Lara Isaac Portfolio 2016 [outdated] by Lara Isaac

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO | ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN | PORTFOLIO 2016

DEAR READER I am a fourth year University of Waterloo Architecture student from Oakville, Canada looking for work across Canada and abroad. I hope this portfolio gives you a glimpse of who I am and what I am capable of. Enjoy reading, and please feel free to contact me!

RESUME lara.isaac@hotmail.ca www.larasophiaisaac.com

SOFTWARE LANGUAGES

KPMB ARCHITECTS

Toronto, Canada | Fall 2014, Winter 2016

TURNER FLEISCHER ARCHITECTS Toronto, Canada | Winter 2013 ATELIER CHANG London, England | Summer 2015 FREELANCE CELLIST GTA, Canada | 2010 - 2013

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO Cambridge, Canada | 2012 - Present T.A. BLAKELOCK HIGH SCHOOL Oakville, Canada | 2010 - 2012 ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC Oakville, Canada | 2010 - 2012

SKILLS

AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, V-Ray, Maxwell, Autodesk Cloud, Sketchup, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Word, Powerpoint, Excel Fluent Native in Canadian English Proficient in French Beginner in Mandarin (spoken and written)

EMPLOYMENT

Family of Man Centre Design Competition Team Midsummer Theatre Design Competition Team Globe and Mail Interior Fit-Out SD and CD Team University Economics Building DD Team Theatre Renovation SD Team Site Planning Department LCBO Site Planning Team CanStruction Installation Design Team Parry Sound Rexall CD Team Skymind Site Planning Team Nepal Earthquake Emergency Competition Team iLight Marina Bay Design Competition Team Morton Mews Predesign & SD Team sESAme String Ensemble manager, and cellist Oakville Suzuki Association cello group teacher, cello private teacher, piano private teacher Oakville Symphony Orchestra, cellist, Young Artists’ Scholarship

EDUCATION

Fourth Year Candidate for Bachelor of Architecture, class of 2017, with President’s Scholarship. Recipient of International Experience Award, 2016 Recipient of Ontario Global Edge Award, 2015 Graduate with top 10 Academic Standing Award for Top Standing in Fine Arts Award for Top Standing in Technological Design Recipient of Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT) Diploma for Cello Performance, with First Class Honours. Graduate of the Taylor Academy for Young Artists with Performance Scholarship. 3

LETTER OF REFERENCE

Atelier Chang 33 Marloes Road W8 6LG London United Kingdom

01 Sep 2015 Dear Whom It may Concern, Lara Jing Yen Isaac worked as an intern in Atelier Chang during May till end of July in 2015. She was supporting Skymind Resort Masterplan project, Minihouse housing scheme, and lead an independent competition project for Light installation called Dreamweaver and Earthquake Emergency in Nepal. Also she put together a planning application for a residential project London in Kensington and Chelsea borough. Throughout the internship, she carried out each project with high standard of design and responsibility. She absorbed and acquired new set of skills in no time in order to fully perform her creative design potential. Her keen interest in sustainability was also very helpful to our projects. We believe she will exceed your expectation whenever she ends up going. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@atelierchang.com. Bests, Soohyun Chang

Principal of Atelier Chang

CONTENTS

10 FUTURE FISHERIES

34 ATELIER CHANG

3b research and design project

Projects from a London Work term

22 PERSONAL PROJECTS

38 KPMB ARCHITECTS

Library Competition, Community Centre Design

Projects from a Toronto Work Term

26 A CHAIR FOR ISAAC ASIMOV

44 THE PERFECT STORM

design-build project

a GIS driven research project

FUTURE FISHERIES Team Tomas Masidlauskas, Lara Isaac | Software Rhino, Revit, Adobe Suite Fall 2015 3B ‘Newfoundland’ Studio directed by Lola Sheppard

NEWFOUNDLAND AND GLOBAL AQUACULTURE

“Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are” - Jean Anthelme Brillat Savarin

The Future Fisheries project was inspired by researching Newfoundland’s 600 year history and culture of fishing. From seasonal fishing in the 1490’s, to settling around 1700, to the industrialized fishing boom in the 1880s, to the slow decline of fishing and cod moratorium of 1992, fishing has always been a cornerstone of Newfoundland’s economy and culture.

water bodies, has gained popularity in recent decades for its low environmental impact. Additionally, because of their carefully curated environments, these fish are often sought after for their superior taste and flown hundreds of miles to be fresh at high-end restaurants. Newfoundland’s pristine waters and short flight times to Montreal, Toronto, and New York put it in a unique position for supplying high end aquaculture. This project draws from Newfoundland’s fishing history and the rise of the global Aquaculture industry to bring economic activity back to Newfoundland and reconnect the island’s culture to the ocean.

