Architecture Portfolio by Melia Whitney

ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

MELIA WHITNEY

2021 - 2026

2016 - 2020

MELIA WHITNEY

(913) 277 - 9791

meliawhitney@gmail.com RESUME

EDUCATION

Master of Architecture, University of Kansas High School Diploma, Olathe Northwest High School

AWARDS AND EXPERIENCE

2024 2024

2023 - 2024

2021 - current

2020 - 2024

2020

2019 - 2024

KU Architecture Student Portfolio Honorable Mention Design Build Studio, University of Kansas

- Played an important part in the design, pre-fabrication, and on-site construction process for a shade pavilion structure at the Prairie Park Nature Center in Lawrence, Kansas

Korea and Japan 3 Week Study Abroad School of Architecture Dean List FAS Scholarship Kansas Minority Scholarship Noodles and Company, Team Member

Revit, SketchUp, Rhino, Grasshopper, Adobe Suite, D5 Render, Enscape, Hand Drawing, Beginner Korean SKILLS

REFERENCES

Amy van de Riet University of Kansas Associate Professor amy.vanderiet@ku.edu

Todd Achelpohl University of Kansas Adjunct Professor j53a212@ku.edu

Thom Allen University of Kansas Associate Professor thom@ku.edu

6TH STREET APARTMENTS

Lawrence, KS

A sustainable mixed-use residential project in Lawrence, KS, blending nature and community with accessible public spaces and affordable retail.

6th Street Apartments is a mixed-use residential building with a human-centered, sustainable focus. It fosters community by offering healthy, affordable retail spaces and accessible indoor/outdoor public areas encouraging connection, activity, and well-being. By integrating opportunities for residents to interact with nature and one another, the project promotes a stronger sense of belonging and improves the overall health and vitality of the city, contributing to a sustainable, vibrant future for Lawrence, KS.

Programs: Revit, D5 Render, Adobe Suite

Fall 2024 | Steve Padget

Prevalent Winter Winds

Prevalent Summer Winds Views From Site Sun Direction

Building footprint maximizes green space

Access points from 6th and Mass St

Public, private, and retail spaces

Green

Natural

Goal:

GREEN ROOF AND STORMWATER COLLECTION

Green

Goal:

Goal: Manage 100% of stormwater that arrives on-site through rainwater collection/management strategies.

Rooftop

Green Roof System

Rooftop Rainwater Cistern

Photovoltaic Panels

Permeable Surfaces

Recessed planters and bioswales manage stormwater by replenishing soil and reducing runoff, while porous pavers filter rainwater and mitigate heat island effects. Native plants minimize irrigation needs and support local ecosystems. This integrates with the green roof system, which stores rainwater for greywater reuse and irrigation, supported by solar panels generating clean energy and angled louvers reducing mechanical cooling reliance.

LIVING SPACES DESIGNED FOR WELL-BEING

Access to sunlight, natural ventilation, and nature were prioitized early in the design. Ground floor retail stores offer healthy and affordable food. Each unit was given careful consideration to the spatial layout to optimize comfort and well-being.

The main lobby is a social hub for homework, remote work, dining, and socializing. It includes a mailroom, coffee shop, bike rack to encourage cycling, a skylight that fills the space with light, and a green wall that brings nature indoors.

MAIN LOBBY AS SOCIAL HUB

DESIGNING FOR EQUITABILITY

The central courtyard provides a welcoming space for community gatherings, outdoor activities, and casual interactions, while its integration of native plants and seating areas creates a comfortable, vibrant environment.. Retail shops, such as the green grocer support healthy lifestyles and community connection.

CIRCULATION DIAGRAM

The circulation prioritizes accessibility and health, with wide ADAcompliant stairs encouraging use as well as wide hallways for wheelchairs. The main access point is on the north side, with a secondary entrance on Massachusetts Street for visitors accessing the lobby to eat, study, or relax indoors.

