Hi! My name is Zengcong Lai, and I have just finished third year at Ryerson University School of Architecture. My passion for architecture is to create spaces, regardless of scale, that cherish the experience of people, spark raw emotions, and allow beautiful life stories to happen between them. Please enjoy my selected works!
Zengcong Lai
phone: +1 (647)995-0776 email: zengcong.lai@ryerson.ca
Education Ryerson University, Department of Architectural Science
2017-2022 (Expected)
// Bachelor of Architectural Science Candidate (Co-op) // Ryerson FEAS Dean’s List (2017-2020)
University of Waterloo, School of Accounting and Finance
2013-2017
// Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management (Co-op) // Graduated with Distinction - Dean’s Honours List
Employment Architectural Assistant Jun-Dec 2020
Diamond Schmitt Architects Vancouver, BC // Work closely with the project team from schematic design to end of design development // Facilitate the design development of building facade, core configurations and massing revisions per city comments // Developed adaptive Revit family of angled curtain wall panels with built-in materiality options; Created design diagrams, graphics and renders for client meetings; developed and compiled DP Submission and DD Drawings
Front Desk Trading Assistant Sept-Dec 2016
Scotiabank, Global Banking and Markets Toronto, ON // Executed securities lending trades daily through liaison with global traders and counter-parties // Ensured timely trades settlement and end of day reconciliation in collaboration with the front and back offices // Conducted analysis and assessment on the appropriateness of securities holdings based on borrowing rate, daily P&L and overall positions
Extracurricular 19th CISC Architectural Student Design Competition
Jun 2020
// Top 10 Finalist and featured on the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction website
Ryerson University DAS Year-End Show
Jun 2020
// Studio projects selected and featured on DAS Year-End Show 2020
Timber Fever: Hush!
Sept 2019
// A three-day design-build competition participated by architecture and civil engineering student across Canada // Collaborated in a team of six members to design and build a semi-enclosed wood structure to provide a tranquil resting space in response to the fast-pace urban life in Toronto
Winter Station: Nest
Jan 2018
// Responsible for fabrication of structural components and on-site install
Skills // // // // //
High proficiency in CAD, modelling, visualization and post-production software Efficient communication and effective collaboration working with team members Creative design process with attention to details developed from school and work Time management skills; Ability to produce with efficiency and quality under time pressure Fluent in both English and Mandarin Chinese
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CAD Visualization Post-Production Fabrication
Technical Proficiency // // // // //
AutoCAD // Revit // Rhino // Sketchup V-Ray // Enscape Photoshop // Illustrator // InDesign // Lightroom Model-making // Laser-cutting // 3D Printing Woodworking (hand saws and drill press)
* Reference: Elena Chernyshov, Associate at Diamond Schmitt Architects (email: echernyshov@dsai.ca) ** Portfolio is available online: https://issuu.com/zengcong.lai/docs/portfolio_zengcong_lai
Selected Projects
PLAYGROUND
Toronto Public Library: Parkdale Idea Exchange Phase I Integration Studio, 2019 pg. 05-12
PPL: PARKDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY Toronto Public Library: Parkdale Idea Exchange Phase II Integration Studio II, 2020 pg. 13-18
OUTBURST
Art Gallery for Bruce Nauman Design Studio, 2018 pg. 19-24
ICEBREAKER
Iceland Thermal Springs Guest House Competition, 2019 pg.25-28
RIBBON
The Makarom Institute: Mixed-use Housing for Scholars Design Studio, 2019 pg. 31-36
CASCADE
Hydroelectric Energy Storage Tower CISC Architectural Student Design Competition Finalist, 2020 pg. 37-40
PLAYGROUND Toronto Public Library: Parkdale Idea Exchange Site / Queen Street and Sudbury Street, Toronto, Ontario Instructor / Carlo Parente Fall 2019 / Integration Studio Selected For / RU DAS Year End Show 2020 The proposal for Parkdale Idea Exchange is a design that experiments with the new typology of the library as a community hub. As we enter the digital age, libraries only with books have become more obsolete than ever. As a result, flexible spaces need to be created in response to the constantly changing needs of new library programs.
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The formal design explores the fluidity and endless possibilities of landscape. The ground, serving as a piece of the urban fabric, rises to form an equally public interior space. It blurs the boundary between building structure and landscape, incorporating the outdoor space into a unified design. As the surface rises, it splits into four individual surfaces, creating openings that allow in ambient natural light into the interior space. The geometry also allows for interesting light and shadow to take place during times of the day.
