Architecture Portfolio

VICTORIA SHAY ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

The Echo: Deconstructing the Nonexistant Brooklyn Museum

Studio VI: The Institutions We Need II Decolonizing the Museums (of New York)

Semester 3 | Spring 2023 Site: Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn, New York

Instructor: Juan Herreros

Team: Victoria Shay, Eleanor Birle, Cemre Tokat

The Echo rethinks and redesigns the Brooklyn Museum in response to current concerns. Em-bracing a radical transformation of its current museographical program to localize the institute in its time and place. Our site, The Brooklyn Museum, is situated amidst Brooklyn’s dense greenery and intersects the vibrant residential and culturally diverse Prospect Heights and Crown Heights neighborhoods. The museum along with the public library and the botanic gar-dens are all situated within Prospect Park creating a civic hub of cultural programs.

The Echo challenges the current building form and existing mission statement, which prides itself on showcasing, engaging, and including local Brooklyn... thus questioning what makes the Brooklyn Museum, THE Brooklyn Museum.

This proposal deconstructs the unbuilt historic plan, creating a new structural framework to hold a variety of spaces and removing the contemporary entry pavilion and ground floor, which allows for a fluid entryway from the neighborhood to the park that maintains the axial entry of the proposed building. This composition nests a series of walkways and platforms for interaction with both art and nature. It emphasizes the Brooklyn Museum as an opportunistic intersection between Prospect Heights neighborhood and Prospect Park/ Botanical Garden to rewrite the historical construction systems and reimagine the traditional museum experience. Therefore, completing the fragment of the historic building through lightweight and accessible construction methods and increased integration with the natural and localized surroundings dissolves the formerly impermeable and monumental building, creating an exchange between the surroundings and the museum.

Position Drawing completing fragment of the historic building through lightweight and accessible construction methods that increases integration with natural and localized surroundings

Our proposal emphasizes the Brooklyn Museum as an opportunistic inter-section between Prospect Heights neighborhood and Prospect Park/Botanical Garden to rewrite the historical construction systems and reimagine the traditional museum experience. The building will act as a door to the park that aesthetically and programmatically represents the people, the history, the nature, and the creativity of Brooklyn... making the museum THE Brooklyn Museum that is localized.

Axon exhibits the framework that nests a series of walkways and platforms for interaction with both art and nature

Nolli Plan of Brooklyn Museum site contextualized to Prospect Park, Botanical Garden, and residential neighborhoods of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights

The building’s formal evolution, localized history, exhibited collection information and global relationship, leadership, and comparative museum building size

Existing ground floor plan emphasizes museum’s disconnect from community

Existing transversal section indicates building situated between two expanses of asphalt, eastern parkway and a large parking lot

The unfinished nature of the footprint is legible in the existing facades. The back and side of the building are left unfinished, with bricked-over windows and a solid appearance. Over time, fire stairs and freight elevators have been stuck onto the back facade which faces the park, creating an increasingly opaque and impermeable facade

The unfinished nature of the footprint is legible in the existing facades. The back and side of the building are left unfinished, with bricked-over windows and a solid appearance. Over time, fire stairs and freight elevators have been stuck onto the back facade which faces the park, creating an increasingly opaque and impermeable facade

Ground floor plan with demonstrated architectural moves addressing historic unconstructed plan, existing building form, and contemporary front addition

Developed a design language from our architectural critic of the existing conditions and boundaries. The historic understanding of the structural composition rewrites the programmatic contextual relationship and spatial form to create unexpected sectional experiences. The syntax introduces nature, art, and contemporary geometries into the unbuilt building’s classical grid plan, dissolving the monumentality of the historic facade to create a balance of the natural and the artificial.

The Echo syntax perspective showing the nature of our proposal’s architectural language

Proposed ground floor plan; long axial walkways, multiple entrances facing park and neighborhood, and changes to the ground plane echo of the footprint of the unbuilt building

Proposed roof plan; series of platforms, walkways, stairs and ramps echo the multiple domes proposed for the unbuilt building, and structural form of the original grid plan

Compiled collage; spaces house selective pieces from the museum’s collection and storage, becoming a living archive. Spaces for performance, play, observatories, and cafes are nested between structure, circulation, and nature.