HORIZONTAL CIRCULATION

VERTICAL CIRCULATION

INTENSIVE GREEN ROOF/ PLANTED TERRACES

FINS

PRIMARY BUILDING ENVELOPE

GLUELAM COLUMNS AND BEAMS

STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

The structure uses glulam columns and beams for strength, sustainability, and reduced carbon. Aluminum fins provide shading and optimize ventilation, while the intensive green roof and planted terraces enhance thermal performance, reduce heat island effects, and integrate nature into the design.

ALUMINUM FINS

ALUMINUM

DETAIL DRAWING

DETAIL

Perforated Drain Pipe

Concrete Footing

Course Gravel

Concrete Subﬂoor

Concrete Beam

Geopave with Aggregate

Aggregate Base

Drain Pipe

4” Perforated Drain

Geotextile Separation Layer

Prepared Sub Grade Soil

Concrete Column/Haunch

HDPE Moisture Barrier

Sitedrain Sheet Drain

Filter Fabric Facing Soil

Geotextile Filter Fabric

Drainage Aggregate

PARAMETRIC DESIGN

Conceptual

A parametric recreation of Frei Otto’s cooling tower explored computational design through base, structure, and façade.

At the start of the semester, we followed teacher-led tutorials before transitioning to a team project to recreate Frei Otto’s conceptual cooling tower using Grasshopper. We deconstructed the design into three components: base, structure, and façade. We developed parametric scripts for each while staying true to Otto’s original concept. This process allowed us to understand and replicate the basics of parametric design and computational modeling.

Team members: Alayna Thompson, Sara Miranda, Melia Whitney

Programs: Grasshopper, Rhino, D5 Render

Fall 2024 | Kurt Hong

To advance the design, we created three iterations of each component—base, structure, and façade—resulting in nine variations. By combining one iteration from each category, we developed three unique designs alongside the original model.

WATER CRAFT CENTER

Wichita, KS

A community center aimed to revitalize the Arkansas Riverfront in Wichita, Kansas by serving as a hub for paddle boat construction.

The goal for this project was to repurpose an abandoned parking lot into a community center in downtown Wichita, Kansas. Seeing the opportunity to revitalize the riverfront engagement along the Arkansas River, the Water Craft Center provides the resources and education necessary to build paddle boats specifically for river use. In conjunction with this project goal, the selection of materials also carefully considers the building life cycle and longterm environmental impact.

Fall 2023 | Amy van de Riet

Programs: Revit, D5 Render, Adobe Suite

HISTORY OF THE RIVER

The Arkansas River is an important part of Wichita’s history. Like most cities, the river was used for transporation and trade. Over time, the quality has degraded and now the river does not see nearly as much recreational use as before.

Riverfront 100 years ago

Riverfront today

First Floor | Public Access and Display Areas Second Floor | Education and Workshop

Floor | Living and Offices

Lobby

Demo Area

Exchange

Bathroom

Mechanical

Work Yard

Work Hall

Classroom

Lab

Meeting Room

Office

Bedroom

Kitchen

Living Area

Roof Terrace

HIERARCHY

The first floor is the most public area, with workshop, retail, and exhibition areas. The second floor consists of classrooms, labs, and a work hall area with large equipment for those more involved in the paddle boat making process. The third floor offers the most quiet and intimate setting. Overnight guests who are teaching lessons, working in the labs, attending paddle boat construction classes, or anywhere in between, are given a hostel room to sleep in.

