Kuan Butts Portfolio 2 by Kuan Butts

kuan butts|portfolio h3 studio + brain drain + competitions 1

This portfolio contains work by Kuan Butts from Summer 2011 to Summer

kuan butts|portfolio h3 studio + brain drain + competitions

H3 Studio

www.h3studio.com

Pruitt-Igoe Now Competition www.pruittigoenow.org

NextSTL: What Should Be St. Louis Zoo Expansion

http://nextstl.com/what-should-be

Brain Drain Collective www.braindrain.co

CityPulse

www.braindrain.co/citypulse

GOOD Ideas for Cities STL www.good.is/ideas/posts

a year in st. louis, mo It’s been quite a year. To the left are listed a number of companies, organizations, and competitions that I have worked for, been a founding member of, designed, participated, or competed in. Throughout this volume in my ongoing portfolio series will be presented selected professional work from my year with H3 Studio as an urban design intern, the work of the Brain Drain collective, specifically the fruits of the GOOD Ideas for Cities event that our team took by storm in early March with our CityPulse product, the development of this product, as well as two proposed master plans submitted in response to RFPs released by the Pruitt-Igoe Now Competition and a NextSTL.com “What Should Be” piece.

008 | h3 studio

118 | brain drain

150 | pruitt igoe now

160 | forest park zoo

The Federal District (10), Parkview Gardens Sustainability Plan (48), Cortex TOD (78), Delmar Loop Retail Study (88), Texas Tech SuckerPunch (100), Branch Street Vision (108)

Good Ideas for Cities (120), CityPulse (124), Loop Media Hub RFP (134)

part one | h3 studio urban design intern 09/2011 - 07/2012 My eleven month internship at H3 Studio has enabled me to participate in a number of exciting projects and hone my technical skills in both CADbased work and diagramatic sketching (rendering and otherwise). Furthermore, work so within the field of my interest has firmly reinforced by interest in urban planning and renewed my excitement for graduate school at MIT in CIty Design and Development. Highlights of my time at H3 Studio include the Federal District master plan in Omaha, Nebraska. In this project, I was able to experience the professional design development process from its very beginning and play a significant role in the development of plans and analysis of site. Another project that I found both engaging and valuable was the neighborhood parking study I produced for the Parkview Gardens Sustainability Plan. These projects and others can be seen in further detail in the following pages.

the federal distrcit

the federal district master plan housing and development study 12/2011 - 06/2012 joslyn district, downtown west omaha, ne, usa I worked directly under senior project manager Bryan Taylor Robinson from the inception of this master plan development onwards. My responsibilities included everything from a complete site survey of the 19-block study area, base map and site option development, to more regional and historical analysis, with site specific phase visualization. Additionaly, I assisted in the facilitation and preparation of open house and public engagement presentations. During later scenario option development processes, I worked with Bryan through the resolution of street traffic and intersection re-engineering proposals.

opposite Aerial view of map with survey area highlighted and outlined. Aerial assembled by Bryan Taylor Robinson. below Technical base map. Field work performed by Kuan. Measurements verified by Kuan and Bryan. Drawn and assembled by Kuan. Post-assembly render by Bryan. below left Streetscape detail level example. Zoomed in scale of southeast corner of

opposite Proposed master plan RT1-FR2. This most idealized full build out plan includes expansion of the Rose Theater into an adjacent parcel to the south, as well as plaza development that paves the way for a new cultural building to be placed on the then-former site of the Federal Reserve. A new street is proposed north-south through these three blocks, providing a circulatory connector between the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corridor district to the south and the Joslyn Art Museum and Creighton University disctricts to the north. Project design led by Bryan Taylor Robinson, with firm principal John Hoal. My responsibilities included production of final rendering of image as well as intersection design, parking structure development, some building envelope design for site specifcity, and portions of the pedestrian amenity design along the new north-south street.

below Proposed master plan RT1-FR1. Here, the overall master plan remains the same, but the Federal Reserve block is presented with an alternative development option. This was our â&#x20AC;&#x153;middle-of-the-roadâ&#x20AC;? design option. In it, a liner building and some street frontage is proposed to the west of the building. Project design led by Bryan Taylor Robinson, with firm principal John Hoal. My responsibilities are same as listed in prior build-out option.

below Proposed master plan RT1-FR0. Here, the overall master plan remains the same and the Federal Reserve remains largely untouched, save for some greenscaping. A cap for the parking lot with fountain and tree plaza elements is proposed. Project design led by Bryan Taylor Robinson, with firm principal John Hoal. My responsibilities are same as listed in prior buildout option.

proposed mid-block north-south street right top Existing conditions along Dodge Street just south of Joslyn Art Museum sculpture garden. right bottom Demonstration of streetscape enhancements, new street installation, and intersection branding. opposite Visualization of potential full build out with sculpture installations and mixed use developments along new street. next page left Proposed street section at north end of new street development, without streetside parking on top and with streetside parking on bottom. next page right Proposed street section at south end of new street development, without streetside parking on top and with streetside parking on bottom.

south 20th street phased development right top Existing conditions along 20th Street, south of Farnam at Harney. right bottom Demonstration of simple streetscape enhancements, and placemaking at intersection. opposite Visualization of potential full build with mixed-use development north of Rose Theater..

farnam phased development right top Existing conditions along Farnam north of the Federal Reserve block, looking West. right bottom Visualization of implementation of proposed new north-south street with . opposite Visualization of potential full build out along the north side of Farnam with installation of light rail service.

farnam street sections this page spread Existing conditions along east end of Farnam at the Rose Theater shown on left. At the far right, top, is the proposed development section and, below, is the same with the additional option street car implementation. next page spread Existing conditions along east end of Farnam at the Federal Reserve shown on left. In middle is shown development option FR1 with liner buildings developing street frontage along the north side of the Reserve. On right is development option FR2, with new cultural building developed on western end of teh Federal Reserve block. Top row demonstrates phase options with two-way street. Bottom row demonstrates phase options with two-way street and streetcar in operation.

tfd master planning process public engagement/design development In the following spreads are displayed selected portions of my work throughout the design development process and public engagement portions of the project. opposite Photo of open house just a block east of Federal DIstrict study area in downtown Omaha, NE on the evening of Thursday, April 19, 2012.

farnam streetscape studies opposite From top to bottom: 1. Composite image of all layers of analysis. 2. Street network displaying one-way and two-way portions. 3. Activity areas displaying typology use by color. 4. Building entrances, both vehicular and pedestrian. next page spread Diagram of base information; documenting existing condtions.

proposed design district in east loop right top Existing conditions along Delmar Blvd. east of De Giverville Ave. intersection. right bottom Demonstration of streetscape enhancements, bridge centerpiece over rail line cap, as well as proposed Loop trolley stop. opposite Visualization of potential full build out along both sides of street in the district.

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parkview gardens sustainability plan 08/2011 - 06/2012 parkview gardens neighborhood university city, mo, usa The Parkview Gardens Sustainability Plan (PVGSP) has been developed through a participatory public planning process and is intended for implementation over a 15+ year timeframe. The plan seeks to build a community designed to accomodate the growing density through well-planned housing, parks, public spaces, green infrastructure, and economic development. My roles in the project included a parking study of the neighborhood, development visualization, assistance in facilitating a public meeting, presentation development, and assistance in the assembly and design of the final report. opposite Draft master plan for Parkview Gardens neighborhood. Drawing and render by project manager Timothy Breihan, assoc. AIA. previous page Photograph from second public meeting, September 30, 2011.

parking inventory study A complete inventory of all existing parking facilities in the Neighborhood Development Plan Area was conducted. The field study was performed on October 24-25, 2011 and subsequent housing and bedroom inventories were taken to establish parking ratios on October 27-28 and November 2, 2011. The intent of this research was to determine the total existing parking spaces and ratios to provide justification for the amendment of existing off-street parking numbers under the standards of TransitOriented Development. left Sample image from prepared commercial parking report. right Sample image from prepared residential parking report.

objectives The goal of compiling a complete parking and housing inventory was to determine the actual parking ratios present in the community in addition to the spaces that would be required, by code, for the existing and proposed developments. Should, upon comparison between the real and code ratios, there be a clear benefit to amending the code in accordance with existing conditions, then such will be proposed. process Parking lots were counted in plan drawings, then checked against aerial photos from Google Maps and, finally, on site visual confirmation. Buildings were verified in the same manner. Bedroom numbers were concluded through identifying similar building types and referring to floor plans of those typologies made available through Quadrangle. Building types not associated with any floor plans available through Quadrangle were cross verified on Realtor.com and visual estimation based on building depth and number of windows and typological comparisons. opposite Sample section of report documentation.

commercial study conclusions Within the commercial corridor along Delmar Avenue, there currently exists 337,000 square feet of retail; 155,226 square feet of office; and 234,203 square feet of housing serviced by 1,429 parking spaces. This equates to one space per 500 square feet. There are 703 public parking spaces, in addition to 261 on-street metered parking spots and 465 private parking lots for individual business. These have a cumulative total of 1,429 existing parking spaces. Were the buildings all to be required to be brought up to code, the total number of necessary parking spaces would be 3,752, resulting in the existing parking being at a deficit of 2,323 spaces. Proposed infill includes 37,900 square feet of grocery; 81,070 of office; 114,000 of retail; and 210 condos. 1,702 parking spaces would be required by code. If, instead, the ratio of 1 space per 500 square feet of development were applied instead, 466 spaces would be needed, resulting in 1,236 less spaces than code. Below is a spread sheet detailing building use by percentage and level, footprint, required parking, existing private parking, and the deficit after inclusion of the 703 public parking lots and 261 metered lots.

