architecture + Planning, Oakland, CA Planning Associate
May 2016-Dec. 2016
Land Use Planning: Conducted a full range of planning services including site analyses, yield studies, site plan design, project proposals, and entitlement packages for residential developments of varying scales and densities throughout the Bay Area, Nevada, and Utah. Researched municipal zoning ordinances and general plans to inform design decisions, optimize land-use opportunities for clients, and promote positive growth within local communities. City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning, Pittsburgh, PA Design Review Specialist
Nov. 2012-Nov. 2013
Development Review: Processed multi-scale development applications through the City’s Design and Site Plan Review processes. Coordinated Contextual Design Advisory Panel (CDAP) for projects significantly impacting the public realm and presented recommendations to Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment regarding project support and approval to maintain a transparent planning process. Comprehensive Planning: Collaborated with consultants and engaged with local communities to develop design guidelines for City’s first comprehensive plan, PlanPGH, resulting in an illustrative tool to guide future development and streamline City review processes. Analyzed City Zoning Ordinance for text amendments and PlanPGH recommendations.
Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Montgomery, AL Architectural Designer
Jan. 2010-May 2011
Project Design & Administration: Assigned lead design role in four K-12 projects from conceptual design to construction administration. Prepared construction drawings and selected interior finishes for renovations, additions and new construction. Performed construction document coordination, code compliance and product research. Urban Design Associates, Pittsburgh, PA Urban Design Intern
Summer 2008
Urban Design Theory & Methodology: Conducted site analysis and designed recommendations for public realm improvements. Assisted team members in schematic design proposals and participated in design charrette in Baltimore, MD. EDUCATION
AWARDS & ACCREDITATION
COMMUNITY TECHNICAL
REFERENCES
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA Master of Urban Design GPA: 3.94, MUD Summer Studio 2012, Kigali, Rwanda
2012
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture Rome Studies Program 2006-2007
2009
LEED Green Associate Ferguson & Shamamian Undergraduate Thesis Prize Spring, Excellence in Classical Architecture 2009 Dean’s Undergraduate Award for Design Excellence in Fifth-year Architecture Thesis Spring 2009 Girl Scouts of America Gold & Silver Award 1999, 2001 American Planning Association | Congress for the New Urbanism Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign | Freehand drawing and rendering | Watercolor rendering | SketchUp | AutoCAD 2D & 3D | Esri ArcGIS 10 | Microsoft Office Suite | Google Drive| Spanish language Shaunn Mendrin, Supervising Planner City of San Jose Planning Division 400 East Santa Clara Street San Jose, CA 95113 408.535.3885 |Shaunn.Mendrin@sanjoseca.gov
Freddie Lynn, Jr., AIA, Senior Vice President, Architecture Goodwyn, Mills, and Cawood, INC 2660 EastChase Lane Suite 200 Montgomery, AL 36117 334.271.3200 | freddie.lynn@gmcnetwork.com
HALKET STREET TOD: CREATING THE THIRD PLACE Pittsburgh, PA CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY MASTER OF URBAN DESIGN INDIVIDUAL STUDIO PROJECT SPRING 2012 •
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Plans designed and drafted in AutoCAD and rendered with Photoshop and InDesign Renderings drawn by hand rendered with colored pencil.
