HEAD.HEART.HANDS

HEAD. HEART. HANDS. Rethinking student housing on HBCU campuses using Black Space Design and Psychology of Space

WHAT?

HBCUs Their value to society and the problems they face today.

WHAT IS A HBCU AND WHY IS IT MPORTANT? Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have played a critical role in educating and empowering generations of African Americans. They have provided opportunities for African Americans to receive a quality education and earn degrees that were otherwise unavailable to them. HBCUs have produced some of the most prominent African American leaders in a variety of fields, including politics, business, entertainment, and education. Some of the reasons why HBCUs are important include: • Providing access to higher education • Cultivating leaders • Fostering a sense of community HBCUs continue to play a vital role in educating and empowering African Americans and other underrepresented groups.

PROBLEMS THAT HBCUs FACE TODAY? However, HBCUs also face a number of challenges. Many HBCUs struggle with: funding and resources, making it difficult to maintain their campuses, attract high-quality faculty, and offer competitive salaries. This can make it challenging for HBCUs to compete with larger, better-funded institutions. HBCUs also face challenges in terms of student recruitment and retention. Some students may choose not to attend HBCUs because they believe that these institutions offer fewer opportunities than other colleges and universities.

WHAT?

INSERCURITY AND HBCUs Rethinking student housing on HBCU campuses using Black Space Design and Psychology of Space.

WHAT IS IT? Housing insecurity refers to a situation where a person or a group of people do not have a stable or safe place to live. It is a condition where a person is unable to maintain safe, secure, and stable housing.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT HBCU STUDENTS? The impact of basic needs and housing insecurity on HBCU students can be significant. It can lead to increased financial burden, reduced convenience, limited access to academic resources, limited support services, and a greater risk of housing insecurity. These challenges can contribute to instability, financial stress, and negative impacts on academic performance.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT HBCU STUDENTS? HBCUs face basic needs and housing insecurity due to a variety of factors, including racial and economic disparities, inadequate funding, historic underinvestment in infrastructure, and lack of government support. HBCUs often serve a higher proportion of low-income and first-generation college students, who may struggle with the affordability of tuition, room and board, and other fees.

These students are more likely to experience housing and basic needs insecurity.

INSERCURITY AND TUSKEGEE Rethinking student housing on HBCU campuses using Black Space Design and Psychology of Space

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY? Due to limited on-campus housing and only a few off-campus housing options, many students are forced to find housing elsewhere. With 47% of its student population residing off-campus, it is common for students to seek accommodation in other cities forcing them to commute anywhere from 20-40 minutes between housing, school, and work (U.S. News, 2021). For the remaining 53% of students that can attain on-campus housing, it is not uncommon for them to travel back and forth between these cities to access quality amenities (U.S. News, 2021). In addition, many on-campus housing options are located within older buildings that are liveable but far from optimal. Circumstances such can lead to a culture where numerous students are likely to struggle academically, physically, and mentally.

THE PROJECT PROBLEM Rethinking student housing on HBCU campuses using Black Space Design and Psychology of Space.

WHY DO I CARE? College is stressful enough without worrying about where you will lie at night. Hence, the impact of not addressing these issues has far-reaching consequences for students, both mentally and academically. This experience is something that I have seen many fellow students grapple with at HBCUs, as well as myself. I understand how a lack of adequate housing can cause lead to much stress.

Furthermore, I have also experienced how living off-campus can make it difficult to focus and participate in academic endeavors. For many students, HBCUs are their home away from home, where its they can be culturally and intellectually stimulated in their pursuit of knowledge. Housing should be safe and secure space where they can build their success.

WHAT IS AIM OF THIS PROJECT? Influenced by psychology of space and the principles of Black Space Design, this thesis is create a quality mixed-use student housing facility on campus of Tuskegee University. The building will serve as a safe and secure space where they can build themselves: • Intellectual • Physically • Mentally The facilities will embrace modern trends that being incorporate in newer housing across the campus, while staying true the heritage and culture of Tuskegee.

WHERE?

24 MINS 40 MINS

20 MINS

BROAD SITE CONTEXT TUSKEGEE MONTGOMERY AUBURN/ OPELIKA 7 MILES

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Due to limited on-campus housing and only a few off-campus housing options, many students are forced to find housing elsewhere. Also, it is not uncommon for them to travel back and forth between these cities to access quality amenities. Circumstances such can lead to a culture where numerous students are likely to struggle academically, physically, and mentally.

