Portfolio 2024-Brooke Montgomery

BROOKE MONTGOMERY

ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

My name is Brooke Montgomery, and I am currently a fifth year at Kansas State University studying Architecture, while working towards receiving a minor in business. I got accepted into the graduate architecture program that I started Fall 2022. I am currently looking for a firm to call home when I graduate in May 2024 in order to obtain more experience and learn more about what it means to be an architect. Design takes a large part in everything I do. It shapes how I see the world, and the beauty that makes it.

GLISA EDUCATION & RESEARCH CENTER

This project is a place that combines education, working, and living environments to give Ashland, WI a central place for visitors and residents of all ages to come together. This site on the south shore of Chequamegon Bay provides the opportunity for the GLISA Marine Research Center to utilize a waterfront property to conduct research directly from Lake Superior, while also engaging the community.

To design this project effectively, there are two different structures, totaling 219,615 SF placed on the site in specific locations according to the nature of each building. The Education and Research Center is 97,000 SF and is the focus of this project and is placed in one structure that frames a central outdoor community space. This central courtyard encourages visitors to engage with the site and enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Superior. This Education Center includes an Auditorium, Learning Center, and Exhibition Space that all work together to frame the central courtyard. The Research Center is adjacent to the Exhibition Space to provide an area of observation for visitors to view the research being done inside the labs. The Residential Building is 120,615 SF for staff and students and is situated on the northeast edge of the site, adjacent to a more private road. Both buildings are open towards the waterfront to encourage the visitors and residents to engage with the site that leads to the edge of the lake.

Ashland, WI is located in the northernmost part of Wisconsin and experiences warm summers and cold winters. The low humidity within this region allows for summers to be comfortable, but winters tend to be very cold. This means that finding ways to increase comfortability for residents and visitors during the winter months is crucial. Incorporating glass onto the Southwestern and Southeastern building facades will increase solar heat gain but will still produce glare. Interior vertical louvres will be added to the interior of the buildings to increase overall thermal comfort. The city of Ashland has been getting 10-20% wetter annually since 1950, which increases the chances of flooding. Raising the proposed building, and boardwalk along the water, higher than the predicted flooding point will allow for an interactive experience to still occur. This adaptation to these specific climate changes will prevent extensive water invasion and damage from occurring.

Site Design

This partner project was done with my colleague Levi Newman. We made the decision that the main entry would be on the Southwest end of the site where visitors can go to the Research and Education center, while the private entry for the staff, students, and their families will be located on the Northeast end to get to the housing units. Throughout the site, there are many opportunities for visitors, students, and staff to interact with the site including a waterfront boardwalk and trails throughout the outdoor spaces.

Public to Private Gradient

Addressing the Waterfront Trail

The surrounding context contains a public to private gradient, which this design will follow.

In order to allow for residents and visitors to engage with the site, walking paths have been added to the site design on the West and East edges.

Accessibility is an important factor to incorporate. Parking lots and drop-off areas have been placed to accommodate those who are elderly, disabled, etc., and also for convenience.

Blending

Carve Out Space & Orient to Lake

Adjust Topography

Building Design

The Education and Research Center needs a central place for visitors to gather and admire the beautiful waterfront view. Carving out an outdoor area allows for everyone to gather and walk around the outdoor spaces. The orientation of the building ensures that visitors are drawn outdoors towards this waterfront view.

Adjusting the topography will account for the 3ft high water line that could negatively affect the state of the building or the guest experience.

The generous utilization of glass allows for visitors to enjoy the waterfront view even when they are inside. This will elevate their experience within the Education and Research Center and draw them outdoors to the exterior green spaces designed for them.

Promote Entry

Separate Program

The main visitor entry on the Southwest end of the site is carved out of the main structure. This emphasizes the location of the entrance so that guests can easily spot where to walk when they arrive on the site.

