UMass Amherst Design Center in Springfield

Upcoming Student Presentations 10/26: Reconnecting Springfield to the Riverfront

2011-10-21T01:12:00.000-07:00

The UMass Landscape Architecture students have completed their work on reconnecting Springfield to the riverfront. The presentation will be at the UMass Design Center, 3-7 Elm Street (Court Square) this Wednesday 10/26 at 6:30 PM. I hope you will be able to join us. For those of you that were able to attend the kick off meeting, I'm sure you'll want to see the progress made. Feel free to invite others.

-Design Center Staff

2011-10-05T05:32:00.000-07:00

Riverscaping Learning Laboratory

Michael DiPasquale, Director of the Design Center is coordinating three studios and one laboratory this semester. An urban design and an architecture studio are focusing on the riverfront. This is the result of the riverscaping learning laboratory last April. Another architecture studio is working in the South End. Frank Sleegers is leading an experimental art studio in the Lyman Warehouse District with site specific temporary art to bring more attention to this underutilized area.

Exploring the Southern Riverfront

2011-10-05T05:28:00.000-07:00

Springfield residents and activists discuss challenges and opportunities for the Southern Riverfront. Sheila McElwaine explains possibilities to conceive the Railroad Corridor - one of the biggest barriers today to connect to and from the River - as a "Rail with Trail" corridor without fences and some controlled on-grade crossings. This is practice in Canada and applicable to Springfield.

2011-09-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

The Senior class of the UMass Amherst Landscape Architecture will be doing another studio project in Springfield and they are looking for input from you! The focus is on reconnecting people to the riverfront. In particular they will be looking at the southern section of the CT River bikeway/walkway (South of the Hall of Fame) and how to better integrate it into the neighborhood. Additionally, they will do some design concepts on how to connect to Forest Park and the Agawam bikeway/walkway.

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 20

Where: UMass Amherst Design Center in Springfield, 3-7 Elm Street (Court Square)

Time: 6:30 PM

Many of you have attended these public engagement meetings with students in the past; we really appreciate your involvement. It makes the learning experience so much richer for the students.

I hope you can make it. Please feel free to pass on to other individuals who you think might have an interest in this topic. Thanks! Scott

Scott R. Hanson, Principal Planner
Office of Planning and Economic Development, Springfield, MA

Design Center News

2011-09-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

This past summer, The UMass Amherst Design Center in Springfield hosted a dozen students from Springfield's Dunbar Community Center for a 3-week class studying Springfield architecture. Students in the class learned about how buildings are designed, and how structures work. Class activities included mapmaking, perspective drawing and model building. The Design Center staffperson Laura Selmani lead the class with support from the UMass department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, Chair Elizabeth Barbec and Design Center Director, Michael DiPasquale.

Design Center Hosts Reception for Riverscape Attendees

2011-06-02T14:31:00.000-07:00

On Friday, April 9th The Design Center hosted a reception for Riverscape attendees. The Riverscaping Learning Laboratories, which took place in Springfield on April 8-9th, brought together over 100 people from all over the region. The event featured reports from designers, academics, planners and community leaders from Hamburg, Germany responses from leaders and experts from local communities, and a series of roundtable topics including art, science and education, greenways and recreation along the river, alternative energy, architecture and planning, creative economies, transportation, brownfield remediation, urban farming, green infrastructure, historical heritage and adult education.

Eight experts from the Pioneer Valley and Hamburg lectured and engaged in various intense, interdisciplinary roundtable discussions and a day of summary presentations and discussion. The results of this event will be published shortly on the Riverscaping website and will include narrative summaries, photos, pdfs of the presentations and an overall vision defined by the discussion.

You can listen to an interview with Professor Frank Sleegers addressing the goals of the conference here.

After the conference, attendees gathered at the Design Center to mingle and view some of the various studio project work posted.

Walnut Street Design Progression

2011-05-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

The above images from the Spring 2011 graduate urban design studio show how the various stages of street design improvements on Walnut Street can considerably increase the appeal of the neighborhood and encourage more pedestrian activity and biking.

