Kennetha Perkins

THE REVISION OF GAMMAGE

Kennetha Perkins

THE REVISION OF GAMMAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRO

Our Challenge

Circulation

Use

Program

Frank Lloyd Wright

VISION

Concept

Identifying the users

Make it Functional

The Parking

ZONES

Outdoor Learning

Community Spot

The Plaza

The View

DETAILS

The Corridor

Gateway to ASU

Intimate Moments

The Building Perimeter

PURPOSE

Why

Conclusion

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

OUR CHALLENGEWe have been given the opportunity to

rethink the landscape, and other exterior

conditions of the Gammage Auditorium, I

can envision the landscape becoming just

as majestic and dynamic as the Frank

Lloyd Wright building itself.

There are many challenges currently on

this site. The area’s main purposes as of

now are parking and the performances. It

is lacking an environment made for

pedestrian comfort which results in an

underutilized site for a majority of the time.

The site has great potential to be a place

for people to gather, move, and

collaborate with other members of

both the ASU and Valley

community but will need to

undergo some design

changes.

Intro

Needs access route to ASU

More focus on the pedestrian

Underutilized space

Doesn’t relate to surroundings

“Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”― Arthur Ash

CIRCULATIONIntro

Improve pedestrian conditionsTree lined walks

“As people are walking all the time, in the same spot, a path appears.”― John Locke

This site needs to be able to function with

a great number of people circulating

during a large show to fewer people on a

regular basis.

Well designed circulation creates a

balance between pedestrians and

vehicles. However the amount of space

being utilized as parking spaces gives

vehicles priority. To restore the balance

there needs to be a shift in design.

While still allowing for drop off zones and

parallel parking I am proposing removing

the parking lots and assigning parking to

the structures on ASU’s campus.

USEIntro

“Art is always and everywhere the secret confession, and at the same time the immortal movement of its time.” ― Karl Marx

This is an area with great potential for

collaboration, community gatherings, and

sharing of research for future

improvements. It is also a great

opportunity for the many different fields

represented at ASU to enlighten others of

their work.

I want to encourage as much use of the

space as possible. By creating spaces for

outdoor education, music education,

gallery space, community gathering,

gardens, pocket-parks, and circulation

corridors, everyone will be able to find a

way to utilize the space. Outdoor Education

Bus Stop Music Education

Plaza

Community Gathering

Garden Pocket parks

PROGRAMThe program, or way in which the space is

used, currently is limited. With a fresh look

and support, the area can developed into

an endless number of opportunities.

Gammage Auditorium currently hosts

many events, including hit musicals and

Broadway plays. This year Gammage is

celebrating 50 years of top quality

entertainment. With a bright future ahead,

it seems that the purpose of the space

should be broadened to encompass the

vast possibilities of the large exterior

space.

Having a place where the community and

ASU students can come together

would be a great way to begin

our progression forward

into the next 50 years.

Intro

“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.”― John Maeda

Big name shows Public gathering

Community markets Outdoor learning

WRIGHT’S LEGACY

Gammage is a famous Frank Lloyd Wright Building built in the Early 1960s, in fact it is known as one of FLW last

pieces before his death in 1959. The building was originally designed as an Opera house on an island in

Baghdad, Iraq, but after the Death of the Reigning King the project was set aside until the opportunity for an

auditorium at ASU came along. The program matched that of the Opera House and Frank was able to proceed

in building what we know today as Gammage Auditorium. It is on all the historic registries and by

progressing the landscape it will allow for the auditorium to be that much

more recognized for its unique and collaborative

efforts by university and community.

Intro

"A great architect is not made by way of a brain nearly so much as he is made by way of a cultivated, enriched heart.“― Frank Lloyd Wright

I see Gammage as being an

opportunity to have a seamless

place of collaboration between

the educational and

professional communities and

unique new opportunities and

advances in all fields of study if

we are able to come together

and share knowledge from our

different perspectives.

By having Gammage as a

innovative center I have created

spaces focused on Community

and Education but are bridged

by the out reaching arms of

Gammage.

OVERALL CONCEPTVision

Community Education

Gammage Circulation Connections

Collaboration

Current Conditions

Concept Diagram

Redesigned Site

Intimate Entry

Outdoor Classroom

Community Gathering Apache Curve

ASU

IDENTIFYING THE USERS

To begin the design process it was imperative to take time to observe the people that use the space. I noted that

the area acts as a passage way from the surrounding community to the ASU Tempe campus. However the

current design presents several obstacles and inconveniences. This I where the pedestrian corridors derived

from. These corridors will provide a pleasant and inviting place for pedestrians moving through the site.

On nights of events you see the place in a new light, there are streams of people from all directions, looking for

friends and looking to find an entrance. By creating a clear entrance and meeting point for people who are on

the way to see the show the experience and flow will be more natural. The proposed center fountain will be the

element that will provide as a landmark to give people direction. It will also allow for a more pronounced

view from the Apache curve. Apache curve is the proposed location of the Tempe Streetcar,

the next project being planned by the Valley Metro.

