Clovis DowntownRevitalization

Clovis, New Mexico

Design and Planning Assistance CenterUniversity of New Mexico

Spring 2003

Clovis Downtown Revitalization

Clovis, New Mexico

Design and Planning Assistance CenterUniversity of New Mexico

Spring 2003

Faculty Advisor:Mark Childs

Student Team:

Smitha BalasubrahmanyaR. Jarrod Cline

Katya CrawfordR. Sean Darnell

Kim DeschampheleireKatie Maguire

Steve MillerDarren Pocus

Bill SlettomKrystyna Zelenay

Design and Planning Assistance Center

(DPAC) is a community service of the School of Architec-ture and Planning at the University of New Mexico. Wework with community groups and not-for-profit organizationsthroughout New Mexico on architectural, planning, andlandscape projects. DPAC was established in 1969 and isstaffed by students in architecture, planning, and landscapedegree programs.

Design ProjectsInfinity NightclubDarren Pocus

Facade Design IllustrationsSmitha Balasubrahmanya

Overhang DesignKrystyna Zelenay

Adaptive SpacesR. Jarrod Cline

The 300 LoftsR. Sean Darnell

Streetscape/Pocket ParkKatya Crawford

The Clovis RailyardKim Deschampeleire

Clovis Farmers� MarketKatie Maguire

Landmark LoftsSteve Miller

Architecture and SignageBill Slettom

Infinity Nightclub

Located at the south end of MainStreet, Infinity Nightclub can become an an-chor to both the the Main Street and RailYard corridores. Infinity will occupy theBekins warehouse building. The design willcreate two distinct spaces. The first willopen up to Main Street and will be a lounge/restaurant space. The second will be a highenergy dance area. The two spaces willbe defined by a ramp, which will be en-closed by a mesh screen and a glass wall.The ramp will wind in and out of the build-ing, establishing a visual landmark andcreating a dynamic and energetic circula-tion space.

FacultyMark Childs

StudentDaren R Pocus

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Facade Design Illustrations

The facade design illustrations provideguidelines for the facades of the buildings on mainstreet. The designs recognise the depth of 10�-14�within the facade in all floors to be a critical volume.Elements like balconies, signage, show windows,skylights, staircases and double height spaces inthis volume make the facade dynamic. The side-walk in front of the stores and street furniture playan important role in integrating the design andcreating a unified composition.

FacultyMark Childs

Student Smitha Balasubrahmanya

Scheme one shows an internalspiral stairs, a mural wallcontinuing up all the floors, whichalong with the trellis, providesshade in the terrace and a curvedbalcony. The trellis work, balconyand the supports for the signageare proposed to be in wrought ironto subtely compliment the olderbrick facade.

Illustation of use of shades to enhance the facade

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Scheme two shows the building with thespiral stairs to the terrace external to the facade. Ithas a glass enclosure and is part of the balcony.

The signage is proposed to be of metal-metal frame with metal lettering- anchored to thefacade. The intention here is to highlight the brickfacade through the signage.

Both the designs suggest paving- colouredconcrete tiles set within the main concrete paversof the sidewalk- flowing into the store�s �show area�and thereby integrating the store and the sidewalk.Separate paving in front of the entrance door to thesecond floor lend an identity to the activities andfloor above.

The designs also consider the stores to begeneric. An idea that the store front could have acounter for exhibit/sale/display/activity with seat-ing as a form of advertisement along with the showwindows is demonstrated here.

Illustration of the use of shades to enhance the facade

Initial studies of spaces withinthe facade show existingvariatons in the first floor showwindow area and intersectingpossibilities to enhance therelation of the building with thesidewalk.

OVERHANGDESIGN byKrystyna Zelenay

view of front elevation

Elevation 1�=16� View of overhang from above

Plan

Site Plan

Sketch of building with overhang

South Elevation

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the 300 lofts

A THRIVING DOWNTOWN DEPENDS ONTHE PRESENCE OF PEOPLE. THE BEST WAY TOGET PEOPLE DOWNTOWN IN MY OPINION IS TOHAVE THEM ALREADY THERE.... LIVING. I THINKTHAT DOWNTOWN RESIDENCE IS AN INTEGRALPART OF REVITALIZATION. THIS PROPOSAL ENVI-SIONS THE DEVELOPEMENT OF A SIXTEEN TOTWENTY-TWO UNIT CONDOMINIUM COMMUNITYON THE SECOND STORY OF THE 300 BLOCK. THEMAIN FOCUS OF THIS PROPOSAL IS LOOKING ATTHE BLOCK AS ONE PLOT TO DEVELOP AS AWHOLE RATHER THAN DEVELOPING IT IN APIECE-MEAL FASHION. BY INCLUDING ALL THELOTS IN ONE DESIGN RESOURCES ARE ABLE TOBE POOLED AND A �COMMUNITY� CAN BE CRE-ATED.

