Encouraging curiosity and collaboration in a traditionally independent study environment through form and circulation
p.4-5
3
Philadelphia, PA
Net-zero ADU | Commercial
Catmosphere
Providing support for student mental health and a stray cat population with an energy-efficient cat cafe
p.10-11
2 Philadelphia, PA Urban Farm
FJ’s Urban Learning Garden
Creating an inclusive space that integrates agricultural education with communal gathering
p.6-9
4
Chinatown, New York, NY Thesis Project
Pillars of the Chinese American Heritage
Grounding the Chinese American identity for past, present, and future generations in Chinatown
p.12-19
5
Newark, NJ Affordable Housing
Springview
51-unit affordable housing complex with podium construction
p.20-21
7
Irving, TX Commercial
CoLearn Commons
90,000 sf family entertainment center with various activities, theaters, and gathering spaces for private events
p.24-25
6 Philadelphia, PA Affordable Housing
PHA Fairhill
Two-phased affordable housing project consisting of 18-story towers and 35 townhomes
p.22-23
8 Philadelphia, PA Commercial Interiors
Morris Animal Refuge
Conceptual redesign of an animal shelter that aims to provide a safe and comfortable space for animals, staff, and clients
p.26-27
1
Philadelphia, PA
Library | Mixed-Use Residential
CoLearn Commons
CoLearn Commons is a mixed-use residential building with a public library on the ground floor, located in Belmont, Philadelphia. CoLearn Commons is designed with a goal to encourage collaboration and communication for the local neighborhood that historically has lacked educational funding.
This project challenges the ideas of a traditional library: independent study, private workspaces, and a monotonous layout, and instead promotes ideas of collaboration, gathering, and co-learning in a study space through the building’s unique circulation and programming.
The building features a central co-working space and a gallery in the library, and the residential units consist of studios to 3-bedroom apartments. Each area, from the varying angles of the exterior to the transition from one interior space to another, is oriented in ways that will draw pedestrians into the building and use this new learning space.
EXTERIOR VIEW (BACK)
MEZZANINE ART GALLERY
Philadelphia, PA Urban Farm
FJ’s Urban Learning Garden
Team members: Trent Birch, Justin Bowen, Christine Chen
Client: Farmer Jawn
Farmer Jawn’s mission to bring locally sourced, organic produce to Kensington includes a commercial space and a courtyard garden. This courtyard garden, situated in the Jasper House, doubles as a space that promotes education on urban farming and a place for relaxation and socialization for residents of the Jasper House.
FJ’s Urban Learning Garden focuses on FJ’s vision to have this courtyard be an educational space by incorporating elevated pockets of learning, similar to how grocery stores organize produce and other goods by section. Each platform displays different gardening methods and produce, promoting the importance and uniqueness of urban farming in an attractive way for students.
The combination of learning and social spaces throughout the garden enables a mixed-use courtyard that can be used throughout the seasons. Every space is organized to promote FJ’s vision and provide accessible agriculture education to all.
GARDEN FLOOR PLAN
3 Catmosphere
Team
members: Christine Chen, Vy Le
Situated behind the Drexel Smart House, Catmosphere is an ADU that focuses on providing a space for Drexel students and the neighborhood to relax as well as a serving as a habilitation center for stray cats in West Philadelphia. While the Drexel Smart House is home to Drexel Univerisity’s therapy dogs that travel around campus; Catmosphere is the opposite of this arrangment. Instead of the therapy dogs visiting students on campus, students are able to visit the cafe to unwind.
This project is a net-zero building that focuses on the technical aspects of providing a well-insulated space for its users. Colors, materials, and building construction were all considered to best benefit both people and cats to create a cozy safe haven for all.
WEST ELEVATION
NORTH ELEVATION
EAST ELEVATION
SOUTH ELEVATION
Chinatown, New York, NY
Senior Living | Landscape Design | Urban Planning
Pillars of the Chinese American Heritage
Thesis Project
Thesis Advisor: Alan Greenberger, FAIA
美国华裔传统的支柱
As a first-generation Chinese American, growing up in New York’s Chinatown is a privilege. In one of the largest and earliest Chinatowns in the country, we are raised in a community that has mutual understanding, similar hardships, and shared memories. In the past 20 years, however, Chinatown’s infrastructure has evolved, and many of the places that once held these shared cultural experiences are now replaced with seemingly foreign infrastructure. The heart, culture, and identity of Chinatown is slowly fading.
