ALLISON YEN B.ARCH CANDIDATE PORTFOLIO
Allison Yen yenallis@usc.edu | (408-828-5508) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-yen January 7, 2023 Gensler Regarding: Student Internship- Architecture- Summer Dear Hiring Manager, My name is Allison Yen and I am a fourth-year B.Arch candidate at the University of Southern California. I am writing to express my interest in the architectural intern position at Gensler. With a strong academic foundation in architecture from USC, combined with practical experience through internships, extracurriculars, and coursework projects, I am eager to contribute my skills and passion for design at Gensler. Through various architectural projects and internships, I have gained first hand experience in all stages of the project pipeline. At Stanton Architecture, I applied my proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, Lumion, and Bluebeam to assist in revising plans, managing document submissions and retrieval from the DBI, and crafting detailed drawings. I collaborated with internal and external teams including clients on site, contractors, construction managers, and interior designers. Furthermore I conducted research on building code and translated hand sketches into technical drawings, contributing to the development of nine sites across the Bay Area. This experience not only deepened my technical skills in modeling and drawing softwares, but also equipped me with a practical understanding of the architectural process and the importance of teamwork in delivering successful projects- skills that are highly applicable to the Summer Architectural Intern role. Moreover, I am deeply passionate about sustainable architecture and its role in creating environmentally conscious design, which Gensler highlights in its mission. I actively seek opportunities to integrate sustainable principles into my designs: at Stanton Architecture, I sourced sustainable materials through local vendors for a hotel development; for my studio project I pitched an innovative microdwelling arrangement that maximized energy efficiency for cross ventilation. I aim to continue this passion at Gensler where I can be a part of a team that is at the forefront of innovative, sustainable, and impactful designs. Gensler's commitment to pushing boundaries in architecture and its diverse environment, offers me a unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully and learn alongside industry leaders. The company's emphasis on fostering creativity and prioritizing sustainability aligns perfectly with my aspirations and values, driving my enthusiasm to become a valuable part of Gensler's esteemed team. Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Warm regards, Allison Yen
Allison Yen yenallis@usc.edu | (408-828-5508) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-yen
EDUCATION University of Southern California, School of Architecture Los Angeles, CA Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) ` Expected Graduation May 2025 Cumulative GPA: 3.6 The University of Hong Kong, University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City Asia Study Abroad Asia Architecture, Landscape, and Urban Planning (AALU) Study Abroad Program Fall 2023 University of California, Berkeley College of Environmental Design Berkeley, CA embARC Summer Design Academy Summer 2019 Relevant Coursework: Architectural Technology, Design of Building Structures, Design for the Thermal and Atmospheric Environment, Design for the Luminous and Sonic Environment, Industry and Impact Projects, Revit WORK EXPERIENCE Stanton Architecture San Francisco, CA Architectural Intern May 2023 - August 2023 • Honed skills in Revit for 3D modeling, punchlists, and plan check revisions for hotels, restaurants, residences • Created detail drawings, coordinated material with external vendors, and analyzed cost analysis margins • Rendered interior and exterior spaces to present to clients at meetings Rafael Martinez Design Los Angeles, CA Architectural Intern May 2022 - August 2022 • Assisted design architect by designing and preparing renovations, additional dwelling units, and new construction • Conducted site visits, retrieved measurements, and created as-built drawings to make revisions • Reported to the Los Angeles DBI with drawing sets to execute the development of six sites ShareWorld Learning Center Cupertino, CA Graphic Design and Marketing Intern June 2021 – August 2021 • Developed website graphics and features to increase student enrollment and visitor engagement • Created ad flyers, website banners, and marketing collaterals for events, programs, and