Fountain Inn Master Plan and Performing Arts Center

JP

Fountain Inn Master Plan And Performing Arts Center 2nd Year Undergraduate - Spring 2012 in partnership with Diane Rosch (Undergraduate)

Master Plan In the ďŹ rst part of the project, we were to come up with a master plan for where we could see Fountain Inn in 20 years. Part of this project was a research session of the city. After the initial research was presented, we divided up into groups to realize our master plans.

The plan that my group came up with was moving the existing visitors center to a more centrally located area of town and creating a pedestrian block around it. We reduced the speed limit through Main Street, widened the sidewalks, and added landscaped medians to make the city more pedestrian friendly.

Each of the buildings on Main Street would be two-stories tall; businesses on the ground oor, apartments above. These buildings would have awnings along the entire facade that would give protection from the weather to those entering and exiting the businesses.

Bicycles would also become more prevalent in the city in an attempt to reduce the use of fuel and the pollution it produces. Bicycle lanes were added to the roads and racks would be placed along the buildings to provide a place for users to park their bicycles while they do their business.

100’

200’

300’

Existing Site Analysis

SWOT Analysis Strengths

Weaknesses

- Tight knit community - Rich history - Plenty of vacant space along main street

- Town is aging, along with many of the original buildings - Many stores close early or are not open on weekends - Main Street speed limit too high; danger to pedestrians on small sidewalks

Opportunities

Threats

- Vacant buildings on Main Street can be occupied - Newly built visitors center could create a vista - Railroad can be converted to light rail

- Railroad tracks could become a danger to pedestrians and vehicles

10 Minute Walk

5 Minute Walk

Summer Solstice

Winter Solstice

Sun and Walking Diagram

Master Plan

The new pedestrian block provides entertainment and green space for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The intersections contain a material change to denote crosswalks and make crossing streets safer for pedestrians.

A new train depot will allow for light rail traffic from Greenville and Columbia.

The landscaped medians and sidewalks frame the streets and act as a barrier between car and pedestrian traffic.

Alleyways separate strings of buildings to allow access from parking lots to Main Street.

10’

4’

5’

15’

8’

15’

5’

4’

10’ Street Section

1

3

1. Street Elevation 2. Sample Alleyway Plan 3. Alleyway Perspective

2

*These renderings were produced by my partner as part of the Master Plan presentation

Fountain Inn Performing Arts Center

In the second part of the project we were instructed to design a civic or institutional building to be placed within our master plan of Fountain Inn. Because of my background in music and performance, I decided to design a Performing Arts Center.

The program for the design was not to exceed 5000 square feet and had to contain specific space requirements. In addition to the main program space of 2500 square feet, the building had to contain a support space of 750 square feet, 5 office spaces of 100 square feet each, restrooms totaling 250 square feet, and a total of 500 square feet of circulation. The remaining space was to be used for mechanical spaces, as well as indoor/outdoor spaces.

For my performing arts center, I decided to combine the main program space with the indoor/ outdoor space by creating a semi-enclosed amphitheater. The theater space is placed into the ground and contains an elevated glass roof to allow sound from performances to flow out into the public square space.

The support space was comprised of a row of practice rooms and a music store on the street corner. Towards the center of the public square is a cafe that has exits towards both Main Street and the public area.

Exterior Rendering

Interior Rendering

Trade Street Main Street

4’

16’

Site Plan

4’

Main Street Elevation

16’

The section cuts through the site along the 45 degree axis. The stage area of the performance space is situated 3’ below grade, creating a sense of an amphitheater. The roof structure provides proper acoustics within the auditorium and extends to the walkway. Sound is able to bounce off the curved pieces of glass and project into the pedestrian node.

4’

Practice Rooms

The major axes running through the site run parallel to Main Street and Trade Street and across the site at a 45 degree angle. I wanted to reference each of these three axes with my building.

A

The three sections of the performing arts center reference the three axes that were analyzed.

The main performance area is situated on the 45 degree axis and opens towards the center of the pedestrian block.

Music cS Store

Amphitheater

Offices

Cafe

4’

16’

Floor Plan

16’

Section A