The main spaces within the program are used to frame the central outdoor courtyard. This creates easy access to every public space. The spaces are strategically placed within the building based on how the guests will move through the building, beginning at the entrance, and ending with the opportunity for them to observe what is happening within the research labs.

The form of the building reflects where different parts of the program lie within the building. The learning center is located first within the building, and also in the back of the building so that visitors and students can learn and read about the research being conducted. This allows them to sit down and observe the other spaces and the people within them. The auditorium has a wonderful view of the lake which makes for a great background, and this space acts as a separator between the street and the courtyard. The exhibit space is located adjacent to the research center so guests can observe the research going on in the labs.

Boat

Dry Lab

Book Stacks

Quiet Study

Library

Second Floor

Aquaponics

Floor Plan Design

The second floor the more private spaces within the program. The dry lab and aquaponics lab do not have a way for visitors to observe the work being done. In the learning center, the quiet study areas, bookshelves, and library allow for a quiet place to learn away from the mass of visitors circulating around the first floor.

Boat Garage

Wet Lab

Classrooms

Admin Offices

Learning Center

Exhibition Space

Auditorium

On the first floor, visitors are free to roam around the learning center, exhibition spaces, auditorium, and also visit the administration office. The large, central hallway conveniently connects all spaces physically, as well as visually. The boat garage is only accessible from the exterior where staff are able to load and unload boats as needed.

Research Center

Community Center

Exhibition Space

Auditorium

First Floor

Second Floor

First Floor

Design For Economy

Ashland county generates an average revenue of $450,000 and up to $1,000,000 a year through timber harvest. Utilizing this and other local materials will positively impact Ashland’s forestry department economy while ensuring that both buildings on this site are properly constructed to be adaptable to the environment. The Living and Research components of the program will bring new residents that will regularly shop locally, helping the local economy in addition to. The Learning Center, Exhibition Spaces, and Auditorium areas of the program will be able to host community events to continue to serve the local community.

Design For Resources

To reduce waste and excess carbon emissions, locally sourced timber was selected as the primary building and structural component. The “County Forest” located in the southeastern portion of Ashland County is comprised of 40,083 acres of land. The forest produces a continual supply of quality timber to the local economy, which will be used to supply this project. These locally grown trees are adapted to this climate, which will result in less material replacement. Concrete and green roofs will also be lower maintenance throughout the years. Triple pane glazing will result in a decrease in air conditioning and heating prices.

Green Roof

Locally Sourced Wood Triple Pane Glazing

51 % Northern Hardwoods

18% Aspen

13% White Cedar Concrete

Design For Water & Change

In addition to rain gardens and storm water trees, cisterns located below the ground level will be able to capture water from the roof drains , in a pre-treatment screening tank, be stored in the underground storage tank, move through final treatment and disinfectant, and be able to use on site for various purposes. This system to reuse the water stored on-site will save extra work and money annually.

To adapt to the changing climate, the water’s edge has been restored from a concrete retaining wall to native landscaping. Additionally, the building has been elevated 7 feet in order to surpass the 3 feet predicted of future lake level rise and fall along the Ashland shoreline of Lake Superior. This restoration of land allows for a future proof connection along the waterfront trail as it is on level above the future high-water line.

Design For Discovery & Equitable Communities

Cohesive Community offers residents of Ashland new opportunities to engage and appreciate the waterfront and restore the green space on this once disturbed land. The site design encourages users to discover more about the region through the Exhibition Spaces, Learning Center spaces, and Research Facilities. Connecting the interior and exterior components of the building and site is important when trying to create a cohesive and engaging community for its users, and to create a successful project design.

Throughout the site, the user can engage with the landscape through a series of trails that connect to the trail systems within the surrounding context of Ashland. These trails along the site lead users in certain directions to best benefit their experience and further their education of the research that is being conducted on this site. The Exhibition Spaces lead visitors through the interior and then through the exterior spaces to go along with this educational and enjoyable experience.

