Architecture Portfolio

Laurie Zeng

Nice to Meet You!

I'm Laurie

I'm a fourth-year student at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture.

My interest in architecture stems from its power to bring people together through elements of design, as well as its potential for fostering a sustainable environment in society. I am also intrigued by the concept of diverse spatial qualities shaped by their surrounding structural forms. I firmly believe in learning through action, and with my dedicated and positive mindset, I am excited to explore the limitless possibilities architecture has to offer.

LAURIE ZENG

EXPERIENCES

MCM (Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership)

Student Architectural

Assistant 01/2024 – 08/2024

BDP (Building Design Partnership Ltd.)

Intern Architect 05/2023 – 08/2023

○ Adapted to multiple teams with their respective working environment and contributed to the production of architectural drawing set using Rhino and AutoCAD.

○ Gained more experience in parking layout designs, floor area plans and program distribution arrangement, while assisting with calculations and facade iterations to support early design development.

○ Conducted context research and analysis, creating comprehensive architectural presentation packages for city approvals and client review.

○ Created animations, renders, and physical models based on city regulations and client specifications.

○ Proficiently handled and contributed to projects' building massing design, interior design, and exterior facade design while considering their environmental and cultural impacts.

○ Actively involved in multiple tender projects under the categories of cultural, historical, office space, and mixed-use building design.

○ Successfully executed short-term projects, showcasing exceptional capabilities in high-pressure environments.

○ Utilized AutoCAD, Rhino, SketchUp, and Adobe Suite to create renders and drawings for different stages of design reports.

○ Collaborated effectively in a bilingual work environment by demonstrating adaptability and exceptional teamwork collaboration skills while working with diverse groups of colleagues.

NORR Architects & Engineers Limited Designer & Assistant Health Science Department

09/2022 – 12/2022

HNPA Architecture + Planning Inc.

Assistant Architect 01/2022 – 04/2022

○ Utilized AutoCAD, Rhino, and Revit to produce drawings for PD, SD, DD, and CD design phases.

○ Assumed full responsibility for a project, from overseeing the design process to communicating with clients, with oversight from the project manager.

○ Prepared meeting files, presented design options to clients, as well as consolidated meeting minutes after each meeting.

○ Participated on site visits for audit and feasibility planning.

○ Collaborated with a large team of colleagues in a collective work setting.

○ Experienced at handling multiple tasks and projects at once.

○ Handled high-end custom home design from early sketches to complete design packages needed to issue development permits

○ Worked with AutoCAD and SketchUp to produce final construction drawings and models

○ Designed and amended interior and lighting details shown through orthographic drawings

○ Coordinated meetings and communicated with clients to review design details

EDUCATION

2020 – 2025

University of Waterloo Candidate for Bachelor of Architectural Studies

DISTINCTIONS

2020

President's Scholarship 90%+ Entrance Average 2023 2024

KEY SKILLS

Presented Work at the International Academic Conference

Dean's Honours List

University of Waterloo | Excellent Academic Standing ASCA Inflections

SOFTWARE ANALOGUE Rhino Revit AutoCAD SketchUp Model Making

Enscape Lumion Stable Diffusion

3D Printing 3D Clay Printing CNC Cutting Laser Cutting

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign ArcGIS Bluebeam Revu Microsoft Office

Hand Drafting Photography Painting

+1 (778) 682-8202

January 30, 2023

Laurie Zeng lyzeng@uwaterloo.ca

A Attn : To whom it might concern

Attn.: To whom it might concern

R Re: Laurie Zeng reference

Re: Laurie Zeng reference

Laurie was part of our Health Studio team at Norr f or one term, from September to December 2022, worki ng on various health projects. We have worked with many students over the past several years, and Laurie stands over most, not only in demonstrated initiati ve, intelligence and creativity, but in her ability to function as a productive member of the team, friendly to others and eager to help and take on any task assigned Laurie’s excellent communication skills, positive o utlook and pleasing personality, willingness to accept challenges and listen to input enabled her to contribute and help solving difficult problems.

Laurie was part of our Health Studio team at NORR for one term, from September to December 2022, working on various health projects. We have worked with many students over the past several years, and Laurie stands over most, not only in demonstrated initiative, intelligence and creativity, but in her ability to function as a productive member of the team, friendly to others and eager to help and take on any task assigned. Laurie’s excellent communication skills, positive outlook and pleasing personality, willingness to accept challenges and listen to input enabled her to contribute and help solving difficult problems.

In her short time at Norr she worked on multiple projects (mostly on Sunnybrook Hospital Burn OR and Hematology), participated in client meetings producing schedules and minutes of meeting, worked on site audits and feasibility studies. We would love to have her back anytime.

