CAUSTIC CATALYST spatial studies in light, speed, and occupancy
“We are born of light. The seasons are felt through light. We only know the world as it is evoked by light.” Louis Kahn Light is inseparable from design. We use, manipulate, and direct light to enhance our architecture. Yet, rarely do we intentionally use light as the medium itself--a speed, a material, a depth, a frame--a way to enhance, yes, but also to form and design with. This project intentionally uses the shifting boundaries of light and its properties to direct circulation and speeds of occupancy. The driver of this project is caustic light, the projection of light rays that occurs on a surface when light is reflected or refracted through a curved surface or object. Caustic light is intense and easily amplified. It speaks of a high speed, a caustic catalyst. The program requirements are to design a Knoxville field office building for openIDEO, an innovative and international company. Through web-based research and commentary as well as localized meet-ups of large groups of the public, openIDEO solves the largest problems on our planet. The philosophy of the company is to “create better, together” using design thinking and collaboration. The office is to be located in the old Keener Lighting Company building. This 3-story warehouse building has rich history and an industrial aesthetic including large windows along all of the exterior walls which let in an immense amount of light. The cyclical patterns of an openIDEO office would fluctuate between full activity and absolute dormancy over the course of a day, month, or year. These changes would also be applied to different programmatic areas within the building at a single point in time. In order to question the ways people normally move through an office space and engage with their surroundings, this project involves two symbiotic systems. The first is a rib system that is activated by light to produce caustics and provides structure for the other system. The second is a network of folded planes which alters the light reaction of the ribs. The two systems interact in response to the speed of occupation within different programmatic areas--high, intermediate, and low speeds of occupancy. It uses light as a catalyst to inform spatial definition. The high speed spaces would be the entry and circulation areas which are located mainly around the openings in the floor slabs and at the East and West ends of each floor. These are defined by their direct adjacency to the rib system. Intermediate spaces would be the lecture hall bridging between the basement and street level, the conference room on the street level and the touch down station areas on the top and basement floors. Low speed occupancy areas would be defined by their little to no exposure to the rib system and close interaction with the metal panels. These areas are found mainly on the top floor where the break room, main office benching systems, and private offices are, as well as on the basement level near the staff access entry, where the mechanical, IT, and storage rooms are located. These occupancy ranges accommodate varying densities within the office environment. These two systems investigate speeds of occupancy and their relative densities in order to question contemporary office design practices. They also, however, contribute to the idea that something can become synergistic-the interaction or cooperation of two organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. Or, put more succinctly, “create better together,” the foundation of openIDEO thought and practice.
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This image represents both systems looking at the conference room on the street level. It shows the adjacency of the space to both the ribs and the folded metal planes defining this space as intermediate occupancy speed.
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Section B-B shows the lecture hall intermediate speed area, the main entry and circulation, openings in the floor slabs which create connections both visually and auditorily between floors, and the main office working area on the top floor.
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Section A-A shows the systems as they work together, the way they support each other and weave in and out of each other. It also shows the entry sequence at the street level--entry into main level as well as a second entry down the stairs into the basement level where the lecture hall is located. This section indicates the core of mechanical and IT rooms on the West side of the basement.
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TOP FLOOR
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occupancy speed low low low intermediate high intermediate low
main office work stations break area group work tables touch down stations aand lounge areas restrooms and fire stairs group meeting space private office spaces
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Top Floor Plan 4
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GROUND FLOOR
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occupancy speed
main entry from street entry sequence to basement level active gallery hall conferenece room A information and waiting area restrooms and fire stairs archival gallery
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BASEMENT FLOOR
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Basement Floor Plan
occupancy speed
1 entry sequence from ground floor 2 touch down stations and lounge areas 3 conference room B 4 lecture hall 5 restrooms and fire stairs 6 enclosed storage under lecture hall seating 7 enclosed mechanical room 8 enclosed IT closet 9 enclosed custodial closet 10 enclosed electrical room 11 secondary entry from parking area
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Image 1 represents the main office space for openIDEO workers on the top level. The office desk benching systems are Hive--a Herman Miller office design platform that takes advantage of co-location to help drive work forward. Other furniture items include the Sayl Chair, Everywhere tables, and Chair One, from Herman Miller. > In the far back of the image is the break room with a custom counter. > This image also shows usage on the black metal planes which have a chalkboard finish which will change over time with the level of usage. >
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Image 2 shows the private office areas of the top floor which are dedicated spaces for those in charge. These offices contain office systems called Haven from Herman Miller which are designed for focused, concentrated work. > These spaces are almost completely enclosed by the metal panel system, identifying them as a space with a very low speed of occupancy. >
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PAINTED GYPSUM BOARD > this finish will allow the interior walls to seemingly disappear within the hierarchy of the space
CONCRETE > the gloss finish will allow the products of the lighting systems in place to be amplified through the reflection of the systems
EXISTING COLUMNS > Corten Steel > I-beams
EXISTING EXTERIOR > exposed brick walls
WELDED METAL > chalkboard finish will change over time in response to usage in contrast to the acrylic which will be pristine over time > this contributes to the idea that the two systems are entirely separate though related, much like openIDEO and the pubic permeating their office
TRANSLUCENT ACRYLIC > custom size acrylic can be ordered > each large piece is divided into three sections, the pieces are bolted together with a centered metal post which holds the base weight of the acrylic > it is also structurally supported by the folded planes of the second system
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Lecture hall from basement level Interprets the movement of fins and the boundaries between high and intermediate speed space
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WORK EXPERIENCE May 2015-present University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Undergraduate Research Assistant
> Interview and transcribe for oral history research under professor Liz Teston > www.knoxhistories.org May 2014-present Holston Hills Country Club
Beverage Cart Employee
> Sales, customer service, food service prep, waitress, money handling April 2012-August 2013 Lifetouch National School Studios
Customer Service Representative
> Sales, on-site customer service, money handling, filled out paperwork > Worked both prom photography and senior photography sessions Jan 2013-May 2013 Affordable Fabrics & Interiors
Intern
> Sales, customer service, money handling, paperwork, design consultations, stocking, merchandise receiving, phone reception August 2012-October 2012 Aramark, Inc.
