Work Samples - Rachael Skye Sturm

W O R K

S A M P L E S

RACHAEL SKYE STURM

I N T R O D U C T I O N Each of the projects I have displayed in this snapshot of my recent work has a mini-analysis on its title page, indicated with the following series of icons. These icons represent the important aspects of design that drive my creative process.

URBAN SETTING: great studies of the human dimension in design.

RURAL SETTING: design efforts often focus on cities; disadvantaged rural sites need more attention.

HANDS-ON: strengthening connection to and pride in the work; ensuring a high level of craft.

SUSTAINABILITY: we must design a world which not only sustains but restores our planet for its future generations.

PRESERVING CULTURE: learning from the history and culture which has shaped a place and its people.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: crucial to ensuring applicability and acceptability for the end users; inspires creative thinking.

PUBLIC SPACES: I gravitate toward design that impacts the greater community.

1

MAST ER PL AN M OR B E G N O

Design Competition organized by Fondazione PROMOR for the city of Morbegno, Italy.

I teamed with nine local Italian architects to create this masterplan concept for the city of Morbegno in response to a design competition that calls for a requalification of the city as a new superhighway is being built adjacent to it. Our proposal focused on de-centralizing the auto and creating a vibrant, green, pedestrian-centric city. Key elements to our proposal include closing the historic center of the city to cars and providing parking structures along the perimeter, extending a bike path along the river to link parks and open spaces, creating stations for bike and car sharing, widening sidewalks, creating pedestrian passages across the railway and existing roads, lining the streets with trees, and developing new parks and public green areas within the city limits. I was responsible for creating the majority of the graphics for the project, some of which are presented here.

RE CON CE PTUA LI ZATI ON OF E XI S TI N G DOWNTOWN PL AZA , CU RRENT LY S ERV IN G AS PARKIN G

CON CE PTUA L RE I MAG I NI N G O F TH E PROPOS ED INT ERS ECT ION OF N ATU RAL AND U RBAN WORLDS

U RBAN MAS T ERPL AN

SE CTI O N PE RSPE CTI VE VI E W OF PROPOS ED RIV ERS IDE B IKE ROU TE AND PEDES TRIAN WAL KWAY

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1

3 Visualizations of proposed modifications: (1)new pedestrian bridge and riverside bike path; (2)tunnel under existing street; (3)streetscape upgrades including widened sidewalks, redirected traffic flow, pedestrian amenities and vegetation; (4)reconfiguration of existing derelict urban park.

4

RE CONFIGU RAT ION OF EXIS TIN G PARKIN G LOT AS PU B LIC L AWN

2

Design Competition for the State of New York and the towns of Syracuse and DeWitt. Team of four.

E L E V A T I N G

E R I E

We proposed a hydro-ecological three-part solution to renew the Erie Boulevard, a busy urban street that stretches along a section of the original Erie Canal. Part One is a water-focused form based code to direct development toward visible sustainable storm-water management practices that increase biodiversity and educate the public on the importance of water resources. Part Two proposes example municipal catalyst projects, such as a floodable public water plaza, a median park with filtration bioswales, an eco visitor center and extended trail network, and community gardens. Part Three introduces novel urban ecosystems positioned as study zones to engage ongoing research and provide feedback for the evolving corridor design.

ERIE CANAL

NE W YOR K

ON O NDAGA

E RI E BO U L EVARD CORRIDOR

L E GE ND E ME RG I N G W E T L AN D S M U LT I - US E T R AI L N E T WOR K P E RV I O US S UR FAC I N G

SI TE C I NFRA S TRUCTURE C ATALYS T:

COMMUNI T Y GARDENS

RE CRE ATI ON TRAIL S E N COURAG E D H A BI TAT:

PO LLI N ATO R FIEL DS

BRANCH SITE INFRAS TRU CTU RE C ATALYS T:

FLOODAB L E WATER PL AZA EN COU RAGED HAB ITAT: WET L ANDS

LON G - T E R M F O R E S T G ROW T H P U BL I C P L AZ AS

SITE B I N F R AS T RUC T UR E C ATALYS T:

M E D I AN S T R I P PAR K W I TH BI OSWA LE S E N COUR AG E D H AB I TAT: S T R E AM B E D

S IT E D INFRAS TRU CTU RE C ATALYS T:

