NEWSCHOOL STUDENTS REIMAGINE ODOT BLOCKS IN PORTLAND’S CENTRAL EASTSIDE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT
NewSchool of Architecture and Design will explore the Portland's Central Eastside through fresh lens of students who are focused on DEI and community.
Portland, Ore. (June 30 2021)Local architecture and engineering firm, Mackenzie, together with the NewSchool of Architecture and Design in San Diego completed its integrated design studio that brought together over 80 pupils from across the globe to redesign the ODOT blocks of the Portland's Central Eastside Industrial District. The studio has recently displayed ideas developed by students who started their design-led projects integrated in the fall of 2020, during the COVID epidemic, which involved about 20 students working virtually with students from Kuwait as well as Saudi Arabia.
In the course of this exclusive collaboration, students utilized ODOT Blocks to study urban analysis, criteria for site selection to ensure human-centered and sustainable urbanization, design parameters as well as design techniques and tools. Architectural students were divided into teams that were paired and involved in working with NewSchool interior graphic design and design students. From the 84 students that created conceptual sketches 12 designs were selected to be presented at an Virtual conferencehosted by Mackenzie on 30 June 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific.
The studios were all completed with three compulsory Architectural Practice classes, developed and taught by Rich Mitchell, contributing faculty at NewSchool and the former director of Mackenzie. Mitchell's classes offered definitions, concepts, as well as sources for project management and construction documents that focused on cost analysis, value control as well as evidence-based design.
"Preparing students to be able to work in the design and architecture industry will require more than just classes, hyper-visual design projects, and mastering the most recent digital software. Students who are practice-ready need to be able convince stakeholders that their plan is meeting the needs of communities," says Mitchell. "Through this redevelopment program for the ODOT Blocks in Portland, students were pushed to think outside of artistic aesthetics. Students were educated on private development, the feasibility of private development integrated environmental systems, materials, and inclusive methods to think about the demands of the community by using the real-world project."
The projects of the students followed an exact set of rules in line with Portland's Municipal Code, and received constant feedback and critique over three quarters from industry leaders, such as Mackenzie as well as BEAM Developers. The students also received supervision by an instructional team that include the Studio Coordinator and Head of Architecture Programs Daniela German, as well as contributing faculty Joe Bashaw, Amin Espandiari, Julio Medina, Tom Mulica as well as Goyo Ortiz.
"The Integrated Design Studio for Fourth Year's is the most extensive course in the NewSchool undergraduate program since we provide students with real-world designs and projects that combine four major architectural focuses: architectural design, construction engineering landscape design, and Interior design" states Deustch. "Through direct involvement in projects like ODOT Blocks, for example. ODOT Blocks students are able to prove their understanding in the field of integrated design and are better equipped for the profession of architectural design which is defined by the complexity of interactions within all of the neighborhood."
"We were able to bring different perspectives from the students in this group to develop some truly original ideas to ODOT Blocks. The students, many who worked on the project from outside the country could work with our design professionals and bring views from around the globe. It was enjoyable to see how they incorporated into their design thinking process." Says Dietrich Wieland, President of Mackenzie. "We here at Mackenzie are extremely pleased with the outcome of their efforts and believe that we are gaining the next generation of designers and architects."
"This project is the ideal illustration of an integrated educational, multidisciplinary and complete learning experience in which students were faced with a real-world problem with a high level of complexity, and were able to work with a broad range of experts and stakeholders who assisted them in framing the problem and develop their concepts. This is the type of education we seek to provide here at NewSchool," explains NewSchool Dean of the School of Design, Elena Pacenti, Ph.D.
The most recent ideas which were contracted by Prosper Portland for redevelopment, were developed master-planned and designed by the Portland-based developer Beam Development, and included the designers Hacker architects, Mackenzie along with Colas Construction. This project has been being delayed at the request of Portland's city.
To view Top NewSchool project designs of Portland's ODOT Blocks Visit the following page .
About NewSchool of Architecture & Design
located in the city's design district, NewSchool of Architecture & Design is a place for students to prepare for success in design-related fields that focus on human-centered design. It also includes international design and interdisciplinarity industrial collaborations, as well as practical projects. The curriculum includes the fields of construction management, architecture and graphic design, product design and interactive media and interior architecture and design. NewSchool has been accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission and offers Bachelor and Master of Architecture programs that are recognized with the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). NewSchool prepares students to work in a variety of international and multi-cultural organisations. For more information, visit www.newschoolarch.edu or email NewSchool Marketing: .
About Mackenzie
Mackenzie is a multi-disciplinary design firm that focuses on the built environment. They provide specialization in a variety of disciplines, such as interior design, architecture landscape architecture as well as traffic and structural engineering, as well as land usage along with transportation and land use planning. From assessments and studies to technical problems and ingenuous solutions, Mackenzie's knowledge is deep. Focused on design and customer service collaboration is a key element to the approach of Mackenzie. Mackenzie is a firm that advocates on behalf of their clients to ensure that each project meets its objectives and is completed with the best quality service. Mackenzie is in Portland, OR, Seattle, and Vancouver, WA. For more information, visit www.mcknze.com.