THE 300 LOFTS IS DREAMT OF AS AGROUP OF APARTMENTS. THAT ARE GROUPEDAROUND COMMON ATRUIM ENTRANCES. BYGROUPING THE UNITS AROUND ATRIUMS THE USEOF CORRIDORS CAN BE AVOIDED. CREATINGSPACES IN WHICH TO SOCIALIZE RATHER THANPATHS.

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R. Sean Darnell

THE UNITS ARE FINISHED OFF WITH DOORS, WINDOWS AND BENCHES OF A COMMON LAN-GUAGE, CREATING A STRONGER SENSE OF COMMUNITY. MATERIAL CHOICES FOR THESE VISIBLEFIXTURES SHOULD LOOK AT MATERIALS THAT JUXTAPOSE THEMSELVES AGAINST THE VERNACU-LAR BRICK AND WOOD, WHILE INCORPORATING FEATURES COMMON IN THE EXISTING ARCHITEC-TURE OF THE AREA. MY SUGGESTION IS BRUSHED METAL FOR THE DOORS AND WINDOWS ANDSTARK MODERNISM FOR THE ATRIUM FURNISHINGS IN AN EFFORT TO SEPARATE THE COMMUNITYFURNISHINGS FROM THOSE OF THE OCCUPANTS.

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TO CREATE A COMMUNITY LIKE THE 300 LOFTS ADEVELOPEMENT CORPORATION WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE EITHERTHE ENTIRE 300 BLOCK, OR THE SECOND FLOORS WOULD HAVE TOBE OPTIONED IN A CONDOMINIUM TYPE ARRANGEMENT. A PLAN FORHOUSING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA NEEDS TO THINK BIG TO SUC-CEED. INDIVIDUAL HOUSING ABOVE THE EXISTING STREET LEVEL RE-TAIL, THOUGH UNIQUE, DOES NOT CREATE THE LARGER SCALE COM-MUNITY THAT MAINSTEET IS WORKING TOWARDS, NOR DOES IT AD-DRESS THE LARGER GOAL OF BRINGING BODIES TO THE DOWNTOWNAREA. THE PROPOSAL OF THE 300 LOFTS LOOKS AT THE DOWN-TOWN AREA AS A GROUP OF BLOCKS RATHER THAN AS A GATHER-ING OF INDIVIDUAL LOTS. WHEN APPROACHING THE AREA IN THISMANNER, THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY BECOMES POSSIBLE.

unit type-B

unit type-A

site plan

kitchen

dining area

living

bath

bed

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III. Design

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CLOVIS MAIN STREET

Currently Main Street is one hundred feet wide from buildingedge to building edge. Ten foot sidewalks, angled parking, andthree car lanes compose the street. As a pedestrian, the streetfeels wide and exposed with few places to sit, gather or social-ize comfortably. Although many of the building have strongarchitectural character, the street as a whole does not.

The Intention of this design is to accomplish the following:

Give Main Street an identity that celebrates the historyand character of Clovis.

Bring the festive energy of the Farmer�s Market into thestreet on the 200 block.

Enhance the pedestrian experience.

Turn the existing pocket park into an urban oasis.

Incorporate rain catchment systems that provide waterfor the trees and pocket park on the 200 block.

COW SCULPTURES ON MAINSTREET?

The economy and identity of Clovis havestrong roots in the dairy industry. Theonce abundant aquifer has played a vi-tal role in helping this economy thrive.The cows are not only sculptural ele-ments, but cisterns as well. The intentof this installation is to honor and cel-ebrate both of these vital forces thatsupport the community. The cows be-come a proud symbol of Clovis thatstrengthens the identity of Main Streetwhile simultaneously adding a playfulelement to the downtown.

STREETSCAPE(with a focus on the 200 block)POCKET PARK

Student:Katya Crawford

Cast out of copper, the cows collect rainwater frombuilding tops through a siphoning system that canlater be used to water trees along Main Street.

