O’Brien Hall: Created graphics for award submissions: AIA Wisconsin Honors Award
Recipient
SCC Milford: Contributed to SD submissions, design iterations, and graphics for client meetings
Cultivate KC: Created graphics for fundraising
Aug 2016May 2020
Blue Valley North High School Overland Park, KS GPA | 4.13
AIAS Member
KU Cycling Club Member 2023Present 2020Present
Mar 2020 Feb 2020
Johnson County Arts Council Finalist 2D Visual Arts | Recipient
Scholastic Art Award Gold & Silver Key Recipient
Rendering
V-Ray, Enscape, Twinmotion, Lumion
Qiyao Li
Associate Principal Skidmore, Owings and Merill qiyao.li@som.com
John Hollenberg
Associate Principal Skidmore, Owings and Merill john.hollenberg@som.com
Matthew Kella
Associate BNIM mkella@som.com
Ridgeline Flats (23)
Fall 2023
705 SE J St, Bentonville, Arkansas
Rosa Verde Secondary School (01)
Spring 2024
Via Santhià, 76, 10154
Torino TO, Italy
Fall 2021
Burcham Park, Lawrence, KS
Kaw River Observatory (73) Professional Work (95)
2023-2024
2023 East Hills, Lawrence, KS Side Table (19)
Rosa Verde Secondary School
The school redefines education with sustainable, inclusive design, merging innovation, community, and flexibility for future-ready learning.
The Italian Ministry of Education initiated the Scuole Innovative Design Competition to solicit innovative ideas for the future of educational infrastructure, culminating in the development of 52 new schools. The Rosa Verde Secondary School project aligns with the competition’s guidelines, aiming to replace an existing facility deemed insufficient in terms of comfort, environmental quality, energy efficiency, and functional adequacy. The new school is designed to embody modern pedagogical approaches, adhere to high-quality standards, and serve as a secure, inclusive, and sustainable structure that meets the evolving needs of its users.
The Rosa Verde Secondary School’s design pursues ten goals centered on sustainability, community integration, and educational innovation. These include using recyclable materials, optimizing energy performance, integrating green spaces, and harmonizing with the surrounding environment. The school will serve as a community hub, feature flexible spaces to support diverse activities, and function as an educational tool to enhance skills and well-being, all while employing advanced technologies for environmental comfort and efficiency.
*Project completed in collaboration with Carson Sevart
Turin, Italy
Professor Francesco Carota Spring 2024
The visual was created using Rhino and TwinMotion.
The picture shows the school yard and west facade.
The façade features strategically placed openings that provide secure, communityaccessible spaces, fostering public connection.
Concept
The school’s entrance is prominently framed by a large opening, which shifts the boundary between interior and exterior spaces into the adjacent green belt rather than the building’s edge. This design feature allows the expansive cutout to function as a public gathering area, enhancing the connection between the school and the surrounding community.
The site’s zoning regulations, including setbacks, a 30% impermeability limit, and a 33’ height restriction, pose design challenges given the program’s scale. The building currently exceeds the impermeability limit by 13%, which is mitigated through water retention and reuse systems used for irrigation of the green roofs and a green corridor, balancing compliance with sustainability.
Zoning
Organization
The school is organized into three interconnected components: the Community Bar, the Student Bar, and the Green Corridor. This design fosters a sense of ownership among students, encouraging extended use of the school’s resources for activities and study. The Community Bar accommodates teacher spaces and communityaccessible areas, creating a permeable façade that integrates the building with its surroundings.
Program
Publicly frequented spaces—like the library, canteen, and gym—are placed near the entrance square for accessibility, while less communityoriented spaces, such as the music room and science lab, are located on the Community Bar’s second level. The lobby and administrative offices are positioned on the north side, adjacent to the parking lot and a secondary entrance, ensuring controlled access and operational efficiency.
CLASSROOMS
CANTINE
The HVAC system is designed around a Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) supported by five fan rooms. This system integrates a chilled beam cooling mechanism, while heating is regulated through a radiant floor system, supplied by hot water from the city’s central plant.
Egress & Circulation
The school incorporates two primary fire-rated staircases, both providing direct egress to the exterior and situated within 120 feet of the building’s farthest point to comply with safety regulations. Secondary circulation occurs within cluster spaces, which link classrooms across grade levels on the upper floor to those on the lower floor.
A cooling tower and chiller work in tandem to manage the cooling process: the chiller generates chilled water, which is circulated through the chilled beams to absorb heat from the indoor air, while the cooling tower dissipates the accumulated heat from the chiller’s condenser water loop into the atmosphere.
