Marie McKenna M.Arch Portfolio 2016 by Marie McKenna

2016

OBJECT

  mem483@psu.edu 267.795.8393

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INTEREST

EDUCATION

URBAN NETWORK

Full Time Position Starting Summer 2016

The Pennsylvania State University College of Arts and Architecture Master of Architecture (expected May 2016) The Pantheon Institute Rome, Italy Architectural Studies Summer Semester Cornell University College of Human Ecology B.S. with Distinction in Design and Environmental Analysis: Interior Design GPA: 3.92

HONORS&AWARDS

EXPERIENCE

Stewardson Memorial Design Competition Penn State Finalist: 2016 Master of Architecture Design Excellence Award: 2014-2015 Corbelletti Design Charrette Honorable Mention: 2014 Cornell University College of Human Ecology Dean’s List: 2009-2013 The Hillier Professor’s Award for Achievement in Design: 2013 Arch Triumph International “Triumph Pavilion” Design Competition: 2013 •Team received Honorable Mention in competition open to students & professionals Ecologic Design Lab International Burningman Airport Design Competition: 2013 •Team received first place in the student category for overall design and aesthetics Clemen’s Family Corporation Merit Scholarship: 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 Graduate Teaching Assistant & Research Assistant 2013-2016 The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Architecture •Assisted students in scholarly research and writing for an architectural theory course •Graded assignments and assisted students in an architectural history overview course •Studied the impact of space on social and gender roles through WWI era propaganda film; created detailed drawings and diagrams of spatial conditions represented in film Design Team Member Summer 2012, Winter 2012, Summer 2014, Summer 2015 Mann-Hughes Architecture, Doylestown, PA •Completed schematic phase interiors, layouts, and facade studies for several large churches including entry, circulation, cafe, bookstore, worship center, and auxiliary •Created construction documents and presentation renderings for clients; collaborated with a team of architects to complete the design development phase for a range of projects including worship centers, veterinary hospitals, car dealerships, and private residences Interior Designer: Office Addition Summer 2013 Clemens Food Group, Hatfield, PA •Designed and completed construction documents for a 10,000 sqft office addition including space planning, ceiling treatments, lighting, materials, furnishings, and noise reduction strategies •Collaborated with a lead contractor and sub-contractors from the initial stages through completion Design Consultant Summer 2011, Winter 2011 Clemens Food Group, Hatfield, PA •Preliminary layout and design for a 10,000 sqft customer experience center including a new facade, entry, demonstration kitchen, and offices •Conferred with company executives and contractors, created renderings and models for presentation, and collaborated with Mann-Hughes Architecture on the final design

SKILLS LEADERSHIP

AutoCAD, Revit, Sketchup, 3DS Max, Adobe Suite, Climate Consultant, basic Rhino, basic ArcGIS, physical model making (laser cutting, CNC routing), hand drawing Women’s Indoor & Outdoor Track and Field at Cornell University

2009-2013

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MICRO HABITAT

2012

OBJECT

Twin Tube Fluorescent + Ballast

White Matte Plastic Backing

  “Architecture is the learned game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light.” -Le Corbusier At 18” in length, this luminaire, although small, takes cues from the interplay of light and form seem in much larger architectural works. The premise of this project was to highlight and create form using light. While relatively flat in daylight, the 4 interlocking waves come to life when lit internally, reflecting light off the red interior to tell the story of expansive and confined spaces through white and reflected red light.

Red Interior Coating

White Matte Plastic Plastic Hot Gas Welded Connection (typical)

TRANSIENT SPACE

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

BODY SUPPORT 2013

OBJECT

  Furniture can be seen as an object- a piece of art in itself. Some gains purpose through its interaction with other objects, or even its interaction with people, but some takes on a more supportive role. The purpose of this project was to investigate a unique population and develop a furniture prototype to support their needs. It seems that aesthetics often ignore the aging and elderly as health and safety increasingly become concerns, so this proposal begins to explore how the unique needs of the elderly, specifically the osteoporotic, can be met without compromising design aesthetics. Osteoporosis is a condition which impacts roughly 50% of women and 25% of men over the age of 50, and causes a loss of bone density which increases the risk of breaks and fractures. Research has proven that continuous, controlled motion in addition to proper spinal posture can help to prevent farther bone deterioration, while stability is required to reduce risk of bumps and falls. The typological gradient matrix shown is a tool developed to help evaluate the ideal chair type and acceptable chair range for people with osteoporosis based on characteristics of stance and flexibility. While some motion is important, flexibility quickly becomes detrimental as stability is often lost. A slightly reclined stance leaning toward upright is the ideal balance between comfort and safety, and it also provides an opportunity for lumbar support. Shades of gray define an acceptable range radiating out from the ideal.

