Portfolio - Raksha Srinivasan

DESIGN PORTFOLIO Raksha Srinivasan

CONTENTS URBAN DESIGN

01

Green Infrastructure Design, New York

02

Vision for MLK Jr East Busway and Station Design,

03

Junction:: Interchange, McKees Rocks, PA

Addressing stormwater management and resiliency

Greater Pittsburgh Area Social, Economic and Ecological Transit Oriented Development

Sustainable creekfront redevelopment to create an inclusive community

ARCHITECTURE

04

Textile Mill Revitalization, Mumbai

05

Screen Wall Epiphany, Chennai

06

Byte Size, Chennai

Adaptive Reuse of Industrial Heritage

A play of light and shade in an office

Design of an IT office

DOCUMENTATION

URBAN DESIGN

01

WE DESIGN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE & STORMWATER MANAGEMENT New York Internship, May- July 2016

Working in the realm of urbanism, landscape, architecture and interiors, the wide range of projects at WE Design seek to identify and create innovative solutions to the built environment, landscape and cities. The key philosophy of the firm is the idea of “WE�- a collaborative process of working with diverse people and disciplines across the spectrum of the project. The projects I had the opportunity to work on were largely based on implementing green infrastructure solutions to minimise stormwater run-off, mitigate flooding and promote remediation and habitat creation.

East Village

Lower East Side

GARDENS RISING The ‘Gardens Rising’ project addresses the 47 neighborhood/ community gardens in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, to improve its climate change adaptation and resiliency. Part of the Lower Manhattan NYRCR planning area, this neighborhood was severely affected by Hurricane Sandy, and lies within the FEMA 1% flood probability risk zone. Phase 1 of the project is a feasibility study and tooklit of green infrastructure strategies that offers solutions to builds the resiliency of the neighborhood, while furthering the community’s pre- existing goals.

FEMA flood map, Loisiaida, Manhattan, NY

East River 100 yr Floodplain SANDY indundation zone Community Gardens

LOWER EAST SIDE COMMUNITY GARDENS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FEASIBILITY REPORT The New York City Community Gardens Coalition has been awarded $2 million, across two phases by the New York State Governers Office of Storm Recovery.

The goal of the comprehensive toolkit is to result in a set of implementable projects that will meet the stormwater and resiliency goals of the neighborhood- to capture rainwater, filter pollutants from stormwater run off and add native habitat. The greening strategies also include a quantification of stormwater management and an initial cost estimate for the strategies.

PROJECT TEAM Landscape Design and Planning Engineering Design Community Engagement

3x3

PROCESS Research GIS & Site History

Field Work

Synthesis

Discussion

Presentation

Site visits, Geotech, Gardener interviews

Tooklit - key ecological functions and repeating conditions

Educational stewardship and social resiliency

Streering committee reviews and feedback

Community Engagement Workshops, questionaires, scorecards, online platform

Community Playshop to educate gardeners and members about green infrastructure

Submission

FUNCTIONS ADDRESSED Filtration Catchment Remediation Storage Distibution

SAMPLE STRATEGIES Berms Channels Welands Phytoremediation Right-of-way- bioswales

GREENPOINT BROOKLYN, NY With funding from the Greenpoint Environment Community Fund, the project for the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative deals with stormwater management in Greenpoint. It comprises of a series of stormwater gardens installed along the streets of the neighborhood, that minimise run off and curb the discharge of raw sewage into the East River during storms, while improving the environment ecologically and aesthetically.

PROJECT TEAM Landscape Architecture

Project Management

Engineering Design

Community Partner OSANB

Stormwater Storage

Infiltration

Evapotranspiration

Native Planting

Right- of- way Bioswale

Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Mapping green infrastructure

CSO locations

Stormwater Greenstreet locations [identified] Right of way Bioswale locations [identified]

BENEFITS A standard 5’ x 20’ can manage can inch of run off from 4000 sq.ft of impervious area,or 2500 gallons Swales collect and clean water Reduce flooding risk Carbon sequestration Reduce Urban Heat island effect Habitat and ecological connectivity

Stormwater inlet

Shade trees

Attractive street presence

Native and flowering plants

Stormwater outlet Gateway to the street

Captures stormwater runoff

Stormwater Greenstreet

PLANTING LIST

Nepeta faassenii blue wonder catmint

Area 1- Geotech: boring on site Courtesy- eDesignDynamics

Rubeckia fulgida Black eyed susan

Pennisetum alopecuroides

Aster novae angliae barr’s pink

Deschampsia cespitosa tufted hair grass

Lobelia Cardinaliscardinal flower

EL SPACE PILOT UNDER THE ELEVATED II: DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN, NY THe El Space project is a collaboration between three fellows of the Design Trust for Public Space focussing on redesigning spaces beneath existing infrastructure to improve environmental health and pedestrain safety. The space under the Gowanus Expressway acts as a Gateway to Industry city and connects residents to the waterfront. This pilot will test urban design stratgeies, lighting and green infrastructure as a NYC DOT project that could potentially be replicable in other locations across the city of New York.

3RD AVENUE

36TH STREET

3RD AVENUE

Concept plan: weekday scenario

Concept scenario : Weekend food fest

CONCEPTS Framing Infrastructures Workshopped Infrastructures Flexible Infrastructures

Ideas of students as part of engagement with nearby high school

Planters suspended on columns for stormwater capture

Movable Planters

Active spaces replace a parking bay

Concept Scenario : Weekday

02

RE:ENVISIONING THE MLK Jr EAST BUSWAY TOD, SMART GROWTH & CORRIDOR PLANNING Greater Pittsburgh Area Urban Design Studio 2, 2016 Carnegie Mellon University Collaborators : MUD Batch of 2016

The East Busway, which once laid the foundations of a light rail system and fed a bustling commuter population, fell trap to decline and economic strain. The busway currently is faced with the perception that only poor people ride it, and also deals with a slew of suburbanized population. The goal of this urban design studio was to return to innovation as a point of departure in re-envisioning the Busway.

The vision for the 9.1 mile long line and the stations on its path now shift that perception while showing that development occurs OUTward as an extension of the busway rather than an INsertion of development inspite of the Busway.

Penn

Herron East Liberty Negley Homewood Wilkinsburg

Roslyn Swissvale

Location map of stations along the busway

VISION

busway is an engine of social equity, “ The economic sustainability, and ecological resilience

”

ANALYSIS MAPS

Mapping landuse

Walksheds - 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile

Flow of employment

Watersheds, drainage and CSO’s

STRATEGIES FOR

SOCIAL EQUITY The social component addresses improving access and opportunity across the busway through multi- modal transit options, better street network and design. These also support using public transit and improving walkability and health.

Increasing density and diversity

Making connections to surrounding neighborhoods

Integrating busway into street networks + feede

o urban fabric er line

Planning for equitable and affordable development

Improving quality of life Placemaking

STRATEGIES FOR

ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY Increasing transit ridership and employment opportunities are parallel strategies. This engine looks to strengthen economic relationships in the exsiting fabric while creating oppotunities for new ones.

Strengthening commerce encouraging a mix of uses along the Busway

Connecting and building upon existing economic assets

Making Industrial conn job centres across the r

nections region

Tapping into innovation centers

Creating accessible job opportunities

STRATEGIES FOR

ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE Ecological resilience addresses the issues of flooding and stormwater run off by advocating management techniques that engender improved habitat and quality of environment.

Promoting renewable energy

Implementing passive urban design strategies

Stormwater manageme

ent and reuse

Local food production and resource independence

Connecting habitat and strengthening biodiversity

INTERMODAL HUB AT PENN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH Collaborator : Ashley Cox

Envisioning a new gateway for Pittsburgh

The Penn Station proposal channels the potential energy collecting about the station into a single high-pressure outlet, and simultaneously allows for greater accessibility to social, economic and ecological resources.

