Caressa Givens, Portfolio

My name is Caressa, I am from Milwaukee Wisconsin.I am currently a first-year masters candidate studying landscape architecture at the Knowlton School at the Ohio State University.

Contents

WeClaim

I completed my Bachelors in Fine Art at the Milwaukee Institute of Art+Design.Prior to attending the Ohio State University I served in the non-profit sector as a mobility justice advocate for nearly a decade with the Wisconsin Bike Federation. These experiences not only exposed me to spatial planning + design but I became aware of the radical and necessary work that must be done to build and sustain safer and healthier communities and be conscious stewards of earth's habitats.

Terra MutareTacking Change

My mission is to support the land revisioning neccessary for more environmetally, socially, and racially equitable environments where power is shared through a design justice model.

Dynamic Conditions

Complete Streets+ Child Friendly Cities

Prairie Flyer

WeClaim

Design: Bike + micro-mobility on-street barricade.

Contest: 1st place winner through SPIN Scooter's Better Barrier competition.

Design Team: Conceptualization, Caressa Givens, Digital Rendering + Conceptualization

Arthur Talayko

City of Milwaukee Multi modal Department Critiques barrier prototype

Terra Mature-Tracking Change Part 1

For this studio assignment we were tasked with developing a repeatable range of motion for a body part-photograph the entire sequence in plan and elevation, breaking it down into six equally-spaced segments. We identified a visible 1”x1” site on the appendage, applied site boundaries to motion sequence photos, and then asked to analyze the site conditions using drawing and diagramming. Develop initial sketch studies examining subtle shifts in terrain, and interesting moments in each phase.

The site on the appendage (hand) resides in the crux of the wrist where the arm connects to the hand.

Sequence 1: Column 1,4

Sequence 2: Column 2,5

Sequence 3: Column 3,6

Terra Mature-Tracking Change Part 2

The next phase involves collapsing all motion sequence phases and creating orthographic views that show change over time. The task involved drawing one plan and twelve evenly spaced longitudinal and latitudinal. All drawings must illustrate the complete motion sequence and articulate the subsurface conditions and changing terrain. We were prompted to develop a unique system of measure to track changes conveying all conditional phenomena with precision.

developing formula and coding to articulate specific movements within selected terrain (subsurface)

Terra Mature-Tracking Change Part 2

Streetwise MKE

Streetwise MKE is an uncluttered cost-benefit analysis booklet that helps residents imagine what the design of their streets could look like with improved traffic calming measures.

Creative Direction––Caressa Givens, Illustrations by Beth Deyo, Wisconsin Bike Fed

Dynamic Conditions-Rain Terrain

Working in a team of four, we were tasked to construct a terrain that experienced significant rain events. The terrain was composed of stacks of cardboard organized in a 9-square grid. Utilizing methods such as cut and fill, we created flood mitigation infrastructure designed to move and retain water at varying rates. In the lower terrain, structures of wood and metal were designed to rise with water levels. In addition, we designed a datum, and filled the lower terrain with an open field of absorptions. Higher elevations were also supplemented by modular absorption units.

Materials:

Cardboard:terrain

Metal:armature: infrastructure:

Static Conditions: Built environment: 9 sites, 54” x 54” Site: surface: 18” x 18”; elevation: range of 2.5-11”

Caressa Givens

The Milwaukee Complete Streets Health and Equity Report (<<<hyperlink) is published annually to track the progress that is made by the City of Milwaukee in implementing safer streets.

The Department of Public Works launched its first report in 2019 collaborating with the Department of Health and City Development as well as community organization Wisconsin Bike Fed.

The report shares methods of project prioritization, program implementation, and community engagement.

Child-Friendly Cities MKE (CFCMKE) welcomes young scholars, families and faculty to take part in determining the infrastructure changes directly around their school campus. Each project is conducted with a real budget, an introduction to planning and design, and planning workshops.

Prior to the start of each CFCMKE project incoming students participate in Adventure Bike Camp and participate in other neighborhood exploration activities with local partners. This establishes a familial relationship with students, their families, and schools which promotes a culture of care and investment for safer and healthier neighborhoods in MKE.

*Consent to photograph child-participants was granted through a parental media release. Any additional use of the above images must be by consent request

Over Winter break infrastructure for Westside Academy was installed. In the Spring of 2023 students will begin pavement art installations and traffic circle plantings

Prairie Flyer

Design: Bus Rapid Transit Station Concept

Contest:3rd Place

design team: Celia Caroll Design Rendering + Design

Consultant, Caressa Givens, Planning + Design Consultant

PRAIRIE FLYER