VTechWorks Repository :: Browsing by Author "Steika, Kim"

Browsing by Author "Steika, Kim"

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16 squares : the heart of Blacksburg
Steika, Kim; Deshpande, Kartiki Milind; Strumfiled, Jonathan (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2008-07-01)
CDAC worked with the 16 Squares Committee of Blacksburg to bring together an overview of historic information to cast a vision for what can be done in both the short and long term to identify, educate, preserve, and develop.
Abner Clay Park Conceptual Master Plan
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Sexton, Adam; Wallace, I. Caroline (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2010-05)
Abner Clay Park is a neighborhood park in Historic Jackson Ward that occupies a portion of the block bounded by Brooks Road, Clay Street, Leigh Street, and Adams Street. Current park amenities include a tot lot, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, and an "urban plaza" with a covered gazebo. The park is surrounding primarily by residences and civic institutions such as churches and schools. Immediately adjacent to the park are basketball courts and the former Armstrong High School, which is now the Adult Career Development Center (ACDC). Ebenezer Baptist Church and the First Battalion Armory of the Virginia Volunteers (now vacant) overlook into the open field from Leigh Street. The Virginia Fire and Police Museum, Bojangles Monument, and the Black History and Cultural Center of Virginia are all just one block away from the park.

The plaza-like section of the Abner Clay Park near the intersection of Brooks Road and Clay Street, is currently underutilized. All seating was removed to deter unwanted loitering. Unfortunately, this leaves residents with no place to sit and enjoy the space informally on a day-to-day basis, or during more programmed special events. The plaza area serves as a meeting place, a starting point for tours, and a location for some neighborhood events such as the health fair. Other spaces in the park are undefined or uninviting and attract undesirable activity.
Amherst town square conceptual design
Steika, Kim; Furedy, Eliza; Rodes, Doug (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2008-05-01)
The town of Amherst approached the CDAD to develop a plan for the town that considers previous plans and abides by the community's desires. The CDAC was asked to develop a conceptual design for the plaza area utilizing community input.
Bedford Elks Lodge conceptual design : Prepared by the Community Design Assistance Center for the Bedford Elks Lodge #2844, Bedford, Virginia
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Korkuti, Arian; Fields, Kristin; Marshall, Ashleigh; Meier, Kerry (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2011-03)
The Elks Lodge #2844 of Bedford, Virginia hired the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) to develop a conceptual architectural design and site plan for a new Elks lodge. The Bedford Elks recently purchased a 5-acre parcel that is adjacent to the National Elks Home to build their new lodge. Due to the site’s close proximity to the grand and iconic National Elks Home, members desire the new lodge to reflect the architectural style of the National Home, while maintaining their spatial needs and budget as well as their own distinct identity. The Bedford Elks envision their new building to be capable of a variety of uses. A large banquet hall that would be functional as a meeting place for lodge members as well as a transformable space for producing revenue through event rental is desired. In addition, the lodge should contain a kitchen capable of serving the banquet hall, an Elks Room for members only, and office space. The site boasts an excellent view of the Blue Ridge Mountains as well as the National Elks Home, and a building that takes advantage of these views is desired. The Elks envision the new lodge to be a place for daily business as well as special events and would like to create a destination within the community.
Blacksburg Freshwater Heritage: A Conceptual Plan to Highlight History, Heritage and Environmental Stewardship at Owens Street, Spout Springs, and Five Chimneys Park
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Visconti, Autumn; Franklin, Josh (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2009-06)
The Community Design Assistance Center worked with a team of project stakeholders to develop conceptual master plans for three town-owned properties: Spout Spring Park, Five Chimneys Park, and Owens Park. Each site contains fresh water and has opportunities for enhancement and education. The plans for each site highlight the history and heritage of freshwater resources in Blacksburg through design and signage, provide recommendations to improve water quality and soil stabilization through plantings, and demonstrate possible alternatives for stormwater management.
The Town of Blacksburg is located in Montgomery County in southwest Virginia. The three parks identified for this project are in or near the town’s historic 16 squares, in the heart of Blacksburg. Spout Spring, located at the corner of Clay and Wharton Streets, is a pocket park with an historic spring on the edge of the property. Five Chimneys Park, located at the corner of Draper Road and Washington Street, offers one of the few opportunities to see Stroubles Creek above ground in downtown Blacksburg. Owens Park, located near the intersection of Owens Street and Harding Avenue, is a neighborhood park that serves as a temporary detention basin during storm events. A map in this report indicates the locations of the parks within the town.
Blacksburg Municipal Building conceptual master plan
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Marshall, Ashleigh; Illmensee, Kaitlyn; Ly, Christine; Gasaway, Brooke; Poteet, Tish (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2012-07)
The Town of Blacksburg asked the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) to develop an updated conceptual landscape master plan for the Municipal Building to better reflect the identity of the building and the priorities of the Town. For visitors or new residents, the purpose of the building is not readily apparent and signage is hidden under vegetation.

