I-75/85 Connector Transformation

I-75/85 ATLANTA

Connector Transformation

SWA Group I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

PREPARED FOR:

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

Houston/Atlanta 2011

contents FOREWORD

v

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1

VISION

13

PROJECT OVERVIEW

15

VISION PLAN

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VISION PLAN ENLARGEMENTS DESIGN STRATEGIES

25 29

DESIGN STRATEGIES OVERVIEW

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DESIGN STRATEGIES: GREENING

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DESIGN STRATEGIES: ART

47

DESIGN STRATEGIES: LIGHT

63

DESIGN STRATEGIES: URBAN SURFACES

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EARLY WIN PROJECTS

83

EARLY WIN PROJECTS OVERVIEW

85

IMMEDIATE UPGRADES

87

BRIDGES

91

ADJACENT PROPERTY

103

SCAD

105

GEORGIA TECH

107

EMORY

109

GSU

111

GATEWAY FOREST

113

VERTICAL GREENING

119

APPENDIX

127

PROJECT ANALYSIS

129

DESIGN PROCESS

145

CASE STUDIES

163

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY

171

COST ESTIMATES

175

I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

FOREWORD

In its current state, the Connector creates a decidedly negative environment for the City of Atlanta, damaging both the visitor’s opinion of the City and its urban fabric. This in turn affects connectivity, transit ridership, tourism, and ultimately tax revenues and jobs in the urban core.

The main strategy employed in the transformation of the Atlanta Connector is re-envisioning the freeway as a bold stroke of landscape infrastructure which creates a simple framework derived from movement, views, and connectivity with the urban community adjacent to, and beyond the Connector.

The vision advocated in this document is that of freeway moving through a green and lush landscape punctuated by art and urban incursions into the fabric of the freeway corridor. The Connector is embraced and cared for as an integral part of Atlanta’s open space system and people move freely along and across it. Dramatic gateways crafted from the landscape announce arrival into the City and serve as a marker of a special place along a travelers journey.

Lighting is used to extend the effects of the transformation creating a shift in attitude from day to night. The complete composition becomes a stately museum space full of wonder and opportunity, serving as a showcase of Atlanta’s unique place in the world.

The end result of the transformed Connector will be an Atlanta that is outwardly welcoming to freeway users; the City will see increased walk-ability, access to transit, and stronger neighborhoods; visitors will learn something new about the City, its aspirations, and its place in the world.

The economic incentives behind the project include increased tax base as properties along the Connector are repurposed or developed as vibrant mixed use districts, which in turn promotes urban living and an influx of creative class residents from around the greater Atlanta region.

I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SHERWOOD FOREST

ANSLEY PARK

ATLANTIC STATION

HOME PARK

MIDTOWN GEORGIA TECH

OLD FOURTH WARD

DOWNTOWN

SWEET AUBURN exotic forest native forest

CASTLEBERRY HILL

vertical greening: vines vertical greening: garden wall

CAPITOL GATEWAY

lighting urban design I urban design II

SUMMERHILL

art installation

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0

0.25

0.5

1 mi

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Atlanta Connector Transformation Project is a collaborative effort between the City of Atlanta, Georgia Department of Transportation, Downtown and Midtown to improve the experience of the more than 300,000 people who travel along the I-75/85 Connector daily. The planning phase was conducted during the summer of 2011 and sought to define the “art of the possible” to enhance Atlanta’s front door in a way that both improves its appearance and creates a positive impact for the city, nearby businesses, institutions and destinations.

BACKGROUND

Over the last decade and a half Downtown and Midtown Atlanta have become models for urban redevelopment. Thousands of new housing units; millions of square feet in new office space; expansion of educational and cultural facilities; and over $50 million in transportation improvements, public safety initiatives, and environmental enhancements have reshaped Atlanta’s urban core into a vibrant, walkable, cosmopolitan center. Despite the recent recession, Midtown and Downtown continue to gain acclaim for their progress and livability. While we take great pride in those achievements, our success has not translated to our City’s most heavily traveled roadway.

The condition of the Connector stands in stark contrast to our improved urban centers. The 5-mile stretch of highway from the I-75/I-85 merge on the north end of Midtown Atlanta to the I-20 interchange near Turner Field south of Downtown Atlanta includes three interchanges, 14 exits, 10-16 lanes of traffic and 17 overpasses and carries over 300,000 cars per day. This vast expanse of pavement is marked by aging infrastructure, concrete retaining walls, and limited landscaping and maintenance. Despite significant redevelopment that has taken place within the urban districts, a number of large parcels adjacent to the Connector are vacant and unattractive. Other properties that have undergone redevelopment have positioned parking decks and other “back of house” uses facing the roadway. Apart from several recent bridge improvements, the pedestrian environment is also lacking in the areas immediately adjacent to and over the interstate.

Midtown Alliance, Central Atlanta Progress/Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (CAP/ ADID) and our partners have had isolated success at specific locations over the Connector with the recently constructed 5th Street and 14th Street Bridges in Midtown Atlanta and plans for Mayor’s Park and Capitol Gateway in Downtown Atlanta. However, until now, there has not been a comprehensive corridor-wide vision for the roadway itself and adjacent properties.

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PROCESS

During a six-month period between May and October 2011, Midtown Alliance and CAP/ADID oversaw a planning process utilizing local planning professionals and nationally renowned landscape architects and urban designers. A selection committee comprised of Downtown and Midtown representatives chose SWA Group, based in Houston, from a pool of qualified firms solicited through an RFP process. SWA Group has a breadth of experience working with local DOTs throughout the country as well as a keen understanding of the combination of small and sweeping changes needed to make the Connector more attractive and to enhance Atlanta’s profile as a destination of choice for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

The planning process benefitted from valuable monthly input from two advisory groups and from a series of public involvement events and opportunities. A Leadership Team of high-level decision makers worked in tandem with a Creative Team of local design professionals to provide strategic advice on design and implementation. Additionally, outreach efforts included numerous interviews with key stakeholders, a public workshop, social media outreach, and an online survey.

VISION

The idea that emerged repeatedly through public dialogue and targeted stakeholder interviews was the theme of Atlanta as the “city in a forest.” While this is not a new idea, it provided a clear direction to explore landscape infrastructure as the primary mechanism to deliver aesthetic improvements along the 5-mile corridor and provide a backdrop for additional built enhancements such as public art and wayfinding devices. Thus, the Atlanta Connector Project is envisioned as a bold stroke of landscape infrastructure within a consistent framework of visual enhancements derived from movement, views and connectivity with the adjacent community.

The vision manifests itself through a design approach that includes both landscape and hardscape elements. Enhancement strategies can be summarized in six basic concepts: 1. Urban Forest – The goal of the urban forest is to create a striking outdoor room at each end of the Connector to celebrate arrival into Downtown and Midtown. These gateways combine native plants, exotic species, and light elements to highlight the built infrastructure of the freeway.

Rather than replicate a true Piedmont forest, this concept seeks to create a cultured environment that is immediately recognizable as a designed space inspired by nature.

2. Vertical Greening – This strategy is designed to soften the stark, uninviting environment of concrete retaining walls flanking the freeway, to highlight structural elements of interest and to continue the green theme of the urban forests. A horticultural approach will be taken with the selection of plant materials so that the effect is both vigorous and visually stimulating.

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3. Lighting – Lighting design will be used as a parallel strategy for creating a series of gateway moments along the Connector. Significant bridges and overhead structures have been selected to receive lighting applications that will highlight structural systems while washing the undersides with an artful glow that marks the arrival into Atlanta.

4. Art – The Connector will feature art pieces designed to reflect Atlanta’s rich culture and civic commitment to the arts. Art installations will draw inspiration from the elements that define the fabric of the connector: infrastructure, nature, garden and light. All will be designed by artists of national and international prominence. Ultimately, this effort will culminate in a professionally curated “The Atlanta Museum of Freeway Art,” a one-of-a-kind art institution unique to Atlanta.

5. Urban Furnishings – Certain elements are ubiquitous along the edges of the interstate: missile fences, sound walls and shade canopies. Rather than relegating these required safety features to afterthoughts, this effort elevates the design language of these mundane necessities to communicate a consistent and intentional message of arrival and urban sophistication.

6. Urban Design – Within the context of the Connector there are opportunities for grand gestures that reinforce the connection to the surrounding community. These include built projects such as pedestrian bridges, cantilevered promenades, vehicular roundabouts, and new private development that engages the Connector as an amenity. An enhanced Connector also provides a unique venue for creative programming and special events. Segments of the Connector could be “closed” for several hours on a weekend to facilitate “plant a forest day” for local school children to plant seedlings in one of the gateway forests or for a music/arts festival to promote the cultural components of proposed enhancements.

IMPLEMENTATION

Building on a corridor-wide vision of interrelated enhancement strategies, the Atlanta Connector Project is a multi-phase effort that will be implemented over time as funding becomes available.

A series of “Early Win” projects has been identified to deliver meaningful results in the near term and build momentum for lasting, long-term transformation. These projects include elements of all six design concepts implemented at strategic locations with the highest visibility and greatest impact. Early Win projects are illustrated on the attached fold-out map and represent $40-$60 million in investment.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CONNECTOR MASTER PLAN

NORTHERN GATEWAY

MIDTOWN PROMENADE

MIDTOWN TRAIL

BAMBOO GATEW

85

75

I-20 GATEWAY TRANSFORMATION

7

10TH ST

17TH ST

MIDTOWN WEST PEACHTREE ST SPRING ST

NORTH AVE

PEACHTREE ST

ART WALK

BAMBOO GATEWAY

GRADY CURVE

CAPITOL PARK

I-20 GATEWAY

MEMORIAL DR

GATEWAY

20

COURTLAND ST DOWNTOWN

75

0

0.125

85

0.25

0.5 mile

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BEFORE AND AFTER TRANSFORMATIONS I-20 GATEWAY

I-20 GATEWAY TRANSFORMATION

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COURTLAND STREET

COURTLAND STREET TRANSFORMATION

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BEFORE AND AFTER TRANSFORMATIONS SPRING STREET

SPRING STREET TRANSFORMATION

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WILLIAMS STREET

WILLIAMS STREET TRANSFORMATION

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I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

VISION PLAN

VISION PLAN PROJECT OVERVIEW

The freeway is an integral part of the open space of the American City, forming a series of infrastructural systems that affect the dynamics and spatial characteristics of the region’s natural and cultural landscapes. Framing the Atlanta Connector in this way allows the Connector to be affected by the City, and the fabric of the City to learn from the Connector.

We see the transformation of the Connector as a catalyst that will change the perception of the freeway, and in return, the urban character of adjacent properties, neighborhoods, and the City as a whole.

Atlanta is already a global city with a well established brand both nationally and internationally.

But Atlanta is more than an international city – it is a place that embraces its local culture, values, traditions, and heritage. Atlanta is positioned as a place for local residents and businesses to thrive. Through the development of “Blueprint Midtown” and” Imagine Downtown”, Atlanta has taken important steps toward continuing to implement these goals. To support these ambitions, the Connector Transformation Project will employ strategies that accommodate human scaled, engaging, and attractive opportunities while satisfying the transportation needs of the greater Atlanta region.

THE PROBLEM

In its current state, the Connector creates a decidedly negative environment for the City of Atlanta, damaging both the visitor’s opinion of the City and its urban fabric. This in turn affects connectivity, transit ridership, tourism, and ultimately tax revenues and jobs in the urban core.

As the Connector was built and rebuilt over the last 60 years it has slowly taken on a character that is divorced from the aspirations of the City of Atlanta. The well tended streetscapes, parks, and urban fabric of Downtown and Midtown Atlanta is absent from the visual fabric of the Connector. The academic institutions that line the Connector (Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Emory, and SCAD) have turned their backs on what could be Atlanta’s front door. A “DMZ” like zone of parking garages, vacant lands, and service drives has sprung up between the Connector and the City that it was intended to service.

The goal of the Atlanta Connector Transformation Project is to generate beautification and urban design strategies that will create a new front door for the City of Atlanta, and energize the margins of this neglected corridor.

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MIDTOWN ATLANTA THE CONNECTOR I 75/85

DOWNTOWN ATLANTA

ATLANTA HIGHWAYS, Google Maps 2010

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VISION PLAN PROJECT OVERVIEW

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTOR

As a city that was built and grew because of its location as a crossroad between north and south, ocean and mountain, and farm and market, the realities of transportation infrastructure are at the heart of Atlanta’s history. Historically the city was defined by the intersection of a Native American ridgeline trail, and two railroads. These infrastructures have defined the form and growth of the city since the city’s birth in the 1840s. The trail eventually became today’s Peachtree Street, and the railroads formed the Five Points district which to this day is the city’s urban heart.

As the city grew, it spread out along these infrastructural lines with the street grid, businesses, and modern utilities following and driving the city’s growth. In time, new infrastructures were built to feed the city’s growth as a transportation hub and economic engine of the South. As automobiles became more common, roads became wider and more efficient at carrying the streams of vehicles that poured in and out of the city on a daily basis. As economies became regionally and nationally intertwined so did the need to move vehicles greater distances at higher speeds.