C AN ALWAY TRAIL V IS ITOR CENTER EN COU RAGED HAB ITAT:

U PL AND F ORES T

EN COURAGED BUI LDI N G DENSI T Y ON -S TREET PARK I N G

A

N ARROW ED ROADWAY MUN I CI PAL C ATALYS T PROJECT: MEDI AN PARK WI T H FI LT RAT I ON BI OSWALES DEVELOPER -FU N DED LI D SYS TEMS F OLLOW MUN I CI PAL EX AMPLE A

ECOLOGI C AL TES T I N G ZONES PROVI DE LON GTERM FEEDBAC K TO I MPROVE ECOSYS TEM DESI GN AND EVOLVE T HE F ORM-BASED CODE W HI C H DI RECTS DEVELOPMEN T

SITE B MULTI -USE TRAI L LI NK ED TO C AN ALWAY TRAI L SYS TEM

S E C T I ON A - A

EXA MPL E M U NI C I PA L C ATALYS T P RO J E C T AT B RA N C H SI TE : FLOO DA BLE WATE R PL A ZA

3

M.Arch Thesis: It Takes a Village: Teaching Community Design-Build in the Rural Arctic. Won Commendation and Award for Architecture Thesis Excellence.

BUILT BY COMMUNITY

I coordinated and led a two-week design-build workshop for high school students in the village of Barrow, Alaska. The focus of the workshop was for participants to learn design and construction skills by undertaking a real-world project for the benefit of their community. Together we designed and built two pavilions, which we donated for public use in the village playgrounds.

As a framework for teaching I developed the concept of ‘Teaching Pods’: mobile, adaptable multipurpose structures which provide a small-scale design challenge for workshop participants. The modules represent a solution to the resource-wasting, inefficient, and inflexible architecture that is typical of rural Alaskan villages. They can be designed and built easily with minimal, locally available resources, providing a quickly-realized finished structure from which lessons for future, more complex designs can be extrapolated.

Above: images of the two pavilions designed and constructed by the students and donated for use at the village playgrounds. Local children were thrilled to explore the new structures.

R O O F A S S E M B LY ( 2 ) COATS C L E A R U R E T H A N E VA R N I S H O N H E AV Y D U T Y C A N VA S S T R E TC H E D TAU T S E L F -A D H E R I N G WAT E R P R O O F MEMBRANE 1 / 4 ” P LY W O O D FA S T E N E D TO J O I S TS ( 2 ) S H E E TS 3 / 4 ” P LY W O O D L AM IN AT E D R O O F J O I S TS S IM P S O N S T R O N G T I E J O I S T H A N G A R N A IL E D TO 2 X 6 B E AM S T R E TC H C A N VA S O V E R 1 X 6 FA S C I A B OA R D A N D S TA P L E S E C U R E LY 4 X6 T IM B E R CO LU M N P R E - D R IL L A N D B O LT E AC H CO LU M N TO S K I W IT H ( 2 ) 3 / 8 ” G A LVA N I Z E D H E X- H E AD B O LTS A N D WA S H E R S 2 X6 P L A N K S W I T H 1 / 4 ” S PAC E B E T W E E N B OA R D S , FA S T E N TO S K I W I T H 3 / 8 ” L AG B O LTS ( 2 ) 2 X 1 2 L AM I N AT E D, P R E - DR I L L A N D FA S T E N W IT H 3 / 8 ” C A R R I AG E B O LTS 4 ” D IA . S T E E L P I P E W E L D E D TO 6 ” X 6 ” S T E E L P L AT E & TO W H O O K E AC H E N D 1 / 4 ” U LT R A H I G H MOLECULAR WEIGHT P L A S T IC , P R E - DR I L L , CO U N T E R S I N K , & FA S T E N TO B A S E O F S K I O V E R S E L F A D H E R IN G WAT E R P R O O F MEMBRANE

MO D ULE A S CONS T RU CTION TEC HNIQU ES T EAC HIN G TOOL

3

1

2

4

7 5

6

Scenes from the design-build workshop: (1)student sketching ideas after learning site analysis; (2)student presenting models and drawings; (3)talking with community elders; (4)presenting the project on the radio; (5)cutting curved ribs for pavilion walls and roof; (6)securing roof joists; (7)mounting decorative strips of whale baleen as a finishing touch on one pavilion.

