cseger architectural portfolio

ArchitecturalPortfolio

Claire Seger

“Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.” -Henri Kaiser

03Master Planning

05 Design + Build

06 Modular Systems

07Recreation Design

04 Historical Reuse

08Event & Site Response

01 Studio ProjectsThesis Project Part I

02 Thesis Project Part II

11 Luminaire

14 Contact Information

13 Photography

09 CourseworkDetail Drawings

10 Trombe Wall

12 MorePersonal Projects

The studio traveled to Libreville, Gabon to conduct a participatory week-long workshop to help the Université Omar Bongo re-vision their campus. Working with both students and faculty, we spent time analyzing and understanding the current conditions and asked students what the strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats of their current campus are. We then facilitated non-architecture students to design their visions and master plan for their new campus using New Urbanist principles. The group of students I facilitated focused on minimizing demolition and redeveloping the existing campus.

It was an amazing experience that allowed me to grow both personally and professionally, and reminded me how selfless and interactive design should be. The following term, the studio developed individual buildings to illustrate sustainable uses on a smaller scale. This is documented in the following chapter.

01Thes i s Pro ject Par t I

Gabon University Participatory Master Planning

VisioningPublic ParticipationDesign Facilitation

Master Planning (75+ years)New Urbanism Principles

Landscape DesignWater Urbanism Research

Size: 120 Acres

Street Section

Quad Visioning Character Sketch

1. Workshop in Libreville (Jan. 9-20, 2014)

Worked with students, faculty, & staff to analyze the existing

campus conditions (using Albert Humphrey’s SWOT Analysis)

Taught principles of design through precedents of successful designs and spaces (quads, streets, buildings, &

nodes) of campuses worldwide

Conducted a Visual Preference Survey

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Facilitated the design of 4 alternatives & their phasing with

students and faculty

Th e Four Alternatives: 1. Minimum Demolition 2. Compact Infi ll 3. Radial Plan 4. Maximum Demolition

Reviewed and refi ned designs and phasing for both the master plan of

the campus and the infrastructure

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Presented the designs and discoveries of the workshop to the Université

Omar Bongo President

Section C10m

5m2.5m

1m

Project Timeline

Minimum Demolition Final Illustrative Plan

Student Dorms

Soccer Field

Student Rec Center

Faculty Housing

Main Quad

Library Pedestrian Entry

Mixed-Use

2. Bringing it Home / Production (January-February)

Produced physical and 3D models, drawings, & diagrams to

communicate the designs of the collaboration between the studio

and the Gabonese students

Shared experiences and outcomes of workshop via an open house, videos,

presentations, & our website/blog

3. Creating Regulating Plans using Form-Based Codes (February)

The Form-Based Codes specify:

Parcels of land for development, what type of development, build-to lines, setbacks, parking placements,

designated open spaces, critical building entry points, minimum/maximum building heights, and

building envelope standards

To understand and test the effectiveness of our Regulating

Plans, we redesigned the campus using the Form-Based Codes Plans

previously created

4. Building Development (March-June)

For the second term of the studio, students chose to design buildings

on parcels from the regulating plans of any alternative. This work is

shown in the next chapter of this portfolio

Minimum Demolition Regulating Plan

Photo Collage Vignette

Minimum Demolition Alternative3D Massing Model in Revit

5. Come to a Design Consensus (June 7-15)

I and a few other studio classmates returned to Libreville to work in a second workshop towards creating the final master plan. This process

began with creating a weighted ranking system to judge each

alternative on how well they met the vision

More site analysis was conducted on detailed projects such as the library staircase & the boulevardization of

Leon M’Ba. The positive aspects of each alternative were taken into account and merged to create the

final master plan & its phasing

Students presented the collaborative work to the President of Université

Omar Bongo

6. Documenting the Final Design (June 16-20)

Nine Gabonese students were selected to travel back to the

University of Oregon with us to help produce a final illustrative plan,

regulating plan, phasing, capacity calculations, street sections, and information about the detailed

projects

After developing regulating plans for the four alternatives during the fi rst term, students chose which parcel and what type of building they wanted to develop.

