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BIO..................5

PROTOTYPE..............7field station

URBAN ACUPUNCTURE.......27adaptive reuse

MODEL MAKING.............41microlibrarygeometric abstraction

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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NICOLE M. MATER

CONTACT INFORMATIONnicole.mater@gmail.com590 Fleetwood DrFenton, MO 63026314.225.5907

UNIVERSITY OF KANSASSCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND PLANNINGMasters of Architecture Candidate, 20143.63 GPA, 3.93 Studio GPA

AMERICAN INSTITUTUTE OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENTSUniversity of Kansas ChapterCommunity Outreach Chair2012 Midwest QUAD Planning Committee

UNITED STATES GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL University of Kansas Student ChapterCentral Plains Professional Chapter

INTERESTSLow-tech, sustainable architectureUrban renewal and vitality

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Prototypes play a key role in the comprehensive design of a building. They allow the designer to identify aspects that need further revision, which aids in the tailoring of details in favor of the needs of the overall design. Building performance increases and conservation of materials can be thoroughly planned and accounted for. The designer can focus more closely on the appropriation of materials and the craft of the final product.

Understanding the pedagogy of construction education through hands-on, design-build projects promotes the concept of learning by doing. This learning may occur not only in theoretical projects that engage the realities of our culture of building, but also in the physical manipulation and assemblage of the building process.1 Hands-on design processes allows for true innovation in techniques and strategies of building.

Rethinking the processes of construction inevitably involves a rethinking of what architecture ought to be.2 When one plays with materials, there lies an opportunity to discover new uses or methods in the production of that medium. More efficient forms may be created that lie outside the realm of normalcy within the North American culture of building. This discovery removes the design from this pattern of established regularity, allowing for an arguably more interesting, customized scheme. Magnified attention to detail, by the designer, promotes high-quality craft and yields superior results.

1. Nils Gore, “Craft and Innovation: Serious Play and the Direct Experience of the Real,” 06 January 20042. Susan Piedmont-Palladino and Mark Alden Branch, “Devil’s Workshop : 25 Years of Jersey Devil Architecture.” (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1997) p. 14.

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The University of Kansas Field Station is a component of the university dedicated to biological and ecological studies. The Field Station is in need of additional facilities to promote further on site study and to better perform ecological experiments. They have received a grant to expand their infrastructure by adding a small greenhouse to be used for controlled experiments year round, a large greenhouse to house experiments in the warmer months, and a multipurpose building that would be used as flexible space. The multipurpose building needs to

function as a classroom, workshop, and event venue, and maintain the flexibility to accommodate more if need be.

As they are located several miles north of campus, there is little connectivity between the two sites. The locally iconic skyline of campus is visible from elevated vantage points at the site. The goal is to meet the programmatic needs of the clients while capitalizing on the connection to campus and striving to create sustainable architecture.

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The chosen site lies on a shallow slope at the end of an existing driveway. Utilization of the current infrastructure will create an easy progression of users by being in close proximity to the existing buildings and speed the process of construction.

Denotes location of new facility

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CONTEXT

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The field station received a grant to expand their infrastructure by adding a small greenhouse (1) that they could use for controlled experiments year round, a large glasshouse (2) that would house experiments in the warmer months, and a multi-purpose building (3) that would be used as a flexible space.

Prior to the introduction of this new facility, the approach to the site was one expansive view. The scheme proposes blocking this view from the approach, and dramatically revealing it. Certain views will be blocked in order to create smaller, but more impactful, framed views. For example, the opening of the barn style doors at the entrance creates a framed view through the building and showcasing the magnificent landscape.

FRAMED VIEW

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By orienting the building orthogonally, the design takes advantage of sunlight year round and creates a high-performance greenhouse atmosphere. Large, twelve-foot wide sliding doors allow for easy transportation of large microcosms and equipment. The form of the building showcases a powerful view and creates an indoor-outdoor patio intended for use as an outdoor classroom and open event space. Researchers can also utilize this space as an extension of their workspace during fair weather.

SITE-INFORMED DESIGN

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Early iterations of site design were controlled by studies of site axes derived from existing buildings, roads, and experimental plots and also by the study of shadow lines that occur throughout the year.

The shape of the building section was prescribed by the availability of pre-engineered structural members. The clients were interested in semi-custom aspects of building, in an effort to maintain the given budget. The size of member chosen allows for twelve-foot interior sidewalls and a fifteen-foot central height. The space is tall enough to allow large equipment and full size plant specimens their maximum clearance.

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The 1600 square foot multipurpose room is a space to gather, have fund raising events, host classes, and, on a daily basis, become a workshop. Large pivoting doors allow users to view the panoramic landscape. The room has a preparation area with three sinks and many storage cabinets. The walls are covered in peg board, which allows users to easily hang tools. It also gives them the opportunity to hang other items such as works of art for a rural studio or large documents for town meetings or other events.

