Desmond Johnson Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio

PORTFOLIO

DESIGN

DESMOND L. JOHNSON

ARCHITECTURE BUILDS

structurepatternfound heavinessconnectionp

Professional Works Academic Works As a child, I had a wild imagination As an adolescent, I began to explore my creativity. As a young adult, I realize that dreams are the gateway to the conception of ideas. What begins as an imagination, a spur of creativity, a vision or a dream comes to fruition when those ideas are built upon with passion and pertinacity.

Dreams build architecture, and architecture builds reality.

- Desmond L. Johnson

Personal Works

ationvisibilitymovementemphasiscolor erspectiveintegrationperceptio

portfolio CONTENTS

John A. Campbell Federal Courthouse Annex .01

260 Government Street Blind Consumer Advocacy Building World War II Museum Community Design Center September 11th Memorial Historic Faรงade Re-Design Urban Plaza

Residential Landscape Design Digital Photography Curriculum Vitae Freehand Expressions

.02 .03 .04 .05 .06 .07 .08 .09 .10 .11 .12

John A. Campbell

FEDERAL COURTHOUSE

a project for the United States General Services Administration This exercise was a conceptual test-fit for an annex to the John Archibald Campbell Federal Courthouse in Mobile, Alabama. The courthouse is owned by the U.S. General Services Administration, which has a need for expansion in the area. Previously, there was a design completed that proposed a separate facility altogether, leaving the existing, historic property vacant. In an effort to address mounting concerns over the historic building’s potential vacancy, as well as the project’s budget, a test-fit was completed to discover whether or not an annex is feasible.

The project’s program required the design of a new annex altogether, while reconfiguring the useable space in the existing property.

EXISTING COURTHOUSE

This conceptual design project was a team project.

The team consisted of fellow General Services Administration employees Andrew Bywater and Sara Nichols, along with myself.

All aspects of the design were collaborative, however all final productions, including design drawings and renderings, were completed by me.

The John A. Campbell U.S. Courthouse in Mobile, Alabama is a white, limestone building resting on a granite base, built in the relatively austere Neo-Classical Revival style. The building exhibits some characteristics of Renaissance Revival and some of the Art Deco style; it serves as a bridge between the two styles. The building was constructed in 1934.

Mobile, Alabama

focus area

The existing courthouse is located at 113 St. Joseph Street in the heart of downtown Mobile, Alabama. Immediately south of the site is Mobile’s growing Central Business District. Contrastingly, immediately north (northwest) of the site is the historic DeTonti Square District. The proposed annex would extend across St. Louis Street to the north onto the adjacent block. For security purposes, St. Louis Street, in between St. Joseph and North Conception Streets would need to be closed to vehicular traffic.

Court of Appeals Judge Chambers

Magistrate Courtroom

Magistrate Courtroom

District Courtroom

Magistrate Chamber

Trial Jury Suite

Grand Jury District Courtroom

Trial Jury Suite

LEVEL FIVE FLOOR SCHEME

Restricted Inmates’ Circulation

Restricted Judges’ Circulation

USMS Office Space

LEVEL FOUR FLOOR SCHEME

Unrestricted Public Circulation

Magistrate Judge Chambers Jury Assembly

Trial Jury Suite Magistrate Courtroom

Circuit Library

Holding Cells

Probation/ Pretrial

Probation/ Pretrial

Magistrate Courtroom Trial Jury Suite

Senate Offices

District Judge Chambers

District Courtroom

Main Entry Offices

Trial Jury Suite

Offices

Courtyard District Clerk District Courtroom

Trial Jury Suite

LEVEL THREE FLOOR SCHEME

LEVEL TWO FLOOR SCHEME

Restricted Inmates’ Circulation

Restricted Judges’ Circulation

District Clerk Offices

LEVEL ONE FLOOR SCHEME N.T.S.

Unrestricted Public Circulation

260 GOVERNMENT STREET mobile, alabama

Project Challenge

Parti Sketches

The program called for the design of a mixed-use building in downtown Mobile, Alabama. The tower was required to include lower-level retail space, office space, residential units, and multi-level parking. The complex is located on Government Street, arguably Mobile’s most prominent street.

TYPICAL FLOOR PLANS & PARTI MODELS GROUND FLOOR PLAN

OFFICE FLOOR PLAN LEVELS 3 - 5

RESIDENTIAL FLOOR PLAN LEVELS 7 - 18

RETAIL A

RETAIL B RETAIL C

PARKING GARAGE N.T.S.

