A large portion of my Undergraduate career was focused on spaces that engage the community and bring people together.Early projects focused on generic spaces, such as a Space for Repose, a Space for Mediatation, a Space of Production, etc. These projects were more about connections and spatial interactivity than completed, polished buildings.

Community Space

Upon entering the structure, you are immersed in a large vertical space that is well lit by natural light. (1) Directly in front of you is a stairway leading into the next space. This area is almost completely enclosed. Light is let in through an opening on the far side. (2) On the side opposite the opening is a staircase leading to another area. This area is intended to be a social community space and is very well lit through an opening thatspans the entirety of the room.(3) On one end of this space is another stairway leading up to the final area. This space is the relaxation zone and faces west, giving a view of the sunset at dusk.(4) It crosses the entryway with a bridge spanning over the heads of people entering. There will be chairs and couches furnishing this area, allowing people to rest and reflect. The only way back down is the way that you came, allowing you to re-experience the spaces as you leave.

In this project we were required to choose three different spaces from a list and create a unit that utilized and connected the various spaces.

The three spaces that I chose were A Space of Production, A Space of Repose, and A Space of Thinking.

The three spaces are to be cyclical in relationship, going from one to the other repeatedly throughout the day. Their forms showcase the difference between them (open, enclosed, and enclosed with glass.) and create three very different atmospheres.

A Space of Thinking – Located above the core, mainly open, with a roof plane above. It will be a place to come and clear your mind out of the production space. Provides a view of the surrounding ‘city’.

A Space of Production – Located underground. This is a place to be used as an art studio or gallery. Will utilize thicker storage walls to store art supplies, books, and artwork.

A Space of Repose – Located above ground, south of the production space. It will house and utilize the core as a place to take a break from the production space. Utilizes glass walls along the front to create an open feel, opposed to the enclosed production space. The other walls will be thin walls, enclosing the rear and housing the core.

The Study Center project required the use of defined programmatic pieces such as an Exhibition Space, a Library, Classrooms, etc. in order to create a space that would engage and connectthe academic and artistic communities of Amherst.

The exhibition space, being the largest and most important space, acts as the nucleus at the center of the building. The other spaces surround, or orbit, the exhibition space, like the electrons would in an atom. The circulation runs through the exhibition space, highlighting its importance, and allowing the user to experience it from many different angles and vantage points.

This Live/Work Space was intended as a way of engagaing artists and the Downtown of Northampton, Mass.We were tasked with creating an environment for one visual artist as well as one musician.My building is based on the similar form of a speaker cone and a camera’s optical lens. The projection of the building allows it to both speak outward to the community but also draw inspiration inward, drawing on the dual nature of its projecting form.

The form of the building is based on the shared form of a speaker and a camera’s lens, connecting the mediums of each of the artists that are to inhabit the building.

These shapes are meant to relate to how the building interacts with the surrounding downtown area of the city.The building acts as a vessel to both projectthe artists and their work out to the citywhile also allowing them to draw in inspirationfrom their surroundings.

The projections of the buildings form allow the artists to engage (and be engaged by)theirsurroundings. The overlap betweenthese shapes create spaces within the building where the artists are given the opportunity to interact with one another.

Each artist has their own spaces on either end of the building, while the middle acts as a social space for the two to interact.

The structure houses both living and working spaces for each artist including a recording studio, offices, gallery space, a photography studio, and dark room.

Long Section

Parti Model Sketch Model Final Model

Site Topography Model

The Re-Ligare Institute for Body and Mind projectwas intended as a space for revitalizing the body and mind of people in an urban community. The space was intended to be a place of repose and reflection form the busy everyday life in an urban environment.

This space had a specific set of programmatic guidelines that combined a series of spaces inorder to help in the revitalization of both body and mind.

The connection between body and mind became the focus of my building, with each having their own separate, yet connected spaces.

The Institutional and Wellness spaces help to create a community dedicated to wellness and well-being in the Urban environment. The Institutional spaces will help to educate the community, while the Wellness spaces give them the space to practice what they have learned. Thecombination of these spaces will help people leadbetter, more fulfilling lives.

RE-LIGARE INSTITUTE INTERIOR SPACESMAIN SPACES Meditation / Worship 2500 sqft Classrooms (2) 750 sqft Library / Reference Room 1000 sqft Large Lecture / Performance Hall 2500 sqft Music Rooms (2) 750 sqft Dancing Room: 1500 sqft Yoga Room: 1500 sqft Spinning Room: 1500 sqft Weight Room: 1500 sqft

Relaxation / Refection Spa: Check-In, Lobby 500 sqft Sauna, cold plunge, hot pool, steam room 3000 sqft Bathroom / Locker / Shower (men) 500 sqft Bathroom / Locker / Shower (women) 500 sqft Massage (4 rooms) 1500 sqft Hydro Therapy Pool Room: 1500 sqft Laundry: 500 sqft

