undergraduate portfolio

J U S T I N C O L L I ERSelected Works: 2009 – 2014

Do you see a man skillful in his work?He will stand before kings;he will not stand before obscure men.

PROVERBS 22:29

Academic Works

C O N T E N T S

Linn Park Event Center & HotelBirmingham, Alabama

North End Cardiovascular HospitalBoston, Massachusetts

The RoundhouseLas Vegas, New Mexico

Alabama Impact Crater CenterWetumpka, Alabama

The LakehouseDadeville, Alabama

2012 – 2013

2011 – 2012

2010 – 2011

07

15

23

25

31

Professional Works

Chambless King OfficeMontgomery, Alabama

Summer 2012 37

Montgomery Advertiser Office ProposalMontgomery, Alabama

41Nat King Cole PlazaMontgomery, Alabama

43

Personal Works

The Architecture of HousingGraphic Design Commission

47

Summer 2013

A C A D E M I C W O R K S

Here it is necessary to create a hospital which serves as a civic institution, and specifically one that compliments the site’s existing vitality. Pushing the hospital’s public functions to the street’s edge engages this vitality and creates an opportunity to compose the facade as a background to these functions.

NORTH END CARDIOVASCULAR HOSPITAL

Fourth Year Architecture Studio: Fall 2012

Professor:Type:Area:Location:

Kevin MooreHealthcare250,000 ft2

Boston, Massachusetts

It is important to recognize that placing a hospital on this site has great influence on the urban fabric of the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway as well as the established cultural presence of the North End. There is an opportunity for the North End Cardiovascular Hospital to not only respond to these contextual relationships, but also challenge the paradigms of hospital architecture in terms of presence and experience.

Hospitals are often introverted in nature, but the Greenway presents itself as a highly active and public site. So how do we reconcile these two conditions?

8

M A I N TA I N I N G A N A C T I V E C O R N E R

Throughout the design process, the hospital was thoughtfully composed from a range of approaches in the city. The image above represents perhaps the most compelling and important viewpoint. It displays the family rooms holding the corner, while the facade compliments the historical context. The pattern of the facade becomes secondary in comparison to the atmosphere created by the North End. This composition maintains an active corner while honoring the existing scenography.

9 | North End Cardiovascular Hospital

10

L AY E R I N G O F I N T E R I O R S PA C E

The lobby of the hospital is a tall volume filled with light. Multiple spaces and functions hinge on this volume and are layered through their transparency.

11 | North End Cardiovascular Hospital

E N L A R G E D E X T E R I O R E L E VAT I O N

The hospital’s presence is vast and therefore so is the user’s. The hospital is visible from multiple locations and in turn grants its occupants a privileged view of the city. A slight change in the floor’s elevation widens the field of view to present the bedridden patient with an impressive collection of vistas.

Typical Patient Care Floor Plan & Ground Floor Plan

Building Section through Public Functions

14

L INN PARK EVENT CENTER & HOTEL

Fourth Year Interior Architecture Studio: Spring 2013


Kevin MooreAdaptive Re-Use30,050 ft2

Birmingham, Alabama

The Birmingham Board of Education Building sits as an under utilized structure adjacent to Linn Park. The buildings surrounding this park are introverted in nature and do little to activate or sustain a lively atmosphere. This structure has the potential to serve as a public entity and as a precedent to the surrounding buildings. The Board of Education site also contains a parking deck. We proposed removing this structure to make way for retail, residence, and hotel program. An uncanny transparency designed into the architecture increases one’s perception of these proposed activities. This combination insures an active street front which seems to be missing from the site

Existing Board of Education Building

Schematic Section of Renovation and Hotel Addition

I M P R E S S I V E T R A N S PA R E N C Y

This project is an experiment in creating a highly visible interior from the exterior. The purpose of this idea is to provide an architecture which serves as dynamic advertisement for the building’s functions. This uncanny transparency is achieved through strategic artificial and day lighting schemes.

17 | Linn Park Event Center & Hotel

18

R E D U C E D V I S U A L D E P T H

The previous notion of an uncanny transparency is an interesting one, but what becomes of the building when no events are being held. A vibrant interior curtain is drawn to reduce the building’s depth while maintaining a compelling facade. These curtains also begin to alter and define interior space.

