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UNDER THE TRACK

Under the track symbolizes that, throughout human history, the city has been a meeting place for people. Much of human culture has developed in public spaces. Public space is a fundamental aspect of the proper functioning of a city

Participatory Architecture of Medium Complexity

Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey

Campus Queretaro

School of Architecture, Art and Design

August - December 2025

Location

Fulton River District, Chicago, IL

Work by

María José Alvarado Yáñez

María José Montoya Medina

Professors

M.Arch. Psj. Rodrigo Pantoja Calderón

MSc. Urb. Diana García Cejudo

Arch. Pedro Mendoza Hernández

Arch. Yetzi Verónica Tafoya Torres

Ph.D. Andrea María Parga Vazquez

Ph.D. Viviana Margarita Barquero Díaz Barriga

Arch. Daniela Cruz Naranjo

Arch. Santiago Luján Córdova

Arch. Carlos González

Arch. Udo Paul Muchow

Alliances

IIT - Illinois Institute of Technology

Adj. Prof. Rogelio Cadena

Adv. MCHAP Dir. Prof. Justin DeGroff

Adv. Dirk Deninson

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

GLOBAL CONTEXT

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

In the Built Environment

The concept of health and wellbeing in the built environment is essential for achieving a people-centered and sustainable design. According to Arch4Change (n.d.), healthy spaces go beyond merely preventing disease; they integrate social, psychological, and emotional dimensions that deeply influence how we live and how well we do so. In a global context marked by strained healthcare systems and demographic changes, a holistic and interdisciplinary approach is required to actively promote wellbeing. This vision aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, reinforcing the need for architecture and urbanism to foster a better quality of life for all people.

TRANSFORMING GRAFFITI ISLAND

STUDIO BRIEF

The Transforming Graffiti Island studio, as outlined by Arch4Change (n.d.), explores how health, culture, and connection can be embedded into urban regeneration processes. The proposal envisions reimagining the district’s northern half through adaptive reuse, converting vacant industrial buildings into housing, retail, and public spaces that prioritize sustainability, equity, and wellbeing. This approach seeks to reconnect residents to the site’s natural and cultural assets while overcoming the physical and social barriers that currently fragment the area. The project stands as an opportunity to rethink urban resilience—integrating wellbeing into design as a driver for inclusive and sustainable transformation.

RE-THINK RE-DESIGN TRANSFORM

Chicago, IL

THE SITE

Located within Chicago’s Fulton River District, the site known as “Graffiti Island” sits at the intersection of major urban infrastructures such as the I-90 Expressway, the Ohio Street ramp, and the Chicago River. Once a thriving industrial hub for commerce and meatpacking, the area declined significantly after deindustrialization, leaving behind abandoned warehouses and fragmented urban land. Despite its current neglected state, the site remains a vibrant cultural landmark, known for its colorful street art and strategic position connecting several urban districts. Its proximity to major redevelopment zones, such as the Fulton Market Corridor, highlights its potential for transformation into a more sustainable, inclusive, and community-oriented environment.

FULTON RIVER DISTRICT

PHOTO STUDY

W OHIO ST N UNION

GRAY

UNUSED

ABANDONED

NOT VISIBLE

GRAFFITI

W GRAND AVENUE

GRAY

CAR CULTURE

N DESPLAINES ST

TRAFFICKED

UNDER BRIDGE

GRAFFITI

GRAY

GRAFFITI

UNDER BRIDGE ABANDONED

PAVIMENT

DIRTY

CITIES FOR PEOPLE

RECLAIMING THE PEDESTRIAN JOURNEY

After analyzing the site through both photographs and direct observation, it became evident that there is a limited pedestrian culture in the area. In Chicago, mobility is strongly oriented toward car use, which results in an urban environment where the pedestrian experience is secondary. This prioritization forces pedestrians to take indirect or inconvenient routes, often pushing them to navigate around infrastructural barriers or cross in ways that do not follow a natural or intuitive flow. As a result, the space becomes fragmented and discourages walkability, revealing a broader issue of neglect toward pedestrian needs within the urban fabric.

SITE BREAKDOWN

The site is examined through an integrated framework that considers demographics, walkability, mobility networks, public facilities, transportation systems, and patterns of land use. Understanding these layers together allows for a clearer picture of how the area currently operates and where critical gaps exist. This synthesis not only identifies opportunities and constraints but also establishes the basis for interventions that can directly contribute to health and well-being. By situating the property within its wider urban context, the analysis highlights how spatial, social, and environmental factors intersect, guiding proposals that aim to create more resilient and supportive conditions for everyday life.

