OLIVIA EPSTEIN
OLIVIANEPSTEIN@GMAIL.COM
BIO
INVOLVEMENT
Olivia Epstein is a prospective Master of Architecture candidate focused on the intersection of architecture, art, and social justice. Her research interests consider architectural representation’s identity as cultural collateral, and its subsequent role in community building.
JOSLYN ART MUSEUM’S YOUNG ART PATRONS
Olivia is interested in exhibition design as a method for varied architectural investigation at the human scale. She believes that through collaboration with diverse voices from outside the standard realm of architecture, exhibitions encourage innovation and public participation in the design process. Further topics of intrigue include digital media, graphic design, publications, progressive advocacy, public art, and civic architecture.
DESIGN STUDIO GUEST REVIEWER
2021. Served as a guest reviewer for 2nd year UNL College of Architecture studios.
HDR OPACITY INITIATIVE
2021. Facilitated the 3-day juried event for Opacity, HDR’s annual internal design review. Compiled project data for digital / print review and assisted with the event’s on-site coordination. Helped with graphic development for the monograph documenting competition results.
LAF GREEN NEW DEAL SUPERSTUDIO
EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN
May 2021, High Distinction, 3.83 GPA. College of Architecture. Bachelor of Science in Design: Major in Architectural Studies, Minor in Art History & Criticism.
LOUDREADERS TRADE SCHOOL
Summer 2020. Experimental, free, online platform for the diffusion of critical positions and ways of producing architectural knowledge. Organized by WAI Architecture Think Tank.
PROFICIENCIES Photoshop InDesign Illustrator Rhino3D Enscape
2020-Present. Member. Local organization offering social and educational events designed to foster a lifelong commitment to the arts.
2020-2021. Project: “South Omaha Social Condenser” with partners Jeremiah Brown and Aus Perez for Salvador Lindquist’s DSGN410: Collaborate studio.
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS 2018-2021. Member.
UNL CAMPUS RECREATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
2018-2019. Served as a liaison between fee-paying students and Campus Recreation administrative staff. Advised of needed program additions / improvements and changes in the interpretation of rules / policies. Assisted with the development of budgets.
UNL ASUN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM Premiere Pro Revit ArcGIS ClimateStudio Blender
2017-2018. Planned and organized events that promote an environmentally sustainable culture at the University, including the NE Sustainability Roundtable and month-long Earthstock event.
+1 (402) 639-4670
ISSUU.COM/OLIVIAEPSTEIN
RECOGNITION
EMPLOYMENT
TAU SIGMA DELTA HONOR SOCIETY
DESIGN COORDINATOR, HDR ARCHITECTURE INC.
REGENTS SCHOLAR
RESEARCH ASSISTANT: GRAPHIC DESIGN & PUBLICATIONS
2020-2021. National honor society for architecture and design majors (top 20% after finishing at least half of their program). 2016-2021. Full tuition awarded to superior incoming freshmen who are graduates of Nebraska high schools.
DEAN’S LIST
2017-2020. UNL College of Architecture top 10%.
BLACK HILLS ENERGY SCHOLARSHIP 2016. $1000 awarded.
EXHIBITIONS HMWRK RESEARCH PROJECT
2021. Collaborative research project that investigates the convergence of the office and the home. Exhibition at Yale School of Architecture.
SAY IT LOUD - NEBRASKA
2020-2021. Digital exhibition featuring projects by diverse design professionals, as well as quotes and video interviews on their experiences in the architecture and design professions.
PARK(ING) DAY
2018. Annual event re-imagining the possibilities of 160 square feet of public space. Installation in Lincoln, NE.
2021-Present. Gap year position. Contributed to pre-design, schematic design, and design development phases of multiple projects. Produced and edited various graphics for submittals. 2021-Present. Project: “Speed, Sex, Firepower” with Tom Trenolone and Justin Kemerling. Assisted with assembly and coordination of the book. Responsibilities included image curation, indexing, proofing, and fact checking.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT: ARCHITECTURE & ART HISTORY
2020-2021. Project: “Structuring Architectural Discourse: Forms of Display” with Ellen Donnelly as part of the UNL Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience. Synthesized reference photographs, drawings, and written descriptions of selected exhibitions through the construction of digital models. Developed graphic representation and written analysis of selected exhibitions.
