Portfolio

My name is Grayson Levitch. I am a passionate designer with the ultimate goal of seeking and aiming to create built environments that excite, restore, and alleviate the user. With an interest in form and texture, I am geared towards design that is unique, functional and engaging. My enthusiasm for architecture and design spark my positive personality and motivates me to collaborate with others.

TABLEOF C O N T E N T S.

The origin of the word Jazz originated from “jasm”, meaning “pep energy”, dating back to 1860. For over one-hundred years, Jazz has provided an array of music and encompasses many different styles. Among all these styles, one theme remains identical throughout. All Jazz is characterized by polyrhythms and improvisation. This rhythm makes use of two or more different rhythms simultaneously allowing for a dynamic, experimental, and unpredictable experience. Jazz is “a spontaneity and vitality of musical production in which improvisation plays a role”. In other words it is loose and unexpected yet sharp and concise. A group interaction involving multiple instruments creates many different levels made up of fast tempos and smoother sounds including long, linear melodic lines. The music itself includes the idea of adding and subtracting through rhythm, sounds, and instruments, highlighting the progressive and regressive improvisation that exists within jazz. These two rhythms work together to create a contrast that adds to the uniqueness of Jazz. Taking inspiration from the rhythm and characteristics of Jazz, the space aims to highlight the contrast of the fast tempos and the smooth sounds through form, space planning, and materials. Layering and leveling is implemented to tie together the emphasis of the addition and subtraction quality of Jazz music, and to represent the diverse ensemble that exists. The colors of spaces stem from the contrast of a fast tempo and a smooth sound. The Bar and Conference areas are designed with a darker palette representing an increase in music and a more condensed sound, symbolizing the fast tempo and the addition that takes place. The Entertainment and Bedroom areas are designed with a lighter palette and less layering representing a decrease in music and a softer sound. This symbolizes the smooth melodic line and the subtraction that takes place. Taking inspiration from the instruments and Jazz music itself, smooth textures are located throughout the space to represent the overall feel of Jazz and its history.

Bienenstock Design Competition

Main Bar Elevation NTS

This diagram symbolizes and displays the contrast, positioning, and balance between “Fast Tempo” and “Smooth Melodic Line” spaces within the skybox. The

This diagram symbolizes and displays the contrast, positioning, and balance between “Fast Tempo” and “Smooth Melodic Line” spaces within the skybox. The darker area of the diagram represents the density of the “Fast Tempo” and the lighter area of the diagram displays the relief and softness of a “Slow Melodic Line”.

1. FilzFelt - ARO Plank 6 - Beige

2. Interface - Natural Woodgrains - Winter Grey

3. Brown Leather

4. White Marble

5. Design Tex - Line Variations - Nocturnal

6. Black Marble

7. Interface - Natural Woodgrains - Washed Wheat

1. Grey Metal Cladding

6. Brown Leather

2. FilzFelt - ARO Plank 6 - Beige

5. Black Marble

4. Interface - Progression I - Eclipse

3. Interface - Natural Woodgrains - Winter Grey

Left: A black marble suspended ceiling feature mimics the shape of the carpet tiles placed below. This is designed to help zone a space for the main conference room table. Ambient and task lighting are both included to improve the efficiency and function of meetings.

Miniature Bar Elevation NTS

allows visitors to reflect on individual resources and already obtained knowledge through “Rest”, and gain new opportunities, resources and knowledge through “Exchange”. “Rest” spaces represent the more confined area of a cave where time is spent reflecting and growing as an individual, and “Exchange” spaces represent the vast openings within a cave where new opportunities exist to gain more resources. An architectural feature piece is placed at the lobby of the library and serves as an area of personal reflection while helping to divide the space. The permeability of the feature piece allows for sight lines and allows visitors to get a glimpse of different spaces throughout the library. In addition, the architectural feature piece serves as a nook area in multiple spaces, allowing for that reflection, but helps create new spaces and divide spaces within the library allowing visitors to be adjacent to areas of exchange and new opportunity. Through these spaces, visitors are able to come together as one as a collective group to strengthen the surrounding community.

