Fulton Street Visitor and Transit Center

A study in the ideas of qualitative performance as envisioned in William MacDonald of KOL/MAC Architects. The study was sited at the corner of Fulton St. and Broadway in New York City. This is the location of the for the Fulton Transit Center by Nicholas Grimshaw. The goal of the project from the MTA’s standpoint was to reconfigure the confusing labyrinth of subway stations going through lower Manhattan.

The study took the nexus that is to become the Fulton Transit Center and through a series of experiments, looked at how one could propose an ever changing yet qualitatively charged series of programs on the site. It looked at Architecture more as a set of qualitative performances that shape our lives.

The basic strategy for the project was to pick a tactic for approaching the site, then through an abstract study mechanics of that tactic, place the performative model on the site that would generate a potential program, form, and structure. This would then be interpreted into a basic building proposal.

• Disruptive Infiltration
  Through the disruption of the system, a foreign agent can infiltrate and gain influence over the system.

Qualitative Performance

• Disruptive Flux
  The affect of the system to quickly move from a semi-stable, sedentary state to a state of transience characterized by a high degree of energy.

Yield

• Conductivity
  The ability of a energetic flow to overcome resistance in a material substrate.

Modes of Operation

• Sedation
  The tendency of the system to lower its energy state. The system becomes more stable, and shows less degrees of freedom.
• Disruption
  A transient state between sedation and excitation showing bifurcations of energy states.
• Excitation
  The tendency of the system or parts of the system to achieve a highly energetic state. The system shows a high degree of freedom.

Materials of Conduction

• Sedentary
  Material that has few degrees of freedom (ordered material). Characterized by a strong disruption and a sedate, yet clear excitation.
• Transient
  Material with many degrees of freedom (fluid). Characterized by strong disruption, clear excitation, and strong sedation.
• Expectant
  Material with no degrees of freedom (blockage). Characterized by a strong sedate distruption, disruptive excitation, and strong sedation.