SPENCER WEST
My name is Spencer West and I will be graduating from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning with a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning with a minor in Fine Arts. I have always been a creative and artistic person, but it wasn’t until I found Urban Planning, that I was really able to apply my talent to the real world and make an impact upon it. Through my undergraduate education I have become very passionate about how well designed places can change a neighborhood, a town, a city, and ultimately the world. Through creative placemaking and the ideas behind New Urbanism and Smart Growth, I have set my sights on working for a firm who believes in and aspires to build projects that invoke a sense of place for people. I aspire to work for a firm dedicated to Placemaking, specifically in the practices of Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, and Master Planning. I believe in combating urban issues through design and I am Interested in creating original and unique environments that build upon and enhance the existing character of communities. For me, this process involves taking my creative and artistic background paired with my knowledge of Urban Planning principles, practices, and policies, to ultimately take a unique approach to planning and designing a place that gives people a sense of belonging. Through my educational and work experiences, and in working closely with Architects and Planners of all backgrounds, I have gained a wealth of knowledge about the relationship between buildings and space and have had the opportunity to work on a wide array of projects from Master Planning to small-scale site design, building design to neighborhood branding initiatives, and the list goes on. As I have grown as a professional, I have become particularly interested in the presentation side of projects. This is not only what can win a project in the first place, but what also best communicates ideas and designs to not only the clients you work with, but ultimately the public. This is what has lead to my interest in the graphic representation of a building and place through 2D and 3D renderings as well as animations. My software skills include a high level of proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Sketchup, V-Ray, and AutoCAD, as well as a decently high level of proficiency in 3Ds Max, and a general understanding and capability of using Revit and ArcGIS. This portfolio will ultimately demonstrate what kind of work I have done in the past and what I am capable of doing in the future. 1
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Perkins Eastman Sep 2015- Dec 2015. Pittsburgh, PA - Urban Planner, Architect, Designer - Design Collective Inc. Jan 2015- May 2015. Baltimore, MD - Urban Planner, Designer - Rookwood Pottery Company May 2014- Dec. 2014. Cincinnati, OH - Urban Planner, Architect, Designer - Neighborhood Design Center Aug. 2013- Dec. 2013. Columbus, OH - Urban Planner, Architect, Designer - Sweaty Bands 2012- 2014. Cincinnati, OH - Planner, Designer - Cincinnati Circus Company 2011- 2012. Cincinnati, OH - Flying Trapeze Instructor, Entertainer
EDUCATION
- University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning Cincinnati, OH - Urban Planning, Minor in Fine Arts - St. Xavier High School Cincinnati, OH
ACHIEVEMENTS
- St. Xavier High School Art Award - Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation 2009 Summer Seminar. Colorado Springs, CO -(National Art Foundation- 60 selected among approx. 5,000) - Wolfstein Scholarship - Awarded for Fine Arts study at the University level - Design Chair, Sigma Chi Fraternity
SKILL SETS Digital: - Adobe Creative Suite - Microsoft Office - ArcGIS - Google Sketchup - Autodesk: AutoCAD Revit 3Ds Max
Proficiency
General Activities/Interests: - Painting - Drawing - Photography - Videography - Music - Art - Snowboarding (513) 720-9307 spencer.west010@gmail.com
INDEX 4 6 8 12
PERKINS EASTMAN INTERNSHIP Educational Building Corporate Office Tower Renderings
18 20 24 30
DESIGN COLLECTIVE INTERNSHIP Glen Lennox Montgomery College Illustrative Site Plans
34
PLEASANT STREET STUDIO
40
EAST END STUDIO
46
ROOKWOOD INTERNSHIP
52 53 54 58
NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN CENTER INTERNSHIP Parsons Avenue Study Neighborhood Brochures/Pamphlets Business Renovations & Branding
64
MT. AIRY STUDIO
72
DRAWING &PAINTING
PERKINS EASTMAN INTERNSHIP September-December 2015 Pittsburgh, PA
While at Perkins Eastman, I had the opportunity to work on a couple of exciting projects, and assisted with a plethora of other tasks around the office. I had the opportunity to contribute in the assemblance of presentation slides and boards for clients. I offered assistance in research and analysis in the beginning stages of a couple projects, as well as creating maps, diagrams, and models to help communicate findings, ideas and concept designs to clients. The majority of my responsibilities while at Perkins Eastman included the creation of architectural renderings and illustrations that would be delivered to clients. This process involved working with the Project Managers and other team members, to ultimately create illustrations that effectively communicated the look and feel of a project. I worked on renderings at all stages of project development, from the intial design concepts presented at interviews, to the final architectural renderings that would be presented to the public. 5
EDUCATIONAL BUILDING Design Study
Pittsburgh, PA
EDUCATIONAL BUILDING Design Study Pittsburgh, PA
This first set of renderings involved two vacant sites located within an urban college campus. The goal of this project was to develop concept designs in the form of 3D massing and renderings. The main idea was to explore the type of architecture that could potentially be built at each site, so in working with an architect, we were able to develop a concept for each. The rendering at the top right proposed for a building concept that was more contemporary and innovative in nature, while the rendering at the bottom left called for a more traditional building that wouldn’t overshadow the surrounding historical buildings. The designs for each building were largely lead by the architect I was working with, though I was able to play a part in the direction and overall design of the more contemporary building. My teammate built the model for the building in the bottom left and I produced the rendering. I built the model for the building in the top right and also produced the rendering. The process involved building the models using Google Sketchup, and then using V-ray and Photoshop to create the final rendering.