UP

Ground Floor Plan Second Floor & Mezzanine Plan


A C O U S T I C A N D V I S U A L

The ground floor is divided by two curtains: One for sound attenuation and one for visual transmission. Here both curtains are drawn to block sound between events and provide a beautiful backdrop to each event.

V I S U A L

In this configuration, only the sheer curtain remains. This configuration allows for a subtle transparency between spaces and events. The acoustic curtain is spooled against an interior wall as a sculptural piece.

O P E N

Here, both curtains are removed. The sheer curtain is spooled as a sculptural pillar within the order of the existing column grid. This configuration creates an open plan for one large event to occupy multiple spaces.

I N T E R I O R C U R TA I N C O N F I G U R AT I O N S

20

I N T E R I O R C U R TA I N E L E VAT I O N

10 min. 5 min.20 min.

WEST LAS VEGAS SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY

DOWNTOWN

THE ROUNDHOUSE

OLD PLAZA

THE ROUNDHOUSE

Third Year Architecture Studio: Spring 2012


Sheri SchumacherAdaptive Re-Use57,800 ft2

Las Vegas, New Mexico

The City of Las Vegas wishes to create community assets that are a source of pride for the city, introduce innovations that foster economic vitality, and develop facilities that provide healthy activities for the idle youth and young adults of the city.

A mixed-use facility developed within the old Atchison, Topeka, Santa Fe Roundhouse could synthesize many of the initiatives stated in the city’s master plan into a more efficient development model. Because of its size, the roundhouse has the capability to house a multitude of programmatic elements. An organic restaurant, community art gallery, and business incubator would serve as catalysts for the economic growth of small local businesses and organizations. A coffee house, daycare, rock climbing gym, and multi-sport retail store would provide unique learning environments and promote healthy activities for the idle youth of Las Vegas. Flexible interior and exterior spaces would be developed as venues for city wide events, and would also be designed to respond to the current and future needs of the city.

24

ALABAMA IMPACT CRATER CENTER

Second Year Architecture Studio: Spring 2011


Robert SproullExhibition / Research30,100 ft2

Wetumpka, Alabama

The City of Wetumpka called for an icon that identifies the river region and helps to illuminate the geological history which defined the area. The building sits within a prominent hillside facing Highway 231 and the entry of the city limits. The building appears as a heavy stone mass jutting from the landscape, a geological remnant from the meteor’s impact. From Highway 231, the building appears to be a solid mass, hiding the interior. However as one passes through the threshold, the building opens up with expanses of glass revealing portions of the interior. Upon entering the courtyard, visitors are faced with a corten wall that is unique to the building’s material palette. Johannes Kepler’s quote, “The diversity of the phenomena of nature is so great, and the treasures hidden in the heavens so rich, that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment.”, is comprised of stainless steel lettering that is raised slightly from the corten surface. The act of reading the text leads one’s eye into the entry of the exhibit.

Approach Perspective

Early Conceptual Sketches

Second Floor & Mezzanine Plan

Ground Floor Plan

27 | Alabama Impact Crater Center

M A S S I N G

Integration with the natural topography invites visitors to explore the landscape. The building is no longer just an object on the landscape but rather an extension of it.

The main gallery located on the first level. Visitors proceed around the exhibit with access to a central atrium that showcases a fossil found near the site. Visitors ascend the stairs to the temporary gallery. This gallery, oriented on a mezzanine, houses traveling installations and larger portions of the main exhibit. An observation deck is located on the third level. This level creates another vantage point from which to view the exhibits below. By relating one level to another, the entire space is activated. The experience ends at a processional stair that allows for final views of all three levels upon exiting the exhibition.

S PA C I A L P R O G R E S S I O N

28

I N T E G R AT I O N W I T H E X I S T I N G T O P O G R A P H Y

These sections illustrate the building’s integration with the topography, as well as the placement of the fossil within the volume of the gallery.

