The Ally

Proposing a new building for the corner of 10th Avenue and 20th Street in Chelsea, NYC, along The High Line.

The Chelsea District has been home to a vast LGBTQ+ community for over thirty years, and one that has been present on the lower west side of the city since before Stonewall . Seeking to connect The High Line back to this local community, The Ally provides an integral tie to nature that has long been lacking in the area. Access to nature is critical to health and well being-- the core of The Ally is a multifunctional botanical center focusing on social, 'neighborhood interaction', containing a resident maintained garden, public conservatory, and small event space designed for regular local gatherings, such as weekly spoken word poetry nights. The Ally approaches the health of it's inhabitants seriously, as the second floor is dedicated to counseling services with providers who specialize in the struggles and concerns of LGBTQ+ individuals. The Ally is a safe haven for said community, both metaphorically and literally. The remaining three stories are home to asylum seekers fleeing foreign nations on the basis of discrimination or fear for their sexual or gender identity. The Ally Apartments provide both a sanctuary and a renewed start for individuals and families who walk through their doors. Much like the botanical center contained within it, The Ally is a breath of fresh air for The High Line and Chelsea.

Project Statement:

To work through the entire design process of selecting an issue to address, a program, case study analysis, code compliance, structural design, street planning, and full design development of a building within the constraints of the allocated site along The High Line. This has been my most in depth studio project to date, and has been completed in two phases [both available in pdfs below].

ARCH7306_GIRARD_K_PHASE 3 DIAGRAMMING.pdf

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A7306_GIRARD_K_NYCHIGHLINE.pdf

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