Franks Sleegers presents at national symposium

2011-05-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

This past April 29th and 30th, Professor Frank Sleegers presented at the Service Learning in Planning and Design Symposium: Erasing Boundaries, at Hunter College in New York City. His presentation reflected his involvement and experience with the UMass/Springfield Design Center and was entitled "The Creation of a University Design Center and its Impact Upon Learning Experience and Community Involvement". The presentation detailed the various analysis and recommendations various design studios have conducted in Springfield, and in particular some of the pedagogical implications.

A brief summary of the conclusions from his presentation include:

1. The selection of the studio sites in respect to potential synergies and sequences creates legible outcomes:

Interdisciplinary Work
Focus of Energies
Physical Change
Academic Results

2. Community engagement and interaction is part of the design studio pedagogy.

3. Collaboration of the Design Center with city planning departments creates synergies with projects other than studios (e.g. student jobs, art events, workshops, etc)

4. The physical location in the center of Downtown Springfield creates a presence with major opportunities for students and the public. The full potential of this presence has not yet been fully exploited.

5. The Design Center is offering some basic services for the students and the community. The coordination of design studios is a current strength of the Design Center. Other services are fulfilled but could be performed at a higher quality.

6. Limited funding from private capital or academic grants is limiting the breadth of services of the Design Center and can only be a short term solution. Alternative funding sources have to be sought for.

Areas for further research include surveys of students, city planners, and active community members.

Spring 2011 Graduate Urban Design Studio

2011-05-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

The Creating Livable Neighborhoods in Six Corners and Old Hill graduate studio produced excellent work that will help inform Springfield's decision making for revitalizing these critical neighborhoods.

In collaboration with Springfield residents, students used their input to inform their site analysis and design recommendations.

A primary focus of the studio was the "Six Corners" intersection, as its unusual configuration presents unique design challenges.

Another area of focus was the Watershops Pond District, which offers interesting possibilities for a variety of commercial or residential uses.

The historic Armory Building has the potential for various adaptive reuse projects, given the needs of both the building tenants and local residents.

More designs from this studio will be featured in subsequent posts.

UMass Landscape Architecture Studios Work in Springfield

2011-05-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Spring 2011 found two UMass landscape architecture studios working in Springfield and applying their design skills towards revitalizing the city.

Taught by Professor Frank Sleegers, the Creating Livable Neighborhoods in Six Corners and Old Hill graduate studio built off the recommendations from the Fall 2010 Regional Planning graduate studio.The primary goal of the project was to develop a vision to renew Old Hill and Six Corners to improve livability for their residents and create new opportunities for housing, recreation, working and commercial activities. The Graduate Urban Design Studio developed the recommendations of the Planning studio with a strong focus on the design of the physical environment to create tangible vision for a revitalization of these two great neighborhoods. These proposals were discussed with the public and planning officials to spark more interest and visualize new goals for the area.

Sustainable Site Development: Central Marketplace, is an undergraduate studio taught by Professor Jane Thurber, which explored the addition of a public market and associated open and community space to an urban neighborhood in the South End district of downtown Springfield. The market and associated outdoor spaces, woven into the core of this neighborhood, have the potential to be both an important local amenity and a city wide amenity. This project offers the potential to help the city define for itself how it will embrace the opportunities and challenges surrounding the evolving concepts of sustainable, local and green practices.

Subsequent posts will showcase the excellent work developed by these studios.

Professor Sleegers Studio continues the Design Center focus on Old Hills and Six Corners.

2011-01-31T09:25:00.000-08:00

Frank Sleegers, faculty member in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, is building upon the work from Peter Kumble and Michael DiPasquale's Fall 2010 studio. The Fall 2010 studio entitled "Neighborhood Revitalization: Old Hill and Six Corners," well received, both by the department and civic and community groups involved in the consultation process, drew up a number of guidelines and proposals to address neighborhood concerns. The goal of Sleegers 2011 studio is to take some of those proposals, and, with further community guidance, develop them into actual, implementable, ideas.

