Spring 2024 Architecture Portfolio

C A E L | F |N C H UNDERGRADUATE ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO SELECTED WORKS | 2020-PRESENT

C ON TA C T caelifinch@gmail.com 931.625.3311 www.linkedin.com/in/caelifinch

ABOUT Hi! I’m a fourth year Mississippi State University architecture student adept at designing a variety of project types providing creative early design phase solutions through the development of construction drawings, both professionally and as a student. I offer strong attention to accuracy coupled with an innovative drive, extensive knowledge of multiple software programs, and a personal drive for community outreach inside and outside of the field. I love people and designing the built world for them and with them.

CONTENTS

02.

14.

20.

24.

28.

30.

ADAPTIVE COAST

LOFTED LIVING

FOLDED HEARTS

PAVILION PROJECT

STUDY ABROAD

PROFESSIONAL WORK

BILOXI CULINARY ARTS SCHOOL

EXPERIMENTAL HOUSING

CAMPUS PRESCHOOL

NORTH FARM REST AREA

ITALY

ANECDOTE | TSJ

FALL 2023

FALL 2023

FALL 2023

SPRING 2021

SUMMER 2022

2022-2024

02.

ADAPTIVE COAST E A S T BIL OX I C UL IN A R Y A R T S C A MP U S | A DA P T I V E RE U SE

The site of this project is in Biloxi, Mississippi on the Gulf Coast. My program is a culinary arts school along with retail and housing. The concept of this project involves drawing a new connective tissue along a crucial diagonal to reintegrate this campus into the heart of the urban scene. The program is intended to provide better opportunities for the residence of East Biloxi as well as create tourist opportunities and income for the area. Moreover, this project is located in the floodplain, which allowed circulation to be integrated through the conceptual bridging system. In the end, the most important component was creating a campus environment and strong sense of place. `

BILOXI, MS | S TUDIO 4A | SOF T WARE: RHINO 3D, REVIT, VR AY, & ADOBE SUITE

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4

F INAL DE SIGN MODEL | A DA P T I V E COA S T

BILOX I, MS | S T UDIO 4 A

THE RESULT The fragmentation of forms seeks to emphasized the necessity of the bridge element as a binding force.

THE MASSING The master plan for this project incorporates the ground plane as a landscape feature and seeks to re-work the existing road system.

THE GESTURE The architecture is intended to announce itself while still responding to the existing and historic conditions.

CITY RESPONSE The area of East Biloxi is a traditionally impoverished area that has experienced tragedy from hurricane conditions and the longlasting effects of it.

BRIDGE SYSTEM EXISTING NEW CONSTRUCTION

CONCEP T DI AGR AM & MODEL S | A DA P T I V E COA S T

SELEC TED WORK | 2 0 2 3

5

DIVISION STREET

N

MAIN STREET

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WE S T ELE VAT ION & SI TE PL AN | A DA P T I V E COA S T

BILOX I, MS | S T UDIO 4 A

MA IN S TREE T PERSPEC T I VE | A DA P T I V E COA S T

SELEC TED WORK | 2 0 2 3

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8

SEC T IONAL PERSPEC T I VE | A DA P T I V E COA S T

BILOX I, MS | S T UDIO 4 A

PUBLIC INEZ PLAZA

CULINARY ARTS SCHOOL LOBBY

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

WATER RETENTION POND

The existing corner plaza is a recognizable feature of the site, and it celebrated as public space in this scheme. It also establishes a layered entrance into the school and highlights the existing mural.

The old Inez cafe is used as a porous public space that creates a threshold and sense of arrival for the culinary arts school.

The pedestrian bridge acts as a circulation beast creating a distinct sequential experience by connecting across different flood levels and connecting new and old.

The retention pond creates a more dynamic ground condition. It also acts as a sustainability measure by collecting and filtering rainwater for on and off-site use.

SEC T IONAL PERSPEC T I VE | A DA P T I V E COA S T

SELEC TED WORK | 2 0 2 3

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STEEL STRUCTURE The bridge utilizes a corten steel structure. This is intended to aid in the weathered look and create an interesting blend between old and new industry.

PUBLIC RESPONSE The cantilever portion of the bridge on the corner of Division Street and Main is a critical edge condition for the site.

LANDMARK NODE The concept behind the observation/ water tower is to create a distinct landmark for the city and campus identity

PURPOSEFUL PATH The bridge does not remove people from the ground but rather fosters a stronger connection between it through suspended paths that run through the public space.

