KYLE BALSTER
KYLE BALSTER
(a) 11588 Gallery Lane, Valley Village, CA 91602 (c) +1.920.840.1007 (e) balster39@gmail.com
EDUCATION
Southern California Institute of Architecture SCI-Arc M.Arch 2 Master of Architecture
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN May 2019 GPA: 3.71
College of Design Bachelor of Science in Architecture
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia
Copenhagen, Denmark January 2018 - May 2018
Semester Abroad: Urban Design Studio
WORK EXPERIENCE
Data Driven Design Intern HDR - Minneapolis
- Created app-based visualization of data representation (Datascapes) - Aided in the completion of various in-progress projects for D3 team
Architecture Intern James Guerrero Architects, Inc.
- Participated in design charettes for potential firm projects - Measured renovation projects on-site for future design proposals - Red-lined technical drawings for 4+ projects using AutoCAD
Research Assistant University of Minnesota - Julia W Robinson, PhD, FAIA
- Writing monograph for symposium and exhibition ‘Complex Housing’
Design Assistant DJB Architects: David Bennett
- Designed multiple iterations of a geothermal proposal - Tutored retired architect, David J. Bennett, in the use of SketchUp
I-UROP Research Project
LEADERSHIP + ACTIVITIES
- Researched and published report about contrasting architectural sustainability between Minneapolis, MN and Copenhagen, DK
American Institute of Architecture MN
Marketing and Public Relations - Developed interactive website to increase member’s experiences
Freedom by Design
General Member - Collaborated with peers to create design solutions in Minneapolis
Basic Knowledge: - Lumion - V-Ray - Cura - Z-Brush - Maya - Cinema 4D
Proficient Skills:
Los Angeles, CA August 2019 - August 2021 GPA: 4.00
- Rhino - Grasshopper - Revit - AutoCAD - SketchUp - Reality Capture
SKILLSET - Metashape Agisoft - Adobe Creative Suite - Model Making + CNC Router + Laser Cutter + 3D Printer
Minneapolis, MN June 2019 - August 2019
Minneapolis, MN August 2018 - May 2019
Minneapolis, MN June 2017 - September 2017 Minneapolis, MN May 2017- August 2017
January 2018 - June 2018
August 2015 - January 2018
June 2015 - January 2018
Academic Portfolio 2015-2019
02 .
Academic Expansion
12 .
Lakewood Cemetery
14 .
Beekeeping Encampment
22 .
Eyes of Equality
24 .
Catalyst. Local. Parasite.
Minnehaha Academy 6-8 Addition
Studio Drawing Competition
Minneapolis Education Center
Watercolor Work
De Gamles By Development
Hand-drawn building section illustrating the experience of the cantilever’s truss frame.
Academic Expansion
Minnehaha Academy 6-8 Addition
After a deadly explosion destroyed 100% of the classrooms located on site, The Cunningham Group was requested to re-design Minnehaha Academy High School. As the second phase to this design, students were asked to design a school that will act as the new home for the 6th-8th grades. The fifth architectural studio is built to include collaboration with a practicing firm in order to practice real-life scenarios within a studio setting. All work produced is in concert with my project partner, Brittni Faddoul. Our design was inspired by the academy’s core values. By allowing the values to resonate throughout the architecture proposes an thought provoking challenge for design. Our design utilizes a cantilever form derived from the 36,000 square feet of program in order to access different experiences. The three floors acquire persona’s that allow the building to become established within the site. These persona’s are of earth, of history, and of sky respectively. With all of these factors in account, a school was designed for the next chapter of Minnehaha Academy.
Minneapolis (Longfellow), MN, USA Fall of 2018 Senior Dan DeVau & Jeff Mandyck University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
2019 College of Design Student Academic Excellence Award
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The Floor Plans are comprised of 16 classrooms and other complimentary programs. Spaces are created through the circulation network created, offering breathable spaces as a catharsis from the condensed hallway system.
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Section 1
Section 2
Section Cuts highlighting the relationship of the second floor to both the first and third and how it serves as the link between the oposing objects. 4
Programmatic Dimensioning
Process Diagrams explaining the thought process during the design of the academy through the incorporation of the academy’s core values.
Programmatic Dimensioning
Cantilever Splay
Height Manipulation
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Study Models testing the different effects caused by material cladding orientations.
