Jake Richter Portfolio 11x17 by jakerichter

PORTFOLIO

SYRACUSE

SKILLS AND EDUCATION

EDUCATION

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY SOA | B-ARCH

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT MINOR | OSHA-30 CERTIFICATE

PRINCETON HIGH SCHOOL | 4 YEAR ARCH+ENGINEERING PROGRAM

SOFTWARE

RHINO

REVIT

ARCHICAD

AUTOCAD (WORKING KNOWLEDGE)

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP

ADOBE INDESIGN

FABRICATION SKILLS

LASER CUTTING

CNC MILLING

CARPENTRY

SKETCHING AND HAND-DRAFTING

MODEL MAKING

NATURE EDUCATION AND RESTORATION | ONONDAGA LAKE

01 SKANAWATI BIODIVERSITY HUB

Onondaga Lake is home to a catalogue timeline of centuries of diverse species of plants, animals, and ecosystems. A quickly changing and cold environment hosts large populations of eel, salmon, and bass along with the famous bald eagle which can commonly be found when walking around the lake. This ecosystem has been hit by years of pollution, chemical dumping, and biological destruction that has caused many thriving populations of animals to go extinct.

Through research on how polluted Onondaga Lake has become, it was evident that not only a “nature center” was needed, but an entire network hub of rehabilitative services that could benefit the lake as a whole. Fitted with labrotories that directly interact with the lake itself, a dense library dedicated to science, and a large Bird Sanctuary built for both education and bird rehabilitation, this space creates a cohesive environment that looks to work in tandem with time to slowly improve Onondaga Lake.

A large part of my project is the interaction of roof and space, with a zigzag design which its varying elevation would change spacial conditions. In moreprivatized spaces, a lower roof grants a more intimate experience while inpublic spaces such as the Bird Sanctuary, a higher roof drives excitement and a yearning for exploration. The largely tectonic structure hovers over 80% of the building footprints land, reducing digging into the site and keeping a peaceful ecological marriage. Slatted wood is used on the exterior of the building and Bird Sanctuary to help irrigate rain water.

skanawáti: verb (Onondaga)

To restore to a state of health, balance, or well-being; to rehabilitate

It is intended that this complex will leave a permenant fix to the polluted ecosystem while being a temporary structure, torn down over time.

SITE ELEVATION

ADDED SOIL

LAKE

SUBTRACTED SOIL

A once thriving ecosystem that has been riddled with pollution, it was crucial that the Nature Center had a direct interaction with the polluted water. As the environment used to be a major fishing zone that would feed the Haudenosaunee tribe, it has been relegated to just a lake for sport. Through the use of a stilt system, the labratory area is able to rest on top of the lake area along with its ability to combat flooding through its tectonic floorplan. With this direct interaction with the water, testing and

the perimeter of the lab space.

Tectonic structural design derived from Haudenosaunee longhouses is used, allowing for the entire building to not intrude on the land it resides. For buildings that reside on Onondaga land, it is important for the subtraction of the ecosystem to be redistributed instead of simply being removed. Due to the changing levels of the buildings design, it was important for the soil being taken from the riverbank to be compacted and added to the higher elevated areas. This is a practice that has been followed, as shown in longhouses.

The exterior shell of the building contains slatted wood, which allows for drainage to filter off of the roof and down towards the soil. The intents within the roofs are also sloped towards the middle of the octagonal plan, which allows for water to be absorbed into the central garden area. As the bird sanctuary is a much more open area, large vertical planks create a facade that creates shaded areas for birds within the sanctuary. This also allows for a cooler space as opposed to a fully closed sanctuary that may become overheated and humid. A windy pathway also allows for a drawn out but non intrusive pedestrian to bird experience, with the pathway naturally blending into the layout for the birds. In section, the roof gradually rises and creates different interior lighting conditions. This is due to the roof being raised from the walls by columns that let in natural light. As Syracuse is a colder area, the sun being lit through the windows allows for heat to travel into the space. The octagonal floorplan wraps around the central garden and makes the building feel larger than it truly is while having a floorplan that flows with the site.