The materials and textures used within the library are very neutral to allow for a serene, tranquil environment where visitors feel comfortable gaining new resources and seeking new opportunities. High contrast occurs through color to mimic the adjacency of the confined space with a vast open space.

The parti diagrams above highlight the areas of rest that exist throughout the space. These architectural pieces are designed to provide the user with privacy that is adjacent to a sense of community. This privacy mimics the feeling of being secluded in a hidden oasis while still having a vast view. The position of these rest areas help create circulation within the library.

A cafe is placed at the front entry of the library, allowing for social activity upon arrival. Floor to ceiling store front windows provide natural light into this space as well as expansive views for users to enjoy. The muted color palette that greets users as they first enter serves as a sense of tranquility and alludes to a safe environment that does not overwhelm.

3. Self Check-Out + Lobby

4. Staff Workroom

5. Fiction + Non-Fiction

6. Periodicals

9. Maker Space

10. Community Room

11. Computers + Study/Tutor Rooms

12. Restrooms

The Feature Piece is made up of different components structurally to complete the overall design. Permeability and repetition are highlighted within the structure and design of the piece.

The Lobby + Self Checkout that is located at the entrance of the Public Phoenix Library greets users when they first walk in and provides them with services such as tablets to make navigating the public library easier. Wall applications such as the city grid wall graphic and curvature felt wall covering help to evoke a sense of place and highlight characteristics of the surrounding landscapes of Phoenix. The architectural feature piece welcomes users to become interactive within the space and sparks curiosity while still maintaining a sense of transparency.

Periodicals are located behind the architectural feature piece in the Lobby. An architectural feature wall is included behind the Periodical stacks to provide private lounge seating for individual reading. The curvature wall covering continues throughout the space to help treat acoustics.

The section below highlights the placement of the architectural feature walls in relation to each other. These walls help to form different spaces and intrigue users visually.

The maker space and community room are divided by a movable glass partition wall. This allows for flexibility while using the space. Foldable glass partitions are incorporated to enhance transparency and connect both spaces to the main area.

Below: Mezzanine rendering that includes the architectural feature wall with upholstered nook seating that is designed to divide the stacks and workstation tables. A study room exists to the right of the stacks. Similar to the rest of the library, the mezzanine creates a balance between individual learning and collaborative learning.

1. DIRTT Oak Wood Veneer

4. Interface Carpet - Net Effect - B603

2. FilzFelt - 487 Pfirsich

5. White Marble - Kitchen Counter Tops

8. Black Steel Framing - Bookshelves

6. DesignTex - Barcelona Crypton Midnight

3. Polished Concrete

7. DesignTex - Barcelona Crypton Rosewood

The residential kitchen + dining area includes a feature wall mimicking the curvature movement found in the design of the public library. This movement is inspired by the landscape that can appear through a vast opening when looking out from a hidden oasis.

The living room space includes both cool tones and warm tones to create contrast. Accent and ambient lighting are both used to create a cozy and welcoming environment.

ADVANCE Basic Needs Shelter

Fall 2019 // Collaborative Project with Ellison Carmichael // Revit & Photoshop

The Advance Shelter is a homeless shelter for people of all ages, where they can rejuvenate and refresh in a calm setting. Incorporated throughout the space are areas of individual growth and advancements, as well as areas of advancement through gathering.

The shelter is located on the Roanoke River and the Green way in the Old Southwest part of Roanoke. Both of these helped to inspire the design in regard to form and material choices. The space aims to mimic the organic flow and shape of the river as well as to eventually gather visitors similar to how the Green way gathers the community. Different paths exist throughout the space that creates circulation and provides visitors with the choice of how they want to move about the space. These different paths symbolize the journey one must take to reach a balanced lifestyle.

