ALEX J. MCCAY

DESIGN PORTFOLIO

Selected Works

Alex J. McCay

GRADUATE PROJECTS

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ag-Riparian Planning

Counts Studio

Beijing Expo + Qianshan New City

WWI Memorial (Competition Finalist)

337 GardenHappy Valley Garden (Competition Winner)Expo Georgia Masterplan

Counts Studio

Personal Photography

Bellefonte Waterfront Masterplan

Magombera Elephant Corridor

1

State College, PA

Brooklyn, NY

35

5

15

21

25

222324

Fall, 2013

May - July 2014

Sept 2015 - Feb 2016

Projects:

Projects:

Spring, 2014

Graduate CapstoneFall 2014 - Spring 2015

Prof. Tim Baird, Prof. Tim Murtha

Landscape Design Intern

Landscape Designer

Prof . Christopher Counts, Prof. Maria Counts, Prof. Barry Kew

Prof. Larry Gorenfo, Prof. Brian Orland

Selected Works 2013 - 2016Graduate + Professional Experiencealexjmcc@gmail.com

724.914.38771001 Meadow Lane, Apt 104Canonsburg, PA 15317

Spring creekwatershed

Public propertyWhitehall Road Farm

ParksBuildings

101’-150’ Buffer>150’ Buffer

50’-100’ Buffer<50’ BufferNo buffer

AG-RIPARIAN PLANNINGProf. Tim Baird, Prof. Tim MurthaSpring Creek Watershed, Centre County, PA Fall, 2013

Ag-Riparian Planning is a landscape solution to water quality concerns in the agrarian landscapes of central Pennsylvania. The creation of a comprehensive, tri-faceted approach focuses on the entire agrarian landscape rather than solely the stream bed and improves not only water quality but conservation and agricultural production.

The implementation of this initiative on public property encourages a greater connection to local communities through outdoor activites and education.

Buffer quality in Spring Creek watershed overlain with public property and development reveals areas for implementation that offer larger community connection potential

N2 50mi1

Riparian Buffer Quality and Public Land

Ag-Riparian planning re-shapes the agrarian landscape in 3 segments so ecology and economic production work together.

Habitat strips are introduced between rows to promote yield-increasing pollinators and pest-managing species that lessen the need for pesticides while also serving as primary water filtration

Agricultural Intervention

A 3-tiered stream buffer provides dual-function water quality and habitat measures

Growing season Winter coverFieldsHabitat strip

Fields are reconfigured into evenly spaced (and combine-width) rows separated by habitat strips, and employ conservation tillage and cover crops to minimize erosion and fertilizer needs

1: Uniform Field Orientation + Cover Crops

3: Multi-Functional Buffers2: Insectary Habitat Strips

WildflowersGround-nest Flowering shrubs50’

Habitat Creation

Field Orientation Conservation Tillage + Cover Crops

Existing Proposed

2

3

1

2

The implementation of Ag-Riparian Planning on university-owned farms allows for recreational intervention that connects local communities through outdoor activities and conservation education that changes with the seasons.

Partnering with local conservation organizations to create site stations provides greater community connection through education and involvement on the farm.

Community ConnectionWhitehall Road Farm

Conservation Stations

A variety of trails and workout stations provide exercise opportunities, connections to the state forest, and the opportunity to connect through educational signage.

Trail Networks & Exercise Stations

Pedestrian Multi-Use

0’ 200 400N

Scott Twp

Rothrock State Forest

3

250’

500’500’

Summer

Autumn Winter

Sweet Corn

Wagon Rides Pumpkin

Picking Mountain ViewsHarvest Fall ColorsWildlife

Nature Walks Nature Walks

Fishing

Open ViewsHunting

Christmas TreeCutting Syrup

Tapping Fishing

Bonfires

DecorationGathering

BikeRiding

RunningWildflowers

HoneyProduction

Plant IDClasses Nature

Walks

PicnicsMushroom

Picking

FishingSwimming

Bird WatchingMountain

Views

4

BELLEFONTE WATERFRONTMASTERPLAN

Bellefonte was founded on the ability of Spring Creek, Big Spring, and the surrounding mountains to provide the foundation for industry and economic prosperity. The decline of industry and rise in flood events has left the historic waterfront largely derelict.

