2013 | Public Interest Design

Public Interest Design Drew Truskey

Contents

Process

Prescott Park Neighborhood

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Central Avenue 5 Bicycle Industry 6 Bicycle Technician 7 Cycle Tracks 8 The 816 Bicycle Collective 9 City of Lights 10 Multicultural Communities 11 for Mobility Sidewalks 12 Bicycle Paths 13 Site Context 14 Incubator of Physical Activity 15

Final North Perspective 16

Site Plan 17 Missing Teeth Analysis 18 Streetscape Analysis 19 Community Mapping 20 Building Components 21 Floor Plans 22 Sections 23 Northeast Perspective 24 Central Avenue Perspective 25 Cantilever View 26 Interior View 27

Prescott Park Neighborhood The historic Prescott Park Neighborhood encompasses the area bordered by 10th Street, Interstate 70, Central Avenue, and 18th Street.

The Prescott Park Neighborhood contains a number of community anchors, such as El Torito II, Prescott Park, Sun Fresh Market, Community Housing of Wyandotte County, Inc., and Whittier School.

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Central Avenue The primary corridor of the Prescott Park Neighborhood. A Primary Image Street according to the City-Wide Master Plan of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, which will serve as an anchor to a future pedestrian centric environment.

“All our senses are made for being a walking animal – for that speed, for that horizontal perception – and when we are in that natural environment that we are meant for, then we can watch and talk and kiss as we were meant to as human beings.” – Jan Gehl, Danish architect

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Bicycle Industry The economics of recreational and commuting bicycling.

“Even in a bad economy bikes can do well.

People need a cheap way to get around. But when the economy picks up people buy a new bike. It makes the industry somewhat recession proof.”

– Sue Prant, Advocacy Director, Community Cycles “Bicycling is a cost effective form of recreation and transportation. As cities improve bike facilities, so that they are safe and stress-free, more American’s will chose bicycling as an option for transportation and family fun. As energy prices and health costs soar, more American’s will turn towards bicycling as a way to save money and improve their health.”

– Bruno Maier, Vice President, Bikes Belong

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Bicycle Technician The primary duty of a bicycle technician is the repair and the assembly of bicycles for customers. The responsibilities of a bicycle technician can specifically entail assisting customers with technical issues, inspecting bicycles for any issues, and the testing of bicycles before and after any alterations.

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Cycle Tracks “Dedicates and protects space for bicyclists in order to improve perceived comfort and safety,” while it contains “low implementation cost by making use of existing pavement and drainage and by using parking lane as a barrier.” – National Associate of City Transportation Officials Urban Bikeway Design Guide

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The 816 Bicycle Collective The 816 Bicycle Collective is a do it yourself full service shop with tools and mechanics that seeks to teach its patrons to work on their own bicycles.

A component of The 816 Bicycle Collective is The List, which “is designed for patron’s who have limited financial means to obtain a bicycle, and are of the most in need of those we serve.” – The 816 Bicycle Collective

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City of Lights City of Lights emerged through “the need for the cycling community to reach out to the large existing population of Latino immigrant cyclists that ride the streets of Los Angeles.” In addition, “equity, bikes, and income have always correlated: Many of the workers City of Lights collaborates with use bikes during hard times, not having legal access to drivers’ licenses, and/or to stay healthy.” – Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition

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Multicultural Communities for Mobility Multicultural Communities for Mobility (MCM) “advocates for safe, alternative transportation access in underserved communities of color within greater Los Angeles, “ and seeks “to create a new consciousness of ‘equitable environmentalism’ that allows low-income communities to be safe, healthy, and have affordable mobility.” – Multicultural Communities for Mobility.

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Sidewalks An incomplete system of sidewalk connections exists within the Prescott Park Neighborhood. Such a situation hinders a walkable community and the emergence of a physically active area.

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Bicycle Paths The establishment of a bicycle path system would run on 18th Street, Bunker Avenue, Pacific Avenue, 10th Street, and Central Avenue.

The bicycle path system provides an important link between the residential area of the neighborhood and the commercial corridor of Central Avenue.

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Site Context The site of the incubator of physical activity entails the parcel located at 1273 Central Avenue at the border of the Prescott Park Neighborhood.

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Incubator of Physical Activity Mission Statement: The main focus of the project entails the creation of a sustainable, pedestrian oriented environment that promotes physical activity among its inhabitants through an incubator of physical activity. In addition, the project will provide economic development through the creation of bicycle technicians, and reach out to the local Hispanic community through Spanish language workshops in order to create safer mobility throughout the area.

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Incubator of Physical Activity Year

Fall 2013

Location

Kansas City, Kansas

Central Avenue

The Incubator of Physical Activity is located in the City of Kansas City, Kansas.

The building is a product of Public Interest Design and entails the creation of a sustainable, pedestrian oriented environment that promotes physical activity among its inhabitants. The project will provide economic development through the creation of bicycle technicians, and reach out to the local Hispanic community through Spanish language workshops in order to create safer mobility throughout the area.

The project started with my examination of the physical landscape of the Prescott Park Neighborhood, such as the transit system, sidewalk condition, and community anchors. As I continued to research the area my main focus entailed the promotion of physical activity and the examination of various physical activity related precedents that influenced the development of the project. With further development, I looked at the creation of bicycle paths, the transformation of Central Avenue as a physical activity generating corridor, and creating a sense of interconnectedness among these different elements. In the end, the study of these various components informed the selection of the site of the project, which will seek to bring all these components together.

The design is a modern, cantilevered structure that provides ample space underneath the retail component of the building to produce an outdoor gathering area for bicyclists. A distinctive element of the design is a ramp that leads to the second story level, which simplifies access for bicyclists to the retail and repair shop.

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Bicycle Shop

Classroom

Repair Shop

N Floor One

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Floor Two

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Thank you