ELEVATION

For the introduction of our final year, we were tasked with identifying a specific biome and environmental issue located in Arizona. Looking at the characteristics of Arizona, I found I was most interested in areas of forestation. I chose to research the Coconino forest which surrounds Flagstaff, AZ. While researching the key elements of the Coconino Forest, I came across a web-page which informed me that Flagstaff has an abnormally large drug and alcohol problem which has lead to many hospitalizations and deaths. After learning more about this, I realized I wanted to design an in & out-patient rehabilitation center for Flagstaff in the Coconino Forest. I found an ideal site which was located off of the top of Lower Coconino Avenue, embedded in the edge of the forest. This site is set back far enough so that there won’t be outside influences of the city lights and noise but close enough for convenient travel to and from downtown. Once I had chose the overall area of my site, I started with an analysis to determine which exact location would be best fit for my program. Atop of the mountain I found a site that was level which worked well with my campus.

My research inspired me to really look at how to develop a campus which focused on mental health and wellbeing. I researched and visited local Arizona rehabilitation centers to understand what key elements of architecture play a role in helping patients heal. This research helped me find the soul of my project.

Discovering there are only in-patient rehabilitaion centers in Flagstaff, I wanted to design an in & out-patient center which allowed people to continue their everyday day lives if needed. Being located close to Northern Arizona University, I wanted to give the chance for students to attend Ponderosa Pathways while still being able to continue their education.

After doing extensive research on the benefiting factors natural wood has on the health of a person, I decided to construct Ponderosa Pathway completely out of Cross Laminated timber. CLT allows for many health benefits from being exposed to natural wood but also utilized the timbers which were cut down to make room for the campus. In addition to the CLT, floor to ceiling windows are in every room to increase sun exposure and allowing for even more wood exposure since you are embedded within the forest. The pathways to each building wind through-out the forest, cutting down as few trees as possible. These paths are exposed to the elements