Mike Agurkis

SITE Diamond Dreams Education Center Creating opportunities after baseball

San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic

Michael Agurkis | Drexel University | Advisor: Robert Nalls | 2021

RESEARCH

LEADING CITIES FOR BASEBALL TALENT

Problem: • In San Pedro de Macorís, boys drop out of school as • In early as the age of 12 to train in hopes of becoming a Major League Baseball Player.

• Less than 3% of kids will make it to the big leagues, • Less leaving kids hopeless, with a lack of education and life skills to function in society.

Source: Patrick Adler, University of Toronto School of Cities/Baseball-Reference.com (David H. Montgomery /CityLab)

Project Statement: How can architecture successfully combine education and children’s passion for sport in a way that helps RETAINS STUDENTS and sets them up for meaningful WORK OPPORTUNITIES after graduation?

PERCENTAGE OF PLAYERS TO MAJOR LEAGUES Of the 832 Dominican players at MLB Academies in 2006

100%

45.8% made it to the

80%

US rookie leagues

24.8% made it to

60%

“Class A” Minors

40%

10.3% made

it to “Double A”

6.1% made

20%

Project Goals: • To create a building that serves as the connective • To tissue between education, baseball, & community • To create spaces that allow students to appreciate • To Education and community while helping them pursue their dreams • To create architectural expression that embraces the • To vernacular and does so in a sustainable way • To impliment a school curriculum that uses physical • To education and sports to enhance learning

it to “Triple A”

2.6% made it to Major Leagues

0%

Source: Baseball-Reference.com

DOMINICAN BALLPLAYER COMMODITY CHAIN MOST COMMON

YOUTH AMATUERS

LEAST COMMON

BUSCONES

ACADEMIES

ROOKIE LEAGUES

A MINOR LEAGUE

AA MINOR LEAGUE

AAA MINOR LEAGUE

MAJOR LEAGUES

SITE

SITE LOCATION (GLOBAL SCALE)

SITE LOCATION (CITY SCALE)

Site Selection:

SITE MAPPINGS MODERATE RESIDENTIAL

MODERATE RESIDENTIAL

UNDEVELOPED

DENSE RESIDENTIAL

75’

70’ 75’

RESIDENTIAL DENSITY

70’

65’

L

L

L

DENSE RESIDENTIAL

SITE ACCESS

DENSE RESIDENTIAL

SITE NOISE

ADJACENT ROADS

75’

COMMERCIAL CORRIO LR

DENSE RESIDENTIAL

PAVED ROADS UNPAVED ROADS

UNDEVELOPED

70’ 75’

65’

70’ SITE

ACCESS ET TRE ACTIVE L S RES I D E N TIA

SITE ACCESS

CONTEXTUAL IMAGES

COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR

SITE ACCESS

RESIDENTIAL STREET (URBAN DENSITY)

The city of San Pedro de Macoris is located on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic. The city is significant to the site program as it is often referred to as the “craddle of shortstops.” A nickname earned by having so many MLB players originate from San Pedro.

The city’s economy is largley driven by the industrial sector with their largest quantity of jobs being in construction, agriculture, and electricity production. The city also has a fair amount of tourism at the coast. Throughout the city it is typical to find long stretches of commercial avenues, along with densely populated urban residential areas. There are no set zoning laws within the city boundary lines.

The site chosen for this project re-uses an existing private baseball field in the northern part of the city. The site is in close proximity to densely residential portion of San pedro and has sufficient land area and grading due to the existing ball fields on the site.

CASE STUDIES GHESKIO TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITAL | POT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI | MASS DESIGN GROUP | 2015

Circulation | Building Structure Haiti has the highest number of tuberculosis cases in the western hemisphere. Due to the diseases highly contageous manner, this building was designed with natural ventilation being one of its most important features. The Hospital is laid out as a thin bar with exterior circulation to allow wind to circulate easily through the one room. The roof is constructed as an open air truss system to allow even more ventilation into the courtyard. The exterior walls are also constructed with permanent louvers for ventilation when the windows are closed as well.

