ALEX ROBINSONAcademic Work 20132015

Rails-to-Trails: Activating Dormant Industrial RelicsBelleville, WI

RobinsonSpring 2015 GD 3 Advisor: Comazzi

This project proposes a series of site specific architectural interventions designed to amplify the experience of visitors and locals along a multi-purpose recreational trail in Southern Wisconsin: the Badger State Trail. The 40-mile trail connects Madison, Wisconsin to a series of small towns scattered across the rural landscape. These interventions respond to not just the material and topographic characteristics of former industrial sites, but to the story of a past industry. The designs expose people to a variety of scales, materials, and movements embedded within the rural landscape. The interventions identify and activate dormant vestiges of an aging industrial system that has transitioned into a recreational public experience.

TRAILHEAD

MADISON

BELLEVILLE

STEWARTTUNNEL

MONROE

MONTICELLO

3.75 MI / 6.0 KM

6.75 MI / 10.9 KM

6.0 MI / 9.7 KM

5.0 MI / 8.0 KM

10.5 MI / 16.9 KM

8.0 MI / 12.9 KM

0 1 2 3 4 5 miles

The Depot

The Silos The Tunnel

NORTH ELEVATION

The DepotIn Belleville, a historic rail depot rests on the south side of the town square. Programmatically, this space will be converted into a new Chamber of Commerce offices and coffee shop to function as a rest stop for trail users and the local population. A new architectural intervention flanks the south faade of the Depot and functons as a back porch and trailhead. The west side of the intervention is an open-air framed structure built out of dimensional lumber and fastened to a dividing wall at the center of the shelter. The variable sloping roof dives into a new deck which lifts trail users off of the trail and onto the building itself literally elevating and empowering trail users to traverse this new addition. The east side of the intervention is an enclosed space, sheathed in glass and reclaimed corrugated metal panels the material of the vernacular. This space can function as a gathering place for more formal community meetings and impromptu events.

WEST ELEVATION

N1

1

2

2 81 4 16

2 81 4 16 32

Public Rest Stop (West Side) Interior Community Gathering vs. Trail Rest Stop (North Side)

22 81 4 16

The SilosThe Silo site peels off of the main trail and divides a pedestrian experience from the fast-paced trail. Two former concrete silo footprints hold a new pair of thinly sliced corten steel viewing silos. The welded support structure blocks appear to hover across the landscape as the thin bands that mimic the neighboring slip formed lines disappear at eye level. The adjacent pair of existing slip formed concrete silos allow passage for people and grant views to the sky. A thin band of corten marks the infinite passage of time as people gaze into the sky, to notice a subtle corten stain on the inside of the silos as it ages.

Section Perspective

Inside Existing Silos Inside New Silo Viewing Towers Looking Up Sky Viewing Chambers Existing Silos

The TunnelAs the users approach the tunnel, a thin band of corten steel rises from the earth anddelineates the path into the pure darkness of the Stewart Tunnel. New corten rain chains pierce the natural stone interior roof and are suspended to control the flow of water into the tunnel to create ice formations. A soft glow emanates from the ice formations illuminated by a light below as a way to guide the users slowly along the path. At the center of the tunnel, a light shaft pierces the complete darkness, allowing the user to understand their earthen depth.Above the tunnel, a series of corten steel gates mark the path of the tunnel underfoot. This translation of the tunnel breaks down the scale of the seemingly infinite into a comprehensible human scale as a way to define and describe the tunnel. As the gates from the North and South ends merge, they transform into a concrete firepit. The firepit marks the center of the tunnela lasting monument to the two work crews in the late 1800s who built the tunnel starting on opposite sides and meeting precisely in the middle.

Approach From North Interior Existing Tunnel

Tunnel Gates at Firepit and Bench/Firewood Storage

Firepit and Bench Monument

Vertical Tunnel New Ice Chains Create Glowing Wayfinding Sculptures

Concept Section at Vertical Tunnel Concept Plan at Vertical Tunnel

Situation/Apparatus/EnclosureApple Valley, MN

RobinsonSpring 2013 GD 2 (7 Week Module) Advisor: Amel

This project began with a farm-to-table situation: flour milling for food production.Based on the historical research into methods, an apparatus was designed to fulfill all of the production needs of the situation. A wind powered grist-mill and concrete pizza oven was carefully choreographed and organized around the scale of a human. The materiality of the enclosure was decided based on the conceptual nature of historic wooden windmills (creaky, moving structures) and the solid nature of stone ovens (solid, unmoving). Located in a field of wheat, users experience the planting, harvesting, threshing, milling, and baking processes.