As fishing slowly declined, the productivity and prevalence of aquaculture has increased. It has fundamentally changed the fishing industry, which now grows 40% of all fish produced. Modern Extensive Aquaculture, a “free range” practice where fish are grown in low densities in natural

The Growth of Global Aquaculture

History of Fishing Employment

Map of Newfoundland cod grounds and fisheries

Time line of cod yields in Newfoundland

Newfoundland Fishing and Culinary Institutions Culinary School Aquaculture Research Institution Fish Market Fish Aquaculture

MAPPING NEWFOUNDLAND & SITE SELECTION To pick a site we considered geography, weather, proximity to populations, and transportation. We chose the Avalon peninsula because it has the densest population and the major airport. We picked Placentia region because the west coast of the Avalon peninsula has less severe weather, does not get winter ice, and has a disused airstrip for future transportation. We picked the inlet of the neighbouring town Fox Harbour because it has less boat and car traffic than Placentia and has deep, protected bays.

Aquaculture in Newfoundland has gradually increased since the Cod Moratorium of 1992. It is primarily focused into a region of salmonid farming on the south coast and shellfish farming on the north coast. As the industry employs fewer and fewer people, it is being lost from the culture. Despite having many unique plants and traditional dishes, Newfoundland does not have much culinary identity outside of St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. This project would catalyze both industries to create cultural and economic capital. 14

Avalon Peninsula Transport Hubs

Placentia Region Towns

Site Plan

3/4

1 7

14 4

10 6

Lower Level Plan

Upper Level Plan

1. Restaurant 2. Kitchen 3. Cooking Classroom 4. Processing & Storage 5. Cafe 6. Library 7. Marina 8. Mussel Strings 9. Floating Docks

10. Offices 11. Lobby 12. Boardwalk 13. Parking 14. Labs 15. Decontamination 16. Hatchery 17. Loading 18. Bird Islands

1. Hatchery

2. Nursing

3. Free Maturation

4. Harvesting

5. Mussel Farming (purifying filter feeders)

Aquaculture Process 16

Scuba Section

Long section through scuba outpost, artemia tanks, marina, and restaurant

Cross Section through fish pens, bird islands, marina, lobby, and access dock

Sectional Perspective through Aquaculture Wing: Tanks above and boat mooring below, with loading dock at end.

Sectional Perspective of Culinary Wing: The restaurant, kitchen, and classroom are the most public. Storage and offloading on the right serve these spaces, and offices are above.

Sectional Perspective Across: Outdoor fish pens and indoor incubation tanks on left. Docks beneath become outdoor deck along the lobby in the centre, and the restaurant on the right.

Above: Building underside docks walk and mussel strings Below: Scuba area, walking docks, and bird island

Above: Lobby, cafe and library Below: Restaurant and Patio

AWR Competition 2014

BOOK CRYSTAL

New Copenhagen Library | Team Lydon Whittle & Will Fu | Sketchup, Adobe Suite

This design competition was a call to propose Copenhagenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 21st library, a modern library for the 21st century. Our design is based on one core realization: In this technological age, information and knowledge has shifted almost entirely away from the analog format of books, and toward the digital format of computers.

Intelligence is not about personal knowledge and private archives, but about collaboration and participation. Therefore we proposed a digitally oriented sharing space full of digital hardware, in a space designed for visibility between floors. This idea produces shifting floor plates and views, and a faceted, crystaline geometry.

PUBLIC SPACES

The grand steps and provide outdoor sitting space and the accessible roof gives a city view unavailable in the surrounding area.

STRUCTURE

The huge cantilever is suspended by the large upper truss box supported by a network of slanted columns

CIRCULATION

The circulation is provided by gentle ramps which intensify into tight switchback stairs on the upper levels, approaching the accessible roof.

Cambridge Community Centre

CAMBRIDGE COMMONS Independent | 2A Design Studio with Adrian Blackwell | Wood & Acrylic Model

This Community Centre was designed for a narrow 16m wide riverside side in Cambridge, Ontario. The primary challenges were to feature non age or income specific program, create internal relationships along a long and narrow building and negotiate a two metre berm along the side for flood control.

To integrate ages and incomes I placed a community greenhouse in the middle of the centre and garden plots along the berm. Long, gradual ramps were used to connect spaces along the building and the bermâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s half levels. The model was built from plexi, wood and veneers in our school workshop.

MANIFESTO “So the universe is not quite as you thought it was. You’d better rearrange your beliefs, then. Because you certainly can’t rearrange the universe.” -Isaac Asimov There is no up or down in space, where gravity holds no domain. What is right becomes left a moment later. Space is free, space is fun, space is fluid. Without orientation, we can see clearly , we gain versatility; we become truly unbiased and open to all angles and points of view.

Isaac Asimov was a master writer and prominent intellectual from the golden era of science fiction. His populist humanist outlook and epic world-building writing were the draws and inspiration for this chair. The Chair Project is a cornerstone design-build project of the Waterloo Architecture program. The goal is to create a chair inspired by a famous client and to complete a structural analysis of it. My partner Ilhan and I chose Isaac Asimov as our client for his inspirational writing and philosophy.

