Charleston, SC
Site Analysis
While the airport terminal—conceived a century ago—is a relatively new architectural typology, it has since its inception held equal importance with quintessential civic buildings: city halls, courthouses, libraries, museums, and theaters. Yet, airports are uniquely complex and they are more than just high volume transportation hubs. Increasingly, airports are also workplaces, centers of commerce, recreational outlets, and cultural resources.
Fentress Global Challenge (FGC) is an annual international student design competition. Since its inception in 2011, thousands of entries from over 75 countries have competed for top honors. FGC represents an extraordinary exploration into the future of architecture, and in so doing, continues to advance the pursuit of innovative design in public architecture.
This site offers great accessibility to various means of transportation, near various bus stops which is an essential mode of transport for lower-income demographic. A large amount of street parking as well as parking allowing more freedom in program layout without a need for a parking lot on site. Furthermore, it is located right at Moore Square, one of the few green spaces in Downtown Raleigh, that attracts a large number of gatherings and could serve as recognizable gathering spaces for Forward Justice. Located at the corner lot also offer greater visibility to the building even from a whole block away.
However, there will be challenges regarding the program and the design of the building so that it will be respectful of its context and existing neighboring buildings as well as Moore Square. Noise level could potentially become an issue as with most downtown location and the Main elevation that faces Persons Street, which is a one-way street, could be confusing to new visitors
(Site Analysis)
(Program)
Foward justice Center at Raleigh will act as a hub for social events and activities. It will be where positive changes happen. Connecting and conveying this change to the local commuinity to fight for equality and justice.
The facility will serve both public and private needs. Separating private area by layout and card-access ensuring a safe working environment for staffs while offering useful spaces for the community.
Contextually, The building will react to its surrounding and the corner site by keeping the street line and planting vegetation to continue existing trees from Moore Square. The regulating lines of the pedestrian circulation as well as existing nearby facilities will provide a starting point for the design of the overall scheme.
Formally, The building will be open and truthful from the way the building is laid out to it's materials. Structures, HVAC systems, etc will be exposed expressing what Forward justice stand for honesty and transparency. Everything is out in the open. Furthermore, this is inline with North Carolina's Motto "Esse quam videri" which means: To be rather than to seem.
Understandably, a lot fo Client that require help from Foward Justice might be under stressful situations. The Space will be light-filled with a good amount of open space with more inti- mate area pread out within the program to visually ease visitor. Materials will be wood and steal to balance structure while providing a warm and welcoming effect.
(Design)
