To Be Rendered by Emily Gowder

TO BE RENDERED PORTFOLIO BY EMILY GOWDER

EMILY GOWDER UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE 2019 egowder@vols.utk.edu | 615.506.4985

TABLE OF CONTENTS ARCHITECTURE

Element 92 Apartments

Photography Workshop

Icelandic Spa

Culinary Pavilion

SKILL SETS

Photography

Arts

Digital Graphics

ARCHITECTURE

ELEMENT FALL

2018

PROFESSOR

APARTMENTS

JAMES

SITE: In a beautiful landscape best known for its technological advances sits Oak Ridge. Once considered an instant city, the town grew rapidly overnight in order to house employees of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory during World War II. Now, the city is facing a slow decline in population as its work force frequently chooses to reside elsewhere. Oak Ridge is largely composed of sprawling suburbs and big box stores in areas that are largely ostracized from one another. It lacks a centralized idea of “down-town” due to this and is looking to remedy problems that its historical secrecy encouraged. The city itself still supports researchers at the National Lab as well as serves one of the most progressive and successful school districts in the state which is expected to attract a variety of inhabitants.

ROSE

OAK

RIDGE,

PROJECT: This project developed at two scales, the master plan and the individual building.

First, our team designed the site to encourage slow traffic through a newly developed business and retail district. This maintains the companies , retailers and restaurants already present but in a more condensed way which optimizes space and reduces surface parking. The site is organized with its more “urban” style living near the front of South Illinois with a gradient toward quieter, larger residences receding towards the rear of the site. A main axis runs down the center of the site, beginning as a road in the live-work apartment complex which then becomes a pedestrian arcade through the middle of the site. This continues back through town-homes and finally terminates at a new boardwalk following the creek. The specific site is located on a large swath of The rear of the site is developed into a outdoor land South of Illinois Avenue that is composed of recreation hub where a planned green-line will a string of large big-box stores and the large sur- connect to a main route around Oak Ridge. face parking-lot which serves it. Beyond the line of store-fronts there is mostly undeveloped field Second, a smaller team developed specific which is wooded near a shallow creek. Beyond schematics for young professional apartment that is an abandoned putt-putt center. living which serves the technology companies at the front of the site. This building explores creating a living environment which will be accepted CLIENT: A variety of technology companies are seventy-five years into the future of Oak Ridge. looking to create a live-work community for their The building is constructed using progressive, young professionals that will be in close-prox- sustainable materials using locally sourced imity to Oak Ridge’s research hub. The project heavy-timber parallam structure and recycled master plan looks to address a variety of housing aluminum sheathing. The design accommodates solutions and amenities, providing diverse hous- for a variety of rent-ability options offering studio, ing typologies for various household sizes while loft and 2-bedroom apartment options each with also incorporating outdoor space, emphasizing their own opportunities for private outdoor space. on Oak Ridge’s natural beauty. The building proj- In addition to this, the building focuses on shared ect itself takes a closer look at apartment style spaces and amenities on the ground and second housing using progressive technology in sustain- level which look to encourage a sense of commuability and design. nity throughout.

Project in collaboration with Sydney Bittinger, Madison Butler and John Huddleston on SITE TEAM Rachel Larson and Breanna Williams on BUILDING TEAM

OAK RIDGE ... A CITY BORN TO INNOVATE 4

MASTER PLANNING IN OAK RIDGE

CRIME IN OAK RIDGE

RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY This section of the site looks to provide space to growing families as this has direct access to an adjacent park system. Families are encouraged to utilize the urban landscape outside of their front door.

Creek Section by Breanna Williams Crime Data by Rachel Larson 5

BIG BOX: COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL This building uses the shell and structure of a generic store to create a unique urban condition. This block will serve as the main hub of the site by providing multiple interior and exterior public spaces. The mix of housing types will give young professionals a unique setting to relax and thrive in.

COMMERCIAL FRONT The commercial front will be designed for the pedestrian and biker in mind. Although there will be automotive accommodations, the site will focus on the human scale. The site will address Illinois Avenue with wider, well lit, sidewalks and introduces greenery into the space. The storefronts will have varied heights in order to create visual variety as well as offer tenants different rentable rates. The South building will offer studio housing options with rooftop access to adjacent single-story units.

