Design PortfolioJustine Banda

The Bloomingdale Trail Community Center sits at the intersection of four radically different Chicago neighborhoods. The challenge is to create a community center that serves all four areas, while also creating an access point to the Bloomingdale Trail. The program was divided into pods based on three distinct groups: art, fitness, and street context. These pods were connected using a network of interior streets and then covered in a green roof. This green roof stretches from the trail down to the street, creating a direct connection between the two.

bloomingdale trail community centerSpring 2010

Bloomingdale Trail Community Center

above, fi rst fl oor planbelow, transverse section

Bloomingdale Trail Community Center

sunroom additionSpring 2012

Hurricane Irene had its way with this family’s home in Riverdale, NY when a tree fell on their existing sunroom. The replacement uses the original’s footprint and foundation to cut costs, but that is where similarities end. We were able to create a sustainable, green solution to what is usually inef-ficient: the glass box. Triple glazed windows, recycled composite decking are a few of the sustainable solutions that make up this new addition that elegantly contrasts the original 1920’s stone house.

Sunroom Addition

The proposal addresses issues surrounding a dense, high trafficed urban area, while connecting it to the quiet

canal below. It is also important to link three levels of traffic that currently function independently. The canal creates a quiet botton layer, the metro makes up the middle layer, and bustleing street level is at the top. The solution links these three independent contexts througha ribbon that punctures through all tree layers. It terminates at a restaurant on the canal level. The restaurant acts as the transition point between these two contexts because it can speak to the busy street contecxt , while still relating to the quiet canal. The shape of the metro enclosure was derived to continues the circle around the bastille column.

bastille forumSpring 2009

Bastille Forum

above, 3D renderingbottom left, longitudinal sectionbottom right, transverse section

surrounding density complete the circle around the bastille column link the area around the bastille column to the

canal below

3 main elements to re-energize the lot

Bastille Forum

left, 3D renderings

right, section detail of roof structure

above, diagram of the manipulation of the gridbelow, 3D rendering of coffeeshop

dot storage lot relocationWinter 2012

NYC’s Dept of Trainsportaion out grew it’s current storage facility, so it moved to a new location under the

Williamsburg bridge. In addition to several new storage buildings the project entailed an opaque screen to hide unsightly DOT equipment from the neighborhood. The result is a corten steel fence that wraps around the entire site, creating a clean visual barrier from the street.

DOT Storage Lot Relocation

The seating area is located in UBS’s Weehawken branch. Large lounge chairs and sofas make up three informal seating areas to create an oasis for guests and UBS employ-ees on the first level. Floor to ceiling textured and glass panels in muted colors and soft lighting make it a relaxing environment. This project took place while working at Belea Group International during the Summer of 2011.

ubs reception seating areaSummer 2011

UBS Seating Area

opposite, first floor plan

above, 3D rendering of seating area