Ground Rules floats an elevated playing court and seating under the concrete colonnade of the Cummins Corporate Office Building designed by Roche Dinkeloo. The project responds to the monumental existing structure and its systematic deployment across the site by inserting an architectural folly within the gridded structure that creates a spontaneous gathering space for office workers and downtown pedestrians alike. In juxtaposition to the weighty permanence of the concrete structure, this new boardwalk is lightweight and temporary in its materiality, primarily constructed from discarded lumber salvaged from construction sites. Additionally, the project is designed in modules so that Ground Rules can be disassembled, relocated and reconfigured after the exhibition to continue the conversation and games in new places.

Ground Rules
Exhibit Columbus - Public by Design
Columbus, Indiana
2023

Fellowship:
2022-23 University Design Research Fellows

Partners: Jessica Colangelo and Charles Sharpless
Client: Landmark Columbus
Fabricator: Somewhere Studio and Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design Fablab
Fabrication Team: Sarah Myane, Jordan Gerling, Darci Burris, Corey Booth, Angie Carpenter, Justin Tucker, Randal Dickinson, Stockton Pyle, Hunter Craig
Moving Team: Jake Cocke, Connor Halferty, Ben Townsend, Tate Criner, Elliot Huss, Davis Davila, Etien Santiago, Daniel Martinez, Sepideh Naghavi, Hadley Fruits, Mike Jamerson, Larry Brackney
Special thanks to: Lisa Skyles, Vinc Math, Michelle Tkach, John Tkach, Bamboo Bill, Chris Staino, Shanti Pierce
Waste Wood Donation: DaVinci Construction, Nabholz Construction, Pickit Construction, Structure Framing Co. and Ridout Lumber
Product Donation: Diode LED and BuildTuff USA
All photos © Leonid Furmansky