Proposed transversal section; completes the fragment by removing hierarchy from the one remaining entrance of the historic building and becomes a transitional space between park, neighborhood, and museum

Proposed longitudinal section; allows people and nature to move through space freely, encouraging chance encounters that blurs the boundary between museum, neighborhood, and park.

Moment 1; sunken courtyard space houses art and nature while acting as a meeting and performance space

Moment 2; embraces experimental wayfinding, decentralizing the visit that allows natural relationships between neighbors and art

Moment 3; Dissolves traditional gallery spaces with material gradient between historic building and park to introduce contemporary lightness, delicacy, and fragility

02

East New York: Community Agro-Puncture

Studio V: Accessibility

Semester 2 | Fall 2022

Site: Vacant Lots of East New York

East New York, NY

Critic: Laura Gonzalez Fierro

East New York Community Agro-Puncture designs a network of care as an urban initiative to revitalize this industrial neighborhood. The network is driven by the Accessibility Index principles – culture, public services, and nature. It’s centered around how fresh local food and the activities around it bring people together and support a community.

The project proposes to blur the boundary between residential and industrial zones through a localized network of 40 lots throughout East New York. These sites include community gardens, vacant lots, and school bus parking lots. The different nature of these sites enable designed systems that respond to each site zone with a different level of care through a series of permanent, semipermanent, and temporary architectural prototypes. It’s a network of food production, celebration, and consumption where urban agriculture and public space intersect.

Permanent: reinvent existing community gardens; vertical growing facilities of passive and low-tech aquaponic systems that produce food year-round.

Semi-Permanent: redevelop existing vacant lots; cultural spaces, entertainment, and seed banks to improve the streetscape and community relations.

Temporary: revitalize large vacant school bus parking lots during the day; twice a week market to improve local fresh food options for the industrial zone workers and incentivize local economy.

Agro-puncture is about the community— for the people, by the people of East New York!

Temporary architectural prototype: temporary day markets intervention of school bus parking lot vacant lot

Typological exploration of common vertical farming greenhouse from active high-tech system to the more passive and more affordable options.

Precedent urban farming research diagram analysis.

Oko Farm is the largest aquaponic farm in ENY -- use low-tech approach towards system designs with standardized low-cost and accessible materials. Also utilize passive systems with soil as natural insulation against colder temperature by having some portion of the tanks and planters sunken below ground level. This is built by a small group of volunteers and Oko also offers workshops for the public during the day.

UCC Farm is the largest agricultural site in ENY -- traditional soil-based system that requires vast horizontal site, which has large workshop and community kitchen and organizes weekly farmers markets that extend along the street right next to the site.

Covering -- efficient thermal envelop, Polycarbonate is a balanced option between polyethylene fabric and glass that also provides a yearly and regulating thermal envelop and visually permeable wall

Decking -- FRP plastic polymer decking is much lighter but still providing all the advantages of steel and allow light to access, especially when it comes to stacking vertical growing and production spaces in a compact area

Structure -- scaffolding typology, Wood is the most cost effective, durable, and manageable weight that also relates to the surrounding urban context and values.

Material Research: material comparisons for the context of ENY- in terms of cost efficiency, weight, durability, and affordability

Parts of Kit assembly of the temporary markets

Assembly guide of the structure to show how it could be built by the community volunteers

Semi-Permanent rendered activated spaces that reengages the street scape and community relations

Permanent rendered reinvented community garden vertical urban farming

Unfolded drawing of ENY Agro-Puncture network of care

03 (Un)Fortify

Studio IV: And(Also)

Semester 1 | Summer 2022

Site: Pier 57 and St. John’s Terminal Chelsea, New York

Critic: Karla Rothstein

Segregation among Chelsea neighborhood residents, caused by gentrification over the last decade, is particularly evident for the inhabitants of Chelsea-Elliot and Fulton public housing. Contemporary developments like the Highline and luxury residential buildings have catalyzed the widening of the income gap. The cost of living is increasing and the environment is becoming nearly exclusively higher income.

Before urban renewal, West Chelsea was home to immigrants and middle-class working families. While around 255,000 New York families are currently on NYCHA’s waitlist, major tech companies such as Google own premium real estate in lower Manhattan, of which 18% currently lies vacant. With the shift to remote working, this significant empty space can be repurposed to create public housing and help resolve the city’s growing housing crisis.

