Emily Parkerson

Landscape Architecture Portfolio

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Contents

About Me

Projects

HCPL Reading Garden and Educational Playscape

Permaculture Initiative

Jewel in the Woods

Wright House

Phlox Moth Preserve and Interpretive Center

Iracambi Rainforest Research Center

Dunes Parkway

Pier 54: One Foot in the Water

Nature Conservancy of Indiana

Alternate Rendering Styles

Assorted Artworks

Resume

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12-15

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About Me

I recently graduated cum laude from Ball State University with

my BLA degree. During my time there my design style evolved to be very flexible and adaptive. I apply

elegant, practical solutions to design goals and challenges, drawing inspiration from a wide pool of

sources, including my passions for the environment, sustainable design,

community, and art. The resulting designs tend to be organic and

driven by their specific sites.

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The Hancock County Public Library currently uses only half of their ten acre site and currently lack any outdoor amenities. What the library does have are a variety of programs for children, teens, and adults plus community rooms that are rented out for independent activities. Occasionally the library does have outdoor activities, for which they must use the service drive or field of weeds that is currently the northern half of the site. This project aims to fix this situation through the design of a reading garden and educational playscape. This will meet the existing program needs of the library and provide a formal outdoor space for patrons to enjoy at their leisure.

Key to Plan1. Artist Installation2. Authors’ Walk3. Boardwalk4. Buffer5. Community Plaza6. Constructed Wetland7. Educational Playscape8. Gate9. Naturalized Retention Pond

10. Nature Playscape 11. Nesting Island12. Observation Island13. Outdoor Classroom14. Picnic Area15. Reading Garden

A. Section AB. Section B

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HCPL Reading Garden and Educational

Playscape

Site Plan

HCPL

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Goals and Resulting Design Features• Goal: This project intends to develop pre-reading skills of children to ease their reading education.º Design Features: Educational Playscape, Nature Playscape, Outdoor Classroom• Goal: This project intends to engage adolescents.º Design Features: Community Plazas, Educational Playscape, Nature Playscape, Picnic Areas• Goal: This project intends to build interest in reading by connecting reading to the community.º Design Features: Authors’ Walk, Community Plazas, Reading Garden, Outdoor Classroom• Goal: This project intends to build understanding of and care for the environment in all visitors.º Design Features: Native Woodland Plantings, Naturalized Retention Pond, Nesting Island, Observation Island, Boardwalk, Nature Playscape • Goal: This project intends to reignite adults’ interest in reading.º Design Features: Authors’ Walk, Reading Garden, Boardwalk

Section A

Section B

Site Perspectives

Outdoor Classroom Educational Playscape Observation Island and Boardwalk

HCPL

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Reading Garden

The reading garden is the simplest of the focus areas. The goal of the space is to provide a sense of seclusion and serenity so visitors can relax and read. The first step in the creation of this atmosphere was separating the reading garden from the Authors’ Walk. Most of the reading areas are at the end of L-shaped paths so that earthwork mounds or lush plantings can conceal each reading area from a straight view down its entrance path. To avoid safety hazards created by completely concealing an area from public view, an alternate sightline was provided for the

concealed reading ares using plants that grow low enough for a visitor to look over them. Because each visitor is unique, several different types of reading areas were created. Several reading areas are simply paved clearings in the woodland plantings, some are small stone shelters, and some are located directly in the wetland bordering the pond. Another variation in the spaces was the inclusion of a smaller solitary spaces and larger group spaces.

Reading Garden Perspectives

HCPL

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Process DrawingsMost of the work on this design was done by hand rather than computer. The site was designed through a series of plans and perspectives working out locations of focus areas, topography, and planting decisions. Eventually, the grading and planting plans were taken to AutoCAD.

