Graduate School Application Portfolio

Maura Witzel |

Undergraduate

Maura Witzel

Education

1700 Flynnwood Drive Charlotte, NC 28205

Skills

Duanesburg Central School

(Duanesburg, NY)

Autodesk AutoCAD

Western Alamance High School High School Diploma [2014]

(Elon, NC)

Autodesk Revit / Dynamo

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Bachelor’s of Arts and Architecture [2018]

(Charlotte, NC) Rhinoceros / Grasshopper

SketchUp

Work Experience Plageman Architecture

maura.witzel@gmail.com 336.693.5859

[ 2013 - 2016 ]

408 South Spring St., Burlington, NC 27215

Languages

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Italiano (Italian) Progressive AE - Charlotte 日本語 (Japanese)

[ 2017 - 2018 ]

330 South Tryon St., Suite 500 Charlotte, NC 28202

Microsoft Office

Interests

Involvements

Perspectives

Writing

Details

Research

Architecture 2

Reading

Yoga

Teaching

Sketching

Video Games

History

American Institute of Architecture Students

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Teaching Assistant

Painting

Adobe Photoshop

[ 2017 ]

Freedom By Design

Freedom By Design - Design Developer

[ 2016 - 2017 ]

National Society of Leadership and Success

Communication Consultant

[ 2017 - 2018 ]

Design-Build Institute of America

Fabrication Lab Student Employee

[ 2017 - 2018 ]

Construction Specifications Institute

Contents

URBAN FABRIC Page 4

TERRA-FORMED Page 7

THE CHARLOTTE LIBRARY Page 11 I’M ON A BRIDGE Page 15

BOUNDARY AS SPACE Page 17

CREATIVE WORK Page 19

FIRM WORK Page 20 3

U F

1

2

3

4

A'

[ Fall 2017 ] T.O.B. 80' - 6"

Architectural conversations come from experiences in and around a space. Façades are significant pieces in this dialogue, but kinetic façades take it further when they begin to incorporate the users of a space. People can interact with the architecture and genuinely experience something rooted in the context, and the façade components are able to respond to various stimuli. As the city moves toward a ‘greener’ future, wind and solar energies become a significant factor in the overall design. Incorporating significant programs and various purposes aids in sketching out a dynamic new face.

Floor 6 65' - 6"

Floor 5 53' - 6"

4

A large urban space, such as the neighbourhood of Bowery in Manhattan, can use the expansion/contraction motion of a textile façade to address specific site, contextual, and climatic concerns. For example, the qualities of the fabric can block out harsh sunlight but also reflect and diffuse the light back into the workspaces within. On the exterior of the steel grate balconies, the façade units can close to allow for maximum interaction between the city and the New Inc. employees or open to shade the interior from views and sunlight. The movement, the materiality, and the geometry of each individual unit all replicate a cyclic process found in Nature, as demonstrated by coral or moon-flowers. And fabric architecture itself can be sustainable - it has a reduced carbon footprint, minimal construction waste, and both daylighting and water harvesting abilities. In the daylighting aspect, shading the building’s transparent surfaces and roof on hot, sunny days decreases cooling costs and has the opposite effect in the winter. Reflecting light further into the space allows for better workspaces and in turn, healthier and more productive people. The balconies allow for a ‘middle ground’ of sorts for public space (the streets of the Bowery neighbourhood) to meet private space (the studio workspaces of New INC.) as well as providing needed shading and acting as a diffuser. This façade system seeks to engage with the building’s various audiences and does so by moving in varying degrees. While the façade system runs on a computerised program dedicated to adjusting to the times of day and to sunlight, the users are given the choice to interact and ‘design’ their space themselves.

Floor 4 41' - 6"

Floor 3 29' - 6"

Floor 2 15' - 6"

WEST ELEVATION AND FRONT FACADE WALL SECTION 12FT. 6IN.

5FT.

25FT.

WEST ELEVATION AND FRONT FACADE WALL SECTION 12FT. 6IN. 5FT.

25FT.