It was very important to me to continue to work within the constraints of the Minimum Demolition Alternative because not only had I worked closely with some of the Gabonese students to develop that plan, but it also is the most realistic for the future development of the campus.

As to what type of building, after spending time with the students, it was apparent that what they both wanted and needed most was simply resources. Walking into their existing library, one sees only a handful of books and many empty tables. Th is might be partially due to the fact that all student resources are now online journals, but aren’t accessible while on campus since Wi-Fi is diffi cult, if not impossible, to fi nd.

02Thes i s Pro ject Par t I I

Université Omar Bongo’sMédiathéque

Building Schematic DesignDesign Development

Envelope DetailingFinancial Analysis

Energy Analysis (eQuest)

Size: 3,500 sq.ft.

One of the most important aspects of the Minimum Demolition Alternative is the new pedestrian access from Leon M’Ba. Th e 10-foot tall concrete wall surrounding the campus only exacerbates the uneasiness between the students and public. By replacing this opague barrier with permeable, usable buildings, the security issues can be improved by eyes on the street and natural surveillance.

It was also very important to connect to the existing library. By utilizing the current resources, the new multimedia library can focus on providing new technologies and provide for a fl exible learning complex.

To connect to the existing library, I had to apply and present a zoning variance, as the skybridge crosses over the regulated pathway.

Th is parcel not only acts as a gateway to the campus, but also as an intermediary between the campus and the public, creating a need for permeability along the campus pedistrian axis.

Large Reading Room

First Floor Plan (Campus Entry)

Second Floor Plan

Third Floor Plan (Leon M’Ba Entry)

Fourth Floor Plan (Skybridge Connection)

South Elevation

West Elevation

North Elevation

East Elevation

Longitudinal Section(North-South Section)

Axes of Views

Conditioned vs. Passively Cooled

Vehicular Circulation

Transverse Section(East-West Section)

New Pedestrian Entry to Campus

Circulation Axes

Permeability

From Staircase, Looking South

Wall Section Detail

Vegetated Roof Detail

Reading Terrace

This project was to re-vision an old, beloved raceway in northern Portland. The project was very complex in that the site is located in a flood plane, so we spent many weeks of the term working to reserch and develop landscape and stormwater plans.

The driving goal that led to my design was to connect the various pieces that go into a racetrack, as well as the new programmatic elements such as an E.V. testing facility and small wetland research facility. This connection was formed through the concept of movement. The movement of visitors, racecars, and floodwater alike is a constant cycle on the site, tying into the changes and evolution of racing over time. These ideas from the site were then carried to a smaller scale to Schematic Design of the flexible E.V. testing facility.

03MasterP lann ing

Portland InternationalRaceway

VisioningMaster Planning (50+ years)

Landscape DesignWetland Research

Building Schematic DesignEnvelope Detailing

Size: 500 Acres (Site)8,180 sq. ft. (E.V. Testing Facility)

Site Rendering During Sunset

Final Presentation Rendering

Conceptual Process Models

Promenade Physical Model

Promenade Physical Model

E.V. Testing Center Interior Perspective

Garage Organization & Safety Zoning

E.V. Testing Center Section Model

This old flour mill site is a real project of the Portland Development Commission, who we had the chance to work with throughout the design process. Our goals were to re-vision the site and think about the edges of the river, train tracks, Field’s Park, and the Pearl District. My partner and I chose to engage each of these elements and focus on the transitions between spaces. We were also encouraged to save much of the older buildings while adding new pieces where the program required. We did this by saving the structure of some older buildings while adding new pieces to juxtapose the existing and highlight one another.

We then took our concept of ‘new breaking out of the old’ to a building scale; we developed the visitor center by using pieces of the existing and iconic warehouse on the river’s edge such as its structure and roof.

