Catherine Cairns Portfolio

Catherine Cairns Architectural Portfolio

Hello!

My name is Catherine Cairns, and I am a third year Architectural Science student at Toronto Metropolitian University pursuing co-op opportunities in design and building technology.

This portfolio shows selected academic projects that reflect my design thinking and technical skillset in architectural practice.

Catherine Cairns

+1 (905) 407 6117 catherine.cairns@torontomu.ca 300 Silvana Crescent, Burlington ON

EDUCATION

SOFTWARE ABILITIES

SEPTEMBER 2023 - PRESENT Toronto Metropolitian University Bachelor of Architectural Science (BArchSc) SEPTEMBER 2019 - JUNE 2023 Nelson High School Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

Revit Rhino AutoCAD Enscape Adobe Suite D5 Render Microsoft Word

WORK EXPERIENCE

SKILLS

JULY 2022 - PRESENT Food Basics - Cashier & Customer Service - Managing cash and sales while providing customer support - Developed clear communication, accuracy, and reliability under pressure -Strengthened attention to detail and task coordination in fast-paced settings

Communication Time-management Collaboration Organization Presentation Adaptability Problem-solving Flexibility

JUNE 2025 - AUGUST 2025 STEM Camp - Camp Counsellor - Supervising and teaching children aged 5-13 science skills through computer coding and hands-on experiments - Developed leadership, collaborative teamwork, and ability to explain complex ideas clearly ACHIEVEMENTS SEPTEMBER 2023 - MAY 2025 FEAS Dean’s List Maintained a GPA above 3.5 for four consecutive semesters MAY 2025 DAS Year End Show

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE SEPT 2025 - PRESENT TMU Mentorship Program - Mentor Guiding a first year architecture student and teaching basic software skills FEBRUARY 2025 - APRIL 2025 Freedom by Design - Design-Build Worked with a team to design and produce architectural drawings for a sheltered community garden proposal in Downtown Toronto CERTIFICATIONS Standard First Aid & CPR Certification

01

02

03

Corktown Transit Hub

Rosseau Falls Bridge

Stanley Terrace Duplex

6-13

14-19

20-25

04

05

06

Church Street Library

East Lynn Pavilion

Richmond West Midrise

26-33

34-37

38-43

01

Corktown Transit Hub Subway Station & Community Center Location: King Street East, Toronto ON Revit, Rhino, Enscape, Illustrator, Photoshop This transit hub located at the Ontario Subway Line’s Corktown Station bridges two blocks, creating vertical movement through the dense Toronto streetscape. A central path activated by the canopy redirects movement away from King Street, slowing circulation and drawing people through the site, creating connection between the North and South.

6

Creating two station entrances connected undergound with a shared concourse

Breaking up the Berkeley facade, creating transparency and circulation through the site

Activating a pathway that encourages connection between North with South

Site Axonemetric 7

East Elevation

Ground Floor Plan 8

9

Perspective of Underground Concourse

First Underground Floor Plan 10

Section A-A 11

Section A-A 12

13

02

Rosseau Falls Bridge Pedestrian Bridge Location: Rosseau Falls, Muskoka ON Rhino, Enscape, Illustrator, Photoshop Spanning the Rosseau Falls along Lake Rosseau, this steel pedestrian bridge is a crossing that doubles as a lookout spot.

Framing views of the rushing water below and the lake beyond, the design turns movement into an experience, inviting visitors to linger and connect with the landscape while suspended above

14

Deck form mimicks the existing rock curve of the falls beside on the site

Creates a pedestrian crossing across the rocky, shallow waterbed on a hiking path

Large bend reaches out to create a viewpoint of the falls, giving users a closer look

Site Plan 15

Plan

South Elevation 16

17

Section A-A 18

19

03

Stanley Terrace Duplex Residential Location: 59 Stanley Terrace, Toronto ON Rhino, Illustrator, Photoshop, Enscape This Toronto residential duplex is designed to become modular housing along Stanley Terrace laneway, replacing the existing garages. The lower level unit’s ground floor is completely wheelchair accessible from grade, designed for a disabled person to live entirely one one floor of the unit. The basement level of this unit is also designed to function inidependently, offering flexibility in how the space is used.

20

Basement added with two exterior entrances, allowing room for a third unit

Terrace cut out on back of the form to accomodate laneway zoning laws

Stair box added to create accesible green roof, giving upper unit their own green space

Site Axonemetric 21

Ground Floor Plan

Basement Floor Plan 22

23

Fourth Floor Plan

Third Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan 24

UnitOne One Unit

UnitTwo Two Unit (wheelchair accessible level) (Wheelchair accesible floor)

Unit UnitTwo Two (rentable studiofloor) level) (Rentable

Section A-A 25

04

Church Street Library Community Library Location: 412 Church Street, Toronto ON Rhino, Illustrator, Enscape, Photoshop This community library marks the corner where the lively Church Street meets the quiet residential McGill Street, serving as a neighborhood gathering place and community hub. Designed to be open and accessible, the building offers light filled reading spaces, study areas, and community rooms stacked across four levels, creating a landmark that unifies these contrasting streets.

26

Accessible entrances angled towards both commercial street and residential nieghborhood

Top floor set back, empahsizing privacy and exclusivity of special collection

Angled perforated brick screens create a barrier from Church Street, while allowing South light in

Site Axonemetric 27

Ground Floor Plan 28

Section A-A 29

A

Section B-B

B

UP

OTB. OTB.

OTB.

A

B

DN

Third Floor Plan 30

Wall Section 31

Perspective of Special Collection 32

Private & Introspective floor

Individual floor

Group floor

Services Technology space Special collection Community floor

Reading space Private reading space Entry & public ammenities

Section A-A 33

05

East Lynn Pavilion Park Pavilion Location: East Lynn Park, Toronto ON Rhino, Illustrator, Enscape, Photoshop This park pavilion in East Lynn Park takes form of three petals, mimicing the experience of sitting beneath the trees that line the park’s edges. Since much of the central grass area lacks shade, the structure offers a functional canopy, creating a gathering place that echoes the protection of the tree line while extending it into the central part of the park, offering a sense of community to users.

35

The site is lined with trees on the outskirts, creating shade spots

The form mimics the way tree canopies provide shade, where users sit underneath

The pavilion provides a central shaded area, encoruaging community and social interaction

Site Plan 36

Site Plan 37

East Elevation

North Elevation 38

06

Richmond Midrise Residential Location: 87 Richmond Street West Revit, Rhino, Enscape, Illustrator, Photoshop This mixed use residential apartment complex is defined by its use of double-height windows across the facade, softening the building’s presence against the adjacent small scale residential street, creating more harmony with the existing streetscape. The taller window proportions also relate the design to the nature of the surrounding commercial district, creating a blend between the two contexts.

39

Central courtyard mirrors existing greenspace from neighboring building

Form raised to height of neighoring tonwhouses, continuing the streetscape

Tower added along Richmond Street West, as to not impose on residential streets

Site Axonemetric 40

Ground Floor Plan 41

Perspective of Courtyard

North Elevation 42

Third-Sixth Floor Plan

East Elevation 43

Two-bedroom Unit Plan

Studio Unit Plan

Section A-A 44

Thank you! catherine.cairns@torontomu.ca +1 (905) 407 9117