Surgene J Troost
surgenejtroost@gmail.com
"A great building must begin with the unmeasurable, must go through measurable means when it is being designed and in the end must be unmeasurable." Louis Kahn
Having grown up in New Orleans and lived through Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, I have seen firsthand how architecture can revitalize an entire city. In the process, I have become deeply impressed with the role that architects can play as advocates for change. My undergraduate education at Louisiana Tech University has afforded me with invaluable exposure to architectural history, theory, structures, design, and sustainability. By the end of my senior year, I will have designed nine projects scales ranging from 15,000 to more than 100,000 square feet. Each project has been a unique exploration of site, form, program, budget, sustainability, and circulation. With the understanding that to solve any problem you must first fully understand it, I have begun each endeavor by conducting extensive research that has allowed me to learn about the particular issues presented by a given city or area. I have taken part in producing a full research booklet, one complete website and research blog, and multiple individual studies. The research booklet dealt with the Gowanus canal in Brooklyn, New York. Once a busy cargo transportation hub, the canal is now recognized as one of the most polluted bodies of water in the U.S. Our class looked to find solutions to reverse this growing problem. The website and research blog focused on a neighborhood in Shreveport, Louisiana called Allendale, which has lost over ninety percent of its population in the last fifty years. We worked to find urban solutions to revitalizing the area. Each project is an opportunity to broaden my knowledge and to use this knowledge in all of my future architectural exploits. My experiences have also shown me that digital design has become an integral part of architecture and design. In most projects, I look to see how parametrics can be used to push the boundaries of past design. It is an impressive tool that can be employed in all scales of the architectural process, from the overall form of a building down to the fine details of a small fixture. I have personally taken a strong interest in how parametrics can be used to design skin systems that utilize natural lighting, shading, operability, and other sustainable sources. I have explored this interest through digital models as well as analog studies. Each study and experiment is a new exploration on design. Change is inevitable and in architecture it is frequent. I have participated in multiple competitions that push architectural design. One example is the Evolo skyscraper competition, which is “an investigation on the public and private space and the role of the individual and the collective in the creation of a dynamic and adaptive vertical community.� Competitions such as this deal with large scale community problems and ways in which we can solve the complexities of these problems. Our submission dealt with the worldwide problem of coastal erosion. Our self sustaining coastal erosion prevention center uses perceptive technologies to register the areas in need and looks to reverse coastal erosion through natural processes. I am eager to build upon the strong foundation I have established during my undergraduate years through further education and professional practice in architecture.
Surgene J Troost
surgenejtroost@gmail.com
01 I Re-Claim I Coastal Erosion Prevention Center
06 02 I Re-Gowanus I Gowanus Remediation Lab
16 AA I Experiment I Parametric Skin Perforations
28 03 I Re-Locate I Ruston Regional Airport
30 BB I Experiment I CNC Routed Wall System
38 04 I Re-Align I Murphy Illuminated Manuscript Library
40 05 I Re-Vitalize I Multi-Modal Bike Exchange
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Table of Contents
2010 - 2013
Resume Surgene Troost (Surge) surgenejtroost@gmail.com Address: 1529 Montana Ave New Orleans, LA 70062 Cell : 504-606-8978
Education
Louisiana Tech University Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies Graduation May 2014 President’s List F’10, W’12, S’13 Honors Program
Awards and Honors
Outstanding Student Scholarship Phoebe Award for Outstanding Design and Graphics
Given to top two 1st year students entering their 2nd year for design and graphics.
Director’s List 3 Years
Student’s with a core studio grade above a 3.5 for three consecutive quarters.
Brother Martin High School Dean’s List 4 Years Graduated with Honors
Walpole/ Best Endowment
Given to one 3rd year student entering his 4th year for design and graphics.
Best in Show 2012
Awarded to physical model of The Murphy Illuminated Manuscript Library
President of AIAS
Started Freedom by Design Program Built Handicap Ramp for local woman Attended Grassroots Conference in DC Attended multiple AIAS Conferences
President, MC of the Pi Vice Kappa Alpha Fraternity
Helped lead group of over 50 men Started Pitch for Pike Softball Tournament for Charity
Tau Sigma Delta Member
Membership Offered to Top 20% of core studio students
AIAS National Door Competition Honorable Mention
Publications
Architectural Record 08 2012
AIAS Door Competition Door in Vt Industries Advertisement
Architect Magazine 06 2012
AIAS Door Competition Door in Vt Industries Advertisement
101 ACSA Conference
Works presented by Dr. Pasquale De Paola “Architectural Appropriations in the age of Networked Productions”
102 ACSA Conference
Works presented by Dr. Pasquale De Paola on Evolo Skyscraper submissions.
