Chr

istop

her S

tidha

m

Portfolio

Christopher Stidham

My pursuit of becoming a Landscape Architect has always been driven by my insatiable curiosity, a desire to create and express, to learn, experience and explore. These pursuits have always been grounded in my love for nature which has been my teacher, my inspiration, and my place of refuge. It is my desire to create works that elicit these same effects on a public that is quickly growing short on their access to the natural world, beauty and inspiration. In the future, it will be up to Landscape Architects to both preserve and restore natural beauty where it is possible, as well as to overcome difficult environmental and design challenges in areas that have long been neglected.

It will require a variety of talents, skill sets, and insights, in order to transform, or reform some of these neglected landscapes. My goal in acquiring a position in your firm, is to gain a mastery of the analytical, technical, and design skills that will allow me to address these unique challenges we face. I desire to use these skills in a manner that will allow me to bring to fruition the ideas and concepts that drive and inspire me. I am motivated in advancing projects that are not only sustainable, but encourage people to interact with their neighbors, their community, and nature.

”When we try to pick anything out by itself, we find it attached to the rest of the Universe” ohn Muir

4

5

6

3

[contents]

Oklawaha Community Center

On the Boards

1

2

Main Street Revitalization

Gainesville Fisher House

City of Longwood T.O.D

White Springs Community Redevelopment

[contents]

The Main Street Revitalization Project is part of the long term plan by the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Association to rebuild interest and investment in the Downtown corridor. During my internship with JOLA-Inc, I was tasked with research, graphic renderings, and planting concepts. The following are the fiinal renderings provided to the client in conjunction with work done with Brown and Cullen Engineers.

4th year

1

4th Year

SkechUpModel with/Shaderlight/Photoshop

4th Year

The local landmark, The Doris was set as the centerpiece, as it was the heart of the Arts community in the Main Street Corridor.

A large Bioswale was intro-duced to mitigate stormwater as well as provided a buffer from the road, and frame the widened sidewalks as a cafe experience

4th Year

In the Spring of 2012, our Planting Design studio was asked to participate in a design competition for the National Fisher House Foundation. The competition was for the new project to be built at the Veteran’s Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. The Fisher House Foundation provides accomodations and support for military families who are undergoing treatment at medical facilities across the United States free of charge. The essential goal is to provide a “home away from home” for military families in their time of need. As a result of being selected a winner of the design compe-tition, I was then hired by the committee to create the final design, that is now currently under construction. The goal of the design was to provide a place that allowed the guests to come together and share their experiences, as well as to and embrace and celebrate a normal life during the recov-ery process. Places to heal and relfect, as well socialize and play where important elements included in the final design

Gainesville Fisher House

2

4th Year

City of Longwood: Transit Oriented Re-Development

3The need to manage large volumes of Stormwater is a constant concern in the Florida Land-scape. With Urban Sprawl and large swathes of impervious vehicular roadways the norm, this project was an effort to create an alternative model for dealing with Stormwater needs and regulations. It’s aim was to do so, by providing a centralized, district scale stormwater system. The design took form by minimizing local impact through conveyance to a centralized infiltration basin. This then opened up the options to create a high density Transit Oriented Community around the new SunRail station. Additionally, this approach also allowed us to treat stormwater as an amenity in the form of increased street plantings, bioswales, and large water features. By daylighting the stormwater’s functionality, we are able to educate and bring the public in contact with the natural fluctuations of the ecosystem in which they are engaged.

A. Mccollister

As a result of centralizing the stormwater treatment, a high density Urban core was developed, that took ad-vantage of close proximity to the SunRail line. The add-ed benefit was the increased social, economic, and environmental “value” of the central Stormwater basin.

The volumes carried by the water gardens are designed to fluctuate through heavy rainfall as well as periods of drought.

J.ROEDELL

3rd Year

4

3rd Year

Oklawaha Community Center:5

3rd YearOklawaha Commnity Center: Deck details

CREATE a low impact community utilizing green infrastructure to mitigate storm-water, shape community and social spaces, enhance ecosystem services , and provide aesthetic value.

ENHANCE the advantage of the site’s proximity to the river to actualize private, public, and environmental Goals.

PROVIDE a vibrant pedestrian scaled community that is a place of celebration, creativity, destination, refuge, and, a Home

CONNECT to, and Invite in the greater community at large through jobs, entertainment, social events, and multi-modal accessibility.

Senior Capstone:Zidell Yards Portland, Oregon

On the Boards: 5th year

I am currently in the analysis and synthesis phase of my senior capstone project. The focus of the project is to create a high density, low impact, sustainable urban neighborhood. My approach is to shape the space throught the use of green infrastructure as the guiding principle. My plan includes having varying elements that will create the social and intimate spaces throughout the site, providing amenity and aesthetic, while cleansing water and providing habitat. My goal is to provide the community with an urban oasis: balancing the the recu-perative and healing aspects of nature, with the social and economic needs of the community. Transforming what is currently a void in the surrounding matrix, and restitching it into the Urban fabric in a manner that is both environmentally responsible, as well as creates a variety of opportunities for social interaction and economic growth. My aim is to take advantage of the opportunity that exists for the redevelopment of this property to act as both a recconnection with the community at large, as well as a catalyst for change and growth.

Below are some of the site goals. At left are a sample of the current analyses.

6

Senior Capstone:Zidell Yards Portland, Oregon

Christopher Stidham stidcr1@ufl.edu (904) 955-4441

References:Jackie Owens L.A. JOLA-INC jowens@jola-inc.com (352) 219-5531Kevin Thompson LA Assistant Professor University of Florida gday@ ufl.eduMichael Volk LA Volk Design Consultants (352) 262-3018 mikevolk@ufl.edu

“Never doubt thata a smal group of thoughful, committedcitizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret MeadSoftware Experience:

Christopher Stidham stidcr1@ufl.edu (904) 955-4441

References:Jackie Owens L.A. JOLA-INC jowens@jola-inc.com (352) 219-5531Kevin Thompson LA Assistant Professor University of Florida gday@ ufl.eduMichael Volk LA Volk Design Consultants (352) 262-3018 mikevolk@ufl.edu

“Never doubt thata a smal group of thoughful, committedcitizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret MeadSoftware Experience: