Benjamin Williamson
Landscape Architecture Portfolio
Benjamin Williamson benji.williamson@gmail.com 801.913.4534 3468 W Eden View Dr South Jordan, UT 84095
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
My design philosophy seeks to integrate the human experience into the scope of landscape design. This incorporation will provide individuals an “at home� experience within a planned and sustainable naturalistic environment which provides activity, comfort and a space for contemplation.
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sketches
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k-state campus planning
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party time in Wichita
hands-on experience
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eclogical restoration in Kansas City
wichita live!
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urbanizing K-State
blue river bluffs
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the world through my eye
life outside the classroom
resume
education, work, and life
SKETCHES
While attending K-State sketching has become a large part of my work, whether it is to relieve stress, fulfill an assignment or generate ideas while designing. These are samples from my sketchbook and other sketches.
“Sketches are social things. They are lonely outside the company of other sketches and related reference material. They are lonely if they are discarded as soon as they are done. And they definitely are happiest when everyone in the studio working on the project has spent time with them.� —Bill Buxton
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Residential, Classrooms & Retail
Twister Plaza & Fountain
Open Lawn
Residential
Grocery Store
K-STATE CAMPUS PLANNING
Terraced Amphitheater
Hot Dog Shack
Seating
Classrooms & Offices
Kansas State University has grown but the planning has not been updated for 10 years. In an effort the help K-State achieve the goal of becoming a top 50 research institution, administration is looking to make a more urban and mixed-use campus. By combining living, academia, and small-scale commercial amenities there can be a greater cohesiveness in education. Urbanized Campus provides spaces for living, education, cafes, groceries, relaxing and playing. Working to provide a place for all to enjoy to live and study, Urbanized Campus helps to lay the foundation for future changes to Kansas State University.
Urbanized Campus Creating a connected, urban and livable area from a parking lot. Allowing people to pass through or stay in a variety of ways and places.
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K-STATE CAMPUS PLANNING Place Holder Image!
Windmill
Tetris
Twister
Butterfly
Conceptual Doodling The site has two utility easements crossing through it. Working off of this restriction I began doodling on trace for possible building footprints. Each plan has a larger, guiding ideal behind it as a potential
Building Uses
artistic move.
As Far as the Eye Can See Residents and students can enjoy a view of the Flint Hills from on top of the buildings. The buildings were designed to be taller to minimize their footprint and maximize visibility to and from the site. Pathways Connecting the Dots After selecting the Tetris plan I began to arrange the buildings
Urbanized Campus provides approximately 50,000 ft2 in retail space, 150,000 ft2 of academic area and 170,000 ft2 in living quarters, with an overall building foot print of 95,000 ft2. Of the remaining space approximately 32% is open, vegetated area and the remaining 68% being paved or other hardscape material.
so as to allow the greatest flow through and around as well as connection between building uses. These diagrams helped to visualize and see the connections and allowed me to make connections within the Urbanized Campus. Figure/Ground
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K-STATE CAMPUS PLANNING Place Holder Image! Stepping Down To overcome a 25 foot drop in elevation there are three retaining walls creating a stepping of terraces down in the landscape. These terraces offer spaces for people to sit beneath the trees, play on the open grass or simply overlook these spaces and the Twister Plaza.
A Twister! Within the Twister Plaza is
Place Holder Image!
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Twister Fountain commemorating the tornado that came through campus.
Place Holder Image!
Take a Seat Students and faculty have plenty of open space for activity and leisure time within Urbanized Campus.
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BLUE RIVER BLUFFS Kansas City has many underutilized areas and spaces that are in need of assistance. Our studio was given a study area surrounding the Truman Sports Complex and asked to provide possible longrange planning ideas for the city. The big idea of the Blue River Bluffs is to install spillways at strategic locations to flood the river and convert it to a more ecologically friendly area. Changes will occur in the industrial, residential and business areas surrounding the river creating a more lively and vibrant place to live, work and play. The overall design was a team effort along with our professor. Our team leader divided up the work for production and I produced the following pieces of work.
Group Member(s): Benjamin Williamson, Ross Devault, Nick Mercado, Gabby Weber Client: MARC (Mid-America Regional Council)
Master plan image created by Nick Mercado
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BLUE RIVER BLUFFS
Floating Down the River Under the Blue River Bluffs plan of flooding the river residents and visitors will be able to play in and around the river. Bringing people outdoors to enjoy 'nature' within the city bounds. Created in Photoshop by myself.
These images are my first perspectives completely rendered in Photoshop. They were done to show different experiences around the Blue River Bluffs that residents and visitors might enjoy.
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Let's Get Together! The community center will serve as a hub to bring together those living in the area. Created in Photoshop by myself.
WICHITA LIVE! The City of Wichita is looking to revitalize and return residents to the downtown core. Catalyst sites identified in the master plan were designed by our spring 2013 Studio. Wichita Live is designed to be a hub between two larger convention areas, creating the link that draws pedestrians throughout this entertainment and convention core. Wichita Live is a mixed use development with a hotel, apartment, parking structure, open space and spaces for retail and restaurants. The Wichita Live plaza is an open gathering place where users can relax, eat and play while the rooftop gardens are a more private setting for hotel guests and other private parties.
