A PLACE FOR COMMUNITY

Spring 2021

YEAR III

STEPS AWAY FROM THE BUSY DOWNTOWN OF MASSACHUSETTS STREET, THIS MIXED USE MULTI-MODAL HUB SERVES TO BOTH EXTEND THE BUSINESS DISTRICT AND CONNECT IT WITH THE RESIDENTIAL STREETS BEYOND. IT IS THIS CONNECTION THAT WAS THE CATALYST FOR MY INSPIRATION, LEADING ME TO THINK OF THE SURROUNDING SITE AND BUILDINGS. WHAT WERE THEY MADE OF? WHEN WERE THEY BUILT? IS THERE A UNIFYING STYLE IN THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS? WHAT GREENSPACE WAS NEARBY? WAS THE SITE LOUD? QUIET? WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC? WHAT COMPONENTS OR AMENITIES WERE MISSING FROM THE SURROUNDING AREA, AND HOW COULD I PROVIDE THEM?

I TOOK INSPIRATION FROM DISTINCT LOCAL SOURCES: THE LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY, A LOCAL LANDMARK, THE OLD POLICE STATION ON 8TH, WHICH IS NOW A SENIOR RESOURCE CENTER, AND THE GLASS DISPLAY WINDOWS THAT LINE MASS STREET. THE BUILDING’S FUNCTION AS A MIXED MODAL HUB IS A WELCOME ADDITION TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA. IT WILL PROVIDE SEVERAL FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING A BUS DEPOT, BIKE SHARE AREA, AND OTHER COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS SUCH AS A CAFE, GROCERY STORE, RETAIL SPACES, WORK OFFICES, AND A FEW APARTMENTS.

Concept Diagrams Sketchup

Previous Iterations

EXTERIOR RENDER, VERMONT STREET SKETCHUP, PHOTOSHOP

EXTERIOR RENDER, 9TH STREET SKETCHUP, PHOTOSHOP

WHENEVER I FIND MYSELF WALKING AROUND DOWNTOWN, I AM ALWAYS ENAMORED BY THE SHOP WINDOW DISPLAYS THAT ARE QUINTESSENTIAL OF SMALL TOWN AMERICA. WHETHER ADVERTISING FOOD, FUN, CLOTHES OR EVEN KITTENS, I FIND MYSELF BEING DRAWN INTO SHOPS AS IF BY MAGNET. I CHOSE TO REPLICATE THIS CONCEPT IN MY OWN BUILDING BY LOCATING ALL THE RETAIL SPACES ALONG THE STREET SIDE TO CREATE A MULTI-STORY GLASS DISPLAY WINDOW.