In the Asimov Chair, celestial geometry and movement symbolize the openness of humanism and the optimism of space. In Orbit Mode, it is a gyroscope that simulates the disorientation of space. In Spin Mode, it is a satellite and seating for many.

Design, Build and Structural Analysis Project for Fall 2015 3B Chair Workshop taught by Elizabeth English

Spindly Lunar Lander

Space Station from 2001: A Space Odyssey

Traditional Wooden Wagon Wheel Construction

Spun Chair by Thomas Heatherwick

DEVELOPMENT The greatest challenges were comfort and buildability. The Spun Chair dimensions and reference to wagon wheel building informed our construction methods. Use of four spokes enabled us to attach a flat seat. The chair’s best innovation is the use of an axle so the wheels can spin separately rather than together, allowing two “modes”, or types of motion: “orbiting” like the spun chair, and “spinning” like a satellite.

The Asimov chair was developed through many iterations of sketches, physical, and Rhinoceros models. We were primarily inspired by science fiction iconography from Asimov’s time, and our primary chair precedent was the Spun Chair by David Heatherwick. Lunar landers, real and fictitious satellites, and 2001: A Space Odyssey were all inspirations. From the first, we always explored circular, armchair-like designs.

CNC Router Cutting

Laminating Axle Hub

Clamping & Laminating Wheel

Laminating Spindle

CONSTRUCTION All our flat pieces were built from laminations of standard 18.5mm plywood sheets, cut by the CNC router. These flat pieces were set together with clamps as needed to build the larger pieces. The wheels were built using traditional axle hub, spoke and wheel construction and use only mortise and tenon joints. The spinning axle is achieved using two steel tubes.

The biggest challenge was adjusting to the narrow tolerances of friction fits. Despite the use of the CNC, not all pieces fit perfectly and we had to adjust the pieces post-routing by sawing or sanding. The complete construction process involved 5 hours of CNC milling and about 120 hours in the shop using saws, hammers, sanders and many clamps..

SPIN MODE

ORBIT MODE

Spin Mode

Orbit Mode

iLight Marina Bay entry June, 2015

Team Soohyun Chang, Lara Isaac | Software Rhino, Grasshopper, Maxwell

an interactive, safely illuminated landscape above. I independently found the competition and designed the entry with the guidance of Soohyun Chang. The symmetrical, tensile geometry targets a modular, lightweight, and affordable construction. The source and size of the whole and parts were carefully tailored to meet to festival’s budget.

The Dreamcatcher was proposed and designed over three weeks as an entry for the iLight Marina Bay 2016 Festival In Pursuit of Shadows. The goal of our design was to engage the public in manners beyond simply looking, and invite play. The web of subtle lights aimed to also create a canopy of stars, celebrating the tranquility of cosmic shadows for those beyond, and Stars

Web

Frame

Outdoor, weatherproof, solar powered fairy lights capitalize on Singapore’s high sun exposure, approximately 6 hours per day in March (the time of the festival). Attached to the underside of the web, the lights create a floating, indistinct cloud of stars, which describe the geometry of the mesh and the ring. Cost Est: 710USD 5/8” playground grade polyester cargo nets with steel cores are stretched between steel tension rings to create a flexible, slightly elastic, and gently curved topography for hanging the lights, and walking over. The net’s black colour melts into the night, accentuating the stars. Cost Est: 1650USD

Six 100mm circular steel tubes define the undulating hexagonal form. The bases of each column are bolted to the ground and the tops bolted to each other. The members are all straight and equal length with identical angles and identical connections for easy prefabrication and assembly. Cost Est.: 2260USD 34

Front Elevation

Plan

Side Elevation

Residential SD Tender Application

MORTON MEWS

Team Soohyun Chang, Monika Byra, Lara Isaac | Software Rhino, CAD, Adobe Suite

Morton Mews is a London row house interior renovation. The clients were a young couple who anticipated children. The primary challenge was to create an open, bright, and family friendly space though we could not chang or expend the windows and frames. Our design approach worked from the client’s desire for ample storage and used millwork elements as “frames”

for spaces to create the illusion of grandeur and size, and connect the inhabitants by drawing attention to the action within spaces. My role included surveying the existing building to produce existing drawings, researching precedents, meeting the clients, and preparing the schematic layouts and tender application drawings.