29 | Alabama Impact Crater Center

THE LAKEHOUSE

Second Year Architecture Studio: Fall 2010


Stacy Norman, AIAPrivate Residence4,000 ft2

Dadeville, Alabama

The Lakehouse represents the first complete design project I was given at Auburn. We were told to design a waterfront residence on a narrow hillside. In order to gain a better understanding of the design process, I used my father as a stand-in client. My parents live on a lake that has similar site conditions. He was able to lay out a list of priorities and needs that focused my design efforts. Because of the site’s narrow width and close proximity to other homes, it was necessary to place priorities on certain rooms.

32

P R I O R I T I Z I N G S PA C E

In this design, I choose to place the living room, master bedroom, and workshop nearest to the water to allow for unobstructed views of the lake. The kitchen was placed behind the living room but on a slightly higher elevation so that one could look over the living room to the lake.

Ground Floor, Mid Level & Lake Level Plans

Building Section

Site Plan

33 | The Lakehouse

P R O F E S S I O N A L W O R K S

CHAMBLESS K ING OFFICES

Summer Internship: 2012

In the summer of 2012, I had the opportunity to work a second term under a firm led by John Chambless and Stephen King. Upon starting, I was tasked the responsibility of drafting construction documents for the firm’s new office on the third floor of the Teague Warehouse building in downtown Montgomery. Along with this responsibility, I was given the freedom to design a few key elements including the composition and details of the office’s entry.

Project Team:Type:Area:Location:

Stephen King, Mike ShowsAdaptive Re-Use3,700 ft2

Montgomery, Alabama

38

Existing Structure

2x8 Framing

5/8” Gyp. Wall Board

4” Recessed Downlight

Reclaimed Wood Flooring with ebony stain as �nish

2 Layers of Homosote for sound attinuation

Wall Beyond

C R A F T & C O L L A B O R AT I O N

The builders had a surplus of wood flooring they had reclaimed from the building. We decided to use this flooring to construct a compelling wall surface just as you exit the elevator and face the door to the office.

We worked with the carpenters to create a wall that was as thin as possible and one that created a texture on a larger scale beyond the inherent texture of the wood. A 2x4 wall is turned in an unconventional manner to create a thin profile. Every other length of flooring is shimmed to create a surface that has subtle undulations. This effect is intensified by down lighting the wall.

39 | Chambless King Office

Conference Room

Office Floor Plan: Third Floor

40

NAT K ING COLE PLAZA


This plaza is immediately adjacent to the Historic Nat King Cole & Abernathy house museums located on North East Corner of Alabama State University’s Campus. The plaza will serve as a welcome point for visitors and provide necessary waiting and assembly space outside of the museums. The design is broken into two major portions. One being a more intimate seating area towards the back of the plaza that will accommodate those resting before and after the exhibit. The other is a more open area towards the front of the plaza where larger groups can gather or unfixed seating can be placed for outdoor lectures. The large expanse of the plaza’s paving is softened on the left side by allowing the concrete pavers to space out and extend into the large grass area. The result is a third more casual portion of the plaza for lounging and meandering.

271

272

268

X

2A101

Field Verify

45' - 0" +/-

Fiel

dVe

rify

8' -

4" +

/-

A1013

A1018

Existing rampstructure to

remain as is.Existing CMU retainingwall to remain as is.

Existing stub-up conduitsto remain for futureutilities - Extend conduitas required within newconcrete well.

Existing concrete well -Pour new concrete tocreate square well.

6A101

Existing CMUretaining wall toremain as is.

Existing CMUretaining wall toremain as is.

5A101

Existing conc. ramp to beremoved to accomodatean ADA transition andnew pavers as req'd -Existing handrail systemto remain as is.

--

New Shade Trees(3) - See General

Note #2

5' -

0"

5' - 0"

New 4" SCH 40PVC sleeve to newplanter - Extendsleeve 24" min. pastfurthest paver at 18"min. depth belowconcrete pad.

Future lampost - ProvideConduit

Future lampost - Provideconduit

New lampost -Provide conduit

New shade trees (2) -See General Note #2

Existing Conc. Slab New Conc. Slab

Existing Conc. Slab New Conc. Slab

7A101

Paversindependent of slab

to be placed levelwith pavers on topof compacted soil.

4A101

Existing Nat King Cole House

Existing Abernathy House

Existing ramp structureto remain as is

New conc. base tomatch existing forpaver installation

Existing plywoodramp structureto be removed.

