Ren Southard - Portfolio

Recent Work (2014 - 2024)

RENATA SOUTHARD

RACHEAL WILSON MEMORIAL PARK

VOLUNTEER: Neighborhood Design Center

Size: 1.7 Acres

Location: Baltimore City

Status: Fundraising Phase

BRIEF: Racheal Wilson Memorial Park is a probono project in the Boyd-Booth Neighborhood. The park is situated within the Baltimore Green Network Plan and named for Racheal Wilson, a Baltimore City Fire Fighter who was killed in the line of duty. The park utilizes a former Baltimore Fire Department training site where the cadette trained. Local residents and family of Ms. Wilson wanted the park to celebrate her life - “remembering and making new memories” were two major goals of this project. To accomplish these goals, we sought to preserve the physical remnants on site (portions of foundations, walls and stairs), and added opportunities to make new memories through play, gathering space, picnic areas, gardens and walking paths.

Schematic design and visuals were developed to help the community and family raise funding for the park. During the schematic phase, the scope changed several times, due to increased interest and community involvement. Currently, the park has wide-ranging support from the Baltimore City Planning Department, the Boyd-Booth Community, Bon Secours Community Works, and the African American Firefighter Historical Society (AAFFHS).

TEAM MEMBERS:

Annette Ritchie, Kimberly Schulke, Johnny ShikirMacon, Julie Soss, Ren Southard

MY ROLES: Lead community meetings, develop schematic plans, 3-D models, renderings and basic visuals for fund-raising purposes.

AREA: 6-12 YEARS

PERGOLA SHELTER ON FOUNDATION WALLS

Aerial View

Carro llton Ridge

PLAY + STAY:

Remember and make new memories

PATH:

Organize, direct and encourage movement

EDGE:

Carve out / define spaces and protect

SITE:

Preserve existing memories - embrace scars and remnants

THE FALLSWAY

INSTITUTION: University of Maryland

Size: 32.5 Acres

Location: Baltimore City

Status: Theoretical - Master Plan

BRIEF: The Fallsway at North Avenue imagines the future of the Jones Falls Corridor. This plan developed with the emergence of Friends of the Jones Falls, which will guide future development and zoning for a 7-mile stretch of the Jones Falls Valley.

This master plan spans an area roughly one quarter mile in each direction from the center point, located at North Howard Street and North Avenue. The plan makes recommendations for transit, bicycle ways, pedestrian paths and density. It envisions an adaptively reused structure at the corner of North Avenue and North Howard Street. The historically protected building would house new retail space, a gym, and medical offices. A new building to the west houses a community center for after school programs, a lifetime learning center and a place for neighborhood residents to socialize.

Program elements were developed from a careful inventory of the surrounding area, surveys and interviews with neighborhood residents, and oneon-one meetings with Baltimore City Planning staff. Feedback was carefully analyzed and applied to the master plan. To increase density along the market corridor, mixed use buildings are proposed along North Avenue.

To address the steep grade of the Jones Falls Valley, and its unique position as an industrial urban waterway in the largest estuary in the United States, careful consideration was given to storm water mitigation techniques. A stepped rain garden acts as green infrastructure useful to both neighborhood residents and the Chesapeake Bay

MY ROLES: Research,design development and alternate schemes, thesis document, meet with community stakeholders, develop digital models and renders, diagrams and technical drawings,

North Howard Street

Challenges: Topography and Traffic

Strategies: Improve Pedestrian Access

Existing Density

SITE GOALS:

Unite communities on both sides of the Jones Falls Valley, give access to neighborhood amenities, increase density,

Proposed Density

and promote beneficial activities through increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

1. New Paths + Bridges to Connect the Jones Falls Valley

2. Additional Bicycle Lanes (running east to west)

3. New Museum + Jones Falls Valley Welcome Center

4. Terraced Rain Garden + Pedestrian Stair

5. Additional Multi-Family + Student Housing

6. Renovated Building (Retail / Medical) + New Building (Community Center)

7. Parking Garden / Multi-use Green Space

8. Additional Retail + Updated Pedestrian / Bicycle Path

PROGRAM + PLAN:

The first step in developing the program for this project was a needs assessment of the amenities in the community. After the needs assessment was complete, the site was evaluated for access to those amentieis. After the intial research was completed, data was collected via interviews and surveys (distributed with help from neighborhood organizations) of residents to understand better their needs and desires for the neighborhood.

