Riley Velarde Lacalli A rc h i t e c t u re Po r t f o l i o
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Riley Velarde Lacalli
ASPIRING ARCHITECT AND URBANIST
rileylacalli@gmail.com 206 . 214 . 5461 3815 NE 98th St. Seattle, WA, 98115
Riley Lacalli is an aspiring architect and experienced designer. He has recently returned home to Seattle after four years of traveling, obtaining a master’s degree, and gaining firm experience. A common theme across his studies and experience is the development of coastal cities and their individual buildings in the face of climate change, specifically envisioning multi-scalar and multi-systemic solutions for urban systems. These interests were spurred while living in a small coastal city in Central Vietnam as well as in New Orleans where seasonal flooding and land loss are occurring rapidly. While this interest often exists at a large scale, Riley is also devoted to experimenting at the detail level, fabricating and developing design solutions to different materials and methods. He is currently furthering this interest while renovating a 1905 Folk Victorian house on Greenlake. Entering the next phase of his career in Seattle, he is committed to using architecture as a tool to promote community resilience and equity while pursuing good design across many scales.
Employment Elkus Manfredi Architects Boston, MA 2019 - 2020
Architectural Designer : Prepared drawings for numerous projects in the conceptual and schematic design phases, including submitting projects and their respective drawings to the city for EPNF’s and other review boards. Partook in client meetings to coordinate between civil, landscape and structural. Produced design drawings for the winning proposal for a retail disctrict in Santa Clara.
Tulane School of Architecture New Orleans, LA 2019
Adjunct Lecturer : Assisted professors during the 2019 summer intensive studios preparing incoming M.Arch I and II students for graduate study. Led lessons focused on architectural drafting, program uses and workflows, and design theory. Conduct desk crits and distribute feedback to further students’ development.
Studio A/C New Orleans, LA 2019
Project Manager : Worked under Adam Modesitt and Carrie Norman. Led the transition between design and implementation of an 80’ x 20’ mural in downtown New Orleans. This included organizing a group of interns and distributing tasks in order to decide the best methods and techniques for drawing/painting the design on the physical brick wall.
The Millhaus New Orleans, LA 2018- 2019
CNC Technician: Programed and operated a 3 - axis CNC router for commercial, institutional, and private clients. Followed clients visions and used RhinoCAM to find ways to mill and fabricate material to best represent the initial concept.
Cong Ty Thanh Viet Dong Hoi, Vietnam 2016- 2017
Design Staff: Prepared drawings for clients ranging from government buildings to private residences. Schematic design of a farmstay in the countryside of Central Vietnam. Schematic design and initial drawings for owner’s approval of a 300 m2 residence.
Schreiber Starling Whitehead Architects Seattle, WA 2015- 2016
Design Staff: Visually represented projects of all sizes with renderings, plans, and diagrams. Drew construction documents, ranging from demolition plans to connection details. Designed new signage and entry portal concept for Seattle colleges. Worked alongside principles to prepare drawings for clients and to win projects.
Karlstrom Assiciates Seattle, WA 2014- 2015
General Laborer : Converted an unfinished basement into an attached dwelling unit. Remodeled both the interior and exterior of a house boat on Portage Bay.
Education Tulane University New Orleans, LA 2017- 2019
University of Washington Seattle, WA 2011- 2015
Master’s of Architecture 1 Tulane School of Architecture . Graduate Government Vice President AIA Henry Adams Medal . Outstanding Thesis Award . Thesis Commendation Award Floyd A. Naramore Architectural Memorial Scholarship. 2017 Graduate Teaching Research Fellow, 2017-2019 Bachelor’s of Arts in Architectural Design Department of Architecture Honors Student. Deans List 2014, 2015. Specialization in Urban Design and Planning. Participated in the Architecture in Rome program, 2014.
Awards and Achievements Santa Clara Creekside Elkus Manfredi Architects 2020
A member of the design team that won a project for the construction of six buildings in the larger Santa Clara development zone by Related. The winning project outlined the design of six retail buildings that help anchor the overall development district.
AIA Henry Adams Medal Tulane School of Architecture 2019
Awarded during the 2019 commencement ceremony, an award for general excellence to the top graduating student of the program.
