ing e s Jo s ou ctic eph H CO ra N P L A He IO of n ry R U S T S C S GL EN O A UE 550 Lia N ON SS 8Mi c m L O I C 4 2 D m hael L WE AR 2_1 Y itriy 1 YAK N ES 0_ UB 1 OV
Cover Sheet
GC0.00
Index
IN 1.00
Adaptive Transformation (Ctd.)
Project Narrative Project Narrative, Introduction/Decision Making
PN 1.00
Assembly Details
AT 3.00
Project Narrative, Introduction/Decision Making
PN 1.01
Assembly Details
AT 3.01
Project Scope
Implementation Documentation
Broad Demographic Data
PS 1.00
Critical Path Analysis
IMP 2.00
Broad Demographic Data
PS 1.01
Critical Path Analysis
IMP 2.01
Environmental Data
PS 2.00
Hard Cost Analysis
IMP 3.00
Environmental Data
PS 2.01
Hard Cost Analysis
IMP 3.01
Environmental Data
PS 2.02
Environmental Data
PS 2.03
Location
PS 3.00
Location
PS 3.01
Land Use and Zoning
PS 4.00
Land Use and Zoning
PS 4.01
Site Utilization
PS 5.00
Site Utilization
PS 5.01
Land Use / Site Utilization Deviation
PS 6.00
Land Use / Site Utilization Deviation
PS 6.01
Condition
PS 7.00
Condition
PS 7.01
Materials and Construction
PS 8.00
Materials and Construction
PS 8.01
Safety and Lighting
PS 9.00
Safety and Lighting
PS 9.01
Typology Case Study and Precedent
PS 10.00
Typology Case Study and Precedent
PS 10.01
Code Analysis Land Use
CA 1.00
Adaptive Transformation
CA 1.01
Site Context General Site Modification
SC 1.00
Specific Elements
SC 1.01
Adaptive Transformation Module Construction
AT 1.00
Module Construction
AT 1.01
Module Construction
AT 1.02
Module Construction
AT 1.03
Street Sections + Elevations
AT 2.00
Street Sections + Elevations
AT 2.01
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
IN 1.00
Project Narrative introduction
To empower people to build more secure and self-sufficient lives through the provision of decent, affordable housing, essential supportive services, asset building programs, and educational and employment opportunities. PN 1.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
-- from ACTION-Housing, Inc Mission Statement
Revitalizing Streetscapes, Resoslving Urban Issues To foster and develop the community of the Uptown neighborhood, it is imperative to address not only the vacant lots and properties in the area, but also the space in between the structures. It is important to resolve the multitude of challenges found along the Uptown alleyways, such as Watson Street to build a safe, sustainable, and healthy urban community. Watson Street in particular is a space where members of the community interact on a daily basis and holds potential to become an even more engaging space. In order to make sure that Watson Street is developed to its full potential, four key issues must be addressed: crime safety, community engagement, pedestrian safety, and storm water and snow runoff management. Resolving these issues will improve safety, health, and overall quality of life of all residents along the alleyway, and, potentially in broader Uptown District. Watson Street has a rich potential to become an engaging social space for the community. Several issues need to be addressed, however, for this to become reality. These include litter control, repairing or replacing the sidewalks, introducing outdoor attractions, and establishing a social node. The first step towards transforming Watson Street is managing the overgrown vegetation on the fences and sidewalks. The density of the vines that cover the fences and spill onto the sidewalks contributes to the issue of littering along the street. Refuse and waste such as beer cans, cigarette butts, etc., simply gets tossed into the thick vegetation. Trimming back the plants will expose the waste and with addition of several garbage cans along the alley it can address the issue of liter control. In addition to encouraging littering, the rampant vegetation is damaging the sidewalks. In several locations along the alley the sidewalk is completely overgrown and unusable. In other places the plants have worked their way through the cracks in the sidewalk and fractured it. Once the vegetation issue has been addressed, the sidewalks will need to be either repaired or replaced. The property owners are responsible for sidewalk maintenance in front of the property, but these responsibilities have been neglected for years and the sidewalks are in bad state of disrepair. A key step towards engaging the community on Watson Street will be the introduction of outdoor attractions, such as exercise equipment. The alleyway only sees local traffic, consisting primarily of residents parking their cars. The street can thus be engaged for the purpose of providing outdoor recreational space for the local youth. These spaces can be further enhanced with
installation of simple outdoor exercise equipment such as pull-up bars and basketball hoops. These low cost improvements to the alleyway have a great potential to not only improve the quality of the space but also raise the overall health of the community. Finally, in order to make Watson Street a destination for the rest of the neighborhood, a social node needs to be created. There are two potential properties for intervention. The first consists of three paved properties (Lots 11K 23-25). Currently the property is used as a parking lot and is controlled by the Williams family. The lot is, however, is underutilized compared to the two neighboring parking lots. If acquiring this property is possible, it could be converted into a pocket park, providing a space for social interaction as well as a direct pedestrian connection from Fifth Avenue to