Neighborhood Community Center
University of Pittsburgh - Studio 4, Fall 2020
​
Project Site: Regent Square, Pittsburgh, PA
Overhead axon viewed from the Southeast corner.
THE SITE
Located at the intersection of South Braddock & Biddle Avenue, the site is currently a parking lot that serves as the main entry point into Frick Park for residents in Regent Square and the surrounding neighborhoods.
​
The main challenge of this site is that it is both visible and accessible from all four sides, meaning the design could not bias any one façade.
.jpg)
Orient the building massing to optimize solar exposure.
Create three facades to make every approach feel welcoming.
CONTEXTUAL MATERIALITY
The hiking trails in Frick Park are lined with stacked stone retaining walls that which are covered in a pale, blue-green lichen - reminiscent of copper patina. These walls are quite beautiful, as they're these man-made objects that begin to melt into their natural surroundings.
​
I chose to use these walls as inspiration for my materials pallete, as I wanted to soften the transition between the built and natural environments. The design took on the form of three curved stone walls that are connected with patinated copper panels.
Southern facade, viewed from Braddock Trail looking Northeast.
Northwestern facade, viewed from Biddle Trail looking Southeast.