AMIE AKERS DESIGN PORTFOLIO
CONTENT Medialab Houston Boundless Series The Link Industrial Design Build Beacon Pines
AMIE ELIZABETH AKERS My purpose is to serve people. Through my design and architecture, my goal as well as my desire is to create places where the lives of people are improved through the built environment. By designing personally, socially, environmentally, and physically healthy architecture, I hope to improve human health and wellness in the designed world.
MEDIALAB HOUSTON Fourth-Year Partner Integrated Project The fourth year design project of Medialab Houston began with the goal of inspiring the public. More than anything, this project is first about community and its connection to media and technology. Located in downtown Houston, framed by a daycare, historical building, parking garage, church, and METRO station, the site is designed to pull the traffic flow into the building and the surrounding plaza.
site
orient
break
cut
raise
lower
DESIGN STRATEGY Orient northern light Break METRO entrance and respect for daycare Cut split into two programmatic elements Raise plaza becomes an outdoor destination Lower respect for daycare These strategic moves shape the footprint and flow of our building and the program within it. Every design move that is made has a purpose and reason behind it. This makes the Media-Lab stronger in both design and function, so that it may have a lasting impact on Houston and the community it encompasses.
ESTCODE ESTCODE
ESTCODE ESTCODE
ESTCODE
MATERIAL PRODUCT TRADENAME MODELNUMBER
ESTCODE
MATERIAL PRODUCT TRADENAME MODELNUMBER
ESTCODE MATERIAL PRODUCT TRADENAME MODELNUMBER
MODELNUMBER TRADENAME PRODUCT MATERIAL
MODELNUMBER TRADENAME PRODUCT MATERIAL
MODELNUMBER TRADENAME PRODUCT MATERIAL
E
Level -1
TS OC ED
E
ESTCODE TS OC ED
E ESTCODE ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
Level 2 0 1’ 5’ 15’ 35’ N MATERIAL PRODUCT TRADENAME MODELNUMBER
MATERIAL PRODUCT TRADENAME MODELNUMBER
0 1’ 5’
Level 3
MODELNUMBER TRADENAME PRODUCT MATERIAL
MODELNUMBER TRADENAME PRODUCT MATERIAL
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
TS OC ED
ESTCODE ESTCODE
15’ 35’ N
Level 1 0 1’
0 1’ 5’ 15’ 35’ N
Level 4 5’
0 1’
15’
5’ 35’
15’
N
ESTCODE
ESTCODE ESTCODE
ESTCODE ESTCODE ESTCODE
ESTCODE
35’ N
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE ESTCODE ESTCODE
ESTCODE
Level 0 0 1’ 5’ 15’ 35’ N N
MATERIAL PRODUCT TRADENAME MODELNUMBER
DW
WO
MODELNUMBER TRADENAME PRODUCT MATERIAL
E
2
B2
3 3B
1
G1
B2
4
B2
B2
B3
B76
6
G34
5
8 G4 9 G4
7 G4
4 G4G51
4 G4
7
8
24
G
D
10
0 1’
5’
15’
35’
N
8 B1
B43
B1
B43
B1
B1
B1
B4 B1
B43
B1
B1
B1
B5
B43
B1
B1
B1
B6
G3
G1
G1
B43
B1
B1
B43
B1
B1
B43
B1
B43
B1
G3
B1
B1
G17
G1
G1
G1
B7 B8
B25
B1
B9
B25
B1
B10
G1
B3
0
B2
2
1
B2
B1
3
B1
G5
B1
B3
9
1 1B
B1
ESTCODE
G7
G6
B2
B3
B2
B2
3
5
B1
B2
6
B1
1 G2
B2
B2
B3
8
B2
29
12
B B2
11
10
B2
9
B2
8 7
6
7
B1
G1
B1
B1
B42
B1
B1
B1
B43
B1
B1
B1
B42
B1
B1
B1
B43
B1
B1
B1
B42
B1
B1
B1
B43
B1
B1
B1
B42
B1
B1
B1
3
B2
0
B2
B1
2
B2 B2
3
3
B2
3 B 15 B2 G 4 B2
4
B1
B2
2
G1
G
5
2 B2
B2
12
G1
B3
G1
B2
B43
1
N
G
7
B2
2
G1
G1
B3
G1
4
B1
G1
B2
2
G1
G1
B1
B1
G1
3
B1
B1
B2
G1
B1
B43
B2
4
B43
B2
6
B2
G1
B1
3
B1
G1
B1
35’
2
G1
6
B2
3
B43
B2
G1
B1
3
B1
G1
B1
G3
6
B2
G1
B43
3
B1
G1
G1
B1
B1
G1
6
B1
B1
B1
G3
G1
B1
B1
B43
4
B1
B43
G1
B43
G9
A
7
4
5
6
7
8
E
E
0
G1
5
15’
G8
N
G2
35’
6
B3
5’
F
G2