Existing handrailsystem to remainas is.

25' -

0"

New concrete pavers w/1" min. mortar bed overexisting concrete slab.

New concrete pavers w/ 1" min. mortarbed over new 4" 2000 psi concreteslab w/ WWF 6x6 10/10 supported.

Ornamental trees (3) - SeeGeneral Note #2

6' - 0"

6' - 0"

N

Edge of new paversshall align with edge ofexisting conc. slab

Edge of planter shall alignwith inside face of existingCMU retaining wall.

Existing back of curb to remain.

New sidewalkelevation shall beconstructed so thatthe existing profile ismaintained betweencurb and thesidewalk.

New 6' sidewalk -Control jointspacing at 6'

48"(h)x96"(l)x1/4" ThickCorten Steel Panel

Concrete Paver

Concrete Slab

Compacted StoneAggregate

ExistingUndisturbed Soil

1" Mortar Bed

12 Gauge Steel EdgeRestraint w/ 11" stakes

1-1/2"X1-1/2"X3/16"Steel Angle(Beyond)

Top Soil/Growing Medium -See General Note #2

Pea Gravel By Contractor

Weep Hole - 48" O.C.Filter Fabric

12" dia. x 24" (d)concrete post footing

Pea Gravel - 2"Recessed

4" SCH 40 PVCSleeve

Provide SCH 40 PVCcaps at each end forsleeves installed for futureuse. Provide metaldetection tag for futuredetection

0' -

4"

0' - 4"

MIN

.

1' -

6"

1' - 2"1' - 2"0' - 8"2' - 0"0' - 8"0' - 8"2' - 0"

2' - 0"0' - 8"1' - 2"2' - 0"0' - 8"1' - 2"0' - 8"

0' - 8"2' - 0"1' - 2"0' - 8"2' - 0"0' - 8"1' - 2"

3' -

0"3'

- 0"

3' -

0"

9' -

0"

8' - 4"Typical 1/2" Mortar Joint

N

Corten panelsjoints shall becontinouslyback welded

1/2"x1/2"x3/16" Steelangle @ 48" O.C.centered behindcorten panels joint andmid-span weld topanels

1/4" Thick48"x96" cortensteel panels

Concrete Paver

1" Mortar Bed

4" Concrete Slab

Compacted soilsubgrade- min.compaction req'd= 95%

1/2" PremoldedAsphaltExpansion JointFiller

New ConcreteSidewalk - SeeGeneral Note #3

New 4" crushedstone aggregatecompacted basecourse min.compaction req'd= 95%

12 Gauge SteelEdge Restraint

Concrete Paver-See GeneralNote #1

1" Mortar Bed

4" Concrete Slab

Existing Soil


New sod - SeeGeneral Note #2

Concrete Paver

1" Mortar Bed

4" Concrete Slab

Compacted soil

Concreteanchor bolt

1/4" thick x 2" steeltab - Slotted 7/16" x3/4" for concreteanchor

SteelExpandableTree Grate

1-3/4"x1-3/4"x1/4"Steel Angle

Concrete Paver

1" Mortar Bed

4" Concrete Slab

Concrete Paver- On top ofcompacted soil


Compacted sub-grade -Min.compactionreq'd = 95%

CONSULTANTS:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

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M

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

REVISIONS:

ABER

NATH

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USE

C H A M B L E S S | K I N G

Structural

Grant Engineering, L.L.C.432 Herron Street / Montgomery, AL 36104Phone:334.265.4631

Mechanical & Plumbing

Southern Engineering Consutants109 South Court Street / Pratville, AL 36067Phone:334.730.6020

Electrical

Gunn & Associates, PC3102 Highway 14 / Millbrook, AL 36054Phone:334.285.1273

Civil

J.M. Garrett & Son, L.L.C.1109 South Hull Street / Montgomery, AL 36104Phone:334.264.2247

12 West Jefferson St., Suite 300 / Montgomery, AL 36104334.272.0029

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Construction Documents

A101Floor Plan

1/4" = 1'-0"1 Architectural Paving

1/2" = 1'-0"2 Corten Planter Section

1/2" = 1'-0"3 Repeated Concrete Paver Pattern

1 1/2" = 1'-0"8 Corten Panel Joint Detail

1" = 1'-0"4 Slab Edge at New Sidewalk

1" = 1'-0"5 Slab Edge at Grade

1" = 1'-0"6 Slab Edge at Planter Well

1" = 1'-0"7 Transition to Independent Pavers

General Notes1. Concrete pavers equal to Concrete by Design "Perfect Pavers". Unit sizes as indicated in Pattern Detail 3/A101; Minimum thickness1.75". Perimeter units should be field cut as required to fit existing conditions.

