All good things must come to an end...

Its been a long two weeks of production for the final presentation of my project.  All the process forged into the model, then the drawings is complete and now the semester is over for this studio after the final critique last night.  I feel that I had many break throughs in my process work, but the summation of the process of my final design did not compliment the full potential my project could have had.  My 'rational' thinking held me back, I think, in project that could have been more than just a building.  My 'eureka moment'  hit me just a little too late, although the critiques I received helped in my understanding.  This was by far the most I've ever learned in a studio and I appreciate the patience Luis had for my constant reverting to rational thinking most of the time.  Here's my final presentation layout and some model pictures.

Reinventing the Theater

After much thought, process, and a few words from mr. Archipegster I have come up with my final design.  It consists of 5 main floors (each main floor has level change to it) one above grade, one on-grade, and 3 below.  Entrance is down a ramp starting on grade and going below or also in between the theaters which are the above grade elements.  The circulation is central, unfortunately not drawn in on the plans shown below, but it emphasizes the vertical tension in movement just like my site has horizontal tension between the corners of the existing buildings.  The archive is the most buried levels (along with the mechanical) with light getting in from some light wells.  The first level below grade contains the library, admin offices, one of the lobby/gallery spaces, etc.  the other lobby/gallery is directly above between the theaters.  All the floor heights and changes in level (for floor and ceiling) are reflections of the "bars" of program crossing over one another or what is happening above.  Some bars combine to form larger storage spaces like the archive.  The theaters are my most recent epiphany and they are my reinvention of viewing cinema.  Instead of massing blocks like I could not get out of before ('remember...') I used the bars to generate a new form that also emphasizes the forces and the tension of my site.  They also promote the idea of new experience every visit because every seat will have a different experience of viewing the screen.  The only thing I feel I'm struggling with now is to use my original playing with the grade idea or refine it to the bars again and turn the ground up like in Matt's drawdel and Gianni Pattena's sketch.  Any further suggestions and critiques would be helpful before I finish my model...

quick sketch of a section through the theater bars; the bars would raise up at different heights

Matt Pegolo's critique w/me (some drawing ideas too)