DESIGN & FABRICATE
Selected works by
KYLE McALPIN
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CONTENTS
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Hort Woods Seating Area
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Design & Fabricate
Imja Peak Base Camp
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Woodworker’s Gallery
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DUMBO Residence
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Resume
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Jewelry Box
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First Light
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FSAE
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Draft
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HORT WOODS SEATING AREA State College, PA 6 Weeks First-year studio, Section 1 Campus Construction At the boundary of Penn State’s architecture library is an unused patio, projecting sharply into Hort Woods, a protected natural area. My first-year design studio built a seating attraction at this intersection for the casual use of Penn State students and faculty. With my experience in a wood shop, I was able to help guide the design in a way that would make fabrication a simple and repeatable process to guarantee consistency and high-quality craft and to minimize cut-off waste. My work experience also helped me contribute design ideas for a more durable product, like eliminating end grain contact with the wet ground and angling the tops of the bench back to prevent water from collecting at a vulnerable part of the stud.
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The opposing orientation of each bench causes these bands of light to appear on the east bench in the morning and on the west bench in the afternoon, and change width as the seasons change. The patterns of light and shadow are playful and dynamic as they move around the flagstone patio. The original condition of the underused patio outside the architecture library. The presence of the stone walls is celebrated with their inclusion in the design of the new bench. The stone wall is integral to the success of this project as a comfortable study area. A view from Hort Woods looking back towards the architecture building. The split curve flips orientation midway to create two useful spaces. Each bench offers a unique combination of privacy and engagement with the natural area of Hort Woods.
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Four years later, the bench still serves its original purpose as a popular and relaxing study spot. It has weathered nicely through the seasons with minimal warping due to a hidden wire which runs through each stud.
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The simplicity of the build has contributed to its durability. A module consisting of four unique boards is joined by a trapezoidal spacer to bend the bench into shape.
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Next project: Imja Peak Base Camp
IMJA PEAK BASE CAMP Sagarmatha NP, Nepal 12 Weeks
Sustainable Himalayan Shelter Nepal’s high-altitude valleys are calling for protection from the negative impacts of mountaineering and global climate change. This is a selection of my thesis work concerning sustainable mountain shelters. By introducing simple technology like a biogas digester and a hydroelectric generator, this new base camp will serve as a model for environmentally responsible construction in extreme climates. A modern base camp, like this one, must be capable of intercepting waste from Himalayan expedition before it can affect the local environment and native popultaion and must also meet the energy needs using renewable resources. The construction will further clean the area by reclaiming abandoned materials like rope and oxygen cylinders to be used as building material.
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Imja Tsho Growth Glacial lake Moraine boundary Imja Tsho is a glacial lake which did not exist 60 years ago. Global climate change has melted away Imja Glacier, resulting in an unstable glacial lake which has the potential to collapse and flood down valley. The new base camp will tap into this natural energy source to create electricity and lower the level of this threatening lake.
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2012
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Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)
Everest Base Camp Cleanup
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Economic Loss
74% of population employed in agriculture
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Infrastructure Damage Tourism #1 Industry
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1984 GLOF
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Trekking Path
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Imja Peak Base Camp
High-Alt. Porter 3 2 1 0
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Open Trash Pit
Overcrowding
Sagarmatha National Park
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Eliminate abandoned pollutants Reduce risk/severity of GLOF Support local population/mountaineering
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*Perspective (Page 9)
Yak
Porter
Fertilizer to Dingboche
Glaciologist
User Group Timeline J
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Mountaineer
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Biogas Electricity
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Site Axon N
Biogas Digester Kitchen/Community Bagroom Hydroelectric Power Generator Greenhouse Water from Imja Tsho
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This detail shows the collar joint used to construct the geodesic dome. Connections are designed to be secured in sub-freezing temperatures with gloves on. The materials used include reclaimed rope from previous expeditions as well as the cylindrical sections of oxygen tanks and lastly, locally harvested bamboo struts.