Outstanding Thesis Award Tulane School of Architecture 2019
Selected by the Tulane School of Architecture faculty and thesis jurors as the most compelling and outstanding thesis for the graduating class. The thesis, “Pumps Politikos : A Novel Archetype Promoting an Alternative Urban Metabolism” explores the dissemination and redistribution of New Orleans stormwater management system to promote civic engagement, water retention, and public empowerment.
Critical Mass 2019 University of North Carolina Charlotte School of Architecture 2019
Chosen by the Tulane School of Architecture Dean to present the thesis “Pumps Politikos” at the annual UNC Charlotte School of Architecture Critical Mass Thesis Symposium. The event aims at giving students a platform to discuss current issues in the field with peers and professionals.
Richardson Memorial Hall Design Competition 2018
Winning proposal of a wall installation competition funded by the Tulane School of Architecture aimed at increasing usage and accessibility of the buildings entrance.
PCI Grant Award Tulane School of Architecture 2018-2022
Aided two Tulane Professors through research and data collection to win a 4-year $100,000 grant through the Pre Cast Institute Foundation to research water-management structures and their implementation within New Orleans infrastructural systems.
HUD Design Competition Tulane School of Architecture 2018
Semi-finalist in the 2018 United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Affordable Housing Design Competition.
A Hays Town Exhibition Hilliard University Art Museum 2018
Chosen to graphically represent the geographical and spatial relationships between the built works of A. Hays Town in the Southern Louisiana region. The maps were displayed as part of a larger exhibition at the Hilliard Art Museum in Lafayette, LA.
Relevant Skills Adobe Creative Suite Digital Modeling Fabrication Interpersonal
Seattle
Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Revit, Rhinoceros, 3DSMax, Sktchup, Enscape, AutoCAD, VRay, ArcGIS RhinoCAM, CNC Routing, RoboDK, Lasercutting, Woodshop Project Management, Communication, Client Engagement
Dong Hoi
New Orleans
Boston
Seattle
full portfolio can be found at : https://issuu.com/rileylacalli/docs/lacalli_pages_resume_selected_works_2020
2017
2016
2015 achievements
academic
firm experience
other experience
OVER THE YEARS
Schreiber Starling Whitehead Architects Seattle, WA
Design Staff
English Teaching Assistant
Dong Hoi, Quang Binh
Chu Van An Primary School
Cong Ty Thanh Viet
Bachelors of Art in Architecture
Dong Hoi, Quang Binh
The University of Washington graduated with honors specialization in urban planning
Rome Study Abroad
Changing the Imagery of Homelessness
Instructor : Rob Pena
Advisor : Nicole Huber
Design Staff
Honors Thesis
Tent City Collective Seattle Based Non Prophet
Graphic Design and Advocacy
Pumps Politikos : A Novel Archetype Promoting an Alternative Urban Metabolism
p. 06-13 New Orleans, LA, USA
333 Dorchester Ave : Mixed Use Tower in Addition to Larger Development Zone
p. 14-21 Boston, MA, USA
Creekside Retail : Winning Proposal for a Retail H ub
E-Street : Large office/lab campus with mixed use at ground level
p. 22-29 Boston, MA, USA
p. 30-37 Boston, MA, USA
2020
2019
2018 Richardson Memorial Hall Entry Competition
“A. Hays Town” Exhibition
Critical Mass 2019
Adjunct Lecturer
Design to be implemented upon building remodel
geographic mapping on display during exhibit
presented thesis “Pumps Politikos”
Design Studio Arch 6011/6012
Hilliard University Art Museum
UNC Charlotte School of Architecture
The Tulane School of Architecture
Teaching Assistant
Studio A/C
333 Dorchester Ave.
Project Manager
Permit set is completed and released to review board and public
Elkus Manfredi Architects
“Open House” Mural
The Tulane School of Architecture
Site Strategies, Integrated Building Systems, Arch. Hist.
