rachelwotawaA R C H I T E C T U R E P O R T F O L I O

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FIRST TEXANS MUSEUMARCH 408 | FALL 2013

A HOUSE FOR THE RULES OF BASKETBALLARCH 208 | FALL 2012

THE RW1 CHAIRFURNITURE DESIGN STUDIO | DIS | SUMMER 2014

ARTWORK

FREEHAND DRAWINGS

CURRICULUM VITAE33

CHICAGO LYRIC OPERAARCH 608 | FALL 2014

LAWRENCE COMMUNITY THEATREARCH 209 | SPRING 2013

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CHICAGO LYRIC OPERASETTING:

Wolf Point is located in the heart of downtown Chicago, at the confluence of the North, South, and Main branches of the Chicago River. This location provides excellent views of the city’s skyline. Wolf Point is also located along the newly-developing Chicago Riverwalk, an open pedestrian waterfront which allows pedestrians to enjoy the city’s atmosphere away the busy streets above.

OCCUPANTS:

PerformersCrew membersProduction staffPatronsResidents and visitors to Chicago

PROGRAM:

The opera house is divided into three main spaces: the back of house, located in the central drum; the lobby, which wraps around the drum; and the auditorium, the bridge between the lobby and back of house. Before the show, patrons are able to enjoy the views of the city from the lobby while the performers prepare in the back of house, and during the performance these two groups meet in the auditorium, the focal point of the opera house. Local residents and visitors to Chicago can also enjoy a public plaza, storefronts along the Riverwalk, a dance studio, and a restaurant, located at the top of the opera house.

CONFLICT:

There were two main conflicts that arose during the design of this opera house. The first challenge was designing a building form that was harmonious with the organic contours of the site. The second difficult task was adapting to the two levels of streets in Chicago while still designing an opera house tall enough to gain access to the beautiful views of the city.

RESOLUTION:

To match the free-flowing nature of the site, my partners and I—after much trial and effort—designed an opera house with an organic form that would complement the site. In order to gain as much height as possible, we stacked our back of house into five levels: orchestra, dressing rooms, costume and wardrobe, rehearsal rooms, and offices. The last three levels of the back of house match up with the three levels of balconies, and each of these levels also has a viewing deck of the city within the lobby.

TIME FRAME: 12 weeksLOCATION: Wolf Point, Chicago, IllinoisPARTNERS: Adeola Adewale and Elisa RomboldMENTORS: Professor Stephen Grabow, Professor Bob Coffeen, CJ Armstrong (Hufft Projects)

CHICAGO LYRIC OPERA

Aerial view of opera house, looking West

View of opera house from the Chicago River

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Site Section 1” = 200’

Site Plan 1” = 200’

Site Section

Site Map

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CHICAGO LYRIC OPERA

1B

1A3

6

6

6

5

4

4

72

1

1

8

10

11

10

9

12 13

1 Storage Room2 Backstage Atrium3 Freight Elevator 4 Suite Dressing Room5 Solo Dressing Room6 Chorus Dressing Room7 Shower Room8 Rear Booth9 Will Call 10 Box Office 11 Managers Office12 Sales Boutique 13 Bar Area

Main Level 3/64” = 1’

Balcony 1 & Costume Level 3\64” = 1’

1 Storage Room 2 Backstage Atrium3 Prop Shop4 Costume Shop5 Wig Shop6 Patron Lounge

2

4

Swis721 Cn BT

4

5

3

1

1

1

6

1

1

1 Storage Room 2 Backstage Atrium3 Prop Shop4 Costume Shop5 Wig Shop6 Patron Lounge

1 Storage2 Backstage Atrium3 Freight Elevator4 Chief Technician5 Master Carpenter6 Scene Shop7 Loading Dock

3

4

5

7

6

1

2

Parking Level 3\64” = 1’

1 Storage2 Backstage Atrium3 Freight Elevator4 Chief Technician5 Master Carpenter6 Scene Shop7 Loading Dock

1 Storage Room 2 Backstage Atrium3 Freight Elevator4 Green Room5 Instrument Storage6 Vocal Practice Rooms7 Conductor Dressing Room8 Orchestra Lounge 9 Orchestra Pit10 Substage11 Plenum Space12 Mechanical Space