Cooling Tower Pump Chiller
DOAS Unit Chilled Beam
HVAC
Cross Ventilation
A key objective of the school’s design was to integrate indoor-outdoor learning environments. This was achieved by incorporating balconies and terraces adjacent to classrooms, creating hybrid spaces that enhance both learning and natural cross-ventilation. These strategic design interventions played a crucial role in promoting passive environmental control, reducing reliance on mechanical systems.
Materiality & Construction
The materials selected for the school were based on their local availability, ease of construction and deconstruction, and sustainability. A steel structure was chosen for its alignment with the region’s steel production and ease of assembly. ETFE was used to create an insulated yet bright interior corridor, while operable triple-pane windows in all rooms allow for user-controlled natural ventilation.
Underfloor Heating
Turin utilizes a district heating system supplied by a centralized plant, making radiant floor heating the most economically and environmentally sustainable option for the school. Given the region’s mild climate, this system alone is sufficient to meet the building’s heating requirements efficiently.
Water Retention
Water retention and harvesting were integral components of the school’s design strategy. The captured rainwater is repurposed for irrigating vegetation within the green corridor and supporting landscaping needs. Additionally, with the inclusion of a dedicated treatment facility, the harvested water can be treated and reused for grey water applications within the building.
PV Array Optimization
Through a generative optimization process using Galapagos inside Grasshopper, numerous roof configurations were systematically tested and analyzed to optimize the energy potential of the solar array. The final design, illustrated below, demonstrates improved efficiency compared to the initial iteration on the left. In addition to optimizing PV potential, the final iteration reorients skylights to face north rather than northeast,
minimizing the risk of glare in classrooms during morning hours, and thereby enhancing visual comfort and functional performance.
Results & Data Usage
The most successful genome exhibited a energy production of 417 kWh. However, its frequency and angular configuration resulted in a building profile that appeared overly aggressive and visually discordant with its surroundings. Consequently, the roof pitch and angle were refined to align more closely with the final design, while the frequency and sawtooth pattern were strategically adapted to better fit the context.
Creating Community
The design intent of the school prioritized fostering a sense of community while simultaneously ensuring the security of the building. Achieving this balance required the implementation of innovative architectural strategies.
The previous school’s grounds were enclosed by a tall metal fence, creating a clear separation
between the school grounds and the public, contributing to a sense of isolation from the surrounding community. To address this, the new school was repositioned to align with the existing streetscape, extending across the length of the site to enhance its engagement with the public realm. The extended façade is interrupted by an outdoor space, integrated within the school’s structure.
By recessing the main entrance, the design establishes a spacious, protected area that facilitates community events and gatherings. This space remains physically connected to the school and functionally distinct, fostering interaction while maintaining security.
Structural Concept
The structural concept arose by investigating Turin’s industrial heritage and contemporary revitalization projects like Parco Dora by Latz + Partner. The design reinterprets the city’s legacy of modular steel structures and expansive spans for an educational program. The structure consists of two steel barns, each 48 feet wide and 336 feet long, organized along a north-south column grid with 28-foot spans between trusses, connected
by a 24-foot-wide Green Corridor. This approach integrates sustainability and functionality while paying homage to Turin’s historic identity of industrial innovation.
*Parca Dora | Latz + Partner
The structural design emerged from a comprehensive analysis of solar array optimization, programmatic requirements, and vernacular form-making. To achieve an affordable and sustainable solution, a modular framework was developed, enabling partial off-site fabrication and rapid on-site assembly through bolted connections.
Utilizing the region’s robust steel production capabilities reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation, while the bolted connections facilitate future reuse and disassembly, aligning with principles of circular economy and long-term sustainability.
Activity and Independence
In the rendering above, the green corridor serves as a connective element between the “classroom barn” on the right and the “amenity/ community barn” on the left. This transitional space fosters independence, providing students with opportunities to socialize, study, and engage in self-directed learning. At this developmental stage, students seek greater autonomy, and the corridor is designed to support this transition
within a structured and secure environment. Extending this concept, the school grounds are organized along a gradient of activity levels, ranging from highly active zones to more passive, contemplative areas. Pathways and benches are seamlessly integrated into the natural landscape, reinforcing the connection between built and ecological environments while promoting student engagement with outdoor spaces.
