Civic meets Playful engaging the public through landscape student instructor title school degree final
Marcelo Tagore Hernandez David De Celis Degree Project: CPS Central Square Boston Architectural College Bachelor of Architecture Fall 2011 Submitted May 12, 2011
Pompeii Forum
Diagrammatically, the forum embodies an empty space defined by colonnades and civic structures. In addition to its standard function as a marketplace, a forum was a gathering place of great social significance, and often the scene of diverse activities, including political discussions and debates, rendezvous and meetings. Modelled on the Roman Forum in Rome itself, several smaller or more specialised forums appeared throughout Rome’s history. Built between 2 BC until 79 AD when destroyed by Mount Vesuvius.
1 weeks 8
nodes and edges
1 weeks 9
project 1, precedent focus
2weeks 10
Schouwburgplein
lighting & interactivity
Kendall
landscaping
Campo del Fiori
market flexibility
how precedents inform ideas
Interactivity is a fundamental quality that
Project 1explores. All of the programmatic themes such as burming to create spaces for leisure, to depressed ground planes for winter skating, to selective exterior lighting around performative spaces, are all explored in this project and are later developed into the Degree Project scheme with greater variation and synthesis.
Berms serve both programmatic and aesthetic functions. They host plant life that engender seasonal shifts. Tall grasses provide visual and acoustical barriers between the public theater and ongoing vehicular traffic.
Flexibility also becomes and important
design aspect that is explored in Project 1 that also makes its way into the Degree Project scheme. During the exploration of this idea in Project 1, I basically considered how open spaces might be articulated about the ground plane so that they established zones and where more than just “open� spaces. Simple gestures such as lowering paved spaces a few inches denoted spatial difference and could be used to organize smaller open market arrangements without impeding on lager, completely full, market scenarios as is illustrated on the diagram to the left. The idea of flexibility matured from hardscaping in Project 1 to actual architecture in DP as manifested in the Flex-Space. The Flex-Space has similar surface qualities as Project 1 but it moves beyond the planar and considers the flexibility of enclosed and conditioned spaces which will be described later.
2weeks 11
siting & morphology
3weeks 12
Introversion meets extroversion. A
1:1000 b
boomerang shape defines a public theater and gently dominates the north-east quadrant of the site where it’s most quiet. An “enveloping program” is expressed in both plan and section. Programmatic elements slip past one another. Props, actors, and the stuff of performance life engage and overlap. A year round multi-purpose plaza frames the ‘place’ for farmers markets and doubles as a skating rink in the winter.
1:200
a
a b
A
b
B
a
1:200
a
1
moments of activity
aa
a
aa a
3weeks 13
aa
burmed theater
4weeks 14
pedestrian path
performance shade
dressing rooms
main stage
prop drop off
250 outdoor seats
access ramp
truck delivery
outdoor theater
recessed plaza
4weeks 15
comprehensive analysis
10 minute walking radius
106 weeks 18
terms of analysis
6 weeks 19
Numerous elements go into a given site analysis. These elements include location, neighborhood context, site and zoning, legal elements, natural physical features, man-made features, circulation, utilities, sensory, human and cultural, and climate components. Location : The site should be related to major streets or landmarks previously existing. Aerial photographs help in this assessment stage. There should be documentation of distances and time from major places. This should be completed by either driving or walking the distance first-hand. Neighborhood context : Zoning of the neighborhood is important and information of this type can typically be found at the municipal planning department of the site. Numerous issues at this stage require direct observation. Features of this sort include architectural patterns, street lighting, and condition of existing buildings. This would also include the immediate surroundings of the site. The reaction of the surrounding buildings towards the site and people moving around should be analyzed. Size and zoning : Site boundaries can be located by either verifying the dimensions physically or contacting the county tax assessor’s office. Zoning classifications, set-backs, height restrictions, allowable site coverage, uses, and parking requirements are obtained by obtaining zoning classifications from a zoning map, which can be located from the city planning department. Political : Typical legal information can be obtained from the deed to the property. The deed is held by the owner of the title insurance company. In this deed is information such as the property description, present ownership, and the governmental jurisdiction the site is