HAO CAO Iowa State University BA | 2021-2024
Ames Energy Conservatory Fall 2023 (06-23)
Neo-Nomadisms—Unfrozen Architectures Fall 2022 (24-39)
Museum of Emotions
Buildner Architecture Competition - Silent Competition Summer 2023 (50-59)
Other Projects
Touch/Screen Spring 2022 (40-49) (60-63)
Resurgence DEW VHL Screen
REFERENCE
Bosuk Hur
Associate Porfessor of Practive Design Principal, FOLIO
+1 (857) 756-4345
bhur@istate.edu
HAO CAO
4th Year - Architecture Student
SKILLS
Design Rhino
AutoCAD
3DS Max
Climate Consultant
Rod Kruse | FAIA LEED AP Principal, BNIM
+1 (515) 559-0435
rkruse@bnim.com
ABOUT ME
EDUCATION
Iowa State University, BA | January 2021 - May 2025
DLR Prized Finalists | 2023
Richard F. Hansen Finalists | 2022
Iowa Masonry Institute’s Construction Project (Brick Contest) Winners I 2022
WORK EXPERIENCE
Fortune Garden Chinese Restaurant | August 2019 - January 2020
Hand-drawn
3D Printing
Model Making
Casting Concrete
Editing
Render
Climate Studio Photoshop Illustrator
InDesign Lightroom
Microsoft Office
Procreate V-Ray Enscape
3DS Max
Twin Motion
INFO
April 26, 2000
+ (515) 346-4667 haoc2@iastate.edu jessicahao2607@gmail.com
I am delighted to submit my portfolio for your review. Enclosed are several selected projects that offer insight into my experiences and achievements during my tenure at architecture school from 2021 to 2024. I hope you find them to be a valuable representation of my skills and dedication.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Additional Skills Language
Front desk assistant, greeting and took order, and checked customers out. Helped in the kitchen: food preparation, clean-up work, and more. Assisted with accounting.
Teriyaki House | March 2020 - August 2020, May 2021 - August 2021
Pottery / Clay Sculpting
English
Vietnamese
My passion for architecture ignited during high school when dreamed of designing a home for my parents. Since then, my aspirations have evolved towards using architecture as a catalyst for positive change on a global scale. Confident in my abilities and eager to learn, I am committed to excelling in this field and seizing every opportunity for growth. This upcoming opportunity represents a crucial step towards achieving my professional goals and opening doors in architecture and related fields. Additionally, my fluency in English and Vietnamese equips me to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and engage with a wide range of individuals, enriching the architectural process with varied perspectives and cultural insights. With a multicultural background as my foundation, I am ready to embark on a fulfilling journey in architecture, driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact on the world.
Front desk assistant, communicated with customers, took orders, and cashed out. Kitchen preparation, morning preparation, and night cleaning.
Main staff that worked on order preparation, worked with online orders.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Spectacular Studio Awards January 2024
One of the winners of the competition
Studio project “DEW” from 4th year in Fall 2023
Featured on Spectacular Design
DLR Prized Finalists - DEW | Fall 2023
Finalists of 2 stage design competition
Team of 2 students through the process to achieve iconic and feasible design solution for a near brown-state site in Ames, near Iowa State University campus
Richard F. Hansen Finalists- Resurgence Fall 2022
Finalists of 2 stage design competition
Structural and conceptual design in a team of 2 students to achieve unique design solution to chosen site at Ledges State Park
Architectural Visualization Award, Edition #2 | Summer 2023
Shortlisted - top 40
A silent contest, produced one architectural visualization, no description text allowed
Proficient use of Rhinoceros 7.0, Photoshop and MidJourney to produce drawings in timely manner, promoting the conceptual idea of silent drawing contest
Iowa Masonry Institute’s Construction Project, Brick Contest Spring 2022
A contest of hands-on building brick wall, using Rhino 7.0 to layout the bricks.
A team of 6 students worked in an organized manner to win the contest
Winner
Finalists Finalists
Shortlisted Winner
DEW
SIERRA WROOLIE & HAO CAO
ACADEMIC TERM: 401 DESIGN STUDIO | FALL 2023
PROFESSOR: AYODELE IYANALU & ROD KRUSE
TYPE: MIXED USE/COMMERCIAL
SITE: AMES, IA
WINNER SPECTACULAR STUDIO AWARDS
FINALISTS
DLR PRIZE
RESEARCH | 9
01. SITE CONTEXT
The site is located on the west end of Ames Iowa just north of Lincoln Way. The site if 9.34 acres large which includes the houses on the property. The South West corner of the site is the highest point, and the elevation down to the lowest corner (North East) is approximately 74 feet. This site is also just west of the Munn Woods, which the Munn Family gifted to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) to protect it from any residential development. This forest stretches to roughly the west end of campus.
