DTS
ABOUT
Hello! I am a fourth-year Architecture student at Cal Poly Pomona specializing in Grasshopper scripting and rendering. I am originally from New England. I am passionate about historic architecture preservation and architectural theory.
CONTACT
(832).680.9624
Destiny.Thomson@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/dtshenarc
Claremont, CA
DTShen.myportfolio.com
SKILLS
Rhino3D
Revit Archicad AutoCAD
TwinMotion, V-Ray, Lumion Adobe Suite
REFERENCES
DR. SASHA ORTENBERG aortenberg@cpp.edu
ANDREW LORDS adlords@cpp.edu
T.SGT TRAVIS WALLACE travis.wallace83@gmail.com
PORTFOLIO
ARCHITECTURE INTERN
EDUCATION
2021 – 2026
Bachelor of Architecture
CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY--POMONA, 3.5 GPA
2019 – 2021
Associates of Arts - Science, Math & Engineering with Honors
2012 – 2014
Associate’s of Arts - Pashto with Honors
EXPERIENCE
Nov 2018 – Sep 2019 - North America
INTERN, ARCHITECTURAL EXPERIENCE PROGRAM
EPIC DESIGN-BUILD, INC.
I use AutoCAD for drafting and correcting redlines, contribute to project design, write contracts, estimate construction projects, coordinate subcontractors, manage communication among team members, participate in field visits, coordinate with city hall for permits, and support client meetings.
Nov 2018 – Sep 2019 - North America
PHOTOGRAPHER
DESTINY THOMSON-SHEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Owned a portrait and event photography business. After the military, took sabbatacal to travel 10,000+ miles across North America by camper van, capturing stunning landscape and wildlife imagery from Maine’s coast to Alaska’s peaks
Nov 2012 – Nov 2018 - Augusta, GA
CRYPTOLOGIC LINGUIST
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
Leveraging fluent Pashto and advanced analytical skills, thwarted significant terrorist operations through real-time translation of audios, leading to interceptions exceeding 10,000 metric tons of heroin and arrests of top leadership across Al-Qaeda, Taliban, and ISIS. Delivered critical intelligence to key government officials, including the President, while maintaining a comprehensive leadership map and predicting future actions of these organizations.
AWARDS
Defense Language Institute Dean’s List, DLI Commander's Letter of Recognition for Outstanding Pashto Language Skills, Fort Gordon Commander's Letter of Commendation for community service, National Security Agency Counter Narcotics Commander's Outstanding Performance coin, Director of National Security Agency Georgia's Letter of Recognition for Outstanding Performance, Marksman’s Ribbon , Outstanding Unit Award: three awards, Good Conduct Medal
Destiny Thomson-Shen
5000 Sq. Foot Tower, 2023
Original Structure Studies, 2023
Architecture School, 2023
Pershing Square Design Proposal, 2022
Every Day Objects, 2021
Architectural Visualizations
Photography - Selected Works
5000 Sq. Foot Tower, 2023
To preserve the National Forest site atop Mt. Wilson, this building soars upwards.
Condensed and minimal, a single 200 square foot dorm room inhabits each floor and expands infinitely through its bold views of the Los Angeles Valley and Mt. Wilson Observatory. They rest upon laboratories and offices whose views turn towards the oak forest in quiet reflection.
2 / Left
Exterior Render Rhino, Grasshopper, Vray, Adobe Photoshop
Site Plan and First Floor
Rhino 3D, Archicad
Section and Assembly
Rhino 3D, Vray, Adobe Photoshop
Floor Plans and Section Archicad
Structure and Assembly Diagrams
Physical Model
Laser cut corrugated cardboard, Laser cut bass wood, Custom Grasshopper nesting script
Original Structure Studies, 2023
Single Point Suspension Bridge
Rhino 3D, Revit, Rhino Inside Revit - Grasshopper
Cantilever Enclosure Assembly
Rhino 3D, Revit, Rhino Inside Revit - Grasshopper
Architecture School, 2023
Abstract forms made of glass, corrugated plastic, and concrete house spacious architecture studios.
Intersecting and interacting: This facade is created from a collection of partis arranged vertically in the meter of a poem by a Grasshopper algorithm. Shaded, obscured, and open the building transforms from day to night.
Exterior Render Rhino, Grasshopper, Vray, Adobe Photoshop
Rendered Curtain Wall Assembly
Rhino 3D, Vray, Adobe Photoshop
Pershing Square Design Proposal, 2022
The sinuous building perches above the park and acts as a community center as well as an outdoor shelter.
Rendered Site Plan
Rhino, Grasshopper, TwinMotion, Adobe Photoshop
The building is designed to mimic the different parts of a river, flowing, eddying, and swirling. It arcs above the park to create a journey from foot to summit to foot again. This community center houses a lobby, a library, workshop spaces, a cafe, office spaces, a library, four artists’ residences, art galleries, and a theater.
Rendered Interior, Workshop Rhino, TwinMotion, Adobe Photoshop
Every Day Objects, 2021
This design is based on grocery store items: A siracha bottle, a can, and a cream cheese box. Together they create a sun filled museum
The museum is perforated throughout by apertures that mimic the contours of the assembled shapes. The apertures are on 3 sides of the building so that the sun changes the experience of the structure throughout the day.
Right /
Exterior Render Rhino, TwinMotion, Adobe Photoshop
Household Items
Rhino, Adobe Illustrator
Illustrated Sections Rhino, Adobe Illustrator
Interior Render Rhino, TwinMotion, Adobe Photoshop
A decade of photography experience helps me create impactful renders.
Pink Marble and Sandstone Rhino, Twinmotion, Adobe Photoshop
Above: Midnight, Below: Rain Rhino, Twinmotion, Adobe Photoshop
Illustrations
Architectural Intern Design
Portfolio
Rhino 3D, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
Banf National Park
Sony A7-II, 50mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/500s
36 frame HDR composite
Landscape Photography
Red Fox
Sony A7-II, 560 mm, f/8, ISO 640, 1/1000s
Eagle Nest
Sony A7-II, 560 mm, f/8, ISO 1000, 1/1000s Mountain Goat
Sony A7-II, 354 mm, f/8, ISO 320, 1/1250s
Architectural design Portfolio
Destiny Thomson-Shen
Architectural Intern