Isaac Edmonds Architecture Portfolio 2021

ISAAC EDMONDS

2021. Selected Works.

McEwen School of Architecture / BAS + M.Arch.

ISAAC EDMONDS McEwen School of Architecture Master's of Architecture (Class of 2021)

Contact Information isaac.edmonds4@gmail.com (613) 255-3987

About me I am a recent graduate from the McEwen School of Architecture with my Master's degree. Key interests I have explored through my academic and workplace experience include working with indigenous communities, mass timber building techniques and innovations in earth construction. These specific areas of interest have been highlighted in my portfolio.

Education M.Arch.

McEwen School of Architecture Laurentian University

B.A.S. Honours: cum laude

McEwen School of Architecture Laurentian University

Sept. 2020 - May 2021 Sudbury, ON Sept. 2015 - Apr. 2019 Sudbury, ON

Awards June 2021 $2,500 value

Yallowega Bélanger Salach Architecture Excellence Award An award for academic achievement and thesis as it relates to Northern Landscape and Community-Design.

June 2021

BTES - Edward Allen Award Thesis award based on integration of building technology with architectural design with academic rigor and design excellence.

June 2021 $3,000 value

Living in Northern Quebec Grant A grant provided to facilitate the return of my thesis research to the community where this project is sited.

September 2019 $15,000 value

Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship An award given to top students applying for the Master's program.

September 2019 $5,000 value

Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Architecture Scholarship A graduate entrance scholarship intended to attract and retain top performing students in the architecture program.

June 2019 $450 value

SOPREMA Leaders of Tomorrow Project Award An undergraduate award recognizing excellence in the design of the primary 4th year studio project.

October 2018 $1000 value

Peddler's Architecture Award Faculty-selected award for maintaining an "A" average and demonstrating outstanding technical knowledge in design work.

October 2016 $1000 value

Peddler's Architecture Award

Work Experience Co-op Student Vancouver, BC January - June, 2020

McEwen School of Architecture Sudbury, ON Sept. 2019 - Apr. 2021

For Dr. Emilie Pinard Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Canada Sept. 2018 - Aug. 2019

Co-op Student Ottawa, ON Summer 2018

Site Supervisor Assistant Ottawa, ON Summer 2018

Construction Labourer Ottawa, ON Summers 2016 + 2017

Michael Green Architecture (MGA) Worked in a medium size architecture firm that specializes in mass timber construction. For the majority of my time at MGA, I worked on a mass timber community centre in a small Swedish town through design development and into construction documents.

Graduate Teaching Assistant Part-time work as a teaching assistant for the duration of my Master's Degree. Primary tasks include marking student work as well as assisting students in research and understanding course concepts.

Research Assistant Worked as a research assistant studying contemporary earthen architecture that has been inspired by vernacular construction in West Africa. Travelled to Senegal and GuineaBissau for a month to document projects. Additionally, I worked full-time (summer 2019) in the creation of website content to present information gathered through this research.

Worked with a high degree of autonomy in research collection and presentation.

Lara McKendrick Architecture Worked in a small architecture firm that specializes in renovations and adaptive reuse. Personal responsibilities included a range of activities such as completing on-site measurements of existing buildings and as-found drawings.

Don Will Construction Hands-on construction work on an adaptive reuse project converting an existing industrial building into a cafe with a new design by Lara McKendrick Architecture. My contributions involved working with the site supervisor to install doors, stairs, assist a metal stud framing crew and level a concrete floor.

Grey Matter Stonework Worked as a construction labourer building high quality custom stonework. Gained familiarity with stonework construction (patios, outdoor stairs, retaining walls, raised garden beds) and acquired abilities in stone craftsmanship.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 01

Learning by Making

02

Qarmaapik House

03

Tall Wood Mixed-Use Complex

04

Sudbury Art Gallery

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Heart-Shaped Hands Academy

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Pearson Ranch

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Gallivare Community Centre

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Research Work in West Africa

p. 06

Graduate Thesis Project on a Community Workshop Space

p. 26

Community Building Studio Project for a Master's level course

p. 38

Studio Project on a Mass Timber Community-Oriented Building

p. 50

Undergraduate Studio Project for a new Sudbury Art Gallery

p. 54

Pro-Bono Project completed while working at Michael Green Architecture

p. 58

Master Planning Project completed while working at Michael Green Architecture

p. 62

Detailed Design Project completed while working at Michael Green Architecture

Photographic Documentation completed while working as a Research Assistant

p. 66

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Isaac Edmonds

LEARNING BY MAKING M.Arch. Thesis Project Kangiqsualujjuaq, Quebec Sept. 2020 - May 2021