Watson Street. The second potential node is the warehouse fronting Watson Street (Lot 11K-94). The structure is currently privately owned and has no tax delinquency, but seems underutilized. In the case that it can be purchased, it could be converted into a produce store. The conversion would require little to no structural alteration of the existing warehouse, and minimal interior work. The closest grocery store to the neighborhood is a convenience store (Quick Schwartz Super Market) located on Fifth Avenue. Situating a produce/grocery store on Watson Street will greatly improve both the quality of life in the Uptown neighborhood as well as overall health and wellness of the residents. The overall volume of traffic going through Watson Street is low and is limited to residents of the neighborhood. None the less, the issue of traffic and pedestrian safety will need to be addressed. Traffic-calming measures, both graphic and physical can be introduced as well as designation of the alley as a “play street” completely closed off to traffic during certain hours. Traffic-calming systems consist of graphic signs alerting motorists of children playing in the street and speed limits. The physical component can include a variety of measures including speed bumps, rumble strips, and textured pavement surfaces. Installing physical measures such as speed bumps or planters is problematic in the context of Watson Street due to the requirements for snow plowing. An alternative to deploying extensive traffic calming measures is designating the street as a “play street” and making it off limits to traffic on certain days. This practice is widely employed in Philadelphia, PA and New York, NY to provide children in the city with a car-free environment. Roadblocks would be installed at either end of the alleyway and a schedule of when the street is closed to traffic would be compiled and made available to the residents of the neighborhood. Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
PN 1.01
Project Scope broad demographic data Permanent Residents The census information lists the population of the Bluff at 6600 people. These numbers, however. are skewed by the inclusion of Duquesne University students and the inmates of the Allegheny County Jail. These people account for almost three quarters of the total population. The actual permanent population of Uptown is approximately 1690 people.
73.2% Students
1.2% Allegheny County Inmates
2.8% Group Home Residents
25.6% Permanent Residents
Employment and Income The population of Uptown is employed in a variety of sectors, but nearly half of the people with jobs are working in the education and healthcare sectors. Uptown is located in direct proximity to UPMC facilities in Oakland. Employees of the UPMC system could provide a good new target population for the Bluff and Watson Street specifically. The median household income in Uptown is estimated at $12,200 with median male earning $9,508 and female earning $9,599
12% Wholesale and Retail Services 16% Financial Services 6% Manufacturing and Construction
17% Arts and Entertainment 49% Health and Education
Bluff Neighborhood Demographics
Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census
Watson St b/w Seneca St & Jumonville St Demographics
68% African American
Race and Ethnicity The racial breakdown of Uptown is dramatically different than that of the city of Pittsburgh as a whole. The racial makeup of the city is 68% caucasian and 27% African American, where as in Uptown it is the opposite. However, it should be noted that these statistics of the neighborhood are skewed due to the inclusion of the people residing in the Allegheny County Jail.
25.8% Caucasian
4.1% Hispanic 1% Native American 1.1% Other
PS 1.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Data from censusmapmaker.com
Crime Prevention
67.3% Property Crime
The overall disinvested condition of the Uptown neighborhood, particularly the abundance of abandoned and vacant lots perpetuates an unsafe, crime-prone environment. The first challenge on the way to improving the quality of life along Watson Street and in Uptown in general is creating a crime-averse safe environment. The requirements for a safe environment will include secure lighting, visual connections to the properties along the alleyway, and possibly the installation of surveillance cameras.
10.5% Drug Violations
19.4% Assault
2.8% Robbery
Lighting
Allegheny County Crime Data
Sufficient street lighting has been known to greatly reduce the levels of night-time street crime. One key requirement for lighting systems in areas such as Watson Street will be physical security. While the current traditional street light network can potentially provide sufficient light levels, the street lamps can be easily disabled to plunge stretches of the street into darkness to cover illicit activities. The new system will have to be recessed and consist of a multitude of fixtures to deter attempts to temper with the lighting.
61.1% Property Crime
8.1% Drug Violations
26.4% Assault
Eyes on the Street A key aspect to deterring street crime is providing visual connection to the street from adjacent properties. Providing views of the street to the tenants as they sit on their porches or stoops keeps eyes on the street, deterring ill-wishers and miscreants. Beyond eliminating the fences and trimming down the overgrown vegetation, however, this element of crime prevention can only be suggested as a design guideline for other ACTION Uptown projects.
