Above is a link to my thesis document. I feel like its a pretty solid framework. I plan on adding and editing it as the next two terms progress. It will be exciting to see how this document changes and becomes more refined as the end draws nearer.
Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Please comment on content, layout, etc..
Thank you.
Nick, It was a pleasure to review your thesis document. You gathered a great deal of relevant information and organized it with beautiful graphics. While I enjoyed reading such a comprehensive treatment, I'm concerned that the scope of what you outlined is too broad to address in two terms. While I appreciate the interest of addressing both the urban scale and the building scale, I would want more priority to be put on the latter. This would allow you to develop a comprehensive building design that incorporates building systems. From your previous efforts, I hadn't understood that in addition to the TedX facility, you also wanted to design the four educational institutions. You could use the programming of these as masses to achieve your urban design, then concentrate on the TedX building.
ReplyDeleteI am particularly concerned that you would spend too much time considering alternative streetcar alignments. While we have discussed streetcar vs. bus, you haven't made the argument why the streetcar is essential in your document. My thought is that you pick a line, set the node location immediately and see the urban design consequences.
I am interested to understand how your project relates to other studies that have been done for the area. Could you explain why you want to make a new plan? For example, It looks like the 2000 Opportunity Gateway Concept Plan has a major corridor east of Fred Meyer. Does the more recent 2010 Lango-Hansen plan reinforce that idea so that you feel that is the best location for a north-south corridor? You accept principles of the Ecodistricts and the PSU Planning students' report, are there certain things that you don't agree with that motivate your own ideas? You could also mention that the PSU Planning report suggests an Gateway Sustainable Education Center as a magnet for the location.
Perhaps you could clarify your intentions by discussing the Charlottesville example more thoroughly. I like your effort to map the key elements there, I was wondering where is the city hall that you mention in your narrative. You could use the same graphics to explain what happens there and the existing condition of the Gateway area. It appears from your map that the trolley line doesn't reach the transit center but only accesses the other end of the pedestrian mall? Without understanding how this center relates to the transit lines and tracking vehicular and pedestrian access, I am really only able to appreciate it as an attractive architectural monument.
Nice job on making the bibliography interesting with images and annotations. I would be interested in seeing how the biomimicry aspect could emerge in your project.
So overall I see that you did a good job with this report and I'm eager to see you keep sharpening the ideas.