•Mini
•Giving
•Reuniting
•Building
ECOSYSTEM water source than it consumes
8 | SITE CONTEXT 4510 Mortensen Road Kum #200 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Community Commercial Node College Creek Learning Center Todd Dr. Apartments 4506 Lincoln Way Kum #215 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Clear Creek Commercial Zoning Low Density Housing Park Low Density Housing Low Density Housing Proposal Site High Density Housing Mortensen Road Lincoln Way Low Density Housing Nature Area Proposal Site Commercial Zoning Eurogan USA Chinese Evangelical JAX Outdoor Commercial Zoning CORE Apartment Windsor Terrace Apartment Szechuan House High Density Housing 4420 Lincoln Way Former QuikTrip Leaking Underground Storage Tank 5815 Lincoln Way Wagner Auto Leaking Underground Storage Tank 4030 Lincoln Way Former Casey’s Leaking Underground Storage Tank 3406 Lincoln Way Swift Stop Leaking Underground Storage Tank 3334 Lincoln Way Former Wendy’s Contaminated Site Low Density Housing Water Soil soil 1 soil 1 •Clear spot, good amount of sunlight •Invasive species, hardy but 40% died soil 3 soil 3 •Clear spot, menimum amount sunlight •Invasive species, low trees, big canopy •There are not much grass on ground soil 2 soil 2 •Clear spot, good amount of sunlight •Invasive species, hardy but 70% died 742ft N.DakotaAve. 650ft LincolnWay waterrunofffromcommercialzone 2%slope water runoff from commercial zone waterrunofffromKum&Go+petroleumleakage 5.3%slope Jax Outdoor Kum&Go CORE Apartment water runoff Iowa’s soil is becoming more acididic due to nitrate runoff, a pH of 6.5 is optimal for most plants, our site’s soil has pH levels of 4.5, 4.7, and 5.2 Failed Water Inspections Story County, Private Wells Fecal Coliform Nitrates 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 99% statewide wetlands lost WATER •Controlling runoff •Decontaminateing the polluted RESOURCES •Using vernacular materials •Reducing carbon footprints WELL-BEING •Emerging city lifestyle to nature •Cleaner water supplies •Community space for gathering to improve mental health DISCOVERY •Opportunity to learn about the prairie, ECONOMY •Providing labors for local people •Self-sustaining water & energy generate for future use EQUITABLE •Design for everyone to join, and learn about nature •Approachable design to invite everyone ENERGY •65% 95% daylight penetrate into the space •Radiant heating/cooling floor using geothermal system CHANGE •Sustainable for future use •Recyclable materials & replaced easily •High adaptability
ecosystem that affecting larger scale
life back to the brown site
ecology and community
system that giving back more
INTEGRATION contaminated land, and how to preserve nature
INITIAL CONCEPT
DEFINE WHAT IS HAPPENNING ON SITE
INTEGRATING LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE
CONCEPT DIAGRAM
DIVIDED PROGRAMS INTO 3 PARTS: PUBLIC PRIVATE CONSERVATORIES (WETLAND AND PRAIRIE)
MASSING| 11
10 | INTIAL CONCEPT
Building’s proposal is to put the program at the heart of the contamination. The building bridges the two ecologies of wetlands and prairie. The base was 23,000 sqft near the most contamination and where water runoff enters on site. The mass is divided based on landscape shifts with wetlands on the West, and prairie on the East with mainly 3 programs: public, private, and conservatories. The conservatories move to the ends, integrating the landscape while compressing the core to create circulation. A mezzanine with cafeteria and community spaces is placed on top the core with an indoor rain garden space. A lightweight timber truss and column structures and a light envelope encloses the building year-round programmatic use. An extended top plane mediates the threshold between interior and exterior. Thresholds placed on each end of the building further strengthen the connection between architecture and land.
The constructed wetlands act as natural filters, purifying the contaminated water and preventing further pollution downstream. Simultaneously, native prairie plants naturally clean the soil. Engaging the community in this restoration process is key— educating them about the contaminated site and the native ecology within the building, and involving them in the revitalization efforts in the conservatories will strengthen the bonds between human and nature.
CAFE STATION I MEZZANNINE FLOOR
12 | PLANS PLANS | 13
PRARIE CONSERVATORY I GROUND FLOOR
CONNECTING NATURE & HUMAN 02. CONCEPT
STEPATHORIUM RENDER
14 | RENDER RENDER | 15
HALLWAY RENDER
16 | SECTION SECTION | 17
FRONT ELEVATION NIGHT RENDER
Warm air pumping into the inner layer turns ETFE into insulation facade. This process will still induce condensation to collect water during winter.
