Bridget Gerstner - Architecture Portfolio

Chicago skyline drawn from vacation photo.

Bridget Gerstner

816 806 9224

bcgerstner@gmail.com

https://issuu.com/bridgetgerstner

Experience

Sprouts Farmers Market

Kansas City, MO

June 2020 - Present

Wedgewood Inc.

Greater Kansas City Area

September 2021 - December 2021

CRB Consulting Engineers

Kansas City, MO

January 2019 - April 2019

Northland CAPS

Liberty, MO

August 2018 - May 2019

Senior Deli Clerk

Sprouts is a high-standard and fast-paced environment that taught me multitasking and teamwork skills. I work full time during the summer and part time during the school semester with expert knowledge in the deli and experience in other departments as well.

Drafting Intern

My task for this internship was primarily measuring homes in the Greater KC Area to create existing drafts for further renovation and resale of the home.

Architecture Intern

This internship during high school, I was involved in site modeling, drawing practices in Revit and AutoCAD, networking, and other helpful tasks around the office.

Projects

The Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies (NCAPS) program during high school allowed students to aid in community project involvement. I focused on helping Hope Faith Ministries (a homeless shelter), StandardAero (aircraft maintenance and repair services), and the North KC Fire Department.

Golden Corral

Kansas City, MO

December 2016 - March 2020

Cross-Trained

I worked as a front line host, a cold prep attendant, and a bakery prep attendant. This first job taught me customer communication and it created a professional relationship with my managers.

Software Skills

SketchUp

Illustrator

InDesign

AutoCAD

Photoshop

Enscape

Lumion

Microsoft Office

Education

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS

August 2019 - May 2024

Study Abroad

Architecture in Costa Rica

December 2021 - January 2022

Personal Skills

Collaboration

Organization

Time Management

Creativity

Sketching

Hand-Modeling

Degree: Master of Architecture

Graduation: May 2024

GPA: 3.60

Certificate: Service Learning

This three week trip provided an opportunity to experience new cultures, meet and collaborate with new people, and see different and unique architecture in the provinces of Costa Rica.

Northland CAPS

Kansas City, MO

August 2018 - May 2019

Park Hill High School

Kansas City, MO

August 2015 - May 2019

This program teaches high school juniors and seniors professionalism and networking skills while visiting firms and working on community projects during the fall semester to prepare for internships in the spring.

Diploma: May 2019

GPA: 3.5+ (Honor Roll - 4 years)

Extracurricular: volunteer work (60+ hours)

Shadow Experience

BNIM

Kansas City, MO

December 7, 2018

Women in Design | “Day of Shadowing” Event

On this day, I shadowed female architects at Berkebile, Nelson, Immenschuh, and McDowell (BNIM). We toured the office and performed conceptual activities with other aspiring architects.

Table of Contents

Senior “Loving”

Quick Facts

Studio: ARCH 608

Professor: Thom Allen

Project: Mixed Use Senior Living

Location: Washington, DC

Size: 60,000 SF

Senior “Loving” is part of a master plan in Washington, DC. Our client, Thor Nelson, works for the DC housing authoriy and wants to reshape a historical area in Le Droit Park.

Within the studio, we have agreed to design 5 new mixed-use buildings towards the success of the

area. These will include commercial and retail spaces, senior living, family living, and limited student housing.

Each lot has been designed three times by different students, mine being one of the bigger lots on the site, allowing for a rightsized senior living design.

SL/Process & Transportation

1. Bound the building close to the edges of the site.

2. Round the main entry point to omit acute corner and reduce dead space.

3. Round other corners to match the language of the previous step.

4. Create “nodes” that rise up one more floor for roof terrace access.

5. Create scallops on the facades adjacent to the street to create concave views from the interior.

SL/Site & Master Plan

SL/Floor Plans

Third Floor: 1 Bed and 2 Bed Apartments

Roof Terrace: Walking Course and Extensive Green Roof

SL/Elevation & Section

North-Facing Site Elevation

South-Facing Section Axon

There are a total of 37 independent senior living apartment units in this mixed-use building, ranging from studio to 2-bed. Each unit is equipped with one or two beds, a small kitchenette, a living room, a bathroom, and a storage closet. The rooms are spacious in order to comply with ADA standards. Many of the units also have a large floor-to-ceiling concave window for breathtaking views towards the southern park.