CUSTOM FEATURES

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The tower allows for visitors to view the surrounding site and creates an important connection by establishing a visual line back to the University Campus. From the top of the tower, onlookers can view the outline of Frasier Hall, an iconic campus building that can be seen from miles away. At night, the view would be particularly impressive, because of the glowing lights of Lawrence and the halo-effect it creates. The tower also allows the Field Station to harvest wind energy and bring internet access to this rural part of town, possible sources of revenue for the Field Station to subsidize the cost of experiments.

CAMPUS VIEW

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Reclaimed wood salvaged from telephone poles has been cut and planed to size.

Perm-A-Barrier (Grace Construction) polyethylene membrane ensures the longevity of the wall. It insulates and seals out most moisture, but also allows vapor to escape the wall. It is flexible and easy to install, but must not be extensively exposed to sunlight.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) insulate the building with an R-value of 14 and are able to be installed quickly. SIPs are also capable of spanning the full distance between columns without further lateral support. We finished ours with peg board to accomodate the users needs.

Corrugated metal acts like a rain screen and protects the membrane from sunlight while keeping out most moisture.

The structure is a basic kit-of-parts component from Varco Pruden. Using industrially manufactured components saves money, since Varco Pruden is a local company this places less stress on the environment.

The concrete mixture is made from a mix of cement and flyash, a biproduct of coal production.

A trench of river rocks controls water drainage around the building and allows water to percolate back into the water table.

MATERIALS & PERFORMANCE

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Self-tapping galvanized #10 Hex head screws

Galvanized corrugated metal, 1/4” depth

Metal Purlins, 18 gauge steel, 4”X2.5”

W8 X 8 X 31

3/8” Peg Board backed with 1X2 frames

4” Structurally Insulated Panel (SIP)

Thermal break

Concrete knee wall

Control break

Concrete slab, 4” thick

Concrete footing

Water-filtering river rocks

Perm-A-Barrier

5/8” Hex head bolts

Self-piloting galvanized #14 Hex head screws

1.5” X 1.5” pine purlins

Self -piloting galvanized #14 Hex head screws

1.5” X 1.5” pine slats

Ice and Water Sheild

5/8” Gypsum board

PROTOTYPE ASSEMBLY

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By building a prototype wall section of the building, we were able to gain further understanding of how the elements of the walls work and how the construction process can be made easier. The process of constructing our mock-up allowed us to make our design intent clearer and to maximize the effectiveness of materials.

All materials were chosen based on their performance and functionality, and stay true to the agrarian aesthetic prescribed by the context. These materials are easy to install in a modular fashion for faster construction. They also are either locally produced or recycled and aid in the sustainable responsibility of the building.

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Healthy cities are defined by the quality of life by the people living there. Ailing cities are losing this quality because their problems have become seemingly too large to repair. The principle of urban acupuncture argues that interventions at key points throughout the city can revitalize the entire system. Just as in medical acupuncture, small interventions can spark chain reactions, resulting in the improvement of the city as an entity.

Jaime Lerner, an authority on urban renewal, argues that any city, anywhere can be brought back to life by making improvements in these key areas: mobility, sociodiversity, and sustainability.1 The provision of effective public transportation is key to promoting mobility within cities. If existing forms of public transportation are not convenient or effective, people will not use them. This is especially true in mid-west American culture, where the car reigns

supreme as a symbol of freedom and financial success. Sociodiversity ‘encompasses the need to embrace and celebrate the multiplicity of peoples with different income levels, ages, religions, races and so on within the city, while at the same time preserving the traits that define each one’s identity.’ 1 Maintaining a mix of social classes helps to bond the community and create a feeling of safety within the city’s public spaces. Sustainability does not only imply that new construction be built to “green” standards, but also that the community live in ways that are more ecologically responsible: reducing dependancy on the vehicle; living nearer to the city center, combating sprawl; providing efficient energy sources to the community; and promoting recycling.

1. Jaime Lerner, Urban Acupuncture, 18 April 2011, Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University.

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Denotes location of Pabst Warehoue rennovation project

Once a dilapidated district of abandoned warehouses, in recent years the Kansas City, Missouri, Crossroads district has been begun to be rehabilitated by local artists. Cities

have a history of being reinvented in this way. Artists move in to run-down areas of the city and reinvigorate them with the livelihood of art culture. Due to its proximity to the city

center, the Crossroads district is gaining popularity as a residential district. Loft rates are increasing,

causing artists to move into the West Bottoms district, leaving the crossroads in a downward spiral of gentrification.

