Selected Works from portfolio.

1. SMALL MATTERS:
A COMMUNITY CENTER of SIMPLE MEANS
Villa Pancho, Mexico
Critic: Silvia Acosta
2009
CASITA LINDA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the design
buttressing wall
and construction of adobe block housing in San Miguel de buttressing wall
load-bearing wall
Allende, Mexico and the surrounding areas. load-bearing wall
infill wall
infill wall
The exclusive use of adobe block establishes vaulting as the
primary means of roofing. Because a community center calls
for a larger span than that of the CASITA LINDA housing, more
structure is required. This project developed by allowing the
necessity of buttressing to become an integral part of the spatial
organization. Two types of buttressing create two different levels
of enclosure: Small, enclosed rooms and shaded seating.
The program is divided into two: that which requires water and
that which does not. Separated into two volumes, the wet
volume facilitates constant movement in the space and into
the adjacent spaces. The dry volume facilitates calm, reflective
program of teaching and learning. The non-load bearing facades
are designed accordingly.
The community center seeks to extend beyond its physical site in
its ability to teach and establish community.
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1 Block (15 cm) in infill walls cm) in infill walls
1 Block (15 1 Block (30 cm) 1 Block (30 cm) in buttressing walls
in buttressing walls 1.5 Blocks (45 cm) Blocks (45 cm) in load bearing walls
1.5 in load bearing walls

3. Site Section showing the ascent
from the main road through the
garden and into the Community
Center, down the terraced seating
and into the recreational area.
note: drawings are not to scale
11 11
1
4 2 5
Community Center Floor Plan
3
1. Office
2. Classroom
3. Library
4. Seating Area
5. Covered Outdoor
6. Kitchen
7. Indoor Dining
8. Garden Storage 8 6
9. Compost Toilets
10. Garden
11. Water Collection Tanks
10 9 7
11 11

4. This sequence of drawings describes
the passage through the community
center from the main entrance to the
recreational area down the hill.
Elevation showing both buttressing
conditions: seating along one exterior
wall, garden storage, (accessed from
outside) and rest rooms which open into
the interior.
ELEVATION 1:50
Community Center for Pancho Villa, Mexico
PART TO THE WHOLE: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE GROUP
Section showing interior Office Space,
Classroom, and Library.
SECTIONS 1:50
Community Center for Pancho Villa, Mexico
PART TO THE WHOLE: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE GROUP
ELEVATION 1:50 Section showing covered outdoor area
Community Center for Pancho Villa, Mexico
PART TO THE WHOLE: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE GROUP and movement through the kitchen to
the garden.

5. With cast glass block
Light Studies
The sun is extreme in this area of Mexico and there is little
shade. These diagrams show three different orientations of an
early Community Center proposal. If oriented towards the low
morning and late afternoon sun, the buttresses act as baffles
in the extreme sun of Mexico.
The in-fill walls of the vaulted spaces become the facades.
Because they are not structural walls, they are able to withstand
more perforations for light and ventilation. There is also the
possibility of replacing the adobe blocks with cast glass block
where ventilation is not needed.
The facades of each volume are treated according to their
With cast glass block
program. The facade of the classroom/library is visually open With operable windows
for view out. The facade of the kitchen is physically open for
ventilation and circulation through.
FACADE DETAIL 1:50
Community Center for Pancho Villa, Mexico
PART TO THE WHOLE: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE GROUP
C
Co
PA
With operable windows
FACADE DETAIL 1:50
Community Center for Pancho Villa, Mexico
PART TO THE WHOLE: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE GROUP

6. Secondary Materials
In addition to the primary material of adobe
block, this Community Center uses lighter
materials of aluminum and canvas to create
alternative levels of enclosure. Aluminum
rods inserted into the buttresses along one
wall of the Community Center establish the
infrastructure for a covered outdoor area.
Canvas extends from these buttresses to a
row of aluminum poles opposite them, which
are supported by adobe block planters/
seating. The 2 meter strips of canvas
(a strip between each buttress) can be
Free Standing (Site Extension) Attached to Building
extended and retracted individually to shade
Free Standing (Site Extension)
Free Standing (Site Extension)
Attached to Building
Attached to Building
small or larger areas.
CANOPY
Community Center for Pancho Villa, Mexico
CANOPY PART TO THE WHOLE: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE GROUP
Community Center for Pancho Villa, Mexico
CANOPY
PART TO THE WHOLE: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE GROUP
Community Center for Pancho Villa, Mexico
PART TO THE WHOLE: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE GROUP
CROSS SECTIONS 1:50
Community Center for Pancho Villa, Mexico
PART TO THE WHOLE: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE GROUP
Interior of Kitchen and Dining Area Interior of Classroom and Library