Sectional Details
Throughout the development of the school, the detailing process remained focused on preserving the clarity of the initial diagrammatic forms. This objective was achieved through strategies such as concealed drainage systems, seamless material transitions, and an emphasis on structural expression. The exploration of these details was closely linked to the iterative process of physical model-making, which served as a tool for testing structural connections, assemblies, and material integration (pg. 18).
Additionally, detailing facilitated a deeper investigation into materiality and interior finishes. In alignment with the emphasis on structural appreciation, design elements such as railings, decking, and terrazzo flooring were carefully selected to maintain the integrity and authenticity of each material’s function.
Further Development
This section of the school, encompassing the library, courtyard, and green corridor, was selected for further development due to its role in connecting the school with the community and integrating the green corridor into the program. As shown in the diagram, this dynamic space fosters interaction between various activities. The library’s first floor, near the entrance, supports active learning with large tables, while the second
floor provides a quieter space for reading. The upper balcony’s connection to the entrance enhances spatial flow, reinforcing the area as a community-facing, porous space.
Physical Model
Constructing a ½” = 1’ physical model of the building provided a deeper understanding of the spatial qualities and physicality of the designed spaces. The inclusion of scale figures further reinforced the perception of room proportions and spatial relationships. This model served as an effective communicative tool, enhancing comprehension of the overall school design among reviewers and peers.
Photography by Hanna Hissa
Side Table
Approach and Inspirations
The table’s design emphasizes a balance of light and shadow, curves, and rigidity, drawing inspiration from Japanese sculptor Sueharu Fukami. Reflecting Fukami’s principles of simplicity and restraint, the table avoids ornamentation to align with his minimalist ideology. Rather than imitating traditional Japanese furniture, the design abstractly represents core principles of simplicity, balance, and functionality.
Lawrence, KS
Professor Tom Huang Fall 2023
The visual on the left was created using Rhino and illustrator
Photography by Hanna Hissa
Wood Species: Cherry and bleached Oak
Machined and hand cut joinery
2’8” x 1’9” x 1’6”
Ridgeline Flats
How can architecture address the challenges of loneliness and the erosion of community associated with high-density residential buildings?
The program is designed to accommodate a diverse range of income levels, ages, and family sizes. The mixed-use spaces are intended to be operated and owned by the building’s residents, fostering a stronger sense of community. Rather than targeting specific individuals, the building aims to serve Bentonville’s population broadly, with a focus on younger, active renters.
The apartment designs align with Bentonville’s predicted demographics, incorporating amenities to meet these needs. The site’s context plays a pivotal role in its programmatic arrangement. Positioned opposite the Walmart campus—soon to feature a tunnel connecting the Razorback Trail under the road—the site also borders the greenway and creek, providing green landscaping on two sides. Its proximity to the residential area to the north further underscores its role as a transitional bridge between neighbourhoods.
Bentonville, AR
Professor Andrew Modrell Fall 2023
The visual was created using Rhino and TwinMotion.
The picture shows the building’s elevation looking west.
The site is zoned as C-1, with a minimum setback of 20 feet, a maximum lot coverage of 50%, and a height restriction of 40 feet. However, this restriction is under reconsideration, as several buildings on the Walmart campus exceed this limit, and there is an effort to increase density in line with the campus expansion. The proposed zoning change is W-4, allowing for a maximum lot coverage of 75%.
Graphic above produced in conjunction with Hanna Hissa
Graphic on the left produced by Hanna Hissa
Icons produced by Hanna Hissa
Site Design and Connectivity
The final site design successfully integrates an interconnected central area that accommodates both a service entrance and concealed parking, positioned away from the main street. This was achieved through the elevation of the greenway, which activates the second layer of the buildings. The north-south passageway links neighbouring areas to the site and extends access to the Razorback Trail along the creek.
Connect Bentonville Via Outdoor Activity Cover Parking with Greenspace
Access to Variable Greenspaces
Minimize Heat Sinks and Runoff
Current Use and Future Potential
Currently, the site is being utilized for the storage of materials related to the construction of the Walmart campus. However, its location and features present significant untapped potential. The site is bisected by a prominent cycling and walking trail, heavily utilized by the local community, further enhancing its strategic importance and potential for revitalization.
As cities undergo rapid expansion, neighbourhoods and communities are often disrupted by high-density residential towers. Research shows that individuals across various income levels report increased feelings of isolation upon relocating to higher-density environments. In contrast, lower-density areas tend to foster a sense of community through incidental interactions and a shared sense of
ownership over the space. In designing the building, the principles of shared space and spontaneous social encounters are integrated through features such as porches and outdoor circulation pathways. These elements are intended to encourage interpersonal interactions and cultivate a sense of ownership among residents over their respective floors.
