Portfolio
Ben Romo
“Architecture is a language that leads our lives, a silent guide shaping our paths and spaces. It is the responsibility of the architect to listen, to read the stories woven into the fabric of a place, and craft designs that nurture its spirit.”
00 - Table of Contents
01 - Albany Media Hub
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Library of Things
Albany Park, Chicago, Illinois
Softwares: Revit, Rhino, Enscape, AdobeCreativeSuites Fall 2023
Rich with history and diversity, Albany Park was once a small farming community before being incorporated into the fastgrowing Chicago. With the introduction of the “L-train” system, the neighborhood urbanized and became a melting pot of Asian, Latin, and American cultures centralized around the Kimball brown line station (just south of the proposed site). Today, Albany Park is known as one of the most racially diverse communities in the United States. To help residents preserve and celebrate their heritages, shelves are stocked with both English and foreign media, amphitheaters host community leaders and cultural performances, and technology rooms facilitate the exchange of ideas that transcend cultural boundaries.
Monologue Dialogue Distributed Scattered
Amphithe- Conference room + Communal Seating
Print Storage + Videography and Podcast Rooms
Computer Lab
Lawrence Ave. Elevation
Mezzanine Plan
Print Storage
02 - Dissolving Boundaries
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/ACSA Steel Competition
Addition to a Campus Building
Champaign Illinois
Softwares: Rhino, Revit, Enscape, AdobeCreativeSuites
Fall 2024
Contributors: Jillian Macaluso
Awards: Earl Prize Nomination
Overlooking the rolling grass and criss-crossing footpaths of UIUC’s main quad, the Henry Administration Building, with its Georgian Revival-esque brick and cut limestone facade has undergone several transformations over its century-spanning lifetime. From its beginnings as the humble commerce building, two subsequent expansions saw the building become home to hundreds of administrative workers. From the President of the school, to the armies of lawyers and advisors of the Bursar, those in Henry work tirelessly to guarantee generations of students an affordable education. Preserving the Georgian envelope and internal layout, a steel shell floats above the pre-existing building to provide three modern spaces.
Commerce Building
to the “ I”
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
Diagram 3
Lateral Section
The steel shell is constructed in phases. First, the members are prefabricated off site and welded into smaller sections. The size of these sections are defined by the capacity of the vehicle transporting them to the site. Next, the vertical members are installed around the envelope of the pre-existing building. Finally, the sections are lifted and welded into place.
Perimeter Beam
Responisve Glazing
Steel Grid Shell Rect. HSS24x16
Double Glazed Glass A
Column Node
Round HSS14x.625
Detail
Double Glazed Glass
Observation Balcony
03 - IDEALS
Department of Solar Energy Design Challenge
Net Zero Education Building
Fall 2023 - Spring 2024
Softwares: Revit, AutoCad, Rhino, AdobeCreativeSuites
Contributors: 2023-2024 Illinois Solar Decathalon Team
Awards: Design Challenge Community Engagement Award
IDEALS stands for Innovation, Design, Engineering, Arts, Learning, and Sustainability. Located at the northern tip of the University of Illinois-Chicago campus, IDEALS’ initiative is to provide an advanced education to children and decrease racial disparities in education. By replacing an underutilized asphalt parking lot, new construction is justified by providing schooling for hundreds of children from low-income communities. Through the implementation of sustainable systems like green roofs and double skins on the envelope, geothermal underground, and mass timber for the structure, the building is able to nurture spaces that inspire creativity and ingenuity while being Net-Zero.
Recycled Aluminum Fin Shading Algae Facade
Second Floor Plan
0’
Interior Courtyard
04 - Clustered Commons
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Communal Housing
Spring 2023
Softwares: Revit, Enscape, AdobeCreativeSuites
Within globalization, there is the question of urbanization. Within urbanization is the question of space; is communal housing the solution to limited space while maximizing community engagement? The R-50 Baugruppen in Berlin, the most densely populated city in Germany, attempts to answer this question. However, its typology (an apartment complex) lacks potential for communal interactions. By orienting the living units around a courtyard, the residents are treated to biophilic views of native plants and can be used for communal gatherings. The two courtyard clusters are connected by the Communal courtyard, which includes a gym, community kitchen, storage, and small playing field. Through implementing Topography slopes, shading devices, and vegetation the users are able to live privately while still being an active part of the community.
Scale
Precedent to context
Single Bedroom Unit
Double Bedroom Unit
Triple Bedroom Unit
Long Site Section
Second Floor Single + Triple Unit
Second Floor Unit
Buildner Competions
Museum of Emotions (Silent Competition)
Summer 2024
Softwares:
Midjourney, AutoCad, AdobeCreativeSuites
Contributors:
Alex Montanile and Deonante Sutton
Guryong Shed
Buildner Competions
MicroHome Competition
Summer 2022
Softwares: Rhino, AutoCad, AdobeCreativeSuites
Within one of the highest carbon emitting cities in the world, in one of its wealthiest districts, lies the slums of the city. Guryong Village, Seoul, South Korea defines the nature of the socio-economic crisis in South Korea. In Guryong, the people live in homes made from retired pieces of scraps like wood, metal, or any other accessible materials. Nonetheless, the people of Guryong wake up to the rising sun and sleep when it sets. Their tenacity is reflected in supporting their families with professional jobs, regardless of their humble living situation. The goal of this project is to give the underappreciated, deserving people of Guryong a better place to support their family, while halting the environmental crisis in the city.
Ground Floor Plan Long. Section
©HARDING PARTNERS
Davenport House - Studio Garage Rennovation
Software: Revit
River Forest, Illinois
Architect: Paul A. Harding
Summer Intrernship 2024
The Arthur E. Davenport House, originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Webster Tomlinson in 1901, has evolved since its erection. Over its 100+ year life, the house has claimed various owners. With these different owners, the integrity of the original design has been lossed. The original Studio Garage and front terrace have been removed. With the use of the principal architect’s sketches, long deliberations, and research, I was able to create detail drawings and interior elevations to prepare the garage for construction. The elevations show the relationship and finish between studio and garage. The garage will incorporate storage, workers space, and electrical vehical charging ports. The studio, on the other hand, will be an office space for the current owner, incorporating bookshelves and internet access.
