Urban Design Portfolio by Donna Mena

donna mena Urban Design Portfolio

Select Work Winter 2023

REIMAGINE HILLSDALE Gehl Architects San Mateo, CA 2021- ongoing I Bohannon Development & Northwood Investors PROJECT DESCRIPTION Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo will soon be the home of a new type of retail and shopping as it will go through yet another transformation to better serve its community and ready itself for a more resilient future. Reimagine Hillsdale is the community and outreach branch of the project, where we listened, talked and engaged with shoppers, neighbors and guests of the mall. The scope was led by Gehl Architects between the months of April 2022 to February of 2023. I was one of 3 designers in charge of building out the storefront’s interior and exterior graphic presence. Our goal was to create a friendly user experience where participants were encourage to engage in activities, ask us questions and learn more about the proposed redevelopment.

REIMAGINE HILLSDALE Gehl Architects San Mateo, CA 2021- ongoing I Bohannon Development & Northwood Investors PROJECT DESCRIPTION The lead designer and I worked developing the interior content of all three open houses. This meant creating new boards for every event, while also thinking about the flow of guests, the types of activities they’d engage with, and presenting summaries from the previous open house. The elevations to the left show a mock up for the first open house in early 2022.

We also lead the communication and advertisement outreach efforts on Eventbrite, Instagram, Facebook and physical flyers. This was primarily tasked to the lead designer but I contributed with graphics and formatting materials.

HILLSDALE M.P. Gehl Architects San Mateo, CA 2021- ongoing I Bohannon Development & Northwood Investors PROJECT DESCRIPTION The feedback we received from the Reimagine Hillsdale open hoses aided in the development of the Hillsdale Masterplan. We sought to bring back the garden mall from the shopping center’s earlier years and create a space that wasn’t closed off to the environment and its surroundings. We developed 3 possible masterplan scenarios, each with their own unique expression its in physical character, program distribution and proforma. I worked from the early stages of generating big moves (early hunches) to the final masterplan and finally the final deliverables.

Renders were outsourced

HILLSDALE M.P. Gehl Architects San Mateo, CA 2021- ongoing I Bohannon Development & Northwood Investors PROJECT DESCRIPTION Once the masterplan was completed, sections, elevations, and public space plans were generated to show the activity in between the buildings. Diagrams showing pedestrian, vehicle and bike flows were also generated with help from HOK who led the architectural development of the buildings.

EL CANADA M.P. Gehl Architects Monterrey, MX 2021- ongoing I GM Capital PROJECT DESCRIPTION Sitting on a brownfield, the proposed El Canada masterplan will be the site of a future mixed-use development for the middle class of Monterrey Mexico. Intended to have various zones including housing, big box stores, a central shopping hub, a events stadium, church and school, the development hopes to offers diverse offerings to both residents and guests.

LEGEND 1. Soccer field 2. Play area 3. Outdoor dining 4. Splah pad 5. Water retaining ponds 6. Lawn

THE LOOM Gehl Architects Oakland, CA 2023- ongoing PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Loom is an up-and-coming arts and entertainment destination within the East Bay. While its events and shows have proven popular amongst the community, its location south of the 880 freeway isolates it from the surrounding community. Initial studies through site analysis and Big Moves helps us identify potential spatial connections / solutions to the site.

CIRCULATION MAPPING Pedestrian Path Bike Lane Freeway BART Local Bus Routes SF-OAK Bus Routes

DAVIDSON ST Gehl Architects Charlotte, NC 2022- ongoing I Space Craft PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed development along Davidson Street in Charlotte is one of several adjacent projects by Space Craft. These developments, each sit on neighboring parcels with the intention of creation a robust, mixed-use development outside downtown where pedestrian movement and public transportation is prioritized. The massing and building studies were done by an engineering firm and the public space studies were lead by Gehl.

STUDY SECTIONS

SCARF-SCARF Personal Project Team Members I Independent 2021 - ongoing PROJECT DESCRIPTION SCARF-SCARF is a limited-run garment project exploring the duality of language between food and architecture. The etymology of design language is obscure and mysterious but can often time be traced back to Latin origin, centuries before our time. But what about design language that does have ties to a Latin origin? What about objects and techniques that gain their name not from the Greeks or Romans, but from the physical characteristics of food? SCARF-SCARF digs into this obscure topic through wit, humor and lots of puns.

