Auburn UniversityFall 2009 - Spring 2014

JOHN MCDANIELUndergraduate Portfolio

JOHN MCDANIELUndergraduate Portfolio

The following is a sampling of my architectural endeavors as well as various projects during my education at Auburn University

contents

0Lions Park Fitnessfall 2012-spring 2014

2

Chicago Children’s Hospitalfall 2011-spring 2012

52various worksdates vary

3

6Lake Martin Residencefall 2011-spring 2012

Auburn University Rural StudioTeammates: Christine Bagdigian, Kyle Johnson, Anna Powersfall 2012-spring 2014Greensboro, AL

lions park fi tness

Lions Park began as the development of a 40 acre lot for use as an industrial park. After this venture failed, the lot was converted into a recreational park for the community. It began as a scattering of park activities with no clear center, allowing users to bring vehicles into the park. In 2006, the city of Greensboro and the Lions Club came to the Rural Studio with the vision of transforming the park into something the community could be proud to call its own. With this in mind the Rural Studio brought ideas of long term organization and innovative material use to create an infrastructure for how the park can evolve in the future.

understanding lions park

park plan (2006)

current plan (2012)

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park history

the hub

recreational play

landscape appreciation

phases lions park

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1

2

3

baseball fi elds, bathrooms, concession stand, and surfaces.

skate park and playscape

water management, vegetationand scout hut

entry gates skate park playscape grass fi elds baseball fi elds

water fountain

entry signs

play equipment

trash cans

“stick” benches

8

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trash

water

seats

signs

play

fi tness

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support park function

For our team the next phase of the park was introduced as providing park users with necessary supporting amenities such as, signage, trash cans, water fountains, shade structures, and seating. It was our charge to understand what the park has, in terms of existing amenities and material languages, while determining what and where new amenities should exist.

project introduction

In the beginning of our schematic design process, our goal was to provide more amenities to unsupported parts of the park to enhance the overall function of Lions Park. It was important for us to combine queues from the existing material language to extend a more user friendly version of previous amenities. The walking trail was used as the armature for which we would place each new amenity

existing languages

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initial investigations

extending amenities

walking trail as armature

consistent material language

structure signage/info touch

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consistent material language

signage/info to

mile markers1 nature trail2 fi tness trail3

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Through our schematic design process we were able to narrow down our scope of work to four easily defi nable additions to the park based on a theme of differing tones of movement through the park; mile markers to support the walking trail, a nature trail through undiscovered parts of the park, a fi tness trail to enhance individual exercise, and upgrading the secondary entrance into the park.

tones of accessibility

avery entrance4

mile markers: a constant paceThe mile markers began as a function of the signage issue that was initially introduced. We intended to establish a repetitive graphic marker that could be used multiple ways, such as interval training or long distance running.

nature trail: a string of discoveryThe nature trail began when we as a team stumble upon the undiscovered forest in the southwest corner of the park. The path became about stringing together a series of special moments that occurred naturally in the park. We looked into establishing a language of natural materials to allow users to understand the natural processes existing in the park.

fi tness trail: high intensityOur development of the fi tness trail was established when we were given a grant by the Alabama Department of Public Health to install fi tness equipment in the park. It began as an idea of an obstacle course that would use the natural features; i.e. mounds and tall grass fi elds, to move users along the “waistband of the park.”

avery entrance: a worthy celebrationDue to the new parking lot that allows users to bring vehicles into the park, protecting the users and natural elements of the park became a major issue. We were hoping to establish this entrance as the conceptual beginning of the park. We would be able to provide proper signage and park info to allow users to see all that the park has to offer.

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accessing the park

airwalker leg press rowing

cardiovascular health, endurance and fl exibility for the lower body

strength and conditioning for lower leg muscles

cardiovascular health, endurance, fl exibility, strength and conditioning for entire body

When selection the pieces of equipment it was crucial to provide users with a full body workout for a wide range of diffi culty levels.

full body workout

While selecting equipment pieces we were able choose a fi nish that has the increased durability and rust protection of electro-deposition coating, the same process used on automobiles. This choices, although more expensive, doubled the warranty on the equipment and gave us the freedom to choose our own color.