Research findings were based on site visits to basic needs shelters in Roanoke and extensive internet research. The design of a basic needs shelter needs to be an area of refuge and offer protection for its users. Entry spaces that are less overwhelming help to draw a person in where they feel more comfortable and confident. A balance of stimulation is important, so that the user feels intrigued without it being too much. Interior spaces within the shelter that include opportunities for tasks and account for responsibility are important. This provides a sense of healing and refuge.

IDEC Student Design Competition

The parti diagram symbolizes the gradual growth throughout the space and emphasizes the transition of closed to open areas from beginning to end. A path of progression is illustrated where the curves determine the surrounding spaces. The circulation is shown in which alternate paths can be taken.

Below: The community area exists at the back of the space where it is introduced to natural light and a view of the Roanoke River. It serves as a space for interaction and growth as well as individual activity. Curvature movement is employed to highlight the design’s connectivity to the organic characteristics of nature such as the river and the greenway. These curvature shapes help to define different areas within the community area.

The front entry of the shelter includes a curvature front desk that leads users down the primary path of egress. The custom acoustical ceiling is designed as a wayfinding tool and mimics the curvature shapes that are found elsewhere throughout the space. The ceiling design alludes to the movement of a river and how water flows rapidly.

F E A T U R E P I E C E .

The curvature bench feature piece mimics the organic form of the Roanoke River as well as serves as a wayfinding device throughout the space allowing users to advance towards the community area. The design accounts for ergonomics and comfort to alleviate the user. Placed behind the custom bench is an acoustical wall covering that coincides with the movement of the ceiling representing the organic flow of nature.

The section above highlights both the ceiling and custom bench. Both features guide users through the space towards the communal spaces and outdoor area. As shown the outdoor space is a continuation of the shapes and design that appear within the interior. This allows for a smooth transition and draws users into the space.

The interior perspective to the right helps show how the ceiling, custom bench, and floor transitions help to create a direct path that is still organic in shape. Both ambient and task lighting are used to help elevate the space. A permeable wooden slat wall is placed between the front entry and manicure stations to create privacy allowing users to feel more secure.

1. Natural Oak

2. FilzFelt - Rain

5. Sherwin Williams - Shagreen

4. White Acoustical Felt

3. Interface - Moss In Stone

6. Wood Wool

The custom seating area outside is designed to draw guests to one area in order to promote interactions while simultaneously providing the option of maintaining personal space. Fluid geometries derived from the surrounding landscape of the river serve as the inspiration for the unique form. The design is intended to continue bettering the relationship between the facility and the community.

The Green way and the Roanoke River run adjacent to each other, allowing users to experience a serene view within the outdoor space. The shelter is oriented in a way that allows a full view of activity, allowing the space to become more interactive and guests to interact with others. This interaction with members of the community provides inclusion for the user , while still enjoying a tranquil view. The outdoor space includes a serene garden, reflection pool, and custom stadium seating to provide peace and comfort. The planters are designed to be a continuation of the dining table from inside. This creates part to whole and continuity similar to how the user enters as an individual but leaves with resources and a community.

NEXT

Steelcase Design Competition 2020

Fall 2020 // Revit & Photoshop

The Next Hub is a satellite office for its growing company that began as a small start-up in San Francisco. It is a global wellness and health technology company workspace that fosters its overall culture as well as highlights its company’s brand and the local region of Atlanta, Georgia.

The concept for the space was inspired by the close proximity of the site to the MARTA Atlanta Peachtree Station. The station evolved in the 1950s and began expanding over the years, offering growth and connectivity to the community of Atlanta. Similar to the station, Next started off small and is expanding fast in an innovative way. The space aims to highlight the idea of continuous progression and connectivity similar to the advanced and linear movement of a railway. This progression allows the company to elevate their professionalism and company culture through the use of a main axis linear path that introduces users to interactive, growth, and communal workspaces to continue that innovation. Movement and circulation take place along the main axis and becomes blurred by secondary paths allowing users to come across unexpected opportunities. Along these secondary paths, individual spaces and wellness areas serve as “pause” spaces where users can rejuvenate and progress in their own way. This idea stems from the linear path of the railway and the multiple stops along the way that build and connect the community.

