Columbia University Masters of Science in Architecture and Urban DesignIowa State University Bachelor of Architecture

Aaron Foley

Architecture Portfolio

The Brooklyn Knowledge Exchange is an initiative to provide spaces for attracting new startup companies to Downtown Brooklyn and equip the current population in the area with the new skills needed to generate human capital for future growth.

The proximity of Downtown Brooklyn to the growing clusters of the tech industry in DUMBO, manufacturing in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and the various art and design studios in the area, as well a large under-educated and unemployed population, make it an ideal location for the implementation of a new system of knowledge exchange.

The BKE initiative is to create temporary, below market rate work/teach spaces as a way to attract new startup companies to downtown as well as provide the physical space necessary for education of the under-educated population living in Brooklyn. This program will first be established on the site of Farragut Houses and near Ingersoll Houses as a way to address the needs of

the entrepreneurs and students in the system. As the demands of the system change over time, the temporary work/teach units can be altered and redistributed to other vacant and underutilized spaces to better serve the immediate needs of the area.

In conjunction with the work/teach spaces, the development of new live spaces in existing underutilized buildings along Fulton Mall will provide homes for the entrepreneurs in the system and will help to transform the culture of downtown into a more lively, 24/7 community. Additional amenities such as new public plazas, community centers, and new temporary retail programming will further strengthen the relationship between the BKE and the greater Downtown Brooklyn area. A shuttle system and changes to the street-scape will make pedestrian and bicyclist access easier to these new developments and to the already existing clusters, creating the framework for larger change within Downtown.

BROOKLYN KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGECOLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - FALL 2012

The BKE initiative is programmed as a way of upward mobility not only for the residents in the area, but also for the area of Downtown Brooklyn as a whole.

By taking advantage of the economic clusters downtown and the human capital we are able to create a symbiotic relationship to spur growth.

This proposal is for a network of research facilities that would act as an urban generator serving the North Shore communities of Staten Island. We see the North Shore as the ideal location to implement Mayor Bloomberg and New York City’s initiative to promote the development and commercialization of green technologies. The North Shore has available land to develop, a low density of buildings, existing infrastructure and a strategic location between Manhattan and Newark Airport.

The research facilities will work to resolve existing site conditions through research and education. These conditions include issues with water and soil pollution, protection of the existing wetlands and ecosystems, and the potentially hazardous impacts on human health that are on the North Shore.These new facilities will be

combined with a variety of housing typologies to accommodate both new and existing residents, new commercial industries, and new support programs for the facilities and the surrounding areas. The network will be linked along the waterfront by a continuous pedestrian path and the reintroduction of the rail. The system will allow for pedestrian access along the North Shore and promote research facilities to work with the existing waterfront industries. Inland, the network will be connected by a new road system that will provide for bike and pedestrian traffic to connect the various research nodes. This network will work to improve the ecological and economic conditions of the North Shore by bringing a variety of new opportunities, amenities, and housing options for the current and future residents of the North Shore.

NORTHSHORE RESEARCH FACILITIESCOLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SUMMER 2012

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PHASE 1: WATER AND SOIL TOXICITY RESEARCHEXISTING RAIL RE-ESTABLISHED FOR COMMUTERS AND FREIGHT

CONNECTING THE SITE WHILE INTEGRATING WATERFRONT ACCESS

INTRODUCTION OF NEW SUPPORT FUNCTIONS INTO EXISTING UNDER UTILIZED FABRIC

INTRODUCTION OF NEW SUPPORT FUNCTIONS

CONNECT INLAND WITH NEW PATHS TO EXIST-ING OR NEW SUPPORT FUNCTIONS

NEW CONVENTION CENTER / THEATRE

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This project called for the design of an 8,000 seat, Olympic style Velodrome in Boston. The site was located along the Charles River, between the MIT and Harvard Campuses. The site had previously been occupied by soccer and baseball fields as well as other recreational elements.

The design first approached the circulatory relationships to existing paths along the urban edge as well as the waterfront. The connections to the existing fabric of the neighborhood soon became the driving force behind the design, greatly influencing the internal and external circulation of the Velodrome.

This strong movement to connect back to the urban circulatory paths caused us to re-evaluate the program of the building and its impact on the community. The Velodrome is an arena that supports temporary racing events while the structure itself is a constant in the neighborhood. The scale of the structure itself demanded that the Velodrome support additional functions beyond race days.

The focus of the design of the entrance walkway and circulation became a means

of connection to the neighborhood. The circulation serves as a linear courtyard that wraps the structure and leads to a public park above the concession area. This function would be available regardless of what was occurring within the Velodrome. This idea of maintaining some of the park’s original functions became critical for us as we worked through the design. The layers of public and private functions as well as visual connection back to the site further developed the ramp system.

The design of the arena aspect of the velodrome was developed around several key components that guide the form and structure of the building.

Visual connection from the seats to the track had to be unobstructed. Light had to be controlled to reduce glare on the track and maintain a consistent racing surface. These two ideas were the drivers in the design of the roof. The deep structural trusses allow clear site lines and lock into piers that support the seats and the circulation ramp. The seats were balanced by having a majority of them on the urban front that allowed easy access for the spectators.

BOSTON VELODROMEIOWA STATE UNIVERSITY - FALL 2010

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This project was to create a Bicycle Hub in downtown Des Moines to strengthen the bike culture of the area. The site is in what is now part of the sculpture garden near the central library.

The proposal includes a comprehensive plan for bicycle transportation in downtown Des Moines and the design of a central hub for bicycle storage and services. Part of the proposal was to create new bike routes that maximize the access between residential areas and downtown and connect popular attractions together to form a downtown loop. Separate bike lanes would run along the loop to signify a difference between car and bicycle traffic. Also planned was to start up a bike storage program to allow bicycles to be stored on the front and back of the public buses

and to have transportable hubs for special occasions.

The most important aspect of this project began with the mapping of the urban conditions of downtown Des Moines. Our group researched areas of interest, the location of parks, the density of surrounding office buildings, and the street grid and used the information to inform how the Hub could link into the existing systems.

For our Hub we included several amenities such as bicycle rental, equipment rental, cycling classes, automated storage (192 bike locker, 100 permanent with membership), shower and changing facilities, and an information station.

DES MOINES BICYCLE HUB IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY - SPRING 2008

Grand Avenue Section Looking West

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Sherman Hills

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The Stories Project is the centerpiece of the Iowa River Landing development project in Coralville, Iowa. The project is made up of three components. The first component is the Stories Center, a literary museum, which will be the main attraction in the development. The second component is the Hall of American Literary Achievement. The Iowa Language and Literacy Institute is the third.

The design of the building was greatly influenced by site factors as well as the incorporation of our group’s previous monadic space study. For the monadic spaces we had to isolate a single phenomenon that was observed in the Iowa landscape. These concepts were then introduced into the design of

the project through various functions. Sound isolation, framed views, and passage of time all came into play in the design. The site presented many unique conditions. The main two issues were noise control from the highway and flooding problems with the Iowa River. The building is elevated to deal with flooding; there is a large solid wall to eliminate the sound from the nearby highway. The shape of the building and atrium was designed to make a visual connection with the river, which serves as the most powerful landmark of the area.

THE STORIES PROJECTIOWA STATE UNIVERSITY - SUMMER 2009

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