The Atlanta Connector was originally envisioned as a green parkway that would move goods and services, as well as travelers to and from Atlanta. In the 1950s, indigenous African American communities in the Downtown area were decimated by the road construction, but the Connector’s impact on the city was considered positive not only because of the commerce that it brought, but because of the broad shade trees and grassy banks that lined its margins. It was a welcoming and modern gateway for visitors and residents alike. It looked and felt like a part of the public realm of the city and was owned and embraced by its citizens. But as the city and it’s infrastructural needs grew so did the Connector. As the Connector grew it lost touch with the City that it served and in many ways the City began to serve the Connector. Coupled with this growth, where changing urban design philosophies that led to policies which resulted in disconnected communities and ever more automobile dependency. The Connector was at the heart of this change and overtime it has played a large part in severing and disconnecting large swaths of Atlanta. Many of the urban issues that modern Atlanta is dealing with are wrapped tightly in the growth of this immense traffic corridor.

THE CONNECTOR TODAY

As the connector grew it ultimately turned its back on the City of Atlanta and became a one dimensional infrastructure system, gobbling up land and cutting off prosperous districts and neighborhoods from one another. It’s sole purpose today is to move vehicles as quickly and efficiently as possible – with most of those vehicles bypassing Atlanta altogether on their way to points north or south. Today’s Connector is among the widest freeways in the world and is subject to gridlock, flooding, icing, and fatal traffic accidents day and night. The visual landscape of the Connector is defined by concrete canyons, chain link fencing, dark tunnels, sound walls, and an overshadowed and unkempt landscape. Rising above this disconnected and grey freeway one catches only occasional glimpses of the historic and prosperous city beyond.

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VIEW OF THE ATLANTA SKYLINE FROM THE 5TH ST BRIDGE, 1964

VIEW OF THE ATLANTA SKYLINE FROM THE 5TH ST BRIDGE, 2009

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VISION PLAN PROJECT OVERVIEW

LANDSCAPE INFRASTRUCTURE

The infrastructural systems of the United States are aging and in many cases becoming obsolete.

Much of the nation’s infrastructure was built in the prosperous years after World War 2, when engineering was considered the answer to the nation’s growth and continued prominence in the world. In the 1950s infrastructure was engineered to serve a single purpose – moving water along an aqueduct, moving energy along a transmission line, or moving people along a highway. Each designed as a single use that rarely considered the broader context of how that system interacted with other infrastructures, or with the fabric of the cities they connected. Natural systems between points were just an annoyance to be pushed out of the way of progress.

Over time the lands associated with these infrastructures have become more valuable, more visible and more important to the Cities and towns they connect. As a result, systems that were designed with a single purpose in mind are now being envisioned as mixed use lands. This is partly a result of today’s economics, but also a result of smarter development strategies. Power line corridors now include trail systems and wildlife habitat features; freeways are covered with urban park systems; highways planted with new forests sell carbon offset credits to airlines.

The results are much richer and progressive urban environments, interconnected multi-modal systems, and wildlife corridors moving through sprawling suburban precincts.

By looking at the Atlanta Connector as a public open space that threads through the heart of the City, the transformation of the freeway becomes more dynamic and impactful for the City as a whole. A new public open space that is green and cooling, solves environmental issues, and incorporates art will be embraced by the City.

As the City embraces this new open space residents will want to utilize it, walk along it or across it. Residents and visitors begin to consider it part of the City rather than a menacing insertion.

As a major landscape infrastructural system the Atlanta Connector will address issues with a vernacular style that informs and highlights the unique culture of Atlanta. The result will not only be a transformed Connector, but also transformation of the City.

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AERIAL VIEWS OF DOWNTOWN ATLANTA LOOKING NORTH, 1951

AERIAL VIEWS OF DOWNTOWN ATLANTA LOOKING NORTH, 2007

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VISION PLAN PROJECT OVERVIEW CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS VISUAL CONTINUITY

The current condition of the Connector is a result of 60 years of expansion and rebuilding that continues today. Because the needs of the City have changed so dramatically over the decades, a single guiding document that would outline the character and functionality of the Connector over time was not created. As a result, the basic building block of place making, continuity of place, has been overlooked while a hodgepodge of infrastructures, furnishings, signage, and safety apparatus have been created. Within a single quarter mile of the freeway, a variety of designs for guardrails, planting, lighting equipment, bridges and road surfacing can be found.

This is most apparent in the Grady Curve zone of the project, however even newer reaches of the Connector along Midtown use a wide variety of engineering features which greatly reduce continuity.

FOREST

Atlanta has a strong brand as The City in the Forest. Looking out across the cityscape from a high rise building in Downtown, one is struck by the entropic green matrix of forest canopy.

From certain vantage points the City appears to spring from the forest as an architectural jewel set in the sprawling Piedmont forest. However, this vision is a fleeting illusion when the City is viewed from the Connector. As one nears the City on Interstate 75 or 85 the verdant forests surrounding the roadway quickly dissolve into an expanse of grey paving, parking decks and vacant properties. This defining landscape of the City of Atlanta does not appear to exist as one travels the Connector.

SINGLE USE

A key component of the Connector’s current design is that of single use infrastructure. The corridor created by the Connector encompasses a minimum of 200 acres of the City’s open space. The open space is currently designed with one purpose in mind – to move vehicles. As public money and urban lands become scarce and highly sought after, single use infrastructures become less and less viable and must be re-envisioned as part of the fabric of the City, providing a range of offerings and uses.

VIEWS

The Connector does provide grand views of Downtown and Midtown Atlanta from the northern and southern flanks of the corridor. These grand views quickly give way to an ever narrowing viewshed that becomes focused on vertical concrete walls, random bridge and pipeline crossings, dark tunnels, and sound walls. Where City views are afforded along the Grady Curve and in Midtown, they are often set against the course and unarticulated surfaces of these bridges and walls, many of which appear to be decaying or poorly maintained.

SUSTAINABLE AWARENESS

Like many cities in North America, Atlanta is in the process of implementing a variety of sustainable initiatives that will define the City for the next decades. These initiatives include increasing 21

transit ridership, encouraging multimodal transportation, and reconnecting neighborhoods with mixed use development and walkable streets. These important initiatives are not apparent in the fabric of the Connector which signals that Atlanta’s primary interest is in moving vehicles as quickly as possible through the heart of its urban core. Further, the location and design of the Connector creates a barrier to achieving many of the City’s sustainability goals.

CONNECTIVITY

At every step of the analysis and design stages of the Connector Transformation Project, a lack of connectivity across and along the corridor has been noted. In the minds of residents and visitors alike, the Connector is an un-sutured laceration through the core of the City. The need to create stronger and safer connections across the Connector is at the heart of solving the problems presented by the project.

LANDSCAPE

The permeable spaces along the Connector contain a landscape typology that is ill-defined and out of scale with the infrastructure of the Connector. Landscapes are generally unkempt and make no attempt to create a brand for the City. The analysis of these permeable spaces suggests that a significant and robust vernacular landscape would greatly enhance the experience of traveling the Connector, and increase the legibility of Atlanta as the city in the forest.

DESIGN APPROACH

The process for creating strategies that are customized to the needs of the Connector Transformation Project began with an analysis and inventory of the Connector right of way and its adjacent lands. The analysis was conducted via a series of on-site investigations, interviews with stakeholders, and analysis of digital media including GIS resources. A Leadership Team comprised of business and institutional interests in the City, and a Creative Team of local design and art specialist were created to help guide the design process and provide local knowledge of the problems associated with the Connector. A public outreach meeting was conducted to gauge general impressions of the Connector and to identify the core problems that the ultimate transformation would address.

The project begins with the simple statement that the Connector will remain the City’s most significant and visible infrastructural corridor for the foreseeable future, and as such any transformation must embrace the Connector as an integral part of the City of Atlanta. The project will not seek to make the Connector disappear; rather it will use the Connector as a transformative piece of the City’s open space network. This transformation strategy will use a melding of art, landscape, engineering and urban design to create layers of interest to the fabric of the Connector, affecting how the city is perceived and ultimately how it functions. Further, the transformation of the Atlanta Connector will recalibrate the national conversation on the role of infrastructure in our cities and towns, putting Atlanta on the forefront of urban design issues centered on redefining infrastructure as public space.

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VISION PLAN CONNECTOR MASTER PLAN

NORTHERN GATEWAY

MIDTOWN PROMENADE

MIDTOWN TRAIL

BAMBOO GATEW

10TH ST

17TH ST

MIDTOWN

85

WEST PEACHTREE ST

NORTH AVE

PEACHTREE ST

SPRING ST

ART PARK

MIDTOWN PROMENADE

75

23

ART WALK

BAMBOO GATEWAY

GRADY CURVE

CAPITOL PARK

I-20 GATEWAY

MEMORIAL DR

GATEWAY

20

COURTLAND ST DOWNTOWN

MAYOR’S PARK CAPITOL PARK

75

K

0

0.125

85

0.25

0.5 mile

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VISION PLAN CONNECTOR PLAN ENLARGEMENT MIDTOWN PROMENADE

Woodru Arts Center

Georgia Tech Turner Studios Consulate General of Israel

Atlanta Symphony High Museum of Art

Museum of Design

Turner Broadcasting

Courtyard Atlanta Hotel

MARTA Arts Center Station

14 th St

12th St

Georgia Council for the Arts

Spring St

10 th St

Mixed Use Development Williams St Promenade Pedestrian Bridge

25

0

0.05

o.1 mi

Pedestrian Bridge

VISION PLAN CONNECTOR PLAN ENLARGEMENT ART PARK

Emory University Midtown Hospital

Children’s Museum of Atlanta

MARTA Civic Center Station

Historic Baltimore Block

Atlanta Downtown W Hotel

Melia Hotel

Spri

ng S

t

Art Walk Art Wall Spring Techwood Con

Bamboo Forest

Art Park Bamboo Forest

0

0.05

o.1 mi

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VISION PLAN CONNECTOR PLAN ENLARGEMENT MAYOR’S PARK

Atlanta Civic Center

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Atlanta First United Methodist Church

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

US Govt

Co

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Pe a

vd

Bl

c

an

Sculpture Garden

ll Gi

hM

lp Ra

dS

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Atlanta Connector Museum Visitor’s Cenetr

ch

tre eS

t

Perforated Plaza Deck

27

0

0.025

o.o5 mi

Courtland St Roundabout

Art Walk

Piedmont Ave Roundabout

VISION PLAN CONNECTOR PLAN ENLARGEMENT CAPITOL PARK

Grady Hospital

Oakland Cemetery Corey Smokestack

Memorial Dr.

Georgia State University State Government

Georgia State Capitol

State Capitol Building

ML KJ r. D

Governor’s Office

Capitol Ave.

r.

Memorial Dr.

0

0.05

o.1 mi

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I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

DESIGN STRATEGIES

DESIGN STRATEGIES OVERVIEW MACRO-STRATEGIES

The core strategies that will be employed along the length of the Connector involve greening, light, art, and ultimately, urban design interventions across and along the Connector. These strategies are used to modulate and recalibrate the existing infrastructural surfaces of the freeway in a manner that adds depth and meaning to Connector experience, and by default, the visual (and ultimately physical) experience of the City.

Greening strategies form the foundation of the transformation. The permeable spaces along the Connector’s margins and within its immense interchanges will hold a vibrant, robust and legible urban forest canopy. Urban forests will be crafted to create gateways at the north and south entries into Atlanta’s urban core. These forests will follow threads of unused open space into the heart of the City, enhancing views, hiding vacant properties, and forming a medium through which the City is viewed. Where space or safety considerations limit the inclusion of forests, vertical greening strategies will be employed to continue the thematic greening of the Connector and the City. While these greening strategies will have nascent effect on regional sustainability and clean air initiatives, they are not anticipated to be robust sustainable systems offsetting and the intensely negative effects of the 300,000 vehicles per day that use the Connector. At best they will be a window into the regional appreciation of sustainable design practices and a point of departure for reducing the effect of heat island, storm water, and particulate matter on the City.

Inserted into the verdant green fabric of the Connector will be art and light elements purposely crafted to interact with, and activate the surfaces of the Connector. The complex spatial character of the Connector is co-opted as a museum space crafted with both the high-speed traveler and the neighborhood viewer in mind. Retaining walls, bridges, tunnels, and the furnishings of the Connector become a framework of museum walls and spaces. Super graphic murals, lighting effects, super slow motion video, and sculpture highlighting the natural and cultural history of Atlanta will be used across the project with the “pinch” between Midtown and Downtown as the nexus and heart of the Museum. The art of the Connector will transcend traditional labels with all elements, greening, lighting and art working together to create the Museum of Freeway Art (MOFA) – a first-order art tourism destination whose mission is to transform the Atlanta Connector, and the national appreciation of art and freeway. Like its sister museums and cultural foundations in Atlanta, MOFA will have a permanent collection, rotating collections, membership, and a museum shop.