4

Final Studio at Boston Architectural College. Project: expansion to the college including dormitories, studio spaces, classrooms, a lecture hall, and public gallery space.

SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL

We were instructed to add our own program elements in this project. My concept used the structure to catalyze public engagement and provide sustainable design education. A large community greenhouse to connected the school facilities and the dormitories and integrated passive and active building systems for energy, heat, light, ventilation, water collection, and waste.

1 G RE E NHOUS E 2

RAINWAT E R C ATC H M E N T

3

O P T IMIZE D S O L AR O R IE N TATION

4

SOL A R - T HE RMAL S TOR AG E TAN KS F OR RADIA NT SL AB S

5

T RA NSLUCE N T C AN O PY OV E R D O U B L E GL A S S FAC A D E

6

DE E P SE T WIN D OWS , L IG H T S H E LV E S , C L E R E S TOR I E S

7

B UILDIN G IN TE G R ATE D PH OTOVOLTA I C S

8

CO M P OS T E R S U S E G R E E N HO U S E / C A F E WA S T E F OR HOT WATE R

9

T HE RMA L WAL L

10

DAMP E R TO TO AL LOW B U IL D IN G V E NT IL AT ION , N IG HT FLU S H IN G

11

G RE E N ROOF

12

CO M M UNIT Y GAR D E N PLOTS

13 SOL AR T HE R M AL COLLE CTORS 14 SUP E RINSUL ATE D S HE LL

WAR M I N G D UR I N G DAY - HE AT I N G VE N T D UR I N G DAY ( N O H E AT I N G ) N I G H T F LUS H VE N T I L AT I ON M AI N TAI N HE AT AT N I G HT

S T UD I O S

L E C T UR E H AL L

MECH.

Above: conceptual section and sketch detail of louver and damper system to control ventilation, passive heating, and night flushing. Right: detail building section at connection between greenhouse and main structure.

GREENH OU S E A ND GAL L E RY I N T E R I O R P E R S PE CTI VE

GREENHOU S E AND S C HOOL EXTENT ION IN WINT ER

5

Professional documentation and stabilization project for the U.S. National Park Service.

HISTORIC RESTORATION

I worked as an historic architect intern for the US National Park Service in 2008, with most of my projects focused on the buildings of the Kennecott Copper Mines National Historic Landmark in Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Alaska. I detailed several buildings and assisted in the coordination of a volunteer effort to stabilize the remote Jumbo Bunkhouse. I compiled documentation of various structures around the state, often interpolating the original construction from the existing. Since my internship, I have returned to Kennecott often for more hands-on restoration work, and have participated in other NPS and U.S. Forest Service stabilization efforts around the state of Alaska. .

6

Full-service (AE) project at Design Alaska. 16-bed alcohol treatment center in Bethel, Alaska.

AYAGNIRVIK CENTER

Bethel is a hub for the Yup’ik villages in Southwest Alaska. This treatment center serves an important role in the area, where alcoholism is an issue. We developed a culturally appropriate space for healing that focused on improving indoor air quality, minimizing embodied energy and reducing energy consumption through orientation, daylighting, envelope design, and material selection.

4

5

6

7

I-5 2 1

6'-1"

DINING

A703

3 6

4

R.O.

12'-7"

E-14

F

DRINKING FOUNTAINS

ROLLING COUNTER DOOR 3/4 HOUR RATED

142 5'-10 1/2"

S11-6F

146.2

141

146.1

째 135

A812

S11-3F1

142

4'-5 5/8"

5

143

CORRIDOR

3'-6"

ROLLING COUNTER DOOR 3/4 HOUR RATED

165

S11-3F 144

145

ATTENDANT

A811

162

9

1'-7 3/4"

133 째

9 1/2"

G

2'-1 1/4"

8

1'-1 1/2"

3

6'-9 5/8"

2

1'-2 1/8"

1

3 1/8"

141.1

7 146.3

S11-3F

4

164

9'-8 1/2"

5'-10 1/4" 3'-9 1/2"

4'-2 3/8"

S11-6A

S11-6A

5'-8 7/8"

RESTROOM 167 S11-3A

4'-0"

R.O.

