Reshaping the Trinity

RESHAPING THE TRINITY

The Dual Performance of Critical Infrastructure

Rachel Sasson | Advisor Joanne Aitken | Drexel Architecture Senior Project 2023-24

A physical and social divide

William H. Whyte

The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces

The process by which an external stimulus — such as a street performer or public art — encourages dialogue among strangers in a public space. Introducing performance onto the site will engage users, fostering spontaneous interaction.

Reshaping the Trinity

The Trinity River holds a storied past within the heart of Dallas, marked by both moments of prosperity and challenges. In May of 1908, the city faced a catastrophic flood that caused widespread displacement and damage, prompting urgent action from city leaders. They enlisted George Kessler, a renowned planner, who crafted “The Kessler Plan” in response. The visionary proposal sought to reroute the Trinity River away from Downtown Dallas, forging a new, straightened path west of its original course. The ambitious undertaking culminated in the construction of the Trinity River Floodway in 1928, a monumental engineering feat for the burgeoning city. Although effective in managing stormwater, imposing levees inadvertently divided Dallas — both physically and symbolically. The floodway disrupts the natural urban fabric, disconnecting West Dallas communities from the downtown core and hindering social cohesion.

Consider the dual ability of infrastructure to quietly support and dynamically re-energize Dallas communities.

The Trinity River Floodway can perform as both critical infrastructure for flood control and vibrant social infrastructure, introducing an ecologically considerate urban amenity to Dallas, strengthening connection via an iconic attraction.

Typical Condition - October 2023

Flooded Condition - November 2015

Dallas Median Household Income via Opportunity Atlas

The site is comparable in length to the stretch of Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway between the Museum of Art and Logan Square. A 10-15 minute walk east of the site’s edge is Dealey Plaza — the gateway to Dallas’s historic district. To the west is Trinity Groves, a rapidly developing district known for its food and art scenes. The Trinity Park Conservancy recently announced plans for West Overlook Park by Lake Flato and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, breaking ground in Fall 2024.

offers a network of basic pedestrian trails with potential for enhancement to promote safer and more active use.

The site

TRINITY GROVES RESTAURANT PARK

WEST OVERLOOK AT HAROLD SIMMONS PARK

DEALEY PLAZA RENOVATION

RONALDKIRK PEDESTRIANBRIDGE

MARGARET HUNTHILLBRIDGE

The site is bound by iconic bridges — the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge to the north, and the Margaret McDermott Bridge to the south. Serving as vital transportation arteries, they also lend a distinctive character to the site.

TEXAS&PACIFIC R AILROADBRIDGE

MARGARET

MCDERM OTT BRIDGE

COMMERCE STREET BRIDGE

EXISTING LANDSCAPE

The channelized floodway functions as a machine to control, manage, and move water. During a rain event, the channel overflows, occupying a wider area between the levees.

SOLAR CONSIDERATIONS

Dallas sun is strong, heating up the site easily.

WIND AND VENTILATION CONSIDERATIONS

The site primarily experiences southern wind.

RESHAPED LANDSCAPE

The revised floodway retains water to slow down the flow — principles of the “Sponge City” ecological infrastructure model. The new terrain reflects the dynamism of the river.

REWILDING THE SITE & EVAPOTRANSPIRATION

Acknowledging the scorching Dallas summers, the landscape design incorporates rewilding strategies to diversify vegetation, transforming the site into a lush meadow rather than a conventionally maintained landscape. Abundant plants enable an intentional effort to improve human comfort through evapotranspiration — plants’ release of moisture — cooling their immediate microclimate.

FLUVIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY

The design acknowledges the natural evolution of river systems. By understanding how flowing water shapes landscapes over time, the project anticipates and accommodates changes in the river’s course, ensuring resilience in response to

GREY INFRASTRUCTURE

The conventional solution to flooding, these systems accumulate water and risk, speed up flow, cause droughts, fail against floods, and worsen the climate in the meantime.

“SPONGE CITY”

An ecological infrastructure model by Kongjian Yu, Sponge City embraces natural systems and permeable surfaces to manage rainwater, reducing flood risks in urban areas.

SCALABLE LANDSCAPE TECHNIQUES

Terracing, ponding, dyking-and-ponding, and islanding via Turenscape

Hoover Dam Fish Tail Park

Pinellas Park Ditch

Yongning River Park

Three Gorges Dam Fish Tail Park

Daicun Dam Yanweizhou Park

The Mann Center

for Performing Arts

Location

Architect Size

Philadelphia, PA

John Hayter MacFadyen, 1976

MGA Partners, 2002

14,000 person capacity

Crafts a thoughtful and exciting sequence for concert-goers: lining up at the gate, entering a shaded vending plaza, and ascending site pathways with skyline views before settling into their seats for the show.