4.3% Robbery
Pittsburgh Crime Data Bluff Neighborhood Crime Data
42.0% Drug Violations
12.5% Assault
13.6% Robbery 31.8% Property Crime
Surveillance A less desired though effective technique of crime deterrence is installation of surveillance cameras. This method has been implemented around the 5th Avenue Lofts project. This method carries with its effectiveness a host of negative connotations, and could be seen by many as an invasion of their privacy. Overt video surveillance is therefore not recommended. If surveillance is deemed necessary for the purpose of investigating crime that does occur, the devices should be minimal and not overbearing on the residents.
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
PS 1.01
Project Scope environmental data
Pittsburgh Rainfall Average and Record Depths
Data from erh.noaa.gov
Rainfall Data In its present condition Watson Street presents a completely impervious surface. The site is sloping down from the Hill district to the South and storm water runoff from Watson Street presents an issue to the properties located along the southern edge. In the winter snow accumulation also becomes an issue, as the alleyway is classified as a tertiary street and receives little to no plowing. Both of the issues can be mitigated with pervious pavement and sidewalk materials as well as textured pavement.
4”
RAINFALL DATA
PITTSBURGH AVERAGES BY MONTH Pittsburgh Rainfall Average by Month
PS 2.00
DATA FROM ERH.NOAA.GOV
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
DEC
NOV
OCT
SEP
AUG
JUL
JUN
MAY
APR
MAR
FEB
JAN
2”
Data from erh.noaa.gov
26”
Record Depth
12.3”
Average JAN
8.5”
Average FEB
0” 7.9”
Average MAR
6.9”
Average DEC Road Surface
Pittsburgh Rainfall Average and Record Depths
Data from erh.noaa.gov
SNOWFALL DATA
PITTSBURGH AVERAGES AND RECORD DEPTH DATA FROM ERH.NOAA.GOV
Snowfall Data The street pavement of the alleyway is in relatively good condition and replacing the road surface entirely is unreasonable at this time. Instead pervious pavement materials should be used selectively along the southern edge. Additionally, sidewalks that will require major renovations and repair should be considered as implementation sites for pervious materials. When Watson Street does require re-pavement, textured road surfaces should be considered to help combat ice accumulation. These measures could also be combined with the traffic-calming measures described above, such as rumble strips.
12”
SNOWFALL DATA Pittsburgh Rainfall Average by Month
PITTSBURGH AVERAGES BY MONTH DATA FROM ERH.NOAA.GOV
DEC
NOV
OCT
SEP
AUG
JUL
JUN
MAY
APR
MAR
FEB
JAN
6”
Data from erh.noaa.gov
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
PS 2.01
Project Scope environmental data
Sunlight and Shading During the summer months there is an abundance of sunlight on the street, even in spite of the lush greenery that exists along the street’s edge. In the winter months however, shadows from the buildings and the withering trees cover the street and sidewalk.
Solar exposure: Winter Solstice
Solar exposure: Spring Equinox
PS 2.02
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Solar exposure: Summer Solstice
Areas of Exposure By overlaying areas that recieve direct sunlight for more than 75% of the time the sun is in the sky, we were able to discover how the shadows moved across the site during the four seasons. This helped to inform our decision regarding where to locate planters and seating. The darkest areas recieve sun for the largest portions of time and therefore are most suitable for seating as well as vegetation. Solar exposure: 75% year-round exposure
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
PS 2.03
Project Scope location
The Bluff The district of Uptown, also known as the Bluff is located east, south east of the Pittsburgh Point, and the neighborhood is accessed by Forbes Avenue and also Fifth Avenue in a network of one-way and two-way streets. The Birmingham and the 10th Street bridges give it connections to the southern parts of the city beyond the river. Minutes away from downtown, the blocks are always in sight of many of the high-rises at the point and provide a stark contrast to the two opposite living conditions.
2000 Block Our selected section of Watson Street is located in the 2000 block between Fifth Ave and Forbes Ave and stretches from Jumonville St to Seneca St. This end of Uptown is further from Duquesne and UPMC Mercy and is thus more disinvested than some other areas of Uptown. The area is characterized by widespread vacancy but also has many quality buildings. Besides some larger garages (especially adjacent to the Boulevard of the Allies) and a church the area is primarily made up of single-family residential houses.