Pier 57, currently occupied by Google, stands in isolation from the rest of the city with internalized operations that provide neither inclusive dialogue with the environment nor the public.

This situation requires reimagining the pier as the site for new affordable social housing that relieves the housing deficit through radical intervention. A dynamic network of public amenities, housing, and gathering spaces with curated visual and physical connections will add more civility to the neighborhood.

Position Drawing of Chelsea gentrification issue linked to New York real estate

Longitudinal section showing public amenities and interior-exterior connections that renegotiate boundaries

Transversal section showing levels of private to public residential space, diverse modes of accessibility, and visual connections

Big Tech, public housing, and vacancy rate graphic analysis scalable to lower Manhattan and Chelsea neighborhood

Vacancies and sited contextual social and political conditions provide opportunities to address the housing crisis

Opposition

Division

Fortification

Nature: Controlled Growth, Encompassing

Connections, Porosity

Applied architectural syntax as design tactics on Pier 57

Levels of interaction permanence:

Long duration (related to existing program)

Mild duration (occasional occupancy and temporal)

Limited duration (transit occupancy)

Research Installation:

Art, Social Structures, and Building Technology For Interconnected Environments

Semester 3 | Spring 2023

If Buildings Could Talk...

Site: Revson Plaza, Columbia University

Morningside Heights, NY

Instructor: Sharon Ayalon

Team: Victoria Shay, Javier Flores, Kriti Shivagunde, Florianne Jacques, Valentina Jaramillo

Columbia University’s imposition on Harlem threatens its culturally diverse heritage by encroaching neighborhood boundaries that diminish community belonging, ownership, local economies, and its historical contributions to art, architecture, music, and cuisine. Its growing institutional wealth and population are further fueling this gentrification of homes, businesses, and several acres of historical buildings to which the general Columbia Community is unaware of and blind to.

While bridges typically connect spaces and people, Revson Plaza, an elevated overpass above Amsterdam Avenue that connects Columbia’s main campus buildings, disconnects the surrounding neighborhood communities from access to public spaces. This site exemplifies the existing physical boundaries that segregate Harlem from the rest of Manhattan’s predominantly white neighborhoods - while dousing the street below with darkness.

The project attempts to highlight this physical separation that Revson Plaza forms, which symbolizes the larger inequity faced by the residents of Harlem. The installation is a hybrid apparatus that plays with color and light to engage Columbians, commuters, and workers who use the spaces above and below. The cantilevered reflective glass assembly suspends in the transitional space between the sidewalk and the bridge. Derived from hard data on Harlem’s periodical gentrification, the work abstracts the neighborhood zones into layered shards of glass, with the stable neighborhood layers towards the top that gradiently descend to the gentrified neighborhood layers at the base. The viewers experience the piece differently depending on where they are situated on the site; from the ground, one can sense the overpowering presence of Columbia’s institutional imposition, and from the top, you can see the longstanding repercussions of gentrification caused by the University’s continual expansion. “Shattering the Bridge” intends to bring to light this reality of Columbia’s role in gentrifying Upper Manhattan.

This project evokes how through data and information one is able to create a piece of art, this piece of art its final purpose is to call attention, becoming a beacon point that will then guide the user to its base information. Art and abstraction transform into a vessel that reveals the real nature of urban life.

What Makes The Shard?

Rivets

Construction Process

Timber Frame

Clear Elastic Bands

3/8” Steel Cable Clear Zip Ties

Chicken Wire Mesh

Measure Construct Arrange

Assemble Transport Install

Usually bridges are meant to connect but it this case is the whole opposite, that’s why the project becomes an attempt to destroy an imposing bridge by breaking the physical boundaries through an art piece that is born from the history of the urban unfairness and institutional impositions.

Post-digitalized collage illustration done by Victoria Shay. Highlights the separate movement typologies, segregated users, conditional and experiential difference above and below plaza

Historic view of Columbia University indicating plaza bridge site, prior to its construction Installation site off of plaza

The project also comes with a website, which users are able to have access by visiting the sculpture, this website has become the main source of internal information that will wrap all the invisible narratives that have been part of the gentrification of upper Manhattan.