residential study conclusions Buildings were initially counted and organized by block. Parking ratios were totaled for each building and then blocks were zoned into groups to determine parking ratios for each portion of the study area. Building and parking counts do not count structures within the Core Commercial area along the Delmar Loop. Additionally, these are later calculations and items such as the Ackert Park Skilled Care community at 894 Leland Avenue have had altered calculations. Thus, it should be emphasized that these number are estimations and not exact figures. As of the final presentation, the estimated numbers are as follows: Approximately 2,000 housing units consisting of approximately 3,100 bedrooms were counted. If code were to be applied to these structures, the cumulative number of required spaces by code would be 3,350 lots. Currently, there exists 1,600 actual lots, resulting in a 1,750 lot deficit by code. The 1,600 parking lots equate to 480,000 square feet of paved parking, which is 6.8% of the total site area. The existing ratio of parking spaces to bedrooms 0.51 and the existing ratio per housing unit is 0.81. A proposed 1,690 housing units (excluding condo developments) containing 2,663 additional bedrooms would require, by code, an additional 2,863 additional code spaces. If the existing ratio of 0.51 parking lots per bedroom is employed to determine the new developments, rather than code, only 1,358 additional parking spaces would be required. As was stated above, the conclusions drawn from the residential study reveal that currently, nearly all buildings within the study area are severely below parking code yet the community functions effectively. Thus, it can be concluded that the existing parking code is excessive and the present ratio of 0.5 parking lots per bedroom is an already functioning alternative.

final report informational graphics A series of diagrammatic pieces were created to assist in the layout and finl production of the Parkview Gardens Sustainability Plan Draft. These images were to be used to help convey overarching concepts to the reader as well as function as a visual aid throughout the report. opposite Manually drawn vector-line based image detailing relationship between different elements of Parkview Gardens Sustainability Plan.

category relationship cloud opposite Manually drawn vector-line based image detailing relationship between different elements of Parkview Gardens Sustainability Plan. this version is same as image from prior page, but altered onto white for easy distribution and photocopying. Art direction was led by Courtney Cushard, an urban designer at H3 Studio.

delmar loop streetscape diagramatic section below This street section was created for the Parkview Gardens Sustainability Plan Final Report. This diagram is to be used as a visual aid to determine specific tackling points throughout the report through the highlighting of specific portions of the streetscape section. This was created with Courtney Cushard, an urban designer at H3 Studio.

rainscaping diagram opposite This diagram was developed during work for Parkview Gardens but was to be used, more specifically, for a project on Monsantoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus in St. Louis County. This diagram was to demonstrate and highlight rainscaping techniques that could be applies to a typical suburban style home that would improve water management on a its property. The diagram was to be included in presentations and designed to be scannable to reproduceable to public distribution.

graphical presentation template design options opposite Production of graphical templates for use in project presentation under the art direction of H3 Studio vicepresident Laura L. Lyon. Note: Basemap developed by aforementioned Timothy Breihan.

neighborhood development visualization I was tasked with creating a series of development visualizations to assist in the public process and for use throughout the final report. These images demonstrate potential neighborhood developments suggested in the current draft of the Parkview Gardens Sustainability Plan.

green alley above Existing conditions in alley. right Installation of permeable pavers, greenscaping, and recycling program.

interdrive above Existing conditions on street. right Installation of permeable pavers on parking, greenscaping, and native plantings. Visualization of development along eastern stretch of street.

kingsland walk above Existing conditions at intersection. right Visualization of development on eastern corners of intersection as well as intersection streetscape enhancements.

enright above Existing conditions on street. right Installation of permeable pavers on parking, greenscaping, and native plantings. Visualization of student housing development along southern portion of street.

enright and skinker above Existing conditions on street. right Creation of neighborhood access point through the construction of Enright connector to Skinker. Visulalization of 6-8 story development along proposed Skinker commercial corridor.

westgate and delmar above Existing conditions on street. right Visualization of intersection enhancements, as well as pedestrian gateway from neighborhood to commercial corridor. Included is the proposed Loop Trolley.

ackert walkway above Existing conditions on north-south pedestrian walkway. right Visualization of continuation of pedestrian walkway north, past Olive with continued residential development.

loop north above Existing conditions on street. right Visualization of southern parking lot development into condoes as well as pedestrian circulation ehancements along road and permeable streetside parking pavement.

cortex transit-oriented development

cortex transit-oriented development 02/2012 - 04/2012 central west and forest park southeast st. louis, mo, usa This project revolves around the planning for an expanded sciences corridor in the Central West End neighborhood. Part of the planning process includes studies into the development of residential neighborhoods to the south of the proposed science corridor expansion along with a potential new MetroLink stop. My responsibility was in preparation of a digital, CAD-based survey of the Tower Grove Avenue corridor from Clayton Avenue in CWE to Arsenal Street in Tower Grove. The survey is intended to update existing project base maps and include all street amenities (lights, signage, crosswalks, rails, ramps, sidewalk widths, lane widths, traffic lights, planters, trees, vegetation, curbs, alleys, driveways, property line verification, etc.).

cortext base map below Field study of street character along Tower Grove, Boyle, and Newstead. Mapping of utliites, sidewalk width and quality, and pedestrian amenities as well as cross verification of GIS mapping data and remeasurements.

below Intersection of Manchester and Tower Grove.

below Intersection of Vandeventer and Tower Grove.

below Intersection of Magnolia and Tower Grove.

below Tower Grove Park.