15’
G4
3 G1
3
G1
4
G34
B76
B76
G2
5’
G 0
B2
B2
6
4 G4
B76
B76
C
9
5
4 G4
B76
B77
G1
B2
B2
G1
4 G4
B77
B76
G2
0 1’
8
B3
4 G4
B76
B76
G34
B76
B76
G2
B3
4 G4
B76
B78
G2
5
4 G4
B78
G34
B76
G2
G7
B2
4 G4
B76
G2
B2
G1
1
B2
B2
2
G1
B2
G40
B76
G18
10
3 G1
3 G1
B3
B2
2
G1
G41
B77
G34
G33
B76
B76
G34
G33
B76
B76
G2
0
B2
B2
6
8
B6
B76
2 G1
4 G1
B2
G
G2
B3
B2
7
B78
3
12
11
5
G4
8
5
G4 6
G4
G33
2
4
B5
0 1’
F
6
B2
9
B76
B
4 G1
B
0
G3
0
B4
19
3 G1
8
B1
9
0
B4
2
G2
13
5
G1
B2
B
G33
3
B5
10
5
G4
5
B77
G2
4
G2
4 G1
B2
67
7
B4
6
B4
7
B4
G4
B76
G4
7 G2
B
B2
2
G1
26
46
5B
7
B4
B76
G2
G1
0
G1
2 G1
6
B4
B7 6
B6
7
B4
7
B4
B76
2
6 B2
G33
4
B7
5
7
B4
47
B 7
B4
B78
G33
WO
B3
E
G1
G34
B61
G33
G34
B60
B76
7
5
G36
B76
B76
G34
B76
B76
G34
B76
G35
B
8
B6
7
B4
G
2
B5
7
B4
7
B4
7
7
B4
6
B4
5
B4
6
G4
73
G3
B59
B78
6
B4
9
G3
7 B4
G4
5
G4
5
3 G1
0
B2
9
6
G37
7
B4
7
B4
G4
1
B5
5
G4
G
B2
5
B76
2
B7 4
B6
7
B4
6
B4
1
B7
3
B6
B58
B78
6 G1
B2
B2
G1
G33
DW
B3
B76
1
8
3
B3
B76
2B
B76
G2
4
B2
G33
B76
G2
1
B2
G33
G2
3 3B
G34
B57
G34
B56
B76
G4
2
B2
G36
B55 B6
B76
B76
G2
B2
B2
G34
B76
B76
B76
G34
B76
B76
B78
70
7 B4
5 G4
E
B2
2
B2
B3
G36
B76
B78
B76
6
B4
9
B6
B78
G35
6
B4
4
G5
G33
B76
7
B4
7
B4
2 G1
G1
2
5
B2
B2
G1
G1
G7
G34
B76
G33
B76
G2
1
B2
B3
3 G1
0
B2
B2
3 G1
9
B1
B3
B2
4 G1
B3
B2
6
B2
4 G1
B2
B2
3 G1
5
G1
8
G2
9
B3
4 G1
9
B3
B2
8
B76
G33
7
B4
7
B4
7
B4
7
B4
7 B4
F
0
B5
7
B4
7
B4
7
B4
7
B4
6
G4
B76
F
2
G1
B1
B76
7
B4
5
G4
B78
2 G1
2
G
B78
G34
D
6
G1
B3
B76
B78
E
22
B76
B78
8
5
B76
G34
C
B78
G34
3 G1
10
B76
G34
6 G1 4 G1
9
G1
4
G1
0 1’
5’
15’
35’
N
35’
N
2
G1
G1
G2
G5
B1
B7
B1
B1
B8
B25
B1
B9
B25
B1
B10
G17
D
G1
B1
G1
3
G1
4
3
B1
B3
G6
2 B2
B2
B3 3
B2
4
B1
B3 4
B2
5
B1
B2
6
B1
0 1’
5’
15’
35’
B2
B3
7
B1
6
G1
9
0 G2 1 G2
B2
10
5
B3
6 B3
3 G1
9
G1
B2
0
B3
B2
B2
B3
B2
4
B3
3
3 G1
G
5
G1
5
11
12
8 7
6
B44
B1
B1
B1
B1
B48 B1
B1
B45 G52
2
G1
G7
B2
G
3
B3
B2
G1
B6
1
B2
B2
4
B1
B3
0
B2
2
B1
B2
2
G1
2
G1
2
G1
B2
G1
B1
9
1 1B
B2
12
B2
2
4 G1
B5
B2
B2
G1
4
B4 B1
B1
B2
3
B1
B1
B2
G1
B1
B1
B3
B3 B2
B79
B1 G1
5
B1
G2
6
B2
G1
C
6
3
8 B1
3
8
2
G1
B3
2
G2
G1
B2
G1
G1
3 G1
B
7
5
G1
5
G1
N
G9
35’
B2
2
B2
G8
15’
G2
5’
G2
0 1’
G2
10
G2
9
B2
B
3 G1
3
G
G1
2
G1 2
G1
B2
12
26
G1
6 G1 1
4 G1
B3 G3
3
G1
1
B4 B3
B2 3
G3
0
B2
G
G18
B3
2
B2 3 G1
4
B2
B2
B2
6
B2
2 G1
G2
3
3B
B2
3
2
B2
B3
1 G3
B2
5
G1
B2
B2
1
B3
2
2
B2
F
2
G1
G1
2
G1
G7
B2
G1
3
G1
3 G1
B3
1
B2
B2
G1
G1
0
B2
B2
B2
3
B
B3
B2
G5
B3
19
0
8
B1
B2
G1
B3
2 G2
B2
B2
0
5
G1
B2
G1
B2
1
B2
2
G1
F
G1
B2
2 G1
1
G1
G2
4
G2
B2
B76
B76
G35
5
G4
G33
B76
B76
G2
0
G1
3
B3
7
5
G1
G1
G1
3 G1
5 G2
B3
G 0
B2
B2
3
4B
B2
G33
B76
G2
1
G1
G2
3 3B
3 G1
2
B2
B2
4 G1
B3 B2
2
B2
G1
B2
D
B2
B2
5
B2
2
G1
2
G1
4 G1
3 G1
B3
G7
B2
3 G1
3 G1
5 G2
B2
G33
B78 B78
G50
9
B4
7
B4
0
1
B2
B2
B
2
G1
G35
G50
5
G4
G1
0
B2
C
B3
9
B1
6
G2
B3
B2
B76
1
8
B1
B2
7
B3
2
G2
6
B2
B76
B76
G1
G
B
B2
B76
B76
B76
2
B
2
G1
F
6
B2
38
B76
B76
B78
G4
B
2
G1
15
26
B76
B78
3
A
2
G1
B78
G4
E
N
0 1’
5’
15’
STRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS
46’9”
10’6” 1 14'-2 16"
1 10'-10 8"
Medialab Houston is a fourth year, integrated design project in which the structure and systems were largely developed in the design of the building. The structure of Medialab Houston is a steel structure with a grid that follows the break of the building. The systems are all located on the southern wall of the building to make for easy plumbing and construction, while leaving the floor plan open and allowing the north facade to let in light.
