Studio Brief

Existing forms of urbanism, born largely in modernism, are proving to be inefficient, wasteful and a significant part of the carbon problem on the planet. Their segregated development patterns and dispersed density has created gridlock in our transportation systems and polluted our environment. The neglect of the connection between human settlement and natural ecologies has led to the deterioration of plant and animal life including the human species. Our consumptive and wasteful use of land and resources is threatening the very sources that sustain our existence. Add to this the fact, these development patterns have failed to accommodate the needs of the broad economic spectrum of those wishing to live in the city. The agenda for the Sustainable Urbanism Studio is to explore how humanity can establish a more balanced, denser development pattern in the context of the current challenges and in contrast to those that put us in this predicament.

The question of space in the city has become a significant issue in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Rather than using the need for distancing as an excuse for the unsustainable, land consumptive patterns of suburbia, it is a call for greater integration of open space into the city and a greater emphasis on pedestrian space.  The closure of streets in cities across the world, in an effort to limit mobility as a preventative strategy in combating the spread of the virus, has also awakened awareness into what the city could be if the pedestrian was given equal consideration to that of vehicles.  This has led to the awakening of a new strategy called the ‘15 minute city.’  In this model, cities would create loosely defined districts where its residents would be able to access the majority of daily activities within a 15 minute walk or bike ride from their home.  This semester’s studio is exploring how we could convert the traditional business center of Lincoln into a ‘15 minute city’ through the addition of housing, open space and other strategic programs.

Student Project Descriptions

Bahrun Baranuri:
A new hub for young professional people to live, work, and hang out in Lincoln's 15 minutes city.

Dante Dovali:
17th & M housing and mixed use development.

Kelsey Van Zyl:
The M Street Towers are located in one of the dense residential infill blocks within the M Street transit mall scheme. This project features three residential towers that promote gathering spaces in public spaces, both interior and exterior.  

Matt Gager:
This mixed used development project located on the corner of 17th and N street in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska aims to foster connections between residents, the building and its site, and where food is grown, sold and consumed. The project is located on a 360,000 square foot proposed superblock which is to be developed into a green park landscape that will anchor the transit mall and provide a place for downtown residents to escape the hardscape of the city and connect with one another. Interaction with this park was a key focus when developing the massing and program of the building. A 35,000 square foot grocery store is located on the ground floor and provides a much needed space for downtown residents to shop for food and fresh produce. Extending out from the south facade of the ground floor is a community cafe which provides a place for residents of downtown to interact and connect over food and drink while enjoying the surrounding park landscape. On the north side of the building, facing the N street bike path and the street, is a coffee shop that offers an inviting place for residents to stop for a drink and connect with one another. In order to be as inviting and transparent as possible the facade of the cafe, coffee shop, and a majority of the grocery store is a glass storefront. Located directly below the grocery store is a hydroponic farm which can produce fruits, vegetables and herbs quickly and efficiently and help supply the grocery store with fresh produce for downtown residents to purchase and enjoy. Situated above the grocery store is 150,000 square feet of new residential housing to accommodate some of the 8,000 new households outlined in Lincoln’s comprehensive plan for downtown. A taller block of residential units lines the north and west edges of the project to frame the corner of the site as well as provide the opportunity for a rooftop terrace overlooking the park for residents to use. The residential units consist of one and two bedroom apartments intermixed with one another and encourage interaction with and connection between fellow residents by providing two community rooms per floor, one in each core. One community room is focused on passive communication and connection while the other is focused on active interactions. A large community garden on the rooftop terrace provides the opportunity for residents to engage with one another while growing their own fresh produce. In addition to a community garden, the rooftop terrace is also home to a shaded community gathering space where residents can come to relax outdoors and connect with friends, family, and other residents.  When developing the building massing creating a private outdoor area for residents was also taken into consideration, and so a green courtyard in the middle of the building was formed.  This green courtyard is a secluded space which residents can utilize to escape the hardscape and stresses of the city and connect with one another. Through the massing, materials, programmatic arrangement and site placement this project aims to foster connections between residents, the building and its site, and where food is grown, sold and consumed.

Matt Masten:
Transit mall located on M Street in Lincoln, NE.

Rin Le:
The three design intentions for this project is to foster interactions within the site with the use of public gathering space and popular destinations. Developing housing for the workers within the vicinity and encourages more efficient ways to produce food in an indoor environment for the residents in the vicinity. The location of the design block is located at 206 S 13th St #101, Lincoln, NE 68508. Through research, it was evidence that along M street, the lack of entertainment destinations was shown as well as housing units for the worker in the area. The housing programs are very dispersed throughout the downtown edges.

Looking through the available buildable area of 41,180 SF, it was decided that to maximize
the number of living units. The design would have to stack vertically and to cater to a mixed demographic of workers in the area. A workforce apartment tower and a market rate apartment tower was designed. Each has their own private indoor and outdoor gym programmed at the top of their tower. And the ground floor is programmed to be a mixed use lounge as well as a restaurant or store. The workforce tower will comprise a small social lounge with a small restaurant within. Meanwhile, the market rate tower will be more luxurious and has more extra amenities to cater for the price. It will have a cocktail lounge and an indoor self-grown produce store on the ground level.
At the southeast corner of the block, there will be a public exercise center that has a small restaurant within. This building will cater to the public that will be occupying along M street as well as the parameter of the site. Part of the goals was to use this exercise building as one of the popular destinations within the block. This building will be within the vicinity of an outdoor courtyard created and enclosed by the apartment towers and the nearby office and garage building.