Masters of Architecture
Elkus Manfredi Architects
AIA Henry Adams Medal Graduate Gov. Vice President
Architectural Designer
The Tulane School of Architecture
PCI Grant
The Tulane School of Architecture 4 year research based studio for precast infrastructural solutions to urban flooding
Pumps Politikos Masters Thesis
Outstanding Thesis Award Advisors : Cordula Roser Gray, Margarita Jover
HUD Design Competition
The Millhaus
Semi-Finalist
CNC Technician
Boston, MA
Santa Clara Creekside Retail
Design Build
Elkus Manfredi Architects
Renovation of a 1905 single family residence
Winning proposal for seven buildings within the larger development
Design, Permit, Construct
The Tulane School of Architecture
Robotics Lab
Independent Study
Universal Robot and RoboDK
Nhat Le Residence : Relying on Narrowness and Natural Light from Above
Earth Lab NOLA : Green Infrastructure Exploration and Classroom
The Morning Chair : Eastern and Western Maple
The Greenlake House :
p. 38-45 Dong Hoi, Quang Binh, VN
p. 46-53 New Orleans, LA, USA
p. 54-57 Seattle, WA, USA
p. 58-63 Seattle, WA, USA
Remodel of a 1905 Folk Victorian on Greenlake
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01_Pumps Politikos A Novel Archetype Promoting an Alternative Urban Metabolism
Investigating Archetypes of the Anthropocene: year : 2018-2019 location : New Orleans, LA type : infrastructure and civic space advisor : Cordula Roser Gray and Margarita Jover
Masters Thesis
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In an age when climate change, rising sea levels and coastal land loss are all rising, it is crucial that citizens of urban environments establish a new relationship with that infrastructure that pulses throughout the city. The disconnection between humans and these necessary machines will prove detrimental to the longevity of the cities and peoples within them. Through the physical implementation of the network and governance across multiple scales and functions, these systems can be re-appropriated by the citizens which they serve, allowing them to play a larger role in the monitoring, distribution and recognition of the city’s metabolism. This project explores the thesis through the lense of New Orleans stormwater management system. Through disseminating and redistributing the pumps throughout the neighborhoods, the stormwater management sites become areas of civic engagement, water movement and usage, and public empowerment. The new system utilizes each drop of water as an asset as the new sites become a model of the new infrastructures of the anthroprocene.
Dismantling New Orleans’s approach to urban infrastructural systems is key to the survival of the city. The current centralized approach has led to city-wide social inequity and vast amounts of ecological degradation. Through instating a decentralized armature of governance and nodes, networks such as the storm water management one can be reappropriated by the citizens of the city it serves. It can produce an output that promotes social and ecological capitol while elevating citizens to participate in the governance of the systems. The eleven pump stations in the Orleans drainage basin become the individual sites for potential exploration. The sites serve a singular purpose currently, to rid the city of its unwanted water as quickly as possible. However, through viewing these sites as stages for the discourse of governance across multiple scales, they can become an asset to the urban citizens as well as places of empowerment. Ultimately, these pump sites become a space for Politikos, for the citizens of New Orleans to partake in the not just local, but city wide governance of the systems that keep them alive.
New Orleans, LA . Pumps Politikos
Section axonometric showing proposed canopy system attached to retrofitted existing pump station. The canopies handle stormwater while the spaces they create enhance citizen participation on site
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Gentilly Terrace, 70122 Academic Intervention Brother Martin High School area : 1.21 sq mi population : 3,745
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New Orleans, LA . Pumps Politikos
Central Business District, 70119 Transit Intervention Union Passanger Station area : 1.18 sq mi population : 2,060
Phase 1 : Neighborhood Interventions In order to increase project feasibility the implementation will begin with the new local pump stations. The first round of buildings will be attached to local institutions to increase awareness and both large scale and small scale buy in as well as be eligible for a larger variety of grants. These initial interventions will be site specific and provide amenities that cater to the already existing entities. For example, pictured above is a school
where the water filtration canopy stitches together the various school buildings and creates passageways that frame different spaces. Other potential institutions include hospitals, transit centers, and parks, all in an attempt to hybridize ingfrastructural sites to increase social and ecological resilience. Not only does the pump station and canopy increase storm water management but also raises awareness about the issue. 09
Lacalli . Riley 500,000 gallon storage tank filtration soils isolated zone for flora growth
pedestrian path
Raised Ground Plain void in canopy for natural light vertical circulation spiral staircase vertical circulation hydraulic elevator data display panels
Processing Canopy urban forest Gulf native species planting Pump Station #2
woonerf
