Urban Design + Planning

PORTFOLIO: Re-Imagining Urban Lifeg UO g

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Urban Design + Planning

Table of Contents

Urban Designer Profile Urban Designer Profile Resume Philosophy

Urban Design Strategies: Transects Building Typologies Street Typologies

Urban Design Projects Rural Hamlet Design . Rural America Civic Square Plaza . New Brunswick Urban Infill Redevelopment Site . Urban America Exchange Market . Jersey City Form Based Code . Easton Avenue, New Brunswick

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Urban Design + Planning

Urban Designer Profile

Michael Lawson is currently attending the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey working on his Master of City and Regional Planning. He graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology Magna cum Laude in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and in 2011 with a Master of Science in Management. His bachelor's degree is from the College of Architecture and Design, as well as the Albert Dorman Honors College. Michael Lawson, an urbanist at heart, grew up in suburban Parsippany, New Jersey. Through his architecture experience he has grown to love urbanity and American cities, wanting to be a part of there revitalization during this new era of urban revival.

To further his experience and skills in the Urban Design/ Planning field he has been an intern at the New York City Department of Transportation, Pedestrian Projects Group. At NYC DOT Michael worked on projects that reconfigured city intersections and streets so that they are more pedestrian and bike firendly. Michael has experience in GIS , AutoCAD, the Adobe Suite, Microsoft Suite, SketchUp, as well as hand drafting/ drawing skills. He has also worked at Arcari + Iovino Architects, in Little Ferry, NJ.

During the Summer of 2010 and 2011, Michael was able to join AmeriCorps and be part of a program called CityServe, a five week inner city summer camp run through the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Paterson, NJ in conjunction with the St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation and AmeriCorps. At CityServe, Michael was in charge of Logistics, Adminstration, and teaching swimming lessons. Each week the 50 program participants ranging in age from 13-15 worked with community organizations around Paterson and learned important “Tools for Success.”

Throughout his experiences Michael has always tried to improve the community he has been a part of. His work ethic, spirit, and optimistic attitude combined with his ability to see the big picture, yet remain detail oreinted enables him to continue to make a difference.

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Resume

Education

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 2011-2013Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy Master of City & Regional Planning Urban Design/ Transportation Concentration

New Jersey Institute of Technology 2009-2011 Master of Science in Management Organization Management

New Jersey Institute of Technology 2005-2010 Bachelor of Science in Architecture Magna cum-laude, Albert Dorman Honors College

Professional Experience

New York City Department of Transportation, NY, NY 2012- PresentGraduate Intern (Pedestrian Projects Group)

• Conceptualization and Development of Pedestrian Oriented Plazas and Intersections throughout New York City• Lead Intern on the following projects: East Tremont & Webster Ave, St. Nicholas Place & West 155th Street• Skills: AutoCAD, Adobe Suite, Microsoft Suite, ArcGIS, AutoTurn, Synchro

Arcari + Iovino Architects, Little Ferry, NJ 2007- 2011Assistant/ Intern (Architecture/Marketing & Proposals)

• Worked directly under Firm Principal on submittals for RFP/RFQ’s, marketing, and press releases. Designed presentations for numerous projects and firm marketing events• Conceptualized and Designed Master Plans for Municipalities, Public Libraries and University Campuses• Skills: AutoCAD, Rhino, 3D Max, Sketch Up, Adobe Suite, Microsoft Suite

AmeriCorps CityServe, Paterson, NJ 2010-2011Logistics Coordinator/ Alumni Team Leader

• Program Coordinator for a 50 teenager summer program and 15 employee staff• Skills: Programming, Transportation Coordination (Microsoft Suite), Swimming Instruction, & Graphic Design (Adobe Suite)

Full Resume can be downloaded at: web.njit.edu/~mrl23

1 Richmond Street, Apt. 1085New Brunswick, NJ 08901

t: 201.919.8611e: lawsonm23@gmail.com

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Awards & Acknowledgments

2012 1st Place Urban Design, Civic Square Plaza Redesign2012 NY Region-American Planners Association Student Studio

Presenter, Easton Ave. Studio2010 NJIT, College of Architecture & Design Department Rank upon

Graduation: 4th out of 922009 Highlander Student Achievement Award, Senior Class Student

of the Year2009 Metropolitan Swimming Conference All-Academic Team, Men’s

Swimming2006 First-Year Student Honorable Mention Design Award, College of

Architecture & Design

Planning Related Research Projects

Easton Avenue Redevelopment Studio 2012Developed urban design strategies and a form based code to improve town and gown relations on a vital thouroughfare in New Brunswick, NJ