RETAINING DIVERSITY

The newKauffman Centeris a performance halllocated just north of the given building. It is a catalyst for music culture in Kansas City. Drawing on the contextual relation of the two buildings, the focus of the restorationwill be to create a place where local musicians can thrive, without being forced from the area. This willhelp the Crossroads to retain its identity as the arts district.

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Despite the number of windows offered by the building perimiter, the

square footprint of the warehouse results in a dark building core.

BASEMENT GROUND FLOOR SECOND FLOOR THIRD FLOOR FOURTH FLOOR 1. Original facade component2. Existing circulation core3. Existing egress staircase

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The Pabst warehouse was built in the 1910’s by the Pabst Brewing

Company. The building was used for horse stabling and has

been named on the National Historic Register. For this reason,

much of the existing building may not be changed. The east

facade must remain in historical condition. The building itself is

very structurally sound, allowing the flexibility to alter the floor

plates. During prohibition the building was owned by

infamous Kansas City historical figures, The Pendergasts. They established a speakeasy on the north side of the building. The

building’s interesting history generates interest throughout

the community and provides inspiration for the project.

PABST WAREHOUSE

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The scheme for the re-use of the building relied on pulling influence from the community’s new Kauffman Center for performing arts. The Kauffman brings in thousands of musicians and patrons to the Crossroads. The Center is a place for musicians to live at a low cost, and to inspire the community to share in the experience of music. The design is sequential and can be built in phases, expanding as needed. There are a range of spaces including practice rooms, a theater, a dance studio, a speakeasy and lounge, and a community arts-based daycare. Light has been brought into the building core by inserting a wide courtyard in the center of the building. Circulation has been reconfigured by modifying and restructuring the original circulation core and adding egress on the north side of the building.

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Private

Lobby Daycare

Spea

keas

y Courtyard

Theater

Backstage

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Lounge

Theater Lobby

GROUND FLOOR

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ADAPTIVE REUSE

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DanceStudio

Practice Rooms

SECOND FLOOR THIRD FLOOR FOURTH FLOOR APARTMENTN

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Kansas City chiefly relies on vehicular transportation, and parking lots dominate the city landscape (shown in blue below). Parking lots not only severely compromise the microclimate of the city and damage the water table, but also continue to promote vehicular transportation. The city has established bus routes, but low volume and infrequency of stops shy commuters away from using the system. Bus stops have the capacity to greatly increase the rate of public transportation use within cities. Commuters are more likely to use public transportation when it is made convenient for them. Bus stops make users aware of their presence, shelter them from the weather, and promote community interaction.

ADA Ramp to elevate users to bus entry height

Low, brick wall acts as a bench for performing and waiting

High brick wall retains thermal gain, and provides a place for signage advertising events at

the center

Large sections of brick wall and structural members cut

from the Pabst Warehouse and recycled throughout the

district in bus stops

BUS STOPS

Recylced cast iron structural column removed from the

Pabst warehouse

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In the digital age, models are losing their presence in architectural design. Digital models are taking the profession to new heights, allowing more complex designs to be envisioned than ever before. Designs can now be envisioned in computer modeling programs faster and more accurately than analog models. The time that they take to create is now used to expedite digital renderings and the profession is losing its hand for craft. Designers must ask themselves, what value do physical models offer?

Analog models speak to clients in a way that renderings cannot. They give the client a full understanding of the spatial aspects of the design, which is often flattened and diluted in renderings. They allow designers to see flaws in the designs that can often be mulled over on the computer. It forces designers to confront problems with geometry. They are also a necessity in the iterative design process, allowing designers to move in a linear process of refinement and clarity.

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The site given for this project is a wooded location near the shore of Potter Lake on the University of Kansas Campus. Inspiration for this project came from the structure of a plant cells, as a highly abstracted organic element. It developed in many iterations, starting with a simple box and then later focusing on the structure and materiality. The inspiration lead to the development of many layers of membranes which provide shading for the glass box library. This shading protects the longevity of the books inside. The library has a footprint of 300 square feet and has built in storage for over 10 000 books.

MICROLIBRARY

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Each exterior wall is fully removable, permitting

views to the complex and delicate interior.

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Artist Tony Smith is famous for his geometric abstractions. These images are the result of further abstraction of a piece of Smith’s work, “Fermi,” and the study its form and structure, resulting in a distilled repetitive geometric form. Material choices in modeling further purify the form into the lines of its structural essentials, and as loss of curvature develops, the object begins to take on an appearance much different than it’s predecessor. The outcome is a new structure, with intricate form and great strength.

GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTION

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CONTACT INFORMATIONnicole.mater@gmail.com

590 Fleetwood DrFenton, MO 63026

314.225.5907

UNIVERSITY OF KANSASSCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND PLANNING

Masters of Architecture Candidate 2014

AMERICAN INSTITUTUTE OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENTSCommunity Outreach Chair

2012 MIdwest QUAD Planning Committee

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