CATHERINE MCCANDLESS Urban Planning Portfolio
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CATHERINE MCCANDLESS I care deeply about the impact that urbanization has on our environment, ecosystems, public health, and climate. As an urban planner, I aspire to transform cities into places that are adaptive and resilient to the impacts of climate change, sustainable in terms of natural resource consumption, energy use, and waste production, and equitable for everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic class, race, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship, or level of education. By integrating nature-based solutions into cities, I believe that we can generate opportunity and enhance our quality of life while simultaneously reducing our harmful impact on the environment. catherine.a.mccandless@gmail.com in
(919) 724-0588 https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-mccandless-b2198984
EDUCATION Class of 2019 Harvard Graduate School of Design | Cambridge, MA Master in Urban Planning Concentration: Environmental Planning and Urban Design Class of 2014
Wellesley College | Wellesley, MA Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Biology
EXPERIENCE May - August 2018 Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) | Washington, DC Planning and Design Intern Oct 2015 - Aug 2017
Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) | Boston, MA Assistant to the Director of Planning
June 2014 - Sep 2015 Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation | Boston, MA Real Estate Project Assistant
LEADERSHIP Sep 2018 - May 2019 Harvard Urban Planning Organization (HUPO) Treasurer
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CONTENTS
ACADEMIC PROJECTS.............4 Reimagining Maverick in East Boston Urban Design for Planners | Spring 2019 Lowering the Risk: Flood Adaptation & Resilience in Lowell Urban Planning Core Studio II | Spring 2018 Green Interventions in Somerville Urban Planning Core Studio I | Fall 2017 Channelside Site Redevelopment: Greenhaus Innovation District Developing for Social Impact | Spring 2019
RESEARCH PROJECTS............12 Empower Overtown: Community Solar Microgrid Multiple Miamis Project-Based Course | Fall 2018
PROFESSIONAL WORK..........14 Crystal City to DCA - NCAC APA Award Application Submission VHB Summer Internship | Summer 2018
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REIMAGINING MAVERICK IN EAST BOSTON This project was an urban design exercise in which I reimagined Maverick Square in East Boston. The vision includes filling in gaps in the urban fabric by increasing density around Maverick Station; accommodating growth by upgrading the existing affordable housing and providing new mixed-income housing; improving connectivity by creating a vibrant, multi-modal corridor that prioritizes pedestrians and bicyclists; and enhancing resilience through the addition of open space, green infrastructure, and flood adaptation measures along the waterfront.
Course:
Urban Design for Planners Spring 2019 - Final Project
Instructor:
David Gamble
SITE PLAN Maverick Street
mixed-use development
Bremen Street
bicycle lanes
cafe & plaza
Sumner Street
green infrastructure
public open space
upgraded affordable housing
pedestrian greenway
MBTA water taxi stop 50’
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100’
200’
400’
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PROJECT GOALS
increase density
improve connectivity
New Construction
enhance resiliency
Vehicular Route Bicycle Route Pedestrian Route
New Open Space
SECTION
MAVERICK
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10’
5’
5’
11’
11’
66’
11’
11’
5’
5’
10’
VISION
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ACADEMIC PROJECTS
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LOWERING THE RISK: FLOOD ADAPTATION & RESILIENCE IN LOWELL The City of Lowell must plan proactively for the inevitable future of more frequent extreme weather events, which pose a threat to the city’s economic viability, the physical infrastructure adjacent to the City’s infamous canals, and nearby communities, particularly the more vulnerable immigrant and refugee communities. This project proposed a vulnerability assessment and climate adaptation planning so the City of Lowell can prepare for the reality of climate change while also enhancing and capitalizing on the utmost value and resilience of the historic and iconic canal system.
Course:
Core Urban Planning Studio II Spring 2018 - Final Project
Instructors: Dan D’Oca Stephen Gray Kathy Spiegelman Fred Merrill
LOWELL’S ICONIC CANALS
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
- asses climate vulnerabilities & projected impacts - evaluate the flood entry points from the Merrimack River - set measurable goals
HISTORY OF FLOODING
THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
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ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
quantify the potential land, property, and social loss from flood damage and temperature increases
FLOOD RISK
REGULATORY MODIFICATIONS
- enforce stricter building requirements in the zoning code - rezone in at-risk areas, such as requiring mechanical equipment to be elevated above the BFE - ensure FEMA flood insurance compliance
SURFACE IMPERMEABILITY
PHYSICAL INTERVENTIONS
include green infrastructure, such as bioswales, permeable surfaces, street plantings, and floodable parks, and green building design, such as renewable energy sources and green roofs
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS
- educate the public on the urgency of climate change and risks - create an emergency preparedness plan - encourage public participation throughout the planning process
ACADEMIC PROJECTS
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GREEN INTERVENTIONS IN SOMERVILLE Somerville, MA released the Somervision Citywide Plan in 2012 and two of the major goals of the plan were to 1) to ensure that 50% of new trips are taken by public transit, biking, or walking; and 2) to create 125 acres of new open space. By creating new open space not as parks, but as green interventions, such as greenways or boulevards that offer environmentally conscious improvements to existing transit, cycling, and pedestrian routes, the City would add more permeable open space and address the four key issues of 1) air pollution from highways and rail infrastructure; 2) urban heat island effect; 3) flooding; and 4) a lack of green connections. Through the addition of green infrastructure in key areas, Somerville can address these challenges in a cost-effective way that meets two of the goals the City has set.
