Architecture graduate studio explores solutions for Orlando's Bridge District

October 09, 2009
The Architecture Advanced Graduate Design One studio recently participated in a four-day workshop with Yasha Grobman, post doctoral fellow in Harvard Graduate School of Design, as part of their semester-long collaboration with the city of Orlando, through the University of Florida’s new research and teaching center, Citylab–Orlando.

Led by architecture professors Ruth Ron, Michael Kuenstle, Guy Peterson and William Tilson, the 48 students are developing design ideas for the city’s Bridge District, a section of Orlando between Washington and Church streets that is split by Interstate 4.

Grobman, who is the founder of Grobman Architects and Axelrod Grobman Architects, as well as the recipient of numerous architectural awards, helped them explore a reversal of the traditional architectural process of design. He taught the students new computer programs to help them simulate the conditions of sun, wind and circulation of people, and showed them how to design a building around these criteria.

“The interstate has cut the city into East and West,” said Tilson. “The students are trying to answer the question, ‘how does one use the space under the interstate as public space?’ We’re looking for inventive proposals that encourage connection.”

The workshop with Grobman was the class’s second trip to Orlando. The first was spent visiting the site to understand the complexities of the area using drawings, photos and maps.

During that trip, they were asked to come up with a plan for redesigning this section of I-4 .

According to Tilson, the city will be replacing the bridge but will most likely stick to something standard. However, the students’ ideas are still useful.

“It was a visioning process,” Tilson said.

For their next project, the students will begin designing a multi-use building for the Bridge District along with the public space under the interstate. They also will have a mid-term presentation, and selected projects will be on display starting Oct. 26 in the gallery in the Architecture Building and at the new Citylab-Orlando facility.

Citylab-Orlando is a partnership between UF’s College of Design, Construction and Planning and the University of Central Florida that serves as a graduate-level urban studio and research center. It is one of three new programs locating to the UCF Center for Emerging Media. The center will hold a dedication on Oct. 26 to celebrate this expansion.