Front Elevation

Long Section

Rear Elevation

Option 2:

Option 1:

Basement

Ground Floor

Basement

Kitchen

Home Cinema

Ground Floor

Mixed Use Design Competition, Winning Entry

MCLEOD TRAIL CENTRE Team Bruce Kuwabara, Chris Couse, Gabriel Fain, Lara Isaac, Nick Jones, Ronnie Kataki Consultants Gibbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gage, Norm Li, Jack Syzmoniak | Software Revit, CAD, Adobe Suite

This project is the winning entry of a 6-week competition to design a mixed-use office, hotel, and condo, and retail complex. The main challenge of the project was to provide open space throughout the site to preserve the publicness of the existing park space. The possibilities of several connections to a network of second floor public spaces made this project unique.

The project team was directly led by Bruce Kuwabara and each team member was given design responsibility. My work included designing the condo and hotel drop-offs and lobbies and the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upper floor event space. I also helped build the Revit model and produce the plans, diagrams, renders and physical model for the submission.

Office Plaza

Acrylic Model

Design Strategies

Public Spaces

Checkerboard

Locating Primary Building Uses

Ground Floor Animation

Parking Entrance Retail A

Lobby

Retail B

Condo Lobby Office

Office Plaza

Bar

Condo

Hotel Court Hotel

Ground Floor Plan

10m

20m

Typical Tower Floor Plan

30m

10m

20m

30m

Hotel Entrance

Copyright is that of the Architect. Any version of this drawing reproduced by a means from any media without prior written approval of the Architect is to be read for information only. The Architect is not liable for any loss or distortion of information resulting from subs reproduction of the original drawing.

A10.00

GENERAL NOTES: 1. Drawings are not to be scaled. Contracto verify all existing conditions and dimensio required to perform the Work and will rep any discrepancies with the Contract Documents to the Architect before commencing work. 2. The Architectural Drawings are to be rea conjunction with all other Contract Docum including the Project Manuals and the Structural, Mechanical and Electrical Drawings. In cases of difference between Consultants' documents with respect to th quantity, sizes or scope of work, the grea shall apply. 3. Positions of exposed or finished Mechan or Electrical devices, fittings and fixtures indicated on the Architectural Drawings. Locations shown on the Architectural Drawings shall govern over Mechanical a Electrical Drawings. Mechanical and Elec items not clearly located will be located a directed by the Architect. 4. Dimensions indicated are taken between faces of finished surfaces unless otherwis noted. 5. The architect has not been retained for supervision of construction and assumes responsibility for means, methods and techniques of construction. 6. These documents are not to be used for construction unless specifically noted for purpose.

157280 PENTHOUSE

Event Space Layout A

OPEN

P2.1

CWLG 3830

Event Space Layout B 6

A8.10

OPEN

A8.10 A8.10

MONITOR WALL SEE __

Theatre and Education Complex Design Competition MB

LEVEL 17 CORRIDOR ‐ EAST

1 A8.06

GLOBE AND MAIL FIT OUT

A6.09

3 A8.10

1 : 50

6 Team Goran Malekovich, Bob Sims, Sanaz Shirsekar, Lara Isaac, Victoria Ngai 5 Base Building Diamond Schmitt | Software Revit

BACK BAR SEE __ 151110 LEVEL 17

3 4 A10.00

SIM TYPICAL LIGHT SLOT 157280 PENTHOUSE

This project is an interior fit out for the Globe and Mail’s new offices in their new building. The project covers four floors and includes meeting rooms, recording studios, and event spaces for a staff of highly variable size. Due to the base building’s jogging perimetre, every floor was unique.

My role included rendering, managing schedules, and specifying materials, and extensive drawing and updating detail sections and elevations in Revit for the first CD deadline. One of my particular responsibilities was drawing millwork details for the Event Space storage and bar area, shown here. CAP1 4863

10 11

L17 BAR

3 A6.09

6 A8.06

A8.08

300

MEL

A8.10

A8.08

FOR WALL ON GRID C ‐ SEE 1/A6.09

A8.08

MEL

A8.10

SIM

A8.08

2301

300

SIM

GL4

MEL

A8.08

BAR SUPPORT AREA

AV LIGHT CONTROL 151110 LEVEL 17

LEVEL 17 CORRIDOR ‐ WEST 1 : 50

7 3

A10.00

SIM

TYPICAL LIGHT SLOT TYP. OF ALL IN CAP1

A10.00

157280 PENTHOUSE

FOR WALL EAST OF STORAGE SEE 4/16.09

CWLG 3830

A8.08 OPEN

A8.08

OPEN

PT WD1

GL4

WD1

SIM

A8.08

SIM

GRAIN

A8.10

A8.08

10 11

A8.10

MONITOR WALL SEE __

34 2

A8.10 A8.10 A8.10

3 A8.06

BAR 151110 LEVEL 17

WB1

STORAGE WALL

WD1

3 2 1

Mar. 02, 2016 Issued for Permit Feb. 25, 2016 Issued for Construction Documents Nov. 26, 2015 Issued for Design Developm Nov. 26, 2015 Design Development Costin Sept. 22, 2015 Issued for Schematic Design

Rev.