and
OBJECTIVE As the second phase of a two-part studio project, the Halket Street transit oriented development explores the possibility urban growth along Pittsburgh’s Fifth Avenue. Located on the block of Halket Street between Fifth and Forbes Avenue in Oakland, this transit oriented development (TOD) is linked to the future Halket Street stop along the Fifth Avenue corridor, a Buss Rapid Transit (BRT) system developed in the first half of the spring semester and the current focus of the City of Pittsburgh and the Port Authority of Allegheny County. The site was selected based on existing local amenities, institutions, and high number of potential riders who frequent local destinations, employment centers, and residential neighborhoods within a 1/4 mile walk of the transit stop as well as the site’s integration into the Oakland 2025 Plan, a local community development plan for the Oakland neighborhood. SITE DEVELOPMENT With a strong urban context to build upon, the design of the site took its cues from the massing of adjacent institutional buildings, creating a continuous street edge along Fifth and Forbes Avenues and Halket Street. Adjacent amenities and institutions, south facing exposure, as well as neighborhood connections to the surrounding area influenced the location of commercial, residential, and office uses as well as public open spaces. Furthermore, a change in topography of 25 feet between Fifth And Forbes Avenues allowed for stepping of the building masses, concealment of service functions, and the creation of a public green space that spans the existing alley. Critical to the success of the project is a proposed business center which creates a link between downtown and the institutions of Oakland and Shadyside as well as becomes a destination along the Fifth Avenue Express. DESIGN PROCESS At the intersection of transit, business, and community, the Halket Station TOD emerges as a “Third Place” within the City of Pittsburgh as an alternative to the two social spheres of work and home. A café, copy center, and bicycle storage center along Fifth Avenue creates an integrated business/meeting space for local workers, residents, and BRT passengers and a childcare facility within the community center serves the same combined population. Quality green spaces at midblock create a rare community place within the city and a neighborhood amenity for local residents, introducing a variety of facilities, including a community garden, playground, an event pavilion, and a plaza theater, which support both formal and informal activities. Clear pedestrian access is facilitated by a series of ramps and steps that lead to and through the green space, directly linking destinations and diverse programs for a variety of people, whether just passing through (eg, to/from the transit stop) or meeting with colleagues or friends. It is through this sense of unexpected that community and transit are connected.
DOWNTOWN: 126,000 Total Employees EAST END: Focus of Current Redevelopment
HALKET STREET STATION
OAKLAND: Third Largest Pennsylvania Employment Center
Halket Station Strategic Location between adjacent stops supports development of the this future stop
Typical right of way condition along Fifth Avenue in Oakland
Proposed right of away configuration accommodating Fifth Avenue Express
SURROUNDING CONTEXT
ROAD HIERARCHY AND CIRCULATION E
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The future Halket Station site is located in the heart of the dense, urban neighborhood of Oakland. The site is surrounded by larger institutional buildings, characterized by large building masses.
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Vehicular traffic through Oakland is dominated by the one-way pair of Fifth and Forbes Avenues. The intersection of Halket Street at Fifth Avenue and potential connections to the residential neighborhood of South Oakland support the future transit stop.
Primary Secondary
DESTINATIONS WITHIN 1/4 MILE WALK
Tertiary Signalized Pedestrian Crossing
VACANT PARCELS WITHIN 1/4 MILE WALK Many employment centers and destinations are within a 1/4 mile walking distance to the Halket Street station. High ridership from these key destinations support this future stop as well as the proposed TOD.
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH: 46,000 STUDENTS & STAFF UPMC: 9,106 EMPLOYEES
Although there are not many vacant parcels in the Oakland neighborhood, economic development in the area can help fill “missing teeth” of the site and adjacent parcels as well as increase property values in the surrounding area.
OAKLAND BUSINESS DISTRICT CARLOW UNIVERSITY: 2,806 STUDENTS & STAFF MAGEE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL: 2,269 EMPLOYEES
Occupied Parcels Vacant Parcels
SITE PLAN Retail: Residential: Office: Community Center: Total
33,500 SF 102,000 SF 147,500 SF 7,000 SF 290,000 SF
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Community Center
Primary Entries
Pedestrian Circulation
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Office Space
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Retail
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Halket Street Station
Stepped building mass responds to site topography Designated BRT lanes and two-way traffic improves traffic flow along Fifth Avenue Two-way traffic on Forbes Avenue
Fifth Avenue
Forbes Avenue
Ground floor commercial uses support Fifth Avenue BRT and Halket Street TOD
Interior green space on grade with BRT station and Fifth Avenue Upper storey residential units take advantage of south facing and interior courtyard views
Fifth Avenue Forbes Avenue
Copy Center Cafe Bicycle Storage
Event Space
Meeting Room
4 1
Business Center Cafe
Community Plaza
3 2 Community Gateway
Common Plaza Meeting Room
Residential Gardens
Meeting Room
1. Aerial view of Fifth Avenue and Halket Street Station. Building form works with existing urban context.
2. Intersection of Coltart Avenue and Fifth Avenue celebrate the community of Oakland. Stepped garden references the steps of Pittsburgh, taking pedestrians on an unexpected journey
3. Interior public space becomes the heart of the Oakland
community, hosting a variety of activities, performances, and catered events.
