April Sorenson Portfolio

april sorenson urban design + landscape architecture

2012-2020 selected works

PERSONAL STATEMENT Urban design and landscape architecture are growing and innovative fields that have the potential to regenerate the world we live in. We have the means to restore the ecological health and biodiversity of our planet, while at the same time meeting the cultural and social needs of people. In every stage of the design process, from sketch to masterplan, designers have the potential to make the world a better place.

I am a broad thinker who thrives on the big picture, and I share the core values of the profession. This will enable me to become an interface between people and the land. Throughout my career, I will continually strive to be a spokesperson for natural systems and sustainable solutions.

CONTENTS

1 Riverbend Park 2 Elizabeth Street Corridor 3 Gates Rubber Factory 4 Senior Capstone 5 I-15 and Tropicana 6 Moffett Airfield 7 Apple Inc. Rain Garden

Riverbend Park Design Intent: Located on the beautiful Poudre River in Fort Collins, CO, Riverbend Park is a unique place for visitors to interact with the landscape. The design works to emphasize the natural bend in the river and also to provide slope stabilization when it floods.

In addition, the design includes two bridges for pedestrian and bicycle use. There is also a beach area to encourage people to interact with the water. The paths and retaining walls follow fluid curves, intended to enhance the beauty of the river’s natural bend.

Chipboard topographic model

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Elevation across Poudre River looking North

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1. Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge 2. Beach Area 3. Retaining Walls 4. Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge

Legacy: The proposed design would bring a newfound appreciation for the Poudre River and its watershed, allowing for direct interaction with the river and its ecosystem. It would provide a beautiful and functional park for the people of Fort Collins to enjoy for generations to come.

Perspective of Pedestrian/Bike Bridge

Elizabeth St. Corridor Introduction: The Elizabeth St. Corridor in Fort Collins, CO is a major city artery running east/west and is an important route for students getting to campus. Currently, this route is unable to handle the volume of vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic at peak flows. In conjunction with the City of Fort Collins, an urban gondola concept was explored in order to mitigate the high traffic and safety concerns of this corridor.

Corridor Extents

Conceptual Perspective

Elevation

Elizabeth St. and City Park Ave. Intersection

Design Intent: Due to spatial constraints, it was deemed imperative to place the gondola infrastructure over the road. In order to accomplish this, the transit stations had to span the road as well, while allowing ease of pedestrian access. Stairs and an ADA elevator on each side of the road would get people to the height of the gondola at each station.

The triangular form of the structure provides architectural interest and shelter to the pedestrian passengers at each station. The final model of a typical transit station focuses on the infrastructure’s integration with the surrounding landscape.

Perspective of vehicular restricted area from City Park Ave. to Shields St.

Gates Rubber Factory Introduction: Located in Denver, CO, this reclamation and urban design project serves to re-invision a toxic ex-rubber factory site into a modern mixed-use development. Adjacent to an RTD light rail station, the South Platte River, I-25 and a variety of land use types, this site holds great potential to serve the residents of Denver. Some of the program elements include: a bus drop off roundabout, multifamily housing, interior courtyards with resident amenities, a community center, green roofs, a park, a central promenade and storm water retention basins. Some of the old factory infrastructure would be salvaged and used as public art throughout the site to educate people about the site’s unique history.

Site Analysis Diagrams

Gates Rubber Co. Denver, CO

Mixed Use

Residential

Commercial

Industrial

Retail

Perspective Montage

Design process drawings, progressing in scale

Master Plan

Senior Capstone Convergent Boundary: Cultivating a Collective Identity Along the Site Elbow CharacterRiver Calgary, AB

This project site is located at the convergence of many geologic, cultural, and economic transects. Geographically, the site is located along the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers in Calgary, AB. According to plate tectonics, Calgary is also located directly east of a convergent boundary.

Existing Site Imagery

Culturally, the site is a collage of diverse historical and contemporary elements. The historical elements include Fort Calgary, built in 1875, and a tribute to the First Nation people of the region called Indian Village. The main contemporary cultural element is Stampede Park, home of the world famous Calgary Stampede, and the Saddledome, home of the NHL Flames. The Calgary Stampede is one of the largest rodeos in

Cultural Elements

the world, attracting over one million visitors per year.