In her short time at NORR she worked on multiple projects (mostly on Sunnybrook Hospital Burn OR and Hematology), participated in client meetings producing schedules and minutes of meeting, worked on site audits and feasibility studies. We would love to have her back anytime.

I believe Laurie to be an excellent candidate and she will prove an asset to you and your organisation Please do not hesitate to call with any questions.

I believe Laurie to be an excellent candidate and she will prove an asset to you and your organisation. Please do not hesitate to call with any questions.

Sincerely,

Studio Manager

T 437 703 9664 M 6476070465 | carmen.taranu@norr.com

Carmen Taranu

Studio Manager

T 437 703 9664 M 6476070465 | carmen.taranu@norr.com

https://norrzone-my.sharepoint.com/personal/carmen_taranu_norr_com/documents/documents/reference letters/2022 laurie zeng reference letter.docx

HNPA Architecture + Planning Inc

Jun Nan

HNPA Architecture + Planning Inc

2983 W. 41st Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6N 3C8 Tel: (604) ‐ 726‐1338 Email: jnan@hnpadesign.com

May 22, 2022

Dear Sir or Madam,

Re: Letter of Recommendation for Lan Yin (Laurie) Zeng

It is with great pleasure that I am writing this letter of recommendation for Lan Yin (Laurie) Zeng.

Laurie came to my firm for the internship from January to May this year. My office is a small‐scaled architectural firm where there are much communication and interaction among our team members. As a result, I got to know a lot about Laurie. Based on my knowledge of her during her more than four months internship in my office, I believe Laurie makes a strong and competent candidate to be a professional architect in the future.

To begin with, Laurie is an excellent learner who showed great enthusiasm for learning in a real architectural environment and displayed great interest in participating in our daily practice. Her openness and eagerness were impressive. During her four months’ time with our firm, she had finished a high‐end custom home design from early sketches to a completed design package. she quickly learned AutoCAD and Sketchup and was able to produce architectural drawings of fairly good quality using these programs.

What impressed me more than her learning capability is the dedication and clear career goal she is showing at this early stage of her architectural education. She is a focused and determined young student. She has consistently displayed her passion for architecture and determination to pursue it in her future career life.

HNPA Architecture + Planning Inc.

HNPA Architecture + Planning Inc

During her stay at my office, Laurie also showed fine quality at a personal level as well. She is very respectful to others and a pleasure for everyone to work and be around.

2983 W. 41st Avenue Avenue, Vancouver BC V6N 3C8 Tel: 604‐726‐1338 604‐559‐8566 Email: office@hnpadesign.com

From what I see, Laurie’s intelligence, irrepressible curiosity, and capability in dealing with people of all types will take her to great success in her pursuit of academic and professional excellence.

Please contact me if you need further information or comments. Thanks.

Sincerely Yours,

Jun Nan Architect AIBC, MRAIC B.Arch, M.Eng, M.Sc.

Principal, HNPA Architecture and Planning Inc.

From Ground Up 01

The main aim of this project is to forge a sense of community among marginalized individuals and families by providing access to resources and opportunities that they would otherwise be deprived of. This initiative offers social housing for a period of 0.5 to 1 year, and short term transitional housing. Promoting community-serving spaces will begin to break down prejudices and barriers that exist between marginalized individuals and the rest of society through increased interaction. The four building masses split by two main axes connect the proposed transit terminal and river edges to the community. The angles of the buildings create a sense of direction, while the stepped entrances along those angles provide opportunities for users to branch off from the main pathways into separate program areas.

3A Design Studio

Advisor: David Fortin

Program Used: Revit, Lumion, Illustrator, Photoshop

Location: Cambridge, ON

Collaboration: JuanJuan Yin

Programs:

1. Grocery

2. Cafe

3. Social Housing Units

4. Shared Kitchen

5. Community Centre

6. Transitional Housing Units

7. Library

8. Central Courtyard

9. Kindergarten

10. Daycare play space

11. Outdoor field

12. Boardwalk

13. New Transit Terminal

Structure:

14. Timber Column + Concrete Slab

15. Light frame Post and Beam Timber

Ainslie Terminal

The Ainslie Station is the last stop along the proposed light rail transit line. At its terminus lies a city with great potential, enhanced by the Grand River. Our design utilizes the presence of the river to help bring connectivity within the city geographically, economically, and socially. Allowing people and ecology to take center stage in this currently industrialized and carcentric city. Focusing on providing a variety of housing typologies—social housing, co-op housing, as well as private housing— to prepare for the future development and intensification.