Grading Plan Site Plan

North/South Sections East/West Sections

HCPL

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ermacultureInitiative

The Permaculture Initiative in Muncie began in the spring of 2014. The goal of the group was to demonstrate permaculture principles to the Ball State and Muncie communities. I have been a part of the group since its inception and helped design the garden featured here and the above logo. This is the Permaculture Demonstration Garden at Minnetrista, a community center which provided us space and resources. The space we were given was the antique orchard because the heirloom apple trees will soon need replacement due to fire blight.

The preliminary layout for the garden was determined through several meetings and discussions of the Permaculture Initiative. Several sketches were produced; the best liked were used to create conceptual plan. An aerial view was used as a base plan and the sketches were translated into a rendered concept. Construction began in the following weeks, and we had our first harvest early that summer. After volunteers claim their produce, the remainder is either sold at the Minnetrista Farmers’ Market or given to the Minnetrista kitchen, whose chef is quite enthusiastic about the garden.

Permaculture Initiative

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The picture at right is our inaugural season. The primary component of permaculture we currently demonstrate in the garden is companion planting. For the first year, we chose a few focus plants and built companion planting groups around those. The focus plants were strawberries, tomatoes, beets, cherry, and peach, one additional bed was dedicated to the traditional Three Sisters set of plants. As a change to our original layout, we added pollinator beds to the corners of the garden, transplanting milkweed and penstemon from another garden at Minnetrista. This year the annual plants in each bed were changed so that

The images at left and below were taken as promotional materials for the garden. They show bed layout, the main volunteers, the Farmers Market Booth, and one of our beet harvests.

The original concept design was used as a guideline rather than precise layout, so I updated the plan following the last growing season.

KEY1) Rotating Plant Beds2) Pollinator Beds3) Compost Bin4) Cherry Tree5) Peach Tree

Permaculture Initiative

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Jewel

General Notes• Water flows west• The ducks and geese on the pond could use nest areas along its banks• None of the plantings on the lot are exceptional so they do not need ot be

preserved in design• Most of the site is full sun, adding trees will change that

Plan Notes1. This is the flattest area of the site it would be ideal to place the building and prevent

extensive regrading2. These stone and gravel pits are an unattractive form of bank stabilization and should be

redesigned3. Bank stabilizing plantings can be expanded on4. Cottonwood is a weedy species so this grove can be removed5. The tennis courts are to be screened6. This water inlet is unattractive and should be redesigned7. The parking lot should be screened8. This stone edge to the pond was recently redone, but will probably degrade again9. McKinley is a noise producer, it could use a low screen to block sound but not views10. The bridge provides an attractive overlook of the site so it would be a good place to

align an attractive view of the building11. The stained glass front of the building should terminate the view coming from campus

along Mckinley

Site Inventory and Analysis: Duck Pond

Selected Site Photos

This view from the bridge shows the best location for the chapel and areas that need attention, like the pond edge, cottonwood grove, and tennis courts.

This view across the site aligns with McKinley’s approach to the site; to preserve the view to the proposed location of the chapel, low plantings should be used along this axis.

The culvert shown is unattractive and will be redesign. However, the view from above the culvert will be enhanced and a seating area added because it overlooks much of the site.

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Jewel of the WoodsJewel

The goal of this project was to showcase a new all faiths chapel on Ball State’s campus. The chapel, modeled after the Cason Memorial Chapel in Callaway Gardens, would be located adjacent to the Duck Pond. The design linked the purposes of the chapel interior with the chapel exterior and tied in many congregation activities, among those ceremonies of many different faiths, congregation social events like picnics and sports, and activities for children like vacation bible school. The garden was intended as a naturalistic setting for this gem of architecture.

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Site Plan

Section A

Jewel

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Section B

Planting DetailsJewel

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Master Plan

Wright

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This project was to redesign the landscape around Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hills-Decaro House in Chicago. The client was my hypothetical future self who wanted a productive and attractive landscape that would be friendly to wildlife and her dogs and cats.

Distinct areas of the yard include a dog run, a water feature, a firefly habitat, a reading corner, a cooking and entertaining area, a small kitchen garden, and a dye shed. These distinct areas are unified through a repetition of the form used in Wright’s pavilion in the backyard.

Entertaining Area and Water Feature Reading Area and Dog Run

Image Credit: Google Street View

Hills-Decaro House

Wright

Study Model and Sketches

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Planting Plan

Wright

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Planting Schedule

Wright

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Roads

Farmland

Possible Habitats

Potential Sites 1

Potential Sites 1

Managed Lands

Trails

Potential Sites 2

Potential Sites 1

Universities

K-12 Schools

Potential Sites 3

Potential Sites 2

K-12 Schools

Universities

Potential Sites 4

The Phlox Moth is one of the many endangered species in Northwestern Indiana. This GIS study was done to site a preserve and conservation center for the species. The goal of the project was to find a location suitable for the moth’s host plant and located near existing educational and outreach opportunities like schools and trail systems.

Study 1 filtered the many possible habitat sites down by excluding those with too much potential pollution from roads or fields.

Study 2 reduced the number of sites further by locating the Study 1 sites that were within a certain radius of a trail and existing managed lands including state and national parks.

Study 3 reduced the number of sites from Study 1 by locating the sites within a five mile radius of a university and an elementary, middle or high school.

Study 4, the final study, filtered the results of Study 2 to only those sites within a one mile radius of a university and an elementary, middle or high school.

Phlox Moth Preserve and Conservation CenterStudy 1

Study 2

Study 3

Study 4

Phlox Moth

Image Credit: Rori Paloski, WDNR

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±1 in = 5 miles

±1 inch = 1,000 feet

0 1,000 2,000500Feet

0 5 102.5Miles

Site A Site B Site C

Site D Site E

Following this series of studies, ground truthing was done for each of the sites generated by Study 4. Of these, sites B and E were deemed the most suitable sites for a Phlox Moth preserve. In subsequent studies, site B was found to be more appropriate due to the soil and drainage requirements of the host plant.

Ground TruthingSpecific Sites

±1 in = 5 miles

±1 inch = 1,000 feet

0 1,000 2,000500Feet

0 5 102.5Miles

±1 in = 5 miles

±1 inch = 1,000 feet

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Location Map

Phlox Moth

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During the summer of 2013 I participated in a design build project in Brazil. The project began with researching design methods using a variety of renewable materials and culminated in applying those methods to completing construction of a new building at the Iracambi Rainforest Research Center.

During the research phase, I focussed on bamboo as a material. I investigated methods of curing and lashing bamboo.

Much of my work during the construction process was preparing the raw materials. At varying times I was part of the teams harvesting, cutting to length, and roasting the bamboo. I also dug out and mixed the the material for our earth walls.

Other projects our team did while at Iracambi include a seating area adjacent to the new building, enhancing the fire pit and seating area, deconstructing another building, and building screen and doorway to conceal a storage area under the main building.

The floor, framework, and roof of the building were in place before our group arrive. We completed the remainder of the building and several side projects in approximately two weeks.

The adjacent photographs were taken by fellow students at Iracambi.

Image Credit: Gabriel de HaroImage Credit: Gabriel de Haro

Iracambi

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Iracambi Rainforest Research Center

Image Credit: Julie Migne

Iracambi

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In addition to applying the prototype three large changes were made to the

site. Pines Grocery was redesigned and reopened. Pines Bible Church's

landscape was improved. Finally, a vacant lot was converted to a restaurant.

Scale 1” = 20’

Scale 1” = 20’

The goal of the residential prototype was to minimize the impact of the Dunes Parkway on existing neighborhoods it passes through. Traffic calming techniques, primarily chicanes, were used to reduce speed and danger from increased traffic. Pedestrian features were introduced to increase safety and improve circulation along the parkway. No extensive changes were proposed for any homes because these would likely be rejected by residents.