durable fi nish

machine selection

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1 2 3 chest press

strength and conditioning for the upper body muscles

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to enhance the machine-like quality of the equipment within the landscape we chose the color red, which is the complimentary color to the natural green surroundings

color theory

push up bar pull up bar dip barab bench

provide a wider range of diffi culty for the bar workouts, also strength and conditioning for abs

a range of diffi culty levels for upper body strength and conditioning

a high diffi culty for upper body strength and conditioning

a high level of diffi culty for upper body strength and conditioning

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5 6 7 8

placement in the park

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protection from sunWhen narrowing down the equipment placement in the park it was important for our team to establish criteria with which to compare the different possible places within the park. To understand these certain requirements we were able to take several fi eld trips to local parks that had the same equipment to study how they placed the equipment and how it could be improved. Through our research, we found providing a shaded place to use the equipment became our most important requirement for placing the equipment. To take advantage of the outdoor environment we wanted to fi nd a place that could be oriented towards spectacular views. To accommodate a range of users, it was important for us to maintain a proximity to the walking trail. Finally allowing a visual connection from the entrance invites users to come use the equipment.

the threshold of the forest

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visibility from entryorientation to views access from walking trail

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user experience

When zooming in on scale to the individual machine and its precise placement within its surroundings it was important that our intervention be very complementary to the natural forest edge. It was essential to maintain a balance between a fi nessed touch and a visual presence to create a moment of exercising within the landscape that helps users engage with what’s beautiful about the place. We used trees to frame views of the pastoral surroundings and aligned each machine within the tree line to give the shiny red fi nish presence in “gym” of the forest.

rendered plan

the forest threshold

main concept sketch

crafted viewselevated over swale aligned in the landscape1 2 3

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platform iterations

platform materiality

When selecting the material for our platform we were interested in a material that could solve several problems with very few simple moves. We choose to use a metal grate that we could treat to appear weathered. The grates breath ability and muted tone allows the surface to reveal the landscape beneath while maintaining minimal visual presence in the landscape. Even with a thin 2-1/2 inch profi le, the grate has very capable structural qualities in the simple span as well as in cantilever. The design of the structure became a balance of weight and elegance to maintain the grates transparent surface through to the forest fl oor.

metal grate plan

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concrete extrusion cor-ten extrusion concrete stick

a light touch

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weathered metal grate

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concrete foundations

metal substructure

metal structure

metal grate platform

fi tness equipment

platform construction

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2

3

4

5

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fl agstone river path

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path iterations

metal grate sticks concrete stick dissolve red crushed brick

diagrammatic path plan

path materiality

In maintaining a theme of accessibility to the landscape, we felt it necessary to provide a path that allows the equipment to be used during all times of the year, rain or shine. The path acts as a river of stones providing the takeoff points to the individual moments. The stone strives to appear as simple as possible to maintain the focus on the red moment over the landscape. The width of the path widens and pinches to maintain a fl ow of movement through the special moments along the trail, while the repetition of a single stone and a high level of detailing at each connection allow the path to appear as a continuous river over the landscape.

river of stones

path construction

gravel base

all purpose sand

tennessee blue-gray fl agstone

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pick up and store stone1

excavate and lay gravel2

compact and level gravel3

lay and level stone4

chisel stone5

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airwalker

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longitudinal section

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leg press

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longitudinal section

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rowing

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longitudinal section

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chest press

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longitudinal section

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42

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bridge

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longitudinal section

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46

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endpoint

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experiential section

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children’s hospitalprofessor_ Christian Dagg/ Scott Finnfall 2011-spring 2012Chicago, IL

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“a skew in the chicago grid”

design strategies

Maintaining optimum functionality and a clear organizational strategy helped determine the overall form of the building. Playing off the strict grid of the Chicago street system, the site is divided by a skewed line separating the strict movement of the effi ciency based program from what can allow for an experiential connection to the buildings of downtown Chicago. The juxtaposition between the two grids provides opportunity for family waiting and gathering spaces that offer unique views to the city.

skewing the grid

In keeping with the idea of a functional program the circulation diagram for each fl oor needed to be as clear and simple as possible. A double loaded corridor allowed the patient fl oors and second fl oor atrium to gesture towards an open gap of sky towards the northwest corner of the site. The programs for the patient rooms are arrange to highlight the skew of the program and orient patients toward the open facade.

