PROFESSOR

Despite their importance and ubiquity in the built environment, however, architects’ relationship to bridges is most often relegated to land-based pylons and/or ornamental details. In a word; bridges, with few exceptions, exist squarely in the domain of engineers. This strict disciplinary delineation has led most often to the bridge-as-engineering-marvel, functioning as visual spectacle and means to an end. But what if bridges could be an end in-and-of themselves? What if a bridge is the destination? In this studio, students reimagined the Newburgh-Beacon bridge in Orange County, New York. The bridge links two cities where despite their proximity, there exists a significant wealth, health and safety gap. Additional nodes within the vicinity include the Hudson Highlands State Park, West Point Military Academy, Stewart International Airport, the Orange County Correctional Facility Stormking Art Center, and, of course, the richly biodiverse Hudson River itself. As a habitable bridge, students designed projects that act as a both thruway for pedestrians and vehicles as well as a destination for indoor/outdoor recreation.