located in, and the city or county. Natural physical features : Most of this information will be derived from the topographic features on the site. A contour map of this magnitude can be located from the survey engineer. Drainage problems as well as existing natural features of trees, ground cover, ground texture, and soil conditions on the site should be directly observed. Man made features : Features located on the site such as buildings, walls, fences, patios, plazas, bus stop shelters should be noted. The site and location of such features should be directly measured. Documentation of existing historical districts should be made, some of which may already have reports completed. Locating this information can be done through the municipal planning department for the site. Circulation : The uses of streets, roads, alleys, sidewalks, and plazas are important in this inventory step. It is not necessarily an analysis of these elements but more an analysis of what occurs on these circulation gateways. Utilities : Information for utilities concerning the site can be found through the utility departments and companies in the local area. Generally this company has a print of the drawing of this information needed. Information in this print includes the location of all utilities and their locations around or on the site itself. Sensory : Much of the sensory information collected will be done through first hand experience. This type of information is obtained from sketching and photographs (sometimes aerial photographs). Direct observation of other sensory elements of noise, odors, smoke, and pollutant areas must also be completed. Human and cultural : This information can be obtained through census statistics on the neighborhood. Information regarding these statistics is available from the local municipal planning agency. This information includes activities among people on the site and their relationships to these activities. Climate : This information can be obtained through the local weather service. Conditions such as rainfall, snowfall, humidity, and temperature over months must be considered and analyzed. The sun-path and vertical sun angles throughout an entire year are important to note.
environmental context
water management
7 weeks 20
political context Office -O-2, O-2A, O-3, O-3A
7 weeks 21 Institutional Node
Residential
Districts
HEART MIT TRANSIT EDGE Retail-BB,BB-1;BB-2, BC, BC-1
Open Space/Parks
(diagrams Malory DeLuca)
My understanding of the context led me understand that there was tremendous foot traffic potential which could be absorbed, perhaps to justify a roof plane with views. An existing bus-stop servicing 5 lines, difficult vehicular turning lanes, and an already complex intersection led me think about how building massing, new curb cuts, and corner plazas might help to create a safer, more synergized extension to Central Square. Retail edges along the
east of Prospect and south of Bishop Allen could potentially be supported with similar programs running parallel to them, perhaps with similarly scaled buildings to create stronger nodes. Historic landmarks like City Hall’s front lawn might be mimicked as way of addressing the required open space. Local surveys indicated that people want more places to sit, play, and feel safe around Central Square area which inspired the idea of a habitable roof thereby doubling the area of required open space.
natural lighting condition
9 weeks 24
summer... My understanding of the analysis
led a variety of conclusions that determined several architectural decisions. I think it was during the Degree Project that I finally began to synthesize lighting analysis in meaningful and constructive ways. The larger of the two sites runs north-south while the smaller of the two runs east-west. The CPS Annex building is the largest and most important element of the project. To maximize its flexibility in shape it is placed on the larger of the two sites. Because limited east-west real estate on the larger site (and potential daylighting), it was determined that this portion of the project be constructed with a narrow 50’-55’ wide floorplate in order to maximize natural daylighting, passive heating, and reduce the need for artificial
winter...
lighting. Meanwhile, the 65’ tall Sert building across Bishop Allen Dr. casts long shadows (see diagram X) along the southern quadrant of the larger site during winter months. This data supported the idea of the putting the Flex-Space/Black-Box in the shade because it reduced the amount of natural light the black-box would work to keep out (with shading devices). I was also interested in using shadow fall-off lines to determine the heights of buildings irrespective of height limitations which were in fact much taller than the target shadow lines. This helped to contextualize the project in way that paid careful respect to neighboring lots, particularly during peak lighting hours where everyone is trying to take advantage of passive heating (not just our building).