GREENWAYS Oak Ridge has a system of green-ways set up for bikers, walkers and runners. The design will look to connect and continue these pathways to encourage residents to explore the beautiful landscape that Oak Ridge resides in. The design will also provide a â&#x20AC;&#x153;pit stopâ&#x20AC;? to those using the trails with shops pertaining to recreational activities.

FLOOD PLANE The site is located in a flood plane and may experience minor flooding towards the southern part of the site due to a small creek. The design includes a raised boardwalk which may serve as retaining walls during an event.

CREEK BOARDWALK The master design incorporates design of a boardwalk which harks back to Oak Ridge History. It will encourage outdoor activities as well as aid in connecting the Rails to Trails project to surrounding Oak Ridge Greenways.

FORM FINDING

Iteration_01

Iteration_04 Iteration 04

Iteration_02

Iteration_03

Iteration_05

Final Form

STUDIO APT_760 sf

LOFT APT_1,030 sf

1.25

APARTMENTS 2.5

LOCAT

ION PL

AN 2-BEDROOM APT V01_ 1,500 sf

2-BEDROOM APT V02_ 1,150 sf

1.25

APARTMENTS 2.5

02 05

PROGRAM

01_MECHANICAL 02_COFFEE SHOP 03_ELEVATOR LOBBY 04_WATER & FRESH AIR MECHANICAL 05_GYM 06_MECHANICAL 07_LEASING OFFICE 08_MARKET 09_RECREATION ROOM 9

275 sf 520 sf 430 sf 325 sf 1,500 sf 85 sf 1,400 sf 550 sf 1,400 sf

06 08

1.25 GROUND LEVEL

2.5

20 10

LOFT LEVEL

3RD LEVEL

1.25

3RD LEVEL AND LOFT 10

2.5

2ND LEVEL

1.25 2.5

20 10

Creeping Jenny Lysimachia nummularia, better known as Creeping Jenny, is a fast growing, hardy, evergreen perennial that thrives in damp environments, though it will tolerate drier climates. It can grow up to 2 inches in height and can spread rapidly through rooting. With small yellow blooms in summer this plant will provide ample greenery throughout the site.

Materials research by Rachel Larson 13

Bonded Aluminum Panels with Dark Patina Bonded Aluminum Panels create a high performance surface which allows easy molding resulting in quick replication and customization. These panels are tested to last 40 years and have been chosen for their durability and visual texture. This dark material will contrast the lower level.

Bald Cypress This material is locally sourced and readily available as it naturally grows in the Southern U.S. As this material is harvested from second and third growth forests, the wood does not naturally contain rot resistant cypressine oil found in old growth trees meaning that it will need to be treated before being applied to an exterior condition in a manner similar to Pine and Fir tree siding. This material is dimensionally stable and will be milled smooth and be used to clad the first floor amenity spaces.

Parallel Laminated Timber Columns and Beams Parallel Laminated Timber construction, or Parallam, shows advancements in wood building technologies for its strength, sustainability, and aesthetic quality. The cross-layering of wood fibers allows for the lumber to be strong in tension and compression, allowing it to be used for columns and beams. Structural columns will be exposed to highlight the beauty of the material. These will be treated accordingly to ensure the lifespan of the material.

1” Planter Base Paver Pedestal Moisture Barrier

8” Rigid Insulation

3”x6” Decking 3/8” Flaxboard Drywall

18x2 Secondary Framing

R-Value [38.47]

Pour in Place Concrete Moisture Barrier

Mineral Wool Insulation 3/8” Flaxboard Drywall 2”x4” Furring Metal Spacer 1/2” Cork Finish

4” Foundation

Gravel 4” Rigid Insulation Frost Skirt

R-Value [37.76]

1 2

Sta

irca

ctio n

Gra

The Grand Staircase is a unique form designed to serve not only as a way of passage, but also a means to bring the community together. The stairway features a terraced green area which provides seating for collaborating or simply taking a break during lunch. The porch gives access to the second level in a grand sweeping gesture. The gardens located on the patio surface could be re-purposed as community gardens in the future.