As the Connector is transformed from negative to positive, the public realm, and private properties and institutions along its margins will realize the positive attributes of the new culture growing within the new found public space of the Connector. The result will be the creation of new urban spaces above and along the Connector that seek to take advantage of the Connector.

Urban parks, promenades, trails, pedestrian bridges, and development projects are envisioned as a series of urban insertions that ripple through the City fabric as new connections are made and old ones are reinvigorated.

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BROOKWOOD GATEWAY

MIDTOWN

ART WALK

GRADY CURVE

I-20 GATEWAY

STIMULATION

ART

LIGHT

FURNITURE

FOUNDATION

VERTICAL GREENING

URBAN CANOPY

CONNECTOR DESIGN LAYERS

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DESIGN STRATEGIES OVERVIEW MACRO-STRATEGIES PHASING

Because of the realities of cash flow and funding hurdles, a phasing strategy has been created that puts an emphasis on early wins to produce interest in the implementation of the project and generate a posture of success.

Each phase will generate maximum impact from the increment created from each intervention – forest, art, light, greening, and urban connectivity. The vision will be complete in 25 years.

The strategy begins with key interventions in the heart of the Connector between Midtown and Downtown so that maximum impact is created where it will be appreciated most. Projects will then be phased to ripple from this central incursion moving outward to the Grady Curve and Midtown. At the same time, urban forests will be planted in the gateway reaches at Interstate 20, and at the Brookwood Interchange; these interventions will also act like ripples moving north and south along the corridor. The phasing is designed to maximize affect on the City and the Connector with new moves constantly replacing and energizing previous phases.

By combining lighting and urban forests in the early phases of the project, immediate gratification of lighting is paired with the necessity of growing the forests over a longer term cycle. The plant materials that comprise the forests are also considered so that early projects include exotic species that grow and produce spatial results quickly while their native, slow growing counterparts take longer to fulfill their function. Art elements are incorporated into the early phases to create civic interest in MOFA and to use it as a catalyst for future urban design insertions.

Vertical greening constructs are added in the intermediate years of the project when funding for these expensive systems is more likely to be available as the success of the transformation is beginning to be realized.

The final stages of the project will see the creation of substantial urban connectivity projects that include pedestrian bridges, promenades, and grand parks crossing the Connector. These projects will be mark the zenith of the project as it moves from surface modulation to City transformation.

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BROOKWOODGATEWAY

20 years

MIDTOWN

20 years

SPRING GATEWAY

ARTWALK 20 years

20 years 20 years

FREEDOM GATEWAY

20 years

GRADY/CAPITOL

20 years

I-20 GATEWAY

0

year

Brookwood Midtown Grady

1

I-20 Brookwood I-20

0 Spring St. Freedom Pkw.

FOREST

exotic forest native forest

2

4

3

7

8

9

10

11

12

Midtown markers

17th St. bridge

Peachtree St. bridge

6

Midtown

Midtown vine

Grady vine

Grady wall

Midtown wall

VERTICAL GREEN 0 10 Artwalk wall

garden wall vines

0 10 Grady markers bamboo forest lighting Courtland St. deck Artwalk vine Piedmont Ave. deck I-20 spire lights Brookwood spire lights

Freedom Pkw. bridge Spring St. bridge

5

I-20 bridge

10

LIGHT

augmentation new installation 10

Brookwood Gateway

I-20 Gateway

Midtown

Grady

0 Artwalk

ART

new installation

13

high

SYSTEM AFFECT

low

10 years

14

15 Capitol Park

Midtown Promenade

Mayor’s Park

Capitol Ave. rotary

Piedmont Ave. rotary

Courtland St. rotary

bridge furniture

highway fence

URBAN DESIGN 0 10

augmentation new installation

5 years 15 years

16

20 years

17

18

19

20

21

25 years

0

22

23

24

25

34

DESIGN STRATEGIES OVERVIEW SITE-SPECIFIC STRATEGIES*

GROUND SURFACE solid

cantilever

pervious

punctured

semi-pervious

hardscape

level

stepped

hollow mound

earth mound

TRAILS

direct

network

loop

MODALITY

single

shared

multi

CROSSINGS

simple

node

shared

pervious

semi-pervious punctured

semi-pervious transparent

CANOPY GROUPINGS

single

row

clump

SEAT GROUPINGS

single

row

room

EDGE CONDITION

edge

corner

enclave

LIGHT GROUPINGS

single

row

clump

MARKERS

single

serial

frontage

ART INTERVENTIONS

surface

object

field

SPECIES GROUPINGS

monocultural

STRUCTURE

POROSITY

TOPOGRAPHY

deck

GROUND MOVEMENT

SPACE DEFINITION WALL POROSITY

SPACE ENHANCEMENT

ARBORICULTURE

35

SPECIES ORIGIN

native

mixed

non-native

impervious

regular field

field

irregular field

CONNECTOR SITES

Because of the long lead time associated with completing the Connector Transformation project, the vision has been created in a way that utilizes protocols rather than specific design guidelines. Technologies change, art movements evolve, plant materials grow and decline; as a result an inflexible design directive will result in a short lived master plan.

The project directive is suspended between the idealized, synchronized master plan, and the indeterminancy of process matrices.

Depending upon localized site attributes, collaborators, and budgets, numerous variations of design interventions can result from each matrix. While decisions made through the framework of the design matrix preserve the design intent, there’s enough flexibility built in to account for the unexpected in the implementation phase of the project.

In developing site-specific strategies, the matrix of generic elements sets up a range of design parameters, a system that helps focus the decision-making process in creating context-sensitive interventions.

RAMP WALL

TRENCH WALL

BRIDGE ARC

BRIDGE FACE

FACADE

DECK

SHOULDER, LINK

FIELD

MEDIAN

SHOULDER, BUFFER

EDGE

INTERSTITIAL

*site-specific elements matrix informed by the methodology developed at the University of Arkansas Community Design Center

36

I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

GREENING

BROOKWOOD HILLS

17TH ST

NORTH AVE

PEACHTREE ST

SPRING ST.

MIDTOWN

FREEDOM PKWY DOWNTOWN

I-20

DESIGN STRATEGIES GREENING OVERVIEW

URBAN FOREST

The City of Atlanta was carved from the surrounding Piedmont Forests; forests which continue to be a significant identity feature for the City and its surrounds. However, with urbanization and suburban sprawl the forest canopy has been degraded and replaced with paving and development. As one approaches the city on the Atlanta Connector, the thick forest vegetation which envelops the roadway quickly dissolves along with the City’s most powerful identifying feature.

A primary design strategy for the Connector Transformation project is the use of urban forests as an identity element for the City, and as an environmental interpretation feature. Urban forests will be inserted into the fabric of the Connector wherever possible and will create the overarching theme of the project.

Because of the realities of the sustainability issues created by the Connector, the forests are envisioned as placemaking features rather than part of a mitigation initiative. The forest canopy will provide an incremental upgrade to many of the issues facing the city, but it is best viewed in the realistic light of an interpretive element highlight Atlanta’s commitment to sustainability and alleviation of urbanization issues. Atlanta’s heat island effect is among the highest in the nation; urban forests greatly reduce heat island. Issues of localized flooding are also a problem along the Connector; urban forests reduce runoff and storm water infrastructure costs. Carbon and particulate matter associated with the 300,000 vehicles traveling the Connector daily are significant regional issues; urban forests create a benefit to both sequestration as well as reduction of airborne particles.

Atlanta The Connector

Atlanta city limits

GEORGIA STATE CANOPY COVERAGE

39

ATLANTA AREA CANOPY COVERAGE

VERTICAL GREENING

Significant reaches of the Connector have been engineered to minimize impact on surrounding communities, institutions, and businesses by depressing the freeway and erecting vertical retaining walls. The retaining walls are built with minimal clear zones resulting in an extremely harsh and uninviting freeway environment dominated by large expanses of concrete paving, walls, bridges, and related infrastructure. Because the Connector is the main entry point to Downtown and Midtown Atlanta, this environment creates a negative and unwelcoming impression of the City for visitors and residents alike.

A vertical greening strategy will be implemented to soften the environment, highlight structural elements of interest, and continue the overall greening strategy of the urban forests. Portions of walls and bridges will be selected for application of art elements that will interact with the vertical gardens. A horticultural approach will be taken with the selection of plant materials so that the greening is both vigorous and visually interesting. Textural compositions of interlaced vines clinging to walls will be juxtaposed against herbaceous arrangements that appear to be sprouting from the concrete walls. The effect will be a series of vertical canyon gardens composed of native and exotic vines, and perennials.

PRECIPITATION

CANOPY INTERCEPTION AND EVAPORATION

CO2 CARBON SEQUESTRATION

STEMFLOW TRANSPIRATION HEAT ISLAND EFFECT THROUGHFALL PERVIOUS SURFACE

RUNOFF

IMPERVIOUS SURFACE

MOISTURE ABSORPTION INFILTRATION

BENEFITS OF URBAN CANOPY

40

DESIGN STRATEGIES GREENING MAPS

41

PROPOSED GREENING MACRO-STRATEGY

EXISTING URBAN CANOPY

EXISTING IMPERMEABLE COVER

Continuous greening of the Connector corridor is the primary vehicle for integrating the infrastructure and urban zones.

Existing urban canopy distribution reveals the lack of coverage at the lower elevation

Impermeable cover reveals easing around the Connector interchanges

0

highest elevation

highest elevation

lowest elevation

lowest elevation

existing urban canopy

existing impermeable surfaces

0.25 0.5

1 mi

PROPOSED OVERALL GREENING STRATEGY

PROPOSED CANOPY GREENING

PROPOSED VERTICAL GREENING

Greening strategy creates correspondence between topography and planting approach.

Canopy greening takes place at the largest Connector interchanges.

Vertical greening softens the impact of the concrete trench environment with continuous planting along the Connector walls.

forest

monoculture forest

vines

garden wall

native mix forest

vertical gardens

42

DESIGN STRATEGIES GREENING DESIGN MATRIX

VINE WALL

CONNECTOR GREENING STRATEGIES

modular garden wall

Moso Bamboo

Pines

Piedmont Forest

43

hanging vines

Ryan McGuiness

NATIVE FOREST

MONOCULTURE NATIVE FOREST

MONOCULTURE EXOTIC FOREST

GARDEN WALL

climbing vines

Vulgaris Bamboo

CONNECTOR GREENING SITES TRENCH WALL

Patrick Blanc RAMP WALL

Herzog, de Meuron

Jean Nouvel

Patrick Blanc FIELD SHOULDER

Mexican Sycamore MEDIAN

Ronda de Dalt, Barcelona

INTERSTITIAL

Park Trinitat, Barcelona

44

DESIGN STRATEGIES GREENING ILLUSTRATIONS CONNECTOR SITES

FIELD

INTERSTITIAL

FREEDOM PKW. GATEWAY EXOTIC FOREST & GARDEN WALL

SPRING ST. EXOTIC FOREST GATEWAY

SECTION THROUGH NATIVE MIX FOREST

45

CONNECTOR SITES

SHOULDER, BUFFER

MEDIAN

I-20 FOREST GATEWAY

EDGE

BROOKWOOD FOREST GATEWAY

SECTION THROUGH NATIVE MIX FOREST

46

I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

ART

BROOKWOOD HILLS

17TH ST

NORTH AVE

PEACHTREE ST

SPRING ST.

MIDTOWN

FREEDOM PKWY DOWNTOWN

I-20

DESIGN STRATEGIES ART OVERVIEW

THE ATLANTA MUSEUM OF FREEWAY ART

There is both Art-Historical and Urban Planning and Design precedent to The Atlanta Museum of Freeway Art (MOFA), through countless examples of individual works of art or landscaping initiatives geared towards the beautification of the freeway infrastructure. However, the idea of taking a stretch of road and turning it into a museum that rivals in scope some of the great museums around the globe is a truly unique and powerful endeavor.

It is not only the idea of deeply integrating art into the everyday experience of the commute that holds significance, but also the comprehensive and strategic integration of art, nature, and urban infrastructure that the Museum of Freeway Art is designed to provide for its visitors.

The experience of the MOFA is educational, but it is educational more in the way a great journey is educational than in the way a classroom is educational. Art, in the context of the MOFA, is not set apart from one’s life, and one’s life, even in the midst of a great metropolis, is not set apart from nature. These are the two fundamental gifts that the MOFA presents.

The MOFA is a museum in which multiple ways of looking at history overlap. As it is a road, the first “map” is essentially a timeline, which moves the viewer through significant art movements chronologically (with the exception of certain areas within art history that can be seen to run from pre-history to the present). The second “map” is thematic, dividing the journey into three distinct “movements” – Spirit, Light, and Celebration. The third “map” is based on the way in which the landscape architecture articulates the relationship between art, nature, and infrastructure. This third “map” takes us from the wilderness of the forest, from which art and nature are understood as a living, spiritual force, into a hyper-stylized landscape, in which nature and art explore the thresholds of ornamentation and functionality, and back out through a design philosophy based on the achievable harmony of person, city, nature, and spirit.

