 Introduction |
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Reweaving the Fabric of the South End Neighborhood: Mixed Use Design with the Ascension Development Corporation of East St. Louis, Illinois This studio will focus specifically on issues of social justice and universal
access to the built environment through consideration of mixed use urban
and building design proposals with our client, Ascension Development Corporation.
This is a service learning studio, conducted as part of the East St. Louis
Action Research Project, in the context of the South End Neighborhood
of East St. Louis, Illinois. In this studio, students will utilize a participatory
approach to the design process which will include two different intensive
design charettes conducted in East St. Louis with student teams joining
professionals and members of Ascension Development Corporation's Board
to consider development and design options for the site (approximately
one city block). This course will be jointly conducted with a studio from
Southern University School of Architecture (SUSA) in Baton Rouge, LA.
In this course, after the initial design charette, students will spend
the duration of the semester designing a mixed use proposal that will
probably include a Family Life Center, Housing Units for seniors, and
some commercial development. Students will address this comprehensive
design study both individually and in collaborative groups composed of
2-3 UIUC students and 2 SUSA students. Design solutions will include comprehensive
design of buildings and the associated external spaces where the structure
is part of the broader urban design solution for the area. For this purpose,
you will be introduced to a wide range of techniques for survey, analysis,
and synthesis relating to design issues in the urban environment. The
analysis will inform the building so that the urban context helps to generate
proposed new forms. Special emphasis will be placed on site design and
development and the integration of construction technology, structure,
and environmental systems in the design process. Students will be required
to utilize both hand- and computer-generated graphics in design process
and presentations in this studio. |
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| Readings and Discussion
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| Required readings and class discussions engaged
students in various socio-cultural issues related to neighborhood planning
and design. Course Reading |
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| Charrettes/Presentations |
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Ascension Charrette #1 The first charrette took place on the weekend of February 6th. The students were split into six different teams and a Q & A session with Ascension about the specifics of the project followed. After the Q & A session the six groups proceded to go out doors and gather all the nescessary field measurements of the site as well as a site analysis. The six groups then spent the rest of Friday and
Saturday afternoon creating programs and schematic designs for the project.
These were then presented to the Ascension Board and a critique session
followed. Final Presentation The final presentation was given a St. Paul Baptist
Church in East St. Louis, Illinois on May 5th. |
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| Design |
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| Three teams of architecture students developed
neighborhood plans that addressed all the guideline and program elements.
Each group gave their design a title that reflects its focus: A Vision for the Future Reclaiming Community Space Family Life Center & Semi-Attached Affordable Housing |
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| Questions and Comments |
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