Thomas Grant MacDonald Master of Landscape Architecture
University of Pennsylvania School of Design
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Quick Self-Introduction Thank you for taking the time to peruse this document. I grew up in the Houston suburbs, a region that was measured as the United States’ most sprawled metro in a 2014 report by Smart Growth. After high school I served in the U.S. Air Force as a linguist and data analyst, during which time I had the opportunity to travel and gain exposure to a range of cultures, city morphologies and modes of urban settlement. Recognizing the profound influence that architectural design and urban planning has upon our environment and the ways in which we live, I determined to pursue design as a means of contributing to the thoughtful development of places like Houston and beyond. I have had the good fortune to contribute to projects at a range of scales, train under highly skilled managers and work closely with passionate team members. I excel in writing, and have contributed to published public master plan documents and successful project proposals. I possess basic project managerial experience, and progressing these skills is a primary focus at this stage of my career.
Contents Qualifications............................................ 4 List of Project Contributions....................... 6 References................................................ 8 Contact Information................................... 9 Professional Work Samples........................ 10 Riverside Quay Place Renewal................................... 12 Grampians Peaks Trail.................................................24 Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Master Plan......... 38 Western Distributor.......................................................54
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Qualifications Education University of Pennsylvania School of Design - Philadelphia, PA Master of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning
2015
University of Texas at Austin - Austin, TX Bachelor of Arts, Minor in Architecture
2010
Defense Language Institute - Monterey, CA Korean Language and Area Studies
2003
Experience McGregor Coxall - Melbourne, VIC, Australia Landscape Architect
2015-2017
Andropogon Associates - Philadelphia, PA Landscape Architect
2015
ObraEstudio - Bogota, Colombia Summer Intern
2014
SWA Group - Houston, TX Summer Intern
2013
Corbett Architectural Design Services Summer Intern
2012
United States Air Force - International Locations Staff Sergeant, Cryptologic Linguist
2002-2008
Skills Landscape Architecture
Urban Design
Master Planning
Project Management
Proposal Writing
Drawing Production
Research & Analysis
ACONEX
Photo & Video Production
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Premiere
Adobe After Effects
AutoCAD
Vectorworks
Google SketchUp
Rhino 3D
Grasshopper
ArcGIS & QGIS
Sketching / Hand Drawing
Speaking & Presentation
E-Commerce
Awards & Publications LA+ Interdisciplinary Journal of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2016 Issue, Apokaluptein. MatterBetter.com Concordia Lighthouse Design Competition. Top 50 of 282 submissions, Summer 2015 Dwell.com - With Input from Alessi, Students Put a Modern Spin on the Standing Desk, Spring 2015 Core77.com - What would an Alessi Standing Desk Look Like. Spring 2015 Docomomo Journal 51, Modern Housing - El Tunal Experimental: 40 Years Later. Photography, Winter 2014 Alessi+UPenn Standing Desk Design Competition. Winning Team w/Shai Gerner and Alex Chin, Fall 2014h
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
List of Project Contributions Arts & Civic Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Sydney NSW, Australia
2016-2017
Sydney Modern Project: Art Gallery NSW, City of Sydney NSW, Australia
2015-2017
Incinerator Stage 2, Moonee Ponds VIC, Australia
2015-2016
Education Monash University N1 Car Park, Clayton VIC, Australia
2016-2017
Monash University Bus Interchange, Clayton VIC, Australia
2016-2017
Monash Central Precinct Revitalisation, Caulfield VIC, Australia
2014
Health and Aged Care Sacred Heart Mission - 101 Grey Street, St Kilda VIC, Australia The Pines Retirement Village, Doncaster East VIC, Australia
2016-2017 2016
Hospitality and Tourism Grampians Peaks Trail, Mafeking VIC, Australia
2017-2018
Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing, Falls Creek VIC, Australia
2015-2017
Infrastructure Western Distributor, Yarraville VIC, Australia Westconnex, M4-M5 Link, Rozelle NSW, Australia
2017 2016-2017
Mixed Use and Commercial Bee’Ah District Master Plan, Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
2017
Yarralumla Brickworks, Yarralumla ACT, Australia
2016-2017
Channel 9, Artarmon, Willoughby NSW, Australia
2016
YUHU Eastwood, Ryde NSW, Australia
2015-2017
Former Cumberland News Site, Parramatta NSW, Australia
2015-2016
White Bay Power Station Urban Design Framework, Rozelle NSW, Australia
2015-2016
