Zachary Morris Design Portfolio
BRYAN CULTURE CENTER Goal: To design a cultural center in downtown historic Bryan, Texas, containing a special collections donated by the community. This center would also house an auditorium for guest speakers and lectures. While designing, we were to take into account the structual and MEP systems that would go into designing the building in order to achieve a possible LEED certification. Program: The two buildings hold different purposes, so their appearance reflects what they are. The library is more open to the outside, to encourage more daytime activity. The auditorium, on the other hand is more enclosed to reduce any outside distractions, and maintain focus on the speaker. The Special Collections, for security and preservation of the materials, are located underground, and it connects the two buildings together.
STRUCTURAL LIVE LOAD ANALYSIS
Building Section
AGGIELAND ARK
Systems Concept Diagram
Goal: To coordinate with a team of three to develop a self sustaining mixed-use megastructure that would be able to sustain 100 families in a socio-economic post-apocalyptic scenario. Program: The space program for the Ark is to accommodate 90 attached dwellings and a minimum of 4 detached living units. It should also be able to accomodate the appropriate non-residential functions, including those necessary for life support, energy and agriculture. The technologies are designed to contribute to the Ark’s independence and support for a sustainable lifestyle. These technologies focus on energy and resource production, conservation, recycling, waste management, water harvesting, and purification and re-use, agriculture and greenhouse production. All technologies are to be an integral part of the design. The site is to be cultivated for livestock and crop farming, ranging from fruit orchards to rice patties. Religious structures and special interest facilities are built as well to offer means to decompress from the everyday routines of work and school.
Master Plan
Level 00
Level 01
Level 02
Level 03-06
Elevation
Section
Rows at Eastgate
Project: A townhouse that is to be designed based off of a family created by the designer. Program: The studio was assigned to create a neighborhood of townhouses, each sharing a common dividing wall. The family living in the home consisted of: 1) a grandmother 2) a young mother 3) a daughter 4) a student renting a room Due to the verticality of the house, getting daylight inside is the largest problem to address. Also, creating a spatial layout that is easy to access and navigate by the residents.
01
02
03
04
05
Gallery House
Project: A private residence including a gallery that would house the resident’s private collection of purist paintings and a series of Bolle bottles. Program: The house design was to be derived from the concepts and styles of Le Corbusier. We also were to draw all of the final drawings by hand.
Guitar and Bottles Bolle Bottles
Vertical Guitar
Red Violin
Selected Artwork for the Gallery
Marine Park Pool House
Project: The project site is located on the grounds of Marine Park in north Fort Worth, on the corner of NW 20th Street and Ellis Avenue. The project guidelines were to provide a recreational facility and public pool for the community. Program: The purpose of the design was to make the pool the central focus. All supporting program spaces would surround the pool, reinforcing the concept. To create a “separation� from the pool area for those not wishing to participate in swimming, the viewing and picnic area have been raised above the pool. To maximize the amount of sunlight, as well as ventilating humid air out of the building, the roof was sloped, and several glazed openings were created. These openings would be mechanically controlled, which would allow air to circulate within the pool.
Self-Structural Circulation
Question: Can a modular circulation system be developed that supports its own dead load and live load? Thesis: In a self-structural circulation system, one must consider the overall load capacity and simplicity of assembly as key components in the decision-making process. In order to achieve a cost-effective method of circulation, the structure needs to be as lightweight as possible, yet strong enough to support the minimum load requirements per code. The materials will play a key role in the overall design choices and inherent structural integrity. We are proposing an interlocking minimal component selfstructuring stair that can be incorporated into existing designs that may not have originally fulfilled all necessary requirements to meet code. A fiber-reinforced high-performance concrete will not only meet the minimum requirements for fire code and load-bearing support, but will allow for intelligent choices in design. The system would incorporate a minimum number of components that will interlock one with another. Each pre-fabricated piece will be assembled to create a self-supporting geometry to strengthen the overall reliability of the design.
My team was assigned the task of researching selfstructural circulation and developing a system that would meet the US standards for vertical circulation. The initial step of our research was to look into architectural precedents that had circulation as a major element. We then “drilled down� a little further to look at specific examples of circulation and we analyzed the inherent structural capabilities of each. We found that the most efficient system for ease of assembly was that of interlocking components. We then investigated the methodologies used in interlocking. Then we looked into how successful circulation systems used interlocking in their assemblies. We then analyzed the interlocking system down to its most basic element, which broke down to interlocking components.Looking into different methodologies, the components would interlock with one another to create a module, the module would combine to form a system, and the system would create an assembly. We then explored different interlocking techniques and geometries that would create the interlocking components. We looked into a variety of naturally occurring geometries to determine what would be the most structurally sound and spatially efficient. Our next step was to develop concept models to explore different interlocking techniques
Once we reached a successful working system, we began to develop the design of the tread module, focusing on 5 specific areas: 1. Tread Geometry 2. Center of Rotation 3. Spiral Radius 4. Structural System 5. System Assembly As we developed the tread, we tested the individual modules digitally in Rhino, using Scan&Solve to analyze structural deflection as well as stress.
