The document describes a proposed redesign of gas station sites that focuses on sustainability, health, and community. The design transforms empty gas stations into destinations that provide local and organic foods, alternative fuels, community spaces, and green architecture. It aims to make sustainability accessible and reinvent gas stations as hubs that fuel people's needs beyond their cars.

1. what if design could enhance our communities?
aw-shucks.
this project is the recent winner of honorable
mention in the 2010 Retail Design Institute’s
International Student Design Competition.
The following is a presentation of my senior thesis
project. It communicates my technical, conceptual
and research skills. More of my diverse project
experience can be seen at my website :
w w w. l a n ga n d e s i g n s . c o m

2. the
well
a prototype for change

3. mission possible.
You have been selected to be part of a national environmental recovery
team. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to infiltrate your
community, buying local products and making connections, in an effort to
gather relevant information and make better decisions.
Use this card for special access to facilities which will aid in your mission.
Please log in to www.thewell.com to find your closest starting coordinates.
This message will biodegrade in 2 months.
the
GREEN
card
(customer loyalty card)

4. what if I could reinvent the gas station?
SAY, what’s the big idea? go on, say it.
1 the problem: 2 the questions: 3 the goals:
Provide a state-of-the-art
fueling station.
Suggest a purpose for gas station locations
after fueling becomes a secondary or non-
existent part of their industry.
Why are there so many abandoned gas stations? Provide a prototype for present and future fueling
stations that meet the following criteria:
What will become of gas stations when fueling is not a major part of
the industry? thoughtful to user needs
Why is gas station design so unthoughtful to its users? adaptable to changing fueling alternatives
What could a gas station be? sensitive to the nostalgic nature of “filling
stations” & roadside architecture that has
been lost.
understanding the problem

5. what if gas stations could be more green?
well well well, not your average gas station.
I got well in Cincinnati! the
well
the well is:
- a convenience store & fueling station
convenience with conscience
- a lifestyle brand
The definition of CONVENIENCE is changing. It is growing
a CONSCIENCE. Quantity is no longer being defined as
quality. Consumers are more savvy than ever about what - the first retail outlet for local farmers
they put in their bodies, their cars and their COMMUNITY.
Sustainability as status is being debunked while more and
more patrons are demanding LOCAL products delivered in
a sustainable way as the standard rather than the exception.
They are careful about their automobile efficiency, fueling
- a testing ground for alternative fuels
and food CHOICES because it is a reflection of who they
are in community. They crave a modern corner store,
where clerks are FAMILIAR again, food is FRESH and
local and the stop doesn’t require heroic parking efforts - a community resource
and endless check-out lines. Shopping and eating fresh,
supporting local community efforts and becoming part of a
CONSCIOUS CULTURE is the where the fueling industry
must navigate in order to remain relevant. In that spirit, the
well attempts to revive abandoned gas station sites while
- convenience with conscience
meeting the demand of these very discerning consumers.
defining the market

6. what if sustainability could be fun?
minimum footprint
wellness maximum fingerprint
we hear ya dude.
the well IS A CULTURE
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING. local . honest . natural . innovative . fresh . happy .
yeah, there’s alternative fuels.
yeah, there’s wheat grass & organic milk...
and reclaimed building materials and solar powered gas green is a decision, not an aesthetic.
pumps and local produce and community connection,
healthy food and fancy coffee... a thumbs up
graphics system
playfully rates
taking the status out of sustainability
At the well, all shades of green are welcome. patrons’ choices
So whether you pull up in your SmartCar or your on personal health
Hummer, you can expect healthy, tasty foods, clean & or environmental
convenient amenities and do it all while I got well impact.
keeping your footprint to a minimum and your in Cincinnati.
fingerprint to a maximum!
a new, the
well
approachable Ivory
c
from omes
tone delivers d
eleph ead
a
healthy product best nts, its
not to
buy it
and environmental .
Cincin
awareness with a nati, o
h
-
culture!
find the next
well. the
well
thousands of earth facts are printed on
reusable bags and randomly distributed
customer loyalty card throughout the country, creating a one
ing
“a morn of a kind, incentive for purchase and self
wit hout branding.
coffee
the
GREEN quote suggestions can be made
A web culture attached to the brand shares well card online and will be incorporated in to
the cups.
electric
experiences and cool well locations to see. You
can view real time building load demands, (water, small cars charging
electricity, etc.), submit quotes for inclusion
we love farmers.
a fun relationship with earth!
on well cups and bags, and share community
information.
creating the brand

