CULTIVATION

Project Brief

Shannon Criss | Spring 2021

Seed-to-Table Youth Education Center

Kaw Point Park, Kansas City, KS 20,000 sq ft

Description

This project required detailed analysis of the urban context to identify and solve an issue using the program. The project also required comprehensive site analysis as Kaw Point is isolated from the rest of the urban area due to the highways, industrial zone, and rivers. After this analysis, the redesigned site strenghtened the selected program of a Seed-toTable Youth Education Center. The goal of this center is to provide children with increased exposure and access to fresh produce, due to the food desert found in Kansas City, Kansas. The form allowed for a chronological organization of the program following the Seed-to-Table. The physical parti model was used to explore dynamic lighting and inform the final model.

Learning Outcomes

Understanding past and present urban context has meaningful implications to design.

Site Characteristics

Exploration of the site and its surroundings led to several discoveries. The most prominent discovery is the massive parking lot taking up most of the site, even though there were only a handful of visitors at a given time. Second, walking down into the forested area, the noise from the highway and industry disappeared, and the trees dappled the light in an interesting way. The trees blocked some views, but the changing leaves throughout the year would create interesting views themselves. Finally, an overview of local amenities led to the discovery of a lack of grocery stores, creating a food desert in the area.

RAISED GARDEN BEDS BUILD-YOUR-OWN RAISED GARDEN BEDS

PERMEABLE PAVING

LARGE EDUCATION PAVILLION

Form And Site Plan

The form developed from the interest in views. The building turns its back on the industry to the north, and opens up to the south towards the trees and skyline, also providing the benefit of southern exposure. To fit the program, the form was elongated and divided into thirds. The form was bent to gently pull the visitor through the main hallway and create a sense of discovery. The form was placed on the site to maximize garden space as well as create opportunities for a plaza and a smaller access point for cars to collect handmade garden boxes to extend the reach of the center to the rest of the community.

C-shaped outer shell for enclosure separation from different shell systems randomized fins system for light modulation inner shell for programming clerestories for light modulation

Light And Views

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, this project was done remotely. I explored my form using the materials I had available: a pizza box. The way that I had created the model informed conceptual ideas. I folded the exterior like a parti and the interior separately, leading them to become separate objects in the final model. As I began cutting into the walls to test windows, I was interested in the way that not fully removing the material affected the light - reminiscent of the lighting from the trees. I carried the windows along the north wall and roof to reinforce them as a unified object.