New Urbanism- Urban Design 2012Design Studio Portfolio focusing on the core values of New Urbanism and the seven transects of the built environment

GIS Report- Morristown, NJ Redevelopment Areas 2012Conducted an analysis of Morristown, NJ redevelopment areas using GIS software

Newark: The Media’s Perception on a Post-Industrial City’s Revival 2011Statistical analysis of media perception and the result is has on city branding

BIM Standardization Report 2010Analysis of how Building Information Modeling is standardizing the architectural, engineering, and construction industry

Newark Iconic Neighborhoods 2009Research based report on how neighborhoods rather than iconic buildings should shape the future of Newark’s development

Development Pro-Forma 2009Pro-Forma report for a conceptual residential project in Newark, NJ

Philosophy

"The desire for community is a constant of human nature" -Stephen Price

All of my life I have wanted to make the world better for the people around me; I feel it is our duty to give back to the community in which we live. I feel Americans have lost this value of communal development and charity. We have become distracted by rapid media broadcasting the next international disaster that may occur and overlook the adversity happening in our own cities and towns. We have become desensitized by the unforgiving world we live in; emotionless to the struggles of the person next to us. Compassion has been replaced by individualism and has led to our communities, the foundation of our American way of life, to become stagnant and non-existent. The American culture has finally begun to reverse this trend and understand that our cities, the epicenter of community activity, need to be vibrant, multi-cultural, multi-socioeconomic, multi-modal, and need to work harmoniously for our nation to succeed in this new global market. We need visionaries who see the potential in people, in new ideas, and in American Cities; who can remake these places into the thriving communities they need to be.

I am one of those people.

An urban planner does more than just draw new town centers, fix dilapidated infrastructure, or create new inner city programs; they create communities, new urban connections, and foster neighborhood bonds that once were not there. An urban planner blends architecture, city infrastructure, transportation, and social programs to form a cohesive community atmosphere that can grow and prosper for future generations to come. These aspects of urban planning collide when we talk about how people move through the world they live in.

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Urban Design + Planning

Therefore, creating successful urban spaces and connections in American Cities is one of the most important activities a planner can do for the future of our nation. As more and more people from all generations, ethnicities, and lifestyles converge on cities the role of the urban fabric, which largely relies on our aging transportation infrastructure, will need to be re-envisioned. We will need to produce active, multi-modal thoroughfares that are equally reliant on the safety and experience of the pedestrian, the cyclist, the mass transit rider, and the automobile user.

In many ways, this re-envisioned urban fabric has already begun to appear in cities across America and I can say that I have been part of it. Through my graduate internship this past semester (Spring 2012) with the New York City Department of Transportation Pedestrian Projects Group, I have been able to see why New York is such a desirable place for so many millions of people. New York City, with its recent initiatives, has transformed its urban transportation infrastructure, remaking it into places fit for human’s not just automobiles. At NYCDOT I have helped to transform New York City’s car dominate avenues and streets into safe well designed multimodal thoroughfares enabling pedestrians, cyclist and vehicular traffic to more harmoniously co-exist. As the lead graduate intern on two projects in Manhattan and the Bronx, I have been able to learn the ins and outs of how streets are designed to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and automobiles.

Combining a redesigned transportation infrastructure with urban design ideas, such as integrated form based codes, human scale architectural design elements, and active urban spaces with sustainable and green elements, will truly allow urban communities to regenerize and grow. America’s generation that is coming of age is increasingly choosing to shed the ideals of their parents and engage the city and all of its assets and activities.

The future of American planning relies on how we grapple with delicately

interweaving alternative modes of transportation into the existing car dependent structure we have established over the last century. The question becomes; how do we, as transportation planners and urban designers, solve the problem of transporting an ever increasing population more economically and in a more environmentally sound way on a system that is aging and concentrated on a single mode of travel? Furthermore, how do we change the perception of American cities, so that they truly become the catalysts for economic and social prosperity? I want to be part of finding solutions to these problems that have been presented to my generation of urban planning professionals.

From my experiences in architecture, urban design, and transportation planning, I feel that I can continue to be a part of this ever changing urban landscape and the American solution to our urban palnning needs. American cities will be great again.