In the first year of my M.Arch, I visited the community of Kangiqsualujjuaq in Nunavik for a collaborative design project. This thesis project builds on that experience, responding to the local desire expressed for a shared community workshop. The comprehensive design of this makerspace draws inspiration from Inuit making culture with the intent to explore alternative, locally-driven avenues for the sustainable development of Kangiqsualujjuaq's built environment. This thesis proposes that by revisiting the framework of building delivery in the context of Kangiqsualujjuaq, a better balance can be achieved between different forms of making practices, namely southern construction industry, selfbuilding and community-led projects. A collaborative approach involving the community was essential to the realization of this proposal.

Site Strategy Diagram A simplified site justification diagram communicating several of the key factors influencing the massing of the makerspace.

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1

SELECT: Ideal makerspace location (proximate to school, but not blocking views to the water)

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CREATE: Diverse exterior and threshold spaces

2

CONNECT: To school and community

5

ACTIVATE: through walking paths and renaturalization over time

3

WELCOME: Sunlight and views

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GENERATE: A local building ecosystem

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Isaac Edmonds

Community Connections This context axonometric proposes synergies that can be created with other active community nodes.

CREATIVITY Co-op Store Local Craft Market

LEARNING Kayak Building Workshop Boat House Qarmaapik Family House Pool

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ACTIVE LIVING

LEARNING

Arena Community Centre Northern Store

Ulluriaq School Aqaivik Child Care Centre Makerspace Gathering Field Land-Based Learning Classroom

LIVING Community-Built Tiny Houses Artist-Residences Youth and Elder Co-Housing Supported Self-Building

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Urban Design Axonometric

Aqaivik Child Care Centre

The proposed intervention aims to engage youth, by creating an active, learningoriented node at the heart of the community.

Traffic-slowed cross-walk

Scu

Youth and Elder Co-Housing Encourage sharing of intergenerational knowledge through co-housing near school

Community-Built Tiny Houses Shared porch spaces, renaturalized courtyards + shared craft shed/workshop

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Future bus stop Relocated school parking

Playground

Vehicle drop off area

Ulluriaq School

Gathering Field Gathering circle / renaturalized area for seasonal cultural activities

Makerspace

ulpture Park

Access road

Makerspace parking

Community-Built Tiny Houses

Land-based Learning Area

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1. Relocated School Parking 2. Vehicle Access/Drop-Off 3. Relocated Playground (+future bus stop) 4. Gathering Field 5. Youth & Elder Housing Block 6. New Road 7. Artist Residences 8. Land-Based Learning Area 9. Makerspace 10. Makerspace Parking 11. Tiny House Collective Block

1. Workshop

2. Community space

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3. Locally-driven building initiatives

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1 2 3 4

5

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B.

A.

A.

Site Master Plan The new makerspace engages with the existing school, childcare centre and neighbouring residential area to create a vibrant community hub.

B.

Phasing

The makerspace would be constructe intention to support further locally-dri

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Bus Stop

Limit sprawl by building on empty lots closer to community core

Expand Community Amenities

Land-Based Learning Classroom

Support Self-Building

Youth and Elder Co-housing

ed in two phases with the iven building initiatives.

Community-Built Tiny Houses

Artist Residences

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INTERIOR RENDERS

A.

A.

Hearth A hearth provide a central space for communal gathering with a view over the community to the bay.

B.

Workshop Assembly Flo

A contemporary workshop fa training, self-building and com

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B.

C.

oor

acility supports professional vocational mmunity-led projects.

C.

Flexible Craft Space A flexible craft area supports traditional making activities such as sewing and carving.

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EXTERIOR RENDERS

A.

A.

View from the Community A summer classroom and deck allow for open air activities such as kayak building demonstrations, harvesting animals after a hunt or providing a stage for community events.

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B.

B.

View from the School An on-grade entrance by the school allows for large building materials to be transported in and out of the workshop.

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Floor Plan with Context A detailed floor plan denoting workshop space, community space and back-of-house functions.

