Monday, March 8, 2010

Site Strategies

Where is the sun coming from?
The sun passes over the site from East to West.

Where is the approach?
The approach takes place on two thoroughfares: Adams St. and York St.

Will people walk, take taxis, public transportation…?
Students and faculty of the building will mostly commute by walking and public transportation. Parking will be scarce.

Where is it the quietest or noisiest?
Most of the noise comes from the southern portion of the site at York St. alongside the highway. The further away from the highway, the more quiet.

Is there a change in grade?
There is a significant change in grade along Adams St. which has not been calculated yet, although estimates are greater than 10 ft.

Are there views?
There will be views of Manhattan for the parts of the structure which rise above the adjacent buildings to the North of the lot.

Are these views good or bad?
Given that the site is surrounded by 5-10 story buildings or greater, there are no unobstructed views.

Where will you enter the building—why?
The building entrance will be on Adams St. This street has been selected because it allows for a more distinguished entrance, given more space, and is more welcoming than the highway.

Is there open space and how will it be used?
The building footprint will only be half the size of the lot, leaving open space that will be utilized for recreation and a courtyard separated from public access.

What are the heights of the surrounding buildings?
For the most part, buildings in the area are 5-10 stories tall. There are several taller buildings in the district, including one which rises over 20 stories directly across Adams St.

Does this interfere with your building—how does your building respond?
The tall buildings help to create a dense atmosphere, especially given the narrow streets. This will help make the entrance of the school more dramatic with a large setback.

How do you attempt to fit your building on this site?
I plan on having room for courtyards, a large entrance setback, and two wings of the school that will comply with zoning standards.

What types of materials are in the neighborhood buildings?
Given different periods of building construction, there are a variety of building materials used in the neighborhood. Older structures use primarily brick and often stone facades. Newer structures use glass and steel.

How do you want your building to impact the neighborhood?
My hope is to produce a design which will greatly enhance the environment of the neighborhood. By the nature of this design, the goal is to distinguish this facility from other buildings to symbolize the importance of education while simultaneously contributing to the aesthetic experience of pedestrians and people involved in the environment of the building.