Sara Millar

INVISIBLE SCARS HOW CAN ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE HELP TO HEAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SCARS AND TRAUMA BASED MENTAL ILLNESSES?

Sara Millar

Advisor: Jeff Krieger Senior Project 2020-2021

RESEARCH

This project aims to create a center for counseling, community outrach and eductation to aid in the healing process of those who have experienced trauma and their communities, and reduce stigma.

WHAT IS TRAUMA?

Trauma occurs when the body is put through a stressful event, but gets mentally stuck. Normally in such an event, a person experiences the fight or flight response. If a person is able to do one of those things to get out of the situation, the body is able to go back to a state of equilibrium when it is in a safe location. Trauma occurs when a person is not able to respond to the situation, and the body does not return to a state of equilibrium. This causes many of the symptoms seen in PTSD, as one does not believe they are safe, even if they are.

A key part of my project was the use of Trauma Informed Design (TID). This is a relatively recent design philosophiy that aims to cater to those who have experienced trauma and create a sense of safety and overall wellbeing. Ultimately this design philosophy strives to “promote healing and improved physical health, mental health, and overall well-being of individuals and their communities”1. Trauma Informed Design is based off of the practice of Trauma Informed Care, which is used in the medical field.The three core concepts of TID are Choice, Community, and Comfort. These core concepts relate to several sub-concepts pulled from the core values of design and Trauma Informed Care, shown in the diagram below, where the sub-concepts are keyed back to the core concepts by the colored border shown around them.

1 Designing for Healing, Dignity, & Joy (p.11). Shopworks Architecture, Group 14 Engineering & University of Denver Center for Housing and Homelessness Research. PDF. 10 Oct 2020.

TRAUMA INFORMED CARE

PROJECT STATEMENT

TRAUMA INFORMED DESIGN

SAFETY

TRAUMA INFORMED DESIGN

Psychological trauma is only beginning to be studied, as it only really began to enter public consciousness after the results of the 1997 CDC/Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study. The study resuts showed that increased levels of trauma in childhood were coreelated to higher instances of serious physical and mental health conditions in adulthood, such as heart disease, cancer, depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Trauma will only become more of a problem, in America and around the world, due to the impacts of COVID-19.

DESIGN CORE VALUES

PROBLEM STATEMENT

TRUSTWORTHINESS & TRANSPARENCY

PEER SUPPORT

CHOICE

HOPE, DIGNITY, & SELF-ESTEEM

CONNECTION & COMMUNITY

COLLABORATION & MUTUALITY

CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, & GENDER ISSUES

COMFORT

COMMUNITY

JOY, BEAUTY, & MEANING

EMPOWERMENT, VOICE, & CHOICE

PEACE OF MIND

EMPOWERMENT & PERSONAL CONTROL

SAFETY, SECURITY, & PRIVACY

SITE DIAMOND

DRIVE

WEST DIA

MOND STR

EET

SITE EAST PARK RESERVOIR WEST BER

KS STRE

NORTH 33 STREET

ET

KEY: 61 32 3 BUS STOP WALKING RADIUS NOISE LOCATION & INTENSITY WIND DIRECTION SUMMER SUN SPRING/FALL SUN WINTER SUN OPEN SPACE/PARKS SITE

My site is located in North Philadelphia, in the Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood. The site is located across from Fairmont Park at the location of the East Fairmont Reservoir. It is bordered on three sides by 33rd st, Berks st and Monument st.

ZONING + PROGRAM ADJACENCY DIAGRAMS OFFICE 150 SF

PHARMACY 1000 SF

2500 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

MUSIC 1050 SF

STORAGE 1500 SF

MEP/SERVICES

MULTIPURPOSE/CLASSROOM 1050 SF

EVS 50 SF

TLT. 60 SF

TLT. 60 SF TLT. 60 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

BASEMENT

TLT. 50 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

TLT. 50 SF

OFFICE 150 SF OFFICE 150 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

ART 1050 SF OFFICE 150 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

FIRST FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR OFFICE 150 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