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THE FARMER�S MARKET

This design proposes that the Farmer�s Market take pace on the 200 block of Main Street.By closing off the street to through traffic during market hours, Main Street would be transformend into abustling pedestrian environment. Vendors would back their vehicles up to the sidewalk to display their goodsunder the canopies of large shade trees. Market goers would have the opportunity to rest, socialize or picnicin the pocket park in between shopping. Local acoustic bands could play music in the park to add to the festiveenergy, and local businesses (such as a cafe or the candy store) could set up temporary stalls at the market.

THE STREET

The turning lane has been re-moved and the sidewalks ex-tended out to eighteen feet each.This additional space allows re-tail or cafe business to spill outinto the street, creating a moreengaging outdoor environment.This also allows room foradditonal tree plantings, benchesand pedestrian scale lighting.

A successful downtown is when the actual street becomes the destination. The Farmer�s Market is theperfect opportunity to make that happen.

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THE POCKET PARK

The idea behind the design of the pocketpark is to create an intimate urban oasis.The east wall has been relaced with a fa-cade that recognized the dominant archi-tectural style of the two-story brick build-ings along Main Street. Eastern sunlightwill filter through the open windows on thesecond level and three doors on the bot-tom level of the facade allow pedestrianaccess to and from the parking lot to theeast of the site. The park features flower-ing ornamental shade trees, water gardens/fountain and tables and chairs. Rainwatercollected from the rooftop of the Clovis Ho-tel will be filtered and used to fill the watergardens and water the trees.

17 VIEW OF POCKET PARK FROM THE STREET VIEW OF THE WATER GARDENS WITHIN THE POCKET PARK

STREET TREE SELECTION

Street tree selection is crucial to thedesign. The tree must be tough inuban conditions, grow tall and bepruned as to not hide building signage.The addition of trees will help cleanthe air, add kinetic energy to the streetthrough the rustling of leaves and thechirping of birds, and will provide shadein the summertime. Large speciminetrees planted at the ends of each blockhelp to visusally narrow the widestreet. Ornamental trees in the pocketpark provide blossoms in the spring,shade in the summer and color in thefall.

Some suggestions for the trees are:

Modesto AshJapanese PagodaHoney Locust

Ornamental trees for the pocketpark:Golden Rain TreeFlowering CrabappleTexas RedbudBradford Pear

Specimine trees at street corners:London Plane

Structural Soiland thetrenchimprove thelife and healthof the urbanstreet tree bycreatingnecessaryvoids for airand waterpockets forthe roots.

Harmful soil compaction isalso prevented.

The Clovis Railyard

The town of Clovis is defined by theintersection of the railroad and Main Street.Revitalizing the railyard area is critical tothe success of the Main Street program. Thedesign I propose includes the three build-ings currently on the site: the Harvey House,the train station that was recently convertedinto a museum and the railroad offices. Thevision for the area is a comprehensive de-sign that will attract tourists as well as lo-cals. From First Street the locomotive andformal park provide visual interest and at-tract visitors to come explore the area. Pro-posed infill shops give the streetscape onFirst Street a more lively character. FromMain Street the view into the railyard areais framed by an allee of trees with the SantaFe sign behind it. The park that was histori-cally located between the Harvey Houseand the offices is reinstated and providesa nice shaded area of repose. A shadedarcade runs along the shops that face theplaza in front of the Harvey House. Thestrong axis it creates continues as a paththrough the formal park and leads to asmaller plaza where the locomotive is situ-ated. Access to the area is facilitated by adrop off roundabout and parking on bothends of the railyard.

StudentKim Deschampheleire

Axonometric perspective of the area

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Plan

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View of the arcade from the main parking area

Image Description

View from Main Street into the railyard

View to the plaza and the train museum from the locomotive

View of the arcade and park from the end of Main Street

Clovis Farmers MarketThis project proposes a new location for the Farm-ers Market on the corner of 1st and Main Streets.The site is multi-functional with room for outdoorperformance spaces, an outdoor movie screen anda park. A shade structure covers the sidwalk sur-rounding the site and a main building on the cornerof 1st and Main anchors the corner and containsrestroom and concession facilities. There is roomfor 30 to 50 vendors including spaces for trailers inthe middle. The design was influenced by the ArtDeco theaters and Clovis� connection to airplanesand industry.