Parklands and Open Space Lingang Bird Airport, Binhai Tianjin, China
2017
Sydney Green Grid, Sydney NSW, Australia
2016-2017
Public Realm Riverside Quay Place Renewal, Southbank VIC, Australia
2015-2018
Geelong City Heart Investigation, Geelong VIC, Australia
2015-2017
Parklea Master Plan, Blacktown NSW, Australia
2016
Residential Emblem Apartments, Waterloo, Sydney NSW, Australia
2015-2017
Casa Girón, Cáqueza, Cundinamarca, Colombia
2014-2015
Residential Complex, Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia
Thomas Grant MacDonald
2014
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
References Christian Borchert, Melbourne Studio Director McGregor Coxall Landscape Architecture and Urbanism - Melbourne, VIC, Australia christianborchert@mcgregorcoxall.com
Chris Mendel, Associate Principal Andropogon Associates Landscape Architecture - Philadelphia, PA mendelc@andropogon.com
Richard Weller, Landscape Architecture Professor & Chair University Pennsylvania School of Design - Philadelphia, PA landarch@design.upenn.edu
Contact Information Phone: (936) 276-1385 Email: tmacdonald7@gmail.com Address: 306 Crescent View St., La Porte, TX Available to begin in early January 2019. Able to travel for work purposes. Open to relocation.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Professional Work Samples
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Riverside Quay Place Renewal Location
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Design Team
McGregor Coxall, Fender Katsalidis Architects
Client
Mirvac Developers + Melbourne City Council
Date
2015-2018
Riverside Quay Place Renewal is an ongoing masterplan strategy to reinvigorate the streetscapes, lane ways, squares and building interfaces along the heavily trafficked pedestrian waterfront of Melbourne’s iconic Yarra River. A key component of this strategy involved the redevelopment of a small underused public plaza adjacent to a major pedestrian thoroughfare connecting to a larger waterfront promenade. The small park project was funded by Mirvac, who were in the process of developing a block of waterfront buildings that define the northern and western extents of the project site. Because this public space is owned by the City of Melbourne, the project became a joint venture between our client and the Melbourne City Council, who would ultimately take over the park’s operations. I worked on this project over the course of a year and a half from schematic design through construction. Towards the end, I was regularly interfacing with the client and contractors, and serving in a project managerial role with guidance from a studio director.
Photo: Completed Project (opposite page) In early 2018 the project was fully competed and opened to the public. The space was immediately utilized by the community local community.
Professional Work - Riverside Quay Place Renewal
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Orientation and Conceptualization While the Riverside Quay Place Renewal masterplan is an ongoing redevelopment strategy that encompasses a larger portion of Melbourne’s Southbank district, our team’s role for project focused on the design and delivery of Stage 1, a modestly sized public space shown as a pink block in the figure below. Buildings adjacent to our site’s western and northern extents (2RSQ and Q3, respectively) were being developed in concert with the Stage 1 public space, requiring close collaboration between multiple teams of architects and consultants throughout the life of the project. The project’s design conceptualization was anchored upon a researched appreciation of the Yarra River to the north of the site, particularly in regards to the water’s morphing geographies, historical uses and associated Aboriginal mythologies. Community consultations added to these considerations to generate three key visions for the space. The Stage 1 public space was to be: welcoming, safe and flexible; allow people to be proud and invest their time in it; and quietly vibrant with different opportunities to engage and experience the place.
Plan Diagram: Site Orientation Project site is the Stage 1 Area shown as a pink block, adjacent to a major pedestrian thoroughfare that connects to the larger Southbank Promenade.
Professional Work - Riverside Quay Place Renewal
Photo: Initial Condition - Northern View Onto Site At the commencement of the project, the site existed as an underused and poorly maintained pedestrian plaza. The plaza felt overly exposed to the elements, circulation was confusing and materiality lacked cohesiveness.
Rough Conceptual Render: Northwest View Onto Site After the production of conceptual sketches and conversations with our client and the City Council, a design was agreed upon that would provide great circulation, connectivity to the pedestrian thoroughfare at the site’s western extent, a unique aesthetic befitting the district, and various site elements (e.g. bespoke furniture, pavilion, bbq, etc.)
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Dynamic Use of Materials Material selection for this project leaned heavily upon the application of bluestone blocks and pavers, which tie into the City of Melbourne’s existing and historic bluestone palette. It was initially suggested by our design team that large bluestone cubes found on site - which weighed over a ton each - should be sliced up to provide units for retaining walls and bench seating. While this sustainable use of reclaimed materials was appreciated by the client, it ultimately proved financially unfeasible. However, the general idea stuck, and thus a system of incorporating imported bluestone blocks to form an undulating landscape reminiscent of the nearby Yarra River was approved and implemented. Surrounding the bluestone walls and benches, rough-faced stone setts were installed to serve as a skate deterrent. At the ground plane, full and 1/2 sized bluestone pavers were arranged to create a sense of playfulness and add to the site’s aesthetic movement and continuity.
Reference Detail - Location of Bluestone Block Retaining Walls and Benches
Professional Work - Riverside Quay Place Renewal
Conceptual Render - Northeast View Onto Lawn Area
Site Photo - Constructed Bluestone Benches Surrounded by Stone Setts
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Robust Site Elements The pavilion structure formed a key element of this project, and required close coordination between our consultant engineers and construction contractors. The design is simple, robust and easily maintained, enabling a smooth operations handover from our client to the City of Melbourne Parks Department. The design of this lighted pavilion structure also allows for the future installation of a waterproof canopy and gutter system, should this prove necessary in the future.
Construction Details - Pavilion
Professional Work - Riverside Quay Place Renewal
Conceptual Render - Western View Onto Pavilion Area
Site Photo - Southeastern View from Constructed Pavilion
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Effective Project Management While the scale of this project was relatively small, its public-private nature demanded scrupulous project management skills. Because the project was to be handed over to the City after completion, it became especially important that all designs adhered to the City’s Design Guidelines and timely City signoff be gained throughout design development. Additionally, building bounding the site’s northern extent incorporated multi-use commercial space, and it was unclear whether portions of the project, namely the pavilion area, would be privately operated in the future. This situation required that designs be closely coordinated and agreed upon amongst multiple stakeholders. Additionally, due to leasing expectations in the adjacent buildings, portions of the project needed to be constructed in stages to allow for increasing levels of accessibility over time. We worked closely with the architects of the adjacent building and our team’s contractors to implement temporary accessibility elements and timed construction. With great leadership from our studio director, Christian Borchert, the staged construction of the public space and the provision of upgradeable site elements were completed smoothly and successfully. Throughout this process of conceptualization to construction, I learned the value of fostering trust and strong working relationships with our client, project partners and consultant teams, and, in particular, the on-site construction manager (shown here, left).
Site Photo On-site collaboration between the project Construction Manager (left) and myself (right)
Professional Work - Riverside Quay Place Renewal
Overview Plan - Construction Documentation Phase Throughout the course of this project, I was responsible for the production, revision, and standardized submission of plans (overview plans, gradient plans, material plans, planting plans, etc.), as well as the coordination of plan updates with contractor crews.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Post-Construction Project Photos
Photo: Southwestern View Towards Building Entry Plaza
Photo: Public Seating Elements
Professional Work - Riverside Quay Place Renewal
Photo: Southern View onto Gravel Area
Photo: Western View onto Building Entry Plaza
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Grampians Peaks Trail Location
Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia
Design Team
McGregor Coxall, Sean Godsell Architects
Client
Parks Victoria
Date
2016-present
The Grampians Peaks Trail project centers on delivering a series of small hiker camps and unique camping experiences along the length of the GPT (Grampians Peaks Trail walking track) in western Victoria, Australia. The GPT, which threads its way through 144 kilometers of rugged and diverse landscapes within Victoria’s iconic Grampians National Park, currently offers few formal camping options and caters primarily to ‘hardcore’ hikers. Our firm is working with Parks Victoria to open this experience to a wider demographic of hikers through the design and delivery of 11 hiker camps along the GPT, which will feature light camping infrastructure and basic amenities. Aside from great site plans that thoughtfully engage their landscapes, these camps will include features such as elevated camping platforms, circulation and wayfinding, toilet facilities, communal shelters and simple seating. The camp layouts take advantage of existing site features and vistas, while respecting the sensitive environmental systems of each area. To understand this extensive and highly complex project area, our team engaged in multiple site visits, walked a significant portion of the current track, and made on-site design decisions. I accompanied our director on these visits and assisted with site mapping and photography. Back in the studio, I was responsible for developing plans, sections, diagrams, 3D models, tree-assessment survey visualizations and rendered views. I also assisted by interfacing with our contracted consultants, as well as writing, editing and issuing various presentations and deliverables to our clients.
