Historic North Dallas

Studio V | Fall 2006
Professor: James Richards, ASLA
Team Project: Dorothy Makinen | Deepa Harkishore Koshaley | Wade A. Miller

Submitted to National ASLA 2007 Professional and Student Awards Competition
Submitted to Texas ASLA 2009 Professional and Student Awards Competition

Objective

Demonstrate how a powerful design framework defines the character and utilization of a neighborhood and can be a guide for future development. The goal of this project is to create a strong framework for local urban design that will encourage the development of a recognizable neighborhood within a changing local community and clearly define spaces for various functions. At the same time, individuality and flexibility at the site plan level is to be encouraged in order to have the area retain a separate personality from the surrounding area. The proposed solution would dynamically revitalize a historic neighborhood that has been buffeted by changes. The result would be the creation of meaningful spaces and increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic safety.

Site

North Dallas High School has had many well-known alumni who went on to great success in their fields including business, politics, sports and cartoonist. Cole Park was the site of the original Texas State Fair. The Church of the Incarnation has been at the site for many years and is actively involved in the neighborhood. Together, these three sites comprise the core of the surrounding neighborhood.

Inventory and Analysis

Analysis of positives	Analysis of challenges	Analysis of connections and opportunities

Framework Plan

The framework established appropriate land use, open spaces, and ideal location for building envelopes, nodes, and gateways. Safety and pedestrian concerns dictated a drastic realignment of the current vehicular transportation routes. Pedestrian routes were also modified to adapt to changes in roadways, new building construction, the elimination of roadways that had previously hampered safety, and the addition of new businesses and housing proposed to surround the existing park. Site lines were opened up to take advantage of road angles and existing architecture. Paramount to design consideration was a strong desire to restore the neighborhood to a more tranquil, people friendly location. The development of the framework included design ideas to convey the character for the area

Intersection near Katy Trail
Intersection at north-east corner of project area	Framework Plan

Detailed Site Designs

The final phase of the project involved developing integrated site plans for North Dallas High School, Cole Park, and The Church of the Incarnation. These three sites are the primary sites in the project area. Highlights of the plans included a large plaza and realignment of vehicular traffic for the school, large multi use areas and a formal promenade with a central plaza and fountain in the park, and a more inviting landscape with connections to the neighborhood and the church.

A computer model was built and views from the model were traced and hand rendered to demonstrate design concepts and ideas. The model was also used to generate an animated fly-thru of the project.