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PH INTERVENE
SUSTAIN
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Alex Koenig Wolfrum
Skills Graphic Software
University of Kansas_School of Architecture - MArch I Degree_5 year Masters of Architecture
- InDesign - Illustrator - Photoshop
2010 - 2015
- Cumulative GPA_3.89
2015
- Research Experience Academic Certificate
2013
2D / 3D Modeling - CAD - Revit - Sketchup
Green Rating Systems - LEED (GA) - Living Building Challenge - HERS
Other - Microsoft Office, Excel, Powerpoint - Operation of Laser Cutters - Fabrication
Recognition
ARCHITECTURE
Excellence in Con Docs_U.S. DoE Challenge Home Competition
Alex Wolfrum alexwolfrum91@gmail.com 314.922.0257
Academic Scholarships_AIA Saint Louis 2012-2015
Spring 2014
Joseph W. Radotinski Scholarship_KU School of Architecture 2012-2013 University Scholar_University of Kansas
Fall 2012
Goldwin Goldsmith Scholarship_KU School of Architecture 2011-2012
Experience Graduate Student_Studio 804
2014 - 2015
- LEED documentation - construction documents - fabrication
Volunteer_GreenBuild 2014 New Orleans
Fall 2014
Summer 2014
2013 - 2015
Summer 2013
Winter 2012
- passive house - construction documents - office collaboration
Study Abroad_Freiburg, Germany - sustainability - urban design - economics
University Honors Program_University of Kansas
Discovering Architecture Program_Washington University - architectural history - communication - design
- leadership - teaching - communication
Internship_Ralph Eglin Wafer Architecture
2010 -2013
Spring 2010
- research - communication - writing
- laser cutting - 3d printing - CAD
Architecture Teaching Assistant_Duke TiP
Volunteer Coordinator_Habitat for Humanity KU Chapter - organization - construction - service
- CAD - site surveying - site design
Lab Operator_KU Digital Fabrications Shop
Spring 2012
- peer evaluation - discussion leading - organization
- sustainability - public interest design - LEED
Draftsman_Parker Landscapes
Site Planning Teaching Assistant_KU School of Architecture
Summer 2012
Summer 2009
Why I Design I believe in the power of place to make an impact on the lives of those who occupy it. This impact can be through inspirational beauty, functional utilitarianism, high-performance detailing, or a healthier environment. Philosophy Life is too short to live in bad architecture, and great architecture can only be achieved through careful thought. Throughout my college career, I have made choices to prepare myself for leadership in improving the built environment. I have made the most of my time by opting for experiences that would improve my ability to tackle the issues I care about most. Urbanism My study-abroad experience in Freiburg, the greenest city in Germany, exposed to me examples of innovative architecture working together on an urban scale. I saw what a true Collage City could look like, incorporating the modern and the ancient into one civic gesture.
Sustainability I dove deeper into the idea of sustainability when I interned for a Saint Louis architect, working on Missouri’s first Passive House. It gave me an appreciation for the attention to detail one must have in order to achieve a high performing design, by any criteria. Craft A test of a good building is how it ages. Architecture should be built to last, and in order to design that way an architect must know how buildings go together. As a leader in the KU chapter of Habitat for Humanity, I was a part of the construction of several homes, as well as a job site coordinator.
Fields of Interest In order to make architecture with purpose, a designer must believe in the work they are doing. My reasons for designing tell the system of thought I will apply to any work I do. Within the greater field of architecture there are certain areas I think that my beliefs can best be applied.
Adaptive Reuse The most sustainable building is the one that was never built, the next best thing is to make use of existing resources. It is a second chance for success that can result in an even better project, while preventing it from taking up space in a landfill.
Academic Architecture The best way to improve a person’s quality of life is to broaden their mind through education. Architecture can play a part in this by creating spaces that enhance the way in which we learn. I have had too many lectures in rooms with no natural light, to not care about the way our classrooms are designed.
Residential Architecture Architects have nearly lost this sector of the built environment and I believe we need to reclaim it to improve lifestyles and our own business. The architect as developer model is one I have great interest in pursuing throughout my career. It is one of the best possibilities I see for growth in the industry.
Civic Architecture These projects are at the heart of any urban environment. They are what give it scale, provide meeting points, and house the crucial functions of the city. Because of their high-visibility, these buildings are able to serve as examples of what great architecture can be.
THE FORUM AT MARVIN HALL @ Lawrence, Kansas Studio 804 LEED Documentation / Fabrication
The first semester of my fifth year was spent finishing construction of the Forum lecture hall, an addition to KU’s school of architecture. Students performed every aspect of construction on this project from pouring concrete piers, to framing the floors and roof, to installing the photovoltaic system on the roof. The building was designed to achieve LEED Platinum. After construction, I was in charge of wrapping up the certification.