Ulluriaq School

2 1

rance ol Ent o h c To S

1. On-Grade Entry (due to grade change from school’s gravel pad) 2. Vestibule (coat and boot storage above and below) 3. Assembly Floor 4. Machine Area 5. Storage 6. Storage Closet 7. Washrooms 8. Mechanical Room 9. Hearth 10. Kitchenette 11. Flex Space (Worktables) 12. Flex Space (Craft Area) 13. Seating Nooks 14. Summer Classroom 15. Exterior deck 16. Maker’s Yard Storage 17. Gas

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Satellite Dish Perimeter Fence 5 6

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4

3

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To er at W

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Material Ecosystem This thesis project proposes an open framework where opportunities for the sustainable use of local and recycled materials can be integrated with the use of imported materials (current model).

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Passive Design Strategies This section illustrates several key passive design strategies that are proposed in the makerspace design. Thermals mass, the use of local materials, natural lighting and a building form that deflects the strong south south-west winter winds are all important considerations.

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ELEVATED BUILDING ENVELOPE The building is elevated 1 meter above the ground to prevent heat from the building thawing the permafrost below and to allow the strong winter winds to clear accumulating snow.

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NATURAL LIGHTING A southern clerestory window fills the primary workshop space with natural light.

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Core: 15-200 Shell: 00 Exterior: -300

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THERMAL MASS Rammed earth walls provide an excellent thermal mass that is heated radiantly from the interior.

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LIGHT WOOD STRUCTURE The wood structure is constructed with dimensional lumber to minimize requirements for heavy construction equipment and simplify repair in this remote location.

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CORE + SHELL STRATEGY Sunlight heats an exterior polycarbonate shell that is separated from the interior core by a significant air gap.

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Rammed Earth Hearth

A. Hearth Detail Section

A hearth provides a central space in the makerspace for communal gathering with a view over the community to the bay. This more detailed investigation of materiality provided an opportunity to responds to local values and enriches this space of gathering through the lens of material culture.

C. Hearth Detail Plan

D. Hearth Axonometric

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B.

Hearth Exploded Axonometric

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QARMAAPIK HOUSE Graduate Studio Kangiqsualujjuaq, Quebec Sept. - Dec. 2019

Through the Living in Northern Quebec Research Partnership, I had the opportunity to visit and work with the Inuit community of Kangiqsualujjuaq on design ideas for Qarmaapik House: an Inuit-run safe house and community space. The design proposal seeks to create a place where the practice of collective living becomes a catalyst for the diffusion of traditional Inuit values. The proposed building is crafted to feel like a family home, not an institutional building. Connecting visitors with the natural environment through views and a variety of exterior spaces is another important component to the design.

A. Construction Phases Due to the constrained budget, construction is proposed to take place in 2 phases.

B. Framed Views A sectional diagram communicating connections to nature and the community through framed views.

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A.

Construction Phases

Soon-to-be Demolished Building Current Qarmaapik House

1. Existing

B.

Framed Views

Phase 1: Safe House

Phase 2: New Qarmaapik House

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A. Site Strategy Diagram The form of the building is influenced by a variety of site conditions, namely views and existing walking paths in the community.

B.

A. Site Strategy 1. Possibilities

Site Plan A rendered site plan illustrating the relationship between the proposed building and the surrounding community.

2. Connection to Nature and Community

3. Optimal Solar Orientation

4. Views

5. Thresholds

B. Site Plan

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INHABITATION DIAGRAMS

A.

A.

B.

Safe Room Close attention is paid to millwork design in order to create an elegant room layout with consideration for the modest budget that the community will be working with.

B.

Councillor's Lounge

The wood millwork provides a warmth to stiff foam floor mats provide a firm walkin comfortable to sit and kneel on.

the interior while ng surface that is still

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C.

C.

Community Gathering Space An inhabited axonometric diagram illustrating the flexible community gathering space. In this case, the skinning of a ring seal is shown: an activity which I was able to watch during my time in Kangiqsualujjuaq.

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Detailed Section A detailed sectional drawing illustrating the range of indoor and outdoor social spaces. The design of the building envelope and foundation system respond to permafrost soil conditions and material transportation logistics.

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A.

Section A section cut showing spatial use. The Qarmaapik community space is to the left while the safe house is on the right. These spaces can opperate as independant buildings.

B.

Elevation An elevation with context showing facade composition and exterior design elements.

A.

B.

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RENDERS

A.

A.

Approach from Community The folded shape of the building creates a welcoming courtyard space for communal gathering near the entrance.

B.

Qarmaapik Gathering Sp

The primary gathering space with natural light and a warm

pace

e is envisioned as a flexible hall filled m material palette.

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B.

C.

C.

