Sara Newey

Harvard Graduate School of DesignMLA1 candidate, 2012

323 821 2790

9 Bowdoin Street #2

Somerville, MA 02143

saranewey@mac.com

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Modernizing MIT: Killian Court

Light Study

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Willet’s Point, New York

South Weymouth Naval Air Station

Boston Government Center

Puma campaign

The Program campaign

Gothic Arch at LACMA

The Forest at Machine Project

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P H E N O M E N O N

The challenge in redesigning MIT's Killian Court rests in the dichotomy presented between the traditional architecture of William Bosworth's Maclaurin building and the position of MIT today as a center for creativity and innovative technology. It's strong connection and proximity to the water's edge, and position as a formal entrance on the banks of the Charleshowever, has been diminished by the development of memorial drive. Because of this, the court has not progressed with the development of MIT's reputation. Instead, it remains stunted, and underused. Reestablishing a physical and visual connection between the court and the Charles River, and between the court and MIT's technological and creative student body would make the court relevant to the campus again, and create not a front entrance that you would pass through, but a space to hold it's visitors- from 10000 at graduation, to the single student. This project aims to create a new landmark for MIT. By creating a land bridge that connects the court, literally to the river, and developing a series of projections that maximize the presence of water in the court, MIT's Killian Court will once again become a focal point of the campus.

KILL IAN COURT, MIT, C AMBRIDGE, M A

2011 GSD

Killian Court sits on reclaimed land from the Charles River. It's strong connection and proximity to the water , and position as a formal entrance on the banks of the Charles however, has been diminished by the development of memorial drive. Because of this, the court has not progressed with the development of MIT's reputation. Instead, it remains stunted, and underused, except for the graduation ceremony each spring which has a very large, and brief footprint.

CONCEPT S TUDIES

Memorial Drive

Graduation Footprint

Memorial Drive

Public Private

Wet Dry

Memorial Drive

To reestablish a strong connection to the Charles River, a land bridge would cross over Memorial Drive, eliminating the traffic that otherwise cuts the court off from being able to engage the water. By pushing the sloped topography which runs under the Massachusetts Ave. overpass to just east of the court, enough space is gained to provide a large public space with easy access for anyone walking along the esplanade and to connect with the water.

L ANDBRIDGE DE VELOPMENT

1 5 10 20

1 5 10 20

Before

After

300 60 90

N

MIT's Infinite Corridor

Stage/ Installation/ exhibit space

Existing Elm Alley's

Center Lawn

Shallow PoolPaperbark Birch treesSeating areas

Buoyed walkways

Kentucky Coffee tree bosques

Benches

Amphitheater seating

Land bridge lawn

This projection at the front entrance plays a key role in designing Killian Court as a new landmark for MIT. The large scale of the projection will allow Killian Court to be seen from the Massachusett's Ave. bridge, and across the Charles in Boston, while offering opportunities for students to interact or design various schemes in future years. The light be-ing projected is a real time representation of the water in the main reflecting pool. The water is filmed, capturing the movement of people in the court, and projected. The projection becomes interactive as visitors within the court experiment and play with the vibrations animating the water within the main pool.

KILL IAN COURT FRONT ENTR ANCE

The water in the pool is filmed and projected onto the front entrance of the court, broadening the effects of water and the connection to the Charles. The water is animated in two ways: the paths crossing the pool are buoyed -creating ripples in the water as you move across them. And, speakers installed un-der the pool surface will create vibrations and movement in the water- controlled by users cell phones acting as remote controls.

VIS I TOR INTER AC T ION

cell phone remote application speaker / camera / projector projections of water movement

As visitors and students walk across the bridges towards the MacLaurin Building and the infinite corridor, the water is activated by the weight of the footsteps, illuminated with light, filmed, and projected at the front entrance. During the graduation ceremony each spring, students will walk towards the stage over these walkways, in a dramatic procession to receive their diploma's.

