Project Overview:

The design of the Millennium Science Complex grounds comprises four distinct sections: a prairie meadow, a mesic meadow, an eco-turf lawn, and a treed plaza. This thoughtfully curated space serves a dual purpose: it acts as a thriving biodiversity reservoir and offers an immersive sensory experience for visitors.

Winding pathways encourage visitors to engage directly with the vibrant plant life that characterizes each unique community. Additionally, the eco-turf lawn invites you to step off the paved walkways, providing an intimate connection with the meadow beneath your feet.

Beyond being a mere attraction, the Pollinator Meadow serves as an educational resource for the public. It presents an excellent opportunity to deepen one's understanding of native prairie ecosystems, mesic meadows, and the benefits of eco-turf lawns. The treed plaza offers a shaded and tranquil retreat. Here, the meadow isn't just "maintained"; it is actively managed. Over time, the boundaries between these communities will blur, and the meadow's composition will evolve, reflecting the dynamic nature of the natural world it represents.

Community Engagement

During discussions with community members regarding the issues in the Southeast Quadrantn neighborhood of Lancaster, PA, several critical concerns related to space were highlighted. These concerns encompass problematic pedestrian networks and both tangible and perceived obstacles in public spaces.

The Missing Middle

A majority of the outdoor public spaces in the Southwest Quarter primarily consist of playgrounds or areas with highly structured programming. Moreover, accessing most of these spaces requires advanced arrangements. The presence of physical and legal barriers to public spaces can have adverse effects on young people and the broader community. This project aims to concentrate on the creation of public spaces that are integrated into a safer pedestrian network, with a specific focus on reducing barriers for adolescents. This demographic appears to be particularly underserved when it comes to public spaces in the Southeast Quarter.

Vision Statement

This plan aspires to cultivate a Southeast Quadrant that is not only an appealing place to reside but also garners respect from the wider Lancaster community. It envisions a culturally vibrant community characterized by a high level of trust and well-being across all age groups.

Concept

The design concept involves the development of a space that functions as a versatile connector between The Mix at Arbor Place and the recreational facilities linked to Roberto Clemente Park and King Elementary. This entails the installation of a raised crosswalk at the corner of South Duke and Chester Street, as well as the creation of a winding path through the greenspace surrounding the First Spanish Apostolic Church. Additionally, this project will address the absence of a middle ground in greenspace within this area and contribute to a broader strategy aimed at enhancing pedestrian networks in the Southeast Quarter.

Concept:

The primary goal of this garden is to offer students and faculty a peaceful retreat for reflection and relaxation while also serving as a source of sustenance for pollinators. Furthermore, it has been designed with inclusivity in mind, incorporating universal design principles. A circular seating wall will provide a versatile area suitable for intimate gatherings or informal seating arrangements near an educational kiosk. Only plants native to Central Pennsylvania or nearby were chosen, ensuring that the majority of them directly support pollinator species. To ensure a consistent supply of food, the bloom times of these plants have been carefully staggered.

Throughout this project, I played a pivotal role in providing on-site engineering support for the eight-month precast erection phase, ensuring rigorous quality control measures were maintained.

I diligently inspected construction documents and laid out more than 51 structures, all while collaborating closely with various stakeholders to address their unique needs and concerns.

In response to the personnel shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I also stepped in to assist with the installation process, demonstrating adaptability and a commitment to project success.

Project Overview: This collaborative community design project envisions the transformation of an existing site into a vibrant and dynamic public space that celebrates the natural beauty of the Ohio River and its surroundings. The proposal focuses on providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, social gatherings, and education. It aims to create a multi-faceted park that caters to a diverse community while preserving and enhancing the ecological integrity of the area.

Community-Inclusive Design: This project was meticulously designed in close partnership with the local community. Through several meetings, a community design charette, and multiple site visits, we actively engaged with community members to ensure that their voices and aspirations were incorporated into the design.

Key Features:

Kayak Launch: An ADA-accessible kayak launch will be a prominent feature of the park, allowing visitors to explore the Ohio River and its unique ecosystem.

Playground: A safe and engaging playground area will be designed to foster children's connection to nature while they play and learn.

Native Plantings: Native plants will be strategically incorporated into the landscape to improve ecological health and offer seasonal beauty. These plantings will also preserve scenic views from the main park area.

Historic River Bank Restoration: A section of the historic river bank will be restored to its pre-1906 condition. This restoration will create vital habitat for fish and aquatic life, promote biodiversity, and provide an amenity for local anglers.

Outdoor Dining Area: The park will include an outdoor dining area that supports a local food vendor, allowing visitors to enjoy the park while savoring local cuisine.

Community Hub: Coraopolis Riverfront Park will serve as a central hub for community gatherings, cultural events, and educational programming, ensuring its status as a vibrant and integral part of the local community.

Commercial Space Utilization: The existing borough building can be adapted for commercial use, offering opportunities for a food vendor to activate a public waterfront plaza. This adaptive reuse will enhance the park's offerings and contribute to its sustainability.

Riverbank Restoration: To restore a portion of the riverfront to its pre-1906 condition, the design proposes the installation of sediment weirs along the upstream end of the site. These weirs will have slats positioned in the water to facilitate sediment deposition, gradually building up the bank. As aquatic plants become established, the area will become prime habitat for fish, including species such as largemouth bass. The weirs are designed with safe and economical maintenance in mind, utilizing locally available materials from trusted suppliers.