Working directly with Town staff (Marc Verniel, Priscilla Cygielnik, John Boyer, and Beth Carson), the CDAC team developed a conceptual landscape master plan for the site that addresses identity, wayfinding, and gives a strong and welcoming first impression of the Town. Additionally, the CDAC team explored architectural improvements that could be made to enhance the buildings’ entries.
Bluebell Island Natural Area trail design and conceptual redesign of A.R. Matthews Park
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; LaRoche, Michael; Edenfield, Caitlin; Heile, Laurel (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2012-08)
The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) worked with the Town of St. Paul and St. Paul Tomorrow, Inc. to develop a conceptual master plan for the Bluebell Island Trail as well as a redesign for A.R. Matthews Park. Bluebell Island is approximately 1.3 acres. This undeveloped natural area is owned by the town and has recently been put in a conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The town and TNC want to see a natural surfaced trail system developed on the island to compliment the biodiversity of the area and to provide connections to existing trail systems in the area. A.R. Matthews Park, the town’s current riverside park, is adjacent to Bluebell Island and is home to the annual Clinch River Days Festival (circa 1998). This festival was created to “showcase the Clinch River, and the endangered species that exist in and around the river.” 3

The current park contains a variety of amenities (two tennis courts, a basketball court, children’s play equipment, a stage, a covered shelter, a little league stadium, and the start of a skate park) but is aging and doesn’t take advantage of its proximity to the Clinch River as well as it could. “The St. Paul’s Tomorrow Trails Team is interested in creating a new design for the park that will complement the new trail addition to Bluebell Island and create a Riverwalk that joins Oxbow Lake and the Sugar Hill Loop Trail system.” 4
Chatham visual enhancements
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Abu Bakar, Shamsul; Akers, Dustin; Rigot, Sarah; Blecksmith, Lisa; Marshall, Ashleigh (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2010-08-01)
The purpose of this project was to assist the town of Chatham with several aspects of visual and experiential enhancements. Key focus areas included visual improvements, the Chatham Perimeter Trail, and other areas with the aim of strengthening the desirability of Chatham as a destination for residents and visitors alike.
Cobbs Creek Reservoir Study Area Site Analysis
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Kirkpatrick, Ryan; Visconti, Autumn; Xu, Yining (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2008-09-30)
The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was charged, as a part of the Virginia Tech/Virginia Commonwealth University project team, to prepare a site analysis for a study area of approximately 1000 feet around the Cobbs Creek Reservoir. The CDAC team began by obtaining base information, through the help of the Cumberland County Planning Department, related to current recreational sites/activities within the county, as well as cultural and physiological information related to the project study area. A site visit was made in May 2008 to tour the study area and visit other portions of the County. Information gathered by the CDAC team has been organized and is presented in this document as 11x17 maps with accompanying text descriptions. This information is intended to serve as a guide for future conceptual design development of the area.
Conceptual Landscape Master Plan for Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity
Steika, Kim; Grossman, Mara; O'Donohoue, Kent (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2008-10)
Alpha Gamma Rho is social and professional Agricultural fraternity that seeks to provide its members with opportunities for social interaction and professional development as they pursue careers in agriculture, food, or fiber industries. With the advent of development surrounding the fraternity house and changes in the configuration of local roads, the Alpha Gamma Rho site became bounded by roads on all sides. Views in and out of the site required screening for privacy and directing views. Site circulation, entrance locations, and parking also changed due to the reconfiguration of roads. The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was hired to work with the Alpha Gamma Rho Alumni Board to develop a landscape master plan for the site that addressed entry experience; site circulation and parking suggestions; recreational site master planning recommendations; and planting recommendations for privacy, aesthetics, and environmental stewardship/education.
Conceptual master plan for Boxerwood Nature Center and Woodland Garden
Steika, Kim; Doran, Lauren; Hipp, Kent; Wallace, I. Caroline (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2008)
The CDAC design team began the project with an initial site visit and tour of Boxerwood with staff members Hunter Mohring and Karen Bailey. The CDAC team photographed the site as they learned about the many spaces, places, and programs at Boxerwood.