PROCESSIONAL WALKWAYS

28”

28”

11”15

”

38”

19”

30”

28”

28”

11”15

”

38”

19”

30”

EAS T & WES T COURT YARDS

The faceted seating, designed for the islands in each of the side courts were inspired by crystalline struc-tures that "conduct" light. The chairs will be cast in resin, imbedded with LED lights at their centers. The sculp-tural seating offers a break from the formality of the space, allowing for a more playful atmosphere to rest.

The islands that sit within the 2 side courts are planted with pa-perbark birches, illuminated at night by small LED lights embed-ded in the limestone, and sculptural chairs cast in resin with in-ternal lights- allowing them to glow with a crystalline effect.

100˚

120˚

125˚

WATER'S EDGE

The steps that lead to the Charles River at the edge of the land bridge also function as benches with various angles of repose.

100˚

120˚

125˚

The steps at the entrance to the MacLaurin Build-ing are extended out into the court, creating a stage for performances,large scale installations, and an area for students to sit off of the infinite corridor, located just inside the doors.

INS TALL AT ION SPACE / S TAGE

Trees each filter light differently to the ground plane creating moments of unique experiential effects for the passerby be-neath it’s canopy. The series of models are a selection from a larger set examining and mimicking the light quality produced by common street trees and their leaf texture and density.

ARBOREAL L IGHT S TUDY

2010 GSD

Cornus kousa Acer campestre Aesculus hippocastanum Gleditsia triacanthos

H A B I T A T

Located on Flushing Bay, and adjacent to Citi Field in Queens NY, Willet's Point is at once a forgotten piece of urban landscape and a vibrant community filled with off the grid auto repair shops. Eco-logically, the area is very degraded. The absence of sewers and environmental regulation has resulted in the extremely poor wa-ter quality of Flushing Bay. In addition, the natural flows within the estuary that cuts through the site have been completely dis-solved. Using ecological function as a framework for human de-velopment, the goal of this project is to create a habitat for oys-ter populations that can coexist with a new development plan for the area. Oyster's have historically played a large role in the area's ecological systems. Each oyster has the ability to filter up to five liters of water per hour and represent a potential ally in the resto-ration of Flushing Bays water quality. While oysters are incredible at cleaning water, they do have habitat requirements that are not presently being met by the bay. The sedimentation of the water in the bay has been magnified by the quality of storm water runoff flowing from the area streets. In addition, the estuary that used to exist is no longer supplying the volumes of freshwater necessary to lower salinity levels to the requirements needed for large numbers of healthy oyster larvae. This project aims to develop a plan that fulfills development requirements for a combination of high and low density housing while creating a condition that harvests area runoff and grey water. The water will function as the key input of freshwater back into the system and allow for the development of healthy oyster populations. The plan reflects a reciprocal relationship between the lives of the oysters and the people living on the point.

WILLE T ’S POINT, QUEENS, NEW YORK

2011 GSD

Navigational Channel

Viable Habitat Area

spdes (State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) - wastewater treatment facilities

CSO’s (Combined Sewer Overflow)

N

1:15000m

Willet's Point is located at the southern most tip of Flushing Bay- an area that had previously been a healthy estuary system that would have supported large communities of marine life, including oysters. The high levels of sedimentation and the low salinity of water in the bay currently make the area inhospitable to oyster populations that would go a long way in restoring the health of the bay. The plan that follows allow for "spokes" of development to act as delivery sys-tems of fresh water that has been harvested and cleaned from area runoff, blue roofs, and grey water. The system will supply the nec-essary amounts of freshwater needed to lower salinity levels and reduce the sedimentation in the bay. The system therefore creates a symbiotic relationship between the development and the oysters.

FLUSHING BAY & REGIONAL CONTEX T

Navigational Channel

Viable Habitat Area

spdes (State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) - wastewater treatment facilities

CSO’s (Combined Sewer Overflow)

N

1:15000m

Deployment strategy : based on market fluctuations and changes to surrounding area drainage patterns, a flexible ar-rangement of development is possible. However, 40% must be high density, 40% medium density, and 20% open space. Den-sities must be scattered to ensure adequate water handling.

