FALL 2021: NORTH TONAWANDA BOATHOUSE

The feature project of my fifth semester in UB's B.Arch. program was the design of a boathouse on the waterfront in North Tonawanda, a Buffalo suburb. This boathouse is to located on the entrance to the Erie canal, and has four primary elements:

1. Wet dock and workshop, where boat owners can bring their boats for service, and offering free 'hands-on' workshops and classes for community members.
2. Main exhibition space, where boats and maritime artifacts are on display. Emphasis is placed on the history of the Erie Canal, and the city's role in its operation.
3. Learning center, which provides classrooms for classes such as water safety, boat renovation techniques, etc. 
4. Public docks, where community members can access the waterfront, and rent human propelled craft or go swimming

My design inspiration came primarily from addressing these three different noise level spaces, while providing them each direct either physical (Workshop and public docks) or visual access (Main exhibition and learning center) to the water. To achieve this, I designed a series of three angular halls which originate from a single point on the site (directly across from the existing street) and project out into or cantilever over the water. The loudest of these three halls (Workshop) was then separated to allow for an exterior connection to the water, as well as limiting the noise heard in other more quiet spaces.

The structural system used in the project was directly inspired from the kayak build project which started the semester. Working with a team of five peers, we designed a series of organic steam-bent ribs which provided the primary structure of the vessel. These ribs would differ in size throughout the length of the boat to form its shape. I then translated this design philosophy to my project, in the form of portal frames. As in the boat, each frame is different in size and shape, as they provide the unique angular shape of the three hallways. From there, a series of diagonal braces are used to provide lateral structure, as well as allowing for the aforementioned cantilevered spaces.