The Lafitte Greenway open rain garden local business partnership permeable parking lot
local business partnership permeable parking lot
Public Space and Transit at grade water movement bioswale
The Lafitte Greenway open rain garden water transfer to pump station
at grade water movement bioswale
sub-terrain water movement
Water Movement 10
sub-terrain storage
New Orleans, LA . Pumps Politikos
Phase 2 : Existing Station Retrofit Water Once the other drainage elements are in play, alterations to the existing pump stations can begin to unfold. As opposed to solely pumping the water through the city, the site can be responsible for filtering, educating, and distributing the water back into the communities where it originated from. This in turn takes the input and turns it into an asset upon output. The instating of a canopy system that envelopes the existing stations can be responsible for storing and filtering the dirty water in order to filter it for optimal quality for human consumption, whether it be gray water or potable water. This process is symbolic of the new system that retains water on site and distributes it across multiple scales and multiple systems. Additional Urban Systems It is imperative for multiple urban systems to be consolidated onto a single site. This demonstrates the benefits of handling water in a more cohesive and cross disciplinary way. The water that is collected on site
can be used for a variety of purposes. The gray water can be filtered and redistributed for irrigation, which is currently the only code regulated use for gray water. Or it can be filtered and redistributed back into the local water grid, which is currently in practice but only minimally, on the outskirts of city development. Linking the input of water with the output hints at both the economical benefits as well as the biological. Urban agriculture, irrigation, and commercial or private gray water can all become outputs of the new system, ultimately creating a positive asset from the 38 billion gallons of stormwater and 378 million gallons of gray water produced by the Orleans Basin each month. Neighborhood Amenity In addition to creating space for urban systems, the new and retrofitted pump stations can begin to offer space for neighborhood usage which can promote local buy in and accessibility. Each neighborhood then has the opportunity to curate a space that reflects their needs and concerns. Both in terms of program and data display. 11
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New Orleans, LA . Pumps Politikos
Above : Perspective taken alongside the Lafitte Greenway. The canopy system stretches out over the newly opened canal, activating both the axis. The experience of the canal and canopy vary as storm water floods. Left Spread : The newly vacated interior of the pump station, along with the shaded exterior becomes a site of civic engagement and participation, all centered around the systems that govern and activate the city. 13
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02_333 Dorchester Ave. Mixed Use Tower in Addition to Larger Development Zone
The First Building of a Larger Planning Initiative year : 2020 location : Boston, MA type : mixed use/residential firm : Elkus Manfredi Architects
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“The proposed project consists of the construction of a 21-story mixed-use building with approximately 265 residential units, 47,000 square feet of commercial space, approximately 14,500 square feet of retail space, and a belowgrade parking garage.” Taken from the project description on the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) site. 333 Dorchester Ave. is the first building being developed in a larger planning zone. The project is meant to emulate the new framework the Dorchester Ave. Development Plan put into motion. As such, 333 Dorchester Ave. is part of a larger effort to create a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood with greatly needed amenities, job opportunities and a diversity of housing types. The above is reflected by providing new housing opportunities, including affordable units exceeding the existing standard. The project also
diversifies and expands South Boston’s economic and job opportunities through the incorporation of commercial uses. The proposal comes with improvements to the project site with public realm amenities and open space with landscaping that can be programmed with community events for the surrounding neighborhood. The project takes the individual user into account by improving pedestrian safety through new crosswalks and curb access management along Dorchester Avenue while also anticipating offsite improvements that will dramatically improve pedestrian safety and connectivity of the project to the surrounding neighborhoods. The full Extended Project Notification Form (EPNF) can be viewed at the BPDA’s website. Drawings produced by the author include typical floor plans, sections, elevations, accessibility and shadow diagrams, resiliency diagrams, context drawings and rendered perspectives.
Boston, MA . 333 Dorchester Ave.
The first three levels are made up of ground floor retail space, and two levels of office space above. 18 stories or residential apartment units are provided above.
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South Elevation 16
Boston, MA . 333 Dorchester Ave.
East Elevation 17
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March 21 at 9:00 AM
March 21 at 12:00 PM
March 21 at 3:00 PM
September 21 at 9:00 AM
September 21 at 12:00 PM
September 21 at 3:00 PM
Boston, MA . 333 Dorchester Ave.
