Biloxi Studio 2007
In the Spring of 2007, GCCDS hosted a semester of architectural study for twelve students from four universities, Auburn University, Boston Architectural College, Mississippi State University, and University of Minnesota. The curriculum included a studio focusing on housing and culminating in two projects; a construction lecture course; a seminar on risk and building; and on-site construction.
Students
Auburn University. Nadene Mairesse.
Boston Architectural College. Brandon Milling.
Mississippi State University. Scott Emison, Conor Gibson, Chandler Overcash.
University of Minnesota. Sam Carlsen, Omar Hakeem, Della Hansmann, Matt Huntress, Shana Payne, Peter Pelto, Derek Peterson, James Wheeler.
Accessory Rental Units
In the first studio project, accessory rental units are designed as a one-bedroom unit and a two-bedroom unit that share a stair. The space under the two units is used for parking, storage and an entrance court. At the same time the students were designing the apartments, the studio instructor was designing the family's house. Weekly meetings with the family informed this parallel design effort.
Mixed Use Project
The second, mixed-use project was designed for a site on Division Street, the primary commercial street in East Biloxi, and was developed as a prototype for a neighborhood-scale project that demonstrates ways to create public activity at the ground floor in light of new flood elevation requirements. The commercial program developed was a restaurant, and the ground floor was designed to be an outdoor eating area with minimal floodproofed ground floor program.
The two studio projects, the accessory rental unit and the mixed-use project, have developed into actual projects. The rental unit has been prepared for permitting along with the house.
Design/Build: Sliding Doors
In addition to the two housing projects, the studio engaged in three distinct design/build projects. The first project, part of the coordination center's own workspace, was a set of sliding panels to divide the various work spaces. The final design transformed the sliding panels into large chalkboards on which the construction managers track projects, and which all the groups use to coordinate activity.
Design/Build: Volunteer Housing
The second design-build project was a house renovation, intended for use as volunteer housing for two years before returning to use as a rental unit. The students designed the project and worked with visiting students and volunteers to renovate the house.
Design/Build: Red House
The final design-build project was a historic house that is located in a John Henry Beck Park. The plans for the house included a complete restoration to the interior and exterior, and its transformation into a Police substation and community meeting room.
The students worked with another volunteer organization to restore the historic house, and worked with GCCDS architects to design a new back porch and entrance ramp.
