        Thomson, Jacob : AssignmentsJake Thomson11-20-07 The Transformation of Fifth Street As I walk down Techwood Drive heading north from my dorm, I begin to feel an ever-increasing energy, as if a sudden spark of life has hit me. I notice that there are more cars and students around me. They all seem to be either heading to or coming back from the main road I am about to hit: Fifth Street. As I come to the intersection I look both right and left, not to cross the street, but to see just how far I can see down both stretches of road. To the left, I am looking straight towards the Klaus Advanced Computing Building, located right where the winding Ferst Drive seems to blend seamlessly into Fifth Street. The road is decorated with many comfortable, familiar aspects of the Georgia Tech campus: green trees, fraternities, sororities, Tech Trolleys, and of course, students. To the right, however, I do not see a humble little campus road, but do I see where most of these students are headed. Beneath a wide, open view of the Atlanta skyline, it is the Fifth Street Bridge, newly renovated and more pedestrian-friendly than ever before. I see people carrying out their everyday activities, such as students hitching a ride on the Trolley, hurrying to get to their next class, or skipping class to grab a bite to eat at Tech Square; people carrying various bags of purchased clothes, books, take-out, etc.; professors heading to the Tech Square Research Building. Besides the Student Center, this seems like the central point of social activity on East Campus, if not the entire campus. I start to walk across the bridge and admire how unique and alive of a structure it is. One can clearly tell that this bridge was designed to encourage pedestrian use, seeing as its sidewalks are more or less just as wide as the streets are, there are open grassy areas on both edges of the bridge, and all sight and most of the noise from the interstate traffic are completely blocked off. In fact, it’s so quiet that one might even forget there’s anything underneath it at all. After crossing the bridge, I enter Technology Square, the most impressive and extraordinary part of the entire Fifth Street. This is truly the hot spot of the area, as there are even more people here than the campus’ half of the street. The feel of being immersed in Midtown hits me immediately when I look around. There are tall brick and metal buildings surrounding me, there is the usual Atlanta traffic in the streets, the sidewalks are crowded with students, teachers, and businesspeople, and all different sorts of sounds and smells fill the air. I notice that my surroundings seem much more eye pleasing than other parts of Midtown, and that’s not just because it’s newer. There are beautiful trees lined up and down the street that split up pedestrians and traffic into their respective zones, the sidewalks have a red brick section that matches the campus-feel of the buildings beside them, and the architecture and use of space is simply breathtaking. Fifth Street has come a long way in its development, providing a gateway to many resources for residents of Georgia Tech and ultimately connecting Tech and Midtown in a whole new way. It is fair to ask, however, if its developers have truly succeeded in their goal to transform Fifth Street into a real street, linking together the ends of the campus and the city. Judging from the current condition of the street in the respects of public space, urban form, social institution, and a projection of desire futures, I have conducted research and made daily observations of Fifth Street to find out if this transformation is really complete. I believe that as an Atlanta citizen and a student of the College of Architecture, I have the right of analyzing and judging Fifth Street to see whether or not it is what it could or should be, and to speculate on its future. In order to analyze Fifth Street properly and fairly, it is important to know just what a street is and what it is meant to accomplish. No matter where you are in the world, the main driving force behind streets is to meet the requirements of traffic and human initiation, and to do so in a way that respects the mechanics of spatial perception in a given area. Its practical purpose, piecing together a framework of passageways throughout a community, is often first and foremost in the decision to construct a street. Even if practicality is the only intention of the developers, exactly where a street is located and how the people will use it will determine much more about its purpose. In the case of Fifth Street, it would be wise to examine it as a public space above all other conditions. As a public space, it could be said to designate a public domain that takes precedence over individual rights and also structures community, supplying the backdrop for a city’s common rituals. It is hard to imagine a city without streets; for thousands of years they have come to be seen as the basic unit of urbanism, without which there can be no true civilization. Aside from structuring community, the street can be used as a tool for the power of the citizens. Think back to the 1950s and 60s: the Civil Rights Movement was fully in motion, and the entire nation was going through a tremendous amount of change. The people of the United States were making a stand against the government; openly expressing their views and protesting the laws of oppression they had had to put up with for so long. Here, the streets served as a medium for ceremonial