Portfolio 2023

PORTFOLIO COLLECTION

compiled work of Sarah Segar

RESUME RESUME

4000 City Walk Way

Apt 354

Charlottesville, VA 22902

Sarah Segar

EXPERIENCE JUNE 2021 - AUGUST 2021

(703) 728-0409

sarahesegar@gmail.com

Wade Weissmann Architecture, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Architectural Intern

NOVEMBER 2019 - JULY 2020

Commonwealth Restorations, Arlington, Virginia - Design Coordinator

JUNE 2018 -AUGUST 2018

Ritter Maher Architects, Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Interior Design Intern

JUNE 2017 -AUGUST 2017

Kim McLain Interiors, Lafayette, Louisiana - Interior Design Intern

EDUCATION

JULY 2020 - MAY 2023

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia - Pursuing Masters in Architecture

GPA: 3.858

SUMMER 2022

Study Abroad in Vicenza, Italy

Studying and sketching Palladian architecture

SUMMER 2019

Institute of Classical Art Architecture and Art Summer Studio

Introduction to classical architecture through literature, observation, and practice

AUGUST 2015 - MAY 2019

Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas - BS in Interior Design

GPA: 3.68

Cum Laude, Dean’s List, TCU Scholar

SPRING 2018

Study Abroad in Florence, Italy

Studio project selected for annual display program, “Art is in the Square”

INVOLVEMENT Student Instructor Assistant (SIA) for Graduate Foundation Studio II - Fall 2022

Studio Coordinator: Ila Berman

Student Instructor Assistant (SIA) for Foundation Studio III - Fall 2021

Studio Coordinator: Seth McDowell

Professor: Lucia Phinney

Student Instructor Assistant (SIA) for Foundation Studio I - Spring 2021

Studio Coordinator: Anselmo Canfora

Professor: Kyle Schumann

Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA) - Certification and Membership

Habitat for Humanity - Volunteer

American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) - Past Membership

SKILLS Industry Programs

Thermal Baths at Bolar Springs

Arch 6010 :: Fall 2020

Professors :: Luis Pancorbo & Ines Martin Robles

The design of the thermal baths at Bolar Springs is an interpretation of the original buildings and of the surrounding environment. The landscape of the Appalachian Mountains dominates and sets the scene of the surrounding environment for the design. Preserving the site’s integrity was an important factor to the design. Maintaining the original footprint and construction of the existing cabin-like buildings made this an adaptive reuse project.

The original buildings have a simple balloon frame construction, and are generally concealed, providing privacy and protection from the environment. The additions to the original buildings, as well as the pathway are an inverted form of the original. The posts mimic the framework of the existing structure, but are transparent, providing a constant visual to the other buildings, and outside environment. The undulating roof not only is a continuation of the existing rooflines, but also mimics the undulating landscape of the mountains.

Because of its location in the mountains, Bolar Springs acts as a bowl, capturing and gathering water that travels down the mountainside. It became an important factor of my design to not only hold water, but capture it. Through the use of gutters, water is captured and redirected to the pools by a system of underground pipes.

EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC

1. 6x6 Wooden Post 2. 0.5x3 Screws

3. T Metal Plate

4. Foundation Screws 5. Concrete Roof

B

1. 6x6 Wooden Post

2. 0.5x3 Screws

3. T Metal Plate

4. Foundation Screws

5. Concrete Base 6. Concrete Foundation

C 1. 6x6 Wooden Post 2. Double Skin Polycarbonate 3. Polycarbonate Clip

Foundation Screws 5. Wood Flooring

Insulation

Concrete Base

Concrete Foundation

Water Drainage System

D

6x6 Wooden Post

0.5x3 Screws

T Metal Plate

Foundation Screws

Concrete Base

Concrete Foundation

New City Library

Arch 6020 :: Spring 2021

The design of this project aims at supporting the identity of the New City community through a multi-use library space that serves as an anchor for community engagement and enrichment. Many studies show that libraries act as an anchor, and support neighborhoods and community identity. Libraries,overall, increase the quality of life in neighborhoods. For low-income, minority Americans, a library serves a crucial, special role as a place to learn new skills, apply for jobs, attend school, learn new digital technologies, and so many other free services.

Situated on the corner of W 47th Street and S Justine Street, the site is in a prominent location of vehicular and foot traffic within New City. The new library is therefore an opportunity to create an envelope that relates with the verticality of the city, but also stands alone, drawing people in from the street. The envelope of the building is a light weight, steel frame structure, partially clad in timber, that provides visibility into, and out of the building. Not only does the transparent frame capture and filter the sunlight into the space, but it serves as a literal framing of the program. The diagonal lines follow the vertical movement of users. The ribbing and transparency of the envelope correlates to the public and private programs.Exhibition space on the ground level, public studying space on the upper levels, and a roof top for community usage are visible from 47th and are illuminated by the interior courtyards that are framed by a feature staircase.