Safe House Common Room A double-height common room oriented towards a beautiful view of the bay creates a calming living space conducive to healing.

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TALL WOOD COMPLEX 4th Year of Study Sudbury, Ontario Studio Partner: Simao da Silva Sept. 2018 - May 2019

A comprehensive 12 story mass timber design project with a combination of residential and commercial programs. Responding to analysis of local demographics and pedestrian circulation patterns around the site, social spaces are integrated vertically with the intent to promote social interaction and strengthen the sense of community between residents.

United by circulation, these nodes are tailored individually to respect the privacy needs of residents while simultaneously bringing a diverse range of opportunities for vibrant social life to the neighbourhood through the introduction of community-centred public functions on the lower stories.

Circulation Diagram The interconnection of key public spaces through circulation paths are communicated in this diagram.

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Southwest Axonometric Axonometric view communicating the relationship between the proposed building and its context with care taken to accurately represent the urban design of exterior spaces.

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RENDERS A.

Evening Exterior View The intention of this render is to communicate connectivity between the building's interior functions and the streetscape during evening hours.

B.

Alleyway Exterior render showing the integration of an existing laneway with the first floor commercial spaces.

C.

Atrium An interior render illustrating the functionality of the atrium space during evening hours.

D.

Movement Studio The lofting volume of the flexible, double-height gymnasium hall is communicated in this render.

A.

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B.

C.

D.

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A. System Integration (Unit)

A. System Integration (Unit)

Detailed diagram illustrating the structural and mechanical systems in a typical residential unit. Heating, ventilation, lighting and sprinklers all require integration solutions specific to mass timber structures.

B.

Details A series of details developed to explain how unique structural conditions would be resolved.

C. Urban Design Section The creation of diverse exterior social spaces is highlighted in this sectional perspective.

C. Urban Design Section

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B. Details

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A. Urban Design Site Plan The comprehensive urban design strategy for the site in relation to the ground floor public spaces is illustrated in this site plan.

B.

Unit Plans A series of unit layouts have been developed to respond to target demographics. The 5 unit typologies consist of student, family and flexible variants.

C. Detailed Section This detailed section communicates the vertical relationship between the central circulation stairway and the living spaces.

A. Urban Design Site Plan

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B. Unit Plans

C. Detailed Section

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1:150 SCALE MODEL

A.

Function The transparency of the facade and the creation of exterior social spaces on higher levels are explored in this scale model. The South facade is characterized by horizontal louvres while the other facades feature vertical louvres calculated for optimal sun shading.

A.

N

hig

Northwest Aerial Perspective

ghlighting facade transparency.

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B.

C.

B.

West Elevation communicating the contrast in base and tower expression.

C.

North Elevation illustrating the dynamic facade.

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SUDBURY ART GALLERY Undergraduate Studio Sudbury, Ontario Jan. - Apr. 2018

The gallery design is centred on a courtyard that is landscaped to reflect the sense of northern place embodied in the proposed permanent collection (Group of 7 and similar Canadian artists). In response to the downtown location's significant foot traffic, the building forms itself around paths of pedestrian circulation across the site. Through this design the gallery reconnects the current site with the downtown core through paths of pedestrian circulation while simultaneously introducing a vibrant corner condition.

Elevation and Section The interior courtyard and wood facade, highlighted in these elevations and section, speak to the untouched northern landscapes captured in the permanent collection paintings proposed for the gallery.

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1:50 SECTIONAL MODEL A.

Section Cut This section model illustrates the nature of the interior courtyard space and its relationship to several of the gallery spaces in order to convey a unified experience of the northern landscape.

B.

Aerial View A roof portion is removed to show the double and triple-height nature of the gallery and circulation spaces.

A.

B.

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HEART-SHAPED HANDS ACADEMY Fundraising Package for a Non-Profit Organization Sierra Leone Completed while working at Michael Green Architecture June - July 2020

As a pro bono volunteer project, I worked with several other MGA employees to develop a fundraising graphic package for a non-profit that was raising money to build a school in Sierra Leone. Leveraging my previous experience working in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau (adjacent to Sierra Leone), I worked with the team to develop a conceptual master plan, 3D model and a series of renders to communicate the potential of the project. Currently, children in Sierra Leone are frequently faced with the decision to choose between pursing athletics or academics at a young age. The intention of this school is to allow student to simultaneously pursue academics and athletics at the same time in Sierra Leone. The booklet icons and graphics were developed as a team.

