Cara Marchesani Portfolio 2019-2022

Contents

Contents 02

Introduction 03

Helix Pedestrian Bridge 04

The Wren’s Nest Performance Venue 13

New Orleans Comprehensive Studio 21

P01_Analyze P02_Speak P03_Educate

Sensed Interiority Through Urbanism 28

Systems Design for Future Airport City Hub 38

Computational Analysis 42

Professional Projects

Toledo-Lucas County Public Library 45 Site Plans, Color Plans 46

E-Labs 48

EZ Storage 49

Historic Home Renovation 50

IntroductionContact 678.230.2366 cmarchesani3@gatech.edu 220 26th ST NW APT 5001 Atlanta, GA 30309

I am currently Master of Architecture student at the Georgia Institute of Technology, with an expected graduation date of May 2023. In May 2021, I grduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture.

My mom’s first words to me that I remember were, “I hope you always look at the world with those eyes filled with awe;” This captivation with the environment and eagerness to contribute to a more kind world continues to propel my designs forward every day.

CARA MARCHESANI DESIGNER

Helix Pedestrian Bridge Meaningfully connecting Georgia Institute of Technology to Science Square and the Bankhead Neighborhood

01.1

Westside Connectivity Design + Research Studio

The Westside Connectivity Bridge project was a joint effort between the Georgia Tech College of Architecture and the College of Structural Engineering. This project was completed with a civil engineer as consultant that met with me periodically to aid the design by performing load calculations and cost estimation.

The pedestrian bridge is retrofitted with experiential design concepts that strengthen the intersectionality of innovation and creativity, while preserving the areas’ rich history.

01.2 Unique Design Challenges

The bottom of the bridge piping is required to be a minimum of 30’ above the railroad, so this posed the most significant design challenge. In order to begin solving the issue, I first connected the east side ramp to the second floor of the science square building. This additionally strengthens the connection between Georgia Tech, creativity and innovation.

Ramps were utilized at a 5% slope, in accordance with ADA regulations. to lead from the landing points to the main span brifge above the railroad. Additionally, an elevator was placed on the West side of the bridge for easier access.

01.3

Genetics as a Catalyst for Innovation

Genetics is an integral facet of science and technology innovation in Atlanta. Furthermore, Georgia Tech is among the forerunners in human genetics and has compiled a formidible body of research that has progressed the field immensely.

Innovation in genetics is being used as a strategic connector between Science and Arts Squares, because creativity breeds innovation.

Beginning with a helix concept, the form was “stretched” to create a clearer visualization of the concept, as well as to decrease materials and, therefore, decrease cost.

01.4 Engineering-Based Research + Design

Originally, the space frames upholding the majority of the load were triangular. The engineer tested the bridge in MatLab, and it was successful until we accounted for head height. Subsequently, the bridge failed. Therefore, we changed the design to include square space frames that create a larger interior space. The load calculations in MatLab can be seen in figure 3.

Additionally, square space frames allowed for the slope of the pedestrian walkway to be reduced from 8% to 5%, because it allowed for more space in between the top of the railroad and the bottom of the bridge piping.

Intersection of History, Culture and Science

I utilized the images and intersectionality found in the research and urban morphological mapping to create a history + art museum on the eastern portion of the development, shown in the image below. The walkway is fashioned with layered mesh that is projected onto it to create a surreal experience. This museum also aims to combat the current gentrification crisis by paying homage to those who were in the area before us.

01.6 Physical Representation 1:150

The physical model materials are fairly simple; the black piping is 3D printed and the vertical supports as well as cross bracing members are made of basswood.

3D Printing

The 3D model was first made to scale in Rhinoceros. The printer bed was only about 7 inches, so each pipe was split into 5 pieces. PrusaSlicer was used to create the G-Code for the 3D print, and the pipes felt like a puzzle when assembling them.

The basswood sticks were cut and chamfered to fit the piping. Afterward, the model was made to stand by suspending the main span, as shown below, and the vertical supports were glued to the bottom. Eventually, the strings were able to be removed and the model stood up on its own.

A Changing Dialogue

The End Goal is Equally as Important as the Journey.

The theme for the project will be elevating youth voices through storytelling. The means of storytelling that will be explored is songwriting; The property surrounding the Wren’s Nest will be retrofitted to include 3 modulars at different scales meant to take individuals through the songwriting journey, from initial writing to performing with confidence.