PLAN

OPENED POSITION

STEEL CABLES

STEEL GRATE BALCONY / SHADING DEVICE

STEEL PIN CONNECTION

CROSS SECTION

HYPOCYCLOID GEAR SYSTEM

LONG SECTION

STEEL STRUCTURE

PLAN

CLOSED POSITION

CURVED METAL ENCASEMENT

LONG SECTION

FABRIC ‘UMBRELLA’ W/ METAL FRAME CROSS SECTION

5

SITE PLAN 1/32” = 1’-0”

A' STEEL GRATE BOLTED STEEL ANGLE CONNECTION STEEL PLATE

METAL COPING BLOCKING METAL STUD PARAPET WATERPROOFING MEMBRANES STONE WALK-A-ROUND CONCRETE CURB SOIL / VEGETATION WATERPROOFING MEMBRANES 5” SLOPED INSULATION 1-1/2” METAL DECKING MORTAR

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

BRICK BARREL-VAULTED CEILING STEEL BEAM STEEL GIRDER

STOREFRONT SYSTEM

STEEL CABLES TAPERED BEAM THERMAL BREAK UNIT W/ 2-1/2” RIGID INSULATION, 1/2” STEEL PLATES, AND WATERPROOFING

STOREFRONT SYSTEM DOOR CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB 1-1/2” METAL DECKING

MORTAR BRICK BARREL-VAULTED CEILING STEEL BEAM STEEL GIRDER

6

STEEL CABLE HANDRAIL STEEL GRATE TAPERED BEAM THERMAL BREAK UNIT W/ 2-1/2” RIGID INSULATION, 1/2” STEEL PLATES, AND WATERPROOFING

STOREFRONT SYSTEM

THIRD FLOOR PLAN

T-F

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[ Fall 2016 ]

8

This project addressed the needs of an industrial program tied to the site in Dallas. Various site conditions, including a river and its floodplain to the south, influenced the formal decisions in addition to aspects such as economies, demographics, and the environment.

The goal was to create a warehouse that was aware of the distinct disconnect between the industrial area and the city of Dallas. With this intent, the circulation became very important for both goods and people. While many workers or administrators may drive to work, others may have alternative forms of transportation, so therefore a ‘stop’ of sorts was included on the city-side of the project. The two factory floors not only slope to meet in the middle but extend towards the city and the other factory buildings, demonstrating how the two can come together and the ‘deliverables’ can flow between. The parking, a solid, heavy, concrete mass ‘anchors’ the form to the ground, while the steel beam and column structure reaches above and out to the surrounding area. This warehouse was designed with the intent that it would store a variety of telecommunication parts as Dallas is becoming one of the country’s largest centres for this kind of technology. Those who work on storing the pieces, consisting of conductors, input and output devices, control panels, and other various technologies, would be trained in how to use these parts in order to allow for growth and development.

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7

4

3

Ground Floor Plan Parking, Entry, Warehouse, Shipping/Receiving

0’

10’

30’

60’

N 5

100’

Cross Section Through Shipping/ Receiving, Operations, and Parking

0’

10’

30’

60’

100’

8

Flashing as Required

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9

Metal Coping

Spandrel Panel

1

6

Foundation/ Column Footings

2

Concrete Slab on Grade

3

Steel Columns (Primary)

4

Exterior Concrete Wall

5

Channel Glass

6

Steel Girders (Secondary)

7

Steel Beams (Teritary)

8

Cellular Metal Decking

9

Cross Bracing

10

Single-Ply Roofing System

10

8

3

9 6

5

7

2

1

East Elevation

4

Channel Glass 3

Structural Silicone Second Floor Plan Operations, Gallery, Warehouse

N

Subsill/ Aluminum Frame

5 0’

10’

30’

60’

Flashing as Required

100’

Exploded Axonometric

Slab Above Grade

Primary, Secondary, and Teritary Structure with Channel Glass and Concrete Metal Coping

1/32” = 1’ - 0” 7

9

8

Flashing as Required Spandrel Panel

Steel L-Shape Cellular Metal Decking Steel Beam w/ Reinforced Web Steel Girder w/ Web Stiffeners

EPDM Roofing Membrane Vapour Retarder Ridged Thermal Insulation Cellular Metal Decking

6

Steel Column

Ridged Insulation

3

7 5

Longitudinal Section Through Shipping/Receiving, Warehouse, and Operations 0’

10’

30’

60’

100’

South Elevation Facing Levee and Trinity River

North Elevation with Shipping and Receiving

8

Cross Section Through Shipping/ Receiving, Operations, and Parking

0’

10’

30’

60’

100’

Perspective Views East Elevation

Interior and Exterior Impressions

Cross Section Through Shipping/ Receiving, Operations, and Parking

0’

10’

30’

60’

100’

Longitudinal Section Through Shipping/Receiving, Warehouse, and Operations 0’

10’

30’

60’

100’

9 East Elevation

10

C L [ Spring 2017 ] Libraries have evolved from a unique place to store physical copies of information to a place amongst others which seeks to share vast amounts of knowledge with many others.

