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O L I V I A B R O W N U N I V E R S I T Y O F K A N S A S

S E L E C T E D W O R K S

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P R O J E C T S

D O N A L D J U D D M U S E U M P U B L I C L I B R A R YA - F R A M EC H A P E L

O T H E R

C H A I RF I G U R E D R A W I N G

R E S U M E

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C O N T E N T S

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D O N A L D J U D D M U S E U M

L O C A T I O NKansas City, MO

S T U D I OFall 2014 // 3rd year // Nilou Vakil

P R O J E C T D U R A T I O N1 Semester

Unlike a typical art museum, this building is designed specifically to house the works of one artist - Donald Judd. The architectural expression is simple but impactful, similar to many of his works. the design of the building insights a level of grandeur, though the carful attention to elegance and simplicity make it possible fot the expresive architecture not take away from the beautiful artwork it houses - an admirable quality in an art museum.

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Broa

dway

Blv

d

Southwest Blvd

Cent

ral S

t17th St

19th St

W 20th St

The Site

The KauffmanOpera House

CommunityGarden

C R O S S R O A D S , K A N S A S C I T Y

G E O G R A P H I C A L C O N T E X T

The site is located in the Crossroads neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, which is also the arts district. This area is the creative hub of the city and is scattered with “creative nodes” such as, art galleries, dance studios and performance venues, which makes it the ideal community for an art museum. However, this thriving artistic community is fragmented by the absurd amount of surface parking lots. In effort to densify this neighborhood, the museum site will take the place of one of these lots.

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S I T E

B U I L T

C R E A T I V E N O D E

S U R F A C E P A R K I N G L O T

A R E A S O F A R T I S T I C

C U L T U R E S U P E R I M P O S E D O N

U R B A N F A B R I C

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M U S E U M A S A F L O A T I N G B O X

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It is important for the museum to express Judd’s intent as an artist, rather than mimicking one of his pieces in building form. The parti is simply a box cantilevered over the steep landscape of the site - Informed by Judd’s belief in the importance of making objects that stand on their own and do not allude to anything beyond their own physical presence. The building hovers over the contrasting landscape, truly defining itself as an object in space.

To Judd, it was important that his pieces encourage people to think about the nature of the world we live in. He achieved this by use of proportions and ratios, to give the viewer context and something to relate to. It was important that the architecture express his value of proportions and how to define space. The building’s proportions relate to the surrounding context as well as the buildings own composition and in doing so it achieves a sort of “one-ness” with its surroundings.

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S P A C I A L E X P E R I E N C E

S O U T H E L E V A T I O N

0 1 - E N T R Y 0 2 - G A L L E R I E S

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E A S T E L E V A T I O N

0 3 - A D M I N I S T R A T I O N 0 4 - C A F E & L I B R A R Y

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S U S P E N D E D L O B B Y D E S K

M O D E L I M A G E S

The lobby desk continues the same language as the building parti of a cantilevered box. Rather than cantilevered, the desk is suspended from the ceiling and hovers over the wood floors. This 1/4 inch model of the lobby desk provides a better idea of what interior details would look and feel like. The materials in this model are all the materials that would be used through out the building - walnut floors with a matte finish, precast concrete panels, and white walls and details.

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1 {3D} Copy 11 {3D} Copy 11 {3D} Copy 11 {3D} Copy 11 {3D} Copy 1

A X O N O M E T R I C

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Situated at the end of a parkway on one side and the river bank on the other, the Lawrence Public Library melts into its natural surroundings. The structure is steel cladded in travertine panels for the facade, although the extended roofline provides extra shading and allows for a very transparent facade, creating an interior that feels outdoors.

L A W R E N C E P U B L I C L I B R A R Y & C O M M U N I T Y C E N T E R

L O C A T I O NDowntown Lawrence, KS

S T U D I OSpring 2014 // 2nd year // Roberto Castillo

P R O J E C T D U R A T I O N1 semester

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N A T U R A L C O N T E X T

S I T E

P A R K W A Y

M A S S A C H U S E T T S S T R E E T

B R I D G E

K A N S A S R I V E R

The existing site is a park so it is important to keep the continuity and connection to the remaining green space on the site and the parkway across the street. The low profile of the roof line is an intentional response to the scale of its residential and green context. A wide corridor runs between these two programs, and leads to an outdoor space with stepped seating that blends into the surrounding park.