RESTROOMS

PICNIC GROVE

NORTH GATE

Ride Share

Drop-off / Pick-up

TD PAVILION

13,000 person (4,500 covered)

PLAZA

Food + Drink

Merchandise

Restrooms

SOUTH GATE

Large event entry and ticketing

CRAWFORD

CIRCLE

SEPTA Loop

Drop-off / Pick-up

PARKING

APPROACH

+ ticketing

EXPERIENCE

Vending + services

PERFORMANCE

Stage + seating

Determining program location and adjacencies

The program is organized into three categories representing the sequence of a visitor’s path through the site: approach, experience, and performance. After studying the scale and organization of numerous outdoor venues, the site and context were carefully analyzed. Existing site entries, vehicular and foot traffic patterns, sun orientation, and skyline views

influenced the creation of nine initial options. Three options were considered in detail, with Option 2 ultimately selected for its strategic advantages:

1. Leverages proximity to Trinity Groves

2. Offers unobstructed skyline views

3. Distance between the levee and river aligns with typical dimensions of successful outdoor venues.

MERRIWEATHER

Preliminary Design

The preliminary design leverages the Texas & Pacific Railroad bridge as a bisector of the site. The gatehouse, strategically placed near an existing trailhead and parking area, marks the venue’s entry. Beyond the gatehouse, terraced plazas follow the natural topography, leading to the stage situated on the opposite side of the railroad. This bridge acts as a threshold into the performance zone. The stage, safely positioned above the 100-year floodplain, ensures

Under the Lawn Shaded

Can a stage be built in the floodway?

Following the preliminary design review, a critical contradiction between the project’s thesis and its proposed design surfaced. The initial concept originated from the belief that “hard” infrastructure can be softened to better serve and connect populations. However, in the process of prioritizing the stage’s position above the floodplain, the performance structure inadvertently introduced more rigid elements to the site. This divergence from the project’s original intent prompted a reevaluation.

Recognizing the site’s inherent relationship with water and recalling the “Sponge City” principles, a new design should better dissolve the program into the existing terrain. Rather than adhering to conventional venue standards, can the stage be located in the center of the floodway? Utilizing the site’s natural slope, a reimagined site plan turns the first one on its head, abandons perceived limitations of a program, and results in a compelling and imaginative proposal for a performing arts venue.

DOWNTOWN DALLAS

A venue shaped by its terrain

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre

Location

Morrison, CO

Burnham F. Hoyt

1941

9,500 person capacity

Nestled within red sandstone formations, seating conforms to the contours of the landscape, offering concert-goers an immersive experience in nature.

CASE STUDY

A building designed to flood

Columbia University Milstein Family Tennis Center

Location

Architect Year Size

New York, NY

Perkins and Will 2023

112,000 sf

Set below the 100-year floodplain adjacent to a river, the design acknowledges the inevitability of flooding by integrating resilient features in order to withstand and recoop from periodic inundation.

CASE STUDY

A stage that “floats”

Théâtre de Verdure

Location

Architect Year Size

Montreal, Canada Lemay

2022

2,500 person capacity

The amphitheater creatively incorporates water, allowing nature to become an integral part of the show for an immersive spectator experience.

via Perkins and Will

Reimagining the performing arts venue

The venue’s organization values thoughtful sequence as one approaches and meanders through the site until settling in their seat for a show. The gatehouse building greets users as they pass under the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and proceed toward the ticketing office. A curved canopy signifies entry to the defined venue. A series of terraced plazas, varied in texture and character, provide places to gather, relax, or play. Pathways, wide and narrow, guide users toward the banks of the Trinity River. The Texas & Pacific Railroad frames views of the pavilion, located in the

center of the floodway. Its placement there is a unique and imaginitive opportunity to embrace the site’s intrinsic relationship with water. The pavilion, on a regular day, is a sculptural object in the landscape. On event days, it transforms into a stage for performance. Seating slopes up following the topography, offering standing, seated, and lawn options. At the top of the lawn, a second building is buried into the levee housing concessions, restrooms, and accommodations for visiting performers. Levee buildings are intentionally set just above the 100-year floodplain.

The gatehouse building serves as a hub for the venue, designed with flexibility in mind to accommodate a variety of activities.

Operable metal screen at box office

INTENSIVE GREEN ROOF

BOARD FORMED CONCRETE PARAPET

VEGETATION LAYER

DRAINAGE LAYER

RIGID INSULATION

WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE

SUSPENDED GYPSUM CEILING

OPERABLE SCREEN ON TRACK STOREFRONT SYSTEM

PERFORATED METALSCREEN

Terraced gathering plazas

Three distinct gathering spaces greet users as they enter the site from the north end. The paved plaza is a largely open concourse, making room for mobile vending booths or food trucks to set up before an event. The shaded, semi-permeable courtyard presents an alternate, more secluded feel. The meadow, closest to the river, is populated with lush native plantings.

The gatehouse canopy frames views of the site’s existing infrastructure. The shaded courtyard offers a peaceful setting to escape the heat.

