Undergraduate Thesis: Bridging Architecture and Active Lifestyles
LOCATION: GREEN BAY, WI
SIZE: 145,000 SF
STUDIO COMPLETION: 2015
Given the proper spatial environments, architecture can act as a catalyst and provide incentive to actively move through a series of spaces. By providing opportunities for physical activity and recreation, healthy living and proper nutrition education, and active transportation, architecture can encourage active living.
As the obesity epidemic has grown, architecture has made efforts of countering it. Physical activity, nutrition education, and active transportation are the three factors that can support a community striving to achieve healthier and more active lifestyles. Trying to create a comprehensive and effective wellness network requires environments for collaboration, interaction, and motivation. In order to provide social good and improve lifestyles, it demands a combination of attractive facilities in conjunction with those environments.
Located in the heart of Green Bay, Wisconsin along the banks of the East River, the site is currently made up of two parks split by the river. With four existing baseball fields, existing bike paths, and ample green space, the infrastructure for physical outdoor activity, recreation, and active transportation partially exists.
The solution becomes simple: a pedestrian bridge. A bridge encourages connectivity, which in turn, promotes walkability. Having a walkable connection, this design creates an important pedestrian artery for the entire city of Green Bay. Due to its location, this design becomes a landmark along a circuit on a much larger interwoven network. This thesis creates the necessary link between architecture and active living to bring Green Bay up to a higher quality of life.