COMMUNAL ATHLETIC CENTER | SYRACUSE, NY

02 VERANDA CREEK ATHLETIC CENTER

The Veranda Creek Athletic Center (VCAC) is a multi-use community athletic facility that offers various sporting activities, including rock climbing, a rooftop pool, basketball, and more, all fitting sealessly into the urban landscape of Syracuse, NY. Featuring a tectonic structure on the first floor and a stereotomic structure on the second, VCAC is designed to engage and attract pedestrians walking along the Onondaga River Walk, providing dynamic views of the rock climbing and basketball facilties, an art wall, and other eye-catching elements.

The second floor includes a veranda that houses the gym area, supported by cylindrical columns. The roof features an adaptable terrace along with a pool thatcan be utilized year-round, convertible into either an indoor or outdoor facility. Styled to complementthe dark brick Art Deco architecture prevalent in Syracuse, the building harmonizes with its surroundings. VCAC fosters both communal and private spaces, integrating beautifully into the city’s landscape.

Prioritized throughout the design are two ideas; cohesive community and respect to site Through the use of a centralized circulation, each program is linked together through a singular wheelchair accessible ramp. With the tectonic interior, various programs are brought together through glass walls and apatures along with broken horizontal planes that edit floor levels allowing for room to room interaction. The visually open interior floorplan allows for the original wall mural on the parallel building to be visible from various views. From the Onondaga River Walk to the Rooftop Pool, the VCAC offers intimate views of the mural. The overhanging veranda doesn’t impede on the site outside of the buildings boundary, allowing for clear circulation.

BUILDING SYSTEMS

When considering the profile of the section, airflow and local sun paths were carefully evaluated. Utilizing Ladybug, both a wind rose and sun position analysis were generated, illustrating the interactions between the site and climate. The size of the windows and the height of the overhangs account for the lower sun during winter months, allowing natural light to permeate the building. Structurally, specific support elements, such as the reinforced columns supporting the veranda, need to be strengthened to accommodate the weight of the heavy and somewhat unconventional rooftop lap pool.

eco-friendly grass roof terrace creates a sustainable roof portion

SUN DIAGRAM PERSPECTI VE SECT ION

SECTION AND ARRANGEMENT

Throughout the tectonic Athletic Center, a centralized ramp links each major program while breaking the solidifed planes in favor of “landing zones” to enter specific rooms. The arrangement of the different rooms are meant to break through the three horizontal floor slabs to create room to room visual interaction along with views from the central ramp.

PREFABRICATED PORTABLE PAVILION

03 DECONSTRUCTED CIRCUS PAVILION

Tasked with designing a pavilion to house a specific type of choreography, this circus pavilion was inspired by the trapeze acts of Cirque de Monte Carlo. The frames of the flyer are tracked and translated into a floor plan that reflects the flight path of the acrobat. The contortion of the body is represented in section as reinforced concrete trusses extruded from the footprint of the tents. A connective path links the three tents together, creating a versatile pavilion designed for multipurpose use.

This design incorporates elements of parametricism and balance, as the pavilion gradually rises from being embedded in the ground to forming an elevated tent. The goal was to deconstruct and reimagine how the traditional circus performance area is perceived while creating a permanent installation designed for circus choreography. Precedents such as Oscar Niemeyer’s Brasilia were studied and mimiced in materiality and composition. the idea of iconography that is reflected in Brasilia is also applied to the design.

While this design is a more permenant iteration of a deconstructed portable tent system, changes in materiality and design can be made in order to create a more reusable system. This iteration favors concrete and subtractive digging, but the design allows for wood fabrication to also be possible. As shown in the exploded axonometric (right), seperate pieces such as ramp supports, circulation slabs, and trusses can be connected together to be fabricated offsite and assembled on site. PVC Fabric can be easily replaced and taken down based off of need.

Cirque de Monte Carlo: Trapeze Tracking

Trapeze Path Diagram: Body Contractions Applied Concept Floorplan

Tent Layout Diagram

Private vs. Public Spaces

STRUCTURAL FLOORPLAN: LEVEL 2

STRUCTURAL FLOORPLAN: LEVEL 1

BUILDING SCHEMATICS DIAGRAMS

The design of the tents allows for interchangeability of fabrics, enabling spaces to be opened up or adjusted to create both personal and public areas. Translated into the overall site, the tent is intended to be a defining highlight of the surrounding area while complementing the overall landscape. The main amphitheater accommodates larger performances, utilizing parametric truss structures to create a fluid shape inspired by the body of the trapeze reference.