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Maximized building volume determined by setbacks and height limits
Building pushed back to create a “playground” for the community
Manipulating building geometry to achieve target GFA
Landscape-integrated building envelope results in dynamic and playful space
Queen Street and Abell Alley connected through the “playground”
Orientation of facades in response to sun exposure to reduce heat gain
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Plaza Information Café Current Periodicals Cloakroom Service Desk Group Study Rare Book Museum Creative Lab Reading Room General Admin Processing & IT
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Top: B1 “Living Room” Floor Plan Bottom: Ground Floor Plan
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1/ 15 mm Fiberglass Reinforced Concrete Panel 2/ Double Pane Insulated Glass 3/ 15 mm Fiberglass Reinforced Concrete Panel 15 mm Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Panel 4/ Space Frame System 5/ 50mm Extruded Polystyrene 6/ 12 mm Drywall
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Left: Interior View of Library Atrium Below: Library Exploded Axonometric
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Below: Night view of illuminating public plaza Bottom: Interior View of “Living Room”
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PPL: PARKDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY Toronto Public Library: Parkdale Idea Exchange Site / Queen Street and Lisgar Street, Toronto, Ontario Instructor / Arthur Wigglesworth Winter 2019 / Integration Studio II In Collaboration with / Elizabeth de Jong
Selected For / RU DAS Year End Show 2020
The proposal for Parkdale Idea Exchange is generated based on our observation and understanding of the structure of soical spaces, defined by the boundaries of streets. Queen Street is ultimately the main axis, allowing for efficient circulations. As secondary side streets branch directly off Queen Street, they provide key social spaces that balance visibility and intimacy. Programs (in this case businesses) are allocated in between the secondary streets. From time to time, a landmark or node is created for the general public to enjoy. The interior space is carefully created following such structure, with a central linear atrium, two alternating NorthSouth sub-axis that connect key programs placed along the main axis. Key spaces are further connected by the undulating stairs weaving through the atrium. These stairs, though scattered within the building, form a continuous journey to the top floor, as one takes the first step from the entrance. Our proposal for the Parkdale Public Library is a building of connections. It creates a connection between the lowdensity Parkdale heritage row-houses and the shiny new high-rise buildings on the south; it connects busy commuters on Queen Street to the Lisgar park where all kinds of activities take place. It becomes the heart of a neighbourhood that was once arbitrarily divided and separated and reconnects the community back together. 13
Below: Exterior View of the library engaging the public realm Bottom: Ground Floor Plan
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Left: Section A-A Below: Feature Stairs Exploded Axonometric Right: Interior sequence of movement along the stairs 08
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W360 x 110 Wide Flange Girder Steel (wrapped in Wood Veneer) 300 mm Glulam Timber Panel 10 mm Douglas Fir Veneer W360 x 51 Wide Flange Girder Steel (wrapped in Wood Veneer) Steel Rectangle Tube (400 mm x 120 mm x 20 mm) 20 mm Steel Plate Birch Stair Nosing 60 mm Curved MDF Board
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Below : Structural Diagram Right: Wall Details
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The design proposes a hybrid structural system to achieve the balance between sustainability and design development. While west half of the building is a heavy timber system due to its smaller span and more regular structural grid, the east half employs steel to accomplish greater span and flexibility of architectural expression. Steel structural members are fire-proofed and cladded in wood veneer to create a unified look across the building. Steel Roof framing allows skylights of various sizes to be
A placed above the double-height space , bringing ambient light. Vierendeel truss helps 10 metre overhang above entrance,
B creating a visual connection from the library to nearby park.
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W360 x 51 Wide Flange Girder 300 mm Cross Laminated Timber Firestop 15 mm Plywood Sheathing Air/Vapour Barrier 180 mm Rigid Insulation 2 Ply Bitumen Roofing Membranes 45 mm Roof Gravel 75 mm Rigid Insulation
(10) Wood blocking as Skylight Curb (11) Extruded Aluminum Jamb Mitered and welded at corners and ridge (12) Extruded Aluminum Perimeter Cap welded at Corners
(13) Extruded Aluminum Rafter (14) Extruded EPDM Gasket (15) Extruded Aluminum Rafter Retainer Cap (16) Insulated Double-pane Glass Unit (17) (18) (19) (20)
600 S 162 C-Shaped Metal Stud 500 mm x 400 mm Brass Panel Aluminum “Z” Clips Steel “L” Angle
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76 x 140 Southern Pine Glulam Beam 300 mm Cross Laminated Timber Ricon/Megant Style Connector Firestop 15 mm Plywood Sheathing Air/Vapour Barrier 180 mm Rigid Insulation 75 mm Rigid Insulation 2 Ply Bitumen Roofing Membranes
(21) Cross Tee Prelude Stab (22) Backslat Support attached to Panel (23) Wooden Rib Panel
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(10) 45 mm Roof Gravel (11) Wood Blocking (12) Aluminum Parapet Flashing (13) 500 mm x 1,600 mm Limestone Honeycomb Panel (14) Interlocking Channel (15) Metal “C” Channel (16) 70 mm Air Space (17) Sealant