04Histor ica lReuse

Centennial MillsRedevelopment

Reuse and RestorationMaster Planning

Landscape DesignCity Transit Research

Building Schematic DesignArchitectural Typology Study

Size: 2 City Blocks (Site)20,000 sq. ft. (Visitors Center

& Museum)

Design Partner: Gina Auduong

1.

2.3.4. 4.

5.

6. 7.8.

9.

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11.

Willamette River

NW Naito Parkway

9th Ave.

Amtrak Railroad

Fields Park

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A

10. Pedestrian Tunnel11. Pedestrian Bridge12. Event Expansion Space13. Organic Park Space14. Second Story Boardwalk15. Reflection Pool 16. Formal River Connection17. Underground Parking Entry

1. Main Plaza2. Retail3. Apartment Housing4. Workspace5. Visitor Center6. Transitional Ruin Garden7. Greenway8. Arts & Culture Gallery9. Restaurant/Event Space

Site Section

Hierarchy of Spaces

Access to Water Edge

Formal vs. Organic

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Activated Green Spaces

Fiel

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PPaa

Greenway

City

Stre

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Site AccessOpen Spaces

Hierarchy of Spaces


Formal vs. Organic

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Fiel

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Greenway

City

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Hierarchy of Spaces


Formal vs. Organic

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Greenway

City

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Hierarchy of Spaces


Formal vs. Organic

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Greenway

City

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Hierarchy of Spaces


Formal vs. Organic

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Fiel

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Greenway

City

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Hierarchy of Spaces


Formal vs. Organic

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Fiel

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Greenway

City

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Diagramming the Site

1. Human Interaction

2. ShiftingComposition

3. New Reactions(each time)

ProgrammaticSpacing

CentralCirculation

Main Access

Visitors Center Conceptual Diagrams & Model




ProgrammaticSpacing

CentralCirculation

Main Access




ProgrammaticSpacing

CentralCirculation

Main Access




ProgrammaticSpacing

CentralCirculation

Main Access

Glass Skylight

Existing Warehouse Roof

Expose Existing Structure

Exhibit Mezzanine Space

Glass Enclosures

Openings allow Cross Ventilation

Existing Warehouse

Concrete Slab

View to River

Glass Skylight




Glass Enclosures


Existing Warehouse

Concrete Slab

View to River

Glass Skylight




Glass Enclosures


Existing Warehouse

Concrete Slab

View to River

Visitors Center Ground Floor Visitors Center Exploded Axon

Visitors Center Mezzanine

Architectural Context Analysis of Pearl District

Final Presentation Rendering

OregonBILDS is the first Design + Build student program of its kind in Oregon. The money made by selling the house supports the following year’s design and budget. Because of this, we were very concerned with staying within budget, constructability (as students will be the laborers), and marketability (we had a profiled user group and needed to make a profit).

We designed an affordable house for a large extended family that can expand easily. We focused on getting the drawing set ready for permits and met with consultants. As a group studio, much was gained from the organization of dividing work and communication.

05Res ident ia lDes ign + Bu i ld

The Hope Loop House

Site DesignCity CodesBudgeting

Construction & Permit DrawingsLandscape Design

Building Schematic DesignDetail DesignConstruction

Communication: Group Studio

Size: 1,280 sq. ft.Construction Began: Jan. 2014

Sold: July 2014Project Budget: $100,000

Rendering by Classmate, Cameron Huber

Typical Foundation Detail

Eave Detail

Garage Ledger Detail

House Under Construction

For the fi nal presentation, I pursued my interest in the heart of the house, the stair-case. Th is exploration included materials, bookshelf, handrail, and guardrails.

