Spring 2025 Architecture Portfolio by Connor Blais

Architecture PORTFOLIO

Selected Works 2021/2025

Kennesaw State University Undergraduate

Connor Blais

The Light Catcher ADU

Studio III

ARCH 2003 | Fall 2022

Type: Residential

Program: Accessory Dwelling Unit

Location: Atlanta, GA

The Marietta Parallel Studio

III

ARCH 2003 | Fall 2022

Type: Residential

Program: Multi-family Residence Location: Marietta, GA

The Cantilever Folly Studio IV

ARCH 2004 | Spring 2023

Type: Public Use

Program: Performance Stage Location: Marietta, GA

Cabin 192

Precedent Study

Architect: Jose Isturain

Peppermint Farms Winery

The Cascade

Design Communication II

ARCH 2242 | Summer 2023

Type: Residential

Program: Retreat Home Location: Panamá Oeste Province, Panama

Studio V

ARCH 3011 | Fall 2023

Type: Commercial Program: Winery and Event Space Location: Ballground, GA

Integrative Studio

ARCH 4013 | Fall 2024

Type: Commercial Program: Office and Market Space Location: Atlanta, GA

THE LIGHT CATCHER ADU

Structure: Thetwoformsaresplitintoseparatestructuralcomponentstomaintain rigidityandstrength.Theseparationoftheseformsresultsinahierachyofstructure.

HierarchyofStructure

Structure: Thetwoformsaresplitintoseparatestructuralcomponentstomaintain rigidityandstrength.Theseparationoftheseformsresultsinahierachyofstructure.

Structure:

HierarchyofStructure

Thetwoformsaresplitintoseparatestructuralcomponentstomaintain rigidityandstrength.Theseparationoftheseformsresultsinahierachyofstructure.

The Light Catcher Accessory Dwelling Unit is a structure located within the suburbs of Atlanta, designed to compliment a pre-existing home. The design of this structure highlights the prominent natural features of the site while meeting the programmatic needs of the client. Elements ranging from the direction of water drainage, the availability of sunlight, and the existing vegetation within the site helped dictate critical design decisions made throughout this structure’s evolution.

Structure: The two forms are split into separate structural components to maintain rigidity and strength. The separation of these forms results in a hierachy of structure.

SOUTHWEST AXONOMETRIC VIEW

THE MARIETTA PARALLEL

This structure consists of three parts: its surrounding concrete shell, four residential units, and an internal courtyard. Besides the park in downtown Marietta Square, vegetation in Marietta is sparse.This structure provides the city an additional green space and consists of intersecting circulatory paths that parallel the park’s. The contrast between the form of this structure and its surrounding environment emphasizes its unique and compelling design elements.

MASSING RESPONSE TO SITE

CIRCULATORY PATTERNS

StructureofHierarchy

ATRIUM

SOUTHEAST

NORTHEAST ELEVATION

MASSING SKETCHES

Structure:maintaintocomponentsstructuralseparateintosplitareformstwoThe structure.ofhierachyainresultsformstheseofseparationThestrength.andrigidity

StructureofHierarchy

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

SOUTHEAST ELEVATION

EAST ELEVATION

SOUTH SECTION PERSPECTIVE

CANTILEVER FOLLY

The Cantilever Folly is a public performance space located in Downtown Marietta, Georgia. In this precedent exercise, I studied and recreated a section of the PA Technology Center’s structural system in Princeton, New Jersey. Throughout this study, I focused on ways to iterate the structure’s steel frame cantilever system which fully supported the roof of the two sides of the structure, making the exterior walls nonstructural elements of the design.

SECTION VIEW

SOUTHWEST AXONOMETRIC VIEW

WEST ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION

CABIN 192

Cabin 192 is a single family residence designed and built by Jose Istaurain. Located in a particularly mountainous region of Panama, in the city of Altos del María, the uneven terrain and humid climate of the site inspired the architect to raise the cabin and structurally support it with wooden columns and beams made from pine trees that were originally cut down from the site. Constructed in 2018, this retreat home provides families with 118 square feet of vacation space within its interior.