7. 30 cm x 15 cm x 6 cm Adobe Block in Vaults
Cast Concrete “Gutter” to catch water cast
off by the vault and channel it to the water
tanks on either end.
Adobe Block provides additional support
for horizontal thrust of vault
Concrete & Steel Tie Beam counteracts
the horizontal thrust of vault
Infilled Vaulted Roofs create flat surfaces Composting Toilet opens onto the garden.
for water collection and use of solar pan- After compost has been sealed and cured,
els. it is easily transferred to the crops.
Adobe Block
(1.5) 30 cm x 15 cm x 10 cm
Additional Water Collection uses smaller
vaults to catch water that the larger
Cast Concrete Gutter is unable to catch.
GARDEN SHED & STREET MARKET 1:50
Community Center for Pancho Villa, Mexico
PART TO THE WHOLE: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE GROUP
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Supplementary Water Collection & Adobe Block with layer of lime/plaster
Garden Storage provides additional storage to grade (waterproofing)
space and market along the main street.
Concrete & Steel Foundations

8. View of Community Center from Main Road View of Community Center from Recreational Area
Classroom and Library on Left, Kitchen and Dining Area on right

9. MARCUS RESIDENCE:
PRINTMAKING STUDIO ADDITION
Jamestown, Rhode Island (under construction)
2009
Existing House Existing Garage
Collaborative design with:
Joseph R. Combs, RISD M.Arch ‘10
The client was an artist who works at a large scale: 4’x8’
etched prints, and was in the process of moving his workplace
closer to his home. His work required ample work, storage,
and circulation spaces.
The program consists of a studio addition to the existing
garage and expansion of the house to accommodate storage
space and a master bedroom. The basement of the new
studio houses a large format etching press. Access to the
proposed basement is both from the basement of the existing
house and from the ground level of the new studio. The
ground level serves as gallery and office space. Storage
space is appropriated from the second level of the existing
garage, with direct access from the studio.
Floor Plan with Proposed Addition
The existing house provided the design framework for the new
(Shaded Area)
studio. Shifting planes create openings for light. Changes in
scale define programmatic elements such as gallery, office,
and workspace. The geometries remain simple to avoid
overpowering the complexity of the existing house.
Existing house elevations showing complex geometries

10. View from the street
South Elevation of Proposed Addition
East Elevation of Proposed Addition

11. Roof Plan Foundation Plan
showing proposed expansion of existing showing access from existing basement
house and expansion of existing garage. to proposed studio basement
Sketch Models of early iterations

12. Section Section
showing circulation from proposed showing expansion of existing house
studio basement to ground level of for storage and basement corridor that
proposed studio and to storage level of connects existing basement to proposed
existing garage studio basement.

13. HOTEL PAWTUCKET:
SUBURBAN FABRIC
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Critics: Thomas Gardner & Matthew Miller
2009
This project began with a personal study of Pawtucket, an
industrial city which has struggled to adapt to the changing
economy and find its new place in Rhode Island. Initial
explorations of the city led to an interest in the community
and social aspects of Pawtucket.
Recreational Space Schools Community Centers Bus Lines
Early macro-studies produced mappings of community
spaces including recreational and educational areas.
Zooming in to the main downtown area produced a closer
look at various levels of public spaces. The inhabitation of
two heavily populated public spaces, the public library and
the visitor’s center, led to a project proposal that would
disperse community gathering spaces throughout the city.
Five community spaces designed for residential areas of
Pawtucket would establish their own network through a
typology of architectural language. Their sites would be
chosen strategically to fill in current gaps in the fabric
of community spaces such as the schools, community
centers, and recreational spaces.
MARKET
Public Library of Pawtucket
PUBLIC RESTROOMS
ART GALLERY
Visitors’ Center of Pawtucket LECTURE SPACE
GAME SPACE

14. Transparency Studies: Physical and Visual Designing a Network of Structures
A simple typology is established through
which various programs of communication
and socialization can take place. Levels
of transparency, visual and physical, create
complex spaces through a common language.

15. Market Game Room Restrooms Art Gallery Lecture Hall
Floor Plan Diagrams
show the levels of transparency
that establish program within each
community space. The thick walls
establish privacy and protect from sun,
while changes in the ground plane
define program while allowing visual
transparency.
Market
This small space is not a typical sprawling “market” but a
small sheltered space which the inhabitants of Pawtucket
can buy and sell merchandise. The space establishes
communication through trade.
Game Room
This space provides children an enclosed play area while
allowing parents to watch from above. The space establishes
communication through physical interaction.

16. Rest Rooms
This space acts as a supplement to the small green areas
near its site. Rest rooms facilitate more outdoor gathering
places. They establish communication through brief moments
of interaction.
Art Gallery
This space provides a sheltered area and spacious walls
for the showing of art. Other elements extend beyond this
space to protect the artwork from the elements: sunlight and
rainwater. This gallery establishes communication through the
expression and viewing of ideas.
Lecture Hall
This space provides a large sheltered area for public speaking
and lectures.The enclosure provides acoustical elements
which project sound into the space and outside of itself. It
establishes communication through speaking and hearing.

