Education
This section presents selected architectural design projects completed during my Master of Architecture studies at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. The work explores conceptual development, spatial planning, and design resolution through a range of building types and programmatic challenges.
Architectural Intervention
Popeye’s - Herriman, UT - Fall 2019
This project explores the adaptive reuse of a typical freestanding fast-food restaurant—the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at 5118 West 13400 South in Herriman, Utah—into a dedicated architecture firm and studio. Drawing from a Spanish precedent by AH Asociados (an industrial building intervention in Navarre that retained the original volume while introducing modern metal cladding and open interiors), the design adopts a “collision/intersection” attitude. The existing wood-framed structure is preserved and re-clad, while a new steel-and-glass volume intersects it to create dynamic spatial relationships.
The program transforms the former quick-service footprint into a working architecture office. Key spaces include a drafting studio, print and model studio, private architect offices, conference room, entrance/reception/art gallery, and an outdoor enclosed patio. The site is regraded to reduce parking and introduce opportunities for outdoor art and sculpture display.
Key Design Features
Existing structure re-clad in metal panel, stained wood siding, and selective stone veneer to add material richness while respecting the original massing.
New intersecting volume constructed of exposed steel beams and columns, infilled with structural glass panels set at varying angles for visual interest and daylight control.
Interior reorganization that removes former service partitions to create flexible open work areas.
Site plan that prioritizes landscape and pedestrian experience over vehicle dominance.
The project is documented through as-built surveys, proposed floor plans, elevations, building sections, site plan, volumetric studies, axonometric views, and a final watercolor rendering. It demonstrates a thoughtful balance between retention of the existing structure and the introduction of new architectural language appropriate to an architecture practice.
Small House Design
Research Outpost – Fall 2019
This project pairs a case study of the Moriyama House (SANAA / Ryue Nishizawa, Ohta-ku, Tokyo) with an original small-house design for a U.S. government research outpost in Alaska. The case study examines the house’s clustered white volumes, careful daylighting, and interstitial outdoor spaces through drawings, photographs, and a physical model. These ideas of modularity, light, and independent yet connected units inform the subsequent design proposal.
The Research Outpost is sited in a remote Alaskan landscape and organizes program into elevated geodesic-dome pods linked by short connectors. The composition includes a central living pod, a bunk pod that sleeps four, and several single-occupancy sleeping pods. The pods are raised on slender supports to minimize site impact, improve snow management, and create a light, floating appearance against the forested terrain. Solar panels are integrated into the dome surfaces, and the overall arrangement allows each unit to maintain views and access to daylight while remaining part of a cohesive compound.
Key Design Features
Clustered modular pods that separate living, bunk, and sleeping functions while maintaining visual and physical connections.
Geodesic dome forms with faceted cladding that respond to the harsh climate and reference the light, volumetric language of the Moriyama House.
Elevated structure that reduces ground disturbance and addresses snow and permafrost conditions.
Integrated solar panels and compact, efficient interiors sized for temporary research occupancy.
Site plan that places the compound within a clearing while preserving surrounding vegetation.
The work is documented through a full set of drawings (site plan, overall plan, individual pod plans, elevations, and sections), a perspective rendering, a watercolor study, and supporting case-study materials. The project translates precedent analysis into a context-specific modular solution for extreme environments.
Architectural Tectonics
Pavillion – Spring 2020
This project develops a pavilion through a sequence of modules that successively introduce and integrate four primary construction materials: masonry (CMU), concrete, wood, and steel. Starting with a freehand sketch of an organic, leaf-like plan, the design evolves into a multi-room structure organized around a central courtyard. Each module focuses on one material system—producing complete plan, elevation, section, and foundation drawings—before the final steel module synthesizes all four materials into a single coherent pavilion.
The early masonry and concrete studies establish a rectilinear courtyard enclosure with CMU walls, steel lintels, and a distinctive curved concrete wall formed using stacked logs as formwork (drawing on the Bruder Klaus Field Chapel precedent). The wood module introduces organic, curved volumes and mixed wood-to-CMU connections. The final steel module expands the program into four interconnected rooms of differing construction, combining CMU/stone veneer, concrete, wood framing with laminated beams, and steel structure with aluminum siding.