7. what if gas station sites could refuel more than your car?
a site for sore eyes
the well is about community. As a brand it is known for
acquiring abandoned gas station sites and cleaning
them up! To get consistant brand messaging, existing
gas station shells are clad in a fabric panel system.
These panels can have graphics printed directly on farmer's
them, which become regional. The interior of the market
store is then renovated as needed. entrance
fuels offered DBL STACK
OVEN
2'-0" X
4'-0"
STAINLESS
STEEL WORK
TABLE
2'-0" X
4'-0"
STAINLESS
STEEL WORK
TABLE
hotel
gasoline electric main building
REFRIGERATOR
6' S.S
WORK
TOP-
2'-0" X
4'-0"
STAINLESS
biodiesel hydrogen
STEEL WORK
TABLE
ethanol dme
outdoor
exterior seating/bike
rubber sidewalks parking
electric
Covered walkway centered to charging
entry doors allows pedestrians a
safe place to traverse. Recycling solar power
permeable
containers and benches offer pavement
patrons a fresh approach. permeaable
pavement
Axis and connection to exterior is
maintained on the interior with a dog fountain
canopy & pumps
trial fuel
tension fabric canopy.
architectural fabric
carpool
parking
more green than not
site plan
the site

8. what if I proposed another purpose for gas stations?
welcome greenypants! carwash smarwash. pod
hotels
A
greenwall
Green wall integrating plants
for sale, herbs for picking,
and graphics of local farmers
draws patrons through the
store.
localest
fresh market
Roll up door and
entry for delivery
and weekend
farmer’s markets.
seating
Free wi-fi, charging
station, windowsill herb
garden for picking. localer
coolers
well heads,
where patrons can
refill their water
bottles. cafe
Modern and cheerfully colored
prefabricated shipping container
no package hotel pods redefine the add-on
snack station business model for fueling stations
and drive progressive ideas about
space and reuse. site conditions
reuse
B can dictate the number of pods.
site conditions can when needed, the pods can be
dictate number of quick grab moved to another location.
restrooms.
e-check-in
Quick grab
area
local
SPATIAL DIAGRAM The further in
you go, the
self brand
A driving force behind the design, more locally
this system allowed the gas station you are
to become three store types in one. shopping. C)
B)
A) Quick Grab
B) Lunch and small grocery A)
C) Fresh Market
the plan

9. what if gas stations weren’t cluttered and cramped?
SECTION A: NTS
SECTION B: NTS
Greenwall
integrating plants
for sale, herbs for
we farmers.
reindeer wheat cat
mary & karen moss moss moss moss grass fern grass rye
wpod get your ladders
mint dill cilantro oregano thymer osemary basil parsley picking, and graphics
out.
hollmeyer's Orchard our pods will have you
of local farmers. The
climbing the walls in no
time. wall draws patrons
through the store.
Christine
Lima, OH
mint dill cilantro oregano thymer osemary basil parsley moss moss moss reindeer wheat fern cat rye
herbs moss grass grass pumpkin good no matter
how you cut it.
pie . coffee . muffins . cake .
be picky about bread . cookies . soup . dip .
what you eat. seeds . pasta
Matt
Youngest herb
farmer in Ohio
INTERIOR ELEVATION
section/elevations

10. what if I revived roadside architecture?
ripple effect
reflection
DESIGN PARTI
cause and effect The ripples become the fueling
connection pumps on the exterior and feature
personal awareness fixtures on the interior. They act as
mile markers and create a visual,
part to whole relationship and conceptual, connection between
play decisions made and their effects on
community.
exterior

11. what if gas stations were environmentally responsible?
welcome locavore!
exterior entry