Pillars of the Chinese American Heritage is a project aiming to ground the Chinese American heritage unique to New York’s densely populated Chinatown. Through partial urban planning, landscape design, and a refreshed take on senior housing, this project aims to pay tribute to the history of the neighborhood, honor past and present generations of immigrants, and create a brighter Chinatown for future Chinese Americans.
Acknowledgements:
This project is dedicated to my grandmother, who passed away in summer 2024, and to my grandfather, who frequented Columbus Park.
HOW DO WE PROTECT CHINATOWN'S HISTORY AND CULTURE?
born and raised in a family of nine grandparents moving to senior home outside of Chinatown a lost sense of community local residents and businesses being displaced
designing for past, present, and future generations honoring the Chinese American heritage connecting with Taoism through nature promoting local businesses and foot traffic
1870s
• Chinese immigrants from the west and from China fled to New York
• Chinatown was established as a three-block neighborhood, consisting of Mott, Doyers, and Pell Street
1920s
• Chinese immigrants had a substantial footing in the food industry
1970s
• Immigrants from Fujian, Fuzhou began populating Chinatown, expanding to East Broadway, east of the original streets of Chinatown
2000s
• Chinatown thrives as a 55-block neighborhood
Present
• Chinatown remaining as one of the few NYC neighborhoods fighting against gentrification
70 Mulberry (vacant since 2020)
Columbus Park (portion)
Bayard Street
MULBERRY STREET ELEVATION (WEST FACING)
BAYARD STREET ELEVATION (SOUTH FACING)
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
LEVEL 2 (AMENITIES)
LEVELS 3-6 (RESIDENTIAL)
LEVELS 7-9 (RESIDENTIAL, ROOF DECK ON LEVEL 7)
MULTILEVEL LOUNGE
TYPICAL 1- AND 2-BEDROOM UNITS
ROOF DECK
PING ON HOUSE SENIOR HOUSING STREET VIEW
PEDESTRIAN STREET (BAYARD)
COLUMBUS PARK
Affordable Housing
Thriven Design | 2024-2025
Role: Designer
Contributions:
CD drawings - interiors, exteriors, details; project coordination
51-unit affordable housing complex that features a community room, game room, fitness room, and roof deck. Units range from 1- to 3-bedrooms. This building is a podium structure, with wood construction from floors 2-5 over a concrete construction garage and mixed-use ground level.
ELEVATOR CAP DETAIL
ELEVATOR EDGE DETAIL
ELEVATOR FLASHING DETAIL
GUTTER DETAIL
6
Philadelphia, PA
Affordable Housing
PHA Fairhill
JKRP Architects | 2023-2024
Role: Designer
Contributions:
CD drawings, LIHTC drawing sets, exterior renderings, site planning, area tabulation, PHA code compliance
Two-phased afforable housing project. Each phase consists of the redevelopment of an 18-floor tower and 35 townhouses with 10+ unit types in the tower and 4 townhome types. Because this project is a public residential project, there are multiple layers of codes, standards, and submissions that must be adherred to.
SITE AXON
II - TOWER - ODD LEVELS FLOOR PLAN
II - TOWER - LEVEL 2 FLOOR PLAN
PHASE II - TOWER - GROUND FLOOR PLAN
TOWER ELEVATIONS
LIHTC SET: TOWNHOUSE A2 - AREA TABULATION, FLOOR PLANS
PHASE
PHASE
LIHTC SET: UNIT 2A - AREA TABULATION, FLOOR PLAN
TOWNHOUSE ELEVATIONS
Irving, TX
Commercial
Fun N Furious
JKRP Architects | 2022 - 2023
Role: Designer
Contributions:
BIM modeling, SD to 100% CD drawing sets, wayfinding, renderings, material selection, project coordination
Fun N Furious is a 90,000 sf family entertainment center that features a variety of activities for all ages
Following JKRP’s volunteering session at Morris Animal Refuge, a non-profit animal shelter, the owner mentioned to the volunteer team they were looking to renovate the space to provide a more comfortable environment for the animals and clients. This project takes the owner’s vision and creates a conceptual interior renovation of the shelter.
