Resume & Design Portfolio, Spring 2023
Joanna Tsue
Joa nna Tsue
Merrick, NY | joanna tsue@gmail com | 516 589 0978
PROFILE
Emerging professional in Architecture, who is slated to graduate from the New York Institute of Technology [NYIT] School of Architecture and Design in May 2023. A former global business professional with over ten years in project management, manufacturing, and marketing within the cosmetics industry Joanna’s professional design experience includes Landscape Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Real Estate Sales.
EDUCATION
2020- 2023 NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Old Westbury, NY
Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology
Tau Sigma Delta Honor Society, 3.93 GPA
2016-2020 NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE – Garden City, NY
Coursework in Civil Engineering Technology & Construction Project Management
2000-2004 HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY – Hempstead, NY
Bachelor of Business Administration – Marketing, Minor in Spanish
SKILLS & CERTIFICATIONS
Software: Rhino 3D, Climate Studio, Lumion, AutoCAD, Revit, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Sketchup.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Professional Skills: Karass Effective Negotiating, ISM Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) 2008-12, Project Management, NYS Licensed Real Estate Salesperson since 2016.
2021- Present GARDENS BY RACHEL – Merrick, NY
Landscape Design Intern (paid)
International Business Experience: Europe, Asia, S. America
Languages: Proficient in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.
• Conduct initial client design interviews, site measurements, site context documentation.
• Develop formal site plans and 3D design renders using REVIT and CAD for clients.
Landscape Architecture
• In-depth Horticulture knowledge to make appropriate recommendations and substitutions at appropriate pricing
2016-Present JLADY RE(DESIGN) – Merrick, NY Interior Design
Freelance Interior Design
• Provides interior design solutions for clients based on their design brief and site visits
• Create as-builts, 3D renderings, floor plans, elevations and look- books for material & product sourcing.
• Develop Construction Documents & provide project management from initial concept through the construction phase for multiple $70-100K projects.
Residential Real Estate Sales Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
2016- Present COMPASS REAL ESTATE – Merrick, NY
• Customer Service & Architectural Design Knowledge: Developed a strong referral business with buyers requesting input on design and renovation possibilities of prospective new homes
• Property Sales Success: Steadily and consistently generated $5MM+ in gross sales as part time agent since start of tenure.
2007-2014 COTY, INC – New York, NY
Global Purchasing Manager – External Operations
Procurement & Project Management
• Led the daily procurement needs and supply chain strategy for the color cosmetic category for North America. Responsible to manage annual category spend $25MM. Managed 1 direct report. Reported to VP of Purchasing in Europe.
• Identified, traveled to and developed new suppliers to drive innovation and quality within the color cosmetic category.
• Continuously delivered on time ship dates under stringent timelines for all new launch and value driven initiatives.
• Awarded for excellence as part of the “NYC Dream Team” for resolving a service crisis in 2011 for NYC Cosmetic Brand.
CIVIC & LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
2019- Present MERRICK GABLES ASSOCIATION, INC – Merrick, NY
Preservation, Civic Duty, Government Co-President & Co-Chair of the Landmark Preservation Committee
• Along with the board of directors, developed and led multiple community meetings that addressed neighborhood concerns.
• Co-chair of the Landmark Preservation Sub- committee focusing on the Historic Merrick Gables homes being threatened by developers. Lead press interviews and educational seminars to raise awareness and education of the process.
REFERENCES UPON REQUEST
Project: Our House
Modeling in Revit
Project: The Un-house
Field Theory, 9 Square Typology
Project: The Bathhouse
Tectonic, Materiality & Circulation
Project: Glacier Gallery
Program, Scale, Site
Project: Visualization III
3D Modeling and Post Production
Interior Design Projects
Completed Renovations
Contents
Joanna Tsue Design Portfolio
Project: Our House
2000SF Residential Home
NYIT SoAD Construction Drawing
FALL 2022
In this class, we studied our own home. We started with field sketches of all the elevations and plans of the existing house. We studied the site and the construction materials. We then were asked to develop a demo and renovation plan for changes we would like to make. From there we began to work in REVIT to create the existing model of our home. We then created a full set of construction drawings that covered the existing plans, demo plan and proposed renovations.
Above: A hand sketch of the existing front elevation of our house. Below: A Digital Rendering of the proposed renovations. The entry tower has been enlarged for better function while maintaining the original architectural character of the house.Proposed Renovation Plan & Elevations
The renovation plan seeks to preserve as much as the current layout as possible of the home to maximize comfort while minimizing expense to the homeowner. The renovation plan expands the Entry Tower, allowing for more storage space, the large main bathroom is split into a master bathroom suite and full size family bath, and expands a narrow bedroom to a more comfortable size. Positions and sizes of windows were considered with keeping to the architectural Spanish revival style as well as the desired lighting. Below: New Front and South elevations of the proposed renovation which also includes new landscaping.
Joanna Tsue Design Portfolio
Project: The Un-House
2700SF Housing Unit
NYIT SoAD Design Studio I
FALL 2021
In Design I we studied the 9-Square Grid was studied. We experimented with how to activate and manipulate space by applying different enclosure and circulation strategies. Later, we activated the two-dimensional organization to three-dimensional habitable spaces, with the brief to create non traditional housing to respond to the changing typologies of housing that are becoming necessary in contemporary society. The dwelling also must intimately relate to its site.
