INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE
1 COMMUNITY VISIONING IMOGENE, IOWA
ACADEMIC PROJECTS
2
OAK GROVE LRT STATION COMMUNITY BROOKLYN PARK, MN
3
4 SLIPPING SLOPES ECO VILLAGE GREENVILLE, TN
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS LA 4810
PERSONAL WORK
5 ADDITIONAL WORK SKETCHES & ISLA PROJECT
In Spring 2024 I began working with Community Visioning and assisted in running focus groups within the selected communities. We gathered feedback from various groups within the community, and prepared this information into reports analyzing and summarizing feedback collected.
In the Summer of 2024, I worked for the Community Design Lab on Imogene, a small town in Southwest Iowa with a population of 39 people along the 63 mile long Wabash Trace Nature Trail.
INTERACTIVE MODELS FOR FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF IMOGENE
Skill sets Adobe Suite, ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Sketching, Hand Rendering, Model Making, Historic Research, Written Communication
The following pages are the final boards of the project that I laid out, wrote text for, and rendered the majority of the graphics.
The designs and concepts were created in collaboration with my supervisors Carl Rodgers, Chad Hunter, my fellow intern Josey Weaver, and the Imogene Community. Other elements of the project that I worked on with the team included a downtown revitalization plan, way finding signage, street beautification, and drainage way redesigns.
Community members of Imogene hold their Irish heritage and as a key part of their identity, with many major events being centered around Irish culture and themes. With this in mind, many elements of our proposed designs tie into Irish folklore and history, reflecting heritage and identity of this community.
DESIGN-YOUR-OWN MURALS AND WAY FINDING SIGNAGE ACTIVITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES
ASSORTED SKETCHES - DISCOVERY TRAIL, WABASH TRACE ACCESS ROUTES, PRIMARY TRANSIT ROUTES
ASSORTED SKETCHES - THINKING THROUGH THE SPLASH PAD SERPENT : FORM AND LAYOUT
The Oilliphéist, translating to great beast/worm, is a fabled water creature in Irish folklore that lives in rivers and lakes. All Oilliphéists are born from the same mother, Caoránach, the mother of demons. While the details of tellings vary, most often these monsters were said to be driven out by St. Patrick when all snakes were driven from Ireland. To this day, Ireland remains snake free.
Community members desire more recreational, activities and destinations for children, particularly splash pads and other play opportunities.
The proposed design creates three unique spaces for multiseasonal and multi-age group use, infused with fantasy and folklore.
BOUND WELCOME SIGN
A sinuous serpent begins to take form in the splash pad through the of sculptural elements and berms. Vegetated berms in the play space create boundaries and structures to play on. Sculptural parts of the serpent weave in and out of the ground throughout the water engagement area, allowing the imagination to run wild.
SHADE STRUCTURE & DRY-STACKED STONE SEATING
Naturalistic play structures give kids an alternate, year-round place to release their energy without water engagement.
Symbology from Celtic heritage sites and imprints of natural elements such as native fossils can be incorporated into the stone features, adding another layer of interest and exploration.
A curved shade structure over dry-stacked stone seating and boulders radiating outward create a cozy area for adults and guardians to supervise and gather.
Splashing Around
Water play with naturalistic features allows children to explore ecological systems while having fun.
Residents are interested in developing the trailhead to increase use by adding an RV campground and more activities, gathering spaces, and play and exploration activities for all ages. By providing a variety of activities, the visioning committee is hopeful that visitors will be drawn to the surrounding area as well.
A platform extension on the bridge creates a pavilion gathering space. A fantastical sculptural element emerging from under the bridge creates a landmark for trail users to discover.
This trail offers ample nature play opportunities and connections between campgrounds, the splash pad, and the Wabash Trace Nature Trail.
Seven pull-through RV stalls each have a green space with a picnic table, fire pit, and utility hookups.
Located between the restrooms and campgrounds are proposed fire pits with varied seating options, and nature play elements.
Formally designated tent spaces can be created using wooden frames and raised surfaces, while informal camping areas can simply be cleared of underbrush and have spacing between trees to accommodate a tent.
The existing restroom/shower space is a great amenity for trail users and campers.
This landmark of Imogene's downtown corridor assists with wayfinding to the campground.
Located in the existing campground parking area, the proposed lot can accommodate approximately eight vehicles; plantings to the south will provide a buffer from adjacent properties.
Community members in Imogene would like to develop RV camp sites on Railroad Street, and have cleared trees in the area to begin development at this specific site. Seven pull-through RV spaces are proposed in this design.
