is my firm belief that the experimentation of design rooted in the deep conceptualization of urban theory will provide innovative solutions to solve the most pressing urban challenges of today and the imminent future.”
- Aaron Danko
02
Pages: 3-6
Project Category: Architecture
Project Location: Seattle, Washington Year Completed: 2024
Project Location: New York City, New York Year Completed: 2023
Pages: 15-16
Project Category: Architecture
Project Locations: Various
Years Completed: Various
Pages: 23-24
Project Category: Urban Design
Project Location: New York City, New York
Year Completed: 2020
Pages: 25-30
Project Category: Urban Design & Research
Project Location: Detroit, Michigan
Year Completed: 2019-2020
Pages: 31-32
Project Category: Architecture
Project Location: Hong Kong
Year Completed: 2019
Pages: 33-34
Project Category: Visual Media
Years Completed: Various
ACRE Student Housing 01
Professional | Veer Architecture
Client: The University of Washington Summer 2024
ACRE is an off-campus student housing project affiliated with the University of Washington. The site is located in the University District in Seattle, WA. There are a total of 89 units on six floors. Although each unit is a studio apartment, there are a variety of layouts, including barrierfree. The University of Washington placed a large emphasis on the design of the unit types. The University wanted to offer spacious single-person apartments with modern amenities as an alternative to typical dormitory housing. I led this project from schematic design through receiving permitting. I collaborated with the principal throughout this project and oversaw two additional drafting personnel. Acre UW broke ground in March of 2025.
Design Considerations
ACRE sought to be a destination for UW students and surrounding community members. To achieve this, a large emphasis was placed on tying ACRE into the surrounding context of the University District. ACRE incorporated design elements present in the existing fraternities and sororities nearby. A colonnade over the main entrance, brick, and Greek-like building signage are examples of how this was achieved. On the interior, a series of common areas and community spaces helped further connect the neighborhood to ACRE. This project went through design review with the city of Seattle and the University District’s community board.
1. Red Brick
3. Brown Metal Panel (Horizontal & Vertical)
Material Legend:
2. Black Brick
7. 36” High Painted Steel Guardrail
5. Beige Fiber Cement Panel
4. Beige Horizontal Metal Panel
8. Building Signage
6. Parapet Cap (Beige or Black)
Building & Unit Design
Maximizing unit space and square footage was the main driving point of this project. Student dormitories are usually cramped, poorly maintained, and dated spaces. ACRE set out to change that by creating spacious and modern studio apartments in a building that would provide every amenity a student would need. There are four varieties of studios in the building. Each unit has a private kitchen, private bathroom, and a living/sleeping space that can accommodate a queen bed. Outside of the units, the building offers plenty of amenity spaces, such as roof terraces, patio space, a study “classroom,” a fitness center, a laundry room, tenant storage, and a bike storage facility.
02
257 Park Avenue
6th Floor Pre-Build
Professional | Gray Space Architecture
Client: The Feil Organization
Spring 2022
The prompt for this project was to create a new Pre-Build for The Feil Organization that challenged the way we designed office space pre-pandemic. To do so, we envisioned transforming the design of the office to allow employees to have more choices in their work environment and have access to the material and technology that accommodates their needs and styles— similar to how a local or college library functions. Programmatically, this is an environment that transitions from more active areas that provide the social collaboration we all craved during the pandemic to more intimate spaces, like the peaceful environment we have while working remotely. The project reached substantial completion in October of 2022.
Design Considerations
Our design intended to create a space that responded to the post-pandemic need for more active and more relaxed areas in the same space. The first zone, The Grounds (active section of the office) houses the louder spaces, such as the pantry, lounges, and open collaboration areas. This section of the design featured “Active” finishes. The vestibule (transition) is a mix between the more active and quieter spaces. It features your standard workstations and enclosed conference rooms. The final area is The Study (Quiet), which aimed to promote a peaceful work environment with phone booths and enclosed huddle spaces. This section of the Pre-Build featured “Quieter” finishes.
