NICK IRMEN ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO 2010-2015
e: irmennc@gmail.com p: 419-376-9351 w: issuu.com/n_irmen a: 306 E. Harrison St. Maumee, Ohio 43537
NICK IRMEN Education
Miami University
August 2007 – June 2011
School of Fine Arts Bachelors of Arts in Architecture
Natural Areas Bird Blind (design build studio) Wood Frame Shelter - Oxford, Ohio 2012 Western Red Cedar Entry
Ghana Studio Abroad (design build studio)
Concrete Block/Stucco Housing - Abrafo-Odumase, Ghana
2011 Lyceum (design competition studio) Off The Grid Rest Area - Salt Flats, Utah
Kinetic Terrarium (independent design studio) Digital Fabrication / Prototype Design August 2013 – May 2015
(expected)
Clemson University
School of Architecture Masters of Architecture Architecture + Community Build - Certificate Program
ARCH 8510 - PCI Pilot Studio (design studio) Innovations in Precast Concrete / Prototype Design
ARCH 8520 - Garden Trail Bridges (design build studio) Pedestrian Bridges - South Carolina Botanical Garden
ARCH 8570 - CROPstop (design build studio) Covered Assembly Space - Greenville, SC
Professional November 2009 - February 2012
Toledo Design Center 2011 Downtown Plan
Assessment Key Development Opportunities Approval by City Council February 2012 - August 2013
Thomas Porter Architects 8 N. St. Clair, Toledo, Ohio 45056
“Legacy Homes”
7 Home Models - 40 parcels Vacant Lot In-fill - City of Toledo Design Development/Construction Documentation August 2014 - December 2014
Byers Design Group
125 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403 Advisor: Luke Jarrett Student Internship Program Clemson Architecture Center in Charleston
Awards Fall 2014
Travel Grant
Spring 2015
American Institute of Architects Fellowship
Clemson Architecture Center.Charleston AIA Charleston
FEATURED WORKS
NATURAL AREAS BIRD BLIND
TEACHER’S `HOUSING
(u)
(u)
DESERT HOTEL
KINETIC TERRARIUM
LEGACY HOMES
(u)
(u)
(p)
DESIGN WITH PRECAST
COMPONENT 1.5
GARDEN TRAIL BRIDGES
(g)
(g)
(g)
40 POINSETT ST.
MAPLE WOOD BOX
CROPstop
(p)
(g)
(g)
FORMING CONCRETE
HEART PINE TABLE
(u) undergraduate (g) graduate (p) professional
Natural Areas Bird Blind Oxford, Ohio ARC 302 Design Build professor | Scott Johnston location | Miami University Natural Areas, Oxford Ohio duration | January - August 2010 participants | Maxwell Streeter Joshua Carson Alex Fritz Jared White Nicholas Irmen
overview | As an addition to the hiking trails of The Miami University Natural Areas the structure was built to seclude a small audience while viewing birds and local wildlife. Furthermore, the site has adopted an educational purpose for university classes in ornithology, ecological restoration, and architecture.
key role | Given the complex nature of the faรงade treatment and the challenge of its construction, I helped establish a system to transition cedar slats from one rib to the next. (as illustrated on a following page)
Schematic Section
Site Plan
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A. Native Grasses B. Monarch Way-station C. Seating D. Cedar Screen Wall` E. Retaining Wall F. Gravel Path
A 9"
B 6'-9"
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1'6" F E
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0'0" C D
(u) Educational Work
Arc 302 Design Build
Schematic Rendering: Blind Entry
Framing Study
Natural Areas Bird Blind | January - August 2010
Steel Brackets 2e
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3 116 "
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25:26c
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Rib Profiles
(u) Educational Work
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*Pre-fabricated off site
Arc 302 Design Build
Site Assembly + Construction
6” x 6” Pine Retaining Wall
4” x 4” Pine Posts
2” x 8” Pine Beam and Framework
1/4” Steel Brackets
2” x 4” Pine Ribs
1” x 4” Cedar Slats
Natural Areas Bird Blind | January - August 2010
Rib Transition
(u) Educational Work
Arc 302 Design Build
Construction Drawings TYPICAL STUD AND ROOF BEAM CONNECTION DETAIL
TYPICAL STUD CONNECTION DETAIL
3 4 "=1-0'
3 4 "=1-0'
2"X4" ROOF JOIST 2"x4" NEAR STUD TYP BRACKET DETAIL
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1 4 " WELDED STEEL BRACKET (2) 38 " O.C. BOLTS
ELBOW PLATE DETAIL
2" 1 4 " TYP
2X8" ROOF BEAM
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3 1/4" 1 4"
BOLT
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STEEL ELBOW PLATE
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ELBOW PLATE
O.C. BOLTS
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Rib Transition Diagram Rib 34 B Identical members to Rib 35 A allow cedar panels to attach flush to the exterior face of each rib.
