Interior Design Portfolio - 2018

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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

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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


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