Joshua Mullins Project: Architect Professional Work 2013-Present
“It follows, therefore, that architects who have aimed at acquiring manual skill without scholarship have never been able to reach a position of authority to correspond to their pains, while those who relied only upon theories and scholarship were obviously hunting the shadow, not the substance. But those who have a thorough knowledge of both, like men armed at all points, have the sooner attained their object and carried authority with them.” Vitruvius, The Education of the Architect
01 02 03 04
North Metro Rail Line RTD Denver Southeast Rail Extension RTD Denver Cotton Belt DART Dallas Purple Line MTA Maryland / WMATA DC
05 104th Parking Garage RTD Denver 06 Ridgegate Parking Garage RTD Denver 07 Facility Garage Confidential 08 Musei Capitolini Thesis Project 09 HVAC Bond Denver Museum of Nature and Science 10 Facility Building Confidential
01 My first rail line was a learning experience in every way. I learned how to work with large agencies, how to listen to specific needs of different clients, and how to design and coordinate a light rail station. I worked on this project from the very beginning to the very end. Three of the stations use my initial concept models for the canopies. Every station used a unique canopy and finish schedule.
Axonometric Diagram of 124th Station
Light Rail Stations North Metro Rail Line, RTD Denver
Site Plan of National Western Station
Axonometric of National Western Station Canopy
Rendering of National Western Station Canopy
Light Rail Stations North Metro Rail Line, RTD Denver
Reflected Ceiling Plan of 112th Station Canopy
Rendering of 112th Station Canopy
Detail of 112th Station Outrigger Connection
Light Rail Stations North Metro Rail Line, RTD Denver
Coordination Perspectives of 72nd, 124th, and National Western Canopies
Modularity and Maintenance Diagram of North Metro Canopies
Light Rail Stations North Metro Rail Line, RTD Denver
02 This project began its life in our office at 60% complete. It taught me how to bring another firm’s work from schematic to 100% CDs. It was an exercise in detailing and coordination to bring all the trades together successfully in the construction of some very large station canopies. I’m proud of the column base and junction box detailing, both of which I developed and oversaw through construction.
Site Plan of Skyridge Avenue Station
Light Rail Stations Southeast Rail Extension, RTD Denver
Rendering of Ridgegate Station Canopy
Photograph of Lone Tree City Center Station Canopy
Light Rail Stations Southeast Rail Extension, RTD Denver
03 This canopy and platform was developed from an RFP as part of a large-scale designbuild proposal effort. It taught me how to coordinate with subcontractors and suppliers on the basis of concept drawings. It was also an opportunity to learn the strengths and idiosyncrasies of designing with tensile fabric. Elevation of Station Canopy
Rendering of Station Canopy
Light Rail Stations Cotton Belt, DART, Dallas
Axonometric of Typical Side Platform Station
Light Rail Stations Cotton Belt, DART Dallas
04 The Purple Line has 21 stations, and I worked on 20 of them. This project taught me how to travel and work on site, how to coordinate with a large in-house team, how to manage a team of interns, how to work closely with firm principals, and how to work efficiently on many drawing sets simultaneously. It gave me an appreciation for the complexity of imprinting even a simple plan onto many different sites. At different stations, I designed stair and elevator towers, bike ramps, existing building connections, tunnels, and plazas. I’m proud of the scope of our effort and the quality of the design and coordination modeling we were able to provide.
Rendering of Manchester Place Station Depicting Coordination Elements
Light Rail Stations Purple Line, MTA Maryland / WMATA DC
Rendering of Silver Spring Library Station
Rendering of Lyttonsville Station
Light Rail Stations Purple Line, MTA Maryland / WMATA DC
05 My first garage taught me all of the basics. Parking counts, shear stress, precast structure, spandrel panels, maximum slopes, and openness calculations. I learned how to accentuate stair end elevator towers while not leaving the larger facade faces behind. I’m most proud of the shear walls on this garage, which use a precast concrete pattern I developed in concept design to tie together the spandrels with the client’s theme: “Crossroads.”.