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URBAN NETWORK

  

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

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2013

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



Rounded Edges

Extended Armrest



Flexible Joint Forward Motion Reclined for Comfort

1 Clear Space



Angled to Prevent Tipping

Relief for Stability

Seat Free from Base

Custom Steel Hardware Rubber Stopper

Maple Veneer Plywood

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URBAN NETWORK

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

Multiple Seated Angles

Lumbar Support

9 Leg Support

Air Space for Compression

Soft Joint for Seat Movement

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

2013

OBJECT

 Flexible Joint Prototype

Hardwood Armrest and Slats

Flexible Seat/Frame Connection

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BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT 2014

OBJECT

Transparent Polycarbonate Panels

Translucent Polycarbonate Panels

 Typical Shape

Cylindical Space Adds Volume

Added Tube Thickness

Oval Exterior Adds Storage Volume

Structure

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URBAN NETWORK

  Panels Slide in Track



What makes a small space liveable? This is a question worth pursuing, especially in dense urban areas such as New York City where habitable space is at a premium, but also in suburban and rural localities where a more sustainable way of living can be implemented. Kisho Kurokawa’s Nakagin Tower inspired this capsule concept while allowing the form, program, and spatial experience of the interior to evolve from critiques of his rectangular capsule design with limited flexibility. The final concept capitalizes of the idea of volume over floor area, increasing the perceived “openness” of the space. Sliding panels serve mutliple purposes as furniture, walls to conceal storage, and sun shades. The capsule can be thought of as a series of modules which are chosen and customized by the user to create their ideal space.

Panels Hide Bathroom Fixtures

 Rib Divisions

Simplified Form







2014

OBJECT BODY SUPPORT MICRO HABITAT

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 

Mesh Layer 3

The Burningman Festival held each year in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert draws an eclectic crowd with its colorful, vibrant, fiery celebrations. Intended as an escape from everyday life, every structure in Black Rock City is handmade, and decidedly weird. Ecologic Design Lab proposed a competition in 2013 to design a temporary airport terminal which would serve to welcome participants to the festival in a way that only Burningman could. Cheap materials, and ease of setup and transportation were critical, as the BRD is both remote and unpredictable.

Mesh Layer 2

Drawing its inspiration from the environment of the Black Rock Desert, “Sandscape” appears inherent to the landscape. Emerging from the sand, this ephemeral form is shaped each day by the constantly shifting sands of the desert. Placing first in the student category, the judges described the design as “beautiful and organic”. Three interconnected peaks constructed of plywood, bamboo, and construction mesh define the form and plan of the structure, while arched openings direct traffic from the runway to the festival site. Intended to be sustainable and quickly deployed by a small group of people, the structure’s precut plywood arches are lap jointed to provide stability. Bamboo overlaid on the structural arches and tied down in a lattice pattern creates the topography of the surface, while several layers of construction mesh provide shade and a gradient of light to the interior. Colored spotlights allow the structure to come alive at night as a beacon and an icon of the festival itself.

Mesh Layer 1

Bamboo

Plywood Laminated Arches

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

2013

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Black Rock City Site

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

To Burningman

Seating Media

Charter Customs Seating

Pilot’s Lounge

To Runway

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

To Burningman West



2013

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To Burningman East

Ticketing

Customs To Runway

Food Truck

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT



OBJECT

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

2013

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BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

  Barriers are inherent in the lives of refugees; the loss of their homes, family members, and sense of security impacts their daily lives and outlook on the future. The UAE’s Jordanian Refugee Camp, Mrajeeb Al Fhood, is considered to be a “five star” refugee camp, but there is restlessness within its walls fueled by strict rules which maintain order, cleanliness, and safety for its 6,000 residents. While schooling is available in the camp, it is inadequate to property foster creativity and excitement in Syria’s next generation. A school is an incubator- a place where the interests of young minds collide and new ideas are formed, but how can such a place exist with the constraints of this restrictive system? “Ex-cubate” provides young girls with the opportunity to learn in a free and unrestricted environment. By physically breaking the barrier between the refugee camp and the outside world, this school acts as a beacon of hope for reconnection with the lives that were once lived on the exterior of those walls. The project reconclies the need for security and privacy inherent to a girl’s school with the need to be creative, entrepreneurial, and free of restriction. A portion of the south wall of the camp has been pierced and rebuilt to provide a visual privacy while allowing students to freely move back and forth between the interior and exterior of the camp wall. Once a student crosses the threshold, they are immersed in an open, interactive learning environment. The open layout can be manipulated by pushing and pulling framed polycarbonate panels which stow in the roof structure, allowing the space to be entirely opened for recreation, or divided to allow multiple activities.