The flexible, organic program of the floor plans make it easy for the community to engage with the space, while the ribbed partition walls serve as generators for the circulation. The decision to have only the ribbed, transparent walls on all levels, with the only exception being the core elevators, was intended to disorient users. This forces users to wander and interact with other types of users such as children, seniors, or staff members. The concrete floor serves as a blank canvas for the repetitive posts that are reflected onto the floor. This helps orient users based on the time of day. The ribs define the space and provide visual transparency and potential engagement into and with other spaces rather than closing them off with vertical barriers.

This New City Library considers the numerous needs of the community first and foremost. The traditional aspects of a branch library have been programmed to coincide with those needs, creating an anchor that provides the resources for successful community engagement and rebuilding of identity.

Professors :: Seth McDowell & Erin Putalik

Landscaping

Connection to nature

Moment of relief from the urban city Light well for illumination

Illuminated Staircase

Frames the interior courtyard

Relationship between circulation of users and courtyard

Organic circulation of program

Envelope

Transparency

Follows program

Defined, strong corners

The Rockefeller University Housing

Arch 7010 :: Fall 2021

Despite having one of the largest and most famous public and private healthcare systems, New York City’s lack of affordable housing for faculty and traveling patients has created a significant problem for hundreds of people. It is important to understand that this project needs to serve 3 distinct populations with varying needs.

1. Permanent medical faculty.

2. Temporary Learners.

3. Traveling Patients with severe illnesses.

To meet the needs of three vastly different users, I set the following as criteria for my building; connectivity, accessibility, biophilic design, and the blurring of the private and public sectors.These design interventions were decided on to address the individual isolation that is all too common in the hospital.

Connection and accessibility to the city, not just the Medical Campus, is important to the design. The building is connected to the hospital, bus stops and a very short walk to the metro station. The connection to the water also now provides a new Ferry stop. In a more figurative sense, the design serves to strengthen the relationship between the user and the city. The tenants will likely spend 15+ hours a day at the hospital, and will unlikely have time or energy to go exploring the city. Through public programming,

the building can bring the city experience to the user

The layout of the unit aggregations emphasizes biophilic design and the gradient of various spaces. It has been shown in numerous studies that having green surroundings, be it a forest or houseplants, biophilic design has tangible benefits to one’s health and stress levels. Both patients and staff need an escape from the harsh sterility of the hospital as well as the claustrophobia of living in the concrete jungle. Each unit and floor level has public and private gardens or planters. The ability for tenants to grow their own garden creates the sense of home ownership within their unit. The exterior public gardens encourage interaction and connectivity between neighbors.

To conclude, one’s quality of living greatly impacts their physical and mental health. For medical professionals and patients alike, their days are dictated by life inside hospital walls. Through connectivity and accessibility tenants can escape the harsh sterile environment of the hospital and be immersed in New York culture captured by the public programming. They can come home to their front door, garden, and warm place.

Professor :: Esther Lorenz

Carlos Almaraz Chicano Art Center

Arch 7020 :: Spring 2022

When approaching the initial design of my building, I wanted it to encapsulate what I came to learn and understand of the history of the site in Boyle Heights and of the Chicano culture. One description that continuously came up was that of “color.” In the beginning of the semester, we had a number of guest speakers from local east L.A. associations. Gloria Molina, Former Member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, started the club of East LA stitchers called TELAS DE LA VIDA. She expressed that the buildings of their neighborhood are “dressed in many colors”. Looking at the colors and patterns of their textile work, I was drawn to the motif of the hexagon. On my site sit two buildings that are designed to support the programs of the visitor and exhibitioner and the programs of the artists and the students. The site is bordered by a perforated brick wall that indicates what is part of the community center. Similar to the rest of the design, the pattern created by the bricks, reflects the geometric designs of Chicano art. The structure of my building consists of 7- ply CLT and perforated brick masonry shear walls.

The series of hexagons and exterior landscaping provide a natural path for visitors to explore the gallery and grounds. The large open space of these units provides flexible gallery space, while the variety of roof slopes and skylight placements allows artists to display their work in a way that highlights their prominent pieces. The exterior landscaping is that of a series of terraces, dividing the space for leisure walking or for sitting and eating, where the canopy of the trees allows this outdoor space to be a cool oasis. There is also an outdoor auditorium and skate-park. These programs encourage locals to support local performance artists and their youth. The second building holds the program of classrooms and space for local artists to create. The facade of this building is situated along Cesar E Chavez Street. A busy street composed of other local businesses, this entrance conforms with the surrounding fabric. On the ground level, there are large classroom spaces to teach both textiles and ceramics, and a large, double story mural space. There is also a preservation lab. On the second level, there are individual offices that allow local artists to occupy for any given amount of time.