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Urban Design + Planning

Urban Design Strategies

Transects

Building Typologies

Street Typologies

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Urban Design StrategiesTransects

Source: http://www.miami21.org/TheTransect.asp

Urban Design + Planning

T-1 Rural Preserve- Meadowlands T-2 Rural Reserve- South Mountain Reservation T-3 Sub-Urban- Bloomfield

T-4 General Urban- Ironbound T-5 Urban Center- University Heights T-6 Urban Core- Downtown Newark

T-7 Districts- Port Newark/ Newark Liberty Airport

City of NewarkPost Industrial City- Northeatern United States

Population: 281,000Regional Population: 18,000,000 (NY/Newark)

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Jefferson l Lawson l LuC i t y B lock Jefferson l Lawson l LuO ffice T ower

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Lot size 16,000 ft2 - 40,000 ft2

FAR 11.0Build-to lines see block planFootprint 45,600 ft2

Height 14 stories

Stepbacks at 50' (h), 10' min.Entrances in plan onlyIBM Every 50' with intermediate

cornices varying accordingly, top cornice at 50'

ParkingLocation offsite/ on street/ parking

garageRetail 1 space/ 200 ft2

Residential noneOffice 1 space/300 ft2

REQUIREMENTS

DESCRIPTION

PROGRAMMING

The first floor hosts a number of commercial uses while the floors above may be used for institional or office purposes. Building entrance and egress is both at the front and the back alley. Periodic step backs provide green space and patio options.

Shoppers and office workers alike will enjoy walking along the quiet interior of the superblock while still have access to rapid transportation options. Comerical area businesses include small fruit shops, cafes and bakeries guaranteeing that employees have access to nearly everything within a 5-minute walk of their office.

Jefferson l Lawson l LuD uplex

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Lot sizeFAR 1.8Build-to lines see block planFootprint 2,400 ft2

Height 33' with 4' basement, 2 stories

Stepbacks at 50' (h), 10' min.Entrances in plan onlyIBM Every 20' with intermediate

cornices varying accordingly, top cornice at 50'

ParkingLocation offsite/ on street/ parking

garageRetail noneResidential .75 spaces/unitOffice none

DESCRIPTION

Residents may enjoy the quiet buzz of the street as they sip coffee off their front porch or retreat to the elevated privacy of the first floor and enjoy the view from the comfort of their living room. Furthermore, all residences boast small gardens in the front yard and rooftop terrace.

Duplexes are built to accommodate a 3' height front stoop that corresponds to the first floor. Above is a full second story with either a loft or attic option above.

PROGRAMMING

REQUIREMENTS

Urban Design StrategiesBuilding Typologies

Within urban design, building typologies offer a framework for which the built environment can be transformed to create better neighborhoods and communities. The building typologies defined included:

DuplexTownhousesFlatsDouble Loaded ApartmentsResidential TowerCommercial Small Floor PlateCommercial Large Floor PlateOffice TowerMixed Use TowerMixed Use Parking DeckMixed Use w/ Embedded Parking

Street Block- Residential

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Jefferson l Lawson l Lu

Street Block- Mixed Use/ Commercial

The residential block illustrates a more suburban setting. The space is particularly pedestrian friendly as it runs along an established grid network in conjunction with the street. The sidewalk to the far left provides continuous travel for pedestrians and cyclists without having to be bothered with car traffic from the drive to the right. To the left of the path is a nice natural feature. Bump-outs and textured crosswalks at each intersection slow motorists and remind them of the pedestrian preference. Parallel parking runs along both sides of the streets and just one side of the drive, acting as a buffer between moving traffic and pedestrians. Bios wales dissipate run-off water from the impervious surface of the street, and the trees within the bios wales act as a visual enclosure. The boulevard on the right side of the street has bike lanes along both sides of the street and buffered parallel parking.

The central feature of this block is the pedestrian street running through the middle of a commercial alley. The walkway provides ample space for coffee shops or restaurants to extend their stores and provide a car-free and inviting environment. The street on the far right illustrates a highbred thoroughfare for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit. The round-about at the center facilitates smooth directional changes and prominent, textured sidewalks for perpendicular or diagonal crossing.

ABBREVIATION Blv 74:50

SPEED 35 MPH

RECOMMENDED ADJACENT LAND USES

Commercial, multifamily apartment

RANGES OF STORIES

3-15+

RECOMMENDED BUILD-TO LINES

5-15'

LANDSCAPING- TREES AND

SPACING

Shade trees planted on both sides in parkway, spaced at 24'

on-center

STREET LIGHTINGDecorative streetlights (max 12’ high), spaced at 80' on-center and at intersection