GHESKIO CHOLERA CENTER | POT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI | MASS DESIGN GROUP | 2015 Facade Screen | Construction Methods | Daylighting Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, cholera — a curable, preventable disease struck the tent cities of Port-au-Prince and surrounding hillsides. This cholera treatment center is designed to treat waste to help the spread of the desease. the building is designed with daylighting and ventilation involved and utilizes an aluminum facade screen that allows light and air into the building. The screen is locally fabricated and the openings are punched open on site.

BAMBOO SPORTS HALL | THAILAND | CHIANGMAI LIFE CONSTRUCTION | 2017 Bamboo Trusses | Roof Form This Sports Hall for Panyaden International School combines a modern organic design, 21st century engineering and a natural material – bamboo. It has a capacity to hold 300 students for large events and host most of the schools sporting events. The large bamboo structural trusses, which were pre-built on site and craned into place, span up to 55 feet across the width of the playing surface. The bamboo also uses tied joinery that is commonly used in thailand.

PROGRAM

PROGRAM RELATIONSHIPS ACADEMIC ACADEMIC MULTIPURPOSE WITHWITH PARTIAL PARTIALMULTIPURPOSE ROOM ROOM PUBLIC PUBLIC ACCESS ACCESS

AUDITORIU AUDITORIU M M

MULTIPURPOSE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM ROOM

BASEBALL RELATING TO EDUCATION PUBLIC PUBLIC LEARNING LEARNING COURTYARDCOURTYARD

PUBLIC PUBLIC LEARNING LEARNING COURTYARD COURTYARD

LIBRARY

MULTIPURPOSE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM ROOM

LIBRARY

MULTIPURPOSE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM ROOM

LIBRARYLIBRARY

KITHCEN

KITHCENKITHCEN

VIEW TOVIEW TO FIELDS FIELDS

AUDITORIUMAUDITORIUM

PRIVATEPRIVATE LEARNING LEARNING COURTYARD COURTYARD

ADMIN ADMIN

ACADEMIC ACADEMIC BACKBACK OF OF HOUSE HOUSE

KITHCEN

ADMIN

ADMIN

INTEGRATING SPORTS INTO EDUCATION

CAFETERIA CAFETERIA

CAFETERIA CAFETERIA

H H - 9T THS- 9T S 7TH RO7 OM OOM SS LASSR CLA C PUBLIC PUBLIC LEARNING LEARNING COURTYARD COURTYARD

Y TR

EN

Y TR

PRIVATEPRIVATE LABS LABS LEARNING LEARNING COURTYARD COURTYARD 2TH - 12TH 1 STUDY STUDYSROOMS ROOM H OTMHS ROOMS 10T SRO 10 CO C S SS MP OMP CLA CLA UTE UTE RR RR OO O MS OMS

EN

VIEW TOVIEW TO FIELDS FIELDS

Y TR

EN

Y TR

EN

PRIVATE PRIVATE LEARNING LEARNING COURTYARD COURTYARD VIEW TO FIELDS H H - 9T S - 9T S H H 7T OOM 7T SROOM ASSR CLPUBLIC CLAS PUBLIC LEARNING LEARNING COURTYARD COURTYARD

VIEW TO FIELDS

PRIVATE PRIVATE ACADEMIC ACADEMIC VIEW TO FIELDS

PRIVATE PRIVATE LABS LABS LEARNING LEARNING VIEW TO COURTYARD COURTYARD FIELDS TH TH STUDY ROOMSSTUDY ROOMS - 12 S - 12 S 10THSROOM 10THSROOM CO CO MP MP CLAS CLAS UTE UTE RR RR OO OO MS MS

PROGRAM VENN DIAGRAM COMMUNITY PUBLIC WALK PUBLIC PARK PUBLIC PAVILLION PUBLIC AMMENITIES / SHOPS SEATING / PICNIC AREAS TOILET FACILITIES PARKING