RETAIL D RESIDENT. LOBBY

RETAIL F

OPEN OFFICE

OFFICE LOBBY

RETAIL E MAIN ENTRY

Repetition Introspect Tectonics Urbanism Contextualization

Parti Models

PERSPECTIVES, SECTIONS, & ELEVATIONS

260 GOVERNMENT STREET ARCHITECTURE BUILDS

unique identities at soaring heights Program Space

Private Residential Levels Amenities Level

Office/Garage Levels Retail Level

SECTION A/A

SECTION B/B

Square Footage

Residences

306,787

Office Space

50,592

Retail Space

36,380

Parking Deck

91,864

N.T.S.

The design responds to the linear orientation of the site and the spaces are organized to take advantage of the prime views.

SOUTH ELEVATION

EAST ELEVATION

N.T.S.

SOUTH ELEVATION

blind consumer advocacy BUILDING inspired by the principles of Russian Constructivism

Project Challenge The program called for the design of a center to house the Tallahassee Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind. The design was required to be sensitive enough to accommodate the visually-impaired, yet creative enough to reflect ideals common in the Russian Constructivist movement.

RUSSIAN CONSTRUCTIVISM

Russian Constructivism was an early to mid 20th century movement created by the Russian avant-garde, but quickly spread to the rest of the continent. Constructivist art is committed to complete abstraction with a devotion to modernity, where themes are often geometric, experimental and rarely emotional. (www.arthistoryarchive.com) As a creative exercise to be used as a design tool for the Blind Consumer Advocacy Building, a plaster joint sculpture emphasizing two Constructivist principles was created. My sculpture emphasized “clamping” and “rhythm of heaviness”.

ARCHITECTURE BUILDS

conscious adaptations rooted in historical

precedents

Clamping – occurs when one body seems to be seized by another which grips it

Rhythm of Heaviness – occurs when constructively combined masses are piled up so that they overwhelm their bearing

Russian Constructivist joint sculpture emphasizing CLAMPING and RHYTHM OF HEAVINESS

Blind Consumer Advocacy Building, Tallahassee, Florida Conference Room

SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES

Offices

Library

Cool Roofs

Tech. Lab

Rain Garden

Space Zoning

Classrooms

monroe street facade

Sun Shading

Cavity Walls for Insulating Airspace

site access

LEVEL TWO FLOOR PLAN Outdoor Patio

Lobby

Assembly Hall

Service Drive

LEVEL ONE FLOOR PLAN

N.T.S.

Vehicular access to the property is gained via a small parking lot to the south of the building.

The main pedestrian entrance into the building fronts North Monroe Street. There also exists limited access to the site via an off-site path from Lake Ella to the north.

This pathway gives occupants of the Blind Consumer Advocacy Building direct access to the picturesque Lake Ella.

rear facade

balcony garden

entrance promenade

Design Elements: The design concept focuses on utilizing aspects of “clamping” and “top-heaviness” to create a circulation scheme that is intuitive for sighted, as well as non-sighted, people.

The design incorporates a myriad of designed outdoor space for leisure and recreational purposes. There exists a balcony on the southwest corner of the building to provide views of downtown Tallahassee as well as a balcony on the northeast corner to provide views of Lake Ella. Active day-lighting is used throughout the building for energy as well as orientation purposes.

SECTION A/A

SECTION B/B

SECTION C/C

NORTH ELEVATION

N.T.S.

EAST ELEVATION

N.T.S.

world war II

MUSEUM

Project Challenge

Process Sketches

The program called for the design of a museum to house a collection of World War II artifacts on the Gulf of Mexico. The challenge was to design a facility that is a significant landmark as well as a functioning museum. It was required that the museum’s architecture be symbolic of the imagery of the war.

Precedents

PROCESS & CONCEPTUALIZATION Design Concept: The design of the World War II Museum was inspired by the shape and form of a typical war ship. The general shape of a war ship was manipulated and skewed to ultimately give the general shape/form of the building. On the interior, the circulaion was derived, primarily, by organizing the spaces based on function. Axes and centralization were used to separate the spaces based on served and servant uses. All of the served spaces are located on the lower level with most of the servant spaces on level two. An observation tower dominates the elevation of the museum.

ARCHITECTURE BUILDS

sculptural exhibits

highlighting courage and reverence

Study Models

Service Area

Staff Parking

War Museum, Carrabelle, Florida B/B

SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS Entrance Plaza Mechanical Room

Research Room

Vehicular Parking

A/A Roof Terrace

Highway 98

Office

Open to Below

Office Office

N.T.S.