Accessibility: A network of paved ADA-accessible ramps will be strategically placed throughout the park, ensuring that all visitors can easily access the river and its amenities, including an accessible kayak launch.

Conclusion: The Coraopolis Riverfront Park design proposal is the result of a collaborative effort involving the local community, Professor Kenneth Tamminga's 414 studio. The vision is to create a cherished gathering place that fosters a deep connection between people of all ages and backgrounds and the natural world. This park will become a vibrant and vital asset to the community, celebrating the Ohio River's beauty and historical significance while ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for generations to come.

Project Overview:
Pier 14 Riverfront Park, situated in the vibrant Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA, is a 30-acre riverfront sanctuary adjacent to the proposed Graffiti Pier Park. This project forms an integral part of an expansive network of parks envisioned by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation and is strategically located along the East Coast Greenway. The mission, as a studio class project, is to seamlessly blend various functions, including passive recreation, wildlife habitat preservation, and an escape from urban life.

Recreation:
The primary focus is to provide a haven for passive recreation, a much-needed resource for the local community. Recognizing the significance of the intersection of Lehigh Ave and Richmond Street, a focal point outlined in The Master Plan for the Central Delaware, the design seamlessly integrates with this central hub, enhancing community connectivity.

Resilience:
With the challenges posed by sea level rise in mind, the site has been engineered to not only withstand floodwaters but to remain a functional amenity for all. Elevated boardwalks and platforms gracefully traverse the park's upper level, offering enchanting views even during inundation. Additionally, a revetment has been implemented, creating a wetland ecosystem that both mitigates floodwaters and nurtures riparian marsh habitat.

Culture:
Adjacent to the project site is the renowned Graffiti Pier, attracting artists, enthusiasts, and creators alike. Graffiti holds a measure of cultural significance in this community, and the design has incorporated elements that celebrate this art form. Materials and forms have been carefully selected to either preserve existing art or easily facilitate the creation of new, vibrant expressions, while also allowing for straightforward cleaning and maintenance.

This was a personal project to develop my personal sketching practice. I made one drawing per day for 40 days.

Project Overview:
This suitability analysis is aimed at evaluating the feasibility of enhancing pedestrian connectivity between riparian greenspaces while maximizing ecological co-benefits within the Spring Creek Watershed. The project's primary objective is to anticipate population needs in the area. Three key suitability factors have been identified: existing public greenspaces, vacant parcels available for acquisition and re-zoning, and demographic change as an indicator of human needs.

Population Trends:
The population of the Spring Creek Watershed currently stands at approximately 114,421. Projections indicate that this population will grow to 188,752 by the year 2040. It is reasonable to expect that Bellefonte, as a prominent location within the watershed, will attract a portion of this growth, leading to increased commercial and recreational traffic.

Public Greenspace:
Existing public greenspaces within the Spring Creek Watershed have been carefully considered for their potential as pedestrian pathways and buffers between waterways and urban neighborhoods. These greenspaces offer an opportunity to create connections that serve both ecological and human needs.

Vacant Structures:
Vacant parcels and structures within the watershed present an opportunity for acquisition and re-zoning. These sites can potentially be repurposed to support the project's objectives and enhance pedestrian connectivity.

Site Selection:
Bellefonte, PA
Bellefonte's strategic location and unique resources make it an attractive destination within the growing region. As development pressures increase, it becomes imperative to implement sound city planning principles to preserve and enhance the town's appeal.

Proposed Trail Systems:
The project proposes the development of a series of trail systems:
The conceptual Spring Creek Park trail, which crosses Logan Run and follows Spring Creek Southwest through a residential area.
The Match Factory Path, extending from the existing railroad crossing between Tallyrand Park to the back of the Match Factory, creating a connection to the proposed Spring Creek Trail bridge.
The Massullo Path, which offers a direct route from the proposed crossing to the fishing pier.

Strategies:
To ensure Bellefonte's sustainable growth while preserving its unique resources, the project recommends prioritizing projects and policies that maximize waterfront access and foster physical connections between greenspaces. By doing so, the town can continue to be an attractive place to live and visit.

Masullo Park:
Masullo Park, a public greenspace located along the bank of Spring Creek near Bellefonte's downtown area, has been identified as a site of interest for the construction of an ADA-accessible fishing pier. Currently, the park has limited parking and offers a constrained user experience, falling short of universal design principles.
The park is listed as a "dog park" and is home to an ADA-accessible fishing pier, although it is recommended to confirm this in person. Notably, there is only one ADA-designated parking spot according to a local newspaper article.
To address accessibility challenges, a simple, well-lit pedestrian bridge is proposed to connect Masullo Park to the historic waterfront, improving access to the ADA fishing pier and linking it to the existing parking lot at the historic Match Factory.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, by strategically leveraging existing greenspaces, vacant parcels, and demographic trends, Bellefonte can promote sustainable growth while preserving its unique resources and maintaining its appeal as a destination in the growing region. Implementing the proposed strategies and trail systems will contribute to achieving these objectives, particularly in the context of sites like Masullo Park, where accessibility improvements are crucial. Bellefonte's historic Match Factory further underscores the town's significance, offering potential for diverse activities and events in the area.

This gallery installation blended art and technology to create a captivating experience. It turned printed pieces into 3-D augmented reality images on a screen.

The project explored the themes of death, immortality, and artificial intelligence.

To make it happen, I used Unity, CAD, Vuforia, and Adobe Illustrator.