This prototype was used where both sides of the parkway were developed and housing was the dominant landuse. In addition to the chicanes, sidewalks and pedestrian lights were added on both sides of the parkway.

Residential Sub-prototype 1

Parkway

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Natural Prototype Renderings

The site chosen for a sample residential site design is located in Pines, Indiana.

Included within the site are homes, Pines Bible Church, Pines Grocery, Poplar Street

and Pine Street. The prototype was applied and site specific amenities added.

This prototype was used where one side of the parkway was developed and the dominant landuse was housing. In this

prototype, chicanes were used, but a sidewalk and pedestrian

lighting was added only on the street’s developed side.

Scale 1” = 20’

Scale 1” = 20’

Scale 1” = 20’

Scale 1” = 20’

Residential Sub-prototype 2

Existing Site

Dunes Parkway: Residential PrototypeThis was a group project redesigning US 12 as a scenic highway. To create a sense of both unity and variety, the length of the highway that passes Indiana Dunes State Park and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was divided into four prototypes based on the type of development along the highway. In our group, these prototypes were Natural, Residential, Industrial, and Urban. I worked mostly on the residential prototype, so that is prototype presented here.

Another goal of this project was to meld the various styles of the four group members. To show this, I have included two renderings I had no hand in producing.

Parkway

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EVENT

BANNER

EVENT

BANNER

Roadway runs betweengateway signs, actual

distance between signswill be determined by

road width

Gary and Michigan Citygateways notify visitorsthat they are exiting the Dunes Parkway and are entering a community

• Corten steel panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• 2’ letters on pillar• Height: Tallest pillar 20’, smaller pillar 5’• Overall Width: 16’• 5 Gateways total: Gary, Michigan City, one each for Dune Parkway entry off one each for Dune Parkway entry off S.R. 49, S.R. 149, and S.R. 249

Detail DesignsI and one other in our team designed the detail elements for the parkway and then I rendered our designs.

With the exception of the gateways, we chose to adjust the design of the details according to which prototype they fell into. However, sandstone was used in every prototype as a unifying element and to tie in a very local material.

Signage and LightingWhile the materials vary by prototype, the design of the signs and lighting was kept consistent.

A lamp post design with three support members was created. In addition, the light fixture itself was kept simple and consistent between the different prototypes.

The design for the sign was made asymmetrical, drawing on sign designs from the National Park Service. Where appropriate, the National Park Service arrow was attached to the taller post. The sign panel, excepting the residential prototype, is a panel with cut out letters. The panel would be lit from through the letters.

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EVENT

BANNER

EVENT

BANNER

Roadway runs betweengateway signs, actual

distance between signswill be determined by

road width

Gary and Michigan Citygateways notify visitorsthat they are exiting the Dunes Parkway and are entering a community

• Corten steel panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• 2’ letters on pillar• Height: Tallest pillar 20’, smaller pillar 5’• Overall Width: 16’• 5 Gateways total: Gary, Michigan City, one each for Dune Parkway entry off one each for Dune Parkway entry off S.R. 49, S.R. 149, and S.R. 249

The gateways would mark the entrance to the parkway at either end. They would also be an ideal place to display event information. From this idea, a tall sign with supports for event banners was designed. The signs appear in pairs with one on either side of the street. In keeping with the cut out theme in the rest of the detail designs, the name of the parkway, or the city, depending on the direction of

Parkway

the driver, appears as corten cut outs along the tall post. Logos for the National Park System and Indiana Dunes State Park appear on the sign panels.