05 Degrees of Shareability

Interior Architecture Thesis: Adaptive Reuse Assisted Living Co-Op Housing

Year 5 | Summer 2021

Site: Selma, AL

Professors Jennifer Pindyck, Matt Hall, Kevin Moore, Deborah

Ku

Threshold spaces have the primary characteristics of being ‘the inbetween’ of what connects or separates. This form is the catalyst where new ideas are reimagined and rearranged between static and dynamic constants. Space is a social production with woven and fragmented relationships, in which an act where people and places are resultants of each other. The transitional threshold forms are complete independent volumes, but connected by action, materiality, and thickness, which shapes fluid interaction among spaces.

This project redefines the concept of family by distinguishing communal living spaces, in which the floor plate acts as a family and separate cells of program create both private and shareable spaces. A holistic design approach for establishing a connective and adaptive communal living experience. Complimenting the existing historic conditions with contemporary design installations, creates a specific spatial quality of remembrance and progressivism. The impetus for this design approach focuses on how to maintain individuality through shareability . Exploring the volumetric role of thresholds for creating shareable spaces by establishing levels of privacy. Critically focusing on wall and door roles to create shareability and form nooks of independence by experimenting with their permeability. Thresholds that blend the traditional private and public spaces. The levels of privacy are formed and integrated by investigating the wall and door relationship, thickness, materiality, and permeability. A program that forms specific spatial functions, visual focus and depth, and swingable spaces.

Floor material change notes transition between space shareability

Floor 2, Independent living. Floor plan articulated floor texture differentiates public-private spaces and proposed furnished program to express actions performed in spaces

Floor 3, Co-op living. Highlights the floor plan system as a modernist pinwheel programmatic concept. Unit assembly variety shows adaptability of unit to accommodate program by the removal or insertion of partition

Programed shareability by activating shared wall threshold space

painted glass (glossed blue)

table

Shared space material + furniture choices

Hand drawing threshold shareability exploration

extracted volumetric threshold conditions for light, visual, and physical passage bedroom unit BroadSt. 2023 AUBURN UNIVERSITY

Swing wall (thickness)

Textured wall (material permeability)

Tenant Spaces (connectivity)

Elevator (Circulation/Accessibility) Transparency (shareability)

Threshold functionality to differentiate space shareability, axon diagram

Section indicating degrees of shareability

1. Independent bedroom unit (most private)

2. Shared space between bedroom units (semi-private)

3. Communal shared space (public)

Publicly Shared

Bedroom unit showing interior and exterior connection and materiality that differentiates private and public spaces

Floor 2 communal foyer corridor. Shows threshold portals for transitioning inhabitant from public to private space. Displays wood materiality differences that signify the walls pinwheel system for functional programming

06

The Community Connection Center

Atlanta Reactivation ‘Play vs. Protest’ Civic Center

Year 4 | Fall 2020

Site: Atlanta, GA

Professor Jennifer Pindyck

Where south downtown community discovers unity through diversity. The Community Connection Center expresses connection. An adaptive reuse project for the existing Constitution building. It creates a place of belonging, embracing diversity, in community and the built environment. Fracturing and displacing heavy extrusions to highlight the areas for engagement and fluid connectivity.

The design theory is a concept for participation in the conversation of unifying through diversity. The C.C.C. inserts commentary within the larger system. Aesthetically and programmatically uniting through differences, the structural insertions and attachments to the existing building moves as actions towards the agenda of “play’ and “protest”. Create experiences of heavy and light, loud and quiet, dark and bright. Moments of clarity through actions of architectural controversy.

The bold architectural moves were inspired by the investigation of Gothic architecture and through the abstraction of its fundamental design characteristics. Applying the abstraction created a unique contemporary design.

