KYLE O’CONNORDesign Portfolio

CONTENTS

GRADUATE STUDIOS

Red Hook Rising

Cause and Effect

The Sheer Volume

Parkside, Philadelphia

Sorting the Methods

COMPETITIONS

Post and Current

Wedge Chair

METHODS/RESEARCH

Invisible Cities

Deployable Structures

Interoperable Terrains

PROFESSIONAL

Beale Street Landing

Race Street Residence

Nashville Boulevard

Hydrant Greenstreets

Select Renderings

RED HOOK RISING2013

Marion Weiss, Critic - Hye Eun Kang, Partner

If Red Hook, Brooklyn continues to grow, it needs to happen responsively. The impact of Hurricane Sandy is an object lesson for new buildings, especially those on

the vulnerable waterfronts. Red Hook Rising takes a bold stance, reaching up and out of harm’s way. Perched above the water, a series of housing modules hang from massive A-frames. Residential units occupy the the higher floors to avoid flooding, while the lower levels are more flexible. The plaza, promenades, and pier offer a public platform, while the tidal zone accommodates interaction with the water

while reminding occupants of their exposure to its dynamic, unpredictable flows. On this site, the buildings are exposed,

but the critical surfaces within remain resistant.

640 128

CROSS-CONNECTIVITY

SURFACE MODULES

PAVED SUNKEN RAISED PLANTED OPEN

SITE PLAN

320 64

STUDIO 1-BR 1-BR

STUDIOS

1-BR

STUDIOS

10’-0

”

2-BR

STUDIO + 1-BR

STUDIOS

1-BR

STUDIOS

10’-0

”

10’-0

”

2-BR

STUDIO + 1-BR

2-BR

STUDIO + 1-BR

STUDIOS

BUILDING ELEVATION

160 32

-39’-0”

+0’-0”+0’-0”

+0’-0”

+0’-0”

-24’-0”

DOWNUP

DOWN

+0’-0” -24-0”

-24-0”

DOWN DOWNDOWN

DOWNDOWNDOWNDOWN

DOWN

DOWN

UP

+0’-0”

+0’-0”

-24’-0”

h

15’-0”

7’-0”

24’-0”

18’-0

”

8’-6

”

13’-0”

SCALE: 1/8”=1’-0”

STUDIO 1-BEDROOM 2-BEDROOM

TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN

BUILDING SECTION

LOW TIDE

HIGH TIDE

FLOOD - HURRICANE

CAUSE AND EFFECT2012

Karen M’Closkey, Critic

MaCarthur Causeway in Miami is opportunistically coupled with new public spaces as a means to provide a central link between the city’s attractions while becoming an attraction

in and of itself. Spaces are botanically categorized into stress-tolerant, disturbance-tolerant, and competition-

tolerant areas, based on physical characteristics. Each type allows for certain programs and maintenance regimes,

which will change from month to month as the cultural influence of Miami’s events impacts the use and occupation rates. The existing highway infrastructure sets the stage for

new forms of recreation, events, tourism, and ecology, while connecting formerly detached locations of the city.

A-A

B-B

C-C

D-D

E-E

F-F

H-H

G-G

I-I

J-J

K-K

L-L

ROAD BOUNDARY

ROAD

BOU

NDAR

Y

COMPETITION LAGOONS

STRESS PATHS

DISTURBANCEPATHS

WATSON ISLAND

BRIDGE APPROACHJUNGLE ISLAND

SEA LEVEL

1/32” = 1’-0”

A

BC

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

A

BC

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

ISLAND/CAUSEWAY EXTENTS

TOPOGRAPHY

BUS RAPID TRANSIT

VEHICULAR

BICYCLE

PEDESTRIAN

0’ 300’ 600’

SECTIONSCORRIDOR TRANSFORMATION

PLAN

EVENT PLAN

EVENT CALENDAR

STRESS + DISTURBANCE OPERATIONS

MIAMI MARATHON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

NUTRIENT DEPLETIONPOOR DRAINAGE

COMPACTED

TRANSPLANTED SPECIMENS

NUTRIENT DEPLETION

SHADE

DRY

HEAT

SHALLOW

OFFSHORE FROM CAUSEWAY

ELEVATED PLANTERWALKWAY

BARRIER CREST

DRIFT LINEBACKSHORE

FORESHORE WIND

BOAT WAKE

INUNDATION

WALKWAY TRAMPLING

MARSH

BARRIER FLAT

LAGOON

RIDGENUTRIENT-RICHWELL-DRAINED

ESTABLISHED SPECIMENS

COOLER

SHELTERED

AMPLE SUN

STRESS

DISTURBANCE

COMPETITION

STRESS

DISTURBANCE

COMPETITION

THE SHEER VOLUME2012

Ben Krone, Critic - Liz McDonough, Partner

This new facility for the archives of the Guggenheim Museum shifts the relationship between the archived

material, the archivists, and the public. Documents are spread out amongst a large number of small stacks, exposing the sublime volume of the collection. The

split-level of the site is utilized in order to push the stacks underground, protecting them while offering a vital urban link across the roof of the landform building. The material

is also categorized and accessible, making the archived items part of an ongoing display, which alters the very idea

of an archive.