STOR. EVS LACTATION TLT. TLT. 50 SFROOM 50 SF50 SF 100 SF 100 SF

COLLABORATION 250 SF

CONFERENCE 1100 SF

OFFICE 150 SF GARDEN 350 SF

RECEPTION 150 SF

GROUP THERAPY 260 SF GROUP THERAPY 260 SF

LARGE THERAPY 200 SF LARGE THERAPY 200 SF

LARGE THERAPY 200 SF

TLT. 50 SF

TLT. 50 SF

KITCHENETTE 100 SF

LARGE THERAPY 200 SF

LOBBY VEST. 100 SF 60 SF

1000 SF

MED RECORDS 150 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

ROOF GARDEN 2000 SF

SECOND SECOND FLOOR FLOOR

LARGE THERAPY 200 SF

FRONT DESK 100 SF

GARDEN 650 SF MEDITATION/ SPIRITUALITY 1050 SF

MULTIPURPOSE 1050 SF

GROUP THERAPY 260 SF

EVS 50 SF

GROUP THERAPY 260 SF

TLT. TLT. 50 SF 50 SF QUIET ROOM 80 SF

My main program concerns were how to adequately pair program with green space. Later in my project development it was brought to my attention that I needed to mix more of my theraputic spaces with my other spaces in the building (such as offices) instead of stacking my program as is shown in my adjacency diagrams. When I originally was thinking about my program I stacked and arranged it mostly to conform with concerns about privacy, which is why all of the therapy spaces were on the third floor, as shown in my diagramming.

THERAPY 100 SF

THERAPY THERAPY THERAPY THERAPY THERAPY 100 SF 100 SF 100 SFROOF 100 SF 100 SF THERAPY THERAPY THERAPY THERAPY 100 SF 100 SF 100 SF 100 SF

GREENHOUSE 1000 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

TLT. 60 SF

TLT. 60 SF

GARDEN 350 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

WAITING AREA 200 SF

GARDEN

COPY 60 SF

OFFICE 150 SF

STAFF TLT. 50 SF

STAFF LOUNGE 300 SF

TLT. 60 SF

YOGA/MEDITATION/DANCE 1050 SF

BASEMENT GARDEN 350 SF

The site is located in a residential area, with a few buildings being commercial mixed use. The site was originally zoned residential, but for purposes of this project, I reassigned its zoning to be CMX 2.5.

MULTIPURPOSE/CLASSROOM 1050 SF

CISTERNS 1000 SF SOLAR PANELS 1000 SF MEP PENTHOUSE 1000 SF

KEY:

FOURTH FLOOR/ROOF

Residential Singel Family Attached(RSA) Residential Multi-Family (RM) Commercial Mixed Use (CMX) Recreation (SP-PO-A) Used as CMX

Proposed Site Zoning (CMX 2.5)

THERAPY WAITING RECEPTION 100 SF 200 SF

THIRD FLOOR THIRD FLOOR

ZONING

CASE STUDIES

Hillbrow Counseling Center Kronstad Psychiatric Center

Local Studio

Arroyo Village Apartments

Origo Arkitektgruppe

2017

Shopworks Architecture

2013

Johannesburg, South Africa

2019

Bergen, Norway

I chose this because it is a counseling center addition that deals with trauma, as well as for materiality and light studies.

Denver, Colorado

This case study closely approximated my goals as far as program and biophillia.

This case study is one of the few examples of the use of Trauma Informed Design.

PROCESS + PARTI

SOLID

CARVED

WRAPPED

DESIGN REVIEW

MASSING

SECTIONS

3D VIEWS

TECHNICAL REVIEW

-

A

B

C

D

E

A

B

C

1

E

A107

CROSS SECTION - SOUTH 1/8" = 1'-0" 4

A

B

C

D

CROSS SECTION - SOUTH 1/8" = 1'-0"

E

3

CROSS SECTION - NORTH 1/8" = 1'-0"

1

A107

1

2 A107

3

---

D

2

2 A107

2

LONGITUDINAL SECTION 1/8" = 1'-0"

2

4

A107

3

3a

4

A107

5

6

7

A

PARAPET CAP 6" METAL STUDS BRICK PARAPET WALL WATERPROOF MEMBRANE

Level 3 30' - 0"

STEEL BEAM CLINKER BRICK 1" AIR GAP ACT CEILING BRICK WINDOW HEADER, SOLDIER COURSE, TYP.

DOUBLE PANED GLAZING BRICK WINDOW SILL W/ FLASHING TRELLIS MOUNTED TO EXTERIOR WALL FACE

3/4" CORK FLOORING GREEN ROOF WOOD FASCIA

6" DEEP SOIL Level 2 16' - 0"

DRAINAGE MEDIA

GREEN ROOF STRUCTURE

WOOD FINISH ON UNDERSIDE 3" CONCRETE STEEL BEAM 2" METAL DECK 4" RIGID INSULATION SHEATHING BRICK TIES AT 24" O.C. 6" METAL STUDS

STRUCTURE My structural system a steel frame with floor slabs composed of concrete on metal decking.