Stormwater runoff is funneled from area roadways to the development where it is captured and cleaned be-fore being deposited into the bay to lower salinity levels.

SITE PL AN & DEPLOYMENT

N

1:3000

High density development: self-contained, freshwater generated from harvested rain-water and recycled grey water. Water is stored and discharged into the bay in controlled amounts to ensure constant salinity.

Medium density development: less water is generated from blue roofs and grey-water re-cycling. Block structure breaks into smaller units, allowing bioswales to occupy interstitial spaces between buildings. Medium density spokes accept storm water runoff from surrounding areas, filtering it before discharging it into the bay.

No density development: Open space developed for recreational use and additional bioswales to accept additional stormwater runoff from surrounding areas.

40% high density housing

40% medium density housing

20% recreation and open space

THREE SEC T IONAL T YPOLOGIES

High density development: The high density spoke of develop-ment operates as a fresh water generator for flushing bay. The larger population requires a larger volume of water, which can be separated into grey water and recycled. The higher density also results in larger roof footprints, allowing for large volumes of fresh, clean water to be harvested in blue roof systems. Water is then stored and discharged into the bay in controlled amounts to ensure constant salinity. The presence of water and the systems used to collect it will be highly visible and serve as a reminder to use water as efficiently as possible.

Medium density development: The medium density spoke gener-ates less water but uses space to capture more road runoff. Block structure breaks into smaller units, allowing bioswales to occupy interstitial spaces between buildings. Medium density spokes ac-cept storm water runoff from surrounding areas, filtering it before discharging it into the bay. The presence of water is ever present in this condition as well, as the open spaces serve a dual function, providing atmospheric and recreational opportunities, as well as water treatment.

No density development: Open space spokes are developed for the recreational use of the greater public and the population living on the water. Additional bioswales are in place to accept stormwater runoff from surrounding areas. Tidal swimming pools offer unique swimming experiences and the chance to get close to the water and witness the effect of the tides.

High density

Low density

Recreational

Oysters at various stages of their lives prefer different levels of salinity. To ensure the largest population of healthy oysters, spawning larvae need a salinity of 17.5 PPT, while adult oysters prefer a salinity level of 22.5 PPT. In nature, oyster larvae tend to be located closer to land and fresh water inputs. As they de-velop, the adults attach themselves to substrates further into the ocean where the salinity is higher and less diluted by fresh wa-ter. Large volumes of fresh water would be necessary to lower the salinity of the bay to create the optimal environment for large populations of healthy oyster larvae . The bay, historically, would have been receiving this volume of water from the estu-ary that has been closed off. The imagery depicts the pathways designed to be accessible for limited amounts of time due to tidal fluctuations and the initial implementation of colonized oyster sub-strate used to encourage the oyster population in Flushing Bay.

WATER SALINIT Y & OYS TER S

Free Swimming Larvae Adult Oyster17.5 PPT

0 PPT

22.5 PPT

Freshwater

50 PPT

Open Sea Water

LARVAE WATER

BAY WATER

FRESHWATER

35 PPT 17 PPT0 PPT

To test the effects of water flow on the form of reef development and it's effects on oyster larvae recruitment, we used Surface Water Modeling System’s Software (SMS). The reef, initiated by a rebar frame, will grow over time while illustrating the direction and speed of water flow. Oyster larvae will populate the down-side of the dome, building on itself year after year. As the frame degrades over time, only shells will remain - producing viable fish habitat and cleaner water. (In collaboration with Tomas Folch)

WATER FLOW & REEF COLONIZ AT ION

Structures populated by oyster spat are moved from the nursery to reef. Currents created by change in bathymetry inspire oyster growth to favor one side, while extending the reef

original dome settlements

estuary �loor

vital habitat

2m

x>10cm

water velocity: for larvae recruitment: less than 10 cm -1rebar dome settled by oyster spat

SMS water flow model-currents converge, forcing oysters

populate one side of each dome. Over time, the oysters will create a ridge,

following the flow of water.