Staircase PerspectiveGuardrail Section

Elevation View from KitchenFull-Scale

Guardrail Model

This project was an in-depth look at modular systems of structure. We focused on materiality, joinery, and form (both at the scale of the module and the overall shelter). Our design was inspired by the strength, elegance, and complexity of a möbius strip. My partner and I repeatedly tested different materials and base angles to find the strongest solution for the overall shape of each strip.

Our structure’s stability was formed by the bending stiffness of the strips, but when the plastic was divided (since they had to be transported to Paris for our final presentation), their bending stiffness was decreased. This did not align with our hypothesis and caused the need for a cushioning material between the plastic strips that could transfer shear forces down to the base. This allowed our full-scale model to be strong enough to hold its own weight, as seen to the right.

06Eng ineeredModular System

Paris Metro Shelter

Global Shell-Like ConceptLocal Double-Curved Modules

JoineryFull-Scale MockupMaterial Research

Transit Planning & Construction

Design Partner: Stefan Scheffler

Process/Testing Models

Front View

Footing Detail Drawings

Section

The Eugene YMCA is looking to expand in phases on their existing site. Because of this and the local zoning, there was a strict pull to build the main building on the south half of the site. The YMCA tennis courts are some of the only indoor courts in the city and are extremely valued, so finding space for them became a priority. We worked with the clients and presented schemes to them throughout the process.

As the program of this project dictates much of what and how to design, I organized the main spaces around a barbell-shaped circulation zone. Safety being a large concern from the clients, I focused on breaking up the mass and allowing views through the entire site so as to employ natural surveillance.

07Recreat ionDes ign

Eugene YMCA

Site PlanningProgramming

Client InteractionBuilding Codes Research

Building Schematic Design

Size: 2 City BlocksMinimum Parking: 125 Spaces

Natatorium

Wellness Center

Wellness

Gym

SmallLounge

Racquetball

Men’s Women’s

Lau

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Sto

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FL

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Off

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Child Watch

Outdoor Play

Café

Lobby

Storage

FrontStaff

Admin.

Office

Storage

Mech.

Elec.

ExerciseStudio

Multi-purposeRoom

YogaStudio

OutdoorRoof

Garden

BoardRoom

Admin.

Observation

Walking Circut

Skybridge

Off.

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Tennis

2’ Subgrade Parking(126 Spaces)

Natatorium

Wellness Center

Wellness

Gym

SmallLounge

Racquetball

Men’s Women’s

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FL

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Child Watch

Outdoor Play

Café

Lobby

Storage

FrontStaff

Admin.

Office

Storage

Mech.

Elec.

ExerciseStudio

Multi-purposeRoom

YogaStudio

OutdoorRoof

Garden

BoardRoom

Admin.

Observation

Walking Circut

Skybridge

Off.

Gat

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Tennis


Natatorium

Wellness Center

Wellness

Gym

SmallLounge

Racquetball

Men’s Women’sLa

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Sto

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Sau

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Stea

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FL

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Child Watch

Outdoor Play

Café

Lobby

Storage

FrontStaff

Admin.

Office

Storage

Mech.

Elec.

ExerciseStudio

Multi-purposeRoom

YogaStudio

OutdoorRoof

Garden

BoardRoom

Admin.

Observation

Walking Circut

Skybridge

Off.

Gat

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Tennis


Natatorium

Wellness Center

Wellness

Gym

SmallLounge

Racquetball

Men’s Women’s

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Sau

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Stea

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FL

FL

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Child Watch

Outdoor Play

Café

Lobby

Storage

FrontStaff

Admin.

Office

Storage

Mech.

Elec.

ExerciseStudio

Multi-purposeRoom

YogaStudio

OutdoorRoof

Garden

BoardRoom

Admin.

Observation

Walking Circut

Skybridge

Off.

Gat

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Tennis


Second Floor Plan

Ground Floor Plan

Tennis Court Section

Entry to Natatorium Section

Entry Courtyard Vignette

This project was located on an old orchard site that is used now as a public park and living history site. It is often used for events, so the task was to design an events center anywhere on the site. My events center lies atop a gentle hill that overlooks some of the only open space on the property and is bordered by orchards. It is visible from the entrance of the site and the curvilinear spine of my building reaches out towards the entry to greet visitors and then guides them through the building and back out to the open space.