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6

3

7

8

6

9

11

1

512

10

10

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Orchestra Level 3\64” = 1’

1 Storage Room 2 Backstage Atrium3 Freight Elevator4 Green Room5 Instrument Storage6 Vocal Practice Rooms7 Conductor Dressing Room8 Orchestra Lounge 9 Orchestra Pit10 Substage11 Plenum Space12 Mechanical Space

N

Parking Level Orchestra Level Main Lobby, Auditorium, and Dressing Rooms

Balcony 1 and Costume Design

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1. Backstage Atrium2. Prop Shop3. Costume Shop4. Wig Shop5. Patron Lounge6. Storage Room

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3

3

4

5

6

6

6

6

6

1B

1A3

6

6

6

5

4

4

72

1

1

8

10

11

10

9

12 13

1 Storage Room2 Backstage Atrium3 Freight Elevator 4 Suite Dressing Room5 Solo Dressing Room6 Chorus Dressing Room7 Shower Room8 Rear Booth9 Will Call 10 Box Office 11 Managers Office12 Sales Boutique 13 Bar Area

Main Level 3/64” = 1’

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1 Storage Room 2 Backstage Atrium3 Choral Rehearsal Room4 Company Rehearsal Room5 Sky Lobby Bar

1

1

1

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5

Balcony 2 & Rehearsal Level 3\64” = 1’

1 Storage Room 2 Backstage Atrium3 Choral Rehearsal Room4 Company Rehearsal Room5 Sky Lobby Bar

1 Waiting Area

2 Kitchen

1

2

2 2

2

1 Waiting Area2 Kitchen

Restaurant Level 3/64” = 1’

1 Storage Room 2 Backstage Atrium3 Dance Studio 4 Dressing Rooms5 Sky Lobby Bar6 Opera Musuem7 Cafeteria

Room

1 Storage Room 2 Backstage Atrium3 Dance Studio 4 Dressing Rooms5 Sky Lobby Bar6 Opera Musuem7 Cafeteria

23 3 3

4

4

7

6

5

1

1

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Balcony 3 & Office Level 3/64” = 1’

View of the opera house lobby, capturing the overhead walkways to the sky decks

Balcony 2 and Rehearsal Rooms Balcony 3, Offices, and Dance Studios Restaurant Level

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CHICAGO LYRIC OPERA

PlenumMEPOrchestra Pit

Pit Lift Substage Storage

Parking

Parking

Parking

Parking

Kitchen

Patron’s Lounge

Restaurant Bar

Scene Shop

Costume Shop

Rehearsal Hall

Offices Dance Studio

Restaurant Restaurant

Sky Lobby

Parking Parking

Lines of Sight to Light Bridges

Lines of Sight to Stage

Longitudinal Section 3/64” = 1’

Auditorium, view from the second balcony

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PlenumMEPOrchestra Pit

Pit Lift Substage Storage

Parking

Parking

Parking

Parking

Kitchen

Patron’s Lounge

Restaurant Bar

Scene Shop

Costume Shop

Rehearsal Hall

Offices Dance Studio

Restaurant Restaurant

Sky Lobby

Parking Parking

Lines of Sight to Light Bridges

Lines of Sight to Stage

Longitudinal Section 3/64” = 1’

Auditorium, view the from stage

Loading Dock

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CHICAGO LYRIC OPERA

FIRST TEXANS MUSEUMSETTING:

The Arts District in Dallas, Texas, is a prominent cultural space in the Dallas – Fort Worth metropolitan area, housing museums and performing art venues designed by renowned architects. The Dallas Arts District Foundation plans to build another museum to celebrate the history, culture, and experiences of the Native Americans in Texas.

OCCUPANTS:

Current members of the Native American tribes in TexasAncestors of these tribes, whose stories will be shared with the publicNon-Native locals of DallasTourists

PROGRAM:

There are seven gallery spaces distributed throughout the top four floors of the building. The journey begins on the top level, and the galleries follow a linear progression that reflects the passing of time in Native American history. This progression also influenced the building’s form, with the gallery levels spiraling around a central atrium. At the bottom of this atrium is a gathering space where presentations and pow-wows can take place, bringing the history of Native American culture full circle to the present day.

