Spring 2009: 01

Course: Comprehensive Design II, Arch 302
Professor: Sal Tranchina
Partner: Samora Hodges-Smikle

Goal: Design an aquatic center with a long-span structural system for the Brooklyn community, located between Lorimer St. and Leonard St. in Brooklyn, NY.

10

Renders of the final product.

09

Illustrated in the first section is the ample gallery space in the corridors, as well as the gym and outdoor space. The second section shows the significant open art space on the ground floor, the light well that runs through the building, and the alternating stair cases that lead to the galleries within the corridors.

08

Realistic plumbling strategies and Americans with Disabilities Act regulations were a new concern for our designs. As seen in the first section, we designed for four riser pipes throughout the building. Also seen below are the three light wells.

The second section highlights the gallery spaces within the building, as well as the gym on the 9th floor, and facade on the 10th floor.

07

The ground floor and corridors were developed as with a variation of direct and optional circulation spaces. Upon entering the building, you're positioned in front of an information desk for the 1600 square foot gallery. The gallery space, illustrated with a blue tone, is wide spread throughout the building.

The elevator is to the left side of the building, with fire stairs to both the left and right. We added an additional set of skip-stop stairs at the front of the building, such to direct the occupants through the gallery spaces in the corridors. Taking the stairs on the ground floor would then require you to walk through the 2nd floor corridor to reach the next staircase.

The 8th floor marks the end of the gallery space, with yet another 1600 square foot open art space. The 9th floor features a gym for the students as well as numerous outdoor spaces.

(Due to .pdf to .jpeg conversion problems, the drawings lack material detail.)

06

The final units plans, renders and facade details.

To better utilize space, the units were reconfigured as lofts. Each bedroom is 12' x 10', with 400 square feet for open studio/gallery space within every unit, as well as it's own private entrance to a balcony.

The facade was designed as a sliding, user-controlled light filter system. The detail illustrates the various operations of the three separate louver mechanisms and set of sliding operable windows.

05

Below are the plans and sections from our midterm critique. As Nicole and I further configured the geometry of the units and floor plans, we found an opportunity to create three 12' x 8' light wells throughout the building.

Square footage was also available to create two open floor spaces from the main corridor to the front of the building. This allows the occupants to freely move through the 11' corridors to a larger open space.

A main component of both the unit and building as a whole is the "open art gallery" aspect. We compressed the units enough to allow flexible space in the corridors and the ground floor for a continuous gallery.