4. The intersection of
business, transit, and community, create the “Third Place� in Pittsburgh
KIGALI SUSTAINABILITY METRICS: Exploring Performative Approaches to Urbanism Kigali, Rwanda CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY MASTER OF URBAN DESIGN GROUP STUDIO PROJECT SUMMER 2012 •
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Graphics, site plans, and diagrams designed in Illustrator. 3D models designed in SketchUp and rendered in Illustrator. Perspectives drawn by hand and rendered in Photoshop.
OBJECTIVE The focus of the summer urban design studio was to analyze existing zoning codes and planning tools of the City of Kigali in order to better align existing conditions with sustainability goals. While the country of Rwanda is moving towards urbanization and emerging as a global competitor, lack of formal planning, limited infrastructure, existing housing stock, and strong cultural traditions are opportunities and constraints that the country is currently facing and were addressed in the design process. Different from other urban design proposals that prescribe specific design solutions, the studio took a performance-based approach as a means to work with existing planning efforts and regulatory documents and create a comprehensive yet flexible planning tool for the City. DESIGN PROCESS The study began with an audit of existing zoning codes and the City’s comprehensive master plan to determine constraints, opportunities, and goals of the existing planning tools. From here, the studio outlined eight major themes which were commonly found within the master plan documents. With the over arching goals of economy, equity, and ecology as guiding principles, the studio team developed a series of sustainability metrics and recommendations under each of the eight themes to better align design visions and sustainability goals with existing conditions and market demands. These guidelines, which provide a good, better, best scale, were based off of current guidelines such as LEED ND and ASLA Sustainable Sites Initiative Guidelines & Performance Benchmarks as well as recommendations developed by the MUD studio based on the studio’s trip to Kigali. STUDY METHODOLOGY & DELIVERABLES In order to test the effectiveness of the sustainability metrics in the context of Kigali and illustrate a variety of design scenarios, each of the measures and criteria were evaluated at the district, block, and parcel/street level scales. The results of this analysis, rather than serving as an urban design solution, demonstrated how the city could develop under the current zoning code and subsequent sustainability metrics. While one scenario or another might ultimately be judged to be more successful, the primary purpose was to push and test the limits of the possible within the proposed regime of metrics. This was done in part to predict possible unintended negative implications of the regulations, thus allowing the rules to be refined. The final product of the study is a comprehensive tool that can be used by Kigali city planners as well as its residents. TASKS COMPLETED Individual contribution included testing existing zoning codes and planning tools to develop sustainability metrics. Tested and refined proposed benchmarks at district, block, and parcel level through modeling exercises. Drew parcel-level perspectives by hand and rendered in Photoshop.
While Kigali is currently exploring city-wide planning efforts, the MUD team focused specifically on the Nyarugenge District, a mixed use area to the south of the city center. Because current zoning codes and the proposed master plan allow for a dense mix of residential, commercial, industrial, and open spaces, the district offered a variety of land uses and conditions in which the studio could study and test proposed recommendations. After an extensive site analysis and an audit of existing zoning codes, started on-site in Kigali and later finished in Pittsburgh, the team outlined a series of constraints and opportunities to guide the development of the sustainability metrics.
TOPOGRAPHY
EXISTING BUILDINGS AND ZONES
Slope higher than 20%: Construction only in special circumstances
Existing civic zone
Flat plateau: Ideal for development
Biryogo Market
VIEWS AND GREEN CONNECTIONS Flat plateau with unobstructed views: Ideal for prime development and public use
Proposed Urban Park
GAPS IN VEHICULAR ACCESS Areas not served by vehicular access
Existing civic buildings Developable slope
Slope between 15-20%: Difficult to develop, with high infrastructure costs
Strong existing commercial district
Existing informal single family housing
Potential green connection
Unbuildable areas can be developed into green amenities/green infrastructure
Irregular scale and grain of road network
STUDY METHODOLOGY 2.
The study’s goals for urban regulation were drawn directly from the past planning goals and themes outlined in the KCMP and the Nyarugenge District Master Plan. The two sets of goals were reorganized and synthesized into eight major categories and are meant to ensure achieving the balance of economy, ecology, and equity.
