Portfolio

URBAN DESIGN PORTFOLIO

JAMESKTL00@GMAIL.COM

TIN LONG KU (JAMES)

Proficiencies:

ABOUT ME EDUCATION

My name is Tin Long Ku, but you can call me James. graduated from University of Washington Tacoma as an international student from Hong Kong majored in Urban Design. Growing up in an eastern city with a different cultural background, rethinking the use of space within an urban environment and how they interact with one another have become my passion. And I believe there is never a perfect design, but understanding what the community needs and provide them with solutions in order to develop a green city is my motivation on pursuing my passion.

Exploring between urban and nature is like having a short journey. So I also take photography as a hobby, capturing moments when I travel to places, enjoying being inspired by the city and enjoy being amazed by nature.

- Bachelor of Science Urban Design

- Urban Studies Endowed Scholarship 2021

WORK EXPERIENCE

- AECOM

- Associate of Arts Degree

- Highschool Diploma

- Professional Certificate of 3D Rendering for Interior Design & Architecture

- Wallem Shipping (HK) Ltd

- FILA (HK)

- Photo album The Way Out was selected to exhibit in: Hong Kong Baptist University

- First Swimming Coach (HK)

THEATER SQUARE

915-917 BROADWAY TACOMA, WA WINTER 2021

This project will focus on the application of urban design principles for public spaces through a variety of exercises culminating in a comprehensive analysis of an existing urban space within Downtown Tacoma and the development of a design strategy proposal for alterations/ enhancements of the space. The project will focus on creating an improved functional multi-use all-season urban space for all ages along with ‘knitting’ the existing ‘framework’ of the surrounding context.

PURPOSE

This project focuses on an existing public space, the contributing adjacent streets and the surrounding smaller public areas to create a more unified and usable public realm that can support the surrounding businesses and foster event activities. Existing & future users are to be considered in the design of the revitalized public space. For this project the studio will produce a design conditions within and around the project scope area.

Figure: 9th and broadway, looking south from a window at the Pantages theater. 1927. Tacoma, WA

MOBILITY

- Design Recommendations relating to Vehicular and Pedestrian Circulation within the Study Area. Including existing or future access points/corridors to the public space – along with everyday mundane issues like loading/unloading, bus access, trash and recycle pick-up, etc.

- Options for the redesign of the main Broadway Level Public Space and redesign/ reconfigure the vertical transition between the Broadway and Commerce Levels for 24-hr access.

- Design of Public Amenities within the project area (lighting, seating, paving, art). - Demonstration how how public space can be utilized for events and festivals.

STRUCTURE

- Maintaining and enhancing the existing businesses – and the inclusion of possible new business structures to enhance use of the public spaces. For this project, a new building will be assumed to be incorporated along Broadway between the Knights of Pythias and the School District Building to the North and that the Park Plaza North has been remodeled and expanded with residential apartments above the existing parking – with connection of the building at the Broadway Level over Commerce Street to be included in your project scope. The existing Pierce Transit Bus Garage at the Commerce Level is to be maintained (bus turnaround).

URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK

- The main goal for this design of space is to increase pedestrian mobility within the site area from Broadway to Commerce Street. To create a more pedestrian-friendly public space, removing existing street parking and widening the pedestrian path on Broadway is suggested; in addition to enhancing businesses and supporting parking needs, there is an opportunity to propose a new structure on the existing surface parking lot to support local shops and a 2-3 stories parking garage on top. One of the aligned goals in this project is to remodel the existing parking garage on Commerce Street and introduce new residential buildings on the parking garage. To enhance the pedestrian connection between Broadway and Commerce Street, open space and a new bridge connection will be proposed, along with rethinking the use of space and pedestrian mobility of the Plaza.

- The existing ramp connection & disused fountain will be replaced with 2 escalators & 1 elevator attached to a platform that connects to the plaza. The plaza will be designed to use art, leisure & events such as performances, farmers’ markets & festivals.`

REMAKE

REST AREA

The rest area serves as a designated space for individuals to take a break, relax, and rejuvenate. It provides a convenient spot for workers or visitors to temporarily pause from their activities and find respite. These areas are designed to offer comfortable seating, shade, and sometimes amenities such as water fountains or restroom facilities. The rest area encourages well-being, promotes productivity, and enhances the overall experience of the site for its users.

PANTAGES THEATER THEATER ON THE SQUARE

LOCAL ART GALLERY

The rest area serves as a designated space for individuals to take a break, relax, and rejuvenate. It provides a convenient spot for workers or visitors to temporarily pause from their activities and find respite. These areas are designed to offer comfortable seating, shade, and sometimes amenities such as water fountains or restroom facilities. The rest area encourages well-being, promotes productivity, and enhances the overall experience of the site for its users.

EVENT SPACE

A vibrant and inclusive public event space that fosters community engagement and celebrates cultural diversity, providing a dynamic platform for artistic expressions, recreational activities, and social gatherings, enhancing the urban fabric and enriching the city’s identity.

COMMUNITY GARDEN

230 NADEN AVE S KENT, WA WINTER & SPRING 2022

World Relief Seattle (WRS) are looking to expand their operations onto a new site, to offer sustainable urban farming, address local food deserts, and serve as a social and entrepreneurial hub for immigrants, refugees, and asylees. This project is intended to get the class up to speed to be able to apply King County Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) goals in south King County to produce a spatial strategic framework to address Climate & Equity goals with the WRS project.