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Two, interior and exterior two-point perspective hand drawings of Lakewood Cemetery, MN.
Lakewood Cemetery
Studio Drawing Competition
Labeled as a studio drawing competition, this illustration is comprised of two separate two-point perspective hand-drawings that join to create a composite image. Focused on the materiality driven views of the building, I selectively added materiality through pochĂŠ to link the pair of drawings as well as show where the two illustrations overlap. With both an interior and exterior vantage point, the connection between the drawings is highlighted and expressed. Overall, the drawing was selected as an example of an appropriate use of lineweight and materiality selection from the faculty reviewers.
Minneapolis (Lakewood Cemetery), MN, USA Fall of 2016 Sophomore Bob Ganser University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
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Beekeeping Encampment
Minneapolis Education Center
Built to fight against the never-ending mistreatment of bees and pollinators, the Beekeeping Encampment aims to give bees the resources they need by starting a new wave of green focused architecture within the site’s context. Outdoor green space severs the Beekeeping Encampment in the middle as well as encapsulates the roof when programmatic pieces are placed on separate floors. The two separated program types are the learning based are vs. community organization focused area. The learning based area is half sunken into the ground to offer ease of access for visitors as well as a smooth transition onto the roof above. The community organization area is lifted onto the upper floors to allow for a break from the cityscape as well as a platform for a bee colony to call “homebase”. The project is designed to act as a precedent for buildings in the area to simulate in designing ample green spaces and offering a refuge for the bee population and transition from a brick landscape to a green landscape.
Minneapolis (Warehouse District), MN, USA Fall of 2017 Junior Andrew Blaisdell University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
2017 SALA Architecture Undergraduate Studio Prize Runner-up
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South-East Section and North-West Section respectively highlighting the use of greenspace to encapsulate the building envelope.
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Study Models understanding the implications with the building form and programmatic layout.
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Tri-level overlapping watercoloring painting creating a singular human eye.
Eyes of Equality Watercolor Work
Created as a composite of three watercolor paintings, Eyes of Equality aims to sever the onslaught of racism, sexism, and discrimination in our world today. Each painting is only a section of a human eye. Pushing the concept to the next level, each painting is a different gender, race, and identity. Without the ability for a single piece of art to create the entire picture, all three different paintings must come together to show the whole image. Relating back to current events, this watercolor composition takes the stance that every person, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, or identity is needed to create the best life possible.
Fall of 2015 Freshman Monica Fogg University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
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Activity Zones Primary Greenspaces Secondary Greenspaces Water Retention Ponds Trees (Large, Medium, and Small respectively) Implementation Above Existing Buildings Connected to Existing Buildings Stand Alone Pedestrian Traffic Automobile Traffic Site Plan demonstrating the growing nature of the installment and illustrating the different components of the project.
Catalyst. Local. Parasite.
De Gamles By Development
Taking a futuristic view on the development of De Gamles By (an area found within Nørrebro, Copenhagen, Denmark) Catalyst. Local. Parasite. looks to disallow the demolition of pre-existing buildings. Instead of this demolition, newly envisioned “flex” buildings offer multiple types of program to the entire area. Structured with three phases of development, the anti-development aims to commence with a single building that centralizes all resources. Later, local development of any program is held within the boundaries of a construction crane. The crane allows the population of the area to increase based off of need. Lastly, parasitic development aims to link off of the existing infrastructure in order to provide any of the new resources needed for the area or added housing types. Overall, this new type of urban development aims to preserve the existing buildings, people, and memories while adding needed resources and housing program. The Catalyst. Local. Parasite. development offers a new perspective into urban scale development through anti-development.
Nørrebro (De Gamles By), Copenhagen, Denmark Spring of 2018 Junior Heitor García Lantarón DIS - Copenhagen Denmark
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01: Catalyst circa 2020
Water within close proximity Connection to nearby parks Nørrebro area Metro lines Site boundary Development Process Diagrams of overall project phasing for the area illustrating the C.L.P. process. Regional Plan of Nørrebro and its Copenhagen context paired with diagrammatic Axonometric Drawing illustrating spacial relationships and new vs. existing conditions.
02: Local circa 2025
03: Parasite circa 2035
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Process/Final model highlighting the distinction between existing and added architecture to the site plan.
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