Gateways

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• 16’ to cross arm• Pole and crosspieces are square-cut lumber• Light fixture and supports are aluminum• All joints bolted

• 16’ to cross arm• Pole is corten steel I-beam• Cross arm and cross- piece are corten steel channel beams•• Light fixture and supports are aluminum• All joints welded and bolted

• 16’ to cross arm• All components are aluminum• All joints welded

• 16’ to cross arm• All components are black-painted aluminum• All joints welded

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• 16’ to cross arm• Pole and crosspieces are square-cut lumber• Light fixture and supports are aluminum• All joints bolted

• 16’ to cross arm• Pole is corten steel I-beam• Cross arm and cross- piece are corten steel channel beams•• Light fixture and supports are aluminum• All joints welded and bolted

• 16’ to cross arm• All components are aluminum• All joints welded

• 16’ to cross arm• All components are black-painted aluminum• All joints welded

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• 16’ to cross arm• Pole and crosspieces are square-cut lumber• Light fixture and supports are aluminum• All joints bolted

• 16’ to cross arm• Pole is corten steel I-beam• Cross arm and cross- piece are corten steel channel beams•• Light fixture and supports are aluminum• All joints welded and bolted

• 16’ to cross arm• All components are aluminum• All joints welded

• 16’ to cross arm• All components are black-painted aluminum• All joints welded

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• Sign panel designed by community• Sandstone pillars

• Corten steel panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• NPS arrowhead on tall pillar

• Wood panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• NPS arrowhead on tall pillar

• Stainless steel panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• NPS arrowhead on tall pillar

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• 16’ to cross arm• Pole and crosspieces are square-cut lumber• Light fixture and supports are aluminum• All joints bolted

• 16’ to cross arm• Pole is corten steel I-beam• Cross arm and cross- piece are corten steel channel beams•• Light fixture and supports are aluminum• All joints welded and bolted

• 16’ to cross arm• All components are aluminum• All joints welded

• 16’ to cross arm• All components are black-painted aluminum• All joints welded

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• Sign panel designed by community• Sandstone pillars

• Corten steel panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• NPS arrowhead on tall pillar

• Wood panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• NPS arrowhead on tall pillar

• Stainless steel panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• NPS arrowhead on tall pillar

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• Sign panel designed by community• Sandstone pillars

• Corten steel panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• NPS arrowhead on tall pillar

• Wood panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• NPS arrowhead on tall pillar

• Stainless steel panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• NPS arrowhead on tall pillar

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• Sign panel designed by community• Sandstone pillars

• Corten steel panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• NPS arrowhead on tall pillar

• Wood panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• NPS arrowhead on tall pillar

• Stainless steel panel with backlit cutout letters• Sandstone pillars• NPS arrowhead on tall pillar

UrbanAluminum was chosen for the urban light post, because it has clean sleek appearance. Stainless steel was chosen for the sign panel.

ResidentialThe material chosen for the light post was painted aluminum because this would be unobtrusive. The sign panel for this prototype would be left to the communities it was placed in.

Parkway

NaturalThe materials chosen for this prototype was wood. Both the sign panel and the light post would both be wood.

IndustrialCorten steel was chosen for the industrial prototype to convey an industrial atmosphere. Both the light post and sign panel would be this material.

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Per 54Pier 54: One Foot in the Water

Pier 54 was historically owned by the White Star and Cunard cruise lines. Currently is in a state of decay, but is planned to become part of New York’s system of Pier Parks. This project sought to connect the history of the site, the flow of the Hudson River, and the people of New York to each other. Important design features in the project were the pavilion, the flooding gardens, the walking path running the perimeter of the pier, and the existing archway that is a remnant of the previous structure on the pier.

Flooding Gardens

White StarEvent Lawn

StageCunard Pavilion

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B

CEntry Plaza

Site Plan

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Pier 54Before and After Perspectives

Sections

A guardrail will replace the current wall and high fence. The sweeping arch will be

apparent from a great distance and draw the eye and visitors

further into the pier.

In addition to providing event space, Pier 54 will

cater to passive forms of recreation. There are ample opportunities for walking, resting, etc.

Section A: Flooding Gardens

Section B: Pier N/S

Section C: Pier E/W

Approach Typical Day Concert

The White Star Event Lawn and Stage provide an outdoor venue for public performances and community activities. The sweeping arch is 25 to 27’ above the stage, providing the ideal height to hang stage lighting.