B&W bitmap of water flow diagram Rhino terrain created from bitmap New Hydrographic Morphology

cm/s

0 3 6 9 12

2m

Structures populated by oyster spat are moved from the nursery to the reef. Currents created by the change in bathymetry inspire oyster growth to favor one side, while extending the reef.

Dome settlements

Estuary Floor

Vital Habitat

SMS water flow modelcurrents converge, forcing oyster larvae to populate one side of each dome. Over time, the oysters will create a ridge that follows the flow of water

rebar dome settled by oyster spat

water velocity for larvae recruitment: less than 10cm ˉ¹

WATER C APTURE, CLEANING, & RELEASE

The high, medium, and zero density development spokes all capture runoff from the surrounding area. The urban area that encircles the intervention is highly impervious and yields large vol-umes of polluted and sediment filled runoff, which at the moment flows out of CSO's directly into the bay. The development areas are positioned to accept this runoff and retain the water in bioswales designed to separate out the effluent before releasing the fresh water into the bay. Over time, the water quality if the bay will increase and provide a healthy location for the oysters to flourish.

FLUSHING, QUEENS

SURFACE RUNOFF

LOW DENSITY

HIGH DENSITY

BIO SWALE INTERCEPTOR

BIO SWALES

LOW DENSITY DEVELOPMENT: EXCEPTS AREA RUNOFF. AS BLOCK SIZE DECREASED, INTERSITIAL SPACES BETWEEN LOWER DENSITY HOUSING ARE USED AS BIOSWALES- FILTERING WATER BEFORE REACHING THE BAY

HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT: BIO SWALES MITIGATE STORM WATER BEFORE IT REACHES SPOKE AND THE BAY.

GREY WATER RECYCLING

42” RAINWATER

2010 2030 2050

Water Quality Improvement

Low Density Development: This type of development excepts area storm water runoff. As the block size decreases, interstitial spaces between lower density housing is used as bioswales- filtering water before reaching the bay. The freshwater is clean as it enters the system to lower salinity levels.

High Density Development: Bioswales are placed to mitigate storm water before reaching the spoke and bay. Grey water recycling and blue roof technology capture clean fresh water before depositing it into the bay.

High Density Development

Low Density Development

MEDIUM DENSIT Y HOUSING & T IDAL FLUC TUAT ION

The character of each of the spokes of development changes with the tidal flux of Flushing Bay. At low tide, paths emerge, and oys-ter beds become more visible. As the water rises, the presence of water is felt more dramatically, as the reflection of the water appears on the sides of buildings, and a person is able to bend and touch the water's edge. The tidal fluctuation acts as a conveyor for the oys-ter larvae, who hatch in the shallower waters close to the coastline and in the waters close to the perimeter of the spokes where fresh water is being released. With the tides, the larvae is transported out to the reefs further into the ocean, where salinity levels are higher, and where they will attach themselves to the substrate of the reef.

Low Tide

High Tide

Photographer: Jared Eberhardt

PROGR AM SNOWBOARDS SE T

2008 Los Angeles

An indoor forest set was created for the Program snowboard company with taxidermy, tree trunks, live tree branches. grass-es, dirt, moss, and rocks. The ad campaign was displayed as the inside cover of ski and snowboard magazines nationwide.

In collaboration with Christy McCaffrey

An installation creating a surreal and immersive environment that transformed the space of the gallery. Materials included tree trunks, live branches, fiberglass tree trunks, dirt, leaves, and live plants. The installation was in place for one month, during which a series of events such as poetry readings, a big-foot lecture, and movie screenings took place. The installation was also featured in the movie 'Greenberg' by Noah Baumbach.

(http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/04/re-view-christy-mccaffrey-and-sara-newey-at-machine-project.html)

THE FORES TM ACHINE PROJEC T GALLERY, L A , C A

2009 Los Angeles

M E T A M O R P H O S I S

As a decommissioned military base, the SOWEY site is compli-cated by issues of contamination, multiple county lines, and past development resulting in the disruption of wetland habitat. The project considers the current mismanagement of wildlife in the eastern half of Massachusetts by proposing a managed and con-served hunting ground that responds over time to fluctuating populations of animal species increasingly attracted to urban ar-eas. The landscape is transformed into a 'sink', luring overpopu-lated species from surrounding suburbs, while simultaneously providing a haven for species that require protection. The pro-gram, driven mainly by a seasonal foraging and hunting calendars, creates unique relationships between multiple demographics. By maximizing existing site resources, facilities, and adjacencies, the new node for foraging conservation utilizes minimal operational strategies to create maximum resource and cost efficiencies. The design is projected over a period of one hundred years, focusing on the broader and longer range strategies for re-envisioning the future of the site while redefining it as a system in a larger con-text.(In collaboration with Emily Gordon and Scottie McDaniel)

SOUTH WE YMOUTH NAVAL AIR S TAT ION (SOWE Y) WE YMOUTH, M A

2010 GSD

SITE PROJEC T ION (2060) & PROGR AM C ALENDAR

The landscape is curated to respond to and attract overpopu-lated species. On a regional scale, the site will act as a prototype within a system of conserved patches. To achieve this, systems for vegetative, hydrologic, and topographic manipulation are put in place at the initial phase of the project, embracing the idea of continuous disturbance and designing for maximum flexibility.Management areas and site organization will change in response to habitat needs, layering over time. With species and habitats in con-stant flux, conservation can no longer be conceptually tied to the preservation of a fixed state and defies the notion of a predictable and specified site plan. The projection of the site for 2060 predicts the need for water management, to respond to increased runoff from neighboring sites and to create habitat for the over populated Canadian Geese population destined for this area of New England. Controlled burning continues to be a management strategy for en-couraging the grassland habitat in the southern part of the site, while timber harvesting ensures a multi aged and healthy forest. At the same time, successional vegetation has acted upon the run-ways, helping to break apart the concrete which is recycled on site.

Forest management practices: 1 acre forest harvestand legacy tree selection

Landing pad succession

Damming and water management

Grassland burning and field experiments

Runway scoring and catalyzed breakdown

SEQUENTIAL SEC T IONS : HABITAT THROUGH S TR ATEGIC DIS TURBANCE

By maximizing existing site resources, facilities, and adjacencies, the new node for foraging conservation utilizes minimal opera-tional strategies to create maximum resource and cost efficien-cies. The operations on site both actualize the curation of habi-tat for a continuously changing population of species, and jump start the successional development of vegetation which will later be harvested. Topographic manipulation in the initial stages of site intervention allows for the future flexibility in hydrologic lev-els. Responding to area runoff and species targeted as nuisances, ponds can be flooded or allowed to drain. Grassland burning in the southern half of the site is used to inspire successional growth while creating adjacencies of habitats suitable for many bird spe-cies and deer that prefer openspace near forest cover. The run-ways on site provide large quantities of concrete to be recycled. Following the strategy of minimal input, the runways are scored, allowing for vegetation to more quickly colonize and break up the concrete into pieces that can more easily be removed. Forest management includes harvesting trees in 1 acre square areas while selecting legacy trees that remain standing. This ensures a multi-aged forest that maximizes it's hosting capabilities for biodiversity.

