Blas, Olivia - Portfolio

POR TFO L I O OLIVIA BLAS

Ge r a ld D. H in e s Co l le g e o f A rch it e ct ure and Desi gn Selected Works | 2023-2026

PR O F ILE Education

Activities

University of Houston (UH) Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture Degree Plan: Bachelor of Architecture Current GPA: 3.718 / 4.0 Scale

Alpha Rho Chi Professional Fraternity Brother - Initiated Spring 2022 | Superintendent Spring 2024 | President Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 | Current Professional Committee Chair Involvement: - Volunteered for several local organizations through the fraternity such as Extra Life, Houston Food Bank, and Citizens for Animal Protection - Held position as Worthy Superintendent (Fraternity Superintendent) - Planned and executed fraternity events - Readied brothers for ritual events - Held position as Worthy Architect (Fraternity President) - Organized the re-registration of the fraternity for the 2024-2025 academic year. As well as organized all administration paperwork regarding the fraternity on a national scale - Attended the 2024 Alpha Rho Chi Leadership Conference as a representative of the University of Houston chapter - Oversaw the chapter executive board and committee leaders to ensure efficient planning, delegation, and execution

Experience Stantec Architectural Intern June 2025 to Present - Worked 40 hours weekly as an Architectural Intern in Stantec's Summer Intern Program ( Jun 2025 - Aug 2025) - Worked 18 hours weekly as a part-time Architectural Intern (Aug 2025 - Present) - Collaborated internationally with fellow interns to design an summer intern project - Utilized BIM and Adobe software to support project teams in the development of design documentation Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture Instructional Assistant September 2024 to December 2024 - Worked 10 hours weekly as an Instructional Assistant (IA) for “Introduction to Design Culture” - Collaborated with other IAs to create course material, including weekly presentations - Led discussion with 25 students twice weekly to review course content - Graded student assignments weekly; administered and graded students’ midterm and final exams Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture Research Assistant November 2024 to December 2024 - Created a series of renders representing methods of reusing decommissioned wind turbines - Collaborated with faculty to quickly create and edit architectural visuals that respond to engineer, architect, contractor, professor, and client feedback WonderWorks Houston Teaching Assistant Summer 2024 - Worked as a mentor and teaching assistant (TA) for the WonderWorks summer program for high school students interested in the architecture field - Held one-on-one discussions with students about their proposed designs and offered advice and feedback - Held the position of juror during their final project presentations - Chaperoned students on architectural field trips up to four hours away from campus - Led architectural tours during field trips - Taught brief lessons on design programs Z4A Architects Summer Intern Summer 2023 - Worked with a partner to assist Z4A Architects in preparing for a residential client review in Madrid, Spain - Edited plans and sections in Rhino 3D - 3D modeled design variations based on client feedback - Physically modeled a scale structural model

Future Women in Architecture Mentorship Program (FWiA) Mentor Fall 2023 to Spring 2024 Involvement: Mentor underclassman architecture students in-person and online to provide feedback on their studio projects and teach Rhino and Adobe Creative Cloud Awards: FWiA Final Drawing Competition Winner, Fall 2024 Houston Livestock show and Rodeo (HLSR) Seasonal Committee Volunteer Spring 2022 to Present Involvement: Began on the Junior Rodeo Committee, assisting other committees with their tasks and educating the public about the HLSR. Currently on the Horticulture Committee, focusing on public horticulture education and assisting with scholarship competitions.

2024 TxA Annual Conference & Design Expo Exhibitor Fall 2024 Involvement: Attended as an emerging professional and exhibitor. Submitted a past design studio project and was selected to have digital work on display throughout the duration of the event.

2024 AIA Fort Worth Excellence in Architecture Student Design Awards Merit Award Recipient 2024 Involvement: Merit Award recipient for "Third Ward Co-Housing," a group project during the Spring 2024 semester.

2025 AIA Houston Design Awards: On The Boards Award Recipient 2025 Involvement: Award recipient for "OpenHOUse" a team project during the Spring 2025 semester.

2025 AIA Fort Worth Excellence in Architecture Student Design Awards Merit Award Recipient 2025 Involvement: Merit Award recipient for "OpenHOUse" a team project during the Spring 2025 semester.