assertions of power: there were marches and boycotts made in the streets of hundreds of cities, and because they took place in an open public domain such as the street, they pushed forth the view of the people towards the public eye. The street truly is and always has been a viewing space, or a window, for modern society. While the architecture of a city’s buildings and houses is shown off from the streets, the current condition of the general public is displayed directly on the streets themselves. Streets show age, gender, race, population, class, and just all-around diversity. However, streets do not simply display diversity for mere observation; additionally, they show how we as citizens respond to this diversity, and how an eclectic population can spark certain social interactions. This largely depends on the cultures and social classes that make up a demographic of an area, and the concept of a street creates the window that assesses this information. By demonstrating culture and class and providing citizens with the means of asserting their power in numbers, the central power of any community lies in the framework of the street system. Once I looked into the historical, political, cultural, and social aspects of man’s invention of the street, I then took the role of an “informed pedestrian” and began to observe and analyze Fifth Street, based on my findings. Looking back at its history, Fifth Street has always been split into two identities. First, it is a campus road that begins right as Ferst Drive intersects with Fowler Street, home to frat houses and sharing an intersection with Techwood Drive. Then there was the Fifth Street Bridge, which was constructed to run straight over the I-75 / 85 connector and lead into Midtown. The second half of Fifth Street was located in Midtown, and because it ended right at West Peachtree Street, traffic was heavy and it appeared to be rooted right in the midst of downtown Atlanta. These were the two halves of Fifth Street, both very different in respects of environment and activity. However, once plans were made in 2000 to develop what would become Technology Square in 2003, Fifth Street suddenly caught the attention of many organizations, including the Midtown Alliance, Department of Transportation, the campus planners and architects of Georgia Tech, and of course, the Tech Square developers. Soon they all had a common goal: to bring these two halves of Fifth Street together to create one single, flowing, space for commuters and pedestrians alike, while opening up new resources and opportunities for social activity. Fifth Street, like most modern streets, promises a separate system of pedestrian movement that supplements a high-speed traffic network. Downtown Atlanta traffic is infamously heavy and fast, and in order to lessen the intensity of Fifth Street’s incoming traffic from its big neighboring one-way streets, West Peachtree and Spring, the developers have made sure to regulate the street properly. Fifth Street is strictly two-lane for cars, with small bicycle lanes, parking zones, and Tech Trolley stops off to the side. The speed limit is 25 mph, and there are speed detection devices placed along the street to enforce it. These regulations are designed to lessen the amount of heavy Midtown traffic while still allowing it to pass through efficiently and safely in regards to pedestrians. Thus, safety is an important element in the design of Fifth Street. The first thing in mind of the developers when planning and constructing the new Fifth Street was Georgia Tech, and how it could accommodate its many students by making the transition between campus and Midtown as seamless as possible. Georgia Tech’s campus is kept very safe at all times, and the extension of Fifth Street into the city should be no different. In addition to personal safety, having an overall sense of being in a secure, positive environment is very important for the well-being of students while visiting Fifth Street. For example, beginning at the Fifth Street Bridge and continuing into Tech Square, the sidewalks are just as wide (if not a bit wider) as each of the traffic lanes in the street, which gives people a comfortable amount of room to walk around, interact, and be able to sit down at outdoor restaurant tables and benches lined up and down the street. Also, all along the main stretch of Tech Square there are two staggered rows of small trees placed on the red brick section of the sidewalks, creating a subtle physical barrier between the sidewalk and the street. This further stresses the importance of giving pedestrians a completely separate zone from the busy street. The entire Fifth Street is more than well lit due to the many lamp posts and lights coming from the stores and restaurants, so there is less chance of a crime occurring in or around the street. There is even a good amount of emergency buttons available for anybody who needs assistance from the authorities, paramedics, or firefighters. By making the environment safe and secure, pedestrians are given their own personal zone for leisure and social interaction on Fifth Street. Perhaps the most intriguing of all aspects to look at when examining Fifth Street is its role as a dimensional, urban space and how people react to its particular physical and material characteristics. The first characteristic people notice of Fifth Street is the architecture of the street itself, as well as the buildings surrounding it. Generally, Fifth Street has a modern look to it, but there are also