LEVEL TWO PLAN

B/B Workroom

Theater Gallery Carrabelle Beach

A/A Gift Shop/Cafe

Gulf of Mexico

SITE PLAN N.T.S.

Entrance Plaza

LEVEL ONE PLAN

N.T.S.

       

Building Orientation Cavity Walls for Insulating Airspace Cool Roofs Material Selection (Concrete) Natural Ventilation Pervious Pavement in Parking Areas Space Zoning Sun Shading ACHIEVED SQUARE FOOTAGE Program Space

Square Footage

Lobby

1500 nsf

Gift Shop/Café

1170 nsf

Movie Theater

1390 nsf

Gallery

9000 nsf

Research Room

840 nsf

Administration

3 offices @ 190 nsf each

Workroom

1700 nsf

Mechanical Room

5000 nsf

Restrooms

3 restrooms @ 145 nsf each

Plans, Sections, Elevations, Perspectives

SOUTH ELEVATION

N.T.S.

Observation Tower

SECTION A/A

EAST ELEVATION

SECTION B/B

N.T.S.

N.T.S.

N.T.S.

project challenge

community

parti diagrams

DESIGN CENTER The program called for the successful design of a center to increase the public’s appreciation of architecture, improve the visibility of the Florida A&M University School of Architecture in the community, and provide needed design assistance to the general public.

SOUTH ELEVATION

LONGITUDINAL SECTION

N.T.S.

EAST ELEVATION

N.T.S.

N.T.S.

ARCHITECTURE BUILDS

vital links between vision and conception NORTHEAST PERSPECTIVE

gallery

classrooms

lobby conference room

SOUTHWEST PERSPECTIVE

copy room offices N.T.S.

FLOOR PLAN

NORTH ELEVATION

N.T.S.

SOUTHEAST PERSPECTIVE

PROCESS DIAGRAMS

September 11th

MEMORIAL

Project Challenge The program called for the design of a memorial to the 343 fallen first responders of September 11, 2001.

The challenge of this project was to successfully and sensitively incorporate one of the beams of the destroyed World Trade Center into the design of the memorial as its centerpiece. The memorial is to be placed inside the atrium of the Tallahassee Public Safety Complex.

ARCHITECTURE BUILDS

memories

which

reflect EMOTION

The design was derived from a “centralized� architectural strategy. The memorial itself follows the shape of a longitudinal diamond.

Metaphorically, the shape represents the concept of immortality and is symbolic of protection.

PLAN

The anchor of the memorial is a shallow sparkling pool. This water feature is in place to create a sense of serenity and reflection. Surrounding the sparkling pool are a series of translucent glass panels. On each side of the pool are seven glass panels, representative of the seven buildings of the original World Trade Center complex. The first two panels on each side stand 50% taller than the others. They represent World Trade Centers 1 & 2 (The Twin Towers). The names of the 343 first responders are etched into the glass panels, giving visitors the opportunity to have intimate experiences. The eleven foot beam is suspended from the ceiling directly over the sparkling pool, giving the illusion that the beam is falling into the water.

ELEVATION A

ELEVATION B

N.T.S.

historic facade

RE-DESIGN atlantis NIGHTCLUB dauphin STREET mobile ALABAMA

Project Challenge

ARCHITECTURE BUILDS

a critical eye for sensitive and engaging DESIGN

ORIIGINAL PHOTO

This small project began with the selection of a historic building in a historic district in Mobile, Alabama.

Contextual analyses as well as proportional analyses were completed to understand the distinct character of the neighborhood.

Those analyses were then used to redesign the main façade of the selected building.

The re-design was required to be a modern interpretation of something “uniquely Mobile.”

EXISTING ELEVATION

N.T.S.

The Atlantis Nightclub is located on the popular Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile, Alabama. The Lower Dauphin Street Historic District is a thriving historic district in the city of Mobile. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on 9 February 1979. The district encompasses all of Dauphin Street from Water Street to Jefferson Street. It covers over 500 acres and contains 736 contributing buildings. The buildings range in age from the 1820s to the 20th century and include the Federal, Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Italianate, and various other Victorian architectur al styles.

cool roof rigid insulation truss system horizontal beams hydronic radiant floor panel finished floor

finished ceiling I-channel container structure

railing

subfloor

metal studs

mullion glass

insulation/moisture barrier finished floor

concrete

gravel

footing

REDESIGNED ELEVATION

N.T.S.

