Mirror Lake Pressure Project 1

Mirror Lake holds a rich history stretching through pre-university time. Once a sprawling body of water, the original lakebed dried due to a mishap during the construction of the sewer system. The modern lake was subsequently installed as a token reminder of the lake’s former glory.

Human development continues to intrude on the experience of visiting Mirror Lake. Noise pollution from the adjacent streets and helicopters en route to the nearby medical center render full immersion impossible. Motorized traffic from food delivery robots and occasional rule breakers on motor scooters present an annoyance that can quickly turn unsafe when met with pedestrian traffic. Rather than a quick escape from the urban environment into nature, Mirror lake provides constant reminders of the human drive to re-shape nature for commerce and efficiency.

My proposed changes address many of these issues.

Old growth trees provide canopy cover to absorb overhead noise pollution, while a hedgerow absorbs street noise and, from the basin of the lake, obscures sight lines to street traffic and the adjacent sidewalks. Removing the paved walkways in favor of natural (dirt, grass, gravel) not only allows pedestrian traffic while dissuading motorized traffic, but also stores less heat making for a more pleasant experience on hot days. Finally making use of underground tunnels for robotic delivery transit improves the speed and efficiency of these services (thereby improving the potential carrying capacity), but also provides added privacy for students and faculty whose faces can no longer be scanned during their jaunts on campus. The underground tunnels are outfitted with stickers on the ground to support navigation without the need for upward facing cameras (an additional security and privacy measure inspired by our in-class discussion).