Eric M. James

Resume: Eric M. James

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Professional ProfileRecent college graduate highly dedicated to his work. Enjoys situations where people and the environment can be improved through design. Strong passion for urban agriculture, urban infill design, and natural restoration design. Believes in the importance of reconnecting humans with their natural surroundings and improving community quality of life. Design emphasis on function, sustainability, and research evidence. Seeking a firm dedicated to good stewardship practices and improvement of the world around them.

Professional Highlights- Landscape Architectural Employment - Contract design work at Russell Design in Northville, Michigan - Landscape Architecture Internship at Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority in Brighton, Michigan - Landscape Architecture Consultant at Heintzelman Hardwood Flooring in Muncie, Indiana

- Solar Decathlon 2013, Irvine, CA - Lead Landscape Architect on team - Site Layout, House Design, and Planting Design - Received the Green Initiative Award from the BSU Council on the Environment

- Historic American Landscape Survey 2011 - Lead historian for Hamtramck Baseball Park in Detroit, MI - Historic biographic research and documentation hand graphics - Team won 2nd place overall in the national HALS competition

- Extracurricular Leadership - Scholarship Chair - Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity; VP of Scholarship - BSU Interfraternity Council - Vice President of BSU ASLA; member of Sigma Lambda Alpha – Tau Chapter - Junior Deacon of Muncie Masonic Lodge 433; member of Scottish Rite – Ft. Wayne Valley

Cell: (734) 536 - 6489 Primary: ericjames2291@gmail.com

Home: 32731 Bertram, Westland, MI 48185

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Skills- LEED Green Associate

- SITES Trained

- AutoCAD/AutoCAD Map 3D GIS Tool

- Hand Drafting/Hand Rendering

- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving

- Adobe Creative Suite: CS4 to CS6

- Natural Restoration Design

- Customer Service

- Time Management

- Exposure to ADA

Employment HistoryLandscape Consultant Damask Cafe, Muncie, IN 04/15/14 - Present

Landscape Arch. Intern Huron Clinton Metroparks, Brighton, MI 05/13/13 – 08/16/13

Bookseller Barnes & Noble, Muncie, IN 07/20/12 – 08/26/13

Fry Cook Scotty’s Brewhouse, Muncie, IN 05/17/12 – 07/25/12

EducationBA of Landscape Architecture Ball State University, Muncie, IN Expected May 2014 Ball State Honors College Student Cumulative GPA: 3.47

References are available upon request

Secondary: emjames@bsu.edu

Design Philosophy

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The philosophy that drives my design revolves around three principles. First is the Quadruple-Bottom-Line Sustainability Model (pictured below). In every design, I strive to achieve harmony between thenatural environment, the local/global society, and the economy. Yet, what sets this model apart is the addition of history. Also termed “spirit of the place”, designs must pull clues from local history in order to celebrate its successes and learn from its failures.

The second driving factor is function. If a site does not perform a necessary function within its contextual setting, then the project is not worth doing. Two global functions that need to be woven into as many projects as possible are water retention/purification, and local food production. If a site has the remote possibility to support such a thing, and the client is agreeable to it, then I will strive to see it done.

The final driving design factor is beauty. This world has many ugly aspects in it, our landscapes do not have to be one of them. Through color, culture, and community, every project has the potential to bridge social divisions and instill a sense of awe for all user groups. The convergence of beauty and function creates a sustainable site that all can enjoy.

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Design Process

The Design Process that I follow in each project is cyclical in nature and ultimately divided into three important segments: Information Gathering, Design, and Marketing.

1) Information Gathering: Good design is always supported by a rich understanding of the site, not only in the present, but historically as well. Through research, case study comparisons, and canvassing the existing conditions of the site, important clues surface that will integrally influence design.

2) Design:The design phase uses the ideas and clues revealed by research and blends them into function and aesthetics. Through diagrams, schematic drawings, and particularly construction documentation, design is the project’s lifeblood.

3) Marketing:As the design manifests on the drawing boards, it is important to make the client as excited about the project as you are. This is done through drawings, conversations, consistent progress updates, and feedback

Regrowing DetroitThesis Project Community Revitalization Urban Agriculture

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Project Description:- Regrowing Detroit is community revitalization project that uses urban agriculture and food empowerment to improve the city.