RESTROOM SURVEYOR, UNL FACILITIES
2020-2021. Surveyed campus restrooms as part of an ADA accessibility and gender inclusivity special initiative.
HOSPITALITY TEAM LEAD, NEBRASKA ATHLETICS
2018-2019. Memorial Stadium premium suite hostess. Supervised and assisted premium ticket holders during home football games. Supported other hospitality staff during game day activities.
PRIMARY REFERENCE ELLEN DONNELLY
ellen@field-day.design Former Assistant Professor, UNL College of Architecture. Partner of Field Day.
ONTEN
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LABORATORIES OF NEW WORLDS Architecture, Art History
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AURORA COMMUNITY CENTER Architecture
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STRUCTURING ARCHITECTURAL DISCOURSE: FORMS OF DISPLAY Architecture / Art History, Research
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SOUTH OMAHA SOCIAL CONDENSER Urban Design
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1489 LONGFELLOW Architecture
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LABORATORIES OF NEW WORLDS UNL CoA. WAI Architecture Think Tank. ARCH211: Iterate. S19. Throughout history, artists have flocked to collective studio environments in order to express themselves freely and collaborate with others in the pursuit of new ideas and techniques. These avant-garde laboratories have birthed numerous schools of thought within both art and architecture, and their presence is essential in contemporary society. The design lab aims to provide an inviting and inclusive learning environment which encourages continual growth for artists seeking to explore the nuances of design.
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FORMAL PRECEDENT: SPIRAL Students were assigned a hardcorist form to study through digital collage and physical modeling. Selected precedents include a historical example and an exhibition design.
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FORMAL LANGUAGE The design lab’s spiral shape represents its purpose as an environment which fosters personal and communal growth while celebrating inclusivity. The building’s form is designed to resemble Sol Lewitt’s Wall Structure (1963). 2
STRUCTURE The building’s primary structure is a system of trusses along the facade with load bearing shear walls supporting the middle, on top of concrete slabs. Secondary structure consists of concrete walls and columns. 3
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CHAPEL OF THANKSGIVING (1976), PHILIP JOHNSON 2 MALWIYA TOWER, GREAT MOSQUE OF SAMARRA (852), ARCHITECT UNKNOWN 3 DENMARK PAVILION, SHANGHAI EXPO 2010, BJARKE INGALS GROUP 4 THE PALACE OF PROJECTS (1998), ILYA AND EMILIA KABAKOV 5 WALL DRAWING #1136 (2004), SOL LEWITT 6 WALL DRAWING #413 (1984), SOL LEWITT 7 WALL DRAWING #652 (1990), SOL LEWITT 8 CIRCLE WITH BROKEN BANDS WITHIN A SQUARE (2003), SOL LEWITT 9 WALL STRUCTURE (1963), SOL LEWITT
CONCEPTUAL PRECEDENT: SOL LEWITT Sol LeWitt’s visually dynamic works and conceptual methodology inspired the project’s direction. LeWitt conceived of art the way architects devise buildings: by constructing plans for another to execute. His emphasis on the formulation of a work and collaborative installation process proved influential to developing the design lab.
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STRUCTURAL MODEL
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SITE The immediate campus is divided into sections of forest, field, and foot traffic. The circulatory area contains a gradient of planters and accessible green spaces within its traversable expanse, allowing pedestrians to experience moments of beauty and relaxation on their way to and from the laboratory.
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1 FLOOR 1 FLOOR 2 FLOOR 1 2 3 4 5
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MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY ADMINISTRATIVE SUITE STORAGE GALLERY
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OPEN CLASSROOMS PRINT SHOP PIN-UP AREA STUDIOS REFERENCE
PARTIAL SITE PLAN OBLIQUE
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3 FLOOR 4
FLOOR 5
FLOOR PLANS
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50’
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COLLABORATION Consulting fellow artists, reviewing the projects of peers in a gallery setting, and studying references can be instrumental to one’s growth as a knowledge worker. The lab abandons traditional classrooms in favor of large studio spaces and discussion roundtables which can be partitioned by a curtain if some privacy is necessary. Gallery spaces occupy two of the building’s five floors and a reference area resides on the top level.
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CIRCULATION The primary circulation is a windowed ramp that frequently allows inhabitants a glimpse of the surrounding campus, while also limiting harsh light in the studio spaces. The flooring of the ramp is a continuous rainbow mural which further conveys themes of optimism.