7
CORPORATE OFFICE TOWER Design Study
Pittsburgh, PA
CORPORATE OFFICE TOWER Design Study Pittsburgh, PA
This project involved an outdated 1980’s office tower, and the study we did was to explore what kind of renovations and “face-lift” could be done to the building in order to attract new tenants and investment. We set out to deliver three renderings to the client: one of the plaza and entrance to the tower, the second of the interior main lobby, and the third of the back lobby and front desk area. I worked with an architect and interior designer, whom primarily lead the direction of the concepts and overall designs, however I was able to contribute a fair amount of insight, perspective and ideation throughout the design phase. The process involved a large amount of research and inspiration that ultimately lead to the formation of the big ideas in each rendering. I completed the renderings using primarily Adobe Photoshop, with a small amount of modeling using Google Sketchup and 3DS Max.
9
10
RENDERINGS Sketchup, Revit, 3DS Max, Photoshop Pittsburgh, PA
13
14
15
16
DESIGN COLLECTIVE INTERNSHIP January-April 2015 Baltimore, MD
DESIGN COLLECTIVE
While at Design Collective I had the opportunity to really enhance my knowledge and practice of Urban Design. My responsibilities around the office included the formation of slides and boards for presentations to clients as well as rendering site plans, concept diagrams, Sketchup models, aiding in the creation of Design Guideline and Pattern Books for potential and existing clients. I aided in the gathering of precedent images and case studies to aid in the client's visualization of what the potential possibilities for development can look like. I created GIS maps, gathered data, created spreadsheets including all development calculations and helped in research and analysis during the beginning stages of various projects. I had the opportunity to be involved in or apart of all processes related to charretes, public meetings, and working sessions with clients that all ultimately lead to the formation of the ideas, policies, programs, and designs that accomplished and pushed the limits of the goals behind each project.
19
GLEN LENNOX
Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) Chapel Hill, NC
DESIGN COLLECTIVE
GLEN LENNOX
Existing Circulation
Proposed Circulation Initial Village Center Concepts
Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) Chapel Hill, NC This project involved 80 acres of land located just outside of Chapel Hill, NC. The goal for this project was the formation of a Traditional Neighborhood Development, involving the principles of creating a walkable environment with a village center or town square including commercial activity and office space, surrounded by a residual neighborhood made up of a variety housing stock. The site was located on land that was home to a forest of large old trees and occupied by a large number of flats and townhomes, as well as a small shopping center that held some historical value to the neighborhood. Being that the site was located on a very busy intersection as well as being a short drive from UNC, the location was poised for development and the creation of “place� for the surrounding neighborhoods. I was involved in all phases of this project, from the intial meeting with the client, reviewing the parameters and constraints, developing intial design concepts and site planning, gathering precedents, drawing CAD plans, creating diagrams and site plan illustratives, building massing models, calculating development numbers and creating spreadsheets, creating presentation boards and slides as well as being involved with all workshops and meetings with the client throughout the process of creating this master plan.
21
DESIGN COLLECTIVE
Best Practices/Precedent Images
AutoCAD Site Plan
Open Space Diagram
Illustrative Site Plan
Ground Floor Uses
Upper Floor Uses
Freehand Sketch
Development Calcs
Sketchup Model
Freehand Sketch
23
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE Takoma Park/Silver Spring Germantown Rockville
DESIGN COLLECTIVE
The goal for Montgomery College was to develop the policies, principles, and designs to transform its three campuses from their “commuter college” atmospheres into vibrant “college towns” and centers for social interactions and activity.
GERMANTOWN College Campus Planning Germantown, MD
Out of all three campuses, Germantown is the most suburban in nature, with some sense of a pedestrian core. In working with an urban designer, we were able to identify some challenges for the campus. Four and six lane roads surround the campus, with very limited visibility and access. The gateways to the campus have limited definition and street presence. Due to the suburban format of the campus, there are limited opportunities to establish an “edge” with a college town presence to the surrounding roads. There is also a large amount of forest buffers, further hiding the campus from the surrounding roads and neighborhood.