Landscape can invigorate our senses, make us more alert, more aware and awake. This kind of awakening, in which we feel honored to be in the very moment, in the very place, in which we are, is the principal objective of the MOFA. As a civic endeavor, the MOFA can be looked at in a spiritual light, as a celebration of the ways in which deep creativity can invigorate even the most routine of tasks with delight. The MOFA places the celebration of human creativity within the context of ecological creativity. The principles of the natural world are the wellspring of our entire vernacular, in all media, in all languages, in all epochs, without exception. Thus, the integration of art, technology, and nature in the MOFA is not as three distinct components, but as one clear example of fecundity.

49

DESIGN STRATEGIES ART MAPS

THE ATLANTA MUSEUM OF FREEWAY ART THEMATIC ORGANIZATION

PROPOSED ART MACRO-STRATEGY:

MOFA is organized as a sequence of linear galleries themed according to art-historical representations of nature. The transition from a greener city edge to the urban center and back to the greener edge is intensified by differentiating landscapes of spiritual wilderness and the hyper-stylized urban center in the collaborative artistic installations along the Connector’s edges.

Art is the medium that creates continuity of experience along the connector as well as integration with Atlanta’s art districts.

THE BRONZE AGE ART OF THE MIDDLE AGES

LIGHT

ART OF THE RENAISSANCE THE IMPRESSIONISTS ART NOUVEAU ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM

CELEBRATION

DADA FUTURISM AFRICAN ART

FUNCTIONALITY&ORNAMENTATION

SPIRIT

PREHISTORIC ART

SPIRITUAL FORCE

ART IN NATURE

HARMONY OF PERSON,CITY,NATURE,SPIRIT

GALLERIES ART HISTORICAL MOVEMENTS

CONNECTOR ART SITES

THE ART OF ASIA AND OCEANA NATIVE AMERICAN ART EARTHWORKS PERFORMANCE ART

50

DESIGN STRATEGIES ART ORGANIZATION MATRIX 4

Second Friday Castleberry Hill Art Stroll

3

5

Third Saturday West Side Arts District Art Walk

2

Annual Atlanta Arts Festival

Atlanta Film Festival

5

6

Dogwood Festival

1

deFine Art Modern Atlanta Home Tour National Black Arts Festival

1

Atlanta Celebrates Photography

4

Flux Projects

level of activity

2

CONNECTOR art events

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

year cycle

annual cycle of Atlanta public art events and their associated arts districts: museum of freeway art maintains high level of constant public engagement authority

USA

art agencies, organizations

national endowment for the arts

programs

my town arts program art in communities grant

georgia council for the arts GA

governor’s arts award program

georgia center for nonprofits

curators art historical period experts interaction with collection pieces on loan original works of art

fulton county arts council

ATL REGION

metro atlanta arts and culture coalition

CoA

atlanta office of cultural affairs central atlanta progress NPOs

atlanta downtown improvement district midtown alliance

elevate contracts for arts services community cultural plan

midtown improvement district

imagine downtown

metropolitan atlanta arts fund

blueprint midtown

community foundation for greater atlanta

metro atlanta arts fun

THE ATLANTA CONNECTOR MUSEUM

international art community local art community

atlanta contemporary art center metro atlanta arts and culture coalition

transportation agencies georgia department of transportation

gdot transportation enhancements

GA

connect atlanta plan city of atlanta office of transportation CoA

51

metropolitan atlanta rapid transit

curators art historical period experts interaction with collection pieces on loan original works of art

arts in transit atlanta streetcar project

organizational support for the Atlanta Connector Museum

DESIGN STRATEGIES ART ATLANTA HOT SPOTS MAP

TH E CO NN EC TO R

1

MARTA

3

trolley

I -85/75

Atlanta’s vibrant art scene is supported by major institutions such as the High Museum of Art well-established and emerging contemporary gallery districts. The city’s art life rhythm corresponds to the cycles of annual, seasonal and monthly events of art-centric celebrations and learning. As a constantly activated site, the Connector is uniquely positioned to be a part of that rhythm. As an institution the Atlanta Museum of Freeway Art feeds off collaboration with the local art establishment and projects the results of such collaborations onto the freeway surfaces to be experienced by the traveler.

5

planned

6

2

4

TA

MAR

proposed CONNECTOR art sites art galleries and museums

3

art districts

1. Woodruff Arts Center 2. Downtown Arts District 3. West Side Arts District 4. Castleberry Hill Gallery District

adjacent neighborhoods

5. Piedmont Park

roads

6. The Atlanta Connector Museum

integrated bike paths public transport

THE CONNECTOR

public art sites

52

53

1600

1700

`

AFRICAN ART ARTS OF ASIA AND OCEANA NATIVE AMERICAN AND PRE-COLUMBIAN ART MEDIEVAL ART RENAISSANCE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE BAROQUE DUTCH GOLDEN AGE PAINTING ROCOCO

1500

DaDa Art

1900

1930

1960

1990

ROMANTICISM PHOTOGRAPHY IMPRESSIONISM ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT SYMBOLISM FAUVISM ART NOUVEAU VIENNA SECESSION MODERNISME RUSSIAN AVANT-GUARDE EXPRESSIONISM DER BLAUE REITER CUBISM FUTURISM SUPREMATISM DADA DESTIJ(NEOPLASTICISM) BAUHAUS SURREALISM HARLEM RENAISSANCE CONSTRUCTIVISM ART DECO SOCIAL REALISM ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM ACTION PAINTING COLOR FIELD PAINTING OUTSIDER ART(ART BRUT) POP ART SITUATIONISM MAGIC REALISM MINIMALISM OP ART TOYISM DIGITAL ART POSTMODERN ART PERFORMANCE ART FLUXUS CONCEPTUAL ART GRAFFITI JUNK ART PSYCHEDELIC ART PROCESS ART ARTE POVERA PHOTOREALISM LAND ART INSTALLATION ART MAIL ART YOUNG BRITISH ARTISTS

1800

2011 DESIGN STRATEGIES ART DESIGN MATRIX HISTORICAL COLLABORATIONS ART-HISTORICAL PERIODS ART-HISTORICAL INSPIRATION

Michelangelo The First Photograph

J.Fragonard: Rococo Painting

Gothic Architecture

Georgia O’Keeffe

Alphonse Mucha

Henri Rousseau

Henry Darger

Gardens of Versailles

Japanese prints

Mark Rothko

Claude Monet

Friedensreich Hundertwasser

Alexander Calder

Rembrandt van Rijn

Horseshoe Canyon Park, AZ

CONTEMPORARY ART PRACTICES

The MOFA, in recognizing this fact of narrative history is inviting a broad range of contemporary artists to collaborate within the context of history, providing a kind of time machine, in which we can go back and connect with our predecessors. In this, the MOFA is distinct from the traditional museum model in which contemporary art and art from past eras are in distinct “wings” or “galleries”. The MOFA is designed to promote an examination of the techniques, philosophies, and ideologies of the past by interweaving the works of contemporary artists and the use of contemporary crafts and technologies to expand the ways in which art can be presented at the scale of infrastructure.

Atlanta Ballet

Nick Cave

Tom Friedman

Os Gemeos

Oliver Herring

Swoon

Choi Leong Hwa

Dustin Yellin

Andy Goldsworthy

gloATL John Chamberlin

Richard Serra

Atsuo Okamoto

DANCE LIGHT PIGMENT PAPER THREAD FABRIC PLASTIC RESIN FIBERGLASS EARTH ROCK METAL

Museums have always been beacons of preservation, and have always set out to remind us not only of who we are, but also of what we may become. The MOFA is designed to perform this function in conjunction with the other fine cultural institutions of Atlanta, but it is also establishing an important new precedent. By utilizing the road as a kind of art historical timeline, the museum is creating a place of memory, but this memory recognizes one of the fundamentals of history, that it has to matter for the current generation, and that each generation, through its participation in history, inevitably alters the way in which we understand the past and shape the future.

54

DESIGN STRATEGIES ART DESIGN MATRIX CONTEMPORARY COLLABORATIONS

Doho Suh

Yinka Shonibare

Anthony Tompson Shumate

Tom Friedman

John Chamberlin

Chris Jordan

Moses Pendleton/MOMIX

Atlanta Ballet

Travis Lovett

Nick Cave

Zack Booth Simpson

Seyed Alavi

Mike Kelly

Annie Han & Daniel Mihalyo

Richard Serra

Ned Kahn

Andy Goldsworthy

Cai Guoquiang

Nam Jun Paik

Atsuo Okamoto

Takashi Murakami

Os Gemeos

Kehinde Wiley

Doug Aitken

BODY SPACE

Gees Bend Quilters

TRANSIT SPACE

El Anatsui

Ryan McGuiness

URBAN ABSTRACT

55

Steve Wiman

URBAN SUBLIME

CURRENCY OF ACCUMULATION

CONNECTOR ART THEMES

Brendan Lee Tang

CONNECTOR ART SITES TRENCH WALL

Florentijn Hofman

Donald Lipski

Subodh Gupta

Ian Cion

Robert Therrien

Oliver Herring

Choi Leong Hwa

Magda Sayeg

JR

Li Wei

Phil Borges

Warren Langley

Chiho Aoshima

Swoon

Tony Oursler

BRIDGE ARC

Hana Hillerova

BRIDGE FACE

Dario Robleto

FIELD DECK INTERSTITIAL

56

DESIGN STRATEGIES ART ILLUSTRATIONS

TRENCH WALL W

CONNECTOR ART SITES

ART COLLABORATIONS A ATIONS

1

Doug Aitken

Oliver Herring

2

Kehindle Wileyy

Os Gemeos

57

ARTHISTORICAL/INTERDISCIPLINARY/INTERCULTURAL L LTURAL COLLABORATIONS A ATIONS

BRIDGE FACE

CONNECTOR ART SITES

ART COLLABORATIONS A ATIONS

1

Ned Kahn

El Anatsui

2

Edouard Vuillard

Ian Cion

58

DESIGN STRATEGIES ART ILLUSTRATIONS

BRIDGE ARC

CONNECTOR ART SITES

ART COLLABORATIONS

1

Choi Leong Hwa

Magda Sayeg

2

Andy Goldsworthy

Horseshoe Canyon Park, AZ

59

FIELD

CONNECTOR ART SITES

ART COLLABORATIONS

1

Richard Serra

Subodh Gupta

2

Chris Jordan

Steve Wiman

60

DESIGN STRATEGIES ART ILLUSTRATIONS

DECK

CONNECTOR ART SITES

ART COLLABORATIONS

1

Moses Pendleton/MOMIX

Tony Oursler

2

Dustin Yellin

Jason de Caires Taylor

61

INTERSTITIAL

CONNECTOR ART SITES

ART COLLABORATIONS

1

Henri Rousseau

Cai Guoquiang

2

Alexander Calder

Mike Kelly

62

I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

LIGHT

BROOKWOOD HILLS

17TH ST

PEACHTREE ST

NORTH AVE

SPRING ST

MIDTOWN

FREEDOM PKWY DOWNTOWN

I-20

DESIGN STRATEGIES LIGHT OVERVIEW

The Connector is crossed by 27 bridges, flyovers, city streets, train trestles, pipe lines, and parking decks. Because the Connector was continuously built and rebuilt over the last 60 years, these bridges and structures give a clue to the history of the City. Seeking to highlight these structures, lighting design will be used as a strategy for creating a series of gateway moments along the length of the Connector, and for enhancing the intimidating dark tunnels that dominate much of the Downtown reach of the Connector.

In addition to lighting bridges and structures, lighting will also be introduced to the Gateway Urban Forests at each end of the project. The large trees of the forests will be up-lit to show the depth and character of the forest at night. The exotic segments of forest will contain a random layout of glowing light tubes that mimic the tree trunks of the forest. Bridges and other structural elements will be lit to enhance the structural character of these elements and add identity to the experience of moving along the Connector. Additional lighting elements will be designed to highlight and enhance the urban areas of the connector. These urban markers will create a lyrical and contemporary display of light, color and information about Atlanta and the institutions along the margins of the connector.

To highlight the transition from the green edge to the urban core and back to the green edge the color scheme for lighting interventions along the Connector follows a gradient from subdued natural hues at the edges to brighter colors at the center as an overarching system that implies differences in mood and temperament.

OVERALL LIGHTING CONCEPT

65

DESIGN STRATEGIES LIGHT MAPS

LIGHT DISTRICTS

THE CONNECTOR LIGHTING SCHEME

THE CONNECTOR LIGHTING LAYERS

The proposed Connector lighting interventions support continuity of the existing “light districts” of Georgia Tech, the Atlantic Station, and along the busy Peachtree St. corridor in Midtown and Downtown.

The lighting scheme sets up a gradient that indicates transitioning from greener, forested areas to the urban core and back to the forest.

