Dow Chemical Company Founders Garden

Project Completed By: Hamilton Anderson Associates

As an employee at Hamilton Anderson Associates in Detroit, Michigan, Michael Ford worked on the design and construction documents for Dow Chemical Company Founders Garden.

The 47 building site is the historic grounds of one of Herbert Dow’s original laboratories and office, and the long time location of The Dow Chemical Company’s World Headquarters. The location of the site relative to downtown Midland, the Tittabawasee River, Dow Chemical’s Michigan operations, and the new minor league baseball stadium, provides the opportunity to enhance the existing network of open spaces, while highlighting the distinct contributions made to the community and the world of chemical engineering.

The design develops the site as a passive, commemorative space that makes a statement about the Company’s heritage and legacy. Native granite boulders gradually emerge from the earth to form five walls leading to the bluff above the river. They symbolize the bond between chemistry and humanity. A pathway along the top of the bluff reveals five walls one at a time. Secondary paths frame diamond-shaped spaces to create an ‘Idea Garden’ where exhibits, events and displays can take place. Rows of fruit trees reflect Dow’s personal passion for orchards and horticulture, and plantings of pines recall the heritage of Midland and times when Dow would “walk through the pines” to solve problems and contemplate ideas.

Recognitions

Michigan Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
Honor Award, 2012
National Organization of Minority Architects
Citation Award, 2012
Louisiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
Honor Award, 2013

Dow Gardens Interpretive Park and Overlook

The 47 building site is the historic grounds of one of Herbert Dow’s original laboratories and office, and the long time location of The Dow Chemical Company’s World Headquarters. The location of the site relative to downtown Midland, the Tittabawasee River, Dow Chemical’s Michigan operations, and the new minor league baseball stadium, provides the opportunity to enhance the existing network of open spaces, while highlighting the distinct contributions made to the community and the world of chemical engineering.

As a team member at Hamilton Anderson Associates, I designed the commemorative space to make a statement about the Company’s heritage and legacy. Native granite boulders gradually emerge from the earth to form five walls leading to the bluff above the river. They symbolize the bond between chemistry and humanity. Secondary paths frame diamond-shaped spaces to create an ‘Idea Garden’ where exhibits, events and displays can take place. Rows of fruit trees reflect Dow’s personal passion for orchards and horticulture, and plantings of pines recall the heritage of Midland and times when Dow would “walk through the pines” to solve problems and contemplate ideas.

Gateway of Pacific

Project Completed By: Flad Architects

As an employee at Flad Architects in Madison Wisconsin, Michael Ford worked on the design and construction documents of The Gateway of The Pacific project located in San Fransico, Califronia.

Gateway of Pacific

While working on a team at Flad Architects, Michael Ford was a part of envisioning BMR’s newest addition to its facilities, Gateway of Pacific, located in South San Francisco. The thirteen story, 400,000 square foot Gateway is accompanied by a net zero amenities building which includes dining and recreation facilities for its tenants. The two facilities are united by lushly landscaped gardens which feature unobstructed views to nearby mountains.

With over 17 million square feet of rentable space worldwide, BioMed Realty (BMR) Trust, Inc. is the leading provider of real estate solutions to the life science community. BMR’s world-class portfolio of facilities offers partners a wide range of options from traditional office space to small lab space to state-of-the-art build-to-suit life science properties.

"[W]Raps"

The [W]RAPS clothing line is the brainchild of Michael Ford, founder of BrandNu Design Studio. The line offers a unique and innovative way of incorporating music into fashion. By extracting textures, rhythms, and patterns from rap music, Michael has created a custom line of wearable wraps that is both stylish and culturally significant.

Each piece in the [W]RAPS line is custom-designed, and the textures, rhythms, and patterns of each rap song are carefully analyzed and transformed into wearable art. The result is a collection of wraps that celebrates the cultural significance of rap music while offering a fresh and contemporary take on fashion.

The [W]RAPS line is not just about fashion, it is about the intersection of art and culture. It is a tribute to the creativity and artistry of rap music, and an expression of the diversity and complexity of the culture. By wearing a [W]RAPS piece, you are not just making a fashion statement, but you are also celebrating the unique and rich culture that it represents.

At BrandNu Design Studio, we are committed to pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas in architecture, design, art, and research. The (W)RAPS line is just one example of our commitment to innovative design that is both culturally significant and visually stunning. We are proud to offer this unique line of clothing and hope that it inspires others to explore the intersection of art and culture in their own creative endeavors.

Alabama State University Men's Basketball Locker Room

Alabama State University Men’s Basketball Locker Room Concept

Conceptual design for Alabama State University’s Men’s Basketball Locker Room.

WCCCD Nortwest Campus

Project complted by: Hamilton Anderson Associates.

As employee at Hamilton Anderson Associates , Michael Ford worked on the WCCCD Northwest Campus from conceptual Design to Construction Administration. A new classroom building for Wayne County Community College District located in Detroit, Michigan. This LEED Platinum building includes a green roof, bio-retention basin, storm water retention a geothermal wall and a green roof to name of few green strategies.

The project has won a number of awards including a2014 AIA Michigan Design Award.

Visit Hamilton Anderson Associates' Website

Wayne County Community College District

As a team member at Hamilton Anderson Associates, Ford was involved and the design and documentation of Wayne County Community College District’s (WCCCD) new building on its Northwest Campus located in Detroit, Michigan. The new building accommodates all present/future enrolment needs and creates a flagship campus for the rapidly growing district.

The new 100,000 square foot multi-use building includes student services, staff and faculty offices, state of the art classrooms and a health and wellness centre. The facility is a demonstration of sustainable design and the district’s role in the creation of green collar jobs. The project is Platinum certified as of 2014. The placement of the facility creates a new campus greenspace that ties the existing buildings into a cohesive property.

As part of the preliminary design, Hamilton Anderson worked with the district’s staff to develop the program for the student services wing of the facility, creating a “one stop shop” for all student service functions. These functions included Admissions, Advising, Assessment, Student Accounts, and Financial Aid.

Louis Armstrong Park Congo Square

Project Completed by: Hamilton Anderson Associates

As employee at Hamilton Anderson Associates , Michael Ford worked on The Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square project in New Orleans. The city of New Orleans’ fabled Congo Square is a rich historic site and a former gathering place for 18th century slaves. Located in the greater Louis Armstrong Park, this project was developed with the city of New Orleans to highlight its heritage and culture. The interpretive plaza celebrates six key contributors, linking them together through design elements and the creation of a vibrant public space. The project is located in Louis Armstrong Park, a 29.23-acre regional park housing vital cultural resources such as the Municipal Auditorium, Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts, the National Jazz Historical Park, and Congo Square – a historic and rare gathering place for 18th century slaves.

The park provides an interpretive “journey” through New Orleans’ history and culture, while creating educational and cultural opportunities for families. This project provides professional design services to lead the Commemorative Plaza Project from design concept to implementation within a 15-month design-through-construction schedule.

Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene

As an employee of Flad Architects, Michael Ford worked on The Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene from conceptual design to construction documentation and represented Flad during throughout the construction administration process.

Public Health and agricultural laboratory facility provides the necessary space to strategically co-locate the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection with Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene.

Project completed as a team member and employee of Flad Architects.

Cass Technical High School - Athletic Fields

Cass Technical High School Athletic Fields Concept

BrandNu Design worked with the athletics department at Cass Technical High School in Detroit to create an expansion concept which includes new baseball and softball diamond, modification of the existing football field to become lacrosse and soccer field, and a proposal to convert underutilized Cass Park into a new football and track for Cass Technical High School.