Software Skills Rhino 3D Revit Twinmotion Unreal Engine 5 Climate Studi0

Adobe Illustrator Adobe Indesign Adobe Photoshop Microsoft Office Professional Plus Bluebeam Revu

CON T E N T

01 FESTHAVN

02 OPENHOUSE, THE CURTAIN

03 INTERTIDAL

04 THIRD WARD COMMUNITY

05 REGROW PAVILION

01

FESTHAVN Fall 2025, 3-Person Project

Located on the island of Refshaleøen in Copenhagen, Denmark, FESTHAVN is a multi-purpose hotel serving guests of iconic Danish festivals and students of the Royal Danish University. Influenced by the industrial history of Refshaleøen, the two buildings are clad in locally reclaimed brick on the first floor and corrugated metal paneling on the second and third floors. The North Building contains a main stage to be used by the O-Days festival, and its emphasis will invite more festivals to the site in the future. The South Building on the opposite side of the site folds to face the stage, providing more optimal sight lines and extending the building's solar capture. Both buildings contain different configurations of locally sourced scaffolding which serves as outdoor circulation, public gathering spaces, vertical bleachers, vertical bike storage, sun/privacy shade, and a frame for the main stage. The building is flexible to become open during the summer and reflect the Danish culture of Hygge (coziness) during the winter; the center of the South Building serves as an optimal viewing space of the festival during the Summer and the coziest space during the winter, thus making the center for hotel guests. On both sides of the stage in the North Building are gathering spaces and communal kitchens for viewing the stage up close and embracing togetherness. Because of this, the North Building primarliy houses students and the crew/performers of the festivals. There are additional public programs on the first floor of each building such as a green room, a restaurant, bike shop, public restrooms, etc. for festival goers and year round visitors of the park. Ultimately the buildings serve to frame local events while remaining calm as not to interfere with the 6 acre site.

BIKE STORAGE BIKE STORAGE

SCAFFOLDING PROGRAMS

SITE MAP

FINAL RENDER

CIRCULATION CIRCULATION

FESTIVAL BLEACHERS FESTIVAL BLEACHERS

FESTIVAL SEATING FESTIVAL SEATING

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430 SF

GUEST DOUBLE ROOM - WINTER

GUEST DOUBLE ROOM

WINTER 0

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SUMMER

16x

8 FT

GUEST DOUBLE ROOM - SUMMER

18x

SUMMER

8 FT

STUDENT/CREW + PERFORMER ROOM - WINTER

STUDENT/CREW + PERFORMERS ROOM

330 SF

STUDENT/CREW + PERFORMER ROOM - SUMMER

THIRD FLOOR: SINGLE + DOUBLE GUEST ROOMS SCAFFOLDING ACCESS POINTS INTERIOR GATHERING SPACES + FIREPLACE

SECOND FLOOR: SINGLE + DOUBLE GUEST ROOMS SCAFFOLDING ACCESS POINTS INTERIOR GATHERING SPACE + FIREPLACE

SOUTH BUILDING - SECTION

FIRST FLOOR: HOTEL LOBBY HOTEL RESTAURANT BIKE SHOP + RENTAL SCAFFOLDING ACCESS POINTS PUBLIC BATHROOMS HOTEL LAUNDRY + STAFF ROOM COMMUNITY GARDEN OUTDOOR GATHERING SPACE

THIRD FLOOR: GUEST SUITES STUDENT /CREW + PERFORMER ROOMS SCAFFOLDING ACCESS POINTS COMMUNAL KITCHEN GUEST LOUNGE

SECOND FLOOR: STUDENT/CREW + PERFORMER ROOMS SCAFFOLDING ACCESS POINTS COMMUNAL KITCHEN COMMUNAL STUDY AREA

FIRST FLOOR: PATIO/CONCERT PAVILION LAUNDRETTE PUBLIC BATHROOMS GREEN ROOM CONCESSION + MERCHANDISE STALLS LOADING DOCK + BOH SCAFFOLDING ACCESS POINTS

NORTH BUILDING - SECTION

“As you get up close to the spaces, there is a true attention to craft and care that I think is often lost when you put together these prefabricated produced elements in the scale of a house. It is really exquisite.”

– Ryan Culligan, AIA

“Each piece was well planned and beautifully crafted. Though each piece has a different function, they all form a cohesive design, in which each item both stands on its own and contributes to the whole.”

– Amanda Schulte, AIA

02

OpenHOUse, The Curtain Spring 2025, Large Team Project 2025 AIA Houston Design Awards: On The Boards Winner 2025 AIA Fort Worth Merit Award Winner

OpenHOUse was a multiple semester long studio that centered around the design and one-to-one fabrication of a mass timber prototype for a sustainable and shared living space. The Curtain is representative of OpenHOUse’s interior growth over the course of the spring 2025 semester. In the first phase of this project, there were four different interior design schemes. Of these schemes, one was centered around curtains as space dividers while simultaneously maintaining the OpenHOUse breathability. A “cut and fold” methodology was then brought into all aspects of the project’s final interior products through solid folds, operability, and perforations. However, the organic nature of the curtain offered the exploration metal as a more fluid material. This led to many textile samples that involved an array of different production techniques that we combined to make several metal fabric designs. The final Curtain was designed using a series of metal chains, beads, and wire. This Curtain was influenced by different aspects of all of the techniques we experimented with. The final design involves the flexibility of a fiber based fabric, the techniques and materials found in jewelry making, and connections found in chainmail. Through this design process, our team turned a solid and durable material into an organic and interactive experience for occupants to enjoy.