16'-0"

13'-2"

5

CORRIDOR 4'-1 3/4" 6

A702

7

166

2'-4 3/4"

RESTROOM 173

A702

173

6'-1"

12

8

BEDROOM

S11-6A

4'-4" 10 9

167

8'-8"

168

13'-10 1/4"

S11-3F1

22'-0 5/8"

S11-3F

3'-0 1/2"

D

E-11

25'-10 1/4"

164

2

S11-3B

X-8A

5'-10 5/8"

ADA RESTROOM

A412 ALIGN

141

147

S11-3B

11

13'-10 7/8"

BEDROOM

E-11

172

S11-3A

172

6 A621

S11-3A

8'-10 1/8"

S11-3A 168

X-8A 5'-5 3/8"

163

NOT USED A590

S11-6A

BOILER ROOM DRY STORAGE

9'-5"

ARTS + CRAFTS

8'-3 1/8"

10'-11 1/2"

4'-0"

R.O.

11'-10 7/8"

14'-3 3/4" 3

S11-3B

S11-3F

S11-3F

E-11

1'-10 1/4"

3

3 A410

S11-3B

4'-0"

163

146 22'-5 3/4"

A702

1

2'-6 1/4"

8'-6 1/2"

5'-9 3/4"

A412

3'-1 1/2"

E

KITCHEN

4'-3 3/4"

2 3

148

A410 135 째

2'-6" 2'-0"

R.O.

1 A610

E-13

8'-9 7/8"

DISHWASHING 2

S11-3F

14'-2 1/4"

1 A410

R.O.

11'-1 3/8"

A811

A302

1

FLOOR PLAN NOTES

8'-0"

X-8A

4.

UP

169

B

FLOOR PLAN LEGEND

171

EXTERIOR WALL SEE A5 SHEETS

1

5'-0 1/4"

7'-11"

A412

4'-0"

BEDROOM

E-11

R.O.

S11-6F

INTERIOR WALL SEE A8 SHEETS INTERIOR ACOUSTIC WALL SEE A8 SHEETS

171

VESTIBULE

5'-4 1/2"

169

13'-5 7/8"

R.O.

170.2

BEDROOM

9'-1"

4'-0 1/2"

S11-3B E-11

5.

6.

ALL DIMENSIONS SHOWN ARE TO FACE OF FRAMING UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE. ALL DIMENSIONS INDICATED AS 'CLEAR' SHALL PROVIDE CLEARANCE TO FACE OF FINISH. LOCATE DOORS 4" FROM ADJACENT WALL TO THE OUTSIDE FACE OF FRAME UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE. FURNITURE SHOWN FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES ONLY. ALL FURNITURE IS OWNER FURNISHED AND OWNER INSTALLED UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE. SEE A5 SHEETS FOR EXTERIOR ASSEMBLIES AND DETAILS. SEE A8 SHEETS FOR INTERIOR ASSEMBLIES AND DETAILS.

S11-6A 5'-6 7/8"

4'-5"

S11-6A

170

INTERIOR 1/2 HOUR WALL SEE A8 SHEETS INTERIOR 1 HOUR WALL SEE A8 SHEETS

170.1 2 7/8"

A

3.

X-8A

S11-6F

10'-8 1/8"

C

2.

S11-6F

10'-8 1/4"

29'-6"

8'-3 1/2"

1.

X-8A X-8E 4 A621

2 7/8" 1'-9 1/8"

A1 22'-4 7/8"

5'-5"

22'-9 7/8"

B1 B3

2 7/8"

R.O. 50'-7 3/4"

1 A211

FIRST FLOOR PLAN - PARTIAL BLOCK A2 1/4" = 1'-0"

B4 A2

B2

KEYPLAN

N ORT H ELEVATION

SU P E R I N SU L ATE D CON T I N U OU S E N V E LO P E ( N O T HE R MAL B RID G IN G )

SO U T H ELEVATION

S T RU CT U R E EL E VATE D TO P R E SE RVE F RO ZE N G RO UN D ( P E R MA F ROS T)

We compiled life cycle analyses on a variety of materials to educate the clients on sustainable choices and were able to convince them to remove all vinyl from the project, from the flooring to the siding. In addition, we designed a super insulated building envelope (R-60 roof, R-45 walls and floor), paying close attention to moisture and air flow to ensure a super-tight yet breathable building.

