Resilience - University of Miami School of Architecture

7.
Program Framework
An essenal characterisc of good architecture is the integraon of mulple
disparate program requirements into a unified composion. I will use the
several meanings of resilience as a means of organizing the programming
phase of this project. As defined at the beginning of this document, resilience
– is the capacity of a given ecosystem to maintain its essenal characteriscs
despite stressors including changing environmental condions.
Addressing the definion given above, there are three components. First I
will work with RSMAS to create a working list of “essenal characteriscs”
which define two ecosystems; one, the Virginia Key/Bear Cut coastal margin,
and two, the University community which I view as part of the Virginia Key
system. Second, I will outline expected system-level stressors. Third, I will
idenfy those which may be migated through architecture.
program criteria
A truly resilient campus will sasfy a broad range of program needs. In the
largest sense, the goal is to create a place which supports a thriving intellectual
community in a manner which is integrated into its urban and ecological context.
Improvements to the RSMAS campus should be evaluated in the context
of campus planning needs, but also for how they contribute to the enrichment
of the larger Viginia Key/Bear Cut ecosystem. Campus planning for RSMAS
should consider basic issues such as parking and transportaon in conjunc-
on with adjacent facilies, development of pedestrian and bicycle networks,
public waterfront access, visibility of RSMAS campus funcons to the public,
and program diversificaon including addion of housing and compelling community
spaces.
Beyond this, campus improvements should be designed to enhance the interface
with Bear Cut. Improvements should go beyond a generalized low-impact
building approach, and target enhancement of specific ecological funcons.
For example, green roofs could be designed to provide habitat for shorebird
species which would have found refuge in the nave coastal scrub forest.
Buildings could be connected by elevated walkways which would allow
for restoraon of seasonal flooding on parts of the campus and replanng of
funconal pockets of mangrove. By idenfying quanfiable ecological goals,
input from disciplines such as restoraon ecology is given greater weight in the
design process.
client
Because of their centralized structure, informed decision making process, long
planning horizons, and respect for innovaon, universies can play a unique
role in seng the tone for future development of surrounding communies.
The Rosensel campus offers an opportunity to test the potenal for thoughtful,
humane, and ecologically sensive coastal urban redevelopment. As with
any instuonal client, various interests must be balanced in order to create
a campus which opmizes benefit to the larger community while serving the
specific programmac needs of its members. In this instance, there are three
primary client interests:
• The University of Miami as a whole
• Specific interests of the Rosensel School of Marine and Atmospheric
Sciences
• The Virginia Key ecosystem
A successful program will have to balance the somemes conflicng needs of
the three communies above. A successful design will both reinforce the essenal
characteriscs of the three, as well as improve their resilience to future
stress. Preliminary quesons are as follows:
university priories
• How can RSMAS be beer integrated into the academic and social life
of students on Main Campus?
• How can RSMAS campus facilies be improved to provide opportuni-
es for students from a variety of disciplines to study coastal issues in
an integrated manner?
• Could an improved RwSMAS campus serve as a recruing tool for the
larger University?
• Can the RSMAS campus reflect the President’s desire to incorporate
housing into new University structures?
rsmas priories
• How can new construcon improve spaal definion of the campus,
helping describe a hierarchical sequence of posive open spaces?
• How can infrastructure, ulies and circulaon be streamlined?
• What kinds of spaces are needed to improve the funcon of the
research community?
• How can obsolete structures best be replaced?
• What combinaons of program would be most easily financed?
• What kinds of non-academic program would improve campus life (ie.
housing, community space?)
• If housing were to be added, what type and how many units would
create a crical mass of residents?
• How can physical improvements impact the durability of RSMAS as a
human community focused on top-level marine ecological research
and conservaon?
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