Design

PORTFOLIO
Chelsea Akers
3502 30th Ave. South
Fargo, ND 58103
701.290.1838
chelsea.akers@ndsu.edu
Contents
Regent, ND
Analysis
The
Restoration of
REGENT.
MAN DOWN! A Snow
sculpture.

Resume.
 Regent, ND
Analysis.
Before we could begin to design a town revitalization for the town of Regent, North Dakota, we had to collect an
inventory and analysis of the town and its surrowndings. Inventory and analysis of the town included, mass void, soils,
existing buildings and structures, slope and contours.

Together, Ashley Kaisershot

N
and I choose to research
traffic patterns of vehicles Regent Streets
and pedestrians as well as Primary roads
the current conditions of the (widest & Most Traveled)
street and sidewalk.
Secondary Streets
(Less busy, mainly used
to get to Tertiaries)

Tertiary
(Least traveled)
 Inventory & Analysis
Street
Conditions
Some areas of sidewalk are
engulfed by trees and shrubs.
This makes the widths of the
sidewalk unconsistant, making
them feel uncomfortable
to the pedestrian.

Some areas of sidewalk do not

connect to the road, leaving a
transition of gravel. This is
both unappealing and unsafe.

Cracks in the sidewalk are

another potential hazard.
 The
Restoration of
REGENT.
For this project, we worked with the fifth year landscape architecture students, as well as the engineering students. We
created an entire town renovation plan for the town of Regent, North Dakota. After the fifth year landscape architecture
students produced a renovated master plan of the town, it was up to each individual student to design a section of the
final master plan in detail. I choose to design a community center for tourists to obtain information about the town, as well
as provide a place for rest.
Using the existing agriculture as inspiration, I have created a place incorporating new ideas into a classic, agricultural community.
The community center will not only be a place, it will be an experience. The site incorporates the remains of the old grain elevators
into a new pathway. By using agricultural plantings, prairie grasses, and pedestrian circulation, existing agriculture will be
transformed into a tourist attraction.

A’
 Perspective of
Community Center

The visitor’s Center was designed to be a place of both rest and information. The building is separated into two separate buildings
under one roof. This allows for the individual to experience the visitor’s center without having to be indoors. The enclosed pathway
serves as a hallway to the picnic area for visitors, as well as a hallway to the visitor’s center for the residents of the newly developed
railcar homes.

In the center of the cul-de-sac, two small Amur Maple trees were planted. The two maples, as shown in the above picture, will show a
brilliant, red-orange fall color, which will correspond perfectly with the golden pumpkin patch planted directly to the west. Along with
the Amur Maple trees is an old, rusty tractor, which is tucked into a bed of Parsoni Juniper.
Master Plan of
Community Center Cul-de-sac.
Makes easy drop-off and pick up.

Pumpkin Patch.
During the fall, when the trees turn color, the bright
orange of the pumpkin patch will be beautiful.
It will also be fun for the children of the town during
the fall season.

Prairie Grass.
A golden border of prairie grass gives the path to the
Visitor’s Center a naturesque feeling.

Existing grain elevator remains.

To keep a sense of agriculture, the cement bases of
the grain elevators will add a different texture to the
sidewalk, as well as serve as a path for pedestrians
coming from the sidewalk on Main Ave, or from
the parking lot.

Scoria.
The parking lot is bordered with bright red scoria
and plantings of prairie grass to match the plantings
around the Visitor’s Center.
MAN DOWN! A Snow
sculpture.
This assignment has us competing for a spot, to represent the United States at the
international Festival Du Voyageur in Winnipeg, Canada. The third year landscape
architecture studio, the 3rd year architecture studio and the sculpture students worked
together in groups of 3 - 4 to create a bee’s wax model. Our assignment was to create
a sculpture that responded to its surrounding space. My group consisted of Matt Ingalls
(Sculpture), Jake Zikmond (architecture), Brittney Greenwood (architecture) and myself
(landscape architecture).

Our design, did not win to represent the U.S. in the Festival Du Voyageur, however, it
was one of eight, chosen for the invitational snow competition in Winnipeg, Canada.

“Four Charasmatic penguins shuffle across the ice on a cold, brisk night. Without a care
in the world, they almost apear to be to careless?”
 MAN DOWN! The
Construction

I have built models for previous projects and classes, however, this is the first experience I have had
building in bee’s wax. It is also the first model I have build using the subtractive method.

11’
10’

9’
5’ 11’
4’

3’
 Objective

Education Interests & Achievements

Objective
Objective

Education Education Skills Computer Skills

Interests & Achievements

Interests & Achievements

Interests & Achievements
Skills Computer Skills

Skills Computer Skills

Skills Computer Skills