FINAL MODEL PHOTO

SECTION

FLOOR PLAN

2ft

400

CURTAIN ASSEMBLY

MATERIALS:

01

x492ft

x32400

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CURTAIN ASSEMBLY

x16200

MATERIALS:

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xTBD 456ft

x492ft

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x16200

PRODUCTION STEPS

xTBD

456ft

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01 FLORENC

x492ft

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Chain

Tube

Bead

Transparent Cord

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Florence

KIT OF PARTS 6

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FINAL MODEL

FINAL MODEL

“The project goes to great lengths to combine computer technology, machine and handcrafted construction as design methods to explore the idea of flexible use. The execution of the idea seems to be important here. This is not just paper architecture. It shows that flexible space does not need to be benign space. The entirety of the built environment; walls, ceilings, furniture and accessories are expressed as adaptable, but meaningful.”

– Bentely Tibbs, AIA

“This feels like a complete project - from the idea to the execution of the building forms, down to the small details - beautifully arranged.”

– Kris Calvert, AIA

FINAL MODEL PHOTO

Exploded Axonometric

20 ASSEMBLY DIAGRAM

Assembled Axonometric

21

03

Intertidal Fall 2024, 2-Person Group Project ‘Intertidal’ provides the building spaces needed for scientists to research the effects of sedimentation and various organic materials on aquatic environments, particularly those inhabited by cephalopods. The building itself increases sedimentation and the rewilding of the Texas City Dike. The primary building structure is made to last forever, utilizing a concrete slab, beams, and columns. The ground floor slab is cast with uneven sand to create a rough texture including nooks and crannies for octopuses to inhabit. As the concrete gets closer to the Eastern shoreline, it becomes more irregular, creating a series of tidal pools for both human and aquatic exploration. Tanks are integrated within the first floor to create temporary holdings, allowing cephalopods to return to the ocean at high tide. The primary programs are elevated and take place on the second floor. The lab spaces are air-conditioned, while the public areas and circulation are open and utilize passive cooling strategies. The main staircase also acts as a theater for visitors to observe the cephalopods from above and reflect. The building materials chosen are based on a hierarchy to contribute to various stages of “ruin” during the building’s lifetime. Eventually, when the building’s first floor is completely flooded, it will become a zoo from above. Humans will be able to interact with the remaining concrete structures, accessing the building via boat. As they observe or swim in the water below, they will see the ruins of the proposal. The intentional nooks and crannies will be filled with various aquatic life. Barnacles

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

HVAC

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

LIFE SAFETY

FUTURE FIRST FLOOR PLAN STRUCTURE

FINISHES

LONG SECTION EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC

WALL DETAIL

ͯ6’- 6”

ͭ/Ͱ” Stone Panels ͭ” Air Gap with Z-Channels

ͭͯ’

Vapor Barrier

Ͱ8”

ͭ/ͮ” Rigid Insulation ͭ/ͮ” Gypsum Board 6” Steel Studs 16” O.C. with Fill Insulation

͵6”

ͭ/ͮ” Gypsum Board Interior Wall Finish

ͯ6”

1/4” Tile

Panel Width

ͭͮͬ”

RAM, Sͯͬ​ͬ​ͬ Custom Sliding Door - Stainless Steel Frame with Clear Anodized Coat - Cellular Shade Glass Treatment

ͯͲ”

Frame Width

ͱͰ”

HVAC AXONOMETRIC

HVAC PLAN

ADMINISTRATION CORE SECTION

ADMINISTRATION CORE PLAN

RAM, Sͯͭ - Stainle Anodiz - Cellula

“The Third Ward Community Project very thoughtfully weaves garden spaces throughout a suburban neighborhood and seamlessly blends nature with urban living while fostering meaningful connections between residents through the use of communal courtyards.”

– Ashleigh Hood, Assoc. AIA

“This project is a great example of how a small-scale urban intervention could have a large-scale community impact. The outdoor rooms for gardening and community framed by the dwellings, in my opinion, are the most significant spaces.”

