ELISHA E. GROSSMAN

E egrossman08@gmail.comA 8987 SW 117 St., Miami, FL 33176P 305.804.1913 Tulane University | School of Architecture | Class of 2014

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REPURPOSING THE NETURAL GROUNDFall 2013 | 5th year option studio

MAGELLAN STREET GARDENSpring 2013 | 4th year design build studio

CINECITTA IN SAN LORENZOFall 2012 | 4th year semester abroad studio

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CONTRASTING STRUCTURES | THE MIAMI MARINE STADIUM COMPLEXSpring 2014 | 5th year thesis

CONTENTS

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16

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EXCERPT FROM THESIS DOCUMENT

MIAMI MARINE STADIUM COMPLEX

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ABSTRACT This thesis investigates the urban, cultural, and economic factors that lead the discussion in the argument between preservation and demolition. The Miami Marine Stadium, where people in the community have come together to fight for the preservation of this stadium. Cuban-American architect Hilario Candela designed the marine stadium in 1963 with the vision that the structure would embody the youthful spirit of the city. The 6,500-seat stadium hosted a number of events such as speedboat racing, outdoor concerts, and rallies. Under the ownership of the City of Miami, the stadium began to lose its glamour after years of occupation. After Hurricane Andrew destroyed South Florida in 1992, the City of Miami proposed the demolition of the stadium. However, after engineering studies reported the stadium to be structurally sound, the city cast off the structure and closed it indefinitely. In 2008, a committee was formed to begin taking the necessary action in order to preserve the stadium. The growth of this cause has resulted in many different proposals for the site. The site is located in Virginia Key, Florida along a major causeway that connects the island of Key Biscayne to Downtown Miami. Both regions are highly dense and integral parts of Miami’s urban fabric. Presently, the City of Miami is commissioning many new development projects throughout the city’s urban fabric. In the spirit of redefining Miami’s urban centers, the Miami Marine stadium has the potential to become one of the city’s foremost attractions for both tourists and locals. This site offers panoramic views of downtown Miami, unique natural landscaping, and an intimate experience with the ocean that Miami is known for. By enhancing and preserving the existing natural and cultural environment, along with designing a new structure with a viable program, this site has the potential to serve a new public purpose for the city.THESIS STATEMENT In a culturally rich city with a growing population and expanding economy, the argument strikes whether to preserve or demolish deserted structures in order to create new urban centers. Through revitalization, derelict sites and structures can be preserved as a historical backdrop and/or component to new innovative structures. The juxtaposition between the two has the potential to enhance the urban vitality and architectural language of a city and site.HISTORY AND DIALOGUE OF PLACE Virginia Key is a 1,000 acre island in Biscayne Bay, just two miles east of downtown Miami and about one mile south of the tip of Miami Beach.1 It is part of a chain of islands that sep-arates Biscayne Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.2 The island lacks development, unlike many of the other islands on the east side of South Florida.3 The main component that triggered the initial development of the Biscayne Bay area was fresh water.4 Virginia Key’s natural landscape features many ponds, rivers, natural hardwood hammocks, and waterways.5 Virginia Key Beach Park however, is one of the main attractions on the islands. The 77-acre island is located on the southeastern edge of Virginia Key.6

Virginia Key Beach Park was once a recreational spot for African Americans living in Miami. Until August 1, 1945, all public beaches in the Miami were closed to African Americans; therefore Miami-Dade County opened Virginia Key Beach to the black community.7 Although the beach had already been use for decades by the African American community, it was not until 1945 when the county began building recreational facilities and implementing a ferryboat services for accessibility until the completion of the Rickenbacker Causeway.

1 Virginia Key Beach Park in Biscayne Bay, Florida : report (to accompany H.R. 2109) (including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office). United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Washington, D.C. : U.S. G.P.O., 20022 Shulman, Allan T., Randall C. Robinson Jr., and James F. Donnelly. Miami Architecture: An AIA Guide Featuring Downtown, the Beaches, and Coconut Grove. Florida: University Press of Florida. 20103 Patricios, Nicholas N. Building Marvelous Miami. Florida: University Press of Florida. 19944 Patricios, Nicholas N. Building Marvelous Miami.5 Virginia Key Beach Park in Biscayne Bay, Florida : report (to accompany H.R. 2109) (including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office).6 Virginia Key Beach Park in Biscayne Bay, Florida : report (to accompany H.R. 2109) (including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office).7 “Miami Marine Stadium,” Abandoned Florida, accessed October 5, 2013, http://www.abandonedfl.com/?p=2423.