June 21 at 9:00 AM
June 21 at 12:00 PM
June 21 at 3:00 PM
December 21 at 9:00 AM
December 21 at 12:00 PM
December 21 at 3:00 PM
Shadow Study : As part of the EPNF, a detailed shadow study had to be conducted to evaluate the added cast shadow and its effect on the surrounding area. It was determined in the end to only show the single proposed building as opposed to the entire planned development due to concerns over showing too much in the initial submittal. 19
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Boston, MA . 333 Dorchester Ave.
Public Amenity : Rendering of the podium mixed uses adjacent to the proposed open space. The ground floor proposes a mixture of F&B tenants to fully utilize the spill out zones under the building canopy in atempts to further ignite the park. The park allows for event space that will help bring users to the site, especially when the later phases of the development have yet to be constructed. Potential uses include outdoor movies, food trucks, yoga, smaller sporting events, and farmers markets. 22 21
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03_Creekside Retail Winning Proposal for a Retail Hub at the Global Food Hall in Santa Clara, CA
Allowing Brand Identities to Shine year : 2020 location : Santa Clara, CA type : commercial firm : Elkus Manfredi Architects
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Elkus Manfredi Architects were approached by Related Developments due to the firms wealth of experience in the retail realm. The client had asked two other architecture firms to submit proposals as well. Elkus Manfredi was initially considered due to our success at the Nieman Marcus building at the Hudson Yards, specifically on how we allowed tenants brand identities to shine while maintaining a consistency across each store. In an age when brick and mortar retail is being left for online shopping, our design team thought it was ever important to strike a balance between space devoted to commerce and space given over to the public realm as an amenity. The overall scope of the proposal contained six new buildings, each with a mixture of possible tenants, along with the design of the surrounding outdoor space. In the cases of restauraunts. the open space was given to the tenants in order to have outdoor seating and gathering areas. In other areas large outdoor
fireplaces were proposed along side a structure to provide small eddies where people could stop and gather. A main open space was proposed at the heart of the buildings to host events such as concerts, outdoor movies and yoga. The following images were all produced by myself and were the main part fo our winning proposal. Part of what seperated us from the others was our unique ability to cater each building to the specific user experience and also being able to see it from the tenants point of view who often want to have their brand identities outweigh the architecture itself. The proposal had both large anchor buildings and smaller pavilions. The large buildings would be given to tenants such as Zara and UNIQLO who both have a strong identity when it comes to outward design. The smaller pavilions would provide an architectural framework that the different brand identities would plug into.
Santa Clara, CA . Creekside Retail
Image shows the main open space which can be used for various large events. In the background is a potential Starbucks Reserve which activates the area outside.
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Santa Clara, CA . Creekside Retail
Project Scope : The six proposed buildings sit adjacent to the food hall which anchors the development. The outdoor space provides areas for users to gather, whether to shop, eat or play. The two larger buildings to the north and the south anchor the retail zone while the smaller pavilions in the middle diversify the shopping experience. 25
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Santa Clara, CA . Creekside Retail
East West Movement : While the plan suggests a strong north west movement sequence, the main nodes of arrival and exiting are from the parking garage to the east or the rideshare drop off zone to the west. This informed many of the design decisions about movement corridors, tenant location, and building orinetation. In turn the proposal eliminates dead zones caused by back of house services, creating buildings with truly four sides. 27
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Santa Clara, CA . Creekside Retail
Above : The client wanted to investigate different scenerios of the “middle pavilion�. The perspective above, contrast to the title page image, shows the experience without any pavilion. Left Spread : The proposal orients the various buildings to create voids where gathering and socializing can take place. A stark contrst to the movement corridors shown in stone pavers.