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The exterior facade employs a panel system, utilizing limestone panels as a response to a relatively traditional streetscape in such a historic neighbourhood. The lower level is constructed with a structural sealant glazed curtain wall system, introducing a transition from brushed and mirrored aluminum composite panels to eventually glazing. This reduces the visual presence of building massing and allow it to be connected to the plaza and Lisga park. 1
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W360 x 110 Wide Flange Girder 300 mm Cross Laminated Timber Firestop Air/Vapour Barrier 75 mm Rigid Insulation Waterproof Membranes 500 mm x 1,600 mm Limestone Honeycomb Panel Interlocking Channel 70 mm Air Space Sealant Metal “C” Channel Flashing
(13) Structural Sealant Glazed Curtain Wall Horizontal Mullion (14) 500 mm x 1,600 mm Brushed (15) Aluminum Composite Panel 600 S 162 C-Shaped Metal Stud (16) Steel “L” Angle (17) 15 mm Plywood Sheathing (18) Aluminum “Z” Clips (19) 500 mm x 800 mm Brass Panel (20) Moisture Vapour Primer (21) 3 mm Mortar (22) Terrazzo Flooring Topping
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OUTBURST Art Gallery for Bruce Nauman Site / Adelaide St. W and Maud St, Toronto, Ontario Instructor / Vis Sankrithi Fall 2018 / Design Studio Bruce Nauman is one of the most influential contemporary artists in the world. I have always been amazed by his reckless confrontations and questioningsofourproblematicsocietythroughhisgraphicallyexplicitworks. The concept of this project derives from such raw tension shown in his works. His fearless artistic intention inspired the creation of weathering steel wrapped polyhedral structure. It is a fully-enclosed, dedicated gallery space for his works. A fully separated temporary gallery space that sits directly atop, along with the transparent building skin that tightly wraps the structure, creates a sense of compression and collision. The polyhedron pierces through the building skin on both East and West facades to serve as entrance and exit, bringing vitality and power to the building.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 1 12 13 14 15 16 Upper Gallery
Ground Floor
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Public Seating Exhibition Storage Mechanical Room Electrical Room Entrance Reception/Ticket Permanent Gallery CafĂŠ Loading Dock Garbage Storage Temporary Gallery Artist Residency Terrace Office Office Kitchen Meeting Room
Right: Interior view of Public Seating (B2) Below:“IWA” houses permanent collection of Bruce Nauman’s work
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Below: Upper Gallery houses temporary exhibition and artists residency
South Elevation 23
East Elevation 24
ICEBREAKER Iceland Thermal Springs Guest House Site / Lake Mývatn, Iceland Summer 2019 / Bee Breeders Architecture Competition The competition called for designs of a guest house with seven to ten guest rooms, each of which incorporating views of the natural surroundings, while providing exclusivity and privacy. The program also includes a common kitchen, living room and an outdoor hot tub. The design intent was to reflect and coexist with the resilient but tranquil landscape that is exclusive to Iceland. The building was split into two interlocking masses, separating guest rooms with common space. Accommodating tourists from all over the globe, the building fosters a welcoming environment for interactions. A serene and relaxing courtyard was created for guests just returned from outdoor activities; the outdoor space housing the hot tub overlooks the beautiful lake Mývatn while maintaining privacy. The geometric form and the use of concrete initiate a conversation with Iceland’s unique landscape and its silent ambience, serving as an eternal statement of the “land of fire and ice”
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Mineral Wool Insulation 7m
Plants & Growing Media
Basic Parameter Height restraints of 7 metres
Skylights
Shifting Building Block Maximizes east exposure and minimizes solar gain from west exposure
Concrete Wall
Guest roooms Courtyard
Elevated Floor Plate Allows for suite privacy and exclusivity; Provides a grand entrance
Communal Lounge Elevated Base
Court Yard and Outdoor Pool Creates inviting and relaxing common space within building parameter for guests
Shifting Geometry Tilted roof in response to winter snow; Opening up outdoor pool allows for views of nature
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Top: Guest House Exploded axonometric Right Top: Entrance of the Guest House Right Bottom: Central Courtyard
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NEST Lifeguard Stands Installation Winter 2018/ Winter Stations Site / Woodbine Beach, Toronto, Ontario Role / Fabrication and Installation Design Team / Adrian Chiu, Arnel Espanol, Henry Mai Photos / Henry Mai
COOP STATION DAS Design Build Fall 2019/ Design-Build Site / Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario Role / Installation Designed by / Ruotao Wang
EXHIBITION On-site Installation Fall 2019/ Active Building - Innovation for Architecture in Motion Site / Urbanspacce Gallery, Toronto, Ontario Role / Installation Curator / falkeis2architects