CAREER OUTCOMES FROM SPORTS

EDUCATION

LIBRARY / READING RMS LEARNING COURTYARDS MULTIPURPOSE ROOM KITCHEN / CAFETERIA COMPUTER LAB AUDITORIUM

7TH - 9TH CLASSROOMS 10TH - 12TH CLASSROOMS PRIVATE LEARNING COURTYARDS COMPUTER LABS LIBRARY / READING ROOMS MULTIPURPOSE ROOMS AUDITORIUM ADMINISTRATION SPACES EDUCATIONAL STORAGE SPACES TOILET FACILITIES PARKING / DROP OFF

STUDENT GATHERING PLAZA S LDS OOM FIE TS G R FOR OUR ININ ING LL C TRA SEAT ETBA ER SK ACH R BA BLETDOO OU

L IND OCKE SE APRIVAT OOR GR ROO ND E TR YMN MS PHY AIN AS SICA ING IUM L TH ROO ERA MS PY S PAC E

NUR

EQUIPMENT STORAGE PRACTICE / MULTIPURPOSE FIELDS SECONDRY BASEBALL FIELDS PRIMARY BASEBALL FIELD

BASEBALL

S

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: The program of this project is a high school that allows students to continue their education while keeping their dream of playing professional baseball alive. The idea is to build physical activity and baseball into the curriculum and teach students that playing the sport isnt the only way to success.

The layout of spaces around the site is designed around centering and split into three different uses; education, baseball, and community.

The educational portion of the site houses the main academic building as well as the administration building with cafeteria. The portion of the site devoted to baseball includes the open air gymnasium, batting cages, locker rooms, and practice fields. The final portion shared by the community is the library, theater, and multipurpose rooms. These community programs will be used by the school during the day as well.

These programs meet in the center of the site to create a large gathering space that can be used by athletes, students, and the public at different times of the day.

DESIGN PROCESS IT MUN COM

BASEBALL

COMMUNITY

Y

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

TY

BASEBALL M M UN I

COMM UN

CO

ITY

EDUCATION

ED UC AT ION

BASEBALL

BASEBALL

BASEBALL

INITIAL PARTI

PATH DIAGRAM

FINAL PARTI

AXIS BA

SE

BA

LL

IT Y

MUN

COM

ED PLAY LEARN / PUBLIC

ITY

UC AT ION

MUN COM

PATH

ACADEMIC

KIN G

ENTRY/ ADMIN

R PA

MAIN BASEBALL FIELD

UC AT ION

ED

FALL SITE PLAN DEVELOPMENT

BAS

EBA

LL

DECEMBER SITE DEVELOPMENT

RESPONSE TO FIELD

JANUARY SITE DEVELOPMENT

Site Plan Development:

The buildings on the site have been positioned around the center with an emphasis on the path to get to that final destination. From the initial design review into january, the center buildings were repositioned to open up to the field and create a more grand space that symbolically looks towards what brings students and the public to this spot, the game of baseball.

NIT Y COMMU

LL

E BA

BAS

Throughout the duration of this project the site evolved around the three main programs. The main field has been oriented with home plate to the south to keep the batters eye’s free from the sun.

Eventually, the field was pulled off of the street to create public pavillions that repond to the context of the neighborhood and street.

ED

UC AT IO

N

As the project developed the three center buildings became a little closer together while outer support buildings were shifted to help draw the user through the site. The paths also became more developed for variety of spaces and seating.

FINAL SITE DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN PROCESS

FALL ROOF DEVELOPMENT

PROCESS MESH MODEL

PROCESS FRAME MODEL

JANUARY ROOF DEVELOPMENT

PROCESS MESH MODEL

PROCESS FRAME MODEL

ROOF DEVELOPMENT:

ROOF DEVELOPMENT SKETCH

ROOF DEVELOPMENT SKETCH

The roof for this project has evolved a tremendous amount from start to finish. The idea for the roof has always been a way to unite these three programs and to serve as this “connective tissue”. As the building forms began to take shape it became clear that this roof wanted to become a large, organic, flowing form to drape over the simple masonry buildings it sheltered below. The form took shape from how the center space was treated. It started with a large opening, then shapped into a large dome with an oculus before settling into the final barrel form with that same oculus.