12. what if healthy food was available at gas stations?
go nuts!
a dry snack station allows patrons to use less packaging as well
the “ripples” become featured product display as self brand through their own “percentage” of certain items
like nuts, raisins or dried fruit.
(much like having a signature “coffee”)
interior entry

13. what if gas stations were a healthy lunch destination?
be picky!
patrons can pick herbs
to add to their lunch, or
bring home as their own
“local garden.”
patrons can refill their water bottle, eat lunch,
get online or grab local dinner groceries.
interior

14. what if farmers designed a store?
fun with fixtures.
made ya’ look.
modular crates
-flexible displays are created in
multiple areas of the store with one fixture.
feature fixture
-whiteboard finish acts as price - local businesses get
display and adds to community feel. featured products
- acts as visual
marker for shoppers
to know how “locally”
they shop
fixture/display design

15. fresh mint for your coffee?
what if I wanted to become part of the “buy local” community?
summer sun
LIGHTTRACKER
winter sun
METAL CAP REFLECTOR
bringing sustainability to the masses.
1/2" PLYWOOD
SHEATHING
COPING WEDGE
ROOF
SEALANT
RUBBER ROOFING
MEMBRANE
FLASHING
LIGHTWEIGHT ROOF DECK
SHEATHING FLASHING SCREW ROOT BARRIER
DRAINAGE LAYER
wpod
EXTENSION TUBE GEOTEXTILE
GROWING MEDIUM
CONCRETE BLOCK
get your ladders ARCHITECTURAL
out.
FABRIC PANEL
ENDORSEMENT
GRAPHIC PANEL
ALUMINUM FRAME
SYSTEM FOR PANELS
our pods will have you HEAVY DUTY
WHITE PVC
climbing the walls in no
SLATWALL
time. Christine
Lima, OH BRAND MESSAGE
PLANT POD
greenwall fixture "CHALKBOARD"
GRAPHIC PANEL
- take part of the well
community home with
you and support
growing local product.
PRODUCE BINS
soil pockets
Frame receiver &
brand message
FINISHED FLOOR
SUBFLOOR
CONCRETE SLAB
GRATE/DRAIN
Overflow resevoir
Fresh mint for your coffee?
WALL SECTION
wall section and greenwall fixture exploded axon

16. what if a brand could talk to me?
the tone, a local graphic strategy.
cold
beer in here
“A fine beer may be
judged with only one
sip, but it's better to be
herbs mary & karen
thoroughly sure.”
hollmeyer's Orchard
be picky about
indianapolis, IN
what you eat. Matt
youngest herb
farmer in Ohio
kevin pumpkin good no matter
how you cut it.
pie . coffee . muffins . cake .
hops & harvest bread . cookies . soup . dip .
ft. wayne, IN seeds . pasta Lindsey
Hamilton, OH
graphic strategy

17. what if gas stations were clean?
light
the finishing touch.
acrylic sparkling tile
sophisticated,
fresh palette
clean
epoxy
flooring
warm bamboo
materials

18. what if a gas station became a daily destination?
This model took more than 100 hours to
complete. I designed and crafted the entire
model.
In order to create the fixtures, I sourced
acrylic and MDF. I used a Rapid Prototyping
lab to lasercut each individual piece and then
assembled them afterward.
In order to complete this model to this level of
detail and craft, it required complex planning,
scheduling and experimentation.
the model

19. what if I could reinvent the gas station?
design process THE RIPPLE EFFECT
light
SELF-BRAND
the
down to ear th.
parti
well
i’m a foodie.
cafe.
the greengo. the foodie. the treehugger.
reflection
cause and effect
i was here.
connection
personal awareness
part to whole relationship
play
beer
cellar
ry
grocerie
RR
nto
cafe Final design came from
inve
the idea of the ripple
soda/
snack POS effect. It evokes a
bike
parking
connection between
human and environment
what shade of green and place and community.
restrooms product
QUICK
a morning without coffee
is like sleep. GROCERY
are you?
taking from the earth The “ripples”
ripple effect
become fixtures
and featured
products.
canopy
ads
ideas a well. every act creates a ripple with no logical end.
pump.
suck it up.
we are all on a spectrum,
the process