Current Material Area

18,200,000 sheets of paper0.65 square feet per sheet

11,830,000 square feet of paper3,440 feet x 3,440 feet square

19’

19’

19’ 7,000 CF

CURRENT MATERIAL VOLUME7,000 cubic-foot boxes2,600 sheets of paper

per box18,200,000 sheets of paper

CURRENT MATERIAL AREA18,200,000 sheets of paper0.65 square feet per sheet

11,830,000 square feet of paper3,440 feet x 3,440 feet square

STACK STUDIES

STACK COMPONENT

EXHIBITION TIERED HORIZONTAL HANGING

+2x

-2x

+4x

-4x

STACK + ROOF FORMATION

SITE AREA PLAN ORGANIZATION VOLUMES

UPPER AND LOWER LEVELS VOLUMES + ORGANIZATION ROOF

STACK PLAN FLOOR PLAN

SECTION-ELEVATION

PARKSIDE, PHILADELPHIA2011

David Gouverneur, Critic

A new district in West Philadelphia strategically inserts research, development, manufacturing, and recreational

facilities into the existing fabric and infrastructure of the city. The productive aspects focus on a tree nursery, treatment wetlands, and clean energy development. The southern edge of West Fairmount Park is tied into the

district and across a sunken railroad, bridging the Lancaster Avenue corridor and the park. A new SEPTA transit hub

anchors the development and plugs into the greater transit systems of Philadelphia while a pedestrian greenway flanks

the rail corridor and establishes connections over the Schuylkill River to East Fairmount Park and Center City.

RAVINE WALK

WETLAND TRAYS

PUBLIC SPINE

CITY NURSERY

DISTRICT BLOCK

TRANSIT HUB

WETLAND TRAYS SECTION

PUBLIC SPINE SECTION

WETLAND TRAYS

SORTING THE METHODS2010

Phu Hoang, Critic

The pavilion-garden is a facility for both the production and consumption of fresh produce. A series of structural ribs frame the sweeping platform-canopy. Component

boxes running between the ribs are sorted out as walking platforms, seats, tables, planter boxes, and skylights. Produce is grown right side up, upside down, and

aeroponically, distorting the orientation of the pavilion’s operations. Those operations are made evident by the sorted

surface conditions, allowing the performative features to be read from any location. All food is grown, harvested,

purchased, and consumed on-site. Waste is retained for compost and stormwater is captured by the planting

surfaces.

WALK

SIT

PLACE

GROW (ABOVE)

GROW (BELOW)

GROW (SUSPENDED)

PASS

GAZE

SUPPORT

SURFACE MATERIAL PLAN

SORTED MARGINS COLLAGE

POST AND CURRENT2012

Urban Land Institute Hines Student CompetitionAndreas Kostopoulos, Xiao Lin, Nicholas Perrin, and

Katerina Tchakalska, Partners

This project called for a new mixed-use development on the site of a decommissioned post office in downtown Houston, Texas. Our team sought to retain the existing

modernist landmark by reconfiguring it through a series of circulation cuts to divide the site into urban blocks injected

with new, mixed program. Additionally, we realigned a major thoroughfare in order to open up the riverfront

to the project boundary and connect to the existing riparian park space. Within the group, I contributed to the concept development, site design, architectural strategies,

renderings, and diagrams.

!

Though currently blighted by infrastructure, unused buildings and vast lots, the site provides the opportunity to preserve and revitalize an urban landmark while creating

loft residential and office spaces for a diverse demographic.

The massive ex-post office is divided into urban blocks and injected with programmatic variety. The new pedestrian

corridors connect the complex to the riverfront.

Franklin Street is realigned and coupled with new roads for various scales of transport, to create a connection to the

complex, while encouraging residents to walk and bike.

The development is fully landscaped, furthering the connection to the riverfront and providing multiple scales

of parks. The emergence of small apartments and retail spaces in the townhouses by the water expand the

diversity on the site and fully integrate the development into the fabric of the city at-large.

TRAIN

EXPRESSWAY

PRIMARY ROAD

SECONDARY ROAD

BICYCLE

PEDESTRIAN

TRAIN

EXPRESSWAY

PRIMARY ROAD

SECONDARY ROAD

BICYCLE

PEDESTRIAN

TRAIN

EXPRESSWAY

PRIMARY ROAD

SECONDARY ROAD

BICYCLE

PEDESTRIAN

WEDGE CHAIR2012

Battery Conservancy - Draw Up a Chair CompetitionNicholas Perrin, Partner

The Wedge Chair affords innumerable seating options through simple repositioning of its uncomplicated form,

while comfortably integrating into the environment of the Battery Green. Constructed as a welded steel frame with wooden-slat seating, the chair has an original geometric

configuration that allows it to be stackable, have a minimal footprint on the Green, and a straightforward assembly.