17. NANTUCKET ISLAND SCHOOL OF
DESIGN & THE ARTS
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Critic: Jonathan Knowles
2009
The client requested several proposals: a new
auditorium, lighting strategies for the studio and
work spaces, a master site plan, and renewable
energy studies that would allow the school to
operate off of the electrical grid of Nantucket.
The strict building codes of Nantucket Island
require that the exterior of the barn, shed, and
silos remain mostly untouched.
Existing Structures
Proposed Addition
1
Proposed Ground Works
7
2 3
Proposed Master Site Plan
4
1. Parking
2. Main Entrance
3. Offices, Studios, Residences
4. Auditorium
(Solar panels on roof) 6
5. Jewelry and Sculpture Studios
5
(Solar panels on roof)
6. Pavilion
7. Septic System

18. Plan View of Lighting Strategy for Silo:
Reading Room and Music Room
Redesign Of Two Grain Silos
The programs of the two redesigned silos
include a darkroom and storage room (no
natural lighting) on the lower levels, and
a library reading room and private music
room on the second levels.
With these programs in mind, this project
implements a diffused lighting strategy
throughout the School. This strategy
creates a soft, glowing light in spaces such
as the reading room of one of the silos.
It also allows ample natural lighting into
the interiors with little alteration to the
Proposed Lighting Strategy for Silos exteriors (only one column of 9.5” panels
Interior of Existing Grain Silo
are removed from the silos).

19. Redesign Of Barn Studios
In the barn, diffused lighting is achieved using
multi-functional light cavities that reflect light
from above through the second floor of the
barn and into the poorly-lit studios below. As
with the silos, little alteration is made to the
exterior of the building.
The interior of the barn is reorganized to
accommodate the large open spaces required
for painting and drawing studios. Visitors
enter into the main gallery space, with the
main office to one side. They are able to walk 1 2 3
through the studios and view the work easily
without disrupting the students. Smaller
offices are directly above the main office, on
the second level. Residential quarters and a
school library are further down on this level.
4
5 6
On the second floor of the barn, one of the First Floor of Barn
light-diffusing cavities acts as a boundary 1. entry deck 14 7 8 11
between the private living quarters and 2. gallery
the working quarters. The second cavity 3. studio
becomes shelving for the library. 4. kitchen 10
5. main office 9
6. studio
7. utility
8. pin up wall
9. photo classroom
On the ground level of the barn, the
10. darkroom
cavity opens onto a centered wall which
11. back deck
reflects the collected light throughout 12 13
12. studio
the dark interior. This reflecting wall
13. outdoor classroom
also serves as pin-up space for the
14. student bathroom
drawing and painting studios.

20. 5
5
5
Existing Light Conditions in drawing and painting studios
5
7
6
8
2
2
Second Floor of Barn 3
2
1. kitchen
2. apartment
3. library
4. reading room 2
5. office
6. storage
7. visiting artists’ studios 1
8. resident bathroom
Model of proposed Lighting Strategy

21. Redesign Of Long Shed Studios Sanyo 21 Ow© Photovoltaic Panel Specs
(panels specified by course critic)
To establish more private studio space and energy produced: 194.80 Watts/panel
organization, the long shed is partitioned. A
corridor is placed along the northern wall to Auditorium roof: 77 panels
provide sheltered access to each new studio. Long Shed roof: 99 panels
Total panels accommodated: 176 panels
The long shed houses the jewelry, ceramics,
and sculpture studios. As this more detailed Total energy produced: 34,284.80 Watts
work requires stronger light, the Southern
wall is opened up to allow direct light to enter Energy Produced/Month
these studio spaces. North-facing skylights month sun hours watt-hr/day
are employed to light the pin-up walls and Jan 3.10 106,282.88
ensure all areas of the studio receive light. Feb 3.80 130,282.24
Mar 4.60 157,710.08
The roof of the long shed is south-facing. Apr 5.30 181,709.44
In order to fulfill the client’s request for the May 5.70 195,423.36
school to be off of the Nantucket Island Jun 6.00 205,708.80
electrical grid, both the long shed and Jul 6.00 205,708.80
auditorium (also south-facing) roofs are Aug 5.60 191,994.88
covered with photovoltaic panels. Sep 5.00 171,424.64
Oct 4.30 147,424.64
Nov 3.20 109,711.36
Dec 2.70 92,568.96
Average Supplied energy: 157,995.79 Watt-hr/day
School’s current energy use: 173,231.90 Watt-hr/ day
Average Photovoltaic supply: 91.20 %
Existing Light Conditions in jewelry and sculpture studios

22. Proposed Design Of Auditorium
The new auditorium remains simple in its design,
in keeping with the Nantucket Island building
codes. With a footprint of 30’ x 40’, it holds
approximately 100 people. The seating, however,
spills out over the lawn, which is treated to
accommodate more of an audience. The curve
of the ceiling projects sound from the stage
outwards onto the lawn. The auditorium attaches
itself to the second grain silo, which provides
storage and a small performance space above.
The auditorium uses this project’s principle of
diffused light to emphasize the performance. The
single natural light source can be found above
the stage. It uses the back wall to reflect light
onto the stage, giving the speaker prominence in
the auditorium.
The roof of the auditorium is south-facing to
take advantage of the sunlight and support the
photovoltaic panels.
Model of proposed Lighting Strategy in Auditorium
Study models of Acoustical ceiling panel