Professional Work - Grampians Peaks Trail
Bugiga Hiker Camp
Key Map: Hiker Camp Locations Along the Grampians Peaks Trail
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Project Orientation The GPT extends north-south through the Grampians National Park, a nature reserve in Victoria, Australia known for its sandstone mountains, wildflowers and wildlife. After upgrades are completed, the Trail is envisioned to become one of Victoria’s four “Iconic Walks,” drawing both domestic and international visitors to engage with one of Australia’s most profound environments. The full walk can typically be completed in 13 days 12 nights of hiking and camping, however traversing smaller segments of the trail or completing day walks are also options. In all cases, the GPT walking experience connects some of the Grampians’ most spectacular peaks and showcases the Park’s fascinating natural and cultural landscapes.
Diagram: The Grampians Peaks Trail as one of Victoria’s Iconic Walks The GPT holds a prominent position as one of the state of Victoria’s most important walking experiences, and represents one of Australia’s most treasured natural landscapes.
Professional Work - Grampians Peaks Trail
Site Photo: Existing Conditions at Barigar Hiker Camp (N1 on Key Map)
Site Photo: Existing Conditions at Lake Wartook Hiker Camp (N3 on Key Map) Each hiker camp possess unique spatial qualities, ecologies, textures, sensual characteristics and histories. A focus was placed on engaging with these qualities in each site design and on telling the story of each place.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Establishing a Kit of Parts Creating a flexible set of tools that could be applied to the development of each site was critical to meet budgetary limitations and to produce a cohesive aesthetic throughout the length of the walk. Cues were taken from the Bugiga hiker camp (white triangle on Key Map), which had already been developed with modular site elements including raised camping platforms, a communal shelter and a toilet block. Referring to feedback collected from Bugiga camp visitors and the Park staff, certain modifications and expansions were made to the camp’s constructed elements. The resultant Kit of Parts conforms to project requirements and can be implemented across all 11 GPT sites.
Diagram: Kit of Parts The elements in the matrix above offer simple but feasible solutions to the project’s major architectural and infrastructural requirements. Note that this is an early matrix, with some of the elements changed a bit (e.g. the shelter and elevated camping platforms were redesigned in a more rectilinear fashion.)
Professional Work - Grampians Peaks Trail
Photo: Existing camping platform and modular footpath at the Bugiga Hiker Camp (white triangle on Key Map)
Photo: Existing communal shelter at the Bugiga Hiker Camp (white triangle on Key Map) The camping platforms, elevated footpaths, communal shelter building and toilet facility at the Bugiga hiker camp were developed as prototypes (credit to architect Sean Godsell) before McGregor Coxall joined the project. The lessons learned from Bugiga inform the design of elements for the remaining sites.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Mapping the Sites While physically scouting each site our team marked off site boundaries for survey crews and made notes of key features, such as interesting rock formations that might serve as landmarks and trees that might pose a hazard to campers. I established a good rapport with our arborist and surveyor consultants during these site visits, and later liaisoned with their offices to perform the graphical integration of data into tree specification plans/schedules and 3D models.
Tree Specification Plan: Mt Christabel Hiker Camp (not shown on Key Map) Arborist and surveyor data was processed into to a clear graphical format and linked to a tree specification schedule (opposite page, top), showing which trees were to be retained, removed or pruned. Some very large trees became site features and places of gathering, such as the one shown in pink in the above planting plan.
Professional Work - Grampians Peaks Trail
Tree Specification Schedule: Mt Christabel Hiker Camp (not shown on Key Map)
3D Visualization: Mt Christabel Hiker Camp (not shown on Key Map) The conceptual visualizations produced by our team integrated arborist and surveyor data. Note that this is an early and rough visualization with some site elements being changed a bit (e.g. the shelter and at-grade camping platforms ultimately took on a more rectilinear design.)
