Springfield Millrace

Springfield Millrace Park Site Improvements

Design Build Studio '94

Course Description

This studio provided students with a "hands-on" experience in landscape and architectural construction, affording them an opportunity to explore the possibilities and limitations that materials such as earth, water, wood, concrete, and metals bring to a project in the field. Participants also became familiar with basic construction methods and practices, and learned how different tools are utilized to create the elements found in a specific site design. The overarching goal for the project was for students to understand the relationship between design intent and design realization. The course offered an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge and experience so that the student's future design work can be carried through from concept to design to construction with a greater degree of rigor and understanding.

Project Overview

The project involved a neglected site adjacent to the historic Springfield Millrace, and near to the Springfield Depot building. The program for the project included stream bank restoration, an overlook built over the millrace, an information kiosk designed to accommodate educational signage, a large trellace or pergola adjacent to the kiosk, universally accessible pathways and circulation routes, irrigation, and planting throughout the site. The schedule for the studio roughly followed this path:

conceptualization and finalization of a site master plan, building upon the work done by students in a spring quarter seminar that focused upon the design of a kiosk/pergola structure (Week one);
development of specific plans and details for structures and sitework (Weeks one-two);
identification of materials, evaluation of costs, order/obtain materials, and site preparation and demolition (Week Two)
construction of selected elements/objects/sitework (Weeks two-eight); on-site was completed on August 5.

Requirements

This course was open to all students of architecture and landscape architecture who had completed at least (for LA students) Site Analysis and Landscape Technologies I (or their equivelant for non-LA students) and three design studios. Students were required to provide their own small hand tools (hammer, tape measure, pliers, etc - we will meet to develop a list of what's necessary and reasonable) as well as their own protective gear (boots, gloves, safety goggles/glasses). Power tools and more expensive tools/machinery were either provided or rented as needed.

Images of the Project

Click on the title to see the GIF image; (Coming Soon) click on the JPEG that follows the title to see a higher resolution JPEG-version of the same image