Sodium Design
Chicago Bicycle Co-Op Tower
UNCC Spring 2010 - Second Year Undergraduate
UNCC Spring 2010 - Second Year Undergraduate
As the final project for the Spring semester of second year the students have traditionally tackled a project in the very urban city center of Chicago. Located at the Center of Adams + Wabash Streets directly in the center of the 'The Loop' the program weaves together three bicycle specific programatic parts into the form of a tall building. Utilizing Sullivan's tripartite vertical scheming the base housed a well appointed bicycle shop that both rented and serviced the bikes. The 'shaft' of the building was constructed as an elaborate storage system based upon an automated bicycle storage system which would house commuter bicycles and bicycles for rent or for sale. Capping the building was a community lounge that would house all of Chicago's bicycle related community meetings as well as provide the city with another cultural hub inside the loop.
For the students this project served as an introduction to a complex building program where circulation was a critical design element and was also their first foray into the urban environment. Additionally, the students were also first introduced to digital fabrication equipment and advanced computer modeling software.
For the students this project served as an introduction to a complex building program where circulation was a critical design element and was also their first foray into the urban environment. Additionally, the students were also first introduced to digital fabrication equipment and advanced computer modeling software.
