UNIVERSITY OF OREGON / PORTLAND, OREGON / THESIS STUDIO, 2020-2021 ONLINE
a community center rooted in social media and popular culture
a community center rooted in social media and popular culture
Architecture has failed the people. We’ve created a world where physical public space is constantly being monitored, limited, and taken away from specific groups of people. The internet has become the last remaining public space where people use their voices unapologetically to express their ideas, opinions, thoughts, art, anything. Anyone can have a presence. Popular culture and social media networks, the main content on the internet, have become essential to educating and informing people on current social movements and general awareness. Information is the new education in the 21st century, and this information is potently abundant, all around us, and hard to hide from. These platforms carve and create spaces for underrepresented voices and communities, giving them a platform to speak about the injustices and discrimination they face. Situated on the South Side of Chicago, where the World’s Columbian Exposition was held in 1893, VIRAL seeks to provide a space that contains and transmits culture to benefit the people locally, while bringing awareness globally, the issues technology has created for humanity.
THE OVERALL IDEAS
How does this all work?
In terms of how the internet is used, the internet houses popular culture. Pop culture is generally recognized by members of a society as a set of the practices, beliefs, and objects that are dominant or prevalent in a society at a given point in time. We see this imagined through songs, music videos, memes, graphics, stories, live streams, you name it. While a majority of popular culture is accessed through the internet, it does branch out of the virtual realm through live performances, sports, films, fashion, and other physical representations. A majority of this is accessed and received through social media. Social media are interactive computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation or sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities, networks, fandoms and subcultures. Now all of this works because of the foundations the internet provides, which is easily accessible to almost everyone on the planet. Whether you like it or not, the internet is hard to hide from as it has been ingrained throughout our daily lives. It's estimated the total number of internet connected devices is projected to amount to 75.44 billion worldwide by 2025.
In terms of how the internet is used, the internet houses popular culture. Pop culture is generally recognized by members of a society as a set of the practices, beliefs, and objects that are dominant or prevalent in a society at a given point in time. We see this imagined through songs, music videos, memes, graphics, stories, live streams, you name it. While a majority of popular culture is accessed through the internet, it does branch out of the virtual realm through live performances, sports, films, fashion, and other physical representations. A majority of this is accessed and received through social media. Social media are interactive computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation or sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities, networks, fandoms and subcultures. Now all of this works because of the foundations the internet provides, which is easily accessible to almost everyone on the planet. Whether you like it or not, the internet is hard to hide from as it has been ingrained throughout our daily lives. It's estimated the total number of internet connected devices is projected to amount to 75.44 billion worldwide by 2025.
The Important Events
Some of the most significant instances of positive internet attention and conversation include more serious topics like The Black Lives Matter Movement, The MeToo Movement, The Climate Movement, to more entertainment based but culturally impactful instances like Beyonce’s Homecoming, The Royal Wedding, and Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s "WAP." The main takeaway is not that all of these are such defining and iconic moments in today’s history, but the fact that they have educated people on such significant topics around our ever changing society.
Some of the most significant instances of positive internet attention and conversation include more serious topics like The Black Lives Matter Movement, The MeToo Movement, The Climate Movement, to more entertainment based but culturally impactful instances like Beyonce’s Homecoming, The Royal Wedding, and Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s "WAP." The main takeaway is not that all of these are such defining and iconic moments in today’s history, but the fact that they have educated people on such significant topics around our ever changing society.
The Cultural Spectrum - What is Architecture's Role ?
So what is architecture’s role? We can speculate there is a spectrum of how culture is portrayed in the built environment. Towards the left end of the spectrum, we have the Culture Container. The precedent that best represents this end is the Whitey in New York by Renzo Piano. This museum merely houses culture through various forms of art, viewers simply look at and analyze these representations throughout the building. While the form is a work of art itself for people on the outside to view too, the interiors are sleek and modular to allow for different exhibitions to rotate as time goes on.