– Marshall Strawn, Assoc. AIA

04

Third Ward Community Spring 2024, 4-Person Group Project 2024 AIA Fort Worth Merit Award Winner The 'Third Ward Community' is an affordable housing project that responds to the negative effects of systemic racism, gentrification, and unequal access to opportunity. The project establishes a fifteen-minute city utilizing the adjacent bus rapid transport stop and Columbia Tap Rail Trail, with access to agriculture, waste collection, and composting. These amenities create local jobs and community exchange along the Columbia Tap. Dwelling units double as small-business storefronts, allowing domestic laborers to utilize additional products and services to earn income (Ex. Laundry, cooking, baking, child-care, cleaning, etc.).

Sustainable design strategies were used, including solar water heating, rainwater collection, crossventilation, geothermal cooling, and composting. As residents age, couple, family, and student housing allows residents to contribute to and benefit from their community throughout their lifetime.

East Downtown

Map

Gulf Fwy

S‌OUTH SECTION

IN M

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15

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GHBOR H O NEI OD

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McGowen St.

Emancipation Ave.

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owen

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Hubs

Wheeler St.

2050 CONTEXT MAP

1:175 FIRST FLOOR PLAN

1/2” PLYWOOD 5/8” GYPSUM BOARD

WOOD BLOCKING METAL ROOFING METAL FLASHING 2x10 RAFTERS 16” O.C. WOOD SIDING VAPOR BARRIER 2x6 STUDS 16” O.C. W/ INSULATION

2x6 BOTTOM PLATE 2x6 DOUBLE TOP PLATE 1’-0” GULAM BEAM

WOOD FLOORING WITH 1.5” CORK 5-PLY CLT FLOOR PANEL BEAM (BEHIND) COLUMN (BEHIND)

5/8” GYPSUM BOARD

WINDOW

FAMILY UNIT FLOOR PLAN

4” CONCRETE SIDEWALK SLOPED 0.25/12

5” CONCRETE SLAB W/ 2’X2’ STIRRUP 95%+ COMPACTED SOIL

FAMILY UNIT SECTION

WALL DETAIL

EAST ELEVATION

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RAIN WATER COLLECTION DIAGRAM

RAIN HEAD, SLOPED TO DIVERT DEBRIS GUTTER

COLLECTION OF RAINWATER

DOWNSPOUT FILTER ROCKS AND GRAVEL OVERFLOW DRAINAGE VAULT

SUB-SURFACE WATER STORAGE

PUMP

WATER STORAGE MODULES

RAIN WATER COLLECTION DIAGRAM

AXONOMETRIC

05

ReGrow Pavilion Fall 2023, Independent Project The ReGrow Pavilion aims to repurpose an overlooked wetland forest site, currently occupied by a Dollar General off of Texas State Highway 6, into a recycling plant with programs centered around the idea of reusing and regrowing. Recognizing the environmental impact of consumer plastic waste in the area, the project's goal is to protect the wetlands while fostering environmental education. The design features an inverted roof for rain collection, terraces for native and wetland plant species, and the incorporation of operable roof sections housing solar panels. The interior units house recycling machinery, a public coffee shop, and a wetlands observatory. Aiming to connect the surrounding community to the wetland environment, the project will upcycle the recycled plastics and use their materials to make planters and establish nurseries around the site. The progression from newly planted to fully matured areas created an interconnected experience, fostering community growth alongside wetlands conservation. The location of the main building offers direct access via automobile and boat giving the isolated site a reimagined sense of community. Continuing with the theme of reuse, the project also repurposes the preexisting Dollar General into a propagation market,

SITE PLAN

NORTH SECTION

NORTH ELEVATION

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

ISOMETRIC

Pulled Earth Fall 2025, Independent Project Pulled Earth is a sculpture that was 3D-printed using a GoFaTM ABB Robotic Arm. The design was created using Rhino3D and Grasshopper in collaboration with clay as an organic material. Studies were done on the behavior of clay as a printing medium, and this sculpture explores how to use its fluidity and weight to created imperfections. A series of points on the object's mesh were pulled to create a cascading effect.

Grasshopper was then used to turn the object's contour lines into a G-code for the robotic arm to read.

The subsequent steps and follow the organic nature of clay in it's drying, glazing, and firing.

OT H E R W O RK

BLDHouse Model- Z4A Architects Summer 2023, 2-Person Internship BLDHouse is a residential project located in Madrid, Spain. The project is in an experimental landscape on the edge of a national park which was considered throughout the design to lessen disruption to the natural landscape. This brief internship was led by Professor Rafael Beneytez-Duran, founder of Z4A Architects. The scope included building two physical models for the client to explore different roofing options.

CON TAC T ME Ol iv ia B l a s ol iv iab la s @ s bcgl o ba l.net Ho u s t o n , Te xa s