Site Plan of 104th Parking Garage
Rendering of 104th Parking Garage
Parking Garages 104th Garage, RTD Denver
Elevation of 104th Parking Garage
Detail Elevation of Shear Wall
Photograph of Shear Wall
Parking Garages 104th Garage, RTD Denver
06 This garage was a serious step up in scale, about twice the size of the first garage I helped design. It taught me cost-effective strategies for addressing very long facades (note the value engineering between the concept rendering and the photograph), I learned how to work with lightweight masonry and metal screen panels. I’m proud of the concept iteration that led to the final stair towers.
Elevation of Stair Tower
Concept Rendering of Ridgegate Parking Garage
Parking Garages Ridgegate Garage, RTD Denver
Photograph of Ridgegate Parking Garage
Parking Garages Ridgegate Garage, RTD Denver
07 This garage concept taught me how to develop quick concepts for parking layouts and site positioning. Under pressure to convince our partners and clients of the validity of alternate options week by week, I developed techniques for making easy-to-read diagrams to visually convey flow and area. I learned baseline and optimal parking efficiency calculations, how to work with a large team, and how to coordinate with an estimator in concept design.
Site Analysis Diagram of Natural Features
Parking Garages Facility Garage, Confidential
Floor Plan Diagrams of Parking Garage
Axonometric Diagram of Parking Garage
Parking Garages Facility Garage, Confidential
08 My thesis project was a love letter to my favorite city, Rome, and to the part of me that convinced me to become an architect in the first place. This museum concept transforms the Circo Massimo into an energetic site capable of engaging locals and visitors alike. A new museum behind the facade of an existing palazzo invites explorers of all ages to see the treasures of Rome from every angle. Path and piazza improvements restore the gathering and playing nature to the Roman circus, which is currently underused. Framing a situation in a play context allows people to suspend their disbelief and inhibitions. Games are one of the most enjoyable ways for learning to occur. Spatial interactivity through play creates engaging spaces. A playful attitude allows visitors to shift perception and reevaluate their preconceptions about artifacts and ruins, giving new meaning and life to ancient forms.
Site Plan of Circo Massimo
New and Existing Buildings Musei Capitolini Concept, Rome, Italy
Photograph of Circo Massimo
Transverse Section Diagram
Longitudinal Section Diagram
Floor Plan Diagrams
Perspectives
New and Existing Buildings Musei Capitolini Concept, Rome, Italy
09 Working at the Denver Museum was an absolute honor and joy. The building is an architectural oddity, an amalgam of the original building and a hundred years of additions. Altogether, it is roughly five different buildings, each with their own finishes, structures, and systems. This project took us into all of the back spaces, the service corridors, the mechanical penthouses, and the many attics. I worked closely with mechanical, electrical, and structural engineers to develop detailed drawing sets and specifications that would make the needed improvements to the building’s heating and cooling systems a code-compliant reality. I brought each set through the permitting process. I learned how to solve difficult detailing challenges by engaging maintenance staff, my office, and product experts. I also learned how to conduct final punch walks and write detailed field reports.