Digital exploded axonometric drawing: insertion of extrusions collide and unite withing the existing building structure

Playful sculpture section iteration 01. ‘Playfully’ inserted sculpture into existing building condition to think of forming program and occupiable spaces

Concrete sculpture abstraction based off ‘favorite thing’: Gothic

Sculpture ‘playfully’ inserted into existing building to create spatial boundaries, circulation, and connections

Final section. Shows developed spatial conditions formulated from volumetric sculptural punctures

Collaboration room. The extrusion punctures highlight spaces for loose programming tailored to services for community engagement

Spaces and experiences created by the volumetric extrusion insertions in the building form

PROGRAMMATIC ABSTRACTIONS

SYSTEMATIC ABSTRACTIONS

Interior Visual + Physical Experiential Connection

Public engagement and movement with the volumes

Arrangement of punctures create occupancy, transition, and frames views

CONCEPTUAL ABSTRACTIONS Transitional Spaces + Experiential Climb

CIRCULATORY ABSTRACTIONS

Interconnected Masses + Density

Circulation creates experiential visual and physical connections among programs

Intersecting plane that frame visual connections and dynamic spatial qualities

Bold volumetric form installations creates expressive spaces and visual dimension

Dynamic social environments

Interconnected masses reflects connective community

Transitional spaces and experiential climb for playful interactions

Exploded existing building skin with inserted abstracted vertical circulation passages

Moments of clarity in the darkness. Person experiencing light through a light well volume puncture

Oh The Places We Will Go ...

Hand-crafted portable wood writing desk

Year 3 | Fall 2019

Professor Rebecca O’Neal

This box is a representation of past and present, built and designed for the authors, by looking closely at their most prized writings and inspired by their stories. Through this investigation of Southern Literature and specifically the authors, Harper Lee and Mark Twain, cultivated the common themes that guided my design theory. The major themes that drove my design were friendship/bonds, southern lifestyle and culture, self-discovery, and adventure.

Harper Lee is originally from Alabama, where she recorded personal experiences to inspire her stories. To Kill a Mockingbird has autobiographical roots and the main element throughout the story, the oak tree knothole, was actually a critical aspect in Lee’s life. Earlier, she was a stewardess and travel played a crucial part in her life. She quit her job to revise her stories where she typed on her typewriter. Travel and accessibility to writing very impactful.

Mark Twain , while from Missouri he spent most of time up and along the Mississippi River. He was a pilot and riverboat captain. He was always traveling and exposed to many cultural elements. Twain was an experiential writer; hand writing his ideas and stories coupled with hand sketches was crucial tradition to his writing process. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a “hymn” to his childhood.

Hand crafted wood (oak) author’s writing box designed for particular uses of Mark Twain and Harper Lee

Tryptic drawing board series illustration of Mark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Design Intentions:

Rope Connection = durability for travel and experiential travel logging

Stain = exhibits a deep oak appearance

Sketch Flap = Twain quick hand writings and hand sketches

Flat Open Surface = Lee + Twain typewriter accessibility

Hidden Compartments = “Boo Radley Oak Knothole” compartments holds her notes

Larger Compartments = sketching paper, writing and typing utensils

Storage flap folds down to create flat top surface Slanted writing surface folds over top the flat surface and locks desk

Author’s desk annotated illustration of how box folds together

To Write To Store

Writing spaces, ergonomically slanted surface for Mark Twain’s handwritten records and illustrations

Opened author’s writing desk showing the various storage compartments and versatility of the box design

Athenaeum Nautilus

Adaptive Reuse Public library for Southern literature, arts, and history

Year 3 | Fall 2019

Site: Chattanooga, TN Professor Rebecca O’Neal

Architecture is storytelling using the language of landscape, history, and built forms. It tells a narrative of the values of a particular community, Chattanooga, in its time and place. Athenaeum Nautilus’ design concept and program is inspired by the in depth investigation of southern literary author, Mark Twain. This building is a hub for communal interaction that cultivates knowledge and experiences.

Mode of circulation. Reflects the circuitous journey Mark Twain experienced down the Mississippi River. Circulation connects program spaces physically and visually.

metal fins and panel facade. reflects existing skin quality and regulates sun/shading locally resourced wood. perforated design for texture and shadow

steel structural system arranged collaborative spaces

Rendered interior atrium space highlights perforated ramping system as the main method of programmatic connection. Circulation drives the design concept. An interactive and experiential circulation path designed by inspiration from Mark Twain’s (also in reference to novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) experience of traveling down the Mississippi River.

