Neighborhoods Now
Dear friend,
for small businesses on how to apply for relief loans. They drafted legal templates for short-term leases to occupy vacant storefronts. They collaborated with senior staff at City agencies to help neighborhoods access programs like Open Streets and Open Restaurants.
As the pandemic took root in our city in March, its uneven impact on the lives of New Yorkers quickly became painfully clear. While our city’s well-resourced communities and businesses benefit from the ability to purchase expertise, the The work is far from over. Many of these firms are committed neighborhoods where many of our essential workers live do to continuing these partnerships in service of long-term not have the same access and resources. efforts to address systemic inequities and greater community In response, the Urban Design Forum and Van Alen Institute ambitions. The need for this work is profound, and we hope this effort inspires the design community to come together in tapped into our collective network of architects, designers, continued service of New York’s neighborhoods. Ultimately, and engineers. In a matter of weeks, more than 65 firms the long term value of this approach will be the alliances mobilized to support the recovery of four neighborhoods forged across demographic and professional boundaries. hit particularly hard by the pandemic: Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Kingsbridge, Bronx; and We are humbled by this outstanding display of teamwork, Washington Heights, Manhattan. To date, these firms — including architects, planners, engineers, graphic designers, creative problem solving, and immense generosity. We thank the 200+ community experts and practitioners who and attorneys — have contributed thousands of hours of pro have given their time and passion, and we look forward to bono expertise to support fellow New Yorkers. continuing the work. In partnership with community leaders, they piloted open-air With gratitude, extensions for restaurants, created neighborhood signage with COVID-19 health protocols, and developed proposals Deborah Marton for relocating community events and educational programs Executive Director, Van Alen Institute into open space. Our partner neighborhoods’ needs also went far deeper than design, so our working groups expanded their support beyond physical interventions. They organized a seminar
Daniel McPhee Executive Director, Urban Design Forum
Neighborhoods Now
The use of the information contained in this document is at the sole risk of the user, and the Van Alen Institute and the Urban Design Forum shall not be responsible for, or liable in any way for, the accuracy, completeness or any other matter with respect to the contents herein. The user hereby assumes all risks of the use of the information, and irrevocably and unconditionally waives, releases and discharges the Van Alen Institute and the Urban Design Forum and its direct and indirect members, directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates, volunteers and representatives, from any and all liability of any kind or nature whatsoever, in connection with the matters contained herein, and the use of the information contained herein.
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LOISAIDA INC. - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES | JUNE 30, 2021
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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Goals: We set out to help Loisaida Center in their efforts reopen following COVID and begin offering in person community programming. Based on our meetings with Alejandro, the director of the center, we collectively decided to focus on animating their outdoor spaces, which are currently underutilized but offer opportunities for social distanced gathering and activity, as well as making the center more visible to the community. These spaces include two internal courtyards and the streetfront of the building.
Process: In collaboration with Alejandro, we established a strategy for activating each space - the north courtyard will be for active recreation (including half-court basketball), the south courtyard for passive recreation (including flexible seating and an interactive discussion board), and the street for public presence in the community. To do so, our primary design tool was color, designing painted murals for the floors and walls of each area that would bring them to life.
Outcomes: We plan to install the murals in the two interior courtyards on July 06, with volunteers from both Loisaida Center and Marvel. We are also expecting delivery of flexible foam seats in late July. The painting of the facade will be installed at a later date by a painting crew.
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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SITE/EL SITIO
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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SITE/EL SITIO
SUSQUEHANNA AVE
ACTIVE RECREATION
PASSIVE RECREATION
ESPACIO ACTIVO
ESPACIO PASIVO
IDENTIFY ENTRANCES
ACTIVATE STREETFRONT
ENTRADAS CLARAS
ACTIVACION DE LA CALLE
DIAMOND ST
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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THE COURT
THE YARD
LA CANCHA
EL PATIO
THE STREET LA CALLE
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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THE COURT
