I THE THREAD

Museum of the American Quilt

1st Place King+King Jury Prize, Design Studio Competition

Site: Downtown Seneca Fall, NY

ARC409 Comprehensive Studio: Spring2022_Syracuse University

Instructor: Terrence Goode

Partner: Weiwei Lei

Contribution: Architecture design, Digital Modeling, Drawings

Quilt, except for the utilitarian value, is also an instrument of women’s socialization as a collaborative effort. “All men are created equal” are declared in this convention at Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Seneca Falls, which is right across the site.

The Thread - the Museum of the American Quilt Should be a comprehensive landmark in Seneca Falls, presenting an analogy between a quilt and architecture that carefully determined and resulting in extraordinary beauty.

The Thread expects to respond to the site and surrounding Historical buildings by creating continuous circulation around the central atrium to gain rhythmical experience of view

The female gesture of it, floating, light, and fluent. The continuous aluminum shades and glazing transparent public space, cooperating with the river view and park.

It is a mark of women’s collaboration in great artwork, the pride of female contribution..

Views and Activities

从宏观上看，建筑整体被分成三部分，两边的体块由中 间的中庭以及走道相连，因此构成实-虚-实关系，并一一 对应了街对面Wesleyan教堂（实）女权主义国家公园（虚 ）和游客中心（实）所产生的体块关系。

从宏观上看，建筑整体被分成三部分，两边的体块由中 间的中庭以及走道相连，因此构成实-虚-实关系，并一一 对应了街对面Wesleyan教堂（实）女权主义国家公园（虚 ）和游客中心（实）所产生的体块关系。

从宏观上看，建筑整体被分成三部分，两边的体块由中 间的中庭以及走道相连，因此构成实-虚-实关系，并一一 对应了街对面Wesleyan教堂（实）女权主义国家公园（虚 ）和游客中心（实）所产生的体块关系。

Decreased Building Footprint

因此，两条街道也被建筑本身连接了起来。该项目还 响应了市中心发展倡议，该倡议旨在拓宽人行道从而 重振市中心街道环境。建筑首层的玻璃外墙被南北双 向往内侧推移。

Increased Visual Transparency

为了处理南北两条街4.6米的高差，大厅被放置在两 街的中间层，由于两侧都是同等重要的入口，所以 两边的人都可以相互出入建筑内部。

为了处理南北两条街4.6米的高差，大厅被放置在两 街的中间层，由于两侧都是同等重要的入口，所以 两边的人都可以相互出入建筑内部。

从建筑内部看，走道用于连接各个错层空间，并与中庭 环境建立空间上的对话，提供给游客观赏悬挂于中庭的

Increased Publicity

为了处理南北两条街4.6米的高差，大厅被放置在两 街的中间层，由于两侧都是同等重要的入口，所以 两边的人都可以相互出入建筑内部。

To deal with the slope of 15 feet difference, the lobby is placed at the mid-level between Fall street and Water street so that people on both sides have mutual access to the building given that both sides are equally significant as an entrance. The project also aims at revitalizing the Downtown environment by actively widening the sidewalks by offsetting the ground plan on both sides of the street.

The Building is considered as a integrated space

The gallery space is lifting up, and the ground floor become the public space

The Atrium goes through all the floors Programs are arranged on the wings.

The circulation spiral around the atrium.

The shape of building is determined by the views of historical buildings

Both side of circulation could see ‘ People’s Park and Womens’ Right national Park’

Site and Formal Strategies

Vertical circulation is placed on the center, and egress are on sides

Following the solid-void-solid relationship generated by Wesleyan Chapel, Women’s Rights National Park, and the Visitor Center across the street, the building volume is divided into three parts, which is an atrium in the center(void)and programs on both sides (solid).

Office Room

Gallery Space Traveling

Office Room

Gallery Space

Traveling

Quilting Room

Museum Shop

Reception Shipping

Receiving Workroom Storage

Loading Dock

Locker Workshop

Water St Cafe

Mechanical Room

Programs and Arrangements

Gallery Space Permanent

Egress Fall St

Lecture Room

Gallery Space Traveling

Staff Circulation

Water St Entrance

The Grand stair Main Gallery

Lobby Archive

Intro to Seneca Falls Gallery

Quilt Conservation

Admin Area

Quilt Storage

The ground and the second level accommodate the communal events, the third and fourth levels are quiet, private, and exclusive for the gallery. The underground level is accessible for staff, used for conservation and mechanical.

Elevator Public

Circulation

Fall St Entrance

Elevator Staff Egress Water St

Program

Conversation Archive Storage

Mechanical

Shop Lobby Office Workshop

Universal Accessibility

The quilts are hanging in the central atrium and people could appreciate them in different angles and space. Ramps are made to connect the program space and create mutual relationships with the atrium environment. At the same time, they made the building universally accessible that follow the ADA requirment.

The Quilting Room/Auditorium faced People’s/Women Park.

The project also responds to the Downtown Development Initiative by offsetting the ground floor plan on both sides of the street. On the Fall street side, the mobility of pedestrians is better enhanced and the building is positioned in a more welcoming gesture.

On the Water St, the space transformed into an extension of Peoples’ Park to embrace the public events.

Centralized Circulation

Louvers fixed at various angles could effectively reduce the damage to the displayed quilt caused by southern sunlight.

Envelops and Interior

Cantilever Structure

Steel beams and columns offers more opportunity to constructed a dynamic space. The building structure is using steels to fulfill the load as the cantilever system which could create the sense of lifting and lightness.

System Organization

In order to deal with the condensation issue, radiator unites are specially installed at the bottom of the glazing elements. The building also applies a rainwater collection system by taking advantage of the partly slopes roof.

System, Structure And HVAC

The system and beams structure are carefully separately considered by different functions. Air-forced system is arranged in the center, and other mechanical bumps are hidden on the left side near bathroom.