View
from N. Central Avenue
May 8, 2002 |
| This
is the home page for the SDC ValueWeb. It documents
the ongoing Design/Build/Use development of the seven
zones of the SDC Campus through four Phases of evolution
over several years of work. |
This page contains the general description of the project
and links to various subject-specific electronic documents.
|
| This
document, and others associated with it, is a work in
progress and will be updated extensively and periodically
throughout the following FasTracked Design/Build/Use
process.
At any time, it represents the most recent thinking
about the project as a whole. When you return to the
site, check out all active documents and remember to
hit “refresh” as your browser may be displaying
the last version. |
Note:
go the SDC Virtual Project Management web
site for current documents; Work Orders, Drawings,
Specifications. |
|
Present
Status of the Project
updated
October 23, 2002 |
| As
of November, 2002, SDC is in possession of the property,
has executed a loan from CHEVY CHASE BANK, has established
a budget for Phase Ia work (to move in); the first Work
Packages and Orders are issued. Temporary work and occupancy
Permits have been issued from the City of baltimore
and a Design/Build protocol
is established. Design work for Phases Ib, II, III and
IV is underway. Permit drawings for the various phases
are being developed and permit review meetings are being
conducted. The design team has been supplemented with
a Baltimore-based architect-of-record and civil engineer.
The on-site Project management Office is in the process
of being set up. Prototypes of classroom work furniture
are being built at AI. A RDS
NavCenter
to perform project management functions and to facilitate
ongoing development and fund raising is installed at
SDC; set up in the existing Gym until permanent space
can be prepared. A NavCenter
(Phase III, Zone D) is a central
component of SDC’s long term functionality.
As work is proceeding on Phase Ia, the day-to-day process
of the Design/Built Team is developing a regular pattern. |
|
Phasing
and Scope of Project: |
| As
a result of dialog and design work since April, 2002,
the scope of the project and its phasing
has become better defined. Besides the project scope
as it was originally understood, there are additional
properties and projects that require integration with
the main Campus These includes off site parking and
a future middle school and high-school building sponsored
by Johns Hopkins. These are identified in an added Phase
V work designation. |
| Because
of initial budget and schedule constraints, it is necessary
to get student body and administrative people moved
in prior to certain demolition and reconstruction work
is completed (as was the original plan). For this reason,the
demolition and construction of structural elements related
to future modifications and additions will have to be
both designed and phased in such a way that future projects
can be constructed while the buildings are being used.
This reality has caused a reassessment of several design
options. |
| The
basic strategy in place is to do only what is necessary
in Phase Ia to get the buildings in partial use: primarily,
the student classrooms (Zone A) and the administration
areas (Zone C). There will also be work done in the
Student Union (old cafeteria - Zone D) and parking areas
(Zone E). Minimum is defined by both scope (what aspects
of the building we open for use) and depth of work (what
work is actually done, now). Parts of the existing structures
not to be used initially will be blocked off by decorative
barriers. As little as possible of the available money
will be spent in this initial phase. Phase Ib work will
proceed immediately afterward funded by money not spent
in Phase Ia and from additional sources. Phase Ib will
add capacity and amenity to the facilities and act as
a bridge to Phase II and III projects (which will be
funded individually). It is extremely important that
this continuity of effort be maintained. Phase I work
covers the scope of work first discussed with the bank
and upon which the appraisal of the property is based. |
| Phase
Ia work will allow the Design/Build team to establish
and practice protocols
and to configure itself for the long term duration of
the project. Phase Ia work will be driven by time. Work
afterward will be executed quickly, however, at a pace
best supportive of the work itself not driven by external
circumstances. |
| The
overall scope of the Campus development will take 4
to 6 years and 10 to 12 million dollars to accomplish.