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east loop trolley stop at laurel right top Existing conditions along Delmar Blvd. at a potential Loop trolley stop location. right bottom Demonstration of streetscape improvements and Loop trolley in operation. opposite Visualization of potential night scene with catalytic development of Loop Trolley Museum (image left).

the pageant on the loop right top Existing conditions along Delmar Blvd. just east of The Pageant. right bottom Demonstration of streetscape improvements, plaza installation on vacant lot east of Big Shark bike shop, and Loop trolley in operation. opposite Visualization of potential night scene with transit-oriented development around proposed plaza.

skinker and delmar intersection right top Existing conditions at intersection of Skinker and Delmar. right bottom Demonstration of intersection enhancements, as well as sculpture park at southwest corner (image left) intersection. opposite Visualization of potential night scene with mixed-use grocery development at northwest corner of intersection.

intersection of delmar and hamilton right top Existing conditions at intersection of Delmar and Hamilton. right bottom Demonstration of intersection enhancements, as well as park enhancements and street closure on south side of street (far side of perspective). opposite Visualization of potential full build out along both sides of street from intersection.

texas texh suckerpunch march 2012

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texas tech sucker punch 03/2012 loop pedestrian pattern visioning university city, mo, usa This project involved the preparation of a series of diagrams to present work done on the Delmar Loop Retail Study and Parkview Gardens Sustainability Plan at a Texas Tech Suckerpunch event in March of 2012. I developed visualization and supporting graphical data in conjunction with pedestrian behavioral patterns surveyed along the Delmar Loop in University City and St. Louis, MO. opposite Photographic notation of store frontage along the Delmar Loop. Note: All imagery developed with art direction by H3 Studio vice-president Lara Lyon.

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below Diagrammatic relationship between Loop retail corridor and neighborhood. right top Existing pedestrian activity measured along the Loop. Areas without lines or with lines of little thickness indicate weak pedestrian portions of the Loop. right bottom Goals for new development demonstrate stronger connections between established areas along Delmar.

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opposite Time lapse video documentation of pedestrian activity over the course of a day. Shown is a screenshot. Footage taken in early March of 2012. Video developed with Laura Lyon.

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branch street vision

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the vision for branch street 08/2011 - 09/2011 branch street st. louis, mo, usa The Vision for Branch Street was a relatively small and straightforward project in which H3 Studio prepared an executive summary for Trailnet regarding potential development along Branch Street in Old North St. Louis. The street is of particular interest as it is the connector between the terminus of the planned Trestle elevated rail-to-trail being constructed currently as part of the Riverfront Trail development. My responsibility was simply to complete a series of renderings demonstrating potential development along the road to enhance pedestrian connectivity and activity through along the street that made it safe both during day and night use. Rendering were complete with Bryan Taylor Robinson, senior project manager at H3.

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streetscape development along branch street: scene a above Existing conditions. No pedestrian amenities and exposure along right side of road to salt mounds and industrial exhaust. opposite top Enhancements proposed include bike lanes to extend to Trestle entrance and Great Rivers Greenway Riverfront Trail. opposite bottom Nighttime render of same streetscape with pedestrian scale lighting operational and railway crossing active.

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streetscape development along branch street: scene b above Existing conditions. No pedestrian amenities and lack of safety lighting in freeway underpass. opposite top Enhancements proposed include dedicated, above grade bike paths as well as visual improvements to the underpass. opposite bottom Nighttime render of same streetscape with pedestrian scale lighting operational.

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streetscape development along branch street: scene c above Existing conditions. No pedestrian amenities and minimal interface between neighborhood park and Branch Street. opposite top Enhancements proposed include dedicated bike lane along south side of Branch Street. Native plantings and bump outs enable traffic calming and a pedestrian friendly environment. A reoriented park with improved amenities creates a more unified environment. opposite bottom Nighttime render of same streetscape with pedestrian scale lighting operational.

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part two | brain drain collective founding member 12/2011 - present Brain Drain is the brainchild of a group of young people united by a love for St. Louis. Some of us met in college, while others of us became friends after graduating. We are the ones who stayed, and we are committed to reversing the trend of young people leaving St. Louis. Brain Drain aims to influence the trajectory of this city we all now proudly call home â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and show other young minds that they can, too. Our passions are urban ones and human ones. We are designers, architects, urban planners, journalists, educators, musicians, brewers, printers, archivists, builders, activists, organizers, mobilizers. Our respective fields range from as technical as architecture and mechanical engineering to as creative as illustration and printmaking. We want to offer our diverse skills, backgrounds, and passions to solve real problems on a human scale.