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PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC BRIDGE STRUCTURE

FR AGMENT MODEL PHOTOS | BRID GE S TRU C T URE S YS TEM DI AGR AM | A DA P T I V E COA S T

MESH CLADDING

BILOX I, MS | S T UDIO 4 A

N

third floor plan | culinary arts school

N

second floor plan | culinary arts school

FR AGMENT MODEL | LOBBY FLO OR PL ANS | A DA P T I V E COA S T

SELEC TED WORK | 2 0 2 3

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12

GROUND PERSPEC T I VE | A DA P T I V E COA S T

BILOX I, MS | S T UDIO 4 A

ELMER STREET

URBAN CONDITION curb extensions for a more dynamic street edge and parking

GROUND CONDITION elevated walkway create a unique ground rhythm and circulation flow

WAY FINDING observation tower creates a unique node for the site and city

perspective location

BRIDGING pedestrian bridge entrance into the public space

STUDENT SPACES bottom floor of the retail spaces are public hangout pockets

MAIN STREET

GROUND DE SIGN DI AGR AM | A DA P T I V E COA S T

SELEC TED WORK | 2 0 2 3

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14.

LOF TED LIVING MEMP HI S E X P ER IMEN TA L HO U S ING DE V EL OP MEN T

The housing concept stemmed from an exploration in form and how it could respond to existing site conditions. This parametric-like form pushes and pulls from the site to create urban space at the ground floor while it peels away from its neighbors to redefine the idea of a party wall. The bottom two floors are retail space, the third and fourth are residential lobbies and recreation spaces, and the remainder are units.

In addition, the design aims at bringing down the scale of apartment living by placing importance at the individual. In does this not only through the form but the design of the interior spaces and cladding system.

In the end, the design intent was to create a fun and playful space for people to live, eat, and commune in the heart of Memphis.

MEMPHIS, TN | STUDIO 3A | SOFTWARE: REVIT, RHINO 3D, ENSCAPE, & ADOBE SUITE

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N

N

N

N

A

A 8

10

7 3

5

6 5

1 1

2

1

10

B

B 4

1

6

2

4 10

3 1 1 1 5

5 7

6

9

7

4

ground floor plan

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GROUND & RE SIDENT I AL FLO OR PL ANS | L OF T ED L I V ING

11th floor plan

MEMPHI S , TN | S T UDIO 3 A

SUSTAINABLE ROOF The partially covered green roof adds an additional recreation space for residents and contributes to the urban landscape.

PARAMETRIC CLADDING The cladding design was integral at re-introducing human scale into the relatively tall building.

Moreover, it folds in and out to creates openings and balconies.

REDEFINED PARTY WALL The parametric form curves away from its neighbors to create a self-contained housing system that prepares for future development.

URBAN RESPONSE The building moves away from its corners to introduce plaza spaces while still maintaining a dense feel.

SEC T ION A L A XONOME T R IC | L OF T ED L I V ING

SELEC TED WORK | 2 0 2 2

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RE TA IL SPACE INTERIOR V IE W | L OF T ED L I V ING

MEMPHI S , TN | S T UDIO 3 A

0' - 0"

N BB King Elevation Scale: 1’0”=1/8”

N. BB K ING ELE VAT ION & SEC T ION | L OF T ED L I V ING

Project 7: Design Development | ARC 3536 Caeli Finch

SELEC TED WORK | 2 0 2 2

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20.

FOLDED HEARTS M I S S I S S I P P I S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y C A M P U S P R E S C H O O L

For this design, space was investigated at the scale of children. The overall concept involved creating regulated sleeping spaces represented as boxed forms. These were paired with more uniquely shaped classroom and indoor play areas that take on the spirit of the folded form. In addition, this building responds to the site by folding around it in both plan and elevation. Likewise, the roof envelope and visible interior wood structure creates a unique canopy for children to develop in. The overall project takes an interesting look at space and how that can be an asset to education. It considers both environmental and human rhythms and their direct impact on program. Much of the design inspiration came from children and the playfulness yet sophistication of early design.

MISSISSIPPI STATE | STUDIO 2B | SOFTWARE: RHINO 3D, ENSCAPE, & ADOBE SUITE

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N

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SI TE PL AN | F OL DED HE A R T S

MI S SI S SIPPI S TATE | S T UDIO 2B

ROOF ENVELOPE The roof envelope derives its folds from a planar grid that reacts to the different occupant scales. It creates long slivers of light that are low to the ground inviting children to explore.

ROOF SKYLIGHT Semi-opaque polycarbonate panels were used for the roof skylights. These were intended to give the building a playful glow while also letting it filtered light into the spaces.

ROOF STRUCTURE The folded roof has an exposed stick frame structure. This gives the spaces a pavilion like quality as well as an inner rigidity.

play space | relaxed rhythm

REGULATED RHYTHM The sleeping spaces represent a regulated rhythm through their rectangular form. Conceptually they are dependent on the age and number of occupants intended for the space.