Lighting of the existing bridges marks thresholds, proposed urban markers create a linear rhythm, and fields of light installations highlight the newly forested areas. gateway bridges

existing light districts

forest

Connector light district

urban core

feature bridges decks

extensions

gateway forests urban markers

66

DESIGN STRATEGIES LIGHT DESIGN MATRIX

ART INSTALLATION

CONNECTOR LIGHTING STRATEGIES

Platform 5 by Jason Bruges Studio

URBAN MARKERS

Kubic by URBANSCREEN

Gateway Pylons, LA, CA

Pixel Art by ACT Lighting Design

Rivers of Light by Aureo Lighting

Light Mast, Miami, FL

Self-Lighting Bridge, Rotterdam

Array by Chris Burden

Millenium Park, Chicago, IL

Acupuncture by Hans Peter Kuhn

Skatepark Markers, Lake Forest, CA Traveling Light by P. Freeman

Seven Screens by Art+Com

Sleepw

Massimo Silenzio by G. Nero

Billboard, Guang Dong, China

Dodge Island Bridge, Miami, FL Bridge Lighting by Leni Schwendinger

London, England

Pier at C

Bridge b

BRIDGES

Millenium Bridge, England

University of Houston, TX

BUILDING FACADES

Chrystal Bridge, Oklahoma, OK

67

San Antonio, TX

Kingston Bridge, Glasgo Glasgow, Scotland

Island Fyn, Denmark

Chelsea Art Museum Facade, NY Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN Cardi Bay Parking Garage by Light Bureau Parking Garage , Santa Monica, CA

San An

Goodm

SHOULDER

walkers by Doug Aitken

CONNECTOR LIGHTING SITES

Optic Alley by G. Drake-Brockman Carre Soie by Eclairagistes Associes FIELD

Light Installation, Dublin City

by Wink,Paris, France

Seoul, S. Korea

London Bridge, England

ntonio, TX

Sealand Rail Bridge, England

Shanghai, China

BRIDGE ARC FACADE

man Theatre Chicago, IL

Craigieburn Pass, Melbourne, Australia BRIDGE FACE

Chattanooga , TN

TRENCH WALL, EDGES

This Way by Tillett Lighting

Milno Estate,Warsaw, Poland

Chandler City Hall, AZ

68

DESIGN STRATEGIES LIGHT ILLUSTRATIONS GATEWAYS CONNECTOR SITE

I-20 GATEWAY PERSPECTIVE

I-20 ramp, linear lighting forest light spires

I-20 GATEWAY SECTION

69

DESIGN STRATEGIES LIGHT ILLUSTRATIONS BRIDGES CONNECTOR SITE

DECK LIGHTING

BRIDGE FACADE LIGHTING

70

I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

17TH ST

PEACHTREE ST

NORTH AVE

SPRING ST

MIDTOWN

FREEDOM PKWY DOWNTOWN

I-20

URBAN

SURFACES

BROOKWOOD HILLS

DESIGN STRATEGIES URBAN SURFACES OVERVIEW

FURNISHINGS

Fencing, Rails, Regulatory Signage, Safety Light Fixtures As a part of the visual transformation of the Connector a kit of furnishings has been developed : fencing, guard rails, barricades, sound walls, sign gantries, and lights, designed as a package, can create the visual continuity that would allow the Connector to feel like a place rather than a series of engineering insertions. The furnishings are comprised of durable, vandal resistant materials that are appropriate to the climate of Atlanta. Fencing that parallels the Connector will be a powder coated steel mesh designed to recede when viewed from the freeway, while appearing durable and well crafted to pedestrians along the edges of Connector. Bridge railings provide a unique opportunity for creating identity elements along the Connector. They will incorporate color, light, and planting. Crafted from brushed metal, panels hung from the bridge facades will shroud the inconsistent structural elements of the bridges. Freeway lighting and sign gantries will utilize simple but elegant structural elements that complement the design themes of the Connector Transformation project.

URBAN DESIGN

Roundabouts, Cantilever, Deck, Adjacencies As the Connector becomes more visually appealing, improvements to urban connectivity will be the next step, triggered by investment in the initial superficial transformation. The plan calls for the addition of pedestrian bridges, an upgrade of the Georgia Tech Tunnel, and the inclusion of urban trails and promenades in Midtown. A park built on the cap next to the Peachtree Street, roundabouts on the concrete decks of the Baker Street and Courtland Street overpasses, an art walk along the margins of the Connector, and lighting and architectural features under the Grady Curve make these areas more appealing to pedestrians in Atlanta Downtown. A new park at the Capitol Gateway capping the freeway would create a fitting setting for the historic Capitol building.

Much of the adjacent property along the Connector is currently vacant or underutilized. As the properties along the Connector redevelop, it is vital to the long term success of the project that they break their trend of disinvestment and embrace the Connector as an asset instead of a utilitarian corridor. New developments can have a positive impact on the Connector by adopting these simple Urban Design strategies: • Limited setbacks from the Connector in order to close the visual gap • Façades along the Connector that embrace the Connector Project’s design palette with architecture, lighting, art, and/ or vegetation where appropriate • Cladding or masking of parking garages • No service drives between the Connector and new development/redevelopment • “Fronting” Williams Street, the proposed Art Walk, and other “people places” • Trees, lights and general pedestrian improvements • New development should match the height of adjacent buildings 73

DESIGN STRATEGIES URBAN SURFACES DESIGN MATRIX

URBAN DESIGN

CONNECTOR URBAN RESURFACING STRATEGIES

CONNECTOR SITES

Highline, New York, NY

Roundabout, Portsmouth, VA

Highline, New York, NY

Grand Canyon Skywalk, AZ

Brisbane Southbank Parklands, Australia Roundabout Sculpture

Ronda De Dalt, Barcelona, Spain

I-59 Bridges, Houston, TX

BRIDGE PEDESTRIAN ZONE

DECK

Craigieburn Pass, Melbourne, Australia

BRIDGE FURNITURE

FREEWAY EDGE PEDESTRIAN ZONE

Devonshire Square, London, UK

BMW GroupDesignworks, USA MEDIAN BRIDGE FACE MEDIAN

Precast soundwall, Denver, CO

Ronda De Dalt, Barcelona, Spain Mathildeplein, Eindhoven, Netherlands

HIGHWAY FENCE

EDGE EDGE FREEWAY EDGE

acrylic soundwall

welded mesh fence

welded mesh fence

74

DESIGN STRATEGIES URBAN SURFACES MAPS

THE CONNECTOR SPATIAL CORRIDOR

THE CONNECTOR ZONES CONTINUITY

THE CONNECTOR EDGE DEVELOPMENT

The grain of the street facades oriented towards the Connector is analyzed to redefine edges potential based on the new spatial profile.

Continuous district zones produce thickened edges along the Connector, that can be programmatically differentiated and in some cases make linkages across the dividing trench.

Potential urban design strategies include the freeway edge programming, redesign of key intersections, bridging, capping and keying new development opportunities.

MIDTOWN GEORGIA TECH

DOWNTOWN

CAPITOL GATEWAY

75

DESIGN STRATEGIES URBAN SURFACES MAPS

NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS

IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS

The Connector urban design interventions add a layer of connectivity to the existing vision of reinforcing linkages across the freeway corridor. existing plan for connectivity reinforcement proposed linkages above the Connector

LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS

pedestrian bridge cap roundabout on existing cap bridge pedestrian infrastructure design

walkway cantilevered walkway

proposed linkage reinforcement below the Connector

freeway edge design

new development

SHERWOOD FOREST ATLANTIC STATION ANSLEY PARK

HOME PARK

MIDTOWN

GEORGIA TECH

OLD FOURTH WARD

DOWNTOWN

SWEET AUBURN CASTLEBERRY HILL CAPITOL GATEWAY

SUMMERHILL

76

DESIGN STRATEGIES URBAN SURFACES BRIDGE FURNITURE CONNECTOR SITE

urban marker

2

highway fence upgrade

3

1

bridge furniture

PEA C H T R EE

BRIDGE FURNITURE UPGRADES

P E A C H T R E E

existing structural beam

S T R E E T

incorporated wayfinding

BRIDGE FACADE RE-FACED

77

DESIGN STRATEGIES URBAN SURFACES DECK ROTARY CONNECTOR SITE

3

STREETSCAPE LAYERING

2

MODIFIED GEOMETRY AND FLOWS

1

TYPICAL CONNECTOR CAP INTERSECTION

SECTION THROUGH DECK ROTARY

78

DESIGN STRATEGIES URBAN SURFACES CANTILEVERED EDGE

2

CONNECTOR SITE

number of lanes reduced

cantilevered promenade

vertical garden wall

1

DEVELOPED CONNECTOR EDGE

TYPICAL CONNECTOR EDGE

SECTION THROUGH CANTILEVERED PROMENADE

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DESIGN STRATEGIES URBAN SURFACES CAP MATERIALS INTEGRATION CONNECTOR SITE

perforated surface

soil infill for planted areas

ARTICULATED DECK LANDSCAPE

SECTION THROUGH CAP LANDSCAPE

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DESIGN STRATEGIES URBAN SURFACES ADJACENCIES CONNECTOR SITE

arrange buildings to create a “gateway” to the 14th street corridor Limited setback from the Connector and frontage along Williams Street Pedestrian improvements along Williams street Parking deck is masked from the Connector

14TH STREET AND WILLIAMS STREET: PERSPECTIVE LOOKING EAST ALONG 14TH STREET.

81

DESIGN STRATEGIES URBAN SURFACES ADJACENCIES CONNECTOR SITE Limited setback from the connector to close the visual gap.

Parking deck is masked from the Connector New buildings complement the heights of existing buildings Buildings closely front the propose Art Walk. pedestrian improvements, soil infill for planted areas

Facades along the Connector embrace the Connector Project’s design palette with architecture, lighting, art, and/or vegetation where appropriate

DOWNTOWN ATLANTA AND RALPH MCGILL BLVD: BIRD’S EYE LOOKING NORTH WEST ALONG THE CONNECTOR

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I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

EARLY WIN PROJECTS

EARLY WIN PROJECTS OVERVIEW

In order to build momentum for the Connector Transformation within the community, and to illustrate to stakeholders the commitment to seeing the vision realized, a series of early win projects have been selected. These first projects will work within the framework of the overarching vision and act as a catalyst for propelling the transformation forward. The early win projects have been selected to provide maximum effect for the funds anticipated to be available in the short term.

The project selection draws from the key strategies of greening (both urban forest and vertical greening), light, and urban furnishings. This methodology creates the opportunity to apply each strategy and also test them so that the design details and material selections can be honed as the transformation moves forward. Early win projects have also been selected to strategically apply projects to a wide variety of places along the Connector, resulting in maximum impact.

The first of the early win projects will deal with lighting of bridges, structures and other architectural features along the Connector. The idea is to highlight and call attention to these structural elements so that a new appreciation of the Connector is gained. Lighting design will also brighten the undersides of the Courtland and Baker Street overpasses making these spaces feel more friendly and inviting to visitors. Complementing the lighting of structures will be a series of urban markers. The urban markers are envisioned as tall and monumental light tubes that march along the Grady Curve. The tubes will utilize LED display technology that will allow the markers to portray information about the events in the city or simply interpret the change of season or the mood of the city.

The second project will involve offsite improvements sponsored by the major educational institutions that line the Connector. Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Emory, and SCAD will implement improvements to the margins of the Connector corridor and enhance their buildings with light and art displays. The effect is to extend the transformation into the fabric of Atlanta.

The planting of the gateway forests will be the third early win project. The forests will be comprised of a landscape of exotic and native plant materials. To emphasize the gateway effect, the forest will be planted in a legible monoculture arrangement. Where existing plantings should be saved, the composition will be modified to work with those plantings. The outer margins of the gateway forests will be planted with a mix of native trees and low shrubs, the intent is to create a striking contrast within the gateway composition.

The final of the early win projects will involve vertical greening of retaining walls and other engineering features. In general, vertical greening will be carried out in zones that do not allow for urban forests to be planted. The vertical greening strategy will include vines growing from planters at the base of the walls, pendulous vines and shrubs reaching down from planters above the walls, and vertical gardening techniques that involve erecting a green wall system along the walls.

85

BROOKWOOD GATEWAY SCAD

17TH ST BRIDGE

MIDTOWN GEORGIA TECH

EMORY

PEACHTREE ST BRIDGE COURTLAND ST DECK BAKER ST DECK

DOWNTOWN

GSU monoculture/exotic forest native mix forest vertical greening: vines vertical greening: garden wall urban markers bridge lighting bridge furniture

I-20 GATEWAY

highway fence adjacent property developments

0

0.25

0.5

1 mi

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I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

IMMEDIATE UPGRADES

EARLY WIN PROJECTS IMMEDIATE UPGRADES

Currently the Connector is a neglected piece of the City. This neglect extends into the city blocks that line the Connector affecting development patterns, and ease of access along and across the Connector. Part of the problem is rooted in ownership of the freeway. The City has not engaged the Connector in a substantial way because it is owned and maintained by GDOT. GDOT sees the Connector as a small part of its statewide highway system. Local institutions have turned their back on it because the visual problems it creates seem insurmountable. Because of the negative feedback loop that is created, the time has come for the City and surrounding institutions to take control of the Connector and work with GDOT to pursue positive changes that will enhance the City of Atlanta and set the stage for large scale transformation of the Connector.