Downtown is both at the end of the three Busway Lines and at the confluence of the city. It is poised to serve support Downtown regionally, as a

Destination Station

Connecting Pittsburgh to the Nation

Connecting Station

Connecting Pittsburgh’s Neighborhoods

Commuter Station Economic Connections

Station at Penn

Station at Liberty

Station at Grant

Golden traingle of locations- busway integration

SOCIAL EQUITY

ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY

Rating system to quantify change

Current walkshed

New walkshed

Existing footprints

Proposed entrances for active streets

ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE

Allegheny River

Hill District

Site Plan

Program Distribution Total Built -up : 10,632,150 sq.ft Anchor Activities Restaurants+Retail : 1,734,600 sq.ft Commercial Space : 3,373,850 sq.ft Government/Non-Profit : 1,359,560 sq.ft Public Amenities Residential : 2,729,815 sq.ft; 2730 units Hotel Extension: 882,660 sq.ft Built Garage : 3880 cars Open space: 738,520 sq.ft

Connection to Lower Hill

Busway Pedestrian Railway/Freight Line Natural Light Stack Effect Vertical Circulation Vehiclar Traffic

Amtrak + Busway + T-line

Greyhound + Megabus + city buses + private vehicles+ pedestrians

Movement

A new intermodal hub for Pittsburgh * Column courtesy for collage- SOM

Phasing Plan

Phase 1-2

Phase 3

Phase 4-5

Small scale infill + Complete streets

Station Anchor

Densification + Recreation infill

03

JUNCTION : INTERCHANGE SUSTAINABLE CREEKFRONT REDEVELOPMENT McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania Urban Design Studio 1, 2015 Carnegie Mellon University Collaborator : Marantha Dawkins

The borough of McKees Rocks is located close to Pittsburgh, across the Ohio river.

McKees Rocks is characterised by its industrial heritage, culturally by the historic Roxianne theatre, and the site is edged by the Chartiers Creek. The region suffered a severe loss of business and population with the decline of the steel industry. The proposal picks up on this relationship and reverses the trend, by aligning with feasible and forward-thinking design that both acknowledges its context and projects an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable future.

SITE CONTEXT

Borough of McKees Rocks Proposed Site

Ohio River

Pittsburgh

Low Income Housing Strip Mall Downtown McKR Chartiers Creek Gateways to McKR

Area for Redevelopment- 26 acres

Mapping Ecologies

Footprints, Flooding and CSO’s

Food Accessibility

Job Flows

Based on the analysis of the mapping, several goals were identified for the revitalization of this neighourhood through activation, connection and innovation. They are comprised of four basic components which overlap and tend to have synergistic effects when combined- creating closed loops.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY Sustainable systems

Placemaking

Accessibility

Economic Vitality

SITE PLAN

SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS Making full use of the resources on site to support environmentally sustainable growth

Modified topography

Strategic block structure

Solar envelopes 140 % of site energy demands met through energy independence and decentralised infrastructure

Anaerobic Digestor Wind Solar

Lucid pipe

Energy Planning

ECONOMIC VITALITY

ACCESSIBILITY

Leveraging existing capacity and promoting investment to create an economically vibrant community

Increased accessibility to housing, food and employment in the borough

Building on existing assets

Introducing multi-modal options

PLACEMAKING The expanse of asphalt at the creek edge is transformed into vibrant, engaging landscapes

The various systems reinforce the identity of McKees Rocks while transforming it into a model of sustainable contextual development. Also, planning for diverse microecologies that promote thriving natural systems, help to remediate the water and air, and builds on the regions biodiversity through both intensive habitat planning, and corridor habitats for various species.

Section through the Living machine and Anaerobic Digestor

Highlighting net typologies and mixed-use living

The undulating waterfront behaves as a remediative landscape

Changing the Chartiers Experience Creating a rich experiential area with a diversity of options, a walkable neighbourhood building on existing identity

Promoting Sustainability Giving McKees Rocks a new entrance, showcasing a celebration of life and the various energy systems and green infrastructure

ARCHITECTURE

04

TEXTILE MILL REVITALISATION ADAPTIVE REUSE OF INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE Mumbai, India Architectural Thesis, 2015 Measi Academy of Architecture

Derelict Mills to A textile-based space & public space Cities are always in transition and as a result, the architecture of the city should respond to it. Transition brings opportunities of growth, improvements in the physical and social fabric along with new development strategies. This thesis is an attempt to preserve the city’s old fabric, which at one time was the city in itself and merge its fabric with the new development in a cohesive manner. The space is re-programmed to make the development a landmark for the city, cater to all strata of society while changing the construct of public space.