SECTION ISOMETRIC
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AURORA COMMUNITY CENTER UNL CoA. Emily Andersen. ARCH310: Organize. F19. Numerous small towns across the Midwest have experienced a “brain drain” (loss of skilled/ educated community members) over the past few decades, presumably to bigger cities with more amenities and opportunities for growth. Aurora, Nebraska is no exception, which is why community leaders have been searching for a solution to their town’s human capital flight. The Aurora Community Center aims to create a catalyst for population growth, as well as provide a dynamic space which facilitates and encourages interaction between community members.
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PROPOSED ROAD
HIGHWAY 34
PROPOSED ROAD
ON S
MATS TREET COTTAGE PARK DRIVE
SITE PLAN
SITE The potential community center site is located in northwest Aurora, adjacent to a nursing home and a few blocks from K-12 schools. The project proposes to extend two existing streets in order to efficiently connect the community center to US Highway 34 and the surrounding residential area. The efficient utilization of the proposed site allows for further residential or commercial development.
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FLOOR PLAN
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MAIN ENTRANCE FRONT DESK RETAIL LOBBY ADMINISTRATIVE SUITE WEIGHT LIFTING CARDIO
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CLIMBING WALL STORAGE WALKING TRACK LOCKER ROOM MECHANICAL RECREATIONAL POOL LAP POOL
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50’
GYMNASIUM ACTIVE CLASSROOM MULTI-PURPOSE TURF FLEXIBLE OUTDOOR BASKETBALL HALF COURT
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CIRCULATION / TRANSPARENCY The community center’s main circulation follows the interior walking track which allows users to be active while also observing surrounding programs like rock climbing, active classes, and swim lessons. This observation is possible due to the glass wall partitions which serve as the primary barrier between programs. The central circulation also facilitates unplanned interactions between community members utilizing the various centralized programs.
FORM The structure’s form is distinguished by several polycarbonate pop-ups which allow for natural light during the day and the emission of a soft glow at night. The pop-ups also satisfy double height ceilings required by natatorium, gymnasium, and turf field programs.
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W SECTION PERSPECTIVE 1 2 3 4
CIRCULATION TRACK NATATORIUM LOCKER ROOMS GYMNASIUM
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MULTI-PURPOSE (BEHIND) ACTIVE CLASSROOMS (BEHIND) INDOOR TURF FIELD
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100’
W ELEVATION
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AXONOMETRIC 1
PLAN 3
LEFT ELEVATION
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FFRONT ELEVATION 2
LEFT ELEVATION 3
BACK ELEVATION
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RIGHT ELEVATION 2
FRONT ELEVATION 1
AXONOMETRIC
3
FRONT ELEVATION 3
AXONOMETRIC 2
LEFT ELEVATION
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STRUCTURING ARCHITECTURAL DISCOURSE: FORMS OF DISPLAY
UNL CoA. Ellen Donnelly. Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience (UCARE). S20-S21.
RIGHT ELEVATION 3
An analysis of exhibition precedents will result in the creation of a visual taxonomy of methods of exhibition display. This taxonomy will also include analysis of the historical and cultural context of each exhibition, studied to reveal relationships with art and architectural movements from the start of the twentieth century onward.
RIGHT ELEVATION 1
BACK ELEVATION 2
BACK ELEVATION 3
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LEGER UND TRAGER (1924), FREDERICK KIESLER GROWTH AND FORM (1951), RICHARD HAMILTON PATIO AND PAVILION (1970), GROUP 6 (INDEPENDENT GROUP)
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“ABSTRACT CABINET” (1928) El Lissitzky. The first permanent abstract art gallery was designed in the late 1920s by El Lissitzky for the Landesmuseum in Hanover, under the direction of curator Alexander Dorner. Lissitzky aimed to create a completely unexpected experience for the viewer, using innovative lighting techniques and an interactive environment to challenge the traditional passivity of the museum. Black curtains were hung in the doorways, and slim metal slats spanned the height of the walls. The slats, painted white on one side and black on the other, would cause an illusory effect as the viewer progressed through the space, the walls seemingly shifting colors around them. The focal point of the small room was the “Abstract Cabinet,” which transformed the gallery window into a “tectonic illumination object” using a system of vertical louvers below an illuminated glass box wrapped with thin white fabric. Beneath, the cabinet countertop acted as a display case for sculptures and writings. Operable displays built into the walls allowed for audiences to choose which works they viewed. Unfortunately, the Landesmuseum was destroyed by the Third Reich in 1937.