Rib 34
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Natural Areas Bird Blind | January - August 2010
(u) Educational Work
Arc 302 Design Build
Natural Areas Bird Blind | January - August 2010
(u) Educational Work
Arc 302 Design Build
Natural Areas Bird Blind | January - August 2010
(u) Educational Work
Arc 302 Design Build
Natural Areas Bird Blind | January - August 2010
Teacher’s Housing
Ghana, Africa ARC 499 Design Build professor | J Elliot location | Abrafo Odumase, Ghana duration | 3 weeks travel + 3 weeks construction participants | 18 architect students + 15 local craftsmen overview | Biennially, the Miami University Department of Architecture hosts a design build studio in the village of Abrafo Odumase, Ghana. Upon returning, the village presented the need for teacher housing featuring, two bedrooms, washroom, kitchen, and a common space. Prior to the build, students took part in a three week long trip, visiting villages throughout Ghana and experiencing the country’s’ diverse landscape. During that time the students worked to materialize three design solutions. At a public presentation one design was approved. In the following three weeks the team of eighteen architect students worked with a local group of fifteen craftsmen and laborers to complete two housing units.
key role | I was a contributing member in the design selected for construction. I also played a lead role in the designing and fabricating the ventilation wall. (as illustrated on a following page)
Journal Sketches + Presentation to Village Elders
(u) Educational Work
Arc 499 Design Build
Teacher’s Housing | Summer 2010
Plan + Ventilation Wall 35’
Ventilation
Wash Common Space
Bedroom 1
26’
Passive cooling and ventilating is critical in a tropical climate zone. The concept for the house was a simple plan designed around ventilation. We developed a technique of stacking block at an offset angle that alternated with each course. The technique resulted in a wall that allowed both the passage of light and air while still maintaining privacy.
Food Storage/ Prep
(u) Educational Work
Arc 499 Design Build
Bedroom 2
Construction Process Tools Head Pan
Trowel
Pic- axe
Wheelbarrow
Shovel
Material Sand
3” Aggregate
50kg Cement
Wood
Water
Teacher’s Housing | Summer 2010
(u) Educational Work
Arc 499 Design Build
Teacher’s Housing | Summer 2010
(u) Educational Work
Arc 499 Design Build
Teacher’s Housing | Summer 2010
I - 80 Rest Area
2011 Lyceum Design Competition ARC 401 Core Studio professor | Muralie Paranandi location | Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah duration | August - September 2010 (6 weeks) participants | Individual entry overview | A rest stop located on I-80 in the salt flats of Utah will serve as a respite and midway point in a seemingly endless terrain. The building program features parking between the east and west bound lanes. A tunnel will take visitors under the westbound lane into the rest area. Visitors will be accommodated with full service rest rooms, cafe, and lodging for overnight visitors.
Environment and building vernacular of this rest stop evokes thought about the significance of the unique landscape and requirements for dwelling in this harsh climate.
Rest stop Entrance | Sub grade Access Tunnel As a part of the required program the rest stop parking lot was to be located between the East and West bound lanes This design solution uses oversized precast concrete piping sections to create an access tunnel under the West bound I-80 Lane
Sub-grade Access Tunnel: Section through West Bound I-80
(u) Educational Work
Arc 401 Core Studio
Ground and Sub grade Floor Plans
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B Floor Plan Key A
A. Sub-grade access tunnel B. Rest rooms C. Cafe D. Overnight Rooms E. Void- Experience of place.
I-80 Rest Area | August - September 2010
* view from first floor balcony of sleeping pods
Sleeping Pods
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d. b. c. e.
Floor Plan Key a. First floor entry b. bedroom c. bathroom
(u) Educational Work
d. closet e. outdoor stair f. second floor entry
Arc 401 Core Studio
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Raised landscape provides visitors with access to overnight rooms and a place for entertainment and respites respite.
One of twelve overnight sleeping pods. Each pod has two floors with exterior walls build of earthbag construction.