Finish
Selection
Quiet Colors + Textures
E 21ST STREET
Quiet & Peaceful
Small Breakout Rooms
Single Person Seating
Privacy Phone Booths
Warmer Finishes
The Study The Vestibule
Transition Space
Private Offices
Workstations
Conference Room
The Grounds
Loud & Active
Cafe
Collaboration Spaces
Open Lounge Seating
Reception
Cooler Finishes
Active Colors + Textures
Ceiling & Lighting Design
The lighting and ceiling design was critical to communicating our overall design concept for the space. Similar to how we selected different finishes for The Study and The Grounds, we wanted to create a lighting plan that responded to the diverse needs in those separate areas. For The Grounds, we went with a more sporadic approach. We used a variety of linear fixtures and pendants to create a more cafe-like environment. We also incorporated acoustic clouds in some of the enclosed spaces in the zone. For The Study, we went with more subtle lighting like you would find in a library. We specified mostly drop fixtures and linear acoustic baffles.
Reflected Ceiling Plan Legend:
Existing Wall
New Partition
Exposed Ceiling Suspended Acoustic Ceiling
GWB Soffit + Ceiling
Acoustic Baffles
Acoustic Clouds Light Fixture
Recessed
03
111 5th Avenue
Rooftop Terrace
Professional | Gray Space Architecture
Our clients, The Winter Organization, decided they wanted to transform the roof of their marquee midtown Manhattan building into a vibrant terrace instead of the mechanical penthouse it was. Since 111 5th Avenue is a landmark protected building in New York City, we had to go through an extensive process to gain approval to do any work on the exterior of the building. After several months of design proposals and discussions with the Landmark Preservation Committee of NYC, we obtained approval to start construction drawings. As of December 1st, 2023, this project is mid-way through the construction process, with a projected substantial completion date of March 11th, 2024.
Client: The Winter Organization
Summer 2023
Design Considerations
After deliberating with the Landmark Preservation Committee of NYC, the decision was made to transform half of the roof into a terrace space and keep the other half as a mechanical penthouse. Our vision for the terrace was a primarily open space enclosed by a series of planters and benches and protected by guardrails. We designed the terrace to step up towards the corner, which followed the existing slope of the roof. To do so, we installed pavers on pedestals, with a ramp on both sides. For the finishes, we attempted to compliment the color palette of the existing facade as best we could. The final color scheme was gray and black, with a pop of greenery from all of the plants. In addition to the design of the terrace, we recladded the entirety of the roof with new materials, including all of the mechanical spaces and the penthouse office.
Design Plan Legend:
ROOF TERRACE
Modern Planters
Potted Trees
Artificial Hedges
Furniture Custom Wood Benches
24”x24” Pavers
Flush Parapet Wall Panel with Reveal in Light Gray Finish
24”x24” Paver in Light Gray Finish
Flat Stock Steel Railing in Matte Black Finish with Stainless Steel Cable & Teak Handrails
Wall Sconce in Metallic Black Finish
Perforated Metal Fence with Gate in Matte Black Finish
Corrugated Metal Wall Panel in Slate Gray Finish Plants in Modern Planters
Technical Details
The design of the terrace required an investigation into the structural system of the existing roof. After multiple surveys, we developed a strong understanding of the composition of the existing roof membrane and structure, which allowed us to lay out the pavers. The pavers were designed to be on adjustable pedestals over a cover board. Also tapping into the existing roof membrane was the handrail around the ramps. We detailed the handrail to come down onto a steel tube, which was then affixed to the roofing membrane. Both the handrail and the protective guardrails were specified as a 1/2” x 2” painted steel flat stock railing with teak handrails. We believed the flat stock look of the handrail would help elevate the design of the space instead of using a tube railing. In addition to the already mentioned details, we paid great attention to the installation of the new metal wall cladding and flashing throughout the terrace. We liked the idea of adding some three-dimensionality to the exterior CMU walls of the penthouse, which is why we specified a corrugated metal wall panel. We then went with a flush metal parapet panel for the tops of the penthouse walls.
