TRAVIS SHOCKLEY Master of Architecture Thesis Project – Spring 2014 Kansas State University
This project won the Heintzelman Prize [an award that recognizes outstanding individual design achievement to one student in their fifth year at Kansas State University]. Major Advisor: Michael Gibson, Assistant Professor of Architecture Heintzelman Prize Jury: Ian Colburn, AIA, Senior Designer, Sn Ø hetta, New York City Eric Hoffman, AIA, Professor of Practice, Washington University, Saint Louis Zoka Zola, AIA, RIBA, Principal, Zoka Zola Architecture + Urban Design, Chicago
introduction Concerning the future, the cross-pollination of science and environmental testing will generate positive echoing effects. The focus of this work is the celebration of science. This project presents an argument for how a laboratory can promote the ethos of experimentation and value the incredible richness of collaborative efforts. Located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, the Environmental Protection Agency Regional 6 Facility offers the scientific community a new level of connectedness to their research and each other. Additionally, there is exploration into the blending of architecture and landscape, as the building and site manifest themselves into the urban fabric of Houston.
dIVISIOn Of TIME EXISTIng EPA LABORATORY
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60% LAB
Where is the science actually happening?
OffICE
COnfuSEd PLAn EXISTIng EPA LABORATORY
? Where is the knowledge going?
THESIS How can architecture synthesize the ethos of experimentation to create a harbor for design- and science-based research? How can this synthesis be a catalyst for conversation about the future? ethos of experimentation: search for knowledge immaterial celebration of science
Levels of Ethos individual
SCIEnCE LOungE
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EXPERIMEnTAL LABS
POCKET PARKS
OuTdOOR AudITORIuM
BIKE TRAIL
SMART SECTIOn PROPOSEd EPA LABORATORY
After identifying the issues with the existing facility, a distillation of the sequence of information illustrates a clear diagram of the new EPA facility. This project proposes a smart section; where samples and scientists enter at the same point. The result of experimentation is the outlet of knowledge, or the celebration of science.
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The new EPA Laboratory is located in the southwest portion of the Texas Medical Center district. Edges of the site are visually defined by Brays Bayou on the north, and the Metro line to the south. The ground floor is dedicated to the energy-heavy laboratory spaces, while the upper levels are reserved for offices and the public realm. Scientists and visitors arrive to the southwest corner. Here they pass a security house. Visitors and group buses may park just beyond this checkpoint. Scientists park under a large lawn. All users on foot then circulate through the tower gate, and up a ramp into the facility. Users may also arrive by foot or bicycle via the bike trail that cuts through the site. This bike trail ramps up over the functional labs, and through the exterior portion of the office volumes. Pocket parks afford people a shaded resting area for lunch or coffee, overlooking the bayou. Visually connectedness is the focus between people in all spaces; interior and exterior. Science becomes the glue that brings people together.
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SECuRITY HOuSE LAWn / OuTdOOR AudITORIuM RECEPTIOn COLLABORATIVE OffICE SCIEnCE LOungE POCKET PARK
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BIKE TRAIL
InSTITuTIOn LEVEL Of ETHOS Passers-by on the bike trail are afforded views into the experimental labs. This glimpse into the life of the EPA acts as visual transparency to counter any preconceived connotations of the institution’s agenda.
EXPERIMEnTAL LABS gROuP LEVEL Of ETHOS Arguably the most important arena in any scientific community is a space which accommodates collaboration. These large spaces offer groups of collaborators freedom to be messy, discuss, and construct larger scale experiments. Scientists in the experimental labs are visually connected with scientists in their offices above.
“Conversation is the catalyst for innovation.� John Seely Brown former Chief Scientist of Xerox director of Palo Alto Research Center American Academy of Arts and Sciences
funCTIOnAL LABS The functional labs are for EPA daily experiments with soil, water, and air samples. These nine labs border the experimental labs, have ample north light, and offer views out to Brays Bayou.
SCIEnCE LOungE IndIVIduAL LEVEL Of ETHOS
This space is a refuge for a scientist to be alone in their minds; allowed to question and reflect as the world spins outside.
THE LAWn gROuP LEVEL Of ETHOS
This harbor for design- and science-based research promotes collaborative efforts and provides a venue for the outlet of knowledge... ...the celebration of science.
CELEBRATIOn Of A nEW dISCOVERY
SMART SECTIOn
BIKE TRAIL PASSER-BY LOOKIng InTO EXPERIMEnTAL LAB 20 JUNE 20 MAR 22 SEPT 21 DEC
SCIEnTISTS VISuALLY COnnECTEd BETWEEn LABS And OffICES
In order to combat the sense of loneliness, all labs and offices are visually connected to each other. Additionally, the public may observe the experiments from the bike trail above. Science becomes the glue that connects people; the ethos is given a clear environment to thrive.
SECTIOn I – I
SECTIOn VII – VII
parking, the Lawn, outdoor auditorium, science lounge, offices, and experimental labs
science lounge and sample storage
SECTIOn IX – IX
SECTIOn X – X
pocket park, bike trail, office, functional lab, experimental lab, and mechanical
bike trail and presentation atrium
Bike trail cutting through office volumes with pocket parks overlooking Bray Bayou to the North
South Braeswood Boulevard and Metro rail on South edge of facility – view from Southeast