2. Contractor shall provide $6,000 landscape allowance for planting material, plantings, and irrigation system.

3. Concrete sidewalk shall equal min. 4" thickness with fine hair broom finish. Edge sidewalk exposed edges with 3/8" radius edgeingtool. Round edges at expansion joints to a radius of 3/8".


Mike Shows, Nick HenningerLandscape Design2,500 ft2

Montgomery, Alabama

Construction drawings composed in Revit



Mike Shows, Nick HenningerAdaptive Re-Usen/aMontgomery, Alabama

The Montgomery Advertiser, a local newspaper, was interested in buying an abandoned structure comprised of tilt-up concrete panels with exposed aggregate. There wish was to renovate this structure into an office expansion. I was tasked, along with my project team, to develop an entry component to this office.

171’-0”171’-0”

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER OFF ICE PROPOSAL

44

Entry compostion diagrams

P E R S O N A L W O R K S

THE ARCHITECTURE OF HOUSING

Research Infographic Commission

Mentor:Fellow:

Justin MillerBlaine Lindsey

This infographic was intended to serve as documentation for a friend’s undergraduate research fellowship. I was hired to graphically represent his work in more compelling manner. Most of his research was distilled into simple graphics but larger bodies of text were required by the standards of the research forum. He placed 2nd in the research forum’s competition among 40 other students from varying disciplines.

*All research presented in this infographic is

owned by Auburn University and developed by

Blaine Lindsey

Arch itects & a ffor d a ble Hous i ng A T i m e li n e

Arch itecture in Affordable Housi ng

M eanwhi le Arch itecture is Hu rti ng...

98%98%of Homes areBu i lt Without AnArch itect's Consultation

Of Amer icansAre Without Adequate Housi ng25%

Demarg i nalizi ng the Arch itecture of Housi ng

25%Of Amer icansAre Without Adequate Housi ng

This statistic does not make the representation that a quarter of Americans are homeless, but the implications are no less staggering. What is does assert is that 25 percent are in housing situations that do not adequately meet their needs. Appropriate housing is financial out of their reach. One thing is clear: the American model for developing housing is in need of reform in order care for the population.

Blaine Lindsey | fellowJustin Miller | mentor

of Homes areBu i lt Without AnArch itect's ConsultationThis is a widely debated statistic. The argument stems from defining exactly what encompasses an architect’s involvement. If an architect draws a house plan that gets replicated hundreds of times – being altered and manipulated by the builder of each one – does it count as designing one home or one hundred? The statistic represented here is the most published. It delineates an architect’s involvement as direct consultation as a hired service agent of the homeowner or home builder, whom acts as the client. As the percentage shows, there is almost an entire field of construction in which the architect has no significant involvement.

*

Decline

growth

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

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2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Architecture Bi lli ng I n dex (1996-2012)

M eanwhi le Arch itecture is Hu rti ng...

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) is the most commonly accepted statistic for gauging the health of Architectural practice the United States. It depicts the rate of growth or decline in the field by a ratio comparing the number of billed projects in a period of a quarter-year to the number of billings from the previous quarter. A ratio of .5 indicates no change while a larger ratio indicates growth and a smaller one indicates decline. The ABI above shows a period of precipitous decline from 2008 to 2009, which accompanied the height of the American economic crisis. The period from 2009 to 2010 showed an abrupt improvement in the rate of decline, but it largely remained in a state of decline. The period from 2011 to 2012 resulted in signs of growth with relation to the previous period, but the growth is meager by comparison to decline experience from 2008 to 2011. The conclusion is that the practice of architecture in America is beginning to heal, but still deeply hurt.