Site Plan: Relationship to Red Barn

Interior Perspective: Gears at Milling Platform

Wood Framing, Windmill/Oven, Concrete Structure Approach From Barn - Sack Hoist(Hybrid Drawing) Milling Platform

Public Gathering Space Beyond Windmill

1. Kitchen Space2. Food Prep Bar3. Stone Oven4. Firewood Storage

1. Grain Hoist2. Stairs to Mill3. Kitchen Below4. Chimney

1. Grain Hoist2. Stairs to Mill3. Grist Mill4. Chimney

1

1

2

2

3

3

3

1

2

4

4

4

LOWER LEVELWEST ELEVATIONEAST ELEVATIONSOUTH ELEVATION

ENTRY LEVEL

MILL LEVEL

1. Sliding Door2. Steel Angle3. Steel Plate4. Bolts5. Steel Angle6. 4 x 8 Wood7. Aluminum Siding8. 3 Insulation9. Water Barrier

1. Aluminum Siding2. Siding Clip3. 1 Insulation4. 4 x 8 Wood5. Steel Angle6. Bolt7. Perf. Aluminum Planks8. 2 x 4 Tube Steel

FRAMING AND FACADE PLAN DETAIL

SLIDING DOOR SECTION DETAIL

WINDOW/FACADE SECTION DETAIL

Front Office ReDesignUMN Architecture OfficeMinneapolis, MN

Robinson/Greene/AdamsSpring/Summer 2013 Independent StudyAdvisors: Comazzi/Swackhamer

The College of Design asked me, along with two other students, to make the face of the Architecture School a more functional and inviting space. We spent a semester exploring flexible work environments and built our design over the summer. The design concept started with a barcode. By expressing a variable vertical linear rhythm across horizontal datums, we addressed program requirements (storage, display, sitting, lighting, variable opacity) by growing out or pushing in parts of the structural ribs. We were responsible for designing, toolpathing for CNC operations, milling using the CNC, and building the final production using digital fabrication methods in conjunction with traditional woodworking methods (dovetails, french cleats).

Dowel Holes

French Cleat @ Wall

Strip LED Chase

LED Light Switch InlayDovetail Negative

Corrugated Plastic Cover

Wire Chase

Nested Parts (4x8 plywood) Detailing CNC Cut Paths

Milling Components Stacking Modules Placing Module Dovetail/Cleat Detail Move into Position

BioEnergy Park: A Clean Energy Production FacilityDuluth, MN

Robinson/Kraemer/Bauer/Nowak2014 - ARCH 8253Graduate Design 3Saloojee/deBritto/Wheeler

The Duluth BioEnergy Park is a prospective future for the former U.S. Steel manufacturing site. The proposal combines a future sustainable energy production plant and planting grounds with a series of trails for the public.The proposal outlines, through a series of phases, a planting strategy for switchgrass and willows, because of their ability to remediate the toxic soil of the SuperFund site. The plants are harvested and brought to the energy production facility to provide heat for the surrounding community. The building is organized to allow the public to pass through and witness the production of energy, encouraging their experience to be educational. The design features an exterior plaza which engages an existing industrial relic formerly used to store coal. The rhythm of the coal wall inspired the massing of the facility.

US STEEL SITE

DULUTH

ST. LOUIS RIVER

GARY-NEW DULUTH

MORGAN PARK

GARY-NEW DULUTH

MORGAN PARK SLAG POINT

COAL WALL

0 3,0001,500N

CITY

SITE

HISTORIC U.S. STEEL

PHASE 1: Remediation 2015Excavate contaminated soils and form mounds

Plant Willow and Switchgrass to begin remediation of toxic substances

1. Willows2. Switchgrass3. Capped Contaminant Mounds4. Existing Forest Buffer5. Service Roads6. Recreational Trails7. BioMass Energy Facility8. Future Industrial Area9. Morgan Park10. New Road11. Parking

1 2

3 4

5 6

7

8

9

10

11

PHASE 2: Construction 2016 PHASE 3: Harvest (2018 - 2020)Install new road between Morgan Park and GND

Install service roads

Build Biomass Energy Production Facility

Harvest willow and switch grass and begin crop roatation cycle

Begin energy production

Open recreational trails

South Elevation3/32 = 1

South Elevation3/32 = 1

South Elevation3/32 = 1

South Elevation3/32 = 1

South Elevation3/32 = 1

South Elevation3/32 = 1

East Elevation3/32 = 1

East Elevation3/32 = 1

East Elevation3/32 = 1

East Elevation3/32 = 1

1/16 = 1 N

Biomass Drop Off

Chipper and Boilers

Smoke Stacks

Mechanical

Offices

Public Observationand Information

Display

To Trails

Exit to Parking The Wall

Drying Recept.