The design of the new waterfront aims to celebrate the historic and natural elements of Bellefonte through the creation of 3 distinct but connected landscapes: an urban plaza, a civic park, and a nature park. Each of these focuses on the revitalization of the waterfront’s lost prominence. The use of topography to celebrate the water and manage flood conditions creates a new and dynamic landscape experience within Bellefonte.

TOP RIGHT: Existing conditions model30-scale (8’x4’) model of the waterfront and surrounding neighborhoods was created in Rhino and routed out of MDF. I supervised the testing and presentation of materiality and construction of the model.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Revitalized WaterfrontView of the new waterfront park from the edge of the historic downtown.

Prof. Christopher Counts, Prof. Maria Counts, Prof. Barry Kew,Bellefonte, PA Spring, 2014

5

Inventory + AnalysisFocus on the relationship between the development of land-use and topography.

Land Use Separation

Land Use vs. Topography

6

Residential

Commercial

Public Park

Historic Downtown 100yr Floodplain

Historic Downtown100yr FloodplainCommercial

Existing ParkSpring Creek

Residential

Design Development The use of topography as a design engine and flood-management tool was tested through back-and-forth studies of hand grading and models at various scales. This allowed the design to be tested and improved at both master planning and site specific levels

PAGE LEFT - TOP: Master planning and site program models

PAGE LEFT - BOTTOM: Hand drafted grading and pathway studies

PAGE RIGHT: Models testing site topography, program, and planting strategies

7

8

30-scale (8’x4’) model of the waterfront and surrounding neighborhoods was created in Rhino and routed out of MDF. I supervised the testing and presentation of materiality and construction of the model.

View of the new waterfront park from the edge of the downtown.

The Bellefonte Waterfront Masterplan features 3 connected, but individual, spaces to inspire a live-work-play atmosphere: an urban plaza celebrating the former industrial center of the town surrounded by new and renovated architecture, a civic park to revitalize the former public park, and a nature park to connect to the local mountain context and Big Spring. The concept of varying topography connects the individual spaces through prospects and connections to the water that are ever-changing as the water levels rise and fall.

9

Bellefonte Waterfront Masterplan

Site Spaces

N100 2000’

Mill-Race Plaza

Willow Civic Park

Big Spring Nature Park

Site Elements

Water Level + Site Accessibility

Architectural Program 10

Average Annual High 100 Year Floodplain 200 Year Floodplain

Plantings

Architecture

Pedestrian Circulation

Vehicular Circulation

Topography

Spring Creek

Mill-Race

1

2

3

6

5

7

4

1) Mixed office/res/retail

3) Mixed residential/retail

5) Civic center/retail/residential

4) Industrial

6) Restaurant

7) Cafe

2) Mixed office/res/retail

ResidentialPublic Structural

Parking

Office CommercialIndustrial

Mill-Race PlazaThe new downtown of Bellefonte: a mix of restored industrial buildings and new construction with residential and commercial property centered around the revitalized Mill Race.

11

Spring Creek AmphitheaterA waterfront amphitheater connects the urban plaza to the central civic park.

12

Willow Civic ParkThe civic park centers on a sloped lawn held by rising topography providing both passive recreation and active visual connections to the rest of the site and city.

13

Big Spring ParkThe winding topography of the nature park references the mountains that hold Bellefonte and celebrates the natural spring on site.

14

MAGOMBERA ELEPHANT CORRIDOR

Recent research has shown the drastic decline of the African elephant. None more drastic than in the Selous Game Reserve in central Tanzania where the population has declined 80% in the last 8 years. The Kilombero Valley sits between the Selous and Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Historical corridors connected the protected areas but human development of the valley has ceased functional connectivity. A small piece of remnant habitat known as Magombera Forest provides the final point where elephants still attempt to travel between the two protected areas.

