Landscape Architecture Portfolio: April 2017 by Neal Heidt

Neal Heidt Landscape Architecture Portfolio | April 2017

Neal Heidt

1829 College Heights Rd #14, Manhattan, KS 66502 | 303 519 9453 | neheidt@ksu.edu

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Kansas State University | Master of Landscape Architecture | Anticipated Graduation: May 2017 Studio Outside Landscape Architects | Dallas, TX | Landscape Design Internship

INTERESTS

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

See the big picture. | Take time to reflect on how your current circumstances will shape the end product. Stick to the process. | If you buy into a system, follow it through to completion. Deliver work the client is amazed by. | The people you serve deserve the highest quality product possible Deliver work you are amazed by. | If you are not excited of your product, how can anyone else be?

REFERENCES

CURRENT PROJECT

College-Hillcrest Trail (pp. 18-21) | Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Project + Report Research Question | What design alternatives can be generated to address lighting, safety, and other user and stakeholder concerns for the College-Hillcrest Trail in Manhattan, Kansas? Methods | Site Inventory/Analysis, Questionnaires Current Phases | Final Redlines, Publication

Projects FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH NORTH ENTRY SUNSET ZOO

COLLEGE-HILLCREST TRAIL

STUDIO OUTSIDE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

Cover/inset: terrain model of First Christian Church, with plant massings and building in the background. Building this model is what solidified the connections in my mind between plan and section drawings and the geometry of a three-dimensional design.

First Christian Church

Site Design | Grading Design | Planting Design | Construction Documentation

Academic (Independent / Team) | Manhattan, KS | August 2014 - May 2015 Takeaway | Developing every aspect of a project is fulfilling, especially when done for a client.

Teammates for Group Work Portions (First Two Months Only) Landscape Architecture | Conner Bruns, Timothy Kellams Architecture | Renee Bresson, Paul Wickert Project Basics First Christian Church (FCC) is relocating from their historic downtown location to a 7-acre site on the prairie. Design Process As a team of architecture and landscape architecture students, we first determined our concept: a house of God within the prairie He created. FCC leaders quickly bought into this concept. My landscape architecture teammates and I then developed a site and grading design plan which maximized preservation of and interaction with nature. From this point forward, my work was entirely independent.

Schematic 3D grading model I developed for a fly-through video shown to church members. This model was made in SketchUp using my grading plan (seen on following spread), existing terrain from ArcGIS and Google Earth, trees from the SketchUp Warehouse, and a building I modeled from the architecture consultants’ drawings. Image by Neal Heidt.

Existing First Christian Church building downtown. Photo by Neal Heidt.

April 2015 presentations to church members. Photo by Erin Wilson.

“Superdeck,” one of the key elements which employed the site design concept. Rendering by Renee Bresson and Paul Wickert.

Finished Products As a team, we produced boards for an initial site proposal and a pencil-on-paper grading plan. Independently, I produced a grading plan construction document; planting plans, layout, and schedule; an irrigation plan; a layout and dimensioning plan; and construction details. All of these things were assembled and presented in April 2015 to FCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s congregation. The church responded with positive acclaim.

My planting design goal was to capture the essence of the client by bridging the two contextual aesthetics. A planting gradient exists which fades from tulips, spirea, and daylilies in the most frequented areas of the site to prairie grasses in the areas most removed from human activity. Later, particular species were selected for their aesthetics, ecological performance, and maintenance needs. Conceptual planting plan by Neal Heidt.

Site-scale grading plan developed on trace with pencil. Grading plan by Conner Bruns, Neal Heidt, and Timothy Kellams.

Refined planting design within east parking lot. Detailed planting plan by Neal Heidt.

Grading plan. Document developed by Neal Heidt.

Planting layout. Design and document developed by Neal Heidt.

Irrigation plan. Design and document developed by Neal Heidt.

Layout and dimensioning plan. Document developed by Neal Heidt.

Construction details. Designed and developed by Neal Heidt.

Senior Living Community

Urban Design | App Development | Web Development

Academic / Competition (2-Person Team) | Manhattan, KS | January 2015 - May 2015 2016 Award of Merit (for website) | Central States ASLA Takeaway | Unfamiliar forms of technology may be the most appropriate means to execute ambitious ideas.

