Selected Works 2023-2024

Portfolio Selected Works | 2023-2024 |

About Me

I am an architectural designer driven by a deep curiosity about the intersection of architecture, ecology, and culture. With a Master of Architecture from the University of Utah, I approach design as a tool for storytelling—one that responds to place, materiality, and human experience. My work is rooted in an understanding that architecture is more than form; it is an evolving dialogue between the built environment and the landscapes, histories, and communities that shape it.

My passion for material innovation and building technology was recognized with the 2024 Edward Allen Student Award, honoring excellence in the integration of construction methods and architectural design. This interest informs my design process, where I explore the balance between technical precision and creative expression.

I have experience working on diverse projects, from residential and commercial spaces to urban design and public infrastructure. At AJC Architects, I contribute to the development of architectural plans, program analysis, and digital modeling, working collaboratively to create meaningful and well-crafted spaces. Prior to this, I worked in transportation planning, helping to develop regional mobility solutions that emphasized accessibility and sustainable transit design.

Beyond architecture, I am fascinated by experimental printing techniques, mapping rituals, and the ways in which mythology and place-making intersect. I believe that great design emerges from a multidisciplinary approach—one that embraces research, narrative, and material exploration.

I’m always looking for new opportunities to create work that is thoughtful, rigorous, and impactful. Let’s connect and collaborate.

Christopher Putt

435.513.0236

chris.putt@live.com

Education

University of Utah

Experience

University of Utah

Master of Architeture

05.24 // SLC, UT

University of Utah

B.S. Urban Ecology

05.20 // SLC, UT

Awards

2024 Edward Allen Student Award

2024 Edward Allen

Student Award

2024 Edward Allen Student Award

Excellence in the integration of building technology and architectural design.

Software

Revit // Adobe Suite // Rhino // Lumion // Enscape

Portfolio

Architectural Designer ajc Architects

- Present

Architectural Designer

ajc Architects

Assist in the development of architectural plans, design and construction documents underthe guidance of senior architects.

Contribute to program and site analysis reports.

Utilize software to create detailed drawings, 3D models, and presentation materials.

Contribute to program and site analysis reports. Utilize software to create detailed drawings, 3D models, and presentation materials.

Utilize software to create detailed drawings, 3D models, and presentation materials.

Intern Architect

Process Studio

Collaborated with senior architects and designers to develop preliminary ADU designs based on project specifications. Assisted in site planning, schematic design, and digital modeling.

Planner I

Summit County, UT

- 06.23

Assisted in launching a regional transportation agency with implementation of fixed-route, on-demand micro, and active transit mobility solutions.

Authored and secured state and federal grants, including RAISE and BUILD grants.

Established, planned, and managed transit and active mobility projects, including the 2021 Summit County Innovative Design Challenge and Request-a-Rack program.

Research Assistant

University of Utah School of Architecture

- 02.24

Assisted in research and curation for published papers in architecture and urbanism.

Produced drawings and collaborated on an exhibition of architect Gunnar Birkerts at the University of Utah Architecture Library.

Between Two Fires:

Redefining The Fire Station

Through A Reevaluation Of Fire

Ecology

Project Location

Guerneville, California, USA

Project Type

Public Infrastructure, Fire Station

Project Date

Spring 2024, MArch Final Studio

In recent years, the western United States, especially Northern California, has seen an increasing rise in ‘mega’ fires. These fires are not simply disasters driven by changing climates; they are the consequences of our flawed fire suppression policies that date back to 1870. For over a century, Land and Fire management policies have disrupted ecological balances and ignored the role of Fire as a critical biological process in our ecologies. Our suppressioncentric tactics of ‘fighting’ Fire have led to an absence of conflagrations in our landscapes and allowed for hazardous fuel accumulation, setting the stage for all too familiar ‘megafires’ to occur. My project intends to

challenge this suppression-centric perspective that has embedded itself in our existing infrastructure and instead aims to redesign fire infrastructure as catalysts for reintroducing Fire in our landscapes. My project Between Two Fires seeks to redefine the narrative surrounding Fire infrastructure and its integral role in land management. The design comprises three programs tailored to specific Fire and land management strategies aligned with the region’s seasonality. This approach connects a series of holistic Fire and land management strategies and offers adaptability in the evolving global climate crisis.

What does it mean to live WITH a landscape?

Time as a partner in design, not just a consideration

Infrastructure that supports anthropogenic and ecological needs

Program that mirrors the seasonality of fire management

as a catalyst for framing views

Mass

Program and Approach

The apparatus room is the heart of any fire station, shaping spatial organization, function, and circulation. Traditionally a large volume for housing fire engines and suppression gear, it has also served as a public interface. This project redefines the apparatus room’s role, expanding it beyond firefighting equipment to support a holistic approach to fire and land management.

Instead of a singular space, the program divides the apparatus room into a network of specialized zones, each addressing fire management through seasonally responsive strategies. This shift moves away from a unilateral approach to fire suppression, aligning infrastructure with California’s ecological cycles.

The three primary zones are:

• Fire (Late Fall–Spring): Introduces controlled burns to restore ecological balance.

• Fauna (Late Winter–Early Summer): Uses livestock and mechanized methods to clear overgrowth and reduce fuel loads.

