C ontext A R C H I T E C T U R A L
Highlights Portfolio Architect Eric Byrne Comments on
Good Architectural Design The Most Technical Art
Process of Design Limitations are Opportunities
Importance of Exposure Designing from Experience
The Byrne Identity
Portfolio of Works Examples
Good Architectural Design Architect Eric Byrne was asked to judge the 2013 American School and University Design Awards. He was asked to describe what makes for good Architectural Design. Eric has designed a wide array of building types under a diverse set of programs during his over 20-year career in architecture. These projects include Banks, K-12 school buildings, performing-arts centers, administration buildings, commercial retail, multi-screen theaters, and custom residential homes. Eric responds to the community and the immediate environment with an even-handed integration of each project’s unique requirements. Eric completed both Master of Architecture and Master of Civil Engineering degrees from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign in 1993. He combines his educational background with an overarching artistic organic design sensibility. His projects have received several design awards. Rather than respond to a project design with random elements of renewable architecture, Eric believes that commendable design stems from the balance between modern building approaches, and the challenges imposed by the limits of location, budget, and circumstance. “I grew up in a very artistic and creative family. Both my parents were art teachers and from this aesthetic foundation I have built my understanding of what good design embodies. All the steps it takes to realize a building come out of considered decisions along the way. Every line on the page should have a reason for being there. Architecture is the most technical of the arts.� http://asumag.com/interior-design/meet-2013-educational-interiors-showcase-jury
The Process of Architecture 1st National Bank ~ Shawnee, KS Blending corporate image with community requests all on a budget in a highly visible location
A project is a process. It is the combination of several design elements that is then reď€ ned so as to optimize the resulting building. There are always pressures that effect and mold a project in ways contrary to the program intent. The skilled Architect produces plans that will result in a building that does not make these limitations obvious. All restrictions imposed by time, site, budget, the client or even building codes should be seen as opportunities to produce a creative solution. The process of reď€ nement is an organic response to all these pressures. The building will exhibit this natural expression.
Early computer renderings of this adaptive reuse plan were so well liked that it deď€ ned and spurred new development in the area all using colors and materials taken from the community
All aspects of this project were the work of Eric Byrne Recent images of site provided by Google
The Importance of Exposure In real estate it is location, for a building it is context and for an Architect it is the importance of exposure that matters. Cultivating and building on ones exposure to the world helps to provide a deeper understanding of how people and the spaces they create interact. Having a wide range of exposure and reference points from which to draw inspiration makes for a more efcient, reasoned and signicant design. Experience is the knowledge gained by exposure to the world.
Mont St. Michel, France By special arrangement the photo is taken from the topmost spire.
Mykonos Harbor, Greece Award winning photo the result of hiking the hills near this Aegean harbor.
A home on the Bear Run river, PA
Monticello, Illinois Allerton Park gardens and statuary create unexpected formality in the prairie.
Author’s boyhood home in Carmel, IN
All images by Eric Byrne - Mykonos Harbor 2nd place winner of Kansas City Star Travel Photo contest
ERIC BYRNE : ARCHITECT
about.me/ericbyrne
Senior Project Architect Department of Labor Equivalent Level Architect 4 to 5
Website Portal
contact@ericbyrne.info e-mail
EB
HISTORY
THE
1987
BYRNE IDENTITY
1989-90
Graduation Carmel High School, IN Top Art student 2 years running Indiana AIA design contest 2nd place One-year study in Paris, France
1993 Masters of Architecture Masters of Science - Civil Engineering
1994 Intern Architect - IDP & NCARB
“One of the best architects I have ever worked with.”
1998 Passed Architectural Registration Exam at rst opportunity - age 29 Registered Architect - Kansas
Amy Dill LEED AP A.L.Huber General Contractor
2002 Project Architect
2012 Senior Project Architect
Technical Skills Years Exposure O=2 yrs Eric brings together client concepts 2D & 3D AutoCAD - REVIT OOOOOOOOOOOO-OOOO and expectations with strong, 3D modeling - SketchUp OOOOOOOOO-OOOOO concise, and thoughtful design Microsoft Office Products OOOOOOOOOOOOO solutions. He is known for inclusive Adobe Image Programs OOOO project programming, creating Corel Image Programs OOOOOOOOOOO artwork and 3D renderings for client Photography OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO interpretation, and attaining a ART Drawing & Painting OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO successful framework for an outstanding project run. Eric applies INTERESTS PERSONALITY ACTIVITY his artistic approach to all work to Photography Introspective Photo Albums produce a creative and distinct Drawing Intuitive Cartooning identity to every project. He is Cooking Thoughtful Gastronomy successful in relating to a wide variety Travel Perceptive Video of clients, resulting in praise and Reading Biking / Hiking repeat business. Computers Dog Time Myers-Briggs Type INTP
All images by Eric Byrne - 3D MRI rendering - Kansas City Skyline photo - Cooking
- Sketching & Cartoons - Family time with the dogs
Project Examples Kansas City Convention Center Hotel Hazel Grove Elementary Mark Twain Elementary Olathe Medical Center Pavilion Cinemark Theater GAGE Center & Jessica Corner Thomas Edison Elementary McKinley School
Main Lobby Entry
Loews: Kansas City Convention Center Hotel Building size - 23 oors, 818,000 s.f. Budget $350 million Role - Associated Local Architect
800 Rooms Finished April, 2020 Loews Hotels
Acting as the local architectural team leader allowed for a stronger and more responsive treatment of all the visible building treatments, curtain wall, detailing, and physical connections to the surrounding convention center as well as the street scape. This project participation generated stronger design solutions, facilitating municipal interactions, and made direct design modiď€ cations in response to client needs, city requests, and construction discoveries. All images were part of publicly distributed project announcments
South Elevation
West Elevation
Loews: Kansas City Convention Center Hotel Being able to make such a major contribution to the local skyline placed added emphasis and appreciation on what Architecture can accomplish, beyond just the act of creating a new building. The city fabric, the experiences of people, and quality of the urban environment is improved.