Because of the nature of the project, the fact that
the Campus will serve not only the College but several
institutions and the local community, funding is expected
from many sources; private and public. The physical
development of the Campus will be approached as a real
estate project with both multiple-uses and re-use
in mind. The value of the investment is expected to
be maintained even under the unlikely circumstance that
Sojourner-Douglass were to migrate to another campus
in the future. |
| Details
of the Phases and their value consequences are outlined
in the Bank Presentation.
This analysis will be updated as the design work proceeds. |
| The
end result will be an urban Campus unique in its intimate
scale and dense capacity; a world class facility with
resources in a mix found in few places; a Campus fully
capable of accomplishing innovative educational and
community development missions. |
|
| The SDC
Campus is conceived in five Zones each offering a unique
functional mix of facilities and services. Although
each of these Zones flows into on another in a seamless
way, each has a distinct function and mission. |
| Upon
completion, the Campus architecture will span from 1869
through 2008; a 140 year period. The prior work was
done in three major blocks: 1860s, 1920s, 1960s and,
now, the 4th at the turn of the 21st Century. |
| It
will be the task of this 21st Century design and building
process to bring the entire complex into functional
harmony; a condition that does not exist today as the
sites have never been integrated until this project. |
| When
completed, the Campus will be a living memory of the
U.S. urban experience from the Civil War to this period
when we are actually beginning to close that chapter
of our history; nearly 60% of our time as a Nation;
a fitting setting for Sojourner-Douglass College given
its mission. |
 |
| 1869
schoolhouse. The goal is to bring this property
onto the SDC Campus and use it a a Residency Hall
(Zone E). |
|
 |
| The
1923 Middle School building (Zone A) the cornerstone
of the new Campus project. Although trashed out
a bit by years of institutional management, the
building is fine piece of work and worthy of the
most careful restoration. |
|
 |
| 1969
addition (Zone C). The 1923 building can be seen
behind. The taller structure to the left was the
Cafeteria and Gym on the second floor (Zone D). |
|
| The
1869 schoolhouse was converted into housing several
years ago and rapidly degenerated in all ways possible.
The Exterior is is good shape; the interior will have
to totally rebuilt. The 1923 Middle School Building
was compromised in the usual utilitarian ways: hung
ceilings, painted over natural wood, exposed conduit
and other esthetic atrocities. What is it we teach our
children? Some beautiful parts of the fourth floor were
altered and filled in when the 1969 addition was built.
The 1969 building was utilitarian from the beginning.
By this time all pretense of providing children with
an aesthetic and inspiring environment had gone by the
wayside; it is built hell for stout and will
make a good platform from which to begin anew. |
| The
three buildings, together, almost span the entire history
of American public school architecture. They each are
typical of their type with the 1869 and the 1923 buildings
being of unusually high quality. The new work (2002
and beyond) will require an architectural grammar that
stands on its own merit while also integrating all the
older buildings. Fortunately, the majority of the surrounding
buildings, while not great works, have appropriately
borrowed the better idiomatic aspects of these buildings
and used scale and materials to good advantage. The
setting for the Campus is workable. The one exception
is the fast food drive-in, on the north east corner,
being redone by Burger King. This will be standard franchise
architecture, of the new kinder and gentler
kind, handled with some sensitivity to the setting.
All things considered, the site conditions are favorable.
It will be possible to blend this Campus into its existing
and future surrounds and provide it with distinction
and identity. |
| The
following Zone analysis is an outline to be further
supplemented with a Program Statement and Schematic
Drawings. these together will present the basic concept
of the Sojourner-Douglass Campus Master Plan. |
|
Zone
Designations
on Schematic Phase III Layout
|
Zone
A Learning
The scope of Zone A includes:
A-1
Classrooms
A-2 Library
A-3 Child Care
A-4 Computer and Media Learning Center
A-5 Non-ADA Elevator and access to Zone B
A-6 Rest Rooms
A-7 Graduate School Facilities (4th. Floor)
A-8 East Entry
A-9 North East Access to Garden (B-1)
A-10 South East Access to Garden (B-2)
A-11 Hallway Armature
A-12 Fire Stairs and Exits
A-13 North Roof Garden
A-14 South Roof Garden |
|
The
function and Mission of Zone A is:
Study and learning; both formal and informal; instructor-lead
and self-directed.