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ANN AVENUE NET ZERO HOME @ Kansas City, Kansas Studio 609 Sustainable Design / Residential Design
Wasco Skylight with Lumira™ Aerogel R-4.6 WaterSense ® Rated Fixtures
Heat Recovery Shower Tray Standing Seam Metal Roof
SIP Roof R-45
Therma-Tru Fiberglass Entry Doors R-5.6
Alpen 925 Series Windows R-9.1
Motion Activated Hot Water Recirculating Pump
SIP Walls with 2x4 Furring R-43
Rainwater Catchment from Gutters
Front Porch & Active Street Xeriscaping
Hardi® Reveal® Panel System Window Shading
Electric Car Charging Station
5 kW Solar Panel Array
Permeable Pavers Permeable Driveway
Under Slab Insulated with EPS Geofoam R-40 IQ Air Perfect 16 Whole House Air Purification System WaterFurnace 7 Series Ground-Source Heat Pump Geospring Hot Water Heater Energy Use Supplemented by Solar Power
Geothermal Wells Water Storage Tank for Irrigation
Through a partnership with Community Housing of Wyandotte County (CHWC), I worked to bring their home building practice into an era of sustainability. The project had to overcome real-life challenges of neighborhood approval and fitting on a 25’ wide lot. The home strove to save space and energy and was planned as an affordable unit for those in the area. All envelope and mechanical systems were checked with the REM/RATE modeling program.
Place of Worship` McKinley Elementary School
Commercial District
Historic Neighborhood
Waterway Park
Design begins with the same constraints that any typical U.S. home would have.
Simplify the building’s envelope and remove any unnecessary interior walls.
The building’s entry is shifted to one side, and then set back within the space.
Adapt rooflines in response to changes in floor level and divisions of the plan.
Optimize window size, while increasing their R-value, tightness, and shading.
These are usually closed off and don’t take advantage of space, light or energy.
Less walls, turns, and connections make a tighter house and open its plan.
This defines the entry space, while making it more private and improving circulation.
This creates openness, and encourages movement through the space.
When placed in the right location, these maximize natural light and solar gain.
SUSTAINABLE FEATURES
8. Therma-Tru Fiberglass Entry Door R-5.6 Doors specified are airtight and contain recycled content.
1. SIP Walls with 2x4 Furring R-43 The addition of an insulated 2x4 cavity allows for plumbing and electrical chases
9. Slab Insulated with EPS R-40 Rigid Cellular Polystyrene Geofoam is utilized at foundation systems to provide superior insulation performance.
2. SIP Roof R-45 Structural Insulated Panel systems have been utilized to provide superior insulation performance. 3. Huber Zip Board Used as the exterior sheathing to the SIPS panels, this board provides air and moisture resistance eliminating the need for building wrap. 4. Fluid Applied Air and Moisture Barrier We have worked with a local fluidapplied barrier consultant to detail and specify appropriate systems at all window and door openings. 5. Dense Pack Cellulose Insulation The R-factor of cellulose insulation is approximately 3.8 per inch and it does not vary significantly over a wide range of densities. 6. Alpen 925 Series Windows R- 9.1 Quad-pane, twin-film technology, foamfilled fiberglass framed windows offer thermal performance up to R-9.1. 7. Wasco Aerogel Skylights R-4.6 These skylights make use of a layer of aerogel insulation to provide a thermal break and high R value.
10. Standing Seam Metal Roof Roofing material was chosen for its long life and low maintenance. 11. Exterior Sun Shades Block out the southern sun to prevent unwanted solar heat gain. 12. Water Furnace 7 Series Heat Pump The earth’s energy is used to reduce both heating and cooling loads. 13. IQ Air Whole House Air Purification The air purification system will be used with the ERV to significantly reduce levels of airborne volatile organic compounds, cooking odors, common household odors, airborne dust particles, mold spores, and pollen in residential spaces. 14. Ultimate Air RecoupAerator ERV The ERV is utilized for continuous exhausting of stale air while capturing its temperature. It conditions and recycles it into the incoming fresh air. 15. Nest/Protect System Nest Thermostats provide fully programmable HVAC settings. Nest Protect systems monitor smoke and CO levels.
16. Home Automation Systems The home automation system automatically adjusts lighting, HVAC, irrigation, appliances, security, and monitoring systems. It is completely interfaced with mobile apps. 17. Wheatboard Cabinets Made of recycled wheat chaff, wheatboard cabinets contain zero formaldehyde. It is a superior replacement for particle board, hardwood, or MDF.
23. Shower Tray Hot Water Recovery As hot shower water flows down the vertical heat exchanger, its energy preheats freshwater. 24. Rainwater Catchment from Gutters Gutters, downspouts, and landscaping have carefully been designed to capture rainwater for reuse. 25. WaterSense Fixtures Low flow Water Sense-compliant fixtures have been specified throughout.
18. 5 kW Solar Panel Array Photovoltaic panels have been maximized as the site allows in order to offset energy usage.
26. Xeriscaped Plantings Native plants and low-water species have been specified for landscape areas.
19. Three 100’ Geothermal Wells By exchanging thermal energy with the temperature stable earth the home is able to gain more energy than the electricity required to generate it.
25. Permeable Pavement Permeable concrete pavement systems filter and decreases stormwater runoff rates.
20. Solar Car Charging Station The house is wired with an electric car charger in case of a future sustainable purchase by the homeowner. 21. Geospring Hybrid-Electric Water Heater Combines energy saving heat-pump technology with traditional electric elements using a fraction of the energy. 22. Hot Water Recirculating Pump Motion sensors in bathrooms and a button at the kitchen activate a highspeed recirculating pump that provides hot water as needed.