CONFLICT:

There is a lot of tension between Native Americans and Caucasians when it comes to recording the history of the United States. Non-Natives often have a misunderstanding about the real time-line of events that took place in the lives of Native Americans and the hardships that they have overcome and continue to face today.

RESOLUTION:

Using the goals of the Dallas Arts District – Collaboration, Education, Community, Inclusion and Innovation – I designed a proposal for this project, exploring how Native Americans would represent their own history instead of a Caucasian interpretation of it.

TIME FRAME: 12 weeksLOCATION: Dallas, TexasMENTOR: Professor Kaplia Silva

FIRST TEXANS MUSEUM

Section AA

N

A A

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PROCESS DIAGRAMS: The cardinal directions, an important aspect of Native American architecture, serve as the basis for the layout of the floors of my museum as well as the circulation.

East Elevation South Elevation

View of Level 2 Outdoor Gallery, looking Southeast

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FIRST TEXANS MUSEUM

View of Circulation Ramps, looking Northeast

View of Level 2 Outdoor Cafe, looking Northwest

View of Ritual Space, looking East

B

View of Ritual Space, looking West

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N

B

Detailed Wall Section BB

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FIRST TEXANS MUSEUM

1. Terracotta Cladding System2. Ventilation3. Cavity Insulation4. Vapor Barrier5. Gypsum Board6. Wall Finish7. Timber Flooring8. Decking

1. Rubber Roofing Membrane2. Rigid Insulation3. Cavity Insulation4. Vapor Barrier5. Decking6. Gypsum Board7. Terracotta Cladding System8. Ventilation9. Flashing

LAWRENCE COMMUNITY THEATRESETTING:

Lawrence is a diverse and multifaceted city that provides many of the amenities of a large metropolitan area, while still maintaining a strong sense of community. One of the main attractions of Lawrence is downtown Massachusetts Street. Commonly known as “Mass” to the locals, this street is home to one of the most vibrant downtown shopping, dining and entertainment districts in the Midwest. The proposal for this project was to design a new community theatre on Massachusetts Street that can be used as a performance space for rehearsals, public productions, and community events as well as provide living spaces for visiting theatre companies.

OCCUPANTS:

The Lawrence communityPerformance groups

PROGRAM:

The main hall, which can house up to 200 people, is a large, versatile space that serves as the heart of the building complex. The lobby and exterior courtyard serve as additional gathering spaces, both during intermissions and for separate events. The community center also includes three apartments for visiting performance groups and office spaces.

CONFLICT:

Lawrence is very proud of its architectural history, and there are many local building codes that preserve the iconic storefront facades of Massachusetts Street. One major challenge during this project was designing a community center that complements the surrounding architectural landscape. Another challenge was taking full advantage of the corner block provided for the community center and designing a building that is easily identifiable as an event hall from both directions of access.

RESOLUTION:

In order to preserve the architectural style of Massachusetts Street, I designed a community center that is only two levels and I combined traditional brick and glass curtain walls for the building’s facade. By orienting my building on a diagonal, I was able to have the lobby directly face the street corner. I also located the box office off Massachusetts Street and the exterior courtyard along 11th Street to make full use of the site.

TIME FRAME: 5 weeksLOCATION: Lawrence, KansasMENTORS: Professor Kent Spreckelmeyer

LAWRENCE COM

MUNITY THEATRE

Section AA

B

B

A A

Main Hall Mezzanine - Level 2

Courtyard - Level 1

N

B

B

A A

Floor Plan - Level 2

Floor Plan - Level 1

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Site Map of Massachusetts Street

West Elevation, in context of Massachusetts Street

N

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LAWRENCE COM

MUNITY THEATRE

A HOUSE FOR THE RULES OF BASKETBALLSETTING:

In the Fall of 2012 it was announced that the original rules of basketball written by James Naismith in 1891 would be returning to the University of Kansas. The proposal for this project was to design a home for the rules sited near Allen Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Kansas. Here university visitors and patrons of basketball will be able to see the original rules and an exhibit on the history of basketball.