Next project: Woodworker’s Gallery
WOODWORKER’S GALLERY State College, PA 1 Week Design Charrette
A Furniture Maker’s Museum A woodworker’s shop needs a gallery to accompany it. The complementary relationship of this simple program is experienced at the intersection of the two volumes. The intersection of the shop and the gallery provide a visual and auditory connection between fabrication and display, completing the story ingrained in each piece of furniture. Matching transparent facades put the gallery as well as the woodworker’s shop on display, equalizing the importance of the two individual spaces. Both the product display and the production methods are housed in a space that welcomes interest from the outside public. Perpendicular stone piers support the planar roof, grounding the hard-edged volumes.
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Bottom Floor 1 Shop 2 Storage 3 Bathroom Second Floor Above
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Top Floor 4 5 6 7
Balcony Entrance Gallery Floor Kitchenette Roof Overhang Above
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Both spaces take advantage of the slope of the site. At ground level, the shop opens up to the street giving easy access to move around raw materials. Three of its walls are buried in the ground, reducing the amount of escaping noise and designating wall space for shop tools and storage. The gallery is perched on top of the shop, using the shop roof as interior exhibition space as well as blending into an outdoor balcony. This exterior space provides the opportunity to seamlessly continue the gallery displays to the outside when desired.
Next project: Jewelry Box
JEWELRY BOX
Accessory Organization This jewelry box, designed for my mother, is a simple and well-crafted tool for storing earings. The walnut case provides the rails for two red oak drawers to slide into place. The box’s heavy construction is emphasized by its thick, dark walnut boards and oversized box joints. To make organization and access a priority, each drawer is a removable tray with cylindrical partitions sized for one item each. The contrast in material identifies the difference in function of each component.
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Next project: First Light
FIRST LIGHT Tucson, AZ 2 Week Design Charrette
Mt. Lemmon Observatory With the right conditions, star-gazing leads to a surreal experience enjoyed by all. A new observatory perched on top of Mt. Lemmon, far away from Tucson’s light pollution will serve as an astrological stage for the learning and enjoyment of nature’s mysteries. The site is characterized by reflection pools which mirror the dark skies, creating a fully immersive experience in the void of space.
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Tucson, Arizona
Mt. Lemmon Observatory
Site Plan 29
100’
Direct observation supplements education at this new observatory. The central focus of each platform is a designated place for learning which is surrounded by a hardscape that blurs the line between ground and sky. A 32” Schulman telescope is found at the heart of the site, pointing its gaze towards the stars. The public is encouraged to use the telescope in addition to several educational buildings, like the planetarium, to develop a base understanding of the skies before they spend time observing with the naked eye.
Polaris
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Sky Theatre Astronomer’s Residence
Observatory
Administration Classrooms
Planetarium Cafe Cistern Shuttle Stop
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Full immersion in space is both an empowering and a belittling experience. Visitors to this new observatory are always within view of a reflection pool to help break their grounded connection with reality. The sky theatre offers omni-directional views of the sky in addition to distorting the user’s sense of place through the use of reflective pools.
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Next project: DUMBO Residence
DUMBO RESIDENCE Brooklyn, NY 12 Weeks Amy Louie & Selby Niumataiwalu Brooklyn Perched on top of an indoor Brooklyn market is the cellular arrangement of DUMBO’s newest luxury apartments. Three unique interlocking units distinguish different volumes of program within the apartment. The central brick core is the lifeline to street level activity. The seemingly sporadic arrangement of these units create outdoor spaces which buffer the interior from the outside weather. These dynamic projections in addition to the variation in ceiling heights help disrupt the feeling of living in a shoe box by creating a progression of changing volumes as the owner moves through the apartment.
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The step down to the living room creates a soft threshold that identifies the next space in the apartment. Additionally, The orientation of each unit frames beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline across the river.