Data from www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/cp/maps
PS 3.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Watson Street
Seneca Street
Jumonville Street
Fifth Avenue
Forbes Avenue
Data from www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/cp/maps
Watson Street Watson Street is a one-way (West to East) alley providing access to a few housing units as well as parking for units facing Fifth Ave and Forbes Ave. Residents of the neighborhood (and especially Watson itself) already treat the street as a social space, gathering on either side to chat or allowing their children to play in the street. We believe these activities should be supported by providing more well-designed features and drawing visitors from the broader community. Currently there are few outdoor spaces for people to meet and gather, a vital aspect of successful neighborhoods and one that will encourage new residents to move to the area.
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
PS 3.00
Project Scope land use and zoning
Convergence Three major zoning codes coverge within Uptown, reflecting the intertwining of industrial, commercial, and residential neighborhoods into one during the heyday of Pittsburgh’s past in heavy production. The residential zone features many row houses while the industrial zone is beginning to fade into the other two categories, reinforcing the changing nature of Pittsburgh from production to other enterprises.
PS 4.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Zoning
2009 Watson Street R1-A Two Unit Residential Buildings : Structures are limited to two-family houses, often in a multifloor row-house style of low density construction. LNC Local Neighborhood Commercial: Small businesses, a.k.a. “Mom and Pop” shops and specialty stores. Drive thru’s are allowed only by permission of an exception, with further stipulation. Any shop may feature a residence for shop owner on the premises if half of the property is available for parking of clients. IND: Industrial Zone. A leftover from the rush of manufacturing in the old days of Pittsburgh, these areas are still earmarked as industrial zones, suitable for warehouses, storage, and other uses. The commercial application of the code becomes apparent when the zone begins to face Forbes Avenue. There are no actual production complexes in the neighbor hood despite the industrial zoning.
2009 Watson Street Multi-storey residential unit situated in LNC zone. Neightbors a women’s shelter and an empty pavedover lot.
Summary Watson, as a street, features a unique challenge of being in the boundary between two different types of zoning and consequent regulations. The northern side of properties, adjacent to Fifth Avenue is marked for Local Commercial enterprises that keeps national chains out of the picture, but facing Fifth Avenue, leaves little interaction with the neighborhood. The southern side is limited to Two-Storey residential, and features predominantly row houses with sporadic empty lots and structures. But most of those structures also face Forbes, showing their backsides to the alleyway. If utilized beyond a simple driveway, Watson could take advantage of its status as to impact the community better than the oneway thoroughfares on either side. A competing Industrial Zone offers alternative commercial enterprise opportunities for residences, but only as the remnants of Pittsburgh’s “Heyday” in industry, which would be frowned upon by the now greening city.
Fifth Avenue as seen through the lot on the corner of Watson and Seneca streets.
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
PS 4.01
Project Scope site utilization
Seneca Street
Jumonville Street
Fifth Avenue
Watson Street
Forbes Avenue
Site Use The buildings adjacent to Watson Street encompass a variety of uses including residences and Womanspace East, a family support center. A significant number of the units are vacant including the majority of those facing Forbes Ave. In addition, two large parking lots sit uphill from Watson and will contribute stormwater runoff to the street.
PS 5.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Single-Family Residential
Storage
Institutional
Vacant
Multi-Family Residential
Tax Delinquent (at least 1 year)
Seneca Street
Jumonville Street
Fifth Avenue
Watson Street
Land Use Deviation Structures
Overgrown
Paved Areas
Vacant Lot, Dumping
Sidewalk, Poor Condition
Sidewalk Overgrown, Unusable
Many backyards (some unmaintained) face onto Watson St, providing a surprisingly lush environment. However, this lack of maintenance has also left many of the sidewalks unsafe or inaccessible. The parking lot in the center of the block currently provides access to Fifth Ave, a characteristic we will limit to increase pedestrian safety.
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
PS 5.01
Project Scope land use / site utilization deviation Paved Parking Area Current commercial endeavors in Uptown so far have been to pave parcels of land for the purpose of parking and land retention should values ever rise. While this could help the lack of parking spaces in the city, the problems of open gaps in the urban fabric and the water run-off from precepitation only add to the issues at hand.
Vacant Infill Parcel Whenever buildings have been removed or never built, the lots are left to nature to fill with vegetation. Intended for structures, the growth would impede development
Sidewalk, Overgrown/Degraded The sidewalks let to crumble, with a layer of growth over it further compounds the problems and even dangers of walking on them. Cracks, missing fragments, and other conditions make transversing the sidewalks a potiential fall. In Winter conditions, the possible ice buildup can make it much worse, on top of the degraded surface.