Residing seniors have close access to all of the public shops on the first floor: laundry mat, coffee shop, gym/yoga, and many more. At the very top of the building, the fourth floor, is a private space for the seniors to walk around a course while viewing a decorative extensive roof. These amenities are meant to promote health for the seniors that occupy the apartment units.

The exterior of the building includes materials that compliment the surrounding area. Brick is very popular in the area, so terra cotta panels are used to “contemporize” the design. This material can be seen on the exterior facade of the building that rises four floors. Exterior porcelain is used on all other exterior faces. Inside the building, painted gypsum board is used for the walls, and vinyl wood for the floors. These interior materials serve the sustainable aspect of the design.

SL/Construction

Metal flashing and column cap

Light gauge metal framing

Spray foam insulation

Gypsum sheathing

Air/water/vapor barrier

Cant

Insulation

Thermally broken cladding attachment system w/ vertical primary rail

Terra cotta or porcelain panel

Air/water/vapor barrier

Thermally broken cladding attachment system w/ vertical primary rail

Terra cotta or porcelain panel

Insulation

Air/water/vapor barrier

Gypsum sheathing

Spray foam insulation

Thermally broken cladding attachment system w/ vertical primary rail

Terra cotta or porcelain panel

Concrete slab on grade with reinforcement

Concrete footing with reinforcement

Retention tee

Plantings

Soil

Filter fabric

Reservoir layer

3 layers of XPS rigid

Protection course barrier

Concrete with reinforcement

Painted GWB

Plywood sheathing

Painted GWB

Plywood sheathing

Light gauge metal

Spray foam insulation

Gypsum sheathing

SCALE: 3/4” = 1’

Light gauge metal

Plywood sheathing

Painted GWB

Baseboard

Base shoe

Tongue-and-groove

Plywood subfloor

Control joint

Vapor retarder

Gravel

rigid

course and root

reinforcement

sheathing

sheathing

metal framing

sheathing insulation

metal framing

sheathing

Tongue-and-groove flooring

subfloor

Terra Cotta

Painted Gypsum Wallboard

Porcelain

Vinyl Wood Flooring

Extensive Roof

Tempered Glass

SL/Renders

Main Street Intersection

Lobby/Restaurant Atrium

Haven

Quick Facts

Studio: ARCH 508/509

Professor: Chad Kraus

Team: Dirt Works Studio

Project: Single Family Residential

Location: Kansas City, KS

Size: 1,400 SF

Dirt Works Studio has designed an energy efficient, “net-zero” home that shelters people fleeing from domestic violence. The project is located in KCK’s Strawberry Hill area.

After unexpected funding changes, the project has

been scaled down from a two-story home (shown) to a net-positive energy one-story demonstration home and meeting space (not shown) for branding the educational KU Design Build Lab. The demonstration home will be built by April 2023.

Street View of Haven

Haven/Context

Haven is designed to be on a narrow lot that limits the size of the home and activates aesthetic design guidelines. The concept design of this home draws from the historic fabric of the neighborhood as well as archetypal ideas of home. Nearly every child draws home the same way: a square with a

triangle on top, a front door, rectilinear windows, and a tree in the front yard. This iconic image of home is reflected in the front facade to help children and adults struggling with recent trauma settle into their new home, without it feeling disorienting, institutional, or transient.

Roof is set at 33% for the optimal PV system angle. Solar panels power the home. The roof provides an R-value of ~70.

South roof extends over the bedrooms to shade the windows.

Window systems are all triple pane glass in order to best insulate the home. Bedroom windows are operable.

Wall system provides an R-value of ~50. The wall system is airtight. The exterior on east, south, and west facades are clad in thermally treated hackberry siding.

Standing seam metal wraps the north wall and the roof, providing protection from the elements. Wide window wall maximizes daylighting within the downstairs living spaces.

Driveway is made of permeable turfstone to control water runoff.

The Kansas City Metro area includes Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri on both sides of the river. The Metro area is made up of 14 counties and has over 2.2 million residents. The Kansas River and the Missouri River meet close to the Strawberry Hill area.