Cara Marchesani

01.1 Identifying the Program

The program of the Wren’s Nest currently is focused on Joel Chandler Harris and his life within the house. The house has a very strained history and relationship to the community, as the Daughters of the Confederacy owned the house until the 1980s. The prerogative of the new structure is to create a safe space for positive dialogue and encourage children to develop a passion for storytelling, as Joel Chandler Harris would have wanted.

Left: Programmatic and enclosure diagrams.

Right: Graphing the program occupancy over the course of 24 hours.

01.2 Plans

On the exterior of the house, there will be a songwriting garden and an added exterior structure. The structure will be a multilevel performance space, with viewing floors above and below. The floor plates will be elevated above the ground plane and materials will be utililzed to encourage sound travel throughout the entirety of the space. This will generate revenue for the museum.

01.1

Sections and Elevations

IThe stages will have three distinct scales and enclosures to increase flexibility and support a wide range of functions. The spaces will be publicly accessible, except for the main stage when acts are booked. The stage nearest to the songwriting garden is aimed to create psychological comfort; the space will be fully enclosed. Therefore, sound will not travel through the barriers and visibility will remain minimal. Subsequently, there will be a second elevated stage that is about two times the size of the aforementioned space. This stage will be partially enclosed with a fabric system throughout the structure above. This space is meant to act as a stepping stone to the main stage which will have an open enclosure system and full visibility.

01.2

Structural Details

These details highlight how the structural system works, with a primary structure connected to the overarching grid system and cables also connected from the grid to the floor plate to reduce lateral force.

A performance and songwriting space is important to the program because it is important to elevate community voices, especially Black voices, in a multitude of ways. Songwriting and performing gives children a healthy outlet to express their feelings and learn to be great public speakers and leaders. Reading, writing and creative expression begins to undo centuries of oppression, exasperated by the daughters of the confederacy by providing Black children with the tools that they need to break barriers.

3.1 Mapping New Orleans

Historic Sociopolitial Landscape

This 2021 studio consists of three sites throughout New Orleans, Louisiana. Each development was completed within a span of one to four weeks. This project is unique in nature because an in-person site analysis was not safe due to the nonavailability of Coronavirus vaccines at this time. Therefore, an extremely thorough research-based analysis was imperative.

I began by mapping New Orleans’s overarching sociopolitical landscape by studying 1920s-era redlining by the American Housing Association, which one will see outlined in white. These areas throughout the country are prone to natural disaster or otherwise deemed sub-par per this association. I then became curious about the longlasting effects of this practice. Upon further investigation, I found that there has been little meaningful integration throughout the city since these predatory housing practices were implemented; the predominantly Black communities that the American Housing Association intentionally created in the 1920s largely remain of a similar demographic makeup to this day. This overlap is shown in the map by yellow topographic line density. I then proceeded to research Green Book Locations, which are shown as circles on the map. Most are demolished, however the remaining ones (shown with an extra ring) are unmarked.

Cara Marchesani Portfolio

3.2 Design Charette_ Integration

The Charette site is located in a redlined district on the ocean. The project is a multi-use space, with a classroom and observation deck located at the top floor. Since the original Green Book locations are no longer in operation, the city is in need of sheltered spaces for at-risk individuals. Therefore, sleeping pods implemented throughout the tower. The goal of this structure is to begin to undo the effects of redlining and unite New Orleaneans through education and access to safe spaces. I further utilized Grasshopper in coonjunction with Rhinoceros to create the structure.

3.2 Design Charette_ Performance

Before working on the final installation in the series, a second design charette was completed. The new site was located in the Napoleon Arpent, a less-traveled area than major sites such as the French Quarter. I became very interested in the vibrant, unique busker culture. Through analysis, many of these individuals, known commonly as street performers, have been misplaced due to the pandemic and lowered tourism rates.

This project utilizes a lightweight steel structure retrofitted with illumination of the exterior and an interior column system for extra support. The structure is covered by a translucent tensile structure that is weatherresistant and further mitigates the spread of coronavirus. The programmatic theme is reintigration between busker and tourist.

3.2

Design Charette_ Performance

In order to achieve the programmatic theme, public performance space, bars and hostel-style rooms are located throughout the space. There is an open floor plan with removed foor plates throughout the structure in order to increase visibility as much as possible to encourage community and connectivity. The private rooms are located on the top floor. The floor plates on this floor are not removed. To further increase connectivity, I instead placed the hostel rooms around the perimeter, facing the center.