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04_E - Street Large Office / Lab campus with Mixed Use at Ground Level
Extending the Pedestrian’s Desire year : 2020 location : Boston, MA type : mixed use/office company : Elkus Manfredi Architects
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The E-Street project looks to rezone an existing light manufacturing district in the Seaport neighborhood in Boston. The project aims to extend the area of public activity, pedestrian access, and lab space uses. With this extension comes improvements to transit routes, street conditions and public utilities. The site is located across the street from the convention center which made outdoor space important for overflow uses. This project is concurrent with the cities attempt to make the area directly outside downtown Boston more inviting and more lively with foot traffic. The overall scope of the project includes three separate buildings that can be phased as needed, with the end result having a sky bridge that conects them all. The ground floor will be mixed with retail/ f&b tenants along with full height lab spaces to showcase the workflow of the
innovation and technology industry. The ground level facade can be fully operable and allow for overflow space for the various tenants to further publicize their processes or products. On the upper levels of the podium will be additional lab space which makes use of the larger floor plates. On the tower levels will be typical office tenants and layouts. The architectural vocabulary of the building’s exterior plays on the industrial district that the building resides in. The strong precast bay expression with the superstructure exposed presents a modern take at a neo-industrial style. Large window openings and a glassy ground floor allow the building to be seen as more transparent. The three separate buildings face eachother and form a small eddie in order to allow space but also create an alcove for socializing and gathering.
Boston, MA . E - Street
Rendering of two of the three buildings with the public park at the forefront. The glass facade on the ground floor creates an active area for tenants and pedestrians to overflow onto. Rendering done by EMA Render Team.
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Boston, MA . E - Street
Ground Floor Plan 33
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Boston, MA . E - Street
Garden Terrace Floor Plan 35
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Boston, MA . E - Street
The Garden Terrace : To the south of the project are largely residential blocks where as to the north are the dowtown and business districts. The garden terrace level, which seperates the podium from the tower steps down each building to the south in an attempt to mitigate the height differences of the two zoning areas. The garden terrace also presents a 3 dimensional activiation of outdoor space, especially as it gets closer to the ground level. Rendering done by EMA Render Team. 37
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05_ The Nhat Le House A Narrow Dwelling that Relies on Natural Light from Above
Rapid Urban Development in Central Vietnam year : 2017 location : Dong Hoi, VN type : residential firm : Cong ty Thanh Viet
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The Nhat Le House is a private residence designed for a client in Dong Hoi, Vietnam. The city follows the trend of many cities in Vietnam of rapid development. Limited space and property taxes give way to narrow and tall dwellings. The concept was created with the expectation that the adjacent parcels would be reconstructed in the coming years and be fully built out to the lot lines which is quite common in Dong Hoi. The client, a family of four, had acquired the lot from their ancestors and wanted to finally build on it as their current house at the time was becoming too small. Being located across the street from the Nhat Le River, the house opens up to the front but the planter screen provides inward privacy. The concrete structure with brick infill
pulls from the local typical and cost effective building method. The coastal city is plagued with annual flooding and thus the living spaces are raised 1 meter off the ground. The family wanted the more public spaces on the ground floor and the private rooms moving up, culminating at the family alter. The design brings in natural light and local flora through a central light well which also functions as the vertical circulation shaft, as well as the main gallery space for the clients artwork. The light atrium spans all three levels and is accompanied by a Rosewood tree at the ground level. The greenery follows the light up the levels and branches off to join the more private bedrooms, allowing for vegetation at all areas.
Dong Hoi, VN . Nhat Le House
The front facade of the Nhat Le Residence. The building draws in light based on the presumption that adjacent lots will be built out to the maximum extents.