Improvements in technologies and the advent of the digital age led to the ability to share information in a matter of seconds, and people are connected in a way unseen before. At present, the library idea consists of a place with multiple forms of accessible knowledge and spaces with which to engage in the communicating and learning of such. This library is an attempt to create a space for the surrounding area that people can use to acquire and share knowledge; it does so by employing programmatic strategies and spatial organisations which attempt to engage individuals and communities.

In accordance to the evolving ideology of the library, I set out to shape a space that would be inclusive of the advancements in technology and of the notion that knowledge should be available to anyone. I employed three strategies to create this design. The addition of a café, the importance of the program layout, and the materiality choices were all significant factors in the design of this building. Making use of these ideas led to a library created with its future users in mind; one that’s evolved to fit their needs.

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I’ O A B 08

[ Fall 2015 ] This project is motivated by the idea of events and activities occurring on and within a bridge. It creates places in space that normally would not be used for performances or other activities. It blurs the line between bridge and event space, causing the two areas to meet in an unique way. That is the paradox of the bridge; is the bridge supporting the performance, or has the bridge become the performance?

North Lakeshore Drive is an important Chicago lifeline. It runs along Lake Michigan and connects surrounding areas in meaningful ways. It is only fitting that the bridge that spans across the park and the Chicago River has a significant role to play in the design of a performance centre. Hybrid diagrams considered questions dealing with the kinds of space the bridge could be and the implications and impact it has on the site. There was also a consideration for the surrounding context and how that factored into both the existing area and the new designs.

07

A

E

02 D

09

C SEC. C

B

01 10

06

The design process involved many changes and new approaches. Early on, it was decided that the entire performance centre should be located on the bridge in order to emphasize the strong connection it has to both itself and its city counterpart, and it would create a violent transition from bridge to event. Later came the notion of a “performing bridge,” where the support and context would become the focus itself. The physical design comes from the necessity of a double-story bridge with a strong history and connection, and it would be difficult to relocate without context.

05

Diagramatic Plan 1/32” = 1’-0” A B C D E

EVENT SPACE OFFICE SPACE MENS BATHROOM WOMENS BATHROOM STORAGE

SEC. B

04

7770 SQ. FT. 730 SQ.FT. 300 SQ. FT. 350 SQ. FT. 490 SQ. FT.

03

07

11

08

SEC. A

SITE PLAN

TRANSVERSE SECTION A

INTERIOR EVENT SPACE - 01 EXTERIOR EVENT SPACE - 02 OFFICE/MEETING SPACE - 03 MEN’S BATHROOM - 04 WOMEN’S BATHROOM - 05 STORAGE - 06 BIKE RACK AREA - 07 LAKEFRONT TRAIL/PERFORMANCE - 08 LAKE SHORE DRIVE/PERFORMANCE - 09 DUSABLE PARK/PERFORMANCE - 10 CHICAGO RIVER - 11

CROSS-SECTION C

FLOOR PLAN & SECTIONS DUSABLE PARK SCALE: 1/16” = 1’-0”

0’

16’

32’

CROSS-SECTION B

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B  S [ Spring 2016 ]

ESTCODE

ESTCODE

ESTCODE

ESTCODE

ESTCODE

PHYSICAL BOUNDARY LINE DERIVED FROM SURROUNDING CONTEXT

One of the most important ideas of an arcade is the circulation through the spaces. This project considered both the paths through the site and the horizontal and vertical passages of the form. Roughly half of the spaces are intended public space, consisting of shops, restaurants, and the like, while the rest became private hotel space overlooking the baseball field, Bearden Park, and the rest of Charlotte. Green space is integrated on several levels, including as a small park, as an in-between space within the structure, and as a green roof. The formal decisions were based in part on the diagram of a standard arcade but also needed to take into consideration the site and its characteristics.

Part of my goal was to preserve the many circulation paths across the site and incorporate them into the form.