Although the beach had already been use for decades by the African American community, it was not until 1945 when the county began building recreational facilities and implementing a ferryboat services for accessibility until the completion of the Rickenbacker Causeway. It was not until the 1950’s when civil rights laws opened all of Miami’s public beaches. Even so, Virginia Key beach remained a popular destination for the black community.8 Three decades later, in 1982 Virginia Key Beach Park was turned over from the county to the City of Miami with the agreement that the park and its facilities would be kept opened to the public and well maintained. Shortly after the transfer, the city closed the park for reasons of high maintenance costs and operations. After years of neglect, the park and its amenities remain in poor condition.9 It was not until 1999, when the City of Miami assigned the Virginia Key Park Civil Rights Task Force to survey the site and submit recommendations about necessary improve-ments. In 2001, the city organized a permanent committee called The Virginia Key Beach Park Trust to carry out the proposals.10THE MIAMI MARINE STADIUM In the early 1960s, Miami Marine Stadium was constructed on Virginia Key, Florida overlooking the man-made basin in Biscayne Bay. Cuban born architect, Hilario Candela, designed this structure at the age of 28.11 The 6,566 seat stadium was the “first stadium purposely-built for powerboat racing on land donated to the City of Miami by the Matheson Family.”12 The site not only served as an event space for powerboat racing, but also for campaign rallies, concerts, and televised broadcasts. The man-made basin, that measures 6,000 feet by 1,200 feet, accommo-dated a floating stage in order for such events to take place.13 The site is part of chain of public facilities built along the Rickenbacker Causeway, which connects downtown Miami to the island of Key Biscayne.14 The structure itself is unique to its time and place as well. A dramatic, thin, folded concrete cantilevered slab hangs over the stadium seating. At the time it was built, the Miami Marine Stadium, spanning 326 feet in length, featured the longest span of cantilevered concrete in the world.15 The eight columns anchored to the ground are angled towards the water, emphasizing the lightness and rigor of the structure. While it was the first of its kind when completed, many European and South American concrete sports facilities were designed similarly.16 This modernist stadium became iconic and influential not only in Miami, but around the world. Between 1964 and 1992, the time period when the Marine Stadium was active, many local and national events were hosted at the site. Although, in the 1980s the stadium experienced a decline in action due to the rise of new venues such as the James L. Knight Center and the Miami Arena.17 After the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the city insisted on the demoli-tion of the stadium and went as far as requesting $1 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).18 An engineered study was completed soon after the request determined that the structure as unharmed by the hurricane. Instead, the stadium requires $2 – 3 million in repairs from lack of maintenance by owner, the City of Miami, during its three active decades. When this study was made public, residents challenged the demolition. Therefore, the city returned the money to FEMA but closed the Miami Marine Stadium to the public.19 The stadium remains locked to this day but in 2008, an informal volunteer group named the Friends of Marine Stadium formed to preserve and restore the marine stadium.20 Since the development of this group, the city has held many fundraisers and design competitions to push the revitalization of the stadium. Architectural firms, engineers, and local university staff and students from all across the city, including Candela himself, are contributing to the restoration of the stadium.

8 Virginia Key Beach Park in Biscayne Bay, Florida : report (to accompany H.R. 2109) (including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office). 9 Virginia Key Beach Park in Biscayne Bay, Florida : report (to accompany H.R. 2109) (including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office). 10 Virginia Key Beach Park in Biscayne Bay, Florida : report (to accompany H.R. 2109) (including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office). 11 “Marine Stadium Time Line,” Miami Marine Stadium, accessed October 5, 2013, http://www.marinestadium.org/facts.12 “Miami Marine Stadium,” Abandoned Florida, accessed October 5, 2013, http://www.abandonedfl.com/?p=2423.13 “Marine Stadium Time Line,” Miami Marine Stadium.14 Shulman, Allan T., Randall C. Robinson Jr., and James F. Donnelly. Miami Architecture: An AIA Guide Featuring Downtown, the Beaches, and Coconut Grove.15 “Marine Stadium – Facts At A Glance,” Miami Marine Stadium, accessed October 5, 2013, http://www.marinestadium.org.

