PROJECT Shot Tower Visitor's Center

LOCATION Baltimore, MD 

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  11/4/2015

PROJECT CATEGORY  Graduate / Beginning Design

PROJECT TYPE  Studio

ENTRANT  John Bernet
TEAM MEMBERS  

SCHOOL  Morgan State University

FACULTY SPONSOR  Jeremy Kargon, Professor / Architecture

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

The assignment was to create a visitor's/campus center for the Shot Tower and the historic Jonestown neighborhood surrounding it. The site is located within walking distance from Baltimore's Inner Harbor, but often overlooked by visitors.

STUDENT'S STATEMENT

Site analysis and reflection on the architectural strength of the shot tower (located on the site) led to this design for a campus center with a minimal reduction in public space, an inverse reference to the shot tower as a major landmark, and an ability to serve as a gateway to the remainder of the historic Jonestown neighborhood or ‘campus.’ The underground building is organized around a void of the same diameter as the base of the shot-tower, and a procession through the space begins at ground level and spirals down two levels through exhibition and theater spaces to reach a passage leading into the shot-tower, and opportunity to travel to its top via elevator, returning underground and subsequently the exit - a tunnel leading to ground level again and orienting visitors towards other historic landmarks in the area.The site plan utilizes the geometry of the building and shot-tower to provide for directed movement through the site for visitors and passersby, recognizing that there is currently heavy traffic between the metro station to the south and a bus stop at the north.

IMAGE CAPTIONS & CREDITS 

IMAGE 1:  VisitorCenter_HighRes_1.jpg, Revealed Perspective, John Bernet

IMAGE 2:  VisitorCenter_HighRes_2, Site Plan, John Bernet

IMAGE 3:  VisitorCenter_Image_3, Plan, Basement 1, John Bernet

IMAGE 4:  VisitorCenter_Image_4, Plan, Basement 2, John Bernet

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MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD

Project PDF