GHOSTED SECTION AXONOMETRIC
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MAIN ENTRANCE CURIO CABINET OPERABLE BLINDS LIGHT CABINET SECONDARY ENTRANCE OPERABLE ART DISPLAY
“CABINET” UNFOLDED: ELEVATIONS AND PLAN 0
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5’
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CARPENTER PAPER CO.
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INDUSTRIAL MOTIFS 1 SMALL SYMMETRICAL WINDOWS, RED BRICK 2 FLAT ROOF, PENTHOUSE 3 STEEL FACTORY-STYLE WINDOWS 4 CORRUGATED METAL 5 UNDERPASS
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SAWTOOTH ROOF GRAIN ELEVATOR GREENHOUSE GARAGE / WAREHOUSE GABLED SKYLIGHT GRAIN SILOS
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SOUTH OMAHA SOCIAL CONDENSER UNL CoA. Sal Lindquist. DSGN411: Collaborate. S20. Partners: Jeremiah Brown and Aus Perez. Established in the 1880s, and holding the title of “World’s Largest Stockyard” from 1955 to 1971, South Omaha’s agricultural and industrial heritage once positioned the community as an economic powerhouse. Since the Union Stockyards’ decline and eventual closure at the turn of the millennium, the district has underperformed as a first generation suburban core. The South Omaha Social Condenser aims to activate the site’s typological adjacencies and high traffic location in order to enable community access to small businesses, educational and nutritional resources, and flexible public space.
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SOUTH OMAHA URBAN CONTEXT The Stockyards District is sited southwest of the I-80, I-480, and US Highway 75 junction. Coupled with substantial railways and heavy industrial zoning, this infrastructural corridor fragments the neighborhood and separates South Omaha from the rest of the city. Despite these territorial setbacks, the community has a rich cultural identity due to its current and historical status as a destination for immigrants. This reputation has largely been attributed to the food processing and distribution industries, which have provided thousands of employment opportunities for blue-collar workers.
SOUTH OMAHA BOUNDAR MISSOURI RIVER TRIBUTARY
WATERWAYS
UNION PACIFIC BNSF BRANDON
RAIL LINES
BUILDING FORM In order to bridge the ecological corridor and connect to residential J Street, the structure will be elevated partially above the Carpenter Paper Co. The program is laid out in a continuous bar which shifts orientation to connect to the landscape and accommodate pedestrian access from the west, as well as showcase views of South Omaha’s industrial heritage to the east.
HIGHWAY MAIN STREET
STREETS
POSTMODERN FACADE The facade pays homage to Sutherland Plaza’s industrial past by adopting numerous industrial motifs. The west section utilizes red brick with small, symmetrical windows and a flat roof. The middle section is constructed of corrugated metal siding with a sawtooth roof for daylighting. The east section emulates the cylindrical concrete of a grain silo with a gabled skylight. The cores are indicated by white, grain elevator-like towers.
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INFRASTRUCTURE
FOOD TRUCK GROCERY FAMILY-OWNED RESTAURANT
A RY R
ACCESS TO NUTRITION
NEIGHBORHOOD
HISTORIC IMMIGRANT AND CULTURAL NEIGHBORHOODS
< 400 400 - 1849 1850 - 3099 3100 - 4349 4350 - 5774 5775 - 7799 > 7800
C PARK
ACCESS TO NATURE
POPULATION DENSITY (PERSONS PER SQUARE MILE)
COUNCIL BLUFFS OMAHA SOUTH OMAHA BRYAN OMAHA CENTRAL WESTSIDE RALSTON
INDUSTRIAL SUPERFUND BROWNFIELD STOCKYARDS
ZONING
HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
INDUSTRY
TERRITORIALIZATION
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SIGNIFICANT SOUTH O SITES
HISTORIC MAIN STREET (S 24TH ST)
I-80, I-480, US HWY 75 INTERCHANGE
SITE PLAN (by Aus Perez)
GREATER OMAHA PACKING CO.