Western Levee TOP TRAIL

Western Prospect GATEHOUSE

Upland Terrace PAVED PLAZA

Upland Forest SHADED GATHERING

Riparian Bench MEADOW

Trinity River MAIN CHANNEL

Upland Forest SHADED HILLTOP

The venue’s primary entry is marked by the gatehouse and its dramatic concrete canopy.

Organized by radial staircases facilitating seamless movement from the lawn to the green roof and levee top trail, the building contains a series of mostly restrooms and vending areas supported by a long service corridor.

Building in the levee

Massing undulates gently, blending in with the existing topography at the base of the western levee. The structure’s planted green roof aligns with the existing elevation of the levee, enabling roof pathways to merge with existing trails. Board formed concrete walls are complemented by colorful, perforated metal screens, creating a simple, yet refined material palette that is replicated across the site.

PERFORATED METALSCREEN BOARDFORM ED CONCRETE

INTENSIVE GREEN ROOF

Inviting spaces

Vending and artist accommodations are arranged deliberately with the human scale in mind. Facade walls curve inward to create a shaded alcove for queuing. Screens provide privacy or highlight vertical circulation. Views of the pavilion and skyline are encountered from many areas of the building.

Finding form through sketching

125’

62.5’

A sculptural object in the landscape

The pavilion is the focal point of the site. Its form is inspired by the geomorphological evolution of the river and landscape, composed of a primary and secondary curve. In plan, the shape was conceived from two circles at a 2:1 ratio. Assembled from curved steel pipes, the pavilion is structurally self-supported, sitting atop deep pile foundations. Made of white painted metal that is finished to withstand water, it is a monumental sculpture at an infrastructure scale.

PLATE WELDED TO PIPE

ANCHOR TAB WITH MAX LOAD PERMANENTLY MARKED

ATTACHMENTSPRE-WELDEDALONGPIPES,SPACED24”

GLASSSHINGLE

PERFORMANCE ZONE

BACKSTAGE ZONE

24” DIAMETER PIPE

A shell for performance

On an event day or night, the pavilion activates into a dynamic stage. Able to adapt to the needs of any show, pre-welded pipe attachments provide a convenient way for crews to efficiently assemble unique sets that may integrate with the structural form itself. The smaller pavilion curve houses and hides the backstage setup required for the largest productions. As a crowd gathers to spectate, the Dallas skyline paints a striking backdrop behind an iconic attraction.

PIPECONNECTIONATEND

GLASS SHINGLES FASTENED TO PIPE

ARCH PIPE, SLIP CONNECTION

ANCHOR BOLTS EMBEDDED IN CONCRETE FOUNDATION

STEEL PLATE WELDED TO ANCHOR PIPE

FLASHING TO PERIMETER DRAIN

GLASS SHINGLES FASTENED TO PIPE

STEEL PLATE + ANCHOR PIPE BOLTED TO “Y” CONNECTOR

FLASHING TO PERIMETER DRAIN

FASTEN TO FOUNDATION

CONCRETE FOUNDATION

PILE CAP

ARCH PIPE, SLIP CONNECTION

“Y” CONNECTOR AT VALLEY

STEEL PLATE BOLTED TO CONCRETE FOUNDATION

CONCRETE FOUNDATION

PIPECONNECTION AT VALLEY

FASTEN TO FOUNDATION

Views from near and far

At varied distances, the pavilion transforms in perception: up close, it embraces audiences like an enclosure. From afar, it stands as an elegant sculpture, seamlessly integrated with the landscape.

SOLAR CONSIDERATIONS

Dallas sun is strong, heating up the site easily.

Designed to flood

The character of the park is determined by the river’s fluctuation. During flood events, the site undergoes varying degrees of inundation. The typical water level rests 10-12 feet below the pavilion but may rise to the stage level 2-4 times annually. The 10-year and 100-year floodplains present more severe flooding scenarios, but essential program remains dry. Rather than a deterrent, a higher river becomes an attraction, drawing visitors to witness the dynamic presence of water. The landscape masterplan capitalizes on its ebb and flow, providing diverse opportunities for interaction with water including islands and bridges, encouraging people to engage intimately with the Trinity River.

Topographical model laser cut and assembled, pavilion 3D printed.

Project reflections

Throughout the year, the project fortunately received positive feedback from a supportive group of jurors, which was both reassuring and motivating. It was particularly exciting to engage with professionals who shared my enthusiasm for such an unconventional proposal.

Design is perpetual — given more time, I would focus on further development of the terraced plazas, dividing them into smaller, more intimate outdoor “rooms” with strategic plantings, shade structures, and other site furniture.

The design process was a challenging yet rewarding learning experience. Iterative by nature, it taught the importance of not being afraid to test out new ideas and make changes. I enjoyed pushing the boundaries of feasibility, finding real-world solutions for an idea that initially felt fictional. I am especially proud of remaining open-minded and willing to think differently, ultimately reworking the design into something more aligned with both the project’s vision and my own.

Many thanks to my advisor, Joanne Aitken, my classmates, friends, family, and the many others who offered input and support this year.

Rachel Sasson

Rachel Sasson | Drexel