Through landscape studies and elephant research the design reconnects the two areas through the arrangement of habitat based on elephant preference. This provides insulated habitat for the elephants to travel through the corridor while it minimizes the potential for human-elephant conflict. The design incorporates design at three scales: general corridor, edge buffer, and intervention points, to meet the various challenges that elephants present as they travel through a human-dominated landscape.

TOP RIGHT: Aerial corridor visualizationA bird’s eye view of the restored corridor shows the juxtaposition of natural habitat in an agriculturally dominated landscape

BOTTOM RIGHT: Corridor buffer visualizationThe agroforestry edge serves as an economically viable edge habitat that is prohibitive to elephant intrusion

Graduate Capstone ProjectProf. Larry Gorenflo, Prof. Brian OrlandKilombero Valley, Tanzania Spring 2015

15

Both social and ecological analysis of the valley was performed to find the best scenario for successful habitat introduction.

TOP RIGHT: The Kilombero Valley is a connection for a larger range of elephant territory with this corridor central to function

MIDDLE: Land-use resistance and overlay models to compare the land conversion and economic impact of 2 corridor introduction scenarios

BOTTOM: Physical comparison of several landscape factors were considered for their impact on valley connectivity and livelihoods

Inventory + Landscape Studies

Pathway 1 Pathway 2

Land Use Value AnalysisHabitat Economic

Land-Use

Context Area

Pathway Comparison

Area boundaryRegion boundaryMigration routeFormermigration route

Project area

Protected area

Development High value ag. Low value ag.InfrastructureNatural habitat Pathway overlay

Natural habitat

Corridor overlay

Villages

200m Buffer

Impacted roadway

Magomberaforest

Udzungwa NP

to Ruaha NP

to Niassa Reserve

Kilombero Valley

Mikumi NP

Selous GameReserve

N1 20km

N1 20km

N100km

Low High

Dry

Wet

General Corridor DesignPathway 1 was chosen for it’s smaller impacts on livelihood economics, social connectivity, and inclusion of existing habitat. A behavior based habitat concept was then created and applied to the corridor extents.

Elephant research suggests they prefer certain habitats and avoid others along seasonal gradients. The corridor design concept stacks habitat types to insulate movement towards the corridor interior. This deters elephant movement outside of the corridor’s core and minimizes potential human-wildlife conflict.

Design Concept: Behavioral Habitat Stacking

Seasonal Habitat Preference Flexibility

Corridor Habitat + Buffer

Agroforestry

More-preferred

Interior

Less-preferred

Exterior

Closed Bushed Grassland

Riverine

Open Forest Closed Forest

Open BushedGrassland

N1 20km

Dry Season Wet Season

Tertiary habitat

Habitat buffer

Secondary habitat

Primary habitat

17

Certain points along the corridor require site-specific designs to address potential issues that may lead to wildlife breaching the corridor.

Habitat tightening and bee fences serve to deter elephants following the stream beds that extend outside the corridor.

Grading a ramp into the railroad berm and tightening habitat creates a pinch point to focus elephant movement across the tracks.

Intervention Points

Riverine Extensions

Rail Berm Crossing

Non-preferred habitat

Bee fence

Travel path

N1000m

Non-preferred habitat

Travel path

N5000m

18

Habitat Buffer EdgeA buffered edge on the corridor stacks non-preferred habitat in configurations that shift in response to changing exterior conditions.

Limits ease of travel where human contact is minimal

Near human development where exposure and visibility are necessary

General Buffer

High-Visibility

ExposureEase of travel

19

A hard edge where waterways limit effective depth of prohibitive habitats

In close proximity to villages the depth, exposure, and movement restrictions increase

Riverine

Village Corridor

20

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCECOUNTS STUDIOLandscape Design InternState College, PA

Beijing, China + Zhuhai, China

May - July 2015

BEIJING GARDEN EXPO + QIANSHAN NEW CITY

Worked on a team that researched materials, prepared CAD files, lasercut, and assembled acrylic topography models.