1. URBA AN RENEWAL
5. PASSIV VE DESIG GN
2. ECONOMIC C VITALIT TY
6. PLACEMAKIN NG
3. ACCE ESS TO OPEN SPACE
7. ACCE ESS TO LOCAL SERVIC CES S
STRATEGIES & RECOMMENDATIONS
Each of these eight goals was then broken into a series of discrete objectives with a set of corresponding design strategies. The general design strategies were then turned into sets of conceptual measures and quantitative metrics with measurable targets and thresholds specific to one of three scales: district, block and parcel/street level.
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4. ECOLOGIC CA L PRESERVATION & IN NTEG GRATIO ON
8. ECOLOGIC C AL PRES SERVATION & IN NTEG GRATIO ON
3. SCENARIOS: TESTING THE METRICS In order to test the effectiveness of the sustainability metrics in the context of Kigali as well as refine recommendations, each of the measures and criteria were evaluated at the district, block, and parcel/street level. Four testing sites were selected and used to illustrate a variety of outcomes.
SITE A
DISTRICT
SITE B
200m
200m
SITE C
SITE D
BLOCK
STREET LEVEL
Front Property Line
GOALS
Front Property Line
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DISTRICT LEVEL TESTING
PRESERVATION OF EXISTING ASSETS
OPEN SPACE RESTORATION
GREEN STREET & CORRIDOR
VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY
Three distinct plans were generated at the district scale using the existing zoning land-use categories and existing basic infrastructure. While the land-use categories and mapping were maintained, other aspects of the zoning code were modified by the proposed sustainability metrics. The three scenarios balance the metrics requirements of open space allocation, building preservation and infrastructure connectivity in different ways, but all achieve the thresholds of the metrics. The scenarios were designed to be intentionally divergent to ensure that the metrics would allow for a diversity of possible acceptable outcomes, responding to current conditions and future market demands.
ND 2nd Avenue
PRESERVATION Min 10% conservation on slope <10%; Min 20% conservation on slope >10%
GREEN STREETS Connect open spaces and improve walking experience
CONNECTIVITY Maximum 180 m distance between intersections
OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION Minimum 40% restoration on slopes over 20%
Preserved
Open Space
New Development
Green Corridor
Regular Road
Green Street
Pedestrian Path
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MIX OF USES & DIVERSE HOUSING TYPOLOGIES
CONSERVATION OF EXISTING ASSETS
SCENARIO 1 ND 2nd Avenue
PROS High portion of frontage built-to. Existing and new buildings are well integrated.
CONS R3 blocks are very large and interrupt the existing grid.
Front Property Line
BLOCK LEVEL TESTING
Front Property Line
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BUILDING SETBACK AND FRONTAGE BUILDTO & PARKING ACCESS
PASSIVE ORIENTATION
SCENARIO 2 ND 2nd Avenue
PROS Strong well defined pedestrian scale network by limiting street-facing building facade setback.
CONS Parking access from front in residential area. Conserved buildings are less integrated.
Next, urban massing was explored at the block scale in four sample areas for each of the three district scenarios. The sample areas were selected to illustrate the issues in the different zoning categories and to explore how transitions from one zoning district to the next could be managed. For each sample area, three distinct scenarios were generated and evaluated based on the block level design drivers. Through a mix of uses and housing typologies, refined preservation plans, passive design strategies, and more stringent frontage build-to and parking rules, the team was able to visualize how these specific recommendations could be applied at a larger scale and begin to define an overall massing. SCENARIO 3 ND 2nd Avenue
PROS Clusters of preserved buildings allow for a mix of scales and incomes.
CONS R3 blocks are very large and interrupt the existing grid.
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PARCEL LEVEL TESTING
40% 15m
3m
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<2 3m
<2
BLANK WALLS AT STREET LEVEL
GROUND LEVEL GLAZING
FUNCTIONAL BUILDING ENTRIES
STREET SHADING
Finally, the implications of the metrics for the parcel and street level scale design decisions were illustrated using a series of eye level perspectives corresponding to the four sample areas tested by the block level design drivers. These images illustrate elements of the existing building code as well as recommendations developed from the sustainability metrics which promote placemaking. Focused on facade articulation, the relationship between buildings and the street, and sidewalk shading, parcel level design drivers illustrate how thoughtful, site-specific design strategies at street level can facilitate the transition between old and new and promote an active pedestrian realm.