Prosperity- 1920-90

Abandonment- 1990s

Derelict State- 2014

Background The mill lands were integral to the economic prosperity and cultural diversity of Mumbai, and the city thrived on the export of cotton and yarn. These complexes occupied large swathes of land in the center of the city, knows as Parel. However, technological advancements and other political and economic changes saw a decline of these mills from 52 to about 6 today, and a steady conversion of these lands into luxury residences and offices. This project retains this industrial heritage and showcases the rich history through educational, cultural and public space programming that sees this 16 acres of derelict space transform into a hub of activity.

The Proposal

Parel- mill lands

Site Analysis

SITE PLAN

‘A new continous public promenade replaces the 15 ft high boundary walls of the mill complex, where a shaded walking trail and bike path make the site more inclusive and receptive. Landscape manicured at multiple levels offer new experiences while the steel canopy above the pond and amphitheatre becomes an ode to the industrial character of the site.’

PUBLIC SPACE

Promenade

Sloped Garden

Promenade

The MUSEUM COMPLEX Axon of the Parts

Sectional isometry showing spatial relationships

SECTION through Plaza The Museum Complex as the critical element to the design is consituted as a series of galleries dedicated to the history of Mumbai, the history of textiles and a historic costume gallery. The experience continues into a weaving centre, a machine court, a conservation lab, restaurants and workshops that showcase traditional artisan craft. The Victorian buildings along with the screening and theatre space- the ruin courtyard together form a historic plaza, articulated by the chimney. Contemporary juxtapositions through glass and corton steel complement the brick and limestone.

PLAN Ground Floor

05

SCREEN WALL EPIPHANY PLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADE Chennai, India Internship, July- Dec 2013 KSM Architecture

Set in a narrow site in the heart of the city, the continous screen walls provide the much required privacy for the office, from the surrounding multi storeyed residences.

A play of light and shade, these sandstone screens cast patters of shadows which change throughout the day, making the experience in the courtyards which they enclose, dynamic. While a three sided glass curtain creates the central skylight, the screens form the primary facade feature of the office.

Scale model made of Balsa wood and Mount board

Entrance Court

PLAN First Floor

PLAN Second Floor screen wall locations

Entrance elevation Image Courtesy: KSM Architecture

SECTION Highlighting Courtyards

Curtain wall

SECTION Entrance Ramp

SCREEN WALL

Module

Module

Module

Module

Detail of Curtain Wall

06

BYTE SIZE DESIGN OF AN IT OFFICE Chennai, India Architecture Studio VII, 2014 Measi Academy of Architecture

With the IT Sector booming in India, the special economic zone of the city known as MEPZ called for the design of a flexible office block to house multiple IT companies. The project was based on an open plan concept, allowing room for future independent customization. The voids were created to channelise the wind and create break-out spaces for the people. Apart from the voids profiling an interesting facade and breaking the monotony of the interior spaces, the extended terraces also serve as shading devices in order to contextualise the design to suit the hot, humid climate of Chennai.

Site plan

Floor plans [1-8]

Accessible voids Inaccessible voids

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Void Progression

Air flow

Sectional Perspective highlighting the voids

DOCUMENTATION

The Shrines

The usual settlement pattern of a village: Sequentially- the mountainform, a water body and the settlement.

The case of madhurantakam: The settlement is in between the lake and mountainform, making it prone to flooding The temple was created as a barrier to these floods.

