SMALL TOWN STUDIO
welcomeMECOSTA:
MECOSTA COUNTY WELCOME CENTER CONCEPTUAL PLAN
1a
MECOSTA COUNTY VISITOR CENTER
JAMES W. H. NELLIST
MACRO SITE ANALYSIS Figure A: The lot located at 203 East Pine street is zoned C-2.
Figure B: Three Major approaches were mapped using google maps. All three routes aproached the site via Pine street, instead of Michigan. +Buildings in the C-2 zoning district are able to count public parking lots that fall with 300 feet of the property in required parking calculations Figure C: 203 East Pine just alludes the current difinition of downtown Big Rapids.
LEGEND 203 East Pine C - 2 Zoning R - P Zoning R-3 R/R Public Parking
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Figure A: Zoning
Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
Figure B: Approaches and Parking
Figure C: Definition of Downtown
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MICRO SITE ANALYSIS Figure A: 203 East Pine is a double lot, measuring 150’ x 100’. There are no setbacks. There is a clear vision triangle, which states that nothing over 3’ can be built within 20’ of the corner. The topography is mostly flat. There is a gentle 2’ drop to the north-east and a steep 2’ drop to the west right at the edge of the property line Figure C: The pedestrian experience highlighs on street parking as defined by the downtown parking map, as well as the shared city lot that is within 300’ of the property. Sidewalks show potential pedestrian destinations.
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LEGEND Buildable Area Current Parking
908 TO HEMLOCK PARK/ RIVER WALK
910 912
ALLEY
EXISTING BUILDING GAS ENTRY
N. MICHIGAN AVE.
ELECTRICITY POLE ALLEY
N. MICHIGAN AVE.
916
ALLEY
N. MICHIGAN AVE.
914
FIRE HYDRANT E. PINE ST.
E. PINE ST.
E. PINE ST.
TO DOWNTOWN PARKING
918
Figure A: Buildable Area and Topography
Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
Figure B: Existing Utilities
Figure C: Pedestrian Experience
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CONCEPTUAL SITE ANALYSIS The macro conceptual site analysis shows the site located at a point where downtown meets the natural formation of the land. Figure A: Foliage coverage shows a pattern that surrounds the site to the north, east, and west. The biggest void of foliage coverage is in the downtown area. Figue B: There are two parks and rivers that flank the site: Mitchell Creek Park and Mitchell Creek to the west, Hemlock Park and the Muskegon River to the East. Figure C: The composite shows that the site sits at a point where downtown meets the prevailing band of foliage.
LEGEND 203 East Pine Foliage Park River Downtown
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Figure A: Foliage Coverage
Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
Figure B: Natural Features
Figure C: Composite with Downtown
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THE THREE AXES Figure A: The urban axis is created by downtown Big Rapids. The rural axis connects Mitchell Creek Park and Mitchell Creek with Hemlock Park and the Muskegon River
The third axis is complexity. This can only be experienced at a human scale. Essentially, the urban and rural axes as discovered from above only exist in two dimentional form until they are defined through three dimentionality; complexity. Some of the elements of complexity discovered around the site are: natural boundaries (figure B,) pockets of defined space (figure C,) and vertical movement and layering (figure D)
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Figure B: Natural Boundaries
Figure C: Defined Space
Figure A: Urban and Rural Axes As Seen From Above Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
Figure C: Layering and Movement Small Town Studio: Mecosta County Welcome Center | 1.A.9
SHAPING THE FORM Figure A and B: The center of the building is placed at the center of the axes. Figure C: The rest of the building is formed around the center space, while allowing it to retain its own identity. Users will enter the building right in the center of the axis, and from here always be able to perceive that axis running through the building. Figure D: Public spaces run down the center, parallel with the urban axis. This is shaped by the private spaces either side, much like a street is a public space shaped by its buildings. Figure E: Servant spaces are pushed to the outside of the building while served spaces remain central. These spaces run opposite to the public/private spaces. The interaction of overlapping spaces creates complexity, movement, and chance meetings.