ESTCODE ESTCODE

ESTCODE

ESTCODE ESTCODE ESTCODE

ESTCODE ESTCODE ESTCODE

SITE PLAN: FIRST FLOOR

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS PROJECTED ONTO SITE, BREAKING THE INTITAL BOUNDARY

1/16” = 1’-0” CHARLOTTE, NC

9TH AND 4TH FLOOR PLAN 1/32” = 1’-0”

SHAPE DERVIVED FROM GRAIN ALTRED TO FIT SITE AND RELATE TO BOTH PARKS

FOURTH FLOOR

PROGRAAMME REQUIREMENTS ALTER THE SHAPE AND SIZE OF THE FINAL MASSING MODEL

MASSING CONCEPAXONOMETRIC

17

SAFETY RAILING COPING

LIGHTWEIGHT SOIL FILTER FABRIC RETENTION AND DRAINAGE SHEET BARRIER WATERPROOF MEMBRANE

CONCRETE

THERMAL INSULATION

STEEL BEAM (FIREPROOF) GYPSUM ASSEMBLIES ALUMINIUM MULLION SHEATHING METAL PANEL RAINSCREEN

INSULATED (TEMPERED) GLASS ALUMINIUM MULLION CONCRETE SLAB FIREPROOFING BLOCK

STEEL BEAM (FIREPROOF) SHEATHING BATT INSULATION AIR BARRIER

CURTAIN WALL ANCHORAGE GYPSUM ASSEMBLIES

STEEL COLUMN (FIREPROOF) CEILING METAL PANEL RAINSCREEN

METAL PANEL RAINSCREEN BATT INSULATION AIR BARRIER

GYPSUM ASSEMBLIES STEEL COLUMN

ALUMINIUM MULLION

CONCRETE SLAB

STEEL BASE PLATE W/ ANCHOR BOLTS

CONCRETE FOOTING

WALL SECTIONS 1/2” = 1’-0”

18

C 

Top Left: Saranac Lake Topographic Map. Laser cut birch plywood; under layers painted blue and top piece finished with linseed oil. Border made of oak board and stained with ‘Kona’ colour. [2017] Immediate Left: The Hero of Courage. Magazine image cut into 1-inch by 1-inch squares, staggered, and copied in colour pencil. [2014] Above: Serenity. Digitally ‘painted’ in Adobe Photoshop. [2015] Far Left, Left: Gallerie Colbert. Perspective. Drawn in pen, rendered in colour pencil. [2016] Far Left, Middle: Fence Detail. Acrylic paint on 24 x 36 canvas. [2014] 19

F W

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[ 2014 - 2018 ]

Working for a firm is incredibly educational and exciting. Any day can become one during which you engage with a new project, client, or design, and every chance is a chance to grow. Much of what I have learned and enjoy as an architecture student has come from working in a firm because it has given me the opportunity to understand how much knowledge is to be had from both the ‘in the field’ experience and from academic studies.

I have been able to engage in many opportunities in architecture through professional practice, such as schematic designing, client engagement, solving detail and construction problems critically, and collaborating with others to compose our projects. In addition, I have been able to practise my hand rendering skills through an assortment of projects, which not only allows me to address the issue of demonstrating materials, light and shadow, and the intent of a design, but has greatly encouraged my creativity in design.

ALL WORK ON THIS PAGE BELONGS TO PLAGEMAN ARCHITECTURE AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY WITHOUT THEIR WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Maura Witzel EDUCATION Duanesburg Central School Western Alamance High School High School Diploma

[ 2014 ]

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Bachelor of Arts and Architecture

Maura Witzel D.O.B. : 01 / 13 / 1996 1700 Flynnwood Dr. Charlotte, NC 28205

[ 2018 ]

WORK EXPERIENCE Plageman Architecture

[ 2013 - 2016 ]

408 South Spring St., Burlington, NC 27215

maura.witzel@gmail.com | 336.693.5859

Progressive AE - Charlotte

REFERENCES Justin Steele, CDT Progressive AE - Charlotte 704.731.8071 steelej@progressiveae.com

Charles Davis, II Assistant Professor 716.829.5928 cldavis@buffalo.edu

INTERESTS

[ 2017 - 2018 ]

330 South Tryon St., Suite 500 Charlotte, NC 28202

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Teaching Assistant Freedom By Design - Design Developer Communication Consultant Fabrication Lab Student Employee

[ 2017 ] [ 2016 - 2017 ] [ 2017 - 2018 ] [ 2017 - 2018 ]

INVOLVEMENTS American Institute of Architecture Students Freedom By Design National Society of Leadership and Success Design-Build Institute of America Construction Specifications Institute

PROFICIENCIES Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

AutoCAD

Revit/Dynamo

Rhinoceros

Sketch Up

Microsoft Office