portfolio
DESCRIPTION
Portfolio of Select Works 2010-2014TRANSCRIPT
[1]
abraham drechsler
NCMA Performing Arts Center [04]
Respace - Lightwall [20]
Charleston Project [32]
Lake Raleigh Retreat [28]
COD Classroom Building [14]
Digital/Material - Honey Cloud [38]
content
Pottery [54]
C&O Canal Visitor Center + Hostel [46]
[4]
North Carolina Museum of Art Performing Arts CenterComprehensive Studio. Fall 2013Raleigh, NC
Situated on top of a hill overlooking an art and sculpture park to the East and busy road to the West, this performing arts center signals out over the landscape. Three large volumes contain key programmatic spaces (black box theater, cinema and rehearsal space) and protrude out from the main structure. Yellow translucent skin contrasts the opaque and autonomous volumes. Upon entering the building, patrons move to a central circulation core. Moving up the stairs, visitors see all three volumes at the same time and become spatially aware of their surroundings.
AIA Triangle Competition Honorable Mention
[5]
Plaza Entrance
[6]
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ground floor 1st floor
2nd floor 3rd floor
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Design College AdditionTechnical studio. Spring 2012
This university classroom and studio building creates a public center space within a courtyard that is surrounded by studio and office areas. Reviews, presentations and displays occur within the immediate context of the center space for greater communication between students, faculty and guests. Orientation of the structure reflects the contextual building grid and the optimum solar grid. The cardinal grid allows for optimal daylighting and energy efficiency. The exterior material was required to be masonry. This design capitalizes on a red terracotta panel rainscreen that mimics a traditional red brick in proportion while overemphasizing the color. A structural analysis was performed for optimal spacing and thickness of columns, and HVAC systems were evaluated during design.
Concept diagrams, building section, wall and facade detail completed with Brian Gaudio
BRIC
K PA
TIO
BRICK WALK
1:32
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1
2
B1
B2
[20]
Respace - LightwallCompetition. Fall 2012
This project was the grand prize winner for a competition to design a small, unique, transportable structure with reused materials. Post-competition, a schematic model was constructed along with a full set of construction documents. Construction documents were used to communicate design intent with the build team. Continuous dialogue between designers and the build team occurred through final construction and allowed for detail and material specification. The final construction occurred in January when the design team, build team and volunteers rushed to complete the structure over a 48 hour period. The structure was auctioned and proceeds benefited Wake County, NC Habitat for Humanity.
Competition Won: 09/12Construction Completed: 01/13
Diagrams (right) and exploded axon completed with Scott Hefner.
SOUTH ELEVATION
NORTH SECTION
SOUTH ELEVATION
NORTH SECTION
Plan
Section
[21]
SOUTH ELEVATION
NORTH SECTION
[22]
Perspective for Competition
[23]
Final Construction
[24]
[25]
TPO (Tucked Under
Maple and Top Plate)
TPO Roofing
Sheathing
1” Maple Pannel
6x6 Foundation Post (instilation on site)
2x8 Floor Joist
TPO (Tucked Between
Maple and LVL)
3x3 Steel Angle
3x3 Steel Angle
2x3 Sleepers
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[28]
Scholars’ Lake RetreatForm studio. Fall 2010Lake Raleigh, NC
An intense study of site preceded iterative modeling, drawing and formal studies. The program, specifically for astronomers, included sleeping areas, individual study areas and a large communal space. The form sinks back into existing landform, allowing for a open front that cradles the edge of the lake and sky. Docked boats provide astronomers with a means to intimately explore the stars from the middle of the lake. The built form acts as a portal between the natural and human-made worlds. Rooms for individual scholars are framed by large masonry walls that extend above the surface of the grass and provide an entrance to interior spaces.
Left: Concept Sketch. Right: View at Sunrise. Next page: physical model, plan diagrams, and section perspective rendering
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An intensive study of place started with analytical city-scale diagrams. The diagrams divide the city into three separate apertures: landform, transportation/movement and building form. After working each of the three iteratively, a synthesis map was created combining all apertures. A 3D model with all three apertures was then developed from the initial 2D diagrams.
Zooming in, analytical analysis also occurred at the precinct level covering the area between King, Market, Cumberland and the waterfront. Numerous diagrams led to the creation of a 3D model that investigated public versus private spaces, transportation, building use, history of the city and urban connections.
Following an extensive analytical study of the city as a whole, a design strongly rooted in context was developed. The program was conceptually given as a wall of light, wall of surveyor, wall of books and wall of the city. Through iterative design, an architectural procession was developed that cut through mass and thickness, and in contrast moved through spaces defined by thin lines, light and shadow.
Left: View of St. Philips Church. Right: Synthesis Map of Charleston. City model (next page) completed with Christa LiBrizzi.
Museum of CharlestonSite studio. Spring 2011
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Honey CloudDigital-Material Translations - Fall 2013
The course attempted to bridge the digital / material divide, and it offered software instruction predicated on an understanding of specific material capabilities. The material drove the software exploration, and in turn, the software provided the means to explore material manipulation and building component assembly. The final “Honey Cloud” was informed by a synthesis of physical material explorations, digital explorations and practical constraints. The product was seen as an installation piece, able to morph into numerous site locations.
Project completed with Rachel Steinsberger, Tyler McLauchlan, Marsha Benson, Patricia Chenery
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[1] Create hexagrid on surface sized for site
[2] Extrude
[3] Create cutting surface
[4] Offset cutting surface by desired thickness
[5] Crop extrusion by cutting surface
[6 Unroll surfaces onto flat plane.
[7] Add holes, connecting tabs and labels
[8] Water-jet sheet metal, laser cut tabs, gather bolt
[9] Assemble
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R6, F
R6, E
R5, G
R5, F
R5, E
R5, D
R5, C
R5, B
R6, D
R6, C
R6, B
R6, A
Z33
Z25Z24
Z21
Z20
Z22
Z23
Z30
Z31Z32
Z34Z35
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C&O Canal Visitor Center and HostelProfessional Studio - Spring 2014Georgetown, Washington D.C.
This Canal Visitor Center and Hostel loosely organizes its program into two pieces which are organized with respect to two thick “C” shaped walls. The massive walls cradle private spaces while public open space is shared in the center. The building connects the busy Wisconsin Avenue to the canal allowing the main procession to flow through the center public space. In this way the building becomes an extension of a historic towpath, now pedestrian walkway, while addressing a major commercial street at the same time.
[47]View from Wisconsin Avenue
[48]
View into Open Core
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C&O CanalW
iscon
sin A
venu
e
North Elevation
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Canal Level Street Level
2nd floor 3rd floor
[51]View from Towpath
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Hostel Check-in
Street to Canal Stair
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Wheel Thrown Ceramics 2010-2013
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