All the renders shown on the following pages are personal work.

Fundraising Graphic Booklet Sample pages from the fundraising graphic package developed to communicate the vision of the Heart-Shaped Hands Academy.

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RENDERS

All renders shown below are personal work.

A.

A.

Classroom Building This render illustrates the idea of a central campus building that contains a ring of classrooms around a terraced courtyard.

B.

Courtyard

This view communicates the as a shaded gathering space functions.

intended use of the interior courtyard e with a variety of programmatic

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B.

C.

C.

Training Field A shaded walking path that views out over the primary soccer field is represented in this render.

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PEARSON RANCH MASTER PLAN Master planning + Renders Austin, Texas Completed while working at Michael Green Architecture Jan - Apr 2020

For the first four months of my co-operative term, I worked on a large scale master planning project with a forward-thinking developer on the outskirts of Austin, Texas. The client placed a strong focus on maintaining the natural landscape which is filled with heritage oak trees, engaging the community through the involvement of local business and innovating upon Texan vernacular architecture.

ROLE: I primarily worked on developing different master plan iterations through hand sketches and SketchUp modeling. Additionally, I developed a series of high quality renders in Enscape (see following page).

Conceptual Planning Exercise Due to the site's location next to a large highway the design proposed creates a long parkade landscaped with greenery that shelters the offices behind it from the sound of the highway.

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RENDERS

All renders shown below are personal work.

A.

A.

Beer Garden Laneway view portraying a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly streetscape with architectural reference to Texan vernacular design.

B.

Offices and Restaurant P

A view of the mass timber of

Pavilion

ffice buildings from a restaurant patio.

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B.

C.

C.

Shaded Courtyard The pedestrian-oriented office area features a generous shaded courtyard and restaurant pavilion.

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GALLIVARE COMMUNITY CENTRE Construction Documents Gallivare, Sweden Completed while working at Michael Green Architecture Jan - Apr 2020

During the second half of my co-op term at MGA, I worked on a mass timber community centre in Gallivare, Sweden. This large community building had already undergone concept development in coordination with a smaller local Swedish firm. When I started involvement in this project, the project was in the construction documents phase with MGA providing extensive design intent packages for the Swedish firm to detail and finalize.

ROLE: While other team members with more experience and expertise focused on areas like mechanical, lighting and structure, I was frequently given small design exercises to provide design intent for areas such as a kid's play area, a central hearth space and theatre back-of-house corridor among other things.

Streetscape Integration The integration of the new community centre with the existing streetscape and surrounding buildings are represented in these views.

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A. Parti Section Diagram Mass timber "treehouse" volumes are elevated over a stone base. A tall central atrium connects all volumes.

B.

Renders Renders showing massing and material intentions for community consultation. *render graphics developed by MGA team*

A.

B.

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RESEARCH WORK IN WEST AFRICA Photography for a Research Project Senegal and Guinea-Bissau (West Africa) June - July 2019

As a research assistant for Dr. Emilie Pinard, I had the opportunity to travel for a month in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. My primary task was to document, through photography and drone footage, contemporary architecture projects that were inspired by traditional building techniques and made use of local materials. This built upon the previous 8 months of research I had completed with this professor exploring innovation with local materials across West Africa. Documentation of existing vernacular construction in various regions was also of importance. Through immersion in a foreign culture, I gained appreciation for the diversity of traditions, worldviews and living conditions that exist throughout these regions. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to visit and document beautiful architecture projects and learn about the evolution of earth, wood and thatch construction techniques in both countries.

A. Website A primary objective of this research project was to create a website database of contemporary earth architecture projects in West Africa.

B. Photographic Documentation Documenting construction process through photography was an important element of this research assistant position.

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A.

B.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

A.

B.

A. Sinthian Thread Arts Cultural Centre

B.

This artist residency and community centre in the rural village of Sinthian takes inspiration from the traditional Impluvium huts in the surrounding area.

School in Thionck-Essyl The thermal properties of these earth brick vaults dissipate heat and provide a more sustainable building method than commonplace imported concrete construction.

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C.

D.

C. Hotel in Dakar

D.

This three story hotel in Dakar makes use of a diverse variety of earth building techniques for walls, floors and structural arches.

Traditional Dwelling in Village Boynguel Although the interiors are quite dark due to the lack of windows, the thick earth walls in rural Sengalese housing keeps the interior cool in the 45o midday heat.

THANK YOU (613) 255-3987

isaac.edmonds4@gmail.com

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