Café / Juice Bar: 500 sqft Co-op Organic Food Restaurant 2000 sqft

SERVICE SPACES Re-ligare Institute Lobby 500 sqft Re-ligare Institute Director Office 150 sqft Re-ligare Institute Administrative Assistant 150 sqft Re-ligare Institute Records / Memberships 200 sqft Re-ligare Institute Retail Shop 1000 sqft Research Laboratories (2) 1500 sqft Nutritionist Staff 150 sqft Spiritual Staff 150 sqft Therapist / Counselor (2) 300 sqft Trainer (2) 300 sqft Doctor Staff 150 sqft Treatment Rooms (2) 300 sqft Staff Conference Room 300 sqft SUPPORT SPACES 15-20 % of total: Mechanical/Services, Storage, Janitorial, Circulation,

Elevators/Stairs, Loading Dock, & Shipping Room

Site Plan

Third Floor/Bridge

The Bauhaus by Walter Gropius was founded as a school where many disciplines of art were taught side-by-side, in conjunction with one another. This idea translates well to the Re-Ligare center, which is a center for the total rejuvination of one’s body and mind. The center will promote physical, as well as mental well-being, and work to educate people to become healthier, both mentally and physically.

The form of the Bauhaus building is unique, both duringIts time, and among other buildings in the history of Architecture. Its pinwheel form, and defining elevated Bridge were inspirations for the design of my center. These forms allow the Re-Ligare center to act both as an education center and a wellness center, connected but also independent. The idea behind my building’s form is that the institutional center and the wellness center will act independently from one another but be connected by an intermediate bridge. This allows the center to act as a unified entity, but have the separate functions of the cneter act independently from one another.

Precedent

6 Elm Street, Spring�eld, MALevel 6

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1 Elm Street, Spring�eld, MALevel 1

1 Elm Street, Spring�eld, MAMezzanine Level

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2 Elm Street, Spring�eld, MALevel 2

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3 Elm Street, Spring�eld, MALevel 3

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4 Elm Street, Spring�eld, MALevel 4

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5 Elm Street, Spring�eld, MALevel 5

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The abandoned Court Square Hotel building located at 13-31 Elm Street, Springfield, Mass, was given to us as the site of a Community Revitalization campaign.

Following the departure of the Urban Land Institute,the City, under control of Mayor Dominic Sarno, was left with no standing Civic Revitalization plan. The Court Square building was to be our centerpiecefor a new Urban Renewal project in Springfield.

The building was to house both residential as well as commercial spaces. Finding inspiration in the building’s previous use, the North-West first and second levels were to be used as high end retial spaces, bringing much needed commerce back to Springfiel’ds struggling downtown. The South-West first and second levels would house smaller shops aand stores, such as a cafe, newsstand, etc, to service the local inhabitants. The South-East section of the building would be a restaurant and bar.

The third through sixth floors would house middle-income priced housing, to help bring the middle class back to the city.The housing spaces would be connected by an outdoor courtyard and corridor, that would help create a sense of community for the residents of the building.

The top four levels are to be used for Middle-income priced housing, to help bring the Middle class back to the city. These apartments are One-, Two-, and Three-Bedroom spaces aimed toward young and middleclass individuals and families. The purpose of these appartments is to bring back both the middle class and young college graduates, in order to aid in the city’s economic growth and revitalization.

Utilizing the building’s 11 ft. ceiling clearance, the apartments are broken up into ‘zones’, by raised or lowered areas within that 11 ft. space. In general, the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms are on the upper‘zone’, with the living and family rooms located on the lower zone.

One-Bedroom Apartment Model in Plan and Section view showing the ‘zones’

Social SpaceCreating Community Space

Circulation

Views

Activating Space

Massing Model

The Social Space acts to connect the Living spaces as well as activate the lot behind the building.

The Social Space was influenced by the Soviet theory of the Socail Condenser, in particular the NarkomfinApartment Block in Moscow. Using the space as such, it is meant to influence the way that the residents of the building interact. By centralizing the residents routes of egress around a shared community space, it is meant to force interactions, and increase the frequency of interaction between the residents, creating a strong sense of community.

The projecting platforms allow residents to see oneanother across the various levels, adding to the openness, and linking the community across the multiple levels of the building.

The raised courtyard was in part inspired by roof-gardens as well as garden terraces that are presentthroughout the history of Architecture.

The Second floor level of the small shops on the South-West end of the building are accessible via the raised courtyard, bringing the ‘Street Level’ to the residents of the building, enhancing the sense of community by creating a microcosm of the city withinthe confines of the building.

Outdoor Courtyard/Corridor

Grand Staircase PrecedentPalais Garnier

Restaurant Grand Staircase

High End Retail

First Floor Second FloorMezzanine

The high end retail stores, located on the building’s North-West ground floors, are broken up in to a First, Mezzanine and Second floor, utilizing the Building’s high ceilings, and increasing accessible Retail space.

At the center of the restaurant space is a grand staircase, leading to the upper level, inspired by the grand staircases of the Beaux-Arts style. This staircase acts as the centerpiece of the restaurant, and it’s is meant to connect the building’s existing facade and the interior space of the restaurant.

The first two levels are to house the retail spaces including High-End Retail spaces, smaller local shops, and a Fine Dining Restaurant. These spaces are meant to help revitalize the downtown area, and bring back some of the commerce that has left the city.

Restaurant/ Bar

Cafe/Small Shops

High End Stores