3A Design Studio

Advisor: David Fortin

Program Used: Rhino, Illustrator, Photoshop

Location: Cambridge, ON

Collaboration: Lora Tarassov, Zaineb Hamadi, JuanJuan Yin

Pedestrian

Vehicular

Sidewalks

Biking

ENVIRONMENTAL

MASTER SITE PLANS

STUDENT CO-OP HOUSING

03 Incubator

Situated besides the Kitchener Public Library, the previous police station has been renovated and redesigned into an incubator for arts and creativity. This new design fosters theatres and artist studios for the productions of arts, as well as temporary living spaces for travelling artists. The concept behind this design centers around the separation and connection between performance art and visual art, while the addition of solar paneled dome facade is used to achieve that. The domes constructs different spatial experiences and acts as a clear separator between programs. By adding another facade overtop of the original, the inhabitor will experience both the old and the new simultaneously.

This experience is further enhanced by the decision to place the circulation on the outside of what was once the old police station.

2A Design Studio

Advisor: Rick Haldenby

Program Used: Rhino, Grasshopper, Illustrator, Photoshop

Location: Kitchener, ON

GROUND FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR BASEMENT FLOOR

ROOFTOP

PROGRAM DIAGRAM

OLD VS NEW STRUCTURE

EXTERIOR CIRCULATIONS

SIDE ENTRANCE AND GARDEN VIEW

04 Guest House

The Guest House was built with a focus on students because the site is located near the Waterloo University's Architecture campus. By introducing a public, communicative, and social space on the first floor with an open view to the street, this house embraces the dynamic patterns of a student life. This permits community members and peer students to come and go as they like, or throw parties as an exciting and passionate experience in the midst of academic stress and heavy responsibility. The room on the second floor, on the other hand, is more walled off from guests, providing an alternative for individuals who prefer silence and privacy.

Moreover, despite the separation of the concrete facade, the hill's slope becomes a crucial aspect of this design as it continues onwards within the building. The first floor is mostly made up of stairs that run parallel to the slope, simulating an indoor picnic on a hill or a stepped library where everyone is visible to highlight the idea of sociability.

1A Design Studio

Advisor: Fiona Lim Tung

Program Used: Rhino, SketchUp, Illustrator, Photoshop

Location: Cambridge, ON

FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

1:100 PHYSICAL MODEL

05 Climate Adaptive Façade

Through the study of plants as biological role models for the development of an adaptive façade system that harnesses changes in environmental relative humidity as the driver for actuation. This research examines the possibility of architecture in reduced carbon emitting building processes. We aimed to create an initial architectural design investigation for a multifunctional façade through modelling and experimenting with materials to construct physical prototypes of humidity correlated models that creates cover when raining while also facilitating ventilation during dry seasons. We hope that this research can contribute towards the development of precise climateadaptive mechanisms within an expanded scope of advanced façades.

3B Optional Design Studio

Advisor: David Correa

Program Used: Rhino, Grasshopper, Illustrator, Photoshop

Location: Vancouver, BC

Collaboration: Juan Juan Yin, Valarie Leung, David Correa

Project Presented at ACSA International Conference 2024

AXONOMETRIC

FACADE ADAPTATION DIAGRAMS

WORK SAMPLES // HNPA ARCHITECTURE + PLANNING

May 22, 2022

Dear Sir or Madam,

Re: Letter of Recommendation for Lan Yin (Laurie) Zeng

(Laurie) Zeng.

came to my firm for the internship from

to

To begin with, Laurie is an excellent learner who showed great enthusiasm for learning in a real architectural environment and displayed great interest in participating in our daily practice. Her openness and eagerness were impressive. During her four months’ time with our firm, she had finished a high‐end custom home design from early sketches to a completed design package. she quickly learned AutoCAD and Sketchup and was able to produce architectural drawings of fairly good quality using these programs.

What impressed me more than her learning capability is the dedication and clear career goal she is showing at this early stage of her architectural education. She is a focused and determined young student. She has consistently displayed her passion for architecture and determination to pursue it in her future career life.

May 22, 2022

Dear Sir or Madam,

Re: Letter of Recommendation for Lan Yin (Laurie) Zeng

It is with great pleasure that I am writing this letter of recommendation for Lan Yin (Laurie) Zeng.

Laurie came to my firm for the internship from January to May this year. My office is a small‐scaled architectural firm where there are much communication and interaction among our team members. As a result, I got to know a lot about Laurie. Based on my knowledge of her during her more than four months internship in my office, I believe Laurie makes a strong and competent candidate to be a professional architect in the future.

To begin with, Laurie is an excellent learner who showed great enthusiasm for learning in a real architectural environment and displayed great interest in participating in our daily practice. Her openness and eagerness were impressive. During her four months’ time with our firm, she had finished a high‐end custom home design from early sketches to a completed design package. she quickly learned AutoCAD and Sketchup and was able to produce architectural drawings of fairly good quality using these programs.

What impressed me more than her learning capability is the dedication and clear career goal she is showing at this early stage of her architectural education. She is a focused and determined young student. She has consistently displayed her passion for architecture and determination to pursue it in her future career life.