A New Level
2020 Meyerson Basement Competiton
University of Pennsylvania | Partner: Tuo Chen | Honorable Mention | Spring 2020
Our design addresses the spatial leak of multidisciplinary collaboration within the school of design. Though the school provides students abundant different degree and certificate programs in the school, there is a leak of space for group discussion between these programs in the Meyerson Hall. Thus, we decide to take advantage of the double-height of the basement to create a semi-public space for small design group to communicate. One can imagine competition groups of artists, architects, urban designers, landscape architects, and historical preservation designers, etc. collaborate in the mezzanine space to flow their thoughts with less distraction than on the ground level. Meanwhile, our design keeps public space for the original basement lounge by a minimum touch – the floating spiral staircase. It not only maximizes the public area but more importantly generates a sense of orientation or a reference for the symmetrical basement
Meyerson Hall Basement Existing Condition
Pole-Pull Spatial Strategy
The movement of a pole as a spatial generator within the lounge frame defines the shape of the platform in order to create a spatial hierarchy of the basement. The boundary of the platform is pulled from the line of 8 ft. ceiling height of the two corridors next to the classroom. Only one pole landing the ground within the allowed design scope will give the space a minimum touch on the ground level but a completely refreshing, welcoming, a sense of orientation, and finally hierarchical three-dimensional space. Surprisingly, a new irregular double-height space is provided by the pole-pull strategy for public socializing.
Ground Floor Plan
Staying minimal change to the ground floor for the consideration of minimizing construction cost and time. However, adding a single pole and vertical circulation off the center to propose a new level above.
A Focal Point To Simulate Public Interaction
A new structure is “pulled” from the existing grid to create a new focal point in the public activity area. In this way, the new structure then become the simulator for different activities in the basement.
The New Level // Mezzanine Floor Plan
The added mezzanine level provides spaces for private study, group workshop, and lunch space. Space can be arranged in multiple ways by using movable partitions.
Section A (above) / Section B (below)
The Mezzanine level