HUSH! Urban Parkette Fall 2019/ Design-Build: TimberFever Site / 325 Church St, Toronto, Ontario Collaborators / Kelly Bang, Peter Song, Carolyn Hu, Sally Huang TimberFever is a three-day design-build competition participated by architecture and civil engineering students from 16 universities across Canada. Throughout the competition, students develop design, woodworking and collaboration skills. “Hush!� serves as a brief getaway from the public realm, as one parts the willowy fountain grass into the semi-enclosed wood parklet. It acts as a distinct escape from the mundane concrete jungle and a tranquil resting space in response to the fast-paced urban life in Toronto. 29
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RIBBON The Makarom Institute: Mixed-use Housing for Scholars Site / Brock Avenue and Noble St, Toronto, Ontario Instructor / Dimitri Papatheodorou Winter 2019 / Design Studio What exactly does “home” mean to us? It is such an elastic concept: from the country we serve to the immediate family that we protect. The concept of “ribbon” is a direct response to such varying definitions of “home”, as the neighbourhood of Roncesvalles sees the influx of new residents of different demographics and backgrounds due to the densification and growing urban context in the past decade. Serving as temporary housing for international scholars that will be calling Toronto “home” for twelve months, the design understands the social alienation and the lack of a sense of belonging faced by the newcomers. Home is a place where people feel secure, relaxed and belonged. As a result, social spaces of different intimacy scale are created to provide a sense of “home” for individuals. Some might feel comfortable sunbathing with local residents on the public rooftop, while some might prefer talking with others in the communal living room that offers more privacy for scholars. The aim is to facilitate interactions and foster a sense of community through the creation of spaces that could be utilized and enjoyed by both scholars and local residents.
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The drawing explores the concept of connection, one that blurs the boundary between interior and exterior spaces, integrating multiple programs into one space, bringing people from all across the community together to create experience and memories. The experiment with the concept results in the development of the “ribbon”, an outdoor pathway that rises from grade and brings visitors to the green roof. Interior spaces are connected to the “ribbon” through multiple entry points along the climb.
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Perspective Section The drawing shows the spatial relationship between individual volumes and how the stacking of spaces encourages visual interactions between people.
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Left: Interior View of the Scholar Lounge Below: South and North Elevation
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Below: Floor Plans (B1 - 3F) Right: Library Exploded Axonometric
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Green Roof Scholar Communal Room Scholar Lounge (5F) Residential Units Storage/Mechanical (B2)
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CASCADE Hydroelectric Energy Storage Tower Site / Hopewell Rocks, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick In Collaboration with / Sofiya Marakova Summer 2020 / CISC Architectural Student Design Competition Top 10 Finalist The Hopewell Rocks is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. It is just one of the gifts that Mother Nature has bestowed to the Bay of Fundy, and these gifts must not be taken for granted. Over the past decade, this area has seen a spike in sustainable energy sources. To keep alive this progress, the proposed steel tower doubles as an observation platform and an alternative pumped-storage hydroelectric system, storing the excess energy generated from renewable resources, to be used in times when energy is in demand but cannot be generated. Standing 100m away from the Hopewell Rocks, the tower is a symbol of an exciting and sustainable future. It has much to share to both locals and the avid adventurer. Inspired by the eroded “flowerpot” formations, the tower appears top-heavy and unstable from afar. As one approaches, a different narrative is revealed: the tower’s solidity reveals itself transparent; the sounds of the ocean grow into gushing sounds of water swirling down the pipes and splashing back into the water; a view from below becomes a panoramic view from above. The smell of salt water, the sensation of the cool steel and breeze, the sounds of the generators and turbines spinning, all create an immersive experience and acknowledge the beauty of our planet. 37
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The cube’s vertical and horizontal HSS members are produced in two dimensions. These pieces, thick and thin, are manufactured off-site, to be welded and ground together on site. Bracing is bolted to cubes which are closer to the columns, those closer to the top of the tower, and to those supporting the pipes.
Clockwise: Roof Plan, Level -1 Plan, Level 1 Plan
Left: South Elevation, Section Right: Construction Details 39
Stainless Steel Pipes Manufactured off-site in 4.8m lengths, to be welded and ground on site, forming 16 pipes for releasing water and 8 pipes for pumping water up
Stainless Steel Cubes Welded and ground HSS members: 1.2m x 1.2m x 1.2m Tension rods are bolted to plates welded off-site to the cubes’ corners
Pelton Turbine and Generator
Connection: Tension Rods to Cube
Connection: Stair to Column
The stairs achieve lightness through a system of thin rods zigzagging below the steps and landings, making the stair effectively a large truss.
Connection: Stair to Tension Rods 40
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Thank You
Please access the full version HERE.
Zengcong Lai T: +1 (647)995-0776 E: zengcong.lai@ryerson.ca