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Loft Bath. 2
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Bedroom
Balcony
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Second Floor Plan: The double height space over the kitchen and living room add to the complex intersection of volumes inside. These apartments aim to distance themselves from the chaos of city street life and to provide high-quality panoramic views of Manhattan. Sitting high on top of buildings with public program, their connection to the ground is through a hidden central core.
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The pushing, pulling and intersection of each unit helps interupt the monotonous and linear corridors of traditional row homes. Distance from living space to public space is amplified by setting the circulation core away from the popular public routes at ground level.
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Loft
Living Room
Next project: FSAE
FORMULA SAE State College, PA 2 Semesters
Penn State Race Team Penn State Formula SAE is a student run design team with the task of designing and fabricating a formula style race car to compete in the annual FSAE competition. This competition, held at Michigan International Speedway, examines several aspects of the car and build process, including cost of production, ergonomics, investment, acceleration, autocross and endurance. My role on the suspension sub-team was to help fabricate and assemble several suspension components. Creating the aluminum uprights, which is a major connection hub for suspension, steering, and brakes, was an experiment in subtractive manufacturing using a CNC mill. Building the titanium A-arms and pull-rods was accomplished using the manual lathe, manual mill, and the TIG welder. The complete build and assembly process reveals the limitations of the manufacturing process.
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Overcoming the constraints of a CNC end mill is a lesson in the limitations of subtractive manufacturing. Creating a usable and safe fixture and tight tolerances are just two of the challenges to resolve.
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Assembling the suspension components exposes the limitations of additive manufacturing. The welding jig, as well as our amateur welding skills were driving factors of the design of the finished product.
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Titanium Tube Titanium Plate Threaded Insert Hex Nut Ball Joint Rod End Titanium Pull Rod Assembled Lower A-Arm
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Next project: Draft
DRAFT
Analysis Through Drawing The following drawings are studies of the built environment. They are each a deconstruction of structure and program which has helped me further my understanding of their form and purpose.
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Giuseppi Terragni Casa del Fascio, Como, Italy
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Le Corbusier Villa Stein, Garches, France
Resume
KYL E JO S E P H M c A L P I N 9 Spring Knolls Rd. Brewster, NY 10509 845.269.7114 KyleMcAlpin@aol.com
EDUCATION August 2012 - May 2017
January - April 2016
The Pennsylvania State University | State College, PA Bachelor of Architecture
The Pantheon Institute | Rome, Italy Study abroad
EXPERIENCE May - August 2016
Douglas VanderHorn Architects | Greenwich, CT Architectural Intern Revit 3D modeling, AutoCAD construction documents Douglas VanderHorn 203.622.7000
May - August 2015
Blue Moon Builders | State College, PA
Carpenter’s Assistant Residential construction, remodeling and demolition Limited new commercial construction Gregory Olsen 412.480.6513
August 2013 - Present
The Learning Factory Machine Shop | State College, PA
Shop Supervisor Operate 3D printers, laser cutter, water jet, CNC milling machine, manual mill, manual lathe, TIG and MIG welder Provide fabrication advice to engineering students William Genet 814.863.6337
May - July 2014
Stuckeman Model Shop | State College, PA Shop Assistant Operate woodworking equipment for architecture model shop Provide fabrication advice to architecture students Steven White 717.437.0687
August - May 2014
Apparatus X | State College, PA Fabricator & Designer Designed storing bed system for a mobile design studio Built various components of disaster-relief trailer Aaron Wertman 570.317.3019
July - August 2013, 2014
ORION Wilderness Experience | State College, PA Backpacking Guide Lead Penn State students on Appalachian backpacking trips Jen Emigh 814.865.3890
PROFICIENCY CAD
Rhino 3D & Grasshopper, Revit, AutoCAD, V-Ray, Sketchup
Fabrication EXTRACURRICULAR
Physical modeling, woodworking, manual machining, RhinoCAM
2012 - Present
AIAS | Member
2012 - Present
Penn State Outing Club | Member
2014 - Present
Nittany Mountain Biking Assoc. | Member
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