9 weeks 25
summer overlay
solar path (X)
winter overlay
iteration 1
10 weeks 26
10 weeks 27 the concept Mountain building is a theme that I’ve been
exploring for several semesters on a variety of scales with lesser or greater degrees of success. I feel that the visual connection that this concept establishes best supports the feeling of ‘civic’ness. It affords users the experience of seeing and connecting spaces on many levels, Its a similar type of ephemeral experience that we have we we cross the Charles River and see how two cities relate, or when we literally reach the top of any of the Seven Hills and see treetops and neighborhoods, and begin to visualize where we live, work, or travel to.
11 weeks 28 iteration 2, no program yet and because it related to most successful Establishing a strong corner was one of passersbys, markets I’ve experienced that where typically along
points of focus. We still didn’t have a fixed program yet but we know that there where going to be commercial, performative, housing, and academic functions throughout both parcels. This scheme explores the idea of anchoring the corner with a farmers market. I intuitively decided to locate the market on the corner because it not only felt right, it seemed that it was the best location considering accessibility, the need to attract (and educate) public
urban intersections. This scheme also explored the idea of putting all the housing components into a multistory tower. This idea was later discarded for contextual and massing reasons. Regardless of how many locations I explored, it felt too tall for the given context. This iteration hints at a series of hills that would later house much of the previously mentioned housing components.
theater over black box?
reapplying ideas of landscape
stacking?
11 weeks 29
hold massive weight?
iteration 2 with program
12 weeks 30
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shopping live-work live market, dance academia exhibit movement up/down
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1 Head-to-tail principle is used to link boxes
with distinct physical identities. Multiple solids arrange themselves around visual entry points to create plazas and spatial voids for social cluster. Program elements begin with the Theater/Flexible Box as the head and the as school annex as both body and tail. Across the street, undulating waves of landscape house a shopping/leisure district. Two towers punctuate the overall scheme as a way of creating smaller footprints at the expense of cleaner skyline. The tower concept never felt like the right approach but it was important to test a variety of tower locations to confirm and rule out these earlier intuitions. Part of me was interested in developing a tower just for the sake of it. I eventually submitted to context.
2
precedents: interest and inquiry (1) Catalano’s Buterfly House interested me formally because it expresses the idea of the architecture as an extension of the landscape; and idea that would be explored throughout my project on both urban and human scales.. This precedent would later inform how I developed the roof-plane of the artist residence lofts into a habitable roof that met the “open-space” requirements of the project’s pro-forma. (2) A conceptual project from White Architects in Sweden also expresses the notion of the extension of architecture but here the relationship is inverted, where landscape extends itself into architecture. An idea that I’ve never previously considered. (3 & 4) Both of these projects, from Steven Holl, impacted my understanding and appreciation for
1
13 weeks 32
glass as a continuous skin. The simplicity and austerity of this kind of surface treatment allow sculptural forms of architecture, ones that my project would later manifest, feel more cohesive and quiet. I also appreciated the ephemeral glow that this type of application creates at night, it allows buildings to feel safe and potentially city landmarks; this supports my interest in adding to Central Square’s identity. (5) Cut-sheets for theater mechanics where critical to developing spatial, architectural, and structural details that informed not only the theater but the Flex-Space that lived below it. (noted in red). Top-left diagrams by Louis Kahn informed the House circulation of my theater.
3
2
4
the mechanics of a theater
13 weeks 33
(source....)
5
testing spatial ideas
14 weeks 34
Head-to-tail principle is again explored 1
2
3
formally with the idea of consolidating multiple buildings into one. One of problems I felt this project had was with the potential scale of the required scope. I repeatedly asked myself. “how can I make 80k SF feel smaller on these sites?� One of the approaches was to house fewer buildings and to singularize identity into one building. At the same time, I was interested in using the head-to-tail principle in a way that acted like the mountain building I explored during the first iteration. Applying several parti shifts (from earlier iterations), I developed this along with several other models to map out the ideas already in play such as the location of the Flex-Space (theater and farmers market), the retail along Prospect St, and the CPS Annex along the west edge of the larger parcel. (1) Illustrates the tail, or the initiation of civic experience up the building. (2) Explores cascading as egress and place-making. (3) Perspective view of the project from the hill. (4) View of potential courtyard experience.