Physical model assembly at 1/16” scale of the Athenaeum Nautilus proposed design concept (exterior condition + site topography)

Section cuts through building articulating atrium space and basement. Ramp physically connects programs

Site plan and proposed program floor plans

Front elevation highlighting facade glazing installation that reflects existing building skin condition

Ramp circulation that physically and visually connects floor program spaces

Lobby atrium space for community collaboration

09 The Art of Movement

Architecture Thesis: Redefining Movement by Redesigning Liminal Spaces

Year 5 | Spring 2022

Site: Pier 97; New York, NY

Professor Justin Miller

This design thesis focuses on social architecture that aims to redesign liminal spaces with a progressive human-centric approach, as to redefine how people move that unite architecture with existing urban city movement patterns. The redevelopment of NYC Pier 97 activates the waterfront and unites architecture and the user by implementing a range of diverse passage sequence movements. The design rethinks traditional liminal spatial conditions and preconditioned movement patterns, specifically the way users engage on a Pier, to create a culturally immersive experience. Rather than disconnecting the human body from the man-made landscape, this project showcases how architectural design uses creativity and reorientation to design spaces that challenge the user’s physical skills and encourages a diverse range of movements that better engage the user with his or her environment.

The Hudson River Park serves New York City residents and guests by connecting them to the waterfront – for culture, recreation, and the environment. The development of Pier 97 adds to the overall intentionality of the Hudson River Park as a force for change and neighborhood rejuvenation. Designing program and space through sequence and form, by extruding and colliding existing pier concrete base module forms and river pillars to create a aesthetically complex landmark that intrigues engagement from the community to reactivate the waterfront.

Pier 97 The Art of Movement exterior perspective highlighting program and materiality with relation back to surrounding urban New York City context

Thresholds / Exploratory Sequence

Manipulated horizontal planes / Habitual Sequence

Tidal Pool (“to connect with water”/”to lay”)

The Bleachers (“the observe”/”to gather”)

Skydeck (“to frame view”)

Hand drawing; movement sequence and Pier form explanation

Hudson River-Walk Promenade (“to change scale+dimension” / “to climb”/”to step”)

Outside Exhibition Promenade (“to explore”/”to turn corners”/”to sit”)

Vertical Ascension / Circulatory Sequence Displaced Pier ground plane for access to Hudson River

Pedestrian Overpass (physical connection to urban core)

Axon Perspective of Pier 97 development and the existing movement sequences surrounding the site. In front of the Entry Plaza from street level is the Hudson River Greenway Trail (Pedestrian + Bicycle) and the vehicular traffic on 12th Ave + Henry Hudson Parkway

Facade analysis diagrams to achieve illuminating aesthetic

Applied facade material condition for Pier 97 Art Exhibition buildings

Exterior exhibition corridor sequence configuration diagram deliberating the design origins to the craft of movement by redesigning traditional liminal space (corridor/doors/windows)

Exterior exhibition corridor perspective showing the close relation to structure to nature (Hudson River) and the curated space of structure to redefine promenade movement sequence and artist work installations.

Interior perspective showing the space for art installations, exhibitions, educational programs

Interior perspective showing liminal spaces. The lighting and ceiling system allow for natural light illumination and visual connection outside. The thresholds encourage diverse passage engagement

Exterior perspective from sky deck approaching the overpass. This expresses the visual connection from pier back into the urban center and emphasizes the avenue axis and for visual depth

Exterior perspective from entry point off of the pedestrian path of the existing Hudson River Park. Thesis theory driving quote engraved on entrance wall preparing users to be aware of surroundings.

The Node

Georgia State University: Graduate School of New and Emerging Media

Year 5 | Fall 2021

Site: Atlanta, GA

Professor Justin Miller

Node:

noun technical

“a point (or in plural several points) at which lines or pathways intersect or branch; a central or connecting point.” “the intersections of two or more such arteries would clearly become major nodes of traffic and urban activity.”

This project challenges traditional ideas towards a design for a new media graduate school appropriate for the era of constantly evolving information networks. The school will function as the fora for advanced media studies, providing opportunities for exchange of ideas among current and future leaders of the field.

This academic center for new emerging and inventive mixed-use media is a node for faculty and students to gather and practice dynamic collaborative behavior. It is a center that fosters connective collaboration and creative expression.

The building explores the intention of physical space and interactions in an increasingly digitalized world. It is an architectural project that encourages unexpected encounters between people intersected with visual connections and spaces for development and expression. The main design move is the development of the central lobby space that allows for networking, informative broadcasting, and creative exhibition. The intertwined circulation system is a centralized vertical ascension system.

