Boys + Girls Club - Richland County, MT This is a project produced during the Community Design Center at Montana State University in 2015. We collaborated with the leaders of the local Richland County Boys and Girls Club (BGC). The process initiated with program development, site analysis and simple massing models. The goal of the overall design was to produce a safe space which was able to grow with the current economic prosperity in the region. We also focused on creating a design that worked with the community needs and the design needs of these incredible children. Digital Tools: ArchiCAD, Photoshop, Illustrator & Sketchup.
Site Analysis & Restrictions
Plan Progression & Flow Development
Eastern View
Data was gathered through a series of in person meetings where I developed the flow and usage patterns used to inform my final layout. This project was an incredible opportunity as I was able to interact with the people who would benefit from the ultimate design of my capstone. During meetings with community members and parents, my design continually adapted based on their input and feedback. My learning was amplified as I incorporated client comments and integrated them into a successful design process.
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WaterHaus - Bozeman, MT Bozeman is anticipating the population to double over the next 25 years. Our team conducted an impact analysis and found need in the current waste water system. After examining how bozemanites live and play currently we determined a multi story high-rise was not an optimal solution relating to social and economic factors. Ultimately our goals shifted to focus on better understanding how this facility could serve the growing community and it’s future needs. Our project focused on creating a no-impact dense community through the cleaning and supplying of water to a defined area and ultimately aimed to turn grey-water into potable v water while creating community spaces. Group Members: Lee Elder, Nick Kosenkranius & Beth Schmiesing
My primary area of research on this project was focused on the technical functioning of the treatment system. How does wastewater enter the site.? What systems are used to treat waste water? After my analysis was completed I recommended a Living Building approach using natural elements to purify the water. The treatment tanks were the most intensive section of our building design. The sludge enters the treatment tanks and is filtered with sand, rocks, and plants. Each tank has a unique design to allow water to enter and be filtered in a progressive manner.
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Public Library - Seattle, WA After visiting Seattle, and seeing the massive homeless population, I was moved to develop a library with clear social context. My work began by emailing a youth homeless shelter and asked them to express what home means to them through drawing. I sent them paper materials and received 15 drawings in return. With that information I developed a program that was designed to meet the needs of a diverse population. Through initial research and site analysis I began to establish usage times for the different types of patrons. The library encourages all day research - this area is the furthest from the front door. Kids are encouraged to explore their secluded play land. Seattle’s Homeless have designated shelter in the Eastern area of the library - with it’s own entrance. A space directly to the West of the public entrance is complete with computers, periodicals, and safe public restrooms. There are also plenty of computers and periodicals in the far Western part of the Library. The sections of the library are connected by a ramp in the center of the structure, this ramp is the tallest part of the structure, letting light filter into all the sections. I found this project incredibly rewarding. My process continued to evolve through sketching, then moving to models that visualize ADA ramps and heights, to then abstracting forms while envisioning materials. This process utilized a combination of physical and digital models. Connecting with a social issue that rocked my 20 year old soul - then designing each element within the library that would take a small step in correcting a specific social issue was an incredible opportunity. Discovering materials, how to connect and unify them, was a growing process for a developing student.
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Digital Tools Used: Revit, Rhino & Photoshop
Process Models 11 12
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1) This is the first physical model built for the project, it follows a rough sketch of potential massing on the site. The individual sticks represent the slope of an ADA ramp, exploring how tall the building needed to be if there were just one continuous ramp. This aided in deriving building heights.
Second Floor Plan
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2) After abstracting a form from the ramp study model, I began to separate sections and visualize varying height for room differation. During this stage I began to assign program and square footage allotments, these forms have a relative square footage associated to their need.
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First Floor Plan
3) The wooden center in image 2 was a connector, allowing me to build the model. The center then transformed into the main circulation for the building. This model is split in the center allowing one to view the benefit of varying level rooms. It also allows one to see beauty when the roof planes intersect the circulation. It adds adventure to finding ones preferred area of study.
4) Finished Model - this is the final design for the library. Through the use of study models I was able to assess material changes, heights, and provide finite reasons for decisions made during the design process.
Roof Plan 1-Computers 2-Periodicals 3-Check-Out 4-Staff Offices 5-Book Drop 6-Kids 7-Restrooms 8/9/11-Stacks 10-Homeless Shelter 12-Study & Research Tables
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Co-Housing - Pete’s Hill, MT This project is located in the heart of Downtown Bozeman, MT and is aimed to create co-housing for the artistic youth and young parents of the community. My design focused on an urban unit with multiple layouts . The goal was to follow the archetype of homes near Pete’s Hill, and utilize the Public Library in the area. This projects design is partially below ground, to preserve the skyline, but has enormous translucent windows that allows daylight for the residents. These windows had a dual purpose in creating a screen of action that is conveyed to those in the nearby public park.