So what is architecture’s role? We can speculate there is a spectrum of how culture is portrayed in the built environment. Towards the left end of the spectrum, we have the Culture Container. The precedent that best represents this end is the Whitey in New York by Renzo Piano. This museum merely houses culture through various forms of art, viewers simply look at and analyze these representations throughout the building. While the form is a work of art itself for people on the outside to view too, the interiors are sleek and modular to allow for different exhibitions to rotate as time goes on.
On the other end of the spectrum, the culture transmitter, the cliche precedent that best represents this end is the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona by Antoni Gaudi. Various religions are focused on immersive and experience based rituals, it's about transmitting spiritual connections to whoever or whatever guides said rituals. It’s very singular, it doesn’t allow for the recognition of other things.
So what is VIRAL's role? VIRAL proposes a building that aims to balance in the middle of this spectrum. Culture and trends are rapidly changing where it’s difficult to stay on the forefront of what is going on, yet the past is just as meaningful and important to move forward. The speed of information moves at such a fast pace in today’s world, it’s hard to digest and fully reflect on. It’s important to recognize the key points in an abundance of exposure to everyone’s personal lives to be able to move forward with our moral obligation to the people as designers to best support populations.
long story short . . .
VIRAL seeks to provide a space that contains and transmits culture to benefit the people locally, while bringing awareness globally, the benefits technology, the internet, and pop culture has created for humanity. While these themes are constantly and drastically changing, this project explores one unique solution to multifaceted societal questions geographically in Chicago and virally across the globe.
THE SITE
The Site
Just around 8 miles south of the Loop in downtown Chicago, Jackson Park intersects three communities: Hyde Park, Woodlawn, and South Shore. The park touches right up against Lake Michigan and was originally constructed for the World’s Fair in the late 1800s, however was met with an unstable timeline after the events took place.
Just around 8 miles south of the Loop in downtown Chicago, Jackson Park intersects three communities: Hyde Park, Woodlawn, and South Shore. The park touches right up against Lake Michigan and was originally constructed for the World’s Fair in the late 1800s, however was met with an unstable timeline after the events took place.
The Site
Zooming into the site, Jackson Park is entirely cut out from the urban fabric of the city, surrounded by some significant landmarks. The Museum of Science and Industry, the last remaining building from the World’s fair is towards the northern end of the park. The Midway Plaisance is a large set of grassy plains connecting parts of these communities. The proposed Obama Presidential Library just recently broke ground in this neighborhood. The selected site is just at the southwest corner of the entirety of Jackson Park, taking over a portion of the Jackson Park Golf Course.
Zooming into the site, Jackson Park is entirely cut out from the urban fabric of the city, surrounded by some significant landmarks. The Museum of Science and Industry, the last remaining building from the World’s fair is towards the northern end of the park. The Midway Plaisance is a large set of grassy plains connecting parts of these communities. The proposed Obama Presidential Library just recently broke ground in this neighborhood. The selected site is just at the southwest corner of the entirety of Jackson Park, taking over a portion of the Jackson Park Golf Course.
The History
Briefly looking into the timeline of this area, reading this graphic from left to right, the World’s Fair was hosted in 1893 and was a spectacle of an event, bringing in investors, new residents, and this celebration of culture and technology. Once the World Fair was over, Jackson Park and the buildings it housed were faced with lack of maintenance, disinvestment, and other consequences that shattered the spectacle of the World's Fair. Overtime as the economy and society shifted, the Northern community, Hyde Park, home to the University of Chicago, was receiving a lot more investment and attention, decreasing the investment and action taken towards the southern communities, Woodlawn and South Shore. This battle of discriminatory housing practices, lack of economic opportunities, and disproportionate investment really harmed these two neighborhoods. However, the Black community and other oppressed groups persevered, protesting and forming community organizations as a sign of strength, resilience, and as a way to inspire and generate action. As time went on and recession after mini recession hit, these disinvested communities formed a strong middle class filled with bits and pieces of local culture, history and businesses. With the ambition to further support the local communities, the proposed Obama Presidential Library is working with these communities to ensure proper economic opportunities are reserved. It’s really interesting, we have these really prominent cultural ideas and moments across these geographies and timelines, but due to the City of Chicago’s focus on white, more affluent neighborhoods, South Shore and Woodlawn aren’t supported culturally through architecture.
