matt sickle landscape architecture portfolio
DESCRIPTION
A collection of work completed at the University of Maryland toward the completion of my MLA degree.TRANSCRIPT
matthew joseph
sickle
table of
contents
nomadic memorialWaterShedpilot pointuniversity of torontoclarice smith centerindian bridge farms detail drafting rain garden modelresume + references
0103050708091011
dynamic landscapes of commemoration
nomadic memorialMy thesis project proposed a memo-rial to the Civilian Public Service, a World War II-era program of alterna-tive service, that would broaden the forms, material, and subjects of the commemorative landscape of Wash-ington, D.C.
To accomplish this, a memorial com-posed of modular commemorative elements was designed.
Rearranging this kit of parts in com-bination with a new group of locally appropriate trees, the memorial will relocate to a different American city each year and return to Washington, D.C. every four years.
With the growth of a new grove of trees and its donation to the neigh-borhood the memorial inhabits, these trees will draw attention to the history and the variety of services performed by the CPS.
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dynamic landscapes of commemoration
nomadic memorial
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solar decathlon 2011 winner
WaterShed
03The most exciting moment of my ca-reer as a graduate student was when the University of Maryland team won the 2011 Solar Decathlon after two years of planning and hard work!
In collaboration with architecture, engineering, and environmental sci-ences students, I led the team of landscape architecture students in the design of the educational and aesthetic landscape of WaterShed.
Planting Plan: Drawn in AutoCAD in collaboration with architecture stu-dents. I designed and drew the plant-ing plan and plant platform layout.
They designed the beautiful house.
solar decathlon 2011 winner
WaterShedIn addition to designing the land-scape, I participated in the construc-tion of the house, landscape plat-forms, living wetlands, and green roof on the National Mall.
All plants in WaterShed’s ornamental landscape are native to the mead-ows and wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay’s coastal plain. These species were specifically selected for their drought tolerance and low water usage, connecting the gardens sur-rounding the house to our message of energy and water sustainability.
During the competition, I worked as a tour guide, educating the public about WaterShed’s sustainable land-scape and living systems.
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In January 2011, I was chosen by my professors as the landscape de-signer for our school’s Urban Land Institute/Gerald D. Hines competition team. Our entry, Pilot Point, which proposes a mixed-use transit-orient-ed development in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood, was chosen by the jury as one of four national final-ists.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Way Per-spective: This image shows my response to several of the site’s challenges. By setting residential buildings back from an arterial road and filling the topography between the building and street, I was able to create a linear park that connects to an existing Olmsted greenway.
uli/hines competition-national finalist
pilot point
05After reaching the final four, the team flew out to Seattle to conduct a site analysis and continued its design work for the next month before pre-senting the final proposal to the com-petition jury and the owners of the properties in the TOD district.
Axonometric Massing Model: I built this Sketchup model in collaboration with my teammates and rendered it in Adobe Photoshop. We designed the massing of the buildings collab-oratively, balancing needs for ap-propriate real-estate square-footage, open space connectivity, and access to sunlight. I designed and rendered all of the open spaces, streetscapes, and LID planters.
Taking advantage of Seattle’s new light rail transit system, the Mount Baker neighborhood is well-situated for urban revitalization. Currently characterized by strip-malls, big-box retail, and inaccessible sidewalks, my team’s proposal for Pilot Point creates a new hub for economic and social activity. By creating new open spaces for active use and connecting to existing greenways, the design invites members of the adjacent communities to participate in their neighborhood’s newfound vigor.
uli/hines competition-national finalist
pilot point
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Way & Rainier Ave. Section-Perspective: Surrounded by steep topography, the design of Pilot Point responds to the developer’s need to maximize developable square footage with the neighborhood’s desire to preserve its character. By burying parking into the topography and creating accessible open spaces above it, and by grouping the tallest buildings at site’s lowest point, Pilot Point maintains much of the intimacy of the nearby neighbor-hoods. At their tallest points, proposed buildings do not rise above the crests of the surrounding hills.
town/gown relationship analysis
university of torontoIn an analysis of the “town/gown” re-lationship between the University of Toronto and the surrounding city, I explored the impact of the university on local open space, land use, and neighborhood character.
By mapping the the historical devel-opment of campus structures, I un-covered how the locations of Varsity Stadium and Royal Ontario Museum led to the creation of an entertain-ment district north of the University.
I also discovered a link between the historical co-development of the provincial parliament and university campuses with the location of Toron-to’s financial district along the Univer-sity Avenue Axis
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sculpture garden for the performing arts
clarice smith center
One of my earliest and favorite studio projects was the design of a sculpture garden for the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland.
Heavy clay soils that do not drain well limited the use of the site. To overcome the barrier created by the garden’s wettest areas, I designed a fast-draining land bridge connecting the main building exit to the existing amphitheater.
08Sculptures designed by professor Foon Sham were incorporated on the side of the amphitheater, parallel to the axis of the land bridge, and at its terminus. Native wetland species were selected to fill a marsh-garden that surrounds the land bridge.
The courtyard space was designed for more intensive daily use for small outdoor classes and performances, as well as a lunchtime escape from the indoors.
