DESIGN DIRECTOR MIRNew Orleans, LAHigh Performance Affordable housing

Location:Type:

Atelier Hitoshi Abe los angeles, CA

Constructs accra, Ghana

Kieren Timberlake philidelphia, PA

Waggoner & Ball new orleans, LA

Bild Design new orleans, LA

Pugh + Scarpa santa monica, CA

David Adjaye Assoc. new york, NY

GRAFT los angeles, CA

Billes Architects new orleans, LA

Make it Right is a catalyst for the redevelopment of New Orleans’s Lower 9th Ward by building a neighborhood comprised of safe and healthy homes that are inspired by Cradle to Cradle thinking, emphasize high quality design, and preserve the spirit of the community’s culture. In just over four years, MIR has built 75 homes, each one receiving a LEED Platinum rating. Standard features of a MIR house include:

As Design Director, I was responsible for leading the collaboration between the design architects’ studios and the MIR construction team. Our ongoing task was to find creative ways to adapt the original designs to meet the stainability, budgetary and homeowner needs of the Foundation. This included extensive meetings, LEED and budget reviews, and on-site construction administration.

In addition to single family housing, MIR expanded its portfolio to include a 50 unit, mixed use affordable housing development in Newark, NJ built to LEED Platinum standards utilizing modular construction techniques. My specific tasks included analyzing the schematic design for LEED performance, as well as preparing detailed specifications for modular construction to assist in initial project bidding.

• Solar power• Pervious concrete• Native and adaptive plantings• Advanced framing (24”OC stacked)• Rainwater harvesting• SIP construction

• Modular construction• Low VOC finishes• High efficiency HVAC• MERV 11 air filtration• Reclaimed hardwood flooring• Tight envelope (400 CFM@50Pa typ.)

• low flow/flush plumbing• Tankless water heating• PEX plumbing• Extensive green roofing• R-18 floor, R-30 walls and roof• Elevated wood pile construction

MIR newark, NJ

CITY CENTER Aria Pool Deck Las Vegas, NVHospitality Resort Hotel/Bar/Retail

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Project Description:Aria’s pool deck is a lush tropical oasis in the desert located at the base of the main resort and casino. The project can serve 1,500 guests and consists of separate cabanas, bar, restaurant and a European pool lounge. This $60 million pool deck is one component of MMDG’s City Center project - the largest privately financed development in the history of the United States as well as the largest LEED Gold project in the world.

While working for Graft, my primary responsibilities on the project included the following:

• Devloping schematic designs into DD drawings and specs for presentaion to the owner, consultants and contractor• Assisting with multiple re-designs and presentations for owner approval• Performing on-site CA tasks including attending consultant and owner meetings, prototype reviews, and construction site walkthroughs.

GRASSHOPPER NOLANew Orleans, LAHigh Performance Affordable housing

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Project Description:The Grasshopper NOLA is a bold new design that draws from the rich architectural context of New Orleans, while simultaneously offering high performance features, enhanced durability, and distinctive styling. This prototype design draws from extensive firsthand knowledge of the many advances achieved by the Make It Right neighborhood in the Lower 9th Ward, and improves upon them by adding an enhanced level of energy efficiency inspired by European Passivhaus standards.

living roomkitchen/dininghall

deckgarden parking

m.bedbalconybalcony

bathbedroom

street view

side view roof view

living roomkitchen/dining

deck parking

balcony

bathbedroom

M. bedroom

100k HOUSE MIR PrototypeNew Orleans, LAHigh Performance Affordable housing

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Project Description:The purpose of this prototype is to push the limits of stainability and design within the strict constraints of MIR’s standard construction practices. The goal is to develop a $100,000 LEED Platinum home using Revit2012 for the most restricted budgets within our outreach community (such as young families or elderly empty nesters). The design relies on simple massing, efficient space planning, and a high performance envelope that includes on-site renewable power. It also offers a raised foundation for protection against future flooding. Additionally, it is sized to fit on the most restricted lots in the MIR target area, providing a feasible high density infill option.

street view

GRAFT DUPLEX MIR Round 2New Orleans, LAHigh Performance Affordable housing

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Project Description:After the huge success of the first round of designs for the Lower Ninth Ward a new group of architects was invited to design dwellings - this time with a larger building for up to two families. The Round 2 house deploys a similar formal strategy of blending as does Graft‘s Round 1 shotgun house. A strong visual connection to the Round 1 house was maintained in order to bring consistency of character to the New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, which will continue to be populated by these types of dwellings. Here, we have additionally drawn inspiration from the camelback shotgun typology.

street view

lower 3 bedroom unit

parking level

upper 1 bedroom effi ciency unit

view from avovekitchen / family room