Briefly looking into the timeline of this area, reading this graphic from left to right, the World’s Fair was hosted in 1893 and was a spectacle of an event, bringing in investors, new residents, and this celebration of culture and technology. Once the World Fair was over, Jackson Park and the buildings it housed were faced with lack of maintenance, disinvestment, and other consequences that shattered the spectacle of the World's Fair. Overtime as the economy and society shifted, the Northern community, Hyde Park, home to the University of Chicago, was receiving a lot more investment and attention, decreasing the investment and action taken towards the southern communities, Woodlawn and South Shore. This battle of discriminatory housing practices, lack of economic opportunities, and disproportionate investment really harmed these two neighborhoods. However, the Black community and other oppressed groups persevered, protesting and forming community organizations as a sign of strength, resilience, and as a way to inspire and generate action. As time went on and recession after mini recession hit, these disinvested communities formed a strong middle class filled with bits and pieces of local culture, history and businesses. With the ambition to further support the local communities, the proposed Obama Presidential Library is working with these communities to ensure proper economic opportunities are reserved. It’s really interesting, we have these really prominent cultural ideas and moments across these geographies and timelines, but due to the City of Chicago’s focus on white, more affluent neighborhoods, South Shore and Woodlawn aren’t supported culturally through architecture.
The Local Community
Various official city organizations and people have developed plans to revitalize these neighborhoods of Chicago including the On To 2050 Chicago Plan, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Woodlawn Plan, and the Community Neighborhood Coalition in partnership with the Obama Foundation. These plans seek to support existing residents, expand local ownership in neighborhood businesses, redevelop vacant buildings and lots, and improve conditions of the public realm. Official city organizations recognize that this area of the city needs proper investment to ensure longevity, the acknowledgement is there and the work is getting started. Some of the cultural organizations include the Network of Woodlawn who has worked with SOM in developing plans to revitalize parts of the these mentioned communities, Blacks In Green, an organization founded by Naomi Davis which works in providing sustainable and green developments within Black neighborhoods, Chicago Public Schools, the South Side Community Art Center, one of the oldest African American art centers in the United States, Black Food and Beverage, a community network of Black culinarians shaping the food and beverage industry across Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, and The University of Chicago which has numerous groups and connections to the community.
Various official city organizations and people have developed plans to revitalize these neighborhoods of Chicago including the On To 2050 Chicago Plan, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Woodlawn Plan, and the Community Neighborhood Coalition in partnership with the Obama Foundation. These plans seek to support existing residents, expand local ownership in neighborhood businesses, redevelop vacant buildings and lots, and improve conditions of the public realm. Official city organizations recognize that this area of the city needs proper investment to ensure longevity, the acknowledgement is there and the work is getting started. Some of the cultural organizations include the Network of Woodlawn who has worked with SOM in developing plans to revitalize parts of the these mentioned communities, Blacks In Green, an organization founded by Naomi Davis which works in providing sustainable and green developments within Black neighborhoods, Chicago Public Schools, the South Side Community Art Center, one of the oldest African American art centers in the United States, Black Food and Beverage, a community network of Black culinarians shaping the food and beverage industry across Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, and The University of Chicago which has numerous groups and connections to the community.