- The Framework Revitalization Plan is one of two parts associated with Regrowing Detroit.

- This plan was developed based largely on the Block Vacancy Study, the Historic Land Use, and a Walking Study centered on Eastern Market.

- This plan was used to justify the site- specific design on the next pages.

- The full project report can be found at: http://issuu.com/ericmjames/docs/ regrowing_detroit_-_non_spread_fina

Important Community Opportunities

Eastern Market

VacantSchool

FailingPark

VacantLand

VacantLand

Historic Land UseBlock Vacancy Rate= Commercial= Open Space= Industrial= Institutional= Office= Residential

= 0% - 24.99%= 25% - 49.99%= 50% - 74.99%= 75% - 100% Scale: 1” = 6,000’-0”

Walking Study

5 min

10 min

15 min

Scale: 1” = 4,000’-0”

FrameworkSite

DowntownBelle Isle

Econ.

Corridor

Hamtramck

Research-based Design Urban Land Use Planning

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Detroit, Michigan

Framework Revitalization Plan

= Urban Ag.= Commercial= Open Space= Industrial= Institutional= Office= Residential

Scale: 1” = 2,000’-0”

Example Revitalized Block

Example Townhome Lot Layout

Example Streetscape Design

Local System Design Urban Infill Design Educational Design

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Project Description:- The Community Park Design encompasses education, recreation, functional flexibility, and a forum at which residents can share information.

- The Education Center showcases three types of food growth: traditional outdoor techniques, intensive greenhouse systems, and aquaponics systems. - Each system produces enough fruits and vegetable for 100, allowing a spacial comparison to be made.

- The Park has recreational spaces as well, including a flexible football/soccer field, two basketball courts, and a baseball diamond.

- The Park also has enough space to host a weekly farmer’s market on site.

Regrowing Detroit cont.Site within Framework

Scale: 1” = 6,000’-0”

Existing Conditions

Education Center from the SE

Education Center from the SW

Recreation Design Public Park Design

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Detroit, Michigan

Community Park Master Plan

Urban Ag. Education Centerwith Greenhousesand Aquaponics

Scale: 1” = 200’-0”

Fire Landmark

Urban Food Growth Example Plots

Restored Recreational Spaces

New Commercial Possibilities

New Commercial Possibilities

A Personal EscapeResidential Design Planting Design Research-based Design

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Project Description:- This project involved redeveloping the site for the Oscar Balch house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

- The design was done based on the assumption that I lived in the house at age 30 allowing me to add my personal design style into the project.

- The goals I was striving to achieve are as follows: 1) I wanted functional and beautiful areas in which the family could be together outdoors. 2) Food production is important to help offset grocery costs for the family. 3) I wanted to use pull clues from the house and create them within the exterior elements.

Residential Food Production Situational Design

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Scale: 1” = 10’-0”

Oak Park, Illinois

Nankin Hollow Vacant Land Reclamation Suburban Infill Design Sustainable Design

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Project Description:- This project was a self-driven, pro-bono project undertaken in my hometown.- The main element of the site is an old schoolhouse built by Henry Ford as part of the Greenfield Village School System.- The major goals were as follows: - Establish urban agriculture - Provide recreational/flexible space - Generate energy to be used on site- The northern half of the site is made up of rentable, 20’ x 20’ garden plots.- The center of the site is the Energy and Agriculture Center- The southern part of the site is a flex space that has a series of natural buffer spaces but also areas that can support community activities.

Scale: 1” = 250’-0”

Community Food Production Historic Preservation

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Energy Production

Hines Drive FS SW Flex. Lawn Energy Production & Farm Center Flex. Lawn FSSWFS

FS FSSWSW SWSW Natural Buffer Natural Buffer Natural BufferFlex AreaNankin Schoolhouse

FS = Plant Filter Strips SW = Sidewalk Flex. Lawn = Flexible/Unprogrammed Lawn Scale: NTS

Livonia, Michigan

The Area in BetweenHabitat Corridor Research-Based Design Species Rehabilitation

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Project Description:- This project focuses upon connecting two “habitat patches” with an ecologic corridor.- The goal was the regeneration of fragmented Barn Owl and Indiana Bat habitat.- GIS analysis was used to determine the “ideal” conditions for each species and its prey.- The land comprising the corridor was rehabilitated to four distinct, yet important land types: 1) Prairie Grassland 2) Open Wetland 3) Forest 4) Forested Wetland- Recycled barn structures were moved to the site to create shelter for the owl and bat.- Road underpasses and riparian bridging techniques were used to remedy corridor barrier issues.