TYPICAL R3-C3A ZONING DISTRICT WITH APPLIED BLOCK LEVEL DESIGN DRIVERS
ND 2nd Avenue
ND 2nd Avenue
MAXIMUM % BLANK WALL AT GROUNDLEVEL
ND 2nd Avenue
MINIMUM % GLAZING AT GROUNDLEVEL
% SHADING OVER STREETS
Maximum
Achieved
Required
Achieved
Required
Achieved
40%
30%
60%
66%
40%
60%
C3A TYPICAL
R2
Medium rise apartment
ND 2ND AVE BEFORE
Parking lot along street edge for residential apartments
7m front minimum setback
Existing commercial buildings
GREEN CORRIDOR
Single family Townhouse
ND 2ND AVE AFTER
Medium rise apartment
Raised front porch creates privacy for residents
Preserved commercial buildings
Street trees provide shading along the street and sidewalk
CHICAGO MARITIME AND HISTORIC CENTER Chicago, IL UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME SENIOR THESIS PROPOSAL SPRING 2009 •
Ferguson & Shamamian Undergraduate Prize
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Dean’s Undergraduate Award for Design Excellence in Architecture
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Work Published in Acroterion, University of Notre School of Architecture yearly publication, 20082009
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Designed and drafted in AutoCAD and presented on eighteen 30 x 40 inch plates.
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Plans and technical sheets rendered in Photoshop. Elevations, sections, and perspectives rendered in watercolor.
OBJECTIVE The senior thesis proposal for a maritime and historic center for the city of Chicago was completed in spring 2009. Adapted from the Metal Construction Association student design competition, the objective of the project was to develop a plan for Northerly Island to reconnect the city and people of Chicago to the Lake Michigan shoreline. Conducted in spirit of the Daniel H. Burnham Plan of Chicago of 1909, the design includes a Maritime Museum and Historic Center of Chicago along the lakefront which celebrates Chicago’s rich maritime history and enhances the existing network of civic and public spaces of the Museum Campus. SITE DEVELOPMENT The overall site plan took form from the study of the Burnham plan and inspiration was drawn from his idea of attracting people to Lake Michigan. The shape of the island came from the existing profile of the Burnham harbor and the 12th street beach area, and responds to shifting axis of McCormick place. The island design includes a major north south axis flanked by updated beach facilities, a civic center which includes the proposed museum, and an outdoor amphitheater which replaces the temporary Charter One Pavilion. The museum is located in the center of the island on axis with east Waldron Drive, which allows for a strong connection with the city as well as provides the most ideal setting for outdoor dock facilities. DESIGN PROCESS The site and the function of the building influenced the design and development of the museum plan. The building is unique because it has two frontages, one which faces Lake Michigan and the other which addresses the Chicago skyline. The major focus of the museum is the barrel vaulted vessel gallery around which all spaces in the museum are organized. This space is expressed on the exterior façade by the triumphal arch and large glass panels that open completely to expose the interior. The museum is set up in chronological order of Chicago’s maritime history and the exhibits direct visitors in and around the main space on the first and second floor. The basement of the museum is where most of the educational and administrative functions occur and includes an educational wing and a 250 person auditorium. Outdoor spaces and exhibits were also incorporated into the museum to take advantage of waterfront recreation and views. These spaces are accessed off of the first floor gallery, temporary exhibit, and café are located in the basement. PRECEDENT Local context and character played a major role in the planning of the site and the exterior design of the museum. The classical architecture of the adjacent museum campus as well as the buildings from the Columbian exposition in 1893 were influential in establishing a character and language for the design. Another precedent studied was the Brooklyn museum by McKim Mead and white which had a similar parti. The rear of the building took form from the original facade of Chicago’s Union Station by Graham, Probst, and White as well as Chelsea pier in New York City by Warren and Wetmore. Because the design of the museum was not literal in form to its function, it was important to study ornament and iconography. The use of anchors, shells, portholes, figure heads, and roping became an integral part of the design. Inscribed in the frieze band are the names of the great lakes and bodies of water that connect them, the states that border the great lakes, and types of boats common to Chicago history.
FRESHMAN RESIDENTIAL HOUSE FOR HARVARD YARD Cambridge, MA UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC STUDIO PROJECT FALL 2008 •
Studio Special Commendation
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Designed and drafted in AutoCAD and displayed on 16, 30x40 inch plates.
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Renderings were completed in black and white and color in Photoshop to show theoretical design as well as realistic materials.