I organized the building in that one would pass through the spine several times, but always be grounded by that constant presence. The services are located in the back, while the larger events space looks out towards the orchards, open space, and butte in the distance. The roof structures of the front and back pieces differ to help illustrate this differentiation.

08Event & S i teResponse

Dorris Ranch Events Center

Site PlanningBuilding Schematic Design

Construction Details

Size: 4,800 sq. ft.

Concept Models

East Elevation

Perspective Along Spine

Canopy Detail

09CAD & HandDeta i l Drawings

Straub Hall Remodel

Enclosure Systems & ClimateEnclosure Barriers

Roof Membranes & Cladding

Building Materials:Masonry & Terra Cotta

Glass & Glazing SystemsWood

ConcreteStone

Metals

Parapet Detail Layered Structural System

In theory, this up-cycled cob wall acts similar to a traditional mass-and-glass as-sembly for a trombe wall. The only difference is that the air cavity is divided into smaller portions, held within the glass bottles.

Purpose: to compare a standard cob wall’s heat capacity to that of an up-cycled wall assembly of cob and recycled bottles.

Hypothesis: the recycled glass bottles will absorb the sun’s heat, and then transfer the heat to the thermal mass of the cob. Indirect gain from the suns rays then radi-ates the heat after there is no longer exposure to sunlight.

Methodology:

10An Up-Cyc ledExp lorat ion

Recycled Trombe Wall

Project Groupmates:Rachael HudsonSpencer RoedelJenelle Barzola

Recycled Bottles During Curing Process

Results: the empty bottle assembly performed better than the plain cob in regards to maximum temperature reached. The water-filled assembly, on the other hand, retained its heat for longer than the two other assemblies.

Stompling the Cob!

Lighting QualityLuminaire Plan & Section

11Mus ic Schoo lInter ior Redes ign

Luminaire

Project Groupmates:Arnold Toriumi

David ChoLena Traudt

1

12Wal l Ar t , G i f t s , Hand Med iaPersonal Projects

1. Board Game(Hand-cut pieces, Laser-cut

images, Woodburning, Cards)

2. Angel in Tree(Pen & Ink)

3. Abstract(Graphite)

4. Symmography(Yarn Art)

5. Pattern Exploration(Pen & Ink, Colored Pencil)

6. Mural(Construction Paper)

7. Wedding Gift (Box & Original wine label)

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13Trave l s , Pat terns ,& L ight

Photography

1. Church on a Hill(Stykkishólmer, Iceland)

2. Lines of Moss(Flatey, Iceland)

3. Heated Landscape(Iceland)

4. Under the Bridge(Florence, OR)

5. Framed Path(Budapest, Hungary)

6. Shadow of Three(Stuttgart, Germany)

7. Cover Photograph:Colored Landscape

(Ireland)

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Problem-solving has always been my greatest hobby. Since I was young, I’ve loved piecing together puzzles, answering riddles, and figuring out every math

question. Architectural design presents some of the most challenging problems in this world that are just waiting to be solved.

Each design decision has both consequences and benefits. As designers, we

accept the responsibility to serve the future users of a space to the best of our ability. It is this idea of learning to think for the good of others, and not for

ourselves, that makes architecture so difficult.

Yet, this is also what excites me about architecture. The more complexities to any problem, the more creative I am encouraged to be, not for

myself, but for others. The responsibility and opportunity to create positive change in my environment is incredibly exciting to me and I cannot wait to

start!

Claire Seger, LEED Green AssociateBachelors of Architecture 2014

University of Oregon

Phone: (402) 651-6493Email: [email protected]

Online Portfolio: segerclaire.wix.com/portfolio

Thank You.