Conceptual Massing & Iterations
Through the development of thirty forms, ideas were compared and advantages and disadvantages about the theoretical form on the site were created. Three initial forms were then adapted with modifiers to produce thirty unique shapes with a variety of characteristics. These included solar inefficiencies, breeze harvesting, complexity, vernacular in appearance, and a building that nurtures community.
Low density / Community nurturing design
High density / Community nurturing design
Stacked system / Neighbourhood is constructed
U-Shape - Tower O-Shape - Big Tilt
II-Shape - Wavy
O-Shape - Subtract
II-Shape - Subtract
U-Shape - Zig-Zag
Jagged Rocks
Cruise Ship
Cliff Homes
This sectional graphic highlights the relationship between the building, the elevated greenway, and the street. The building’s form transitions seamlessly from public elements to private spaces, such as the courtyard. Mixed-use spaces on the ground floor connect to the street level, while the second floor features tenant amenities and a quiet coffee shop for relaxation and social interaction.
Floor plans
The sloping form enables the creation of a diverse array of apartment types and layouts. The building comprises 40 units, ranging from studios to four-bedroom configurations, featuring unique arrangements such as townhouse-style apartments and artist lofts. The parking allocation, offering 1.5 spaces per unit, ensures sufficient capacity for residents.
The form of the building is a response to the surrounding context. The Building angle balances the program requirements while optimizing the angle for photovoltaics. The green passageways collect and return water to the site to be recycled and used for irrigation on the landscaping.
PHOTOVOLTAICS ARE ORIENTED FOR MAXIMUM EFFICENCY NORHT-SOUTH CROSS VENTILATION THROUGH UNITS
RAINWATER COLLECTION FROM ROOF IS USED FOR LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION
RAISED SETBACK PROVIDES LIGHT AND AIRFLOW
SHARED COMMUNITY GARDENS
This egress diagram shows how the greenway is used as a way of exiting the building safely. The cores are positioned to allow easy entry to the residential program through several small lobbies on the ground and second floor. External stairs help in this regard as another means of entering the building and a way of preventing dead-end corridors.
EXTERIOR STAIR
INTERIOR STAIR
COMMON SPACE
CIRCULATION
EGRESS PATH
Each unit has a fresh air supply and a unit to control the HVAC system. The geothermal system provides cooling for the entire building as well as subsidizes the heating demand in colder months.
FRESH AIR INTAKE
MAIN SUPPLY DUCT
MAIN RETURN DUCT
BRANCH SUPPLY
BRANCH RETURN
AIR HANDLING UNIT
GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMP
DHW TANK
5th FLOOR
Structure Diagram
Illustrated in pink, the mass timber structure contains the residential programming while the concrete base makes use of the larger spans in a mixed-use space which translates down to underground parking.
CONCRETE PLINTH STRUCTURE
MASS TIMBER COLUMN/BEAM
Materials & Mixed-Use Space
The facade of the building is comprised of glazed terracotta tiles. This material breaks up the continuous sides with a randomized pattern.
Shown above is the north side of the building with the transition from the concrete plinth to the terracotta clad apartment program. On the right, the coffee shop located on the west side is shown. This coffee shop embraces the neighbourhood environment the greenway encourages.
Museum of Sensory Art
The Museum’s focus is to provide an accessible museum experience to everyone, no matter a person’s ability or sensory variation.
The museum emphasizes fluid connections with neighbouring institutions through courtyards of varying sizes, designed to accommodate concerts, lectures, and other events. It seeks to enrich the experiences of both locals and tourists, balancing the advantages of linear progression with the flexibility of a meandering path while prioritizing accessibility. This project demonstrates the feasibility of designing a highly inclusive museum environment.
Fort Worth, TX
Professor Kapila Silva Fall 2022
The visual was created using VRay and Photoshop
Positioned across from the MoMA and the Kimbell, the Museum of Sensory Art offers a unique experience to the Fort Worth Cultural District. The Museum’s focus is to provide an accessible museum experience to everyone, no matter a person’s disability or sensory variation. This is achieved through the use of six design principles that are present throughout the museum.
Graphic produced with Rhino VRay
Goal:
To create a singular museum experience by creating inclusivity for all abilities.
Research focused on the following groups: visually impaired, deaf, neurodivergent, and differently abled.
Gallery 1: Experience-based art
The first gallery focuses on art for neurodivergent individuals as well as showcasing neurodivergent artists. This includes artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Anna Berry, and Sean Ahlquist.
