Portfolio
Cora Blackford 2020 - 2023
Cora Blackford, AIAS I am a fifth-year architecture student at the University of Kansas. I have recieved a BA in Architectural Studies and certifications in Historic Preservation and Service Learning. I will receive a Health and Wellness Architecture certification upon graduation. I enjoy designing practical, efficient spaces that promote the wellbeing of their users. I have a proactive attitude and love taking on the unique challenges each project poses. In the future, I look forward to bringing a communityoriented approach to the design of public facilities, as well as continuing the preservation of historic buildings that have great potential to serve new users and enrich neighborhood fabrics. In my free time, I enjoy playing piano, visiting historic sites, collaging, and walking my dog Cleo. Thank you for viewing my work!
(314) 379 - 4487 cora_blackford@yahoo.com
CORA BLACKFORD (314) 379 - 4487 cora_blackford@yahoo.com
EDUCATION University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design Master of Architecture
Lawrence, KS Expected May 2024
Health and Wellness Architecture Certification Bachelor of Architecture
Completed May 2023
Historic Preservation Certification Service Learning Certification
EXPERIENCE Hernly Associates Architectural Intern
Lawrence KS 2022 - Current
Produce schematic and construction drawings. Write nominations for National Register of Historic Places projects. Write tax credit nominations.
Lawrence Group Architectural Intern - Health and Wellness Architecture Department
St. Louis, MO June - December 2023
Assisted in a large-scale documentation effort for various hospital and clinic projects. Worked with project planners for each department of a hospital in the design development phase. Other tasks included: completing construction punchlist reports, creating renderings, and analyzing life safety plans.
Lanmar Services Architectural Intern
Austin, TX 2018 - 2020 (summers)
Operated a laser scanner and assisted in the documentation of buildings through the conversion of laser scans to BIM models. Notable projects included the Alamo and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West.
HONORS University of Kansas Merit Scholarship
2019 - Current
Webster Groves Lion’s Club Scholarship
2019
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Scholarship
2021
University of Kansas Study Abroad Scholarship
2022
AIA St. Louis Scholarship
2022
University of Kansas Honor Roll
SKILLS Revit, Enscape, Lumion, Adobe Suite, Microsoft Office Suite
2019 - Current
nature’s crossroad Spring 2023
haven Spring 2022
lawrence transit n Fall 2021
kaw river hut Spring 2022
luminance Summer 2020
ds
nest
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Pages 01 - 14
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Pages 15 - 18
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Pages 19 - 32
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Pages 33 - 36
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Pages 37 - 38
Pages 01 - 02
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nature’s crossroads University of Kansas Professor Steve Padget Partner: Eryn Herrera Spring 2023 Nature’s crossroads is a nature discovery center located in the Crossroads neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri. It is designed to meet the criteria of the Living Building Challenge and preform at passive building standards. The Living Building Challenge places emphasis on eight “petals” of design: place, water, energy, health & happiness, materials, equity, and beauty. In addition to meeting the criteria of the Living Building Challenge, Nature’s Crossroads fulfills the “Triple Bottom Line” of sustaining culture, environment, and economy. The building and its site are self-sufficient and implement features such as biologically based waste water processing and site runoff water collection.
Pages 03 - 04
site The site of the Nature Discovery Center is generous given its urban context, but poses some challenges grade-wise. The building site (outlined in green) is approximately twenty feet below the grounds to be used for gardens and outdoor amenities (the green space to the left of the green outline).
concept development One of the primary design goals for Nature’s Crossroads was to celebrate the Living Machine - a biologically based waste water processing system that allows the building to collect and re-purpose waste water. The first decision in the design process was to carve out a courtyard to serve as a home for the living machine. The location of the courtyard allows it to be seen from all major public areas of the first floor. The courtyard also allows for the passage of light and air to spaces central to the plan. Access to service spaces is provided via an alley between the discovery center and its neighboring building. The front facade of the discovery center steps back to conceal service access as much as possible. The second story of Nature’s Crossroads is offset from the first story, giving ample room for a rooftop walking path and the illusion of a human-scale entry on the front facade. The second story is designed to match the grade of the upper green space, and the green space can be accessed directly from the building’s second floor, from the second floor green roof, or from an outdoor ramp adjacent to the building. Finally, the building is topped with a butterfly roof to aid in water collection. The overhangs of the roof aid in shading harsh sun.
Pages 05 - 06
outdoor amenities The outdoor amenities of the Nature Discovery Center include: four outdoor classrooms, a demonstration garden, an amphitheater, a ramp between the upper and lower grounds, a playground, community garden beds, a prairie garden, a walking path, and a series of water retention ponds to collect site water runoff.
Pages 07 - 08
level one 16 17 15
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Scale
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1. Lobby 2. Reception 3. Courtyard 4. Cafe 5. Auditorium 6. Gallery 7. Volunteer room 8. Large classroom 9. Classroom 1 10. Classroom 2 11. Classroom 3 12. Outdoor classrooms 13. Office suite 14. Break room 15. Restrooms 16. Mechanical room 17. Mechanical room 2
level two
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1. Reception 2. Greenhouse 3. Conference room 4. Office suite 5. Break room 6. Large office 7. Small office 8. Restrooms 9. Mechanical room 10. Auditorium acoustical space 11. Outdoor seating area
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Pages 09 - 10 east elevation
west elevation
Pages 11 - 12 longitudinal section
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Pages 13 - 14
courtyard
green roof
cafe
Pages 15 -16
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haven University of Kansas Professor Chad Kraus Dirt Works Studio Spring 2022 Dirt Works Studio is a third year design-build studio focused on direct, hands-on engagement with places, materials, and communities. In Spring of 2022, the studio had the tremendous opportunity to partner with the Good Work, a non-profit organization with a mission of providing housing to individuals suffering domestic violence, to create a comfortable and sustainable home while competing in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. During my time in the studio, I assisted in conceptual development, conducted energy analysis, and played a large role in managing specifications for the project and constructing a physical scale model of the home.