Waterfront Boardwalk

Running & Biking Trail

Exisiting Edge Condition

Proposed Edge Condition

Design For Energy

The use of interior vertical louvres inside the glazing along the western and southern facing facades aids to improve the solar gain, while reducing glare among the spaces. Large expansive windows along the north and west help to daylight the building year-round, while overhangs on top of the building help to shade from the warm summer sun. Triple-pane windows with r-7 value are on average 79% more energy efficient than single-pane windows. With the addition of low-e coating on the glass, the space will sustain a comfortable environment year-round on visual and thermal levels throughout the year.

Design For Integration

The use of structure to frame spaces through vertical structural grid placement aids to encourage movement through the spaces as well as open spaces for users to enjoy. This will minimize the material usage for the structure and will be a major component to define the design. Expansive glazing along the northern facade aims to direct views towards the views and site design. The north facing glazing is used to flush daylight deep into the middle of the building through the grand hall adjacent that serves as a full height atrium. Vertical louvers let in daylight without glare.

Design For Wellbeing

The abundance of glazing along the facade paired with mass timber construction helps to flush daylight deep into the building, while providing a feeling of warmth and nature through materiality and lighting. Large glazing opportunities were taken on the northern facade to ensure the visitors that are inside the Education and Research Center will be able to enjoy the beautiful lakeside view and communal exterior spaces while they are inside learning. With multiple trails on site through nature and along the water, the users are given a variety of experiences that allow them to engage with nature throughout the site.

Design For Ecosystems

Restoring the shoreline helps to return the waterfront to its natural state while allowing visitors and residents to further engage with the lakeside conditions. The use of rain gardens and plantings of native vegetation help to provide wildlife with opportunities to return to the area and improves the carbon footprint through native plantings. The rain gardens utilize native vegetation to absorb runoff and pollutants through the three different zones. This helps to relieve the storm water runoff challenges currently existing within the Ashland, WI waterfront district that are currently invading Chequamegon Bay.

Pooling Zone

Filtration Zone

Retention Zone

Rain Gardens

Expansive Views to Lake

KCMO HOUSE OF HITS THEATRE

The objective of this project was to design a Black Box Theatre in the Jazz District on 18th and Vine in Kansas City, MO. This area has a rich musical culture and community, so it is vital to design a building with space where people can come together to celebrate this. This building contains a black box theatre that can be converted from an indoor to an outdoor performance space (with a movable, large glass wall) and private studios for musicians to practice. The proposed design gives people the option to sit outside in the amphitheater even when a performance is not going on. The glass wall lets the reflection of the Kansas City skyline to give those sitting in the amphitheater a wonderful view. For this project, we looked into the structural system and mechanical system to ensure that this building can function with the proposed design. This studio focused on making sure we started thinking about the logistics of how a building works and what we need to incorporate for it potentially be turned into a real design.

Site Design

In the early stages of this project, the corner of 18th St and Vine St seemed like the perfect entry into the site and the building. After further analysis, it seemed logical for the entry into the building to be separate from the outdoor amphitheater. The amphitheater was designed to invite everyone within the Jazz District to gather in an open space with built-in seating. The stepped walkway leading to the main building entrance gives a meaningful experience that is also ADA accessible so everyone is able to enjoy this experience.

Series of Ramps to Entry

Centralized Black Box Private

Building & Floor Plan Design

The centralized Black Box theatre allows for all other interior spaces to circulate around it and be accessible to both interior and exterior spaces. The black box utilizes an adaptable, moving glass wall that can be opened. This gives the option of having a concert inside and outside.

Private practices studios are placed on the second floor to give those who are rehearsing a private area away from the visitors on the first floor. The studios have an amazing view of the Kansas City Skyline to give those rehearsing a nice background.

Building Design

The first and second floors have the same structural system with columns, steel joists, and web joists to ensure simplicity and stability. The Black Box theatre has a different system that includes steel trusses since this space contains a larger overall span and overall height than the other interior spaces. The steel trusses are completely visible in the theatre to give the space more character with this detail.

