PERSONAL STATEMENT
I am a solution-oriented Interior Design Student
with a passion for executing commercial and residential projects from the brainstorming stages to development. I work well in situations where I can
serve as the organizational leader, developing time
lines, systems and strategy on behalf of a group. I strive to produce high quality, visionary work that I put my full passion into.
KIRSTEN MONTALBANO Contact 540.383.5459 klm12396@vt.edu www.linkedin.com/in/ kirstenmontalbano
EDUCATION Virginia Polytechnic Institute + State University / 2016 -2019 Major: Interior Design GPA: 3.8 Class Rank: 2 Dean’s List: 2016 - Present
Blue Ridge Community College / 2015 -2016 GPA: 4.0 Dean’s List: 2015 - 2016
ACHIEVEMENTS + INVOLVEMENT -IDEC Design Competition, 2018 National Winner -Gensler Brinkmann Scholarship, 2018 Nominee -Jeanette Turner Bowker Design Scholarship, 2017 Recipient -INTEC Group Award, 2017 Nominee -Interior Designers for Education & Sustainability, Mentor + Active Member -Competitive Architecture Team, Active Member
SKILLS Technical -Revit Architecture -AutoCAD -Google Sketchup -Rhinoceros
-Adobe Photoshop -Adobe Illustrator -Adobe InDesign
Professional
-Creative Concept Design + Development -Project Management -Strategic Space Planning + Utilization -Vendor + Client Communication -Design Research + Analysis
EXPERIENCE Leasing Agent / HHHunt July 2016 - Present
-Show and lease 30+ apartments within complex of more than 1,700 units -Process and verify applications, performing background, reference, and credit checks -Acted as the point of contact for all tenant communication including the management of 50+ maintenance requests
Design Intern / A-1 Construction Services May 2017 - August 2017
-Acted as co-manager of residential project while communicating directly with 2+ clients and 5+ sub-contractors -Conceptualized 3+ creative built-in elements and assisted in their fabrication and installation -Contributed a creative visual perspective through the coordination of 3 schemes including floor plans, color and material palettes for kitchen remodel, ultimately surpassing company owner + client expectations; calculated quotes for each scheme
Design Intern / PJ Designs September 2015 - May 2016
-Researched and produced outdoor creative concept presentation of 2 mood boards for local garden club event to provoke client interest -Designed and constructed store front window display based on extensive research covering current and future design trends -Worked directly with 3+ vendors to source and secure materials -Provided in-home holiday decor installations alongside the company owner to 2+ clients
Design Intern / Jenuwine Designs December 2015 - January 2016
-Contributed studied concepts and inventive approaches to the conceptual design phase of an in-home office space -Conducted, logged and reported site measurements for office and living room remodels to facilitate furniture selections, functionality and design details
CONTENTS
PAGE 3
DISTRICT COLLECTIVE / COWORK SPACE A coworking office in the heart of Washington D.C. that blurs the lines between working from a corporate office, a coffee shop, and at home.
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YUGEN / STUDENT MEDITATION CENTER A meditation center for the students of Virginia Tech, designed to encourage personal revitalization by promoting healing & self reflection.
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YOU VS YOU / GYM TRANSITION SPACE A transition space leading to a gym and wellness center on the Virginia Tech Campus designed to promote energy and motivation for students.
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SNAPCHAT HEADQUARTERS / OFFICE A quirky and professional work environment that supports employee goals and collaboration through a variety of work settings.
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INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE / RESIDENTIAL This tangible, hands-on experience I had on-site was an invaluable learning experience and has helped me to understand the design process at an elevated level.
DISTRICT COLLECTIVE / COWORK SPACE
District Collective is a coworking office that blurs the
lines of working from a corporate office, working from a coffee shop, and working from home. This dynamic environment is refreshing and inspiring for
all types of workers, providing unique spaces for focus work or collaboration. Private offices and desks can be rented on a monthly or daily basis; these rentals include access to several collaborative spaces and a conference room, as well as a print / resource area, a cafe and a wellness room. Currently a Tech start-up company, of 16 employees, leases a private area of
the building including 8 private offices and a large conference room.