Because this location serves a very diverse population including a large population of elderly, college-aged students, arts groups, and families, the needs were mapped diagrammatically to better understand which groups use which services and fill in the gaps appropriately.

Program elements were established and organized into the existing building and new structure based on needs of light and air, privacy or public space, accessibility and complimentary uses.

Community Building

Terraced Rain Garden

SPRING 2017

HOMES AT HARVEST RIDGE

INSTITUTION: University of Maryland + Bonstra Haresign Archiectes

Size: 30 Acres

Location: Cleveland, OH

Status: Theoretical - Master Plan

BRIEF: The Harvest Ridge Plan seeks to address the existing challenges of Woodhill Homes and offer creative solutions for the future growth of the development. Our strategy identifies major areas of focus including reconnecting the community to the existing urban fabric, establishing a program for self-sufficiency, making memorable community spaces through hierarchy and organization of buildings, building on existing community programs, and bringing the site and buildings up to date with current zoning and codes requirements.

The existing site lacks adequate spatial definition, hierarchy of public spaces, and connectivity to the surrounding context. Parking on site is fragmented, insufficient and well below the minimum required by code. Morris Black Place, the main vehicular connection through the site is divided by the improper placement of the residential trash enclosures, thus preventing vehicular access from Woodland Avenue to Mt. Carmel Road. In addition to being at a lower elevation, Mt. Carmel Road also lacks sufficient sidewalks on both sides of the street, preventing adequate pedestrian circulation emphasizing the disconnection between the site and surrounding urban fabric.

TEAM MEMBERS:

Robert Grooms, Joseph McKenley, Lawrence Manongdo, Ren Southard

Robert McClennan (advisor)

MY ROLES: Research, develop schematic site plan and path systems, 3-D models, unit plans, basic renders for first phase.

Existing Conditions

Aerial View

HARVEST GARDEN

HOUSING A DIVERSE COMMUNITY

3-Bedroom Walk-Up Apartment Axon

3-Bedroom Townhouse Axon

2-Bedroom Walk-Up Apartment Axon

Terraced Garden

The Mews

COMPETITION / FALL 2016

THE FUTURE OF MODULAR

INSTITUTION: University of Maryland

Size: 1,000 SF

Location: College Park, MD

Status: 2nd Prize (International) 1st Prize (USA)

BRIEF: A team design for the DOE Solar Decathlon 2017 entry. This course is rooted in the conviction there is a necessary interdependence between design and technology, in order for buildings to achieve true excellence and highest value. These two aspects are not alone; together they play a front and center role in this combined course. Your building propositions are expected to embrace and be accountable form any other competing objectives, and to balance cultural, historical, environmental, social, and economic value. Ultimately, all rest on a basic technical integrity and the craft of sound design and technological performance. The underlying premise of the studio is that the same level of creativity, enthusiasm, and personal initiative must be applied at every level or scale of detail in the realization of architectural design.

The work pictured here is solo work that contributed to the winning Solar Decathlon entry; narrative and concept were developed as a team.

D

ESIGN AGENDA: The focus of the University of Maryland Solar Decathlon submission focuses not only on providing the most energy efficient home possible, but also a comfortable home that can adapt to the user. Our submission envisions solutions for families of different sizes by allowing a framework that can be expanded. The “core” of the home consists of mechanical and plumbing systems, paired with the courtyard system. A chassis system acts as the framework for the building, which can grow vertically and horizontally.