The land called Strawberry Hill was previously known as Splitlog Hill, named after Mathias Splitlog, a wealthy mill owner who built a Manor here. In the early 20th Century, the primarily slavic immigrant population worked in the factories in the area. Today, Strawberry Hill is a very diverse neighborhood. The slavic roots remain, as well as large African American and Hispanic populations.

The site for this project is at 205 North Orchard Street, at the Southern edge of the Strawberry Hill neighborhood and backs up to I-70. This property falls within the historical landmark district from the Splitlog Manor.

Haven/Components

South Elevation Rendering

-SunPower X-Series X22-360

-12% more power in year 25

-1% or less Good Energy panels

Southern Glazing

Solar Panels allows interior of building to receive direct sunlight

Net Metering and a louver system is placed on

Excess energy is transferred to the grid pole to house, and opposite during night. There is 1:1 net metering policy with a 15kW limit of transferring in Kansas City, KS

E-Wall Panelized Building Envelope System

Allows for maximum strength without -

System

Wet Wall

allows central home for water and plumbing pipes, reducing thermal bridging

Thermal Mass

helps absorb heat during the day, and radiate it during the cooler heat

sun

Solid North Wall

Exterior Shading prevents solar heat loss

Super Insulated Envelope

internal heat loss

Mechanical Space

provides concealed space for ERV and Minisplit System to heat/cool the space

Energy Star Appliances + Instant Water Heaters

-reduce both the energy needed to heat water, as well as reduce water usage

allows for movement of fresh air throughout the home

Radiant Floor

heat into the space. This hot water water heaters, and be recycled for other appliances

Haven/Plans

Master Bedroom Rendering

Haven/Construction

Majority of the structural system is aided by Build Smart, a company in Lawrence with expertise in building envelopes. Their exterior envelope system, or “E-wall system,” includes framing, structural sheathing, air control layer, continuous exterior insulation, weather resistive barrier, window installation, and flashing.

The foundation is composed of Build Smart’s sealant, a 2x6 sill plate, a concrete slab and

trench footing, vapor barrier membrane, 3-inch rigid insulation, copmacted gravel and drainage, copmacted backfill, and another 4 inches of rigid insulation.

The wood framing system consists of 2x6 roof rafters, 2x10 roof beams, 6x6 timber corner columns, 2x10 floor beams, 2x6 wall studs, 2x6 wall sills, and (2) 2x16 members above the south window wall.

Community Garden Center

Quick Facts

Studio: ARCH 209

Professor: Farhan Karim

Project: Multi-Function Greenhouse

Location: Kansas City, KS

Size: 37,000 SF

Kaw Point is a park and heritage trail in Kansas City, Kansas. This is the area where the Kansas and Missouri Rivers meet. The project’s client feels that an architectural addition is necessary in this area to gather more tourists and people out of town.

The area of Kaw Point has a history of flooding, considering it is located off the river. Research has been done that this particular

lot would create difficult situations for new construction, aside from the limited space being presented.

Quindaro Bluffs, a neighborhood slightly NW from Kaw Point, is a remarkable location for new community construction, filled with historical subjects, such as the Old Quindaro Museum and the ruins within the forest.

G-Center/Site

Community Garden Center Museum

Community Center Gardens Residential Educational Religious Food

Trail Checkpoints

John Brown Statue Stream Trails Bus Route Bus Stop

G-Center/Development

In phase 1, the Community Garden Center takes on a G-shape to allow for a central area for a greenhouse placement. Slanted walls are implemented for movement effect.

In phase 2, the slanted walls are removed due to overcomplexity and “dead” space. Skylight strips are added along the ceiling of the interior hallway.

In phase 3, there is an inclusion of a mezzanine, or partial second floor, thus creating a roof terrace. Glass mullions provide a properly covered central greenhouse.

The final parti model presents pergolas to act as sunshading devices, extra windows where necessary, additional entry/ exit points for emergency access, etc. The skylight above the hallway has been extended to each end to allow more natural light to shine inside and for exterior views from the second floor level. While most of the panels that cover the greenhouse are glass, some of them are metallic panels -- matching the mullions -- in order to create a more shaded room and comfortable temperature inside.