AIR POLLUTION
Course:
Core Urban Planning Studio I Fall 2017 - Final Project
Instructors: Sai Balakrishnan Lily Song David Gamble Ana Gelabert-Sanchez
URBAN HEAT ISLAND ute
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MBTA Red Line
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Green Line Extension
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Existing transit, including highways, the MBTA, and the commuté er rail, contributes to air pollution ! in Somerville. (
CORRIDORS
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Commuter Rail
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ath I-93 Underpass
Flood Hazard Areas FEMA Coastal Flood Zones
Union Square McGrath Hwy Underpass
Flood-Prone Areas from Poor Drainage
Severe inland flooding occurs in areas that are low-elevation and lack permeable surfaces
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Community Path Existing Path Path Extension
Somerville may be cyclist-friendly, but it only has one green thoroughfare along the Community Path.
CRITICAL AREAS
SOMERVILLE Population: 81,000
This composite map of the highways and rails, areas of high surface temperature, and areas that are prone to flooding shows where these issues overlap. The routes outlined in green dashes are the streets that pass through the majority of the critical areas, connect to existing green spaces, and could potentially support green interventions because they are some of the largest streets in Somerville.
Land Area: 4.2 mi² Open Space: 6% of land area Impermeable Surface: 77% of land area
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INTERVENTIONS Street Trees and Plantings
Permeable Paving
Permeable pavement
Bioswales and Rain Gardens
Collects stormwater Plants absorb water
Water passes through Carbon sequestration and pollutant absorption
Roots filter contaminants Excess water drains to sewer
Water drains to sewer
Street trees and plantings
Permeable pavement
Bioswales
ACADEMIC PROJECTS
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CHANNELSIDE SITE REDEVELOPMENT: GREENHAUS INNOVATION DISTRICT With sea level rise anticipated to severely impact the Seaport District and with a flood-entry point located directly on the site, our project will seek to mitigate the impacts of sea level rise. The project will be oriented around the inlet, which will act as water management and as an interactive feature for visitors to engage with. The Seaport District is poised to be a new innovation hub for Boston with a high demand for lab space, and our project will capitalize on this demand while also proactively addressing climate change by curating opportunity for technological advancements and job readiness trainings in green industries and by utilizing resilient design features in its construction.
CHANNELSIDE SITE TODAY
2030 - 9” SLR
FLOOD ENTRY POINTS
URGENT ACTION AREA
Channelside Site
| ACADEMIC PROJECTS
Developing for Social Impact Spring 2019 - Final Project
Instructors: Matt Kiefer Sara Myerson Team: Sam Adkisson - Design Kim Bernardin - Financing Cat McCandless - Planning
2050 - 21” SLR
Flood Entry Points
The City of Boston’s Climate Ready South Boston report identified the Channelside Site as a major flood entry point into the Seaport District that requires immediate action through interventions along the waterfront.
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Course:
Urgent Coastal Resilience Intervention
PROJECT PROPOSAL - GREENHAUS INNOVATION DISTRICT
Renderings by Sam Adkisson, MAUD ‘19
Our development proposal includes a mix of uses, including lab and incubator space for green technology businesses and start-ups, retail, and housing, including live/work space for innovators who work at the lab. LAB SPACE
GREENAHUS CLEAN TECH INCUBATOR
OFFICE / RETAIL
RESIDENTIAL
MICROUNIT INNOVATION HOUSING
FULL PROGRAM
ACADEMIC PROJECTS
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EMPOWER OVERTOWN: COMMUNITY SOLAR MICROGRID As a part of the Multiple Miami’s Project-Based Course through the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, this project proposes a comprehensive solution to some of Overtown, Miami’s most pressing challenges relating to the impacts of climate change. This solution involves the construction of either a single community solar array or a series of community solar installations in or near Overtown that would allow for low-income residents to subscribe to the system and receive energy credits on their monthly utility bill. The community solar array would be connected to a microgrid to allow for resilient back-up electricity, which is crucial given that intense hurricanes will become more frequent as a result of climate change and low-income communities are often the last to have their power restored. The project would address rising temperatures in Miami and the consequent increase in electricity costs in Overtown; provide access to clean energy for Overtown residents; increase resilience of energy infrastructure for the general welfare of Overtown residents; promote community stability in Overtown through affordable and reliable energy; and empower Overtown residents through workforce development opportunities in solar. Below are several spreads from the report. The full report is available upon request or on Issuu.com at https://issuu.com/catherine.mccandless.
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| RESEARCH PROJECTS
Course: Multiple Miamis Project-Based Course Fall 2018 - Final Project Instructor:
Lily Song
Partner:
Naomi Woods, MDes ‘19
RESEARCH PROJECTS
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CC2DCA NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA APA AWARD APPLICATION SUBMISSION During a summer internship with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc (VHB) in their Washington, D.C. Metro office, I designed, drafted text, and submitted an award application for the National Capital Area Chapter of the American Planning Association. The submission successfully received the award for VHB’s project proposal for a pedestrian bridge that would connect the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington, VA to the Reagan National Airport (DCA). This pedestrian bridge would foster improved connectivity between users of the international airport and the planned Amazon headquarters, the numerous hotels, and the businesses in Crystal City.
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PROFESSIONAL WORK
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CONTACT Catherine McCandless catherine.a.mccandless@gmail.com (919) 724 - 0588