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Developing Site Plans Schematic site plans for each of the 11 hiker camps were designed to maximize engagement with the landscape will remaining safe for visitors. The approach to each camp typically involves a threshold encounter with a remarkable environmental feature and a controlled revealing of the communal shelter and long-range vistas. Camping platforms are located to take advantage of major viewsheds while remaining as protected as possible from the elements.
N
Locating the toilet facility required careful consideration at each site in order to create separation from the camping platforms, avoid downwind smells, enable servicing and maintaining and a reasonable degree of convenience.
Schematic Site Plan: Mt Difficult (N2 on Key Map) The Mt Difficult hiker camp features a massive sandstone cliff and a feeling of profound isolation. Each of the 11 hiker camp sites are unique in regards to their geology, ecology, spatial structure, viewsheds, exposure to the elements, potential hazard to hikers, etc.
Professional Work - Grampians Peaks Trail
Site Photo: Existing Conditions at Mt Difficult Hiker Camp (N2 on Key Map) - view to Southwest
Site Photo: Existing Conditions at Mt Difficult Hiker Camp (N2 on Key Map) - view to Northeast Many of the sites posed challenges due to exposure and access, however this typically came along with spectacular views and a sense of profound engagement with the landscape. When developing the site plans, a balance was continually struck between visitor protection and environmental engagement.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Conceptual Visualization By working closely with surveying consultants our team was able to produce relatively accurate 3D models of each site. These models were populated with elements from our ‘Kit of Parts,’ and renderings were produced to help explain our concepts to stakeholders. In these early examples, a domed communal shelter was considered, however a more traditional rectilinear form was later settled upon due to various constraints. These 3D models and conceptual renderings were well received, and began circulating amongst government departments to generate additional support for the project.
3D Visualization: Mt Difficult Hiker Camp (N2 on Key Map) 3-Dimensional models were developed using Rhino 3D.
Professional Work - Grampians Peaks Trail
Conceptual Rendering: Mt Difficult Hiker Camp (N2 on Key Map) - View to Southwest
Conceptual Rendering: Mt Difficult Hiker Camp (N2 on Key Map) - View to Northwest
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Additional Project Work Samples
3D Visualization: Barbican Rocks Hiker Camp (N3 on Key Map)
Conceptual Rendering: Barbican Rocks Hiker Camp (N3 on Key Map)
Professional Work - Grampians Peaks Trail
3D Visualization: Yarram Gap Hiker Camp (not shown on Key Map)
Section Exploration: Yarram Gap Hiker Camp (not shown on Key Map)
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Master Plan Location
Alpine National Park, Victoria, Australia
Discipline
Masterplanning, Landscape Architecture, Parks and Trails
Design Team
McGregor Coxall
Client
Parks Victoria
Sub-consultants
Simon Jones, Roger Gibbins, Zinc Cost Management
Project Partners
Tourism North East, Visit Victoria, Regional Development Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Year Initiated
2015
Year Completed
2018
The FHAC MP (Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Master Plan) outlines the proposed development of a five-day, four-night hiking experience that traverses the Great Dividing Range, from Falls Creek to Mount Hotham, in the Australian state of Victoria. The 57-kilometer trek will connect domestic and international visitors to some of Victoria’s most outstanding landscapes, wildlife and culture – expanding and developing the existing 37-kilometer trail. The Master Plan follows two years of consultation, in partnership with Tourism North East, Regional Development Victoria, Visit Victoria and the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. At its core, the FHAC MP aims to explain this project to stakeholders and garner public support. The project is highly contentious, as it involves increasing visitation in an ecologically sensitive area and the development of revenue-generating assets within a national park, and thus this masterplan becomes a political tool. Our team assisted with the design of the FHAC, which included adjusting existing track alignments, locating camping areas, producing schematic site plans, researching and illustrating key track features (e.g. track widths, materiality, signage, vistas, camping location rules, etc.), and consulting with a financial expert to clearly describe the project’s cost/benefit proposition. In addition, we wrote and edited the actual master plan document. Community consultation and feedback were integral throughout the development of the FHAC MP. My contributions to this master plan included writing and editing, developing site plans, producing graphics, curating photography, producing presentations, coordinating deliverables and occasionally interfacing with the client.