PARKING AS INFRASTRUCTURE

Solar Car-park

Geothermal Loop

This project uses a geothermal field in order to source heating and cooling not only for itself, but also for the buildings in the surrounding block. With 190 boreholes at 390 feet deep, the array will harvest 380 tons, meeting the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requirement of 232 tonnes per year with an excess of almost 150 tons. Utilizing this system eliminates traditional heating and cooling systems and uses of systems such as a cooling tower, cutting down on the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water usage while still maintaining a reliable system for each tenant.

Geothermal research by Rachel Larson 17

This project will utilize an array of photovoltaic panels in order to harvest renewable energy. This array covers 6,156 square feet and serves as a shaded parking area for tenants, reducing heat island effect. The array is expected to produce 11,636.16 kWh per month compensating for 97% of the buildings residential energy needs. Any excess energy can be used to power surrounding buildings.

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP SPRING 2018 | PROFESSOR DAVID FOX | CHATTANOOGA, TN PROJECT: Photography is a field of education which is growing in popularity with the aid and ease of access to advancing technology. Despite this, most people do not have adequate access to tools such as expensive camera equipment, processing programs, professional studios, or even peers and mentors that will help grow a blossoming photography hobby or career. In addition to this, many people are not able to even The site that this project focuses on sits at the experience film photography or learn the basics base of Missionary Ridge and is located at the of film processing. intersection of 16th Avenue and Dodds Avenue, a since abandoned brick church and two lots This learning studio focuses on creating a facilof land directly behind it. Located a ten minute ity that provides students from both the college drive outside of the main city, the church sits at and surrounding community with the tools and the start of a neighborhood populated by homes instruction necessary to catalyze an interest in the diverse forms of photography. The studio constructed in the mid 1900â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. provides space for activities such as field pracCLIENT: The University of Tennessee, Chat- tice in controlled and uncontrolled environments, tanooga is looking to expand studio space to a processing equipment in digital and analog forsatellite location in Chattanooga to connect with mats and even the opportunity to display work to the community and revitalize outlying areas in the community in the gallery. the city. This studio space will provide a unique and intimate connection between the students The design follows a simple hierarchy with pubattending the University and members of the sur- lic and private spaces denoted visually through rounding community through shared interests in ceiling height and use of natural and artificial light, guiding the occupants through the space learning a specific skill set. in a straightforward manner. The architecture is The studio space will inhabit the lot behind the intended to create an environment that caters to church while the existing church building is con- the needs of the trade in a simple yet thoughtful verted into a community center designed by UTC way. Interior Design students. SITE: Chattanooga, Tennessee is becoming a new hot spot for revitalization of previously industrial dominated riverfront. The redesigned Tennessee Riverfront provides a perfect place for thriving public life. With these changes comes gentrification and the neglect of outlying parts of the city, ostracized by interstate underpasses and industrial neighborhoods.

Section A

Northwest Elevation Section B

Southwest Elevation

PROGRAM Form is created using regulating lines projected from the form of the church existing on the site, then shifted in order to create spaces that emphasize the intended procession.

Gallery

3,500 sf

Darkroom

2,500 sf

Studio

550 sf

Lightroom Lab

500 sf

Presentation Space

260 sf

Washrooms Janitorial | Mechanical

200 sf ea. 270 sf Ground Plan

Primary

The form of the building takes advantage of the slope of the hill giving the working studio spaces the ability to control lighting while allowing the roof plane to be inhabited.

Secondary Circulation

Hierarchy

Structure

Procession

Loft Plan

The materiality of the building is designed to narrate the story of the addition by pulling on aspects from the past while acknowledging revitalization efforts within the city. The structure reflects the historic aspects of the site through usage of brick on more public and community driven spaces. More modern, industrial materials such as board-form concrete are used to clad the private studios and workspaces. Glass entrances into the space are used to create public transparency of transition.

Top: Northwest Elevation Bottom: Southwest Elevation

The organization of the building creates two distinct zones that can be defined as public and private. These zones are denoted through materiality, ceiling height and lighting type with public zones having a brick facade, high ceilings and an abundance of natural light and more privatized zones with limited facade exposure, lower ceilings and controlled lighting.

