Alex Straka Portfolio - October 2024 by alexstraka

ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

ALEX STRAKA

Alex Straka they/them

Fourth year college student with plans of seeking a career in architectural design and overall betterment of leadership, communication, and time management skills.

WORK EXPERIENCE

John S Andrews Architects LLC, Chestnut Hill, PA — Architectural Staff/Drafter

JANURARY 2024 – PRESENT

Prepares drawings and documentation for residential projects in AutoCAD

Performs site survey analysis and drafting

Extensive experience in construction and structural documentation for permits

Atwater Kent Collection, Philadelphia, PA —Gallery Attendant

JUNE 2023 – SEPTEMBER 2023

Created a welcoming and informative environment by talking to visitors about the exhibition

Performed cataloging tasks through the application PastPerfect for online database expansion and metadata enhancement

Urban Engineers Inc, State College, PA —Design Intern

JUNE 2022 – AUGUST 2022

Utilized Bluebeam Revu, Excel, Outlook, and Bentley MicroStation

Assisted as Secretary for American Society for Highway Engineers Clearfield

Worked directly with clients and colleagues in meetings and site visits

EDUCATION

Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA — Bachelor of Architecture Degree, Art History Minor

SEPTEMBER 2021 - JUNE 2027

3.89 GPA, Dean’s List (top 10%), Member of Pennoni Honors Program

Architectural history grader for the 2023-2024 school year

Representative for the Drexel Chapter of the National Organization of Minority

Architecture Students, member of the American Institute of Architecture Students

State College Area High School, State College, PA — High School Diploma

SEPTEMBER 2017 - MAY 2021

Member of National Art Honors Society and National Honors Society

Honor roll, GPA of 3.87

Four years of Architecture classes

Elected to Secretary for Art Club/ NAHS in 2019-2020, President in 2020-2021

State College / Philadelphia, PA 814-826-8600

alexandriastraka@gmail.com

SKILLS

AutoCAD

Rhinoceros 7

Revit

Enscape

Adobe Suite

Microsoft Office

2D Design

Model Making

AWARDS

2024 Design Excellence Award Recipient

Scholastic Art and Writing

Awards Gold Key Winner

Clare Fund for Visual Arts

Scholarship Winner

Graduated with honors, NHS Medallion

Over 100 hours of community service

MICA Pre-College Program Graduate (2019)

INTERESTS

Art and Design

Art Market Vending

Horticulture / Plant Care

Nature and Hiking

Rock Climbing

BIKE STATION

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GREENSCHOOL

GREEN SCHOOL COURTYARD HOUSE ARTWORK

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LANDMARK BIKE STATION

BARTRAM’S GARDEN, PHILADELPHIA, USA

When ﬁrst visiting Bartram’s North, I was struck by the different environmental conditions of the site. The narrowness of the area along the path, the juxtaposition between the clearings and dense forest, and the few viewpoints between the trees looking out past the river. In my design, I wanted to amplify the clearing between the barge and the monument site. My two structures emulate the enclosure already found within the site while providing visualanchors along the path.

The bike shop, which is more open and pronounced, features long ramps for cycling access and a large two-story lattice roof. A counter allows for controlled interaction between the worker and bike renters/ snack customers. A staircase allows visitors to enjoy views of the surrounding park and the skyline from over the trees. While the bathrooms share a similar roof, its lower elevation and large retaining walls ensure a more private experience than its counterpart. Both buildings act as an edge to deﬁne the large gathering space between them, which can host a multitude of activities.

Parti Diagram

Bartram’s North within the context of Southwest Philadelphia

DETAILED SECTION

A closer look at the materiality within the bike station

RENDERED CROSS SECTION

The main connection between the water and land is illustrated along with user experience for renting bikes

Early sketch and design vocabulary diagrams based on the key visual aspects of the site SKETCHES AND VOCAB DIAGRAMS

SITE PLAN

EXPERIENTIAL PERSPECTIVES

Visualizes how various spaces throughout the stations would be approached or utilized

RENDERED LONGITUDIAL SECTION

The connection between the two stations, showing the gathering space created by built and natural landscape

BIKE STATION FLOOR

PLANBATHROOM FLOOR PLAN

The ﬂoor plan shows how the proposed bike storage and snack station wraps around the existing storage facility

The bathroom station features eight single-stall restrooms, all ADA accessible

THE COURTYARD HOUSE

MANTUA, PHILADELPHIA, USA

The Courtyard House is an intergenerational rowhouse that encourages residents to engage within the household and the community without compromising privacy. It is a part of a larger proposed housing development on the right side of a vacant lot in the neighborhood Mantua.