Upcoming Public Meeting on Feb 2nd

2011-01-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

JOIN US for a First Look at the preliminary design ideas and sketches for the Old Hill/Six Corners Neighborhoods. These designs are the product of the Fall 2010 regional planning studio focused on the neighborhood. During this public meeting folks are encouraged to share ideas and provide feedback on the designs. Refreshments will be served.

Date/Time: Feb 2nd, 6-8 pm
Location: The Mason Wright Retirement Center, Emerson Hall, 74 Walnut St, Springfield

Fall 2010 Studio focuses on Springfield's Upper Lyman Warehouse District

2010-11-17T09:05:00.000-08:00

The Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning continued the successful collaboration with the City of Springfield and the Office of Planning and Economic Development this fall. Supported by the UMass Amherst Design Center, the Senior Urban Design Studio worked in the Upper Lyman Warehouse District and presented their work on Wednesday, October 27 in downtown Springfield.

"Our Students developed visions and ideas for the revitalization of this unique area that is in close proximity to the Union Station. Short-term strategies and long-term visions together resolved in comprehensive plans. We had a great creative process over the last seven weeks. All the concepts were based on a community envisioning workshop that took place in early September to discover needs and potentials. We hope that our visual plans will trigger a process to re-connect this undiscovered jewel in Springfield and bring it back on the map." -- Frank Sleegers, LARP Professor

Design Center to be Represented at Conference in Budapest

2010-06-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

Design Center Director, Michael Di Pasquale and UMass Amherst Professor Frank Sleegers will present the paper "University urban design centers in the planning and implementation of urban greenways. Possible strategies for the UMass Amherst Design Center in Springfield, MA" at the Fábos Conference on Landscape and Greenway Planning in Budapest, July 8-11, 2010.

According to the UMass Amherst LARP website:

Organized by the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Corvinus University of Budapest, The Fábos International Conference on Landscape and Greenway Planning is held every three years to bring together experts who are influencing landscape planning, policy making and greenway planning from the local to international level. It is intended to highlight recent trends and expand the literature about landscape and greenway planning. The aim is to explore how landscape architects and planners from different countries have approached greenway planning and to understand how greenways have been tailored to each county’s unique geographical, cultural, and political circumstances.

visit the conference website for more information.

http://fabos.uni-corvinus.hu/mod/resource/view.php?id=44

UMass design center at Springfield's Court Square nearly ready

2010-05-14T12:34:00.001-07:00

Check out the following article from the Republican.

http://blog.masslive.com/breakingnews/print.html?entry=/2010/05/umass_design_center_at_springf.html

Final Presentation by Architecture Students for Redevelopment of Pynchon Park

2010-05-05T11:33:00.002-07:00

UMass Amherst students from the School of Architecture will present their plans for the redevelopment of Pynchon Park and surrounding area on Wednesday, May 12 at 6:00PM. PLEASE JOIN US. The meeting will be held in the first floor conference room at TDBank, 1441 Main Street. You’ve seen the great work from the Landscape Architecture students now it’s time to see the creative work from the Architecture students.

A Little History on Our Building

2010-05-05T11:33:00.001-07:00

3-7 Elm Street, part of the historic Byers Block, was constructed for James Byers in 1835 by noted architect Simon Sanborn. This remaining part of the Block constitutes the oldest commercial building still standing in the city. The building has served several functions throughout the years. These range from the Elm Street Tree Shop (which occupied the ground floor from 1866-1906) to the offices of several notable Springfield citizens, including George Bancroft, George Ashmun, Reuben Chapman, 12 Springfield judges and 7 Springfield mayors.

Art and Architecture Students present their designs for Pynchon Plaza

2010-03-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

Graduate Students in the Art and Architecture Program, from Caryn Brause design studio which focused on Pynchon Plaza in downtown Springfield, presented their work this week to faculty, students and planners from the City of Springfield.

