Year: fourth (Summer) // 2014
Program: Business Incubator
Professor: Todd Gabbard
“Remnants of a once prosperous town exist as relics of forgotten fortuity and discovery. ”
The foundation of the studio’s investigation was the revitalization of the city of Eureka. Located in central Kansas, Eureka has a population just over 2,000 residents. Eureka once sponsored industry and an established research facility, though due to lack of access and resources, fell in to decay. Remnants of the once self sustaining town exist as relics of forgotten prosperity and discovery.
The city lacks in access, community, activity, vision and connection. The studio adopted an attitude of collective intentionality; where neighbors become collaborators and communities mobilize to incite change. Each of us were required to select a vulnerable or stagnant site throughout town, and provide connections between each, with the aim of facilitating a new transit network.
To encourage industry and provide an infrastructure for a burgeoning research community, my solution was an incubator and lab space, situated in an abandoned field adjacent to the old research facility. The objective was to develop a campus that would act as collaboration space and social activator.