Oral Abstract Details

Author(s):
Scott Benson

Affiliation:
Auburn University Master of Landscape Architecture

Presentation Type:
Oral

Topic Area:
Spatial/scale aspects of land-use change

Abstract Text:
The purpose of this presentation is to develop an understanding of the importance of America’s working waterfronts and how they affect its surrounding city. Through this project three goals were established. The first was to create different forms of storm water retention practices to act as precedents for the entire city. The second was to create a public waterfront space to connect Mobile’s residents back to its waterfront. The third was to stimulate Mobile’s economic engine to create jobs, income, and residences in the historic downtown area using green infrastructure. Throughout its history, Mobile has always relied on its geographic location for prosperity. Located at the north end of the Mobile Bay, the city has a direct connection to the Gulf of Mexico and also to markets north up the Mobile River. The city has a history of fishing, boat building, rail, and ship commerce. At present there are limited areas for pedestrian access to the waterfront as it is cut off by the ship and rail yards. Mobile’s geographic location also poses a problem during storm events. Due to its old storm system and low lying land, the city is often inundated with backed up storm water. To help to alleviate this problem there is a need for improved storm water management practices. This project seeks to employ design ideas on a specific sight to achieve these goals. The site on the south side of the convention center was chosen after a series of site studies was done. Some of those studies included an analysis of shadow cover done through a 3D modeling software called Sketch Up, section drawings, a design charrette, and aerial images through Google Earth. The site was also chosen because it was a terminus to a few of the busy streets of the historic district of mobile including Dauphin and Government Street. A case study was employed which resulted in valuable design ideas and techniques through studying Michael Van Vaulkenburg's book, Alleghany Waterfront Park. This study is a look at the design problems and solutions his team encountered when trying to tie Pittsburgh, PA back to its waterfront. In my proposed design I suggest implementing a constructed wetland to catch all rain water runoff. Above ground water cisterns were also proposed to capture the storm water runoff from the convention center roof, as well as a constructed vegetated bio-swale were proposed to filter all runoff from the parking area. To bring people back to the waterfront a series of public structures to stimulate the downtown economy were proposed including an open air market, docks, store, restaurant space, and a boardwalk. The boardwalk serves as a connection from the south end of the convention center to the north end as well as a template for further connection. Results so far have shown that there is a need for waterfront connection and better storm water management through green infrastructure; however the appropriate program and scale have yet to be determined.