Abigail Hudyma Portfolio 2024 by Abigail.Hudyma

ABIGAIL HUDYMA

Selected Architectural Works 2024

Hello!

I am a recent graduate from Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture, in the Bachelors in Architectural Studies (BAS) and Master’s in Architecture (M.Arch) program. The past six years of schooling have been integral in cultivating design thinking and place-based approaches. As I navigate towards architectural practice and continuing my Internship in Architecture Program (IAP), my goals are to build from existing skill-sets while acquiring new knowledge specific to building in the real world.

Past scholastic and work experiences have given me insight into practice, research, and advocacy. In my recently completed architectural thesis on the topic of equine architecture, I had the opportunity to facilitate community engagement sessions as part of my research. This was a meaningful experience that consolidated the importance of user feedback and working with community groups. I intend to incorporate these collaborative and user-informed approaches into future endeavors as an intern architect.

Abigail Hudyma

NORTHERN ONTARIO EQUESTRIAN PARK

Master’s Thesis, 2023-24

SACRED SPACES: COMMUNITY + CONTINUITY IN AALTOS’ ARCHITECTURE Museum Exhibition, 2023-24

BRIDGE AT SAGAMOK FIRST NATION

Group Conceptual Design Project, 2022

POLYHEDRA: URBAN FURNITURE DESIGN

Digital Fabrication / Parametric Design, 2022

HOUSE IN SUDBURY Partner Structures Project, 2021

STREET-O-TOMIC

Fourth Year Partner Studio Project, 2021 - 2022

EPOCH: EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

Third Year Studio Project, 2020

On-The-Go! MICROHOME 2020

Design Competition Entry, 2020 (2024)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

ABIGAIL HUDYMA

EDUCATION

Abigail.hudyma@gmail.com (705) 822-7414

• Masters in Architecture (M.Arch) , Laurentian University: 2022 - 2024

• Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) , Laurentian University: 2018 - 2022

RECENT EXPERIENCE

September 2022 - October 2024: Graduate Research Assistant at Laurentian University

Designed and prepared drawings for museum exhibition of architectural works by Alvar/Aino/Elissa Aalto and firm, showcased in Jyväskylä Finland. Fostered knowledge in archival research, documentary photography, and exhibition schematic drawings.

September 2023 - May 2024: Master’s Thesis Project at Laurentian University

Self-directed study of equine architecture in the context of Northern Ontario. Studied existing community needs with qualitative research methods to address scope of architectural intervention.

September 2022 - May 2024: Graduate Teaching Assistant at Laurentian University

Assisted with grading, organization of course material, administering tutorials, speaking at architectural reviews, and providing student mentorship. Aided in multiple undergraduate courses, including: first year “Design Thinking (F2022),” first year “Sacred Places (W2023 and W2024 terms),” fourth year “Cultural Sustainability (F2023),” and provided part-time support in the laser-cutting lab.

July - September 2023: Research Assistant at Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

Contracted to compile/analyze qualitative community engagement data for organizational use in reports and industry statistics. A synthesizing report was prepared and subsequently presented by staff at the 2023 RAIC Congress on Architecture.

January - August 2023: Co-op Student at Fougere Menchenton Architecture

Preparing drawings/visual media, furniture/fixture/equipment packages, assisting with client consultation, developing proposals, reviewed specifications, assisted with document control and project management. Gained experience across several recognized categories in the Internship Architecture Program (IAP).

May 2021 - December 2022: Education Assistant at the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

Assisted with webinar production, website management, conducting research/ environmental scans, preparation of summary reports, supporting RAIC events, committees and task forces.

January - April 2021: Parry Sound Friendship Centre (PSFC) Community Engagement Project

Group independent study project at Laurentian university focused on developing feasibility study alongside PSFC board of directors for future new-build.

SKILLS

• Computer Aided Design: Rhino, Sketchup, Enscape, V-Ray, Grasshopper, Revit, Autocad

• Adobe Suite: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro

• Digital Fabrication: Laser-cutting, 3D printing

• Analog Modeling: Finish boards, scale models

• Photography: Analog models, buildings, portraits

• Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Sharepoint

• Google Office: Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms

• Website Management: Updating website and learning management system content (Drupal, CiviCRM, Moodle, Wix)

• Research/Writing: Qualitative/thematic analysis, archival research, proposal writing

• Community Engagement: Conducting community interviews/engagement sessions, client/community correspondence, working as part of a team

ACHIEVEMENTS

• McEwen Graduate Award for Social Engagement at Laurentian University, June 2024

• Master of Architecture Thesis Commendation by Examiners at Laurentian University, June 2024

• Ontario Graduate Scholarship, awarded twice in June 2022 and 2023

• “Architectural Design & Spatial Qualities” Comprehensive Studio Honourable Mention Award at Laurentian University, 2022

• Cum Laude Distinction at Laurentian University, 2022

• Dean’s Honour List at Laurentian University, 2019-2022

• Portfolio Award at Laurentian University, 2018

CRAFT

NORTHERN ONTARIO EQUESTRIAN PARK

Master’s Thesis, 2023-24

The Northern Ontario Equestrian Park proposes to transform the existing Sudbury Downs Raceway into an Equestrian Horse Park that supports community needs.

This project is the culmination of research into equestrian architecture within the context of Northern Ontario. An ethics-backed approach to community interviews informed specific needs of the equestrian community in the area, while building upon research gaps in existing literature. The Northern Ontario Equestrian park re-imagines the Sudbury Downs through a comprehensive site plan that builds on existing site infrastructure. The stable complex is designed for equine competition and community use, centering design cues that uplift both equine and human wellness.

The final written thesis booklet will be made available in the Laurentian University Library Database.

