Mid-Review Presentation

We started the Dormitory and Campus Center Project with the Site Study.

With the site analysis, I came up with several understandings of the site.


The site as I understood it, in relation to NJIT, is physically separate from the main campus. It is like an 'island' separated by the major roads - MLK Boulevard and Raymond Boulevard.


I also noticed that because of the close proximity to Bradley Hall to the site, as well as the large open space in front of it, along with the site's relation to downtown Newark, there is a very strong visual axis towards the East-Southeast.


The site is also bound on three of its four sides, with Bradley Hall towards MLK Blvd. and the difference in elevation created by the hill it sits on, creating a steep elevation difference to the south and a sharp hill separating the athletic field from the site.


In this diagram, I complare it the the North-South Axis and acknowledge the slope as generally going directly to the east.

In response to these conditions that I analyzed from the site, I created 3 main ideas on how I respond to the site in realation to my larger idea of creating an atrium-like space that maximizes public/private interaction.


With this diagram, I introduce how my idea of public/private interaction and atrium is to manifest. By having each level overhang in different directions, I create conditions which take advantace of the site's views, the chance to create exterior balconies from which one can view into the 'atrium' and interact with events in the space between the two structures. The atrium would also allow natural lighting and ventilation from two sides in each room. It also compensates for the space that it created between Bradley Hall and the Dormitory/Campus Center. By overhanging away from Bradley Hall, balconies are created which Bradley Hall can view into as well as allowing more light and space to be between Bradley Hall and the Dormitory.


In reaction to the site being separated from the main campus, I plan on inverting programmatically to embrace and enhance the idea of the site being physically more separated from the rest of NJIT than other NJIT structures.


The site is to be enclosed with vegetation and raised land on the Warren Street side in order to support the idea of inverting the site.


The units consists of two bedrooms, each shared by two students, with a shared bathroom and a foyer. Entry into the rooms is through the foyer from the interior circulation. From the foyer, the student can either turn left or right into his/her room, or straight into the bathroom. The bedrooms has fenestration in two sides, to allow light and views into the balcony and from the exterior. Separated by the interior circulation, the unit also has a personal public space - the balcony, from which one can view into the atrium space and interact with others.


The dormitory is basically extruded horizontally and mirrored through the site with balconies looking into each other allowing public/private interaction.


The Campus Center is engaged in the Dormitory building and dispersed along the main level. This allows the main public circulation to interact with the private spaces visually but not interfere or reduce the privacy of the dormitory. By dispersing the campus center around the length of the dormitory, I hope to encourage movement and interaction with the dormitory.


The structure of the buildings are supported by ribs concrete slabs placed between each unit.


Vertical circulation is by located on the ends of the building and between the balcony and the dormitory rooms.


The building on the site.


Plan from the 5th level.


Plan from the 1st level.


Short section, looking North.


Long Section, looking East.


Bird's Eye View Axonometric


Worm's Eye View Axonometric


Exploded Axonometric of building

Critic Midreview Response:
lost of possible variations in sections in comparison to concept model,
no moments - continuous,
monolithic,
spaces all the same,
less humanistic than original concept,
need to break down more

Student Responce to Mid-Review Critique:
the atrium became more of a leftover space than a driving idea - design atrium more conciously to create more interesting public space for interaction,
became too uniform because circulation wasnt as resolved in relation to trying to have units differ in elevation in each floor,
trying to design building in smaller groups of units with vertical circualtion in between each group,
having the building more flexible with the original/existing topography