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mission statement Brain Drain is the antidote to urban exodus. Representing young natives and transplants that call St. Louis City home, our projects revere the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique heritage while catalyzing its future. We focus on community-based projects that enhance the vitality of the larger St. Louis region and turn shared experience into shared initiative for our city.

our challenge from good.is Have an animated conversation with a young transplant or multi-generational loyalist and you will understand the passion people here have for St. Louis. But, too often, the message falls back on empty boosterism. Whatever the cause, we must understand it, admit it and fix it. How do we deepen the pool of diverse people who love St. Louis and are personally invested in its progress?

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our answer CityPulse is citywide network of beacons that provides pedestrian lighting as interactive art, detects and reports street-level activity in real time, creates civic connections, and offers a new platform for human interactions and entrepreneurship. Each beacon is a modified standard of an existing lighting product equipped with inexpensive infrared sensors and micro controllers. CityPulse gathers pedestrian motion data for display via the CityPulse Map, which can be viewed on any number of digital devices. The map can be overlaid with additional data from other open-API resources. Because the Map is accessible through any webcapable device, it translates seamlessly into a mobile application or a touch-screen kiosk, making it an invaluable exploration resource for locals and tourists alike. Find a bus stop, see whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playing at that venue, or just choose a new place to get coffee. left Home page of CityPulse website (braindrain. co/citypulse). Rendering produced by Kuan Butts.

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how does it work The beacons are available in two sizes: a planted 21-foot-tall Home Beacon and a wall-mounted 10-foot-tall Satellite Beacon. The two different options offer different levels of accessibility, accommodating everything from high-traffic hubs to off-thebeaten-path storefronts. This variety of beacons creates a complete network of nodes into any neighborhood. Once the beacons are hardwired throughout a neighborhood, they will collect Beacon activation information to send in real-time to the interactive activity Map. When a Beacon is activated, it appears as a “blip” on the Map. Other blips indicate geo-tagged social media activity. The Map interface can be accessed via any web browser, as well as smartphones and tablets. Due to its intuitive design and quick access to location-based data, the Map offers the ideal interface for a public kiosk (see next page), serving as an informational hub for those unfamiliar with the city, or someone simply looking to explore. Overlaid with the Map are a variety of helpful options including: Venues including restaurants, bars, convenience stores, markets, and other amenities, as well as nearby beacons. Promotional sales or current coupons in your surrounding area. A calendar of events and showtimes to make correlations between crowds and activities. Transit routes and schedules, as well as road traffic reports. Applied gaming using CityPulse’s API that encourage exploration (i.e. scavenger hunts, check-ins, etc.). Interesting city tips, fun facts, architectural history, community art, etc. left Rendering CityPulse website. Produced by Noah MacMillan and Zoe Scharf.

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why it matters By spurring pedestrian navigation and citywide connectivity, CityPulse stands to make a huge impact. This place-making program offers a multi-level intervention that stimulates growth in small and new business, facilitates access to community resources and information, and provides a public venue for emerging trends and creativity in the cityscape. left Map of spheres of influence produced by Kuan Butts and Bennett Gale. below Loop rendering produced by Bennett Gale.

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impact Economic impact: Increased commercial activity Enhanced tourism Growing entrepreneurship Health impact: Increased physical activity Increased visibility for community health assets Increased access and communication Cultural impact: Increased regional awareness and identity Increased navigation of the region Increased arts visibility and engagement Improved perception of the City images Renderings produced by Amanda Yates, Bennett Gale, Kuan Butts, Logan Alexander, Noah Macmillan, Zoe Scharf, and Matt Strom.

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letter of support opposite Excerpt from Mayor Slayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter of endorsement of CityPulse by the Brain Drain Collective. left Image of Mayor Slay endorsing BrainDrain at GOOD Ideas for Cities St. .Louis at the Contemporary Art Museum.

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rfp submittal The following spreads contain selected material from an RFP submittal sent to the Loop Media Hub regarding potential beacon placement along the Loop portion of the Delmar Blvd. commercial corridor that connects Unversity City to St. Louis City. This RFP was assembled by Kuan Butts, Bennett Gale, Tara Pham, and Zoe Scharf.

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map one: pedestrian access points The Loop features a number of high-volume pedestrian access points. Local educational and cultural hubs such as Washington University and the Pageant, as well as a vibrant cultural and economic mix of residents and building type afford the Loop a highly walkable typology. Additionally, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regional draw is sustained through high-capacity parking areas placed off the main strip, as well as a Metrolink Transit Hub anchoring its eastern terminus. Entrances from both the neighborhood and transit zones funnel into the Loop at several access points along Delmar. The above map highlights these locations. It is important for beacon placement to consider Delmar pedestrian activity from both local residents and regional visitors. Thus, identifying access points for both is vital to creating a successful CityPulse interface. map two: metrolink bus and light rail access points As the Loop matures into a high-density, transit-oriented neighborhood, it is important that public transportation be capable to accommodate the growing needs of the neighborhood. In consideration of Washington Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s planned 550-bed student housing development at Eastgate and Delmar, there is a pressing need to not only work to provide improved transportation alternatives in the Loop but to also bring more attention to the availability of these services. Thus, seeking locations that enable both visitors to and residents of the Loop greater awareness of alternative transportation along Delmar is a key factor in beacon placement.