Architecture Bi lli ng I n dex for Residential Firms (2008-2011)

The graph shown here is an Architecture Billings Index similar to the one shown to the left, but applies more specifically to architecture firms practicing in the residential sector. The conclusions are even more dire. In the period from early 2008 to the end of 2011, residential firms have experienced a period of near exclusive decline. In the third quarter of 2008, residential architecture experienced a decline more significant than the rest of architectural practice. The most concerning conclusion is that while the rate of decline has improved, there has not been any significant period of growth to make up the ground lost in 2008. Architecture as a complete practice is hurting and that pain is felt most keenly in the residential sector.

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2008 2009 2010 2011

Decline

growth

1911 1933 1936 1945 1951

1970 1986 2006-20122004

1914 19221924

1941

American System Built HomesFrank Lloyd WrightUsed factory-cut pieces to affordably produce custom homes. Each home is unique, keeping the architect in the development of each one. 13 total homes were built.

Maison DominoLe CorbusierLe Corbusier proposed a housing frame that possessed proportions carefully controlled by the architect. Custom homes would be built within the frame

Produced

Unrealized

Oriental Masonic GardensPaul RudolphRudolph used the standard construction of the mobile home as the unit for this housing community. The architect was involved in arranging the units.

BaukastenWalter Gropius + Adolf MeyerProposal included a system of interlocking parts that could create a large number of unique permutations. The architect would be involved with arrang-ing each configuration.

Packaged HouseWalter Gropius + Konrad WachsmannProposal included a system of interlocking parts that could create a large number of unique permutations. The architect would be involved with arrang-ing each configuration.

Citrohan Housing at PessacLe CorbusierOne standard housing type repeated in an industrial community as worker’s housing. After completing the standard design, the architect’s role becomes that of a planner.

Stran-Steel HouseH. August O’Dell + Wirt C. RowlandSponsored by Good Housekeep-ing, the house included iron panels hung on a steel frame. The reproduced home cost just $100,000 in contemporary value.

Jacobs HouseFrank Lloyd WrightBuilt using Wright’s gridded floor plan and modular insulated panels, the house’s construction cost would be the contemporary equivalent of $80,000.

Case Study House No. 8Charles and Ray EamesDesigned to be built from off-the-shelf parts, this house prioritized volumetric spaces over expensive finished. This house cost just $8 per cubic foot in contemporary value.

Levittown, NYWilliam and Alfred LevittA handful of homes designed by an architect to be easily and quickly replicated. Levittown served as the model for contem-porary suburban development and affordable housing.

MUJI House IKazuhiko NambaDeveloped as a prefrabricated dwelling for Japanese retailer MUJI, House 1 performs in urban and suburban contexts. It is sold exclusively in Japan for around $185,000.

Kim HouseWaro KishiKishi used ready-made compo-nents such as prefabricated steel frames for structure and concrete panels for cladding to make this inexpensive home in urban Japan.

* mass produced

*

* * Modern ModularResolution: 4 ArchitectureModern Modular is an entire line of configurations of home modules. While the architect is responsible for each configura-tion, only the smallest and simplest are affordable.

*


Construction has a long-standing history as significant contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United States. What this graph reveals is how great a percentage of this construction is residential construction, an area with nearly no architect involvement. The potential in the residential sector is enormous. Even in leaner times like those shown in 2011, the revenues from residential construction is roughly equal to those of non-residential construction. This means there is a relatively untapped market of construction that is comparable in size to the field in which architects primarily practice. The residential market is an appetizing opportunity at a time when architecture has experience such a decline.

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

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Construction as Percent of GDP (2005-2012)

Residential

non-Residential

There is no evidence of adequate, affordable housing model economically sustainable in contemporary American society. Currently, the most prevalent model for middle-income housing is the builder-driven or developer-driven model. In this model, an individual or business purchases a large piece of property and subdivides it into smaller pieces of property for individual sale. Then the developer accumulates a small number of home designs, either from an architect or not, to proliferate by building one on each lot. These homes have been optimized for speed of construction and profit; they offer few opportunities for adjusting to the homeowners needs. This has contributed to the large portion of Americans who lack adequate housing. Meanwhile, architects have alienated themselves from affordable residential construction by prioritizing design or artistic vision above cost when addressing a clients needs. This has resulted in a small margin of the U.S. population that has the resources to consult an architect when building a home. A new model, whereby the skills of the architect address cost as one of many needs in the careful design of a home, might supply the adequate housing so needed in the country while giving architects access to a nearly untapped field of production and revenue.