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M A S S A C H U S E T T S S T R E E T

B R I D G E

K A N S A S R I V E R

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S I T E P L A N & P R O G R A M

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E N T R A N C E

C A F E

O U T D O O R P R E F O R M A N C E A R E A

A circular corridor

that loops around

the Children’s Library,

connects the two sides of

the building Community

Center with the Library.

The interior of the building

is broken up into three

uses, making it easy to

allow or block access to

areas if need be.

The building is split

into two programs, a

Community Center and a

Library.

L O A D I N G

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0 1 - E N T R Y L E V E L

A A - S E C T I O N P E R S P E C T I V E

B U I L D I N G I N T E R I O R

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0 0 - L I B R A R Y 0 2 - R E A D I N G R O O M

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I N T E R I O R & E X T E R I O R C O R R I L A T I O N

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A - F R A M EK C U R P U B L I C R A D I O

L O C A T I O NKansas City, Metro Area

S T U D I OSpring 2015 // 3rd year // Matt Klienmann

P R O J E C T D U R A T I O N1 semester

C O L A B O R A T I O NMegan Burns // Rao // Jack Pearson

KCUR-FM, the Kansas City NPR affiliate radio station, invited architecture students from The University of Kansas to collaborate with them in developing a flexible and mobile platform from which they could more readily engage local-area residents. The studio divided into 4 teams and pitched ideas to the client. In turn, the client was to choose a design that fit their needs. My team was one of the two teams chosen by KCUR, and we call our design the “A-Frame”.

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C L I E N T G O A L S

encourage conversation

promote KCUR

create interaction

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P R O F E S S I O N A L A D V I C E

We started the process by meeting with the client and conducting a design charrette to get a clear idea of their goal. They said that they needed something that would create community interaction, encourage conversation and promote their brand as KCUR. They also said this built object had to fit in a small car, be easily carried and assembled by one person, and be adaptable to all of their needs.

After meeting with the client, further iteration occurred with Kansas City design/build firm M2Make, where they used their experience in the design build field to help guide and refine our ideas into more realistic solutions.

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different scenarios

easy construction

easy transport

P H A S E S

A S S E M B LY

P O R T A B I L I T Y

D E S I G N I N T E N T P R O P O S A L

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F I N A L D E S I G N

Equipped with the client’s goals and professional insights, we came up with a scheme that incorporated portability, phases, and assembly, while also keeping an aesthetically pleasing and functional structure.

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P R O P O S A L

We presented our ideas to the clients and we awaited a decision. Eventually they decided on our team’s “A-Frame” concept as well as another group’s concept that was based on the idea of stacking boxes. As an entire studio we refined each design and made them compatible with one another. Then we started construction.

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P R O C E S S

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F I N A L P R O D U C T

The final product is collapsible and can be assembled by using just a hex wrench. The frame is aluminum, with wood panels to weigh the structure down and plexi inserts for the top section so that future advertising can be inserted. The boxes slide easily under the A-frame and can be used seperately. The canopy provides protection from the sun and light rain. The middle panel folds up to be a chalkboard and folds down to be a table top. All of the panels easily slide out so that they can be replaced over time.

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V I D E O

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C H A P E L

L O C A T I O NLawrence, KS

S T U D I OFall 2013 // 2nd year // Kent Spreckelmeyer

P R O J E C T D U R A T I O N1 month

This small chapel on the West Campus of the University of Kansas is primarily constructed of wood. Situated next to a cemetery, this chapel serves as a place for small ceremonies and spiritual practice. Though use of natural light, this non-denominational place of worship creates a general sense of spirituality that can be appreciated by all.

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S I T E C O N T E X T

P E R F O R M A N C E C E N T E R

C E M E T E R Y

S I T E

B U S Y S T R E E T

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T R I A N G U L A R P A R T I

The triangular form of the chapel was informed by a series of parti models, studying the geometry and configuration in order to achieve the dynamic yet simple facade of the final model. The lattice wood facade incrementally transforms from being perpendicular to the ground at the altar to leaning against the structural wall at the entrance. The space created is long and narrow, intentionally drawing the eye up to give the interior a sort of ethereal aesthetic.

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D E T A I L S A N D C R A F T

The tapered profile of the solid structural wall was created using the cnc machine, while the rest of my model was constructed by hand with great attention to detail.