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map one: participatory structures in the loop Highlighted in red are participatory buildings in the Loop. These are structures that provide street-level retail (City Sprouts), cultural amenities (560 Building), or work environments (Regional Arts Commission) as well as function to provide a strong, cohesive street wall along Delmar. As the diagram demonstrates, Delmar does not maintain continued street presence, especially towards its east and west ends. Beacon placement should occur in both highly developed and underdeveloped areas. Locations should seek to capture pedestrian activity from the most developed portions of the Loop to encourage exploration of less trafficked areas. map two: wi-fi coverage Currently, wireless internet access is spotty along the Loop and proprietary. Access may be limited solely to customers at a specific location (Meshuggahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) or limited in range beyond the walls of a specific building (University City Public Library). Home Beacons should not only provide enhanced wireless internet capabilities with IEEE 802.11n wi-fi, which has a significantly greater coverage range of 600â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, but should be placed in areas to where wireless is least present and most needed, as well as in areas where services may be limited only to paying customers. Furthermore, beacons should operate to increase awareness of the availability of wireless internet service throughout the Loop and seek to cultivate the ongoing sense of the Loop as a forward-thinking, technological hub.

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part three | pruitt igoe now project lead 03/2012 - 05/2012 Pruitt Igoe Now seeks the ideas of the creative community worldwide: we invite individuals and teams of professional, academic, and student architects, landscape architects, designers, writers and artists of every discipline to re-imagine the 57 acres on which the Pruitt-Igoe housing project was once located.

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call for ideas Pruitt Igoe Now seeks the ideas of the creative community worldwide: we invite individuals and teams of professional, academic, and student architects, landscape architects, designers, writers and artists of every discipline to re-imagine the 57 acres on which the Pruitt-Igoe housing project was once located. March 2012 will mark the 40th anniversary of the demolition of the first of the Pruitt-Igoe high-rises. This call seeks design ideas that re-invigorate the abandoned site. In the spirit of that original St. Louis architectural competitionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to which the Eero Saarinen-designed Gateway Arch stands as witnessâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;this competition imagines the site of Pruitt-Igoe as a frontier: the threshold between North St. Louis, which is showing signs of stabilization after decades of decline, and the new design for the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. As countless other social housing projects across the country are torn down, and rebuilt in the idiom of new urbanism, the site of Pruitt-Igoe remains untouched. What is Pruitt-Igoe now? opposite U.S. Geological Survey photograph looking west toward Pruitt-Igoe with the adjacent George L. Vaughn Homes at right.

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NODES TO NEIGHBORHOODS i n t e g r at i n g e x i s t i n g i n s t i t u t i o n a l a s s e t s to s t r e n gt h e n a n u r b a n fa b r i c

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pHaSED ImplEmENTaTION alONG NORTH jEffERSON avENuE p1: street grid reintroduction p2: Municipal developMents [A] inDOOR sOCCeR fielD [b] PubliC libRARy [C] fiRe stAtiOn esPAnsiOn [D] PRuitt-igOe memORiAl p3: pedestrian skyway [e] meDiAn ACCess fOR bRt [f] elevAteD viewing AReA p4: coMMercial infill [g] POtentiAl gROCeR lOCAle p5: MaxiMuM growth potential [see Right]

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submission board Conceptual Approach: The project began by trying to focus on what we knew about Pruitt-Igoe as a site. McKee may have received the northern swath of land, but we as a city can still control the future of the southern portion. Pruitt-Igoe and I: A graduate of the architecture program at a Washington University, I have been intellectually deluged in all things Pruitt-Igoe, from the famous “death of modern architecture” perspective to then-current, national-scale social and economic policies of the era (i.e. white flight and the simultaneous growth of suburbia). What I find most fascinating about the site is the high number of educational institutions that have developed in and around the site’s original boundaries. These institutions are an invaluable asset to the neighborhood, programatically capable of creating a lateral link between the east and west sides of the Pruitt-Igoe site, as well as reclaiming car-dominated North Jefferson Avenue for pedestrian utilization. The site: What interests me most about the site is it’s planners’ original intent. Rather that focus on the failings and successes of the past; acknowledging the essence of this initial intent - that vision of an American city for the next century - and embracing it in the planning of this site is what will contribute most not only to the memory of Pruitt-Igoe, but to the neighborhood that exists around it’s borders (and within them) today. Project Team: Kuan Butts: Design Development Tien Butts: Layout and Graphical Assistance Logan Alexander: Graphical Assistance opposite Thumbnail of competition board. Enhanced excerpts in shown in following spreads.