3.3 Community Center_ Analysis

For the final project in the series, the site is located in the Mid City neighborhood of New Orleans. This area is in a redlined zone, classified as “Type C” and “Type D,” which are the two zones deemed most “hazardous by the American Housing Association. The demographic of this redlined area has remained mostly static. The area is historically underserved; public education is in a crisis mode as indicated by the lower right side graphs. In the immediate area, there is a diverse range of businesses, and many families.

3.3 Community Center

The main goal of this community center is to leave a lasting impact on the community and help to create generational wealth. Based on site analysis, the community is lacking resources pertaining to education and food accessibility. Therefore, the main focuses of this facility will offer nontraditional education in order to give students a healthy outlet to express their thoughts and feelings, as well as equip students with the tools that to be successful. Pictured to the top right is a culinary institute.

3.3 Community Center

Pictured to the top left is a grocery store with essential items. The culinary school regularly hosts community events that help to keep the cost of food down. Additionally, this will create jobs. There are other classrooms on the second floor of the structure that are flexible to host a wide range of activities as needed.

04 Sensed Interiority Through Urbanism

Fall 2020

Streetwear as a vessel for strengthening Downtown Knoxville’s social and cultural identity. This design additionally contributes to heightened public safety throughout the pandemic and illustrates the unwavering hope and resillience of Knoxville, Tennessee. quas a I argue that interpersonality and cultural alignment through urbanism creates a stronger sense of interiority in retail than the physical interior space.

Identifying The Design Issue

Initial research pertained to the disappearance of brick and mortar stores in the retail sector, and the move to fully online stores gaining momentum. I first investigated the role of branding strategies in urban space by comanies with few physical stores.

quas a

The first companies that I studied were Supreme streetwear and Air Jordan. Their strategies are drastically different, as Supreme has seven physical locations worldwide, while Air Jordan is only sold through third party physical resellers, such as Finish Line. However, these brands continue to enjoy far-reaching success.

To begin graphic visualization, I first examined Atlanta, Georgia and the of urban advertising and data visualization strategies that could be employed in place of brick and mortar stores, such as VR Technology and billboards.

Fairfax Avenue

Precedent Studies

The iconic clothing brand, Supreme, is a fantastic example of successful and intentional alignment with target customer culture alongside selling interpersonal experiences. Despite their widespread success, Supreme is largely an online brand, with only five physical stores, one of which is located on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles, California. When Supreme opened its doors in 2004, it was the only retail store of its kind in the area, surrounded by mostly Jewish stores. The opening of Supreme created a unique paradigm shift in the urban fabric of Fairfax Avenue; by the late 2000s, dozens of famous streetwear brands opened their doors within walking (or skateboarding) distance of Supreme. Most of the Jewish stores were replaced as an added layer to the cultural shift of Fairfax Avenue. (Sanchez). However, Supreme pays tribute to this by adding a limited edition “drop” of the classic Supreme logo shirt, written in Hebrew.The shirt is now resold for thousands of dollars. As an aspect of interpersonal experience, The interaction between the younger skateboarders and older Jewish generations is interesting because they educated each other about their respective cultures. Eventually, the growth of Fairfax Avenue ended up benefiting the businesses that were there pre-Supreme, and skateboard culture grew organically on the streets outside the retail stores thanks to Supreme. Music videos are consistently shot on this street and many of the brands stationed on Fairfax Avenue host block parties that draw hundreds of people. Prominent rapper, Tyler the Creator, had been frequenting the stores on Fairfax since they opened in the early 2000s. Eventually, he opened his own Odd Future Pop-Up store which brought an added layer of independent music culture to the Avenue (Sanchez).