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F L A T P A C K C H A I R

M A T E R I A LPlywood

S T U D I OFall 2014 // 3rd year // Digital Fabrication

P R O J E C T D U R A T I O N1 month

This chair is a flat pack assembly: it is ready to assemble and re-quires no tools or glue, allowing it to be disassembled and packed completely flat (flat pack). The design is very efficient and econom-ical because it was cut from only two sheets of plywood, that cost a total of about eighty dollars. The geometry of this lounge chair is inspired by mid-century modern form, but it’s digitally fabricated construction method speaks a language of the present.

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P R O C E S S

DESIGN 1

DESIGN 2

DESIGN 2

FINAL DESIGNFINAL DESIGN

D E S I G N 3

D E S I G N 2

D E S I G N 1

Initial design, with orthogonal joinery. Elegant, but has potential structural problems.

The structural problems of the first iteration informed a diagonal type joinery that ties the frame together better. The frame is still too thin.

The design is refined and the proportions are corrected.

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Once I had a sensible design, the process is one of trial and error. The pieces are cut using a CNC machine which is a 3-axis drill bit that is digitally programed to cut the material. Though the process is digital it is not perfect and the first few cuts revealed flaws in the design that were not apparent in the digital version. After three cutting and refining the design 3 times, the pieces are perfected and the chair is assembled quite easily.

Though the process was tedious and time consuming, achieving this design without the CNC would be very difficult because of the irregular parallelogram finger joints that tie the members diagonally.

P E R F E C T I N G T H E C U T S

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The final design is achieved by doubling the thickness of the profile and using two sheets of 3/4 inch birch plywood on either side, giving the chair a flush finish and extra support. In the end getting perfectly flush diagonal joints was beyond the capability of the CNC; I resorted to very precise straight cuts that I was able to pressure fit together, also adding strength to the structure.

J O I N E R Y

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The final product is clean, structurally sound, affordable, sustainable, easy to assemble and pack all while achieving an aesthetically pleasing design.

F I N A L C H A I R

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F I G U R E D R A W I N G

M A T E R I A LColored pencil & Conte on news print

C L A S SFall 2015 // 4th year

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E D U C A T I O NThe University of Kansas Lawrence, KS4th Year / Masters of Architecture / Spring 2017

Colorado Academy Denver, COGraduated 2011

The New School New York, NY Art Courses / summer 2010

E X P E R I E N C EArchitectural Internship / Summer 2015 Shears Adkins Rockmore

Job site visits, contributed on schematic design presentation for client, contributed on construction documentation for consultants, took meeting minutes, made conceptual design parti iterations

Architectural Internship / Summer 2014 Semple Brown Design

Went to job sites and took pictures, sat in on meetings, ordered furniture, organized material library and coordinated with material representatives, made a set of as-built plans of a historic house.

Construction / 2015 Service Learning

I did Construction work rehabilitating a house for the community in the Lower Ninth Ward – the most devastated area by Katrina. I worked from 9am to 5pm for four days doing Landscaping and building a deck. I administrated as well as participated in the construction.

Set Designer / 2011 - 2013 Rock Chalk Review & Sorority Recruitment

Designed and built set for the philanthropy, Rock Chalk Revue.

Florist Assistant / 2011 - 2013Bloom Denver

Helped with the Children Hospital Designer Show House, designed & delivered fl ower arrangements.

O L I V I A B R O W No b r o w n @ k u . e d u / 3 0 3 . 9 1 6 . 4 8 8 2 / 4 5 0 R a c e S t . D e n v e r , C o l o r a d o 8 0 2 0 6

A W A R D SScholarship - Donald P. Ewart Memorial Traveling Scholarship 2015

AIAS - Member

House That Greeks Built - Member

Water Charette - Particapent 2014 & 2015

Permanent Collection Art award, 2011Painting awarded the highest visual art achievement at Colorado Academy

S K I L L SRevit / Sketch Up / AutoCAD

3D Printing / CNC Machine

Rhino / Grasshopper

Photoshop / Illustrator / InDesign

R E F E R E N C E SAndy Rockmore

AIA, Principal, SA+R arockmore@sararch.com 303.717.4298

Brian Schmidt AIA, Principal, Semple Brown BSchmidt@semplebrown.com 303.571.4137

Kent Spreckelmeyer FAIA, Professor of Architecture kents@ku.edu 785.864.3164

Joe Colistra AIA, Professor of Architecture jcolistra@ku.edu 720.203.5678