• Terra (Year-Round, Peak in Summer): Serves as the operational hub, monitoring climate and ecological conditions to coordinate fire and land management efforts.

By restructuring the fire station around these adaptive strategies, the project proposes a more integrated and proactive approach to fire resilience

Sustainability Strategies

1. Cross Ventilation

Aligning of building orientation to take advantage of seassonsl winds and use of operable skylights and windows ensure occupant comfort

2. Solar Shading

roof overhangs and catwalk extend to block harsh summer sun and allow solar gain during winter months

3. Daylighting

skylights ensure comfortable diffused light year round despite site shading from surrounding trees. Over hangs allow for controlled daylighting while mitgating harsh glare.

4. Thermal Mass

Increased Solar Gain During the winter Months is stored as heat in the floor slab, coupled with a radiant floor heating to passively heat the space.

5.

Envelope

Increased insulation ans ensuring a tight envelope significantly enhance energy efficiency by minimizing heat loss and reducing the need for active MEP systems.

6. Ground Source Heat Pumt

Gorund Source Heat pumps paired with passive strategies to provide heating and coolinng as needed

Surface/ Subsurface High perfomrance, adaptive reuse in Riyaka, Croatia

Surface/Subsurface

High perfomrance, adaptive reuse in Riyaka, Croatia

Project

| Adapative Reuse of an existing adandoned hotel into an international school of Architecture |

The approach to this adaptive reuse project focused on ideas of surface and subsurface. the terracing of the site in combination with the conditions of the bay and cities we studied in our deep map made us curious about the repitition of surface and subsurface conditions that happen repeatedly in the site. A main focus was on the concept of thesholds as an opportunity to provide daylighting, keeping the building pourous and flexibl. This focus on threshold and surfac also emphasized access, making sure that each level and terrace was accessible from an intuitive primary circulation core.

Project Location

Riyaka, Croatia

Project Type

Adaptive Reuse | Institutional |

Project Date

Spring 2023, MArch Studio

Project Partner

Laurie Larson

KEY IDEAS

Orientation

Orientation of existing building aligns with summer prevailing winds towards views

Terracing

The existing Building features divided interior and exterior levels, four terraced levels guide the deisgn of the addition.

Outdoor Space

Stacked accessible green roofs make use of the whole building footprint, providing outdoor space at every level.

Dropping two levels down in the main building and drawing the core circulation down creates comprehensive access Access

Slope and View

Unobstructed views to the bay due to the position near a steep slope

Layered conditions

Convergence of ecological and anthropogenic conditions along the historic border or “threshold

Geologic occurrences

Built Conditions

We approached programming from two perspectives. The first prioritized a mixed of public and private spaces in order to ensure the project allocated space that served a public function. Our solution was to create a gradient from public to private within the program. Not only does this help activate the street level spaces, but ensures that the institutional spaces remain private, whilst blending into the remaining uses.

Second, we wanted to use programming as a design tool for spaces in both the additions and existing building. Our understanding of daylighting requirements, particularly in subterranean spaces, as well as egress and life safety planning were core to how we organized our programming. Alterations to the original program as well as using program in parallel with daylight studies helped arrange our final massing and placements.

The site for our project is located on the borders of Opatija and Rijeka, Croatia. Constructed in the 1960s that original use of the building and site was a motel that was historically anchored by the famous race track that circulates around it. After the closure of the track the motel fell out of business and was slowly stripped of valuable parts including piping, tiles, and more.

The site offered not only an ideal orientation, but ample opportunity for an inventive remediation. Amongst the Notable conditions we found that would inform our final design decision included a series of built terraces that gradually stepped down the steep sloping site, access to the natural environment, and panoramic views of the Adriatic sea.

Site

underlit and overlit spaces

Bringing daylight into the underground spaces is a driving challenge for our design. We utilized large spans of southern glazing, sky-lighting,and floor-plate design to bring light into these spaces. Under-lit spaces are programed appropriately to be hvac, storage, etc.

Intense light from south facade is diffused through plantings: vine plants and grasses. The plantings block lots of light in the summer, and die back in the winter. Overhangs are designed to block light appropriately through the year, with a larger one protecting the work spaces to avoid

Level 3

1 2 3 Level 1 Level 2

Level 5

5 6 Level 4

Hangar Door 001 Design Build Utah

In designing a steel hangar door for DBBluff’s distinguished client’s sunroom, our primary objective was to balance functionality, aesthetics, and ease of operation within a strict budget of $2,000. We envisioned a sleek, expansive steel frame engineered to provide unobstructed views of the outdoor landscape, seamlessly blending the interior with the exterior.

To maximize natural light, the door incorporated large, clear panels, enhancing the openness of the space. Recognizing the client’s need for effortless operation—especially important given their seniority—we designed a smooth, low-effort hand crank and counterweight mechanism. This system requires minimal force, ensuring easy use while maintaining robust stability and security.

By integrating panoramic views, abundant natural light, and user-friendly functionality, this design transforms the sunroom into a space that aligns with the client’s lifestyle and vision, all while adhering to the project’s budget constraints.

Project Location

Bluff, Utah, USA

Project Type

Manual Hangar Door

Project Date

Fall 2023, DesignBuild Utah

Project Partners

Adam Berton

Sahar Ebrahimnezhad