The
Layout of the 1923 building will remain largely intact
with the exception of the Library (A-2) which will require
a larger open space on the south side of the first floor.
The 4th Floor will be restored as much as possible to
its original open feel and employed as the Center for
the SCD Graduate School which will also have close ties
to Zone B functions and facilities.
As
Phase 1b, II, II and IV work continues, the 1923 building
will be progressively upgraded in a variety of ways.
The building, itself, will be restored as a prime example
of its type and era; and, the furnishings and technology
of the teaching/learning areas will be improved. The
goal is to be able to support every useful teaching/learning
modality including presentation, seminar, group discussion,
simulation and gaming, one-on-one coaching, individual
study.
While the ARMATURE
of the hallways and original classrooms will be kept
and enhanced, a robust mix of these teaching/learning
modalities will be accomplished by making almost everything
else flexible, adaptable and easily movable. The learning
rooms (old classrooms) will be easily configurable as
required for each class experience. |
| As
noted, the Library area will be the most architecturally
changed in Zone B. Several smaller rooms in the south
part of the first floor will be opened into one space
with several Armature sub-divisions. Casework and trim
will be restored to a very high level. Various reading
areas and workstations will be provided. This approach
is to create an environment in which the user will want
to stay and use not just a place to find a book and
leave. Along with certain areas in the Student Union
(D-13), which will be more “public” than
the Library, the Library provides significant ambiance
of self-study activities. |
Zone
B Collaborative Interaction Facilities
The scope of Zone B includes:
B-1
North Garden
B-2 South Garden
B-3 ADA Elevator
B-4 Atrium
B-5 Glass “Bridge” to Zone A
B-6 SDC ValueWeb Sponsor Facilities
B -7 SDC
Community NavCenter (3rd. Floor)
B-8 Teacher Lounge and Facilities
B-8 Teacher Work Areas
B-9 Teacher/Student Interaction Areas
B-10 Design and Multimedia Facilities
B-11 Restrooms
B-12 Hallway Armature
B-13 Fire Stairs and Exits |
|
The
function and Mission of Zone B is:
To facilitate interaction and collaborative design between
student, teachers, administrators, the community and
the larger world of learning and pubic policy.
In
addition to internal and local community use, the capabilities
developed here are expected to become a business opportunity
for students and community leaders and perform as a
significant profit-center for Sojourner-Douglass College.
A
MG Taylor licensed NavCenter
(B-7) will be the core of this collaborative process;
it will be housed on the 3rd floor of the “bridge”
building between the 1923 (Zone A) and 1969 buildings
(Zone C) and expand onto the roof of the 1969 building
(Zone G) when required.
The
prime mission of this Zone is to facilitate the growing
Sojourner-Douglass ValueWeb
community both as a whole and in discrete “Clam
Shell” segments. In today’s world, in
order to create a healthy Sojourner-Douglass, the college
has to create a healthy ValueWeb of USERS (students,
teachers,community and businesses); PRODUCERS
(administration, teachers and fellows); and INVESTORS
(individuals, foundations, businesses and governments).
The
4th floor (of Zone B) will house the SDC ValueWeb Sponsors
facility (B-6) which will function in close coordination
with the NavCenter below it. In addition, Zone B will
support teacher-to-teacher interactions, student-to-student
and student-to-teacher interactions (B-9), community
group meetings, and learning in the fields of creative
processes, strategic planning and enterprise
development and management. These processes will
function in close cooperation with the SDC Graduate
School.
The
North (B-1) and South (B-2) Court Gardens make
the space between the 1923 and 1969 buildings. Zones
A, B and C directly access them and Zone D may be able
to be connected if the North Hallway can be extended
to the Court. The second floor Bridge (D-14) between
Zone D and Zone will requires access to the North Garden
(B-1). The development of these sheltered outdoor areas
is critical to developing separation between the major
buildings and providing refuge from the urban nature
of the site. Properly handled, these areas will be usable
most months out of the year. Landscaping
and energy strategies will be aimed at the creation
of a mild micro-climate in all four seasons.
Included
in Zone B is a new ADA Elevator at the Zone C side of
the hallway (B-12) between Zone C to Zone A. This places
the ADA Elevator at the most central location of the
combined buildings (Zones A, B, C, D and G) and fairly
close to the West Entry D-6) and ADA parking slots (Zone
F - West). Adjacent to the elevator and hallway Zones
B and C intersection, is the Atrium (B-4) which acts
as a vertical Armature tying Zones B, C and G together. |
| In
addition to the the primary functions of interaction
and collaboration, it is important to realize that Zone
B offers significant educational opportunity not only
in areas like media and simulations but in a broad range
of learning modalities. This space, in addition to event-focus
activities provides at minimum the equivalent of 6 Zone
A classrooms. |
Zone
C Offices and Administration
The scope of Zone C includes: |
C-1
Administrative Offices
C-2 Restrooms
C-3 Hallway Armature
C-4 Fire Stairs and Exits |
|
The
function and Mission of Zone C is:
To provide an appropriate environment for the administrative
FUNCTION not just offices dedicated to specific
work tasks. The function and the tasks that traditionally
make it up the function is done need to be separated
conceptually; the habit of how work used to
be done, or is done now, cannot determine the space.
The layout must reflect and support the workflow of
the organization. As this changes, as it will, it is
necessary that the layout changes with it. |
| This
flexibility will be accomplished by removing some of
the original classroom walls (creating larger footprints),
building some fixed spaces and supplementing these with
a flexible, moveable
system. |
| Administration
has to function without distraction; this requirement,
however, too often leads to an unfortunate isolation.
The main traffic area between the West Parking (Zone
F) and the Learning Areas (Zone A), goes directly through
the Administrative area (Zone C). By selective removal
of walls and creation of adjacent “public”
spaces (Zone B Atrium and Zone D Entry, Book Store and
Sitting Area), a optimal mix of privacy and involvement
will be promoted. |
Zone
D Community and Re-Creation Facilities
The scope of Zone D includes: |
D-1
West Entry - ADA
D-2 Student Union
D-3 Multimedia and Live Performance Hall
D-4 Multimedia and Live Performance Hall Balconey
D-5 Multimedia and Live Performance Stage and
Support Systems
D-6 North West Entry
D-7 North East Entry
D-8 Security
D-9 Book Store
D-10 Resrooms
D-11 Gymnasium and Perfomance Practice Area
D-12 Bathing and dressing Facilities
D-13
Student Union Cafiteria
D-14 Hallway Armature and Sitting Area
D-15 Bridge to Zone A
D-16 Hallway Armature
D-17 Gymnasium Roof Garden
D-18 Fire Stairs and Exits
|
|
The
function and Mission of Zone D is:
To support re-creation and culture bringing
both to the College and the community. This is a space
of social interaction, expression and celebration.
The
Gymnasium (D-11) will provide indoor sports and fitness
classes and will double as back-up to the Student Union
(below it) and the Performing Arts Center (D-3, D-4,
D-5 and G-4 & G-5). Student Union events (dances
and so on) can overflow to the Gym and the space can
function as set making, staging and rehearsal areas
in support of the Performing Arts Center.
A north-facing out door deck will be constructed on
the roof of what is now the Cafeteria Kitchen area during
Phase II work.