5 4

Date

Issued

LEVEL 17 CONFERENCE & EVENTS LOBBY ‐ EAST

2 A6.09

1 : 50

7 PT ABOVE CEILING ‐ WHERE VISIBLE

A10.00

A10.04

A10.00

CAP1 4863

3 3

A6.10

TYPICAL LIGHT SLOT TYP. OF ALL IN CAP1

157280 PENTHOUSE KPMB Architects 322 King St W, 3rd Fl Toronto, ON, Canada M5V 1J2 416 977 5104

OPEN

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

OPEN PT

METAL EDGE

351 King Street East Toronto, ON

GL10

LEVEL 17 CONFERENC & EVENTS LOBBY, BAR CORRIDOR INTERIOR ELEVATIONS

METAL EDGE

151110 LEVEL 17 WB1

WB1

MP2 LOCATION SEE __

1 A6.09

LEVEL 17 CONFERENCE & EVENTS LOBBY ‐ WEST 1 : 50

Event Space Elevations

SCALE PROJECT NO. DATE

1 : 50 1350 2016/03/02

A6.09

KITCHEN EQUIPMENT 100

OPEN BENEATH TABLE

5760

425

1075

JOINT TO MATCH STONE OF COUNTER

L17 FRONT BAR ELEVATION ‐ FROM BEHIND

6 A8.06

L17 BAR FRONT ELEVATION ‐ WEST

3 A8.06

1 : 20

Event Space Bar Details D

CLEAR GLASS (NO BACKPAINTING @ MONITORS)

8021 3033 278

625

396

600

4788 600

600

ST1

A8.07

ON 16mm PLYWOOD ON STEEL FRAME

100

WOOD CLADDING

A8.07

STEEL (BSF)

L17 BAR AXO

151110

A8.06

LEVEL 17

JOINT TO MATCH STONE OF COUNTER 3mm

10 A8.07

A8.07

13 600

A8.07

A8.06

600

L17 BAR ELEVATION ‐ SOUTH

13 A8.07

1 : 20

9 A8.07

600

A8.07

SIM

A10.00

600

BBP5

STONE COUNTER, WRAP TO FLOOR

5 4

1215

BBP10

5650

BBP8

BBP5

BBP8

BBP9

1215

EQ 1631

KPMB Architects 322 King St W, 3rd Fl Toronto, ON, Canada M5V 1J 416 977 5104

ST1

ON 16mm PLYWOOD ON STEEL FRAME

11 A8.07

ON 16mm PLYWOOD

SIM

396

A8.07

625

WB1

151110

450

SS COUNTER ON MDF

LEVEL 17

278

PC STEEL BASE MITRED CORNER

351 King Street East Toronto, ON

ST1 COUNTER

A8.07

THE GLOBE AN

3mm STEEL (BSF) ON 9mm PANELCLIPS

8 A8.10

50 X 50 HSS POST BELOW

300

JOINT

278

375

OPEN SLOT FOR AIR

5660

250

ST1

A8.07

BAR 1724

A8.10

850

3 A8.10

A8.07

1075

600

GLASS JOINT

A8.10

600

1256

GL4 BACKPAINTED

600

50 X 50 HSS FRAME BELOW

ST1 COUNTER

A8.07

A8.06

10 11 8

CLEAR GLASS (NO BACKPAINTING) @ MONITORS

7 A8.10

600

6 2

A8.07 A8.10

Issued

BB PARTITION LIGHT FIXTURE

242 995 747

MONITOR WALL

A8.10

1500

Mar. 02, 2016 Issued for Feb. 25, 2016 Issued for Document Nov. 26, 2015 Issued for Nov. 26, 2015 Design Dev Sept. 22, 2015 Issued for Date

1279

4 A8.10

A8.07

A8.10

3 2 1 Rev.

