portfolio | renae slusserr

forewardA wise and distinguished

professor of architecture warned me that if you are going to borrow money, you should borrow it from a pessimist, because they'll never expect to be paid back. While I suspect this piece of wisdom may come in handy, he more importantly taught me respect for the beauty and magnitude of architecture and the importance of rejection of the ordinary. Through his guidance, I have had the invaluable opportunity to participate in the increasingly globalized practice of architecture through an internship in Beijing and the chance to explore a wide range of scales in design in studio and abroad. With exposure to the greatness of the profession comes deep appreciation and a sense of humility. I understand that I live in a world and practice in a profession that is far bigger than myself, and that I still have much to learn. Armed with this knowledge, humility, and great joy, I am prepared to continue on the journey of my architectural education.

CHICAGO HARBOR PHILHARMONIC

MARVIN HALL ADDITION

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

INTERNATIONAL HOUSING COMMUNITY

GLOBALIZED PRACTICE STUDIO

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: ATKINS

The Chicago Harbor Philharmonic is a spectacular celebration of musicand the city of Chicago. Designed by a team of two to create an unforgettable nightly event, Chicago citizens and tourists from around the globe will be drawn to the musical machine, a new magnet for the great Midwestern city. As the musicians release the first practice notes, the music hall's doors are closed and the hall makes its gentle advance towards Lake Michigan. Partially translucentETFE skin allows passengers to delicately observe the hall's movement, while land and bridge onlookers are captivated by the exterior spectacle. When the music stops, the hall retreats to its grand, service-filled hangar of refuge.

CHICAGO HARBOR PHILHARMONIC

chicago, Ilionois

As the product of Comprehensive Studio, the Marvin Hall School of Architecture Addition is intended to combine design concepts learned in earlier studios with a detailed study of how the pieces of a building come together. At mid-semester, groups of three were formed to collaborate on the detailing of one group member's individual design. The final design for the addition provides a long central atrium, which is visually connected to each studio; this atrium becomes a much-needed community space. The design features a louvered skin, functioning to shade the building, catch rainwater, and provide wayfinding for entrances.

MARVIN HALL ADDITION

university of kansas campus, lawrence, kansas

The goal of the Education Center is to expose Lawrence youth to the bioregions of Northwest Kansas: the tallgrass prairie and the eastern deciduous forest. Situated on the edge of the prairie and the forest, the center exploits an opportunity to directly exhibit each. The series of ramps become a promenade architecturale connecting the educational exhibits. Visitors experience the journey from the prairie to the forest and the space in between. Through the transparency of the large central space, the architecture displays the bioregional edge. Other educational opportunities include a multipurpose classroom, living machine, and access to nature walks.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

lawrence, kansas

This international housing solution is the final investigation in the Globalized Practice curriculum. Located in inland Bangladesh, the floating island is one solution to the country's catastrophic flooding. The vessel is able to rise and fall with the area's monsoon flooding and tragic drought. In addition, the lightweight canvas shields the sun's harsh rays while providing a transformable layer of protection from typhoon threats. Amenities, including markets, school, hotel, culture center, healthcare, and civic organizations are included to ensure a healthy and fulfilling environment for inhabitants. Docks provide access to boats below for traditional fishing culture and means of transportation.

INTERNATIONAL HOUSING COMMUNITY

brahmaputra river, bangladesh

The design for the Globalized Practice Studio is a collaboration between students in Beijing, Paris, and Kansas. The project is an experiment in effectively communicating information and design ideas over long distances through weekly web pinups using services such as Skype,GoToMeeting, and Prezi. The program includes studio, gallery, and living space for students in the global internship program while connecting to its traditional Beijing hutong neighborhood through a street cafe and market. The building is sited along Beijing's original city axis, connecting the Forbidden City, the nearby Drum & Bell towers, and the Olympics site.

GLOBALIZED PRACTICE STUDIO

beijing, china

SITE

As an intern at Atkins Beijing, I was fully engaged with the projects and design processes of the office. The office's primaryproject was a competition for Lenovo's new global headquarters campus in Beijing. It was crucial to learn to explore many design ideas very quickly. My responsibilities in this exploration included sharing my own ideas and criticisms, as well as producing physical and digital models, presentation diagrams, and drawings. Numerous foam massingmodels were built and presented for the design of a hotel/waterpark in northern China. The experience exposed me to the methods of practice and the design of large-scale international projects.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: ATKINS

beijing, china

resumeRENAE SLUSSER

renaeslusser@gmail.com316.990.738815112 W Moscelyn StWichita, Kansas 67235

EDUCATION MASTER OF ARCHITECTUREUniversity of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

May 2012

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN BIOLOGYUniversity of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

May 2006

PUBLICATION

EXPERIENCE

Assisting professor in Principles of Modern Architecture course through note-taking and test grading. Responsible for the design and direction of weekly discussion section for twenty-five students.

Jan 2012-May 2012GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTUNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Jan 2011-May 2011

Sept 2012-Dec 2012ARCHITECTURAL INTERNATKINS BEIJINGCollaborated with architectural team in building design and client presentation development. Duties included the production of physical and digital models, presentation diagrams, and conceptual design drawings.

Jun 2012-July 2012ARCHITECTURE INSTRUCTORDUKE TALENT IDENTIFICATION PROGRAMShared knowledge and appreciation of architecture with 16 gifted and talented middle school students in a four-week summer program. Responsible for the preparation and presentation of challenging lessons and design problems with the assistance of a teaching assistant.

Jan 2008-Nov 2008AMERICORPS MEMBERNATIONAL CIVILIAN COMMUNITY CORPSGained new skills and experience in construction and renovation through a team-based national service program. Long-term service projects included Habitat for Humanity home construction in Texas, historical preservation in West Virginia, summer camp counseling in New York, and home renovation in New Orleans.

Feb 2011

Spring 2011DESIGN STUDIO RETROSPECTIVE:TWENTY YEARS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

ARCHIVOLTA POLANDConcert Hall Design

Concert Hall Design

Assist developer and local architects in the design and advancement of residential projects. Support contractor in the management of projects under construction

Dec 2012-presentMANAGER OF ARCHITECTURAL PLANNINGJ. VAN SICKLE & COMPANY