Global Technology Company Office

The conceptual diagrams above introduce the three main principles that drive the design of this workplace environment. Along the main path movement and progression are emphasized as it serves as the main hub and core of the space. The secondary paths throughout symbolize new opportunities or unexpected tasks. This allows for a more collaborative environment. Areas of pause appear within the secondary paths allowing for individual growth or duties. The overall design of the space allows for continuous advancements and personal growth while still highlighting the importance of connectivity.

The parti diagram to the left displays the multiple paths of travel within the space and how they work together. These paths create circulation and help to form each space on both level 1 and level 2. In addition, they help to emphasize wayfinding by distinguishing entryways and exits.

The rendering above displays private booths which represent a “pause” space where users can rejuvenate and focus on their individual work. A colored film graphic is placed over the glass to create privacy while still creating a fun, exciting work environment. This graphic includes numbered signage to help with wayfinding. An LED custom light is designed and installed to call out this area of “pause”.

The ceiling feature highlights the main axis path and the secondary paths throughout the space. It includes Armstrong blades covered with acoustical felt and custom recessed linear LED lights. The ceiling feature mimics the linear elements of the floor pattern and contributes to wayfinding. The acoustical felt blades help control sound within the work environment.

Below: The Project Team Space highlights a secondary path of travel and movement through the use of an illuminated repetitive, linear ceiling feature. This linear element continues on the wall with a LED light installation. The LVT floor pattern is shown here and highlights the characteristics of the central path of travel versus a secondary path of travel. Linear elements exist in the floor pattern to put in motion the idea of moving forward and progression in the workplace.

1. Steelcase - V31K Desert Oak

6. Steelcase - Circuit Radar Upholstery

2. Interface - Brushed Lines - Graphite

7. Steelcase - 2uh1 Reclaimed Aggregate

8. Interface - Broome Street Blue Glass

9. Filzfelt - 686 Enzian

1. Work Cafe

3. Forum Space

4. Restrooms

2. Project Team Space

Floor Plan Level 1

3. Interface - Brushed Lines - Honey

4. Interface - Brushed Lines - Rouge

5. Interface - Brushed Lines - Teal Oxide

The rendering above displays the work cafe and the main path of travel. The design of the ceiling, floor, and walls all contribute to the fast-paced environment that exists in the workplace. The cafe acts as an area of pause to collect or introduce new ideas.

Right: The Forum Space represents flexible design where employees can easily communicate and collaborate as they grow professionally. This area can be found while traveling down a secondary path, symbolizing and unexpected opportunity of connectivity and expansion of knowledge that is similar to that of which one might experience at the MARTA Atlanta Peachtree Station.

The work cafe is designed to act as a communal space where employees can come together to collaborate or rejuvenate. A wall graphic installation appears in the space to help spark creativity and symbolizes the connectivity and individual paths taken within the work environment. This mimics the straight linear path of the MARTA that becomes interrupted by different stops along the way, ultimately connecting the surrounding community.

Work Cafe Elevation NTS

1. Main Entry / Reception

6. In-Between Spaces

7. Private Offices

Floor Plan Level 2

3. Private Enclaves

8. Resource Center

4. Open Office

9. Outdoor / Fitness Area

5. Videoconference Room

L E V E L I I F L O O R P L A N . 45

The main entry + reception is placed along a secondary path. This is where users experience their first sense of opportunity and unexpected activity. A technology wall is designed to provide users with facts about health and wellness when they first enter. This introduction leads users to the main path of travel through the use of wayfinding.

Below: In-between spaces are placed right outside of the private offices along a secondary path of travel. These are designed to allow users to step out of their private spaces and collaborate with others.

Yoga on the outdoor patio helps provide rejuvenation and wellness to users. This activity helps connect users to views of the surrounding community.