Primary Roles 3D Modeling | Diagramming | Project Logistics Teammate Landscape Architecture | Timothy Kellams Project Basics The redevelopment of an existing parking lot was the subject for my first urban design project. In accordance with CLARB’s Wayne Grace Memorial Competition, the design needed to communicate our topic, that “landscape architects enable communities to function more effectively,” to the public.

My partner, Tim, and I developing LArchive MHK. Photo by Kelsey Steward.

Sources: US Census Bureau and Google Maps. Map by Neal Heidt.

Design Process My partner and I critically mapped the downtown core and surrounding area to determine its needs. We used these maps to determine the program for our design. Then, we developed a design which satisfied this program. After changing the design several dozen times without much success, we resolved to start from scratch five days before the deadline. To render the design, we chose to experiment with a program called Vue, which we had limited previous exposure to. This meant that we needed to troubleshoot problems before they occurred with the final model. I worked hard to set up a base model in SketchUp, while my partner continuously test ran the rendering process. Our workflow is shown on the following page. CLARB also required the submission of an alternative mode of communication to communicate our topic as part of the competition entry. To do this, my partner and I developed a mobile app, which we named LArchive MHK. My most significant duties with the app were to teach myself the chosen software (BuildFire) and plan the production process. To market the app, we sought out funding to pay for its release on both Apple and Android, launched several social media campaigns, and produced fliers for posting in hallways and handing out at CELA 2015. An article written by our department, who funded the app for the duration of the competition, further details the app development process. Finally, my partner and I were asked by our studio professors to develop a website where the designs and modes of communication of our studio would be submitted together. A third classmate assisted with the coding for this website.

Concept diagrams by Neal Heidt.

Perspective of private patio, putting green, and vegetable garden on parking garage rooftop. Rendered in Vue using a SketchUp model. SketchUp model by Neal Heidt. Vue rendering and plant material by Timothy Kellams. Edits made in Photoshop by Neal Heidt and Timothy Kellams.

Finished Products We designed an independent living community for senior citizens where recreational and everyday services exist within feet of the residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; doors. Site amenities include several dozen apartments and condos, a parking garage, a fitness center, creative studios, open space, an amenity deck, and streetscaping. Diagrams can be seen below and renderings on the following page. LArchive MHK consisted of a database of local landscapes, providing navigation, social media links, and design analysis for each site. Information about this app can be found on our Facebook and Twitter pages. The studio website is also available to the public.

Perspective of the boardwalk with adjacent cafe patio and private balconies, with open lawn below and creative studios and garage in the background. Rendered in Vue using a SketchUp model. SketchUp model by Neal Heidt. Vue rendering and plant material by Timothy Kellams. Edits made in Photoshop by Neal Heidt and Timothy Kellams.

I used SketchUp to model the design. After several attempts at importing that model into Vue for rendering, my partner and I determined that the most effective way to preserve the modelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quality upon import was to reclassify layers by material, rather than other methods. SketchUp model by Neal Heidt. Screen shot of Vue model by Timothy Kellams.

Screen shots of LArchive MHK interface. The app explains how various landscapes in the Manhattan, Kansas area “enable communities to function more effectively.” Icon by Neal Heidt. Design and data entry by Neal Heidt and Timothy Kellams.

< Landscape Architecture Public Welfare website, displaying the seven impacts the industry has on public welfare, including “enabling communities to function more effectively” (number 7 at left). Icon by Neal Heidt. Website by Neal Heidt, Timothy Kellams, and Jonathan Knight.

Zion Lutheran Church North Entry

Planting Design | Project Phasing

Pro Bono (Independent) | Brighton, CO | July 2015 - August 2015

Takeaway | Personal life connections can be an effective way to further develop oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skill sets.

Phase 1 photomontage for Concept 1: Ascent. Using a gradient of shortgrass prairie to montane plantings, a low-maintenance design can be built, using biblical theme of pilgrimaging up a mountain to meet with God as the basis.

< Existing site: approach at terminus of residential street to the north (top) and mulched window well along building (bottom).

Project Basics

Design Process

The pastor at the church I grew up attending approached me for ideas on beautifying and vitalizing one of the narthex entries. This soon evolved into a full scale design-build project.

To better understand local native and adapted plant materials, I began by perusing botanical websites and making conversation with local gardeners.

developed a framework for the project. I turned these into a slideshow, which I sent to church leadership in August 2015 for review.

At the request of church leadership, I developed three separate concepts, each with a phasing plan and general plant massings. I also

This project has also been a good opportunity for me to practice my hand rendering skills, something I did not previously feel confident in.

