Klyde Warren Park

Dallas just got a brand new city park.  Klyde Warren Park opened a couple weeks ago in downtown Dallas.  This is a very unique park because it is located on top of Woodall Rogers Freeway, entirely built on structure.  The Office of James Burnett from Houston designed the park.

Our office took a little field trip to the park last Friday to check it out.  The 5 acre park is pretty impressive.  Lots of interesting details. The park provides a pedestrian connection between the Central Business District and Arts District downtown which has never existed before.  The park includes a pedestrian promenade, botanical garden, children's garden, reading room, dog park, event lawn, performance pavilion, and restaurant terrace. 

Here are some pictures:

After visiting the park, we went over to the Skydeck in the Chase Tower to get a view from way above.

July LAM

For your viewing pleasure.  The July edition of LAM for free...

Saint Maurice Wharf, Warehouse District

My final studio was an advanced topics studio focusing on design opportunities for revitalizing an industrial warehouse site in the Holy Cross neighborhood of the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans.  There were six people in the studio and we all took on a different role in the project.  The document below is the book we put together with all our work in it.  The beginning is an overview and then the six different individual projects follow.  My project is the first section.

This work was presented to the Holy Cross neighborhood in hopes that it will generate ideas for the neighborhood so that the warehouse site can one day become an economic and social generator bringing people back to the Lower Ninth Ward.

Open publication - Free publishing - More lsu

Arthur Ashe Edible Schoolyard

School is over.  Forever.  It still feels weird to think about that.

Now that I have been finished for a couple weeks, I wanted to share the two major projects that I worked on during my final semester.

I took an elective course thats focus was on designing an edible schoolyard for a new charter elementary school in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans.  The project was worked on by six students, four grads and two undergrads.  We worked with Arthur Ashe Charter School throughout the neighborhood on the design.  The school building is in construction right now and planned to be opened in August.  Our initial goal was to create an edible schoolyard for the school but we took advantage of the entire school property in our design.

This was an exciting project to work on because it is actually going to get built.  In the next steps, the school is going to hire a landscape architect to legally finish construction documents and then they hope to built out the project in phases starting this summer.

The first 64 pages of the document are our process throughout the semester.  Our final presentation to the people involved in the project starts on page 65.  Everyone was thrilled with our work.  Hopefully someone picks up the project and runs with our design.  It will be cool to see the school turn into an academically, socially, and ecologically productive environment for the kids and neighborhood.

Arthur Ashe Edible Schoolyard - LSU Robert Reich School of Landcape Architecture

Portfolio

Job search mode is in full effect for me right now.  I uploaded my most recent portfolio online and just wanted to share here.  It is a compilation of my works since I have been in graduate school.

When you click on the portfolio a new screen should show up where you can view it.  If not here is a link:  http://issuu.com/kylejacobson/docs/mlaportfolio

Denver Housing Authority

This is landscape architecture...

The Wholesome Housing Authority from renan ozturk on Vimeo.

Studio . Midterm

Just wanted to post a few images from the our midterm presentation that we gave this week in the Ninth Ward in New Orleans.  We presented to some residents of the neighborhood and a couple of our professors from LSU.

Our primary site is a warehouse site in the Lower Ninth that is adjacent to the port on the Mississippi River.  The first half of the semester has primarily been filled with planning at a masterplan scale to better understand the site and its surroundings.

 
This project is being done as a group.  The warehouse site is the primary focus and a few people will be working on it specifically.  My personal portion of the project includes reimagining an existing waterfront greenway that will connect the warehouse site to the rest of the neighborhood and to the rest of New Orleans.

Some very preliminary images:

We've got a long ways to go but I am excited about this project.

Landscape Architect

Turbulent Coast . LCASLA Award

Found out this week that our studio work from the spring semester last year won a Louisiana Chapter ASLA award.

Turbulent Coast - Analysis and Design for a Changing Environment won a Merit Award in the Analysis and Planning category.  We were the only student work that won an award.  The rest was all professional work.

http://lcasla.org/awards/2012-lcasla-awards/

Here is a PDF of the work that our studio did last spring:

Turbulent Coast - Analysis and Design for a Changing Environment

Design Week 2012

Last week was design week for the LA department here at LSU.  It is basically a design charrette week that the entire department, undergraduates and graduates, participate in.  This year students from LSU's architecture program also participated.

We were split up into teams of about 10 students.  The concept this year was basically to create landscape sculptures within Hilltop Arboretum that respond to the environment that they are placed in only using found natural materials.  This concept is similar to what the sculptor Andy Goldworthy creates.  Check out some of his work HERE.

Here is what we came up with:

If was a fun project (especially compared to the last couple of design weeks).

Green School . Edible Schoolyard

I am taking an elective class this semester in which we are designing an edible schoolyard for a K-8 charter school, called the Ashe School, that is currently being built in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans.  

