Shelly Chipimo- Portfolio by Shelly Chipimo

Shelly Chipimo | Portfolio

ISSUE 01, JUNE 2021

ISSUE #01

USES 14

Renovation and addition to an early childhood education center in the historic South End neighborhood of Boston. Completed at Utile

TROY BOSTON 4

18 THE POSSIBLE PROJECT 18

Renovation of existing apartment amenity spaces. Includes a library, a g ym, and a co working space. Completed at Utile

Expansion of an after school youth engagement and empowerment program where students learn how to apply the principles of entrepreneurship Completed at Utile

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

20 32 uphams corner library 20

Feasibility study for the City of Boston’s new branch library in Dorchester. Completed at Utile

the terrain house 32

Independent housing studio project, Northeastern School of Architecture- undergraduate program

Umass boston student center 24 Capstone project, Northeastern School of Architecture- undergraduate program

ISSUE #01

Troy Boston Upgrades CLIENT: EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

RETHINKING TWO BUILDING LOBBIES, CONSOLIDATING TWO SMALLER FITNESS ROOMS INTO ONE CENTRALIZED FITNESS AMENITY AND REFRESHING FURNITURE AND FINISHES THROUGHOUT.

“Overall, the rethinking and re imagining of the amenity spaces allows the Troy Boston to compete with the newer developments in the neighborhood that have come onto the market since the original project was completed”

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

Equity Residential selected Utile to com-

residents, and seeks to provide more on an

uling meetings, communicating with con-

plete space planning and design updates

indoor/outdoor connection to the adjacent

sultants and the client, assisting the project

for the amenities at Troy Boston, a 400,000

roof deck. The centralization of the fitness

architect in putting drawings for permitting

square foot, 379-unit apartment building

amenities allows for new programming and

and producing final renderings.

in Boston’s South End. The scope of work

fitness uses. Overall, the rethinking and re

The project was successful and my draw-

focused on rethinking the two building

imagining of the amenity spaces allows the

ings were recently used Utile in a project

lobbies as well as the consolidation of two

Troy Boston to compete with the newer de-

proposal package. All architectural photo-

smaller fitness rooms into one centralized

velopments in the neighborhood that have

graphs were taken by Shelly Chipimo and

fitness amenity and the refresh of furniture

come onto the market since the project was

published on Utile’s website.

and finishes throughout.

completed.

The lobby redesign allows two concierge

In this project, I was uniquely positioned

positions to be centralized, saving on oper-

to exercise full design control from concept

ation costs, while enlarging package space

design, through construction drawings, and

and making under-utilized spaces more

furniture, fixture, and equipment procure-

inviting. The renovation of a penthouse

ment. Under the supervision of the project

lounge area provides more durable finishes,

architect and principal, I was responsible

includes a co-working space for building

for redesigning each amenity space, sched-

Left: Penthouse Meeting Room Right: East Berkeley St Library.

ISSUE #01

EAST BERKELEY STREET LOBBY

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

“The design goals for the East Berkeley St Lobby were that it would be something intriguing both from the street and also to residents of the building. And that it would oﬀer a diﬀerent experience to other amenity spaces within Troy.”

BEFORE

AFTER

ISSUE #01

THIRD FLOOR: FITNESS & WELLNESS

CIRCUIT TRAINING

FITNESS ON DEMAND

CARDIO & FREE WEIGHTS

INDIVIDUAL TRAINING

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

BEFORE

AFTER

Maximize cardio equipment Incorporate functional training equipment Create clear zones where a variety of workouts can occur in between 9

ISSUE #01

PENTHOUSE: KITCHENETTE, LOUNGE & CO WORKING SPACE

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

ISSUE #01

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

ISSUE #01

United South End Settlements CLIENT: USES (UNITED SOUTH END SETTLEMENTS)

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER FOR A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SERVED SOUTH END (BOSTON) FOR 125 YEARS & COUNTING. The project team at Utile was commissioned by

and offices for USES’ projected 50-person staff.