The
Student Union (D-2) is below the Gymnasium (D-11) and
adjacent to the Auditorium (D-3). Each of the these
three areas have to function independently and as a
whole. The SDC student is older than typical collage
age and employed. This life-cycle fact determines the
Student Union criteria. The Student Union has to be
a flexible space that breaks down into a number of intimate
areas. The existing column spacing (which will be provided
with an AI Armature system in Phase Ia work) creates
super modules of 17 by 24 feet. The kinds of spaces
needed are: study areas, areas for dialog, eating, areas
for collaborative projects. Each of these super modules
has to be able to support any of these. Set up has to
be easy and doable by the students. At the completion
of Phase Ia, there will be 12 of these super modules
allowing a fair number of different arrangements. In
later phases of work, a food preparation area will be
added in what is now the old Cafeteria cooking area. |
| Presently
the Student Union space is divided from the Auditorium’s
by a long hallway that exits on the north side of the
building. As Phases II and III work are completed, this
hallway will become an integrated permutable space that
can allow separation or integration of the two functions.
This will facilitate events of different kinds and scales. |
| The
Performing Arts Center is key to the Sojourner-Douglass
commitment to the development of culture. It is an important
interface function between the College, the community
and the larger Baltimore Area public. |
| The
Performing Arts Center provides an important curriculum
component particularly in the realm of multi-media.
The Center will promote live performances (theatre,
music, dance), multimedia presentations and arts and
crafts with a special emphases on their integration
in multi-venue shows/events. In addition to performing
arts as curriculum, the uses of these facilities
and multimedia as a delivery method of all curriculum
will be emphasized. This will be tightly tied to skill
development in computer usage, internet access and desktop
publishing - all basic future workplace capabilities. |
| The
Center forms the nucleolus for time-to-time Conferences
sponsored by the College and it’s ValueWeb community
members. |
| The
Existing Auditorium will be expanded (Phase III) horizontally
and vertically. The building will be expanded northward
to provide a larger stage, fly-space, staging and practice
areas. Vertical development will involve adding a second
level balcony expanding the “house” to about
750 and other facilities (practice rooms and gathering
place) in Zone G (G-4 and G-5). |
Zone
E Residency and Dining
The scope of Zone E includes: |
E-1
In residence Study and Sleeping Rooms
E-2 Seminar Rooms
E-3 Intimate Dining Room
E-4 Living Room
E-5 Small Library
E-6 Patio (East facing)
E-7 Fire Stairs and Exits
|
|
The
function and Mission of Zone E is:
To be the HOME of In Residence artists,
intellectuals, exemplars, advocates, political and business
leaders who will spend time in interaction with
Sojourner-Douglass faculty and students. On a day-to-day
basis is also is a PLACE for informal meeting,
dialog and study in a more intimate setting that other
Campus facilities.
This
use is an excellent re-purposing of the 1869 school
building. |
| At
the termination of East-West axis from the Residency
Hall and aligned with the the North-South axis of the
Administration wing (Zone C) will be a commercial dining
facility. This will be managed as an outsource enterprise
that is directly associated with the collage (and that
provides a significant revenue source to it). From Orleans
Street, which now becomes the FRONT of the
Campus, This facility becomes the focal point of this
elevation with the one, two, three and four story massing
of the other buildings receding away from it. |
| The
venue of this dining establishment will be
good food, reasonable cost in a pleasant natural ambiance.
The draw from the local community, Johns Hopkins and
visitors to the Campus. This facility will also supply
food to the other on-campus eating areas: D-13, E-3
and G-6. |
Zone
F Parking and Landscaping
The scope of Zone F includes: |
F-1
West Parking Area
F-2 East (off Site) Parking Area
F-3 Walks and Trellis Areas
F-4 North Driveway, Portico and Fountain
F-5 Parameter landscaping
F-6 Landscaping Patches and Sitting Areas
F-7 Site Drainage System
F-8 Buildings Parameter Waterproofing
F-9 Campus Signage
F-10 Campus Parameter Walls and Ornamental Fencing
F-11 Exterior Lighting
F-12 Curbs, Cuts and Access/Egress Points
|
|
The
function and Mission of Zone F is:
To SET the Campus in its urban environment,
including adjacent buildings, and to act as a transportation
and parking area INTERFACE with the greater
baltimore area.
