GRACE YEONJIN SONG
Hello!
My name is Grace Yeonjin Song and I am a second year architecture student at the University of Waterloo. I am currently seeking a four month co-op placement within the months of January-April of 2025.
My passion for the craft was ignited by my experiences growing up in the vibrant city of Toronto, where I witnessed the interplay of new and historic buildings shaping the urban landscape. I am particularly drawn to architecture that resonates with its inhabitants, emphasizing their needs and experiences within a space. I am eager to connect with a like-minded community where I can hone my skills and design meaningful projects.
Let’s get connected!
Email: gracesxng@gmail.com
Tel: +1 (647) 822-8259
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ grace-yeonjin-song-432971311/
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION
University of Waterloo
School of Architecture
Cambridge, ON
Ursula Franklin Academy
Etobicoke, ON
EXTRACURRICULARS
LANGUAGES
English (Fluent)
Korean (Proficient)
ANALOG
Model Making
Laser Cutting Wood Working CNC
3-D Printing Hand Drafting Sketching
F_RM LABS Member
MATERIAL MATRIX:
3D SOFTWARE Rhino8 Revit Autocad Sketchup Grasshopper
ADOBE
Illustator
Photoshop Lightroom
Indesign
Premiere Pro
• Designed, planned, and crafts partition screens explore themes of interactivity, technique and care of materials.
• Visitors were invited to interact with the rotating partition screens, changing the positioning of each wall and creating various spaces.
Waterloo Architecture Orientation Leader
• Led a group of 17 first year students on tours around the city of Cambridge and within the school
• Helped students with their transition into the Waterloo community
Waterloo Architecture Christian Fellowship Leader
• Responsible for arranging and preparing weekly meetings
• Manages the social media account announcing and advertising upcoming events
WORK EXPERIENCE THE CUPS Mississauga Cashier/Food Server
• Took orders, and made shaved ice desserts and coffee in high pressure environments
• Spoke in both English and Korean to cater to customers
• Filmed/edited video content for social media accounts
Coco’s Fresh Tea and Juice Barista
• Worked with a team of 2 serving a wide range of bubble tea
• Prepared ingredients in advance for efficient service
• Took on all roles of the establishment opening/closing store
VISUALIZATION
D5 Render Lumion
Enscape V-Ray
2023 Sept-Present
2024 Sept
2024 Sept-Present
May 2024-August 2024
Feb 2022-Jan 2023
VOLUNTEER WORK
Waterloo Architecture Admissions Assistant
• Welcomed Waterloo applicants to their interview rooms and overviewed students portfolios highlighting their strengths and gave helpful advice
• Answered inquiries from students and parents
Our Presbyterian Church Summer Camp Teacher
• Taught lessons about the Bible in Korean for children aged 4-6
• Led the physical activity portion of the day, giving instructions via loudspeaker
Mar 2024
July 2024
RECOGNITIONS
• Waterloo Excellent Academic Standing
• Ursula Franklin Academy Academic Honours Award
• Ursula Franklin Academy Community of Learners Award
• Ursula Franklin Academy Leadership Award
2024 May
• Certificate of Excellent Community Service for Our Presbyterian Church 2024 Sept 2024 June
The snowflakes fall in heaps, embracing even the sound of baby pheasants and quails returning to their nests.
... the sound of big stories and small stories returning home, whispering softly.
embracing even the sound of many mountains
Seo Jeong-ju
INSTERSTICE
HOUSE OF SHARDS
CRESCENT
HELIX
WOVEN GATHERING
GRAND CAFE
01. INTERSTICE
THE LAW SCHOOL
Waterloo, ON, Canada
Professor:
John McMin
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
RHINO8, PHOTOSHOP, D5
Positioned at the threshold of the University of Waterloo campus and the serene flow of Laurel Creek, the new Waterloo Law School embodies the convergence of natural and social realms. At the heart of the design is its striking facade, a dynamic mosaic of frames that respond to the specific needs of each space within. Interstice lies at the threshold between the civil and natural world. It seeks to find interdiciplilnary approaches to law by being a structure with a sense of the city, the sense of order and grid whilst simultaenously complimenting and reaching out to its natural surrondings.
Another defining feature of the building is its network of bridges, which extend beyond the confines of the structure, connecting housing facilities to the school. These bridges connect the internal circulation to the external world, intergrating its use through a students daily routine.
MOOT COURT
INDIGENOUS GATHERING SPACE
02. House of Shards
The Modern Library
Cambridge, ON, Canada
Professor: Linda Zhang
Individual Project
RHINO8, PHOTOSHOP, ILLUSTRATOR
The House of Shards is a contemporary library that offers a diverse array of inviting public spaces. Its programming includes literary archives, cafes, a pottery studio, and a public park, creating a vibrant hub for community engagement and creativity.
