robert andrew bak work samples
BSAS_12_University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
robert bak design I am endlessly curious about the world around me. I believe in deep reflection on human experience and my striving goal in life is to make that experience better for everyone. We are only blessed with a short time in this world, and how we live, work, and interact will be shaped by design. Decisions for our built environment should be based on thoughtful sensibilities for all those our designs impact bringing together numerous perspectives to holistically understand the problem. Human nature is vast and great. I am an observer, listener, and participant; all of which both consciously and subconsciously shape and broaden my point-of-view and help me understand the needs of others.
contents Paris Market Lab Competition Safe Box Workshop Black Box Theater Primary Platforms Parkland CC APIF Tr a v e l S k e t c h e s Details CV
black box Paris, France 250 Seat Theater We strove to create an intimate theater experience on scale with surrounding neighborhood. Chose flexible arrangement of black box theater to draw many different types of small theater companies. The next objective was to economize space within the tight confines of the urban space which materialized in drawing in the buildings footprint to give back public green space to the dense neighborhood. This welcoming of the neighborhood will encourage engagement with the community for years to come. From here the program stacked vertically to extend the urban sculpture upwards, floating the black box over the transparent public space below blurring the line between interior exterior; public/private.
primary platforms Paris, France Primary School Ecole primaire is located in Paris 13th on a sloping site which transitions from cityscape to public park. This project seeks to provide a nourishing, collaborative environment for students to reach their full potential appealing to a child’s core necessities: learning, eating, and playing. The first move cuts into the platform site creating dropped levels and platforms. This takes the ‘ground’ out of playground by creating rooftop play spaces as well as opens views to green space to the south and the internal courtyard. Studies have shown this visual connection adds positively to a child’s classroom experience. The building occupies the entire site and spreads functions to facilitate travel within the building throughout day, physically and visually connecting all levels of students, fostering a school identity.
parkland CC APIF Willard Airport Champaign, IL Hangar Shops Class Office This project attempts to be a place of cultural exchange within an international collegiate learning environment by allocating spaces which foster discussion and places of rest for meeting. Another aspect of the school environment is feeling connected to the various transparent functions within the school visually and spacially. The shop environment compared to the general classroom, while both being learning spaces, have very different functional requirements and therefore behave differently through position and materiality. A fluid relationship between the hangar and shops exists, thus the circulation space to the shops lies within the hangar itself unifying the spaces and creating a direct relationship. The shops have the potential to be fully open on to the hangar and to the engagement court for ease of movement of materials or be closed off for a more intimate learning and working space. Thermal and passive heating strategies played into the alignment of the classroom and office block wing that hinges away from the rest of the program. It is aligned on an east west axis with full southern exposure to provide the most consistent daylighting and solar gain throughout the year.
travel sketches
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r o b e r t education
a n d r e w
b a k
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Bachelor of Science: Architectural Studies Edward C. Earl Prize in Architecture Ecole d’Architecture de Versailles (Versailles, FR)
work experience
graduated may 2012 spring 2011 2010 - 2011
M a r s E q u i t i e s , I n c . [ property management assistant]
summer 2010 & 2011
U n i v e r s i t y L a n d s c a p i n g [proprietor]
summer 2010 & 2011
Completed maintenance projects at a portfolio of commercial, industrial, and residential properties including interior renovation and exterior upkeep to the highest standards under minimum supervision Communicated with and supervised contractors and vendors to maintain and ensure on time and on budget quality work and inspected for reliablity Started a landscaping entrepreneurial venture with a partner servicing the western suburbs of Chicago Designed advertising materials to attract clients through high quality work and strong customer support maintained client relationships Successfully completed eight projects which funded European study and travels
R J B D e s i g n L a n d s c a p i n g [landscape assistant]
summer 2009
V O A A r c h i t e c t u r e a n d P l a n n i n g [intern]
summer 2008
Assisted in design decisions alongside the lead landscape designer Executed construction and implementation of landscape designs on numerous residential and commercial properties Communicated with clients to suit needs and intentions for their new landscape environments
Contributed in schematic design study programming for a hotel-conference center in Hurst,Texas and built design models for other projects Conducted research and analytical studies then generated presentation materials for a master planning project for Tan Zhe Si outside of Beijing and the Beidaihe Yacht Club in China Corrected construction drawings based on design changes
campus involvement A l p h a Ta u O m e g a [head house manager]
2009 - 2010
S o c i e t y f o r B u s i n e s s a n d M a n a g e m e n t i n A r c h i t e c t u r e [member]
2008 - 2012
Managed the day-to-day operations and maintenance of an 80 tenant housing facility Negotiated with general contractors and vendors for maintenance and improvements Balanced and maintained a strict budget
Participated in lectures and discussions to inform and educate business- minded architecture students about the large array of opportunities available in the fields of firm management, real estate, construction management, development and law.
related skills A u t o d e s k [autocad, revit, 3ds max] A d o b e [photoshop, illustrator, indesign] Sketchup
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Public Speaking / Presenting Te a m L e a d i n g S k e t c h i n g , Drafting, Modeling
robert.a.bak@gmail.com | 630.730.9453 bending oaks ct, downers grove, il
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