Gallery 2: Sculpture
The second Gallery focuses on work that caters to the visually impaired with sculptures that can be touched. Artists such as Michael Naranjo, a visually impaired sculpture which creates work that is meant to physically interacted with.
Gallery 3: Graphic Art
The third gallery focuses on graphic art and places on emphasis on work created by deaf artists. The gallery will tell the stories of different deaf artists and there artistic narrative. In order to make the gallery accessible to the visually impaired, cast of paintings can be experienced through touch as well as a clear audio experience.
Iterations & Models
Through the development of rough models throughout the development of the museum, different forms were experimented with that used the principles of design in varying ways, creating unique experiences for the visitor. Though the developing form came from these principles, the form was adapted to better integrate amongst the MoMa and Kimbell. This also impacted the use of the site.
Bottom Sketch from conceptual
Right Development of the form from the conceptual review to the mid review and the final model.
review
Visual Permeability
To improve navigation, spaces are arranged to lead the occupant through the space. Transparency is used to give the occupant a greater understanding of the building.
Shaping Acoustics
By changing the height of a room and the hardness of materials, the acoustics can be drastically different.
Texture to Guide
Using a variety of materials and textures, the building’s circulation and the purpose of a room can be communicated to the occupant.
Respond to Surroundings
Through the view of the Kimbell when turning into the site, a boundary line was created. This ensures that the view of the Kimbell is left clear. The entrance of the MoMA is reflected in the new museum to join the three museums together.
Respond to Site
The Site has a large tree referred to as the Heritage Tree which existed within the buildable area. A Large courtyard is positioned around the tree.
Public / Private
The Museum’s gallery space is placed on a single story to increase accessibility and create a singular journey for visitors. The private and event space is positioned separately from the building and rotated to create the entrance of the museum.
Auditory Range Continuous Spatial Journey
Creating varying sources of white noise throughout the building helps the occupant better place their location in regard to the source of the sounds.
Creating a singular path improves the occupant’s understanding of the building and allows for a more independent viewing experience.
Ascend/Descend
The use of ramps allows the occupant to better understand the building’s circulation and which paths to take.
Volume Change
The corners of the museum are drawn upwards creating visual and acoustic differences in the critical spaces of the museum.
Visual Permeability
By cutting into the form of the museum, the path of travel is defined to the visitor from the entrance. The courtyards create event spaces and protected community environments.
Ascend/Descend
Using ramps, the journey is defined physically as visitors progress upwards to the main galleries and then back down through the lobby and exit.
Sections
Through these three sections, a few key design concepts are revealed. The change in volume is the clearest. The building program is organized to match these volume changes with the galleries sweeping up as the visitor progresses. The main lobby shares the same expansion as one moves from the entrance to the front desk. The ascension to the main galleries is also seen here which further clarifies the path and defines the circulation for the visitors.
1/40” = 1’
Boiler/Chiller
Contextual Harmony
Situated opposite the Kimbell and the MoMA, the museum’s design needed to harmonize with the scale and sensibilities of its neighbours while asserting its own identity. The Kimbell, designed by Louis Kahn, was the first on the site, followed by Tadao Ando and Renzo Piano, whose designs exemplified respectful integration with the context. These precedents offered a clear framework for a similarly considerate approach.
Drip
The Structure of the Museum is comprised of steel and concrete. The concrete is used for circulation and areas requiring a higher fire rating. The section details show the external and internal materials used. The exterior is clad in perforated recycled aluminum panels and travertine tiles attached with a uni-strut system. The interior courtyards use a double skin facade that vents to the outside. The glass used in the interior has a copper mesh which improves its insulation and controls how much light enters.
CONCRETE STEEL COLUMN/BEAM
Wind & Prairie
Concept
With each represented point, a surface on a volume develops. With every additional point, the visualization of a surface becomes more absolute and continuous. Representation of points exhibits the understanding of geometrical volumes.
Marvin Hall Lawrence, KS
Professor Kurt Hong Spring
In Partnership with Brookelyn Vittitow, Louis Cobb and Kevin Bainter
Design Process
This design build project relied on a completely parametric work-flow and iterative process. The basis for the design relied on the ability to control the rotation of an object by intersecting it with multiple planes. The second concept, and the initial cause for the investigation into the first, was the discovery of creating complex surfaces through a series of points. Shown above this is realized with a sphere becoming more clear through the increase of these points
The initial design was scripted using grasshopper and then modified to produce templates that could be used to CNC the acrylic sheets used as the planes of intersection.