The first step in developing this process is to establish what it means to be affordable and to whom it is affordable. It asks this question: is there an income level that might serve as a benchmark for an architecture that serves a broader portion of the population? One understanding contributed to the consideration of this question: income and its distribution, as well as cost, are dependent on location. To proceed in this research, Birmingham, AL, was selected as a community for economic analysis and a proposed architectural solution.

To establish a comprehensive income distribution for the Birmingham metropolitan area, the household income data was collected from the 2010 U.S. Census. For the purpose of this research the metropolitan area of Birmingham is defined as the municipality of Birmingham and all municipalities that share a boundary with it. Combining the economic data for these communities created the income distribution shown here. Given this data, this research highlights the median income as the benchmark demographic for targeting affordable design. The justification is that any housing design that is affordable to the median annual income, calculated as $43,850, is automatically affordable to fifty percent of the population. Also, the median falls in the income level of the second largest portion of the population, with the largest portion represented by the next highest income level. An architect designed home for this income level would reach the greatest percentage of the population.

cost

NEEDS

DESIGNCOST cost

n e e d s design

Builder-Driven Model Architect-Driven MOdel Proposed MOdel

This research seeks to establish a process of architectural design that considers cost as a part of a building’s performance as a way of integrating the practice of architecture in the broad need for affordable middle-income housing.

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Vestavia Hills

Hoover

homeWood

Mountain Brook

IrondaleLeeds

TrussvilleCenter Point

Pinson

Tarrant

FultonDale

Pleasant Grove

FairField

Midfield

Birmingham

After establishing the target demographic for an affordable architecture of housing, the next step is to establish a hypothetical strategy for affordable design. The first hypothesis was based on an understanding of affordability. Affordability is tethered to the other expenses of a homeowner in that it may not compromise the ability to meet those expenses. Therefore, any affordable design must consider those other expenses. The structure of financing examines these expenses by month. The monthly expenses with home ownership alone include not only mortgage payments, but also homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, utilities, and payments.

The experience with the housing ratio produced a second hypothetical model, whereby a manipulation of first costs – those costs that subtract from the construction budget – could form a logic for making design decisions. In this model, individual costs of design options would be compared and combined, almost as parameters in an algorithm; the “algorithm” would then be optimized to make design decisions and thereby reducing costs. This model requires both a budget and an understanding of cost estimating. The first costs budget for the median income level ($43,850) was calculated to be $181,346 using a common finance ratio of .3, a published interest rate of 4.43% APR, a 30 year term, and property taxes calculated for the city of Birmingham.

After establishing the budget for first costs, considerable research went into pursuing an understanding of cost estimating. Many methods of cost estimating were considered, including print resources like RS Means for Construction Data and estimating software like Timberline. Though the methods differ in terms of means, one conclusion is consistent – a detailed design, down to the number of fasteners used, is required for determining an accurate cost estimation. This convention disproves the second hypothesis, which claims that cost estimation can lead to a home design. Contemporary cost estimation methods consistently place cost as a dependent variable in relation to design decisions.

budget = 3x + y = 12

Precision of

estimate

detail of design

x

yBi rm i n g ham, AL Metropolitan Area Income Distr i bution of Birmingham M etro

The first hypothesis proposes a model of design that focuses on reducing the costs of home ownership like utilities and maintenance by improving energy performance and durability through design decisions. This would create more room in the budget for aspects of the design that address the needs of the homeowner. This hypothesis is disproven, however, by the mechanism developed by financial institutions for determining what a loan applicant can afford, known as the housing ratio. The housing ratio set a maximum percentage of monthly income that can be spent on repaying the principle of the loan plus interest, property taxes, and homeowner’s insurance. The problem is that the housing ratio does not consider utilities or maintenance, so funds cannot be diverted from those areas to swell the principle, or the budget for construction

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At the conclusion of this research period, neither hypothetical method was successful in establishing a process for design that involves the architect in the business of producing affordable homes for a broader portion of the population.