CONCEALED
Handrail Connection Detail
Flashing Fence with Gate New Gutter with Downspout
Wall Cladding
Guardrail Connection Detail
2”x1/2” Painted Flat Stock Steel
Fence with Gate Existing Louver Up/Dn Wall Sconce
Painted Flat Stock Steel Pavers on Pedestals
Additional Professional Projects
Showcased are four additional professional projects I have led. I served as a project manager for each project. My responsibility was to develop and lead these projects from inception through permitting. This included engaging the client, schematic design, development of permit drawings, coordination with consultants, jurisdictions, and the principal, permit revisions, as well as any required CA work. While all residential projects, each building varies in scope, type, and size. This work was done under Veer Architecture.
ACRE 2 Student Housing
Professional | Veer Architecture
Client: The University of Washington
Fall 2024
ACRE 2 is an off-campus student housing project affiliated with the University of Washington. The building is located in the University District in Seattle, WA. ACRE 2 is a modern alternative to traditional dormitories. The building houses a fitness center, roof deck, study room, coffee shop, multiple common areas, and 52 studio apartments. I am leading this project from schematic design through permitting. I am collaborating with the principal and overseeing another person on this project. ACRE 2 is scheduled to break ground in early 2026.
1323 5th Apartments
Professional | Veer Architecture
Client: Hodge Construction, Inc.
Summer 2024
1323 5th Street is a 24-unit mixed-use development located in Wenatchee, WA. This building houses a variety of 1BR and 2BR apartment units, as well as commercial and amenity space on the ground floor. This project also includes an elevated outdoor deck and a variety of parking options to meet the required parking guidelines in Wenatchee. I led this project from schematic design through permitting.
I collaborated with the principal on this project, as well as oversaw one colleague. 1323 5th has received permits, but is currently on hold due to financial reasons.
ACRE 3 Student Housing
Professional | Veer Architecture
Client: The University of Washington
Winter 2025
ACRE 3 is the third off-campus student housing project currently being developed by the University of Washington. Similar to ACRE 1 & 2, this building seeks to be a modern alternative to standard university housing. ACRE 3 has a total of 130 studio apartments and 7 2-bedroom apartments. Each unit is equipped with a modern kitchen, bathroom, and inunit laundry. Also housed in the building are a fitness center, computer lab, roof-top deck/pickleball court, study room, and several common areas. I am coleading this project with one other colleague. ACRE 3 is scheduled to begin construction in mid-2026.
Miller
Residence
Professional | Veer Architecture
Client: The Millers
Summer 2024
The Miller residence is an addition/alteration to an existing private residence in Seattle, WA. Perched on a hillside overlooking Puget Sound, this property is surrounded by beautiful views. When designing, we worked closely with the owners on how to maximize SF and take advantage of the surrounding views. We achieved this by adding a 475 SF outdoor deck, multiple dormers, and increasing the amount of fenestration. This house is located in an ECA critical area, which provided several tricky restraints throughout the permitting process. I led this project from schematic design to receiving permits. I handled both the architectural and interior design scope. Construction began in February of 2025.
Urban Woodland 05
Academic | Politechnika Warszawska
Urban Development Studio: Warsaw
Professor Andrzej Gawlikowski In Collaboration with Jason Tran Winter 2018
The goal of this design studio was to transform an existing vacant plot of land in the Pyry neighborhood of Warsaw. Careful consideration was given in this design studio so that each project engaged with elements of urban planning and design, landscaping, and architectural design. Inspired by the forest adjacent to the site, the Urban Woodland development sought to create a unique project that promoted engagement with both the urban and natural environments. The Urban Woodland features over 100,000 square feet of residential space, 14,000 square feet dedicated to commercial units, and over 6 acres of outdoor space and recreational areas.
Site Considerations & Analysis
Site analysis played a vital role in the ultimate formation of this project. While visiting the project site, nearby urban conditions, assets, as well as local plant life, were documented and mapped. The analysis of local vegetation inspired the plants and landscaping components used in the final site design.