The City of Atlanta, Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, and Midtown Improvement District have organized this campaign to transform the Connector. By taking steps to implement early win projects in concert with GDOT, the stage is being set for the large scale improvements outlined in this vision plan. Early win projects have started with the funding and implementation of GDOT’s Gateway Program. By winning grants from GDOT, landscaping and maintenance programs have been implemented at key arrival points into the City. These small steps have resulted in the building of momentum for a grass roots campaign to see larger and more substantial projects completed.

The next step in building momentum for the Connector Transformation Project involves the implementation of a series of maintenance and repair programs. The success of these early win projects will show the City that affecting change along the Connector corridor is not insurmountable, and that small changes can have far reaching affect on the perception of the Connector and its place in the City.

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

ADID and MID will work with GDOT and the City of Atlanta to implement better maintenance practices along the length of the Connector. These practices will focus on getting GDOT buy-in on a higher level of maintenance that is more suitable to this tourist friendly and fashionable city. ADID and MID will use this collaboration with GDOT to set the stage for discussion and implementation of required changes and variances to GDOTs current set of design guidelines, Many of these maintenance and design standards are suitable for rural or suburban freeways, and are inadequate for projecting the brand and image of the South’s preeminent city.

LITTER, TRASH AND DEBRIS CONTROL

Well tended freeways tend to have fewer issues with trash and litter. The current state of maintenance along some reaches of the Connector creates a visual appearance that can increase littering. Working alongside GDOT, an enhanced maintenance and trash control system will be implemented. Resources will be allocated in a manner that reflects the pride that Atlantans have

89

in their city. Local businesses and institutions will be engaged to participate in these programs while helping to build support for the larger Connector Transformation Project.

GRAFFITI ERADICATION

A graffiti eradication team will be set up that can rapidly respond to the removal of graffiti from the bridges, walls, and structures that form the Connector. Vandals want their graffiti to be seen by as many people as possible; research has shown that the prompt removal of graffiti results in a dramatic drop in the occurrence of graffiti. Better removal techniques will also be explored. Water blasting will be the preferred technique; when graffiti is painted over, the over-paint color will be carefully selected to blend with the surrounding infrastructures.

LIGHTING MAINTENANCE

Missing or broken light fixtures and burned out bulbs are not only unsightly but create unsafe driving conditions. The City will develop a protocol for noting missing or broken light fixtures and bulbs to GDOT so that they can be replaced promptly.

REPAIRS TO DAMAGED WALLS, FENCING, CURBS, AND OTHER FEATURES

With Atlanta in steep competition to lure tourists, conventions, and businesses to the City, the improvement of the condition of the Connector must be considered as an integral part of any strategy to grow these sectors. Many of the Connectors structures are aging and under constant pressure from traffic volumes and the extremes of Atlanta’s climate. This has resulted in a damaged and neglected look to significant portions of the Connector. The City of Atlanta, ADID and MID will work with GDOT to allocate maintenance funds to improve the condition of the many bridges, walls, and structure that form the Connector as it moves through the City.

POWER WASHING AND PAINTING

An ongoing maintenance program for the structures that form the Connector is as important as maintenance of the landscape. All walls, bridges, barriers, and abutments will be power washed so that a clean and cared for image is portrayed. Bridges and certain concrete structures will be painted in muted colors that support the art components of the Museum of Freeway Art and set the overarching tone of the museum space. A power washing and repainting schedule will be developed so that the well tended attitude projected by the City is part of the Connector experience as well.

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I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

BRIDGES

17TH ST BRIDGE

PEACHTREE ST BRIDGE COURTLAND ST DECK BAKER ST DECK

I-20 INTERCHANGE

EARLY WIN PROJECTS BRIDGES FURNITURE

The principle behind bridge facade and pedestrian furniture assemblies is layered differentiation of surfaces. Current pedestrian realm conditions suffer from monotonous appearance of single-plane, flimsy chain link-style fencing. Emphasis on variation- shifting planes and visible separation of supporting structure from suspended panels creates visual interest, richer spatial experience, and allows to create linear lighting washes by running the fixtures along the gaps between panels.

primary structural members primary structural members “suspended” grid panels “suspended” grid panels bridge facade panel planters and climbing bridge facade panel vines planters and climbing vines location of lighting fixturesof location lighting fixtures

bridge facade - structure bridge facade - structure

bridge facade - structure with planting bridge facade - structure with planting

bridge furniture layered assembly bridge furniture layered assembly

P E A C H T R E E S T R E E T P E A C H T R E E S T R E E T existing structural beam existing structural beam

typical bridge elevation typical bridge elevation

93

street name perforated in the solid panelperforated and street name in back-lit the solid panel and back-lit

EARLY WIN PROJECTS BRIDGES FURNITURE CONNECTOR SITE

PEACHTREE STREET BRIDGE FACADE

94

EARLY WIN PROJECTS BRIDGES FURNITURE 0

perforated panel solid panel facade

urban markers at key bridges

optional bench and/or planter

perforated panel solid panel facade planter with climbing vines

solid metal panel facade displays street name for traffic passing under bridge

perforated panel solid panel facade planter with climbing vines and seat wall

perforated metal panel provides shading for pedestrians while providing surface for climbing vines

perforated panel solid panel facade planter with climbing vines and seat wall

sections through pedestrian realm on

95

10’

20’

40’

EARLY WIN PROJECTS BRIDGES URBAN MARKERS A sophisticated Southern metropolis, Atlanta has a cultural and business scene to be envied domestically and internationally. The swooping curve of slender columns frames the views of downtown at the pinnacle of Grady Curve, marking the entrance to the city with brilliant colors and polish. The row of translucent columns becomes a site of spectacular light show at night, with video and dynamic color changing effects that translate information about the seasons and city events into artful backdrop for incoming traffic and a reference point in the city.

At Midtown, the markers are part of bridge pedestrian infrastructure and an effective wayfinding system. Therefore, setups for urban markers make provisions for pedestrian-accessible and non-accessible sites.

freeway section at Grady Hospital looking towards Midtown

freeway section at Grady Curve looking towards Downtown

COMPONENTS SETUP: PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES

COMPONENTS SETUP: NON-PEDESTRIAN SITES

bottom of column shielded with a metal panel that employs perforation to produce beautiful back-lit displays

a choice of 8 column heights at 8 foot increments, varied spacing on site, 40’ recommended

plan view

6’-8’ perforated metal shield displaying street name or artful design P EACH TREE S TREET

elevation view

20’

28’

36’

44’

52’

60’

68’

76’

96

EARLY WIN PROJECTS BRIDGES URBAN MARKERS

1. HIGHWAY FENCING

2

6’ - 10’

powder coated steel mesh

1 PE A CHT RE E

3’3” - 10’0”

2. URBAN MARKERS OPTION I translucent columns with animated LEDs

URBAN MARKERS OPTION II steel columns with fluorescent lanterns

2’3”

12”

steel column steel column UV stabilized lexan

fluorescent light fixture

24”

LED light fixture

white finish on column’s interior faces

4’0”

linear LED fixture with min programmable pixels at 1.2”

translucent column section

97

acrilyc cover

steel column section

EARLY WIN PROJECTS BRIDGES URBAN MARKERS CONNECTOR SITE

GRADY CURVE URBAN MARKERS

98

EARLY WIN PROJECTS BRIDGES LIGHTING 17TH STREET BRIDGE CONNECTOR SITE

LED tube ďŹ xture casts color wash on bridge facade

dual luminaire surface mounted light with downlight on structural column and uplight on bridge underside

99

EARLY WIN PROJECTS BRIDGES LIGHTING I-20 OVERPASS CONNECTOR SITE

LED fixture casts color wash on bridge facade ground-level floodlights illuminate bridge underside

100

EARLY WIN PROJECTS BRIDGES LIGHTING PEACHTREE STREET BRIDGE CONNECTOR SITE

LED accent lights illuminate street name

LED tube ямБxture casts color wash on bridge facade

101

EARLY WIN PROJECTS BRIDGES LIGHTING COURTLAND STREET DECK CONNECTOR SITE

Piedmont Ave. Deck

ямВuorescent luminaires with color tube highlight niches formed by structural I-beams

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I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

GEORGIA TECH

EMORY

GSU

ADJACENCIES

SCAD

EARLY WIN PROJECTS ADJACENT PROPERTIES SCAD CONNECTOR SITE

The SCAD campus occupies a prominent position on a hill top overlooking the Brookwood Interchange. The main campus building and related parking garage can be seen from many vantage points as travelers arrive at the Connector from both Interstates 75 and 85.

PRECEDENTS

Chandler City Hall, AZ

Island Fyn, Denmark

Parking Garage , Cambridge, MA

105

The design strategy for this segment of the connector calls for the creation of an urban forest gateway. The gateway will utilize varying forest types, light and art to create a dramatic and artful experience for visitors entering the urban core of Atlanta. Two concepts for the SCAD parking garage building have been illustrated. Both concepts take cues from the Connector gateway design as well as from SCAD’s brand as being at the forefront of conceptual art and design education.

Concept 1 suggests the use of paint and light to enhance the “back door” façade of the parking garage. LED or fluorescent light tubes are used to highlight and call attention to the institution and serve as subtle and non-traditional signage for SCAD. The light is designed as an electric abstraction of the surrounding forest. A painted backdrop of colorful super-graphic appliqués completes the composition and reveals the colleges’ fine art roots and traditions.

Concept 2 takes its cue from the greening strategies that have been prescribed for the Brookwood Interchange. This concept envisions wrapping the SCAD parking garage in a green envelope so that the building becomes part of the gateway forest composition. A mesh vine armature is used to train vines on the building; a variety of vines could be used to create pattern and textural variety.

Like concept 1, a super graphic panel would be used to call attention to the College and their commitment to contemporary art.

106

EARLY WIN PROJECTS ADJACENT PROPERTIES GEORGIA TECH CONNECTOR SITE

The Georgia Tech campus occupies a long stretch of low slung land along the Midtown segment of the Connector. As the land slopes away from the freeway, visual cues of the campus are lost to visitors and travelers moving through Atlanta. While there are a few opportunities for students to cross the Connector, pedestrian movement along the Connector is not provided. Where the Georgia Tech campus embraces the Connector it is comprised of a variety of uses, building types, and landscape typologies lending a ragged edge to the fabric of the Connector.

PRECEDENTS

Seven Screens by Art+Com

Platform 5 by Jason Bruges Studio

107

While much of the design strategy for Midtown’s portion of the Connector is focused on greening, there is also a substantial urban design component to the vision for Midtown. The Connector Transformation vision calls for pedestrian and bicycle trails to be threaded along the Connector, complemented by pedestrian bridges that cross over the Connector. Because of the noise associated with the portions of this trail system that would be close to the freeway, contemporary and artful sound attenuation walls would be erected to provide a better pedestrian environment.

Utilizing the urban design strategies prescribed for the Midtown segment of the Connector, a pedestrian promenade and lighted fence are suggested for the Georgia Tech edge of the Connector. The pedestrian promenade ties the pedestrian crossings that bring students from the Campus into Midtown; it will also increase connectivity for athletic event parking bringing visitors across the Connector and into the campus. Enhancing both the pedestrian and the freeway experience, a long fence that utilizes lighting, technology and art to create a striking and evocative urban edge to the campus is envisioned. The concept behind this fence allows for the silhouette of the cars and pedestrians to be visible to each other. In this way, there is a safe yet intriguing interaction between pedestrian and vehicle.

108

EARLY WIN PROJECTS ADJACENT PROPERTIES EMORY CONNECTOR SITE

The Emory parking garage occupies the most striking and opportune position along the Downtown reaches of the Connector. A traveler heading north along the Connector is struck by this immense architectural cube that at first glance appears to be sitting on the freeway. While the garage occupies such a dramatic location, it makes no attempt to embrace the Connector or welcome visitors coming to Emory or Downtown Atlanta.

PRECEDENTS

Parking Garage , Santa Monica, CA

The design strategies for this portion of the Connector are focused on the presentation of art within a setting of exotic forests and vine covered concrete canyons. The permeable areas of the Freedom Parkway and Spring Street Interchanges will be planted with a monoculture of exotic forest species. Plant materials under consideration include Mexican Sycamore and Moso Bamboo creating a striking composition of landscape design for Downtown Atlanta.

Enhancing the exotic landscape designs will be freeway scaled art elements which will ultimately form the Museum of Freeway Art – the first institution of its kind. Light, paint, sculpture and architectural features will all be utilized and combined to elevate the discussion of what comprises art and how it fits into the fabric of Atlanta and its urban freeway.