La Tech Student Show
curated by faculty members and professionals from the field. Works selected include. 1st Year : Extended Lines Newspaper Design Case Study Physical Model Case Study Axonometric Drawing 2nd Year : School of Photography Board Illuminated Manuscript Library Model Concept Model 3rd Year : Ruston Regional Board Gowanus Remediation Lab Board Parametric Experiment 1
Work Experience
TBA Studio
West Monroe, LA Architectural Intern La Tech Athletic Training Facility Team: Project Manager, Intern, Myself Schematic Design Design Development Created All Renderings for Publication Met With Clients
Skills
Plum Creek Field Office Team: Architect, Intern, Myself Design Development Construction Documents
Century Link Downtown Cohab Center Team: Intern, Myself Schematic Design Proposal Presentation Board Design Presented work to Century Link Executives
DEQ Office Building Team: Architect, Myself Complete Project from Schematic Design to Complete Construction Document phase.
M.R. Pittman Group, LLC New Orleans, LA Laborer
Pike Productions Professional DJ Service Ruston, La Co-Owner
Dj weddings, community service events, parties, proms, sga events, union board events, sorority and fraternity events, etc. Create and Implement Marketing Plan for Our Business Manage Funds and Employees
Rhino 5
3d modeling software
Sketchup 2013 3d modeling software
Autocad 2014 2D drawing software
Adobe Creative Suite CS6 Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator Photoediting/ Post Production Software
Vray for Rhino Vray for Sketchup
Photo-realistic rendering software
Grasshopper 3d
Parametric design plug-in for Rhino3d
Galapagos
Evolutionary Solver in Grasshopper 3d
3d Fabrication
Laser Cutter, CNC Router, 3d Printer, Maker Bot
Surgene Troost undergraduate portfolio I 2013
re I claim evolo skyscraper competition coastal erosion prevention skyscraper spring 2013 - dr. pasquale de paola
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01 I coastal erosion prevention spring 2013 I dr. pasquale de paola I kory stanley and surgene troost
Objective: To prevent and reverse the causes of coastal erosion on the world’s coast with sustainable solutions.
Proposal: A self sustaining coastal erosion prevention center will use perceptive technologies to register the areas in need. It will then collect sediments from the water and pump them back onto the coast.
Water Purification The skyscraper will utilize its location on the water to gather water and then purify it. The water will be used for both residential needs as well as building system needs.
Wind Harvesting The skyscraper will utilize its location along the coast line to harvest wind energy and use it to power the systems and mechanics of the skyscraper itself. Sediment Collection Sediment from the water will be collected through pumps in the bottom of the skyscraper and than distribution pumps along the side will pump the sediment back onto the coast reversing coastal erosion.
The Evolo Skyscraper competition is an investigation on public and private space and the role of the individual and the collective in the creation of a dynamic and adaptive vertical community. It is also a response to the exploration and adaptation of new habitats and territories based on a dynamic equilibrium between man and nature a new kind of responsive and adaptive design capable of intelligent growth through the self-regulation of its own systems. The goal for our project was to effectively reverse coastal erosion, and at the same time challenge the traditional design of architecture through the use of new technologies. Galapagos is an Evolutionary Solver that employs user created algorithms to calculate the best possible “genome� or result. This process expands the human computer partnership to more than just a user and a tool. It creates a new relationship in which the computer becomes a design partner. Galapagos allows the user to choose the best result from hundreds of iterations in which each pass gets closer and closer to the most optimal solution.
01 movement
02 views
03 prevention
04 economy
The first portion of the Grasshopper definition deals with how the skyscraper moves along the coast. The Galapagos Evolutionary Solver is used to calculate the best route of travel based off of the level of erosion.
The Galapagos Evolutionary Solver is then used to calculate the most optimal rotation of the residential section of the skyscraper based off of best possible views. n
The trajectory of the soil distribution section of the skyscraper is determined in a likewise fashion, in which the Galapagos Evolutionary Solver calculates the best solution based off of the level of erosion.