PS 6.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Vacant Lot, Litter & Trash Dumping Vacant lots are often illegal recepticals for trash and general waste. The materials pile up, making both an eye sore and also a danger for children and animals caught in its distraction. It also lowers land values.
Sidewalk, Overgrown Although the city has repaved portions of the road, the sidewalks have been let to be overrun by the vegetation from vacant lots. This impedes pedestrians, who are then forced to walk portions of Watson Street and not on the intended paths.
Warehouse Structure in R1-A Zone Warehouses are for commercial and industrial zones, but there is an example of one in a residential zone. It is unclear if the property was zoned differently at the time of construction but it may be better to utilize it instead of razing it. Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
PS 6.01
Project Scope condition
Social Environment There were not many people that we encountered located on the site, but the ones that we did were located down towards the newer end of the site, siting either on their porch or along side the alleyway. After talking with them, it became clear that both themselves and their families have a lot of history here and they were not happy about the new development that has been occurring in the area because they fear an increase in rent. The only children that we saw on the site were seen for a brief moment as they zipped up and down the alley on their bikes. It appears that the site is creeping slowly towards redevelopment, however it still has a very long way to go and has many obstacles to overcome
0’
20’
40’
0’
20’
40’
Built Environment Currently, the site is displaying very clear evidence of extreme decay. The lots that are not vacant and overgrown with weeds and shrubs, contain buildings that are slowly falling apart. Many of the buildings lining that alleyway have been around for 30 years, some as many as 40 years. There are several instances where a section of a townhouse has been removed to open up an area for parking or another building type. It is very simple to understand where chunks of buildings have been removed along the alley by the exposed interior walls that face the alley. As you move west down the alley, the condition and height of the buildings slowly begin to increase, as well as the feeling of security. Towards the Jumonville Street, there are two recently renovated and constructed buildings. The first, on the corner, is a recently repainted apartment complex. The second is a battered woman’s shelter that was constructed only 3 years ago. The two buildings are connected to each other as well as another smaller apartment complex that is approximately 40 years old.
PS 7.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
PS 7.01
Project Scope materials and construction
Existing Material Palette The materials found in the buildings that line the alleyway are mostly composed of wood, brick, and concrete. Most of the buildings over 25 years old are constructed with brick, while the more recent constructions and additions are constructed with wood and utilize timber framing. The newest building along the alleyway, the 3 year old battered woman’s shelter, is constructed almost entirely out of brick and slots comfortably in between to existing brick apartments. There is also another unintentional material that is found on the site, and that is plant growth. It seems that as the buildings decay and crumble, plant life has began to reclaim the site. It can be found growing up the side of nearly every building and completely covering all the vacant lots that are not entirely covered with pavement for parking.
PS 8.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Proposed Material Palette
Textured Pavement to be used as a traffic calming measure.
For our project we would like to utilize materials that will blend naturally into the existing site while simultaneously improving the spatial quality of the alleyway on the whole. Two of the methods in which we hope to accomplish this are through the use of various paving patterns and the introduction of numerous different plant species. The paving patterns can be used throughout the alleyway to signify paths for different events or methods of transportation. Some can be used to show where cars can pass through and others where pedestrians can sit or walk. The introduction of new plant life to replace the weeds and overgrowth existing on the site will help unveil the potential beauty of the alleyway. Providing areas where people can grow their own fruits and vegetables, as well as other plant types, will help to get community members involved and out onto the street. The innovative use of a small number of correctly placed materials can have a drastic impact on the site. However, we must also be sure to utilize materials that maintain the integrity of the site. One method of doing this would be to reuse some of the materials on the site, for seating or defining pathways.
Vegetation to provide green spaces for the community.
Permeable Sidewalk Pavement to mitigate runoff.
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
PS 8.01
Project Scope safety and lighting
Survaillance Cameras Survaillance cameras on the 5th Avenue Lofts remind residents of the dangers.
Street Lighting Standard sodium street lamps provide ample lighting but can be easily disabled to plunge the street into darkness to conceal illegal activities.
Drugs and Gangs Shoes flung onto a telephone wires indicate presence of drug dealers, gangs, and related violence in the area.
PS 9.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Electrical Pole Light Pole
Sewer Drain
Light Placement The placement of lights to illuminate the street are spaced far enough so that if one were to be disabled, a portion of the street can be left in the dark. The sodium orange glow makes the place feel no where near as safe in night as it does in the day. Implementation of new lighting would make the street seem more secure and certainly safer for pedestrians in view of traffic.