28. Construction Waste Management Plan Project specifications provided for the owner outline a plan to separate and recycle construction waste. 29. Recycled Content Counters Richlite counters are manufactured out of recycled paper and resin and contain no formaldehyde.
BETHANY COMMUNITY CENTER @ Kansas City, Kansas Studio 608 Urban Acupuncture / Public Interest Design
This adaptive reuse project takes an underused building in a rebounding community, and makes it more effective for the needs of those who use it. A large portion of the studio was devoted to meeting with the locals, and getting to know the area.
The existing Community Center faces many problems, both aesthetically and functionally. From outside, there is no way to identify it as a place of community activity. The exterior is heavy masonry, with almost no windows. The entrance is hidden away from view and accessibility; it faces a parking lot in the back of the building. The entryway is uninviting, and once inside there are only dark and unconnected spaces. The interior classroom space is chopped up by outdated, sliding, partition walls. My proposal is to reconfigure Bethany Community Center as a hub for artistic and athletic expression of existing skills within the community. The park around Bethany Center will become welcoming space. It will draw in visitors, and provide places to meet, relax, or be active. The park then becomes a hub for movement through the community, with the addition of a Bethany bus line, as well as biking and walking trails.
The first step I took to improve the building, was to make it accessible. The white circles on the map are centered on bus stops and represent a five minute walk around them. The red areas are not within this pedestrian-friendly distance. They are mostly residential areas, where riders come from.
To solve this problem I proposed a “community circulator route�. It would go around the areas currently in red, and pick up locals for transfer to other routes. All routes would go through Bethany Park, where my building is sited. Bike paths and walking trails would also extend from the park, to allow for other modes of access.
The bunker-like exterior, and lack of windows were a detriment to the building’s appearance. I began the redesign of Bethany Community Center by looking at it as a blank slate. The box containing support spaces was removed and glazing was added to the two short sides. This let in light and gave views to the outside. All solid surfaces became canvases for public art.
The building was bookended with public space, in the form of a plaza and an amphitheater. The support spaces were then reinserted on the northwest, with the entrance facing the street. The exterior of the building was then wrapped in circulation. Raised terraces around the Community Center function as egress, classroom space, and house public art displays.
The entry sequence has been fixed by turning it towards the street. The main lobby is now open to the plaza and the classrooms below. Outside, all levels are connected by the elevated walkways. Including an added third level, with a balcony overlooking the gym.
The classroom space has been transformed into a youth art studio. It has been opened up by removing the ceiling panels and exposing the structure and HVAC systems. Modular shelving units can now be used to partition space more informally. A farmers’ market beneath the raised walkways will serve the community’s need for access to healthy foods.
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The previous pages showed how the whole building worked together to form a cohesive space for community interaction. It allows the creativity and energy of those coming to the center for classes to be expressed for the whole community to see. This view shows how the building works within the park and the greater Riverview Neighborhood Area. Paths leading through the park have been rearranged to invite pedestrians off the street to enter. Crosswalks and lane reductions also serve to make the area more pedestrian friendly. Parking has been provided, but shifted away from the parking lot in the rear. The lot will mostly serve the farmers’ market. Cars now have access to angled parking along Central Avenue, and covered parking, dug into a hill on the east side of the park.
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GREGG AVENUE PASSIVE HOUSE @ Saint Louis, Missouri Internship Ralph Eglin Wafer, AIA
My time at the office of Ralph Eglin Wafer, AIA gave me experience with the design and construction process of a certified Passive House.
The south facing roof is outfitted with a 3.99 kW solar panel array on a fixed tilt. The house also makes use of solar thermal panels and a geothermal system. I was able to attend meetings with the consultants for these passive systems, and learn more about their integration into whole building design.
The building’s structure is made up of two systems. The first floor is poured concrete into insulated concrete formwork. The second floor and roof are made of structural insulated panels.
SPACE FRAME CANOPY (TRESEL) @ Adaptable Site Studio 409 Design-Build
This design-build studio examined space frames, in order to build beautiful structures with minimal impact from material use. My project was to design and prototype a backyard canopy, which could be used as a shelter for entertaining. Potential retailers could include Dwell Magazine. The modular pieces could be flat‑packed and shipped, for assembly on site.
The structure is easily adaptable. Its shape can be added to or subtracted from to fit the client’s needs. Add-ons like benches, bars, integrated lighting, or shade canopies can make the Tresel more functional and personal. All are easily attached to the modular structure.
Fabrication and material testing was important to the process. Many joints were tried before deciding on half-inch steel conduit bolted together. These alternatives included PVC, wood, and even concrete.
Construction involved a few basic steps: cutting, crimping, drilling, and assembling the pieces. Only three lengths of conduit and one type of bolt were used. The roof plane was assembled first, at ground level. It was then raised on scaffolding and the legs were assembled underneath. Two people could lift the structure, but it supported the weight of several more.