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Roof Plan
Third Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
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Living Space Perspective 41
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Longitudinal Elevation 43
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Dong Hoi, VN . Nhat Le House
The Light Source : Rendering of the central atrium space that stretches across all levels in the house. The void space brings down natural light from a large skylight located at roof level. The space is filled with vegetation at the ground floor and hanging lights that are set at various levels throughout the atrium. The concept is a centralized core that functions as lateral stability and also verticle circulation but mainly it becomes an area for the life of the house to span across multiple levels, with greenery, the clients artwork and human interactions. 45
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06_EarthLab Green Infrastructure Exploration and Classroom
Adapting the Vernacular : year : 2018-2019 location : New Orleans, LA type : infrastructure and civic space instructor : Adam Modesitt
Design Build
The Client The Tulane School of Architecture design build studio partnered with Groundwork New Orleans; Earth Lab, the local chapter of a national non-profit organization, Groundwork USA. Groundwork New Orleans uses the Earth Lab to educate students and community members about local ecology, green infrastructure, environmental conservation, water management, and urban agriculture. Project Scope This studio worked to design and build a new educational facility for the Earth Lab, an outdoor classroom and gathering space. The existing Earth Lab was a green space that includes a mix of agricultural and ecological installations. The goal of the studio was to first provide new facilities and infrastructure at the Earth Lab that will support the activities of Groundwork New Orleans, and second, to develop a distinctive architectural identity that will celebrate, promote, and showcase the work of the Earth Lab. The project scope, however, extended to rethinking the site in its entirety,
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from the street-facing perimeter fence, to new signage and landscaping. My personal responsibilities included the management and coordination of the concrete and its erection. This also included making sure each team member had a task and could easily participate in the concrete workflow. The Result The studio worked with Groundwork NOLA to design and build outdoor classroom space as well as enforce the organizations current efforts to prmote green infrastructural practices. The two monolithic cast in place concrete walls create hierarchy within the site which allow for a progression of spaces begginning with the entrance, or porch, and jutting out into the more intimate and private outdoor classroom spaces, including one last cast in place half wall that conceals the sites three stage compost bins. The intervention also provided landscaping work to enforce the water drainage and collection on site while still creating space for gathering and learning.
New Orleans, LA . EarthLab
A portion of one of the monolithic dyed concrete walls. These two walls provide hierachy to the space and promote an open and inviting classroom environment. Photo credit : Alex Marks Studio
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Photo credit : Alex Marks Studio
New Orleans, LA . EarthLab
Photo credit : Nicholas LiCasusi
Construction Method Our design-research focused on expanding the architectural possibilities of dyed concrete. Through multiple processes and methods, the dyed concrete walls become markers of place as well as divisions of space. The method underwent many rounds of testing for both final results and technique. The final concrete chosen was CTS Rapidset Concrete Mix, a subset of Quickrete. This was chosen for its overall compression strength and its light color finish which showed the blue dye well. The dye used was Buddy Rhodes Superblue Dye. The same method was applied to the custom blue pavers. The method for casting was cold pouring two foot layers and then adding additional formwork as the concrete layers dried. A layer of
milled rigid insulation was added to one side of the forms to add a ribbed texture, further enhanching the tactile and visual presence of the walls. The concrete was mixed in a six cubic foot electrical mixing drum, which could handle three bags at a time dependant upon the individuals performing the task. The mixed and dyed concrete was then tranferred to five liter buckets which where then poured into the formwork, followed by vibration. The pavers were cast using the same concrete and dye but were cast into rubber molds and then popped out after 30 minutes of drying. The pavers were layed using a typical ground paver detail that included a layer of crushed gravel, a ground barrier, and then a layer of compacted sand. 49
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1 - Ribbed concrete texture. Glue milled 3/4” rigid insulation to inside of plywood formwork where noted. 2 - #5 rebar located horizontally at 24” o.c. and every 24” vertically. 3 - Mirrored steel angle header located above door opening. 4 - Geotextile located in between compacted base soil and gravel. 5 - 8” of crushed gravel, compact and level with plate compactor 6 - 2” of sand, compact with plate compactor and level using steel conduit pipes
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New Orleans, LA . EarthLab
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New Orleans, LA . EarthLab
Creating Permenance : There were many discussions with the client and other designers centered around how to assure the longevity of EarthLab and Groundwork NOLA. The newly implemented entrance accomplishes this on multiple levels. The conscious use of concrete brings an earthly material to surface while also being weather-resistant and durable. The monolothic dyed concrete walls also give a strong identity to the site which has the advantage of increasing the organization’s presence within the city. Photo credit : Alex Marks Studio
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07_The Morning Chair Eastern and Western Maple
A Moment to Oneself year : 2015 location : Seattle, WA type : furniture design instructor : Penny Maulden & Steve Wythcombe
design build
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The Morning Chair was designed as an occasional lounge chair for short moments to be enjoyed. Whether it is over a cup of coffee, a couple pages of a book, or both, the Morning Chair gives its user the opportunity to have a moment of comfort and serenity. This is accented by the slight dip of the seat, allowing for the user to sink back and relax slightly while the harder wood texture keeps the users posture upright as opposed to a full recline. The chairs frame is made of Eastern Maple, which gives it
the stiff structure it needs. The non-structural pieces are made of Western Spalted Maple. The grain of which, being partly rotted, gives the wood a remarkable natural accent. The construction uses 100% wood joinery, including the seat and back rest. These elements have loose joints meaning as the wood expands and contracts as the moisture of the air changes, the pieces have room to move and thus reduces the chances of splitting. The chair uses mortise and tenon pieces for joinery and is finished with three coats of beeswax.