Construction Process
The construction of the sculpture began with using a CNC to cut the precise holes in the acrylic sheets as well as the tabs used to interlock the cube together. Once the layers of the cube were assembles rods with the ends painted of different lengths were places in each slot according to the construction documents produced by the script.
These rods were organized by their length and placed from inside out following an array pattern on three sides and an radial pattern on the top and bottom.
In the initial assignment, our team was tasked with representing a surface through a parametrically defined process. This approach employed the principle of defining an object’s orientation through intersecting planes, further refined using attractor points to simulate the movement of wind through fields. With no allocated budget for materials, we utilized chipboard and repurposed desktops to construct the surface.
Upper Right 4’x4’ work displayed in Marvin Hall
Photographs taken by Kurt Hong
Haskell Welcome Center
The welcome center needed to be multi-functional, economical and appealing to potential future students.
Haskell Indian Nations University is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and offers education to Native American students. The student population of Haskell University sits at around 800 students, therefore a potential welcome center needs to be multi-functional and economical as well as appealing to potential future students. The site chosen for the project sits between a large brick dormitory, the Haskell Memorial Arch, and Barker street, the main road entering the campus.
The building’s placement allows for easy accessibility with handicapped parking close by. The position of the buildings further defines the perimeter of the campus by creating a lawn enclosed by campus buildings. This more clearly separates the campus from the adjacent neighbourhoods. In addition to the welcome center proposal, more walking and biking paths were added to the lawn to increase access to the academic buildings from the dormitories on the north side of the campus. The addition of bicycle racks and a cycling lane on Barker street prioritizes student mobility over traffic to the surrounding neighbourhoods. Through the placement and design of the building, the campus will be more student and faculty focused.
155 E Indian Ave Lawrence, KS
Professor Marie-Alice L’Heureux Spring 2022
The visual was created using SketchUp, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
The diagram shows an aerial cutout of the building and its immediate site.
Program
The program of the building is divided into three parts. Block 1 contains the cafe, welcome desk, and multi-purpose room. All of which will be regularly used by visitors. Block 2 contains all areas needed for administration. It is placed on the first floor for accessibility. Block 3 contains the kitchen and banquet space. This would be used less frequently than the public and administrative areas.
In response to the site and accentuating to the views of the Haskell Memorial Arch, the entry space rotates diagonally allowing the arch to be seen through the building and directly from the entrance and lobby space.
Based on the size and organization of the building, an elevator and two sets of stairs were added to meet the code requirements. A grand stair connects the banquet space directly to the lobby. On the second floor, is a hall between the two means of egress and a study space on the left side of the atrium.
The first-floor facade is a grid pattern of brick creating a contrasting texture to the secondfloor facade and connecting to the heavy use of brick on the Haskell campus. This thicker facade provides privacy for the administrative section as well as quieter rooms on the first floor. The second floor allows for more natural light to reach the lobby and banquet space.
Facade
Circulation
Site
The split facade is the defining feature of the exterior, reflecting the Kansan landscape by mirroring the division of earth and sky. The earthy, textured brick facade on the first floor blends with the rising elevation, harmonizing with the campus’s architectural language while modernizing its use. The brick’s grid pattern transitions seamlessly from solid to perforated, allowing natural light to filter into the interior.
Facade
Materials
The second floor’s design imitates the lightness of the Kansas sky. This facade is used to illuminates the atrium and provide ambient light to the activities happening on the second floor. Heavy insulation is required to counteract the extreme temperature differences in the region. This was achieved through a unique construction of two layers of ETFE which are then vacuum-sealed to create an insulated facade and a unique concave gridded texture. The diagonal bracing is visible and breaks up the parallel lines of the first and second floors.
Kaw River Observatory
The observatory, standing at 144 feet, provides an exceptional view of Lawrence and the surrounding country.
Located in Burcham Park in Lawrence, Kansas, the Kaw River Observatory serves as an educational space for students and a gallery housing Native American art local to the area. The observatory, standing at 144 feet, provides an exceptional view of Lawrence and the surrounding country. The building also offers access to the water by providing boat storage and a dock for the community and visitors.
The observatory’s design reflects a frequently occurring Kansan site - industrial mills rising from the otherwise flat prairie. The industrial style of the building serves to make the structure look lightweight while the glass helps blends into the landscape by reflecting the sky to not dominate the skyline. The building’s minimal program made it possible to position all offices and classrooms higher on the central tower, providing views for all occupants year-round. The interior program is made up of three floors with clear public and private sections as well as an upper gallery. The top floor has a large deck with stairs that turn out creating a sense of arrival.
