Pole Barn

Here is a project I did which is actually being built! Not much of anything as far as design goes but, it is being built! I was pretty excited to have my name on something which was submitted as an official building document even if it's just a rectangular out-building.

Paint Creek Interpretive Learning Center

Here is some stuff I've been working on for a CAD Presentation class. This class really challenged me not only because of the site and design constraints but also because I had to switch gears from very technical drawings (which I am used to) to a much looser, design format (which I'm really not comfortable with). Overall it turned out pretty good. I'm happy with the results.

Commercial Drafting

Over the past three years I have been attending college part-time and I have finally made it beyond the boring stuff and broke into the stuff that I want to do. Just thought I would share a class project, we were given the challenge of re-using an old Rite Aid building with restrictions on what features could be modified and required to remain within current Michigan Building Code and ADA (handicap accessible) regulations. I chose to give the shell a new life as a book store (go figure!) adding all the features on the east side (right of illustration) restrooms, storage, office spaces, etc. as well as the counter spaces near the entrance. There were also large arched windows added to the north and south sides of the building. A total of nine drawings were required for this class with more upcoming in part two of the course. Even though it was a lot of work it was enjoyable. Perhaps not the most inspiring but enjoyable none-the-less. This project gave me a deeper understanding of the scope of an architects' job and the depth of detail which must be covered.

The train has left the station

Recently, Michigan lawmakers discussed the possibility of using some Federal stimulus money to renovate the dilapidated Michigan Central Depot which has stood empty since 1988. Now ringed in barbed wire and 'tagged' with graffiti, the massive Detroit building seems to be perched at a high ledge awaiting it's fate. Detroit City Counsel wants to demolish the building but, Michigan legislators think it could be used as a Michigan State Police lab, a Homeland Security border protection office and an international trade processing center. This sounds great at first but is it really worth it? The property has very little parking space to support the 500,000+ square feet of space within the building. This is due to fact that when the building was designed in the early 1900s cars were a novelty and passengers came to the secluded station via trolley car from the city.

I'm torn on this subject. The building, in it's day, dominated the city skyline. Richly decorated inside and out in marble the Michigan Central Depot was a showpiece of architecture and engineering. It is still an incredibly attractive building even in it's decayed state and resides on the National Registry of Historic Buildings. The big question here is this, can it be sustained? Rail travel is rare these days and the proposed uses by the state would barely make a dent in the space available within the vast building. Who will pay to keep the heat on in a bitter Michigan winter? Not to mention the estimated 100 million dollar estimate to renovate the building to usable status again.

As much as I loath to see a historic building lost to the wrecking ball, I don't see how this building can be of any further use. The layout of money to get everything up to health and safety codes which will allow the building to be reopened is just too great. The Depot has sat far too long and I don't believe there is any way to turn back the clock now.

Abandoned

Last night I was watching part of "Life After People" on the History channel and I was just amazed at how quickly some buildings crumble and fall while others remain standing for decades with no care. This also tied into some research I've been doing for a writing project and it all brought me to hundreds of sites on the subject of abandoned buildings and in some cases entire cities. It's shocking that people would just walk away from some of these incredible structures never to return. Old, unused, out of the way places and architecture are huge draws to me so, urban exploration (a fancy term for trespassing) is something I've wanted to do but never had the nerve to get into. I guess I'll just live vicariously for now. Here are a few pictures as well as their source sites. Glimpses into the past and perhaps our future.

Opacity


Historic Decay