New Road Along West Side

of Site

Lift

1 = 1

Finish Metal Detailing Between Wood and Steel Beam

3 Rigid Insulation

Z Joint

Perm-A-Barrier Sprayed-on Air / Vapor Barrier

8 x 8 Tube Steel Column, Painted with Intumescent Paint

3 Corrugated Metal Siding

3/4 Wood Sheathing in line with Tube Steel

Bolted with Metal Plate Poured Concrete

Corrugated Steel Decking

12 x 12 Tube Steel Beam,Painted with Intumescent Paint

CMU

Poured Concrete

6 Perforated Drainage Pipe

1 = 1

Metal cap 2 Corrugated Metal Roofing Perm-A-Barrier Sprayed-on Air / Vapor Barrier Rigid InsulationPoured Concrete

Corrugated Steel Decking2 x 12 Glulam Beam 8 x 8 Tube Steel Beam, Painted with Intumescent Paint

Metal Bracket

Finish Metal Detailing Between Wood and Steel Column

Z Joint Perm-A-Barrier Sprayed-on Air / Vapor Barrier

8 x 8 Tube Steel Column, Painted with Intumescent Paint

3 Corrugated Metal Siding

3/4 Wood Sheathing in line with Tube Steel

1 = 1

3 Rigid Insulation

Cut-Away Model Interior

1/16 = 1 N

Biomass Drying

Chipper and Boilers

Smoke Stacks

Mechanical

Elect.Room

Cont. Room

Emergency Exit

Emergency Exit

Emergency Exit

Biomass Drop Off

= Private

= Public

Corrugated MetalRoofing

Glulam Beams

Tube Steel

Wood Paneling

Corrugated Metal Siding

Loll Siding-White

1st Floor Plan

Basement Plan

West Elevation

Ground Detail

Roof Detail

Exploded Structural Bay

South Elevation3/32 = 1

South Elevation3/32 = 1

South Elevation3/32 = 1

South Elevation3/32 = 1

South Elevation3/32 = 1

South Elevation3/32 = 1

South Elevation

East Birds-Eye Pedestrian Bridge on Coal Wall Exterior Patio Perspective

Reclaimed Railroad Trail Detail Entry from West Trails

1

21

Viewing the Boilers and Energy Production Public Gathering Space

2 3

4

43

ALEX ROBINSONtexarob@gmail.com

EDUCATION

EXPERIENCE

Master of Architectureuniversity of minnesota

minneapolis, mn05.2015

madison, wi05-08.2014

minneapolis, mn02-09.2013

minneapolis, mn09.2012-05.2013

minneapolis, mn09.2013-05.2015

minneapolis, mn09.2009-08.2012

northfield, mn01.2009

CaS4 Architecture, LLCDesign Intern

Design+BuildDesign Partner

W.L. Hall WorkshopStudent Technician

University of MinnesotaTeaching Assistant

Habitat for HumanityConstruction Volunteer Facilitator

BA Biology + Envionmental Studiessaint olaf college

AWARDS + RECOGNITION

REFERENCES

REPRESENTATION SKILLS

Thomas F. Ellerbe Scholarshipaia minnesota minneapolis, mnSpring 2015

George Gorbatenko Jr. Scholarshipuniversity of minnesota minneapolis, mnFall 2014

SOM Scholarshipuniversity of minnesota minneapolis, mnFall 2014 + Fall 2013

Student Design & Scholarship ExcellenceGraduate Team: Architectureuniversity of minnesota minneapolis, mnSpring 2014

Minnesota Society of Architects Scholarshipuniversity of minnesota minneapolis, mnFall 2013

Rhino 5VRaySketchUPRevit 2014AutoCAD 2014ArchiCAD 12

John Comazzi AIADirector BS ArchitectureUniversity of Minnesota(612)626-0501jcomazzi@umn.edu

Marc Schellpfeffer AIAPartnerCas4 Architecture, LLC(608)709-1250marc@cas4arch.com

Marc Swackhamer AIAHead of School of ArchitectureUniversity of Minnesota(612)626-0105swack@umn.edu

Adam Marcus AIAAsst.Professor of ArchitectureCalifornia College of the Arts(415)703-9500adam@adammarcus.com

3D/Drafting Digital FabricationCNC RoutingCNC Plasma3D printing

Laser Cutting

2D/PhotoPhotoshopIllustratorInDesignPremiereArcGISWordExcel

Redlined construction documents in AutoCAD (Synagogue).Conceptual design in SketchUP/AutoCAD (Mixed Use).Developed website, built office library, and desks for new firm.

Designed and built a new reception area for the School of Architecture with 2 other students.

Taught undergraduate and graduate architecture students how to properly operate power tools, CNC router, 3D printers, laser cutters.

Drawing and Perceiving (Undergraduate Intro to Drawing/Representation)

Environmental Architecture (Sociocultural Impact of Architecture)

Design Fundamentals 2 (First Undergraduate Studio)

Read and referenced construction documents to communicate and teach daily construction tasks from framing to finishing to volunteer groups of up to 50 people.Managed the purchase and delivery of construction supplies and equipment to maintain an organized jobsite.

Presented educational material regarding Twin Cities housing issues to volunteer groups.

Advised students on construction methods to safely achieve desired design goals.

Used Rhino and SketchUP to iterate design schemes and produce construction documentation.

Converted 3D models into toolpaths for CNC router and plasma operated CNC to mill plywood.