6’6”
2’10” 2’10” 24’
5’10”
24’
17'
28’10” 10’4” 5’ 5’
31’
Air Transportation & Controls
Vertical Transportation: Elevators
Vertical Transportation: Emergency Stairs
Chiller Boiler AHU CW/ChW Storage Service
Potable Water
Waste Water
Restrooms
Roof
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
Level 1
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
ESTCODE
Level 0
Level -1 Terminal Box Thermostat
Rest Rooms
Air Ducts Mechanical Room
Otis Elevator
Fire Stairs
Fire Stairs
Rest Rooms
Cold Water
Waste Water
Hot Water
BOUNDLESS SERIES First-Year Individual Project This first year project series studies the relationship of positive and negative spaces both two and three dimensionally. The first drawing uses a grid system filled in with diamonds and squares, creating an infinite effect. The second project is a number of forms inside a perfect cube, which is abstractly rendered by hand in the third drawing.
THE LINK Third-Year Partner Project The link building is designed to replace the original bridge in the Langford Architecture complex on the Texas A&M campus. The building acts as the connection or “link� between the three Langford buildings. As a connector, the purpose of the building is to bring people together from the different majors in the College of Architecture as well as the surrounding campus.
THE LINK PARTI The design of the building is inspired by Adolf Loos’ raumplan. This method of designing is truly designing from the inside out, making the interior architectural moments the most crucial design elements. Incoming students, faculty, and visitors are exposed to the College of Architecture’s work, while the café acts as the heart of the project, drawing people in. To do this, the building is designed to funnel people in from the courtyard and street entrance through the use of angles.
site
access
funnel
angle entrance
entrance overhang
raumplan
floor plates
circulation
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
50'
0'
10'
50'
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
10'
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
0'
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
50' 10' 0'
50' 10' 0'
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
INSUTRIAL DESIGN BUILD First-Year Individual Project This freshman project required a friction fit, transformable piece of furniture made from one four by eight sheet of birch plywood. The lounge chair design can be transformed into a stool, and the arms of the chair can be romoved and changed for larger, table-like arms if desired. The sheet of plywood allowed for three chair and their arms to be cut and built, so that no material was wasted.
BEACON PINES Second-Year Partner Project Second Place Winner of AIAS Reinventing Home Competition Beacon Pines is a second year project centered around the care and comfort of the elderly in a community environment, allowing residents in a skilled nursing or assisted living facility to live a physically, socially, and emotionally healthy life.
ASSISTED LIVING & SKILLED NURSING The layout of residents’ bedrooms is meant for comfort and ease of access to all areas. For this reason, the bathrooms have pocket doors and handicap accessible showers.
I Corinthians 3:10