Chaminade High School Physical Fitness Center (PFC) Exterior Facade
Client
Chaminade High School
Location
Mineola, NY
Year
2019-2020
While in high school, I met the Chaminade project manager at the time and expressed my interest in architecture and civil engineering. After a few meetings, the manager gave me the project of rendering models for a redesigned PFC facade.
I drew inspiration from Chaminade's original Gregorian Main Building, New York City architecture, and my recent college visits to develop his 3D design on SketchUp. This was my first modeling project, so I taught himself how to use the program. Additionally, I wasn't given specific dimensions of the building, so I used Google Earth and pictures to make estimates: for instance, knowing a brick's height average height is 2 1/2 in., I counted how many bricks were on one face and estimated various heights of doors, molding, etc.
While working on the project, I interned at Mark Design Studios in Hicksville, NY to get expert feedback and learn more about the design process. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 virus, the project never came to full fruition.
Design Elements
The goal of the design was to return to the traditional Gregorian style of the Chaminade main building. For instance, in the existing model on the left, there were no columns, cornices, freeze, or other classical elements. Instead, the stucco-like exterior and minimal ornamenting lacks any clear connection with the historic style.
The proposed design, on the right, included a cornice wrapping the entire building has biblical quotes meant to invoke a motivational and determined spirit of the athletes who train inside. The corners of the building feature cornerstones staggered in size, and underneath each window, a plate with the Chaminade emblem. Finally, around the cross on the face facing the stadium, there is an ornamented "frame" so to speak with the same Chaminade emblem in each corner.
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The quoted cornice wrapping the building and the window plates with the Chaminade emblem.
A close-up of the front entrance that shows the column detail at the front door with a glass covering to provide shade from the harsh New York winter months.