DESIGN COMMUNICATION II CABIN 192

CEMENTITIOUS FASCIA BOARD

METAL FLASHING ON SELFADHERED MEMBRANE TO WRAP FASCIA

SELF-ADHERING MODIFIED BITUMEN UNDERLAYMENT

2" WOOD SUBFASCIA BOARD

WINDOW MULLIONS STEEL CORRUGATED ROOF

GLASS WINDOW PANE

SLIDING DOORS

SLIDING DOOR IMPERVIOUS THRESHOLD

FINISHED OAK FLOORING

PLYWOOD SUB-FLOORING

2"x6" WOODEN FLOOR JOIST

6"x6" WOODEN BEAM

= 1'-0"

PEPPERMINT

EVENT SPACE AND WINERY

PEPPERMINT FARMS WINERY IS LOCATED IN BALL GROUND, GEORGIA. AT THE CENTER OF THE SITE,THE WINERY IS ORIENTED HARMONIOUSLY WITH THE PRE-EXISTING STRUCTURES. THESE STRUCTURES CONSIST OF THE CLIENT’S RESIDENTIAL HOME, TWO BARNS, A WATER TOWER, AND ADJACENT PASTURE FIELDS ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE SITE. BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE LANDMARKS,THE WINERY WAS DESIGNED WITH VIEWS OUTWARD IN MIND. THE VINEYARDS ARE VISIBLE FROM BOTH THE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR TASTING ROOMS AND THE WATER TOWER VISIBLE FROM THE RETAIL SPACE. THE CENTRAL COURTYARD BRINGS THE VISITORS INWARD AND THE LAYOUT OF THE STRUCTURE BRINGS THE GUESTS OUT INTO THE VINEYARDS.

FARMS: EVENT SPACE & WINERY

PEPPERMINT FARMS EVENT SPACE AND WINERY

THE PEPPERMINT FARMS WINERY IS LOCATED IN BALL GROUND, GEORGIA. AT THE CENTER OF THE SITE,THE WINERY IS ORIENTED HARMONIOUSLY WITH THE PRE-EXISTING STRUCTURES. THESE STRUCTURES CONSIST OF THE CLIENT’S RESIDENTIAL HOME, TWO BARNS, A WATER TOWER, AND ADJACENT PASTURE FIELDS ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE SITE. BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE LANDMARKS,THE WINERY WAS DESIGNED WITH THE VIEWS OUTWARD IN MIND. THE VINEYARDS ARE VISIBLE FROM BOTH THE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR TASTING ROOMS AND THE WATER TOWER IS VISIBLE FROM THE RETAIL SPACE. THE CENTRAL COURTYARD BRINGS THE VISITORS INWARD AND THE LAYOUT OF THE STRUCTURE BRINGS THE GUESTS OUT INTO THE VINEYARDS.

At the center of this site, the peppermint farms winery is oriented harmoniously with the site’s pre-existing structures. These structures consist of the client’s home, two barns, a water tower, and adjacent pasture fields on the western side of the site. By taking advantage of these landmarks, the winery was designed with the views outward in mind. The vineyards are visible from both the indoor and outdoor tasting rooms and the water tower is visible from the retail space. The central courtyard brings the visitors inward and the layout of the structure brings the guests out into the vineyards.

MASSING ORIENTATION

STRUCTURE PROXIMITY

MASSING AND TROPOGRAPHY

StructureofHierarchy

INTERSECTING MASSES

NORTHWEST ELEVATION

TASTING ROOM + KITCHEN SECTION

maintaintocomponentsstructuralseparateintosplitareformstwoThe structure.ofhierachyainresultsformstheseofseparationThestrength.andrigidity

Connor Blais,Terra Castresana Wendy Montalvan-Ortiz, Nancy Sanchez

THE CASCADE: MARKETPLACE AND OFFICES

The Cascade: Marketplace and Offices is a structure that provides a communal place of connection between two distinct areas. With a residential neighborhood on its eastern side and Atlanta’s notorious Peachtree St on its western side, this structure acts as a buffer between the surrounding site’s residential and commercial spaces. By maximizing Peachtree St’s frontage and by cantilevering the office spaces within the upper levels of the structure, this space invites the community into its market spaces and entry-level plazas.

Hierarchy of Structure

THE CASCADE: MARKETPLACE AND OFFICES

Hierarchy of Structure

Structure: The two forms are split into separate structural components to maintain rigidity and strength. The separation of these forms results in a hierachy of structure.