DETAIL WALL SECTION

N.T.S.

urban

PLAZA

an exploration of spatial organizations Linear Project Challenge:

ARCHITECTURE BUILDS

interaction; a system of nodes

This small exercise required the mastered use of different spatial organizational methods to design the circulation of a very small urban plaza. The plaza’s design must address the slight slope, handicap accessibility, a large irremovable tree on the eastern side of the site, and was required to include a performance stage, space for seating, and a small water feature. Beginning with three parti diagrams, each representative of a spatial organization method, three schematic site plans were formed as possible layouts for the urban plaza.

Grid

Radial

site plan #1

site plan #2

site plan #3

N.T.S.

3-Dimensional Representations

residential

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

This Landscape Design Studio I project focused on creating an aesthetic, functional, and practical plan for a residential property.

Certain challenges, such as privacy, sustainability of plants, areas of recreation, etc., had to be sensitively addressed. The owners of this particular residence had a family of their own, tenants in the basement, and a few large dogs. All of their needs were required to be addressed.

ARCHITECTURE BUILDS

poetic landscapes conforming to rhythmic patterns

PLANTING PLAN

N.T.S.

FINAL RENDERED PLAN

N.T.S.

digital PHOTOGRAPHY

ARCHITECTURE BUILDS

a focus on the VALUE of

LIGHT

DESMOND

JOHNSON

EDUCATION

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

B.S. Architectural Studies Florida A&M University Tallahassee, Florida Anticipated Graduation: May 2013 GPA: 3.6

United States General Services Administration Office of the Chief Architect Washington, D.C.

SKILLS / ABILITIES Revit AutoCad SketchUp Photoshop MS Office

Rendering Hand Drafting Model Making Photography Graphic Design

Architectural Intern Summer 2012

Provided architectural support to the Chief Architect in the design, coordination, and detailing of multi-million dollar federal projects; created three-dimensional building information modeling and two-dimensional construction documentation; researched and documented sustainable products with green architecture sensibility.

City of Columbia Planning Department Columbia, South Carolina

Urban Design/Planning Intern Summer 2011

Assisted staff in collecting and preparing data for various urban design projects in South Carolina’s largest city, produced sketches and renderings of potential developments within urban corridors, prepared maps and planning reports, and collected parcel data while conducting field work.

South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office Columbia, South Carolina

Historic Preservation Intern Summer 2011

Completed surveys of significant works of historic architecture in the state, created 3-dimensional computer models of historic structures, researched community revitalization projects, prepared historic context statements, and developed architectural and collections databases.

Emerging, highly motivated professional seeking an internship position in the field of architecture that allows me to blend and develop my professional skills in design and planning while contributing effectively to a dynamic company.

803.760.9118 DesLJohnson@aol.com

HONORS / ACHIEVEMENTS

RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

Golden Key International Honor Society Tau Sigma Delta National Honor Society for Architecture National Society of Collegiate Scholars Ventures Scholar FAMU Distinguished Scholar Dean’s Listee

Sustainable Urban Design NAAAHP Conference, November 2011 Hampton, Virginia

PROFESSIONAL / EXTRACURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT Alpha Rho Chi Professional Fraternity, Incorporated Chapter President National Organization of Minority Architecture Students Vice President American Institute of Architectural Students Association for Preservation Technology School of Architecture Dean’s Council Florida A&M University Honors Student Association

Florida Collegiate Honors Conference, February 2011 Jacksonville, Florida NAAAHP Conference, November 2010 Greensboro, North Carolina Green Architecture Bernard Hendricks Honors Conference, March 2010 Tallahassee, Florida The Art of Architecture Florida Collegiate Honors Conference, February 2009 Orlando, Florida

ARCHITECTURE BUILDS

inspiration; an

unquenchable thirst for

GROWTH

rhythmformspacejuxtapositionorderval uecontrastdichotomypenetrationamalg amatIonhierarchyhomogeneoussymmet rytectonicstexturearticulationcomposi tionuniformitybalancedetailcontextclu stervolumeenclosuresequencetheorysc aleproportiondepthenvelopeshapedat umfunctiondepthelementcomplexityrhe toricaxiscraftsensitivityintegrityvalue

architects in the past have tended to concentrate their attention on the building as a static object. I believe dynamics are more important; the dynamics of people, their interaction with spaces and environmental condition.

- john portman structurepatternfoundationvisibilitymi