Top: Section A Bottom: Section B

ICELANDIC SPA FALL 2017 | PROFESSOR TRACY MOIR-McCLEAN | REYKJAVIK, ICELAND SITE: Iceland was the last country to be settled in Europe. Despite its name, ice only covers 10% of the land. Other terrains include black sand beaches, active volcanoes, lush valleys and fjords cut by glaciers. These landscapes have become closely tied to the Icelandic culture and its inhabitants are avid on preserving its natural beauty. In 2012 it was rated as the Greenest Country and consistently provides renewable energy. Other aspects of the Icelandic culture includes a rich literary history tied to past folklore, tightknight communities that creates a friendly atmosphere, and pride in their unique language. The country has been rated as one of the most productive countries in the world with an unemployment rate of only 4% and top measures in quality of life for its inhabitants. In 2016, the population was recorded at 332,000 people and is the most sparsely populated country in Europe with only three inhabitants per square kilometer. Reykjavik, the capital city is the largest city in the country with 122,000 occupants.

PROJECT: The act of bathing is a deeply personal ritual that varies from culture to culture from the Roman Baths to Indian Step Wells to the luxury of a visit to the sauna. In present day, a sacred visit to a spa facility often goes with the intention to relax and reboot through a day of physical and spiritual cleansing. This spa is intended to lead the visitor, step by step, through an experiential journey that emphasizes on visual and sensational inputs delivered in unique ways by highlighting on contrasting elements such as light and dark, hot and cold, and ideals of comfort versus discomfort. With elements such as a nearly dry scalding sauna, input neutral sensory deprivation pods and the mysterious calm of a fog filled room, each visitor should leave the facility feeling as if they have â&#x20AC;&#x153;rebootedâ&#x20AC;? their body and given the time to reboot their minds as well.

The design is organized in a cylindrical layout with procession as the main driving force behind the form. The circular path offers a gentle rise as it reaches the climax of the experience, simultaneously representing the intensity of the experience, then slopes back down to ground level This project is located near the city center of which releases into a small garden, allowing the Reykjavik and caters toward diverse groups visitor time to readjust to the bustle of the city. throughout the course of a day primarily made up of foot traffic. The specific site is set back from the main square which is intended to slightly decrease audible input into the exterior elements of the project.

16-17

02-03 11

04 12-14

05 09

08 06

PROGRAM 01

RECEPTION

100 SF

10 PEOPLE

5-20 MIN

CHANGING

120 SF

1 PERSON PER SPACE / 5 SPACES

5-15 MIN

BATHING/SHOWERS

050 SF

1 PERSON PER SPACE / 5 SPACES

5-15 MIN

ENTRY POOL

500 SF

8 PERSONS

30-60 MIN

RAIN ROOM

200 SF

10 PERSONS

1-10 MIN

WARM POOL

300 -500 SF

8 PERSONS

20-30 MIN

DRY SAUNA

100 SF

5 PERSONS

2-15 MIN

FIRE POOL

100 SF

4 PERSONS

2-10 MIN

ICE POOL

100 SF

4-6 PERSONS

10-30 MIN

SENSORY TANK

350-400 SF

1 PERSON PER SPACE / 15 SPACES

30-60 MIN

FOG ROOM

400 SF

15-20 PERSONS

5-20 MIN

SENSORY BREEZE

WARM DRINK

200+ SF

10 PERSONS

30-70 MIN

GARDEN WALK

RELEASE

SERVICE 16

BATHROOMS (5-6)

420 SF

LINENS CLOSET/SUPPLY

100 SF

BIKE PARKING

30-50 SF

EXTERIOR 18

PROGRAM PIECE PRECEDENTS Rain Room

Rain Room is an exhibition focused on audience interaction, produced in 2012 presented by Random International as part of the MoMA PS1 exhibition EXPO 1 in New York. The room is a space encompassed by falling water that pauses when it senses the presence of a human body. The unique exhibit gives the participant the ability to control the rain. In this portion of the facility, falling water will become a process that is both cleansing and relaxing. Patrons will walk through the falling water at a speed of their choice as the consistent raining of droplets gently shower them. This should create a peaceful physical and auditory experience for each visitor.

Sensory Deprivation Tanks

Sensory deprivation tanks are small spaces that allow the body to be in a completely sensory sterile environment.. The water contains a salt density that allows the body to effortlessly float while the water itself is heated to external body temperature. The tanks allow for the muscles and mind to relax with no light or sound inputs, creating an atmosphere that is ideal for complete relaxation and meditation. Afterwards, the patrons will have heightened senses.