BAPE

ZENSAI

Butter.ATL is a fairly young social media channel based out of Atlanta, GA. This atypical brand is redefining the social media landscape because they are culture-centered. Butter.ATL has enjoyed massive success in the nearly two years since they launched in 2018, bringing in six figures yearly (Godfrey) and have garnered ~74,300 followers on Instagram. Butter.ATL’s target audience is people who live in Atlanta who are ages 1835 (Godfrey). They have achieved success through culturally aligning themselves with typical values of the target audience. The executive director, Brandon Butler, states that Atlanta’s number one export is culture and that there is a general belief in responsibility to protect this culture (Abdulahi). Butter.ATL reports on Atlanta-centric issues, such as traffic, neighborhoods and traditions. These topics are imperative to the daily experience of many who live in the city, therefore, consumers form a personal connection with the company. Additionally, they partner with celebrities such as Killer Mike and Desi Banks, who are popular with this age group and area. Additionally, the company has released a series of widely successful video clips outlining the unique southern vernacular of the area. The brand also incorporates the aspect of interpersonality in unique ways, since the brand is housed solely within the internet and has no physical locations. They cater to the interpersonal aspect by hosting in person events and serving as a platform for community diologue surrounding pressing Atlanta issues.

Precedent Studies

While researching the state of Fairfax Avenue in its current state during the year of 2020, I noticed an immensely important cultural paradigm shift on the boulevard. Before the pandemic, there was always an inspiring educational diologue between the older communityL and the younger skateboarders that had moved there recently. Following the pandemic and a slew of current events, streetwear culture of this area carried the educational diologue forward to became a central point in the civil rights movement of early-mid 2020; the bottom timeline illustates this cultural shift visually.

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By Virgil Abloh

An additional case study for culture and interpersonality is Off-White by Virgil Abloh. The overarching premises of the brand is to elevate the culture of the young generation and provide them with a voice. OffWhite is not so much Virgil Abloh’s personal vision as it is a reflection of the culture that surrounds him. This is why the brand is so successful. The aspect of interpersonality in terms of this brand is more metaphorical; Virgil Abloh creates a sensed community through fashion.

@Butter.ATL

Off - White

Site Analysis

The site is located at 612 South Gay Street in Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee.

This site analysis focuses primarily on the Interpersonal and cultural experiences of the immediate surrounding area.

quas a I utilized field research to identify sites of cultural and interpersonal experiences as defined in my thesis. Cultural experiences included public art, murals, graffiti and street performers. Interpersonal experiences included in this site analysis include social clubs and bars, walking and biking tours, and outdoor event spaces.

.4

Programming

The relationship between the interior and exterior programming is shown in the left drawing, while the interior programming is accentuated in plans to therightofthepage.

quas a The exterior site will extend throughout the 600 block of the street and is welcoming to pedestrian and tourist traffic. The themes of the exterior and interior are cultural and social immersion, with a focus on equality and accessibility. The central point is a public skate bowl and viewing area located outside of the Tennessee Theater which will allow for the company to host outdoor concerts that correspond with local coronavirus mandates. Additionally, there is a market space for local vendors and an expanded Knoxville Area Transit stop. All of these facets contribute to increased accessibility to downtown Knoxville.

The interior programming is predominantly experiential. First, the viewer will experience interpersonal immerson, then cultural immersion as an individual moves upward across the x axis.

4.5 Third Floor Installation

The third and highest floor will be a museum space. Artists will be comissioned to create pieces pertaining to issues covered throughot the project, such as social justice and the impaact of streetwear on culture. I created an installation to be static within the space; The installation is derived from a site analysis diagram of Los Angeles’s Fairfax avenue. Each individual image will be screenprinted on vellum sheets which are then mounted into thin glass panels, totaling twelve panels. The panels will be at different heights and different lengths from the wall to create a fully immersive, emotional experience.

04.6

Urban Design Plan

The urban design plan illustrates in depth the location of the site and surrounding context, while additionally accentuating reasoningforimplementing the new strategies to encourage social and cultural immersion in downtownKnoxville.

The top image is the product drop social viewing floor. There is an installation that houses the current product drops so that patrons have exclusive ease of access.

The bottom left image is another product viewing space, and the top left floor is a cultural educational exhibit with a focus on the effect of streetwear on the larger urban context. Examples of installations that may be housed in this space is my Fairfax avenue

4.7 Urban Design

This project is meant to begin urban design research that I hope to carry throughout my career and eventually implement to create more meaningfully connected and inclusive cities. The entire scope of work is designed to adhere to coronavirus safety measures, however, all aspects of the space can be modified once the coronavirus is no longer deemed a public threat. This rendering is meant to illustrate not only the hope and resillience that I have witnessed within the community throughout the unarguably tumultous year of 2020, but also to illustrate the scene that can be experienced once we can all be “together,” as we previously defined the word, again.

05

Desgin for

Systems

Future Airport City Hub 2021 Smart City Workshop

05.1 Current Interior Condition: Sleep, Work, Play and Circulation

Currently, travelers do not have many options in terms of entertainment throughout the airport. A visual diagram can be found on page 12.

Long layovers, in theory, would allow people to explore their surroundings and city. However, the current architectural and urban design layout render exploration virtually impossible. As shown in the diagram on this page to the left, circulation range is intimately connected to the number of points available on the map.

If there are no sleep, work or play opportunities, then travelers are not likely to explore the space.

05.3 Programmatic Planning

Personal Rapid Transit Lines

1-4 person vehicles will be implemented. Those who have undergone the second security layer may be transported to other sites within the airport city alongside a personal TSA agent performing a personal security check upon re-arrival. This strategy is valuable because it will create jobs and potentially another source of income for the airport with massive investor and civillian appeal.

Parking Strategy

Undergound parking will be added to existing parking decks, so that new development can be placed above. There are many benefits to this strategy, including, but not limited to higher pedestrian visibility and walkability. This strategy will allow for upward urban growth; this is a healthy way for a city to expand without urban sprawl. Around 5 parking garages will be demolished and relocated close to nearby MARTA stations.

Source: https://www.dbsg.com/

05.3 Security Strategy

In order to solve current airport issues by redesigning the urban plan, it will be essential to streamline airport security. Therefore, I propose that TSA pre-check be moved off-site. When pre-check is completed online, individuals will recieve a wristband that can be scanned at the first security checkpoint. This allows for Atlanta residents to enjoy and support the surrounding businesses. The remainder of security checks will be done within the airport. Facial recogition and fingerprint scanning software will be used to further streamline the process.

05.4 Northside Development Plan

As this project was completed in a multidisciplinary group, the rest of the members devised a preliminary Eastside development plan, while I devised a premilinary Northside development plan. While there are many existing structures within this area, the houses, parking and important businesses such as food an hotels will be kept and integrated into a multi-use district, complete with a kid-friendly as well as 21 and up zone, Greenway and comphrehensive PRT system.

06.1 Computational Analysis_ARCH

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This 2020-2021 University of Tennessee Master of Architecture class utilizes Grasshopper in conjunction with Rhinoceros, Karamba 3D and Kangaroo to perform computational analysis and to test the limits of construction materials.

The research completed during this class will provide a fuller understanding of the physical capabilities and restrictions of structural members.

Research to form began with a precedent study of brilliant architect and engineer, Santiago Calatrava. From that, I further explored tensile structures, similar to the Dubai Creek Tower, depicted in the top left image. Computational analysis was then used to test load capability.

06.1 Computational Analysis_ARCH 557

01 Professional Projects

Toledo Lucas County Public Library Renovation

This is an ongoing project that I am working on at SSOE. The site is a 1920s artdeco library, with a 1980s addition, as seen in the photo to the left. We are tasked with renovating the space to be more employee-centered, so we made a list of employee needs and made a program with square footage. I realized that the space will not be large enough to accomodate their needs, so I proposed a flexible work and office space as an addition to the building exterior.

Professional Projects

Site Plans and Color Plans

This is an ongoing project that I am working on at SSOE. The examples shown in the portfolio are Morgan County Middle and High School, completed by SSOE in 2019. The firm did not have many suffecient presentation plans, so I am working with the K-12 studio to create them.

E - Labs +Completed Project

This project is the 2019 expansion of the existing engineering and environmental testing facility in Fredricksburg, Virginia. I drafted this construction set using AutoDesk AutoCAD while working for I.B.C. Structures, based out of Knoxville, TN. quas a

EngineeringBased Design

Through working with structural engineers, I gained a unique and invaluable skill set, which allows me to work more productively in interdisciplinary studios.

04

EZStorage +Completed Project

Thisprojectwascompletedin theSummerof2019in Bowie, Maryland. I drafted theCivilEngineering constructiondocumentswhile working under Saad Tantawi, M.S.CE,andI.B.C.Structures.

05 Professional Projects VA Highland Client

This is a drafting and design project for a private client in Atlanta, Georgia. The site is a house dated from 1890-1920, that had not been lived in since 2012. The space will be gutted and renovated into a more modern style. Shown to the left is asbuilt drawings I created by going to the site and taking measurements. Included in the as-built drawings is a new kitchen design, where I took out an interior wall and added a bar and other appliances.