Pages 17 - 18 (Photos taken by Jackson Bontty, 3rd year M.Arch, at the University of Kansas)
Pages 19 - 20
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lawrence transit nest University of Kansas Professor Gregory Critchlow Fall 2021
The Lawrence Transit Nest is situated in a compact site within downtown Lawrence, Kansas. The goal of this project was to create a multi-modal transit center with retail, a small grocery store, offices, and temporary boarding units for visiting professors. Although the size of the site presented some challenges, it is located right where it need to be to provide the easiest experience for travelers coming to and from downtown Lawrence. The Lawrence Transit Nest features a clear devision of public and private, with an open-air first level and entries on both Eighth Street and Vermont Street. Slotted floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor allow for fun shadows and a controlled indoor/ outdoor feel. A vertical louver system completely wraps the building on the second and third floors. This plays into the “nest” theme and allows for sun control and some privacy, as most of the exterior walls on these floors are window-walls.
Pages 21 - 22
climatic context
built environment context
Pages 23 - 24
built environment context The site of the Lawrence Transit Nest is situated in a diverse neighborhood with surrounding buildings of a range of typographies. The transit nest’s immediate neighbors include: the Fire Department of Lawrence, KS, The Police Department of Lawrence, KS, the Lawrence Public Library, an office building, and an AT&T building. Each surrounding building not only has a unique function, but a unique style. It was important to take this into consideration when designing the facade of the transit nest. The style of the new building needed to complement the existing fabric of the neighborhood while still creating its own identifiable identity.
Pages 25 - 26
level one LEVEL 1 PLAN LEVEL 1 PLAN
level two LEVEL 2 PLAN 1
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level LEVEL 3 three PLAN 4
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Pages 27 - 28 longitudinal section
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LEVEL 1 PLAN
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Pages 29 - 30
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DETAIL
gravel OSB cap waterproof membrane (0.25”) CLT end cap rigid insulation (3”) 3 ply CLT (4.125”) screening system tie rod anchor plate 3 ply CLT (4.125”) rigid insulation (3”) screening system CLT end cap window wall
window wall
LEVEL 2 PLAN
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CLT end cap anchor plate CLT floor (1’ 2”) screening system 3 ply CLT (4.125”) rigid insulation (3”)
CLT end cap wood panel drop cieling air supply duct window wall
CLT floor top layer (2.75”) CLT connector CLT connector CLT floor layer( 2.75”) CLT floor layer( 2.75”)
LEVEL 3 PLAN
rigid insulation (3”)
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10 CLT floor layer( 2.75”) 3 ply CLT (4.125”) rigid insulation (3”)
3 ply CLT (4.125”) rigid insulation (3”)
CLT connector expansion joint finished concrete floor (1”) unfinished concrete slab on grade (4”) expansion joint concrete wall foundation pea gravel
SECTION
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Pages 31 - 32
corner section detail model This section slices through the corner of the Transit Nest facing Vermont Street and the adjacent building. By doing so, the detail of the building can be best shown. The Transit Nest is constructed of cross-laminated timber (CLT). It has a gravel roof and a concrete spread footing foundation. The materiality, scale, and assembly of the building is displayed in the basswood section model.
Pages 33 - 34
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kaw river hut University of Kansas Professor David Sain Spring 2022 The Friends of the Kaw - a conservation group dedicated to preserving the Kansas River - received a donation of fourteen acres of land along their beloved river and surrounding area. The area is serene and only accessibly by the river. The group would like to sensitively develop the area into a river resource space and a primitive campsite, including accommodations for an artist-in-residence. This hut on the bank of the Kansas River is designed to house artists-in-residence as they document the river and its surrounding area. The requirements for the primitive hut include: a maximum floor area of 160 sq. ft. and the ability for all materials able to be transported to the site via john boat. This fast-paced project, designed collaboratively with a group of four peers, was completed in a building technology class. The hut is minimalistic, yet efficient. It gracefully responds to the challenges posed by its unique site.
Pages 35 - 36
12’ - 11 1/2” x 12’ - 11 1/2” clerestory window
10’ - 9” 7 1/2” LED METAL SHADE PENDANT 3’ - 3/4” x 4’ 3/4” RIGHT HANDED CASEMENT WINDOW
12” DEEP UPPER SHELVES
12” DEEP UPPER SHELVES
3’ - 6”
3’ - 6” 3’ - 3/4” 2’ - 6” COOKTOP
2’ - 6” PORTABLE SINK
24” WIDE UNDERCOUNTER FRIDGE 2’ - 0”
2’ - 9” 1’ - 10”
1’ - 5”
2’ - 6” 1’ - 5”
1’ - 6”
1’ - 3”
interior elevation facing east
1’ - 3”
Pages 37 - 38
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luminance Personal Project Summer 2020 This Japanese-style luminaire was created with the intent of shaping shadow. The wood frame mimics traditional Japanese lanterns. The simple and delicate structure gives a graceful feel and allows full emphasis to be placed on the light screens. The removable and customizable screens each have differently colored patterns inspired by nature. When lit from within, the screens project colorful light patterns onto nearby surfaces. Currently, the luminaire is lit by a bottommounted light bulb. The shadow effects could be customized even more by moving the light bulb to the top of the luminaire and having it project down, or simply by placing the luminaire in different areas and allowing it to cast onto different surfaces.
thank you.