Blind Light

Japanese Garden

Blind Light was a space that was created for an exhibition by Antony Gormley in 2007. The piece was meant to explore and challenge the meaning of architecture, giving the visitors the opposite of “location of security and certainty about where you are. It is supposed to protect you from...uncertainty”. It is meant to displace the occupant giving them the possibility of being anywhere, hidden by the obscurity of mist.

Japanese Gardens are designed with intentional haptic experiences. The paths are set in a way that asks the occupant to observe each step with each element building to enrich the experience in quiet ways. The terrain is laid to remind them of themselves without causing a great amount of stress on the body.

The fog room will surround the patron in a semi-dense blanket of fog allowing the senses to slowly return through the light touch of the cool, humid air and the visual light of the soft white cloud. Though they will no longer be completely devoid of sensory input, there will be only soft figures and feelings during this step in the program.

The last step in the process will reintroduce the occupant to the world on a quiet and relaxing scale. After drying in cool winds provided by the natural environment, the patron will walk through a garden that will allow them to hear the sounds of the city while being surrounded by a serene landscape back to where they will re-dress and enter the “real” world once again.

PROGRAM MISSION The program of the building is designed to create a series of physical experiences that increase in intensity to a point just before sensory overload. In this case, aspects such as heat, noise and light are used to build up to the climax of near overload ending with a plunge into a cold pool of water, stunning the nerves and eliciting a sense of pure sensational neutrality, a process used in the Finnish sauna. This physical experience leads to the next program piece: sensory deprivation tanks. The tanks then take advantage of the complete physical neutrality and put the patron in a setting where they may also reach complete mental peace. After these two intense experiences the spa goes through a few more steps in order to prepare the visitor to re-enter city life gently.

PHYSICAL SENSATION

EXPERIENTIAL PROCESSION 01

RECEPTION

CHANGING

BATHING/SHOWERS

86 F

ENTRY POOL

89.6 F

RAIN ROOM

84 F

WARM POOL

96.8 F

DRY SAUNA

140 F

FIRE POOL

107.6 F

ICE POOL

57.2 F

SENSORY TANK

75 F

FOG ROOM

72 F

SENSORY BREEZE

WARM DRINK

GARDEN WALK

RELEASE

AUDITORY SENSATION

VISUAL SENSATION

SERVICE 16

BATHROOMS (5-6)

LINENS CLOSET/SUPPLY

EXTERIOR 18

BIKE PARKING

The facade of the building is designed to reflect the process that is taking place inside the structure with bright exposed spaces in â&#x20AC;&#x153;lighterâ&#x20AC;? program pieces with decreasing visibility as the intensity increases. The warmer aspects of the program are represented through small reveals illuminated by warm lights. Below is an unraveled elevation representing a winter view from the interior courtyard.

UNRAVELED SECTION

HOLD

TOUCH

BREAK

ALIGN

CULINARY PAVILION (PROJ. 3.1) SPRING 2017 | PROFESSOR MICAH RUTENBERG | CINCINNATI, OH SITE: The University of Cincinnati in Ohio has curated a diverse campus landscape with a unique mix of architecture present throughout. A journey through the campus creates a haptic experience through expanses of green between dorms, terraces that cantilever over main walks and grandeur staircases that bloom from alleyways. It successfully combines the campus (between sports, academics and residential)while maintaining a sensible spatial organization. The home for this pavilion is comfortably nestled between the massive Campus Recreation Center designed by Morphosis and a more humble building which serves as a structure for the campus “Bike Kitchen” with the University Library adjacent. This site receives an abundance of foot traffic which quickly made passage an important factor in the design.

PROJECT: This project was driven by two unique experiences: First, When I first returned home from college as a Freshman for the first time I told my mother I wanted some fresh broccoli, steamed with no seasonings or dressings. I had never been the biggest fan of broccoli but at that time all I wanted was something fresh and made at home. Simple. Second, I had learned at one point that not all people grow up knowing where food really comes from and how it makes its way to grocery store shelves. As a student living in a campus dorm it is rare to come by a home cooked meal on a regular basis if at all. It is easy to only eat at campus dining halls and fast food establishments and forget how “real” food tastes. The pavilion creates not only a place for people to learn about food production but to also have an opportunity to sit down and have as close to a “family meal” as possible in an affordable fashion. The program is intended to include gardens with basic crops; stations to harvest, sort and store these crops; offer basic culinary experience and educate about compost.

