Trevor LI

The Bridge Between Land and Water A Wetlands Research Center

This thesis seeks to create a space that acts as the bridge between humans and the wetlands ecosystem. The project’s goal is to create a multi-generational place of learning and research for the community that brings out the beauty of a vital, but often overlooked ecosystem.

Wetland What is a wetland?

The wetlands are an ecosystem where water sits above the soil at various times of the year. The land is damp, and creates a unique home for a collection of birds, fish, and plants that thrive off these conditions. There are 4 (four) major types of wetlands, marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens. Each one has its own unique functions and characteristics that separate it from the others.

Birds

Fish

Crab

Shrimp

Algae

Bacteria

Role Why are they important?

All wetlands fulfill the role of mitigating the floods by slowing and holding the storm water. In addition, wetlands are rich in nutrients and provide a home for a large collection of wildlife.

The ecosystem acts as a filter, removing pollutants out of the water, and acting as a natural barrier to floods and storms which protect billions of dollars of development every year. In addition the wetlands are a place of recreation provide activities such as birdwatching, canoeing, and fishing. These conditions allow the wetlands to be a great place of learning for people of all ages. The wetlands are one of the most resourceful, yet underappreciated ecosystems.

The wetlands can protect coastal developments from floods to an extent, however storms can leave lasting damage on them. This requires careful restoration or maintenance to restore the wetlands to their original state.

The current state of the world means that wetlands will play an increasingly important role in the protection of the shoreline development.

Site Selection The site selection process had many considerations, but focused heavly around three main goals . The first goal was to locate a site that could provide access to the a wetlands for the researchers to work with.

The program is oriented towards learning of all ages and wants to be accessibile by the community. Lastly, as an ecologically sensitive project, the selected site wants to minimize disturbance to untouched wetlands during construction and operation.

The selected site is located in Somers Point, New Jersey on an outer bay island of the town. The selected site is 13.2 million square feet consisting of a large wetland site with a small developed pad of land. The built land area is 161,000 square feet and currently houses a run-down and low end inn, and an abandoned and for sale retail building. Adjacent to the site is a small neighborhood of houses which is all that really sits on this small intermediate island. The site also sits between three major shore communities, Somers Point, Ocean City, and Longport and is about a twenty to thirty minute drive maximum to each town. The site I believe has the opportunity to become a sucessful

place of research, and become apart of the three communities through its learning and community spaces.

Site Address: 145 Somers Point Longport Blvd, Somers Point, NJ 08244 Total Area - 13.2 million square feet / 300 acres

Overall Site

Somers Point

Longport

Site

Ocean City

Building Site

Overall Site

Great Egg Harbor Bay

575 ft.

280 ft.

Restore Minghu Wetland Park

Coastal Wetland

Restoring the Wetlands

1. The impervious existing site to be broken down.

2. A portion of the site remains as a pervious paver material to supply parking for the building.

3. The remaining site is converted into two types of wetland space. The first is an educational restored wetland where the building and a series of walkways allow the building users to interact with the environment. The second space is reverted purely to a wetland that can be observed from the first space, but not accessed.

Energy

Winter Sun Path

Summer Sun Path

Water

Permeable Paver Surface

Ventilation

Natural Ventilation

1. Low walls and relatively open floor plans allow warm and cool air to move through the space.

2. Building orientation also allows light to enter the spaces in addition to the air.

3. Natural Ventilation in the summer effectively removes the reliance on

Material Palette

Material Selection

Red Cedar

Metal Roofing

Storefront Glazing

Timber Piles and Walkways

1. All materials are chosen have a degree of weather resistance.

Floor Plans

DN

Community

Mech.

Hall Restroom

Restroom

Kitchen

Community

Mech.

Entry

Community DN

Hall

Event Public Community

Restroom Restroom Mech.

Storage

Hall

Hall

Office

Restroom Restroom

Public

Public

Conference

Restroom Restroom

Office

Storage Public

Lab

Office

Hall

Storage

Office Classroom

Hall

Classroom Learning

Learning Office Classroom Office Lab

Office Exhibit

DN

First Floor

Second Floor

Site Sections

Cross Section Through Event Space

Cross Section Through Learning / Lab Space

Pile Plan

A

Structure

B

C

19' - 0"

19' - 0"

D 16' - 0"

E 16' - 0"

F 20' - 0"

G

H

16' - 8"

16' - 8"

I

A

B

C

25' - 0" 19' - 0"

19' - 0"

DN

1

Restroom

Mech.

Community

20' - 0"

20' - 0"

Restroom

UP

1

Mech.

Hall

Kitchen

Community

Entry

2

Community

2 DN

Public Community

Restroom Restroom Mech.

3

Hall

Restroom Restroom

Public

Public

Hall

4 Conference Restroom Restroom

25' - 0"

Office

25' - 0"

4

Storage

29' - 0"

29' - 0"

3

Hall

20' - 0"

20' - 0"

Event

Office

5 15' - 0"

5 Public

Storage

Hall

10

Lab

Office

6 Storage 24 ' -

20' - 0"

6"

Office Classroom

7

Classroom

11

Learning

Learning Hall

Office 0"

20' - 0"

Classroom 28 ' -

Office

Lab

8 20' - 0"

12

Office

Exhibit

9 DN

First Floor

14' 0

Second Floor

" 14' 0

J

"

K L

Structure Axon

Systems

Chapter 225. Zoning Article V. District Regulations § 225-27. CRW Conservation-Recreation-Wetland District and RA Rural Agriculture District.

[Amended 7-25-1979 by Ord. No. 19-1979; 12-8-1982 by Ord. No. 71-1982; 4-13-1983 by Ord. No. 35-1983; 3-11-1992 by Ord. No. 8-1992; 6-12-2002 by Ord. No. 34-2002] A. Permitted principal uses shall be: (1) ​Farming and agricultural operations as defined in this chapter (§ ​225-3​).

(2) ​Single-family dwellings.

(3) ​Churches and other similar places of worship.

(4) ​Golf courses.

System Locations

(5) ​Stables and horse farms as defined in this chapter (§ ​225-3​).

1. Electric panels located in the kitchen and storage spaces.

(6) ​Private schools, museums, nonprofit clubs, fraternal organizations and volunteer independent fire companies, rescue squads and first-aid squads.

2. Equipment platforms located adjacent to hallway between Entry and Education / Lab program.

(7) ​Marinas, subject to all standards, conditions and development regulations of the MC District.

3. Platform above hall between Entry and Event space to supply event space.

[Added 10-12-2005 by Ord. No. 55-2005] B. ​Permitted accessory uses shall be:

Occupancy Classification

(1) ​Uses customary and incidental to the principal uses.

Assembly Group A-2 Assembly Group A-3 Type of Construction

Allowable Building Height Number of Stories Allowable Area

Type IV

85ft

4

Type IV (E) Type V A

102,000 70ft

Type V A (E) Type V B Type V B (E)

60,000

60ft

3

46,000

2

74,000

3

24,000

2

38,000

(2) ​Roadside stands for the sale of produce, primarily raised and produced by the owner of the premises, provided that said roadside stand is located 30 feet from the street line.

3D View from Southeast

3D View from Northwest