The building’s design mimics shattered ceramic pieces, creating a striking facade that allows for unique light pockets throughout the space. The first floor is intentionally shielded from direct sunlight to protect the books and provide a cozy atmosphere for readers. In contrast, the second floor is flooded with natural light, creating an inviting environment.
To further enhance its connection to the local heritage, the building is cladded in re-purposed weathered copper plates, echoing the character of Cambridge’s historic architecture.
Mockup model with inscriptions of interior movement
2ND FLOOR PLAN
1. SLICE
EXTRUDE
3. CASCADE 4. STRETCH
1. SLICE 2. EXTRUDE
3. CASCADE 4. STRETCH
2. EXTRUDE
4. STRETCH
2. EXTRUDE
4. STRETCH
CROSS SECTION
03. Helix
The Pedestrian Bridge
Etobicoke, ON, Canada
Professor: Terri Meyer Boake
2024 CISC COMPETITION SUBMISSION
Collaborator: Michelle Ling
RHINO8, ENSCAPE, PHOTOSHOP, ILLUSTRATOR
Helix is a double tied arch bridge resting on Etobicoke’s Humber river. This pedestrian bridge serves as a vehicle free pathway between the historical hotel, tennis courts, canoe club, hiking trails, and residential homes. South of the bridge is the Old Mill subway station alongside with an automobile road and facing a rich forest north of the bridge.
The two contrasting pathways enable a diverse field of view, with the lower pathway immersed in nature, and the elevated pathway revealing society outside the forest. Helix invites the locals to observe the boundary between fast paced transit and a natural experience, adding a rich eco friendly route to their daily life.
The structure primarily comprises of steel with the exception of the wood deck on the lower bridge. There is a differentiation of utilizing a perforated steel sheet for the elevated bridge to enable a clear view of the Humber river.
UPPER VIEW
6
04. CRESCENT
Grounded with the Earth
Sherman Falls, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Professor: Linda Zhang
Collaborators: Grace Rabishaw
RHINO8, PHOTOSHOP, ILLUSTRATOR
Crescent is a beautifully designed wooden bridge nestled in Hamilton, Ontario, specifically created to showcase the stunning Sherman Falls. This bridge provides a sense of shelter while seamlessly connecting the surrounding natural landscape.
Its graceful crescent shape elegantly links two pathways, inviting visitors to experience a closer view of the waterfall. The design enhances the beauty of the setting while ensuring a smooth transition between the trails.
On rainy days, the bridge features a protective roof that offers respite from the elements, safeguarding photographers’ equipment and allowing them to capture the falls in all their glory, regardless of the weather.
CROSS SECTION
05. WOVEN GATHERING
To Meet, and Assemble.
CNC WOODWORKING
Professor: Linda Zhang
Collaborators: Eva Long, Juan David Jara Mejia, Cole Jeffrey Stevens
SKETCHING, CNC, PHOTOSHOP
Woven Gathering is a modular piece that embodies the essence of connection through food. The supports take on a spherical shape, while the intricate weave design symbolizes the path of the sun, celebrating the natural cycle of nourishment.
Designed with practicality in mind, the wooden joinery allows for easy disassembly, splitting the structure into three manageable pieces for storage. The weaving pattern not only adds aesthetic appeal but also stabilizes the bowl, preventing any mishaps during use.
The striking contrast between the warm wood and the delicate string draws attention to the food and its users, creating a focal point that enhances the shared experience at the table. This thoughtful design centralizes the gathering around the offerings, fostering connection and conversation.
06. GRAND CAFE
An Unintentional Monument For Pigeons
Lasar Cutting
Professor: Linda Zhang
Collaborators: Eva Long, Juan David Jara Mejia, Cole Jeffrey Stevens
SKETCHING, RHINO8, SPEEDY360
This project is a physical rendering of Cambridge’s Grand Café, located beside the Waterloo Architecture School. The massing was determined by the main staircase, which traces the edges of the three planes.
Assembling the project was a meticulous process, requiring attention to many details such as garbage, pipes, windows, and more. To achieve textures beyond the capabilities of the laser cutter, we incorporated external tools such as sanders and wood burners.
As the project progressed, our team realized that the birds became a focal point of the building. To reflect this in our model, we studied the behavior of the birds, observing their preferred placements, and carefully recreated them in the laser-cut rendering. There’s something intriguing about translating the physical world into a smaller scale which was an inversion of what an architect is usually accustomed to.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ grace-yeonjin-song-432971311/