Portfolio
Claire M Sullivan
Design | Art | Writing
Grounded Strategies
AmeriCorps Fellow, Intern 2024
Grounded Strategies is a nonprofit focused on improving distressed communities by reclaiming vacant land. During my Americorps term, I helped design sustainable, safe landscapes through planning, surveys, and workshops, gaining firsthand insight into the negative impact of vacant lots and residents’ redesign needs.
BEDFORDAVE
RECYCLED STONE PATHWAY
OPEN SPACE GATHERING AREA
WILDFLOWER LOT
QUIET SPACE FOR SEATING
JUNILLA ST
SITE PLAN DRAFT
CATS CORNER: 2456 BEDFORD AVE
PITTSBURGH, PA 15219
Draft based on discussion and design activity responses.
Community Design Workshop to redesign a vacant lot in the Hill District of Pittsburgh.
BOXWOOD BUSHES
DESIGN DIMENSIONS
LISA BLACKBURN SIDE LOT
7044 KEDRON ST, HOMEWOOD
WOODCHIP PATH OF 3’6”
GARDEN BEDS 3x6 OPEN SPACE FOR POTENTIAL PLATFORM
DESIGNATED SPACE TO WALK AROUND GARDEN BEDS
WILDFLOWER AREA
WILLOW AREA
SIDEWALK
Workday 2: Mulch pathway, plant wildflower seeds, construct garden beds.
Workday 1: Kill grass and remove debris.
GreenBridge Community
Studio 3, University of Pittsburgh
Partner - Tate Agnew 2024
In 2016, Pittsburgh became part of the Biophilic Cities network, joining 15 other cities.
Our design seeks to enhance Pittsburgh’s identity as a designated Biophilic City by integrating nature into Oakland’s dense urban environment, promoting well-being, and fostering community.
CIRCULATION
NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT
ATWOOD
“Museum Of” Ecology
Studio 2, University of Pittsburgh 2023
The design began with a circle, symbolizing ecosystems’ cyclic nature. Informed by site analysis in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, a segment was removed to reflect the city’s fractured relationship with its rivers and integrated into the pedestrian pathway, symbolizing reconnection. The museum supports ongoing efforts to improve Pittsburgh’s river quality.
Concpet Sketch.
Preliminary
Site Plan located on Railroad Street, next to the 31st Street Bridge.
Floor Plan
Shops
Exhibits
Entry
Office
Storage
Classroom
Bathroom
Green Roof
Creative Works
Digital, Drawings, and Written
Work
My Favorite Mug (and a vase) Reduction Drawing
Stuck in Self-Reflection
Clay Coiling Sculpture
4”x4”x11”
Forever Flowers for Grammy Hanging Wire Sculpture
14”x10”x4’10”
Urban Life: Just Missed You...
Pochoir 11”x17”
Written Work
Duquesne Light Company (DLC) Community Workshop Report 2024
Outcomes of a series of community design workshops focused on redesigning a vacant lot in the Hill District.
Grounded Strategies: Community Design Workshop Activities 2024
Examples of design activities created to gather community feedback to collaboratively envision the future of the lot.
Embodied Ecology: Towards a Phenomenological Framework for Designing an Ecology Museum in Vietnam 2024
Exploring a phenomenological framework for designing an ecology museum in Vietnam in order to foster a deeper appreciation for Vietnam’s biodiversity and encourage responsibility toward its preservation.
Global City: Analyzing Rifredi (Florence, Italy) 2023
A study conducted in the Rifredi neighborhood of Italy examining the impact of urbanization, and the essential effort to preserve its significant history and cultural identity.
https://docs.google.com/ document/d/1oWWuQV
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Dogs Best Friend: The Pool Noodle Procreate