16 Shulman, Allan T., Randall C. Robinson Jr., and James F. Donnelly. Miami Archi-tecture: An AIA Guide Featuring Downtown, the Beaches, and Coconut Grove.17 “Miami Marine Stadium,” Abandoned Florida.18 “Marine Stadium Time Line,” Miami Marine Stadium.19 “Marine Stadium Time Line,” Miami Marine Stadium.20 “Marine Stadium Time Line,” Miami Marine Stadium.

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“Night FloatiNg Stage, MiaMi,” photograph, 1971, MariNeStadiuM.org, http://www.MariNeStadiuM.org/articleS/photoS/2091 (acceSSed NoveMber 22, 2013).

“1975 chaMpioN Spark plug regatta, MiaMi,” photograph, 1975, MariNeStadiuM.org, http://www.MariNeStadiuM.org/articleS/photoS/2133 (acceSSed NoveMber 22, 2013).

hockMaN, deNNiS. the city oF MiaMi at dawN. 2013. hockMaN, deNNiS. the city oF MiaMi at dawN. 2013.

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SUB STRUCTURE

MAIN LEVEL

PATIO LEVEL

CANOPY PLAN

0’ 50’ 150’ 300’ 500’

SERVICE LEVEL

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2

5

6

4

7

8

9

5

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1 FOOD STORAGE2 LOADING DOCK3 HARBOR BATH4 STAGE5 DOCK6 RESTAURANT 7 CAFE8 SUN DECK9 BOARDWALK10 ENTRANCE11 RESTAURANT/CAFE PATIO

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PRIVATE CIRCULATION2+ STAGE COMPONENT

PUBLIC CIRCULATION3+ RESTAURANT COMPONENT

STORAGE COMONPENTCAFE COMPONENT

STRUCTURAL PIERS1

STRUCTRUAL CANOPY4+ SHADE COMPONENT

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The Claiborne neutral ground between General Taylor and Milan breeds an array of activity from the surrounding neighborhood. However, this activity is currently negative, mak-ing the use of the neutral grounds dangerous to the families in both the Milan neighborhood and the Broadmoor neighborhood. In contrast, the neighborhoods of Milan and Broadmoor suffer from a lack of programmed open space for the residents. Thus, a proposal to instill a neutral ground infrastructure that will work as a catalyst of beneficial leisure is necessary. By addressing the site at three scales, the macro, mezzo, and micro, we are able to look at ways that hardware, software, orgware, and brandware will implement an intervention throughout the Milan-Broadmoor neutral grounds, to the overall neighborhoods, and finally throughout the entire South Claiborne Avenue.

MILAN

BROADMOOR

DEMOGRAPHICs DATA [2012 CENSUS]

0 - 4 5 - 9 10 - 14 15 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 34 35 - 39 40 - 44 45 - 49 50 - 54 55 - 59 60 - 64 65 - 69 70 - 74 75 - 79 80 - 84 85+

545

742 762 808 92

7 1027 1056

1066

1036 1100

999

898

742

540

418

322

206

359

Black alone

White alone

Asian alone

Hispanic

2 or more races

Other

POPULATION DISTRIBUTIONBY RACE

Black alone

White alone

Asian alone

Hispanic

Other

POPULATION DENSITY

AREA : 2.3 square miles

POPULATION : 14,835 people

DISTRIBUTION : 6,516 / sq mi

EDUCATIONHIGH SCHOOL OR HIGHER : 84.7%BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHER: 38%GRADUATE DEGREE: 15.9%UNEMPLOYED: 15.5%

0 - 4 5 - 9 10 - 14 15 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 34 35 - 39 40 - 44 45 - 49 50 - 54 55 - 59 60 - 64 65 - 69 70 - 74 75 - 79 80 - 84 85+

350

280

240

270

725 84

5

600

525

475

470

390

230 17

0420

360

130

100

80

DEMOGRAPHICs DATA [2012 CENSUS] POPULATION DISTRIBUTIONBY RACE

POPULATION DENSITY

AREA : 0.526 square miles

POPULATION : 5, 730 people

DISTRIBUTION: 10,893 / sq mi

EDUCATIONLESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL: 42.4%HIGH SCHOOL OR HIGHER: 7.1%BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHER: 13.1%GRADUATE DEGREE: 9.9%

SITE

Designed by: Elisha Grossman + Kristen Korndoerfer

REPURPOSING THE NEUTRAL GROUND

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SUBADULT ELDERLY

D E P E N D E N T[ FA M I LY H O U S E H O L D ]