Shear walls are located at the cores containing the stairs and elevator. The roof over the atrium is supported by trusses.

HVAC My mechanical system is a central system with the AHU located in the basement. Air is carried into the upper levels through ductwork runs that attach to a VAV system. Rooms would be associated with different zoned thermostats.

GWB STEEL BEAM (COLUMN INLINE WITH WALL)

Level 1 0' - 0"

10" POURED IN PLACE CONCRETE

GRAVEL

3

4" RIGID INSULATION DAMP PROOFING & DRAINAGE MAT METAL FURRING

Level 0 -12' - 0"

GWB

CONCRETE FOOTER WALL 1

STRUCTURAL + HVAC

WALL SECTION - W 1" = 1'-0"

CISTERNS SOLAR PANELS GREEN ROOF: EXTENSIVE

GREEN ROOF: INTENSIVE PLANT TRELLIS

GREEN ROOF: SEMI-INTENSIVE

SUSTAINABILITY

FINAL REVIEW A

2

A112

1 A112

20' - 1

E

A

2

B

1/16"

A112

1/16"

1

20' - 1

A112

C

25' - 5"

D

22' - 0"

MULTIPURPOSE

276 SF

20' - 6

COLLABORATION

9

MULTIPURPOSE

237 SF

1

10

OFFICE

41

43

1/16" 20' - 6

68 105 SF

THERAPY

64 152 SF

A112

63

D

22' - 0"

20' - 6

THERAPY

62

119 SF

CISTERN

1

61

106 SF

144 SF

0

OFFICE

38

2

105 SF

DN

TOILET

13

UP

TOILET

3

47

A107

2 A111

1

TOILET

293 SF

48

3 A107

72 142 SF

3 1

1

36

PHARMACY STAFF

58

TERRACE GARDEN

A107

190 SF

0000

184 SF

1

A111

TOILET

A111

1

1

A107

A107

676 SF

MEP

3

4

1528 SF

4

LACTATION

AHU & PAD

MEDITATION/ YOGA

4

CHECK-IN/OUT

31

DN

HOTELING WORKSPACE

27' - 0"

35 293 SF

268 SF

54 703 SF

RECORDS

DN

32

UP

140 SF CHECK-IN

4

34

A107

408 SF

56 391 SF

A107

6

5

5

53

16' - 10"

178 SF CONFERENCE

4

30 1296 SF

33 307 SF

6

STORAGE

LOBBY/WAITING

LARGE GROUP THERAPY

16' - 10"

16' - 10"

5 LARGE GROUP THERAPY

16' - 10"

1 1144 SF

55

4 A107

4

CONFERENCE

A107

LOBBY

52

6

DN

6

UP

3/16"

5

STORAGE

27' - 0"

754 SF

251 SF

GROUP THERAPY

27' - 0"

4 172 SF

7

7

N

7

7

N

COMMUNITY

19' - 6

3/16" 19' - 6

19' - 6

19' - 6

3/16"

3/16"

1127 SF

CHOICE

4

00003

49

PHARMACY OFFICE

1A

A107

3

GROUP THERAPY

A111

21' - 0"

A107

TOILET

3

59 192 SF

3

1

21' - 0"

TOILET

197 SF

3

14

601 SF

140 SF

21' - 0"

EVS

1182 SF

71

37' - 0"

37' - 0"

60 69 SF

69 SF

240 SF

3

TOILET

A107

130 SF

71 SF

A111

21' - 0"

629 SF

6

51

EVS

46

37

CUSTODIAL STAFF

231 SF

2

DN

GREENHOUSE

UP

51

EVS

COLLABORATION

MULTIPURPOSE

1

2

DN

GREENHOUSE

UP

37' - 0"

12 127 SF

11

1

CISTERN

DN

3382 SF

TOILET

E

1/16"

00000

THERAPY

20' - 6

103 SF

1

C

MEDITATION GARDEN

THERAPY

1/16"

OFFICE

2

2 A112

E

1/16"

THERAPY

65

B

25' - 5"

20' - 6

THERAPY

67

1/16"

D

THERAPY

1

45A

20' - 1

A112

22' - 0"

176 SF STAFF TOILET

39

2

1

C

82 SF

SUNKEN COURTYARD

PHARMACY

A112

45 399 SF

105 SF

15

5

A

2

B

138 SF

STAFF LOUNGE

40

1097 SF

274 SF

69 144 SF

167 SF

OFFICE

SITTING AREA

N

N

COMFORT

BASEMENT PLAN 1/8" = 1'-0"