The form allows for an enhancement of the park’s unprogrammed space. With an anticipation for user

engagement, the Wedge Chair provides an armature for creating novel spaces within the park. The seating pattern promotes this by skewing the orthogonal elements of the chair’s frame and asking what potentials could arise from

unexpected adjacent arrangements.

POTENTIAL CONFIGURATIONS

AXONOMETRIC LAYERS

INVISIBLE CITIES2012

Valerio Morabito, Critic

Landscape representation course. Mixed-media drawings.

DEPLOYABLE STRUCTURES2012

Mohamad Al Khayer, Critic - Liz McDonough, Partner

Built explorations of deployable structures.

CUBOCTAHEDRONEXPANDING BEAM PARABOLOID

INTEROPERABLE TERRAINS2013

Keith Kaseman, Critic

Digital study on simulating drainage patterns and erosion.

INITIAL LANDFORM

DRAINAGE PATTERNS

POINTS OF FORCE ANALYSIS

EROSION FORCE

BEALE STREET LANDING2011

Balmori AssociatesRiverfront Park, Memphis, Tennessee.

RENDERINGS VIA MEMPHIS RDC

313 RACE STREETPHILADELPHIA, PA

PERSPECTIVE LOOKING EAST ON RACE STREET PERSPECTIVE LOOKING EAST OVER RACE STREET

PERSPECTIVE LOOKING WEST ON RACE STREET

RACE STREET RESIDENCE2014

Eimer Design

RACE STREET ELEVATION

SITE PLANRACE STREET

FLORIST STREET

3RD STREET

4TH STREET

313 RACE STREETPHILADELPHIA, PA

0’ 16’ 32’

OLD CITYHEIGHT RESTRICTION

F L O R I S T S T.

FRONT

REAR

FRO

NT

REA

R

BACKING

FRONT

REAR

FRO

NT

REA

R

FRO

NT

REA

R

BAC

KIN

G

KING76x80

QUEEN60x80

KING76x80

QUEEN60x80

QUEEN60x80

KING76x80

KING76x80

QUEEN60x80

KING76x80

QUEEN

60x80

±755sf

±1100sf

±825sf±645sf

RDOF

RD

RD

OF

OF

UTIL.UTIL.

70X

70X

70X

7S-2

7S-1

7A2

7B2

7J

7G

KING76x80

MECH.

REF.

W/D

W/D WATERHEATER

REF.

QUEEN60x80

WATERHEATER

MECH.

QUEEN60x80

REF.

W/D

WATERHEATER

MECH.

MECH.

REF.

W/D

QUEEN

60x80

WATERHEATER

KING76x80

R A C E S T.

F L O R I S T S T.

QUEEN60x80

KING76x80

KING76x80

KING76x80

KING76x80

QUEEN60x80

KING76x80

PARKING GROUND/FIRST FLOOR TYPICAL FLOOR ROOF/SEVENTH FLOOR

313 RACE STREETPHILADELPHIA, PA

RACE STREET

FLORIST STREETFLORIST STREET

0’ 16’ 32’

TOWARD SITE FROM 4TH AND RACE

SITE FROM WEST SITE FROM ACROSS RACE STREETSITE FROM EAST TOWARD SITE FROM 3RD AND RACE

SITE FROM FLORIST STREET (REAR) TOWARD RIGHT REAR OF SITE TOWARD LEFT REAR OF SITE

NASHVILLE BOULEVARD2009

New York City Department of Parks & RecreationStormwater Capture Greenstreet, Cambria Heights, Queens.

HYDRANT GREENSTREETS2009

New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

Proposal for the reclaimation of 30-foot No Parking Zones in front of fire hydrants for stormwater capture, traffic

control, public space, and an expansion of Greenstreets’ repertoire.

Hydrant Greenstreets, Brooklyn, New York (2009) New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, Project Manager - Bram Gunther

Utilitarian and ubiquitous, New York City fire hydrants will soon be seen in a new way. This project reclaims underused street space in the 30-foot No Parking Zones adjacent to fire hydrants in the city. Conversion of the space into planting beds with stormwater capture capabilities will reduce the amount of runoff that flows into the sewers, slow vehicular traffic by narrowing the street, eliminate the illegal obstruction of hydrants by vehicles, and expand the repertoire of the city's Greenstreets program. This was an individual initiative that I recently conceived, designed, and proposed. A pilot project is currently being produced for a site in Brooklyn.

PLAN

SELECT RENDERINGS2013 - 2014

Eimer Design

Kyle O’Connorkyle.d.oconnor@gmail.com