Earth removal and sequence of hydrologic levels Grassland burning and field experiments Runway scoring and catalyzed breakdownand succession

Forestry management: Shelterwood group and legacy tree selection and succession

THREE CROSS SEC T IONS

A portion of the program designed for the site includes foraging activities and cooking related events that correspond to the hunt-ing calendar. Walnut trees are planted in groves in the northern portion of the site and provide habitat for truffles that grow es-pecially well around their roots. Blueberry bushes colonize the area previously used as the landing pad for helicopters. Area chef's are invited to participate in large dinners arranged on the former runways, creating a unique, local dining experience. Dur-ing times when the eastern portion of the site is flooded to make room for large ponds to attract area geese, the runways become the perfect high ground for skeet shooting. Areas of contamina-tion on the site - remnants of prior use - are capped. The areas are cleared before hand and create open spaces in the forest, creating edge conditions that lure wildlife such as white tail deer.

Landfill cap: luring wildlife to occupy the zone between dense forest and clearing

Runways become bridges while water is managed and attract over burdened geese populations

Walnut groves provide habitat for mushrooms and truffles. Large dinners take place on abandoned runways, surrounded by fields of blueberries

PROJEC TED HABITAT CREAT ION OVER 100 YEAR S

The diagram to the right traces the changes and fluctuations that could occur on the site over a period of one hundred years. Hydrologic fluctuation, runway dissection and dynamic vegetation all transform the character of the site. The imagery at the bottom depicts the cultivation of mushrooms and truffles, both of which form the basis for foraging and culinary related program on the site. The pairing of a culinary culture with hunting on site inspire the collaboration of diverse demographics.

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Site Projection 2060

Annual Program Scenario Threads

1011 acre

Projective Habitats

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Mushroom propagation and truffle habitat

Projected habitat creation over 100 years

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In collaboration with Christy McCaffrey

The sculpture was created as part of the group show orga-nized by Machine Project gallery’s “Field Guide to LACMA.” The archway is a replica of The Doorway with Arms of the Counts of Chazay, (circa 1450) which is on display within the muse-um. We carved the replica out of foam and painted it to match the original. Every hour a guitarist would play speed metal guitar for one minute, acting as a clock for the show through-out the day. The piece was reviewed in the Los Angeles Times.

GOTHIC SPEED ME TAL ARCHLOS ANGELES COUNT Y MUSEUM of ART

2008 Los Angeles

(http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/17/entertainment/et-lacma17)

0 40 80 120

1.0” = 40 .0‘

NBoston City Hall Plaza aspen trees �rst planted aspen trees in 20 years aspen trees in 50 years

Boston’s City Hall Plaza is currently organized to accept an irregu-lar influx of large groups of people for sporadic events. At other times, the plaza seems static and unwelcoming. This project in-tends to introduce dynamic elements that allow the plaza to be expressive at all times of the year while retaining the ability to host large groups of people. Vegetation has the opportunity to change over multiple time lines. Seasonally, quaking aspens and winter wheat would change color dramatically. Along a longer time line, aspens, which propagate by root suckers, are planted in open troughs under the ground plane. This allows the trees to slowly spread across the site, shifting the density from one area to another.

BOS TON CIT Y HALL PL A Z A, BOS TON, M A

2010 GSD

SPRING WINTERSUMMER FALL

0 40 80 120

1.0” = 40 .0‘

NBoston City Hall Plaza aspen trees �rst planted aspen trees in 20 years aspen trees in 50 years

concept diagram

shade study and animation

seasonal change study model

A single shell spelling the famous sports brands' name was designed to house four different sets promoting Puma’s fit-ness, golf, motocross, and running campaigns. The wooden shell, with rolling front doors, was dressed and re-dressed for the four themes and filmed and photographed in succession.

PUM A SE T

2009 Los Angeles

Director: Jared Eberhardt

The campaign was produced for online, video, and editorial ad-vertising, as well as in store graphics, and special promotions.

DISPL AY

Paris Metro Station

Sara Newey

Harvard Graduate School of DesignMLA1 candidate, 2012

323 821 2790

9 Bowdoin Street #2

Somerville, MA 02143

saranewey@mac.com