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

G-Center/Complete Streets Analysis

VEGETATION SPACE

Green space allows something for people to look at while they are making tedious trips to certain places. Gardens and vegetation can bring involvement from the community.

STREET LIGHTS

Street lights add a sense of safety and security to a community at night. In this particular location, the crime rates are bound to decrease if street lights were to be installed.

WALKABILITY

Integrating new and wide sidewalks into these streets would not only increase the pedestrian numbers, but also create a friendlier place towards ADA people with disabilities.

ROAD TRAFFIC

A 3-way stop sign will reduce the chances of traffic crashes and induce traffic to stop before the crosswalk. Also, with the limited road width, cyclists and vehicles shall “share the road” as a safer method vs creating a bike lane.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

There is currently no bus route that circulates in this community. Including an extended public transit route will allow more involvement in the community in order for people to gather with the new infrastructure.

G-Center/Plans

The Secret Chord

Quick Facts

Studio: ARCH 508

Professor: Chad Kraus

Project: Mixed Use

Location: Lawrence, KS

Size: 43,000 SF

The Secret Chord is a mixed-use retail and commercial project in downtown Lawrence at 705 Massachusetts Street. The development combines The Secret Chord (compromised of a luthier’s workshop, a retail musical instrument store, a space to provide music lessons, a small music performance venue, and

a cafe) with the new headquarters for Primary Color Music / Post Haus (recording studios, meeting rooms, and offices).

This condensed 4-week project is inspired by musical instruments and the mass structural system will be composed of wood materials.

East-Facing Transverse Perspective Section

The Secret Chord/Site

The site is located at 705 Massachusetts Street in Downtown Lawrence, Kansas. Mass Street is typically a busy area with businesses such as food, shopping, etc. Directly north of the site is The Eldridge Hotel, which stands at 5 stories tall. South of the site is a two-story food cafe with a glass facade.

The project was inspired by the

historical aspects of the area and the contemporary time period of today. The materials are inspired by the buildings in Lawrence, mainly brick or limestone.

The Secret Chord is composed of wood as a base structural material and aesthetics, brick as a facade, and glass for the storefront and curtain wall in the central terrace.

Marvin

Marvin Hall

The Secret Chord/Plans

Historical - Musical Space Transition Space

The musical space of The Secret Chord holds the historical part of the story.

During the process phase of the design, the inclusion of the Luthier’s Workshop in the basement presented an idea where most musical aspects of the design will remain on the historical side of the building, in order to create one side of the amalgamation.

The first level includes the double-height music hall where performers can showcase their music to up to 200 guests. On the south side of the second floor, private rooms hold one-on-one sessions for students learning new instruments. The third floor, the recording studios allow for artists to record and playback their music.

The space in the central section of the building acts as a transition to the historical side from the modern/contemporary side of The Secret Chord.

The designing of the building’s mass created a space in the middle hallway as a place for guests to pause. This transition space can be anything we want it to be from photographs of famous performers to sign-up sheets for aspiring artists to perform in the music hall. The transition space is meant for people to experience new things.

The terrace on the 2nd floor includes green space and skylights for natural purposes. The blank east wall of the terrace can be used for a screen projector, green wall, etc.

Office/Business Space

The business space of The Secret Chord includes the cafe, music store, and open office spaces.

Once guests walk into the building, they can experience a rush of contemporary aspects from the texture palette of the room and the products being sold.

Upstairs, they are able to learn and purchase musical items from the music store that might help them begin their own interest in art.

The top floors are meant for employees to manage dayto-day activities and host meetings.

Cafe Rendering

The Secret Chord/Section

This section cuts through the transition space of the building, facing West towards the historical section of The Secret Chord.

the West side of the inner terrace is meant for recording artists or employees to experience the green space from above.

The window wall on the South side of the terrace allows for direct daylight in the morning and later afternoon, while indirect sunlight can be brought in mid-day. The window strip along

The East wall of the terrace space (see pg. 43) shows the blank wall, mentioned earlier, that can be of multi-use to the guests. A green wall can be grown or the wall can be used for a projector screen

for movies or performances on film.

A small sliver of the skylights on the roof terrace can be seen where natural light shines through the second floor towards the first floor wall where things are presented on the wall for guests to see in the transition space.

West-Facing Transverse Perspective Section