DESIGN & FABRICATE
Selected works by
KYLE McALPIN
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CONTENTS
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Hort Woods Seating Area
Jewelry Box
LegoTevere
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Design & Fabricate
Woodworker’s Gallery
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First Light
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State College Civic Center
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DUMBO Residence
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Draw & Sketch
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Formula SAE
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HORT WOODS SEATING AREA State College, PA 6 Weeks Prof. Nida Rehman 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. Since this site is within view of my studio desk, I have been able to observe the final product in all four seasons over the last four years. I have seen how it weathers, who uses it, and how it is treated. It’s rewarding to see the project in use as it ages and it’s popularity as a study spot confirms the research and hard work that my group put into this project.
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The opposing orientation of each bench causes these bands of light appear on the east bench in the morning and on the west bench in the afternoon, and change width as the seasons progress. 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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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: 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: 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. Program elements are arranged to point towards the north star so that newly recruited astronomers may orient themselves against a reference point 500 light years away. This is the first of many connections to outer space fostered by the site. The level changes and playful circulation encourage the exploration of different views throughout the observatory.
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Tucson, Arizona
Mt. Lemmon Observatory
Site Plan 15
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. With just a quick visit to this observatory, each visitor will experience an increase in their awareness of their presence in the expansive void of space.
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Next project: Jewelry Box
JEWELRY BOX Accessory Organization Designed specifically for my mother, this jewelry box is home to a collection of sixteen pairs of earrings. 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: State College Civic Center
STATE COLLEGE CIVIC CENTER State College, PA 12 Weeks State College Borough Community Design Award Owen Marhefka & Torin Miner Prof. Lisa Iuolo & Prof. Eric Sutherland Neighborhood Business Incubator The development of a civic center was requested by the State College Borough with the intention of fostering the growth of start up companies moving to the nearby Allen Street corridor. This business incubator brings together fabrication and collaborative spaces to encourage the sharing of ideas across multiple disciplines. The building is split into an education and a production block with collaborative spaces at their intersection in the middle. By including education, collaboration and production under one roof, this self-contained site creates a self-promoting cycle of discovery. The emergence of new ideas, products and businesses from this civic center will become the driving force of development for the future.
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Several collaborative spaces already exist in downtown State College. The role of this building is to bring these programs close to each other and provide the users with production and retail space, to allow for the growth and development of a small business in one central location. The central cylinders act as meeting space and classrooms where people of different disciplines can learn from each other. The central cylinders and atrium space harbor these collaborative spaces.
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PRESENT
CATALYST
FUTURE
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These process models show the intention of the middle interior space to be the collaborative zone that joins each block.
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The Allen Street facade brings the scale of the building down to the pedestrian level. Along this corridor are small shops where the people who are developing their businesses can test out their product along a busy State College street.
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Inside the central atrium are multiple rooms and areas for collaboration and learning. The central cylindrical spaces house classrooms and meeting spaces meant to help share ideas from young entrepreneurs.
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Next project: DUMBO Residence
DUMBO RESIDENCE Brooklyn, NY 12 Weeks Amy Louie & Selby Niumataiwalu Prof. Christine Gorby
Brooklyn Living 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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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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Next project: LegoTevere
LEGOTEVERE Rome, Italy 6 Weeks Prof. David Sabatello River Culture Revival Modern Rome has been deliberately disconnected from its historic relationship with the Tiber River. Once a source of prosperity for the Roman Empire, the periodic flooding of this river has become too disruptive to the contemporary metropolis, leading to the erection of massive embankment walls. This project aims to protect the city while maintaining a positive connection with the Tiber.
A walk through this site provides a familiar urban experience on the descent to the riverbank. Intermittent buildings are separated with green landscape and appropriately scaled piazze. A repeatable module creates a changeable envelope that accommodates several different programs, including a water research center, museum and outdoor market. This facade can position itself in three unique stages, varying its transparency to the public and protection from the sporadic damage of flood water.
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A standard module size was established first, then molded accordingly to accommodate the various types of program found throughout the site.
Rome Studio The site connects the sketches sunken Concept Tiber River to the city with a web of urban pathways. Visitors are encouraged to meander through the site or to linger at public green spaces within view and earshot of the powerful river.
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Various public and private components of the program are scattered along the pathways. One important building houses the water research center. This building is able to vary its connection to the public by changing the arrangement of the facade. Some days it is shut off from the public, and on other days, the metal shutters are raised and the glass wall swings inward to welcome in visitors to learn about the Tiber River.
Paths are clearly defined, but do not lead in any one particular direction. There are multiple chances to veer from one’s original path to find something new.
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Protect: glass wall cl damage from
Metal shutters and losed to prevent m Tiber River floods.
Separate: Metal shutters open and glass wall closed to prevent distraction from public inside.
Join: Metal shutters and glass wall open to interact with people along pathway.
Next project: Draw & Sketch
DRAW & SKETCH
Analysis Through Drawing These images are selected works from my sketchbook and my drawing board. Each one is a study of the object at hand and has furthered my understanding of the built environment.
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Giuseppi Terragni Casa del Fascio, Como, Italy
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Carlo Scarpa Brion Cemetery, Altivol, Italy Swiss Alpine Club Hut Genferseeregion, Switzerland
Carlo Scarpa Olivetti Showroom, Venice, Italy Grundtvig’s Church Copenhagen, Denmark
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Pantheon, Rome, Italy Santa Maria del Fiori Florence, Italy
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Le Corbusier Villa Stein, Garches, France
Next project: Formua SAE
FORMULA SAE State College, PA 2 Semesters The Learning Factory 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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Resume
Kyle Joseph
McAlpin
EXPERIENCE Douglas VanderHorn Architects Architectural Intern Greenwich, CT New Classic Homes Douglas VanderHorn 203.622.7000 May - August 2016 Blue Moon Builders Carpenter’s Assistant State College, PA General contracting, remodeling Gregory Olsen 412.480.6513 May - August 2015 Learning Factory Machine Shop Shop Assistant Engineering school machine shop William Genet 814.863.6337 Fall & Spring semester 2013 - 2016 Apparatus X Fabricator & Designer State College, PA Mobile design studio & workshop Aaron Wertman 570.317.3019 Fall & Spring semester 2014 Stuckeman Model Shop Shop Assistant State College, PA Architecture school model shop Steven White 717.437.0687 May - July 2014 ORION Outdoor Orientation Trip Leader State College, PA Penn State Outdoor Orientation Jen Emigh 814.865.3890 July - August 2013, 2014
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9 Spring Knolls Rd. Brewster, NY 10509 845.269.7114 KyleMcAlpin@aol.com
EDUCATION Pennsylvania State University Bachelor of Architecture State College, PA August 2012 - May 2017 The Pantheon Institute Study abroad Rome, Italy January - April 2016
PROFICIENCY Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign CAD Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp Rhino 3D & Grasshopper
Fabrication Woodworking, machining, physical modeling, RhinoCAM
INVOLVEMENT AIAS Member 2012 - Present Penn State Outing Club Member 2012 - Present Nittany Mountain Biking Association Member 2013 - Present
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