SPECULATIVE MIXING CHAMBER
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PROGRAM / GOALS The project aims to invert the Stockyards site from one which historically fostered industrial productivity to one which facilitates sociocultural productivity through the introduction of a social condenser typology. The project will promote collaboration, variability, and resiliency within the South Omaha community through programs which provide access to nutrient rich food, affordable space to operate small businesses, area to safely hold formal and informal gatherings, access to academic assistance and enrichment, opportunity to create and share art, engaging historical and cultural education, and access to a quality outdoor environment.
PROGRAM GOALS DIAGRAM
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S/W ELEVATION
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3 5’
1489 LONGFELLOW
UNL CoA. Marc Maxey. ARCH311: Situate. S20. Situated in the heart of Detroit’s Boston-Edison neighborhood, 1489 Longfellow investigates the role of privacy in domestic living while adhering to the zoning constraints of a halflot within a historic district. The lot was halved as a result of the foreclosure crisis which plagued Detroit for over a decade, and the infill dwelling is designed to usher in a new generation of residents by accommodating a pair of roommates.
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SITE Once zoning restrictions are taken into account, the allowable footprint of the house is 9.5’ wide and 33.5’ deep. However, certain setback exemptions are applicable, and the ambiguity of terms used to describe architectural elements allows for innovative interpretations. The project utilizes a pair of mirrored “bay windows” which stretch the full height of the structure to create a circulatory atrium.
FACADE MATERIAL
GARAGE ORIENTATION
FRONT SETBACK
APERTURE SYMMETRY
CONTEXT The project synthesizes typical qualities of Boston-Edison homes in order to echo the character of the neighborhood. Prevailing eave height, front setback, garage orientation, aperture alignment, and materiality provided the contextual framework during the design process.
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EAVE HEIGHT
SITE PLAN 0 1 3 5’
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N/E SECTION
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FLOOR PLANS
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UP
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ZONING STUDY MODEL
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ORGANIZATION The house is organized around a central stair that bifurcates each floor into a split-level arrangement. This strategy serves to create an efficient use of space as well as to isolate each program. Upon entering the house, one will find themselves in the entry lounge. From here, the occupant will use the circulatory atrium to either descend to the kitchen and office levels, or ascend to the bathroom, bedrooms, and terrace.
B WORKING STUDYING
A COOKING DINING
1 ENTRY LOUNGING
2 BATHING PRIMPING
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SLEEPING MEDITATION
P SOCIALIZING SUNBATHING
PROGRAMMATIC ALLOWANCES
THRESHOLD / PRIVACY The threshold between interior staircase landings and each floor’s programming is a doorless frame, which varies in size depending on the level of perceived privacy a specific program requires. The bathroom, office, and bedrooms are categorized as private programs, while the living room and kitchen are relatively public spaces. The passive threshold allows residents to easily communicate with each other while occupying different floors, blurring traditional boundaries present within domestic architecture. The circulatory atrium employs glass block which allows for daylighting but obscures the occupants to neighbors.
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R SUMME
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CISTERN TANKLESS WATER HEATER RADIANT FLOOR HEATING SYSTEM AIR EXCHANGER
S/W SECTION PERSPECTIVE
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WATERPROOF MEMBRANE 2”X12” CANTED WOOD BLOCKING COPING WEDGE LIMESTONE TRIM 2 LAYERS R-20 INSULATION VAPOR BARRIER PLYWOOD DECKING WOOD JOISTS (?” O.C.) DIMENSIONAL BLOCKING MOLDING
CORRUGATED METAL TIE STEEL SCREW ALUMINUM STRAP ANCHOR [MATERIAL] WINDOW SILL [MATERIAL] WINDOW FRAME DOUBLE GLAZED 1/4” INSULATED GLASS
DETAIL A
[MATERIAL] WINDOW SILL w/ 1/4” AIR GAP DIMENSIONAL WOOD BLOCKING
BRICK 1”? AIR GAP R-5 CONTINUOUS INSULATION WATERPROOF MEMBRANE MORTAR w/ WEEP HOLE STRUCTURAL SHEATHING R-20 INSULATION VAPOR BARRIER GYPSUM BOARD WALL FINISH
SHALLOW BRICK HARDWOOD FLOORING PLYWOOD SUBFLOOR PEX TUBING R-20 FOIL BACKED INSULATION 20” X 5” HEAT TRANSFER PLATES WOOD DECK GYPSUM BOARD CEILING FINISH JOISTS (16” O.C.)
DETAIL B
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