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LEGEND Center of Building Supporting Form Private Spaces Public Spaces Served Spaces Servant Spaces
Figures A - C: Shaping The Form
Figure D: Public / Private Spaces
Figure E: Served / Servant Spaces
Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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SITE PLAN The site plan brings in as much greenery as possible in an effort to create a pocket park and, in conjunction with the building shape, create pockets of defined space.
Crosswalks have been added over both Michigan and Pine to facilitate in creating the downtown feel. Planting strategically lines the building to the north and shields the alley way to the east. The parking lot is a one way system with 60 degree angled parking. This is done to minimize the amount of site dedicated to asphalt. Spaces on the actual site were kept to a minimum. There are 3 standard parking spaces and 2 ADA accessible. Paring requirements are fullfilled via the shared parking lot acros Pine and there is also on street parking.
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MICHIGAN
EAST PINE
Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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WELCOME CENTER The welcome center brings visitors right into the center of the building. It can be accessed from both the street and the parking lot. Inside, visitors will be able to visually see straight through to the green spaces beyond.
The concrete paths that lead visitors in continue right through the welcome center, continuing the urban axis. Glass partitions seperate the offices but still allow for maximum visibiity and light. The welcome center is designed to act like a well defined street in an urban environment. The floor plan is wide open with no defining walls. Furniture loosely defines space and can be rearanged depending on the gathering. All areas of the buidling are accessd through the welcome center, making it a central space for coworkers and guests to meet eachother whether by purpose or chance.
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Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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OFFICES Just like the welcome center, office space is loosely defined by a mixture of open cubicles and secure offices.
Secure offices are screened off with moveable walls for maximum flexibiliy. The office spaces are split in two and sit either side of the welcome center. This allows everyone to see directly into the welcome center and will faciitate movement and meetings across the buidling.
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Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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REST ROOMS Two public rest room are available directly off of the welcome center, while employees are served by their own single private rest room.
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Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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CONFERENCE AND BOARD ROOM The conference room is accessible directly from the welcome center. Together with the rest rooms, these three functions allow the building to remain open to the public after hours.
The conference room features its own countertop and storage for coffee and supplies. Just like the offices, both rooms are closed off via glass partition screens.
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Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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STORAGE AND UTILITIES The storage room on the south sits between the conference and board room in order to serve both.
The utility room on the north is split in two to accomodate different mechanical functions and storage, and to allow one to be accessed from the outside and the other from the inside.
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Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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BREAK ROOM The break room features a counter height bar with stools. A large window allows for people watching and relaxing. The sidewalk outside the break room drops away with the natural lanscape, ensuring privacy form pedestrians.
A door to the outside allows employees to take advantage of the sites landscaping during their lunch.
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Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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FLOORING PLAN The center of the building is floored in polished concrete. This runs through all of the public zones, along the ‘urban axis.’ The private zones are defined by wood flooring. Both floors run beyond the boundaries of the buiding. The concrete floors create the entrance walks into the building, creating a continuous plane that flows into the green spaces beyond; the rural axis. The continuation of the wood floors beyond the boundaries of the building creates defined exterior zones for pedestrians to enjoy and provides a location for after hours signage.
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Figure A: Flooring Plan
Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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FLOOR PLAN LEGEND Welcome Center Offices Conference / Board Room Storage Mens Womens Employee Break Utilities 1.A.28 | Ferris State University: Architecture and Sustainability
Figure A: Complete Floor Plan
Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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ELEVATIONS The exterior of the building is finished in wood slat siding and fiber cement board. The curtain wall defines the vertical welcome center and allows for maximum visibility to the rest of the site. Along with the clerestory windows it also provides daylight to the interior.
Aluminum awnings help to reduce building cooling loads and glare and also begin to define space at the street.
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Figure A: South Elevation
Figure B: West Elevation
Figure C: East Elevation Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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Axis: Urban|Rural|Complex
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