The creation of a central landscaping component was central to the project’s theme as an urban woodland. Surrounding that centralized park, and almost framing it, was a series of residential and mixed-use buildings. Connections to existing circulation routes were key in determining the patterns of the residential buildings on the site. Additionally, the consideration of public and private spaces was vital in the layout of the project’s specific zones. The zones located closer to the forest were more private with residential. Whereas the zones more proximate to the main road were more public with commercial space.
Commercial Semi-Commercial
Private Residential Recreation
Components Diagram:
Marketplace
Located within the Commerical Area.
Allows residents within the area to buy and sell goods.
Seating
Circular seating found within central meeting spaces around the site.
Marketplace
Marketplace
Located within the Commerical Area.
Allows residents within the area to buy and sell goods.
Seating
Circular seating found within central meeting spaces around the site.
Bridge Walkway
Covered elevated walkway that cuts through the central greenspaces within the residential areas.
Play Pavilions
Pavilions found near each residential building. Offers structure to relax and play in.
Marketplace
Located within the Commerical Area.
Library and Gardens
Library offers community space for residents.
Allows residents within the area to buy and sell goods.
Gardens are southern facing to allow for sunlight
Seating
Amphitheater
Amphitheater
Circular seating found within central meeting spaces around the site.
Centralized Amphitheater allows residents to gather for group events.
Bridge Walkway
Bridge Walkway
Located within the Commerical Area.
Allows residents within the area to buy and sell goods.
Covered elevated walkway that cuts through the central greenspaces within the residential areas.
Covered elevated walkway that cuts through the central greenspaces within the residential areas.
Marketplace
Marketplace
Located within the Commerical Area.
Located within the Commerical Area.
Allows residents within the area to buy and sell goods.
Allows residents within the area to buy and sell goods.
Seating
Seating
Circular seating found within central meeting spaces around the site.
Circular seating found within central meeting spaces around the site.
Bridge Walkway
Bridge Walkway
Covered elevated walkway that cuts through the central greenspaces within the residential areas.
Covered elevated walkway that cuts through the central greenspaces within the residential areas.
Play Pavilions
Play Pavilions
Pavilions found near each residential building. Offers structure to relax and play in.
Pavilions found near each residential building. Offers structure to relax and play in.
Library and Gardens
Library and Gardens
Library offers community space for residents.
Library offers community space for residents.
Gardens are southern facing to allow for sunlight
Gardens are southern facing to allow for sunlight
Landscape Design Strategies
The connection to the adjacent forest and the project’s concept as an urban woodland ultimately inspired the landscape design. The landscaping considerations and components slightly varied based on whether it was in the public commercial, private residential, or public recreation zone. However, the landscaping in each of the three zones directly fed into each other, as they continued the circulation pathways from the forest and main commercial corridor. A series of pedestrian bridges, pavilions, seating areas, vegetation gardens, and paved courtyards comprised the landscape of the project. Within the private residential zone, a variance of topography was utilized to provide privacy to the residents living and playing there. Specific types of grass, flowers, bushes, and trees were used based on the original plant life analysis done while on the existing site.
Pedestrian Pathway
Pedestrian Throughway Residential Road
Pavilion Axonometric
Site Access:
06
LilyPOD
Competition | NonArchitecture Competitions
In Collaboration with Jason Tran & Muhamad Naqshbandi
Fall 2020
In this competition, participants were encouraged to develop visionary concepts for an alternative public space that embraces today’s most significant challenges. The challenge utilized in this design concept is the threat placed on public space due to rising land values in metropolises worldwide. As the value of urban land continues to rise in contemporary society, a new type of public space emerges, one that steps onto the water— the LilyPOD. As a visionary urban design intervention, the LilyPOD produces a new generation of public spaces dedicated to user interaction with the natural environment. Drawing inspiration from nature— specifically the lily pad— this project utilizes biomimicry as a design tool.
Design Considerations
The LilyPOD consists of three primary components: a curvilinear eco-park above water, a stemmed central core dedicated to user interaction with plant and marine life reaching into the depths of the water below, and finally, a series of leaf-like vegetative rings that stimulate the cleansing of polluted waters and the production of regenerative marine habitats. These three
Components Diagram:
1: Green Space
An elevated above water green space programmed with park-like features such as trees, walking paths, and seating areas.