The park, a 1976 designed public space lies along a 40 foot topographic drop and has the potential to be a prime physical connection between the Springfield Museum Quadrangle and the Mass Mutual Convention Center, Downtown Springfield and the River Parks. Embracing the complexity that is the contemporary American city, the architecture students proposed redesigns for the site that included landscape and architecture strategies for “re-structuring” this park so it can serve as a major connecting piece between along the corridor that runs between the riverfront and the Quadrangle. Based on knowledge gained from community meetings, the students explored a range of potential uses for the site that addressed the needs of the area's many users – nearby residents, community members, tourists, and the passersby.

Design Center Renovation Update

2010-03-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

The brick wall between 3 and 7 Elm Street is coming down and the pass-through is close to completion. This morning, workers were busy removing the brick.

The accent wall in the back of 3 Elm has a first coat of paint and the ceiling tiles have been painted grey. You can see the pass through on the right of the image.

The front windows have also been replaced with clear glass revealing a much more open store front presence and better display space for design center projects.

Urban Design Studio 2010: From the Quad to the River

2010-03-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

On March 10th, students in Frank Sleegers Urban Design Studio presented their work to community, faculty and City officials in Springfield. One student, Mary, was featured on the WWLP 22 evening news.

Graduate Studio Presentations on Wed, March 10th

2010-03-08T07:42:00.000-08:00

Frank Sleegers and his students of the Graduate Urban Design Studio have developed strategies and design typologies for the core area of downtown Springfield as a visual planning and design framework with focus on the revitalization of open space and the connection from the Quadrangle to the Connecticut River as a guideline for the City. On Wednesday March 3 students presented their proposals to Scott Hanson, (Office of Planning and Economic Development of the City of Springfield) faculty and students of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning. They will present their proposals to residents and planning officials in downtown Springfield on Wednesday, March 10.

On Wednesday, March 3rd, Mark Lindhult and Jane Thurber and their students of junior design studio presented their design visions for Pynchon Plaza. This park has been closed for 20 years. Its reopening and redesign could be the missing link to connect downtown to the Quadrangle museums. This project has been identified by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) as a priority project for the downtown Springfield revitalization.

Renovations Well Underway

2010-02-24T11:58:00.000-08:00

Renovations in 3-7 Elm Street, home of the design center, are well underway. Hope is for renovations to be completed for an April opening. The above depicts the wall to be removed creating an open pathway and connecting the two storefronts: 3 Elm Street and 7 Elm Street. 3 Elm will primarily serve as studio space and 7 Elm will house office space for Director, Michael DiPasquale and UMass Amherst Director of Creative Economy, Maryann Lombardi (both seen in the image below.)

Construction Kick Off Event

2010-02-24T11:39:00.001-08:00

Design center construction began with hammers in hand as UMass Amherst Chancellor Robert Holub, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Greater Springfield/UMass Amherst Partnership Chair, John Mullin, (both seen in image below) and others broke through the sheetrock in the design center's home, 3-7 Elm Street, Springfield, MA.

New Design Center holds Visioning Workshop

2010-02-24T11:20:00.000-08:00

The design center is kicking off with a major collaboration between UMass Extension, the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, and the Art and Architecture program. These UMass Amherst programs are all working together, with the City of Springfield Planning Department to focus on revitalizing the cultural and commercial heart of Springfield. This effort began a couple weeks ago with a community visioning workshop. UMass faculty and students, together with the Springfield Planning Department learned first hand from Springfield stakeholders, the future that residents envision for their city. This information will be used to guide the UMass work being done this semester and beyond.

4 Studio Projects in New Design Center

2010-02-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

Four studio projects are now underway under the auspices of the design center. All projects share a common theme: to build on the tremendous assets that Springfield already has. Whether it’s the rich urban fabric we see downtown, the city’s outstanding park system, or the first rate museums, the UMass work will help identify ways to strengthen and leverage these resources by linking them together, to their neighborhoods, and to the riverfront.

1) Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning: Court Street to the River. Instructor: Frank Sleegers

2) Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning: Emerson White Park. Instructor: John Taylor

3) Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning: Pynchon Park (site design) Instructors: Mark Lindhult and Jane Thurber

4) Department of Architecture: Pynchon Park (building design) Instructor: Caryn Brause