A nod to preserving architectural history

SD November 12, 2015

118 East Main Street was built in 1872 by Fred Wilson and was part of the well known "Cooper Block" in downtown Bozeman Montana. It's first use was dedicated to the housing of Walter Cooper's Armory and other businesses critical to the survival of the frontier town. It stood tall with eleven bay facades, of which seven remain to this day.

The project's goal was to preserve the past, while carrying it into the future. Through research, the current retailers still felt the historic building to be needed, but also had needs for rear alley access necessary to running their businesses. The focus of the preservation of the building was split in two. One was the historic main street facade and the other was a renovation of the alley.

While focusing on these two aspects, an addition of sustainable features were implemented. Earthquake potential was also an aspect that needed to be dealt with.

The interior space of the building was tripled in size, emphasizing the addition of natural daylight to utilize a new passive storage wall, along with integrating a complete seismic system into the structure.

The reconstruction of a portion of the front facade was done by referencing the 1872 photos. Although the new space is modern and open, the design elements of the original architect continue to prevail.

This was one effort in which the history of a small town was preserved for generations to come.

118 East Main Street was awarded a Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board Award in Excellence in Historic Preservation in 2004.

Aerial Tram, A New Mode of Transportation for San Diego.

SD September 12, 2014

San Diego Aerial Tram

The AERIAL TRAM concept sprung from a 2013 American Institute of Architects San Diego Chapter challenge to provide a more visible entry connection between Park Avenue and Balboa Park - Place Architecture received an AIA San Diego Honorary Mention Award for our idea.

After realizing the Tram would provide an efficient manner to travel within the Core Neighborhood Centers, Place Architecture has focused its efforts on making this idea a reality. An aerial tram would provide a unique and exciting mode of transportation while also connecting Balboa Park to downtown and the San Diego Harbor.

Place Architecture's plan identifies three main sites which include; The Main Landing at The Cabrillo Bridge in Balboa Park, Aerial Tram Terminus at Petco Park, and The Waterfront Landing on the San Diego Harbor.

With the reopening of the Starlight Theater planned in Balboa Park, the need to maximize parking availability for those events has become evident. The Balboa Park Terminal, would provide 4,000 to 5,000 underground parking spaces in a subterranean parking structure to serve the tram riders as well as providing ample parking for park and city visitors alike.

Downtown/ Petco Park Terminal

Designed and developed by Place Architecture

Access to the iconic Balboa Park for downtown residents and visitors
Create an easy way of travel through the heart of San Diego - via 8th Ave.
Connects center of hotel, convention, and entertainment districts to Balboa Park
Minimal construction is needed to create each tram station located on currently vacant sites
Connects core neighborhood zones for residents - 1.5 mile and 1.0 mile routes
Aerial Trams have long history in cityscapes - examples in Singapore & Portland with defined costs
Extendable to other community nodes over San Diego's canyons
Aerial tram and towers located below existing flight path & over existing City right-of-way paths
Tram cars designed to mitigate residents privacy concerns

Balboa Park Terminal

Access from Balboa Park to the San Diego Harbor
Reconnects the Park to the Star of India proposed in original City Plan
As the Harbor and Waterfront evolve, access to the Maritime Museum area will become easier for all
A bird's eye view of the City & Bay
Added parking is central to the museums proposed Starlight Amphitheater, and Globe Theater
Maintains traditional pedestrian entry to Balboa Park over restored Cabrillo Bridge
Provides significant access to the park while maintaining historic integrity- being largely unseen
Created an easy way of travel from the mesa of Balboa Park to San Diego Harbor via Hawthorne

Terraced Underground Parking

Terraced parking structure uses access from 6th and Laurel & exit to existing unused freeway on-ramp
Unseen parking structure constructed under formal plantings without disruption to existing surface area
Tram connects directly to large parking structure below Balboa Park's surface relieving parking issues
Provides 4,000 - 5,000 car park for expansion of Balboa Park venues, Petco, and Harbor
Planted terrace edges open garage to daylight, connect existing trail system, and enhance 163 entry
Weekday parking for City, retail, service, and office employees with tram connection
Parking invisible to park visitors but visible to motorists along 163 entering city
Parking relief for Downtown, Balboa Park, and the San Diego Harbor along with the new Waterfront park near County Administration Building

Who doesn't like an engineered guardrail?

SD August 5, 2014

San Diego Natural History Museum

Guardrail & Truss Design and Development Process...

The new design of the Natural History Museum Special Collections Gallery includes the addition of two mezzanines each requiring a new structural truss to support them. With this in mind Place saw the opportunity to combine function and form by designing an artistically engineered guardrail. This unique guardrail would provide not only the needed strength to support the new mezzanines but also add an organic element to the space.

IDEA - Increasing library & gallery square footage was accomplished with the addition of two mezzanines. The challenge was to create a long-span structural beam with a natural design theme that could also be easily built in the existing space. The result was a unique structural guardrail design.

EVOLUTION - Through collaboration of architecture and engineering, the design of the guardrail/truss evolved within a parametric digital modeling program.

TEST - The design was digitally tested by engineers at ARUP to generate a structural guardrail/truss.

OUTCOME - The creation of a structural member strong enough to support the new mezzanines and unique enough to enhance the overall experience for visitors of the new Special Collections Gallery in the Natural History Museum.