COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO
Colorado Springs, where I went to college, is a sprawling suburb city at the foot of Pikes Peak. While gorgeous, much of the downtown area is poorly planned and left abandoned. Below are two projects revolving around restoring life to the downtown community of the Springs through adaptive reuse.
Multi-media collage showing the sun exposure, rush hours, and views at a student apartment in West Campus, Colorado College Gas Station Revival
The result of an architectural representation class, this project puts forth an idea for a long-abandoned lot on the corner of the busiest intersection in downtown Colorado Springs. Dilapidated and fenced off, this building is desperate for a remodel.
Surrounded by fast food restaurants, this lot is ideal for a quick and healthy spot to grab food or meet with friends. There is ample outdoor space with the potential for a patio, lawn, multi-use driveway, and parking lot. This project was mainly focused on combining different methods of representation and finding ways to combine a past use with a future possibility.
In the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, this abandoned building sits adjacent to a school, park, and YMCA. The closest food options are greasy fast food, leaving the area in need of quick, healthy options for meals, especially for developing children.
The location and open space afforded by this site make it an optimal setting for a casual and fun gathering space that can be home to food trucks, games, and live music, as well as more permanent areas like a market and deli.
Parking Garage Transformation
Parking garages and lots in downtown Colorado Springs This project focused on potential adaptation strategies for parking structures and ways that these often obtrusive buildings can be reimagined to develop community and become useful spaces.
Proposed for a garage adjacent to the Olympic Museum in downtown Colorado Springs, this lot is surrounded by other parking spaces and undeveloped land. I propose a synthetic slope to be fitted onto a new parking structure, allowing multiple uses and opportunities for revenue.
This space to ski, snowboard, tube, or hike in the center of downtown increases access to these sports for underserved populations and creates a center around which the downtown community can grow.
I propose a ski slope to be placed atop a modified parking garage to maximize the use of space in the area. A slope has the potential to create community through events, lessons, and competitions.
The lot is adjacent to other community gathering spaces, including the performing arts center, the professional soccer stadium, and many bars and restaurants, making it a perfect site for a fun, communal space that the entire city can enjoy.
