OTTO
[ kansas state university ]
CONTENTS URBAN CANVAS INFINITY TOWER TOWERING TIMBER RESTORATION CHURCH ROWING FACILITY
[ kansas city ]
URBAN CANVAS The urban canvas builds upon the success of the growing arts scene in Kansas City’s Crossroads and Power and Light districts. The program sought the need for a smaller, more intimate, theater venue acting as a beacon and “Canvas” for the city. The core concept behind the Canvas was to encourage and implement art of all kinds within its interactive mediamesh facade. This mesh also serves as a cloak between the duality of mass and void. Through this I strove to create humanistic spaces with strong visual ties between each level. These visual connections further strengthened the contrast of each programmatic element.
cones of vision
black box theater
studio to reception terrace
fly loft to main theater
scenery shop to lobby
[ kansas badlands ]
INFINITY TOWER Hidden amongst the arid monument rocks of the Kansas badlands Infinity Tower serves as an escape from the rigors of day to day routine. Functioning as a resort the design took root from the neighboring chalk pyramids, and a timeless monument was crafted. I felt a radial programmatic scheme was the best way to emphasize the organic nature of the surroundings. It allowed me to organize the program around a single central core which services each floor of modular pods. The structure chose not to compete with its environment but instead embraces its back-drop. This engagement between monuments soon became the focal point in the design. Oriented to align with the monuments more historic structure, “Castle Rock,� Infinity Tower seeks to reach out and mimic its ageless character.
modular living pods
below grade entry
viewing tower
monolithic vertical structure
communal terrace
monument relationship
[ red hook, brooklyn ]
timber in the city
TOWERING TIMBER Towering Timber seems to defy gravity implementing a hybrid of wood construction technologies as it soars over 350 feet in the air. The purpose of this colossal structure was to revitalize the hurricane devastated neighborhood of Red Hook Brooklyn through new housing and a new opportunity for industry. The building had to function not only as a place for living but as a workplace as well. Along its base lies a wood product manufacturing plant creating a handful of new jobs for the community. The design emphasizes the use of CLT and post and beam construction. These two systems became the basis through which the programmatic elements were organized. Strengthened by concrete circulation cores these two systems allowed the structure to reach heights never seen in wood construction before.
section perspective | day-lighting
[ st. joseph, missouri ]
river bluff architects
RESTORATION CHURCH During my internship with River Bluff Architects I was given the task to transform a 1900’s natatorium into a modern day church and coffee shop. I focused my efforts on the exterior elevation design which provided the St. Joseph community a vision for its future. The church was drawn to the use of sustainable design practices such as reclaiming wood from the interior and the use of a water collection system. With that in mind I proposed a series of vignettes each with their own varying degrees of materiality. As the design evolved I focused more on highlighting the entry with the use of the reclaimed materials. This was also aided by the concept of highlighting the old within the new creating a strong visual hierachy around both building elevations. I chose to accent the reclaimed wood with a concrete bench that functioned as both a planter and water feature.
design evolution
[ manhattan, kansas ]
ksu womens rowing
ROWING FACILITY I designed the Kansas State Womens Rowing Facility to strategically enhance the view of each race. The facility, which houses a training room, boat storage, and great-room, sits at a fifty degree angle towards the dam on Milford Lake for a clear view of the start and finish of each race. From the approach the terrain is modified so that the view is controlled. The structure takes you on a voyage celebrating the facility, until you arrive at the terminus where the water is finally exposed.
The form was derived from a rowing shell cross section. The building reflects the great length of a rowing shell, and is cantilevered over sixty feet so that it appears to float out over the horizon.
site plan
alex otto kansas state university college of architecture ottoa@k-state.edu (816)-898-0674
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