2: Circulation & Viewing Space
A central core stretching underneath the water providing a set of viewing platforms for users to engage with marine life.
Three large rings coded in corals and other plant life dedicated to creating regenerative habitats for marine life.
3: Regenerative Coral Rings
Play Engage Regenerate
Sensorial Walkability
The following project is an excerpt from a yearlong ‘architectural’ thesis completed at the University of Detroit Mercy. Ultimately, this thesis aimed to create a strategic framework plan that would begin to reintroduce walkability to underserved neighborhoods in Detroit through a series of urban design proposals. The design strategies showcased in this work are centered around the belief that the residents of Detroit’s neighborhoods should be able to take full advantage of the social, economic, and health benefits that are present in walkable communities without the gentrification and displacement that is commonly associated with New Urbanism. These overarching goals were explored through a sensorial ideology called the Four S’s, and a unique pair of proposals focused on sensorial walkability.
Walkability 2.0
Urban designers, especially in contexts like Detroit, must push the envelope on the basic understanding of walkability and the methods utilized to create it, so that members of the city can reap the several benefits of walkable communities. General New Urbanism design strategies are not enough, and often, they do more harm than good in regards to gentrification and displacement. So, how can walkability reach beyond the generalized approach? This thesis sought to challenge the conventional understanding of walkability by creating a definition that is focused on embracing the individuality of all those that walk within urban areas; this definition is:
Walkability is the Subjective Analysis of Pedestrian-Friendly Urban Environments...
As a psychological ideology, subjective analysis is the humanistic way in which people are able to understand and analyze the living or built environment in which they are in. The way in which urban spaces are understood is based on the ability to analyze what is observed, smelt, heard, or touched. As a result, this thesis created a new urban analysis tool titled the Four S’s based on this thinking. The Four S’s, as a tool, suggests that humans analyze the built environment based on Sound, Speed, Scale, and Smell. So, what if we analyzed and designed, for walkability off of this ideology? How can this ideology impact the implementation of walkability, especially in a post-industrial and car oriented context such as Detroit?
Scale Sound Speed Smell
The Method in which Humans Conduct Subjective Analysis
The Four S’s
Neighborhood Selection Map:
Conant Gardens North End
Conant Gardens
In Conant Gardens, the analysis process began by working with nine community members to analyze how pedestrian-friendly their neighborhood was through a sensorial lens. Through in-depth interviews and a process of mapping out the Four S’s, commonalities became clear. The decision was made to dive further into one node located in the Northwest corner of the neighborhood. After a period of over two months of studying the Four S’s in that specific area, it was then divided into sensorial zones based on the analysis. These zones were the Food Zone and the Social Zone. Each zone played a key role in shaping the design solutions that followed.
Sound Map
“I live next to the school, so I always hearing everything going on.”
-Khalil Felder
Sensorial Asset Mapping:
Smell Map
“The smell at Conant and Seven Mile from all them restaurants is definitely strong.”
-Tiffany Williams
Older person walking by at a swift pace
Two women having a conversation outside of Happy’s Pizza
Speed Map
“I like to drive fast up Seven Mile, so I guess I’m part of the problem.”
-Devon Cobb
Car driving really slow with its hazards on
Scale Map
“Theres still a lot of nice blocks here compared to other neighborhoods in the city.”
-Dalana McNeal-Norman
Food related smell coming from Deluxe’s Coney Island
Multiple cars going by at a fast speed
Sound of music from inside of the Faith Temple Church
Food related smell coming from a BBQ outside of the Faith Temple Church
Semi-Vacant
Commercial Corridor with similar building heights
Mix of 2-story homes and one story
commercial buildings
Smell
Scale
Smell Smell
Ambulance Siren
Conant Gardens
Primary Goal: Slow People Down
Primary Design Tool: Speed
The overarching goal in Conant Gardens was to slow people and vehicles down to draw them in by all of the intriguing smells from restaurants and bars within the area. To do so, each major road that intersected the neighborhood hub would be painted pink. The goal of the ‘painted streets’ was to become a neighborhood attraction while helping to slow traffic down. Additionally, a unique aspect of Conant Gardens is the neighborhood’s lack of public space, which prompted a series of seating areas and a neighborhood park to be incorporated.