Site Analysis Site Analysis Site Boundary

Site Boundary Hydrology

Building Footprints

Building Footprint

Vegetation

Land Use

Native Vegetation

City Center

Public Space

Parks

Residential

Industrial

Major Roads

Major Roads

100 Year Floodplain

Overland Flow Floodway

Flood Fringe

Context Model: This context model (right) is used to show how the site fits into the surrounding cityscape. The model was used to study existing topography, hydrology, vegetation and building footprints in relation to the site. The intent of the project is to generate a cohesive design that unites all of these qualities in order to enrich the city’s collective identity.

Concept Model: This concept model (left) allowed for the development of the metaphor of electricity.

Each lit marble represents a node on the site, where the energy and people are concentrated. The wire represents pathways, which “conduct” the electricity from one node to another.

The following drawings explore the development of a flood mitigation channel, a system of bike and pedestrian pathways, increased public greenspace, new residential living, retail, and an increased riparian buffer for the Elbow River. These elements will support Stampede Park and the city of Calgary as a whole in countless economic, social, cultural and ecological ways.

These sketches explore how the site elements, such as topography, vegetation, and circulation, will converge at the cultural nodes.

Concept Development Development Drawings Concept

Project Site Aerial

Hydrology and Circulation

Riparian Vegetation

Pedestrian Circulation Study

Flood Mitigation Channels and Circulation Refinement

Land Use Massing Study

Native Riparian Vegetation

Pathway

Greenbridge

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Elevation of Greenbridge looking West

Native Vegetation

Elbow River

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Amphitheater Seating

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Elevation along Elbow River looking South

Perspective: Bike Path along Elbow River looking North

Perspective Montage: Outdoor Skating Rink

I-15 & Tropicana Interchange Las Vegas, NV Stantec Consulting This interchange was determined by the Nevada Department of Transportation to be the top priority of all interchanges along the I-15 corridor in Las Vegas, due to its volume of traffic and its proximity to the T-Mobile arena, the new Raider’s stadium and the Strip. Therefore, it was requested that the design stand above the rest of the interchange treatments in the corridor. The design theme is desert flora and the graphics are abstractions of the architectural shapes these flora provide. The design includes internally lit pilasters with silhouette designs, a back-lit barrier rail metal cut out, pedestrian lighting and pedestrian fencing. There are also image panels on the abutment walls and median improvements.

Site Analysis Diagram

Proposed Pedestrian Experience

Proposed Median Condition

Tropicana Bridge- Daytime View

Abutment Wall Image Panels

Graphic Treatment for Adjacent Bridges

Tropicana Bridge- Nighttime View

Moffett Airfield This airfield, located near San Jose, California, provides the opportunity for a cutting edge site design. The client had great interest in incorporating the most modern sustainable design practices such as bioswales, permeable pavements, low water use/regionally adapted plants and pollinator gardens for bee and butterfly habitat. The forms of the design refer to forms associated with flight, with the strong obtuse angles that mimic the shape of airplane wings. Employees of the North Office Building are encouraged to interact with the landscape through an ADA accessible terraced walkway design, an outdoor patio with shade sails, and a recreation area. The southern entrance is marked with angular walls, a sculpture and a courtyard.

Concept Sketch

Inspiration Imagery

Illustrative Master Plan- North

Illustrative Master Plan- South

Apple Inc. Rain Garden This warehouse, built for Apple Inc. in Reno, NV, implements an LID (Low e\180 1015 13\la ndscap e\dra wing\sh eets\ L1.0L1.2_ plnt

Impact Development) rainwater system. Through careful coordination with engineering, architecture and landscape architecture teams, this system was

designed to capture and direct the stormwater runoff from all of the roof and PL ANT

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water is directed into this corner raingarden where it is allowed to infiltrate

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DULE pavement surfaces into bioswales that surround the building. From there, the

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naturally into the ground. Benefits of raingardens include: reduced flooding, pollution filtration and groundwater recharge. Curvilinear, organic lines and soft plant textures create benefits for people as well, providing an inviting space GRAD

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