classes • Spearheaded promotional campaigns using social media platforms which doubled prospect engagement LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENTS MASH Magazine Los Angeles, CA Design Chair August 2021 – December 2022 • Produced website and social media graphics including magazine edition covers, banners, Instagram posts • Led weekly meetings to discuss ideas for editions revolving around the intersection of business and fashion • Participated in panels with business and fashion working representatives USC Concerts Experience Team- Installation Design • Creat installations for the three main concerts that USC Concerts hosts annually • Generat ideas and discuss budgeting regarding materiality usage and time • Research local resources for material potentially used in installations
Los Angeles, CA August 2021 – Present
Student Association for Women in Architecture (SAWA) Los Angeles, CA Member September 2020 – Present • Participate in weekly meetings discussing events in the field that revolve around women in architecture/design • Attend panels that introduce me to female leaders in the design and architecture field • Hone technical skills through software workshops and tutorials SKILLS AND INTERESTS Languages: Mandarin (native), English (native) Skills: Revit, Rhinoceros 3D, Adobe Illustrator, AutoCAD, Enscape, Bluebeam, Lumion, Miro, SketchUp, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Premiere Pro, 3D Printing, Microsoft Excel, Model Making, AfterEffects, Word, Outlook, Woodwork Interests: Orchestra, Clarinet, Exhibition Design, Concert Design, Fashion, Marketing, Basketball, Swimming
PERSONAL STATEMENT My name is Allison Yen, and I am graduating with a Bachelor in Architecture from the University of Southern California in May 2025. I practice architecture to connect my passions in shaping people’s lives. As a Bay Area native, I’m dedicated to learning design with the aim of enhancing the communities I’m involved in, both locally and globally. My interests lie in crafting architectural experiences and moments that resonate with people, leaving a lasting impact on their emotions and perspectives as they enter these spaces. My aspiration is to design architecture that challenges and advances our relationship with physical spaces.
CONTENTS
PROJECT 1 | ROOFTOP COMMUNITY CENTER 3RD YEAR STUDIO
PROJECT 2 | MICRODWELLINGS: KTT REVITILIZATION 4TH YEAR STUDIO PROJECT 3 | MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSING CO-OP 3RD YEAR STUDIO
PROJECT 4 | THE L HOUSE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE MINIMAL DWELLINGS 3RD YEAR STUDIO PROJECT 5 | LA ‘S BRANCH LIBRARY 2ND YEAR STUDIO
PROJECT 6 | EXTRA PROJECTS 2019-2023
SKYLINE SOUNDFEST: A ROOFTOP COMMUNITY CENTER SPRING 2023 Located on the roof of 801 Broadway, an old commercial building located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, this community center aims to revitalize the historic Broadway Street through music performance and education.Utilizing both informal and formal spaces with designated open gathering, this design seeks to create platforms for all musical artists through programs such as a library, community spaces, music education classrooms, administration, and green spaces. The design studio was an excercise in understanding construction and structure.
PLAY
REHEARSAL SPACE
CLASSROOM
LIBRARY VOLUNTEER
B
LOBBY
OUTDOOR STAGE
LOBBY
A
INDOOR STAGE
PLAN LEVEL 2 1/35” = 1’-0”
FIRST FLOOR
PLAN LEVEL 1 1/35” = 1’-0”
SECOND FLOOR
SECTION A SECTION A-A
SECTION B
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
STRUCTURAL SECTION
SOLAR AND WIND DIAGRAM
EXISTING STRUCTURE EXISTING STRUCTURE AND CIRCULATION
EXISTING CONDITIONS
- 80 meters squared/unit - 31 units - 2 stairs - 15 atriums
20 m
MICRO-DWELLINGS: KTT REVITILIZATION ASIA STUDY ABROAD - FALL 2023
PROPOSAL
1:150
- 24 meters squared/unit - 45 units - 6 stairs - 4 long atriums
6m
4m
After analyzing a 3-level KTT in District 1 of Saigon, we identified 31 units on each of the levels with mixed residential and commerical use. This proposal reinvents micro-dwellings as the future for residential units in this KTT. By adding cross ventilation through staggered units, natural light through expanded light wells, and egress, this proposal allows users to have space to step outside, socialize, and grow their businesses.
4m N
w
The KTT (Khu Tap The) district is a housing district in Vietnam based on the Soviet microdistrict. Today, the public spaces in between the KTT housing blocks have been filled up with slum-like developments due to overcrowding and lack of buildings regulations.