B UIL D IN G S E C TION

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2

3 4 Treatment center under construction: (1)installing timber frame trusses; (2)trusses installed in community area; (3)front entry canopy in progress; (4)auditorium/ gymnasium metal-framed walls and trusses.

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Design Competition for University of Alaska Fairbanks and Cold Climate Housing Research Center.

Team of five students. Won First Place.

SUSTAINABLE VILLAGE

While working full-time before grad school, I took Arctic design and sustainability classes at UAF and teamed up with engineering students to participate in this competition for prototype sustainable student housing. We won the competition, our house design was further developed, and four homes were ultimately built. I was hired to work on the construction crew, thus gaining valuable hands on experience in the entire design process.

vertical garden wal

COMBUS TION A IR

sotradd irotioofnal innosprtirhedern byhomes

E XHAUS T

HEATER

HE AT

COMBUS TION A IR INTA KE

RE COVE RY VE NTIL ATOR

AIR FILTER

S TALE AIR

SU PPLY DU C TIN G ( INS U L ATED

FROM

AFTER HEAT INJEC TION POINT)

R-10 thermal shutters roogarftdenop decplotks andfor stperudensontals

BU ILDIN G

S TALE AIR FROM BU ILDIN G

FR ES H AIR INTAKE

SC H E M ATIC O F B R H E AT H E SYS TE M ( D E V E LOP E D BY C C H RC )

argtriplon-e panfie,l edlow-ewindow, s

ENERGY TRU SS ROOF SYS TEM

RO OF SH E ATH IN G

BLOWN C ELLU LOSE

INSUL ATIO N BAFFLE

INSU L ATION

D RIP E D GE

VAP OR AND

GUTTE R

MOIS TU RE BAR RIER

FASCIA

2X4 TOP P L ATES R -13 ECOBATT

supfouernda-itniosuln aseteidsmiflcallyooranchovoreer ddubycted helical tie-back system

OR I GI N A L CO N CE P T

Our concept incorporated an extreme cold-climate wall system developed by CCHRC (REMOTE wall), as well as various building elements and systems in each house to serve as texting opportunities. The overall combination of systems was refined as the plans were developed. Two different foundations, two different wall types, and a variety of heating/ventilation systems were combined in each house for post-occupancy comparison. An HRV heating system developed by CCHRC (BrHEAThe) was also incorporated.

VE NTE D SO F F IT

INSU L ATION

4-6 IN C H E S E PS RIG ID F OAM

WALL SHEATHIN G

SID IN G OVE R FU RR IN G

VAP OR AND

2X 4 SIL L

MOIS TU RE BAR RIER 2X6 S TU DS AT 20” ON C ENTER 3/4” TON G U E AND

GRAD E APPROVE D

G ROOVE SU BFLOOR FLOOR JOIS T

WATE R BARRIE R ICF F O UNDATION WALL

RE M OTE WAL L SYS TE M (ADAP TE D F ROM C C H RC )

M E C H AN I C A L B E D ROOM A

K I TC HE N

OP E N TO B E LOW E N T RY

B E D ROOM B

LI V I N G / D I NI N G

BAT H

DECK

B E D ROOM C

B E D ROOM D

B I RC H H OU S E

S PRUC E H OUS E

TAM A R AC K H OU SE

WIL LOW H OU SE

BR HEAT H E SYS T E M ( H RV + D I E S E L H E AT) F ORC ED A IR D I S TR I B U TI ON SUPER IN S U L AT E D R AFT F O U N DATI ON R -51 R EM OT E SYS TE M WAL L S

B R H E AT H E SYS T E M ( H RV + D I E S E L H E AT ) F ORC E D A I R D I S T R I B U T I ON S U P E R I N S U L AT E D R A F T F O U N DAT I ON R - 64 D OU B L E WA L L W / C E L LU LO S E I N S U L AT I ON

S O L A R T H E R M A L COLLE CTO R S OI L BO I LE R E N E RGY R E COVE RY VE N T I L ATO R R A D I A N T F LOO R S R - 6 0 F LOO R O N P I LI N G S R - 51 R E M OT E SYS T E M WA LL S

S O L A R T H E R M A L COLLE CTO R S P ROPA N E BOI LE R H E AT R E COVE RY VE N T I L ATO R R A DI A N T F LOO R S R - 6 0 F LOO R O N P I LI N G S R - 51 R E M OT E SYS T E M WA LL S

E N D