BUILT GREEN AND WATER BODIES

Parks and green spaces

Vegetation

Trees

Water bodies

Rivers and streams

Urban voids

INFRAESTRUCTURE

Streets

Rail lines

Metro lines

TRANSPORTATION

Bus routes

Bus stops

Metro stations

MOBILITY

Pedestrian paths

Vehicular roads

Bike lanes

CONNECTIONS

Roads

Secondary roads

BUILDING USAGE

Commercial, industrial and retail

Mixed residential

Construction, roof and foundation

School, office and garage

A URBAN PULSE PROJECT

HEALTHFOREVERYONE ANDEVERYWHERE

PREVENTION IS THEKEY BACKTO THE HUMANBEING

BIOPHILIC MANIA WALKING CITY SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY

FOODSECURITYAND NUTRITIONFOREVERYONE

WATER FOR LIFE

THERIGHT OF HOUSING

MAIN STRATEGIES

OUR STRATEGIES

“Walking City” and “Back to the Human Being”

Come from a collective manifesto developed after analyzing the national, city, and site scales. “Back to the Human Being” focuses on placing people at the center of design decisions, creating spaces that respond to their natural movement, comfort, and safety. “Walkability” highlights the importance of pedestrian-friendly streets, improving continuity, accessibility, and the overall quality of the walking experience. Together, these strategies aim to enhance users’ health and well-being by transforming mobility infrastructures into human-centered spaces.

CREATIVE PROCESS

CASE STUDIES

THE UNDERLINE

Location: Miami, Florida, USA.

Author: James Corner Field Operations (JCFO)

Year: 2015.

This project transforms the space beneath Miami’s elevated Metrorail into a 16-kilometer linear park featuring pedestrian and bicycle paths, sports areas, and green zones that connect multiple neighborhoods. Its materiality combines permeable pavements, native vegetation, steel, concrete, and LED lighting, all adapted to the tropical climate. The structure relies on the existing rail infrastructure, which acts as a continuous canopy, while the areas below are organized into themed “rooms.” Its spatial logic is based on a continuous linear sequence with separate flows for pedestrians and cyclists and direct connections to public transit. In context, it responds to the lack of public spaces in a car-oriented city, promoting sustainable mobility, social cohesion, and urban resilience.

CAMPUS AND CREATIVE INNOVATION KNOWLEDGE PARK

Location: Budapest, Hungary.

Author: 3h architecture.

Year: 2019.

The university campus expansion includes classrooms, workshops, and laboratories designed to foster creativity and collaboration. Its materiality consists of exposed concrete, steel, and glass, creating a sober yet transparent and flexible environment. The structure employs post-tensioned slabs supported by concrete cores, freeing the ground floor and allowing visual continuity with the surrounding landscape. The spatial logic is organized around three aligned volumes connected by a central open area that unites interior and exterior spaces. In context, the project reinterprets modernist values of functionality and community, integrating architecture and landscape to form a contemporary, open, and inspiring educational setting.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FINLAND

Location: Helsinki, Finland.

Author: Superspatial.

Year: 2019.

The museum extension is conceived as a series of voids excavated into the terrain, blending architecture and landscape. Exposed concrete serves as the main material, providing continuity and a restrained character. Its structure of concrete walls and slabs shapes courtyards illuminated from above, functioning as exhibition and transition spaces. The spatial logic revolves around these courtyards, expanding the museum’s original layout into the surrounding natural environment. In context, the proposal avoids monumentality and emphasizes integration with the landscape, reflecting Finland’s architectural tradition of harmony between nature, architecture, and cultural memory.

UNDER THE TRACK PROJECT

WHAT IS UNDER THE TRACK?

Our project arises from the need to revitalize and reconnect areas within Graffiti Island that today feel abandoned, isolated, and disconnected from the surrounding urban fabric. We identified a series of streets with potential for urban improvement— spaces that, despite their current neglect, have the capacity to become active connectors between the different redevelopment projects emerging around the site. The concept is inspired by the principles of the Health & Wellness Manifesto, especially “Walking City” and “Back to the Human Being.” We seek to recover the human scale of the city and promote movement, interaction, and reflection through public space. The proposal integrates culture as a fundamental tool to strengthen identity, belonging, and collective wellbeing. Through artistic and spatial interventions, the project aims to transform everyday routes into experiential and cultural corridors that invite people to walk, gather, and reconnect with their environment.

MASTER PLAN

MOBILITY STRATEGIES

OUR MOBILITY STRATEGIES

Focus on placing the pedestrian at the heart of the urban environment. To achieve this, we propose widening sidewalks, adding proper lighting, incorporating functional urban furniture, and integrating art into public spaces. Each street will feature panels for both showcasing and creating art, reinforcing the district’s identity and promoting walkability and the ‘Back to the Human Being’ philosophy. In this way, we transform streets into more human, safe, and welcoming spaces for everyone.

Outdoor Stage

Street Furniture

Lighting

Walking City

Sidewalk Widening

Underground Gallery

Outdoor Gallery

Back to the human being

Scenic

Urban Art

Urban Open Zone

PROGRAM

ABOVE THE GALLERY

IN THE GALLERY

THE UNDERGROUND GALLERY

The second gallery is characterized by its linear form; it acts as a connecting corridor that maintains the flow of the journey, creating an immersive experience. This intervention includes sidewalk widening and the integration of vegetation. Across the street, we have established rest and social areas centered around the “Main Stage,” a small hub dedicated to artistic expression.

