GROWING SYRACUSE

Studio Spring 2020
King + King Prize Nomination

Collaboration with Elyse Kilkelly
Professor Daekwon Park


The Growing Syracuse Building manifests the dichotomy between nature and technology; the curving mass timber facade bleeds into the rigid structure, acting as service spaces, furniture, and informal spatial dividers. The timber structure changes thickness throughout the building—curving in to create opportunities for fenestration that frame views to the surrounding urban context. Carving and materiality starkly contrasts the surrounding pre-war brick and concrete constructions highlighting this juxtaposition. However, the timber folds to reveal a secondary glass facade that connects the building back to the urban fabric, which mostly consists of glazed office buildings. Through the use of organic forms and timber, this building will not only encourage sustainable practices but it will also bring communities together in Syracuse.

Urban flight from the central core of the city from the 1950’s to the early 2000’s has left the downtown filled with vacancies and very little activity. Syracuse, a city built on Gilded Age wealth and post-war manufacturing, has had to reconcile with the loss of its primary economic drivers as well as the droves of people moving to the nearby suburbs. The program of an Environmental Vocational School seeks to fill the gap of lost jobs in the area replaced by outsourced manufacturing and automation. Environmental education in jobs in the renewable energy sector, sustainable farming, and resource management, all offer sustainable and valuable skills-based training to under-served urban residents. The main thoroughfare street entrance is equipped with a co-op food market supplied with produce and goods from the school’s hydroponic gardens. This market will eliminate the food desert in the downtown core by providing options for nutritional and locally grown food as well as provide the building with funds from the nearby suburban commuters.

Knowledge of green and agricultural technologies will travel from the classrooms into the greenhouse where students and community members will be able to experience hands-on learning. Students are to learn and work alongside residents of the adjacent building, who can use hours of contributing to the garden for discounted rent and shares of the market. By expanding the educational model beyond school-age students, activities like cooking, canning, and small business management can be added to the institution’s programming and help to develop healthier lifestyles and means of creating wealth within the community.