Group Member(s): Benjamin Williamson & Kraig Weber Client: City of Wichita & Wichita Downtown Development Corporation
Wichita Live! is designed as an open and visible space so you always know where the party is!
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WICHITA LIVE! The Woonerf was designed as a more movement friendly environment that allowed guests and residents to slow down at various green spaces along the path.
Wichita Live! is the happening place designed as a hangout and meeting place for residents, locals and visitors.
Mid-Concept Designs
The Pocket Plaza is designed as a flexible space that may accommodate anything from a farmer's market to an ice skating rink.
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For our mid-semester review we needed to have three possible plans to present to our clients. These are pen and ink drawings based upon our Sketchup model. Each concept has a parking garage, residential space, retail and commercial areas and an open green space. 23
WICHITA LIVE! Gathering in High Places - Large open
Dining Elevated - Guests of the 5th floor
space to allow guests and private parties to
restaurant will get a unique experience
be enjoyed in a naturalistic area on top of
eating among the plants in the open air.
buildings. Hand rendered with marker and
Hand rendered with marker and touched
touched up in Photoshop.
up in Photoshop.
Life on Top - Guests of the hotel will be able to look down on the plaza while enjoying their own private party. Hand rendered with marker and touched up in Photoshop.
Kraig and I worked together on the overall design and then divided the work of designing the rooftop and plaza space. Both areas were designed to be different experiences as the plaza is the more public and open space while the roof is meant as a private amenity for the hotel. All of these drawings are based off of a Sketchup model we created for all the possible designs. Using this base and a combination of hand rendering (pen and marker) and touching up in Photoshop, I produced these images. 24
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HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
I designed and built this water feature with my crew for a homeowner in Anchorage, Alaska.
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A retaining wall I helped construct on BYU
The largest paving project I assisted with at
I led the crew that maintained Oquirrh Lake, a
campus in Provo, UT.
BYU campus was the paver entry way of the
67-acre amenity of the Daybreak Community
soccer stadium.
in South Jordan, UT.
Landscape architecture and design is the process of dreaming and planning possibilities. A very important part of the design process is understanding the construction and future maintenance of the designed landscape. As part of my education at Brigham Young University we were required to work for the campus grounds or fulfill an internship. I have also worked for a nursery and a commercial maintenance company. Through this work I have constructed paver paths, concrete paths, retaining walls, water features, irrigation systems and other landscape elements. I have also maintained large and small landscapes. This knowledge and experience will benefit me as a designer through all stages of design. 27
Bachelors of Science in Landscape Management Brigham Young University Minor: Business Management
Aug 2012
Yard Crew Apr 2011-Aug 2012 Glover Nursery, West Jordan, UT Loaded bulk products and plant material for customers. Delivered and installed plant material and water features. Experienced on: dump truck and skid steer Teaching Assistant Aug 2009-Apr 2010 Brigham Young University: Dr. Phil Allen, Greg Jolley, RLA, Provo, UT Residential Landscape Design, Landscape Design Graphics, Landscape Structures, Landscape Bidding & Estimating, Careers in Landscape Management, Student Career Days Preparation Course; Assisted in class preparation and grading. Landscape Installation Crew May 2009-Aug 2009 Evergreen Nursery and Landscaping, Anchorage, AK Installed plant and hardscape features. Experienced on: skid steer, loader, mini excavator. Heavy Equipment Crew Sept 2008-Apr 2009 Brigham Young University, Provo, UT Constructed and de-constructed landscape features.
Hardscape Installation Crew Apr 2008-Aug 2008 Brigham Young University, Provo, UT Installed paver paths, retaining walls and concrete pads. Financial Services Representative, Teller Jan 2006-Apr 2008 Zions First National Bank, Salt Lake City, UT Nov 2010-Apr 2012 Processed banking transactions, took loan applications, opened new accounts and supervised fellow employees.
Proficient with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; Experience with Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator; ArcGIS; AutoCAD; Google Sketchup
Host Guide May 2010-Sept 2010 Royal Celebrity Tours, Anchorage, AK Informed and entertained guests on board the Alaskan Railroad. Operated the gift shop and assisted other crew as necessary. Phone
Technical Support June 2008-Aug 2008 APX Alarm, Provo, UT Took phone calls from customers and solved alarm issues over the phone. Asked questions to understand problems.
Achievements
May 2015
Other Work Experience
Enhancement Crew Leader Aug 2011-Aug 2012 ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance, Sandy, UT Maintained landscapes commercial landscapes. Experienced on: riding mowers, truck and trailer
Digital Skills
Masters of Landscape Architecture Kansas State University
Interests
Education
RESUME
Related Work Experience
Benjamin Williamson 801.913.4534 | benji.williamson@gmail.com
Camping, Scuba-diving, Watching (BYU) Football, Reading, Cooking, Traveling/Road Trips, Running, Laughing
Eagle Scout Passed Certified Landscape Professional Exam
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Benjamin Williamson 801.913.4534 benji.williamson@gmail.com