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critical programmatic elements
1
At this point the program was provided by the instructor and a more rigorous approach to massing, as it related to square footage, is what my focus shifted towards. Meanwhile, I was interested in developing the theater and some of the interior qualities that the scheme would be driven by. (1) A central atrium space was conceived as an interstitial element as a way of dealing with the bend between the ‘head’ and the ‘body’ of the building. Programmatically, this type of space might also serve as a major entry point for the school, gallery, and/or the theater. (2) The building’s morphology as explored on the previous page created large angled floor planes that could be used as transitional egress or secondary performances areas. (3) Explores a potential sectional quality of a single-loaded corridor. (4) An early sketch exploring the structural concept for the ‘head’ (theater over flex-space). (5) A sectional elevation of the theater and flex-space as a result of structural diagram 4. (6) An early sketch of the ground level of the flex-space and the required cores that lead up to theater spaces. (7) The corresponding third floor with a theater. I struggled with vertical and horizontal circulation for several weeks until I looked more closely at one of L. Kahn’s theaters later in the process. (8) An early sectional sketch of the theater.
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15 weeks 36
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15 weeks 37
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mid-term presentation
16 weeks 38
section aa
ground level
ground level Mini Stage Viewing Plaza
Viewing Plaza
Open Space
Retail
a
Admin
Viewing Plaza
3D Art
N
Central Square Community Performing Art’s Complex
Retail 2D Art
b
H
Black Box
Function Seminar/Rehearsal Wood Shop Art Production Film / Stage
Label A B C D
Length 40 40 40 65
Width 40 25 80 125
Height 35 15 15 35
Count 2 1 1 1
Square Feet 3,200 1,000 3,200 8,125 15,525
Gallery
Main Space Storage Office
E F G
25 6 15
40 25 15
35 15 15
1 1 1
1,000 150 225 1,375
Black Box
Main Space Storage
H J
40 6
50 25
35 15
1 1
2,000 150 2,150
Commercial
Small Medium Large
K L M
25 50 80
80 80 80
15 15 35
4 2 1
8,000 8,000 6,400 22,400
Residential
Artist Residences Single Units Common
N P Q
25 30 25
35 45 20
12 12 15
6 8 1
5,250 10,800 500 16,550
CPS Arts Annex
CPS Arts Annex
Loading
B
A
D
C
Gallery
b Commercial
2 Bed Condo M L
Block Box
OpenKSpace Gallery E
2
Residential
Retail
P
Retail
N
TOTAL BLDG
58,000
Existing Site
Open Space
Parcel 1 107-37 Parcel 2 90-10 Parcel 3 90-9 Parcel 4 97-47 Combined area of all parcels
Open Space
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52,987 6,583 4,630 16,113 80,313
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is 25% of combined parcel area (parcels 1 thru 4)
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program thesis
16 weeks 39
Civic and playful spaces are connected with landscape. used to link boxes with distinct
H
physical identities. Multiple solids arrange themselves around visual entry points to create plazas and spatial voids for social cluster. Program elements begin with the Theater/Flexible Box as the head and the as school annex as both body and tail. Across the street, undulating waves of landscape house a shopping/leisure district. A core understanding of the context was at this point expressed in massing but several unknowns remained. There were several issues in the plan regarding codes, egress, and zoning of housing elements. I was still unclear with the concept as it related to urban or human scales.
Black Box
Centr
CPS Art
CPS Arts Annex
B
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D
Commercial
B
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P N
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Open Space
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Ope
critic’s review “bolster theater/black box with more robust program” with more year round activities. Consider what happens during all hours of the day including weekend schedules for students and faculty.
“make the civic stair gesture more inviting” with more year round activities. Consider what happens during all hours of the day including weekend schedules for students and faculty.