THE PROGRAM & THE PROCESS
The Program
The program is divided into three categories: educational, local, and interactive. The educational programmatic aspect would be a place for visitors to learn about contemporary issues, cultures, actionable change, and how to move forward in the age of digital infrastructure and enlightenment at global and local scales. The local programmatic spaces are places for local businesses and communities to thrive, evolve, grow, and increase resilience for an uncertain future using contemporary tools, resources, and networks. The last category is interactive. Since pop culture and social media take place at a range of individual, local, and global scales, these programmatic elements address these scales through a new take on a museum. Museums sort of “thematize” things and freeze history in time, whereas VIRAL creates adaptably representative spaces. The interactive element would be a place for people to interact, experience, and visualize local, historic, cultures, and also engage with global cultures as a way to contextualize perspectives. This could happen through exhibitions, installations, and curations, changing constantly over time, being fed by the local community and highly interactive on different levels as a representation that culture is constantly changing, no display would repeat itself.
The program is divided into three categories: educational, local, and interactive. The educational programmatic aspect would be a place for visitors to learn about contemporary issues, cultures, actionable change, and how to move forward in the age of digital infrastructure and enlightenment at global and local scales. The local programmatic spaces are places for local businesses and communities to thrive, evolve, grow, and increase resilience for an uncertain future using contemporary tools, resources, and networks. The last category is interactive. Since pop culture and social media take place at a range of individual, local, and global scales, these programmatic elements address these scales through a new take on a museum. Museums sort of “thematize” things and freeze history in time, whereas VIRAL creates adaptably representative spaces. The interactive element would be a place for people to interact, experience, and visualize local, historic, cultures, and also engage with global cultures as a way to contextualize perspectives. This could happen through exhibitions, installations, and curations, changing constantly over time, being fed by the local community and highly interactive on different levels as a representation that culture is constantly changing, no display would repeat itself.
The Process
When developing the massing, the goal of the building is to simply support the local culture and amplify it instead of having the massing define the culture. Informed by the globally recognizable and morally neutral viewed symbol, the hashtag, the massing acts as a way to bring people together, form communities, and grab people’s attention. Abstracting the shape helps situate it on the site and create some unique spaces. Structure is informed by the idea of the foundation of the internet. The internet is where people’s culture is represented nowadays, so that becomes the “framework” of the project, a secondary datum, chopping and slicing through parts of the building. Then, these separate subcultures are formed by these interactions of shape and form, shaping outdoor and indoor spaces. With the program implementation, spaces are generated and work to support these overarching ideas.
When developing the massing, the goal of the building is to simply support the local culture and amplify it instead of having the massing define the culture. Informed by the globally recognizable and morally neutral viewed symbol, the hashtag, the massing acts as a way to bring people together, form communities, and grab people’s attention. Abstracting the shape helps situate it on the site and create some unique spaces. Structure is informed by the idea of the foundation of the internet. The internet is where people’s culture is represented nowadays, so that becomes the “framework” of the project, a secondary datum, chopping and slicing through parts of the building. Then, these separate subcultures are formed by these interactions of shape and form, shaping outdoor and indoor spaces. With the program implementation, spaces are generated and work to support these overarching ideas.
THE BUILDING
The Result
As we know from social media and internet trends, one of the only ways to get people’s attention is to really call out for it, be bright and bold, and up in your face. The steel structure cuts through and supports the building, like how the internet supports all of our virtual endeavors. It’s coated in an iridescent metal facade, embodying the spontaneity of the interactions, details, and subcultures on the internet. Sawtooth skylights facing north allow for natural light to penetrate the building, reducing interior glare, while solar panels angled at around 48 degrees for optimal performance provide energy for the building. Lastly, VIRAL is situated on the redeveloped golf course, slightly barely camouflaged in the natural vegetated surroundings. A promenade adjacent to the building is comprised of different activated spaces, leading out to the lake, surrounded by trees, with a pathway that loops back to the building, providing a plethora of outdoor spaces for the local community.