Initial Design
When we arrived at our initial concept design, it was time to create a physical prototype to analyze and test. We cast Hydrostone from a CNC milled foam mold at 1:4 scale. After the initial prototype, we saw areas that needed to be improved upon in order to make the system more successful, such as ssembly, and material mixture ratios.
Final Design
Initial Prototype Mold
Initial Prototype
Final Prototype Mold
Assembly Process
Professional Work
I have been employed with a few firms since my graduation from Texas A&M, so I have been exposed to multiple office environments, as well as building types and methodologies. I have worked on primarily senior living and healthcare facilities, but I have also worked on commercial projects, as well as some 4 & 5 Star Resorts. My project experience has ranged from the Conceptual Design phase, to Construction Administration. I have been logging this into my IDP, so I should be near completion of my hours by the completion of my Masters Degree program. Sonata West Orange Three Living Architecture Winter Garden, Florida Current Phase: Construction Administration Asissted in: Construction Documentation, Code Compliances, Coordination with Consultants
South Coast Plaza Luxury Hotel Three Living Architecture Costa Mesa, California Current Phase: Conceptual Design Asissted in: Concept Model, Schematic Design Elements
Franklin Park Teravista Three Living Architecture Round Rock ETJ, Texas Current Phase: Construction Administration Asissted in: Design Devlopment, Construction Documentation, Coordination with Consultants, Answering RFIs
Nakoma Sky Three Living Architecture Tucson, Arizona Current Phase: Construction Administration Asissted in: Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documentation, Code Compliances, Coordination with Consultants
Rosewood Mansion Expansion Three Living Architecture Dallas, Texas Current Phase: Construction Administration Asissted in: Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documentation, Code Compliances, Coordination with Consultants
Parc Traditions Three Living Architecture College Station, Texas Current Phase: Completed Asissted in: Construction Documentation, Code Compliances, Coordination with Consultants
Desert Stone
Precedent Studies
Project: The project site is located on the grounds of White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. Our project goal was to design an “Observatory for Invisible Matters.” The class was to develop a research facility on an “Invisible Matter,” i.e. Radiation, Global Warming, etc. Program: The program was very basic, so we were given freedom to shape and mold the program to what we believed the project needed. I took it upon myself to add program elements that would bring the public out to the building, as well as the White Sands monument. Therefore, my project became a science museum with research facilities on site. We were also required to develop the project architecturally, as well as provide a Design Development level proposal for Structure and MEP.
Structure/Systems
Design Inspiration: The Geode
Design Process
Floor Plans
B2
B1
01
03
04
05
Structural Framing
02
MEP Systems
Interior Color Section
Interior Wayfinding
Site Plan
Holistic Healing
Project: This project was to collaborate with Landscape Architects to design an Addiction Recovery Facility in Plano, Texas, about half of a mile east of I-75. Program: Our team decided to focus on providing addiction recovery as well as encouraging healthy lifestyle choices with our facility. Our objectives were to: 1) establish safety above all else, 2) implement interactivity and interconnectivity, and 3) improve health, wellness and comfort for all who entered the facility.
Experience Map
Precedent Study
Lake|Flato
Spatial Analysis
Part of the project required us to do a spatial syntax analysis, in order to make sure our building’s layout was well integrated, as well as provided adequate lines of sight for a rehabilitation facility. Our analysis shows that the common areas, where the majority of the public visiting the space would travel, was easy to navigate, and provided clear lines of sight for both patients, as well as the staff.
Master Plan
Ground Floor
Second Floor
Energy Performance The design strategies for optimal energy performance include best stormwater management practices, solar energy panels with strategic calculations and the use of the sustainable SITES initiative scorecard to show other benefcial outcomes. With these methods in use, we can ensure a building and landscape that is economically and environmentally sound.
SITES Scorecard
Rainwater Harvesting
Solar Performance Calculations
Total Panel Square Footage = 12,000 sf Net Watts per Solar Hour = 1.13w Peak Hours = 10am - 4pm Peak Solar Hours = 81.34 kW Average Daily Solar Energy = 373.35 kWh Conserves 10% daily energy use Saves $11,000 yearly
Site Study Diagrams
Trail Connectivity Analysis
Trail Heirarchy
Site Rendering
Landscaping Renderings
Biomes
One design concept we devised was an interior landscaped space that was enclosed to offer an additional area that could be used for recovery meetings, as a means of wayfinding, as well as a transition space between the architecure and the landscape. These spaces were called “Biomes� because we designed them to reflect 5 major biomes within the state of Texas. We chose the Blackland Prairie, Piney Woods, Big Bend, Gulf Coast and Edwards Plateau. The Biomes were double-volume spaces that would allow trees and plants to grow within the spaces, as well as allow people on both the first and second floors to be able to look into these spaces from either the main corridor, or the neighboring meeting rooms.
Biome Locations
Sections
Counseling Wing
Elevations
Administration Wing
North
South
East
West
Architectural Renderings
Interior Design
Custom Designed Computer Desk
Coffee Bar Re-Purpose
Table Re-Design & Re-Purpose
Full Bathroom Rennovation
The End