Matt Galvin Portfolio

MATT GALVINundergraduate work

BANGKOK>CHICAGOarch.467 export>import

FRONTIER URBANISMarch.466 reforming suburbia

WOLF POINTarch.365 building design studio 3

COPPER GARDENarch.206 building design studio 2






As Bangkok grew it was forced to create new ways of mobility for its residents to make use of different forms of infrastructure in particular the Skytrain, Bangkok’s elevated rail system. In the past 20 years the city has experienced a massive increase in population and buildings,

mostly offices, hotels, and malls. These new programs work in conjunc-tion with the Skytrain to create multi-level pedestrian sections of the

city. In these areas people have the ability to traverse the city in on different levels, the ground floor and then a separate pedestrian level

suspended from the Skytrain. This concept of multiple ground planes is then exported to Chicago along Roosevelt Road.


As Bangkok grew it was forced to create new ways of mobility for its residents to make use of different forms of infrastructure in particular the Skytrain, Bangkok’s elevated rail system. In the past 20 years the city has experienced a massive increase in population and buildings,

mostly offices, hotels, and malls. These new programs work in conjunc-tion with the Skytrain to create multi-level pedestrian sections of the

city. In these areas people have the ability to traverse the city in on different levels, the ground floor and then a separate pedestrian level

suspended from the Skytrain. This concept of multiple ground planes is then exported to Chicago along Roosevelt Road.

The multi-level environments in Bangkok are formed around the elevated infrastructure of the Skytrain, in Chicago, Roosevelt Road is a similar form of elevated infrastructure. This multi-level concept is exported to the Roosevelt Road area by situating programs next to, over, and across the road itself. This in turn creates an area in the larger masterplan that allows other projects taking place on different levels to connect with each other.

The multi-level environments in Bangkok are formed around the elevated infrastructure of the Skytrain, in Chicago, Roosevelt Road is a similar form of elevated infrastructure. This multi-level concept is exported to the Roosevelt Road area by situating programs next to, over, and across the road itself. This in turn creates an area in the larger masterplan that allows other projects taking place on different levels to connect with each other.

Site Map of Surrounding Context

1-Retail along Roosevelt, retail and offices between Wells and Lasalle

2-High rise residential north towards the loop 3-Parking above rising above office and retail

4-Public space covers parking and connects both sides

5-Single family housing situated along public space

1-Retail along Roosevelt, retail and offices between Wells and Lasalle

2-High rise residential north towards the loop 3-Parking above rising above office and retail

4-Public space covers parking and connects both sides

5-Single family housing situated along public space

Site Plan

Site Plan

Ground Level Plan

Ground Level Plan

Roosevelt Level Plan

Roosevelt Level Plan


Schaumburg, one of Chicago’s largest suburbs has reached its limit of growth. It is currently the second largest economy in the state of Illinois and if the city

wants to continue to be a leading center for employment and retail it must reinvent the way the city works. This

coupled with rising energy prices presents a great opportunity for Schaumburg to redevelop itself.


Schaumburg, one of Chicago’s largest suburbs has reached its limit of growth. It is currently the second largest economy in the state of Illinois and if the city

wants to continue to be a leading center for employment and retail it must reinvent the way the city works. This

coupled with rising energy prices presents a great opportunity for Schaumburg to redevelop itself.

Schaumburg programmatic distribution Residential Commercial Retail

Gas prices 1990-2020

Car sales 1990-2020

With rising gas prices immanent, Schaumburg, which is completely dependent upon the car needs to find a way to continue to grow as one of Chicago’s most important suburbs. In doing this the city needs to increase density along its main streets near the commercial center.

Schaumburg programmatic distribution Residential Commercial Retail

Gas prices 1990-2020

Car sales 1990-2020

With rising gas prices immanent, Schaumburg, which is completely dependent upon the car needs to find a way to continue to grow as one of Chicago’s most important suburbs. In doing this the city needs to increase density along its main streets near the commercial center.

2010 2010 01020102 2010

’04+’03+’02+’01+ +50’

Central Schaumburg phasing and program/megastructure detail

Retail Big box Car dealerships Single family home Townhome Apartment Industrial Office Public

Over time, central Schaumburg and its main streets begin to consume all of the spread out program in the area. The city’s tranformation starts with the car dealerships along Golf Road which are no longer need and then moves to the vast parking lots surrounding Woodfield Mall. From this a mixed use megastructure begins to form. It eventually houses all of Schaumburg’s program. The space left from people moving to the dense megastructure is returned to its original state. This acts as an expansive public space that the people of Schaumburg can use for whatever they want. Schaumburg is now a massive structure in a vast suburban frontier.