Schematic plan for Concept 2: Overflow. Colors of the sanctuary stained glass spill out into the landscape in the form of flowers and painted concrete, resembling the overflow of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love toward humanity.

Project Status Church leadership has reviewed all three schematic designs. The project has been on hold since late 2015 while the church focuses on other projects.

Phasing plan for Concept 3: Common Unity. Various church community activities are tied together as one, using the equilateral triangle, a symbol of the communal Holy Trinity, as a parti.

< Proposed project timeline. This was an essential tool for helping church leadership understand the necessary steps for fulfilling this project.

Sunset Zoo

Master Planning | Grading Design | Hand Rendering | Construction Documentation | 3D Animation

Academic (Independent) | Manhattan, KS | August 2015 - December 2015 Takeaway | By pushing his or her own creativity past its limits, a designer can expand the possibilities of a project in the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind.

Project Basics Sunset Zoo needs a comprehensive 5-year development plan to maintain accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Zoo currently utilizes 27 of its 40 acres and is willing to develop the remaining land. Design Process My classmates and I conducted a site inventory and analysis in order to quantify and qualify the site. We also conducted a panel discussion of Zoo staff members to understand their needs and concerns. I explored different circulation, grading, and exhibit layout scenarios before developing a concept. As I sketched, I realized that to make the master plan achievable, I needed to treat prominent and adverse site conditions as assets rather than liabilities.

< Conceptual section showing the relationship between visitors, proposed topography, a proposed aviary, and proposed exhibits for pack animals. Rendered with marker and pen.

Conceptual section showing the relationship between visitors, proposed topography, proposed exhibits, and existing maintenance access. Rendered with marker and pen.

Plan Aerial view, looking southwest. Clockwise fromMaster left: Kansas-themed exhibits; South America-themed aviaryPrecendents and exhibits; public and events space and pavilion at the center of the zoo; Africa-themed aviary and exhibits; existing water tower; Australian-themed immersion exhibits; entry switchback and plaza; and visitor parking lot. Rendered with Photoshop from a model built in LumenRT. Buildings, exhibits, site amenities, and topography for LumenRT model constructed in SketchUp. Proposed topography was created with Autodesk Civil3D and existing contextual topography was imported from Google Earth.

Livestock Shelter

Water Tower

ENLARGED PARKING

PRESERVED ENTRY Visitors’ APPEARANCE Center

PRESERVED SERVICE ROAD

(about 130 stalls)

Existing meadow, with goldenrod and bundleflower (Heidt 2015)

Oak Str eet

A’ O

EXHIBIT EXPANSION

Existing entry plantings (Kellams 2015)

Gorilla Shelter

Ticket Booth

OPEN SPACE FOR FUTURE EXPANSION

NEW PARKING

Plan rendering of an entry drive scenario. Rendered with marker and colored pencil. Labeled inENTRY Illustrator.

Road alignment plan. Drawn in Autodesk Civil3D.

The ability to move throughout a three-dimensional animated model allowed me to produce renderings from many different angles quickly. Top row: eye-level perspective of zoo skyline from hills to the south; aerial perspective of central lawn from the northwest; and aerial perspective of the “Treehouse,” a spiral bridge which connects the lower and upper elevations of the zoo, allows visitors to interact with giraffes, and includes an aviary at its center. Bottom row: aerial perspective of the parking lot; eye-level perspective of the gateway to the new Kansas zone; and eye-level perspective of the relationship between the bison shelter and the human domain. Rendered with LumenRT using SketchUp model. Vegetation modeled in LumenRT.

Service Area

Giraffes

Treehouse Aviary

Africa

Giraffes

Ticket Booth / Visitor’s Center

Meadow

Section running west-northwest to east-southeast through the zoo. Rendered in Photoshop and Illustrator from LumenRT model.