We took our first trip of the semester to New Orleans on Tuesday.  We went to visit the Green Charter school which already has an established edible schoolyard.  We went to meet the people who run the program and to take a tour of the garden.  The garden was started at Green School 5 years ago shortly after the school reopened from Hurricane Katrina.  The garden and adjacent playground/football field (donated by Drew Brees) has completely transformed the surrounding neighborhood.  The neighborhood has taken a sense of pride in the garden.  It is open to the public for all to use at all times.  The goal of the edible schoolyard is two-fold.  It is used as a teaching tool in almost every class at the school: science, math, hands on gardening, etc.  The food in the garden is then used in the school cafeteria.  There is also a teaching kitchen (donated by Emril Lagasse) that the kids get hands on experience in cooking the food that they help to grow.  The program also brings parents in after school hours to cook meals as a family.  This program has expanded to 4 other schools in New Orleans including the one we are designing at Ashe School.

The goal of our course is to produce a design for the Ashe school that will become an even more successful edible schoolyard than the one currently at Green school.  It is going to be a exciting process with lots of community interaction.  More to come...

More info : http://esynola.org/

Accolades

I've been part of some cool awards in the last couple of weeks...


First off, LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture is again a top ranked program.  For the second year in a row, the undergraduate program is ranked #1 and the graduate program is ranked #2.  The graduate program has been ranked either the second or third best program in the country for the past five years.  Awesome.

http://www.lsu.edu/ur/ocur/lsunews/MediaCenter/News/2011/11/item38602.html

Second, HadenStanziale was recently named by the North Carolina Chapter of ASLA as the Firm of the Year in the state of North Carolina.  This is very big honor.  This is a recognition of contributions to the profession and great design work over an extended period of time.  The award came as a complete surprise to everyone and everyone in the office is very excited.  Will be a great selling point for the office to get new work.  Awesome.

ASLA Student Awards

The 2011 ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) student awards came out yesterday.  LSU made a mark on the awards.  5 different projects got Honor awards.  Impressive showing.

Check it out:  http://www.asla.org/2011studentawards/

Check out all of the projects.  They are very cool.  Cool for me to see projects from people that are at the same level as me.  I didn't submit any projects this year but I plan to submit a couple for 2012.  We'll see what happens.

Remembering 9/11

9/11 is a day that all Americans will remember forever.  Tears well up inside of me almost anytime that I see any of the documentaries and/or remembrance ceremonies that come on TV.  These are both tears of sadness for all the victims of the attack as well as tears of joy for how proud and lucky I am to be an American.  The stories of people who lost loved ones and the stories of survival and heroics of all who went in to save lives are heart wrenching.  America was rocked to its core that day but also showed what a great country we are in the following days, and years.

Anyone who watched any of the 9/11 programming on TV today saw the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site that was built in the exact location of the old towers.  This memorial was design by a landscape architect and an architect.  This is a very cool and exciting thing for me to see how my profession can positively affect so many peoples lives through a project about remembrance and honoring those that died.

The project is very interesting.  The design is based around two voids in the earth at the footprint of the towers to give the towers, and those lost, a permanent presence on the site.  Beautifully lit waterfalls occupy both of the voids with the victims names engraved on the edges.  The surrounding grove of 416 oak trees provide a place for remembrance and provide a park to escape the hustle of city life.  The site also includes a memorial museum and glade to accomodate annual ceremonies.  I really like the design because it gives a physical form to the memory of the towers and all those who were lost.

Pretty cool time lapse video of the project being built:
http://video-embed.cleveland.com/services/player/bcpid619326673001?bctid=1151722551001

Some links about the project ---
http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/21444
http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2011/09/new_yorks_new_911_memorial_is.html
http://www.pwpla.com/national-911-memorial/landscape-design

Backyard Patio

Been a busy past week here at home.  I went back into manual labor mode.  Dad and I started working on a new patio in the backyard.  This is something that we had been talking about doing for a long time.  I actually did the original design my senior year at UT in my landscape design class.  It has gone through a lot of tweaking since then but it's now all coming to life.

Neither dad nor I have ever done any serious hardscaping so it has been an interesting, but fun, process.  We have been feeling our way through different materials, machines, and installation techniques along the way but I think it has all come together nicely so far.

There are three sections that all tie together to make one large patio that connects from our driveway, onto the existing concrete slab under the deck, and then all the way over to the hot tub area.  The first section is made out of 12"x12" concrete pavers and serves mostly as a connecting walkway.  There is a garden space and another landscape bed built into this area.  The middle section, which is the only part not completed, is going to be made out of flagstone.  The third section is again 12"x12" concrete pavers.

The process:

Step 1:  We killed the grass at the beginning of the summer to prep.

Step 2:  Ground prep.  We dug the outline of the patio and tilled all of the dirt to level the area.  The existing sidewalk in the bottom right of the picture was also removed.

Step 3:  We created a border for the patio with natural rock pavers.