• 15’ wide green space between sites
• 11’ wide driveways for RVs
• 14’ wide roads through the site
• 15’ wide vegetated buffer between Railroad Street and campground
Looping through the forest, the Discovery Trail provides opportunities for play and exploration through woodland meadows and crooks. This informal, mowed path will link various features in the area, create access to the western campgrounds, and can be furnished with nature play elements that are affordable and easy to implement.
Adding a pavilion to the existing bridge and using features from Irish folklore, this space can become a fun landmark for those on the Discovery Trail on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail.
PAVILION
This centrally located gathering area features a council ring with fire pit, a picnic zone, and a small informal play area using earthen berms. The addition of understory vegetation can help create privacy for RV and tent campers.
Interpretive
Built on forms rooted in Irish history and tradition, the gathering space calls back to the local heritage of Imogene. The shape of this space is based on the iconic shamrock, while the dry-stacked stone and boulder ring are reminiscent of ancient cultural heritage sites on the Emerald Isle.
This site is located along the Tennessee and North Carolina Border deep in the Appalachian Mountain range. The site is currently connected to the Appalachian Trail by a two hour hike on the south side of the property,
For my final studio project I designed a self sustaining eco-vil lage for this site. The village was to be environemtally sustainable, promote community, integrate wit h the landscape and existing neighborhood, and provide resources for hikers on the A.T..
T hrough inventory and analysis of site conditions using ArcGIS, I determined the ideal areas for housing development, farming, recreation, and erosion control measures to support a community.
As part of this projects I completed an in-depth housing study and designed preliminary floorplans for earth sheltered homes.
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EARTH CONTACT COMPLEX - WORKROOMS AND STUDIO SPACES
WALKING LOOPS - THREE SIZES
ORCHARD + TERRACE FARMING
PARKING LOT + BIO CELL
RESTORATIVE LAKE TRAIL LOOP
VISTA TRAIL LOOP
NORTHERN EARTH CONTACT HOUSING GROUP - 15 UNITS
SOUTHERN EARTH CONTACT HOUSING GROUP - 11 UNITS
RECREATION LAKE
Oak Grove Community is located at the currently proposed final station of the Minneapolis Blue Line light rail extension plan. This community is designed for +55 year old adults, with a focus on memory care facilities.
Access to public transportation, public green space, and regional recreation opportunities make this location a great for a community of older adults to maintain their indepence while living active lifestyles.
I focused heavily on creating a thriving, activity rich community for adults of varying abilities in this project. I made descisions with careful consideration of the daily impedements to activities older adults may experience, with the goal of maximizing indipendence, ease of access, and safety.
ROAD
1/4 MILE, 1 MILE, AND 2 MILES RADIUS
ROAD HEIRARCHY1/4 MILE AND 1/2 MILE RADIUS
EIGHT HOUSING TYPES TYPICAL FOR OLDER ADULTS
• INDEPENDENT LIVING
• ASSISTED LIVING
• SKILLED NURSING
• RESIDENTIAL CARE
• IN-HOME CARE
• MEMORY CARE
• RESPITE CARE
• HOSPICE CARE
SEMI-INTENSIVE GREEN ROOF
INTENSIVE AND SEMI-INTENSIVE GREEN ROOF
SECTION D-D’ LOOKING EAST THROUGHOUT PEDESTRIAN MALL
STUDIO HOUSING WING OF COMMUNITY
CENTER: For assisted living, skilled nursing, or respite care. These units can accommodate long term or short term residents who may not be able to easily access community resources further away. Living directly connected to community center programs will help foster connection for residents who may feel isolated from their peers.
12 and 8 BEDROOM SHARED UNITS: For those requiring assistance in day-to-day tasks who would like a community style housing structure while maintaining their own private bedroom and bathroom.
APARTMENTS: For residents requiring memory care or medical care. Small, intimate courtyards allow for supervised access to outdoor space, and the pedestrian mall allows residents to maintain a level of independence in a public space with eyes on the street. The Vehicle Free pedestrian mall protects residents from car traffic as much as possible.
TWO AND THREE STORY DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES: +55 communities like this typically only have household standards stipulating that one resident in the home meet the age requirement. A multi-story home offers a level of privacy to families and live-in caretakers of older adults who may want to live together but with separate floor spaces.
SINGLE STORY APARTMENTS, DUPLEXES. AND TRIPLEXES: the most ideal arrangement for aging in place when physical capabilities may change.
Various details completed with AutoCAD.
In my role as apparel chair for Iowa Students of Landscape Architecture, I worked on developing merchandise for our fall fundraiser. Creating designs that celebrate ISU’s LA program and the Iowan identity was a very fun process.
I learned a number of new skills in Adobe Illustrator and Procreate while experimenting with possible designs