Natural Education Environmental Stewardship

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GIS Analysis

Main “Hub” Site/Dark Park

Indicates Barn Location

Indicates Owl Box Location

C O R R I D O R

Secondary “Hubs” along Corridor

Indicates Riparian Bridging

Smaller “Hub”/Main Connection Point

Indicates Roadway - Corridor Interaction

White River

Scale: 1” = 2000’-0”

Restored Land Styles

East Central Indiana

Water from the RockThematic Design Research-Based Design Planting Design/Arrangement

Project Description:- This project revolved around developing a themed demonstration garden.

- The theme for this park design was a walled Ancient Egyptian garden.

- Major features include: - Geometric reflecting pool - Walled enclosure with portals - Obelisks adorning each corner - Symbolic and educational statuary - Center fountain focusing upon “living water” idea

- The circular pathway is designed to embody the symbol of the sun-god Ra

- The vegetation blocks some views while accentuating others, bringing a fun and beautiful aesthetic to the site.

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Historical Education Model Building

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Imaginary Site

Migratory OasisMoist Soil Units Team Design Natural Rehabilitation

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Project Description:- This project was a team effort and not all work shown is specifically mine.- The team was tasked with dividing this land into Moist Soil Units.- Our goal was to use the existing topography as much as possible to reduce our footprint upon the land.- The natural topography and existing water flow were used to select MSU areas.- An existing ditch was used for overflow control through “drop-board” structures.- Each unit is a created wetland of varying depth, good for migratory waterfowl. - Forestland was replanted using GIS analysis of existing woodland areas.- Remaining land was restored to prairie grassland for heightened biodiversity and habitat quality.- Homesteads were left untouched.

Scale: 1” = 1500’-0”

Impound #1

Impound #2

Impound #3

Impound #4

Impound #5

Restored Forest

Restored Grassland

Forest Berm Soil Unit

Control Unit

Soil Unit Berm

Canal

Seasonal Land Management Environmental Stewardship

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GIS Analysis

Scale: 1” = 1500’-0”

Control Unit

Berm

Canal

East Central Indiana

The HubCommunity Garden Team Design Urban Infill Design

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Project Description:- This was a team project undertaken by the Student Chapter of the ASLA at Ball State University.- The site owner wanted to establish a community “hub” where people could come together and share ideas and learn from each other. - This had a specific focus upon community food production.- Factors to consider included: 1) Adjacent businesses/residences 2) Memorial aspect for owner’s deceased nephew 3) Community garden- This project is ongoing: - Design will end by March 2014 - Installation will be carried out in phases beginning in March 2014

Design/Build Project Community Involvement

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Master Planning

Scale: 1” = 15’-0”

Bike Rack

Memorial Bench

Memorial GardenRaised Food Beds

Flexible Space

Mulch Walkways

Downtown Muncie, Indiana

Hamtramck StadiumHistoric Preservation Historic Documentation Historic Research

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Project Description:- This project was a historic documentation project that was submitted to the Historic American Landscape Survey competiton in 2012. It ended up winning 2nd place in the nation.

- Through multi-media research, interviews, and site visits, the project boards and associated short-form history documentation were compiled.

- A high level of fact-finding, analysis, and “detective” work was needed to reveal the true information from false accounts.

- The project has been submitted for publication in “Black Ball: A Journal of the Nego Leagues” in Fall of 2014.

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Grandstand Dan St. Baseball Field

0’ 2.5’ 5’ 10’

Scale = 1:5

- Grass - Dirt - Compacted Stone

Key

Support I-Beams

Single-Family Home: Hamtramck Stadium was placed within a predominately white neighborhood and was surrounded by single-family homes on two sides.

Chain-Linked Fence: The fence was placed on top of the grandstand roof to protect the areas behind it from foul balls hit backward over the stands. It would have protected anything from passing pedestrians to idling cars, to nearby homes.