THE YARD
1. HALF-COURT BASKETBALL 2. BLEACHER SEATING 3. PLANTS (GREEN WALL) 4. CLIMBING WALL?
1. FLEXIBLE/MOVEABLE SEATING 2. SPACE FOR ACTIVITIES (AEROBICS) 3. ABILITY TO DISPLAY ART 4. ART OPENINGS (NEXT TO GALLERY)
LA CANCHA
EL PATIO
THE STREET LA CALLE
1. ACTIVATE PRESENCE ON STREET 2. MURALS ON FACADE 3. IDENTIFY THREE ENTRANCES 4. PROGRAMMING ON THE STREET LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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THE COURT
THE YARD
LA CANCHA
EL PATIO
THE STREET LA CALLE
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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SPACE 1. THE STREET • •
Inspired by the organization’s aspiration to activate the building facade and streetfront. Markings and murals that identify Loisaida on the street and invite people in.
OPERABLE FRAME SO CONTENT CAN CHANGE
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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SPACE 2. THE COURT • •
Inspired by the organization’s desire to introduce resources for basketball Community space that enages youth through sports and connects them with other programming.
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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SPACE 3. THE YARD • •
Inspired by the organization’s need for outdoor spaces to use for existing programming Provides space for social gatherings, group activities, and informal use
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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SPACES 1/2/3. THE FURNITURE • •
Inspired by an aspiration for flexibility in occupying outdoor spaces Promotes user engagement and ability to easily reorganize
“IMAGINATION PLAYGROUND” BY ROCKWELL GROUP
“COMMONSPACE” BY INTERBORO AT THE VENICE BIENNALE LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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SPACES 1/2/3. THE FURNITURE • •
Inspired by an aspiration for flexibility in occupying outdoor spaces Promotes user engagement and ability to easily reorganize
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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SPACES 1/2/3. THE FURNITURE • •
Inspired by an aspiration for flexibility in occupying outdoor spaces Promotes user engagement and ability to easily reorganize
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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SPACES 1/2/3. THE FURNITURE • •
Inspired by an aspiration for flexibility in occupying outdoor spaces Promotes user engagement and ability to easily reorganize
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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LAYOUT: COURT + YARD 12'-0"
VIF
6'-0"
6'-0"
6'-0"
6'-0"
3'-0"
19'-
9"
3'-0"
15'-0"
3'-0"
1'-0"
1'-3"
8'-0"
4'-0"
VIF
6'-0" 1'-7 3/8" 4'-4 5/8"
2'-0
"
2'-0
"
6'-0
"
2'-9 3/4"
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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THANK YOU! ¡GRACIAS!
LOISAIDA, INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES | JUNE 29, 2021
LOISAIDA INC - NEIGHBORHOODS NOW PROJECT DELIVERABLES JUNE 30, 2021
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Neighborhoods Now - Gene Frankel Theater Project Deliverables marveldesigns.com
June 30, 2021
Project Summary
Goals: We set out to assist the Gene Frankel Theater in their efforts to reopen their venue in a safe and responsible way. During our first few weeks of work, the NYC guidelines changed to allow indoor theater performances with restricted audience at 30% capacity. At this point, our work shifted to support them in opening what would be one of the first off broadway shows to open after the shutdown. Process: In collaboration with the theater directors and set and light designers, we came up with a seating arrangement that would comply with social distancing and support the director’s vision of the show. Outcome: We provided a seating chart to the theater that was used to open their show in April for an audience of 18 people, as well as base files that they could use moving forward for shows in the future.
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145 Hudson St. New York, NY 10013 • marveldesigns.com
Neighborhoods Now • June 30, 2021
Project Photos
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145 Hudson St. New York, NY 10013 • marveldesigns.com
Neighborhoods Now • June 30, 2021
Gene Frankel Theatre Seating Layout for Social Distanced Theater Seating Layout
LOBBY (1)
RAKED SEATING (10)
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7
FLOOR SEATING (8)
6
STAGE (7)
TOILETS
4
5
3 9
2 1
6’ DIAMETER CIRCLES (PODS OF 2)
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STAGE EXTENTS (6’ FROM AUDIENCE)
145 Hudson St. New York, NY 10013 • marveldesigns.com
STAGE EXTENTS (12’ FROM AUDIENCE)
Neighborhoods Now • June 30, 2021