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part four | forest park zoo expansion project lead 03/2012 - 05/2012 Brain Drain is the brainchild of a group of young people united by a love for St. Louis. Some of us met in college, while others of us became friends after graduating. We are the ones who stayed, and we are committed to reversing the trend of young people leaving St. Louis. Brain Drain aims to influence the trajectory of this city we all now proudly call home â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and show other young minds that they can, too. Our passions are urban ones and human ones. We are designers, architects, urban planners, journalists, educators, musicians, brewers, printers, archivists, builders, activists, organizers, mobilizers. Our respective fields range from as technical as architecture and mechanical engineering to as creative as illustration and printmaking. We want to offer our diverse skills, backgrounds, and passions to solve real problems on a human scale.

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masterplan proposal for south zoo campus Team members: Bennet Gale, Courtney Cushard, Phillip Fargason My role: Team Leader Responsibilities: design development, base map creation and detail, layout, proposal text narrative opposite This Master Plan for the St. Louis Zoo’s land acquisition south of Highway 64 seeks to accomodate local residents’ interests, provide top-tier facilities for zoological research, and expand on the world-class caliber of the Zoo’s current attractions. South Campus should work to enhance the social and economic fabric of Dogtown, while expanding on the park and zoo amenities outside of Forest Park. This proposal focuses on creating a strong streetscape along Clayton Avenue with the intention of providing a sense of entry into the heart of Dogtown. Building massing is scaled to accommodate the height of the seven story parking structure. Programming is mixed- use along this corridor, with permeations creating pedestrian entrances into the zoo as well as mediating between neighborhood and regional attraction. Base plan visualization created by Kuan Butts and Courtney Cushard. Design development by Kuan Butts, Courtney Cushard, and Ben Gale.

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opposite This proposal suggests the creation of four zones that comprise the experience of South Campus. Diagram developed by Kuan Butts. 1. Visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Area: Mixed-use retail accompanied by leisure areas and zoo exhibits 2. Wildlife Habitat: Natural ecosystem containing a network of excercise trails with themed plantings. 3. Science & Research: A sector for laboratory and relocated administrative spaces. 4. Community Recreation: Communal park amenities for neighborhood residents.

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opposite Visitors Area: Mixed-use retail and commercial spaces help pull visitors and residents through the southern portion of the site, offering local businesses and institutions office space close to this new community destination. These buildings form a permeable buffer between the Dogtown neighborhood and the St. Louis Zooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Southern Campus. Imagery developed by Philip Fargason.

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opposite Visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Area (continued): A central fountain anchors the Southern Campus, surrounded by smaller outdoor animal exhibits to house amphibians, reptiles, fish, and birds. This nexus provides visitors with a space for leisure, strolling, or swimming, as well as an area for hosting educational tours and group visits. Additionally, the fountain acts as a termination plaza for the pedestrian bridge. Imagery developed by Ben Gale.

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opposite Wildlife Habitat: The pedestrian bridge is elevated above a region of native plantings and species, serving as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;livingâ&#x20AC;? exhibit, capable of being experienced from both above and at ground level via a network of extensive exercise paths. This wildlife areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proximity to laboratory facilities makes it an opportune location to conduct research. Imagery developed by Ben Gale.

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opposite Science & Research: The Gerhold School of Nursing is to be re-purposed as bio-science research and re-located administration offices. Space on top of the existing northeast parking structure will be left available to support future facilities expansion. We have identified this corner as inadequate to support street-front commercial or institutional spaces, as its adjacency to the highway and relative isolation from nearby residents dampens its potential as a vibrant social environment. Imagery developed by Ben Gale.

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circulation diagramming Phasing / Parking: This Master Plan allows for existing surface lots to be transformed into sports fields and additional parking structures at a pace commensurate with the Zooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long-term planning objectives. Augmented parking structures will be easily accessible to park visitors, with circulation designed to minimize impact on the intimate quality of the Dogtown neighborhood. This proposal has the capacity to exceed the interim master planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposed number Cyclists of parking spots by over 1,000 spots. This capacity addresses daily parking demands for the zoo, as well as major annual events in Forest Park and Dogtown (such as LouFest, the Balloon Races, and the St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Parade). Increased parking capacity also enables the proposed new retail and commercial spaces. Circulation: In an effort to to minimize automobile congestion in Dogtown, South Campus maintains separate circulation routes for automobiles and buses. Metro Bus routes along Hampton and Clayton can easily adjust their routes to accomodate new South Campus stops. Circulation planning developed by Kuan Butts and Courtney Cushard.

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opposite and below Site Section: This section traces oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passage through South Campus from Clayton Ave. to Forest Park. Section developed by Courtney Cushard.