OCCUPANTS:

The University of Kansas communityPatrons of the KU basketball programVisitors to the University of Kansas

PROGRAM:

The building has three levels. The main level includes the main entry, café, museum store, restrooms, and access to the other levels. The second floor houses the theatre and exhibit space. Lastly, the basement is the location of the support space for the building and also the entrance to the tunnel that connects to Allen Fieldhouse.

CONFLICT:

The main conflict was how to orient the house for the rules so as not to detract from Allen Fieldhouse, which is an iconic building on the school’s campus and a famous view that is displayed before basketball games on national television. This new addition will also provide a communal space within the southern part of KU’s campus for students.

RESOLUTION:

I chose to place my addition on the lot to the northeast of the Fieldhouse, in front of the parking garage, so as to not take away from the iconic image of Allen Fieldhouse. In order to have the addition better engage with the landscape, I extended the second floor beyond the first floor so that there is a shaded area in front of the entrance that can also hold outdoor seating for the café. Also, using my inspiration of the basketball net, I redesigned the landscape to make both a physical and visual connection between Allen Fieldhouse and my addition. The building’s facade also reflects the basketball net, and it allows natural light to enter the building as well as provide visitors with a view of Allen Fieldhouse while they are looking at the original documents for the sport played there.

TIME FRAME: 5 weeksLOCATION: Lawrence, KansasMENTORS: David Parks and Matthew R. Pauly (Gould Evans, Kansas City)

A HOUSE FOR THE RULES OF BASKETBALL

INSPIRATION

I knew I wanted my design to reflect something significant to the sport of basketball. As I was looking through images I came across this image of a basketball net and for the first time noticed the highlighted shape at the top unique from the rest of the pattern. It is this shape—and the net itself—that became the basis for my designs for the plan of my building, its facade, and the landscape.

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Level 1 floor plan Level 2 floor plan

A

A

Parking Garage

Allen Fieldhouse

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A HOUSE FOR THE RULES OF BASKETBALL

TOPOGRAPHY

To help my addition better engage with the landscape, I decided to alter the topography behind the building so that the land and the roof create one continuous slope. In addition to its aesthetic qualities, this continues slope from the land to the roof also provides people with a place to relax and admire their surroundings. While this was definitely the most difficult part of my design, I feel the change in topography was the key to my design fitting into its location.

Southwest elevation, highlighting the addition’s relationship to Allen Fieldhouse Northwest elevation, highlighting the facade

Model detailing how my design integrates with the modified topography

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Section AA

Current topography with building overlay Modified topography designed to complement my proposed building

1. Gallery 4. Cafe2. Theatre 5. Mechanical Room3. Gift Shop 6. Connection to Allen Fieldhouse

1.1.2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

A HOUSE FOR THE RULES OF BASKETBALL

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THE RW1 CHAIRSETTING:

During the summer of 2014 I had the opportunity to study furniture design at the Danish Institute of Study Abroad. Under the guidance of well-established Danish furniture makers and designers, I experienced first-hand the art of Danish design and have come to appreciate how they are able to create beauty with the simplest of designs, and it is this theme that directed me in the design of my own chair.

OCCUPANTS:

Anyone wishing to take a break from their day and enjoy a relaxing experience.

PROGRAM:

This intensive, seven-week furniture design studio trained me in the process of furniture-making through the design and building of a full-scale prototype. This process included conceptual development, further refinement of the concept, production of working drawings, building of a steel prototype in scale 1:1, and training communication through the exhibition of my work.

CONFLICT:

While there were no strict parameters to the design of my chair other than the amount of steel tube I was provided, I was curious to see if there were a way to keep the steel tube as one continuous piece.

RESOLUTION:

In order to keep the steel tube as one continuous piece, I first studied how many lines of structure are essential in creating a chair. While my first design concept was not structurally sound, it was a strong base for creating my final design. There are three horizontal bars that hold the back, middle, and front edges of the seat and back of the chair. These bars are then extended to the ground and connected to make a base for the chair.

