Browsing by Author "Gresham, Carter"
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- London, KY : Turning London Green : Conceptual Designs for the Expansion of London's Streetscape and GreenspacesGilboy, Elizabeth; Philen, Melissa; Browning, Lara; Gray, Shane; Gresham, Carter; Souza de Souza, Aline Soares; Jones, Alexander (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2016-02)Located in Laurel County, Kentucky, the City of London is beginning to look to the future of the town and opportunities that exist for downtown improvements. The downtown area already contains several local restaurants and boutique shops, however the area is lacking in any major green space and is in need of streetscape improvements. Main Street exists as a lovely example of streetscape beautification. Urban trees, perennial shrub plantings, benches, and other pedestrian amenities line the corridor. London hopes to expand upon this aesthetic design by including the Broad Street corridor. London’s goal is to create a system of connected greenspace to promote outdoor physical activity such as walking and bicycling. Due to London’s recent designation as the Cycling Capitol of Kentucky, the city also looks to renovate and reassess its current cycling infrastructure. Directional and informational signage are also needed to unite the city under one clear aesthetic.
The city hopes to incorporate greenspace, provide safe and comfortable walking routes, celebrate their rich culture, and infuse the streets with local public art. By doing this, London hopes to have a more vibrant, welcoming, and economically viable destination for residents and visitors alike. - Morganton, NC: Building a Healthier Community through Open Spaces, Greenways, and Natural Resource EnhancementGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Eliason, Amy; Gresham, Carter (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2015-07)“Established in 1777, Morganton is the county seat and cultural, governmental, financial, and commercial center of Burke County, the largest county in Western North Carolina. Sitting in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains between Hickory and Asheville, Morganton’s location along I-40 makes it an important economic center for the region.
Morganton and the surrounding counties, cities, and towns are blessed with scenic rural landscapes, bountiful natural resources, and a rich historic and cultural heritage. Lake James State Park, the Linville Gorge, Pisgah National Forest, and South Mountains State Park are short drives from the city. Morganton prides itself on providing big city services wrapped in small town charm.”
The Foothills Conservancy approached the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) looking to evaluate an existing trail system on a site just south of Downtown Morganton. An array of different types of trails exist on the various properties of the site. In addition, the largest stakeholder on this “Pentagon” site, Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC), seeks to welcome and attract community members to the area for recreational use. With this in mind, WPCC is requesting options for an enhanced trail system that will connect with the various other sites, including the North Carolina School for the Deaf (NCSD) and Broughton Hospital. Burke County, hailed as “Nature’s Playground,” also seeks to create an environment that promotes healthy living. This project will work in conjunction with the North Carolina Forest Service’s goal of appropriate large scale reforestation.
The Community Design Assistance Center prepared a conceptual master plan for trails, as well as detailed amenity spaces, planting recommendations, and reforestation guidelines. - Morganton, NC: Trail and Natural Resource Enhancement Stewardship PlanGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Eliason, Amy; Gresham, Carter (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2015-07)Considering the level of maintenance for different projects depends on the project type and use. Frequency of day-to-day maintenance tasks are based on the level of maintenance required for each project to be sustained as designed. Additional considerations, when determining the level of maintenance for projects, are funding and who will be performing the tasks. Each individual community must determine their resources and how those resources will be allocated within their budget.
Sources of funding may be donated by various community groups, and partnerships can help to bolster a community’s capacity. For example, if a town cannot afford to install irrigation systems for their athletic fields, a local interest group could donate that installation money. The town would then assume the management responsibilities of that irrigation system onward. - South Boston, VA: First Baptist Church Learning Area and Garden Conceptual DesignGilboy, Elizabeth; Philen, Melissa; Browning, Lara; Moskaluk, Lexi; Gresham, Carter; Jones, Alexander; Li, Dan (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2015-12)Located in the Town of South Boston, Virginia, the First Baptist Church (FBC) owns a large fill lot on Main Street and is hoping to create an outdoor space which can be used by all members of the church. First Baptist Church and the First Baptist Weekday School, which is run by FBC, would like to create an outdoor learning area/garden that “weaves their community, children and adults, with new and existing educational and religious programs” says Mary Tucker Irby, director of the First Baptist Weekday School. This outdoor learning area would also expand upon the outreach services already provided by the church community and allow them to potentially grow food for the hungry, cultivate flowers for hospice patients, and provide a space for “education, play, recreation, friendly gatherings, performances, prayer, church meetings, Godly play, and gardening”. In addition to these elements, an outdoor gathering space or stage would allow outdoor services, children’s plays, weddings, and gatherings. This space would be a wonderful addition to First Baptist Church. The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was contacted to work with the FBC to develop conceptual designs for the vision of the First Baptist Churchyard.
The design process began with an initial site visit to South Boston in June 2015. The CDAC team met with project stakeholders at First Baptist Church and discussed initial design visions and ideas for the churchyard. The team then walked the First Baptist Churchyard with these stakeholders, talking further about the visions and conditions of the site. The team documented existing conditions and took soil samples, which helped the team to understand the opportunities and constraints of the site. This inventory and analysis influenced the design concepts for First Baptist Churchyard. The team worked closely with a stakeholders group to better understand their vision for the site. Research was conducted regarding programs and elements that the stakeholders expressed interest in: natural and creative play, Godly Play, terraces, and gardens. After careful consideration of all the factors, a set of preliminary conceptual design alternatives was developed.
In July 2015, the CDAC team visited First Baptist Church to present the inventory and analysis of the site, research and case studies, and initial design ideas and concepts for the churchyard to the stakeholders and FBC community. During this meeting community members gave their feedback on the initial design concepts and how they wanted them changed and consolidated into a final concept. After this discussion, the design alternatives were then revised and combined into a final conceptual master plan for the First Baptist Churchyard.
The final master plans were presented at a second and final community meeting at the First Baptist Church in September 2015. - Stecoah Valley Center Conceptual Site Master PlanGilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Burg, Gardner; Behbahani, Armaghan Behzad; VanNoy, Jess; Alsaiari, Hamad; Eliason, Amy; Gresham, Carter (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2015-06)The Stecoah Valley Center is located in Stecoah, NC within Graham County. The Center was built in 1926 and served the community as the Stecoah Union School until it was closed in 1994 and converted into a cultural center. The Center now serves the community as a place for after school arts programs, a performance space, an art gallery, a museum for Cherokee history, and an event space to celebrate local arts and agriculture. The Center sits on 10 acres of land currently comprised of a fitness trail that surrounds the extent of the property, a playground, an azalea garden, a pavilion, a separate gymnasium building, and a creek. The majority of the grounds consists of open space to provide ample room for the many cultural events the Center hosts in the summer and fall seasons.
The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was tasked with developing a conceptual master plan to enhance the cultural and environmental quality of the grounds. The proposed master plan includes a half-basketball court that also serves as an outdoor performance space, outdoor restrooms, a wind garden, a story circle, a creek-side reading area, an interpretive walking trail with a variety of stations, and stormwater management all of which are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible. In addition, open space was preserved to support the many events that the Center hosts every year.
The Stecoah Valley Center also wanted CDAC to enhance the fitness trail and convert it to an interpretive walking trail, so 5 interpretive stations were proposed. These stations reflect the history, culture, art, and geology of the region.