program effi ciency

public spaces1 facade/massing2 structural grid3

atrium perspective

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atrium section perspective

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aerial view of model in site

street view of model in site

close up view of facade connections

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detail sketches

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patient care units9

intensive care unit8

dietary services7

cardiovascular suite6

laboratory5

central sterile supply4

3

family/visitor waiting2

visitor entrance1

prep/hold/recover

patient care units

patient care units

patient care units

patient care units

general storage

doctor’s offi ces

administration

community services

emergency entrance

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elevation

stacking diagram

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full building section

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plan diagram sketch

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ground fl oor plan

plan diagram sketchpatient room section perspective

family space perspective

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typical patient fl oor plan

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lake houseprofessor_ Bob Faustfall 2009Alexander City, AL

site plan

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design strategies

Due to the unique features of the site, such as an extreme slope and the vast horizontality of the lake, the building’s form was derived to create a very contrasting vertical object within the landscape. Verticality required a stacking program that provided an opportunity to celebrate the circulation between each fl oor.

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site response

programmatic massingOnce the vertical scheme was established the house became a balance between compositional aesthetic and programmatic practicality. The fi nal result provides a clear massing diagram separating functions by fl oor and mass.

extreme slope height restrictionslake horizontality

site conditions

building strategy

buried into site1 vertical mass2

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kitchen/dining1 entrance/living2 master bedroom3

study/bath

vertical circulation

intimate connection

living/family

bedrooms

programmatic massing

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bedroom/ library4 bedroom5

section through bedroom mass

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section through dining and living room

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hand crafta sample of various works displaying skills that require a high level of attention to detail and hand craft

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measure by drawing

acrylic with white colored pencil accents on fl imsy cardboard

spring 2013

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changing the scene

acrylic with white colored pencil accentson fl imsy cardboard, ink printed image

spring 2013

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watercolor over graphite line drawing

spring 2011

magnolia grove elevation

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alvaar alto stacking stool

birch wood construction

spring 2011

bend and clamp leg

laminate bend strips

steam wood pieces

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hospital model

basswood + museum board

spring 2012

auburn arboretum

basswood

spring 2010

model building samples

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lake house model

basswood + museum board

fall 2009

bookstore facade

molded basswood + chipboard

fall 2009

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John Alan McDaniel 1755 Indian Creek Dr. | Birmingham, AL 35243

(205)-807-0044 | jam0003@auburn.edu

Objective

_Gain skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the field of design + build

_Accumulate hours per the IDP Guidelines to take architecture licensure exams

Education

Auburn University | Auburn, AL| Graduated May 2013

Academics Degree: Bachelor of Architecture Design Studio GPA: 3.52 _Dean’s List: Spring 2011, Fall 2012, Spring 2013

_3rd

Year Rural Studio: Spring 2011

*3rd

Place Watercolor

_Thesis Year Rural Studio: Fall 2012-Spring 2013

Extracurricular Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity Intramural Flag Football and Basketball

Community Service Food Bank Volunteer Loachapoaka Elementary School Volunteer Annual ATOpen Charity Golf Classic

Skills

Computer Skills AutoCAD | Google Sketch-up _producing building plans, elevations, sections, and details _experience with steel fabrication drawings Adobe Design Premium _creating well designed documents to convey design ideas _rendering images for project proposals Microsoft Office

Technical Skills Drafting | Sketching | Model Building | Water-coloring

Construction Exposure Welding | Torch cutting | Wood Framing | Concrete Mixing/Pouring

Work History

Intern | Nichols Meinert Architects | Auburn, AL | May 2011 – August 2012 _ utilized AutoCad skills to produce drawings for complete construction sets _ exposed to meetings with clients and consultants

Mover | Two Men & a Truck | Auburn, AL & Birmingham, AL | Summer 2008 – Summer 2010

Antique Mover | Past Perfect | Birmingham, AL | Fall 2006 – Summer 2008

Attendant | Pump it Up | Pelham, AL | Summer 2004 – Fall 2006

Caddy | Caddy Please Inc. | Birmingham, AL | Summer 2004

References

Richard Meinert | Nichols Meinert Architects | rmeinert@nicholsmeinert.com | 334-759-0904

Harold Nichols | Nichols Meinert Architects | jnichols@nicholsmeinert | 334-399-5131