The wetland conservatory still operates with vegetations being preserved inside. The outdoor might be harsh during winter in Iowa, but the conservatories will be less harsh, which is suitable for vulnerable pieces.
The prairie conservatory still operates with vegetations being preserved inside. The outdoor might be harsh during winter in Iowa, but the conservatories will be less harsh, which is suitable for vulnerable pieces.
The roof is a curved roof with sharp, thin edges, creating the illusion of a razor-thin roofline.
Cafeteria is done in a kitchen well connected to the main lodge, which can be either staffed, or stashed with supplies for occupants to collect vegetables in the greenery area.
Exhibition area of storing seeds will be more active during winter. This area is public to have the community coming in and learn about the process of storing/ preserving seeds.
ETFE Panel Roof Structure
Cafeteria
Exhibit Room
Wetland
Prarie
20 | DETAILED SECTION + MODEL DETAILED SECTION + MODEL| 21
NORTH ELEVATION ROOF
EXTERNAL WALKWAY FROM PRAIRIE
EXTERNAL WALKWAY FROM WETLAND
Program Distribution -Conservatory -Public -Private Mechanical/Water Storage Step-A-Torium Vertical Circulation Circulation Ramp Conservatory Boardwalk Seed Drying Exposition Harvesting Seed Exposition Cafe Station Green Roof Garden ETFE Facade Pivot Door Light Filtering Screen Cantilevered Roof Skylight shell assemblage core program MODEL| 23 22 | EXPLODED DIAGRAM
ENTRANCE / APPROACH FROM SOUTH (LINCOLN WAY)
RESURGENCE
BRETT CHERRY & HAO CAO
ACADEMIC TERM: ARCH 302 - FALL 2022
PROFESSOR: ANDREW GLEESON
TYPE: COMMERCIAL
SITE: LEDGES STATE PARK - IOWA
FINALISTS Richard F. Hansen
Our site at Ledges State Park, Iowa, is a meeting point for neo-nomadic people all over the continent. We used our research about Ledges State Park, its geography, and its flora to shape the site and how it’s used.
01. SITE
SITE PLAN + SECTION| 27 SITE SECTION 26 | LEDGES STATE PARK MAP
LEDGES STATE PARK MAP
CONTEXT
02. CONCEPT
With the narrative of flooding adaptability and natural preservation, we developed a site that is adaptable to the weather and seasons, while also touching the historical site as little as possible. Our narrative elevates some of
the programs above the flat landscape, and allows the site to change, grow, and adapt throughout the year, creating a site that’s both adaptable and resilient, much like the neonomadic van dwellers of today.
BUILDING DIAGRAM | 29 28 | CONCEPT
32 | ELEVATION ELEVATIONS| 33
East Elevation
WEST ELEVATION 1/8” = 1’-0”
EAST ELEVATION 1/8” = 1’-0”
We realized how flooding issues have damaged the park throughout the years, leading to a decline in annual visitation during heavy flooding seasons. Our site also contains many
historical elements that we wanted to preserve, from the prairie and other vegetation such as trees and vines, to the Carl Fritz Henning shelter that is already on the site.
PROGRAM | 31 30 |RENDER
FLOOD SEASON RENDER
DRY SEASON RENDER
Travel by Water
Hill Site
Camp with Flood
Flood season
2% Slope
Camp with Vans
Travel to Hill
PROGRAM The programs are meant to accommodate the neo-nomadic lifestyle that many people embrace today, while also being respectful and sensitive to the existing site, be it existing buildings, vegetation, or soil.
We learned that nomadic people are resilient to all weather, and easily adapt to many different living conditions, so why not make the
site have the same level of resilience and adaptability for different weather conditions as well?
34 | ROOF PLAN FLOOR PLAN | 35
03.
ROOF PLAN 1/8” = 1’-0”
FLOOR PLAN 1/8” = 1’-0”
36 |MODEL & SECTION MODEL & SECTION | 37 LV - 0 LV -2 LV -1 SECTION 1/8” = 1’-0”
38 | WATERCOLOR RENDER WATERCOLOR RENDERS | 39 VAN PARKING AREA MARKET AREA IN DRY SEASON
VHL Touch Screen
HAO CAO
ACADEMIC TERM: ARCH 202 - SPRING 2022
PROFESSOR: KEVIN LAIR
TYPE: SCULPTURE
42 | PROCECSS SKETCHES PROCESS SKETCHES | 43
“ Pallasmaa’s intent in his designs is to slow down our experience of the designed space … The result is a“collage’ but one in which what is left to chance is the individual sensory experience alone, the subjective relationship and linkages created by the participation of those entering into the space, and their tactile memories. It is the slowed passage of time that allows the tactile experience to resonate with one’s consciousness long after departing the design …” - Peter MacKeith in forward to Eyes of the Skin by Juhani Pallasmaa
The goal of this assignment is to slow us down, and pay attention to what has been unoticed - details. A great tool for this assignment is touching sense, and observing the space by closing our eyes.