Group Exercise - Keren Jacob Software: Revit, Photoshop Duration: 4.5 Weeks
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CONFERENCE
RECEPTION / CAFE / CONFERENCE
Located on 600 Mass. Ave, the building is equipped
with five terraces and a fully serviced rooftop garden.
WELLNESS
To go along with the push for human and nature interaction we included a copper feature wall that
holds plants, improving the air quality of the office. This eclectic and inviting vibe creates the feeling of a
home office, a familiar and productive environment. On the ceiling we drew inspiration from the coffers that
are common in historic D.C. construction to create a custom feature element that stretches throughout the space.
The conference room can be reserved by members and is a flexible space serving a variety of functions. With an adjacent storage room, rolling tables and stackable chairs, it is easy to host meetings, present your ideas, or clear the space out to hold yoga classes. FLOOR PLAN : NTS
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YUGEN / STUDENT MEDITATION CENTER
Yugen Meditation Center is designed to encourage personal revitalization for the students of Virginia Tech. Overlooking the serene duck pond, the
space fosters a meditative atmosphere, promoting healing and self reflection. The Japanese word
Yugen refers to “the profound awareness of the universe.� I explored this idea of awareness through
the effects of lighting on atmosphere. The program includes opportunity for both individual and group
meditation, allowing the user to choose what feels
most comfortable for them. The minimalist color and material palette is pulled from nature and supports
the concept of an undistracted and focused mind. Software: Revit, Photoshop Duration: 3 Weeks
IDEC Student Design Competition, National Winner
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CONCEPT / GROUP MEDITATION
The slanted wall in the group meditation space was inspired by the posture of the human body during meditation. The slant directs sight lines upward suggesting the infinite boundless nature of the mind, while its size creates a feeling of groundedness and pull of gravity to the core of the meditation space. The room also features a screen partition to filter the light from the southwest facing curtain
wall.
This partition defines the space while maintaining a connection to the outdoor courtyard and reflection pool. To promote concentration during meditation, I used horizontal lines with varying widths on the interior partition that create a natural rhythm within the space. This idea was inspired by the veins found on leaves.
SECTION : NTS
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SEATING AREA / INTIMATE MEDITATION
Individual meditation rooms allow for a more intimate experience. On the first level, the private meditation spaces provide a framed view of the outdoors for those who prefer to be connected to nature. On the second level, the private meditation spaces are fully enclosed, allowing users who may not feel comfortable meditating in front of others, to feel secure and confident. Students may also sit and reflect at either the indoor or outdoor seating area; both spaces over
The floor plan maintains a strong visual
connection to the outdoor courtyard, promoting human nature interaction.
look the reflection pool. LEVEL 2: INTIMATE MEDITATION
LEVEL 2 FLOOR PLAN : NTS N
LEVEL 1: INTIMATE MEDITATION WITH NATURE
LEVEL 1 FLOOR PLAN : NTS
YOU VS YOU / GYM TRANSITION SPACE
The program requirements were to design a 200ft
long transition space leading to a gym and wellness
center at McComas Hall on the Virginia Tech campus. The space embodies the full circle of health, focusing on both physical and mental health. The concept of
You vs You, suggests that at the gym, you are your only opponent. We used contrast in color and materials to show this opposition while also creating a sense of
direction and motivation. The feature wall is made up of
orange acrylic pegs with metal framing to diffuse light
coming in from the floor to ceiling windows. The wall’s organic shape was inspired by the highs and lows of
ones fitness journey, and encourages the overcoming
of obstacles. Both bench and bar top seating are
integrated into the wall adding function to the space. While the main hallway is energetic and inspiring, it
is contrasted with spaces meant for relaxation, and rejuvenation of the mind and body. Group Exercise - Julia Whitacre Software: Revit, Photoshop Duration: 3.5 Weeks
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RELAXATION NOOKS / POOL DECK
In the back hallway we included relaxation nooks where students can kick their feet back to rest or spend quiet time studying, The nooks are backed with felt
for comfort and acoustic privacy. The nooks are back
lit with thin strip lighting to provide task lighting for homework. Two of the nooks have shelving that holds
essentials oils and healing crystals for the students
SEATING NOOK
to experiment with for stress relief. Flanking the pool
deck, we created study spaces that maintain a visual connection to the pool, but are fully enclosed to maintain climate control. These study spaces have bar height tables and stools for casual and quick meeting. These spaces are also backed with felt to help keep the noise travel to a minimum.