Two concepts have been illustrated for the Emory parking garage.

Parking Garage , Cambridge, MA

Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, MD

109

Concept 1 suggests an architectural upgrade of the building’s façade. The design solution would utilize colorful steel and glass panels back-lit to create a striking and enormous art piece along the margins of the Connector. The landscape below is formalized with a wall which covers the base of the parking garage and creates a planted terrace. Emory’s sign can be installed on this fence creating a wayfinding device for travelers on the Connector.

The second concept for the Emory garage draws inspiration from similar themes but is more grounded in imagery and vertical greening. In this concept the parking garage is wrapped with a steel trellis that allows a variety of vines to grow and cover the building façade. A super graphic nature scene is envisioned along the upper reaches of the garage tying the greening of the garage back to the urban forest concepts that will inform much of the Connector. Randomly located fiber optic lights within the vines will “twinkle”, creating a fire fly effect. Once the Museum of Freeway Art is established, the structure holding the graphic becomes a canvas for artists to hang their work using nylon or other light weight materials, shielding the permanent image and creating a temporary installation.

110

EARLY WIN PROJECTS ADJACENT PROPERTIES GSU CONNECTOR SITE

While the GSU campus embraces a portion of the Connector as it curves around Downtown Atlanta, it is generally obscured by freeway infrastructure and grade changes as the freeway drops down from its high point on the Grady Curve to its low point near Emory. Because GSU is an urban campus it also suffers from a general lack of architectural and visual connectivity. The opportunity for GSU is not only to participate in the transformation of the Connector, but also to highlight its position among the great educational institutions within Atlanta.

PRECEDENTS

Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN

Light Mast, Miami, FL

111

The design strategies for this portion of the Connector are focused on the presentation of artful lighting within a setting of exotic forests. The permeable areas of the Freedom Parkway Interchange will be planted with a monoculture of exotic forest species. Plant materials under consideration include Mexican Sycamore and Moso Bamboo creating a striking composition of landscape design for Downtown Atlanta. Enhancing the exotic landscape designs will be freeway scaled light elements - urban markers. The urban markers will use LED and projection technologies to enhance and frame views of Downtown Atlanta from the Connector. The urban markers will also be used to reveal to visitors and travelers what is happening in the city beyond the edges of the Connector.

The design concept for GSU involves creating a paint and light pallet that highlights the colors and identity of the University. Lighting key University buildings will create the effect of drawing the campus closer to the Connector so that it is more apparent to travelers. By utilizing the urban markers to further communicate the University identity, the Connector is given depth and connectivity to the city beyond. Urban forests lining the edges of the Connector will be planted to create viewpoints that further highlight and frame the University and include it in the composition.

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I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

GATEWAY FORESTS

BROOKWOOD GATEWAY

I-20 GATEWAY

EARLY WIN PROJECTS GATEWAY FORESTS I-20 INTERCHANGE PLAN

GATEWAY FOREST STRATEGY

low planting area :: ground cover planting, 8’ directly behind highway barrier

native forest mix, type 1 :: smaller caliper Piedmont Forest mix, spaced randomly to fill interior planting area native forest mix, type 2 :: large caliper Piedmont Forest mix, spaced randomly extending from back of low planting to 25’ monoculture planting, type 1 :: smaller caliper Pine trees, planted on a grid system, to fill interior planting area monoculture planting, type 2 :: large caliper Pine trees, planted on a grid system, extending from back of low planting to 25’ I-20 FOREST PLAN

tapered light column :: artist lighting element, 16’ - 30’ lexan tube filled with colored light, planted on large caliper Pine grid forest uplight :: large uplight located at the base of large caliper Piedmont trees, designed to light the underside of the canopy

native forest mix, type 1 native planting mix type 2 monoculture planting, type 2 tapered light column low planting area monoculture planting, type 1 forest uplight

I-20 FOREST PLAN ENLARGEMENT

115

EARLY WIN PROJECTS GATEWAY FORESTS I-20 INTERCHANGE SECTIONS

I-20 FOREST SECTION 1

I-20 FOREST SECTION 2

116

EARLY WIN PROJECTS GATEWAY FORESTS BROOKWOOD INTERCHANGE PLAN

GATEWAY ELEMENT STRATEGY

low planting area :: ground cover planting, 8’ directly behind highway barrier native forest mix, type 1 :: smaller caliper Piedmont Forest mix, spaced randomly to fill interior planting area native forest mix, type 2 :: large caliper Piedmont Forest mix, spaced randomly extending from back of low planting to 25’ monoculture planting, type 1 :: smaller caliper Pine trees, planted on a grid system, to fill interior planting area monoculture planting, type 2 :: large caliper Pine trees, planted on a grid system, extending from back of low planting to 25’ tapered light column :: artist lighting element, 16’ - 30’ lexan tube filled with colored light, planted on large caliper Pine grid

BROOKWOOD FOREST PLAN

forest uplight :: large uplight located at the base of large caliper Piedmont trees, designed to light the underside of the canopy

native forest mix, type 1 native planting mix type 2 monoculture planting, type 2 tapered light column low planting area monoculture planting, type 1 forest uplight

BROOKWOOD FOREST PLAN ENLARGEMENT

117

EARLY WIN PROJECTS GATEWAY FORESTS BROOKWOOD INTERCHANGE SECTIONS

SECTION ENLARGEMENT 1

SECTION ENLARGEMENT 2

BROOKWOOD FOREST SECTION

118

I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

GRADY CURVE

VERTICAL GREENING

MIDTOWN

EARLY WIN PROJECTS VERTICAL GREENING MIDTOWN 0

125’ 250’

500’

GREENING / ART COMPONENTS generic conditions

14th St Bridge

1 2 6 3

6 urban markers at every city block

3

3

vertical garden wall 10th St Bridge

7

4

7

urban markers at every city block

5 8

hanging vine accents 5th St Bridge

1. People TV Public Access Cable 2. Courtyard Atlanta Midtown/GeorgiaTech 3. Turner Broadcasting 4. Alexander Memorial Coliseum

121

5. Georgia Tech 6. 1010 Midtown Sales Center 7. Midtown Student Apartments 8. Tech Square Office Buildings & Garage

CONNECTOR SITE

MIDTOWN VERTICAL GARDEN WALL

122

EARLY WIN PROJECTS VERTICAL GREENING GRADY CURVE 0

125’ 250’ 500’

nt

ow

n

GREENING / ART COMPONENTS

Vi e

w

of

Do w

5

4

urban markers at every 40 feet

2

3

r St.

Decatu

yA

nt

oi

ne

1

Vi

ew

of

Gr

ad

6

1. Georgia State Capitol 2. Georgia State Government 3. Emory University 4. Grady Hospital Parking 5. Sweet Auburn Curb Market 6. Historic Atlanta Department SGF Buildingof Watershed Management

piedmont forest to replace existing soundwall

hanging vine accents Decatur St. Bridge

123

CONNECTOR SITE

GRADY CURVE GREENING

124

EARLY WIN PROJECTS VERTICAL GREENING MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGY

Three techniques for achieving the vertical greening strategy will be implemented.

One technique incorporates planting within a concrete barricade with an integral 12” soil pocket, irrigation system, and drain tile. The barricade is installed at the base of the existing retaining wall. Depending on species selected, vines will either grow directly on the wall, or a steel trellis will be attached to the wall. The second technique places pendulous vines or shrubs in planters at the top of the wall .

PLANT LIST: VINES

Parthenocissus tricuspidata Parthenocissus quinquefolia Gelsemium sempervirens Bignonia capreolata Lanceleaf Smilax

leave 2 lanes for Williams St expand soil by 12’

adjust wall for 9”-12” of planting soil

125

Boston Ivy Virginia Creeper Carolina Yellow Jessamine Crossvine Sweet-Scented Smilax

The third technique involves attaching a green wall or vertical gardening system to the concrete retaining wall. The vertical gardening system has an integral soil matrix, drip irrigation, and drainage system. A wide variety of plant materials can be used to create appealing and artful compositions of native and exotic vines, and perennials.

PLANT LIST: VERTICAL GARDEN

Guelder Rose Grayleaf Cotoneaster Fringe Cups Spanish Lavender Common Thyme Trailing Rosemary

leave 2 lanes for Williams St expand soil by 12’

plant wall with panels

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I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

APPENDIX

I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

Houston/Atlanta 2011

PROJECT ANALYSIS

SWA Group / I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

APPENDIX PROJECT ANALYSIS EXISTING CONDITIONS MAPS

MAJOR URBAN GATEWAYS

CORPORATE & INSTITUTIONAL ADJACENCIES

districts

districts

gateways

institutions

districts Connector

districts campuses

gateways buildings

institutions

Connector

campuses

buildings

SCAD Atlanta Atlantic Station

SCAD Atlanta

Atlantic Station

Woodruff Arts Center

Turner Woodruff Broadcasting Arts Center MI DTOWN

Turner GEORGIA Broadcasting TECH

MI DTOWN

DOWN TOWN

0

0.25 0.5

1 mi

0

0.25 0.5

1 mi

MI DTOWN

Emory University Hospital Fox Theater

Georgia Coca Cola Aquarium Headquarters Children’s Museum Emory University of Atlanta Hospital Atlanta Medical Center Georgia World Georgia Congress Center Aquarium DOWNTOWN Children’s Museum Georgia Dome Atlanta Medical Center Atlanta CNN of Center Georgia World Congress Center DOWNTOWN GEORGIA Georgia Dome ATLANTA CNN Center STATE UNIVERSITY Grady Hospital CENTER Atlanta City Hall GEORGIA ATLANTA Georgia State STATE UNIVERSITY Grady Capitol Hospital CENTER Atlanta City Hall Georgia State Capitol

Turner Field

131

Atlanta Botanical Garden

MI DTOWN Fox Theater GEORGIA TECH Coca Cola Headquarters

DOWN TOWN

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Turner Field

CONNECTOR LANDMARKS AND CROSSINGS MARTA

CONNECTOR RAMPSramps highway

highway landmarks MARTA

highway ramps

highway landmarks

Northern Peach Building

Northern Peach Building 17th St

17th St

14th St

14th St

17th St

17th St

10th St

10th St

5th St

5th St

Piedmont Ave

The Varsity

Piedmont Ave

Advertising Torch Sign

Piedmont Ave

Ave North 5th St

Spring St

Piedmont Ave

Spring St

North Ave

The Varsity

Peachtree St

Advertising Torch Sign

Peachtree St

North Ave 5th St

Allen Plaza Billboard

Spring St

10th St

Spring St

10th St

Peachtree St

14th St

Peachtree St

14th St

North Ave

Allen Plaza Billboard Edgewood Ave

Edgewood Ave De

ca tu

rS t

Edgewood Ave Memorial Dr

RTA MA

Capitol Dome

ur St

Decat

Coca Cola Sign Edgewood Ave

Corey Smokestack

Memorial Dr

De

ca tu

rS t

RTA MA

Capitol Dome

Memorial Dr

Capitol Ave

Capitol Ave

Pryor St

Capitol Ave

Capitol Ave

Pryor St

Pryor St

The Olympic Cauldron

Southern Peach Building

Pryor St

Corey Smokestack The Olympic Cauldron

Memorial Dr

Southern Peach Building

ur St

Decat

Coca Cola Sign

0

0

0.25 0.5

0.25 0.5

1 mi

1 mi

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APPENDIX PROJECT ANALYSIS EXISTING CONDITIONS MAPS

sound barrier CONNECTOR WALLS

elevated highway / rail CONNECTOR LEVELS

retaining walls

street over highway street under highway elevated highway / rail

sound barrier

street over highway

retaining walls

street under highway

17th St

17th St

14th St

14th St

17th St

17th St

10th St

10th St

5th St

10th St

5th St

Spring St

Piedmont Ave

North Ave

Piedmont Ave

Spring St

North Ave

Piedmont Ave

North Ave

Peachtree St

5th St

5th St

Spring St

Peachtree St

North Ave

14th St

Piedmont Ave

Spring St

10th St

Peachtree St

Peachtree St

14th St

Edgewood Ave

Edgewood Ave

De

ca tu

rS t

RTA MA

ur St

Decat

rial Dr moAve Meod Edgewo

rial Dr moAve Meod Edgewo

De

Capitol Ave Capitol Ave

1 mi

Memorial Dr

Pryor St

0.25 0.5

1 mi

rS t

Pryor St

0

0.25 0.5

Capitol Ave

Pryor St

0

Capitol Ave

Pryor St

133

ca tu

RTA MA

ur St

Decat

Memorial Dr

use POTENTIALpotential USE: PERMEABLE permeable

potential development POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT potential use paved

potential use permeable

potential development potential use paved

17th St

17th St

14th St

14th St

17th St

17th St

10th St

10th St

14th St

Spring St

5th St

5th St Spring St

10th St

Peachtree St

Peachtree St

14th St

10th St

5th St

Piedmont Ave

Peachtree St

Spring St

North Ave

Piedmont Ave

Piedmont Ave

North Ave

North Ave

Spring St

5th St

Piedmont Ave

Peachtree St

North Ave

Edgewood Ave

Edgewood Ave

De

ca tu

auburn pointe

De

ca tu

rS t

rS t

orial Dr emAve EdgewoMod

Memorial Dr Edgewood Ave

De

ca tu

De

ca tu

rS t

rS t

Capitol Ave

Pryor St

Pryor St

Capitol Ave

Memorial Dr

capitol gateway auburn pointe

Memorial Dr

stadium area capitol gateway

Capitol Ave

Pryor St

Capitol Ave

Pryor St

stadium area

0

0.25 0.5

1 mi

0

0.25 0.5

1 mi

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APPENDIX PROJECT ANALYSIS EXISTING CONDITIONS MAPS BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE existing bike lanes existing bike lanes Connect ATL Connect ATL Imagine Downtown Imagine Downtown Midtown Midtown regional transportation plan regional transportation plan

135

0 0

0.25 0.5 0.25 0.5

1 mi 1 mi

TRANSIT

MARTA MARTA Rail Atlantic Station shuttle Atlantic Station shuttle Tech Trolley Tech Trolley Downtown streetcar Downtown streetcar

ATLANTA BELTLINE PROJECT Beltline alignment

OPEN SPACE / PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS Blueprint Midtown

Beltline alignment transportation projects

BlueprintDowntown Midtown Imagine

Beltline transportation projects boundary

Imagine parks Downtown existing / open space

Beltline boundary tax allocation districts

existing parks / open space

tax allocation districts

0

0.25 0.5

1 mi

0

0.25 0.5

1 mi

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APPENDIX PROJECT ANALYSIS EXISTING CONDITIONS MAPS

IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS Midtown Improvement District (MID)

LIVABLE CENTERS INITIATIVES Midtown LCI

Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID)

Downtown Atlanta LCI

Midtown Improvement District (MID)

Memorial Drive LCI Midtown LCI

Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID)

Downtown Atlanta LCI Memorial Drive LCI

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0

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1 mi

0

0.25 0.5

1 mi

APPENDIX PROJECT ANALYSIS PHOTO SURVEY REFERENCE MAP

SOUTHBOUND

NORTHBOUND

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APPENDIX PROJECT ANALYSIS PHOTO SURVEY NORTHBOUND

139

140

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APPENDIX PROJECT ANALYSIS PHOTO SURVEY SOUTHBOUND

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APPENDIX PROJECT ANALYSIS EXISTING CONDITIONS SECTIONS

AT-GRADE, SOUND BARRIER

ELEVATED FREEWAY

LID OVER FREEWAY

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SUBURBAN FREEWAY, TALL RETAINING WALLS

MOSTLY AT-GRADE RETAINING WALL

MOSTLY AT-GRADE, RETAINING WALL, ACCESS ROADS

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DESIGN PROCESS

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS CONCEPT SKETCHES

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS CONCEPT SKETCHES

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS CONCEPT SKETCHES

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS CONCEPT SKETCHES

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS METRICS

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS METRICS

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS IDEA DIAGRAMS

BENEFITS OF URBAN CANOPY

THE CONNECTOR MUSEUM OF ART

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS CONCEPT MONTAGES

MIDTOWN GREENING

WILLIAMS ST PROMENADE

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS PLAN ENLARGEMENTS

W TR

PE AC H EE CO

CO

UR

UR

TL

TL

AN

AN

D

D

ST

ST

PE

PE

AC H

TR

AC H

EE

TR

ST

EE

ST

ST ER

K BA

ER

K BA

IS

RR

HA

IS

RR

HA

ST

ST

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PI

PI

ED

ED

M

M

O

O

NT

NT

AV E

AV E

ST

ST

ART PARK

NEW DEVELOPMENT, DOWNTOWN

MEMORIAL DR

CAPITOL AVE

INT

ER

ST AT E

20

I-20 GATEWAY

SPRING ST

10TH ST

14TH ST

WILLIAMS ST

TECHWOOD DR

MIDTOWN PROMENADE

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS CONCEPT MONTAGES EMORY PROPERTY

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS CONCEPT MONTAGES TURNER PROPERTY

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS CONCEPT MONTAGES SELIG PROPERTY

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS CONCEPT MONTAGES GEORGIA TECH PROPERTY

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APPENDIX DESIGN PROCESS PLANT LIST

TREES

SHRUBS/GRASSES

NATIVE MIX Overstory Shade Trees

Acer rubrum Carya ovata Carya ovalis Celtis laevigata Diospyros virginiana Fraxinus pennsylvanica Liriodendron tulipifera Quercus alba Quercus shumardii Quercus falcata Ulmus rubra Sassafras albidum

MONOCULTURE

Pinus palustris Pinus echinata Platanus mexicana

Red Maple Shagbark Hickory Red Hickory Sugarberry Persimmon Green Ash Tulip Poplar White Oak Shumard's Oak Southern Red Oak Slippery Elm Sassafras

Longleaf Pine Shortleaf Pine Mexican sycamore

RECOMMENDED PLANT SPECIES FOR THE GREENING STRATEGIES

161

TYPE 1 Kalmia latifolia Rhododendron canescens Rhododendron ammeum

Mountain-laurel or Spoonwoo Piedmont azalea Oconee Azalea

TYPE 2 Muhlenbergia capillaris Imperata cylindrica

Pink Muhly grass blady grass

TYPE 3 Aronia arbutifolia Rhus glabra

Red chokeberry Smooth Sumac

od

GROUNDCOVER

GREEN WALL - VINES

SEED MIX

GREEN WALL - VINES

TYPE 1 Asclepias tuberosa L. Dalea purpurea Trifolium incarnatum

Butterfly milkweed Purple Prairie Clover Crimson clover

TYPE 2 Andropogon virginicus Bouteloua curtipendula Elymus virginicus Panicum virgatum

Broomsedge Bluestem Sideoats Grama Virginia wildrye Switchgrass

Parthenocissus tricuspidata Parthenocissus quinquefolia Parthenocissus tricuspidata Gelsemium sempervirens Parthenocissus quinquefolia Bignonia capreolata Gelsemium sempervirens Lanceleaf Smilax Bignonia capreolata Lanceleaf Smilax

Boston Ivy Virginia Creeper Boston Ivy Yellow Jessamine Carolina Virginia Creeper Crossvine Carolina Yellow Jessamine Sweet-Scented Smilax Crossvine Sweet-Scented Smilax

GREEN WALL - VERTICAL GARDEN Viburnum opulus Cotoneaster glaucophyllus Tellima grandiflora Lavandula stoechas 'Silver Anouk' Thymus vulgaris Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus'

Guelder Rose Grayleaf Cotoneaster Fringe Cups Spanish Lavendar Common Thyme Trailing Rosemary

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CASE STUDIES

SWA Group / I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

APPENDIX SCAD CASE STUDIES URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES14TH STREET AND WILLIAMS STREET

site One

West Peachtree Street

Williams Street

i-75/85 connector

vacant

gas station 14th street

site t wo vacant

Two sites along the Connector in Midtown Atlanta were selected as case studies to illustrate how the Urban Design guidelines could be used for new development. These sites include vacant parcles, parking lots, and otherwise underutilized property that is directly adjacent to the connector.

Site One: • Location: Bound by Williams Street to the west, 14th Street to the south, and West Peachtree Street to the east • Existing Conditions: Primarily vacant and cleared land. An active gas station existing on the corner of 14th and West Peachtree Streets.

• Proposed Improvements: 14+ story mixed-use tower along 14th Street that frames the approach into Midtown.

The tower is served by a parking deck which is masked by 5-6 story units and street level retail along Williams street.

Site Two: • Location: Bound by Williams Street to the west, 14th street to the north, and West Peachtree Street to the east • Existing Conditions: Vacant land • Proposed Improvements: 15+ story tower along 14th Street that frames the approach into Midtown. This building is served by an internal parking deck that is masked on all sides by Street level retail.

165

appendix

APPENDIX CASE STUDIES URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES14TH STREET AND WILLIAMS STREET

arrange buildings to create a “gateway” to the 14th street corridor

Limited setback from the connector and frontage along Williams Street

Pedestrian improvements along Williams street

Perspective looking east along 14th street.

Parking deck is masked from the connector

Bird’s eye looking east along 14th street.

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APPENDIX CASE STUDIES URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIESDOWNTOWN ATLANTA AND RALPH MCGILL BLVD.

parking l ot

ree

s tr

eet

site One

p iedmont a venue

d.

c ourtland s treet

r alph mcg ill b lv

vacant

vacant/ Underutilized i-75/85 site t hree connector

p ea

cht

site t wo vacant/ Underutilized baker street

Three sites along the Connector in Downtown Atlanta were selected as case studies to illustrate how the Urban Design guidelines could be used for new development. These sites include vacant buildings, parking lots, and otherwise underutilized property that is directly adjacent to the connector.

Site One: • Location: Bound by Peachtree Street to the west, Ralph McGill to the north, and Courtland Street to the east.

• Existing Conditions: Parking lot that surrounds Sacred Heart Church on Peachtree Street • Proposed Improvements: +35 story tower set back along Peachtree Street to avoid blocking sunlight from reaching the Sacred Heart Church’s stained glass windows. The building also protrudes behind the church to accentuate the curve of the I-75/85 off-ramp.

Site Two: • Location: Bound by Courtland Street to the west, Baker Street to the South, and the Connector to the North.

• Existing Conditions: Aging, small, and underutilized buildings.

• Proposed Improvements: +25 story curved tower which sits above a parking deck. This parking deck in masked from the connector as well as pedestrians along Baker and Courtland Streets. Street level retail is provided along Baker and Courtland as well as easy access to the Art Walk along the connector.

Site Three: • Location: Bound to the north by Ralph McGill Blvd., Piedmont Avenue to the east, and the Connector to the south • Existing Conditions: Vacant and underutilized buildings.

• Proposed Improvements: +/- 10 story mixed-use building that wraps around a parking deck. This building provides street level retail along Piedmont Avenue and Ralph McGill Blvd. as well as easy access to the Art Walk along the Connector.

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APPENDIX CASE STUDIES URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIESDOWNTOWN ATLANTA AND RALPH MCGILL BLVD.

Limited setback from the connector to close the visual gap.

Parking deck is masked from the connector

Bird’s eye looking south c down Courtland Street

New buildings compliment the heights of existing buildings

Buildings closely front the propose Art Walk.

Pedestrian improvements

Bird’s eye looking north west along the connector

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A D J A C E N T

P R O P E R T Y

APPENDIX CASE STUDIES downtown/ralph mcgill blvdURBAN DESIGN STRATEGIESDOWNTOWN ATLANTA AND RALPH MCGILL BLVD. SCAD

The scale and height of the buildings along the connector match the existing buildings adjacent to them.

Perspective looking south west SCAD light and art concept

Facades along the connector embrace the connector Project’s design palette with art,-and/or vegeta The SCAD campus occupies a prominent position on a hill top overlooking the Brookwood Interchange. The main architecture, campus buildinglighting, and related tion appropriate parking garage can be seen from many vantage points as travelers arrive at the Connector from both Interstates 75 andwhere 85.

The design strategy for this segment of the connector calls for the creation of an urban forest gateway. The gateway will utilize varying forest types, light and art to create a dramatic and artful experience for visitors entering the urban core of Atlanta. Two concepts for the SCAD parking garage building have been illustrated. Both concepts take cues from the Connector gateway design as well as from SCAD’s brand as being at the Buildings embrace and provide access to forefront of conceptual art and design education.

the Art Walk along the connector

Concept 1 suggests the use of paint and light to enhance the “back door” façade of the parking garage. LED or fluorescent light tubes are used to highlight and call attention to the institution and serve as subtle and non-traditional signage for SCAD. The light is designed as an electric abstraction of the surrounding forest. A painted backdrop of colorful super-graphic appliqués completes the composition and reveals the colleges’ fine art roots and traditions.

Buildings front both the connector and surface streets by masking - service ac cess within parking garages

Bird’s eye of site two looking south west along Baker Street

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APPENDIX CASE STUDIES URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIESDOWNTOWN ATLANTA AND RALPH MCGILL BLVD.

Taller building to complement adjacent existing buildings

Architecture accentuates the off-ramp from the connector

Ground-level atrium matches the scale of other building along Peachtree Street and does not block sunlight from reaching Sacred Heart Church

Bird’s eye of site one looking south along Peachtree Street

Facades along the connector embrace the connector Project’s design palette with architecture, lighting, art, - and/or vegeta tion where appropriate Buildings embrace and provide access to the Art Walk along the connector

Buildings front both the connector and surface streets by masking - service ac cess within parking garages

Bird’s eye of site three looking south along Peachtree Street

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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

SWA Group / I-75/85 ATLANTA Connector Transformation

APPENDIX PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PUBLIC WORKSHOP SUMMARY

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