As we know from social media and internet trends, one of the only ways to get people’s attention is to really call out for it, be bright and bold, and up in your face. The steel structure cuts through and supports the building, like how the internet supports all of our virtual endeavors. It’s coated in an iridescent metal facade, embodying the spontaneity of the interactions, details, and subcultures on the internet. Sawtooth skylights facing north allow for natural light to penetrate the building, reducing interior glare, while solar panels angled at around 48 degrees for optimal performance provide energy for the building. Lastly, VIRAL is situated on the redeveloped golf course, slightly barely camouflaged in the natural vegetated surroundings. A promenade adjacent to the building is comprised of different activated spaces, leading out to the lake, surrounded by trees, with a pathway that loops back to the building, providing a plethora of outdoor spaces for the local community.
The Result
Heavily inspired by Cedric Price’s “Fun Palace,” the vision of VIRAL includes his idea that new technology should serve the public and further human freedom, and that this building doesn’t impose user based constraints. Massaging this idea, the framework grid becomes this place where people can “plug in” and broadcast whatever they want and project on each square also whatever they want, providing portions of the building or the whole building to be a true representation of the building. In a lot of utopian architecture from a while back like Superstudio and Archigram, those artists would always say that in the future we could “plug in” almost anywhere, and we’re sort of there, so it’s like “now what?” Now that we can plug in, what do we do? VIRAL takes that idea further outside of the context it was generated in and plays with that slightly practical 2021 idea. While this technology is just a bit out of reach of today, I’d imagine we’re pretty close. It acts as a tertiary skin for the building against the framework structure and iridescent facade, kind of an eyesore like your Instagram feed but not exactly the same. A courtyard in the center is where the internet-informed framework sort of breaks and provides a place of respite or like coming back down to earth feeling if people have just had too much internet for the day.
Heavily inspired by Cedric Price’s “Fun Palace,” the vision of VIRAL includes his idea that new technology should serve the public and further human freedom, and that this building doesn’t impose user based constraints. Massaging this idea, the framework grid becomes this place where people can “plug in” and broadcast whatever they want and project on each square also whatever they want, providing portions of the building or the whole building to be a true representation of the building. In a lot of utopian architecture from a while back like Superstudio and Archigram, those artists would always say that in the future we could “plug in” almost anywhere, and we’re sort of there, so it’s like “now what?” Now that we can plug in, what do we do? VIRAL takes that idea further outside of the context it was generated in and plays with that slightly practical 2021 idea. While this technology is just a bit out of reach of today, I’d imagine we’re pretty close. It acts as a tertiary skin for the building against the framework structure and iridescent facade, kind of an eyesore like your Instagram feed but not exactly the same. A courtyard in the center is where the internet-informed framework sort of breaks and provides a place of respite or like coming back down to earth feeling if people have just had too much internet for the day.
THE FLOOR PLANS & SPACES
The Ground Floor
The ground floor is where a majority of the action happens, from learning about current social movements and studying in the digital library, meeting with a friend or having an informal meeting in the city living room, or engaging with an educational discussion from a community organization in the auditorium. These different spaces provide various platforms, educational services, or cultural support for anyone seeking to use their voice or listen.
The ground floor is where a majority of the action happens, from learning about current social movements and studying in the digital library, meeting with a friend or having an informal meeting in the city living room, or engaging with an educational discussion from a community organization in the auditorium. These different spaces provide various platforms, educational services, or cultural support for anyone seeking to use their voice or listen.
The Ground Floor Spaces
These programmatic spaces explore how design can serve the communities that have been disinvested and underserved through providing support at the individual scale. Tutoring, research, and studying occurs at the digital library for those who don’t have adequate space at home. Local food establishments are supported across the food hall while casual conversational and interactive spaces are sustained by the city living room.
These programmatic spaces explore how design can serve the communities that have been disinvested and underserved through providing support at the individual scale. Tutoring, research, and studying occurs at the digital library for those who don’t have adequate space at home. Local food establishments are supported across the food hall while casual conversational and interactive spaces are sustained by the city living room.
The Second Floor
The second floor carries up the programmatic spaces from the ground floor with the addition of coworking spaces and makerspaces. All of these spaces working together create a cultural hub for users to express themselves across a variety of methods to encourage long term empowerment and engagement through culture across the greater Chicagoland area.