There are two units per row home with an entrance for both physical separation and interior access to either unit. The 1st generation unit has a compact layout while giving enough space to be self-sufﬁcient. The 2nd and 3rd generation unit features an open concept living area with the bedrooms on the upper ﬂoors. The roof deck, which is accessible through the larger unit provides ample possibilities in addition to the backyard and attached patio.

Parti Diagram

Early Process Perspective Sketches

ELEVATION + PARTIAL PLAN

SECTIONS

Through the sections and elevation, the connections between the interior and exterior are illustrated, emphasising the shared entry of both the courtyard and the secondary entrance towards the center [highlighted in the longitudinal and cross section].

SECTION PERSPECTIVE: WALLACE STREET

The north entry facade on Wallace Street mimics the already established porch culture, embracing connections and eyes on the street. The overhang provides shelter to the 1st generation’s outdoor space and functions as the structure which the shared balcony extends from

ISOMETRIC DIAGRAMS

FLOOR PLANS

(from left to right) The ground, second, and third ﬂoor plans utilize the yellow to communicate the shared or common areas within the design between the family or the residents of both rowhouses

Site Plan with the Courtyard House highlighted

This photograph of the constructed model showcases how the light reaches into the southside of the house

ST. ANN’S BAY TERRACE SCHOOL

DRAX HALL - ST. ANN’S BAY, JAMACIA

The St. Ann’s Bay Green School is a response to an interesting yet challenging query: Design an outdoor school using twenty two shipping containers on a steep and off-grid site in Jamaica. The majority of the project pertained to creating a classroom module that utilized prevailing winds for passive cooling. To help mitigate heat gain within the shipping container, I proposed a “swooped” roof, which allows higher breezes to be funneled in from the top and circulate throughout the space. Diagonally placed windows and sliding doors provide adjustable apertures for cross ventilation. Extensive testing was completed using physical model iderations and wind chamber testing to ensure our designs were effective.

The green school is composed of three large terraces. This was done to not only provide separation for the lower and upper school, but adequate open space for program requirements. A large ramp connects students from the entrance to their classroom and communal spaces. The embedded drains, scuppers, and detention pond all ensure that water run-off does not leave the site and impact surrounding land.

(Left) Master plan for the proposed green school: The larger terraces house the lower and upper school classrooms, while the left are used for communal space and administrative facilities.

(Below) Exploded isometric of the classroom module showcasing the materiality of the design. In addition to the shipping container, the other materials have been selected based on commonality and availability within Jamaica.

DOUBLE CLASSROOM PLAN WITH EXAMPLE LAYOUTS

SECTION A

The connection between the two stations, showing the gathering space created by built and natural landscape

PERSPECTIVES AND SECTIONS

These drawings help to illustrate the construction and layout of the double classroom module. In this conﬁguration, the two classrooms are divided by a storage and handwashing station, utilizing rainwater collected from the roof which is fed into an adjacent rain barrel (see circled location above the sink) or the garden plots.

SECTION C - ENLARGED DETAIL

SECTION B

The connection between the two stations, showing the gathering space created by built and natural landscape

AP PORTFOLIO JOURNEY THROUGH THE DREAMSCAPE

I’ve always been very in tune with my inner mind, resulting in frequent and vivid dreams. Some are so realistic that instead of waking up in reality, I think I have been ripped away from my true world. Being able to visually convey these experiences to others links between the viewer and I’s existences, allowing me to share my mind’s unique perception of life. The work revolves around subjectivity like gender identity, isolation, anxiety, journey, nature, interpersonal relations, death, spirituality, growing up, and societal reﬂection. There are two main juxaposing compositions: close-up ‘kitch’ portraiture to express strong emotional reactions and grandeur environments with ‘over the top’ and ‘surrealist’ subject matter. This body of work aims to convey the mystifying and often confusing nature of the subconscious.