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kuanbutts education

Washington University in St. Louis, Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts – BS Architecture [ August 2007 – May 2011] Saint Augustine High School in San Diego, CA [August 2003 – May 2007]

professional experience

Urban Design Intern at H3 Studio [September 2011 – Present] Urban planning research, renderings, community engagement meetings, AutoCAD Principal John Hoal, Senior Urban Designer Bryan Taylor Robinson (314) 531-8000 Architecture Intern at Lim Design Group [May 2009 - August 2009] AutoCAD, mechanical construction detailing Principal Paw Lim (619) 335-7166 Architecture Intern at M+C Architects [May 2006 - August 2006] AutoCAD, site visits, office runner Principal Anthony Cutri (619) 233-4857 Architecture Intern at Ergo Architecture [May 2004 - August 2004] Model fabrication, site visits Principal Steve Mayman (619) 235-0900

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professional projects

The Federal District. Omaha, NE. [December 2011 – May 2012] Employer: H3 Studio (in conjunction with NuStyle Development) Duties performed: on site analysis and assessment, base map and drawing development, community meetings Mayor Slay’s Inaugural Sustainability Summit. St. Louis, MO [November 2011 - May 2012] Employer: H3 Studio (in conjunction with Vector Communications, Development Strategies, and HOK) Duties performed: functional categories layout and visual development, word cloud event assistance Cortex Transit-Oriented Development. St. Louis, MO [April 2012] Employer: H3 Studio (in conjunction with the City of St. Louis) Duties performed: detailed site survey base map production of Tower Grove Ave. from Clayton Ave. to Arsenal St. Parkview Gardens Sustainability Plan. University City, MO [October 2011 – March 2012] Employer: H3 Studio (in conjunction with Parkview Gardens Neighborhood Association) Duties performed: code parking analysis, street perspective imagery, documentation, research, community meetings Delmar Loop Retail Study. University City, MO and the St. Louis, MO [September 2011 – December 2011] Employer: H3 Studio (in conjunction with HR&A Associates) Duties performed: street perspective imagery, layout, site photography and analysis Branch Street Re-Envisioning. St. Louis, MO [September 2011 - November 2011] Employer: H3 (in conjunction with Trailnet) Duties performed: street perspective imagery, layout

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competitions and exhibitions

What Should Be: Master Plan Proposal for a St. Louisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Zoo South Campus [April 2011] Design development and co-lead for project management Request for proposals available online at http://nextstl.com/what-should-be/ Pruitt-Igoe NOW [March 2011] Design development and project management, envisioned a future use for vacant former site of project housing Competition details available online at http://www.pruittigoenow.org/ GOOD Ideas for Cities [December 2011 - March 2012] Member of Team Brain Drain, set with tackling the issue of human capital retention within the City of St. Louis. Coverage available online at: http://www.good.is/ideas/posts Gutter to Gulf Goes Global [August 2011 - November 2010] Comparative watershed research exhibition in Weitman Gallery. Debut of Episode 1: Mixology research book. Work also available online at: http://guttertogulf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/gtggg-09-21-10-ver-01-low.pdf

references

Valerie Greer Architect. HOK (314) 421-2000 valerie.greer@hok.com Liane Hancock Assistant Professor. Louisiana Tech University (318) 257-2816 lianeh@latech.edu Derek Hoeferlin. Assistant Professor. Washington University in St. Louis (314) 749-3342 derek@derekhoeferlin.com

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extracurricular

Brain Drain Collective Member [Fall 2011 – Current] St. Louis transplants creative group specializing in urban issues Gargoyle Executive of Publicity [September 2007 – May 2011] Student-run concert venue bringing local and national acts to campus Senior Class Council Cabinet Member [March 2010 – January 2011] Planning and organization of Senior Class Week KWUR DJ [November 2007 – January 2010] One hour radio show on student-run college station Drop Knowledge Magazine Writer [January 2009 – May 2010] Student-run culture and politics magazine Eleven Music Magazine Writer [January 2009 – December 2009] Student-run music magazine educating students about alternative local and national music City Faces Volunteer Member [September 2007 - April 2008] Weekly visits to Clinton/Peabody Projects, teaching children to draw and work together

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additional work experience

Summer Construction and Maintenance for Washington University Sam Fox Architecture School [May 2010 – August 2010] Furniture fabrication/maintenance, painting, moving, wood shop upkeep and monitoring Wood Shop Lead: Leland Orvis Eldertech Tutor [May 2010 – August 2010] Senior computer tutoring and trouble-shooting Founder Ben Shanken (314) 546-4232 Library Aide at San Diego Public Library University Community Branch [June 2005 - March 2009] Book Returns/Organization, Computer Aide, Saturday Morning Crafts Program Organizer, Reference Assistance Manager Lien Dao (858) 538-8165 Cashier at McDonald’s Restaurant Costa Verde [June 2008 - August 2008] Drive-thru, custodial duties, fryer Manager Lita (858) 452-3014

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