SITE MRAJEEB AL-FHOOD

QIBLA

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

2016

TRANSIENT SPACE

Office

Food Prep

Restroom

Flexible Classroom

Mech.

Office

Sacred Prayer Space N QIBLA

Recreation

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

Polycarbonate Panel

 

MICRO HABITAT

Aluminum Stud

Dimensional Lumber

A simple palette of materials including dimensional lumber, light weight aluminum studs, polycarbonate, and corrugated aluminum allow the design to be easily constructed and economically feasible. A portion of the camp’s chain link fence is replaced by a CMU wall in which water is collected for ablution sinks. This visual barrier divides the support spaces located within the wall of the camp from the open educational spaces outside while allowing glimpses between the two spaces.

Penetrate Fence

Create Visual Barrier

Articulate Entry Segment

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

2016

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CMU

Create Circulation

Introduce Natural Light

Extend Outdoor Shading and Seating



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BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

2016

TRANSIENT SPACE

Classroom Stowable Partitions Wall Section

Aluminum Stud Structure

Moveable Panel Wall Attachment

Gutter Integrated into Structure

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

  Raystown Lake is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts including hikers, boaters, fishermen, and many others. The goal of this project was to design a hotel resort which would accomodate the needs of the lake’s users while maintaining the pristine natural beauty of the area. This proposal caters specifically to the large group of mountain bikers who visit Raystown to take advantage of the world class Allegrippis trail system, and includes an extension to the existing Allegheny trail which leads bikers to the resort and back to the existing trail. Imagine the thin void cut through the forest by a hiking trail being occupied by a building. Appearing to hover above the ground, the space can be experienced as both a blur of artifice between the trees, and a pause which accentuates the verticality of its surroundings. Visitors approach parallel to the building by both trail and road, drawing closer to convergence as they reach the entrance. Cut into the ground, the entrance leads visitors below the earth, where they experience the forest floor at eye level. From this point they ascend vertically and gradually move through the canopy, catching glimpses of a view beyond. The procession culminates above the canopy, allowing visitors to walk along the tops of the trees. The building is experienced as an extension of the trail both horizontally and vertically, providing new perspectives through each layer of the forest.

MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE 2014

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BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

Ex is

  Distilled from many conceptual design iterations are the qualities of directionality, movement, and simplicity. The shape of the building responds to the topography on which it is situated, bending slightly at either end to avoid the hills on either side and maintain a constant elevation above the land. A one way drop-off and delivery lane ensures minimal impact on views from the building, and the steep slope of the topography hides the parking area located along the existing service road below. The Allegrippis Trail extension to the Allegheny Loop reflects the difficulty of the existing trail, averaging a 5% grade over its length.

tin

cc es sR oa d

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URBAN NETWORK

2014

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Load ing

est Gu

Of pDro f

Par kin g

4 N

Existing A ccess Road



 0

 100

OBJECT BODY SUPPORT MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

2014







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MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE 2014

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BODY SUPPORT

Rigid Insulation Concrete on Steel Decking Double Skin Facade Interior Glazing with Operable 2’-0” Louvers 6” Hollow Core Concrete Plank Steel Superstructure Beam Encased in Rigid Insulation Pilkington Planar Structural Glass Mullion Beyond

1” Diameter Steel Tension Rod Steel Outrigger Support for Outer Skin Double-Pane Glazing Outer Skin

10” Square Hollow Section Steel Beam Beyond Cantilevered Stair Treads Supported by Diagonal Bracing Beam Concealed Within Wall Mechanical Space used to Condition Air Gap Interlocking Metal Panel Bottom Skin 10” Square Hollow Section Steel Column, Painted

Steel Plate Attachment to Concrete Sloped Rigid Insulation for Drainage

18” Square Concrete Column

French Drain Concrete Footer Beyond

MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE 2014

TRANSIENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE 2014

TRANSIENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE 2014

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URBAN NETWORK

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

  The Pittsburgh Strip District is constantly in motion; even in winter, local vendors display produce and merchandise on the sidewalks and visitors peruse the streets. The prompt for this project was to design a New Media Arts Center for the Pittsburgh Strip District that serves as a cultural destination for the neighborhood, as well as accommodates and encourages the existing street activity. While the linear nature of the strip is ideal for shopping, the tunnel-like enclosure of protruding awnings accentuates forward motion, lessening the draw of side steets and shop interiors. In order to counteract the tunnel effect of the strip, the proposal’s form and stance on the street invites passerbys into an open ground level which eases the transition into the building. Once inside the building, space and circulation flow perpendicular to the street. A large interior atrium is pierced by walkways, allowing guests to remain connected to the outdoors while exploring the expansive exhibit and theater spaces.

MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE 2015

TRANSIENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

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OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE 2015

TRANSIENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

MICRO HABITAT

100

BODY SUPPORT

Theater (350)

Exhibit

Rehearsal 1





OBJECT

Rehearsal 2

Entry/Ticketing



Storage

Office

Entry

Cafeteria

Coats

Gift

Receiving

Cafe

Storage

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

2015

TRANSIENT SPACE

Classroom

Large Exhibit Balcony



Theater

Box Seating

Library

Large Exhibit

Music Studio

Box Seating

Classroom

Theater

Artist Workshop



Large Exhibit



Small Exhibit

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

Exhibit, Theater

Exhibit, Classrooms

Entry, Ticketing, Gift

Exhibit, Theater

Cafe, Restrooms, Geothermal

Exhibit, Theater

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

2015

TRANSIENT SPACE

Classrooms Theater Exhibit

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

Custom Tubular “Rib” Hollow Steel Section Aluminum Gutter

Steel Ladder Insulated Metal Facing Mechanized Screen on Track

Screen Weight

6’-0” Rodeca Polycarbonate Panel, 40MM, Insulated with Aerogel

Steel Track Support Flexible Plastic Conduit

Steel Grate Walking Surface on Steel Support 4X8 Hollow Steel Section Beam Tubular LED Lamp (3500 K) Inside Custom Fixture with Angled Reflectors Metal Decking Rodeca Polycarbonate Linking Clip

MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

2015

TRANSIENT SPACE

Polycarbonate Support and Lighting Detail

Horizontal Section Detail

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE 2015

TRANSIENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE 2015

TRANSIENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

  In Manhattan, thousands of visitors circulate the streets and subways each day, accepting their limited experience of the city without consideration of the greater possibilities. In most cases, built space implies exclusivity - towers of glass will rarely be experienced beyond their curtain wall, but what if a new type of space could change this? The city is built on networks - the street system of avenues and alleys, the subway system, the network of urban parks and plazas, even the scattered museums and public attractions share a connection that transcends physicality. This project proposes a system of vertical programs that occupy unowned residual lots (often the product of zoning errors) in order to allow the common person to integrate themselves into the city in a way that is currently impossible. Acting as a exploded living unit, each space serves a function that is implicit in the lives of urban dwellers, but absent from the experience of visitors. While this project is proposed in West Village, it is envisioned as a widespread network that occupies each neighborhood of Manhattan and beyond. The city is already built, now pieces must be filled in through a collage process of mediation between fast and slow, public and private, compatible and incompatible. City processes are cyclical- the life cycle of a building, the rotation of tenants in a single apartment, the collection and dispersal of users in a public plaza at lunchtimewhy doesn't the built environment better reflect an understanding of these cycles? The latent forces of change are present, but largely invisible in the hectic urban fabric of New York City. A network of architectural mediators that function as a system will create a new strategy for reading the urban environment and living within its constraints.

Manhattan

W. Village + Hudson Sq.

Selected Sites

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK 2016

TRANSIENT SPACE

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

880 SF

40'-

'-3

' 78'

222 SF

7'-

120'

78'

30 SF

”

4’2

5 2

57'-7" 10"

3'-

28'-

218 SF

6" 42'"

'-6 10

Through data analysis, 13 unowned residual sites smaller than 900 square feet in area were identified in West Village and Hudson Square. The neighborhood was mapped programmatically in order to determine the “density of difference” at various locations. As shown on the right, this analysis produced a topography in which height corresponds to programmatic difference between adjacent buildings. Of the 13 sites, 5 were chosen based on their size and opportunity to provide mediation in their particular location.

78'

 

343 SF

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK

2016

TRANSIENT SPACE

1 2

OBJECT

BODY SUPPORT

MICRO HABITAT

PERMANENT SPACE

URBAN NETWORK 2016

TRANSIENT SPACE

  While the project focuses on the network created between the 5 sites and the potential to spread throughout Manhattan, the site constraints and design of site 2 are reflective of the entire network and provide a framework for the design considerations of each site. At just over 4 feet wide, the proportion of the site alone forces innovation. To the east of the site, a large warehouse abuts its lot line. To the west, a one story portion of an existing structure allows the design to cantilever outside of its site constraints, utilizing available air rights. The proposal is pierced by openings which respect the large windows of the neighboring warehouse, and strategic balconies and walkways provide views to the river and the financial district. As the design develops, each site will include a unique program ranging from food preparation to storage, and will allow users of the neighborhood to become part of a system that integrates them more deeply into the place.