MONITOR WALL

A8.10

2430

BBP10

7 A8.10

1215

A8.10

600

A8.10

1215

600

7695 1645

DROPPED C1

2350

L17 BAR AXO ‐ FROM NORTHWEST

8021

5A A8.06

600

2 A8.10

CAP1

SS BASE & SS CLAD DOORS

1448

4578

LEVEL 17 BAR, WALL, NORTH P

1369

300

7395

203

257

600

A8.07

600

4 A8.06

600

1300

278

6260

LEVEL 17 CONFERENCE & EVENTS LOBBY BAR

A8.06

L17 BACK BAR ELEVATION 1 : 20

SCALE PROJECT NO. DATE

1 : 25

As indicate 1350 2016/03/0

A8.06 3

A10.00

157280 PENTHOUSE

P2.1

CWLG 3830

OPEN

A8.10

OPEN

A8.10 A8.10

MONITOR WALL SEE __

A8.10

A8.06

BACK BAR SEE __ 151110 MB

LEVEL 17

LEVEL 17 CORRIDOR ‐ EAST

4 A6.09

1 : 50

3 4 A10.00

SIM TYPICAL LIGHT SLOT 157280 PENTHOUSE

CAP1 4863

7 A8.08

FOR WALL ON GRID C ‐ SEE 1/A6.09

A8.08

300

10 11 A8.10

L17 BAR

MEL

SIM

A8.08

2301

300

SIM MEL

GL4

A8.10

A8.06

AV LIGHT CONTROL

BAR SUPPORT AREA 151110 LEVEL 17

3 A6.09

LEVEL 17 CORRIDOR ‐ WEST 1 : 50

Event Space Elevations 3

4 4 A10.00

7 6

A10.00

SIM

TYPICAL LIGHT SLOT TYP. OF ALL IN CAP1

10 A10.00

157280 PENTHOUSE

41 FOR WALL EAST OF STORAGE SEE 4/16.09

Lakeside Front

Theatre

Side Garden

Theatre and Education Complex Design Competition

MIDSUMMER THEATRE Team Bruce Kuwabara, Chris Couse, Lara Isaac, Clementine Chang, Nick Jones, Jonathan Miura Landscape Consultants Micheal Van Valkenburg | Renders Adrian Pfeiffer, Norm Li

This centre is a re-imagining of an existing theatre. The design aims to preserve an intimate and countryside feel while expanding the program for public and educational use. The primary moves of the design were to separate the building into pavilions and allow views through the side and reflect the sinuous geometry

of the lakeshore in the porch, buildings, and landscape. The competition lasted seven weeks and directly involved two partners and a principal. My role involved developing the massing through digital model and render views, designing elevations and plans, and producing presentation sections and diagrams.

Cross Section through Theatre

Aerial View

Long Section through Theatre

STORMS AND SEWERS An ARCGIS Research Project investigating of Toronto’s water systems Winter 2015 Research Elective with Mona El-Khafif | Team Lara Isaac, Teresa Tran

Toronto’s Storm of a Century: July 8, 2013 This project uses GIS (Geogrpahic Information Systems) to show how weak points of Toronto’s storm and sewer systems converge to create the conditions for the “perfect storm” of flood conditions. The problem Toronto is facing is caused by confluence of many features that can be mapped, including topography, control features, insufficient plant capacity, high population density, and high impermeable ground area.

On July 8, 2013, about 9 billion litres of water fell on Toronto, and caused over 3800 basement floods city wide and billions in property damage. Such catastrophic storms have and will become more frequent as climate changes, and mitigation requires careful research and design. To understand these catastrophes, both the natural and man-made inputs must be studied. Storm events produce extreme volumes of water and put enormous short-term pressure on storm water infrastructure, forcing overflow to be bypassed into natural water bodies and watersheds. Because of Downtown Toronto’s archaic combined sewer system, many bypasses include raw sewage, which is dumped directly into Lake Ontario. This causes widespread ecological and health concerns and decreases the lake’s ability to filter out toxic chemicals.

150 L/DAY

200 L/DAY

250 L/DAY

343 L/DAY

US A

PLANT CAPACITY

Ita

BYPASS

1 litre of water

1m²

1 mm of rainfall over 1 square metre

WASTE PRODUCTION

383 LITRES/DAY

BYPASSES

THE RAINWATER EQUATION

Our project is inspired by the growing acknowledgment both in the press and in academia, that flooding is becoming a primary concern for landscape architects, urban planners, and architects, whom can minimize the impact of flooding through design. Through research we identify our problem, identify the site of greatest concern, explore control options, and propose a design solution.

Water Processing

Average Daily Domomestic Water Use (per capita) Producing Grey or Black water

FLOODING OF JULY 8TH, 2013

NATURAL WATER SYSTEMS The Greater Toronto Area watershed encompasses all of Toronto and is broken into smaller watersheds corresponding to the major rivers. The natural aspect of catastrophic flooding can be understood in terms of rainfall, flooding control, and infiltration capacity. A mapping exercise reveals that more control structures exist farther up river than in the city. Fortunately, these areas have low percent impermeable ground, which means infiltration capacity is high. By examining maps of the regions’ rivers and topography, we can see how gravity diverts many small rivers and large rainfall areas into the main rivers. WATERSHEDS

Sewer System

GREATER TORONTO WATERSHED AREA

Green Areas

5km

10km

50km

Watershed Boundary River

TORONTO COMBINED WATERSHEDS DATA /Toronto Watersheds /Forest and Wetland Cover: 24.5% /Intact Natural Cover: 25% /Population: 7,000,000 /Ecological value/Hectare: $2,000 - $3,000 /Lake Ontario Volume: 1,640 km³

DON RIVER WATERSHED Natural Waterways

steeles avenue

905 Region (unknown)

DON RIVER WATERSHED

highway 401

5km 10km

Separated Sewer Area

50km

Stormwater Management Ponds Retention Ponds Flood Control Structures

Don River Watershed Data /Area 358 km² /Mean Stream Flow (mouth) 4.0 m3/sec /Population (2011) 1,211,350 /Surface Water Quality Grade: F Every millimeter of rainfall contributes 358,000,000 L of water to the Don River Watershed