THIRD FLOOR | LIVING AND OFFICES

SECOND FLOOR | EDUCATION AND WORKSHOP

FIRST FLOOR | PUBLIC ACCESS AND DISPLAY AREAS

Work Hall

Testing Pond

DETAIL 1 | PARAPET

1. Sloped Finish Roof Membrane

2. Gravel

3. Air and Vapor Barrier

4. Coverboard

5. Air Cavity

6. Rigid Insulation

7. Double Thread Fastener

8. Sheet-Metal Coping

9. Coping Cap

10. CLT

11. Sheathing w/ Air and Moisture Barrier

12. Rigid Insulation

13. Vertical Track

14. Z-Girt

15. Fastener

DETAIL 2 | WINDOW

1. Pour-in-Place Concrete

2. Acoustic Floor Underlayment

3. Shear Connector

4. Rigid Insulation

5. Drip Edge

6. Sill

7. CLT

8. Sheathing w/ Air and Moisture Barrier

9. Rigid Insulation

10. Vertical Track

11. Terraclad Panel

12. Z-Girt

13. Fastener

14. Moisture Barrier

15. Rigid Insulation

16. Finish Layer Membrane

DETAIL 3 | CURTAIN WALL

1. Lintel

2. Fastener

3. Aluminum Header Connection

4. CLT Column

5. Low-E Glass

6. Aluminum Mullion

7. Gasket

8. Terra Cotta Louver Panel

9. Pour-in-Place Concrete

10. Acoustic Floor Underlayment

11. Rigid Insulation

12. Shear Connector

13. CLT

14. Moisture Barrier

15. Rigid Insulation

16. Finish Layer Membrane

DETAIL 4 | FOUNDATION

1. Aluminum Casing Connection

2. Pour-in-Place Concrete

3. Rigid Insulation

4. Gravel

5. Anchor Bolt

6. Permeable Pavement

7. Aggregate Bedding

8. Open Grade Base

9. Reinforcement Grid

10. Open Grade Sub-Base

11. Geotexture

12. Soil

13. Moisture Barrier

14. Footing Drain

CAMPFIRE

Lawrence, KS

A multi-purpose facility designed to enhance community well-being by offering local business platforms and accessible social spaces.

This project is centered around food enjoyment and education for the public. Situated in downtown Lawrence, Kansas, this multipurpose facility offers a variety of community-based services. These include places to dine, healthy grocery options, kitchen demo classes, a multi-purpose flex space, and on-site mail service. The concepts of community, gathering, and warmth inspired the name of the facility: campfire. The central courtyard, the symbolic ‘fireplace’ of the site, serves as the unifying glue connecting each building on the site.

Programs: Roblox Studio, Adobe Suite

Spring 2023 | Todd Achelpohl

A centralized layout reinforces the idea of ‘campfire’, where people gather around a central fireplace to be with friends and families.

There are three main access points. The farmer’s market is located on the corner between the two busiest streets for ease of access.

The bridge connects the food hall to the meeting area. Standing on the bridge, one has views to the courtyard and the adjacent street.

THE BRIDGE

Between the meeting area to the food hall is a bridge that connects the two buildings. For attendees seeking respite from events or meetings, a stroll across the bridge provides easy access to the food hall.

Crafted from mass timber, the bridge has both structural and artistic qualities. The heavy mass timber alludes to the firewood used in campfires. Directly underneath are benches that allude to the diagonal form of the bridge.

MATERIALS

1. Green Grocery Store

Food Hall

Office

Storage

5. Loading and Trash

6. Bathroom

7. Cooking Demo Area

8. 24-Hour Post Office

9. Mail Reception

10. Farmer’s Market

11. Courtyard

x' x' x'

Section Looking North

Seating Underneath Bridge

West View, Bridge

Courtyard

Southeast Entrance, Farmer’s Market

PRAIRIE PARK PAVILION

Lawrence, KS

A shaded pavilion for outdoor classroom events and ceremonies, designed with sustainability in mind by re-purposing existing materials.

Over the course of a semester, this studio designed and built a pavilion for the Prairie Park Nature Center in Lawrence, Kansas. Within a short time period, each student was expected to complete tasks that contributed as a whole to the project.