Neighborhood Proposal:
1: Painted Streets
Physically altering the color of the street to permanently change the way people walking and driving perceive this neighborhood.
2: Public Seating Area
Providing public seating areas to begin to draw the sounds that exist within the two neighborhood churches out to the street.
3: Public Park
Programing an existing vacant green lot in the hub into a public space that promotes different types of interactions.
4: Temporary Vendor Space
Transforming the end of a large parking lot into a space that could be used for a variety of vendors such as food trucks or newspaper salesman to promote a different pedestrian experience at the street edge.
The North End
Eleven North End community members assisted in subjectively analyzing how walkable their neighborhood was by highlighting key sensorial cues. Through indepth interviews and a process of mapping out the Four S’s, commonalities became clear. In the North End, the community members suggested selecting a node in the middle of the neighborhood that included popular restaurant Parks BBQ, as well as Bennett park, and the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative. This node was then analyzed for its existing sensorial assets for around two and a half months. The node was then divided into three zones based on the analysis.
“I always hear kids hoopin’ (playing basketball) at those new courts on John R.”
-Lala Jones
Sensorial Asset Mapping:
Almost vacant residential area
“That smell coming from Parks (Parks BBQ) always gets me.”
-Vanessa Alanis
“To be honest, I really only feel unsafe walking on Woodward because of how big of a road it is.”
-Dane
Finshaw “I always liked the mix of larger buildings here by being so close to downtown.”
Sound of children playing basketball
Sound and smell of a delivery truck
Smoky smell coming from Park’s BBQ Restaurant
Vegetative smell coming from the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative
Sound of music from a passing Car
Two male teenagers walking by at a slow pace
Scale Map
Sound Map Speed Map
Smell Map
Smell
Sound
Sound Smell
-Logan Flowers
Car driving fast down the street
Sounds of Children playing tag around the play-set
social interaction through permanent fixtures that utilize both scale and sound.
street with a series of permanent fixtures to create a unique way for children within the area to play and interact with each-other.
lot as a way of creating a connection point between the three zones within the neighborhood hub.
each end of the pedestrian alley to promote two different types of sound based on the different way people use the farming and food zones.
into a pedestrian connection zone, that connects the Play, Food, and Farming zones to one another.
Hope Multi-Faith Center
In Collaboration with Jason Tran & Duncan Schildgen
Summer 2019
The objective of this design competition was to create a space where races and religions have no differences, and everyone respects each other while living together in peace. Religion plays a psychological, sociological, and anthropological role in our lives. Religion is hopeful. In secularized Hong Kong, a city currently engulfed in political tension, neither religion nor hope can be oppressed, as they are a human right. Based on this fundamental concept, the Hope Multi-Faith Center, nestled in the Kowloon City neighborhood, provides worship space for all people, regardless of race, religion, sexual preference, or gender.
Design Considerations
Both the historical context of Kowloon City and the program of the project influenced the final design created. The curvilinear form and white materiality were done with the intention of allowing the building to stand out compared to the bland rectangular structures surrounding the site. Inside, the programming of the project was limited to provide as much open space as possible to allow for the practice of individual worship. The Multi-Faith Center in Kowloon ultimately seeks to be a beacon of hope for a future where religions have no differences, and the design choices implemented seek to reflect that goal.
Religious Washing Facility
Bathrooms
Multi Faith Space
Religious Artefact Space
Formal Axonometric Diagram
Watercolor & Photography
Showcased are a few of my watercolors and some images from my travels. In my personal time, I thoroughly enjoy sketching, painting, and watercolors. I also find joy in photographing the built environment, which is directly tied to my love for traveling. Exploring the built environment through visual media has undoubtedly played a significant role in my architectural education inside and outside of the classroom.