Section A-A

Section D-D

Metal Coping & Flashing

TPO Roof Membrane

Open Web Joists

Open Web Joists

Structural Detailing

This detailed wall section shows the information of the different conditions of the South facade, including the details of the floor and roof conditions. It contains exterior brick detailing on the first floor and a Kawneer “Clearwall” curtain wall on the second floor where the private studios are located.

The more detailed wall section (shown on right) provides information for the smaller details of joint conditions where materials collide, or where the building starts and ends.

Exterior Slate Wall

Cast-in Place Concrete

Steel Stud Framing

Concrete Flooring

Concrete Foundation

Exterior Brick Wall

Foundation Drainage with Clean Crushed Rock

Kawneer ‘Clearwall’ Curtain Wall

TPO Membrane

Metal Coping & Flashing

Rigid Insulation

Open Web Joists

Ceiling Tile Finish (connected to steel beam)

Cast-in Place Concrete

Metal Decking

Steel Beam

Open Web Joists

Ceiling Tile Finish (connected to steel beam)

Cast-in Place Concrete

Rigid Insulation

Plywood Sheathing

Air Barrier

3 1/2” Gypsum Board

Vapor Retarder

Clean Crushed River

Blocking

Slate Veneer Cladding Support System

Slate Ties

Steel Beam

Air Space between Slate Veneer

Air Cavity

Sleet Metal Flashing and Trim

Slate Ties

Air Cavity

Masonry Ties

Mortar

Masonry Ties

Brick Veneer

3/8” Mortar

Metal Flashing

Sill Gasket

2” Extruded Polystrene Insulation

Foundation Drainage with Clean Crushed Rock

4” Diameter Drain Pipe

Rock

2” Extruded Polystrene Insulation

East Elevation

North Elevation

WAMEGO FIRE STATION

This project was located in the small town of Wamego, KS. This town has a lot of aged buildings with character. The exteriors are decorated with textured limestone. My design ties in the surrounding site by also using that, but mainly smooth limestone so it is displayed as a more of a showcase building that stands out from the rest. It is a simple design that uses glass, limestone and louvers to define all interior spaces from the exterior facades. The first level is predominantly glass to emphasize the open and inviting aspect of the building, due to most of the first floor being used for public access. The second floor is designed as a mass to emphasize the private aspect, including louvers to define all interior rooms. Vertical circulation is defined by textured limestone. The glass atrium space near the entry connects both floors in the building and leads the public to know where the entrance is located. The central bar, as seen in the floor plan, has a dark, steel facade to vary the materiality of the building while it also connects the limestone apparatus to the main building.

Floor Plan Design

The first floor of this fire station is accessible to the public from the parking lot. Offices, classrooms, and lockers are in the middle joint of the building to divide the public area from the apparatus, and also provide service to both of those areas. The second floor is where the firefighters reside when they are on duty. The staircase on the North end creates a direct connection from the bedrooms on the second floor straight to the apparatus when they get called to serve. The second floor contains a kitchen, living room, workout space, etc. to provide the firefighters with what they need while staying there.

Spatial Organization

Building Design

The majority of the building is built with smooth limestone that is low-maintenance and durable. The service spine is designed with dark steel to define the separation between the apparatus and other spaces. The private staircase and the elevator are defined by brick-textured limestone to showcase where the vertical circulation exists. Glass frames the more public spaces, public staircase, and the doubleheight space that connects the first and second floors. Glass also frames the second floor, but vertical louvres provide additional privacy and sun shading to ensure it is a more private area.

Dark Steel -Service Area -Louvers

Brick-textured Limestone -Staircase -Elevator

Smooth Limestone -Residential Area -Apparatus

Materiality

Glass -Atrium Space -Open Staircase

CONTACT

Olathe, KS

Phone: 913.558.3656

Email: b.montgomery510@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-montgomery-643b0920a/