The CDAC team returned to the site several additional times, to verify information for the existing conditions mapping, to shadow several educational programs offered to elementary school students in the County, and to talk with the teaching staff about needs and desires for the site as it related to the various age groups that Boxerwood serves.
Following these meetings, the CDAC team developed site inventory and analysis drawings, documenting their findings to date. The CDAC team met with Boxerwood staff and board members to discuss these findings and learn about their visions for the future of Boxerwood.
From that meeting and ensuing correspondence, the CDAC team took away valuable information that would guide the course of the remainder of the of the project. Initial conceptual design alternatives were developed. Suggestions for trail materials, ADA accessibility options, interior spaces, and entry sequence and parking were prepared. These initial design ideas were presented to Boxerwood staff and board members for review and comment.
The conceptual master plan was refined based on the feedback received at the presentation. An illustrative existing conditions map was also developed for Boxerwood to use in combination with its current wayfinding system.
This short support report was prepared to document the project and describe the conceptual design proposals.
Conceptual Master Plan for the Pennington Gap - Stone Mountain Trail System
Steika, Kim; Owen, Timothy; Rodes, Doug; Rosso, Nathan (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2008-05-30)
The Community Design Assistance Center worked with the Town of Pennington Gap, Lee County, and the Stone Mountain ATV Club to develop a conceptual master plan for a recreational ATV trail system. The trail system is intended to serve a broad skill range of users, from beginners to more advanced. Additionally, the trail would meet not only the needs of the town but the larger county area as well. The proposed trail system could also serve to generate economic development and entrepreneurship for the area, bringing visitors to enjoy the trail as well as local restaurants, shops, and overnight accommodations. The Pennington Gap-Stone Mountain ATV Trail System aims to be the first of many in a larger network of trails in Southwest Virginia. The Hatfield-McCoy Trail in West Virginia is an excellent example of how an ATV trail can positively effect the economy of adjacent local areas.
Dante Multi-Purpose Trail: Conceptual Master Plan
Steika, Kim; Hipp, Kent; Spratley, Cotter (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2009-03)
Dante is a small community in Russell County, Virginia. Although today its population does not exceed 1000, it was once a thriving community rich from the abundance of coal layered in the mountains. The community boasted a population of over 4000 and served as the headquarters of the Clinchfield Coal Corporation. As is typical of many Appalachian coal towns, Dante experienced a boom and bust scenario, with the extraction of resources and eventual exodus of the economic driver, the mining industry.
The Dante Lives On 501(c)3 Corporation was founded by residents in 2003 as a way to structure the community by providing central leadership. Their mission is “to improve the quality of life in the region by preserving, restoring, and promoting its cultural heritage while finding new ways to encourage growth and development in its communities.” Steps they are taking to fulfill this call include:
Creating of the Dante Coal and Railroad Museum
- Hosting of an annual reunion
- Building of a outdoor stage for performing artists
- Building of the Dante Coal Miner’s Memorial
- Partnering with Russell County Chamber of Commerce to host an open-air farmers market
- Representation on the Southwest Virginia Coal Heritage Trail planning committee
The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was enlisted to aid Dante Lives On with design recommendations for a multi-use trail that will support the goals of the community organization. This assistance included conceptual trail master planning, experiential representation of the trail through sketches and perspectives, and identification of opportunities for regional trail connections.
Ed Good Memorial Park Conceptual Master Plan
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Gan, Naixuan; Zhang, Yanting; West, William; Poteet, Tish (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2010-07)
Stanley is a small Virginia town of approximately 1,400 people nestled in the Shenandoah Valley in Page County. The Ed Good Memorial Park is located in downtown Stanley. It is the site of the Town of Stanley's annual Homecoming event and is also home to the Town's skate park - "The Hawk". The park is bounded on one side by an active railroad track and is divided by an open drainage swale. A group of local residents has initiated the idea of adding a trail to the park for health and recreation. A memorial area has also recently been added to the park, honoring fallen police and firefighters from the area. Pioneer Bank, a local bank, celebrated its 100th anniversary on December 3rd, 2009. In honor of their service to the community, they have donated the cost of a playground to the park.