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
PS 9.01
Project Scope typology case study and precedent
Source: Linden Living Alley (www.lindenlivingalley.wordpress.com)
Linden Living Alley San Francisco, CA Located in the Mission District of San Francisco, Linden was once an untended alley serving light industrial, office, and residential uses. To create the new public space, three parking spaces were removed and the roadway was narrowed and repaved to the level of the sidewalk, blurring the distinction between vehicular and pedestrian traffic zones. The former parking spaces were replaced with benches (made from recycled granite curbstones) and planted areas that simultaneously define new gathering spaces and act as safety barriers from street traffic. The space now fills the role of a small park as a social outlet and spillover space from Blue Bottle Coffee that opens onto the alley. The project was implemented by an interdisciplanary team led by the Department of Public Works and including local architects and engineers (some who offered work pro bono) and with the help of a $97,000 grant from the city of San Francisco.
Source: Seed Fund Grants (www.seedfundgrants.org)
PS 10.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Source: New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/nyregion/02ritual.html)
Play Streets Various Cities A play street is one that is closed to car traffic and parking during business hours so that children can have a place to play. Children playing in the street has been a common aspect of city life throughout history, and codified play street systems have existed in New York City as early as 1914. Such systems are relatively common and have recently been successfully implemented in Philadelphia and Bristol (UK) among others. Play streets vary in quality and type of intervention; some are simply a closed street providing a place for ball or other games while some are managed and include portable equipment such as basketball hoops, volleyball nets, or table games. They are most commonly implemented in neighborhoods without ready access to city parks and open space and provide communities with new places to gather without the cost of creating new infrastructure.
Source: Martha Cooper’s NY City Snaps (www.nycitysnaps.com) Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
PS 10.01
Code Analysis land use + adaptive transformation
§ 503.04 - TRAFFIC CONTROL (a) The Director is hereby authorized to have placed and maintained, in conformance with the most recent edition of the Manual Traffic Control Devices and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Regulations, official traffic control devices to regulate, warn, guide or control ––traffic. (b) All official traffic control devices except pavement markings shall bear the City insignia or an abbreviation thereof.
Fifth
(a) The Director is hereby authorized to have placed and maintained, in conformance with the most recent edition of the Manual Traffic Control Devices and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Regulations, official traffic control devices to regulate, warn, guide or control ––traffic. (b) All official traffic control devices except pavement markings shall bear the City insignia or an abbreviation thereof.
§ 541.01 - PROHIBITIONS IN SPECIFIED PLACES Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or to protect the safety of any person or vehicle or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic control device, no operator of a vehicle shall, and no owner of a vehicle shall allow the vehicle to: Stop, stand or park a vehicle: (1) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street except that a pedalcycle may be parked as provided in Vehicle Code 3509(b)(2). (2) On a sidewalk except that a pedalcycle may be parked as provided in Vehicle Code 3509(b) (3)Within an intersection. (4)On a crosswalk (5) Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb within thirty (30) feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless a different length is indicated by official traffic control devices.
CA 1.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Jumonville Street
§ 503.09 - SAFETY ZONES
Watson Str
Forbes Av
Tustin Street
§ 413.01 - STREET BOND AND PERMIT REQUIRED; PLAN APPROVAL. (a) The Director is hereby authorized to have placed and maintained, in conformance with the most recent edition of the Manual Traffic Control Devices and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Regulations, official traffic control devices to regulate, warn, guide or control ––traffic. (b) All official traffic control devices except pavement markings shall bear the City insignia or an abbreviation thereof.
reet
venue
Seneca Street
Avenue
§ 483.06 - OPEN SPACE AROUND BASE. There shall be maintained about the base of the trunk of each tree in City rights of way thirty (30) square feet of open ground, with no one (1) dimension of that open space being less than three (3) feet. The Department of Public Works shall have the discretion to allow for an open space of less that thirty (30) square feet of open ground in instances where a sidewalk is less than seventy-four (74) inches wide and mitigating measures to assure the health of the tree, including but not limited to irrigation and pervious surfaces, are in place. Where any tree in or upon any public place is surrounded at the base of its trunk by ground which is not open, or by open ground of less quantity or measurement than required by this section, it shall be the duty of the Department of Public Works to notify the owner of the property on or in front of which any tree may be, to remove within a time fixed in the notice, so much of the cement, brick or other covering as may be necessary to give the space of open ground required herein. If the person notified fails to remove the covering by the time fixed, the Department may perform the work and charge the person notified for the work done.
