New York, Chicago & San Francisco, United States | Spring 2024
An overall view of the "Aero Logix" project, which redefines logistics and address current suburban system limitations, utilizing direct freight access and drone-based delivery.
The "Nova Pro forma" concept of the previous semester was developed into the urban scale in semester two, again under the guidance of the three senior colleagues at SOM: Scott Duncan, Design Partner; Jorge Rovira, Senior Associate Principal and Studio Head; and Jason Fisher, Senior Associate Principal and Studio Head. Triggered by socio-economic shifts and the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional downtowns are undergoing significant transformations. Students were tasked with the ambitious goal of reimagining and transforming cities, applying the lesson and strategies developed through the previous “Nona Pro Forma” studio, but now applied to existing, not new, tall buildings.
This studio aimed to address these challenges head-on. Students were tasked with the ambitious goal of transforming existing tall buildings through meticulously crafted action plans. These plans not only focused on architectural redesign but also incorporated robust business cases for new uses of these structures. The studio explored a wide range of innovative uses such as Carbon Capture, Energy Generation, Energy Storage, Food Production, Server Farming, Tourism, Multifamily Housing, and others, adapting these to the context of existing tall buildings.
The studio focused on three major urban centers: New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Students conducted a thorough analysis of the downtown developments in these cities, examining the current state of the buildings, occupancy rates, structural conditions, and market possibilities. A critical component of this studio was the selection of specific buildings for adaptation. Students not only needed to justify their building selection but also developed a comprehensive Nova Pro Forma case for its transformation.
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