Brian Kowalski Landscape Architecture Portfolio

BRIAN KOWALSKI

Landscape Architecture Portfolio

BRIAN KOWALSKI

MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

BALL STATE UNIVERSITY, 2017

B.S. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

BALL STATE UNIVERSITY, 2014

CONTACT: BRIANSKOWALSKI@GMAIL.COM

CONTENTS

HEALTHY PEOPLE//HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS: A SMALL PARK’S ROLE IN RIPARIAN APPRECIATION

MAPPING TERRITORY:

URBAN GREENSPACE ACCESSIBILITY IN CHICAGO

UPPER WHITE RIVER ECOLOGICAL CENTER

WISCONSIN RIVER KAYAK LAUNCH

BORN LEARNING TRAIL: POLLINATOR GARDEN

LEE HEALTH FORT MEYERS HOSPITAL

HEALTHY PEOPLE// HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS: A SMALL PARK’S ROLE IN RIPARIAN APPRECIATION

Peninsular Park and Greenway is a project that envisioned creating a 1-mile linear park system in Ypsilanti, Michigan by addressing the removal of a non-critical aging in-channel dam. The project focused on a small park adjacent to the dam and creatively proposed new uses for the reclaimed land after the water levels lowered. This project was used to fulfill graduation requirements for my Master of Landscape Architecture degree. The overall research intent of the project sought to tie creating a place of passive and active recreation for the local community with increased habitat and biodiversity, and then discussed potential outcomes. Throughout the process of the project, various expert opinions were consulted, specifically, concerning the removal of the dam and the impact on the watershed downstream.

Regional Context

Paper Co. + Site (blue)

+ Historic Mill Power House

River after dam removal

River before dam removal

Existing Recreation Networks

PROJECT LOCATION

EXISTING COUNTY-WIDE TRAIL

EXISTING BLUE TRAIL

EXISTING IN-CHANNEL DAM

CITY BOUNDARY

RIVER

Existing Site Images

Site Analysis

Research Concept

Final Concept - Designing the Ecotone

Master Plan - Penninsular Park

Section A-A1

Section B-B1

Tall-grass Pergola

Greenway Center

Stonefly Garden Area

Spotted Turtle Wetland Area

Launch

Darters’s

MAPPING TERRITORY: URBAN GREENSPACE

ACCESSIBILITY IN CHICAGO

This student project looked at park distribution in Chicago, Illinois as a means to study and locate areas where new park spaces might be needed most. The analysis process began with mapping park space and population, and then analyzed park accessibility in the most impoverished areas of the city. Various techniques were used: kernal density, joining census data, thiessen polygons and building a network analysis layer from the road system.

Greenspace & Building Footprints

1 Dot = 50 people Park Location

Park Density

1000ft from CTA Stops

1000ft From Bike Lanes

Thiessen Polygon Analysis for Park Distribution

After assessing the distribution of parks in the City of Chicago, the areas of the City with the highest densities of poverty were identified and then park access was analyzed using network analysis with the roads in the City. While many of the areas with the highest densities of poverty do have adequate access to park space, there are three notable areas that do not have access within a mile.

Location Allocation Network Analysis [2-mile selections; maximum coverage] (Based on most impoverished areas with the least park space)

Vacant Lot Distribution

Vacant Lot to Pocket Park Concepts

UPPER WHITE RIVER ECOLOGICAL INTERPRETATIVE CENTER

This project was initiated as part of a alternative to the new construction of a dam that was proposed on the White River outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. The intent of the Center was to serve as a resource celebrating the ecological importance of the watershed and would have sat along a bike route, acting as a rest area for bikers. As a student project, it involved creating and placing a building footprint, as well designing and illustrating the landscape masterplan. Additionally, the project was used for a semester long exercise in learning about SITES credits in a separate course.

a. Entrance

b. Lobby

c. Auditorium

d. Offices

e. Greenhouse

f. Restrooms

g. Classrooms

h. Cafe

Building Layout

Illustrative Master Plan

Entry View

Walking Trail View

Back of Building View

MILWAUKEE RIVER KAYAK LAUNCH

This small project was an opportunity to design a kayak launch for a village outside of Milwaukee, WI. The design permits greater user access to the river for kayak and canoe recreation using simple granite steps and stone pavers. The bank was stabilized using mix of flood tolerant native plants and ornate boulders.

MILWAUKEE

View of Launch

BORN LEARNING TRAIL:

POLLINATOR GARDEN

This garden was designed for a community park in Milwaukee, WI. The project budget permitted several varieties of plants that were installed and maintained by the local community. Using native cultivars, the design reflects midwest natives and provides seasonal interest, while providing food for a variety of pollinators species.

Proposed Plantings Planting

BERGAMONT

PURPLE CONEFLOWER

BLAZING STAR

LITTLE BLUE STEM

BLACK-EYED SUSAN

LEE HEALTH FORT MEYERS HOSPITAL

Currently under construction, Lee Health Fort Meyers Hospital is a new campus posed to bring medical care and new jobs to the Fort Meyers community. This project is part of multi-phased masterplan with the main hopsital and central energy plant being the initial construction.

BIRD’S EYE VIEW

Overall Phase 1 Plan

HOSPITAL DROP-OFF

MAIN ENTRY SIGNAGE