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Conservancy

Nature Conservancy of Indiana

This project was a proposed Nature Conservancy of Indiana learning center in Southern Indiana. The two main goals of the project were to develop skills with technical drawings and to minimize the impact of the proposed design.

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Conservancy

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Conservancy

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Conservancy

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Rendering Styles

While the majority of this portfolio focuses on work that is a combination of hand graphics and AutoCAD, I can also produce digital renderings. I prefer hand graphics, so frequently when I produce digital models they are used as a base for hand drawings, as in the Belltown model below. The Belltown model at right and pergola model below were intended to stand alone as digital models. The images on the facing page were rendered in photoshop with the goal of emulating hand rendering; their linework was hand drafted and then run through Adobe Illustrator to vectorize it for the final image.

Alternate Rendering Styles

Belltown Drawing Base

Pergola

Belltown Model

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Rendering StylesPhotoshop and Illustrator Renderings

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Artworks

My artwork is widely varied in media, style, and theme. The reasons for this are multifold.

Experimentation–I am always looking to expand my experience with a variety of mediums. The wire Fisherman and silver pendant were first attempts with a new medium.

Gifts–Frequently I create gifts for friends and family or do work at their request. The image at left was done as a Christmas gift for a friend and loosely based on the floating lanterns in Tangled. This photomanipulation was done using five stock images provided on deviantart.com. Other works done as gifts are the scorpion tattoo design, the needlefelted Phoenix and the wire sculpture of Dante.

Sketching–My experimentation in many mediums has resulted in several crafts that I particularly enjoy and explore often. The first of the hobbise shown here is sketching. The woman in the wind was a freehand sketch, the sleeping cat was a live sketch, and the other cat was sketched from a photograph. The second is fiber art. I am an avid hand spinner and needle felter, as shown by the Phoenix and skein of glow in the dark yarn.

Assorted Artworks

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Artworks

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Resume

Academic HonorsDean’s List, College of Architecture and Planning, Ball State University—Spring and Fall 2011 and Summer 2013Ball State Presidential Scholarship, 2010 to 2015Ball State Honors Student, 2010 to 2015Florence M. Lacy Scholarship, 2010National Merit Commendation, 2009

Volunteer and Other ExperiencePermaculture Initiative—Administrative Assistant, Spring 2014 to presentBrazil Study Abroad, summer 2013Design-build at Iracambi Rainforest Research CenterStudent Volunteer, Huffer Memorial Children’s Center, Inc., Muncie, Indiana—January 2011 to April 2011Elliott Hall Executive Board—Haunted Ball Co-Chair, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 school yearCrazyLake Acteen—Stage Manager, summer 2011

SkillsFamiliarity with both PC and Mac operating systemsHand Rendering

Proficiency in the Following ProgramsPhotoshopIllustratorInDesignAutoCAD 2012Microsoft Office SuiteOpen OfficeDynascapeGoogle Earth

Familiarity with the Following ProgramsSketchUpBlenderEon VueArcGIS

Emily ParkersonAddress

995 East 400 NorthGreenfield, IN 46140

(317) 326-3590 (Home)(317) 223-6777 (Cell)

parkersonemily@gmail.com

EducationBall State University, Muncie, IN, 2010 to 2015

BLA Bachelor Landscape Architecture DegreeGraduated May 2015

GPA 3.719

Work ExperienceIntern at Dave’s Lawn and Landscape, May-August, 2014

Primarily residential design, site plans, site inventory, estimatesFountaintown, IN

Owner/Supervisor–Dave Purcell

Indiana State Fair, August 3-19, 2012Worker at Little Hands on the Farm children’s activity

Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, IN

Noer Programs, December 15-24, 2012Worker at photographs with Santa

Washington Square Mall, Indianapolis, IN