SECTION A

THE END AND THE BEGINNING

Our urban art corridor transforms the pedestrian journey into an aesthetic and pleasant experience. Featuring wide streets designed with universal accessibility in mind, we ensure comfort for all types of users. This design not only facilitates mobility but also fosters culture, art appreciation, and mental well-being by providing new spaces for social interaction.

STREET LIFE

At street level, the comprehensive program features a perimeter bike lane surrounding the block, accompanied by an ecological buffer designed for rainwater harvesting. In keeping with the project’s artistic spirit, traditional street furniture is complemented by recreation and viewing stations, consisting of interactive art panels.

SECTION B

THOSE WHO USE

Daily Crosser Artists

Families

To create, exhibit, and sell their work

To move through the area quickly and occasionally see art

To walk, play, and join simple cultural activities

To manage, program, and help maintain the spaces and events

To use it as their everyday public space to meet, relax, and access culture near home

To ﬁnd a quiet place to walk, read, or rest around art

ACTIVITIES

View indoor art

View outdoor art

Walk through art panels

Stroll through art corridors

Explore gallery passages

Attend performances

Socialize in urban areas

Sit on benches

Move through urban corridors

Stroll through the park

Enjoy green areas

Have coffee

Artists Daily Crosser Families Silent Life Residents Local Keeper

LANDSCAPE PALETTE

Mountain mint bush Purple coneﬂower

Sea lavander

Allium

‘Summer

Beauty”

Stokes’ aster Prairie blazing star

Wild quinine

Silver grass Stipa

Mountain mint bush

Pycnanthemum muticum

Height: 0.6–1 m

Endemic

Origin: Meadows

Maintenance: Low

Water use: Moderate

Irrigation: Occasional watering

Limonium latifolium

Height: 0.3–0.6 m

Endemic: No

Origin: Salt marshes

Maintenance: Very low

Water use: Low

Irrigation: Minimal

coneﬂower

Echinacea purpurea

Parthenium integrifolium

Height: 0.9–1.5 m

Endemic: Yes

Origin: Prairies and open woods

Maintenance: Low

Water use: Low to moderate

Irrigation: Light weekly watering.

Height: 1.2–2.4 m

Endemic: No

Origin: Moist meadows

Maintenance: Low to moderate

Water use: Moderate

Irrigation: Regular

Height: 0.9–1.2 m

Endemic: Yes

Origin: Dry prairies

Maintenance: Low

Water use: Low

Irrigation: Minimal;

Height: 0.9–1.5 m

Endemic: Yes

Origin: Wet prairies

Maintenance: Low

Water use: Moderate

Irrigation: Regular light

Sea lavander

Silver grass

Miscanthus sinensis

Purple

Wild quinine

Prairie blazing star

Liatris pycnostachya

Height: 0.3–0.6 m

Endemic: Yes,

Origin: Moist meadows

Maintenance: Low

Water use: Moderate

Irrigation: Frequent light

Allium

Height: 0.3–0.6 m

Endemic: Yes

Origin: Moist meadows

Maintenance: Low

Water use: Moderate

Irrigation: Frequent light watering

Height: 0.9–1.5 m

Endemic: Yes

Origin: Prairies and open woods

Maintenance: Low

Water use: Low to moderate

Irrigation: Light weekly watering. Stokes’ aster

Height: 4–7 m

Endemic: Native to North America

Origin: Forest edges

Maintenance: Low

Water use: Moderate

Irrigation: Regular watering

Height: 12–18 m

Endemic: No

Origin: Eastern and central United States

Maintenance level: Low

Water needs: Moderate

Stokesia laevis

Common Serviceberry

Serviceberry

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This structural section shows the underground gallery’s foundation, designed as a raft slab . From this base, retaining walls rise to support the 3-meter excavation depth. An interior gallery wall is constructed parallel to the retaining structure, separated by an air gap for moisture control.

URBAN FURNITURE COLLECTION

Community bench with vegetation Zig-Green Bench

Bench with seats for 1-2 people with integrated vegetation

Regular rectangular bench with vegetation

Bench

Grid Planter

Grid with planters and seats of varying heights

R_1 Planter

Simple tables for 2-4 people.

R_1 Table

BLUE AND GREEN STRATEGIES

Continuous planted buffer that runs alongside the bike lane.This buffer works as a vegetated strip designed to capture rainwater, allow it to inﬁltrate into the soil, and retain moisture. The water collected through this system is then used to irrigate the trees within the park and to support the vegetation inside the buffer itself.

The second strategy is integrated into the project’s urban furniture. Each piece of furniture incorporates vegetation and is designed to collect rainwater. This allows every unit to function as a small self-sustaining green element capable of storing water and maintaining the