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
CA 1.01
Site Context general site modifications + specific elements
A primary service our proposal provides is to retain storm water runoff and increase the amount of water that naturally infiltrates into the ground, thereby reducing the load on Pittsburgh’s combined sewer system. To accomplish this, storm water planters were placed in areas where they receive significant solar exposure and to maximize their total area and access to curb drains of the road surface. Seating and gathering areas were placed adjacent to planters or homes, the former to provide shade and attractive spaces and the latter to codify the already common practice of sitting outside one’s home to chat with neighbors. These rules were balanced with the need to create a 4 ft wide walking path on at least one side of the street at all times so that pedestrians can still travel comfortably when Watson St is open to vehicular traffic. At points where this clear path crosses the street, new crosswalks are marked with similar paving bricks to those used on the sidewalk. These crosswalks add visual interest and provide marked spaces for various activities during daytime hours. The closest crosswalk to the West End of the street is raised to act as a speed bump and slow vehicles, reminding drivers that Watson is a shared street environment. One of the best locations for solar exposure and thus both planting and seating is adjacent to the large parking lot near the center of the block. Currently, there is an extended curb cut to access this lot from Watson providing an easy route for drivers travelling to or from Fifth Ave. By blocking this off, we eliminate this unnecessary and unsafe practice and improve the pedestrian quality of the street. Seating was also placed adjacent to privatelyowned green space along the street, so that the interior of the 2000 block becomes a more integrated semi-public pedestrian zone.
SC 1.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Jumonville Street
Seating Units
Seneca Street
Fifth Avenue
Forbes Avenue
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
SC 1.01
Adaptive Transformation module construction
Seating Units These concrete seating units come in three different sizes, each one using a module of an 18in by 18in seat, to support a variety of different potentials for social interaction, when recombined in different permutations. On the underside of each different seating unit are down facing lights, one per intended user, which at night indicate the presence of public amenities, and create a serene and calming atmosphere. The units are made of reinforced concrete for durability, and are interchangeable with the same foundation module. To install the units on the site, one pours in the foundation piece, with a steel tube containing the electrical conduit to the power grid extended up from the slab. The seating unit slides down on top of the steel tube, and secures into place with large bolts. Damaged units can be unbolted and replaced as need be.
Table Units The small table unit allows for communal interaction other than simply sitting. This small unit uses a slightly larger foundation piece than the seating units, but unlike the seating units does not identify its occupancy by underlighting. Sculpturally, the units resemble the seating units, in order to form a complete vocabulary of concrete objects. The large table module more easily allows use by more than two people at a time, and can therefore support move complex interactions than the small table unit. The large table unit uses the same foundation unit as the small table, and also like the small table does not contain a lighting unit.
AT 1.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
18”
36”
18”
18”
18”
Single Seat Single seating unit. Implemented singularly or in combination with table modules. Cost Per Unit: $219.13 Number of Units: 10 For a detailed breakdown of per unit cost see IMP 1.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
CA 1.01
Adaptive Transformation module construction
18”
36”
18”
18”
36”
Double Seat Double-seated bench. Implemented in combination with planter units parallel to street. Cost Per Unit: $242.59 Number of Units:2 For a detailed breakdown of per unit cost see IMP 1.00
AT 1.02
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
18”
18”
18”
53”
Triple Bench Triple-seated bench anchored at two points. Implemented in combination with planter units parallel to street. Cost Per Unit: $381.18 Number of Units: 5 For a detailed breakdown of per unit cost see IMP 1.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
CA 1.03
Adaptive Transformation module construction
Large Table Larger of the two table units. Installed perpendicular to street. Equipped with two single seat units Cost Per Unit: $418.35 Number of Units:2 For a detailed breakdown of per unit cost see IMP 1.00
AT 1.02
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Small Table Smaller of the two table units. Installed perpendicular to street. Equipped with two single seat units Cost Per Unit: $326.30 Number of Units: 3 For a detailed breakdown of per unit cost see IMP 1.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
CA 1.03
Adaptive Transformation street sections
Transverse Street Section A Section taken through planter modules
0’
10’
20’
0’
10’
20’
Transverse Street Section B Section taken through table and seating module
AT 2.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
CA 2.01
Adaptive Transformation assembly details
Seating Assembly The seating elements are made of reinforced concrete with performative elements inset into the units during casting. Each seating and table unit is interchangeable, because they are attached to their foundations by bolting to a steel pipe through which the electrical conduit also runs.
AT 3.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Planter Assembly The planters will be made of interchangeable blocks of reinforced concrete, which will allow for variable length dimensions, and a more diverse program of planting along the sides of Watson Street. Because the role of these units is retaining, they must be simple and able to be cast into the site as part of the foundation relatively easily.