TIME FRAME: 7 weeksLOCATION: Copenhagen, DenmarkMATERIALS: steel tube, birch plywoodMENTORS: Flemming Steen Jensen, Johan Fast, Anders Engholm Kristensen

THE RW1 CHAIR

1BEND THE STEEL TUBE TEST FOR COMFORT WELD TOGETHER

2 3

Shop Drawings, Front Elevation and Side Section

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THE RW1 CHAIR

POWDER COAT THE STEEL ASSEMBLE THE CHAIRCUT AND SEAL THE WOOD

4 5 6

Initial design concept

Model of modified designFinal Prototype

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Eaton Hall, Lawrence, Kansas

Murphy Hall, Lawrence, Kansas Shotgun houses, New Orleans, Louisiana Busch Stadium, Saint Louis, Missouri

Walking Bridge, Forest Park, Saint Louis St. Francis of Assisi Church, Saint Louis, Missouri29

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Church, Saint Louis

A House on Ohio Street, Lawrence, Kansas

Murphy Hall, Lawrence, Kansas

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri Tai Chi Figure, Green Hall, Lawrence, Kansas

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FREEHAND DRAWINGS

Serenity, soft pastel

Lina, colored pencil

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Gerber Daisy, acrylic paint

Emerald City, acrylic paint

Bakery, colored pencil

Mrs. Horace Webber, pencilSt. Basil’s Cathedral, watercolor and ink

Violin, colored pencil (winning submission for Griffin-McCoy Scholarship)

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ARTWORK

RACHEL WOTAWA5846 Westcliffe Drive | Saint Louis, MO 63129 | 314.489.0303 | rmwotawa@ku.edu

I am in my fourth year of the Master of Architecture program at the University of Kansas. My architectural interests include health and wellness, sustainable design, and historic preservation. My near-term goal is to build academic and work experience in this field; my long-term goal is to pursue a career as a licensed architect.

THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, & PLANNINGLawrence, KansasFall 2011 - Spring 2016 (anticipated) Master of Architecture candidate, track I GPA: 3.73

DANISH INSTITUTE FOR STUDY ABROADCopenhagen, DenmarkSummer 2014 Furniture Design in Scandinavia

COR JESU ACADEMY Saint Louis, Missouri Fall 2007 - Spring 2011 High Honors for four years

Honor Roll: Fall 2011, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014Griffin-McCoy Scholarship recipientSaint Louis AIA Chapter Scholarship recipient

Architectural design studiosProgramming and pre-design strategiesBuilding systems and sustainable strategiesStructuresArchitectural theory and historyConstruction systems and assemblies Site analysisSpeaker-audience communicationLEED for designers

University Honors Program, member (August 2011-present)KU School of Architecture, Design + Planning, student ambassador (August 2012-present)American Institute for Architecture Students (AIAS), KU Chapter, member (August 2011-present)St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center choir, member (August 2011-present)

CAREER OBJECTIVE

EDUCATION

HONORS AND AWARDS

COURSEWORK

INVOLVEMENT

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STUDENT ARCHITECTURAL AIDE, KU DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENTLawrence, Kansas February 2014 - Present

STUDENT ENGINEERING AIDE, KU DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENTLawrence, KansasSeptember 2013 - February 2014

SEMINAR ASSISTANT, UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HONORS PROGRAMLawrence, KansasFall 2013 Seminar: “Race, Gender, and ‘Others’ in Popular Culture”

FRONT DESK ASSISTANT, ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCHSaint Louis, MissouriOctober 2008 - August 2012

COMPUTER ARCHITECTURAL LIFE

Adobe InDesign Freehand Drawing OrganizationAdobe Illustrator Rendering Time managementAdobe Photoshop Drafting Working in teamsRevit Model making Written and oral communicationAutoCAD MIG welding Personal developmentSketchUpRhino3DS MaxFlexSimMicrosoft Office

Volunteer workPlaying the pianoVolleyballPainting and freehand drawingLong-distance running

Preparation of architectural drawings for campus remodeling and improvement projects using AutoCADInterpretation and application of building design standards and codesPreparation of cost estimates

Preparation of electrical drawings for campus remodeling and improvement projects using AutoCADLighting analysis studies using VisualInterpretation and application of building design standards and codesPreparation of cost estimates

EXPERIENCE

SKILLS

INTERESTS

Managed the front desk after regular office hoursAnswered the telephone and front doorSigned for delivered packagesAnswered parishioners’ questions when able/referred them to a member of the regular staff

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thankyou