NOTE: The full Falls to Hotham Master Plan can be viewed and downloaded from Parks Victoria’s web domain: https://parkweb.vic.gov.au
Professional Work - Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Master Plan
Photo: Existing camping platform in Victoria’s Alpine National Park
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
wong, Dhudhuroa, Peoples.
lar tourist destination, parks, alpine lakes, ter sports resorts.
and snowy escarpments. Roughly a 4.5-hour drive from Melbourne, the park is a major attraction in regional Victoria, offering a wide range of year-round opportunities for recreation including bushwalking and other nature-based activities. There is a large network of recreational trails in the Alpine National Park between Falls Creek and Mt Hotham, including the existing Falls to Hotham
Project Orientation
As the “roof of Australia,” comprising some of the country’s highest, often snow-capped mountain peaks, the Victorian Alps rise dramatically over the surrounding fertile plains and valleys and are a popular destination for winter sports. Attractions during summer months, ranging from recreational activities to cultural magnets such as local produce, idyllic historical townships and an array of events and fares, the region has the potential to become one of Australia’s hot spots for nature-based tourism. Alpine Shire
East Gippsland Shire
Alpine National Park Parks and Reserves
n the context of Victoria
Context Mapping: Bioregions of Eastern Victoria Straddling the boundary between the Alpine and East Gippsland Shires, the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing is set within the wider context of Victoria’s High Country, a region within the southeastern portion of Australia’s Great Dividing Range and includes some of Australia’s highest mountain peaks.
Professional Work - Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Master Plan
Regional Diagram: Linking the FHAC to surrounding communities, existing activities and cultural offerings
Elevation Exploration: Shifts in elevation and landscape typology along the FHAC The hike consists of long sections of relatively flat areas, such as the Bogong High Plains and the Razorback at the end of the walk, and steeper sections such as the descent and following ascent of the Kiewa River Valley which add a dramatic and physically challenging component to the overall experience.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Geographic Mapping About one third of Victoria’s native plant species, more than half of the terrestrial bird species, 40 percent of the State’s mammal species and roughly one third of Victoria’s rare and threatened species are found in the Greater Alpine National Parks. Some native plant and animal species of the Victorian Alps, such as the Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora), have appeal beyond their ecological value and are recognized by the Traditional Owners as culturally significant for culinary or medicinal uses.
Regional Diagram: Bioregions of Eastern Victoria Regional Victoria’s bioregions highlight the extent and uniqueness of the Victorian Alpine environment.
Professional Work - Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Master Plan
Regional Diagram: Ecological Zones The above map demonstrates the diverse range and spread of ecological vegetation classes across the study area. In particular, the High Plains showcase a rich and finely arranged patchwork of sensitive, rare and partly endangered communities.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Track Alignment and Features The track alignment meanders through a range of diverse landscape typologies, presenting walkers with opportunities to explore historic cultural artifacts such as early cattlemen’s huts, old mines and the remnants of significant hydrology infrastructure. Walkers can choose to enter and exit the track at various points and complete either the full 56-kilometer walk or just portions of it. For those who choose to walk the track for multiple days, camping and lodging accommodations will be made available at intervals that respect a broad range of hiker demographics and abilities. Multiple accommodation options are available at each of the ‘overnight nodes’, including dispersed (at-grade) camping, elevated camping platforms and operated camping huts.
Overview Plan: Track Alignment
Professional Work - Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Master Plan
Schematic Site Plan: Overnight Node 1 Overnight Node 1 is located within the vicinity of the Wallaces Heritage Trail, offering walkers easy access to one of the oldest huts in the area while maintaining privacy and separation of the camps. The area is a very popular destination for day visitors, overnight walkers, skiers, horse riders, and mountain bikers. Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Interpreting the Values of the Landscape The cultural stories and ecologies of the land provide opportunities to interpret the values of the region. The understanding of these values through education, interpretation and immersion enhances the visitor experience and provides a foundation for the appreciation of the land narratives, thus nurturing awareness and stewardship. Each segment of the trail presents unique narratives of life in the Victorian Alps, from the expansive ghosts of burnt Snow Gums and Alpine Ash to infrastructure and structures spread throughout the landscape. While traversing the trail there is an abundance of opportunities to tell these stories and protect these values.