OBJECTIVE Completed in the fall of 2008, this project focused on the design a 200 person freshman residential house for the Harvard Yard. On the site of current Canaday Hall, the new residence hall is intended to replace the more recently constructed building. The site of the project is located behind the Memorial Chapel and is a major transition point between the historical red brick buildings characteristic to the university and the more contemporary buildings of the new campus. Challenges addressed within the project include preservation and augmentation of existing structures, and the balance of private and public living spaces. SITE DEVELOPMENT After examining the Harvard Yard through a series of figure ground studies, it was evident that a strong axial quality exists between the Memorial Chapel and Weidner Library. This relationship dictated the basic design decisions, and determined the location of the building. With symmetries and axes in mind, the entrance lobby is in line with that of the Memorial Chapel, and the mass of the dorm wraps around the Memorial Chapel to balance the overwhelming size of the Weidner library located on south side of the quad. Sidewalks and the sloped plaza off of the building portico direct pedestrians to the dorm entrances. The service and loading area is located on the east side of the site. DESIGN PROCESS In designing the dorm, it was important to compliment the Memorial Chapel, the cultural and spiritual center of the campus, through conscience decisions pertaining to character, building height, and appropriate materials. The basic parti of the dorm contains two self supporting wings, with a central circulation core that services all five levels of the building. Administrative functions including the assistant dean’s suite and office, classrooms, computer cluster, and library are located on the ground floor where pedestrian traffic is the heaviest. Each wing of the residence hall has sixteen double suites with shared corner lounges, study spaces, and kitchens. Entertainment amenities for the residents such as a theater, music and exercise rooms, laundry facilities, and additional study spaces are located in the basement. PRECEDENT Inspiration for the project was drawn from the surrounding precedent as well as modern influences, and tailored specifically to the needs of students at the University. The work of Aldo Rossi, who used the principals of classical design within a modern context, was closely examined and adapted in the final design. This is evident in the overall proportioning systems, basic geometries, and color scheme. Building materials include red brick, yellow block, and copper windows, gutter boxes, and downspouts.
CRAIG STREET BASE CONDITIONS STUDY Pittsburgh, PA INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT FALL 2012 Collaborating Partners: Carnegie Mellon University School or Architecture, The Remaking Cities Institute Client: Carnegie Mellon University â&#x20AC;˘
OBJECTIVE Completed in the Fall of 2012, the study, in conjunction with the Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture and the Remaking Cities Institute, seeks to document the base conditions of South Craig Street Business District to serve as a benchmark for future construction, building additions, and improvements to the public realm. Once recognized as the Western border of the Carnegie Mellon University, South Craig Street, between Fifth and Forbes Avenues in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has become a major commercial corridor in North Oakland and home to many of the Carnegie Mellon Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s academic, administrative, research, and business facilities. In recent years, Carnegie Mellon has acquired new properties in the area as well as completed a comprehensive master plan which includes plans for the area at hand. It is their hope, that this study, which documents block structure, circulation patterns, building use, property ownership, existing tenants, and building heights, to name a few, along with the campus mater plan will aid in determining the future of Craig Street, its relationship to the CMU community and the preserving the unique local character of the business district.
Base conditions drafted in AutoCAD and rendered in Photoshop. Diagrams and site sections designed in Illustrator.
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Structured Surface On- Street
BLOCK STRUCTURE
UPMC
PARKING
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
CARLOW UNIVERSITY
Major Minor Pedestrian
SCHENLEY PARK
FIGURE GROUND
CIRCULATION
1
Filmore Street
Flossie Way
2
1
S. Craig Street
2
Forbes Avenue
Primary Entrance Secondary Entrance/ Access to Upper Floors ADA Accessible Entrance
P
12’-0” Sidewalk
P
36’ Drive 60’-0” ROW Typical
12’-0” Sidewalk
12’-0” Setback
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PLAN: TARENTUM, PA Tarentum, PA URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES SUMMER INTERN PROJECT SUMMER 2008 •
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Plans and street sections designed and drafted by hand and rendered with marker. Facade transformation drafted by hand and rendered in Photoshop.