AMMENITIES CLOTHING SMALL MARKETS RESTURANTS PARK/AMMENITY 300 M

CITY CONTEXT

IMMEDIATE SITE CONTEXT 1 2

2

4 SITE (CURRENT)

5

1

THOMPKINS HALL

4

3

3 6

SAGE HALL

5

ROCKAFELLER HALL

6

NORTH COMMONS

OPEN GREEN AREA

SUN STUDY

EXISTING VEGETATION VACANT AVAILABLE

WINTER SUMMER

SUMMER WIND STUDY

WINTER WIND STUDY

1.3 -4 MPH

1.3 -4 MPH

4-8 MPH

4-8 MPH

8-13 MPH

8-13 MPH

13-19 MPH

13-19 MPH

19-25 MPH

19-25 MPH

CIRCULATION

VISTA VIEWS

PRIMARY PATH

BLOCKED VIEW

SECONDARY

VIEW FROM SITE

TIETARY WALKPATHS

NOISE LOUD MILD LOW

WATER BUILDUP AREAS

BULDING USE AMMENITY EDUCATIONAL CHURCH

VACANT VS AVAILABLE HOUSING VACANT AVAILABLE

HISTORIC BUILDINGS

OPEN GREEN SPACES

HOW?

PRECEDENCE

THRASHER HALL LIVE-LEARN RENOVATION Location: Tuskegee, AL Building Type: Residential/ Education Total Area: 44,812 SF Designed by Blackstock Architects This three-story building will serve a live-learn facilities. It proposed to house one-hundred and nineteen beds and six mid size classoms. The residential option consist of two bed semi-private and four bed suite. The building will renovate a historical residential building on the campus of Tuskegee University, and feature a education building add-on. This propsed structure is still in the pre-construction phase.

Bedroom

Living Space

Bathroom

THURGOOD MARSHALL HALL Location: Baltimore, MD Building Type: Residential Total Area: 0 SF Designed by Hord Caplan Macht/ Moody Nolan The building will form a new campus hub for student activity and strives to enliven the culture of community by creating a vibrant and robust space for gathering. The residence hall, inclusive of 24-hour dining and carefully cultivated individual and group study areas, forms a “live, dine, learn” nexus for students.

Additionally, the project will honor and pay tribute to Baltimore-native, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Thurgood Marshall, through exhibits to his legacy that will be woven into the design of the building.

NORTH TORREY PINES UC SAN DIEGO CAMPUS Location: San Diego, CA Building Type: Mixed-Use Residential Total Area: 1,600,000 +/- SF Designed by HKS The buildings’ program comprises six buildings with two strictly residential buildings, a mixed-residential, mixed community, a lecture hall, and an academic complex. The residential buildings provide various housing ranging from suites to apartments. The organization of the spaces allows for indoor and outdoor gathering spaces to foster social interactions and collaboration among students. These socialization features are expressed throughout the project: in-between courtyards, within the buildings, and on certain rooftops.

ZOMORROD 11 Location: Tehran, Iran Building Type: Office Total Area: 111,944 SF Designed by OMA A stack of four cubes, Zomorrod 11 stands firmly at the heart of a traffic junction in Tehran. The design has incorporated the use of geometric brick pattern modules following a strategy by which the exterior façade of the building stretches inside and forms many elements of the interior; from the lowest parking level at -5 through to the top.

CONCEPT

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE Explanation of integrated theories

PRINCIPLES OF BLACK SPACE DESIGN

BY JACK TRAVIS - Cultural expression - Community-focused design - Sustainability - Accessibility - Celebrating the past and future

PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURAL WELL-BEING

BY KEON STEEMERS - Connections with nature - Sense of belonging - Flexibility - Accessibility

HERITAGE EXPLAINED Explanation of aspects of TU heritage

HEAD, HEART, AND HANDS The motto “Head, Heart, Hands” by Booker T. Washington emphasizes the importance of education, character, and industry. Washington believed that education should be a combination of intellectual and practical training, with a strong focus on the development of good character and a strong work ethic. He believed that in order to succeed in life, one must have a well-rounded education that integrates: • Head (intellectual development) • Heart (character development) • Hands (practical, manual skills)

WE ARE THE BRICKS When Tuskegee University was founded by Booker T. Washington in 1881, it faced numerous challenges, including a lack of funding and resources. To overcome these obstacles, Washington and the students at the university built many of the early campus buildings themselves, using bricks they made on-site. This brick-making and construction effort showcased the determination, resourcefulness, and self-reliance of the Tuskegee community.