some familiar, traditional styles that are present. For instance, the red brick sections on the sidewalks are reminiscent of cobblestone roads like one would see in Boston; the lampposts have a classic, European look, and the way that the trees complement the red brick building style give it almost a small-town feel. There is even a hint of Victorian architecture in the lampposts, bike racks, benches, and the ivy-covered metal awning on the south end of the bridge. Overall, it looks like the developers wanted to make the entire street feel like an extension of the campus’ architecture (generally red brick with concrete) and maintain a near-equal balance between man-made material and nature, all while giving it a more modern look. Their intentions become very clear when examining the characteristics of Fifth Street, but now there is the question of whether or not the developers have succeeded in their ambitious, costly, and impressive transformation of what was, for quite some time, a street with an identity crisis. As a Georgia Tech student who frequently passes over the Fifth Street Bridge to visit Technology Square, it’s safe to say that I am part of the target audience concerning the street’s transformation. Because of this, I believe that I am not only entitled, but also obligated, to voice my opinion on the mass renovation that has resulted in “the new Fifth Street”. From my observations, it seems that the developers’ main goal is to transform Fifth Street into a “real street,” linking together the ends of the campus and the city. In that respect, I think that so far they have succeeded in making a nearly seamless connection between Tech and Midtown. They have taken what was half-campus street and half-city street and combined them into a more socially and financially active urban space. However, was that all they were aiming to accomplish, or did they have bigger ambitions? As of now, the only group of people that the new Fifth Street truly benefits consists of students, faculty, and people who work at Tech Square. If they are trying to make Fifth Street stick out as a landmark in downtown Atlanta, they may not succeed fully, simply because there is a limit to how much one can try to blend an educational establishment with a downtown financial district of a major city. However, the development of Fifth Street has still helped students by making a numerous amount of resources available to the campus for the first time ever, and has helped many businesses grow due to the students’ use of their resources. If there are bigger ambitions to this project, then I hope they do not outweigh or overshadow what the developers have already accomplished in assisting the residents and faculty of Georgia Tech. I think it’s fair to say that it may be quite a few years before we can accurately judge Fifth Street’s transformation as a social and urban space. Jake Thomson Architecture Lecture Part 1: Playback In this presentation on the Architecture program at Georgia Tech, Ellen Dunham-Jones posed an interesting question: “What distinguishes a work of architecture from a normal building?” In other words, what sort of artistic and aesthetic qualities make what could seem like a normal physical structure pleasing to the eye? Unique designs of churches, houses, office buildings, and memorials often get taken for granted, and Dunham-Jones presented many examples of hidden qualities within these designs. This brought up bigger points, such as how architecture has the power of representing the social and cultural state of the world, and the importance of individuality in the field. Part 2: Look Up • Ecological Literacy: the understanding of the principles of organization that ecosystems have developed to sustain the web of life. • Regional Development: the provision of aid and other assistance to regions which are less economically developed. Regional development may be domestic or international in nature. • Nested Hierarchies: groups and classifications that have individual principles but fit inside each other, such as linking together layers of information within a building’s design. Part 3: Speculate • How should the social aspect of architecture be taught and implemented in order to keep up with the changing times? • How much does individuality stick out in large-scale projects? • What sort of creative branches does Tech’s architecture program have to avoid the “one-size-fits-all” approach in teaching? Building Construction Lecture Part 1: Playback This presentation on Building Construction took a deep, insightful look into the field as a whole and dissected it to show its many interlocking aspects. Among these aspects were the life cycle phases of construction, stakeholder procedures, types of construction, and inter-disciplinary collaboration. In addition to the explanation of how the construction industry functions, the presentation stressed the importance of working closely with architects and engineers to ensure the highest quality in any given project. Also included was a detailed overview of the BC program at Tech and a look into the many different opportunities provided for students. Part 2: Look Up
Part 3: Speculate