Entrance Ramps: Fans entered the stadium seating from underneath via concrete ramps. The spectator would move along a sidewalk to the section they were seated in and move up the ramp into the grandstand.

First Base Path: The first base pathway was set 60’ away from the edge of the grandstand. It was far enough to stop spectators from interfering with the game, but close enough that the play-ers were easily visible, even from the top, a mere 16 rows away.

Stadium Perspective/Sections

Grandstand Behind Home Plate Grandstand Along Third Base

0’ 5’ 10’ 20’

Scale = 1:10

Chain-Linked Fence Support I-Beams Entrance Ramp

Stadium Wall: The wall surrounding Hamtramck Stadium was 10’ high and made of corrugated steel. It was placed far enough away that it was difficult to hit home runs over it.

Grandstand Roof

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Sheet 1: Title Sheet Sheet 2: Stadium Plans

Sheet 3: Stadium Perspective and Sections

All information was compiled and reported by Eric M. James with invaluable help from R. Christopher Baas, Geralyn Strecker, Gary Gillette, and Rebecca Savage.

This project is affiliated with Ball State University.

During the first half of the 20th century, Detroit was one of the most important markets for Negro League Baseball. Due in part to the Great Migration, when over a million African Americans traveled north in search of factory jobs, and the beginning of the lucrative automobile industry, Detroit’s black population was expanding daily. In 1910 Detroit had a black population of less than 6,000, but a decade later this number had grown to 41,000, a sevenfold increase. While the number of African Americans grew drastically, the landscape of black neighborhoods expanded much slower resulting in increased density. The territory that the African Americans claimed was originally dubbed Black Bottom because of its rich, dark topsoil, yet it took on another meaning as more black migrants from the south streamed in. This area of the city was wedged between Jefferson St. and the Detroit River, where lots were mostly taken up by warehouses and brothels, but the inhabitants found ways to fit “tumbledown shacks” in between. Over time, this area became a major cultural hub for Detroit’s black community and all of Michigan. While the automobile was quickly turning Detroit into “The Motor City,” African Americas still had difficulty finding jobs that paid living wages. The automotive barons at Dodge Brothers, Hudson Automotive, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and other manufacturers refused to hire blacks onto their workforce. Those who were hired were as-signed the most dangerous jobs for little pay. The major exception to the rule was Henry Ford, who hired tens of thousands of African Americans to fill vacant positions in his gargantuan Ford Rouge plant in nearby Dearborn, MI. The African Americans who moved to Detroit were finding somewhat stable jobs, allowing them to establish their families there and create a solid black community in the Black Bottom district of Detroit. From this Black Bottom neighborhood grew many black ballplayers. Proud of what their race could accomplish, Detroit’s growing fan base fueled the creation of the first Negro National League (NNL). As the NNL was being established, Andrew “Rube” Foster was also piecing together the first incarnation of the Detroit Stars. In 1919 it was mainly a barnstorming club, but became one of eight teams in the NNL in 1920. At this time the Stars called Mack Park their home and were lucky because they did not have to share the stadium with white major or minor league teams as many other NNL teams did. Mack Park was located at the southeast corner of Fairview and Mack Avenues, and the Stars played there for 8 consecutive seasons until a disastrous fire destroyed the ballpark on July 7, 1929. Detroit finished out its season at nearby Dequindre Park. The Stars opened their 1930 season to significant fanfare on May 11, in their new home -- Hamtramck Stadium. They ended that spectacular sea-son in their new stadium losing the deciding game 7 of the NNL Championship Series against the St. Louis Stars. Crowds overflowed Hamtramck Stadium. The Detroit Stars played 11 consecutive seasons on the NNL circuit until 1931 when the Great Depression struck Detroit and the all-important Black Bottom fan base could no longer afford to see them play. The team, along with the NNL itself, was disbanded at the end of the 1931 season. However, this was not the end of professional black baseball in Detroit. In January 1932 the East-West League was established, and Detroit fielded the Detroit Wolves. Also calling Hamtramck Stadium their home, the Wolves played an exceptional season until the league collapsed in July. They posted the best win-loss record and if allowed to continue competing, would have possibly captured Detroit’s first Negro League championship pennant. However, the collapse of the East-West League also brought the end of the Wolves. Detroit was without a Negro League baseball club until 1937 when the Stars were reborn in the Negro American League. They returned to their home field of Ham-tramck Stadium and played a mediocre season, once again disbanding after the season concluded. Hamtramck Stadium was home to many phenomenal players throughout the 1920s and 1930s and received a new look in 1940. As the largest agency of the New Deal, the Works Progress Administration gave money to communities to construct or fix existing infrastructure. The Wayne County Road Commission was responsible for utilizing Detroit’s WPA money. One of the major works they undertook was redesigning and renovating historic Hamtramck Stadium. Even though Hamtramck Stadium did not have a resident professional team, it did not sit empty. Starting in 1954, after the last of the Detroit Stars teams collapsed for the final time, the Hamtramck Recreation Department began hosting a number of recreation leagues for the city’s kids. These city leagues played countless games on the field in the 11 years they played there. Along with the city leagues, the local high schools also used the baseball field. The best team among the schools was the St. Ladislaw Greyhounds, winning a total of 13 east bracket Catholic League Championships, including the first State Championship awarded to a Class C baseball team. In 1953, the city of Hamtramck approved plans to buy the land surrounding the stadium to develop Veterans Memorial Park. They began by adding two baseball fields and a softball stadium, and by 1955 a concrete skating rink was added. Finally, in the mid to late 1970’s, the city of Hamtramck began tearing down parts of the grandstand until the piece behind what had been home plate remained. Over the years, tennis courts and children’s playground equ ipment have been added, while what was left of Hamtramck Stadium was deteriorating. Today it sits, unkempt and falling apart with floorboards breaking away and graffiti disgracing its façade. With an un-known future, it sits in this sad state, waiting for a decision that will call for renovating and restoring this historic landscape, or the wrecking ball that will end the exis-tence of this culturally significant ballpark from the era of Negro League baseball.

