Nicholas Mazen MSU Architecture Portfolio

NICHOLAS MAZEN

Email: nickmazen@gmail.com

Phone:

864-706-8088

Address: 2938 Warlber Way #13

Bozeman, MT 59715

Education: Montana State University | Bozeman, MT |

BA Environmental Design

Expected May 2024

Organizations: AIAS Executive Board Member Secretary for the MSU Chapter Member since 2022

Skills:

• Photoshop (2 years)

• Illustrator (1 year)

• Indesign (6 months)

• Lightroom (1 month)

• Maya (3 months)

• Rhino (2 years)

• Revit (6 months)

• Grasshopper (4 months)

• Enscape (1 year)

Experience:

• 3D modeling/animation

• 3D and collage rendering

• Client and site interviewing

• Physical modeling

• Hand drawing/sketching

• Photography

• Customer/client service

• Directing/interviewing

• Videography/post-production

Nicholas Mazen

Mission Statement:

I aspire to design urban spaces that mutually interact with their communities and environments while striving for natural and cultural longevity.

DESIGN WORK EXPERIENCE:

Hocker Farms, Inc. - Spacial Concept Designer

Bigfork, MT • 06/2020 - 08/2020

I developed a conceptual design for a family farm at a lakefront property in Montana. This contract experience gave me the opportunity to further my skills in client interviewing, site analysis, and a finalized design development pitch. This process was achieved through the incorporation of:

• Investigating client values and site history

• Spending time on-site

• Sketching and photographing to devise preliminary driving architectural concepts

• Further developing concepts utilizing Rhino

• Creating the final set of deliverables using Photoshop, Illustrator, and Enscape

Vitality Wellness Center - Testimonial Creative Director

Redmond, WA • 06/2020 - 08/2020

As the testimonial creative director, I collaborated with my client, a chiropractic practice, to boost client outreach and business success. These were achieved by:

• collaborating with the client to develop effective questions encouraging influential repsonses

• practicing proper film composition

• implementing lighting fixtures and techniques under restrictive budget constraints

• fostering a space for the subject to feel comfortable in the production environment as they share traumatic and personal events

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE:

Starbucks - Barista

Redmond, WA • 04/2021 - 08/2022

From my experience working in the customer service industry, I cultivated a collaborative, team-oriented environment by exercising my leadership skills, time efficiency, and positive engagement with clientele.

REFERENCES:

MSU Professor | Mike Everts | meverts@montana.edu | 406-600-5850

MSU Professor | Steve Juroszek | stevej@montana.edu| 406-599-4895

Starbucks Manager | Dani Long | danielle.long029@gmail.com | 425-417-1612

SHARED SPACE TAXON 1 taxonomy 1/8”=1’=0” ARCH357: Salazar/Sequero, Nick Mazen

GRADUATE HOUSING

ARCH 356 Studio

VISITING SCHOLAR Laura Salazar

Altobelli and Pablo Sequero SPRING 2023

What do we share? This project addresses the current housing crisis by blurring the lines between the private and shared spaces in a graduate housing complex for Montana State University in Bozeman. The building tackles this topic through the utilization of sliding doors, semi-social corridors, and social buffer zones. The porosity of the building interconnects the room modules to the existing site experience of the industrial and arts communities. Additionally, these openings orient occupants to views and visual connections to the inner courtyard and surrounding Bridger Mountains.

The room modules include the semi-social corridor with a curtain that defines the private and shared space. The room is book-ended with sliding doors that open up to a variety of shared spaces, like a laundry gathering space or a hibachi-style dining area. A green space divides the bedroom from the bathroom and allows for semi-transparency throughout the complex.

Ground Floor Plan with open entry corners and social buffer zones

PERSPECTIVE SECTION

Section 1/8”=1’ scale

ARCH357: Salazar/Sequero, Nick Mazen

The courtyard links circulation from the open corners and disperses them through dilating walkways to gathering spaces which will encourage socialization. Along with this, the courtyard features a hot tub and fire pit for greater activation during the cold winter months. The stairs and sun balcony connect to upper-level social spaces inviting social interaction.

Perspective Section facing North with raised planter spaces to define walking paths

ARCH357: Salazar/Sequero, Nick Mazen

Left Spread: Inner Courtyard Photoshop Rendering Left: Axonometric Taxonomy of Upper-Level Shared Space and Entry Corner on Ground Level Right: Axonometric Taxonomy of Inner Courtyard

BUILDING MODEL WITH SITE 1/8’ = 1’-0”

ARCH357: Salazar/Sequero, Student Name

Left Spread: Model Photograph Right Spread: Entry Corner with Site Model

Left: Wall Detail with Exterior Glazed and Solid Facade with a Concrete Panel FInish Right: Structrual Model Demonstrating Timber Notched Connections

ELEVATION(S)

1/8”=1’

SCALE

(FORMAT CAN BE ADJUSTED TO FIT PROJECT)

SOUTH EAST CORNER ELEVATION

ARCH357: Salazar/Sequero, Nick Mazen

Elevation of South East Building Corner

VISITORS’ CENTER

ARCH 356 Studio

VISITING SCHOLAR Laura Salazar Altobelli and Pablo Sequero SPRING 2023

This project was designed in two and a half weeks and acts as a starting point for our Building Constructions II, Environmental Controls II, and Structures II courses. Therefore, there were primary design choices regarding constructability and efficiency as the project would be handed off to a student team to fully develop and test the building through various simulations. Despite the project’s short design lifespan, the concept remained a central focus.