OBJECTIVE As part of the intern training program at Urban Design Associates, interns devote three weeks in order to establish a core understanding of urban design techniques and processes performed at UDA, as well as to give back to the Pittsburgh community through a design project. The project at hand was a main street revitalization project intended to restore the vitality, prosperity, and pedestrian friendly atmosphere that once thrived in the small suburban railroad town of Tarentum, Pennsylvania. Issues addressed in the report ranged from easy improvements such as lighting and sign suggestions to the more complex, including radical changes within the Central Business District (CBD). The report was presented to the town members of Tarentum as well as to the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. DESIGN DEVELOPMENT Under the guidance of a UDA project manager and fellow architecture team members, interns were taught proper methods of site documentations, photo reconnaissance, and effective ways for illustrating design suggestions. Two days were spent on location documenting architectural character, standard dimensions of streets and sidewalks, and pinpointing the weaknesses of the CBD. In an attempt to address the railroad tracks that bisect the CBD, three revitalization strategies were developed to include public improvements, private investment opportunities, and three key initiatives. In more detail, public improvements discussed opportunities for streetscaping, landscaping, and coordination of parking within the town. Private investment opportunities encouraged business and property owners to take advantage of county and state funds to renovate and rehabilitate existing structures and infill vacancies within the CBD as shown on the illustrative plan. The three key initiatives suggest the improvement of the town entrance at 6th Avenue, the creation of a town square around the existing railroad station, and the restructuring of the Corbet Street plaza to revive the once historic civic space. TASKS COMPLETED Individual contribution included the development of the key initiatives and the first designs of the master plan. Existing street conditions were documented and new proposed street sections were rendered to illustrate recommendations. Individual attention was given to the three step ground floor and façade renovation of one of the CBD buildings, which identified problem areas and offered design recommendations. The rendering of the town perspective was also completed by hand with colored pencils, and offered an idea of what the town could look like with the strategic investment plan in place.
ABOVE Proposed Plan for Corbet Street Conceptual View of Corbet Street with the Addition of Pave Tabletop, Improved Landscaping, and Street Furniture
Facade Renovation, Tarentum Central Business District
Artist Rendering of Tarentum Central Business District
TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CLASSROOM ADDITION Montgomery, AL GOODWYN, MILLS, AND CAWOOD SPRING 2010-2011 Client: Trinity Presbyterian School Square Footage: 11,500 SF Project Completed: 2011 Construction Cost: $1,740,000
DESIGN PROCESS Completed in 2011, the Trinity Presbyterian Classroom addition sought to accommodate the Trinity Presbyterian Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing lower school enrollment. The plan includes a two-story, 11,500 sf building with four new classrooms and a dedicated art room. The focus of the plan, a new library and research room, previously located in the main school building, built upon the color scheme and design of the upper school library. The design team aimed to create a colorful and fun space that reflected the youthful nature of the students expressed through the interior finishes, furniture, and circular shapes of the ceiling treatments and lighting. The project master plan includes a corridor that would connect the classroom addition to the existing school campus while creating a new entrance lobby to the school. TASKS COMPLETED Tasks completed included the design of the circulation desk, interior facade and detail design, interior finish selection and client and consultant coordination.
NEW HARTSELLE HIGH SCHOOL Hartselle, AL GOODWYN, MILLS, AND CAWOOD SPRING 2010-2011 Client: Hartselle City Board of Education Square Footage: 230,000 SF 1,100 students Project Completed: 2014 Construction Cost: $38,000,000
DESIGN PROCESS In Spring 2010, the Hartselle City Board of Education sought the design and planning expertise of Goodwyn, Mills, and Cawood to design the new Hartselle High School. The traditional exterior design, characteristic of the Hartselle Central Business District, and modern, open interiors, designed in the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s colors, was designed to accommodate the growing population of the district. The plan, with a design capacity of 1,200 students, consists of a is a two-story classroom wing with 45 general instruction classrooms, a 1,200 seat performing arts auditorium, full music and drama support facilities, a large kitchen and cafeteria, and media center. The school master plan also supports a full athletic program with football practice facilities, tennis courts, and indoor baseball practice facility. The plan also includes a 1,600 seat competition sports arena with concourse level concessions and a practice gymnasium within the two-story plan. TASKS COMPLETED As a member of the project design team, tasks included exterior facade design, focusing on classical proportions and material selection, as well as full design of interior spaces including media center, cafeteria, auditorium, gymnasium and common spaces.