Industrial Design Lecture Part 1: Playback This presentation on Industrial Design gave an overview on what “design” really is all about and how it fits into real objects in our everyday lives. Through many examples, the presenter explained some of the concepts that design is built upon: pleasure, task accomplishment, efficiency, life preservation, convenience, and transportation, among others. In order to implement appropriate designs into everyday environments and products, a great amount of research and testing must be done first before a design is complete. The point of industrial design is to originate and develop a plan for a new object while considering aesthetic and functional aspects of said object. Part 2: Look Up
Part 3: Speculate
Jake Thomson Katrina/New Orleans Bibliography 1. "After the Disaster." Planning. Vol 73. Iss 4. Apr 2007. p. 39. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=12&sid=33a3d39a-fdd4-4879-ab41-e9a051b5e2a2%40SRCSM2. 2. "After the Flood." Nation. Vol 285. Iss 7. 10 Sep 2007. p. 3-4. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=120&sid=b075006b-dcf2-4e4a-9a5b-b9049eafd770%40sessionmgr108. 3. Anonymous. "Alternative Construction Technologies' ACTech Panel System Achieves Record Erection Time of 1 Week." PR Newswire. 04 Oct 2007. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1353561081&sid=5&Fmt=3&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 4. Birch, Eugenie L. and Susan M. Wachter. "Rebuilding Urban Places After Disaster: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina." Future Survey. Vol 29. Iss 3. Mar 2007. p. 13. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=12&sid=c0f06c93-6473-4258-bd44-91a863ea4cf3%40sessionmgr7. 5. Boulard, Garry. "Storm-related projects still influence New Orleans-area contractor." New Orleans CityBusiness. 13 Aug 2007. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1319431691&sid=9&Fmt=3&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 6. Bustillo, Miguel. "The Nation; Exodus after storm quantified." Los Angeles Times. 12 Sep 2007. p. A.13. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1334180521&sid=8&Fmt=3&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 7. "Discussion Group Meetings." PMLA. Vol 116. Iss 6. Nov 2001. p. 1547. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=12&sid=bd02e4e8-1767-44b8-9502-998c52d39bd7%40sessionmgr3. 8. Fausset, Richard. "New Orleans: Two Years Later; All that Remains; As the city's elderly return after Katrina, many find little but rubble and a life of squalor." Los Angeles Times. 18 Sep 2007. p. A.9. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1337268861&sid=8&Fmt=3&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 9. Frank, Mary Kate. "Rebuilding New Orleans." Current Events. Vol 106. Iss 1. 08 Sep 2006. p. 2-4. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=113&sid=0afcc84a-5159-4de3-8c9b-78c88598bb00%40sessionmgr106. 10. Grunwald, Michael. "The Slow Drowning of New Orleans." Washington Post. 09 Oct 2005. 10 Oct 2007. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/08/AR2005100801458.html. 11. Health, Brad. "La. to buy 19,000 runied homes; Deserted land may hurt post-Katrina comeback." USA Today. 18 Sep 2007. p. A.1. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1337737551&sid=8&Fmt=2&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 12. Lewis, Roger K. "Using Technology to Combat Nature Has Environmental and Economic Costs." The Washington Post. 17 Sep 2005. p. F.05. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=897719721&sid=2&Fmt=3&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 13. Loyd, Jenna. "Katrina: A Racist Disaster." Capitalism, Nature, Socialism. Vol 8. Iss 3. Sep 2007. p. 122. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1330808951&sid=4&Fmt=3&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 14. Lukensmeyer, Carolyn J. "Large-Scale Citizen Engagement and the Rebuilding of New Orleans: A Case Study." National Civic Review. Vol 96. Iss 3. Fall 2007. p. 3. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1354017481&sid=8&Fmt=2&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 15. Markels, Alex. "Down and Out in New Orleans." U.S. News and World Report. Vol 143. Iss 8. 10 Sep 2007. p. 12-13. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=117&sid=ec6b8269-c878-4226-b210-4ddfb1605ebd%40sessionmgr3. 16. Masozera, Michel; Melissa Bailey, and Charles Kerchner. "Distribution of Impacts of Natural Disasters Across Income Groups: A Case Study of New Orleans.." Ecological Economics. Vol 63. Iss 2/3. 13 June 2006. p. 299-306. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=120&sid=fb5604ab-6015-4cc3-90f3-2a9f390b6015%40sessionmgr108. 17. "New Orleans' City Park Under Restoration." Parks and Recreation. Vol 42. Iss 8. Aug 2007. p. 23. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=113&sid=9a8e9540-8bc8-4ce6-a8b8-9c671df773ff%40sessionmgr109. 18. "New Orleans: Geography and Climate." city-data.com. City-Data.com. 10 Oct 2007. http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-South/New-Orleans-Geography-and-Climate.html. 19. "New Orleans, Louisiana." Wikipedia. 9 Oct 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans. 20. Obenberger, Jon. "Interstate System - Design - FHWA." Federal Highway Administration. 15 May 2007. United States Department of Transportation. 10 Oct 2007 http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/interstate.cfm. 21. Ouroussoff, Nicolai. "Two Infusions of Vision to Bolster New Orleans." New York Times. 23 Aug 2007. p. E.1. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1326509061&sid=4&Fmt=3&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 22. Sawyer, Tom. "New Orleans Disaster Blamed On Decades of Bad Decisions." ENR. Vol 258. Iss 21. 11 June 2007. p. 14. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=12&sid=dbb18239-ce73-4076-8292-389430026347%40SRCSM1. 23. Siegel, Marc. "Trauma in New Orleans." Nation. Vol 285. Iss 7.10 Sep 2007. p. 4-5. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=15&sid=01f86c7b-9594-4848-ac52-fa219c5d5e0a%40sessionmgr2. 24. Solnit, Rebecca. "The Lower Ninth Battles Back." Nation. Vol 285. Iss 7. 10 Sep 2007. p. 13-17. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=15&sid=dde8713d-944a-46ef-9376-0cf9d71715c9%40sessionmgr9. 25. Strait, John B.. "Rubbing Elbows in the Big Easy." Southeastern Geographer. Vol 47. Iss 2. Nov 2007. p. 254-282. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=15&sid=bb562014-c701-40ff-bd05-0158f496472b%40sessionmgr2. 26. Templeton, Robin. "Locked Up in New Orleans." Nation. Vol 285. Iss 7. 09 Sep 2007. 25-28. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=120&sid=fbbf8c7b-5d03-4fdf-bf9e-c71fcc70f97c%40sessionmgr10>. 27. The Journal Staff Report, "Kenner Calls out FEMA for Unqualified Engineer." The Journal: the Community News of Jefferson Parish. 09 Feb 2007. p. 1. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1213138911&sid=2&Fmt=3&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 28. Toledano, Ben C.. "New Orleans - An Autopsy." Commentary. Vol 124. Iss 2. Sep 2007. p. 27-32. 10 Oct 2007. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=117&sid=3df28460-eac8-4064-8095-06ba351d509c%40sessionmgr2. 29. "Urban Planning; New Orleans; Two Years Later." Los Angeles Times. p. A.16. 29 Aug 2007. p. A.16. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1327038871&sid=4&Fmt=3&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 30. Whoriskey, Peter. "Hurricane Katrina Exacts Another Toll: Enduring Depression." The Washington Post. 23 Sep 2007. p. A.3. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1340168591&sid=10&Fmt=3&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 31. Young, Cathy. "Katrina." Boston Globe. 16 Jan 2006. A.13. 10 Oct 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=970231721&sid=4&Fmt=2&clientId=30287&RQT=309&VName=PQD. 1060 Assignment for 9-30 9-17 Lecture In this lecture, Craig Zimring talked about architecture, culture, and behavior. The main focus was how individuals and the design of cities, sites, buildings, and products are interrelated. He explained this by discussing some environmental factors that affect the way people respond to their surroundings, which is a very important element of design. Some terms that he brought up were aesthetics, environmental psychology, and space syntax. Aesthetics:
1. What different fields must I indulge in to become proficient in ACB studies? 2. How do architects and industrial designers collaborate, and what kind of product would come out of that? 3. How much should a person who wants to study this know about health and the statistics that go along with it? 4. How much has healthcare departments (hospitals and such) improved in the last 20 years due to more ACB improvement? 9-19 Lecture In this lecture, Ruth Dusseault discussed her findings and analysis involving the conception and construction of Atlantic Station. She explained that utopian architecture, which is inspired by industrialism, was used in its design as a throwback to what the area used to look like. She also talked about how many new designs that are linked with modernity tend to lose authenticity with relationships to nature and history. Some terms she mentioned were utopian architecture, industrialism, and modernity. Utopian architecture:
1. How can design students be taught about the importance of historical architecture, and how will this affect the future of architecture? 2. Is the same industrial-throwback movement also being applied in industrial design the way it is in architecture? 3. Besides Atlantic Station, what other “city within a city” projects are being built around the world? 4. Is it difficult for historical architecture-savvy architects to compete in the world of modern architecture? 9-26 Lecture In this lecture, Sonit Bafna spoke about the Italian architect Palladio, who is considered by many to be the most influential person in the history of Western architecture. Bafna explained his importance by showing many plans and photos of his architecture, which still exists in Europe. He also explained some of Palladio’s techniques, which include his precise use of geometry and aesthetic qualities in building design. Some terms he mentioned were Andrea Palladio, of course, Palladian style, and piano nobile. Andrea Palladio:
1. How prominent are the teachings of Palladio in courses on the history of architecture? 2. What sort of disciplines besides architecture can benefit from the Palladian style? 3. How much is the Palladian style used in modern architecture today? 4. Is Palladian architecture just as prominent today as it was one hundred years ago? 1060 Assignment for 9/16 9/10 Lecture In this lecture, the speaker Steven Springle presented a multi-disciplinary approach to disability research and assistive technology, and showed the importance of collaboration of all sides to making the technology. He gave evidence of this by addressing the everyday things that people with disabilities struggle with, and displaying real designs of products that assist those people with special needs. For instance, he showed concepts for a more efficient power wheel chair, which would greatly help the disabled in their homes, in the workplace, and in transportation. Some important terms he mentioned were assistive technology, environmental access, and universal design. Assistive technology:
9/12 Lecture In this lecture, the speaker explained the importance of AEC integration and its effect on the design industry. The main focus was on the construction industry and how integration makes things more efficient and gives better quality for clients. Collaboration was stressed as being a very important method of this integration. Some of the terms he mentioned were residential, non-residential, sector, and infrastructure. Residential:
9/14 Lecture In this lecture, Mr. Steven P. French gave a presentation on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and how new technology is improving its current utilization. He gave many examples of GIS, such as GPS, wireless communication, remote sensing, and the Internet, which all assist in design and construction. New technology such as Land Suitability Analysis easily assesses land in order to determine construction space. Some terms he mentioned were GIS, remote sensing, and infrared imagery. GIS:
Questions:
Assignment 9/9/07 8/29/07 Lecture Playback In the lecture on Classical Architecture, seven architects gave their own presentations, which were all focused on practicing traditional and classic methods of building design amidst a world of modern architecture. To show how classical architecture is still very important and prominent in modern times, they displayed their own projects, which were influenced by older, well-known structures. They also explained how traditional methods must be preserved and applied to today’s buildings because there are many interesting classical styles that should still be kept alive. Some important terms they brought up included building restoration, classical architecture, urbanism, and historical architectural concepts. Look Up Building restoration: the process of the renewal and refurbishment of the fabric of a building, which may include building cleaning, major repair, and/or rebuilding. Urbanism: the practice of creating human communities for living, work, and play, covering the more human aspects of urban planning. Questions 1) Considering classical architecture is deeply rooted in our history, does it require more education than modern architecture? 2) Is it difficult at times to stay true to classical architectural concepts instead of indulging in a wide range of styles? 3) How is it possible to work as a purely classical or traditional-style architect? Does it require a specialized firm? 8/31/07 Lecture Playback In this lecture, the speaker made a presentation about the Solar Decathlon, which is an international competition aimed to discover new efficient methods of solar power as related to several different fields. He showed one of the entries in the competition, the Zero Energy Home, which was a house that relied completely on solar power and was designed by students and faculty from 20 schools. He also explained how the competition was aimed to motivate students to collaborate in order to prepare for the team-based professional world. Some terms he brought up were solar design, interdisciplinary, collaboration, and isolation. Look Up Interdisciplinary: the act of drawing from two or more academic disciplines and integrating their insights to work together in pursuit of a common goal. Collaborative method: specifically aims to increase the success of teams as they engage in collaborative problem solving. Questions 1) How will schools successfully train students in cross-disciplinary collaboration? Is it a better method than the traditional model of the design studio? 2) How must designers who are utilizing solar power into projects best collaborate with the constructors to make sure nothing is lost in the translation? 3) Who founded and sponsored the Solar Decathlon, and what were their goals as related to the future of solar power in design? 9-05-07 Lecture Playback In the lecture on CADCAM, the speaker presented information about Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing, which is an emerging design process that utilizes computer programs for planning and construction. He explained how CADCAM’s innovative design system is gradually beginning to replace traditional processes because of its effectiveness and efficiency. Most of the process includes translating computer program language to actual machinery to transform 2-D plans into physical structures with exact precision. Some terms he mentioned were computer-aided design, rib schedule, matched mold press, and CNC machines. Look Up Computer-Aided Design: the use of a wide range of computer-based tools that assist engineers, architects and other design professionals in their design activities. CNC (Computer Numerical Control): a computer "controller" that reads G-code instructions and drives the machine tool, a powered mechanical device typically used to fabricate metal components by the selective removal of metal. Questions 1) What sort of technological education in addition to design would one need in order to become familiar with CAD? 2) How much longer will it be before CAD makes traditional drafting obsolete in the design industry? Is there any practical reason why this wouldn’t happen? 3) Considering CAD’s efficiency and wide range of possibilities, how will the general design profession grow with its use in the future? Jake Thomson Observation, Description, and Speculation Assignment 8-29-07 Terrace Installation: Description:
Atrium Installation Description:
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