The
LANDSCAPE of the Campus is the first thing
that anyone sees when approaching. The message delivered
is the first of many; it tells the story of what is
to come.
There
are four major interface transitions that take place
between someone approaching the College and settling
in to some form of productive activity. The first is
the view from the street; the second, the act of approaching
the buildings through the exterior landscape; the third,
the entry experience; and last, the transit through
hallway Armature into a specific function dedicated
space.
Each
of these is a critical interface event that must bring
people to the appropriate place, in a graceful, efficient,
pleasing and seamless way; and, prepare them,
mentally, for the process in which they will be engaged.
This
moving from the street to the place of engagement is
facilitated much as an overture to a musical piece or
the opening exposition segments of a film; a shift in
consciousness is required; properly done, architecture
does this in the realm of human/building interaction.
The
message we will communicate is “this place is
solid, secure, safe, cared for, comfortable (refuge);
and exciting, innovative, modern, evolving (prospect).
Refuge and Prospect are the two basic requirements of
human comfort.
The
approach to the landscape of the Campus also direcly
effects site temporature and the energy demands of the
building throughout the year. |
Zone
G Roof Addition
The scope of Zone G includes: |
Zone
G Roof Addition
The scope of Zone G includes:
G-1 NavCenter Expansion
G-2 Administrative Offices Expansion
G-3 Administrative Lounge
G-4 Performing Arts Practice Areas
G-5 Performing Arts Balconey Gathering Place
G-6 Balconey Private Dining
G-7 North Roof Garden
G-8 South Roof Garden
E-9 Fire Stairs and Exits |
|
The
function and Mission of Zone G is:
To tie the collaborative (Zone B), administrative (Zone
C) and cultural functions (Zone D) together by providing
a flexible enclosed roof garden space that can be easily
configured to spontaneously serve emerging requirements.
As this will be new light-weight construction, the spans
will be clear of any interior columns. This will enhance
flexibility making an excellent large scale seminar
space. The combined Zones, will constitute
a world-class conference space facilitating SDC’s
ability to take their message to a greater constituency
and also bring more resources to the College and community. |
| Architecturally,
This third floor addition over the 1969 building will
tie the massing of all the exiting and new structures
together thus resolving a number of visual discontinuities
that presently exist on the West and North elevations
(and, along the East/West Axis). This is important if
the College is to be presented as an integrated and
“complete” entity. |
Zone
H Off Campus Facities
The scope of Zone Hincludes: |
H-1
Parking Area
H-2 Proposed Middle and High School |
|
| The
Parking Area (H-1) is across and down the street from
the East Entry (A-8) and will provide a significant
increase in dedicated parking for the college. Fencing,
surfacing and car slot painting will be done during
Phase Ia work. |
| The
proposed school (H-2) is still in the talking stages
and will be a few blocks from the Main Campus. Issues
of architectural integration still exist, however. |
| These
8 Zones, their functions and missions, add up to the
overall capability of the Campus; they serve the PROGRAM
of the project. The goal is to create a model urban
campus of higher education that has extensive capability
and human scale; that educates, promotes
cultural diversity and development and serves a broad
community: students, local residents and Johns Hopkins
University; and, is built on sustainable economic principles.
|
|
Matt
Taylor
May 12, 2002
Palo
Alto
Archived
October 8, 2002
New Content October 8, 2002
New
Commentary on the Master Plan April 24, 2003
•
ENGINEERING • STRATEGY •
• PRELIMINARY •
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|
posted:
May 21, 2002
ARCHIVED October 8, 2002
new
content: October 8, 2002
revised: November 10, 2002
• 20021008.712690.mt • 20021017.309981.mt
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Note:
this document is 75% complete
Copyright© Matt Taylor 2002
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