FIVE LENSES California College of the Arts Advanced Studio I Apocalypse Now! Professors I Christopher Roach and Christina Cho Yoo 5

Orchard Road - Plan

Orchard Road - Section

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Orchard Road was a case study conducted at the beginning of the Apocalypse Now! Studio in an effort to better understand the economic, social and architectural characteristic of six different markets outside of the United States. The markets in question were: Orchard Road, Champs-Élysées, Shinjuku Station, Grand Bazaar and Changi Airport. Professors, Christopher Roach and Christina Cho Yoo, created the Five Lenses, which guided our researched and created a unified analysis across all case studies The five lenses are: Access/Infrastructure, Governance/Programming, Ownership/Capital, Form/Surface, Media/Technology. The following drawings demonstrate an concentrated study into a portion of Orchard Road in order to better understand the relationship between the ground floor and retail. As a Research Assistant for the Urban Works Agency, I worked with studio professors, Christopher Roach and Christina Cho Yoo in the early stages of the Apocalypse Now! syllabus. I sourced international markets and did initial research on potential case studies that would eventually be performed by the students. I also developed a graphic standard that was used by the students for the duration of the studio.

LEGEND 1. Access/Infrastructure 2. Governance/Programming 3. Ownership/Capital 4. Form/Surface 5. Media/Technology (not featured)

ALT - INTERSECT California College of the Arts Advanced Studio I Apocalypse Now! Professors I Christopher Roach and Christina Cho Yoo RE-THINKING THE GROUND FLOOR AT MISSION ROCK Located north of Mission Bay, Mission Rock is a joint venture development between The San Francisco Giants and Tishman Speyer. Over the last nine years, Mission Rock has provided outdoor parking for guests visiting Oracle Park in the north and Chase stadium in the south. The site will now shift from outdoor parking to a mixeduse development which will be completed over the course of 4 phases.

Building A Building G

Building F 4

My proposal seeks to embrace Mission Rock’s DIY spirit and create a space that celebrates temporary activities and interchangeable programming. The site’s potential to accommodate interchangeable programs can also provide guests to Oracle Park or Chase stadium additional overflow space that can be used before, during, and after a game. Retail on the ground floor will operate on a seasonal or limited basis and can capitalize on the site’s short-term and longterm uses.

Building B 2

3rd Street 4rd Street

Terry A Francois Blvd

Maximize Connection on 3rd Street K

3rd St and Mission Rock

Connect to Existing Bike Lane

EXISTING SITE

BLOCK PARTY Non-Profit Initiative Temporary Parklet Initiative for the City of San Francisco Team I Donna Mena, Joe Couture, Justin Davidson, Jose Meza PROJECT DESCRIPTION Block Party formed after receiving first place in CCA’s inaugural event, Sparks, a business pitch competition and mastership program, during the spring quarter of 2020. My proposal, Trash Party, sought to repropose debris bins and transform them into outdoor public space for low-income communities. Block Party evolved after the recent reopening of restaurants and service-related businesses began to allow outdoor dining on the streets of San Francisco through the Shared Spaces program. 7 9

1’ - 6”

5’ - 0”

3’ - 6”

The render to the left is Block Party’s first temporary parklet under the Shared Spaces permit. This parklet was designed and built for High Five nail salon and is expected to be operational in late September.

8 4

3’ - 6”

-0

0’ - 4”

6’

”

7’ -

0”

HIGH FIVE PARKLET CALL OUTS 1. 1’-0” Plywood barricade. Color: White 2. Plywood Barricade Wind Shield w/ Plexiglass. 3. Plywood Floor. 4. Built-in Bench. Color: Blue Dim: L 13’-0” x W 0’-18” x D 0’-18” 5. Technician’s Desk. Color: Pink Dim: L 3’-0” x W 0’-18” x H 0’-30” 6. Supply Cart. 7. Technician’s Shield. Might have to adhere to table. 8. Stools. 9. Umbrellas 10. High Five Advertising (Optional)

BLOCK PARTY Non-Profit Initiative Temporary Parklet Initiative for the City of San Francisco Team I Donna Mena, Joe Couture, Justin Davidson, Jose Meza

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The nail technician equipment was selected and staged by High Five. All photographs were taken by Iryna Gorb.

PARK DOLORES California College of the Arts Advanced Studio I California City Professors I Nataly Gattegno and Hugh Hynes

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Lake Dolores was once a vibrant water park located off the 5highway in the Mojave Desert. Now, the park sits idle, vacant and unused; water slides and pools remain but the water park remains frozen since its closure in 2004.