United South End Settlements (USES) to serve

Findings from program discussions and itera-

as a real estate development consultant for

tive testing of development alternatives led to a

three parcels of USES-owned land in the histor-

data-driven assessment of a variety of develop-

ic South End of Boston. The goal of this project

ment scenarios. These scenarios were present-

was to develop a strategy that would not only

ed to the organization’s leadership team, real

yield a new home for a nonprofit organization

estate advisory committee, Board of Directors,

that has served the South End for 125 years, but

and the community to narrow down options

to also take advantage of the organization’s real

and develop a strategy moving forward. I sub-

estate holdings to ensure financial sustainabili-

sequently helped package the selected design

ty. While USES’ programming is currently dis-

schemes which USES planned to use for their

persed on all three sites, Utile was charged with

fundraising campaign.

consolidating its programming under one roof.

The project is still in progress, but the resulting

My role on the project team was focused on

plan will be one that allows for organizational

classroom designs for the children and youth

growth, financial stability, and long-term vi-

early childhood education (ECE) programs, &

ability of the organization, allowing USES to

Club 48 after school program. This was a high-

continue its mission of disrupting the cycle of

ly collaborative process among Utile, the USES

poverty for children and families in the South

leadership team, staff, teachers, program par-

End.

ticipants, and parents of program participants to understand the organization’s spatial needs. Licensing requirements and the organization’s

USES front entry on Rutland Street. Rendering by James Henry & Shelly Chipimo

breadth of programming shaped the need for 42,000 SF of program space for childcare, workforce development, community programming,

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

ISSUE #01

“The goal of this project was to develop a strategy that would not only yield a new home for a nonprofit organization that has served the South End for 125 years, but to also take advantage of the organization’s real estate holdings to ensure financial stability”

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

My involvement on the USES project was directly

early childhood education centers which satisfied

metric images of amenity spaces (infant rooms,

helpful to my master’s thesis entitled, “Safety and

certain licensing requirements. Preparing docu-

toddler rooms, Club 48 rooms, community room

The School.” My thesis argued that traditional

ments needed to submit for EEOST grant funding

and of the courtyard landscape). The final images

classrooms make students more vulnerable be-

was one of the major deliverables of this project.

(such as the one above) depict the activities and

cause they create a captive audience behind closed

The EEOST Capital Fund Grant program pro-

amenities within the spaces. They communicate

walls. On the contrary, a totally open classroom

vides awards of up to $1 million to EEC-licensed

the “look and feel” of the building design and

environment - even spilling out to outdoor work-

large group early education and out-of-school

outdoor spaces for our client and served as an im-

space - is less of a target. I maintained that it is

time programs for major capital building projects.

portant tool for getting the stakeholders & com-

not enough to simply provide cutting-edge class-

Such a grant would be immensely useful to non

munity on board. I noted that throughout this

rooms. There is a great need to invest in external

profit organizations such as USES.

complex project, my Project manager & supervi-

context and landscape design- which then allows

Additional key project deliverables included: Re-

sor, was constantly faced with making difficult

for a much more holistic design response.

fining the space planning, exterior expression of

choices and adjusting our tasks as we interacted

The work experience I had with USES’ early child-

the building and developing the landscape includ-

with the client- who was largely unfamiliar with

hood education center allowed me to see how key

ing the play spaces for the EEC and after school

the real estate and architecture approvals process.

concepts and hypotheses from my thesis could

program. Reaching out to solicit feedback from

Regardless, she made sure we delivered the project

manifest in practice. Additionally, it also allowed

the faculty, staff and parents through a series of

in good time and remained transparent with the

me to learn about key funding opportunities for

workshops and evening events. Producing axono-

client throughout the process.

ISSUE #01

The Possible Project CLIENT: THE POSSIBLE PROJECT

EXPANSION OF AN AFTER SCHOOL YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM WHERE STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO APPLY THE PRINCIPLES OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

The Possible Project (TPP) is a mission-driven

A colleague and I were collaboratively work-

organization that serves the Boston community.

ing on all aspects of the project with a focus on

It is a collaborative teaching space that focus-

producing the graphic materials (AutoCAD/

es on “making” through education curriculum

REVIT drawings, 3D models, and renderings),

and student ventures, pathways, a maker space,

research material options. We also worked to-

and enterprise opportunities. The non profit is

gether to select furniture, finishes, and equip-

process of negotiating a lease to be the anchor

ment for the classroom and lounge spaces.

tenant of the 37,000 square foot building locat-

Preparing presentation materials was a large

ed at 31 Heath Street in Boston.