Site Plan: Using an underlayment of ArcGIS topography and building data, the plan was drawn entirely by hand on trace paper with graphite pencils and Prismacolor colored pencils.
horticulture & small business
indian bridge farms
.I have worked on my family’s plant farm in rural southern Maryland since I was six years old. Originally a field-grown pine tree farm, we converted all five acres to growing container crops for our retail/wholesale nursery in 2006.
In 2011, I had the opportunity to combine my horticultural background with my graduate studies while working on WaterShed, the University of Maryland’s Solar Decathlon home. As the student landscape architecture team leader, I
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was responsible for securing the donation of all of the plants in the landscape surrounding the house. With the help and cooperation of the university’s horticultural services department, Indian Bridge Farms was able to provide the plants for the competition which were then taken back to College Park for incorporation into the campus landscape.
Images: Ilex verticillata ‘Spravy’; Panicum virgatum ‘Cloud 9’; Betula nigra ‘BNMTF’; WaterShed Plant Delivery
hardscape elements
detail draftingDuring my internship at Campion Landscape Architecture in Annapolis, Maryland, I had the opportunity to do design and drafting work for several beautiful waterfront residences over-looking the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
Both of these hardscape detail draw-ings show elements that were de-signed for the same home on the South River.
Designed by the firm’s principal, I originally drafted both details by hand, in pencil, for presentation to the client and for use by the contrac-tor.
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8'-0
"8'
-0"
8'-0" 8'-0" 8'-0"
8'-0"8'-0"
4'-6"
212"
1"
2'-1
"
41 2" 11 2"
3"
8" 4"
2'-10"
4" 8'-0"2'-2" 4"
gate Section1 12" = 1'-0"
dog fenceelevation12" = 1'-0"
dog fenceplan1
16" = 1'-0"
10"
2'-0
"2'
-2"
construction materials and methods
rain garden modelI built this working model of a portable rain garden for a class on construction methods and materials. The model is an exploration of how to make LID technology portable and useful on construction sites, where stormwater management is critical.
Using AutoCAD and a laser cutter, I was able to create a front panel for the rain garden that reveals the makeup of each of the soil layers.
Building materials: Recycled oak & pine wood, PVC, galvanized screws, recycled 5 gallon water jug, 1/4” gravel, 50/50 potting soil/sand mix, sand, filter fabric, 3/4” angular gravel, epoxy, & string bean plants.
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matthew joseph sickle
resume [email protected]
EDUCATIONUniversity of Maryland - Landscape Architecture Program GPA: 4.0Master of Landscape Architecture Candidate Graduation: May 2012
University of Maryland - Robert H Smith School of Business GPA: 3.29International Business Major Graduation: December 2005
Erberhard-Karls Universitaet Tuebingen - Tuebingen, Germany July - August 2005International Summer Course Student in German Language Studies COMPETITIONS2011 ULI/Hines Competition National Finalist - Landscape Designer January - March 2011 - Collaborated with team members studying architecture, real estate, and urban planning - Developed a Master Plan for the team’s concept through diagrams and concept sketches - Planned parks, plazas, and green infrastructure for a 33-acre TOD project in Seattle, WA - Produced street section/perspective drawings, diagrams, and marketing concepts for the project WaterShed, 2011 Solar Decathlon Winner - Landscape Team Leader February 2010 - October 2011 - Led team of landscape architects in the design of the landscape for a solar powered house - Built landscape structures including decking, plant platforms, living wetlands, and a green roof - Grew all plants used in the ornamental and educational landscape - Collaborated with team members studying architecture, engineering and environmental science - Led educational tours that explained the living technologies of the house to visitors
AWARDSMaryland ASLA Honor Award May 2012UMD Landscape Architecture Award of Excellence May 2012Scott Award for Horticultural Potential - Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture May 2011Distinguished Teaching Assistant Award - Center for Teaching Excellence May 2011
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCECampion Landscape Architecture - Annapolis, MD June-August 2010Landscape Design Intern - Designed woody and herbaceous planting plans for commercial and residential customers - Supervised landscape contractors implementing the firm’s hardscape and softscape designs - Produced hardscape construction detail documents by hand and using Vectorworks 2010 University of Maryland - Woody Plants for Mid-Atlantic Landscapes August 2009 - PresentLead Teaching Assistant - Led 20+ students in weekly plant identification labs focused on ID characteristics, culture, and taxonomy Indian Bridge Farms - California, MD August 2009-PresentCo-owner/Manager - Grew container trees, shrubs, and grasses on a five-acre family farm in St. Mary’s County, Maryland - Planned inventories, managed irrigation, pruned and maintained plant stock
Farm Valley Nursery - Huntingtown, MD February 2006 - August 2009General Manager - Designed residential landscapes for retail customers - Managed all of Farm Valley’s plant and hardscape inventory procurements and sales
SOFTWARE Proficient in AutoCAD 2010 & 2011; Vectorworks 2010; ArcGIS; Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, & Photoshop; Google Sketchup Pro 7 & 8; V-Ray; Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel
REFERENCES Sonja Duempelmann, Dr.-Ing. Visiting Asst. Prof.; Harvard GSD 301.405.5491 [email protected] Jack Sullivan, FASLA Coordinator, MLA Program; UMD 301.405.0106 [email protected] Kevin Campion, ASLA Principal; Campion LA 410.280.8850 [email protected] Karen Petroff Asst. Dir. Hort. Services; UMD 301.405.8952 [email protected]
matthew joseph sickle
resume [email protected]