“clarify and activate playful spaces” with more year round activity. FILE BASE
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beginning 2nd semester
development of the Flex-Space One of the most dynamic components of the project is the Flex-Space. It houses a rotation of program uses, from blackbox theatrical performances, to open-air farmers markets, to conventions during rental seasons. Later in the process I reincorporated the skating rink that I developed in Project 1 to give the FlexSpace more seasonal flexibility. I chose to employ a simple, low-tech, double layered garage door system with multiple layers of Mecho Shading. Building owners would have the option of controlling opening apertures, temperature ranges, and degrees of translucency. The challenge was to simplify and create a detail that did not visually weigh down or undermine the visual reading of the cantilevered theater space, it needed to feel like a draped elements. Below, early sketches depict the first details to emerge from this process.
typical door track
17 weeks 41
layered & staggered roll-up doors allow a space to open on 3 sides
?
track detail
early section
A
section A
section w/ acoustic panels beyobnd B
section B
ground level circulation analysis An axonometric view of the ground level depicts some of issues I was attempting to resolve. My goal was to simplify and unify the number of entry points for both private and public functions such as the school, public gallery and public theater events. Early iterations called for more buildings; one for each programmatic requirement resulting in four separate buildings (black box, school, retail, theater). At that point, the project’s parti created too much massing and the sense orientation for users
weeks 44
was potentially too complicated. This iteration consolidated all programs into one building with clearer and fewer entry points. I was equally interested in aligning the schools’ single-loaded corridor with the Theater Lobby/Gallery as a way of maintaining even greater sense of orientation for all users. and as a way of creating a stronger relationship between the identity of the school, public gallery, and theater.
typical break-out space(yellow) E
CPS circulation
view thru neighboring context
CPS entry Theater entry
public circulation up to roof
public circulation thru gallery or theater lobby
entry lobby studies
weeks 45
section A
section B
Above is an illustration of the main entry lobby which acts as the connective tissue between the school & theater components as well as the spatial and visual connector between building’s courtyard and it’s abutting context beyond. The idea was to borrow and extend into the neighboring landscape. Final iterations literally call for trees within the lobby itself as an extension of this concept. Section E runs along the main ‘body’ of the building where most of the academic program lives. The transverse building sections (A-D) explore and begin to deal with the problems and relationships between the lobby and its bridges, circulation and classrooms, 3rd floor ceilings and habitable roof planes, and with the quality of corresponding programs in general.
A
B
C
section C
D
section D
section E
structural studies Throughout both semesters of the Degree Project, I was focused on establishing structural approaches and solutions that were either born out program requirements or from a conceptual narrative. Most of the design was developed with structural concepts from the very beginning as opposed to trying to solve structural
weeks 46
problems late in the schematic phase. This also allowed me to maintain coordination in section and along all floor levels. Notions of Play and Civic spaces were made possible with the exploration of cantilevered, suspended, or inclined programmatic elements.
theater cantilever
mechanical zones & intake potentials
weeks 47
retail cantilever
student drop-off
glass skin concept
The main CPS building is ubiquitously clad with spandrel glass on all sides from ground level to the parapet. This posed the problem of exposing several elements that are typically not visible, such as solid walls, mechanical spaces, areas where privacy is needed, or between floor levels where concrete floors meet the glass. Furthermore, I was
challenged with the need to create focal areas along the building’s elevation as a way of dealing with scale, rhythm, and legibility. To solved this I chose to integrate a graphic, using back-painted glass, whereby gradients of visibility would allow people to see inside (or though) the building or conceal where required.
final presentation
weeks 50
program thesis
I believe that life is lived most meaningfully and purposefully when we have a sense of joy and social engagement. Here, notions of Playful and Civic spaces are engendered morphologically as an attempt to nurture this human process.
critic’s review “plans do not represent the activity that this project engenders” and there should be a revisited effort to present the floor plans (or Ground Level) in a way that expresses the activity and potential.
“the project is sensitive to its context, the scheme may work,” however I’m curious about the nature of what happens on the roof of your main building and what really happens up there.
“the corner hill building needs to be developed further, namely along its edges along the main street intersection,” consider adding more entry points up the hill, or greater variation of program and how the hill is used.
“focusing on, and talking about your thesis along the role of human experiences is commendable, never stop doing that,” we simply don’t have enough of this discourse in the profession.. Your keying in and development of sections and perspectives is indicative of this focus.