An Opportunity for Mutual BenefitAn Opportunity for Mutual Benefit

< $10

k

$10k

-$15

k

$15k

-$25

k

$25k

-$35

k

$35k

-$50

k

$50k

-$75

k

$75k

-$10

0k

$100

k-$1

50k

$150

k-$2

00k

> $20

0k2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%Median: $43,850

Demarginalizing the Architecture of Housing InfographicFinal Deliverable: 24” x 48”



M eanw hi le Arc h it ecture is Hu rt i ng...


Of Amer icansAre Without Adequate H ous i n g25%

D emarg i nali z i ng the Arch i tecture of Hous i ng

25%Of Amer icansAre Without Adequate H ous i n g




*

Decline

growth

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

50

45

40

35

55

60

65

70

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012






50

40

30

20

60

70

80

90

2008 2009 2010 2011

Decline

growth

1911 1933 1936 1945 1951

1970 1986 2006-20122004

1914 19221924

1941



Produced

Unrealized











* mass produced

*


*



2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10


Residential

non-Residential





cost

NEEDS

DESIGNCOST cost

n e e d s design



459

65

65

20

59

Vestavia Hills

Hoover

homeWood

Mountain Brook

IrondaleLeeds


Pinson

Tarrant

FultonDale

Pleasant Grove

FairField

Midfield

Birmingham





Precision of

estimate

detail of design

x

yBi rm i n g ham, AL Metropolitan Area Income Distr i bution of Birmingham M et ro


$$$ $$$ $$$ $ $$ $ $$ $$$


An Opportunity for Mutual Benefi tAn Opportunity for Mutual Benefi t

< $10

k

$10k

-$15

k

$15k

-$25

k

$25k

-$35

k

$35k

-$50

k

$50k

-$75

k

$75k

-$10

0k

$100

k-$1

50k

$150

k-$2

00k

> $20

0k2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%Median: $43,850











*

Decline

growth

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

50

45

40

35

55

60

65

70

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012






50

40

30

20

60

70

80

90

2008 2009 2010 2011

Decline

growth

1911 1933 1936 1945 1951

1970 1986 2006-20122004

1914 19221924

1941



Produced

Unrealized











* mass produced

*


*



2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10


Residential

non-Residential





cost

NEEDS

DESIGNCOST cost

n e e d s design



459

65

65

20

59

Vestavia Hills

Hoover

homeWood

Mountain Brook

IrondaleLeeds


Pinson

Tarrant

FultonDale

Pleasant Grove

FairField

Midfield

Birmingham





Precision of

estimate

detail of design

x



$$$ $$$ $$$ $ $$ $ $$ $$$



< $10

k

$10k

-$15

k

$15k

-$25

k

$25k

-$35

k

$35k

-$50

k

$50k

-$75

k

$75k

-$10

0k

$100

k-$1

50k

$150

k-$2

00k

> $20

0k2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%Median: $43,850











*

Decline

growth

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

50

45

40

35

55

60

65

70

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012






50

40

30

20

60

70

80

90

2008 2009 2010 2011

Decline

growth

1911 1933 1936 1945 1951

1970 1986 2006-20122004

1914 19221924

1941



Produced

Unrealized











* mass produced

*


*



2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10


Residential

non-Residential





cost

NEEDS

DESIGNCOST cost

n e e d s design



459

65

65

20

59

Vestavia Hills

Hoover

homeWood

Mountain Brook

IrondaleLeeds


Pinson

Tarrant

FultonDale

Pleasant Grove

FairField

Midfield

Birmingham





Precision of

estimate

detail of design

x



$$$ $$$ $$$ $ $$ $ $$ $$$



< $10

k

$10k

-$15

k

$15k

-$25

k

$25k

-$35

k

$35k

-$50

k

$50k

-$75

k

$75k

-$10

0k

$100

k-$1

50k

$150

k-$2

00k

> $20

0k2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%Median: $43,850



48

undergraduate portfolio

Documents

r g e d e x t e r i

i c w o r

j u s t i n c o

i erselected works

o nthe hospitals presence

hospitals public functions

public site

public functions14