Portfolio by Matt Cronin

Matthew D. Cronin Architectural Portfolio

Table of Contents

Project

Undergraduate & Graduate Work

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Page

Glass House

Windixie

Tavaci

Belly of the Beast

The Museum of Ancient History

(Par)Olympic

Delectus

Miscellaneous

Fall 2009 - Fall 2014

Glass House

House to Street

Unsited

This was the first design project of my undergraduate eduacation. This project introduced me to the design process through a structured four week work period. My task was to create a single housing unit that related to a 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122; x 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122; tartan grid on sloping site. This project required me to use a specific set of standardized proportions, building compoinents, and materials. It incorporated various modeling and drawing techniques, as well as previously taught design principles and concepts. I was required to express ideas and work in a sympathetic and rational matter with the buildings structural frame which had been set forth by the tartan grid. Having a sloped site required me to address the relationship of my building to the site. Program included a double height living space, cooking area, dining area, fireplace, study area, sleeping area, shower room, and a patio.

Spring 2011 Professor Allison Warren 4 Weeks

Windixie

Research Retreat

Danville, IL

For this four week project I was asked to design a residential facility for a team of two scientific scholars. One of the scholars has a permanent appointment at the University, while the second scholar is a visiting research assistant. The structure would be occupied during the weeks when the team is in residence at the park conducting research. The focus of their research is the study of the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ecosystem, with a particular focus on the relationship of habitat to animal population and diversity. I was required to address the relationship between the building, natural landscape, and local climate, as well as human interaction in a shared live/ work facility.

Fall 2011 Professor Jeff Poss 4 Weeks

Tavaci

Bio-Roadhouse

Moab, UT

Partner - Emily Gruendel

This was the final project of my Architecture and the Landscape course. Given eight weeks, my partner and I were required to develop a hotel and refueling station along a stretch of the National Highway System. Sites for this project were spread across the entire highway system of the United States. Each pair was assigned a different city across the nation, and given the freedom to choose their location along hte highway within the city. There were several design considerations for this project including access from the highway, how to tie the design to the natural environment and ecology, relationships between public and private spaces, how to organize spaces within the building envelope, environmental factors, and structure and material choice. For this partner project, I was required to assist with the building of both physical and digital models. I created files four our small scale model, and helped with the development of the larger scale model. My Main responsibility for this project was the building envelope, and its relation to the surrounding environment. The curtain wall was developed through the repetition of five patterned blocks which used various patterns of mullions. I was also responsible for all renderings, interior and exterior, as well as the design of the retaurant.

Fall 2011 Professor Jeff Poss 8 Weeks

Belly of the Beast

Mixed Use Building

Chicago, IL

This was my first long term design project. The structure I was to create was a mixed use building, and the site for this project was the prominent corner of LaSalle Boulevard and Chicago Avenue in downtown Chicago. It was up to students whether their building would be a mid or high ride based on how they interpreted the program, location, and market of the area. The street level was intended to be a retail space for a variety of reatil or restaurant functions, as the architect does not determine who will rent the space. Stores on this level were required to have access to the alley, and have minimal column interference. The second part of the building program included several types of residental units. I was asked to design three, two, and one bedroom apartments, as well as some studio apartments. In addition to the residences there were several supporting spaces such as a lobby, mail room, elevators, and fire stairs. Students were encouraged to include as many units as possible based onthe size of the building, and the layout of apartments.

Spring 2012 Professor Allison Newmeyer 10 Weeks

The Museum of Ancient Life

Museum of Ancient Life

Champaign, IL

This final project of my undergraduate education was the capstone project. Throughout this project much of the information I had learned during my undergraduate education was combined and tested. I was asked to design a smallscale public building emphasizing the integration of the basic elements of building materials, details, structure, technology, program, life safety, and universal design. The location of the site was the intersection of Neil Street and Washington Street in Champaign, Illinois and contained a 30â&#x20AC;? slope. Programming of the building included a main exhibition space to hold a T-Rex, as well as several support spaces. During the course of this project, I addressed building codes, structural systems, appropriate response to site and context, program comprehensiveness and development, and details indicating building assemblies.

Fall 2012 Professor Kevin Hinders 14 Weeks

(Par)Olympic

Olympic Training Center

Champaign, IL

This was the first project of my graduate studies. Accessibility was a major focus for this project. The University of Illinois was developing an olympic & paralympic training center. (Par)Olympic combines these programs into one super structure. A glass skin wraps around the center atrium space, creating a gathering place for visitors, as well as allowing the building to be used during other sporting events. The primary program of the building is raised which allows for free circulation on the first floor.

Fall 2013 Professor Carl Lewis 14 Weeks

Locker rooms, practice facilities, and administrative spaces end up in the east wing of the building, connected via a simple bridge to quickly get players from one side to the other. A number of elevators are found in the facility to help support the added accessible traffic that the building will take on. Daylighting was a major consideration in placing the practice courts on the north end of the buildings, as it prevents direct light from interfering with the spaces.

Delectus

The New Newberry

Chicago, IL

This studio focused on energy, materiality, and tectonic expression. I was asked to explore the conditions and potential for environmental responsible building designs which could make contributions to the sustainable urban landscape. The existing Newberry Library was used as a source of inspiration and reference point for this project. This studio relied on exploration through multiple iterations within a framework of four consecutive studio projects. Project one (site) and three (precedence) were group projects lasting two weeks each, while project two (parts) and four (whole) were individual projects lasting four to five weeks each. Energy performance, as well as site conditions played a large role in the design process.

Spring 2014 Professor Vidar Lerum 14 Weeks

Delectus develops its form through several considerations including a south facing slope to allow for maximum solar access, as well as the continuation of the street front. The building height connects the buildings on either side, which in turn creates the necessary slope. This form allows for a natural ventilation area to form at the top of the high end of the building, allowing hot air to escape through vents at the top. The ventilation of the building works through the thickened floors, finally allowing access air to vent into the atrium space, and eventually out the roof.

Miscellaneous Works

Various Projects and Drawings

Up to and including Fall 2014