Burcham Park, Lawrence, KS Professor John Trefry Fall 2021
The visual was created using Rhino, Vray, and Photoshop.
The picture shows the aerial view looking southeast.
Composition
The theme of this design focused on architectural details such as the arrangement and fixture of the glass and the bracing and framework of the tower. The concrete base has cut textures to contrast the steel framework.
The industrial form the building takes is contrasted with the soft and subtle way natural light passes through the building. The sandblasted glass diffuses light inside during the day. The main occupancy space faces north to preserve cooler temperatures and softer light.
The rooms are encased in the sandblasted glass revealing the blocks inside as well as the staircase. The courtyard creates a ring of light on the ground level which under lights the rest of the building.
Axonometric view
Above Interior courtyard and gallery
Elevators continue to the lower levels granting alternative access to those who wish to avoid the
and are interested in using the
Up to twelve kayaks are storable on the bottom level near the dock. These are rentable and easily accessible to the public with convenient placement for departing and docking.
stairs
dock.
Kayak Storage
Accessible Boat Dock
Circulation
The stairs and elevator are accessible from the courtyard or the outer enclosed perimeter on the opposite side. This provides shelter in harsher conditions for staff and visitors.
Gallery Space
The entrance is accessible via stairs or a ramp that feeds into the hallway on the perimeter. The climate-controlled perimeter hall has the ability to showcase art or other displays that are rotated throughout the year.
Didactic Shelter
Concept
Robin Wall Kimmerer’s idea that ‘paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world’ informs this design, which distinguishes nature from the man-made. The structure directs the occupant’s attention to the grasslands through half-cut walls that align with eye level, creating a balance between exposure and safety. The floating box design minimizes disruption to the prairie’s plane. The site was selected for its representation of the Kansas plant biome, and proximity to large gathering spaces.
E1150 Rd & Farmer’s Turnpike, Lawrence, KS
Professor Marie-Alice L’Heureux Spring 2022
The visual was created using SketchUp, Vray, and Photoshop. The image shows the
Design
The visuals convey the serenity of the environment and the experience of inhabiting the space as an observer. The design balances enclosure and openness through the interplay of solid surfaces and the structure’s permanence. Emphasizing the horizon, the alignment of the walls and grasses is carefully framed when seated on the bench. This approach contrasts with the conventional associations of roadside shelters, fostering a more contemplative and immersive experience.
Embracing Contingencies
This project’s complexity necessitated diverse approaches to align its conditions with the desired vision.
The foundation of this project was a fundamental breakdown of traditional practices and restrictions. The brief aimed to demonstrate the arbitrariness of traditional architectural forms by following steps that created randomness and patterns in both three-dimensional and twodimensional forms. A site landscape was created using stained paper and a replicated pattern. The repeated homes are created from both plan and elevation cuts of a found animal model with the specified room dimensions in cubes and cylinders. These were then stacked to create these two-story homes. Other elements like telephone poles and billboards were required to add further variation to the environment.
The complexity of this project required many different approaches and processes to transform the conditions of the project into the desired vision. The final form realizes the success of the brief as it achieves a unique and nontraditional vision of architecture.
3100 Michigan St. Lawrence, KS
Professor John Trefry Fall 2021 The visual was created using Rhino and VRay.
Organic Geometry
The project relied on a set of rules to create geometry and forms that are non-traditional and unexpected.
Intersect
Standard geometries are intersected with the model and sections were taken from this new model seen below.
Resulting shapes:
Adapt
The shapes created from the section were adapted into habitable space with rooms, doors, and windows.
Assemble
The Final assembly stacked these plans.
Stain & Pattern
The staining process was the most unusual method of creating randomness. In this scenario, the randomness adds to the believability that it is a landscape. The stain was created using ink, coffee, and oil. The pattern is used to contrast with the buildings and balance out their heavy organic feel. The pattern’s intricate detail created a further completion of the landscape and helped give the building scale.
Land-Water Connection
The generative drawing process allowed for natural and detailed forms that would not be limited by computer modeling or rendering.
The simplicity of the project brief allowed for heavy experimentation with process, design, and presentation. The building serves as a potential landmark for the city and a site to visit. The generative drawing process allowed for natural and detailed forms that would not be limited by computer modeling or rendering. The final design is reminiscent of an earthwork as it creates its own pier that stretches over the river. The experience is alien as the shapes cast unusual shadows across the pier and water. The translucent aspects help to create unexpected highlights.