Rendering mixed-media collage with digital line drawing, free-hand sketching, and digital cutouts

Model with light-refracting facade and laser-cut angled column supports

This visitors’ center resides between an abandoned mill in Bozeman, Montana and the East Gallatin River. The center aims to root itself in the strong Bozeman culture that values outdoor activity and the economic history of Story Mill, while simultaneously establishing educational and visual connections to the mill itself and the natural wetlands. The top deck is lined with educational plaques and activity areas that aim to explore the mill’s destruction of the wetlands along with restorative efforts made by the Trust of Public Land. The bottom level provides river activity and viewing access on boardwalks with west-facing facades featuring an operable screen that provides evenly distributed light and reduced heating loads.

Site Plan featuring trail extension

Structural Axonometric worm’s-eye view

Plan with program list

Top: section AA

Bottom: section BB

NEXUM

Everts FALL 2022

This project aims to adequately respond to the social and physical dichotomy between the Woodlawn neighborhood and the University of Chicago by bridging the separation of space and program in a mixeduse building. By integrating a space at the edge of a socially barricaded environment, circulation is overlapped within the structure, encouraging occupants to cross paths and make visual connections. This concept is driven by two case studies, which looked at the social and productivity increases with additional circulation. While the project does not aim to solve the social dichotomy entirely, the increase in social activity has the potential to strengthen connections in a neighborhood where such connections are compromised.

ARCH 355 Studio

PROFESSOR Mike

Photoshop collage interior rendering highlighting ramp system

site is challenged by an expanding westward development from the University of Chicago along with established segregation from Washington Park. These forces work together to further gentrify this Woodlawn corner. Along the southwest corner of Washington Park, there is a heavy flow of traffic along Martin Luther King Jr. Street and 60th. In addition, the STRAVA map data shows that the pedestrian traffic fades westward from the park. The site selection aims to intercept these forces while planting its connection-derived influence. The bridging to the park encourages an increase in foot traffic and creates a welcoming environment for both the Woodlawn neighborhood and the University of Chicago.

The

First Iteration Second Iteration

Final Iteration

The concept revolves around transit and cross-connections for people of different purposes and programs. The separation of the building’s halves and interconnected ramp system encourage occupants to cross between the building to visually intercept other occupants with the potential to make connections. By crossing paths, occupants from different programs can create impromptu gathering spaces, encouraging a moment of conversation. Expanding from basic programmatic layouts (fig. 1), the ramp system overlaps (fig. 2), then vertically climbs (fig. 3 and 4) and branches into extruded platforms that create pockets for level-specific connections (fig. 5).

Fig 1.

Fig 2.

Fig 3.

Photoshop collage rendering facing south on MLK Jr Drive

Photoshop collage rendering facing north on MLK Jr Drive

The program is curated for those under distressing or overwhelming pressures of life. This space hosts a counseling practice, cafe, public seating, and fluid cubicles for non-profit businesses. The programs in this space are meant to equally serve both the Woodlawn neighborhood and the University of Chicago. The cafe space is accessible to the public on the first floor and is designed to offer a neutral space for the community. The counseling office aims to provide mental health aid to both Woodlawn and university residents.

Furthermore, the non-profit cubicles and breakout rooms that inhabit the ramp system intermingle the two business programs with public occupants. Within the residential space, communal and shared spaces are divided among the two halves of the building, encouraging paths to cross between residents. All programs utilize the same ramp system to further promote connections throughout the building.

NEXUM ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

ARCH 331 Environmental Controls I

PROFESSOR Eric Watson

FALL 2022

After the Climate Consultant analysis for Chicago, Illinois, the most optimal strategy for this structure is a combination of both passive solar shading and passive solar direct gain low mass. The middle third of the building contains a system of ramps enclosed by exterior walls with glazing and a louver system. This x-shaped louver system is designed utilizing Grasshopper scripts with specific times and dates of sun angles. Considering the ramp system is at the center of the building, it comes equipped with lowmass thermal floors to absorb solar radiation and keep the building warm during the winter season. From the thermal floors, heat is released at night through the open middle portion of the building. Shading is provided by the louver system as seen on the diagram, reducing the solar intake during the summer season and keeping the building cool.

