Keyshawn Tyson Lewis
ktysonlewis@gmail com m arch (may 2026)
washington university in st louis
I believe architecture is a powerful tool for addressing climate change and enhancing human health and well-being by providing design solutions that focus on adaptive reuse, disaster relief, and regenerative design.
educational center
Year three: 2023
june - julY
individual pages 3-12
multifamilY housing
Year three: 2024
august - december
individual pages 23-34
foster center/urban farm
Year four: 2024
januarY - maY
individual pages 13-22
Urban mining pavilion
Year four: 2024
august - december
team (5) pages 35-42
spring church
Temporary pavilion
Year three: 2024
august
individual pages 43-48
Site: Busua, Ghana
Duration: One Month
TOB (Teach on Beach) is a non-profit organization that is dedicated and passionate about improving the lives of students in Busua, Ghana. They strongly believe that education is not only about acquiring knowledge, but also about promoting social and emotional development.
The project aims to create inviting spaces that blend beach views with community engagement. Two courtyards serve as gathering spaces, while the proposed architecture utilizes existing trees to keep the courtyards cool and refreshing. A community garden and orchard are displayed to extend the project’s reach beyond core visitors. The main hub connects the site with open, breathable spaces, offering direct circulation and stunning ocean views. A leisure area is located on the second story, offering activities while taking in the ocean view.
Located on the outskirts of Ghana, the plot is conveniently positioned within a short walking distance of the beach and nearby private and public schools, facilitating easy access for children to attend. It is also
Within the entrance upon the community center, the intention is to see through the site to make it as open and welcoming as possible. From here, one may see the orchards and community gardens, while also seeing into the back of the site to the volunteer’s courtyard.
Through the diagrams was the analysis of finding ways to keep the existing conditions and build around them. With the grid plan it is possible to see alignments and available open spaces, keeping the buildings on the lines and the voids in place for outdoor gathering. In turn, connections to each space are very easily made as none of the spaces are meant to secluded
The main hub’s structure looks to act as the primary gathering space promote natural ventilation between the gardening and volunteer space.
The volunteer space looks to allow daylighting from the roof on one structure and entrance of the other while also allowing cross ventilation.
The pavilion structure is less complex allowing cross ventilation and larger entry for daylighting into the space. summer hut/outdoor kitchen
The classroom’s structure allows light to enter from the southwest along with a cool breeze due to the tree standing near adult classroom
site: New York City, New York Duration: Four Months awarD: First Place Junior Earl Prize
Lives We Foster employs the concept of materiality to create a compelling contrast with the historical structure, integrating the Smallpox Disease theme into the design. The utilization of timber is metaphorically presented as a ‘disease’ gradually overtaking the building, simultaneously restoring what was lost in the original structure. The functionality of the space is envisioned to be a valuable resource, encompassing a nursery and urban farm to foster growth and development within the city.
The design incorporates a structural grid system, featuring nets that complement climbing walls. On the opposite side, these nets serve as platforms for food baskets and gardening spaces. The interior of the building will encapsulate innovative ideas, extending beyond its walls to visually convey the activities transpiring inside.
existing structure, patching up all broken and corroded space upon the facade of the historic building. The exterior is in response to the memorial and acts as an entrance from the site into the tourist attraction with presenting and community gardens with outdoor play/gathering spaces.
The detail represents a moment that takes place on the front facade. The moment being the clash of the exisiting stone and the new materials being wood and glass.
nurserY net
column detail
food/garden basket
assemblY
The nursery net lies in between the structural grid to ensure strength of net. Acts as play and resting space for the nursery. Structural grid fluctuates in size, however, stretches around 11 feet in width and 15 feet in length, with 8x10 members. The structural grid plays off the existing steel that eliminates inward collapse of the stone walls.
The stairs that lead into the existing structure and carries on to the new addition are designed as floating stairs to add to the playfulness of the space. The stairs are attached to the wall and hung from the ceiling by a steel rod.
Within the new addition are gathering spaces, primarily expected to be used for teaching with possible demonstrations. These spaces come with views of the city and the gardens housed in the bounds of the structure.
