christopher gillen student portfolio
Resume
[Chris]topherGillen phone: 248.884.1200 email: chrispgillen@gmail.com Education
University of Detroit Mercy - School of Architecture, Detroit, MI August 2005 – Present Master of Architecture, Anticipated Graduation: 5.2011
Relevant Work Experience
Hobbs + Black Associates – Ann Arbor, MI Fall Intern, August 2008-January 2009 Worked on construction documents for the City Creek Center. Salt Lake City, Utah Responsible for producing and uploading PDF bid package drawings. Farbman Group - Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI Winter Intern, December 2007-April 2008 Reviewed space analysis and updated database Prepared furniture layouts for proposed space use changes Assisted in project estimating
Programs of use
AutoCAD 2005-2009 SketchUp 7+ Adobe Photoshop CS3 Adobe Premiere Pro Adobe Indesign
Personal Interests
camping hiking traveling free hand drawing touring buildings sculpture mountain biking landscaping reading woodworking kayaking XCrunning
Contents
Professional Work
Professional Experience. City Hobbs + Black Architects
Creek Center
Salt Lake, UT
Academic Work Fourth year studio. University Joe Odoerfer Third year studio. Urban Noah Resnick Third year studio. Wladek Fuchs
of Detroit Mercy Library
re-assemblage
study abroad. Volterra, Italy
Fourth year studio. Symbiosis Amy Green Deines
Freehand sketches.
Professional Experience Hobbs + Black Architects Ann Arbor, Michigan project: The City Creek Center - Salt Lake City, Utah During a co-op at Hobbs + Black Architects, I worked as an intern on the City Creek Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The City Creek Center is a 2 bllock mixed use development in downtown Salt Lake. Some of my responsibilities were to assist in the development of section details using AutoCad 2010, preparing and supplying PDF’s of sheet sets for bid and addenda, assisting in the coordination of structural connections to building materials, etc. The work shown is a wall detailing one of the large sconce features that were to go at the main entry off Main St.
Project: University of Detroit Mercy Architecture Library This project was developed in a studio with focus given to the integration of building systems in design. We were asked to rough size the mechanical systems, consider natural and artificial lighting, code constraints, structure, and compose interior and exterior materials. In this design, it was a desire to consider a connection to the existing library, in which attention was given to the circulation pattern and integration of new program within the added space, while opening the building to the existing campus plaza. The final product is a three story addition which faces the redesigned campus plaza.
proposal for redesigned campus plaza and section relationship. University of Detroit Mercy Architecture Library
campus cafe
storage
auditorium
0 Floor Plan
2nd Floor Plan
circulation desk
1st Floor Plan
stacks
stacks
reading room
reading room
3rd Floor Plan University of Detroit Mercy Architecture Library
Wall section cutaway
University of Detroit Mercy Architecture Library
Interior - second floor reading room University of Detroit Mercy Architecture Library
Detail of central stair University of Detroit Mercy Architecture Library
HVAC model with structure University of Detroit Mercy Architecture Library
Project: Urban Re-Assemblage. considering Tiger Stadium This studio emphasized adaptive re-use and understandings of repurposed items. Beginning with investigations into smaller scale objects such as a dining chair, the studio progressed in scale to the re-thinking of the Tiger Stadium site and structure. In this investigation, concepts of vertical farming were explored. Included in the program are a corner cafe/resturaunt, accompanied by a street accessible grocery store, and lined with vertical growing platforms and distribution center. The integration of these programs to the infrastructure and need of the community were of importance and helped to focus the investigation.
michigan avenue section.
distribution center warehouse
michigan avenue elevation.
sections elevations growing platforms
trumbull section.
public grocery trumbull elevation.
Urban re-Assemblage Growing Platforms
sketch sample of floral growing platform
Urban re-Assemblage Growing Platforms
Michigan Central Station ( vacant )
I-75
historic Corktown Neighborhood
Site
massing model to study scale implications within the site context
Urban re-Assemblage Growing Platforms
wireframe model to study structure, circulation and lighting conditions
Urban re-Assemblage Growing Platforms
Project: Study Abroad. Volterra, Italy As part of the University of Detroit Mercy’s study abroad program, half the summer of 2008 was spent in the hill town of Volterra, Italy. During this time, we were given intsruction in site drawing, alabaster sculpture, art history while able to live among the towns well rooted families. Staying in Volterra for this time allowed for investigations into the culture and people which make up such a place. Given this brief experience, the project was to design a building which would house artists abroad and also allow for the exhibition of their work. Special considerations were given to proportion, scale and sense of identity, as the site for this project was on the edge of the town overlooking ruins of a Roman Theatre and the distant city of PIsa.
Volterra, Italy Pro Arte
view from Roman Theatre - outside medieval wall
Volterra, Italy Pro Arte
Volterra, Italy Pro Arte
Volterra, Italy Pro Arte
Project: “Symbiosis� Detroit + Toronto In this studio, relationships between Toronto and Detroit were explored. Initial research was done of both cities which included a studio partnership with the HOK Toronto Studio. Presentations were made to designers and were also featured at a firm luncheon. Presented here is an architectural intervention in the city of Detroit. An artery of the Detroit freeway system divdes the site in two parts. The project consists of a designed landscape and an anchoring feature cinema. The cinema is used as a tool for cultivating this urban site.
Toronto Installation - “divergent paths� Symbiosis Detroit+Toronto
above: study in site landscape and the intersection of east/ west infrastructure study models for site landscape strategy
Symbiosis Detroit+Toronto
south facing birdseye of site landscape with theatre structure
Symbiosis Detroit+Toronto
daylight rendering of corner plaza
night rendering of corner film plaza and lit restroom structures
Symbiosis Detroit+Toronto
Freehand Site Drawings Drawings completed in Volterra, Italy
‘Baptistry Door’ Volterra, Italy
Freehand Drawing
the above sketches were done as an exploration into the varied constructions and textures of facades
Freehand Drawing
christopher gillen student portfolio
em: chrispgillen@gmail.com p: 248.884.1200