Because the core / courtyard developed as manufactured components, the UMD team imagines this as a solution that could someday replace the traditional prefabricated housing. Owners would enjoy a reduced cost of living with smarter environmental control, water collection, and filtration systems.

MY ROLES:

• Team Leader - HVAC Team (component selection and placement, ductwork, etc.)

• Designer - Architecture Team (details, wall sections, HVAC and systems closet)

• Animator - Communications Team (animated diagrams)

FALL 2016

A VILLAGE RE-IMAGINED

INSTITUTION: University of Maryland

Size: 14.3 Acres

Location: Columbia, MD

Status: Theoretical - Master Plan

BRIEF: A Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) project and a collaboration studio. This studio joins graduate students from Architecture with graduate students from Real Estate Development to work collaboratively on a design project. It also works with community stakeholders and practitioners to propose a redevelopment plan for the Owen Brown Village Center in Columbia, Maryland.

The site introduces issues of field (architecture that reaches past its building envelop to shape landscape, ecology, culture, economy, and social behavior), environment, theory, tectonics, and assemblage. In this course, we will address fundamental urban design theories and principles of sustainability. Goals include giving students an opportunity to interact with community stakeholders and practitioners.

TEAM MEMBERS:

Josh Kilian, Ren Southard, John Vogtman, Arica Thornton

MY ROLES: Research precedents, develop organizational and traffic diagrams, schematic and phasing plans, and renderings of proposed space.

Phase One: Organize and set the stage for growth.

Phase Two: Add density and connect to Lake Elkhorn.

Phase Three: Develop connections and park system.

Site Section: East-West, Looking South

Circulation Diagram Places Diagram

DThis strategy aims to solve the three big challenges: connectivity to the nearby lake, difficult topography, and a poor sense of identity. By naming the areas and giving spaces hierarchy, the once bland Owen Brown Town Center becomes memorable. Our team suggested uncovering a natural stream that had been buried in the mid-century, and reclaiming the natural drainage path to highlight the connection to the Lake Elkhorn. We also introduced a promenade river-walk with a slight grade change to navigate the challenging topography of the site.

In the past few years, suburban town centers have seen a revival thanks to the efforts of planners and developers. New Transit Oriented Developments in places like Rockville and Bethesda (both in Maryland) have provided a precedent for master plans elsewhere. While Lake Elkhorn does not have a nearby train or metro stop, the location is central to many locals. Extending existing pedestrian bicycle and walking paths would greatly improve connectivity to existing amenities and proposed new features.

Site Section: North-South, Looking West

Edges Diagram

Green the Parking: transform asphalt lots into parking greens that mitigate storm water runoff.

Shared Streets: traffic calming measures and complete street strategies to encourage sharing of space.

Enhanced View: introduce places to pause and appreciate the sweeping vistas or meet a friend.

Connect Resources: improve path from the Village to the Interfaith Center; promote pedestrian and cycle use with complete streets.

Scaled Space: introduce appropriately scaled buildings with proper proportions to the open space; add trees to navigate between human and building scale.

Improving the Underpass: Expose the stream and widen the underpass to increase light and invite usage by cyclists and pedestrians.

COMPETITION / FALL 2015

B-MORE RESILIENT

FIRM: Autotroph Design

Size: 2.3 Acres

Location: Baltimore City

Status: Honorable Mention: Best

Resilient Concept for an Existing Community

COMPETITION BRIEF: When the power goes out, a big storm hits, or civil unrest disrupts the pattern of life in the city, the existing fabric of that city is challenged. As our physical and social climate changes, the built environment, along with the people who reside within it, will continue to struggle. The sooner the urban fabric of Baltimore can adapt to these challenges, the more resilient our city can be.

This competition focuses on how to provide innovative design solutions to transform Baltimore City’s existing vacant housing stock to be more resilient. The COTE and Resiliency Committees of AIA Baltimore have partnered with representatives from Baltimore City to develop a competition that can help provide real ideas to solve real problems.