26
ROCKVILLE College Campus Planning Rockville, MD
27
TAKOMA PARK College Campus Planning Takoma Park, MD
28
ILLUSTRATIVE SITE PLANS AutoCAD, Photoshop
Baltimore, MD
DESIGN COLLECTIVE
31
DESIGN COLLECTIVE
32
PLEASANT STREET STUDIO
Redevelopment/Revitalization Urban Infill Cincinnati, OH
Findlay Market
PLEASANT ST. STUDIO
arket Findlay M
Redevelopment/Revitalization Urban Infill Cincinnati, OH
35
Washington Park
St. Pleasant
This studio focused on a very blighted and under-utilized street connecting two major areas of activity (Findlay Market & Washington Park) just outside of downtown Cincinnati. The street is primarily residential in nature and is hometo vacant land, buildings, and low-income housing, however contains a strong sense of community which has been established by its current residents. Because of this, we set out to promote a high level of affordable housing, to maintain the community that currently exists and to promote and enhance it. Through the process of urban infill development my team set out to make Pleasant St. a public space for its residents to continue to hold onto that strong sense of community that had already been established, while also creating a highly walkable and pedestrian-friendly connection between Findlay Market and Washington Park.
Existing Conditions
Existing Conditions
Liberty Ave. Pedestrian Barrier
Liberty Ave. Pedestrian Barrier
Liberty Ave .
n
to Washing Park
Existing Conditions
Renovations at Washington Park and Pleasant St.
Neighborhood Amenities
Site Plan Illustrative
Findlay M
arket
Land Use Public Space Semi-Private Space
Single-Family Commercial Mixed-Use
St. Pleasant
Multi-Family
Liberty Ave.
Entertainment Institutional Bar/Restaurant
n
to Washing Park
Grocery/Market Parks and Rec
Neighborhood Framework
Findlay M
Existing Buildings Proposed Buildings
St. Pleasant
Existing vs. Proposed
arket
Liberty Ave.
Not Pedestrian Friendly Pedestrian Friendly Landmark/Destination Pedestrian Paths Streetcar Line Bike Path Bus Route
n
to Washing Park
36
37
38
EAST END STUDIO Neighborhood Revitalization Riverfront Development Cincinnati, OH
EAST END STUDIO Neighborhood Revitalization Riverfront Development Cincinnati, OH
Leblond Park
Ferry Street Park
Lunken Airport
Riverview East Academy
Zoning Legend
Reeves Golf Course
Land Use Legend
Parcpoly_Clip <all other values>
XLUCODE
Commercial
Our goal for the overall east end is to unify a neighborhood and create a strong sense of community for the people who live, work, and spend their free time in this space. Being in such close proximity to downtown is an extreme advantage, so we would like to focus on strengthening the public transit to and from the East End, as well as focusing on a better bike and pedestrian trail system to promote physical activity for both wellness and entertainment.
Industrial
C
Lunken Airport
Institutional
ED IN
Public
HI LI
Single Family Two-Family Multi-Family Mixed Use
MF
Kellogg Avenue Park
MU NA O
NA
PR
Public Utilitie
PS
Parks and Re
PU SF
Transportatio
TF
Vacant
VA cinc_neighborhoods sele
Degree of Slope Legend SLOPE
POLICY 1. PRESERVE and CREATE a pedestrian â&#x20AC;&#x201C; oriented community
10 15
Legend
20
Walkability
Sidewalks
25
20 Minute Walk Radius
CLASS
30
10 Minute Walk Radius
Arterial Street
5 Minute Walk Radius
Major Road Highway Ramp
2. Develop a CULTURE of health embodied by thriving residents (improvement of environmental health, family health, and physical health 3. STRENGTHEN community organizations (encouraging existing ones) 4. ENCOURAGE Community Participation BUZZWORDS: connectivity, public transit, gathering spaces, semi-urban, nature, water, community, functional, green, character, historic, local business, commerce, active healthy fitness outdoors 41
Drainage Basin Flood Drainage Legend
Legend River
BASIN, SQM
River
CALIFORNIA, 4.68
Flood Zone
DUCK CREEK, 26.04
DRAINAGE Undetermined Well Drained
SOUTH BRANCH MILL CREE
The East End has many different opportunities for development, especially along the banks of the Ohio River. We intend to create a diverse living space that connects to downtown and Lunken Airport while at the same time providing amentities within walking distance. Our goal is to provide multiple outdoor activities inlcuding bike trails and walking paths to promote a healthy lifestyle. The residential areas will include single and multiple family dwellings as well as mixed use buildings. The commercial district will consist of a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops with easy access to the riverfront as well its views.