Conceptual Diagram: A journey through the changing stories of the landscape
Professional Work - Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Master Plan
The interpretation of landscape values will play a major role in the curation of experiences for all who visit the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing. Opportunities for outdoor education groups, school groups, scout groups, Junior Rangers, guided tours and independent walkers to become fully immersed in the values of the land are integrated into each of the walking segments and overnight nodes.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Connections and Lodging Options The Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing will be well connected to a network of existing tracks and roads within the park, with walkers having the option to amend their journey and customize their own ‘Alpine Crossing’ by stepping off the main track at one of the many trail markers.
Conceptual Diagram: Route Options Alternative loops, links and journeys intersecting the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing
Professional Work - Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Master Plan
As a 5-day, 4-night walking experience, each night of the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing will be located in an ‘overnight node’ providing new accommodation options: elevated camping platforms found at the ‘Hiker Camps’, or weather-sealed huts with bedding at the ‘Operated Huts’. They will extend on the quality of built form, design and materials established along the track, providing a high-quality, memorable experience of overnighting in the national park.
Diagram: Accommodation options along the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing
Precedent Photos: Communal Hut (left) and Privately Operated Hut (right) Communal Huts such as those along New Zealand’s Three Cape Track (shown above left) provide opportunity for informational talks and informal gathering. Privately operated hut may make use of simple, natural materials such as the micro cabin designed by students of the University of Colorado Denver (shown above right.)
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Western Distributor Project Location
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Discipline
Infrastructure, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture
Client
Victorian State Government + Transurban Australia
Design Team
McGregor Coxall
Team Role
Sub-contracted
Project Partners
Salini Impregilo, Fluor Australia, Lane Worldwide Infrastructure
Working Period
2017
Phases Involved
Submission
The M1 corridor is one of Melbourne’s most important transport routes, moving more than 200,000 vehicles each day. The corridor currently experiences heavy congestion at peak times, which is expected to increase in line with strong population and freight growth. Part of the Victorian State Government’s response to this congestion is the Western Distributor project, which consists of three key infrastructural moves: the widening of the Westgate freeway from eight to twelve lanes, a tunnel under the suburb of Yarraville, and an elevated motorway connecting two major freeways. The project will provide a crucial alternative to existing routes and save significant travel time during peak hours. It is estimated to remove 6,000 trucks from local streets, while improving amenity, air quality and safety. The project is also expected to reduce serious injury crashes by 20 percent, and upgrade major cycling and walking paths. The work samples on the following pages are excerpts from our team’s submission to win the project. While our client ultimately withdrew from the submission process, our firm received high praise for the quality and thoughtfulness of our work. My contributions to this submission included developing schematic sections and sectional perspectives, plans and rendered views. I also contributed to the processing and integration of drawings provided by our team’s engineers and architects, and helped edit and submit drawing packages to our client.
Professional Work - Western Distributor
Sectional Perspective: Footscray Viaduct The development of a new elevated motorway offers an opportunity to integrate multiple modes of transportation and amenity into the city fabric, including elevated shared cycleways, ground-level pedestrian paths, sustainable stormwater management, shade and added green space.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Project Orientation The Western Distributor project offers the potential to not only alleviate major traffic congestion in the city of Melbourne, but also to incorporate sensitive urban planning strategies that achieve the best outcomes for both motorists and surrounding communities. Keeping this in mind, our design team approached the project with three key focuses: to establish new public space, expand pedestrian networks, and integrate sustainable infrastructure. Points of major ground-level intervention are considered for their potential to host new public space, for example establishing a park in the area around a vehicular tunnel entrance. Providing great public space allows community members to understand the project as offering assets to their neighborhoods and ameliorates the ‘NIMBY’ effect.