Perspective of Chiller Building HVAC and Plumbing Improvements
Shaded Axonometric of Cooling Tower
New and Existing Buildings HVAC Improvements, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Axonometric X-Ray of Rooftop Air Handling Units and Ductwork
Section of Rooftop Pipe House
Axonometric of Attic Access Hatches
New and Existing Buildings HVAC Improvements, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
10 This facility project taught me many hard-won lessons. I learned how to work with LEED and energy consultants in concept design, how to speak at client meetings with many stakeholders, how to write detailed minutes to track issues and resolution, how to layout and develop floor plans for optimal area use, and how to graphically showcase concept and schematic designs without including all of the technical detail. I coordinated with MEP subcontractors to explore netzero options, researched solar area requirements, and read all of the code necessary to pitch a CLT structure as a serious alternative to steel. I worked directly with my firm’s leadership to deliver high-quality presentations and designs to meet the client’s program. I’m proud of the layout of this project and all of the graphics, which were forged in the time-consuming fires of many presentation iterations. Schematic Floor Plan
New and Existing Buildings Facility Building, Confidential
Perspective
Elevation Variations
Section Diagrams
New and Existing Buildings Facility Building, Confidential
JOSHUA MULLINS Licensed Architect • Associate AIA / NCARB ACE Mentors • Odyssey of the Mind • Discover Denver • Artist
PROFILE
I am passionate about civic and public sector projects. My proficiencies cover every stage of design, from concept to completion. I am committed to a standard of excellence in all aspects of my work, with a focus on clear communication. I love a good drawing set. I am inspired by Peter Zumthor, Louis Kahn, Renzo Piano, and Carlo Scarpa.
EDUCATION
Bachelors of Architecture Pennsylvania State University (2011) Masters of Architecture and Museology Accademia Adrianea, Rome, Italy (2013)
EXPERTISE
Concept Design: Hand and Computer Sketching, Client Interaction, Presentation Development, 3D Printing, SketchUp Drawing Production: Revit, Dynamo, Navisworks, Bluebeam Revu, 3D Max, Photoshop, InDesign, AutoCAD, Enscape, SpecLink Project Management: Teams & Outlook, Mentoring, Intern Management, Project Scheduling, BIM Management, Interdisciplinary Coordination
EXPERIENCE
Intern Iron Horse Architects
2014 - 2016
North Metro Rail Line, Southeast Rail Extension, 104th Parking Garage, I-225 Rail Line (CA only)
As an intern, I worked with a small team of designers on several large rail and transit projects. I developed and presented concept designs, handled large-scale drawing production, coordinated BIM models, and facilitated construction. Job Captain Iron Horse Architects
2016 - 2019
Purple Line, Ridgegate Parking Garage, Dallas Rail Line (Proposal only), City and County of Denver On-Call, Denver Museum of Nature and Science HVAC Bond, Confidential Transit Project, Confidential Parking Garage
EXPERTISE
Concept Design: Hand and Computer Sketching, Client Interaction, Presentation Development, 3D Printing, SketchUp Drawing Production: Revit, Dynamo, Navisworks, Bluebeam Revu, 3D Max, Photoshop, InDesign, AutoCAD, Enscape, SpecLink Project Management: Teams & Outlook, Mentoring, Intern Management, Project Scheduling, BIM Management, Interdisciplinary Coordination
EXPERIENCE
Intern Iron Horse Architects
2014 - 2016
North Metro Rail Line, Southeast Rail Extension, 104th Parking Garage, I-225 Rail Line (CA only)
As an intern, I worked with a small team of designers on several large rail and transit projects. I developed and presented concept designs, handled large-scale drawing production, coordinated BIM models, and facilitated construction. Job Captain Iron Horse Architects
2016 - 2019
Purple Line, Ridgegate Parking Garage, Dallas Rail Line (Proposal only), City and County of Denver On-Call, Denver Museum of Nature and Science HVAC Bond, Confidential Transit Project, Confidential Parking Garage
As a Job Captain, I continued my work on rail and transit projects. I added several small retrofit projects to my responsibilities. I managed a team of interns, ran coordination meetings, performed QC on drawing sets, handled large-scale drawing production, wrote specifications, conducted field visits, and developed presentation-quality drawings and renderings. Project Architect Iron Horse Architects
2020
Confidential Parking Garage
As a Project Architect, I have taken leadership of skill development and graphic standards for the firm. I now attend networking events, review and facilitate responses to RFPs/RFQs, mentor interns and Job Captains, and encourage team members to maintain a high-quality standard in all of our professional work.
CONTACT
(720) 775-9118
flawless.tactics@gmail.com
@if_I_ever_stray