E
Our proposal adds more housing units for the residents of Saigon, all while building a community within the space and allowing users to circulate in a safe manner. TEAM: QIAN LONG, MARIYA IDRIS, HUỲNH TRÚC LAM LÊ ĐOÀN ĐOAN MẪN LE QUOC THAI PHẠM ĐÔNG HUYỀN
SUN AND WIND DIAGRAM S
PROPOSED PLAN
PROPOSED OBLIQUE PROPOSED PLAN & OBLIQUE
1:150
PROPOSED SECTION PROPOSED EAST SECTION OBLIQUE 1:150 OBLIQUE
LOFT UNIT | FIRST LEVEL LOFT UNIT A | AFIRST LEVEL 20 SQM | 1:50 20 SQM
LOFT UNIT | SECOND LEVEL LOFT UNIT A |ASECOND LEVEL 8 SQM | 1:50 20 SQM
SINGLE UNIT B SINGLE UNIT B 20 SQM | 1:50 20 SQM
SINGLE PARENT UNITUNIT C SINGLE PARENT C 20 SQM | 1:50 20 SQM
COUPLE UNITUNIT D COUPLE D 20 SQM | 1:50 20 SQM
RY
> 3RD - 4TH FLOOR > INCLUDING ROOF PLAN IF NECESSARY
B
A
C
1ST FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR
A MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSING CO-OP Fall 2022 GROUND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
3/32” = 1’-0”
SECOND FLOOR
This co-op focuses on the well-being of all people, whether that be physical or mental well-being.The project was completed during third-year studio, Housing for the Collective Good. We were given four sites across USC campus. As a group of four, we chose to address the lack of generational support in the neighboring area and focus on cooperative housing that provided services to benefit the success of families in the area provides education, opportunites, healthcare, and wellbeing. ALLLISON YEN STUDIO DELZ
Specifically, the co-op on this site focuses on helping the community through providing physical and mental health facilities and resources.
SECOND FLOOR
2ND FLOOR
THIRD FLOOR ALLISON YEN STUDIO DELZ
3/32” = 1’-0
1-UNIT
2-UNIT
3-UNIT
4-UNIT
MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC 3RD FLOOR
MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC
CLINIC 2ND FLOOR CLINIC
1/4” = 1’=0” ALLISON YEN STUDIO DELZ
GYM + CAFE GROUND FLOOR
2ND FLOOR
GYM + CAFE
1ST FLOOR
UNIT DISTRIBUTION
UNIT DISTRIBUTION
SECTION A
SECTION A
SECTION B
SECTION B
GROUND FLOOR
1ST FLOOR
2ND FLOOR
3RD FLOOR
AIR FLOW
3RD FLOOR SHARED OUTDOOR SPACE
ALLISON YEN STUDIO DELZ
1ST FLOOR
1-UNIT 2-UNIT 3-UNIT 4-UNIT
CIRCULATION
ALLISON YEN STUDIO DELZ
UNIT DISTRIBUTION
ALLISON YEN STUDIO DELZ
SHARED OUTDOOR GATHERING
CIRCULATION
CROSS-VENTILATION
LISON YEN TUDIO DELZ
A
A
B
B
SECTION A
SECTION A
SECTION B
SECTION B
SECTION A
SECTION B
THE L HOUSE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE MINIMAL DWELLING
SCALE: 1/4” - 1’
HOUSING FOR THE COLLECTIVE GOOD
ARCH-302A | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN III | FALL 2022
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
SCALE: 1/4” - 1’
HOUSING FOR THE COLLECTIVE GOOD
ARCH-302A | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN III | FALL 2022
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
This project is designed as an affordable emergency housing for a site in Los Angeles. ALLISON YEN We wanted to focus our design on creating STUDIO DELZ varying spaces within the compact square footage, that PIN UP ALLIE YEN AND ASAF ZAIRIwhile establishing a design SEPTEMBER 09, 2022 STUDIOwould DELZ allow for ease and flexibility of construction. We did so by creating three difPIN UPfor ALLIE YEN AND ASAF ZAIRI ferent wood paneling systems, to allow PIN UP ALLIE YEN ANDDELZ ASAF ZAIRI SEPTEMBER 09, 2022 STUDIO STUDIO DELZ levels of privacy, both SEPTEMBER varying within the09, in-2022 terior and between the interior and exterior. Work is in partnership with Asaf Zairi. ALLISON YEN STUDIO DELZ
MINIMUM DWELLINGS: P1 REVISITING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE REVISITING MINIMUM DWELLINGS: MINIMUM DWELLINGS: P1 AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE P1 REVISITING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE A
A A
SECTION A