Event Catering Staff
> Food prep, customer service, food transport
HONORS & AWARDS May 2012 Halls High School
August 2013 Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation
Academics Letter Winner
HOPE Scholarship with Merit Supplement
May 2013 Halls High School Faculty and Staff
August 2013 Lifetouch, Inc.
> Awarded to students who maintain a 4.0 GPA average for 6 semesters
2013 Female Student of the Year
> Faculty and Staff voted award > Student that made the biggest impact, most likely to succeed August 2013 The College Board
Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor Award > Exemplary college-level achievement on AP Examinations > Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more August 2013 Tennessee Valley Authority Credit Union
TVA Simply Smart Scholarship
> Based on character and desire to learn, merit award August 2013 University of Tennessee, Knoxville
> 4 year lottery scholarship contingent upon GPA requirement > Merit award based on ACT test score
Richard P. Erickson Scholarship > Merit award
August 2013 UTK, College of Architecture and Design
Don Tinsley Estate Scholarship > Most promising portfolio > Merit award
August 2015 UTK, College of Architecture and Design
Steinfeld, Manfred, and Fern Scholarship > Merit award
August 2015 UTK, College of Architecture and Design
Sandy Martin Scholarship > Merit award
University of Tennessee Volunteer Scholarship > 4 year scholarship contingent upon GPA requirement > Merit award
ORGANIZATIONS November 2014-Present Vice President
Food Recovery Network > Worked as Vice President of Events for this group as well as volunteered to help connect a surplus of food with the hunger needs of the Knoxville community. Food Recovery Network at University of Tennessee focuses on collecting left over food from campus events such as football games and other events that are catered. Food Recovery Network serves as the middle man between these events and Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee who then distributes the food to people in need. September 2013-present Representative, current Secretary
Dean Student Advisory Council, College of Architecture and Design
EDUCATION 2013-present University of Tennessee Knoxville
Bachelor of Science in Interior Design
> Worked to improve the University of Tennesse College of Architecture and Design’s student community through meetings with Dean Scott Poole and other Faculty advisors, representing the student’s in my respective cohort.
> Overall GPA 3.88 > Design GPA 3.78 > Current Junior Standing
October 2015-present 3rd Year Representative
2009-2013 Halls High School, Knoxville, TN
Interior Design Director’s Student Group, College of Architecture and Design > Worked to improve the School of Interior Design by discussing needs and opportunities in the program with Interior Design Director David Matthews.
High School Diploma
> GPA 4.32/3.95 > Certificate of Distinction, Honors Award
June 2011-May 2013 Founder
Diakonos Volunteer Organization, Fountain City United Methodist Church > Worked with Youth Ministry Director at Fountain City United Methodist Church on a youth organization which volunteered mostly with homeless help organizations. The main focus was to work with Volunteer Ministry Center in downtown Knoxville. Applied for grants, orgnaized volunteers, planned fundraisers, organized events, contacted organizations, bought and prepared meals for Volunteer Ministry Center, planned client outings for Volunteer Ministry Center clients
pruett-smith.squarespace.com
Mary Pruett Smith University of Tennessee, Knoxville
December 4, 2015 Brinkman Scholarship Selection Committee: It is with great pleasure that I nominate Mary Pruett Smith from School of Interior Design at the University of Tennessee for the Gensler Brinkmann Scholarship. Pruett is a top-performing designer in all of her studios courses and the entire faculty in the School of Interior Design program unanimously supports her nomination. She equally values and commits to high quality design concepts, design process, and project outcomes. Pruett is a strong communicator as she is equally adept with verbal and visual presentation skills. She is well respected by her peers and a role model for rising design students. She will be a strong design professional that will make meaningful impact with her work. It is with full support that Pruett is nominated for the Gensler Brinkmann Scholarship.
School of Interior Design The College of Architecture + Design 1715 Volunteer Boulevard Knoxville, TN 37996-2400 865-974-5267 archdesign.utk.edu
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
J. David Matthews, M. Arch. Professor and Director, School of Interior Design College of Architecture and Design University of Tennessee Knoxville