STREET FURNITURE

Streetlights; signs, awnings, store extensions if near

commercial; bus stop shelters

PEDESTRIAN CROSSING TIME

14 sec

Boulevard (Blv) 74:50Narrow Median with Parallel Parking and Bike Lanes

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Jefferson l Lawson l Lu

ABBREVIATION D 58:27

SPEED

RECOMMENDED ADJACENT LAND USES

Large lot estates, open space, agriculture

RANGES OF STORIES

2-3

RECOMMENDED BUILD-TO LINES

10-15'

LANDSCAPING- TREES AND

SPACING

Shade trees planted on both sides in parkway, spaced at 24'

on-center

STREET LIGHTINGDecorative streetlights (max 12’ high), spaced at 80' on-center and at intersection

STREET FURNITURE

Light poles of similar architecture, possible fence

along edge

PEDESTRIAN CROSSING TIME

7 sec

Drive (D) 58:27with One Side Parallel Parking and Bike Lanes

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Jefferson l Lawson l Lu

Urban Design + Planning 12

Urban Design StrategiesStreet Typologies

The street holds the life of the city. Designing thoroughfares for multi-modal transport is a necesity for city’s to reach their true potential. The street typologies that were defined included:

Drives Commercial AlleysAvenues BoulevardsStreets Super BoulevardsResidential Lanes Greenways

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Urban Design + Planning

Urban Design Projects

Rural Hamlet Design . Rural America

Civic Square Plaza . New Brunswick

Urban Infill Redevelopment Site . Urban America

Exchange Market . Jersey City

Form Based Code . Easton Avenue, New Brunswick

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Residential

Commercial

Office

Farm

Farm

Farm

1

2 3

4

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Legend

1 Farmers Market2 Agri College/ Com Center3 Clock Tower4 Town Hall/ School/ Library5 Church

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Urban Design + Planning

Urban Design ProjectsRural Hamlet Design

The Farms at CrossRoads

The Farms at Crossroads is an agricultural hamlet developed to enhance the lives of those seeking a life in the countryside. The community is built around a pedestrian friendly core with community amenities throughout including a library, community center, and community farmers market. Each member of the community has the opportunity to farm in their own kitchen garden as well as at the larger irrigated farmland on the far end of the parcel. Retail and office space is also available along the hamlet’s “Main Street.”

Demographics:35% Family- Working Class25% Single 20-40 years old- Working Class20% Family/Single 20-50 years old- Professionals10% Children10% Seniors 65 & AbovePopulation: 100

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Mason Gross School of the Arts

Edward J. Bloustein School ofPlanning and Public Policy

Rutgers

Edward J. BlousteinSchool of Planning and Public Policy

Mason GrossSchool of the Arts

glowglow . . greengreen . . gathergather

Urban Design + Planning

Urban Design ProjectsCivic Square Plaza . New Brunswick

Civic Square ReDUX

The redesign of the Civic Square Plaza incorporates the essential pieces needed to create a successful urban space. These improvements aim to revitalize a unique urban space asset in the downtown of New Brunswick. The existing plaza’s design was obsolete as a gateway into two of Rutgers University’s most prestigious schools, the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and the Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Elements of the new plaza include a sloped central lawn, high grass planters, a fountain, and large front steps meant for sitting and gathering. These elements will bring life to the plaza and act as a gateway into the planning, public policy, and arts schools.

Designed in Coordination with Aimee Jefferson & Zhuosi Lu

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Section B

Section A

Urban Design + Planning

Urban Design ProjectsUrban Infill Redevelopment Site

Mixed Use Urban Infill

Urban infill projects are the wave of teh future in many of America’s post industrial cities. Many of these cities have enourmous pieces of vacant lands that can become economic assets as cities become more desireable for people to live in.

As these infill sites are located, urban design details muct be added so that the mistakes of teh 1960’s and 70’s do not repeat themselves. The designs of the infill projects must incorporate such details as stepbacks so to maintain a human scale, as well as being mixed use which enables vibrant neighborhoods.

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an experiential neighborhoodan experiential neighborhood0 100 200 300 400 500 600

market placecity hall plaza great lawn

grand stairs

Mobility Diagram

Urban Design + Planning

Urban Design ProjectsDowntown Redevelopment . Jersey City

exchange market . jersey city

exchange market . jersey city is a new neighborhood developed around a marketplace in downtown Jersey City. With abundant mass transit connections and many community assets surrounding the site, this new neighborhood is posed to become a great asset in Jersey City’s long term vision.

The development plan calls for the site to be denser to the west and create connections throughout the site by linking new green paths and elevated parks. The centralized location of the marketplace allows for every new resident to be a part of the vitality and energy the marketplace has to offer.