The vertically stretched tent is designed for aerial silks and vertical performances, accommodating a smaller audience while featuring a glowing oculus at the top. The elevated stage is intended for concerts, galas, and music performances, with additional space beneath for supplemental circus acts.

04 POINT PLEASANT WATERSHACK

COMMUNAL ATHLETIC CENTER | SYRACUSE, NY

This proposed small home design and renovated marina dock system is built in an underdeveloped area

within Point Pleasants suburban area. Built near my one of my favorite restaurants, Point Pleasant Lobster

Company, this house is a small part of a larger redevelopment of the area. This dock system supported by

pillings is built off of a dirt parking lot and replacing a two-dock system built for larger fishing boats. The

purpose of building a house over water allows for a true integration into the marine system and direct access

to porch fishing, scenic views, and boat accessibility. The double porch system allows for shaded area in the

warm summers and spaces for summertime grilling, relaxation, and leisure. Sliding doors allow for natural light and versatility in exterior porch use.

Piping systems are stored in a waterproofed system on the underside of the dock. Electricity is strung along the dock and connected to the house. The house contains basic programs such as a Bedroom, Kitchen,

Living Room, Dining Area, and two Bathrooms (Master Bathroom and Half Bathroom). The home comes

equipped with washer and dryer and storage space under the stairs. All wood is coated in waterproofing

layers and glass panels are reinforced to prevent water leakage during rising sea levels. The first floor is built as a more public area that allows for interaction with the water, such as space to fish off of the porch. The bedroom is tucked behind a wall upstairs to provide privacy in the living area and protection from heavy duty flooding that may occur. The house is built as a temporary summer home, being a dream for a fishing

POINT PLEASANT WATERSHACK

LANDSCAPE STUDY | MOUNT DAMAVAND, IRAN

05 STILTED PAINTERS RESIDENCE

This three-part project involved a landscape study of the painting Abduction of Zal by the Simurgh and a building case study of the Leca Swimming Pools by Álvaro Siza. The goal was to design a painter’s residence that harmonizes with the given landscape while incorporating architectural features from the case study. The residence offers views of the real-life landscape depicted in the painting and features a structural stilt system that provides a hybrid tectonic design with stereotomic building massing. It includes elements of classic Iranian architecture, such as a rectangular exterior fountain and a meditation area, creating an intimate connection between the user and nature.

In addition to the private residence situated above the public spaces, the design includes a painter’s studio and a gallery, completing this all-encompassing temporary structure. Similar to Siza’s Leca Swimming Pools, the building is intended to gradually erode over time, merging with the surrounding mountain. While elements of permanence are present in the form of steel structural beams and cyclopean concrete, the structure remains susceptible to environmental influences.

factors in the buildings natural erosion over time. The structure is derived from the Simurgh, a Iranian mythological bird that delivers Zal to Mount Damavand. The bird form is abstracted to create different rectangular forms, each holding a different program. As the residence is too large to be cantilevered, a steel stilt system that is built into the mountain holds up both the meditation platform, pool area, and residential area. Overall, the building is meant to be a permenant but eventually abandoned structure built for the painter.

Jutting into the landscape, the concrete building is meant to be “landing and becoming one” with the landscape of the surrounding area. Through the geometries created in concept, the creation of intimate spaces such as the pool area are created by compressed masses. A surrounding exterior program connects each part of the building to one another, creating a pathway circumnavigating the estate. Interior lookout points are carefully planned out, with only one main window in each of the rectangular masses. The first floor is home to a modernized take on an Iranian style rectangular pool along with a meditation platform, a large painting studio (facing left), and a gallery (facing right). The gallery views the famous Mount Damavand, being the largest mountain in the Middle East

FLOORPLAN: FIRST FLOOR

Builing Model | Wood, Foam, Plaster

PERSONAL EMAIL: JAKEMRICHTER13@GMAIL.COM

SCHOOL EMAIL: JMRICHTE@SYR.EDU

PHONE NUMBER: 609.933.2386

LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/in/jake-richter

PROFESSORS:

MAGDALENA VALDEVENITO

VALERIA HERRERA

NIMET ANWAR

CLASSES:

STUDIO 1, 2, AND 3

REPRESENTATION 1 AND 2

STRUCTURES

BUILDING SYSTEMS

ARCHITECTURAL THEORY

ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY 1 AND 2

EARTH SCIENCE

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY