PORTFOLIO
AARON KEITH-KOFI JOHNSON Bachelors of Architecture
AARON KEITH-KOFI JOHNSON RESUME
skills
education
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
AUG 2021 to MAY 2026:
Currently enrolled in the University of Southern California’s 5-Year NAAB Accredited Architecture program. Experience in developing residential, civic, and urban planning projects.
experience
ARCHITECTURE + ADVOCACY
AUG 2021 - Present: Equipped K-12 students with fundamental architectural skills. Contributed to community-based design-build projects
uASC MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
October 2023 - Present: Mentored a 2nd-year USC B.Arch student since their first year, offering guidance on academic, professional, design, and technical aspects of architecture.
ALPHA RHO CHI
AUG 2021 - Present : Engaged in a professional and social network dedicated to architecture and the built environment, fostering collaboration among students and professionals.
THOMAS LORD SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
October 2023 - Present: Managed front desk operations for the USC Computer Science department, assisting students, faculty, and visitors with inquiries and administrative support.
ARCHITECTURE GAZETTE
Housing Project
GIVE
AND GROW
Discover a space built for you. The Give and Grow Collective is redefining community in South LA—offering healthcare, wellness, and opportunities to thrive. At Give and Grow, every detail is designed for happiness and connection. Because a stronger future starts with a healthier, empowered you. Join the CO-OP today!
Basketball Community Center and Exhibit
SPORTSPLEX
Step in. Gear up. Experience the game like never before. The Sportsplex isn’t just a training ground—it’s a celebration of champions. With a cutting-edge sports exhibit at its core, this dynamic arena brings history, culture, and competition together. No sidelines. No limits. Just pure sport. Are you in?
BUBBLE CANOPY
Just steps from USC and Lenicia B. Weemes Elementary, The Bubble Canopy is a one-of-a-kind local media hub and library, designed to captivate young minds. With its bubbly, sculptural design and an inviting atmosphere, this space brings children closer to the magic of reading and learning. Step inside—where stories come to life!
Collective
Child Friendly Media Center
AARON KEITH-KOFI JOHNSON
GIVE AND GROW
FALL 2023
COLLECTIVE CO-OP HOUSING
MEET XIMENA LONGORIA TYPOLOGY Collective Housing
LOCATION Los Angeles, California
TERM 3rd Year Undergrad.
BRIEF
The Give and Grow Collective is an initiative dedicated to empowering foreign-born residents in South LA, providing them with resources for economic mobility, societal integration, and civic participation. I worked alongside my colleagues, Julianna Barrenos, Evah Kim, and Daishalyn Satcher to develop this initiative.
My individual work (Site B) emphasizes the importance of healthcare services while also fostering space for wellness and community engagement.
Three levels exist on site, each strategically tailored to emphasize health, wellness, and community engagement. From the incorporation of greenery to the thoughtful use of color and architectural style, every aspect of design process meticulously crafted what I hoped to be a space that bred happiness for all the residents to come. It is a holistic haven, committed to enhancing the living quality of all those who reside.
Wife, mother of two, and pediatrician, Ximena Longoria immigrated to the U.S. five years ago. Since joining the Give and Grow Collective, she and her family have embraced a new life while Ximena uses her skills to support the community and help neighbors thrive.
“The colors aren’t just decoration—they’re perspective. Pink to the south, blue to the north, shifting as you move. It’s like the building is a canvas, telling a different story depending on where you stand. That’s something I try to capture in my own art, too. It’s a marvelous experience.”
— Emilio Longoria, Ximena’s Oldest Son
“The Give and Grow Co-OP has been a joy. Residents now have easy and affordable access to healthcare, and I have a job just downstairs from my home! The rooftop activities keep my kids busy, what more could you ask for?”
— Ximena Longoria
Single Housing Unit
Double Housing Unit
Triple Housing Unit
Quadruple Housing Unit
Quintuple Housing Unit
Balcony Space
Courtyard
Primary Care
Dental Care
Pharmacy
Outreach Center
Mental Health Center
AARON KEITH-KOFI JOHNSON
SPORTSPLEX
SPRING 2024 COMMUNITY SPORT CENTER
MEET THE HALL BROTHERS
TYPOLOGY Basketball Community Center / Exhibit
LOCATION Los Angeles, California
TERM 3rd Year Undergrad.
BRIEF
The Sportsplex aspires to go beyond its primary function by incorporating a sports exhibit that fosters a unique connection with the community. Situated in a spacious atrium, the exhibit serves as the centerpiece of the complex, creating a seamless link between all areas and offering an inviting, interactive environment for visitors.
This feature enhances the center’s appeal, drawing in not only athletes but also individuals fascinated by sports history and culture. The exhibit showcases a curated collection of national and local achievements, celebrating the spirit of sportsmanship and encouraging visitors of all ages to explore and engage with the displays.
The atrium design emphasizes a striking contrast between enclosed spaces, such as offices and locker rooms, and the expansive exhibit area. Wrapped in a visually stunning diagrid structure, the building combines aesthetic sophistication with structural strength, allowing for a flexible, open interior that minimizes reliance on intrusive columns.
Basketball player Marcus Hall and his younger brother, Jayden, are regulars at the Sportsplex. Marcus hones his skills as a member of the community center’s basketball team, while his brother, Jayden, participates in the afterschool program exploring the center’s sports exhibit.
Visitor Experience
“I’m here more than I’m home. If I’m not on the court, I’m in the locker room or running drills. The open layout makes it easy to move—straight shots to the gym, no wasted steps. Coach says I’ve got a shot at playing college ball, so I’m not wasting time. Jayden? Yeah, he’s around—prob ably off reading plaques or whatever it is he does. I’m here to win.”
— Marcus Hall
“Marcus thinks he owns this place just because he’s on the team. Meanwhile, I explore it. The exhibit has these giant displays and open walkways that make it easy to get lost in the stories. I like that—feels like step ping into history instead of just reading about it. And yeah, sometimes I watch his games. Not cause I care, but because watching him miss shots never gets old.”
TECHNICAL
AXONOMETRIC CHUNK
— Jayden Hall
LEVEL 1 AND 2 FLOORPLAN
AARON KEITH-KOFI JOHNSON
BUBBLE CANOPY
SPRING 2023 BRANCH LIBRARY
MEET FIONA PRESCOTT
TYPOLOGY Child Friendly Media Center
LOCATION Los Angeles, California
TERM 2nd Year Undergrad.
BRIEF
The Bubble Canopy is a local media hub located just outside of the USC campus along 37th street and Vermont. The site is roughly a ten minute walk away from Lenicia B. Weemes Elementary School. There are no public libraries within walkable distance to the school, the closest being a thirteen minute drive away. This incentivized me to address the need for a local library, more specifically, one having special appeal to children.
The building is separated into two structures, a regular library and a children’s library. To successfully execute this initiative, I embraced sculptural forms that would charm visitors— especially children.
The ETFE facade creates a unique and open experience, almost as if one were to reside within a bubble. The building flows around the existing trees on site, enhancing the ambiguous feeling of being inside but somehow “outside” at the same time. Much of the buildings space is raised to the second floor, allowing for light to enter through all parts of the building.
Fiona Prescott is a regular at the Bubble Canopy. Whether she’s reading by the large windows, playing beneath the elevated structure, or getting lost in her favorite books, the library is her favorite place to escape and imagine. For Fiona, it’s a place where stories come to life.
1.
The site is located on a cul-de-sac. It has a fruitful environment that should be retained. Pink circles indicate where prominent trees are located on site. The building will take form along the environment.
7:00 AM 12:00 PM 5:00 PM
S E
The site faces south, leaving it vulnerable to harsh sunlight. The trees on the southern edge provide shade, particularly midday when the sunlight is most harsh. They allow for sunlight to pass through during mornings and evenings.
5.
The trees provide a great deal of shade, perhaps to much due to their height. To combat this, a bulk of the program is risen into the air. Allows for library program to benefit from natural light while creating a shaded outdoor experience below.
The canopy is held up by a series of columns—two in the childrens library and five in the regular library. They serve as vertical circulation, either with elevators or stairs within. A bridge connects both buildings.
DESIGN PROCESS DIAGRAM
BUILT AREA
2. SUNLIGHT
4. CANOPY
CIRCULATION
LEVEL
1 AND 2 FLOORPLAN
The material composition of this module serves as the foundation for what would become the Bubble Canopy, shaping both its structural logic and spatial experience. Designed to respond to the building’s form and program, the module integrates mass timber, a material chosen for its strength-to-weight ratio, making it an ideal solution for a canopy elevated one story off the ground. Platforms are supported by one of two column types—concrete or wood—depending on whether they accommodate an elevator or staircase. Additionally, ETFE cladding enhances the open-concept design, visually expanding the structure while allowing the library and community spaces to benefit from abundant natural light.
“The Bubble Canopy is my favorite place ever! It feels like something out of Alice in Wonderland or Peter Pan, like a secret world just for kids. The whole library looks like a giant floating bubble, and when the sun shines through, it’s like being inside a fairy tale. The best part is that the first floor has a playground! My friends and I race around and play under the library before running upstairs to find new books. Even inside, it feels like we’re outside, with trees all around and big windows that make the light dance across the pages of my book. It’s so cool because even when I’m inside, it still feels like I’m outside. Sometimes, I just sit by the big windows and watch the trees sway. It makes reading feel like an adventure!”
— Fiona Prescott
“The Bubble Canopy has been such a blessing for our community. My daughter absolutely loves it. As a parent, it’s wonderful to have a space that not only encourages kids to read but makes it exciting for them. While she’s exploring new stories, I’m often on the other side of the library attending neighborhood meetings. It’s rare to find a place that truly brings people of all ages together, but this library does just that. It’s more than just a building—it’s a space where kids grow their imagination, where parents connect, and where our community comes together. I love knowing that while I’m engaging with others, my daughter is just as engaged in something meaningful.”
— Mrs. Prescott