TEAM MEMBERS:

Stephanie Deutsch, Alexander Dzurec, Ren Southard

MY ROLES:

Research + analysis, site visits, develop schematic plans, 3-D models, renderings of Resiliency Hub, sections, competition board organization and final submission packet.

EAST CHASE STREET

Distributed Infrastructure & Resilient Technology (DIRT) is a 21st century infrastructure system for Baltimore. As opposed to the current paradigm of a centralized infrastructure system for utility and community services; DIRT is a distributed and interconnected infrastructure and technology system. It utilizes the concept of interconnected micro-grids to ensure resiliency in the event of catastrophe, but also to maintain stability in day to day usage of utilities and services. DIRT will enable community level micro-grids to “Island” themselves from the city grid; in order to maintain electricity, water, sewer and community services in the event of a catastrophe. In day to day operations these resources are input into the overall city grid to meet the City’s sustainability goals.

This strategy uses a process of conditions assessment to place components for utility, green, and social infrastructure. By utilizing the most damaged structures, and keeping existing residents in place, ensuring a more stable population. During construction, utilities will be installed, and green infrastructural components, such as permeable alleyways, will be added to help mitigate storm water runoff.

DIRT can be applied incrementally, and support long-term improvement of Baltimore’s neighborhoods. Revitalization will happen steadily but gradually, and the proposed process will support current residents instead of displacing them. The development of DIRT is a major and long economic development and infrastructure strategy that will transition Baltimore into a resilient future. Once fully implemented throughout the city, DIRT will enable Baltimore to be a dynamic and self-sustaining organism that is resilient to a wide variety of natural and man-made catastrophes.

Conditions Assessment: Structurally compromised, Needs repair, Renovated + occupied, Acceptable + vacant

FALL 2015

CAMP WOODLANDS

INSTITUTION: University of Maryland

Size: 34.0 Acres

Location: Annapolis, MD

Status: Theoretical - Master Plan

BRIEF: a community-based design project for the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland (GSCM). Students will re-envision Camp Woodlands, including the site and existing buildings.

The Chesapeake Bay waterfront site in Annapolis offers a rich environment within which to explore the relationship between the man-made and the natural world. Students will propose a new site plan, new campsite and design a cabin, design a main lodge, and design a new gateway for Camp Woodlands. An important objective is to propose an environment rich in learning experiences for the girls. We will consider ways in which architecture can serve a didactic role, offering opportunities for the girls to learn lessons about topics such as sustainability, structures, materials, and assemblies.

The program requirements included cabin designs for troops of 8-16 girls, master plan (team), a main entrance gate, and proposal for a new lodge for up to 250 campers.

TEAM MEMBERS: Josh Kilian, Sandra Oh

MY ROLES:

Research, site visits, stakeholder meetings, site plan, gateway and lodge design.

SITE MODEL

DESIGN AGENDA: This proposal strives to unite the new with the old through a visual connection. The new building is situated at a central point in the site where lines of sight from Lamb Lodge and Starlet (existing and historically protected buildings) intersect.

Organizing Diagram: Connect existing landmarks

Plan: Level Two

Model: Structural system

Model: Site context

Plan: Level One

2014 - PRESENT

ARTWORKS

INSTITUTION: Varies

Artwork samples represent a small cache of work from my undergraduate education, solo works, process drawings, and travel sketches from Turkey, Greece, Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

Mixed media drawing / printmaking and sculpture were main areas of focus in my undergraduate work; each is very process-based and requires a great deal of development drawing and planning. My drawings examine the world through careful representation, and explore creative conceptual architectural ideas through layering and line.

Travel Sketch - Sct. Maria Kirk, Denmark (2016)

Travel Sketch - Säynätsalo, Finland (2016)

Street Sections - Stockholm, Sweden (2016)

The City: Its Growth, Its Decay, Its Future Charcoal, ink, cut paper, vellum (2014)

Watercolor (2020)

A Sunrise Colored Pencil (2024)

Rawlings Conservatory Watercolor (2020)