This will result in fewer vehicle travel,

and more pedestrian use.

Vision

Not pedestrian friendly Private events in Gammage Large showings

http://www.valleymetro.org/projects_and_planning/project_detail/tempe_streetcar

MAKE IT FUNCTIONALMovement through the site is a key

challenge I worked to solve. In order for a

design to be functional it needs to be

effective and provide for the needs of the

users.

Gammage is located on a university

campus providing a prime opportunity to

incorporate education into the landscape

by creating an outdoor classroom space.

Community involvement is a factor that

will start to form connections for students

outside of the university and exposure

between the professional community and

the perspective of the next generation

of thinking.

Vision

“The original idea makes design distinctive, function makes it work and quality adds value.” ― Serge Zuev

THE PARKING Gammage currently has a very vehicular dominant

presence. In order to have the pedestrian friendly and

welcoming environment that I envision for this site the

parking lots create too much resistance to the

pedestrian access. By removing them we can greatly

reduce the heat island effect and increase the

opportunities the space has for bringing the

Community and University together into a natural and

pleasant environment.

Alternatives for parking could be using current

structures for events, by assigning parking with the

show’s tickets. Also, on the horizon, construction is

soon to begin on an extensive underground parking

structure on Mill and University that will be providing.

additional parking for ASU and Gammage to utilize.

Vision

“Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There’s something wrong with a society that drives a car to work out in a gym.” ― Bill Nye

More bike racks Keep parallel parking

Current parking lots

OUTDOOR LEARNING Zones

Small group seating

Amphitheater

Small Stage

Interpretive Trail

An outdoor classroom area is

something I have heard many ASU

students suggest. Much of Arizona’s

weather is beautiful and stimulating

especially for highly stressed college

students. My hope is that ASU

students and teachers will take this

space and develop it to fit their

needs. It is a place that they will be

able to exercise creativity and

develop into a space they can take

ownership of. A place to refresh form

the routine of the classroom and learn

to appreciate the natural environment

at the same time .

“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” ― Oliver Wendell Holmes

COMMUNITY SPOT

The community space is

designed to be a versatile

area. There are any number

of community events that

could be held here, from

picnics to outdoor markets

and special events.

There is also the opportunity

to have an area for food

stands or food trucks. It can

also become a recreational

field when not in use.

But most importantly they will

to be able to connect with

college students at these

events.

Zones

THE PLAZA

The plaza is the area that will be

used for gatherings before plays as

well as special events. There are

two existing fountains that get lost

in the current landscape. By adding

the central fountain and connecting

them with the plaza they will

together be a strong indicator and

give prominence to entrance to the

auditorium. The plaza wraps around

the entire structure and is used

dominantly for pedestrian use, while

still allowing for vehicular

circulation.

Zones

VIEWS

The view to a place can be

more impactful than the place

itself, it is important to have the

view capture the purpose and

the curiosity of the audience,

even if just for a moment. This

may be the only way someone

ever experiences the site

unless your view is powerful

enough to draw them in.

Zones

“When the image is new, the world is new.”― Gaston Bachelard

THE CORRIDORDetails

The experience of the pedestrian is one of the main focusses

of this project. The way they move was defined by having an

alley of trees to create a dramatic view portal, a comforting

protection, and allows you to be transported away from the

city and into nature.

As you walk along the corridor at each bend there is a new

opportunity to experience one of the areas of the site, giving

the individual the sense of surprise and curiosity as they

move through with the intention that they will

eventually stop and enjoy what the space has to

offer.

“Society is always taken by surprise at any new example of common sense”― Ralph Waldo Emerson

THE GATEWAY TO ASUDetails

The tunnel effect was part of the original design however was lost in the row

of Rhus Lancea. By removing the trees between the lights and creating

shade with a row of Parkinsonia praecox trees there will be a unique

enclosed and directed feeling which will provide a strong central axis to ASU.

THE BUILDING PERIMETERDetails

Again faced with the challenge of circulation

I extended the planting area that is along the

edge of the building to create a continuous

path that encircles the building. I replaced

the asphalt with a permeable paver that

serves as a path for both vehicles and

pedestrians. By removing the existing trees I

have created a cleaner landscape to

enhance the view from the street and those

moving through the site.

“People ignore design that ignores people.”― Frank Chimero

INTIMATE MOMENTS Details

For one of the areas of surprise I

have created intimate spaces to

add to the dynamic of the area.

These spaces are created to give

a moment of refreshment and

leave each person with a positive

perspective they can carry on into

the rest of their day. The

vegetation is fragrant and colorful

to capture the soothing feeling of

being in a garden or park and has

the characteristics of a healing

garden to encourage people

regardless of their circumstances.

Patio Study Area

Pocket park N

Lagerstroemia indica

Quercus parvifolia Sophora secundiflora

Bauhinia aculeata

Entrance

WHY?

Gammage is a site of a world famous building that often goes unnoticed. With this designed I have

strived to transform it into a unforgettable and irresistible core where

history can continue to be made.

Thank you…