“A wonderful new school building� Kansas City Mayor Mark Holland 1974 alum of the original school
Hazel Grove Elementary School Building size 74,035 sf Budget $15.3 million
545 Students, K-5 Finished August, 2013 Kansas City Public Schools USD 500
This new school replaced an aging facility located on the same site which remained in operation during construction. Challenges for the project included a hilly site and realizing a much larger building on limited acreage. A short construction window necessitated the use of precast wall panels however this allowed for the inclusion of stylized tree motifs and hazel nut tree artwork. Community response was enthusiastic with student enrollment and new families moving into the district now on the increase.
Hazel Grove Elementary School School colors and themes borrowed from the namesake hazel nut tree are used throughout and at different scales to produce engaging spaces and a naturalistic feel sympathetic to the wooded site. Natural sunlight is directed into the media center using solar tubes with adjustable lenses which allow for dimming.
1922
Mark Twain Elementary School Building size 45,200 sf Budget $10 million
325 Students, K-5 Finished August, 2013 Kansas City Public Schools USD 500
Located within a historic preservation district surrounding the landmark Wyandotte High School in downtown Kansas City Kansas this new elementary replaced an old and well-worn school. The challenges of a tight urban site, heightened scrutiny by city historic preservation groups and intense neighborhood attention combined to produce a program and design that engaged and respected the rich contextual history while creating a modern school with a strong anchoring presence. Wyandotte High School
Mark Twain Elementary School School colors and themes reference subtle elements from Samuel Clement’s life and stories. Riverboat paddlewheels, wood details, antique color references and even details taken from his home move through the spaces.
Native Plantings Water Conservation Local Building Supplies Recycled Content Low Emitting Materials Digital Documents
Architect’s Rendering
Olathe Medical Center - The Pavilion LEED Gold Certied
Advanced Imaging Center
“The hospital was able to turn conventional wisdom on its head - that going green automatically means big bucks. The project came in $4 million under budget.” ~ Lucretia Craig, chief imaging ofcer for Olathe Heath System.
“The Pavilion” Named by the Architect
Olathe Medical Center - The Pavilion Building size 42,000 sf - phase 1 Budget $14.8 million LEED Gold Certied
Advanced Imaging Center Operational October, 2009 Olathe Medical Center, Olathe Kansas
This focal point facility for Olathe Medical Center was the rst LEED certied medical building in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Designed to be eyecatching with an emphasis on natural forms and a lodge appearance the Medical Center wished to consolidate their advanced imaging services. The exterior design was selected out of several submitted and the privilege of naming the center went to the designer.
“Great theater design that keeps up with technology... well set up concessions and even a grill in the lobby... my go to theater� - Jason Y. from YELP!
Cinemark 20 Theater - Merriam Kansas Building size 89,300 sf 20 screens 4,868 seats
Immensely popular movie theater Winning design selected by Cinemark Merriam, Kansas
Bonner Springs - Clark Middle School Additions Building size 64,000 sf Budget $6.5 million Full Architectural Services
Classroom expansion & New Media Center Finished Summer, 2007 Bonner Springs, KS
Major additions to this school included a new Media Center and entry tower and colonnade which helped to focus attention on the previously hidden entrance and link the building with the rest of the campus.
A unifying theme to the campus was another design contribution.
Great American Gymnastic Express - “GAGE” Building size 25,000 sf Initial Budget $5 million Phased project
All ages gymnasium Finished Spring, 2006 Blue Springs, MO
Full Architectural services were brought to bare for a demanding client and produced an Olympic level training facility. Athletes from GAGE have gone to every Olympics since completion. Additional work included a new logo, a covered pool with retracting roof and extensive rendering work for City review. Pool work was completed the following year.
Jessica’s Corner - Retail Building size 11,250 sf Initial Budget $3 million Fast Tracked Project
Retail Finished Spring, 2004 Blue Springs, MO
The client needed to have this project functional quickly to take advantage of the site availability. From initial client contact to opening day was 10 months. This retail building has had full occupancy since 2006.
Thomas Edison Elementary School Building size 22,160 sf addition Total refurbished project 43,110 sf Budget $9 million
380 Students, K-5 Finished August, 2011 Kansas City Public Schools USD 500
Taking advantage of an a large hilltop site this major addition doubled the school’s area. The design solved several concerns such as an expanding population and need for upgraded ď€ nishes throughout.
McKinley Elementary School Building size 42,035 sf Budget $10 million
345 Students, K-5 Finished August, 2014 Kansas City Public Schools USD 500
This replacement school maximizes its small 1 square block site through the use of retaining walls and inset courts to allow every classroom exterior windows while remaining on an Owner requested single oor.
McKinley Elementary School
Many items of the previous school were salvaged and reused within the new building. A wall of original brick and glazed terra cotta tiles were installed at child height along with a carved limestone lintel with the school’s name.