Students from Kent State and Cleveland State partnered in a student multidisciplinary Urban competition in the January of 2022. The ULI Hines Competition happens every year, gathering students from all over the world to devise a development program for a real site, and engage in a challenging exercise in responsible land use in a North American city.

The teams are composed of five students pursuing degrees in at least three different disciplines. And this year, they had two weeks to design and present a new proposal for a site in downtown Oakland, California.

“Oakland is the county seat of Alameda County, California, and its largest city, as well as the eighth-largest city in California. The position as a port city in the East Bay, and its relationship to the city of San Francisco across the San Francisco Bay, have guided its fortunes in significant ways. [...] The city was a major employment center due to the booming shipbuilding and automotive industries before and during World War II and continues to be a significant regional employment hub. [...]. Employment opportunities and migration patterns have created a diverse, culturally rich community in Oakland. [...] The important history of racial disparities, activism, and urban development in Oakland merits a thoughtful look at the vision and goals the city has outlined for its future.“ - Urban Land Institute

Based on these reflections and other previous research about Oakland and its current situation, our team proposed a development plan that has the goal to dismantle the barriers that we create in our urban environment. In addition to prioritizing pedestrians and public transportation, adaptive reuse, and enhancement and creation of green public spaces.

IntraCHANGE provides a perspective into the connections communities can make when past and present barriers are dismantled. The project shows what opportunities we can face with the removal of the two existent freeways, much like their neighbors in San Francisco did with the Embarcadero Freeway.

The project shows a vision of a community where the transformation of two of the highways (I-980 and I-880) could be developed into a significantly more pedestrian-friendly boulevard. Additionally, the project expands the transportation system for public transportation with the creation of a new BART station that will connect four different lines and act as the closest transfer station to downtown with that number of lines.

IntraCHANGE, as opposed to “Inter”change, places an emphasis on the change that can happen WITHIN the community instead of UPON the community.

Through adaptive reuse techniques, the students proposed a renovation of existing important buildings on the site, buildings that were seen as oppressors, are now symbols of art, freedom, and expression.

The old sheriff’s tower acts as a mixed-use recreation and gallery space. A courthouse becomes a contemporary library. And what once was a jail becomes a parking garage, which acts as a platform for the newest gemstone of the city, a philharmonic concert hall.

The proposal includes space for farmland for local agriculture as well as the inclusion of an orchard that would provide a greater level of publicly accessible food. Unsheltered individuals will have access to housing, fresh fruit, social services, and wellness.

With the dismantling of the freeways and the new opportunities that IntraCHANGE provides, we are able to foster a community where everyone is offered a chance to breathe.

The intraChange development is projected to occur in three phases to provide land conversion, building adaptation, new development, ecological enhancements, and a rebirth for the study area.

Phase I - Focus is given to transforming the former police jail, administration building, and courthouse into the library and community space, hotel rooms, luxury condominiums, a fine dining restaurant, and a new Oakland Orchestra performance and administration space. Affordable rentals and affordable condominiums will be added. High-speed rail coupled with a new BART station will provide the means for former automobile drivers to switch modes, or even relocate to the area.

Phase II - Homeless individuals need access to social, health, financial, and food services. The former Sheriff’s administration building will become a wellness center focused on physical, mental, and emotional thriving. A new fruit-bearing orchard and greenhouse facility. An urban farm will operate with skill-building opportunities for those interested in working in the field.

Phase III - The conversion of the highways has been completed and the interchange will create affordable housing, improved green space, retail, and office.

Programmatic Circulation Scenario - INTRAChange

The proposal for the ULI Hines Competition 2022 was created by the students: Justin Byler (Kent State - Master of Architecture), Jonathan Ciesla (Cleveland State - Master of Urban Studies), Zuzana Kubisova (Kent State - Master of Architecture), Saba Tajali (Kent State - Master of Landscape Design) and Evan Bluemel (Kent State - Master of Architecture). Advisors: Maira Faria and Ken Kalynchuk. Faculty support: Roby Simons, Cleveland State University and Terry Schwarz, Kent State University.