The fitness function allows Galapagos to find the most optimal solution based off the result with the greatest surface area and the lowest volume. This provides the best performing building with the least amount of material.
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iterative I process galapagos generated iterative models.
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Floor Plates
Glazing
Structure
Skin
water filtration core water purification meter water purification unit purified water reservoir
water return pipe
soil distribution pump soil distribution shoot soil distribution pipe
water distribution pipe high end residential
soil return pipe
soil distribution core
core residential
turbine core turbine scoop
service core
water reservoir distribution pumps sediment distribution pipe groyne main generator
Louvers
Main Section
engine turbine
wind energy generator soil reservoir
mechanical core
sediment distribution pipe water distribution pipe fuel tank carburetor engine turbine
engine core
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re I gowanus gowanus remediation lab remediation lab and interactive center winter 2012 - professor brad deal
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re I gowanus
research I booklet
238 page research booklet created by the entire class
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02 I gowanus remediation lab
winter 2013 I professor brad deal I remington bard and surgene
Objective: The Gowanus Canal has a long standing problem of sewage overflow into the canal which results in polluted water and an overall bad neighborhood atmosphere. Our lab will look to find solutions to reverse this growing problem.
current
Proposal: A Remediation Lab will act as an interactive center for community learning and contain a research center to test and learn from different remediation techniques.
over flow problem
sponge park solution The Gowanus Canal is a canal in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, geographically on the western most portion of Long Island. The Canal is connected to Gowanus Bay in Upper New York Bay, the canal borders the neighborhoods of Red Hook and South Brooklyn. Once a busy cargo transportation hub, the canal is now recognized as one of the most polluted bodies of water in the United States. Our goal was to provide an architectural proposal for a sustainable and inviting water and soil remediation research lab and interactive center. Our building includes strategies that can adapt to evolving needs of the community. It also provides collaborative spaces that inspire learning through teaching and research. It will also be a local attraction and engage the local community, and promote environmentally responsible culture.
Concept Image We studied wetland formation as a precedent on site organization and building formation.
Building Formation The building form was derived from the locations of the site that allowed the most access.
Pathway Formation The pathway forms were derived from the connection between the main entrance and the canal.
current gowanus canal issues
hydrology
street runoff
ecology
poor animal habitat
solid waste
low water quality
trash
odor
contaminants
surface water contamination poor habitat
lead oil cement limited water access land use
privately owned
cultural preservation
lack of maintenance
Remediation Zones The pathways were devided into zones from the canal in order to subdivide different remediation techniques.
Split Levels The building form was split and extruded to allow circulation to the first floor, second floor, and the roof.
limited public access
limited canal edge access deteriorating land
Auditorium Pull The auditorium program was pulled up through the building form to allow exterior access and seating.
Overhangs The building skin was pulled past the wall to create overhangs and provide shade for the underneath spaces.
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02 01
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Remediation research is the key element for our lab. In order to provide sufficient answers to how to clean the canal, multiple forms of remediation would be tested. Our site was divided into multiple bays each of which would have their own particular type of plant or animal species. Each bay would be able to be accessed by the scientists working the lab as well as the public for learning. The building also has multiple interactive learning areas in which the community can learn about the remediation process and get directly involved in the research with hands on work.
01 deep wetlands Gravel based dry soil pre-treatment with poplar trees for embedded heavy metal removal from soil.
reed grass
poplar tree
02 intermediate wetlands Low-height plant groups in arid soil for sub-surface storm water filtration. Wheat and buffalo grasses for hydrocarbon removal.
willow shrub
duck weed
03 deep canal inlet Preliminary open water, catchment, and retention basin. Submerged aquatic plants over a layer of organic sand composite fosters shallow pond habitat.
pond weed
twig dogwood
04 shallow canal inlet
05 oyster beds
Secondary surface flow free water basin. Aquatic reed plants in vegetated submerged bed for distilled purification. Complex underwater environment supporting varied bird species.