I N D E P E N D E N T [ I N D E P E N D E N T H O U S E H O L D ]

PARENT CHILD

C O M M U N I T Y

OBSE

RVE

PLAY

SOCI

AL

LEIS

URE

6 0 +

2 5 - 6 0

1 6 - 2 5

0 - 1 6

ACTI

VIT

IES

USERS

h i e r a r c h i ca l z o n e s

5 0 % L E I S U R E 6 0 % S O C I A L 5 5 % O B S E RV E 6 5 % P L AY

p r o g a m m at i c b r e a k d o w n5 0 % L E I S U R E2 0 % S O C I A L2 0 % P L AY1 0 % O B S E RV E

6 0 % S O C I A L

2 0 % P L AY

2 0 % L E I S U R E

5 5 % O B S E RV E

2 5 % P L AY

2 0 % S O C I A L

6 5 % P L AY

3 0 % O B S E RV E

5 % S O C I A L

1 . L E I S U R E

- G A R D E N I N G

- G A M E TA B L E S

2 . S O C I A L

- R U N / WA L K PAT H

- PA R K S E AT I N G

3 . O B S E RV E

- B L E A C H E R S E AT I N G

- C O O K I N G / G R I L L I N G

4 . P L AY

- J U N G L E GY M

- B AS K E T B A L L C O U RT

PROGRAM

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ground floor plan

0' 25' 75' 150' 250'

AERIAL VIEW

GROUND FLOOR PLAN14

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFJEiASTEDMPROJECT VIDEO LINK

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DESIGN-BUILD STUDIO :: 12 STUDENT WORKERS

GOALS:1. Assess feasibility of individuals earning a secondary income through urban agriculture.2. Provide space for youth to earn income through their own produce sales.3. Demonstrate sustainable urban growing techniques4. Provide cooking and nutrition education.5. Develop a business plan.PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVIES:1. Production - planting, harvesting, cleaning, storing, packaging, tool use, etc.2. Education - Cooking Classes, Food & Nutrition.3. Demonstration - urban farming, vertical gardening, water management (wetland).4. Therapeutic Gardening - returning vets, community members.5. Market - Citrus, Seedlings, Compost, Honey 1’-0”

5’-0”0’

10’-0”

GRAVELSIDE PLANTERSBENCHCITRUS TREES4’ X 16’ RAISED PLANTER BEDS

4’ X 12’ RAISED PLANTER BEDS

SHADE STRUCTURE WITH SEATING + STORAGECOMPOST

CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS GABIONS

= 4 MAJOR TRUSSES=++

= 21 MINOR TRUSSES=++

+ =2X2 PURLINS

1X4 CHORDS

1X4 CHORDS300 LNFT

350 LNFT

1000 LNFT

2X2 WEBS

x140

x63x31

x96

2X3 WEBSDOUBLE

SINGLE

x48

1x4x24" x8

1x4x48"

x8

1x4x42"

+

+ +x8

1x4x11'2"

x8

1x6x48"

1x6x11'2"+

x8

2x4x42"

x16

2x4x11'.5"+

x8

1x8x12'

+x8

2x4x58"=

x56

1x4x24" x8

1x4x48"

x8

1x4x42"

+

+ +x16

1x4x7'7.5"

x8

1x6x48" x16

1x6x7'7.5"+

x8

2x4x42"

x32

2x4x7'6.25"+

x8

1x8x16'

+x8

2x4x58"=

+ +

+ +

16' PLANTER

12' PLANTER

x4

x4

x8

++x64

24" JTRIM

x32

24" PANELS

++x80

24" JTRIM

x40

24" PANELS

+ =2X2 PURLINSS

300 LNFT

x8x4

SITE PLAN

KIT OF PARTS | TRUSSES + PLANTERS

= 4 MAJOR TRUSSES=++

= 21 MINOR TRUSSES=++

+ =2X2 PURLINS

1X4 CHORDS

1X4 CHORDS300 LNFT

350 LNFT

1000 LNFT

2X2 WEBS

x140

x63x31

x96

2X3 WEBSDOUBLE

SINGLE

x48

1x4x24" x8

1x4x48"

x8

1x4x42"

+

+ +x8

1x4x11'2"

x8

1x6x48"

1x6x11'2"+

x8

2x4x42"

x16

2x4x11'.5"+

x8

1x8x12'