PHASE 1 Vacant Land Legend
Vacancy Underutilized Utilized
-Bike trails -Nature walk -Hiking Trail -Bike and Kayak Rental -Extracurricular Facilities
PHASE 2
-Multi-Use (Retail/Housing) -Begin Restaurant/Bar district -Better connecting east end to Public transit -Begin Bio swale
PHASE 3
-Continuing riverfront Multi-Use development -Completion of bio swales
42
Recreation Center
Nature Trail/ Boardwalk
43
Riverfront Dining/ Shopping
Riverfront Dining
Lookout Point
Riverfront Housing
44
ROOKWOOD INTERNSHIP May-December 2014 High-Rise Residential Tower Cincinnati, OH
47
48
49
50
NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN CENTER INTERNSHIP August-December 2013 Columbus, OH
PARSONS AVENUE STUDY
53
Make Parsons Avenue GREEN - increase presence of street trees (replant where missing), planters, landscaping - create incentive or require businesses with large setbacks to have landscaping at front of lot - play on the Planters on Parsons (storefronts with window planters, paint telephone poles and hang planters from them
Pop up Parks and Parklets on vacant lots, next to businesses - develop a program with rotational parklets or pop up parks (possibly w/ food trucks) to be outside (in frontor next to) businesses - businesses could sign up to have the parklet outside their business for a day - create a network of parks, green spaces, plazas - skatepark, playground, water feature, farmers market, sport fields/courts, benches, seating - shared spaces with shared uses for public interaction
NEIGHBORHOOD BROCHURES/ PAMPHLETS 7 Neighborhood Corridors Neighborhood Revitalization Columbus, OH
55
56
BUSINESS RENOVATIONS & BRANDING Facade Improvements Branding Columbus, OH
PIZZA RUSTICA 13 South High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215
59
60
RAIN BROTHERS 1137 West Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43222 61
PROPOSED RENOVATIONS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
NEW TRELLIS CANOPY OVER FRONT DOOR PAINT ENTIRE STUCCO EXTERIOR NEW LANDSCAPING NEW FACADE SIGNAGE (LESS THAN 10 SQ. FT. NEW BLADE SIGN HANGING FROMLocation TRELLIS Map
EXTERIOR BUILDING COLOR: MARK TWAIN GRAY BRICK VALSPAR 4005-2C
62
MT. AIRY STUDIO Phase 1 & 2 Neighborhood Revitalization & Development Neighborhood Business District (NBD) Cincinnati, OH
MT. AIRY STUDIO
Phase 1 Neighborhood Revitalization & Development Neighborhood Business District (NBD) Cincinnati, OH
The proposed site is located on Colerain Avenue in Mount Airyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business district. The Mount Airy Plaza includes a restaurant/ sports bar with a parking lot on the side and an informal open space on the other side of the restaurant. Colerain is cut down to two lanes instead of four which provides a safe, connected pedestrian zone. This increases connectivity and community involvement throughout the business district. The Mt. Airy Plaza provides a safe and fun gathering place for the community that increases activity and functionality throughout. This space includes a stage for bands to perform, an open space for a farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market, and increases walkability throughout the business district.
Existing Businesses Land Use
Well Represented Represented Non-Existent
Business Locations Community Service Retail Food Commercial
65
Proposed Site Plan
Phase 2 Neighborhood Revitalization & Development Neighborhood Business District (NBD) Cincinnati, OH
The rigid topography of Mt. Airy Forest leaves a limited amount of land to develop on. Based on the various suitability analyses we completed, we were able to prioritize where the best locations for development were. Collectively displaying our found data on the street network, access points, slope, viewpoint, drainage, and vegetation we were able to select a final location located in the top right corner of the forest relatively close to the intersection of Colerain and North Bend Roads and the Mt. Airy Neighborhood Business District.
66
After choosing our site, we came up with a street network based on what we wanted to accomplish with the development and which followed the topography. The land use map helps to display the vision for the development. Our concept involves a central mixed use corridor with surrounding single family residential which is seperated from the business district by an expansive amount of green space. The green space keeps the natural feel of Mt. Airy Forest while also providing open space for the entire neighborhood. The site plan illustrates the vision for the development we are proposing. The central business district is easily noticeable with its higher density of mixed use buildings. The surrounding green space acts as a seperation from the noisy and dense commercial district, while the network of paths also helps to connect the residential to the business district. The street sections help to illustrate the residential streets and the section of the commercial site. The neighborhood was designed to be very walkable and pedestrian friendly, thus we created the street running through the center of the commercial district to be strictly pedestrian. 67
Site Priority
Proposed Street Layout & Land Use
Site Location
Site Plan Illustration
Street Sections
Site Section & Elevation
69
DRAWING & PAINTING Drafting Fine Arts