TOP RIGHT: Beijing Garden Expo model

BOTTOM: Qianshan New City models

21

New York, NY

337 GARDEN

Corrected site survey to represent correct recycled material, drafted pavement studies, created micro-planting iterations for between-paver plantings, drafted construction documents, worked on a team to select plant species.

TOP RIGHT: Recycled pavement design options for garden and resulting planted surfaces

BOTTOM LEFT: Pavement spacing diagram for micro planting typologies

BOTTOM RIGHT: Section elevation detail of garden and residence

<1”1”-2”2”-3”

22

Whuhan, China

HAPPY VALLEY GARDEN2014 International Competition Winner

Created diagrams to represent the relationship between topography and circulation, rendered site perspectives, designed booklet and board layout for submission packet and design presentation.

TOP RIGHT: Topography and circulation diagrams

BOTTOM: Perspective showing the lower garden elevations, primary pathway, and secondary ribbon paths

Primary CirculationTopography Secondary Circulation

23

Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia

EXPO GEORGIA MASTERPLAN

24

Gathered and corrected site inventory files, reconstructed site grading, worked on a team to construct existing conditions model, drafted design studies for Civic Lawn and converted to digital files, worked on a team to construct Civic Lawn model, created exposition center model from architectural drawings.

TOP RIGHT: Drafting grading studies for Civic Lawn

BOTTOM LEFT: Final civic lawn paving and site connections

BOTTOM RIGHT: Rendered Civic Lawn model showing planting and paving

Site Alignment

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCECOUNTS STUDIO

Site Analysis + Comparison

WWI MEMORIAL (Competition Finalist)

Sept 2015 - Feb 2016

Existing Site

Proposed Site

Pavement Stairs Planted Surface Honey LocustsTopography

Inventoried and diagrammed culturally significant site features for comparison to proposed design, created context diagrams to show block and city-scale connectivity.

TOP RIGHT: National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue Context

BOTTOM: Existing vs. Proposed Diagrams

25

Landscape DesignerBrooklyn, NY

Pershing Park, Washington, D.C.

Site Alignment

Construction Documentation

26

Worked with consulting architects and engineers to draft construction details that communicate the design for cost estimation and simplify the design’s structural features for mid-competition jury reviews.

TOP RIGHT: Grading and site drainage

BOTTOM LEFT: Memorial wall detail

BOTTOM RIGHT: Custom site furniture detail

Design Development

27

Through a process of sketch iterations, topography studies, and physical models the design was tested and refined as the competition progressed.

PAGE LEFT: Grading studies testing the effect of slope and pathway interaction on design

PAGE RIGHT - TOP: Adjusting landform and slope based on modeling results

PAGE RIGHT - BOTTOM: Exploring design ideas through the construction and modification of physical models

28

Physical Concept ModelLed the construction of a concept model to test design ideas and, upon completion, represent the final design for submission and presentation.

29

30

Plan + DiagramsRendered site plan and diagrams of design elements.

TOP RIGHT: Site plan and program

BOTTOM LEFT: Immediate site context, connections, and viewsheds

BOTTOM RIGHT: Diagram showing programmatic range of individual spaces

PAGE RIGHT: Diagrams of site features, elements, and experiences

DOUGHBOYPLAZA

CAPITOL PROMENADE

PERSHINGLAWN

MEMORIAL GARDEN

MEMORIAL GARDEN

WASHINGTON MONUMENT OVERLOOK

CIVICSTAIRS

AMPHITHEATER

31

0’ 25 50N

32

Design VisualizationsVisualizations of the design features and spaces, such as the memorial garden, commemorative walls, plaza, and lawn, were created collaboratively.

TOP RIGHT: Civic Stairs and Overlook

BOTTOM LEFT: Memorial Garden

PAGE RIGHT TOP: Doughboy Plaza

PAGE RIGHT BOTTOM: Pershing Lawn

33

34

35

PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

36

ALEX J. MCCAY

Design PortfolioSelected Works