Combined Sewer Area

Watersheds

HUMBER RIVER WATERSHED 905 Region (unknown)

steeles avenue

HUMBER RIVER WATERSHED 5km 10km

Topography

50km

Humber River Watershed

highway 404

Stormwater Management Ponds

HUMBER RIVER WATERHSED DATA Separated Sewer Area

Combined Sewer Area

/Area 911 km² /Mean Stream Flow (mouth) 6.8 m3/sec /Population (2011) 856,200 /Surface Water Quality Grade: C Every millimeter of rainfall contributes 911,000,000 L of water to the Humber River Watershed

TORONTO REGION WATERSHEDS Floodplains, natural cover, watercourses, flood control structures

GROUNDCOVER BY REGION Building Footprints

25%

Paved Sidewalks

impermeable ground

Paved Roads

Paved Parcels

75%

TORONTO’S WATERSHEDS

Rivers and Waterbodies

green areas

Designated Parks

THE WATERSHEDS OF TORONTO are the areas around Toronto, which drain through Toronto’s main rivers and down into the lake. These regions, covering about 11,400km2, contains over 3,600km of rivers and watercourses, and 1,440km2 of designated parks. The Municipalities of Vaughn, Richmond Hill, Markham, Gormley, and Pickering.

FLOODPLAINS NATURAL COVERAGE DESIGNATED PARK SPACES COMBINED SEWER NEIGHBOURHOODS

Rivers and Waterbodies Designated Parks

WATERSHED BOUNDARIES

60%

Building Footprints

WATERCOURSES

impermeable ground TORONTO’S COMBINED SEWER SYSTEM AREA

40% unpaved

Paved Sidewalks

Paved Roads Paved Parcels

GTA PAVING: 43%

STORM

FLOOD CONTROL STRUCTURES

AND

HUMBER RIVER WATERSHEDS HUMBER RIVER PONDS

TORONTO’S COMBINED SEWER SYSTEM REGION has an area of 143 km2 or about 22.6% of Toronto’s total area. It is the only system which serves Toronto’s downtown area. This region contains Toronto’s densest wards and is home to 1,525,000 people. 11km2 of this region is paved parcels, 24.3km2 is paved roads as is about 16km2 paved sidewalks. Buildings represent about 32.2km2 of the total land area. In total about 58.3% of the land area within Toronto’s combined sewer system area is impermeable. Of the remaining 58km2 of land, 18km2, or about 12.5% is designated park space. There are 97km of rivers and watercourses. The people in this area generate about 660,000,000L of wastewater every day. Every mm of rainfall in this area generates about 166,000,000L of stormwater per mm of rainfall. The combined capacity of the sewage plants which serve this area is 852,000,000L

DON RIVER WATERSHEDS DON RIVER PONDS MUNICIPAL PONDS/STREAMS

RAINFALL SEVERITY

FLOOD CONTROL STRUCTURES OVERFLOW

Rivers and Waterbodies Designated Parks

Building Footprints

43% impermeable ground

July 8, 2013: 126.0mm

Paved Sidewalks

THE CITY OF TORONTO

57% unpaved Paved Roads

Paved Parcels

OVERFLOW

THE CITY OF TORONTO has an area of 632 km2. It is served in part by a combined storm and sewer system, and in part by a combined storm and sewer system. The total population is about 2,503,000 people. Unused paved parcels represent 74km2 of Toronto’s surface area. About 72.2km2 is paved road, 48.2km2 is paved sidewalk, and 99km2 of Toronto’s ground area is covered by building footprints. About 43% of Toronto’s total area is impermeable. Designated parks represent about 71km2, or about 11.2% of Toronto’s ground area. The people of Toronto produce about 1,078,793,000 of wastewater every day. The combined capacity of all the sewage plants serving Toronto is conservatively estimated to be about 1,650,000,000L.

Rest of 2013: 809.5mm

INLET

OUTLET

RETENTION POND

DETENTION POND

A landscape feature that always contains water and has the capacity to handle excess rainwater. Often used to separate out sediments over long periods of time.

A dry landscape feature that has public use and can capture rainwater. They are designed to close access to sewers when necessary, and reopen after the rain.