CHOICE

1

COMFORT

COMMUNITY

SECOND FLOOR PLAN 1/8" = 1'-0"

2

2

1

A112

A112

CHOICE

THIRD FLOOR PLAN 1/8" = 1'-0"

COMMUNITY

COMFORT CHOICE

1

COMMUNITY

COMFORT

FOURTH FLOOR PLAN 1/8" = 1'-0"

A B 20' - 1

1/16"

C 25' - 5"

D E

22' - 0"

MULTIPURPOSE

25

20' - 6

MULTIPURPOSE

231 SF

24

1/16"

MUTLIPURPOSE

281 SF

23

MULTIPURPOSE

242 SF

1

22

20' - 6

1/16"

231 SF

SITTING AREA

26

DN

1080 SF

2

DN

UP

37' - 0"

TOILET

20 118 SF MULTIPURPOSE

21 639 SF

3

TOILET

A107

19 118 SF COURTYARD

00

1

3

STORAGE

2700 SF

1 A107

21' - 0"

A111

FRONT OFFICE

27

MUSIC

444 SF

18 873 SF

27' - 0"

4

UP

DN

LOBBY

28 16' - 10"

5

ART

4

16 557 SF

A107

DANCE

6

17 DN 3/16"

746 SF

19' - 6

1

E

1/16"

OFFICE

42

240 SF

165 SF

225 SF

THERAPY

37' - 0"

8

1/16"

25' - 5"

MULTIPURPOSE

227 SF

1/16"

20' - 6

7

20' - 6

A

D

22' - 0"

MULTIPURPOSE

1/16"

C

25' - 5"

27' - 0"

B 1/16"

20' - 6

20' - 1

7

N

CHOICE

1

FIRST FLOOR PLAN 1/8" = 1'-0"

COMMUNITY

COMFORT

FLOOR PLANS

1

CROSS SECTION - SOUTH 1/8" = 1'-0"

A E

D

C

A

B

1

2

A112

A112

A

C

B 2

1

A112

A112

3 1

CROSS SECTION - SOUTH 1/8" = 1'-0"

A

3

4

C

B

D

2

1

A112

A112

CROSS SECTION - SOUTH 1/8" = 1'-0"

3

E

1

A107

1

CROSS SECTION - NORTH 1/8" = 1'-0"

4

A107

2

A107

3

4

5

6

7

CROSS SECTION - NORTH 1/8" = 1'-0"

LONGITUDINAL SECTION LOOKING 1 WEST 1/8" = 1'-0"

7

2

SECTIONS

LONGITUDINAL SECTION LOOKING EAST 1/8" = 1'-0"

6

4 A107

1

5

A111

4

1 A107

3

3 A107

2

C

B

E

D

4

1

D

2

1

A112

A112

E

CROSS SECTION - SOUTH 1/8" = 1'-0"

1

EAST 1/8" = 1'-0"

ELEVATIONS

RENDERINGS

REFLECTIONS Overall, the feedback that I received from the jurors was mostly positive. I was told that my project overall had a rigor and a completeness to it, however it seems that this completeness was what lead to some more comments about detailed areas that were lacking. I got a lot of feedback about how I may have wanted to spend more time on developing the interior materiality into a more full palette. The other major piece of feedback that I received was about the way that I showed my ceilings and why I chose to have the roof over the atrium be solid. I did these things simply because I was running out of time and needed to move on.

If I had more time to develop my project I probably would have revisited the solidness of the ceiling in the atrium, as I would have like to make a few more opportunities for natural light to enter that space, either by including skylights or by changing the overall shape of the roof mass. I also would have like to get further into the more detailed elements of my projects materiality, and I would have liked to work on the interior elevations at the atrium to better communicate intent regarding the placement of the green wall elements, similar to what I did with the exterior facade studies. However, overall I am pretty happy with the results that I created for the final presentation, and maybe I will go back an fix these few remaining items in the future.

ACKNOWLEGEMENTS I would like to thank everyone who helped and supported me during my senior project. Thanks go out especially to my co-students in my senior project section, Kelsey and Diana for supporting one another as we all worked to develop our individual projects; and to our advisor, Jeff, for his valuable insight. I would also like to thank my friends and family, especially my partner, for being by my side as I worked to complete this project over this past year, as I know that I have had to make a lot of sacrifices to get it done.