Key Components
Covered Balcony Prefab Steel Floor Structure Stair Earth Bag Construction
Earthbag Construction is a natural building strategy derived from military bunker and flood control systems. Clay material extracted from the foundation is packed into double woven polypropylene bags and stacked in a brick style pattern. Barbed wire is woven between each coarse to avoid slippage. The structure is finished with adobe or stucco to prevent degradation.
I-80 Rest Area| August - September 2010
Kinetic Terrarium
Design + Prototype + Fabrication ARC 402 Independent Studio professor | John Humphries location | Miami University Oxford, Oh duration | Spring Semester 2010-2011 (16 weeks) participants | Individual overview | The intent of this studio was to focus on architectural detail of a smaller object, weighting the design more so on quality of function rather than complexity of form. With only the criteria stated above, the initial phase of this studio was spent researching and sketching mechanisms of a kinetic nature. From the portfolio of sketches came the design concept for a terrarium. Rapid sketches, computer modeling, and prototype models aided in materializing the terrariums modest form and function. The terrarium was completed using digital fabrication combined with manual fabrication. The terrarium, although small in scale, can be seen as a catalyst for design at a larger scale with expressions of function.
Digital Fabrication | Prototype 1
(u) Educational Work
Arc 402 Independent Design Studio
Digital Fabrication | Prototype 2
Terrarium | January - May 2011
Elevations + Photo:Finished Product
The mechanism engages the roof panel in response to the movement of the front. As the front panel pivots, the roof panel will rotate on its axle while it pivots.
(u) Educational Work
Arc 402 Independent Design Studio
Exploded Diagrams
Terrarium| January - May 2011
Opening Sequence
0° 0° 0° 0° 0° 0°
(u) Educational Work
0° 50° 20° 120° 60° 30°
Arc 402 Independent Design Studio
0° 100° 40° 240° 120° 60°
0° 150° 60° 360° 180° 90°
Terrarium| January - May 2011
Legacy Homes Thomas Porter Architects project manager | Stewart Cline location | Toledo, Ohio duration | February 2012 - July 2013 overview | The Legacy Homes project is an in-fill housing project located in the metropolitan neighborhoods of Toledo, Ohio, a city that has experienced a significant decline in its housing market. This project called for seven historically accurate house that offer a range in accommodations to be dispersed among forty sites that were either vacant of currently occupied with homes beyond repair. The construction method and detailing of the homes, allow for a quick process of assembly and a high performance building envelope. key role | My role in the project was to manage the architectural drawing set for each of the seven homes during design development and construction documentation.
(p) Professional Experience
Thomas Porter Architects
House Models
Cottage Bungalow I
One Story (AIP) 3\Bed 2\Bath Full Basement (unfinished)
Traditional Bungalow I Two Story (AIP) 3\Bed 2\Bath Full Basment (unfinished)
Cottage Bungalow II
Cottage Bungalow III
Traditional Bungalow II
Traditional Bungalow III
One Story (AIP) 3\Bed 2\Bath Full Basement (unfinished)
Two Story (AIP) 3\Bed 2\Bath Full Basment (unfinished)
One Story (ADA) 3\Bed 2\Bath Slab-on-grade
Two Story (AIP) 3\Bed 2\Bath Full Basment (unfinished)
Cottage Revival Two Story (AIP) 4\Bed 2\Bath Salb-on-grade
Legacy Homes | February 2012 - July 2013
Wall Section: Traditional Bungallow II
(p) Professional Experience
Thomas Porter Architects
Construction Process
Factory built engineered roof trusses
Factory built interior and exterior wall panels with attached vapor barrier
Engineered I-joist deck This construction method using factory manufactured systems allowed the houses to be sealed to weather in a matter of days
Factory cast concrete foundation system
Legacy Homes | February 2012 - July 2013
Design with Pre-cast
Design + Prototype + Fabrication ARC 8510 Design Studio III professor | Dan Harding, Carlos Barios location | Clemson University Clemson, SC duration | October - December 2013 participants | Individual overview | This studio served as a pilot studio which intended to gain the sponsorship of the Precast Concrete Institute (PCI) for future Clemson Architecture studios. The intent was to allow students to have the freedom to take focus his or her efforts in any facet of precast concrete design to foster a variety of innovative design ideas. In addition to innovative ideas, students were required to fabricate form-work and cast the objects at reduced scale to further their knowledge of the medium. My efforts were focused on the economy of a single repeated building unit. My explorations began with pure geometric designs and was exicuted through an iterative design process to refine the geometry as well as the method of casting.