During the conversation with the guest speakers, when asked what they would like to see in a Chicano community art center, they stated that they not only wanted large classroom space and offices, but space that supported the expression of Chicano art and culture and I believe the design and program of my building accomplishes that.

Professor :: Ines Martin Robles

NSOTO ST

NMATTHEW ST

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

The Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor

Arch 8010 :: Fall 2022

Professors :: Kate Orff, Pippa Brashear, Greta Ruedisueli, Kirk Gordon

This research studio was instructed by SCAPE principal Kate Orff, and other SCAPE employees Pippa Brashear, Greta Ruedisueli, and Kirk Gordon. The goal of the studio was to study the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor Management Plan in order to tackle complex issues such as cultural landscape expression & heritage, connectivity, infrastructure adaptation, ecological resilience, brownfield site remediation, environmental justice, policy innovation, and economic development.

As defined in the class syllabus, “Gullah Geechee ( \ˈgə-lə\ \ˈgē-chē \ ) people are direct descendants of Africans who were brought to the United States and enslaved for generations.” Their diverse roots from primarily West Africa, and history of their enslavement, have shaped a vibrant and unique culture that has survived to the present day. Their culture is visible in their distinctive arts, crafts, cuisine, music, and language. There are various scales of risk, resilience, and resistance that the Gullah people and their land face at present, for example, the many policy and financial challenges such as heirs’ property laws, high taxes and speculative/ second home real estate pressure, and by saltwater encroachment, sea level rise and extreme weather/ heat.

In a team of three, my group chose the Charleston area as our transect site for intervention. After an extensive review of the area, the Mt.Pleasant area was identified as having many cultural assets that are threatened, specifically the craft of sweetgrass basket weaving and sweetgrass basket stands that are owned and operated by Gullah Geechee families. These assets have come under threat from sea level rise, increased flooding, property development, and highway expansion. These compound on each other resulting in a “squeeze” on Gullah property and culture. Over time, it has become increasingly difficult for basketmakers to harvest sweetgrass in the Mt. Pleasant area, often forcing them to travel far distances to acquire the materials necessary for their craft. Additionally, many of these stands are located along a particular stretch of Highway 17 that are often positioned directly along this busy roadway, making them somewhat dangerous to operate. Finally, the craft itself is threatened by displacement of talent, difficulty sourcing materials, and lack of young people involved.

In order to preserve Gullah Geechee land and culture, our focus is on preserving the institution of sweetgrass basket making as a symbol of resistance and resilience. Highway 17 can be seen both as a conduit for harmful development and as a critical historical corridor for Gullah communities. Our aim in preserving the history and heritage of the institution is to:

1. Reframe the tourist gaze of sweetgrass basket makers by solidifying their place along Highway 17.

2. Revitalize sweetgrass habitats for economic and coastal protection.

3.Preserve the tradition and talent of sweetgrass basket makers. In doing so, we are approaching sweetgrass basket making from two separate perspectives: one of mass culture and one from the Gullah perspective. We aim to hold these contradictory approaches with the overall goal of preserving sweetgrass ecologies, growing sweetgrass businesses, and retaining talent in the community.

TRANSECT ANALYSIS

IN COLLABORATION WITH ERIC GUILFOYLE & PAIGE LYONS

HIGHWAY 17 TYPOLOGIES & BOONE HALL PLANTATION INVERVENTION

Vicenza

Summer 2022

Over the course of 5 weeks, with group of students and professors, I travelled throughout the Veneto region learning the importance of drawing and design. The instructive nature of drawing assists designers in forming the essential design components of observation and positioning. From sketching Palladian architecture, such as the Villa Rotunda and Basilica Palladiana, to the juncture of the historic and modern as seen in Carlo Scarpa’s Castel Vecchio, the drawings varied in form and perspective.

Professors :: Luis Pancorbo & Ines Martin Robles

BASILICA PALLADIANA

PONTE DI REALTO

VILLA GHISLANZONI

ARCO DELL SCALETTE SCUOLA GRANDE DI S.GIOVANNI

GIARDINI VALSANZIBIO

CHIESA DI SAN ZACCARIA

LA BIENNALE PALAZZO CHIERICATI

BOTANICAL GARDEN PAVILION

Drawing using scribbling technique

Texas Christian University

BS of Interior Design:: 2015-2019

During my time at TCU, I began to discover my passions within the field and establish myself as a designer. Over the course of my degree, I developed and improved on my hand sketching/ drawing skills, as well as expanded my knowledge on materiality and light. Within my studio projects, I began to recognize my interest and respect for context, identity, and place. I find that skills I built within interior architecture allows me to realize the importance and benefits of blending interior and exterior spaces, and how they influence the movement and views of its users.

RENDERS OF CHAPEL FROM THESIS

YOGARWORKS

BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSTIC CENTER

RENDERS FROM BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSTIC CENTER