Student team: Wynn Bowen, Paige Butterfield, Naalk Deasis, Ashley Decker, Emily Dulle, Matthew Garret, Emma Hamer, Sara Miranda Luzio, Chris Monarres, Sarah Montes, Madison Simons, Alayna Thomas, Melia Whitney

Programs: Rhino, Revit, D5 Render

Spring 2024 | Keith van de Riet

SITE LOCATION

pavilion location

primary views

parking lot

existing prairie

existing building

EARLY GROUP CONCEPT

During the early design phase, the class was split into groups. My group came up with the ‘Phoenix Pavilion’. We were inspired by the bird and its connections with rebirth and growth. The roof design alludes to spreading one’s wings and “taking off” to the sky.

In the end, the structural engineers working with us said it was too complicated of a roof structure to solve within our timeframe.

VISUALIZING THE PAVILION

We spent weeks developing the final design. Roof infill strategies, variations of the traingular pods, structural details, hardware, materials, and more, were explored in-depth.

The renders were made by me to get a more realistic sense of the pavilion for a few notable stages in the design process.

TILE PREPARATION

My primary responsibility was to help fabricate and organize the aluminum tiles for the roof. Prefabrication took weeks, as there were around 1,000 tiles to complete.

Each tile was traced onto a street sign, cut, then sent to a sandblasting company. Afterwards, the tile had to be bent at a certain angle and named according to the tile spreadsheet that I created. Sample page of the tile spreadsheet

Diagram for how to bend a tile

Roof plan of two bays with each tile labeled

The steel components of the pavilion were galvanized through AZZ Galvanizing in Kansas City. The class got to tour their factory and learn about the process.

In efforts to lower the budget, powerpoles from Evergy were used for the columns. Cutting the long pieces of lumber required specific machinery and expertise that a local tree trimmer in Lawrence provided.

ON-SITE FABRICATION

On-site fabrication started with setting the columns into the ground and fitting the column-to-beam connections. The rest of on-site fabrication occurred late in the semester, so myself and a couple of other students along with our professor helped over the summer to complete it.

There were many small obstacles to work through, from ill-fitting pieces, alignment issues, and swapping out hardware. Each problem provided a unique learning experience on how to efficiently problem-solve.

Early on-site construction in the process of setting the ‘Y’ beams

Infill boards in the process of being placed between the beams

Tiles and infill boards filling the roof

A large portion of the tiles at the site

Me pre-drilling holes into a tile

By mid-August of 2024, the pavilion was completed. Lawrence Parks and Rec pourced the ADA accessible paths and placed down the seating and mulch. There are plans to submit the pavilion to ADA Design Awards, AZ Awards, and AIA, as well as host an official open house ceremony in the near future. COMPLETION

PERSONAL WORKS

Beyond studio work, I enjoy sketching and creating 3D environments. I believe that any hobby you have can be turned into a skill. Late nights spent drawing in a rudimentary sketchbook and designing spaces on Roblox are what propelled me to pursue architecture.

LOGO WORK, SPRING 2024

DRAWING UNIT, FALL 2021

ABANDONED TREEHOUSE

Often in life, we celebrate the new and the novel. The newest phone, the newest car, the newest clothing. But what happens to the things we forget about over time? With this sculpture, I try to answer that question.

Made out of basswood and twigs, this model serves as both a spatial design study and a reflection on a once-new structure now weathered by time and the elements. Yet despite its decay, it still stands sentinel against the test of time. An echo of itself, but still elegant in a quiet, melancholic sort of way.

https://www.roblox.com/games/132063731535516

OUTDOOR LEARNING PAVILION

This was a personal project made using the game development platform Roblox. On this platform, creators can design and build interactive virtual 3D environments with the goal of getting visits from other users. Practical design strategies, entourage placement, and lighting were all key driving points for this project. My goal was to create a serene environment where users can feel relaxed and focused.

After the pandemic hit, Zoom and Microsoft Teams became our digital learning norm. I wanted to explore what our learning spaces could look like in lieu of boring, faceless video calls. Here, students and educators can exist in a 3D environment where you can move around, design your own avatar, and use voice chat technology or chat. It is the perfect set up for a more engaging online learning environment.