2010 2010 01020102 2010

’04+’03+’02+’01+ +50’

Central Schaumburg phasing and program/megastructure detail

Retail Big box Car dealerships Single family home Townhome Apartment Industrial Office Public

Over time, central Schaumburg and its main streets begin to consume all of the spread out program in the area. The city’s tranformation starts with the car dealerships along Golf Road which are no longer need and then moves to the vast parking lots surrounding Woodfield Mall. From this a mixed use megastructure begins to form. It eventually houses all of Schaumburg’s program. The space left from people moving to the dense megastructure is returned to its original state. This acts as an expansive public space that the people of Schaumburg can use for whatever they want. Schaumburg is now a massive structure in a vast suburban frontier.

The megastructure is oriented around the housing with makes up the upper part of the block. It is arranged around courtyards that allow light to the lower floors.

0702050203020102

Eventually, all of Chicago’s suburbs will begin to follow a similar trend of density like Schaumburg. They are all connected by highways where people can use car-shares to travel long distances, and a new suburban train line that connects them.

0702050203020102

Eventually, all of Chicago’s suburbs will begin to follow a similar trend of density like Schaumburg. They are all connected by highways where people can use car-shares to travel long distances, and a new suburban train line that connects them.


Wolf Point is located in the heart of downtown Chicago with all three branches of the river converge. This location makes it a prime spot to be developed as a cultural center,

kayak/bike rental, and water taxi stop. In my project the site is organized by pedestrian and water taxi access. The

program is then placed in strips according to its relation with the water or the city.


Wolf Point is located in the heart of downtown Chicago with all three branches of the river converge. This location makes it a prime spot to be developed as a cultural center,

kayak/bike rental, and water taxi stop. In my project the site is organized by pedestrian and water taxi access. The

program is then placed in strips according to its relation with the water or the city.

Existing site access and water taxi route

Proposed movement through site and connection to water taxi

Reconfiguaration of site edge according to movement

Placement of program according to relation to water and city

Water Taxi

Kayak Rental

Cultural Center

Bike Rental

Existing site access and water taxi route

Proposed movement through site and connection to water taxi

Reconfiguaration of site edge according to movement

Placement of program according to relation to water and city

Water Taxi

Kayak Rental

Cultural Center

Bike Rental


With a group with two other students we designed and built a full-scale screen wall. The project required us to devise a

modular system out of a material of our choice (copper sheets) and then to construct it. Prior to constructing our system, we ran extensive tests on several different types of sheet metal to

determine which individual properties we would manipulate within our project. For ours we choose copper because of the

its material qualities with reflection and oxidation along with the fact that it was easily worked with.


With a group with two other students we designed and built a full-scale screen wall. The project required us to devise a

modular system out of a material of our choice (copper sheets) and then to construct it. Prior to constructing our system, we ran extensive tests on several different types of sheet metal to

determine which individual properties we would manipulate within our project. For ours we choose copper because of the

its material qualities with reflection and oxidation along with the fact that it was easily worked with.

6” 6” 6” 6”

12”

12”

2 1/2” 2 1/2”

45

x

x

2x

2x

3x

3x

The copper sheet metal was bought in a large sheet of 24”x24”. It was then cut down into eight sheets, 12”x6”. Next we punched 1/4” holes spaced 2 1/2” apart. 1” from the edge each side is bent 45 degrees. When fully assembled, the modules are vertically placed 2 1/2”, 5”, and 7 1/2”. Horizontally each module is placed 2 1/2” apart for each verticle move.

6” 6” 6” 6”

12”

12”

2 1/2” 2 1/2”

45

x

x

2x

2x

3x

3x

The copper sheet metal was bought in a large sheet of 24”x24”. It was then cut down into eight sheets, 12”x6”. Next we punched 1/4” holes spaced 2 1/2” apart. 1” from the edge each side is bent 45 degrees. When fully assembled, the modules are vertically placed 2 1/2”, 5”, and 7 1/2”. Horizontally each module is placed 2 1/2” apart for each verticle move.

The modules are held together by threaded rods that are placed vertically through each piece. The vertical members are the main structural piece of the screen wall. Our screen will be located outdoors, where the copper can interact with the elements. While outside rain water will drip off or collect in certain areas. Sunlight will reflect of each panel differently while the threaded rods create patterns. Over time, the copper with oxidize, therefore transforming the screen into something completely new.

The modules are held together by threaded rods that are placed vertically through each piece. The vertical members are the main structural piece of the screen wall. Our screen will be located outdoors, where the copper can interact with the elements. While outside rain water will drip off or collect in certain areas. Sunlight will reflect of each panel differently while the threaded rods create patterns. Over time, the copper with oxidize, therefore transforming the screen into something completely new.

Matt Galvin Portfolio

Documents

roosevelt road area

multilevel concept

multilevel environments

different levels

separate pedestrian

building design studio

new programs

ground floor