Walker Art Center Redesign – Field of Convergence

The grassy field on the west side of the Walker Art Center currently serves several purposes.  To name a few:  it covers a parking garage which services the Walker and a church across the street, acts as an amphitheatre for an annual outdoor concert, and plays host to a summer long exhibit called “Open Field.”  The Walker wants to maintain these uses but would also like to create a connection to the neighborhood, offer shade in the summer, and make use of the space during the winter.  Here is an overview of my design:

Field of Convergence

*opening a west wall of the gallery and extending the indoors out through the creation of a patio space accessible via a large garage door.
*addition of viewing platforms along the western edge of the site.  One acts as an informal entrance to the field and the other serves as a gathering space to capitalize on the framed view of downtown Minneapolis.
*extension of prairie plantings to various parts of the site.
*a stage at the bottom of the existing natural hill providing space for annual events such as Rock the Garden but allowing for expansion of Open Field performances.
*handicap accessible pathways connecting existing Vineland entrance, new west side patio, new west side field entrance platform, and Vineland street.
*extending the use of whitespire birch trees to outline the site, create opportunities for shade, and buffer sound behind the stage.
*minor re-design of Vineland entrance; utilization of existing wall to advertise current exhibits and events.  Alternating square pavers with native prairie plantings to lead visitors into building entrance.

Model looking south.

Perspective looking east, from new entrance platform to new patio.

a short introduction

After thinking for a long time about the best way to showcase my graduate school work, I’ve decided to dedicate a blog to it.  I hold a BS degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies from Winona State University and fall 2011 will be starting the 2nd of 3 years of the MLA program at the University of Minnesota.  I am also pursuing a minor in art.

My interests lie in public art and sustainable agriculture.  I plan to use the next two years of school to figure out how to integrate these two areas and use them to educate the community.