Seattle, WA . The Morning Chair
Image shows the contrast between the softer, more marbled, Western Maple and the stronger more structural Eastern Maple.
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Seattle, WA . The Morning Chair
Form Study : The design process focused on the mass production of iterations at various scales. Through physical models and drawings, a final form and material was selected. The design aimed to create an auxillary / lounge chair that had a slight recline in the back rest anddip in the seat. The slight angles were decided upon through full scale mock-ups using standard 2x4’s and MDF as well as rellying on case studies of similar styles of chairs. Although most furniture is designed for the average human, the Morning Chair is designed for a 6’ user. 57
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in the works!
08_Greenlake Folk Victorian Remodel of a 1905 Post Railroad Folk Victorian in the Greenlake Neighborhood
Revamping a Familial Hub year : 2020 location : Seattle, WA type : design build firm : personal
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In 1971, Zita Velarde, my grandmother, bought a house on Greenlake in preperation for her children joining her in the United States. The house was purchased from a Mr. Mason who was the original owner of the house since it was built in 1905. Since ‘71 the house has supported 3 generations of Filipino imigrants and has acted as the central hearth for the family to gather around. However in 2015 my grandmother left the house and it has since been vacant. I was presented with the opportunity to inherit the house and chose to renovate so it can once again be a hub for family gathering. Due to the nature of the project, there is an extremely tight budget and a need to phase the work so it can be inhabited as soon as possible. The first phase tackles the necessities to make the house livable. The second phase consists of larger changes to the exterior cladding and landscaping of the site. All of the work except roofing and the installation of a heat pump was done by myself and one general laborer (my dad). The main alterations in phase 1 were demolishing the house down
to the studs, completely upgrading and replacing the utilities, altering the spatial layout of a few rooms, and a major bathroom and kitchen overhaul. The ground floor bedroom was partially converted into an office to better accommodate the increasing need to work from home. The structure of the house was generally in good shape and did not need to be replaced. Although I have both worked construction as well as produced architectural drawings I have never had to do both at the same time and on such a personal project. The struggle of not having a full construction drawing set is still presenting problems and the need to design details on site is always pressing. The tight budget has also slowed the project down due to having to conduct all of the labor myself. However, the lessons learned from being on site everyday and doing the work myself has provided countless learning opportunities and an increased knowledge of building, specifically around the importance of an accurate drawing set and the fragility of a project schedule.
Seattle, WA . Greenlake Folk Victorian
Greenlake
Greenlake Park
Project Location
The gabled front facade displays a more stripped down version of a classic victorian.
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Seattle, WA . Greenlake Folk Victorian
all preceding work completed STFI permit pulled A
side sewer permit pulled B plumbing permit pulled C
electrical permit pulled D date of purchase
Project Schedule : This schedule was used to coordinate completion dates for various tasks. In order to keep the project moving and on schedule the chart displays the latest date certain items need to be completed, such as material purchases and permits. The schedule also sets the date for when sub-contractors are able to complete their work. 61
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Level 2 Floor Plan
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Ground Floor Plan
Seattle, WA . Greenlake Folk Victorian
Good Bones : While most of the project and drawings were done before beginning construction I was still living in Boston and did not have the ability to pull exact dimensions or understand how the building was constructed. Therefore, details such as window placements, opening widths, and scheduling needed to be revised upon starting demo. Luckily all of the studs were old growth red cedar and fairly
straight, knot free, and with minimal rot. The structure being in such good shape provided a stable armature for new utlilites to attach to. Renovation to the exterior is to be done at a later date and therefore existing stud connection to the sheathing became an additional driving factor to other elements of the design.
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thank you! Riley Velarde Lacalli A rc h i t c t u re Po r t f o l i o selected works
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full portfolio can be found at : https://issuu.com/rileylacalli/docs/lacalli_pages_resume_selected_works_2020