THE COMMUNITY OF LOCUS POINT WAS HISTORICAlLY BUILT UPON A CONSTANT INFLUX OF PEOPLE, IDEAS, AND GOODS. COINED “THE OTHER ELLIS ISLAND”, FORT MCHENRY AND LOCUS POINT BECAME A MEANS OF ENTRY FOR MANY FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS. IN HOMAGE TO ITS RICH HISTORY, THE LOCUS POINT INCUBATOR, IN TANDEM WITH THE MASTER PLAN PREVIOUSLY CREATED TO PROVIDE A MULTI-CULTURAL HUB FOR BALTIMORE, SEEKS TO PRO-ACTIVELY NURTURE THE TALENTS AND DRIVE OF IMMIGRANTS AND NEW-BALTIMORIANS ALIKE IN AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUSIVE TO CREATIVE THOUGHT AND THE SHARING OF IDEAS.
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SELL TEST T INKER
2 THESIS THE MASTER PLAN SOUGHT TO CREATE A LAYERING OF URBAN PROGRAM, TERMINATING ON THE SHORTLINE WITH LOW DENSITY COMMERCIAL. THIS ALLOWED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A DIALOGUE WITH THE MASTERPLAN; THE LOCUS POINT INCUBATOR ACTS AS A GENERATOR OF NEW ENTREPRENUERS READY TO POPULATE THE COMMERCIAL ZONE WITH THRIVING BUSINESS.
REGIONAL MAP 1:6000
NORTH ELEVATION
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SOUTH ELEVATION
THE “WALL OF COLLECTIVE SENTIMENT” CUTS THROUGH THE BUILDING,SEPARATING THE RESEARCH ZONE FROM THE PRODUCTION ZONE. THIS SLICING THROUGH THE BUILDING PROVIDES A VISUAL HINT TO THE PATH THAT LEADS OUT THROUGH THE BUILDING AND TO THE MARSH AHEAD. THIS PATH THEN TIES IN WITH A CIRCULATION LOOP BACK TO THE MASTER PLAN, AS WELL AS WITH FORT MCHENRY. THIS WALL IS INTENDED TO ABSORB THE MEMORIES AND HISTORY OF ITS USERS; WHETHER IT BE TRINKETS FROM THE MARSH, BOOKS FROM THE USERS OF THE MAKER SPACES, OR ART FROM LOCALS.
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THE WALL
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SOUTH ELEVATION
MAKE THE GREAT SPACE IS HIGH ENERGY. YOU CAN READ A BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY WALL UPSTAIRS, YOU CAN SIT IN ONE OF THE WALL’S NOOKS AND WATCH MAKERS IN THE MAKER MODULES OR YOU CAN BUY SOMETHING FROM THE WEEKLY BAZAAR. THIS SPACE IS FOR THE LOCUS POINT COMMUNITY TO DEFINE. IF YOU’RE FEELING BOLD, YOU CAN EVEN SET UP AN IMPROMPTU YOGA SESSION IN ONE OF TWO “PUBLIC MAKER SPACES” OF WHICH ALL HAVE ACCESS.
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FA C A D E STAINLESS STEEL HARKENS TO THE SITE’S HISTORY AS ONE WITHIN AN INDUSTRIAL NODE; BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY USED TO RESIDE DIRECTLY NORTH TO THE SITE. THE SCREEN SHIELDS THE ENTRY TO INSTILL A SENSE OF MYSTERY, EVENTUALLY DISINTEGRATING ON THE EASTERN FACADE.
NORTH ELEVATION
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SOUTH ELEVATION
WEST ELEVATION wall of collective sentiment (behind