Sidewalk approach exterior perspective showing the facade rotation that opens to emphasize the connective central atrium space

Site plan with urban context and topography condition and section cuts

SITE PLAN

Scale: 1/64” = 1’0”

Front Elevation

Section A

Section B

SECTION B (Transversal cut)

Sun Path Diagram Site

East entrance approach

West entrance approach

North entrance approach

North Corner

NW Facade West Corner East Corner South Corner

Facade rotating panel design system

System exploded diagram

1 EXPLODED FACADE PANELS

2 PROGRAM SPACES PROJECTION

3 CIRCULATION

Interior perspectives of the center atrium space, “Creative Cloud” of projecting program spaces into open atrium. Vertical circulation pass expresses surprise encounters, framed views, and active engagement.

West entrance approach. The movement is naturally shaped by existing urban movement and site topography

South approach from main Georgia State University campus showing urban relationship to building and outside collaborative spaces

North approach from Centennial Olympic Park showing the roof compression and release design that directs social movement in, out, and around the building

11 It Takes a Village: S.T.E.M. School

Montessori K-5 school to enhance active learning

Year 4 | Spring 2021

Site: Montgomery, AL

Professor Randal Vaughn

The main design principles is connectivity, with community and contextual history. The site is full of greenery, open spaces, gardens, and play spaces. Designed a site and community that maintains and integrates a balance between historic legacy and advancing contemporary relevance.

The site draws from the grid format of Montgomery and the immediate surrounding context of district community. The site is designed as a village or ‘neighborhood’ of academic houses and communal spaces. Agricultural lots, gardens, play areas, study spaces, gym, cafetorium, and fields set with the natural environment.

The buildings are modular grid design with a basic open concept connecting program through circulation. The design and orientation aim to create a synergy between external and internal environments. Visual connection to landmarks of Montgomery and the orientation follows urban grid pattern and emphasized towards the historically significant Alabama River. The height of the buildings and open spaces enable visual to urban downtown, specifically the Capitol.

The specialized lab of the STEM school is the Agricultural Field Labs. This is significant in understanding and educating the students of Alabama, and in particular Montgomery’s, history as a hub for commerce because rich ground for agriculture and access to River. Students study and research evolution, sustainability, and ecology to gain an understanding of our impact on the larger ecosystem. While these main agricultural research lots are centrally located in the academic village, there are additional lots on the southwest corner of the site for neighborhood community to actively participate.

North corner school entrance showcasing the interactive central space that cultivates the specialized agriculture field labs

Montgomery STEM Village Academy

Ground Plan -- Contour Grade Existing Contours Proposed Contours

Site plan with contours and public and academic green spaces articulated

Campus Footpath

Public Footpath

Vehicular Path

Site circulation diagram

Exploded occupiable window aperture projection diagram

Concept collage, site and surrounding influencing factors, infrastructure, geography, and history

Concept collage, connection of urban core to site to embrace communal vitality

Longitudinal site section through school houses , play green space, and academic buildings

1 2 Gymnasium Academic Houses

3 Playgrounds

4 Urban Community Gardens

033000 cast-in-place concrete structure

095123 acoustic tile ceiling

085113 aluminum windows

088000 glazing

092900 gypsum board

061600 sheathing

072100 batt insulation

072100 rigid foam insulation (4”)

072729 vapor barrier

034713 tilt-up concrete

053100 steel decking

055819 heating-cooling covers

072100 thermal insulation

051200 structural steel framing

Articulated detail wall section

Occupiable window detail

1. TILT UP CONCRETE PANELS

Market 2 Market

Art Urbain International Competition (Paris, FR)

Year 3 | Spring 2020

Site: Rome, Italy

Professor Carla Keyvanian

The Flaminio is an area north of Rome and with many neglected, partially abandoned spaces, the neighborhood is in need of revitalization. Initially found hidden gems, neglected or inaccessible nodes in the Flaminio area, that offer cultural importance. The two main gems are the Mercato Borghetto Flaminio and the Mercato Rionale. The existing spaces lack accessibility and connections to the city. Prominently located near Piazza del Popolo, the Consolar Road of Via Flaminia, and a major transportation hub, they have potential for revitalization. Markets are traditionally nodes for community engagement. Maintaining its integrity, the redesign reflects the values of the community, to bring more cultural integration and energy within the Flaminio. The proposal uses the existing urban fabric to create visual and physical connectivity within the district.