The Un-house I created is flexible 3 story dwelling that can be “plugged” into a hypothetical power grid providing energy, water, a verticle green space. The plugs surronding voids drive light into its deepest spaces.
Foam Board Physical Modelling: Studies on activating the grid on 3 levels while becoming buried within the site.
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH EAST NORTH WEST
Maison Noir
Joanna Tsue Design Portfolio
Section A
Top view of the sited UnHouse
2nd Floor: Main
Dwelling, 3rd Floor: Main Dwelling, Level 3 or Flex to ADU 02
Section B
Ground Floor: Main Dwelling, Level 1
Dwelling, Level 2 or Flex to ADU 01
Joanna Tsue Design Portfolio
Project: The Bath House
NYIT SoAD Spring 2021
Design Fundamentals II
In Design Fundamentals II, we focused on Tectonics, or the expressive qualities of materials and elements of construction. We explored how vessels could be organized and assembled, both as mass and void, and then studied how to articulate their surfaces. It was a very fun and interesting project to begin with purist painting and end with a occupiable bathhouse!
Trois bouteilles (blue) c1928, LeCorbusier.
Trace & Extraction of Geometry.
“To create architecture is to put in order. But
in what order? Functions and Objects.”
Geometry.
3D Vessels Order & Massing
But
Joanna Tsue Design Portfolio
Top: Grotto Pool, with views framed by the panelized “Trois bouteilles ”
Below: Interior views of different areas of the bathhouse.
Design Portfolio
Joanna Tsue
Studying the light patterns cast by the panelized bottles.
An early sketch planning placement of the different bathhouse pools.
Programmatic key.
Project: Glacier Gallery
NYIT SoAD Design Studio II
Spring 2022
Design II presented a new challenge as we explored a more complex and larger dimensional and programmatic scale of design within an existing topographical site in Central Park, NY. We were sent to the site on a cold January day to begin to develop our ideas about what type of building would be right for this assignment.
Glacier as a Metaphor
As part of the design concept were asked to pick a metaphor to inform the design for our museum. Since I ended up doing an extensive amount of research about the stone outcrops that defined the site I decided to explore the metaphor of “Glacier” and set out to develop a museum set inside of a living glacier shaping the stone that it sits upon.
Top: A final render of the Glacier Gallery sitting on its stone site.
Middle: I made various physical models to explore the form and scale of the glacier upon the rock. The physical model to the left is made from laser cut acrylic pieces that I hand assembled to achieve the ragged form of the ice that would enclose the museum around the stone.
Left: an interior view from the mezzanie level through the ice roof facing southeast.
Joanna Tsue Design Portfolio
Adding some color to the pavilion park for a more vibrant experience.
In Visualization III, we massed complex geometry.
Visualization
NYIT SoAD Viz III
Fall 2021
Above: A aluminum panelized form creates an outdoor pavilion. RIGHT: I imagined a rooftop garden system.using 3 modified tetrahedrons. Software used: Rhino 3D, Lumion, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator.
Design Portfolio
Joanna Tsue
An interior perspective study of the shadows cast by the pavilion.
Projects: Interior Design For Jlady Re(Design)
2018-2020
For many years I found myself being asked to help friends and family with their renovations once I started working with my most important client, myself! I absolutely love to design and renovate spaces that bring new joy to my family, friends and clients. Disovering this passion for design and renovation is why I decided to study architecture. I hope to bring joy through design for the rest of my life.
Working with my 1929 Spanish Revival home has never been dull. I took a narrow room with a backdoor to the yard and transformed it into a “Police Office” for our oldest son who was about to become a big brother. Here the ceiling joists and white washed pine bead board create an enjoyable architectural feature.
Two bathrooms in a Port Washington residence were done in tandum in a 3 month timeframe. The upstairs bathroom which was the larger space was planned, sourced and budgeted to be executed while the clients were away on business. The second bathroom (shown above), a 3 piece powder room was done once the contractor was on site and the clients said, lets just get it done. The clients trusted me to design and source all necessary materials to have the full intstallation done for them once they returned from their trip. This was a fun and exciting project! Total budget: $100,000
My first major project was done in a Mid Century Style home in Fairfiled CT. The bathroom was narrow and needed to be designed for young children as well as for their monther who wanted plenty of light for doing makeup. The height of the mirror was lowered so the children also had a functional space. The Mid Century details are expressed with the hexagonal tiles and hardware, lighting and color pallet. Custom cabinets, milwork, subway tiles and warm paint complete the space. Total budget: $25,000
Joanna Tsue Design Portfolio
About: Joanna Tsue
I am a career change professional passionate about architecture. As a graduate of the NYIT School of Architecture and Design this May 2023, I am excited to begin working professionally with a group of people who also love architecture.
I have spent much of my life learning and exploring. I’ve studied business, art, design, engineering and have always enjoyed travelling. All of these experiences combined with the past few years at NYIT have prepared me to think, study and to appreciate architecture with a great passion.
As I continue to follow my dream to study and practice architecture, I am certain this is where I want to be and look forward to continuing my journey.
joanna.tsue@gmail.com 516 589 0978 Merrick, New York
Joanna Tsue
