Project Description

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The project is regarding the establishment of a center, in which AIA and OFA activities will take place: 

The Orlando Center for Architecture and Design (OCAD)

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1. Overview

The location of the proposed center is at the Northeast corner of the intersection of Rosalind Ave. and Washington St.

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2. Strategies

At the current state, the site forms a threshold between Lake Eola and the middle of downtown.  It forms a separation from one side to the other.

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3. Goals

The proposed project is designed to spread architectural knowledge to the members of the city.  It must create a hub for architecture (career and education).

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The proposed project must form a handshake between Eola and downtown: 

                Directional (guide the passerby from Eola to Downtown) 

                Collective (collect the passerby in) 

                Porous (allow natural elements to permeate, allow city elements to permeate) 

                Multi-layer (a handshake is a multi-point connection) 

                Convergent (it ought to welcome in) 

                Divergent (it ought to spread architectural knowledge out) 

                Connective (it must connect eola to downtown, architecture to the public)

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4. Handshake

“A handshake is an exchange of information between 2 different entities within a common ground.”

                The program forms a handshake of nature.

                The program forms a handshake of function.

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5. Site

The adjacent context is converged into the core of the structure.  Elements of Lake Eola and the passerby coming from downtown.

 

6. 1st Floor

The main lobby consists of a fully open environment.

A pre-function courtyard brings the elements of nature into the elements of the city inside the structure.

An open café that faces the street welcomes the passerby.

A gallery on Roslaind Ave. captures the interest of the pedestrian on that side.

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7. 3rd Floor

Floors 2-4 house the educational program of Architecture 2+2+2 (Valencia, UCF, UF).

At the third floor, students have access to a manmade natural park that exists within the city elements.

The Bridge existing only at the third floor, is wat allows access to the rooftop park.

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8. 5th Floor

The 5th floor houses the AIA and OFA offices.

Multiple rearrangement of the interconnected conference rooms allows for hosting of bigger events.

Deck C allows for the hosting of exterior events

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9. Rosalind Elevation

The spiral stairs, and the corner of Rosalind and Washington, are fully open towards Lake Eola.

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10. Washington Elevation

The rooftop park exists over the auditorium.  Decks throughout allow for observation from any level.

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11. Sections and perspectives

The following sections and perspectives depict the proposed:

                Multi-layer handshake between the structure and it’s surroundings.

                Elements of nature persisting throughout the structure

                A connection to Lake Eola

                A connection to downtown

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The proposed Orlando Center for Architecture and Design becomes the common ground in which 2 different entities: Eola/Downtown, Nature/City, Public/Architect, exchange information.

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