Site: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Duration: Four Months
The project focused on four studios; all in different locations. We had the possibility of San Juan, Barcelona, Berlin, and Halifax. Each studio group started by being assigned to one location and moved to another to begin what would be our final project. For both locations we created a threshold image that captures a space that may highlight the elements of the given location. My studio group was assigned San Juan, Puerto Rico to start and moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The structure is 10 stories captivating and reflects Halifax culture. The facade is finished with dark wood and has sliding louvered shutters to prevent debris from impacting the glazing without negative effects from heavy winds. The lower portion is given a cut where lighter wood is highlighted. The design is extremely compact while offering direct sunlight in each living space for all units.
Puerto Rico being a located on the Caribbean, makes for yearround hot climate and prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and landslides. The threshold model shows the connection between rooms where the shower is outdoors with the washer nearby to avoid humidity build-up. The balcony space is gated and the shower has a curtain to prevent views inside while allowing air flow throughout the space. With heat being a primary concern, more openings and less walls are considered.
Nova Scotia is a port city and construction due to its local accessibility. in Canada but still cold. The threshold the bathroom into the living space looking out to the city. In this case, each grant direct sunlight into every corridors and prevent a disconnect space to the living space
scotia, canada and heavily involved in timber accessibility. The climate is the warmest threshold highlights a passing through space to the kitchen and dining space case, all units are on the corner and every room. The goal is to limit disconnect of the kitchen and dining space for adaptability.
Site: St. Louis, Missouri
Duration: Three Months
The proposed intervention seeks to address the St. Louis region use of demolition that dominates the construction industry. For this project we looked to emerge doconstruction for a circular economy in the construction industry.
A genuinely circular architectural design requires the reuse of salvaged materials from deconstructed buildings (DeCon) of the highest quality in new construction (ReCon). The team was made up of five WashU students and our Professor, Hongxi Yin.
At the core of this project lies on the basis of an “X”. The pavilion, about 50 sq. ft in size, remains transparent. With the proposal we hoped to present architectural solutions for salvaged building materials, demonstrate their possibilities, and give the material a new life in the new structure. The team partially built the prototype pavilion with newly sourced timber to study the scale and adaptation to human activities.
The team explored the opportunity to design and build a small pavilion based on a fully circular economy using various reclaimed materials, mainly Timber, in St. Louis. The students learned the circular economy principle deconstruction processes from local, national, and international industrial entrepreneurs and leaders, such MiTek, and researchers from the University of Tokyo and Southern University of Illinois Edwardsville.
We studied wood samples from ReFab Lab, helping us understand the source material. The samples also influenced design as we began to issue possibilities and limitations to the design.
influenced the economy concept principle and the as Refab Lab,
yellow pine location | ladue, mo date range |1910s
02. white pine location | lafeyette sq, mo date range |1860s
red
location | marthasville, mo date range |1940s
st louis, mo
The intended site is right off of Gravois Ave. Our team wanted a proposal that was influenced by the idea of reusing imperfect wood material. The “X” allows us to explore these variuos wood sizes and types. The design takes into different lumber sizes that we were aware we had and, if needed, could make changes if we ran into any issues. After the design was agreed upon, we built a prototype of three members to study comfortable seating positions, structural capability, and lumber connections. For the prototype the team studied members A ,D, B.
SCALE: 1/2” = 1’-0”
SCALE: 1/2” = 1’-0”
SCALE: 1/2” = 1’-0”
Site: St. Louis, Missouri
Duration: Two Weeks
The project is a church located near the Contemperary Arts Museum in St. Louis and now part of the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The structure was demolished following a fire and was later stabilized by the foundation where it now is a open-air pavilion for community gathering and public Art.
The temporary add-on to the church is an aerial silks performance that enhaces the experience of the pavilion. The material being a nylon fabric, is resistant to weather and provides shade for visitors. The project is made to avoid contact with the existing structure and feel as if it is floating.
section
The exterior provides a garden and aerial silks performace space with existing seating and hammocks. The inside provides hammocks and a dressing room.