Flaminio district site plan

Connective linear park path collage illustrates landscape design, activities, and occupants

Flaminio District market renovation and connective linear park

Market interior collage. Integrates new design concept with traditional Roman market qualities

Program and urban connection diagrams of The Flaminio. Zone and illustrate existing markets, proposed transformative connection paths, and renovate sites

Floor 1 Market zoned stalls. Organization layout determined by complimentary senses to create the best experience, floor sectioned by savory & sweet

The market holds different vending stations. Community is able to buy produce, breads, dairy products, cured meats, nuts, oils, spices, and condiments. The market is designed to give visitors the feeling they are immersed in nature with a strong relation of inside outside. Ambiance of open-air, fresh, cultivating, rejuvenating, sustainable community hub. Supports vendors to improve their businesses and the design of their stalls. Focus on the products so have to be well-displayed on clean, well-lit, well-functioning stalls.

Floor 2 is a mezzanine with zoned planters, community seating, and makerspace learning spaces

Market section

Perforated corten metal panel exterior skin detail. Panel dimensions: 15’ x 10’ Th facade skin design is based on an abstract analysis of The Flaminio urban density.

Facade panel system and glazing connection section perspective

13

Analyzing Italy

Sketches from semester abroad in Rome

Spring 2020

Sketchbook collection of hand illustrated sketches and watercolors depicted structural studies during site visits and walks around the districts of Rome, Italy during time studying abroad, Spring 2020 (before COVID closure).

Illustrations done by Victoria Shay

14

The Rhythm of Light

Hand-crafted circadian light fixture design-build Fall 2019 | Elements of Interiors

Curate an authentic circadian light fixture for Dementia Care Facility

Hand-crafted laser cut strathmore with programmed LED light

Image Making

Architecture and landscape photographs expressing a narrative of patterns and lines.

Semester 2 | Fall 2022

Sites: Greater New York Metropolitan area

Professor: Michael Vahrenwald

Locations: The Oculus Center (Tribeca, NY)

The Whitney Museum (Chelsea, NY)

Moynihan Train Hall (Midtown, NY)

Ikon.5 Architects

Summer intern professional work experience

Summer 2019, Summer 2020

Employer: ikon.5 architects

Manhattan, NY

Position: Architectural Intern

During my professional experience, I collaborated with firm designers in early design development of higher-education and cultural projects. I developed presentation drawings and constructed detailed physical models for presentations to clients and project proposal competitions. I also participated in continuing-education seminars provided for firm members.

Temple of Valor: National Purple Heart Hall of Honor New Windsor, NY 2020

Role: drawing curator and editor. articulated 2D plan, post digital effects, and diagram drawings.

Rowan University Dormitory

Glassboro, NJ

2019

Role: drawing curator and model designer. articulated 2D campus site plans and hand constructed scaled model

The Ohio State Nursing School Addition

Columbus, OH

2019

Role: drawing curator and model designer. articulated site drawings and hand constructed scaled model

Building Communities

Housing Assistance Council (HAC) and the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) program

Design Team:

Victoria Shay

Drew Haley Smith

Ambar Ashraf

Meagan Mitchell

Naomi Tony-Alabi

Winter 2021

Employer: HAC Non-profit organization

CIRD grant Midway, AL

Position: Interior Architectural Intern

Invited and commissioned to participate in a community design workshop to help redesign a former school in Midway, AL. Team of 5 Auburn Interior Architecture students worked to transform Midway’s shuttered Merritt school campus into a vibrant community complex for health, education, recreation & jobs.

Proposed and developed a design proposal for federal grant funding to construct phase design strategy. Worked to enhance the quality of life and economic viability of rural America through planning, design, and creative place making.

CIRD is a national award—one of only 4— allows our project to tap the services of top designers as we engage the community in this project.

Project deliberation with Midway, AL Mayor Pictured: Meagan Mitchell (left), Mayor Mildred Whittington (center), me:Victoria Shay (right)