Nolli Plan
N
Ă˜ : 1/2 mile
weeks 51
Central Sq. Buildings Bldg Poche Open Space
1
weeks 52
2
MECH B.O.H.
Mech
Music Hall Retail
Music
Mech Store Music E Office Admin
Office
Office
Lobby Multi Function Patio chairs
1 Unit
Ticket 3D Studio
1 Unit
1 Unit
2 Units
Condo Units
Black Box Open Market Skating Ring
Gallery
2 Units
2 Units 2 Units
Loading Storage
Coat
Rcv’g
2 Units
1 Unit
chairs Mech Zamboni
2 3
Mech MECHANICAL ZONES
B.O.H. Patio
M
Patio Below
Music Play Ground
Play Ground
Retail
Music
P
1
2
3
Music Arena
2D Studio
Dance Studio
Music Hall 2D Studio
E
Dance Studio 2D
Studio
Open Below Open Below
Lobby
Green Room
Patio
Lobby
1 Unit 2D Studio 2D Studio
Green Room Back Stage
House 300
Stage Stage
1 Unit
1 Unit
Lobby
Shop
Dressing VIP Dressing
2 Units Condo Units 2 Units
Black Box P 240
2 Units Open Park
Wood Shop Wood
2 Units
Cafe Lobby
2 Units
1 Unit
THEATER GALLERY, OPEN CPS COMMERCIAL BLACK BOX, RINK HOUSING SHEER WALL
R
23
2weeks 53
Parking B.O.H. Patio Patio Below
M
Play Ground
Music Play Ground Retail
Music
Music Arena
2D Studio
Dance Studio
Music 2D Hall Studio E 2D Dance Studio
Open Open Below Below
Lobby
Green Room
Patio
Lobby
1 Unit Green Room
2D 2D Studio Studio
Back Stage
1 Unit
1 Unit
2 Units
2 Units Condo Units
P 2 Units
House Black Box 300 240
Stage Stage
Open Park
2 Units
2 Units Cafe
Wood Wood Shop Shop
Lobby VIP
Dressing
Lobby
1 Unit
Dressing
R Patio Below
Play Ground
Play Ground
Look Out Look Out
Look Out
Open Park
R
Structural Details
weeks 54
The Theater Truss
The Glass Wall
Rear Cantiliever
Assemblies
Parapets
Glass Walls @ North & West Walls 1
@ South & East Walls
2
2
1
3
4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4
30 mil double glazing 5 abutment of channel load-bearing U-section adhesive laminated wood or glass bracing fin SS angle connection SS 2�x14� bracing fin Mecco Shade
Glass Corners 1 4
weeks 55
along Flex Space fixed glass locations
7 4
4
5 6 5
CPS Floor Spans
Ø : 1/2 mile
Flytower Condo
Condo
Condo
Condo
Condo
Condo
“Central Hill”
Student Patio
Stage Music Studio
Studio Lofts Drop-off
Parking Ramp
Large Condo
Student Patio Large Condo Retail Space
Retail Space
Music Studio Drop-off
Drop-off
Large Condo
Small Condo
Bldg Poche Open Space
Cafe + Student Lounge
Cafe + Student Lounge Retail Space
Flex Space
Retail Space CPS Entry
Retail Space
Drop-off
CPS Entry
Retail Space
Drop-off
Flex Space
Public Playspace
Public Playspace Workshop
Entry Atrium
Breakout Hall
Public Playspace
Workshop
Entry Atrium
Breakout Hall
Public Playspace
Workshop
Music
Music
Workshop Gallery
Music Lounge
Gallery
Music Lounge
Workshop
Workshop
Gallery
Entry Atrium
Public Playspace
Public Playspace
Breakout Hall
Music
Music Lounge
Classroom
Classroom
Classroom
Stage
Classroom
Loading
Classroom
Loading
Theater Cafe
Classroom
Back Stage
Back Stage
Lobby
Lobby
Theater Cafe
Stage
Black Box
Black Box
Condo
Condo
Condo
Condo
Condo
Condo
“Central Hill”
Studio Lofts
Parking Ramp
the public experience: city at large
the building experience: students