RUNNER-UP Signal Park Jieun Yang, AIA, Habitat Workshop Jieun Yang , AIA, of Habitat Workshop imagined Signal Park in San Jose, Calif., a cluster of urban villages that seamlessly blend into the area’s natural landscape. The steel scaffolding structure in the park would collect and lter rainwater to be used for cooling mist stations and site irrigation. The park is created by overlapping topographical mounds that re ect the unin-terrupted vista of San Jose’s surrounding natural landscape. The project is made of layers of rings forming hills and valleys that are connected by a series of walk-ways, landscaped areas, cooling stations, and small and large gathering spaces. It also maintains existing amenities and monuments. Inspired by the San Jose Electric Light Tower, a series of vertical ring ties that held together vertical scaffold structure is reimagined through a horizontal exten-sion that envisions the full site as a must-see landmark. The scaffold structure in Signal Park not only works as a structure to create hills and valleys but also works as an environmental infrastructure, collecting and ltering rainwater used for cooling mist stations and general irrigation for the site. Low-water native plants are used throughout to minimize water use, and a balanced distribution of shaded and non-shaded spaces considers a range of thermal comfort. Low-water native plants are used throughout to minimize water use. And the scaffold structure transforms into a light source at night to provide a dramatic backdrop for the city. “The collaboration with a mentor added a whole new dimension and depth to the project. What started as an idea for a light and airy public outdoor structure transformed into a series of topographical terrains with a lattice-like underside. The project embraced the constraints of constructability and effi ciency as a rigorous design tool to create variety within modularity. The experience from accessible walkways on top of the structure provides a close-up view of the spaceframe. In contrast, the experience in the underbelly of the latticework structure maintains the design intent of a light-fi lled and airy public gathering space. It was a privilege to work with AISC and my mentor, Jeff Pate from Owen Steel Company, to highlight steel as form-shifting and terrain-making material that touches the ground lightly and creates space for the community.” —Jieun Yang Modern Steel Construction | 57
Modern Steel Construction June 2021: Page 57