Entry Drive

Entry Sequence

Parking Lot

Bioswale

Meadowlarks Prairie Dogs

Kansas

Fence Line

Sunset Cemetery

Manhattan High School

Service Access

Hyena Grotto

Service Buildings

Treehouse

Australia

Gorillas

Spiral Bridge and Skywalk African Penguins / African Parrots

Giraffes

Africa

Kangaroos / Wallabies Wombats (in central enclosure) Emus Passenger Dropoff Entry Switchback Ticket Booth Visitors’ Center

Service Buildings

Existing Valley

Parking

New Switchback Ramp to Tiger Exhibit

Bioswale

140 stalls

Open Lawn

Service Access

Renovated Amphiteater

Concessions

Central Plaza

Meadowlarks

South America

Exisiting Pavilion

Prairie Dogs

Asia

Space for additional exhibits (if desired)

Llamiary

Llamas / Guanacos / Alpacas Flamingos / Amazon Parrots

Bobcat Grotto

Wooded Property Line

Sunset Neighborhood

Kansas

Barnyard

Existing Valley

Proposed Master Plan

Sunset Zoo / December 2015

Bison Wooded Property Line

1 inch = 150 feet

< Master plan rendering. Rendered in Photoshop and Illustrator from LumenRT model.

Finished Products My master plan concept, “MaximiZOOtion,” featured circulation and programming which utilized existing contours, exhibit platting which allowed for internal expansion and improved adjacencies, the addition and growth of immersion exhibits, and the preservation and enhancement of existing prairie and woodland zones.

During the design process, I developed two sets of construction documents: one for grading and the other for road alignments.

For the final presentation to Zoo staff, I produced an interactive 3D model of the master plan using LumenRT. The ability to move throughout a near-realistic animated model allowed Zoo staff to more effectively understand the design in three dimensions.

College-Hillcrest Trail

Academic Research | Site Design | Written / Oral Communication

Academic (Independent) | Manhattan, KS | August 2016 - April 2017

USDA

drainage basin

(facilities)

OVERGROWTH “TUNNEL”

PONDING Campus Acres (single-family residential)

(University housing)

JARDINE DR

CAMPUS RD

(apartments, condos)

auxiliary trail

Collegiate Villa

COW PATH/ EROSION

K-State HDS

Jardine Apartments

HILLCREST DR

(facilities)

drainage basin

HARTFORD RD

(K-State Landscape Services) COLLEGE AVE

football, basketball stadiums

K-State Parking Services

Marlatt Farmstead

(chur ch)

DICKENS AVE

(stadiums, facilities)

UNIVERSITY DR

College Ave UMC

K-State Athletics

PIPHER LN

to baseball stadium, Kimball Ave

KERR DR

Takeaway | Academic research requires patience with oneself, especially when the process is not linear.

to University core, Denison Ave, Jarvis Dr

Overview of the trail (overlaid in black), its primary dilemmas (yellow), and its stakeholders (white). Aerial imagery courtesy of City of Manhattan.

Project Basics

Research Methodology

To fulfill the equivalent of a master’s thesis, I conducted this study and design project over a 0.3-mile residential corridor connecting “town and gown.” The City of Manhattan has delegated funding toward making improvements to the safety and enjoyment of the user experience. Noteworthy characteristics with the current trail include erosion and ponding, areas of dense overgrowth, and a severe lack of lighting.

I conducted a literature review of urban design theory and environmental psychology to determine the most important considerations I spent five months collecting qualitative and quantitative data about the physical environment, usage patterns, public perceptions, and stakeholder interests. To do this, I conducted a site-inventory and analysis, dérives, and two surveys. During these methods I made direct contact with over 250 stakeholders and users, all of whom provided insight into the design needs of the project.

Typical landscape environment along the trail.

SITE INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS Photodocumentation Base Drawing

LITERATURE REVIEW

POSSIBLE FUTURE STUDY

ANALYSIS (Findings)

SURVEYS Intercept 1 2 3 4 5

Stakeholder

DESIGN ALTERNATIVES

1 2 3 4 5

Research methodology. Diagram developed in Illustrator.

Visibility issues due to overgrowth, sharp turns, and elevation change.

Cow path eroding onto the trail.

Ponding along the trail at a street access point.

Design Process The methods previously described revealed specific lighting and vegetation types which would be considered “desirable” for the user experience, along with location-specific phenomena which needed to be addressed. These findings were synthesized into a series of design “alternatives” to present to the City through my final report. Each of these alternatives presented a unique approach to redesigning the trail based on the desired level of intervention by stakeholders. In the report, I also recommend priorities for project phasing.

Vignette of trailhead identity piece with integrated lighting, proposed for the highest-intervention alternative. The stone house in the background belongs to an abandoned farmstead. Rendered with Photoshop using SketchUp model and photo overlay. Photo courtesy of Binglei Shao.

SOLAR PAVING W/ BUILT-IN LIGHTS LIT ENTRANCE

SEATING WALL

WIDEN PATH

SIMPLIFY CENTERLINE

Highest-intervention design alternative, shown during the day (middle) and night (bottom). Rendered with Photoshop with linework from AutoCAD.

BOLLARD LIGHTING

UPLIGHTING FORMALIZE ACCESS POINT

Finished Product The outcome of this project is a 200-page report, documenting the literature review, methodology, findings, and design alternatives developed through my research. This report is expected to be published on the K-State Research Exchange in May 2017. Project Status

Vignette of an overhead lighting scenario. Rendered with Photoshop using photo overlay. Lighting elements by Hess America.

Vignette of proposed stair to replace cow path. Rendered with Photoshop using SketchUp model and photo overlay. Photo courtesy of Binglei Shao. Lighting elements by Philips.

OVERHEAD LIGHTING INFILL VEGETATION

PERGOLA W/ FESTOON LIGHTING

REROUTE TO AVOID LOW POINT FORMALIZE ACCESS POINT

SLOPESIDE PARKLET

My report is expected to be published in May 2017. The City intends to make physical improvements to the trail in mid- to late-2017; as of April 2017, the City had not determined its specific design intents.

STAIR & RAMP BIOSWALE

NATURE INFORMAL PLAY SEATING

SIMPLIFY BOLLARD SIGNAGE LIGHTING CONNECT TO CITY UTILITIES OPTIONAL

Studio Outside Landscape Architects

Design Communication | Construction Documentation

Landscape Design Internship | Dallas, TX | January 2016 - July 2016 2nd Place (5-Person Team) | Crowdus Street 2.0 Competition | Featured renderings | Tucker Development promotional materials Takeaway | Pursuit of childhood dreams achieves validation when the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desires are surpassed.

Town Square Wheaton | Wheaton, IL

The Star in Frisco | Frisco, TX

A Prairie School outdoor mall is looking to modernize its amenities, following a change in ownership. I was assigned the task of producing concept-level renderings for Tucker Development to use in industryrelated promotional materials.

The Dallas Cowboys contracted Studio Outside to design the landscape for their new practice facility, corporate headquarters, and retail district. I updated construction documents, SketchUp models, and renderings throughout my entire internship.

Rendering: Conceptual fireplace and plaza at mallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s center. Fireplace details, SketchUp model, and rendering by Neal Heidt. People and sky in rendering by Neal Heidt and refined by Raylen Worthington. Inset: Rendering featured on opening spread of Town Square Wheaton marketing booklet. Booklet by Tucker Development.

All images on this page used with permission.

Fountains at retail district entry. These renderings were the very first task I was assigned upon beginning my internship. Fountain SketchUp model by Neal Heidt. Renderings by Charlie Pruitt and refined by Neal Heidt.

STOCKYARDS RODEO

LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

MAIN STREET

MARINE CREEK

FUTURE RESTAURANTS

HORSE & MULE BARNS

HYATT PLACE

STOCKYARDS STATION

FUTURE PARKING GARAGE

FUTURE HOTEL

FUTURE MULTI-FAMILY FUTURE MULTIFAMILY

FUTURE PARK

NORTH

1” = 50’

NE 23RD STREET

FUTURE RESTAURANT

Fort Worth Stockyards | Fort Worth, TX

Crowdus Street 2.0 | Dallas, TX

Majestic Realty is transforming a twentieth-century livestock trading post and industrial district into a destination retail hub. I produced several SketchUp models and renderings, and I updated redlined construction documents.

Several co-workers and I entered a design competition outside of work hours to propose a linear park for Deep Ellum, a neighborhood lacking in public space. I designed several spaces of the park, but focused primarily on production for my team’s entry.

Above: Conceptual master plan for the Marine Creek District. Rendering by Neal Heidt. Aerial imagery from Google Earth.

Top right: Perspective of proposed improvements on Crowdus Street, taken from Main Street. SketchUp model and rendering by Neal Heidt. Vegetation in rendering by Cindy Tong.

Right: Front view of proposed sawtooth shade structure, located between the west Horse & Mule Barns in the Marine Creek District. Section by Neal Heidt. Building elevations by Bennett Benner Partners.

Middle right: 2nd Place team at the Crowdus Street 2.0 Awards Ceremony. Photo courtesy of Design Future Dallas. All images on this page used with permission.

Thank You. | 303 519 9453 | neheidt@ksu.edu