The T/S design, Adaptability of VHL (Vertical - Horizontal - Locking) creates an intense spatial orientation but gradually transparent out and emerged at the end for people to be in. The texture of cement and wood rods perform as the screen itself as well.
Concrete seems to be solid and reliable but turns out it is quite vulnerable without any supports. I chose concrete and wood rods because they are constrasing and reinforcing each other at the same time. Both concrete and wood rods are solid, the casting shadow of the dense screen will turn out like a tree shadow with a lot of tree knots.
Failed attempt when testing
CONCRETE CASTING | 45 44 | CONCRETE SCREEN
Modules Screen
Modules that using vertical/horizontal locking (VHL) components to stable the rods.
Combination of VLH Modules
46 | MODULES SCREEN | 47
Vertical Locking Horizontal
The T/S design, Adaptability of VHL creates an intense spatial orientation but gradually transparent out and emerged at the end for people to be in. The texture of cement and wood rods perform as the screen itself as well. Concrete seems to be solid and reliable but turns out it is quite vulnerable without any supports. I chose concrete and wood rods because they are constrasing and reinforcing each other at the same time. Both concrete and wood rods are solid, the casting shadow of the dense screen will turn out like a tree shadow with a lot of tree knots.
48 | SCREEN RENDER SCREEN RENDER | 49
Museum of Emotion
BRETT CHERRY, TRUC NGUYEN, ELLA KANNEGIESSER, HAO CAO
PROJECT: MUSEUM OF EMOTION COMPETITION
SUMMER 2023
TYPE: PUBLIC SPACE / LANDSCAPE
52 | PLAN PLAN | 53
1. Negative Space
2. Positive Space
PLAN 1 3 2
3. Entrance
54 | RENDER RENDER | 55
POSITIVE SPACE
SPACE
EXTERIOR APPROACHING RENDER
NEGATIVE
56 | SECTION SECTION | 57
NEGATIVE SPACE 2. POSITIVE SPACE
1 2 1.
The event tasked participants with exploring the extent to which architecture can be used as a tool to evoke emotion. The brief called for the design of a museum comprising two exhibition halls: one designed to induce negative emotions; the other designed to induce positive emotions. Participants were free to choose any site, real or imaginary, as well as choose the scale of the project. The definition of ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ emotions was also up for interpretation: whether fear, anger, anxiety, love, happiness, how might a designer define or conceive a corresponding space?
The Museum of Emotions is among Buildner’ silent competitions, in which participants must communicate ideas using imagery void of text in any
form: titles, captions, words rendered within visuals, even annotations related to scale or cardinal directions, were all off-limits’
58 | RENDERS RENDER | 59
EXTERIOR APPROACHING RENDER
OTHER PROJECTS
44 | OTHER PROJECTS
SHORTLISTED
IOWA WELLS INSTITUTEBRICK CONTEST
WINNER HEREAFTER
Type Render
Organizer: Buildner Architecture Competitions - ARCHITECTURAL
VISUALIZATION EDITION #2
Collaborators: Truc Nguyen, Isabel Witten
Software: Midjourney, Photoshop, Lightroom
https://architecturecompetitions.com/ architecturalvisualizationaward2/
+ A silent contest using architectural visualization to convey the idea
Type: Hands-on experience
Collaborators: Cheyenne Oberlechner, Jenea Jones, Kimberly Greiner, Makenna McManemy, Madalyn Niemeier
Professor: Eric Badding, Bosuk Hur
+ The key ideas in our design were stability, perforation, aesthetic, repose, and efficiency. We w anted a design that had a high amount of stability, even though we need to construct it in a short amount of time. We all collaborated excellently in discussing the final design and building this project on site.
MOI POTTERY // PERSONAL ONGOING ONGOING
Type Throwing pottery as hobby
Collaborator: Truc Nguyen
+ Practicing throwing pottery after school
+ Joined Art Mart Fall 2023
+ Planning to turn this hobby to side hustle in future
2DOTS1LINE CLAY // PERSONAL
Type: Handmade air-dry clay creations
Solo Project
+ Another hobby besides pottery
+ Joined Art Mart Fall 2023
+ Planning to launch online shop this March
62 | OTHER WORKS PERSONAL WORKS | 63
HAO CAO HAOC2@IASTATE.EDU JESSICAHAO2607@GMAIL.COM