The final roof design became a multi-level structure with clerestory gaps to let in daylight. The final roof skin uses wood shingles as a way to collect rainwater over the center barrel dome. There are also portions of roof where just the bamboo frame is exposed to let filtered light through.

The main central roof differs from the support buildings as those roofs are simpler bamboo structures that support photovoltaics.

ROOF DEVELOPMENT SECTION

ROOF DEVELOPMENT SECTIONS

INITIAL DESIGN REVIEW STUDENT USER PATH

ATHLETE USER PATH

Site Plan Development: A big push for the initial design review was curating the user experience and focusing on how the site is utilized. A student would enter from the east to go to their classes and utilize the central space. The public would enter from the southwest to utilize the path or park, as they make their way towards the center they would have access to the multipurpose rooms for gatherings or they would be able to use the library before continuing on their path. An athlete would travel from the gymnasium and practice fields to the main field when it was time for games.

PUBLIC USER PATH

INITIAL DESIGN REVIEW 0

5

2

N 0

64

16

4

N

32

5

2

2 1

64

16

2

4

1

3

1

1

Another focus of the initial design review was creating a variety of educational spaces including classrooms, labs, and outdoor learning environments. The initial view of the learning courtyard vignette was the begining of creating these types of spaces that flow from interior to exterior.

1

2

1

Floor Plan Development:

32

At this point of the development the roof was an attached structure rather than an overarching structure.

1

1

1

1

1

FIRST FLOOR SCHOOL PLAN

KEY:

1

1. Classroom

SECOND FLOOR SCHOOL PLAN

2. Lab / Computer room 3. Study Courtyard

1 1 SECTION A

FIELD SEATING

1 3

2

6

1 SECTION B

CENTRAL GATHERING

1 3

2

4. Study Rooms 5. Toilet Room 6. Field Below

LEARNING COURTYARD CLASS-

0

25 12

N

TECHNICAL REVIEW

50

Structural Development: The Structure for the masonry buildings on site is using a mixed construction technique that combines a concrete rigid frame and a masonry bearing wall structure. It’s called combined masonry and it is commonly used in this climate in areas prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. The structure involves masonry stacked first and then the concrete tie-in columns are formed to join the masonry. This construction also requires concrete tie beams at the floor levels and additional concrete support beams and columns at large openings.

At this point the roof plan consisted of an upper and lower roof supported by trusses, except the trusses had a major design flaw that would act as a “hinge” if actually constructed. This would be corrected for the final design as the roof form evolved.

TECHNICAL REVIEW

Sustainability Development: This project relies heavily on natural ventilation to cool the buildings and also utilizes the large bamboo roof to minimize direct heat gain. The roof is designed with an oculus at its center along with other openings to allow the covered space to receive natural daylighting.

The facade screen also provides some shading and rejects direct heat gain as well.

SUMMER SUN

WINTER SUN

INSULATION BEHIND SCREEN REJECTS HEAT

DRAINAGE UNDER FIELD

THATCH ROOF REJECTS HEAT

FINAL REVIEW

N

KEY: 1. Administration Building

0

150

2. Cafeteria / Kitchen Building

75

3. School Parking / Dropoff 4. Academic Classrooms

300

10

5. Academic Labs 6. Agricultural learning 7. Gymnasium 8. Main Baseball Field (5’ Below) 9. Batting Cages / Training

9

10. Practice / Multipurpose Fields

11

11. Additional Practice Space 12. Auditorium Building

7

13. Library

16

14. Woodshop 15. Reading / Multipurpose Rooms

15

6

12

14

15

13

16. Exterior Reading Spaces

5

17. Public Park

4

18. Public Basketball Court

17

1

19. Public Amenities Pavilion 20. Public Field Seating 21. Public Parking 22 Physical Therapy Clinic 23. Cafe + Healthy Market

23

2

8

21

3

20 22

18

19

20 19

Site Design: The final site design focused on the path and creating a pleasant experience for each user no matter if they were a student or a visitor. The public path contains a park, multipurpose courts, reading areas, and plenty of different seating options. Along the student path there are many different areas to sit and complete their studies.

The center space took shape and is marked with a different paving stone that mimics the baseball diamond. It is the perfect area for the public and private programs of the site to share and interact.

FINAL REVIEW KEY: 1. Library 2. Theater / Multipurpose 3. Vestibule 4. Utility Room 5. Storage Room 6. Toilet Room 7. Theater Storage 8. Rooftop Study space

KEY: 9. Gymnasium 10. Classroom 11. Lab 12. Computer room 13 Study Courtyard 14. Toilet Room 15. Multipurpose Room 16. Utility Room

9

10

7

7

10

4

14

6

5

16 12

14 13

2

3

15 13

1

11

11

10 10 10

0

N

30 15

14 14

60

Center: The center of the site utilizes this free-flowing design that tries to blend interior and exterior spaces. The main examples being the theater (2), Gym (9), and Flexible Classroom (15) that spill out on to the central plaza. The more private examples of this blending of spaces occures in the student learning courtyard (13) and the rooftop spaces above the library and along the school.

FINAL REVIEW

Roof Design: The Roof plan clearly illustrates the stark difference between the large, organic, central roof and the light, rigid, outer roofs. The central roof can be used for rainwater collection while these outer buildings are used for solar panels. These panels should take most of the strain off the electrical grid to support the outbuildings and the city would only have to support the main school.

FINAL REVIEW Facade Design:

LOUVER WINDOW

The facade screen uses a locally fabricated technique similar to the case study in Haiti. Workers can create thes punched openings on site to the different sizes needed. The end result is a rythym created by the daylighting and ventilation needs of the buildings.

LIBRARY ELEVATION

SOME LIGHT

MORE LIGHT

MOST LIGHT

SCHOOL ELEVATION

LIBRARY ROOF VIGNETTE SITE SECTION

FIELD PAVILLION VIGNETTE

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VER

CED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

FINAL REVIEW

SECTION PERSPECTIVE

SECTION PERSPECTIVE

FINAL REVIEW

The Standard Classroom: The standard classroom is the typical learning / lecture space where each student has a desk. Each room is flanked by large louver windows to allow for ventilation and daylighting through the space.

The Flexible Classroom: The flexible classroom contains moveable tables and seating that allows the furniture to transform into whatever shape it needs to be. This can be used for class, community meetings, or even community meals. The room has bamboo folding doors that open the space to the exterior.

FINAL REVIEW

ENTRY

FINAL REVIEW

LEARNING COURTYARD

REFLECTIONS

Positives: I think this project really made me think outside of my typical architectural box and I had to design a building for a vernacular I was completley unfamiliar with. I am happy with the structural explorations in the bamboo roof structure and the confined masonry building type.

The landscaping and site design of this project evolved greatly and I am happy with the progress that I made in that aspect as well.

Lastly, I am really proud of the integration of baseball into the design of a school and I think the blending of interior and exterior spaces works really well for this program.

Needs Work: If I had an extra month to work on this project, I would continue to develop the sustainable strategies on this site. The rainwater collection and solar panels are a great start but I would like get into site water management and minimizing the urban heat island effect from the parking area.

I would also like to look at designing the unprogrammed buildings on the site. Being such a large campus, it wasn’t possible to design every building and I think designing those fully can add to the site and to the story of this project.

REFLECTIONS

When I started this project, I set out to design something that is personal to me and something that would be a new challenge. I think I have accomplished what i wanted to and I am proud of the outcome. I’d like to thank my family for the support for the past 6 years and my thesis advisor, Bob Nalls for helping guide me through this last year of senior project.

In Memory of my Dad, Michael Agurkis Sr. Thanks for the love of the game