Hamtramck Stadium is located in Hamtramck, Wayne County, Michigan, in Veterans Memorial Park on the corner of Dan St. and Joseph Campau St. in downtown Hamtramck. The park and stadium are bounded by Goodson St. to the northwest, Joseph Campau St. to the southwest, Dan St. to the southeast, and both the Detroit Amtrak and Grand Trunk Rail-road to the East. Home plate was located at 42°23’24.17”N and 83°3’2.03”W.

1941 Sanborn Insurance Map

Hamtramck Board 1: Vicinity Map and Short Historic Description

Hamtramck Board 3: Stadium Sections

National Competiton Award-winning Project

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Writing Sample

Hamtramck Board 2: Historic site plan and site changes over time

Hamtramck, Michigan

Engineering

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Scale: 1/4” = 1’ - 0”

Scale: 1” = 20’ - 0”

Engineering is a very important part of the design process as well as the construction phase of any project. While many people see this as the “post-design” phase, I view the engineering portion as “detailed design”. This is the opportunity to take the conceptual elements used to create the overall plan and sculpt them into what you have envisioned all along. Ultimately, this is the all-important bridge between the site in your head, and the site that comes to be in the world. After taking three intense engineering courses and two planting ones I am able to perform site grading tasks, horizontal/vertical road alignments, pre- and post-development drainage calculations, and site planting design.

Left: Stair and Landing DetailingBelow: Planting/Ramp Design for Solar Decathlon 2013

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Research InterestsUrban Food Production: Thinking globally, world food is one of the largest issues being dealt with in our lifetime. As yields in the traditional agricultural systems plateau, it will fall to new, innovative ideas to feed the individuals being born every day. Through a new style of urban area, one integrated with agriculture, a new system arises based on locally-produced food sources. Whether this is through urban cooperative farms or commu-nity gardens, urban farming is the answer.

Rain-water Harvesting:

As water becomes more scarce throughout the world, collecting water from rain will gain importance. Yet, this needs to be done in a sustainable way in order to ensure that nature has what it needs as well. Through site-specific calculations and solutions, I strive to find this balance so that all benefit from the rain in an efficient and regenerative way.

Natural Restoration: Through our human quest to reap natural resources, we have done irreparable damage to the very natural systems that sustain us. In order for our sustained existence on this planet, it is imperative we begin working hand in hand with natural systems to reduce our footprint on the land and help revitalize those systems wherever possible. While we may not be able to help all that were lost, we have the capacity to do a lot more than we currently are.