Final treatment level of shallow oyster beds over sand aggregate in grass patches for waterborne chemical removal.
drooping sedge
pussy willow
witch hazel
buffalo grass
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3. Key 1. Scientist offices 2. Lab and testing 3. Indoor/outdoor classroom 4. Administration offices 5. Auditorium 6. Interactive center 7. Viewing center
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AA I experiment I parametric skin perforations
Parametric Skin Perforations : This particular grasshopper definition utilizes parametric design in order to create a skin system that is perforated based off of required light. The definition sets up point attractors along the surface that can be manipulated to change the size and frequency of the perforations and therefore change the amount of light let in through the skin. The advanced parametric technology allows for the user to be able to determine the location of the point attractors. The location can be based on program, mechanics, structure, and many other elements. To the right are three examples of how the point attractors can be moved based off of different inputs. The first diagram is based on program that requires light at the base of the building. The second diagram is based on light that is program specific across various parts of the building. The third diagram is based on light at the core of the building. This definition can be applied to any surface and therefore any material. This allows the definition to be applied to multiple building envelopes with ease and differentiation.
01 Base Light
02 Program Based Light
03 Core Light
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re I locate ruston regional airport ruston, la fall 2012 - professor brad deal
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03 I ruston regional airport fall 2012 I professor brad deal I hunter tipps and surgene troost
Objective: To provide a regional airport that will provide transportation for the local and regional community.
Project Proposal : Size of Runway : 7,600ft Max Passengers : 117 Usage : Sports Teams, Public, Business Additions : Rough Edge Rd. Exit Connection to Downtown via LA 146 New Hotels Commercial Areas Inter-modal Railway and Train Station
Ruston Expansion : To determine the need for a regional airport in Ruston, LA we first examined the growth of the city in the past one hundred years and continued to predict the next thirty years of expansion.
Proposal: An airport that rethinks how security is layed out and utilizes the site topography to create a separation between public and private. With a unique and attractive form and skin, the building serves as an icon for the community.
1890
1950
Ruston Analysis : To further enhance our decision to create an airport with the correct amenities for the community we first looked into the area at land use, districts, and local amenities.
Residential Density
Tree Canopy
Core District
Residential Vacancy
Circulation
1970
2009
2015
2020
2025
2030
2. 1. 4. 1.
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4. Future Proposal 1. Hotel Locations 2. New Interstate Connection 3. New Airport 4. Retail Locations
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re I locate Vector Diagrams: The building form is generated through a series of manipulations based off of multiple vectors.
Elevations
Secure vs Unsecure
Topography
Transportation
Security Access
Structure and Skin
Skin Pull
Glazing Punches
Louver Punches
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AA I experiment I cnc wall lighting
CNC Wall Lighting : This experiment was to test the capability of rasterbated images as a design element as well as the cnc router capability with a plywood material. The design comes from taking any image of your choice and running it through a grasshopper definition that creates varied size circles based on intensity of black. The real experiment of this study was to test a new potential use of plywood as a decorative material. In order to create a unique lighting experience with plywood, holes were routed into the back of a piece based off of the rasterbated image. These holes were drilled precisely to leave 1/32� of material so that the plywood front face remained solid. This process allowed so that if light was shined behind the plywood it would show through. This allows for the setting of the area to be changed upon occasion. With no back-lighting the wall seems just a plywood wall, but when back-lighting is provided the image behind shines through.
Test Sample : A simpler definition and a small piece of plywood was used in order to sample if the design would work. Results: The process did work and the light did shine through the plywood. The one flaw was that the depths of the holes would vary with the bows in the plywood. In order to make this experiment work on a larger scale, such as an entire wall, one would have to have a very flat piece of plywood. 2D Drawing
Plywood Sample
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re I align murphy illuminated manuscript library library for special illuminated manuscripts spring 2012 - mr. damon caldwell
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04 I murphy illuminated manuscript library spring 2012 I professor damon caldwell I surgene troost
Objective: To create a library that will preserve a collection of illuminated manuscripts as well as provide various displays for them.
Proposal: An interactive library in which the conservation and preservation are put on display for the public to see. A unique skin system allows for a variety of diffused light.
Background:
Skin System :
The Murphy Illuminated Manuscript Library is a library that specializes in conserving and preserving special collections of illuminated manuscripts and other rare documents. A traditional private library consists of two main elements of program, the public and the private. Typically a library will be organized in a way such that the public program is on the bottom floor, easily accessible to the public, and the private program on the upper floors, in order to be kept out of the public’s reach. In order to re align these programs.
A unique skin system allows for a variety of light throughout the building. In order to protect the delicate manuscripts the light must be diffused. This diffusion occurs through overlapping screens that are rasterbated with an image of an illuminated manuscript. These varying sizes of holes break up the direct light that would otherwise enter the building while still allowing for view to the outside. The second layer of the double skin is operable and can be moved to allow more or less light to enter the building.