Left: Louver shading effect on ramp system on June 15th Right: Louver shading effect on ramp system on January 15th

Sunlight diagram showing Ladybug seasonal sun angles interacting with the passive shading system

Photoshop collage rendering of ramp system viewing platform extension overlooking event stage

Passive louver system

Thermal massing on ramp system

Parametric facade screen

NATIVE AMERICAN MUSEUM

ARCH 254 Studio

PROFESSOR Fatih Rifki

SPRING 2020

The intention of the Native American Museum is to provide a place for gathering and education for the Blackfeet and Northern Cheyenne tribes in Helena, Montana. The integration of public and sacred spaces led to a series of tapering corridors that transistioned between each program. Abstractions taken from a series of mountains, vital to the Helena tribes, were converted to a multiplicty of blocks to pay homage and further define spacial quality.

Top: Abstractions of mountain ranges Bottom: Multiplicity of hanging blocks informed by abstractions

The form is derived from the golden ratio that was informed by the growth patterns of the nautilus shell. The nautilus shell similarly faces endangerment and capitol exploitation, thus is a primary design influence.

Massing form development

Charcoal, photography, and line drawing collage highlighting occupant interaction with space

TEA HOUSE

ARCH 253 Studio

PROFESSOR Jack Smith

FALL 2019

The Japanese tea house explorations intend to break down the design process by providing a strict set of rules rooted in traditional Japanese architecture. Through a detailed study of timber connections and spatial proportions, a small elevated teahouse was constructed in order to study these traditions as a small introductory project. The following semester-length project expanded on these studies and rules, as well as explored the modern version of a Japanese teahouse. The final project included a series of cells that revolved around rest and transformation.

Top Three: Small teahouse study focusing on joint connections

Bottom: Large teahouse study focusing on connection with site

Large teahouse study featuring abstract painting by Hilma af Klint

SITE INTERFACE

ARCH 152 Studio

PROFESSOR Eric Bonnet

SPRING 2019

In this first-year site exploration, students were tasked to focus on one natural element. This project revolves around the element of water and centralizes around Peet’s Hill in Bozeman, Montana. This project’s study focused on the creek near the entryway of the park as it became apparent that the creek was overshadowed by the surrounding bridge and foliage. In an effort to reconnect and highlight the creek to the park, a set of stone pillars were directed towards a platform that guided users to an intimate experience with the creek.

Top: Parking lot view of interface in relation to topography Bottom: Birds eye view of interface interaction with river

Top: Model demonstrating relation of interface, river, and sidewalk Bottom: Section collage highlighting mutliple points of interaction

NATURAL PHENOMENON

In the first year, the seminal set of projects revolved around site and natural phenomena. As a vessel to explore these subjects, students were tasked to investigate Peet’s Hill in Bozeman, Montana. One of the key points of interest was the rolling hills that showed the connection between the higher plane and a lower creek area. The creek was a much lower section of the transect, surrounded by trees and providing protection to the creek itself. On the top of the plane, much of the grass had been formed into a spiral shape due to the wind’s force. To document these phenomena, a panoramic view was created through a photography collage, highlighting natural rhizomes.

As a further exploration to natural phenomena in Peet’s Hill, pattern studies were conducted revolving around void spaces in cut leaves created by leafcutter ants. This exploration evolved into a variation of abstractions conveying the narrative of this natural process.

ARCH 151 Studio

PROFESSOR Zuzanna Karczewska FALL 2018

The Machine explores the element of water as an erosive force and man-kind’s role in pollution. The physical exploration consisted of recycled components that act as a Rube Goldberg machine, highlighting the motions of mechanical wear and tear. This physical exploration was then abstracted to the human narrative in which the focus was the erosion and destruction of the human body.

GRAPHIC WORKS

2019-2023

Throughout the years of my education, sketching has been a vital tool to get initial ideas down on paper. The following is either a series of works from graphics classes or my own studio sketchbook that aided my graphical expressions and studio project developments.

Exploded axonometric revealing layers of a fireplace gathering space

Digital Freehand Contrast Study

Graphite Freehand Foliage Study

Graphite Freehand Foliage Study

Digital Freehand Composition Study

A collage of sketchbook process sketches that scale in regards to impact of final design or driving concept

PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIES

Left: Composition, contrast, and scale, Chicago 2022

Right: Natural structure, proportion, and void spaces, Seattle 2022

Left: Natural void spaces and contrast, Seattle 2022

Right: Structural patterns and organic forms in architecture, Chicago 2022

Left and Right: Natural forms in architecture, patterns, and gradients, Chicago 2022 Center: Temperature conveyed by texture and color, Seattle 2022

Left: Scale, low footprint supports, Chicago 2022 Right: Natural layering and composition, Seattle 2022

A time of transition, architecture’s interaction with public systems, Chicago 2022

nickmazen@gmail.com