5,200 Residential Units115,000 sq ft Retail234,220 sq ft Office

New Public Park Space with Rolling LawnNew Public MarketNew City Hall Square

Improved StreetscapePedestrian Oriented Streets

Designed in Coordination with Christopher Kok & Richard Bartholomew

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10.3.3 Mixed Use- 2

Description:

Four-Eight stories, ground oor retail, of ce or residential above

Narrative:

Buildings in this form will have retail on the rst oor to continue to activate the pedestrian level. Floors two through eight will be a mix of different uses. Buildings of this sort are landmarks in a neighborhood as they are functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. After the third oor, a step back occurs to maintain a common cornice line throughout the corridor. This step backed space is activated by patio or garden space. Whether it is a water-cooler discussion taking place on this outdoor terrace, or a few friends catching up after work on their patio garden, it is sure to add to the activity on the street below.

Build-to-Line:

Within the range of the prevailing setback of adjacent properties, not to enter the ROW, or up to 8’-0” from the property line if devoted to active uses

Frontage Condition Guidelines:

8’-0” max setback for active use frontage condition ranging from but not limited to outdoor cafes, sitting areas, outdoor retail area, etc. Active use setbacks are private property that has no delineation separating it from the public realm of the street. Active use setbacks must be fully accessed by the public.

Step Back:

8’-0” min. @ the 4thFloor for step back. Suggested uses include Private Terrace, Public Terrace, Food Garden, and Rain Garden.

Maximum Height: 8 stories

Minimum Height: 4 stories

Stoop Landing Area: 3’-0” min.

Porch Depth: N/A

Porch Height: N/A

Minimum Ground Floor Elevation: 0’-0”

ADA Access Required: Yes

Minimum Ground Floor Height: 12’-0”

Maximum Facade Unit Width: 50’-0”

Fenestration Percentage Ground Floor: 70% min.

Fenestration Percentage Upper Floors: 40% min.

Minimum Awning Height: 8’-0”

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10.3.3 Mixed Use- 2

Description:

Four-Eight stories, ground oor retail, of ce or residential above

Narrative:

Buildings in this form will have retail on the rst oor to continue to activate the pedestrian level. Floors two through eight will be a mix of different uses. Buildings of this sort are landmarks in a neighborhood as they are functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. After the third oor, a step back occurs to maintain a common cornice line throughout the corridor. This step backed space is activated by patio or garden space. Whether it is a water-cooler discussion taking place on this outdoor terrace, or a few friends catching up after work on their patio garden, it is sure to add to the activity on the street below.

Build-to-Line:

Within the range of the prevailing setback of adjacent properties, not to enter the ROW, or up to 8’-0” from the property line if devoted to active uses

Frontage Condition Guidelines:

8’-0” max setback for active use frontage condition ranging from but not limited to outdoor cafes, sitting areas, outdoor retail area, etc. Active use setbacks are private property that has no delineation separating it from the public realm of the street. Active use setbacks must be fully accessed by the public.

Step Back:

8’-0” min. @ the 4thFloor for step back. Suggested uses include Private Terrace, Public Terrace, Food Garden, and Rain Garden.

Maximum Height: 8 stories

Minimum Height: 4 stories

Stoop Landing Area: 3’-0” min.

Porch Depth: N/A

Porch Height: N/A

Minimum Ground Floor Elevation: 0’-0”

ADA Access Required: Yes

Minimum Ground Floor Height: 12’-0”

Maximum Facade Unit Width: 50’-0”

Fenestration Percentage Ground Floor: 70% min.

Fenestration Percentage Upper Floors: 40% min.

Minimum Awning Height: 8’-0”

Urban Design + Planning

Urban Design ProjectsForm Based Code . Easton Avenue

Form Based Code

Form Based Codes are an essential tool for urban planners that allows for proper design to take hold in redeveloping areas. The form based code that was developed for Easton Avenue in New Brunswick, will compliment the existing zoning already in place along the corridor.

The Easton Avenue Studio, in which the form based code was developed, was presented to the mayor and council of New Brunswick at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy’s 20th Anniversary Symposium, as well as at the New York Region American Planners Association Student Studio Presentation held in New York City.

At both presentations, Michael Lawson presented the form based code section of the studio’s plan for Easton Avenue.

Developed in conjuction with David Nelson.

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Urban Design + Planning

PORTFOLIO: Re-Imagining Urban Life

1 Richmond Street, Apt. 1085New Brunswick, NJ 08901

t: 201.919.8611e: lawsonm23@gmail.com

web.njit.edu/~mrl23

magining Urban LifRO