Column Typologies

L.I.K Trophy DOCUMENTATION OF HERITAGE Water- based architecture Madhurantakam , India Semester IV; Nov 2011- Jan 2012 Measi Academy of Architecture Madhurantakam is a town and municipality located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, known for the second largest man-made lake. Developed around 1300 years ago, this settlement is primarily an irrigational and is now home to about thirty thousand people. Eri Kaatha Raama Kovil, translating to “lake protector�, is a temple believed to have been built as a barrier to protect the village from flooding during the monsoons.Situated at the lake border, the temple is connected to it by an underground pipeline system, making this an unusual feature.

Contribution [ part of a group of 15] -- Physical Documentation & sketches -- Manual Rendering : Pen & Ink

Urban Design Study DOCUMENTATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS Chennai , India Semester IX Measi Academy of Architecture The urban fabric of the city of Chennai is extremely diverse and has a rich history spanning over three hundred and fifty years. This exercise was an introduction to urban design mapping and analysis across two distinctly different neighborhoods of Chennai, to draw parallels and contrast character and development between them- Georgetown being a dense historic district and Velachery, a city-edge upcoming neighborhood that was once a marshland. The publication, in collaboration with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage [INTACH] and National Folklore Support Centre [ NFSC} comprises of the study and analysis as well as design interventions for select areas within these neighborhoods.

Contribution -- Physical Mapping, analysis -- Design and compilation

Landuse mapping of Velachery

RAKSHA SRINIVASAN

CONTACT

rakshas@andrew.cmu.edu + 857 316 7434 5506, Fifth Ave, #Apt 205D, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 www.linkedin.com/in/rakshasrinivasan

EDUCATION

Carnegie Mellon University August 2015 - December 2016 School of Architecture, Pittsburgh Master of Urban Design Measi Academy of Architecture 2010 - 2015 Anna University - Chennai, India Bachelor of Architecture

SKILLS

Design Urban & Architectural Design Mapping & Visualization Sketching Digital Fabrication Software AutoCAD I Revit I 3DS Max SketchUP I V-Ray Photoshop I Illustrator I Indesign Other Microsoft Office ArcGIS I ArcGIS Pro Languages English, Hindi, Tamil

HONORS/ AWARDS

Anna University Merit Award University gold medal for overall performance, May 2016 Prof. J. Subramanian Award First place in Design from 2010-2015, May 2016 Semifinalist Berkeley Essay Writing Prize 2014, UC Berkeley “Architecture and the Healthful Environment”, December 2013

WORK EXPERIENCE

WE Design May - August 2016 I New York Intern - Design & Strategy for projects related to Green Infrastructure and Stormwater management to address run-off, flooding to develop resiliency while engaging with the community Carnegie Mellon University September 2015- Present I Pittsburgh Graduate Research Assistant Courses: Urban Ecology, Vienna Fin-de-Siecle Errol Reubens Associates January - April 2014 I Ahmedabad, India Architectural Intern - Worked on technical drawings of building elements as well as design concepts for landscape and interiors of residences KSM Architecture July - December 2013 I Chennai, India Architectural Intern - Presentations for large scale masterplanning of an office campus and a high school - Design and drawings of architectural details of facades, joinery and other elements of residences & offices, with physical and digital modelling

RESEARCH/ PUBLICATIONS

Architectural Dissertation May 2014 “Transformative ReuseRearchitecture of the Built Environment�

UN World Habitat Day- Conference October 2014 I Chennai, India Presented the Publication of an Urban Design Study Report of two key areas of Chennai

ACTIVITIES

Graduate Student Advisory Council Representative, CMU Aug 2016- Present Rotaract Club of Measi- Habitat for Humanity July 2013- July 2015 I Chennai, India President, Administrative Head Volunteering 2010 - 2015 I Chennai, India Organizations: Kamalalayam Trust, Vasantha Memorial Trust for Cancer Aid

REFERENCES

Tricia Martin, RLA, LEED AP Principal, WE Design, NYC tmartin@wedesign-nyc.com Donald Carter, FAIA, FAICP, LEED AP Program Chair, MUD, CMU; Director, Remaking Cities Institute doncarter@cmu.edu Eleni Katrini Adjunct Professor, Ph.D Candidate, CMU ekatrini@andrew.cmu.edu