Design Iteration
Beginning with a simple sketch idea, I started to explore the concept of interlocking with the intent of creating of an effective means of building. My interest in these connections of a repeated structural unit drove a process in which I developed several iterations of the concept. With each phase I discovered a new characteristic about its geometry and with that knowledge I was able advance the design of the building unit
(g) Educational Work
Arc 8720 Design Studio III
Detail Sketching + Final Design Assembly Diagram
Design With Precast | October - December 2013
Formwork
The process of preparing the formwork often takes longer than the actual pouring and stripping. The design of this form allows for several components to be cast in a single pour. A series of plates create the framework for the wedge shaped walls, creating the exact shape necessary for a repeated stackable unit. In a factory setting the form-work could become much longer allowing faster production.
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Arc 8720 Design Studio III
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frame base
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(g) Educational Work
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frame wall
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Assembly + Form Release Diagram 2b
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Design With Precast | October - December 2013
Model Details
(g) Educational Work
Arc 8720 Design Studio III
Final Presentation
Design With Precast | October - December 2013
Component 1.5
Design + Fabrication ARC 8720 Material + Assembly professor | Dan Harding location | Clemson University Clemson, SC duration | Fall Semester 2013 (1 week) participants | Individual overview | Component 1.5 is a mechanism that is designed to take the vertically oriented force of gravity and redirect it into a horizontal force that counteracts the gravitational force. This mechanism was completed as an assignment for a material + assembly course that I was taking at the time. The intent of the assignment was to create a mobile of other mechanism that displayed balance and incorporated off the shelf parts.
Schematic Sketches
The following sketches illustrate the desired mechanical action of the component when loaded. The device converts the vertical gravitational pull a weight into opposing lateral forces effectively using gravity to keep itself from falling.
(g) Educational Work
Arc 8720 Material + Assembly
Component Detail Sub Components
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Component 1.5 | Fall Semester 2013
(g) Educational Work
Arc 8720 Material + Assembly
Complete Assembly
Component 1.5 | Fall Semester 2013
Garden Trail Bridges
Design + Fabrication ARC 8520 Design Studio IV professor | Dan Harding, Paul Russel location | South Carolina Botanical Garden Clemson, SC duration | January - Current 2014 participants | 11 MArch Students, 6 Landscape Architecture Students overview | This studio was a collaborative group studio composed of both MArch students and fifth year Landscape Architecture students. We were commissioned with the South Carolina Botanical Garden trail bridge project in response to a flood even that washed out many of the trail bridges in a biologically sensitive area of the garden. The studio program was a comprehensive approach consisting of design teams for flood analysis, trail signs and way finding, interpretive art piece, and trail bridge design. My contribution was the student project manager for the design and construction of the bridges. This project is currently in its final phases of construction. In total we will have built 8 bridges in the garden. The following pages are only a preview of the scope of this design project.
Iterative Modeling
(g) Educational Work
Arch 8520 Design Studio IV
Garden Trail Bridges | January - July 2014
Design Concept
Truss #1 Truss #2
(g) Educational Work
Arch 8520 Design Studio IV
34”
42”
Deck Framing
2_Wm
W_2
1_Wm
W_1
Detail + Articulation
Garden Trail Bridges | January - July 2014
Bridge Assembly
(g) Educational Work
Arch 8520 Design Studio IV
Completed Bridge
Garden Trail Bridges | January - July 2014
Second Floor
40 POINSETT project manager | Luke Jarrett location | Charleston, SC duration | August - November 2014 overview | 40 Poinsett is categorized as a “Charleston Single”, one of the most iconic house typologies in the region. As Charleston’s housing market continues to grow so does the demand for this type of house, no mater the condition it is in. We we commissioned to do construction documentation for the renovation of this home key role | My work in this project ranged across a gamut of tasks from as-build field documentation to construction documentation.
(p) Professional Experience
Byers Design Group
First Floor
Wall Section
40 Poinsett | August - November 2014
Side Elevation
Front Elevation
Maple Wood Box
Design + Fabrication ARC 6770 Introduction to Craft professor | David Pastre location | Clemson Architecture Center . Charleston duration | September - October 2014 participants | Individual design overview | The intent of this assignment was to design and fabricate a finely crafted box with joinery and finished construction being of the up-most importance. The only limiting factor of the assignment is the interior volume of the box must be between 250-275 cubic inches. My box design features two shelves and a drawer. Hard maple is the only type of wood in the design and was chosen for its durability subtle wood grain pattern. Stock brass rod and bar is used as hinges, drawer pulls, and feet.