ESSENTIAL OIL DISPLAY
RELAXATION NOOK ELEVATIONS : NTS
PEG WALL AXON
PEG WALL CONSTRUCTION DIAGRAM
The orange acrylic is a finish material that
wraps a metal tubing to support weight. The metal tubing is welded to a metal grid structure for structural support.
FLOOR PLAN : NTS
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RECEPTION / YOGA / STRETCHING ROOM
Where the hallways meet, we placed a circular reception
desk that can be easily approached from all directions.
ZONE DIAGRAM
The shape of the desk is also mirrored above in the lighting fixture. Behind the reception area, you get a
glimpse of the dark yoga and stretching room. We
wanted to provide a space for students to unwind with yoga or meditation. The large glowing strips of light
provide an area of focus for students to center their attention during meditation.
CEILING DIAGRAM
SNAPCHAT HEADQUARTERS / OFFICE
The program requirements were to design the headquarters for Snapchat, a global social media
company who focuses on the sharing of pictures, video, and text. The proposed headquarters is
to be located in Buzzard Point, Washington D.C., an area known for its industrial history but is
undergoing a transition to mixed-use development. The
“there,
then
gone”
nature
of
Snapchat
captures this transitional phase of the site and is the driving concept, behind the project. In response to
the diverse community of workers, I aimed to create
flexible spaces, supporting collaboration, culture, and
a variety of work modes. The program includes several
heads-down, or “there” spaces, for focus work; it also includes “gone” spaces, where users can step away from their focus work to either relax, or to collaborate with colleagues.
Individual Exercise
Software: Revit, Photoshop Duration: 3.5 Weeks
Nominated for Gensler Brinkmann Scholarship
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LEVEL 1: COLLABORATION SPACE
LEVEL 2: BENCHING
COLLABORATION SPACE / CEILING AXON
A series of baffles hang from the ceiling providing acoustic separation between areas of collaboration and heads-down work. The alternating material from
wood to felt, as well as the integrated lighting aid in way-finding and direct users throughout the space. Adjacent to the collaboration space are two respite rooms where employees can take a few minutes to relax or take a phone call. The sliding felt panels in these rooms help to provide acoustic separation.
N
LEVEL 2 FLOOR PLAN : NTS
LEVEL 1 FLOOR PLAN : NTS
SECTION : NTS
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INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE / RESIDENTIAL
The most valuable experience I’ve had thus far was
gained on-site. Throughout my internship last summer, I was not only involved in the conceptual design phase but was also on the job site involved in several
facets of the design and construction process. During this internship, I saw several projects develop from
blue prints to finished projects and was involved in every step along the way. On site, I helped prepare
foundations for pouring, frame walls, set trusses, run
plumbing and electrical lines, lay flooring and install cabinetry and custom pieces. This tangible, hands-on
exposure was an invaluable learning experience and
has helped me to understand the design process at an elevated level.
A-1 Construction Services Design Intern
Duration: 13 Weeks
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SPEC / CUSTOM HOME BUILDING
With A-1 Construction Services, I worked on both spec homes and custom homes. The biggest challenge I faced when designing spec homes was the budget. Since the main goal of a spec home is to sell for profit, builders often use inexpensive finishes and low-grade materials giving the “spec home” a bad wrap. Our goal as a team was to challenge the idea of a “builder grade” spec house by bringing a unique and custom feel to our spec homes, using high quality finishes that are affordable and timeless. Working with a budget was a great and very real experience that my studies have not given me. We were often told by inspectors, real estate agents, and home buyers that our homes were a breath of fresh air in the market of spec homes.
THANK YOU