The second floor carries up the programmatic spaces from the ground floor with the addition of coworking spaces and makerspaces. All of these spaces working together create a cultural hub for users to express themselves across a variety of methods to encourage long term empowerment and engagement through culture across the greater Chicagoland area.
The Second Floor Spaces
The spaces across the second floor provide adequate and stabile spaces for learning, making, and working to support the innovation and community of Woodlawn, South Shore, and Hyde Park. One of VIRAL’s main goal is to provide spaces that foster positive relationships for the wider community through these energized spaces.
The spaces across the second floor provide adequate and stabile spaces for learning, making, and working to support the innovation and community of Woodlawn, South Shore, and Hyde Park. One of VIRAL’s main goal is to provide spaces that foster positive relationships for the wider community through these energized spaces.
The Third Floor
The third floor is intentionally left undesigned with intent to allocate spaces where members of the southern communities of Chicago can fill it with their art, displays, work, and various forms of media. These decisions are solely made by the community and for the community based on current needs, conversations, and ideas they deem vital to express.
The third floor is intentionally left undesigned with intent to allocate spaces where members of the southern communities of Chicago can fill it with their art, displays, work, and various forms of media. These decisions are solely made by the community and for the community based on current needs, conversations, and ideas they deem vital to express.
The Third Floor Spaces
The interactive spaces have the potential to house any form of art or media by the community, working as a tool for building networks that support self-sufficiency and solidarity among the communities on the south side of Chicago. The learning methods provided by these various forms of media aim to portray work that isn’t just performative or representational, but that is impactful and inspiring.
The interactive spaces have the potential to house any form of art or media by the community, working as a tool for building networks that support self-sufficiency and solidarity among the communities on the south side of Chicago. The learning methods provided by these various forms of media aim to portray work that isn’t just performative or representational, but that is impactful and inspiring.
THE DETAILS
STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY
1. Steel Structure w/ Columns 25’ O.C.
2. Cross Bracing @ 25% of Total Bays2.
1. Steel Structure w/ Columns 25’ O.C.
2. Cross Bracing @ 25% of Total Bays2.
WALL ASSEMBLY (interior to exterior)
3. Plaster Gypsum Board
4. 2x6 Metal Stud Wall w/ Mineral Wool Cavity Insulation w/ Lateral Bracing & Shear Stiffeners
5. Sheathing Taped at Seams
6. Vapor Permeable Air & Water Barrier
7. Rigid Insulation Board
8. Structural Thermal Break Connection
9. Iridescent Metal Panel Cladding w/ Vertical Supports & Steel Clips Fixed to Frame
3. Plaster Gypsum Board
4. 2x6 Metal Stud Wall w/ Mineral Wool Cavity Insulation w/ Lateral Bracing & Shear Stiffeners
5. Sheathing Taped at Seams
6. Vapor Permeable Air & Water Barrier
7. Rigid Insulation Board
8. Structural Thermal Break Connection
9. Iridescent Metal Panel Cladding w/ Vertical Supports & Steel Clips Fixed to Frame
FLOOR ASSEMBLY (finish to structure)
10. Wood Finish Floor
11. Concrete Composite Deck w/ Rebar
12. Drop Ceiling at Certain Conditions
10. Wood Finish Floor
11. Concrete Composite Deck w/ Rebar
12. Drop Ceiling at Certain Conditions
The Schematic Assembly Detail
The North South Section Perspective
The break in the overall grid structure framework at the courtyard provides an sort of escape from the digital realm that is created throughout the interior spaces. Composed as a secondary space for people to come together, it also provides a sense of respite with the connection to the environment.
The break in the overall grid structure framework at the courtyard provides an sort of escape from the digital realm that is created throughout the interior spaces. Composed as a secondary space for people to come together, it also provides a sense of respite with the connection to the environment.