RELAXED RHYTHM The classroom/ indoor play spaces take on a more creative geometry compared to their rectilinear counterpart. The angles of theses spaces respond and fold into the topography.

E XPLODED A XON | F OL DED HE A R T S

sleeping space | regulated rhythm

SELEC TED WORK | 2 0 2 2

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24.

PAV IL ION P R OJEC T M O D E L I N G M A K I N G | D R A F T I N G | C O N C E P T U A L I Z AT IO N

My concept for the pavilion involved a combined use of a structured triangular grid that operated in plan and section. This support created a necessary infrastructure to allow curved pieces to weave and envelope the inner rigidity. It was an experiment in organized chaos brought about by the simple image of a tree canopy clinging to its branches. As a first year architecture student, this project was also a lesson in drawing fundamentals and model making. Figuring out how to execute the curved form was an initial challenge. I resolved to make an entire model first out of chipboard. I then used the pieces from that model as a template for the final version. Moreover, each curve had to be sculpted by soaking it in water and clamping it to the chipboard template I created. After each piece dried, I then glued it to the final inner structure.

M I S S I S S I P P I S T AT E U N I V E R S I T Y, M S | S T U D I O 1 B | P H Y S I C A L M O D E L S

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pavilion: a study in perception

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PAV IL ION: A S T UDY IN PERCEP T ION | E A RLY DE SIGNS

MI S SI S SIPPI S TATE UNI VERSI T Y | S T UDIO 1 B

KEY: 1. WELCOME CENTER 2. RESTROOMS 3. TRANSITION SPACE 4. RECREATION AREA

LAYERED SHELL

5. ENTRANCE

The outer shell is a layered form that responds to the inner structure. It contradicts the rigidity of the core and sprawls out onto the site.

2

5 3

4

1

INNER STRUCTURE The inner structure is composed of 45, 45 triangles situation along its grid. It utilizes different screening techniques for privacy and circulation.

GRID The pavilion design follows a triangular grid that dictates its internal structure.

floor plan: hand draftedy

FLO OR PL AN & DE SIGN DI AGR AM | E A RLY DE SIGNS

SELEC TED WORK | 2 0 2 1

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field sketch: genoa, italyaly

28.

STUDY ABROAD I TALY | F IELD SKE TCHING | SI TE PL ANNING

TURIN

MILAN

VICENZA VERONA

PADOVA

VENICE

GENOA PORTOFINO

CINQUE TERRE

NAPLES

This study abroad included traveling through nine different cities in Italy and a month worth of architectural exploration. We visited Milan, Turin, Genoa, Naples, Cinque Terra, Porto Fino, Padua, Venice, Vincenza, and Verona. The study abroad included a field sketching and site planning class. For the sketching class, it was encouraged to explore different types of sketching and how they could best represent the architecture of different areas. These sketches were critical in understanding much of the urban spaces signature to Italian architecture. Moreover, there was a strategic cross over between these courses in understanding the importance of site and the best way to represent it.

ITALY | SUMMER STUDIO | SOFTWARE: RHINO 3D, FIELD SKETCHES & ADOBE SUITE

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field sketch: villa rotunda, vicenza, italyaly

field sketch: catacombs, naples, italyaly

field sketch: venice, italy

34.

G R E E N S B O R O S T. THOMA S SHELTON JONES AND A SSOCIATES

Thomas Shelton Jones and Associates is a primarily single-family residential firm that specializes in historic homes. For the project featured here, we were tasked with updating the existing spaces along with an additional living, kitchen, and bedroom space. My responsibilities for this project included much of the interior architecture. I designed all of the casework, cabinetry, trim, and other interior details.

Moreover, I helped develop the project in design development through construction documentation.

Likewise, I developed all interior elevations and conducted different studies to give the client a space filled with character even in the new construction. My coworker and I, Luke Murray, conducted all of the site measurements and verifications along with responses to client feedback.

STARKVILLE, MS | SPRING 2023 | SOFTWARE: AUTOCAD, HAND SKETCHING, & PHOTOSHOP

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in collaboration with Luke Murray

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F IRS T FLOOR PL AN | GREENSB ORO S T REE T

S TARK V ILLE, MS | T S J & A S S O C I AT E S

INTERIOR ELE VAT IONS | GREENSB ORO S T REE T

SELEC TED WORK | 2 0 2 2-2 3

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c o n ta c t DIGITAL PORTFOLIO

CAELI FINCH caelifinch@gmail.com 931.625.3311 Nashville, TN Starkville, MS

www.linkedin.com/ in/ caelifinch