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2nd Year Explorations Tree House
Watercolor
Tools Used: Graphite, Watercolor, Ink & Revit
Ink on Velum
Shade Shadow Study
Schroder House - Graphite
Urban Infill - Graphite & Ink
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Morocco Sustainable Development I was incredibly fortunate to work in the Zawiya Ahansal region of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco to produce as built drawings of the historical Ighermin’s (traditional fortified grainaries and saints’ houses). We became intimately familiar to the Ighermin drawn on the right. Each day for almost 20 days we traveled into the Ighermin to measure and record to produce as built drawings to then submit to the Ministry of Culture. Our aim was to preserve these ancient buildings. I developed strong relationships to community and families within, which continue on to this day. The people I met assisted me in learning Arabic and Berber, I then continued to study Arabic at MSU. I have returned to the village and the families I met there in 2012 and 2015 and I know I will return again, as I am now a part of the community. Historic Preservation 2012 Independent Travel 2015
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Activism & Leadership Leadership
Sustainability
I recieved an award for Leadersip in the profession in 2012. After taking action with the campus wide recycling efforts, I began to be involved with campus clubs. Loving the work that was being done, I soon joined the boards of the Network of Environmentally Conscious Organizations (NECO) and later became the President. During this time my main goals were to increase awareness about our organization and foster relationships with our members, championing them to lead on their own projects. Wanting to become more active in the School of Architecture I joined AIAS and after working closely with board members, I became the President in 2012. During my work with AIAS I aimed to reignite the passion and awareness for leadership in our profession. We dialed in the spending and increased conference attendees and embraced the students and their wants. I strived to create an organization that was open and welcoming to all of the students. We worked with disciplines across the campus to create a more wholistic group of designers. I was asked to speak at several events throughout my time at MSU. I spoke at a Train Day Rally with community members from the Northside of Bozeman. This rally aimed to engage community members about the value of public transportation. Touching on economic, personal, and state wide benefits. If Montanans say “YES” that changes everything! We are a proud, loud, and independent state! I also spoke at the Montana Environmental Student Association Conference in Helena, MT. Speaking on a panel of Environmental Activists on personal engagement extending through to community engagement. We also touched on current struggles facing Montana and solutions we can each take part in. My favorite part of leadership within these different groups was connecting students to areas of the community, and watching as students grow and evolve their areas of interest. Taking a step back and helping students realize their own confidence in matters as simple as expressing their opinion!
Starting as a Freshman in 2008 at Montana State, sustainability has always been a personal priority. In the dorms I was elected as the Sustainability Representative, I assisted in Sustainable Event Practices ensuring we reduced waste and recycled. If there was food, students were encouraged to bring their own glasswear. I worked with fellow students in creating a Dorm-Wide Recycling Program! We passed the Recycling budget through each Dorms Residence Hall Advisors. In 2008 only 3 of the 8 dorms were Recycling. By 2010 all dorms were participating. I began working at the ASMSU Sustainability Center. A center created with our peers, was funded through student support, the Sustainability Center is in charge of campus wide recycling, sustainability awareness and events, and finding innovative solutions to meeting our Climate Action Plan goals! Free lunches open to the student population to become more informed on current issues. Each Luncheon typically had a panel of experts to help steer the conversation. I planned and facilitated each luncheon. Lunch Topics: Heavy Haul, discussing the impact of the Canada Tar Sands and the trucks transporting oil. Climate Action Plan (CAP), informing students and faculty alike on MSU’s goal for climate neutrality. Guest speakers aided in the discussion. Talking Sustainability, buzz words, when and when not to use them. How to communicate between Ranchers and Climate Activists when discussing the same thing - climate change. Train Travel in MT, what will it take to get rail transportation up and going in the State of Montana? A campaign to remove Styrofoam from Montana State University. After several years, we were able to change policy and change styrofoam containers to compostables.
Education
World Travel
Working with different organizations about town to create educational programs that would reach children about topics such as sustainability, gardening and architecture. One project was the Bozone Ozone Bus, operated through the Bozeman Youth Initiative. This was a dream project, starting in 2008 a highschooler had the vision of a greenhouse bus that traveled to the schools and teaches kids about growing your own food, while covering science topics required by the state of Montana. This project came to fruition with the help of an incredibly diverse team. I aided in the design development, bus space programing, and teaching the kids. Another incredible project was Raise the Roof, and exhibit at the Museum of the Rockies all about architecture. We started developing lesson plans to teach children ages K-5. Asking the kids, what is an architect, ? or how does a truss work? They would answer with the most insightful things, and we would help steer their questions in a productive manner. The museum loved the program so much AIAS has been going back to provide lessons and student teachers since 2012. As mentioned in the Sustainability column, I also designed and lead Sustainability Luncheons. The main goal here was to create a language excepted by the diverse campus population, yet still having an impact on specific topics. More can be read in the Sustainability column.
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world several times. In 2010 I was able to travel through Germany & Austria for about 25days. This was a family trip, I was the youngest at age 10 and my great grandmother was the oldest at age 80. Four generations of Nietfelds joined us on this journey. In 2008 I graduated Highschool and took off to German, France and Estonia. The first four weeks were in Germany, developing my language skills with a host family and going to school. From there I spent two weeks in France with a non-profit learning how to provide aid with lasting impact. I ended my trip in Estonia spending four weeks with a family. Using the knowledge gained in France, I was able to work for a similar non-profit and provide my language skills. During this trip I was able to continue my studies of German, develop strong conversational Estonian, and glean phrases in French and Russian. In 2012 with the School of Architecture I journeyed to Morocco, more of which can be read about on page 15, during this trip I was able to develop basic Arabic and Berber language skills. During this trip I was studying the impact of architecture throughout non-profit work and problem solving skills. Our work with the school lasted 5 weeks and I embarked on independent travel for 6 more weeks. 2015 brought me into a new age of traveling, the leader. I embarked on a four week trip with my 13 year old sister. Just the two of us traveled to Italy, Spain and Morocco. My goal with Abby was to enhance her independence and broaden her world view. We returned to the village in Morocco I lived for a month. This was an incredible gift to watch my sister grow and change throughout our travels. She has a knack for Arabic, too!
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