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
CA 3.01
Implementation Documentation critical path analysis
Month 1 Survey the site for any current statii not recorded thus far. Adjust design accordingly. Construct proposal arround actual construction and hypothetical approval. Research and contact suppliers for quotes and technical informaton to impact propsed designs.
Month 2 Finalization of presentation drawings to client and community must be completed for public approval by the neighborhood.
Month 3
A redisgn of the project is obligatory to address concerns addressed at the firt round of public hearings and town meetings in Uptown. If majority approves, then proceed with submitting design for funding and contacting contractors for final cost estimates.
Best case scenario: 9 MONTHS Worst case scenario: 5 YEARS No case scenario...
Month 4 Finalized cost estimates to be calculated based on contractors aware of the green light given by the community for the project. Allocate potential constrcution resources based on estimates. Explore serious funding options.
Month 5
Month 7
Finalize the project construction timetable. Upon approval of community for project, actual estimates by potential contractors, and a finalized plan and timetable, apply for CITF grant. and/or loan to cover as much of the cost as possible.
Proceed with contractual obligations to contractors and providers. Give a town hall meeting with residents to inform them of coming construction.
Month 6 If approved for a loan or grant, a letter will be given, outlining the amount for usage in the project, only. The terms and conditions must be signed and returned in thirty days or risk forfeiting the funding.
Month 8 Prior to construcition, clearing the street of all vehicles with an obligatory seventy-two hour notice of pending roadwork. Removal of debris via street cleaners to preparethe road. Road surface removal to commence with collecting the scraped asphalt to create the new surface. Removal of concrete side walks to lay the brickwork for new paths and consequent infrastructure. Curb placement to be simultaneous with brick paving to be ready for new road surface.
Month 9 New Permeable road surface to be laid out and the modules to be placed in context. All final wiring to be tested, and foilage to be planted after road surface, to avoid damage from machinery or nature of the surface itself.
IMP 2.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Architect
What to expect, when you’re... Proposing a revitalization of a street can seem daunting when all parties seem to expect a consensus at all stages of development. First, the design of the proposal has to be up to par to be buildable before inquiring the contractors and suppliers for quotes on the hypothetical project. Then meetings with the client and then the community have to involve a presentation with all the facts in place, as though it is ready for construction. If approved or changed to statisfaction, then one can apply for grants and loans from city, county, and state authorities to fund the project.
Action Housing
Watson Residents
City and County approval can be even more difficulty, as the several divisions have to consistently agree to the same design iteration modified to their specifications for approval. Consequently, this may affect the prior support from the community, either through the delay or unanticipated modifications to the proposal.
Uptown
Pittsburgh Govt. City Planning DPW PWSA ACHD BBI
Securing funding should always be a present activitiy but without approval, it can be difficult to aquire it. Regardless, with a green light from the governing bodies, all funding should be allocated swiftly before any expiration on the approval. The funding through grants is often on the stipulation that is approved by the community and town government affected by it. Funding has even more requirements, primarily that it be within the jurisdiction of the benefactor authority, and that it is not for non-commercial use, if it is a grant. (Loans can be had for commercial enterprises.)
Allegheny County Redevelopment Auth. CITF Application
At this point, all contracts should be finalized based on the quotes given. The CITF Grant even requires the project to be auctioned to the lowest contract bid, to better serve the local business. Once decided, constrcution can be begin.
State Funding Options
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
IMP 2.01
Implementation Documentation hard cost analysis Materials and Assembly In industrial applications, concrete is sold by the cubic yard, and charges will be calculated accordingly, unlike the traditional bags sold for minor residential uses. Water rates also are charged as if in a industrial setting. The intention for pre-fabrication foresees construction of modules in a facility instead of the residential street to which it will be delivered.
Materials Charges per Unit Concrete: $75.00 per cubic yard Water: $7.62 per 1000 gallons #2 Rebar: $20.35 per 20 feet section
Assembly charges per Unit Formwork: $31.00 per 2.5 sq feet Labor: $21.96 per hour in Pittsburgh
IMP 3.00
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
Permeable Asphalt One of the largest components to the project is the implementation of permeable pavement to the road by means of non-sealed asphalt mixed with coarser sands and laid over a eighteen inch layer of gravel.
Advantages Several advantages include: Twenty year life span Reduced water run-off Semi-filtered ground water Lessened load on the city water system No need for continually sealing the road surface A durable surface for vehicular and pedestrian traffic
Disadvantages Several times more expensive than traditonal asphalt Requires a deeper bed of gravel to drain the water Excessive road salt can impair or damage it Watson has already been re-paved, putting this in line for the next repaving cycle.
Watson Top ACTION Uptown Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture 48_550
IMP 3.01