Step 4:  Filled in the patio area with block dust and used a plate tamper to create an even surface for the pavers and flagstone.

Step 4 continued

Step 5:  Layed 12x12 pavers in place and filled gaps with more block dust to lock them in place  to complete the process for this section.

Step 5: Same process as above for the section connecting the driveway to the flagstone patio.

The flagstone area is the only area that hasn't been completed so far.  There are a couple smaller projects as well before the process is completely done.  The plan is to put river rock under the stairs, build a small fence around the AC units, and plant shrubs in the small bed in front of the AC units.  Then mom gets to go to work on her garden.  I will post pictures when everything has been completed.

This has been a fun project for me to work on.  Its been fun to design, problem solve, and install with dad.  I think its going to look great when it is all finished.

Headed to Durham this afternoon...internship time.

July LAM

FREE JULY LAM

Follow the link to check out the July issue of Landscape Architecture Magazine.  This is the second time in four months that they have provided a digital copy of the magazine online to read for free.  Pretty cool.

National LA Month

Happy National Landscape Architecture Month!

As a gift to you...here is a digital copy of the April issue of Landscape Architecture Magazine.  Click the link...

LAM

Check it out.  It's a great magazine, packed with lots of interesting stuff.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

This is (part) of my world ladies and gentlemen. Site context and sustainability/material re-use at its finest.

http://www.brooklynbridgeparknyc.org/

Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture

This book came out last week.  I mention this because it is written by two of my current professors.  Brad Cantrell is my studio professor and Wes Michaels is my digital representation professor.  The book provides details on using programs such as AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and others.  If nothing else, my computer graphic skills will be top notch by the end of this semester.

Good stuff.

Landscape Architecture

I get asked all the time by people what exactly is landscape architecture is. It is not something that can be easily identified and explained because some people have no idea that the profession even exists. No it is not architecture and no I am not going to school to become a professional lawn maintenance person. Here is what how the Bureau of Labor describes the profession (it is kinda long but a pretty good explanation for anyone who is interested):

"People enjoy attractively designed gardens, public parks and playgrounds, residential areas, college campuses, shopping centers, golf courses, and parkways. Landscape architects design these areas so they are not only functional but also beautiful and harmonious with the natural environment. They plan the location of buildings, roads, and walkways, and the arrangement of flowers, shrubs, and trees. They also design and plan the restoration of natural places disturbed by humans, such as wetlands, stream corridors, mined areas, and forested land.

Working with building architects, surveyors, and engineers, landscape architects help determine the best arrangement of roads and buildings. They also collaborate with environmental scientists, foresters, and other professionals to find the best way to conserve or restore natural resources. Once these decisions are made, landscape architects create detailed plans indicating new topography, vegetation, walkways, and other landscaping details, such as fountains and decorative features.

In planning a site, landscape architects first consider the purpose of the project and the funds available. They then analyze the natural elements of the site, such as the climate, soil, slope of the land, drainage, and vegetation. They also assess existing buildings, roads, walkways, and utilities to determine what improvements are necessary. At all stages, they evaluate the project’s impact on the local ecosystem.

After studying and analyzing the site, landscape architects prepare a preliminary design. To address the needs of the client, as well as the conditions at the site, they frequently make changes before a final design is approved. They also take into account any local, State, or Federal regulations, such as those protecting wetlands or historic resources. In preparing designs, computer-aided design (CAD) has become an essential tool for most landscape architects. Many landscape architects also use video simulation to help clients envision the proposed ideas and plans. For larger scale site planning, landscape architects also use geographic information systems (GIS) technology, a computer mapping system.

Throughout all phases of planning and design, landscape architects consult with other professionals, such as civil engineers, hydrologists, or building architects, involved in the project. Once the design is complete, they prepare a proposal for the client. They produce detailed plans of the site, including written reports, sketches, models, photographs, land-use studies, and cost estimates and submit them for approval by the client and by regulatory agencies. When the plans are approved, landscape architects prepare working drawings showing all existing and proposed features. They also outline in detail the methods of construction and draw up a list of necessary materials. Landscape architects then monitor the implementation of their design, while general contractors or landscape contractors usually direct the actual construction of the site and installation of plantings.

Some landscape architects work on a variety of types of projects. Others specialize in a particular area, such as street and highway beautification, waterfront improvement projects, parks and playgrounds, or shopping centers. Still others work in regional planning and resource management; feasibility, environmental impact, and cost studies; or site construction. Increasingly, landscape architects work in environmental remediation, such as preservation and restoration of wetlands or abatement of stormwater run-off in new developments. Historic landscape preservation and restoration is another area where landscape architects increasingly play a role.

Landscape architects who work for government agencies do site and landscape design for government buildings, parks, and other public lands, as well as park and recreation planning in national parks and forests. In addition, they may prepare environmental impact statements and studies on environmental issues such as public land-use planning."