+x8

2x4x58"=

x56

1x4x24" x8

1x4x48"

x8

1x4x42"

+

+ +x16

1x4x7'7.5"

x8

1x6x48" x16

1x6x7'7.5"+

x8

2x4x42"

x32

2x4x7'6.25"+

x8

1x8x16'

+x8

2x4x58"=

+ +

+ +

16' PLANTER

12' PLANTER

x4

x4

x8

++x64

24" JTRIM

x32

24" PANELS

++x80

24" JTRIM

x40

24" PANELS

+ =2X2 PURLINSS

300 LNFT

x8x4

PVC Vinyl Liner

Wood Planter Edge

3’x3’x1.5’ Gabion Cage

8”

2’-0”

3’-0”

7’-0”

1’-6”

8”

METHODOLOGY CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

KIT OF PARTS TRUSSES + PLANTERS

MAGELLAN COMMUNITY GARDEN CONSTRUCTION

INTEGRATION SHADE STRUCTURE + WETLAND

DETAILS WOOD/STEEL/WATER COLUMNS_WETLANDS_PLANTERS_REAR WALL_FENCE_STORAGE

SHADE STRUCTURE + WETLAND DETAIL

THE MAGELLAN STREET GARDEN

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Roof Collection

Raised Water Garden(Production of Water Plants and Fish)

Lower Water Garden(Production of Water Plants)

Wetlands(Storm Water Retention and Evaporation through Wetland Plants)

Over�ow Discharge to Storm Drain and Vertical Garden

Events

Gardening

Tips

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Before + After | shade structure, storage shed + outdoor classroom

Before + After | front entrance, gate, planter beds rain water collection

PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS:1. Outdoor classroom2. Shade structure3. Tool storage4. Composting / vermiculture5. Vertical garden - hydroponicsystem 6. Wetland / aquaponic - in - ground or raised pond7. Enclosure - fence + gateway8. Water collection including distribution/ irrigation9. Raised beds

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Before + After | water garden, wetland + planter beds

Before + After | street view - fence, entrance, planter beds, seating + shade structure

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This project is a large scale mixed-use film center. The program consists of a talent agency, a post production studio, a film studio, a cafe, and hous-ing. It is set in San Lorenzo, just east of Rome’s historical center. Cinecitta is one of the largest film and television production companies in Italy, located about ten meters from the center of the city. I proposed an ‘actors hub’ in San Lorenzo, where many young adults and students currently reside. The idea became centered around two large public viewing screens and a viewing platform that would create a central piazza. The design also incorporated a large, public circulation path that lined the central space and would also link the different prgrommatic components and enforce the idea of viewing by winding the path in and out of the viewing screens.

CINECITTA IN SAN LORENZO

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CONCEPT

CIRCULATION

CAFE

FILM + SOUND EDITING LAB

DARKROOM

PUBLIC SPACE

RECEPTION

AGENT OFFICES

PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

SCREEN TEST STUDIO

READING ROOMS

PRODUCTION SET

GREEN ROOMS

DRESSING ROOMS

OFFICES

AGENCY

POST PRODUCTION

FILM STUDIO

LA SAPIENZA RESIDENTIAL

1 BR APARTMENTS

HOUSING

2 BR APARTMENTS

PROGRAM

SECTION A-A0’ 5’ 10’ 25’ 50’ 100’

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

0’ 5’ 10’ 25’ 50’ 100’

AGENCY OFFICES

CAFE

FILM STUDIO

GREEN ROOM

RECEPTION + LOBBY

B-B

A-A

C-C D-D

FIRST FLOOR PLAN0’ 5’ 10’ 25’ 50’ 100’

HEAD SHOTS + SCREEN TEST

COMPUTER LAB

SECOND FLOOR PLAN0’ 5’ 10’ 25’ 50’ 100’

DARKROOMREADING ROOMS

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SECTION B-B0’ 5’ 10’ 25’ 50’ 100’

THIRD FLOOR PLAN0’ 5’ 10’ 25’ 50’ 100’

FOURTH FLOOR PLAN0’ 5’ 10’ 25’ 50’ 100’

FIFTH FLOOR PLAN0’ 5’ 10’ 25’ 50’ 100’

HOUSING TYPES0’ 5’ 10’ 25’

HOUSING TYPE 1450 SQ. FT.

HOUSING TYPE 2700 SQ. FT.

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