LAUREN PULVER MCGRATH

THESIS

SOURCE: An Experiment by the Boston Public Library 

Source is a branch of the Boston Public Library located in the Fort Point area of Boston, MA. Fort Point is part of a growing community known as the Innovation District. 

Fort Point currently is home to a growing population of new businesses, restaurants, and internet start-ups that have limited access to shared co-working spaces to help develop their businesses. 

SOURCE seeks to close the gap between community members, start-ups, and artists.

Developing a plan for a flagship store for Veuve Clicquot in Boston, MA.

Located at 402 Boylston Street, the flagship will feature retail space, champagne bar, and VIP Lounge with private rooms. 

CLASS: Advanced Lighting

Developing a master plan for The Museum of African American History in Boston, MA for a new building they recently purchased at 38 South Russell Street next to their campus in Beacon Hill. 

The new building will feature gallery and exhibition space, educational classrooms and learning labs, library, space for visiting scholars, archival storage, meeting rooms, and administrative offices. 

Potential LEED Silver. 

CLASS: Sustainable Design Studio

Urban Campsites: A Unique Opportunity to Experience the City Landscape

Urban Campsites was developed as an innovative "pop-up" hospitality design for entry to the Radical Innovation Awards.

(http://www.radicalinnovationaward.com)

The Urban Campsite is modeled after the art of origami folding. The individual camps consist of platforms that fold down depending on how many tents one needs to pitch to accommodate their needs. 

The portability of the camps lends them to be placed in numerous settings including waterfronts, city plazas, and urban parks. 

Urban Campsites seeks to allow both visitors and residents view the city through alternative accommodations that get them up-close and personal with the city of their choice. 

Emphasis was made on chosing lightweight, sustainable, and recyclable materials. 

CLASS: Sustainable Design Studio

This environmental graphic design team project addresses the outdated Boylston Station in Boston, MA.

The station is located in a vibrant area of Boston at the intersection of Boston Common, Chinatown, and the Theater District, but is currently underutilized and hard to navigate.

This project looked to create an inviting and noticeable hub between the three districts, while also becoming way-finding for the train station. We are creating a safe and well-lit place for people to meet and gather while also obtaining information about the area. 

CLASS: Enviromental Graphic Design

Utilizing the top floor of the historic Burnham Building in Downtown Crossing, Boston, MA, I created a design plan for the Interior Architecture Program at the New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University.

We were tasked with understanding the history of the Burnham Building while also creating a new typography for the design school. 

I was inspired by Howard Gardner's 8 intelligence's and used them as my informing theory.

CLASS: Contract Design II

The Centro de Ensenanza de Arte was completed while having the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, Spain in summer 2012. 

Madrid has a rich history in art, architecture, and sculpture that is juxtaposed with graffiti and poster art of the modern youth. Each plaza is punctuated with a sculpture that serves as a meeting place. Sketching nolli plans helped me work though my observations while walking through Madrid.

I chose to represent my project with three words: ICON, PLAZA and FORUM.

Through these words I developed a design plan that united different disciples of making under one roof. I wanted to emphasize disciplines of art that drew from the same inspirations as graffiti and poster art, such as printmaking, graphic design, painting, and sculpture. 

The program consisted of a retail level gallery and coffee shop staffed by the art students, a printmaking studio, open painting and reception space/gallery, central forum with pottery studio, and graphic design lab. 

CLASS: Contract Design I

CLASS: Funiture & Detailing Studio

CLASS: Residential Design Studio

CLASS: Residential Design Studio

A woodblock-cut on wallpaper installation for my final thesis show, Interdisciplinary Visual Arts 2010 Senior Exhibition: MESH at the Univeristy of Washington, Seattle, WA. 

Printed using custom mixed oil-based ink and wallpaper. 

A woodblock-cut series printed using oil-based ink and Arches white paper.

Part of a body of work used  for final portfolio to receive my Bachelor of Art from The University of Washington.