This proposal speculates a future where Lake Dolores is active once again, operating as Green Tech. Inc., a fictitious company eager to create a more regulated irrigation system for crops in the Mojave Desert. Through their innovative technology, water run-off from the nearby alfalfa fields is collected and recycled, however the mineral-rich soils emerging from this genetically modified soil does come with consequences. LEGEND 1. Entrance to Lake Dolores Water park. 2. View from Above - Water-Slides and Pools. 3. View from Above - Existing Buildings. 4. Colorful Buildings

PARK DOLORES California College of the Arts Advanced Studio I California City Professors I Nataly Gattegno and Hugh Hynes PROJECT DESCRIPTION The evolution of Park Dolores can be traced over the course of 11 years. As the park is modified to best suit GreenTech Inc.’s agenda, flowers, plants and native life naturally take over. The top layer demonstrates a surrender towards nature, with GreenTech Inc. stepping away and making room for industries that are more suitable for a volatile and unpredictable environment.

HELLO GREEN TECH INC. - GREEN TECH INC.’S CAMPUS Green Tech Inc. take over the Lake Dolores and convert it into a campus for themselves and their faculty.

PARK DOLORES California College of the Arts Advanced Studio I California City Professors I Nataly Gattegno and Hugh Hynes PROJECT DESCRIPTION The rich soil has created an ecosystem where desert blooms are more consistent and occurring at a faster rate. While these flowers are welcomed by the natural landscape as a much needed pollinator in the barren, hot desert, it has proven to serve too much of an inconvenience for Green Tech Inc. You see, once the super blooms began to appear on social media, the weekends were consumed with visitors eager to see the vibrant flowers in person. The site, sought after for its isolation and ample space, was now compromised. Green Tech Inc. decided to step away and sold the property to bee farmers who where eager to use the super bloom flowers to draw in more wildlife into the site.

GOODBYE GREEN TECH INC. - HELLO BEE FARMS! After Greentech Inc. leaves, Bee Farming community arrives ready to grow in parallel with the growing landscape instead of fighting it.

PARK DOLORES California College of the Arts Advanced Studio I California City Professors I Nataly Gattegno and Hugh Hynes

KEVIN THE KIOSK Competition Team Members I Independent September 2018 PROJECT DESCRIPTION Hosted by Bee Breeders, the “Tiny Coffee House Challenge” competition asked participants to “expand beyond the premise of the modern coffee shop, [and create a] design that could be easily replicated in miniscule locations across northern Europe”. My proposal seeks to engage not only with its visitors but also with its surrounding environment. Kevin the Kiosk serves as a hub for both the coffee aficionado and those in need of a caffeine fix. A place where you can pause, relax, and share an experience with those around you. While conventional coffee houses promote some level of social interaction, it’s often limited to isolated groups and individual tables. Kevin hopes to change that.

KEVIN Kevin merges the social aspect of a cafe and the efficiency of a kiosk. It encourages interaction through coffee and versatile spaces.

KEVIN THE KIOSK Competition Team Members I Independent September 2018 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Floor plan - Closed

Floor plan - Open

Kevin can break into three compartments, creating interior spaces that can transform into exterior spaces. This feature juxtaposes the formality of traditional coffee shops with more informal and fluid typology. When all three modules are assembled into one unit, the kiosk serves a more conventional practice with stadium seating and standing space for its visitors. When pulled apart, the division of space is evident and the program becomes less defined. As a traveling kiosk, this duality will help Kevin adapt to various site conditions and present to the public a customizable public space fully defined by location and necessity.

Elevation - Fixed Windows

Elevation - Operable Windows

COMPONENTS 1. Acrylic Doors 2. Stadium Seating 3. Service Counter

WEATHER RESISTANT The sloped roof protects the kiosk from snow and rainfall.

Section - View of Integrated Counter

Section - View of Stadium Seating

WEATHER FRIENDLY The kiosk can come apart, exposing its interior to sunny, warm weather.

SOCIAL CLIMBER Competition Team Members I Independent December 2015 PROJECT DESCRIPTION Hosted by Ee Stairs, the prompt asked designers to rethink stairs for the corporate workplace. Participants were asked to create a “story and orchestrate a wonderful journey between the spaces that they [the stairs] connect...”. I proposed a building that embodied the look and function of one long continuous staircase.