The Community Design Assistance Center was asked to help weave these new uses together and identify possible additional recreational uses for the park through the development of a conceptual master plan. The CDAC team worked with Town staff and community residents to develop a conceptual master plan for the park that looks to optimize the space and increase recreational activities. The CDAC design team considered existing programmatic uses of the site and wove these together with desires for additional facilities. Potential future trail connections to other parks or areas in the Town were also explored. The conceptual master plan addressed the desire for defining the property's edge and enhancing screening from the railroad track; the existing drainage swale to maximize usable space while also seeking to improve stormwater management; and enhanced the current parking lot. Opportunities for additional site plantings were also recommended.

The CDAC design team began the project in October 2009 with an initial site visit and meeting with Town Manager Terry Pettit and Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Short. During this visit the team discussed project goals with Town staff, toured and photographed the site, visited the Town's other recreational facilities, and identified possible destinations to link via a town-wide trail system.

The CDAC team returned to Blacksburg to develop a base map, photoboard, and site inventory and analysis. The CDAC team returned to Stanley in early November to field check the site analysis and to tour the Luray Hawksbill Greenway with Terry Pettit.

The Town of Stanley distributed a short survey to the residents to Stanley, soliciting input regarding recreational needs within the Town. The CDAC design team used feedback from the survey to guide them during the preliminary conceptual design process.

Two alternative conceptual designs were developed. These concepts, along with supporting sketches, were presented to community members in Stanley on April 1st, 2010. The conceptual alternatives were revised into a single conceptual design concept based on community feedback and guidance from Town staff. The final conceptual master plan was presented to town staff, town council, and community members on May 18, 2010. Following the final presentation, soil samples were taken and a planting plan was developed.

This short, supporting report was prepared to document the design process and describe the proposed design concepts for the Ed Good Memorial Park Conceptual Master Plan.
Ellis Acres Memorial Park, Dillwyn, VA
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Doran, Lauren; Xu, Yining (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2007)
Ellis Acres Memorial Park, Inc. is interested in renovating the remaining building on the historical Buckingham Training School property to serve as a community building. Among other things, it would house an historical exhibition and offer community meeting space, while creating a community park on the surrounding 9.25-acre site.
Fairview in Abingdon : conceptual master plan
Steika, Kim; Fisher, Terri; Dart, Daniel; Blake, Michael; Latimore, Shruti (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2007)
The CDAC was hired to work with Fairview in Abingdon, Inc. to create a conceptual master plan for a village that would highlight life in Washington County in the 19th century.
Greene County Community Park Stormwater Master Plan : A supplement to the park master plan
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Marshall, Ashleigh (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2010-10)
The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) worked with Greene County in 1998 to develop a conceptual master plan for Greene County Community Park. In 2008, CDAC worked with the County Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and the County Parks and Recreation Director to update the conceptual master plan. Through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to the Rivanna River Basin Commission (RRBC), CDAC was asked in 2010 to work with the Center for Watershed Protection to craft a stormwater management plan for Greene County Park.
The Center for Watershed Protection described the purpose of the stormwater master plan as follows: “Through the RRBC grant and County efforts, a variety of activities are already planned for the park, including construction of a bioswale between the parking lot and soccer fields and a stream restoration project. The stormwater master plan is a tool to integrate these efforts with other potential projects in order to create a holistic picture of environmental improvements that can be implemented as the park develops through the years.”
This plan is envisioned to serve as an addendum to the current park master plan. The stormwater master plan establishes general guidelines and concepts to address stormwater as different parts of the park develop. Best management practices and low impact development strategies are suggested that can be implemented for different areas of the park.
Learning center at Fishburn Forest concept design : Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Korkuti, Arian; Steika, Kim; Rogers, Robin; Smith, Liam; Wan, Milo; Burg, Gardner; Dunne, Peter; Jessup, Jennifer; Pieri, Gray; Poteet, Tish (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2014-03)
The Fishburn property is a site of about 1,400 acres located about 6 miles west of the Virginia Tech Blacksburg campus. It was donated to Virginia Tech by Junius B. Fishburn, former president of the Southwest Virginia Trust Co. and former owner of the Roanoke Times. Approximately 1,350 acres is owned by Virginia Tech and the remaining 53 acres by the Virginia Tech Foundation. The Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation (Dept of FREC) manages the property and uses it as a living lab for a variety of classes that require field work.

The Department of FREC would like to build a learning center that could serve a variety of uses including supporting the educational activities of the Department; renting the facility to other groups for meetings, conferences, weddings, and community functions; and opening the site more formally to the public. Two possible locations for the facility were selected by FREC representatives for consideration.

Preliminary programing elements for the building include a meeting hall for approximately 50 people, a kitchen, restrooms, offices, and a caretaker’s facility.

The Fishburn project began with an initial site visit to the property, guided by Dr. Mike Aust, Forestry Professor. During that visit, Dr. Aust shared some of the site’s past and more contemporary history with the CDAC design team. Two potential locations were identified for the learning center’s concept design. Qualities of each site were discussed with Dr. Aust as well as current uses by the College of Natural Resources and the university at large. The CDAC team photographed each site and conducted an inventory and analysis. Additional visits to the site were made to gather and confirm site analysis information.

After completing inventory and analysis for each site, the CDAC team prepared four preliminary design ideas for the learning center - two for each site. These design ideas were presented to faculty, staff, and administration in the College of Natural Resources and the Environment (CNRE). Additionally, a short survey was prepared. This survey along with 11x17 drawings of the design ideas were distributed to faculty for review and comment.

Based on comments received from faculty and staff as well as guidance from Dr. Janaki Alavapati, the CDAC team narrowed the design focus to what was termed “Site 2” and developed two conceptual design options for that site. Conceptual designs were presented to Joshua Galloway (Community Housing Partners) and Mark McConel (Summit Studio), architects on the CDAC Design Review Panel. Refinements were made based on their feedback. The designs were presented in November 2013 to the client group. Slight revisions were made based on comments from this presentation and one final conceptual design for the structure and caretaker’s residence and one final site master plan were prepared for the learning center.

This short supporting report was prepared to document the design process and describe the design concepts prepared by the Community Design Assistance Center.
Luray conceptual design enhancement for Cliffside Pocket Park, Chinkapin Oak, and Main Street trees
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; LaRoche, Michael; Kim, Gunwoo; Illmensee, Kaitlyn; Poteet, Tish (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2012-06)
Cliffside Pocket Park is a town-owned natural area adjacent to the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway. The space currently has a variety of natural and planned plantings, seating, a small gravel parking area, and a restroom. Adjacent residents are very interested in the future use of this site, valuing its biodiversity and serenity.

CDAC worked with Town staff and community members to prepare conceptual designs for this site. Specific programmatic elements considered includes a small amphitheater (capacity 25-40) that will serve as an educational venue and a covered picnic shelter.
Master plan for Greene County Community Park
Steika, Kim; Clough, Jordan; Dart, Daniel (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2008-06-01)
Members of Greene County have expressed a desire to expand Greene County Community Park's facilities to maximize the park's potential within the community. A diverse set of recreational opportunities are needed to achieve the desired potential.

Browsing by Author "Steika, Kim"

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