Proposed Adaptation of Racetrack into Equine Competition Area

Proposed Grandstand Pavilion

Isometric over Proposed Stable Complex

Artificial Lighting and Way-finding Strategy at Night

Physical Model uses Fabrication and Lighting Techniques to show Building Strategies

Physical Model Close-Up

Exterior Render of Riding Arena

Interior Render of Riding Arena and

and Viewing Spaces

COMMUNITY + CONTINUITY IN AALTOS’ ARCHITECTURE Museum Exhibition, 2023-24

Sacred Spaces: Community + Continuity in Aaltos’ Architecture is a research project and museum exhibition completed in October 2024.

Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and in collaboration with the Alvar Aalto Foundation, the final exhibition depicts 35 sacred spaces designed by the Aaltos’. A series of student-drawn axonometric drawings are split into ‘early,’ ‘middle,’ and ‘late’ periods that showcase the firm’s evolving ideas across decades.

Contributions to the project were as a Graduate Research Assistant for researcher and curator Dr. Tammy Gaber. Tasks included documenting archival research, exhibition design and preparation of schematic drawings. A number of assets were revised from earlier student work to accommodate the exhibit, including: axonometric drawings, a brochure and a supplementary book with all information on the research project. A final series of photographs were taken to document the completed exhibition.

The exhibition featured an analysis of the Aaltos’ religious architecture across distinct early, middle and late periods

Floor plan of temporary exhibition hall at Alvar Aalto Museum

A series of text/photo essays are featured throughout the exhibition to contextualize the story behind each axonometric

Archival models of select late period projects were paired with their respective axonometric poster

Concept render from March 2024 versus completed exhibition in October 2024

The ‘next life’ component of the exhibit included an essay, photo wall, and a restored light fixture to match

BRIDGE AT SAGAMOK FIRST NATION

Group Conceptual Design Project, 2022

The project scope for the first year master’s studio consisted of a proposed bridge for Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation and Ontario Parks at Fort LaCloche.

The design-build project was done in collaboration with Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, Ontario Parks, professor Randall Kober, Adam Bieler, Bradley Bonsall, Hailey Clark, Taylor Dixon, Bryce Engberts, Owen Gains, Abigail Hudyma, Duncan Macdonald, Jenna Neilson, Jakob Rowsell, Alex Polito, and Kayla Wagg. Building off of prototypes from previous cohorts, this semester project focused on testing and implementing analog and digital craft techniques. Tasks included drawing production, digital fabrication, craft/assembly of bridge components, and document control.

Contributions to the project included the collaborative recording and compilation of footage into a final recap video, available here: https://mcewenarchitecture.ca/work/constructionof-the-bridge-at-fort-lacloche-grad-craft-studio/

CRAFT

Bridge/Landscape Exterior Render, completed

Bridge Interior Walkway Render, completed

completed in collaboration with Taylor Dixon

Bridge latitudinal elevation at Fort LaCloche trail start

Log allocation diagram of coding system used throughout project

PRELIMINARY

POLYHEDRA: URBAN FURNITURE DESIGN

Digital Fabrication / Parametric Design, 2022

Completed in collaboration with classmate Jenna Neilson, Polyhedra proposes a flexible sheltered urban furniture option for the interior / exterior use around McEwen School of Architecture.

The parametric design features a 2V geodesic dome developed using Grasshopper scripts in Rhino 7, curated to experiment with both natural and artificial lighting while fostering different interactions depending on the deployed context. A 1:5 mock-up of the project was prepared using laser-cutting techniques and hand-made joints from rounded dowels.

grasshopper

Courtyard Render during the Day

Front Elevation

Side Elevation

Proposed Areas for Intervention

McEwen School of Architecture

HOUSE IN SUDBURY

Partner Structures Project, 2021

House in Sudbury was a semester-long partner project with classmates Brianna Bouius and Kayla Wagg, which focused on building science, energy modeling and conforming to the Ontario Building Code.

The assignment brief gave set parameters on specific building systems and the design wishes of a senior couple living in the Greater Sudbury Area. The design integrates passive and active systems which were informed by using eQuest, an energy modeling software which gave estimates on the building’s performance.

Floor Plan

Proposed

STREET-O-TOMIC

Fourth Year Studio Project, 2021 - 2022

Street-o-tomic is a mixed-use intergenerational living centre that focuses on supporting senior and youth/young adult housing tenures, while also featuring a variety of public programs to bring in the local community.

The 8 month project was completed in coordination with classmate Natalia Sawant. Developing the building’s program and layout was only one facet of the project. This year’s comprehensive design studio also focused on systems integration such as passive strategies, structure and HVAC. Aspects of the Ontario Building Code were factored into the project as a means of understanding fire safety.

Exterior Street Render showing North

Interior Render

North Facade Entrance

Summary of HVAC Systems

EPOCH: EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

Third Year Studio Project, 2020

Epoch is a proposed early learning daycare centre for a local site sharing a lot with a retirement home.

The project is an exploration of how different scales of time can be experienced through architecture; highlighting periods of growth and age through tracking sunlight, plant growth, aging of both materials and the users (children and seniors). The early learning centre focuses its programming on flexible spaces that encourage intergenerational interactions. Research into developmental milestones for children, code requirements, and the surrounding site context were all incorporated into the final design of the early learning centre.

Interior Render of Gym Space

Interior Render of Toddler Play Area within Classroom

ON-THE-GO! MICROHOME 2020

Design Competition Entry, 2020 (revised 2024)

On the Go! is an entry for the Microhome 2020 design competition, which challenges participants to create a space under 25m2 for a young professional couple.

My partner Tomy Tran and I have opted for a mobile design that allows the envisioned clients to live, work and play from anywhere. On the go! is envisioned to be placed in any appropriate site context of both urban or rural landscapes through the use of adjustable spaces, efficient storage strategies and partial on-site energy generation.