Burcham Park Lawrence, KS
Professor John Trefry Fall 2021
The visual was created using pen on paper and Photoshop
Generative Drawing
The project brief had very few restrictions, which leaving room for experimentation and nontraditional methods of designing and visualizing. In this generative drawing process, ideas that could not easily be computer modeled or stylized were expressed.
Texture, pattern, and repetition all played a large part in the formation of the design with grids and openings being expressed on complex surfaces. Other forms like spirals and chimneys were drawn for the potential interaction with rising waters. This drawing acted as a language to guide subsequent iterations. The use of non-traditional materials and techniques resulted in a very different design than other projects. This project exists as a study of a specific set of steps to create unique designs.
Development
The drawings were formed through estimations from the base drawing’s perspective with relative heights. All drawings were related to one another in scale with identical heights for sculptural elements. The front elevation depicts the tall and narrow opening letting in a long ray of light that reflects in the interior space. This can be seen in the section with the stream of light defining the height and scale of the space.
This section drawing shows the approach to the large sculptural shape. The gradual rise in the scale of the surrounding elements signifies the approach. The section further depicts the experience of the compression and expansion with the low hallway entrance and the quickly rising main space.
Professional Work
Working at BNIM in Kansas City and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in New York City has allowed me to apply my education to real-world projects and expand my skillset.
Through my experience at both SOM and BNIM, my understanding of how my education transfers into the professional realm has grown. My skillset has improved greatly from these experiences and my confidence in my design ability has also improved. The selected works show the material I produced for clients and the design studies I worked on. My experience taught me how to work under pressure, work collaboratively, and design for someone else. In this environment, my knowledge and skills grew much quicker. I continued to take on more responsibility in my role by excelling in the tasks I had been given.
I collaborated with a team on a six-week proposal for a spa in the UAE. The project deliverables included a series of renders conveying the conceptual intent, along with stylized sections and floor plans designed to enhance the feasibility of the design and support cost estimation.
My responsibilities encompassed model management and the design of key spaces, which were subsequently rendered and presented to the client. Additionally, I participated in design meetings, contributing to discussions on floor plans, sections, and visual materials. This process involved iterative reviews with the project partner and rapid design adjustments to align with feedback.
Left: Main Entrance
Top Right Rain Room
Center Right: Mud Room
Bottom Right: Mist Room
Project Involvement
I contributed primarily to the design of the Construction Technologies Center for Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska. My involvement spanned the Schematic Design (SD) phase and the initial stages of Design Development (DD). I engaged in various design and diagrammatic studies for client presentations, including the conceptualization of the front entrance vestibule, material and façade
explorations for the screen and ground-floor panels, as well as the screen design for the work yard. Additionally, I conducted interior design studies, renderings, and layout testing to evaluate spatial configurations and optimize functionality.
Ground Floor
2nd Floor
Isaac Decker
Project Involvement
This project is a school and campus in Florida. I contributed to the initial competition phase, which culminated in a successful bid, and subsequently participated in the conceptual design phase of this half-billion-dollar project. My responsibilities included conducting precedent research, programming, case studies, design iterations, 3D modeling, and rendering.
I played a significant role in preparing materials for client meetings, such as site diagrams, renderings, building diagrams, and floor plans. Additionally, I had the opportunity to present my design proposals to the project partner for review and discussion. These designs were further refined and shared with the client during meetings. The renderings on the left showcase façade design options that I modeled and rendered for client review, while the image on the right highlights a façade I designed and modeled, which was rendered externally.
*Render not produced by Isaac Decker
Project Development
During client reviews, an additional building was requested to complement the primary structure. With a condensed timeline, five design iterations were developed, each accompanied by interior and exterior renderings. One of the two iterations I designed was selected for further development.
The north elevation of the building is depicted below. The top-right rendering illustrates the roof canopy and screen design I completed, along with landscaping elements. The center-right image highlights the connection between the additional building and the primary structure, while the bottom-right rendering showcases the west-side drop-off area and the lobby interior.
Left: Courtyard
Top Right Street View
Center Right: Main Entrance
Bottom Right: Drop-off
Personal Work
Mixed Media
Pursuing my interests in art, I’ve worked in many mediums and explored several styles. Here I have featured a still life produced during a Kansas City Art Institute class. This work was an exploration of textural contrast and working at larger scales as the piece measures 5ft in height.
The visual on the right was created using ink, charcoal, and collage techniques.
