MLPD students give high marks to new Austin Formula One track

[Circuit of the Americas] (http://www.circuitoftheamericas.com) , a major new [Formula One] (http://www.formula1.com/default.html) auto-racing venue in Austin, garnered significant praise in an assessment conducted by [Master of Land and Property Development] (http://laup.arch.tamu.edu/academics/graduate/mlpd/) students at Texas A&M, who evaluated the facility in terms of its social/cultural, economic, environmental and sensory values.

The track, the only venue in the United States built specifically for Formula One events, hosted its first race Nov. 18, 2012. A few weeks prior to the inaugural race day, students toured the facility and met with Braedon Box, the track's project manager.

To assess Circuit of Americas' impact on the region, MLPD students used the quadruple net value system developed by former landscape architecture student Dennis Jerke ’78 in his book “ [Urban Design and the Bottom Line: Optimizing the Return on Perception] (http://www.amazon.com/Urban-Design-Bottom-Line-Optimizing/dp/087420996X) .”

“There is no other place like The Circuit of the Americas in North America,” said the team, which consisted of students Jeremy Bourgeois, Long Chen, Aaron Eaquinto, Kyle Harris and Jennifer Paz, in its final report for their fall 2012 land development class led by Geoffrey Booth, coordinator of the MLPD program.

The students found that the new track and supporting facilities promise to significantly enhance Austin’s social and cultural environment. In addition to the track, the Circuit of Americas facility will include: an amphitheater, scheduled for completion in early 2013, that will bring major, national touring events to Central Texas; a convention center capable of hosting everything from corporate conferences to weddings; and a medical building, which will also provide a venue for fire, police and EMS training.

The track is projected to generate $400 – $500 million in annual economic activity, the students reported, with up to 80 percent of the anticipated patrons coming from outside of Texas.

“The development of this project is an investment that Circuit of the Americas and the city of Austin will not regret,” said the group.

In its assessment of the facility’s environmental value, the group noted that although none of its buildings are [LEED certified] (https://new.usgbc.org/leed) , designers included "green components, such as reflective roofs, energy monitoring systems and alternative energy sources.

“Additional areas where The Circuit of the Americas can address its environmental impact onsite include rainwater harvesting, official LEED certifications and improved storm water management,” said the group in its report.

Team member Jeremy Bourgeois said the facility could also raise its environmental value by adding bulletin boards and other environmental education platforms detailing the environmental impact of the racetrack and its various event centers.

The facility’s signature architectural piece, a 251-foot observation tower whose design mimics the streaks of lights trailing racecars at night, is the track’s sole contribution to public art, which falls under the quadruple net value’s sensory perception category.

The facility’s .35 acre reflection pool also enhances its sensory value, said Eaquinto.

“The pond water feature adds an extra level of quality that guests will enjoy,” he said. “It is a day and a nighttime feature, with both dynamic fountain elements and lighting configurations that add interest and beauty to the site.”

Jerke, who developed the conceptual framework of quadruple net value analysis, was a frequent guest lecture in Booth's land development class.

“The assessment technique uses a standard range of metrics to determine the attributes and performance of real estate assets and a distillation of the sustainability dividend that arises from their conceptualization, design, delivery, activation, and management,” said Booth. “It establishes, structures, and makes explicit knowledge on projects that hitherto existed only in tacit form.”