CLIENT: The University of Cincinnati is in need of a community space that will allow students to collaborate, learn and teach one another more about food and production. This facility will hold classes that will teach the basics of farm to table production concepts as well as help give them a place to collaborate and simply connect over a meal. It is a place that gives students a change of The architecture itself will be primarily open air pace from the library and brings people together with the undulating roof supported by columns from all around campus. and a primary load bearing wall.

Family Dinner: A meal is one of the most powerful ways to bring people together. It is often a popular choice to meet in social circumstances as well as a vessel to conduct a casual business meeting. Food is something that all people have in common and understanding how a variety of people may share a table is important to understanding how to create a space where people from all backgrounds can come together to make this food.

Work Triangle: From apartments to suburban homes to commercial restaurants, all kitchens work in a similar way. The placement of certain appliances such as the sink, stove top and refrigerator influence how successful and fluidly a kitchen moves and produces. This diagram represents the kitchen work triangle in a specific instance and studies the movement through the production of a dish.

Sandwich Topography: At the start of the semester each students’ design was prompted with a specific recipe and style of cooking. I received the Open Face Turkey Sandwich with an emphasis on “Comfort Food.” After conducting some research, I found that the most popular recipe for an open faced sandwich in the South was the “Hot Brown Turkey Sandwich,” invented in Kentucky. After cooking this recipe a number of times and then prompted to create an architecture based off of it I began to study the layering of each ingredient, focusing on the specific role of each piece (left). This led to creating less ephemeral models constructed out of paraffin wax and dowels secured on a wooden base. The models were created by first securing a structure, then draping cheese cloth on top and pouring hot wax over which would then quickly cool and solidify in a thin layer between the holes in the cheesecloth. Repeated, this process created a rigid yet light structure that created its own undulating topography (right) that later inspired the final form of the pavilion.

The site is in a central location to campus surrounded by the student center, the College of Engineering, the library, residence halls, the main commons area and a variety of dining options only a short walk away. In its location it receives a great amount of pedestrian and bicycle traffic as well as some motor traffic making it important to be able to pass through the site, but also welcoming to anyone who passes by. Using regulating lines produced by axes present on campus, passages through the site became clear as well as where the building would be located on the plot. Excess land on the site is used to grow crops which will be used at the center as well as part of the unconventional â&#x20AC;&#x153;classroomâ&#x20AC;? model. The structure itself remains primarily open air, allowing the inner-workings of the pavilion to become transparent to anyone passing by as well as allowing the cultivated landscape to become seasonal boundaries to the form.

PROGRAM Harvest Clean | Sort

550 sf

Cold Storage

200 sf

Dry Storage

100 sf

Prepare

210 sf

Dining

1000 sf

Washrooms

50 sf

CROPS Wheat

PLANT Sept - Nov

HARVEST Aug - Sept

Potatoes

Mar - Apr

Aug - Oct

Corn

Apr - Jun

Oct - Nov

Cucumbers

May - Jul

50 - 70 days

Tomatoes

Apr - May

Aug - Sept

Apples Carrots

Aug - Oct Apr - May

50 - 75 days

ASSEMBLY

SKILL SETS

PHOTOGRAPHY

ARTS

Section A

Section B

SPECULATIVE PLANNING The plans curated to represent the design are pieced together to tell a story about the spaces and the atmosphere that they create within through community and cooking. By collaging together various textures and patterns these illustrations should inform the viewer of the feeling one should have of the space, not just the organization of the walls and furniture within. The ground plan depicts an entry hall that introduces each visitor to the smells and flavors being produced in the main kitchen before visually revealing the space: a large mainroom designed as a double height demonstration kitchen with long community style tables to the side. The staircase is housed in a three-story tall glass cube which connects each level of the space uniquely. Brightly colored triangles represent potential work triangles in the kitchen during a demonstration. Darker strips in the dining area depict the tangents of conversation during a shared meal.

Fragrances emanate from the main kitchen up through the double height space to the unconventional studio kitchen classrooms above. Students work in smaller group settings where more refined culinary skills are taught. On especially fair weather days students are able to learn the nuances of grilling on the patio.

The basement serves primarily as a passage that may lead to a quiet pause or an intimate conversation. The court behind the building is perfect for picnicking or lounging between classes, accessed through the basement hall or by a stairway cut into the terrain beside the building.

DIGITAL GRAPHICS

LITTLE DIOMEDE ISLAND I N T E R N A T I O N A L B O A R D E R L I N E

OSTROV OSTROV RATMANOVA RATMANOVA

Despite its smaller size, Little Diomede is home to a permanent population of natives numbering around 170. The entire island is classified as the City of Diomede but the main town is located on the West Coast facing Big Diomede. Only sixteen miles (twenty-five kilometers) west of the Alaskan border it is regularly accessed by helicopter.

Best known as Big Diomede Island, this is the western island of the two Diomede Islands located in the middle of the Bering Strait, belonging to Russia. The twenty-nine square kilometer island, also called “Tomorrow Island,” is the easternmost point belonging to Russia, sitting about 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) west of the Inernational Date Line. The highest point on the island reaches to 477.3 meters (1,564.9 feet) above sea level.

The island experiences temperatures averaging 40-50 degrees Farenheit (4-10 degrees Celsius) in the summer with temperatures dropping well below freezing in winter months. Strong winds and overcast skies characterize a typical day.

Eleven species of birds have been found on Big Diomede including puffins and guillemots. Seals, walruses, whales and a woman named Lynne Cox (1987) have been found swimming in waters surrounding the island.

The geological composition of the island is primarily granite or quart monzonite creating a harsh terrain of steep cliffs around the whole land mass

The island served as a military base during World War II which remained into the Cold War. During the Cold War, the nearby border line became known as the “Ice Curtain.” Today it serves as a base of Border Service of the Federal Service of the Russian Federation troops and a weather station.

The islands are believed to have first been inhabited by native hunters. The first European explorer to reach the islands was the Russian explorer Semyon Dezhnyov in 1648. The border established between Russia and the United States was determined in 1867 during the Alaska Purchase landing between Big Diomede and Little Diomede.

Also formerly known as Krusenstern Island, Little Diomede Island is the eastern island of the Diomedes. The island belongs to the United States and is the smaller of the islands claiming only 2.8 square miles or 7.3 square kilmeters. It is located 0.4 miles (0.6 kilometers) east the International Date Line, claiming the name “Yesterday Island.” It is 2.4 miles (3.9 kilometers) from Big Diomede. The highest point on Little Diomede rises to 1,621 feet (484 meters) above sea level.

Contours at fifty meters elevation change.

L'île RenéLevasseur René-Levasseur Island, located in Québec, Canada, is second largest lake island and largest artificial island in the world at 2,020 square kilometers with a diameter of seventy-two kilometers. The geological form of the island was created by the fourth most powerful meteor impact on Earth about 214 million years ago. The resulting crater was roughly 100 kilometers in diameter and is the landmass of René-Levasseur Island that is recognized today. It became an artificial island when the Minicouagan reservoir was flooded in 1970 causing crescent shaped Mouchalagane Lake and Manicouagan Lake to merge. The island is named after René-Levasseur who was the chief engineer in the construction of the Daniel-Johnson Dam which formed the reservoir. Though, visible from space, the lake-island formation is also known as the “eye of Québec.”

The highest point on the island is Mount Babel, located in the Louis-Babel Ecological Reserve, which rises to 952 meters above sea level and 590 meters above the Manicouagan Reservoir. The peak was formed by the rebound of the crust after the impact of the meteor. The island is known for its concentration of old-growth boreal forest and endures the threat of logging. The island is biologically valuable as well with scientists conducting research on Mount Babel which displays montane and alpine climate zones with boreal forest near the base quickly transitioning to tundra near the peak. Work is being done to prreserve the old-growth forests and their ecosystems under Québec Forest Law as well as other campaigns to ultimately safeguard the island as a whole by making it a Canadian National Park or nature reserve. Contours at fifty meters elevation change.