Architecture Portfolio by Luc Thorington

ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO LUC THORINGTON

PROJECTS

01 02 03 04

SPRING 2022 ENVELOPE WORKSHOP

FALL 2021

WOODEN BOAT BUILDING SCHOOL

FALL 2021

FIT ZGER ALD PARK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

SPRING 2021 TEEN CENTER FOR THE MFA

05 06 07

SPRING 2021 POETRY RETREAT

FALL 2021

L AND AND WATER PORTAL

FALL 2021 SPRING 2022 ADDITIONAL WORK

ENVELOPE WORKSHOP | SPRING 2022

This project was a precedent study with an emphasis on the characteristics of a building’s envelope. Each precedent offered had not only a beautifully designed exterior, but facades that were functional and multifaceted. Some featured louvers or innovative daylighting technology, some had manually operated parts, and some gave consideration to climate and thermal comfort. Diagrams and wall sections were used to represent each precedent, along with a large and detailed sectional study model of the chosen building’s facades. My precedent, the Community Rowing Boathouse by Anmahian Winton Architects, had multiple unique facade designs, each providing benefits to the building itself. On its north-facing facade, it’s covered in bifolding composite panels which could be manually operated from inside with a chain crank. Their purpose is to let in the breeze from the Charles River and ventilate the boatshed which requires careful climate control. On the south-facing facade, louvers cover the building’s locker rooms and other private areas, shading the spaces but letting in small amounts of daylight between the panels. The construction consists of a steel skeleton which supports the building’s concrete floors.

WOODEN BOAT BUILDING SCHOOL | FALL 2021

This project was heavily involved with the vernacular, prioritizing consideration of both climate and culture. Its goal was to design a teaching and community center for boat building in the rural setting of Brooklin, Maine. The cultural identity of this small, coastal town is centered around the art of boat making. Its residents are made up of fishermen, craftsmen, and artisans who specialize in this field. This project required knowledge of wood framing and construction, sustainable practices, and methods of conservation. The program consisted of a spacious room where larger vessels could be constructed. It also included a woodshop, sewing rooms, classrooms and wood storage. Public spaces were also required, which would comprise a cafe and gift shop area.

My goal was for my design to comfortably fit into the rural setting, where the many pitched roofs would represent a rustic village or the peaks of Maine’s beautiful mountains. The structure would be made completely of local wood and features an exterior walkway lined with large boulders taken from the rocky coastline. Wooden trusses make up the skeleton and primary structure of the buildings and wood framing is used inside to support the mezzanines. A standing seam metal roof covers this wood construction and allows breaks for expansive skylights to let in northern light. Upper-level terraces, a dining deck, and the outdoor wood-covered walkway and seating area highlight the elegance of this bucolic site.

FITZGER ALD PARK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | FALL 2021

This project, located in the culturally rich and intellectually diverse neighborhood of Mission Hill, aims to form a hub within the community to inspire learning, collaboration, and performance. Its three indoor theater spaces and outdoor open air theater will bring varying forms of entertainment into the neighborhood. Its multiple classroom spaces will serve to provide accessible programs centered around the visual and performing arts. To design this vessel for cultural expression and community engagement required a deep understanding of the area’s history and architectural landscape. Given the communal and interactive foundation of this project, my design was focused around creating shared experiences amongst groups of people as they would circulate between each performance and activity. A large outdoor seating area at the center of the building would serve as a site for gathering and provide a connection to the cafe and theater spaces. Accessibility as another central theme for the project inspired a sweeping ramp that would allow people to view the outdoor performances from an elevated perspective. The building’s solidity and earthly materiality honor the neighborhood’s many brick row houses and concrete structures. Alternatively, its many curved forms make it stand out in the community, emphasizing its role as the new central hub of Mission Hill.

TEEN CENTER FOR THE MFA | SPRING 2021

This project would satisfy a proposal by the Museum of Fine Arts for a creative learning and exhibition space for their students. It would be located on Hemenway Street, across from a public park with visible connection to the MFA’s recent addition. Occupying around 7000ft², this building put a heavy emphasis on programmatic thinking and spatial planning. This multi-level building would include a large event space, a room where artworks could be stored and viewed, a public library, and offices for the MFA staff. My design was inspired by the new addition to the MFA, which sits just west of the site. It features a similar envelope, with a large glass wall on the north side of the building and concrete panels lining the other facades. These panels are interrupted by smaller windows which were carefully placed to let in light and provide interior spaces with important views. Behind the large glass wall are two parallel staircases, offering a connection with its neighboring building to the west. The program is laid out around a central atrium, with public spaces occupying the first two levels. Offices are located on the third level, separated from the atrium by glass walls to create noise insulation while still allowing visibility into the lower levels.

POETRY RETREAT | FALL 2021

This project served as an introduction to landscape and topographical transformation with a strong focus on a site’s inherent conditions and limitations. It was also an exploration of structure and how different load bearing systems affected design. Four choices of site were offered, each with a different natural typology. The large, rural sites were to be the foundation for three shelters and one communal space where poets could write and gather. The site’s steadily sloped terrain and naturally occurring conditions encouraged unique interaction between the buildings and the land. I chose a vineyard as the setting for my poetry retreat, seeking to take advantage of its lush greenery and idyllic amosphere. The extensive rows of grape trellises would provide striking views and orderly avenues to direct circulation throughout the site. The parameters of the buildings were each chosen with regard to the organization of the grapevines. Some were used to enclose backyard spaces, some served as pathways, and some were left in line with windows to create inspiring views. Overhead trellises and lattice partitions were used to shade outdoor areas and match the repetitive, linear beauty of the grapevines. Columns were used within each building to provide structural support and a large dynamic seating area was centrally placed to encourage communal gathering and poetic discussion.

L AND AND WATER PORTAL | SPRING 2021

This project emphasizes the unique design process of building on the threshold between two mediums. Located in Boston’s historic seaport district, the project serves as a gateway to the city and highlights the experiential and commercial advantages of urban waterfront architecture. Challenged by the rising water levels surrounding Boston’s seaport, it seeks to create a dynamic connection between land and water, with careful consideration of tides and weather. Requirements included a sloping gangway and moveable dock, which should shift and maneuver in accordance with the tide. This was to be designed along with a small shelter that would house a ticket booth and seating. Sitting at the end of Boston’s Long Wharf, my design takes advantage of the landing’s lack of indoor public areas, and introduces an inviting space that fosters a connection between the built and natural environment. As it extends out over Boston Harbor, the glass wall and wooden, outdoor seating deck generate inspiring views from each side of the structure. Sloped roofs with generous cantilevers lead people through the space and toward the water. The dock is fixed around large wooden piers and can slide up and down them to easily match the tide. The linear sequence from the dock to the gangway and along the exterior of the structure is directly in line with the avenue of the Wharf, providing an entrance into the city.

ADDITIONAL WORK

CONTACT 207-219-1724 thoringtonl@wit.edu Boston, MA / Saco, ME luc-thorington555