Key Design Features
Progressive material studies that move from single-material pavilions to a fully integrated multi-material building.
Courtyard-centered organization that remains consistent while the surrounding volumes become more organic.
Curved concrete wall constructed with log formwork, documented through details and perspective studies.
Mixed construction assemblies, including wood-to-CMU connections and steel framing with aluminum cladding.
Comprehensive documentation: overall and enlarged plans, elevations, building sections, wall sections, foundation plans, and isometric/perspective views for each material phase.
The work demonstrates the systematic exploration of tectonic systems and their combination into a unified architectural design.
Eco-Block Sustainable Living Community
Living Gardens Condominiums – Fall 2020
This project proposes a dense, mixed-use residential community on a 4.5-acre site at 3rd East and Broadway in Salt Lake City, Utah. Located near the Salt Lake City Library and light-rail station, the design replaces existing commercial, multi-family, retail, and car-wash structures with a self-contained “Eco-Block” that prioritizes on-site resource management, water conservation, and renewable energy. All demolition materials must be recycled or reused, eliminating landfill waste.
The program includes 201 condominium units (a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences) across seven levels above a basement housing water treatment, storage, and support facilities. Ground-level amenities include commercial spaces, the Applewood Café, a resident farmer’s market, fitness center, indoor pool, and theater. Extensive public and private gardens, raised planting beds with pergolas, and living walls are integrated throughout the building and courtyards to support food production and resident well-being.
Key Design Features
Full capture and on-site retention of rainwater and snowmelt for irrigation and food production, supplemented by high-efficiency plumbing fixtures that achieve approximately 39% water savings versus code.
Renewable energy systems including rooftop and pergola-mounted solar panels plus wind turbines.
Structural and finish materials selected for recycled content and third-party certifications (FSC wood, recycled concrete and steel, Cradle to Cradle products).
Mixed-use program that places daily amenities and food production within the building envelope to reduce transportation demand.
Documented through site and climate analysis, complete floor plans, elevations, sections, sunlight studies, water-use calculations, material specifications, and interior/exterior renderings.
The project demonstrates a comprehensive approach to sustainable urban housing tailored to an arid climate.
Future City – Digitally Generated Morphology & Animation
Research Outpost – Fall 2019
This project proposes a self-contained “City of the Future” designed in response to severe climate change. The concept assumes that global environmental degradation forces populations into condensed, self-sufficient urban settlements of 1–2 million people. All food, construction materials, textiles, and energy are produced within the city’s boundaries, relying solely on solar and wind power and on materials found or grown on site. No steel or other imported man-made materials are permitted.
The master plan is organized as a large radial diagram covering approximately 33,000 acres. Distinct zones radiate from a central City Center and Business core, including Residential, Farming, Industry, Downtown (courthouse, residential living, farmer’s markets, and social spaces), Sports & Entertainment, and dedicated Tree Growth areas that supply construction materials. Residential capacity is quantified through a mix of 50-story and 30-story towers, townhomes, and single-family units, totaling roughly 32,000 dwelling units and supporting over 200,000 residents.
The urban design is visualized through a series of digital renderings and an animated sequence. Tall cylindrical residential towers with dense grid façades frame expansive public plazas featuring patterned paving, water elements, trees, and pedestrian activity. The animation walks viewers through key spaces—approaches to the plaza, reflecting pools, planters, market areas, and building details—while integrating title sequences, site diagrams, and rendered vignettes.
Key Design Features
Radial master plan that concentrates population while dedicating large areas to agriculture and renewable material production.
Strict material and energy rules: on-site production only, no imported steel or foreign-manufactured products.
High-density residential towers combined with lower-scale housing and substantial open space.
Public realm organized around large plazas, water features, and tree-lined edges.
Animated presentation that sequences site analysis, quantitative data, and atmospheric architectural renderings.
The work demonstrates the integration of conceptual planning, quantitative programming, digital modeling, and animation to communicate a speculative urban system.
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