portion of my time. It included design revisions

The Possible Project’s vision for its new space

and 3D images were presented on a bi-weekly

is to create an “Innovation Center” facility that

basis and delivered in a slide presentation for-

will host TPP’s expanded programming in Bos-

mat. Included in the subsequent work samples

ton and serve as a key component and catalyst

are studies a colleague and I did for the faculty

for entrepreneurship, education, and career

and student lounge spaces at 31 Heath Street.

pathways in the surrounding community. Utile was commissioned by TPP to renovate an existing building that represents two different periods in the area’s history. Two-thirds are a

Upper Right: Lobby rendering by a colleague at Utile. Lower Right: Student lobby studies jointly completed with a colleague

former brewery with the original structure hidden behind drywall and one-third is an addition that includes a soaring staircase and a thin wing that is best suited to administrative space and meeting rooms. 18

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

ISSUE #01

Uphams Branch Library CLIENT: THE CITY OF BOSTON

The base scope of work included a branch programming document specific to Uphams Corner; FFE/AV program document; Budget Analysis for a stand-alone new building, a TI Fit out within developer provided building, requirements for base building standards (if provided by developer); and community engagement process/CAC meetings.

“The major deliverable was a package of guidelines that could be handed oﬀ to a developer that would advocate for the City to have the same high quality base building standards that are consistent across all their branch libraries” Some of my tasks included: Reviewing and process pre-

understand stack spacing), Librarian’s Workroom, as well

vious community meeting minutes; compiling informa-

as an outdoor reading area.

tion from BPL relevant to current and projected library

Under the supervision of my manager, I was able to learn

usage such as: proposed collection count, circulation,

about how sharing building costs with a developer could

visitor-ship and other related previous studies; verifying

benefit the client. I was also able to learn how various

program assumptions from BPL Base Branch program-

zoning rules would impact the different building typolo-

ming checklist; identifying potential specialty programs

gies we came up with. The final deliverable was a package

tailored to the Uphams Corner neighborhood; preparing

of guidelines that could be handed off to a developer that

draft program documents intended to be a working road

would advocate for the City of Boston to have the same

map for subsequent design of the branch suitable for

high quality base building standards that are consistent

multiple locations; compiling the final document into a

across all their branch libraries.

printed booklet. Additionally, I had to develop several axonometric drawings of key spaces with the library (pictured right) to understand the spatial requirements of BPL’s desired Community Room, Classroom/Maker space that would also double as a theater rehearsal area, Reading room (to

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

ISSUE #01

COMMUNITY ROOM 1,700SF

ALT FUNCTIONS: BLACK BOX THEATER CAPABILITIES Requirements: 100-seat Community Room Theater lighting Enhanced AV Storage closet for stackable chairs & folding tables Counter with sink Podium Screen, projector, speakers Assistive hearing technology People counter at door Picture rail

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

CLASSROOM/ MAKER SPACE, 1, 120SF

ALT FUNCTIONS: THEATER REHEARSAL/ GREENROOM Requirements: Ability to have theater rehearsals Ability to fabricate sets and costumes Desktop computers for editing film, graphic design, animation Ability to have computer classes on laptops Equipment to accommodate: Spray booth and band saw (req. separate room with ventilation) Sewing machines Storage for supplies

ISSUE #01

UMASS Boston Student Center CONCEPTUAL PROJECT, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY CAPSTONE PROJECT

THE CONCEPT, NEW MEETS OLD “Located on the Columbia Point Peninsula in

pump house. The diagrid is intended to act

Dorchester, Massachusetts, the Calf Pasture

as a node within the larger site by manipulat-

Pumping Station is what remains of the first

ing its various available living and non-living

comprehensive sewerage project in the city

systems. As such, the scheme organizes the

of Boston. First conceptualized in 1875 and

circulation of resources, people and vehicles in

completed in 1884, the Boston Main Drainage

a dimensionally rich manner- most evident in

System was the first extensive and successful

the overall design concept of layering systems

sewerage project in the city’s history. The

on and within the site. The building and land-

pumping Station played a vital role in im-

scape work together so that the forms of both

proving the public health in late 19th century

respond to relevant ecological stimuli, conse-

Boston.

quently yielding a successful “performance” in

Today, the abandoned Calf Pasture Pumping

regard to aesthetics, relative energy efficiency,

station is a reminder of the innovation and en-

and organizational goals.

gineering that characterized the public health

The Diamond Bridge is a key moment which

initiatives of America’s urban and industrial

layers vehicular circulation & constructed

revolutions of the 19th century. The station

ecology- allowing cars, trucks, and pedestrians

was once the most prominent structure on

to pass over the water collection & filtration

Columbia Point; today it shares the peninsula

system. The Diamond Bridge is also a nice jux-

with many large and influential institutions.

taposition to The Underpass- as this is where

UMass Boston purchased the historic structure

the relationship between ecology and vehicular

from the city in 2012, but for now the hand-

traffic is inverted. People, together with the

some building sits as though frozen in time,

constructed landscape, are lifted to a higher

surrounded by new development.”- Informa-

elevation while the vehicles occupy the space

tion provided by UMASS Boston.

below grade. This allows for an expansive, un-

The design includes the use of the diagrid

interrupted recreational space by the Historic

as both a new building and as the structural

Pump House.

support of the atrium within the existing

Approach to the student center from the historic pump house. Rendering by Shelly Chipimo. Project in collaboration with Sarah Soltes

SHELLY CHIPIMO

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SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

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SITE PLAN, NOT TO SCALE 28

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

MODEL STUDY OF THE HISTORIC PUMP HOUSE

2- DIAMOND BRIDGE SITE MODEL

1- APPROACH FROM THE NEW ADDITION

SITE MODEL OF THE DIAGRID ADDITION 29

ISSUE #01

WHERE NEW MEETS OLD- THE CENTRAL ATRIUM

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

ISSUE #01

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

The Terrain House CONCEPTUAL PROJECT

A PRIVATE HOME IN ROXBURY, MA, FOR AN EXPATRIATE FAMILY LOOKING TO SETTLE DOWN AFTER YEARS OF TRAVEL. THE OVERALL DESIGN EXUDES A DYNAMIC PLAY ON THE ROLE OF SEEING AND BEING The Terrain House is a project I complet-

located in Roxbury, Boston. It emerges from

ed for an undergraduate housing studio at

the earth like a rock, embedded deep into

Northeastern University. It explored the de-

the ground, blending into the landscape as

sign strategies and evolution of the private

a monolithic entity that was carefully carved

house in the city of Boston. The studio task

and sculpted with wood inserts. These wood

was to engage the complex mix of forces that

inserts not only serve as punched openings,

shape both public and private experience of

but also ascend in scale from small display

the city: views, sequence, composition, envi-

compartments near the street and main en-

ronmental performance, structure, material,

trance, to windows, doors, and finally en-

construction, space, and design. Additional-

tire rooms. Wood inserts that become entire

ly, students were able to model the home after

rooms are prime relaxation and socialization

clients of our own choosing.

spaces within the home and can be dressed up

I designed my home for an expatriate couple

or down depending on the occasion.

(modeled after my own family) who are look-

From the street, the intent of the home is

ing to settle down into a custom home after

evident to pedestrians, who can view both

years of extensive traveling. The couple com-

objects and people inhabiting select rooms

missioned an architect to create their dream

within the home. This concept extends

home: a place where artifacts and people can

throughout the house as well. The overall

harmoniously exist side by side. The funda-

design exudes a dynamic play on the role of

mental concept is to make the entire home

seeing and being seen.

one big, living, breathing, inhabitable gallery that is able to house all their souvenirs and artifacts in a dynamic way. The house itself is embedded on a steep site

Left: Master bedroom with hammock tub.

ISSUE #01

2-MAIN ENTRY WITH WOOD INSERT

1- APPROACH FROM BEECH GLEN

SITE PLAN, NOT TO SCALE 34

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

FIRST FLOOR PLAN, NOT TO SCALE 35

ISSUE #01

SECOND FLOOR PLAN, NOT TO SCALE 36

SHELLY CHIPIMO

JUNE 2021

1- VERANDA (FIRST FLOOR)

2- MASTER BEDROOM OVERLOOKING LIVING AREA

3- LOUNGE AREA

4- MASTER BEDROOM 37

Shelly Chipimo | Portfolio