There are also numerous possibilities for public artthat could be funded by the state AIPP (Art in Pub-lic Places) or NEA ( the electrical posts, the cis-terns, the back of the movie screen, the site floor,the benches and planters)

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FacultyMark Childs

StudentKatie Maguire

corner of 1st and Main

Art Deco theaters

aerial view of site

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phot

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site plan and elevation

building floor plan

site location

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corner building entrance covered sidewalk

movie screen sign

posts and cisterns

axonometric view of site

side entrance

l a n d m a r k l o f t sThough unloved by many Clovis resi-dents, the old Clovis Hotel is an im-portant historical building with greatpotential for being revitalized and forcontributing to the revitalization of thedowntown area. As mentioned by pro-fessionals, the feasibility of renovat-ing any project in Downtown is greatlyenhanced if the project is not stand-ing alone. To this end, a large portionof the Hotel will be residential, bring-ing more consumers to live downtownand encouraging more businesses tolocate there. As residential and retailuses fuel each other�s progress, thevalue of all properties in the area willincrease, and a vital, living downtownarea will emerge.

The old Clovis Hotel is a landmark thatcan be seen from all over town, whichmakes it an ideal icon for people toassociate with the revitalization that ishappening throughout the downtownarea. A few visible additions make itapparent that life and energy have re-turned to the historic building. Thenovelty of a �Pueblo Deco� style build-ing that was once New Mexico�s tall-est structure could also be used ef-fectively in attracting tourists andpeople from out of town.

The following overall gestures that I�msuggesting to revitalize the old ClovisHotel could be accomplished inphases:

n restaurant addition

n resitential & office conversion

n street level revitalization

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residential& office

rough unit sizes

A 1,310 sfB 720 sfC 900 sfD 1,000 sfE 620 sfF 490 sfG 560 sfH 600 sfI 640 sfJ 560 sfK 540 sfL 850 sfM 800 sfN 810 sfO 760 sfP 760 sfQ 800 sfR 850 sfS 2,950 sf

7 units per

2 floors

2 story section

7 units per

3 floors

3 story section

4 units per

2 floors

1 units per

2 floors

entire floor unit (office or large residence)

existing low ceilings

double high ceil-ings in elevator& stair areas(proposed

-offers varying compositions for loft-homes -good views for residents -knocked out floors will create units with double high ceilings

possibilities for floors 2-9

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streetlevelrevitalization

3 externalchanges

existing

ground level usage& site plan

GRAND ENTRY: portico with revolving door

retail space opens to pocket park, north facingwindows added to ballroom (2nd story)

pocket park

FIRE EXCAPECONCEALED:stairs on west haveverticle fins on eitherside that can haverented advertisementspace or signage forretail space below orjust a large bannercarrying the new

main

st.

2nd st.

-all existing retail spaces will be re-opened-awning will be added and treesplanted along all sidewalk area to makemore pedestrian friendly-�pocket park� will integrate with thenorth-west retail space allowing forsidewalk cafe space, etc.-the main entry (south side) will be en-hanced to be more grand and may in-clude valet parking drop off-parking lot behind �pocket park� maybe purchased for tenant parking withvisitor parking on street

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restaurantaddition

-architecturally will read as a new addition (not trying to blend in with existing) -gives place to lookout -makes special setting for moderate to high price

dining

view from restaurant towardsrailyard (south)

looking north

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Architecture and Signage

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Illus

trat

ions

by

Bill

Sle

ttom

As shown in these examples, the signagefits the proportions of the building.Consider how these elements work to-gether:� proper size of signage� detail in the brickwork� size and shape of windows� proportions of the building.

Clovis has an enviable inventory of architec-turally interesting buildings on Main Street. Bypaying attention to how each building works asa sign, and how the buildings work together asa larger sign, each block becomes the major iden-tifying element for shopping and social activ-ity.

Bill Slettom

Use awnings to provideshade for pedestrians, and asa colorful way to advertiseyour building. Use awnings

on second floor, too.

When signage extends frombuilding to building it bisectsthe facade. This eliminatesthe opportunity to use the

whole front as a sign.

Take advantage of architecturaldetails to bring attention to the

building. Don�t encroach signageon the top of the building.

Engage shoppers and strollersby restoring display windows

and doors. Make the entry easyto find and inviting.

Reground the upper floor with thebottom by uncovering the originalmaterials. This will visually recon-nect the building to the sidewalk.

Clovis has a long tradition ofvertical signage. Use three

dimensional signage as a color-ful way to draw attention to

your building.

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