TYPICAL BUILDING LAYOUT

REMOVE CIRCULATION

MERGE FLOOR PLATES

SOCIAL CLIMBER Competition Team Members I Independent December 2015 PROJECT DESCRIPTION Because the integration of program and circulation results in an open floor plan, the stepped platforms create divisions and moments of rest where activity can exist. Each platform is connected by smaller steps that make it easier to move from one area to the next. Programs clash with one another creating relationships not experienced in typical office environments.

STEPPED FLOOR PLATES

PROGRAM ON LANDING

MERGED WORKPLACE

2266 BAY STREET Winder Gibson Architects San Francisco, California April 2016 - May 2020 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 2266 Bay Street was the first project I worked on when I joined Winder Gibson Architects. This development included partially retaining a two-story home in the Marina District and transforming it into a four-story home with added square footage, new rear yard and new cosmetic finishes. I worked under the guidance of my project manager, Kaileen Yen, and the supervision of the principal, Geoffrey Gibson. I worked on all phases of the process up until Construction administration when I left Winder Gibson to attend CCA. I worked on the initial schematic design and floor plan irritations, all which occurred on Revit. I worked with the PM and developer to create a material pallet that would appeal to potential buyers. All SD, DD and CD drawings where produced by myself and the PM.

FRONT VIEW View from above shows the building in relation to its context.

MARINA DISTRICT, SF The site is located in the Marina District, east from the Palace of Fine Arts.

2266 BAY STREET Winder Gibson Architects San Francisco, California April 2016 - May 2020 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1

2 Images from the interior demonstrate the spacious and versatile capabilities of its design. Much of WGA goals is to create a product that will last a long time, but doesn’t compromise the aesthetics of the materials and space. The project manger and myself where thoughtful about our material, hardware and appliance selection. We wanted to create a space that would age properly and appeal to the market.

INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPH IMAGES 1. Living Room and Accordion Doors to Balcony 2. Master Bathroom 3. Kitchen with Access to Terrace 4. Main Staircase and Frosted Window

2805 PARK BLVD Winder Gibson Architects Oakland, California January 2019 - May 2019 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 2805 Park Blvd is a 20-unit condominium development in Oakland, California. A previous development was approved by the city 2 years prior, but WGA was brought on to redesign the development for a new, more contemporary aesthetic. The biggest challenge on this project was accommodating 20-units in an irregular, sloped site and still include the original features that were included in the previous building permit. I worked along side the project manager, Miki Hirai, and together we created a “checker-pattern” facade meant to maximize square footage while maintaining variety along both elevations. I produced drawings for the SD and DD phase, along with the renders and perspective seen on this sheet. I worked with the city of Oakland to make sure we met at codes and requirements. We also worked with an arborist which was required considering our site’s previous life as a community garden.

STREET VIEW Street view shows entrance to the community garden and its rich foliage.

LAKE MERRIT, OAKLAND The site is located on Park Blvd. south-west from Lake Merrit.

2805 PARK BLVD Winder Gibson Architects Oakland, California January 2019 - May 2019 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The following diagrams demonstrate the reduced footprint we had to work with, and the immense program required by the developer. We were asked to produce units with 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom count. Image to the left shows the third floor: 5-units, and access to a rear back yard for residents.

DIAGRAM LEGEND 1. Lobby, Ground Level 2. Garage / Amenity Space, Second Floor 3. Five Residential Units, Third Floor 4. Five Residential Units, Fourth Floor 5. Five Residential Units, Fifth Floor 6. Five Residential Units, Sixth Floor

346 HANOVER STREET Winder Gibson Architects Lake Merrit, California October 2018 PROJECT DESCRIPTION WGA held an office charrette during the early stages of design for the renovation of an apartment complex in Lake Merrit, California. My proposal was chosen for its simple, thoughtful and efficient approach. We were asked not to disturb the existing structure and instead focused on a cosmetic renovation. This included new exterior paint, a complete redesign of the lobby, new landscape design, and the renovation of several units on the second floor. My Role I worked with a project manager and principal throughout the design and construction phase. I was given the opportunity to oversee the renovation and was the primary source of contact for the client and contractor. The objective was to create an attractive, economical, and time efficient renovation that would greatly improve the esthetic of the 1960s apartment.

FINAL PRODUCT View from above shows the building in relation to its context.

EXISTING CONDITIONS View from above shows the building in relation to its context.