PURPOSE

The main goal for this project is to align the King County 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) with World Relief Seattle (WRS) Immigrant & Refugee community garden network to offer sustainable urban farming, address local food deserts, and serve as a social and entrepreneurial hub for immigrants, refugees, and asylees.

Through finding potentials for the site of development, the second goal for this project is to introduce future development plans for the City of Kent to not only decrease the impacts from flooding, but also to create a new leisure community hub to accommodate alternative mobility within the community to reduce greenhouse gas emission & Increase job oppotunities which align with one of the main objective of the Strategic Climate Action Plan 2021. The strategies of the proposal will introduce green spaces & expanding pedestrian walkability. The green connection from downtown, community garden, and green spaces along the Interurban Trail will feature Kent urban district and its natural system. The new community garden will feature groundwater infiltration & flood prevention to protect the ecosystem while increasing local food resources and career opportunity.

VEGETATION

BUILDING TYPE TRANSPORTATION

SITE ANALYSIS

There is a decent amount of coverage of public green spaces within the site area, forming a good base to strengthen connections between open spaces. The surrounding of the community garden is well developed with residential and commercial buildings, along with a good amount of community services. This indicates the site has a strong community with a consistent flow of people within the site area. There are multiple transportation options near the site within walking distance for commuting around the city. The Kent train station is located 1 mi. away from the site which is a transportation hub itself. The Interurban Trail next to the site connects north & south along with nearby green spaces.

FINDINGS

The site is on a flat surface which avoids potential flooding risk.

• Introduce new green spaces to improve groundwater infiltration further & reduce GHG emissions.

• Access to commercial district & community services is within walking distance. Opportunity to introduce offices & affordable housing for future residents.

• The site is connected from north to south with the Interurban Trail.

• Multiple transportation options around the site encourage people to access it without driving.

URBAN FORM

FINDINGS

There are multiple nodes across the area, the commercial node reaches towards the Town Square Plaza and is pedestrian prioritized. Both leisure nodes on the north od the site is connected by the existin trail.

• Redesign moderate traffic street (Meeker St) to allow a more pedestrian-friendly route that connects to the site.

• The site development forms an outdoor learning space for nearby schools.

1. Kent Station Shopping Mall/ Green River College

2. Town Square Plaza

3. Kent Lion Skate Park

4. Uplands Playfield

5. Early Learning Center

DESIGN FRAMEWORK

FINDINGS

There are multiple nodes across the area, the commercial node reaches towards the Town Square Plaza and is pedestrian prioritized. Both leisure nodes on the north od the site is connected by the existin trail.

• Redesign moderate traffic street (Meeker St) to allow a more pedestrian-friendly route that connects to the site.

• The site development forms an outdoor learning space for nearby schools.

SITE PLAN

FINDINGS

A leisure community hub that provides academic & career opportunities for future immigrants/ residents also introduces open green spaces & water catchment features to reduce flood risk & GHG emissions while forming a calming public space for the community to experience sustainable urban farming to increase local food source.

• The site will be developed as a leisure community hub that provides a rest area for travelers along the Interurban Trail.

• Introduce office & institutional buildings on site to provide career training and job opportunities for future immigrants.

The site will be fully pedestrianized without traffic interruption.

STREET SECTION

Street Section AA

A redesigned pedestrian prioritized Meeker Street will introduce two 8-foot wide sidewalks and a 5-foot wide bike lane to encourage civilians to travel to the site without driving. The existing street parking will be repaved with permeable paving to improve groundwater infiltration.

MEEKER STREET

SITE ENTRANCE

The main gateway for entering the site comes from East on Meeker Street. Looking at the proposed rest area which serves as a public green space for the surrounding buildings and provides both education & job opportunities for the community. The proposed water feature with a sphere structure on top celebrates the existing Town Square Plaza located near the Kent Station Mall area.

SITE ENTRANCE II

Another main gateway for entering the site. Looking at Naden Ave. S standing on Meeker Street coming from the west. The Naden Ave. S will be remodeled to a slow-speed zone to minimize impact from traffic and provides a safe pedestrian crossing for visitors approaching the site by a vehicle and entering from the proposed parking garage.

WATER CATCHMENT

A point of view standing at the proposed loading/ drop off zone, and looking at the water catchment feature. The proposed stormwater catchment feature can be also served as an additional open green space/ park that provides seatings and staircases which ensure pedestrian mobility within the site while serving as a space that provides a reusable water source to support the community garden.

URBAN FARMING

Next to the proposed event space is the Community Garden. The garden is placed in the southeast of the site, where it is apart from the proposed buildings which creates a relatively calm space where it is open to the community to experience urban farming. The structure is to provide an outdoor shelter for the public and a workspace for gardeners.

FARMERS MARKET

The main gateway for entering the site comes from East on Meeker Street. Looking at the proposed rest area which serves as a public green space for the surrounding buildings and provides both education & job opportunities for the community. The proposed water feature with a sphere structure on top celebrates the existing Town Square Plaza located near the Kent Station Mall area.