Key Map: Western Distributor
Professional Work - Western Distributor
New road infrastructure also offers an opportunity to improve and expand pedestrian systems, and to establish linkages that better connect communities to city networks. One of our team’s approaches in this regards was to incorporate a new shared user path into each of the project’s interventions, which plugged into existing neighborhood footpaths and formed an armature for Bike Hubs. Additionally, strategies for providing sustainable infrastructure are employed at every opportunity. Stormwater canals are converted into flexible detention systems and public amenity, areas underneath elevated roadways are planted with bio-habitat and integrated into pedestrian networks, etc.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Opportunities for Public Space A major component of the Western Distributor project is a vehicular tunnel that dives under an existing neighborhood. Our team proposed that the area around the tunnel access portal be developed as a public park and community event space, thereby shifting a potential liability into a community asset. The proposed park includes community pavilions, terraced lawns with stormwater detention potential, wetland gardens, a pedestrian boardwalk and a screen wall for neighborhood movie nights. The large ventilation stack, a required component of a vehicular tunnel, is integrated into the park as a visual landmark (see Conceptual Rendered View on opposite page.) We worked with our team’s consultant architects to develop a design that was aesthetically non-intrusive while still meeting practical requirements and helping to establish a sense of place.
Plan: Portal Park The ‘Tunnel Portal Park’ converts a potential eyesore into a neighborhood asset featuring lawns, native grasses, bioswales, stormwater management systems, gardens, public toilet facilities, a plaza, lookout, boardwalk, movie screening wall, etc.
Professional Work - Western Distributor
Conceptual Rendered View: Portal Park with ventilation stack in background - southern aspect
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Section: Portal Park (5-01 on Key Map) The terraced lawn serves as a water detention system and feeds excess stormwater into the wetland gardens, which can be engaged via the boardwalk. The screen wall provides an opportunity for art installations and neighborhood movie nights, while providing a buffer between the park and highway service facility.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Expanding Pedestrian Networks Pedestrian and cycling networks are expanded at key adjacencies between the project work areas and existing pedestrian infrastructure. Here new linkages are established, existing footpaths are upgraded to shared user paths with integrated wayfinding, and Bike Hubs (pink squares on the Key Map.) Bike Hubs are flexible in their scale include amenities such as barbecue equipment, public toilets, shaded seating, trellised vegetation and cycle repair facilities. A common material palette is used at each node to establish a sense of continuity as walkers and bikers travel throughout the expanded network.
Diagrammatic Perspective View: Bike Hub The Bike Hub functions as a mediating gateway between the new infrastructure of the Western Distributor project - in this case an access path to the Rosala Bridge Ramp - and the adjacent neighborhoods’ existing pedestrian infrastructure - in this case, a neighborhood sidewalk.
Professional Work - Western Distributor
Conceptual Rendered View: Bike Hub
Conceptual Render: Shared User Path The shared user path provides a comfortable and convenient lane for walkers and cyclists, connects Bike Hubs and ties into Melbourne’s greater network of pedestrian infrastructure. The indicative pink strip suggests an opportunity for integrated wayfinding and to establish a sense of continuity throughout the project.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Strategies for Sustainable Infrastructure Major vehicular projects like the Western Distributor often provide an opportunity to integrate environmentally sustainable infrastructure, which, when done well, contributes to increased quality of life for community members and the city at large. One such example provided by our team sees an existing stormwater channel converted into an aesthetically pleasing terraced garden with integrated stormwater management. In the diagram below, the stones of an existing stone stormwater canal are re-appropriated to form terrace walls that rise to meet the new shared user path. Salt marsh habitat is established on these terraces, creating a flexible stormwater detention system that better handle major rain events.
Diagrammatic Perspective View: Terraced Stormwater Canal Stone blocks are reappropriated from one side of an existing canal to form terraced salt marshes which provide a flexible stormwater management system. The unseen and underutilized canal is thus transformed into a high-performance sustainable infrastructure system and public amenity.
Professional Work - Western Distributor
Diagrammatic Perspective View: Bridge Over Terraced Stormwater Canal
Diagrammatic Perspective View: Elevated Motorway with Integrated Habitat Areas beneath elevated road infrastructure are planted with low-maintenance vegetation to provide extensive bio-habitat, which is enjoyed by users of the adjacent shared user path and nearby public space.
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385
Additional Project Work Samples
Diagrammatic Perspective View: Bike Hub and Shared User Path
Diagrammatic Perspective View: Upgraded Pedestrian Crossing
Professional Work - Western Distributor
Diagrammatic Perspective View: Elevated Shared User Path with Creek Engagement
Diagrammatic Perspective View: New Public Space at Vehicular Tunnel Facility
Thomas Grant MacDonald
tmacdonald7@gmail.com
(936) 276-1385