SECTION A SECTION A
SECTION A
B
B B SECTION B
SECTION B
P1
AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE
STUDIO DELZ
SEPTEMBER 09, 2022
6.5”
6.5”
MINIMUM DWELLINGS: P1 REVISITING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE
ARCH-302A | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN III | FALL 2022
ALLIE YEN AND ASAF ZAIRI STUDIO DELZ
CONFIGURATION AND ASSEMBLY
HOUSING FOR THE COLLECTIVE GOOD
MINIMUM DWELLINGS: P1 REVISITING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE
PIN UP SEPTEMBER 09, 2022
CONFIGURATION AND ASSEMBLY PIN UP
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
ALLIE YEN AND ASAF ZAIRI STUDIO DELZ
SEPTEMBER 09, 2022
ALLISON YEN STUDIO DELZ
SCALE: 1/8” - 1’
MINIMUM DWELLINGS: P1 REVISITING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE
SITE PLAN
ARCH-302A | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN III | FALL 2022
HOUSING FOR THE COLLECTIVE GOOD SITE PLAN
ALLIE YEN AND ASAF ZAIRI STUDIO DELZ SCALE: 1/8” - 1’
ARCH-302A | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN III | FALL 2022 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
PIN UP HYPOTHETICAL SEPTEMBER 09, 2022 ARRANGEMENT
HOUSING FOR THE COLLECTIVE GOOD
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
ALLISON YEN STUDIO DELZ
ALLISON YEN STUDIO DELZ
WOOD PANELING SYSTEM SCALE: 3/16” - 1’
Branch Library Model Elevations NTS
SOUTH ELEVATION
NORTH ELEVATION
Arch 202B / Spring 2021 /PROJECT 02 Part II
LA’S BRANCH LIBRARY This library located in LA Historic Park has a focus on privacy and materiality studied in previous related projects. Concrete is introduced here to lend a monolithic feeling to more private program at the south facade, such as study and office spaces. The wood used on the north facade is meant for more public gathering areas, making it more open and inviting for users to congregate
Branch Library Model Elevations NTS
13
Arch 202B / Spring 2021 /PROJECT 02 Part II
The book stacks are centrally located, allowing users to directly enter via the existing circulation path, pick out a book, and choose the space of their liking. This library allows for ease of access with all sides of LA Historic Park.
C
B
A
odel Axons
15
ROJECT 02 Part II
6 10
D
Bran
D
5
scale:
8 2
2
7
7
Arch 2
9
4
2
2
3
1
CUT PLAN
A
B
C
1 INFORMATION DESK 2 BATHROOM 3 COURTYARD 4 READING ROOM 5 BOOK STACKS 6 COMMUNITY ROOM 7 COMPUTER COMMONS 8 STUDY CARRELS 9 STAFF OFFICE 10 LOUNGE
13
SECTION A-A
h Library. A-A Section
6”=1’=0”
/ Spring 2021 /PROJECT 02 Part II
SECTION B-B
ibrary. B-B Section
1’=0”
pring 2021 /PROJECT 02 Part II
SECTION C-C
nch Library. Elevation C-C
: 1/16”=1’=0”
202B / Spring 2021 /PROJECT 02 Part II
SECTION D-D
EXTRA WORKS These extra projects include an exhibition design pitch, personal 3d modeling projects, and extraneous concept models These works ultimately translate to my architectural projects.
Heritage House Hanoi, Vietnam During my study abroad in Hanoi, Vietnam, I conducted a 20-minute onsite analysis of the Heritage House. This involved measuring the area, creating a floor plan and section, and producing an analytical sketch that emphasized both the exterior and interior volumes of the space.
Exhibition Design Pitch This installation project is inpartnership with WNDR Museum in Chicago and USC Iovine and Young. Specifically, this installation plays with scale. It comprises of two rooms. Each group is comprised of parties of 8 with a time limit of 2.5 minutes per room. In the first room, users play and interact with a dollhouse placed in the center of the space. The sounds and videos are captured from the inside of the doll house within the first room. Users are then invited into the second room where they see videos played back to them on large screens. The users are now experiencing a room as if they were the dolls in the dollhouse.
ALLISON YEN