ARTIFICIAL WATER SYSTEMS Toronto is served by four main sewage plants and divided into four sewer sheds. Through GIS mapping, we can see that the heart of the problem is that most of Toronto’s downtown core is served by an archaic Combined Storm and Sewer system. In addition to having low elevation and collecting rain water, the downtown also hasSEWAGE high paved surface area so little water is absorbed naturally, and SHEDS a high population density generating sewage. Water System

5km

10km

50km

Watershed Boundary

SEWAGE TRUNKS WATERMAINS

Sewer System

NORTH TORONTO 34,000,000 L

/opened in 1929 /27-hectare site /initial user of biological activated sludge process

Combined Sewer Area

HIGHLAND CREEK 219,000,000 L

/began operation in 1956 /59-hectare site /was upgraded from 18,000,000 L /operates 24/7

Paved Areas

HUMBER 473,000,000 L

/began operating in 1960 /45.3-hectare site /starting capacity was 227,000,000 L /serves Etobicoke, York... /operates 24/7

Water Shed

ASHBRIDGES BAY 818,000,00 L

/built in 1910 /40.5-hectare site /formerly called “main treatment plant” /primary digesters processing raw and activated sludge /operates 24/7

DOWNTOWN TORONTO SEWER SYSTEM Treatment Plants, Water Systems, Sewer Systems, and Paved Areas

PAVED AREAS TORONTO MUNICIPALITY COMBINED SEWER NEIGHBOURHOODS WATERMAIN

GROUNDCOVER BY REGION

SEWER TRUNKS COMBINED SEWER TRUNKS

Building Footprints Paved Sidewalks

DRAINAGE BASINS

25%

" "

impermeable ground

WATER TREATMENT PLANTS SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS

Paved Roads

Paved Parcels

75%

TORONTO’S WATERSHEDS

Rivers and Waterbodies

green areas

Designated Parks

CITY OF TORONTO REGION GROUNDCOVER PAVING:BY 25% Building Footprints Paved Sidewalks

DOWNTOWN TORONTO PAVING: 60%

Paved Parcels

75%

Designated Parks Building Footprints

Designated Parks

TORONTO’S COMBINED SEWER SYSTEM AREA Paved Sidewalks

Paved Parcels

60% impermeable ground

Rivers and Waterbodies

STORM

AND

10% Runoff to Sewers

50% Infiltration

Rivers and Waterbodies

Building Footprints

30% Evapotranspiration

60%

40%

THE WATERSHEDS OF TORONTO are the areas around unpaved Toronto, which drain through Toronto’s main rivers and down into the lake. These regions, covering about 11,400km2, contains over 3,600km of rivers and watercourses, and 1,440km2 of designated parks. The Municipalities of Vaughn, Richmond Hill, Markham, Gormley, and Pickering. Paved Roads

Designated Parks

40% Evapotranspiration

+75% IMPERMABLE GROUND

impermeable ground

TORONTO’S WATERSHEDS

Rivers and Waterbodies

PERMEABLE GROUND

Rivers and Waterbodies

25% impermeable ground

Paved Roads

green areas

55% Runoff to Sewers 15% Infiltration

REVITALIZATION OF THE CONCRETE JUNGLE COMBINED SEWER AERIAL

Analyzing smaller areas within the highly paved downtown allowed us to look at ground cover carefully and identify Low Capacity Area sites for our intervention. Because these spaces are small and already developed, we proposed small scale flood mitigation that can reduce the volumes of runoff and severity of floods, and be introduced immediately and gradually.

Bioswales are a small scale, dispersed flood mitigation method that can be implemented carefully throughout already developed areas with little disruption and reduce flood damage across a co-ordinated system. These small scale design interventions both protect the city and improve the streetscapes.

COMPARE SECTIONS PERMEABLE SURFACES: HIGH CAPACITY AREAS Majority of permeable surfaces include: 1 Street side Tree Planting Grates 2 Landscaped Property Space (Lawns/Yards) 3 Park Spaces

MAP OF GREENERY

DOWNTOWN CORE

IMPERMEABLE SURFACES: LOW CAPACITY AREAS Majority of impermeable surfaces include: 1 Parking lots

MAP OF PAVING

FINANCIAL DISTRICT

2 Street paving 3 Sidewalks 4 Building roof tops

TYPICAL BIOSWALE: SIDEWALK AND ROAD

DOUBLE BIOSWALE: WITHIN SIDEWALK

PRECIPITATION

DRAINAGE BASIN

DRAINAGE BASIN BIOSWALE

STREET RUNOFF RUNOFF WATER

INLET

BIOSWALE DRAINAGE

IMPLEMENTING GREEN ROOFS

Buildings take up a majority of the city surface in dense areas. Green roofs are not visible from street level. However, through aerial photos, the buildings appear to blend in with the street paving. Taking advantage of this surface areas captures rain water before it reaches the street level.

IMPLEMENTING BIOSWALES

Storm water run-off typically falls to the street and drains to the sewage systems adjacent to the sidewalk curbs. By creating bioswales along the sidewalks, the run-off is captured and stored until it has time to evaporate. This reduces the pressure on the artificial systems so they have the capacity to carry black water versus rain water.

Thanks for reading! lara.isaac@hotmail.ca lsisaac@uwaterloo.ca