Today, the phrase “we are the bricks”references the connection between Tuskegee’s students and the institution’s history with bricks to highlight the importance of each student’s contribution to the continued success and growth of the university, their community, and the world as a whole.

1

2 SITE SLOPE

4

3 STEPPING

6

5 HERITAGE

7

9

ACCESS

EXTENSION

11 PUBLIC SPACES

SHIFT

BUILDING FOOTPRINT

8

10

EXTRUDE

HORIZONTAL CIRCULATION

12 PRIVATE SPACES

VERTICAL CIRCULATION

PLANS

5

4

1 3

SITE PLAN 2

1 2 3 4 5

MIXED-USE DORMITORY AMPITHEATRE EVENTS SPACE PLAZA IMMEDIATE PARKING

HEAD. A FOCUS ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF STUDENTS’ COGNITIVE HEALTH. LEARNING IS NOT ONLY DONE IN THECLASSROOM AND LIBRARIES. IT IS OFTEN DONE WITHIN THE RESIDENCE HALL AS IT CAN BE CONVENIENT FOR THE STUDENT. LEADS TO MINIMIZED STRESS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SKILLS, AND BETTER STUDY HABITS.

HANDS. A FOCUS ON STUDENT’S PHYSICAL HEALTH. PHYSICAL HEALTH IS OFTEN LEFT ON THE BACK BURNER IN THE HIERARCHY OF IMPORTANCE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS. HOWEVER, MAINTAINING PHYSICAL HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL AS IT CAN INDUCE STRESS AND LEAD TO MENTAL HEALTH CHANGES IF NOT CORRECTLY CARED FOR.

HEART. A FOCUS ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF STUDENTS’ COGNITIVE HEALTH. LEARNING IS NOT ONLY DONE IN THECLASSROOM AND LIBRARIES. IT IS OFTEN DONE WITHIN THE RESIDENCE HALL AS IT CAN BE CONVENIENT FOR THESTUDENT.

SITE SECTION

COFFEE GROCERY LAUNDRY MAT OFFICE RESTROOM

B1 LEVEL

PLAZA

TRAINING YOGA RESTROOM OFFICE

B2 LEVEL

EVENT SPACE

1BD 2BD 3BD RESTURANT LOUNGE RESTROOM MULTIPURPOSE OFFICE

B3 LEVEL

STUDY LOUNGE

UNIT TYPE 1 LIVING/ KITCHEN

221 SQFT

BEDROOM

116 SQFT

BATHROOM

52 SQFT

PATIO

45 SQFT

UNIT TYPE 2 LIVING/ KITCHEN

221 SQFT

BEDROOM 1

110 SQFT

BEDROOM 2

108 SQFT

BATHROOM

53 SQFT

PATIO

45 SQFT

UNIT TYPE 3 LIVING/ KITCHEN

221 SQFT

BEDROOM 1

136 SQFT

BEDROOM 2

127 SQFT

BEDROOM 3

124 SQFT

BATHROOM

84 SQFT

PATIO

100 SQFT

3BD UNIT

LEVEL 6 SOLAR ROOF

LEVEL 5 SOCIAL PATIO

LEVEL 4 ROOFTOP GARDEN

ROOFTOP GARDEN

SOUTHWEST ELEVATION

NORWEST ELEVATION

BRICK BY BRICK

OPERAPLE PANEL

FACADE DETAIL BRICK REFLECT THE A REVISED LOOK AT THE BRICK CULTURE ON TUSKEGEE CAMPUS. EACH BUILDING FEATURE A DIFFERENT BRICK STYLE USED BY AN EXISTING BUILDING CAMPUS. THE FACADE IS FLEXBRICK, A SUSTAINABLE LIGHT WEIGHT CURTAIN FACADE MATERIAL. ITS DESIGN ALLOW FOR EASY CUSTOMIZATION. IN ADDITIOM, THE MATERIAL ALLOW FOR SUNLIGHT TO PIERCE THE SPACE WITHIN AND PROVIDE A UNIQUE SENSE OF PRIVACY

WALL ATTACHED CURTAIN WALL

STEEL MESH TO BRICK CONNECTION

STEEL MESH THIN CLAY

“A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.”

TYLER MICHAEL LITTLES 5TH YEAR B.ARCH TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY TMLITTLES13@GMAIL.COM