Axon Diagrams
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Education Experience
ARC 6770 - Introduction to Craft
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Function + Detail
Maple Wood Box | September - October 2014
CROPstop A Farm Kitchen
Design + Build ARCH 8570 Design Studio V
professor | David Pastre location | Charleston, SC + Greenville, SC duration | August - December 2014 participants | Alex Armstrong, Brian Betz, William Craig, Ashley Davis, Nick Irmen, Jared Lee, Alex Libengood, Alyx McCarthey, Trey Meyer, Jianfei Shen, Mary Tran, Adam Windham
overview | CROPstop is an essential link between farm and school. It is a farm kitchen, a place were youth and community members can come together and add value to the health of the community. The Kitchen model, designed in accordance with DHEC standards, is a small affordable unit that is easy for community members to construct and it designed to fit on a trailer if it needs to move. The porch is meant to be a sight specific element that can adapt to the needs of the community. This unit incorporates a large front porch with can accommodate larger groups of people. It can be used as an outdoor classroom or a small covered market to sell produce.
The construction material was pre-cut and pre-finished at our shop in Charleston and then transported to the construction location in Greenville. In order to keep inventory, each framing member had to be put into a schedule. After lumber was cut it was labeled with a code and stacked to be ready for finishing.
(g) Educational Work
ARCH 8570 - Design Studio V
Greenville, SC
Clemson, SC
Charleston, SC
CROP Stop | August - December 2014
Phase One: Complete
(g) Educational Work
ARCH 8570 - Design Studio V
Phasing Plan
PHASE PHASE TWO 2
8.0’
4.0’
5.0’
26.0’
12.0’
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21.0’
PHASE ONE PHASE 1 Working within the constraints of a semester long project, the entire scope of work was split into two phases to be completed in two semesters by two different teams of students.
CROP Stop | August - December 2014
(g) Educational Work
ARCH 8570 - Design Studio V
Column Assembly Diagram
POLYCARBINATE ROOF SHEET 2x4 PERLIN 2x6 ROOF JOIST 2x4 BLOCKING 2x8 BEAM
COLUMN ASSEMBLY W/ 2x8 BETWEEN 2x4 GAL. SIMSON TIEDOWN STRAPS 12” dia. CONCRETE FOOTING
CROP Stop | August - December 2014
Phase Two Framing Diagram
(g) Educational Work
ARCH 8570 - Design Studio V
Testing Framing Method
The framing method that is incorporated in phase two of the CROPstop is a CNC cut plywood framing design that is being developed for the Clemson University Solar Decathlon House. It is a framing system that aligns with the goals of the CROPstop, where as it does not require a high level of experience to construct. We used the CROPstop as an opportunity to test the construction method. Though I was not involved in the design of the framing system, my responsibilities in this project was to document and teach the framing method to the students who were involved with the design development and construction of phase two. During this exercise we were able to test the framing system in a real life application and identify improvements to the parts.
CROP Stop | August - December 2014
Indigo Pine Cabinetry Clemson University Solar Decathlon Home professor | David Pastre location | Charleston, SC + Clemson, SC duration | November 2014 - February 2015 participants | William Craig, Nick Irmen, Jared Lee, Alex Libengood, Alyx McCarthey, Trey Meyer, Jianfei Shen, Adam Windham
overview | The design strategy for the interior of Clemson’s Solar Decathlon Home is using cabinetry to partition the rooms. This allows for maximum storage efficiency in a small floor plan. The construction method of the cabinets is prebuilt cabinet models built our of CNC cut plywood parts allowing for quick on site assembly. My involvement in this project was in both the assembly of the mock-up and the documentation of shop drawings for CNC fabrication.
(g) Educational Work
ARC 6770 - Introduction to Craft
Cabinet Assembly Diagram
Indigo Pine Cabinetry| November 2014 - February 2015
Forming Concrete materials | This casting method used a plastic bag and a water balloon. When under tension, the materials have the capacity to hold a from.
description | This is an exploration of casting concrete. concrete has the ability to conform to any shape when provided enough support until fully cured. The challenge was to use materials with limited structural capabilities and durability as a method of formwork for concrete.
Heart Pine Table materials | (table top) heart pine - reclaimed framing timber (legs) sapele wood - scrap from local woodworking company description | The heart pine wood was recycled from a historic Charleston home while under renovation. The home, built in 1880, is framed completely out of heart pine lumber, the majority of which is still in good condition.
e: irmennc@gmail.com p: 419-376-9351 w: issuu.com/n_irmen a: 306 E. Harrison St. Maumee, Ohio 43537