A typical private library consists of two main elements of program, the public and the private. Typically a library will be organized in a way such that the public program is on the bottom
Skin Detail:
Overlap Skin:
Aligned Skin:
The double layered skin system slides back and forth on a track system in order to create the overlap.
When less light is needed the skin is left in the overlapped position where only minimal openings exist.
When more light is needed the skin is moved to a position in which the two skins align allowing the maximum amount of light in.
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Key 1. Temporary Storage 2. Work Tables 3. Individual Cubicles 4. Group Viewing Tables 5. Archive 6. Auditorium 7. Display Exhibit
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Preservation
The floor plans are divided based off of the type of program that is on each floor. The first floor is the preservation floor, and is where the manuscripts are worked on. Although on the first floor, the preservation area cannot be directly accessed. The second floor is the observation floor and is the main public floor. It has views of both the preservation level and the conservation level. The third floor is the conservation floor and is where the manuscripts are stored.
Observation
Conservation
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re I vitalize multi-modal bike exchange shreveport, la fall 2013 - professor william hartman
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05 I multi-modal bike exchange
fall 2013 I professor william hartman I mason nabors and surgene troost
Objective: To revitalize the Allendale area and to promote a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle for community.
Proposal: To provide a multi-modal transportation hub that will emphasize sustainable transportation methods such as biking, public transit, and electrical car share.
Background:
Analysis and Goals:
One of the major problems of growing cities is urban sprawl. Cheaper land on 1. Sportran’s established user base and history. the outskirts of city centers accessible by limited access highways drain resources - existing bus routes from the core of a city. Shreveport, LA once had a viable downtown business and - local community residential environment. The circumstances surrounding this decay may be due to neglect of infrastructure, pride for the area, and economic viability. As our country moves toward alternative forms of energy and fuel, it becomes necessary to think 2. Decreasing car dependency. - focus on biking and public transit about providing an amenity that makes many options available. In an effort to - use of electric car share reduce our dependency on cars, a transportation hub for Shreveport would favour - removal of personal car ownership the use of bikes and public transit over the use of personal automobiles. Visualizing a future city core, the scale for economic and social viability would be balanced between work, housing, and entertainment. Future Development Plan
3. More active population. - better health of community - biking awareness - less pollution 4. Sustainable Design - green roofs - residential garden plots - natural lighting - natural ventilation - water reuse
Material Case Study
Sketch Models
Material
Metal Panels
Mesh
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Local
1.
1. Solid Concrete
Lightweight
Transparent
Sustainable
Continuous
Doubly Curved Continuous
Lightweight
Site Anaylsis Through a class twenty four hour charrette we located and selected five potential sites that would be best suitable for future developments. We also determined that a new parkway connecting the 1-49 exit and the downtown would best promote bringing back jobs and residents to the Allendale and Ledbetter area.
Doubly Curved
3. Other Sites
Lightweight
2. Parkway
Doubly Curved
1.Our Site
Translucent
Application Characteristics
Case Studies
Glazing
Wood
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re I vitalize Car Share For every rented car there are fifteen less cars that are being owned. Our goal is to remove personal car ownership among the local community.
Site Location
Program
Street Treatment
Program Displacement
Site Designation
Public Plaza Enclosure
Public Access
Core Circulation
Natural Ventilation The core circulation allows for natural ventilation to happen from the center of the building and does not require that either side of the building be open.
Mesh Skin System The mesh skin system allows that light be diffused throughout the building as well as allowing the natural ventilation to continue to pass through the exterior spaces.
Sportran Bus Transit We will provide an additional office placement as well as an amenity location for current users. This will emphasize the use of public transit in replace of personal automobiles.
Biking Hub Our multi-modal hub emphasizes the use of biking in the community both personally owned and rented. The ultimate goal is to remove personal automobiles all together and have the city using biking and public transit.
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7. Key 1. Retail 2. Lease Offices 3. Bike Offices 4. Live/Work Apts 5. Residential 6. Car Share 7. Sportran Office 8. Showers
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01 Ground Floor Plan
02 Second Floor Plan
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03 Third Floor Plan
04 Fourth Floor Plan
05 Fifth Floor Plan
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Mesh Skin
Mesh Skin Structure
Main Structure
Floor Plates
Program Mass
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