Hi! My name is Cora Clark and I am a recent graduate from Virginia Tech and just recieved a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. I have a passion for design in many forms. Since I was little, I have imagined and re-imagined the many spaces and places I have visited. As a designer, I strive to create spaces that are efficient and where users will feel comfortable and uplifted. I enjoy working with others, being collaborative on projects, and value hearing feedback and new ideas.
Outside of studio, I worked in the School of Design office as an Operations Assistant. I’m proud of the many ways I contribute to the Virginia Tech community through volunteering and leadership. In my spare time, I love to read, be outdoors, as well as cook and bake.
Spring 2025 - 4th year|Individual|16 weeks|60,000 sqf
Software used: Revit, Enscape, Photoshop
Thrive is a Mixed-Use Development in Charleston, West Virginia. Situated right in the heart of downtown, it serves as a gathering place for residents and neighbors while offering amenities for the community. West Virginia suffers from the housing crisis, there is not enough available and affordable housing. This mixeduse development aims to help solve that issue while also bringing the community together in collaborative and welcoming spaces. Thrive was designed to help transform the community. Inspired by the transformation of salt, one of the early industries in Charleston, from brine to crystallization and its use in preservation inspired how this space and the community can be transformed. This design is 6 floors, 5 of which are dedicated to affordable housing and 1 floor dedicated to mixed-use spaces, approximately 60,00 sqft. The affordable housing consists of one bedroom apartments, some which are ADA accessible, two bedroom apartments, a gym, and more. The mixed-use spaces consist of a couple retail stores; a kitchen store, clothing store, a market, and a work cafe.
Charleston, WV sits on top of The Iapetus Ocean, an untouched ancient ocean created 400-600 million years ago. The Iapetus Ocean is connected to WV’s salt industry, Kanawha County being the largest producer of salt in the country in the 17-1800’s. The salt is made by collecting “brine” from wells that go down to the ancient ocean, and boiling it down until the brine transforms into salt crystals. Salt is made up of sodium and chloride ions which bond together in a precise arrangement called crystal lattice. Each ion is surrounded by 6 of the partnering ion, creating a repeating geometric pattern that forms perfect cube shaped crystals.
The goal of this space is to encourage the community to come together and thrive. Turning the space into an uplifting and transformative experience. Creating community-focused spaces; a welcoming cafe, vibrant market, and retail spaces. Affordable housing units provide a stable foundation to allow residents to transform and grow. Inspired by the transformation of how salt crystallizes over time, incorporating neutral colors, pops of color and textured patterns. Given the right environment, communities can grow and transform in many amazing ways.
Concept Perspective showing Salt + Sip (work cafe)
Mixed- Use Spaces: The Thrive District
The Thrive District is a Mixed-Use Development in Charleston, WV. Consisting of 4 spaces: Salt + Sugar, a market; Salt + Stitch, a boutique clothing store; Salt + Steel, a kitchen store; and Salt + Sip, a cafe. The Thrive District was designed to bring the community together, allowing them to enjoy the spaces together. Bringing a gathering space to Downtown Charleston; places to shop, places to relax, and overall places to thrive.
Affordable Housing: Thrive Apartments
Thrive Apartments is an affordable housing apartment complex in Charleston, WV. West Virginia suffers from the current housing crisis, the state needs affordable and available housing. Thrive Apartments was designed to help tackle that crisis. Sitting above a Mixed-Use Development, lowering rent for residents, and creating an opportunity for a community space just a couple of floors below.
Axonometric, showing entirety of space
Salt + Sugar (market) Perspective
Salt + Sip (work cafe) Perspective
Salt + Stitch (clothing store) Perspective
Salt + Stitch (clothing store) Perspective
Salt + Sugar (market) Perspective
Salt + Steel (kitchen store) Perspective
Thrive Apartments
One Bedroom Living Room Perspective
One Bedroom Axon
Two Bedroom Axon
ADA One Bedroom Axon
ADA One Bedroom Perspective ADA Kitchen Perspective
One Bedroom Kitchen Perspective
Elevation of Work Cafe NTS
Elevation of ADA Kitchen NTS
Material Board
1. Oak Versailles Flooring 2. Ash Wood
3, Designtex Bixby Micro 4. Sherwin Williams Agate Green
5.Tilebar Terrazzo Italy Sacra Calacatta White 6. TileBar Montauk Fog 7. WilsonArt Solid Surface Gulf coast 8.Brass
Reception Perspective
Apartment Hallway Perspective
2
Salt + Sip (work cafe) Perspective
Bedroom Apartment Living/Kitchen Perspective
RBW Hoist Pendant Gieger Bumper Chair
RBW Pilor 3 Tier
Steelcase Bolia Lomi Sofa
Westinghouse Alta Vista 52” 3 Blade LED Indoor Ceiling Fan
Steelcase Migration Intro Desk
Armstrong Ceilings WOODWORKS
Bowie Armchair by Bolia
02. NEXT
Fall 2024 - 4th year|Individual|10 weeks|16,000 sqf
Software used: Revit, Enscape, Photoshop
NEXT is an advertising agency, opening a new office in Chicago, Illinois. NEXT is focused on delivering brand impact for their clients throughout the entire creative process, from strategy to execution and “is committed to designing this new workplace in Chicago as a destination for everyone to be collaborative and support the creative process,”. I was tasked with designing the 6th and 7th floor, approximately 16,000 sqf. I was provided space programming requirements and project teams within the office to focus my design on. My design was inspired by the city motto “urbs in horto” and the many beautiful parks and gardens around the city. Parks and gardens are central locations for collaboration and creativity, which is exactly how I wanted the NEXT office to feel.
Perspective showing reception and work cafe
Concept
NEXT is located in the Fulton Market District of Chicago. As the largest city in the mid-west, Chicago is a hub for creativity. The motto of the city is “urbs in horto” which translates to “city in a garden”. The city of Chicago is made up of parks and gardens. There are more than 600 parks and gardens, ones such as The Chicago Botanical Garden, Hyde Park, Grant Park, and many more. These parks are central for community and collaboration, a source of energy while also providing tranquility, a place where creativity can spark and innovation can occur. Inspired by “city in a garden”, the NEXT office will be a place for creativity and collaboration.
Perspective of Wildcard Space “park”
Perspective of Client Meeting Room
Axonometric, showing entirety of space
Cross Section
Elevation of Work Cafe Kitchenette NTS
Material Board
1. Flor Lilting Teal
2. Oak Wood
3, Dovetail 5H44
4. Designtex Pause Whitewater
5.Steelcase Hashtag WUB4 6. Steelcase Wonder
Brass
8.Oak Wood
Office Axon
Client Meeting Room Axon
3form LightArt Acoustical Cylinder Shade
Bolia Kimono Bar Stool
West Elm Work Belle
3form LightArt Blossom Pendant
Bolia Alp Dining Table
Steelcase Migration Intro Desk
Funda Chair by Viccarbe
Bowie Armchair by Bolia
03. Crossroads
Spring 2024 - 3rd year|Individual|14 weeks|10,000 sqf
Software used: Revit, Enscape, Photoshop
Located in the heart of Roanoke, Virginia, the Virginia Tech Health and Innovation Center is a place where health and design innovation research take place. Roanoke, a railroad boomtown and crossroads of the railroad system in the region serves as inspiration for my design - the place where health and design innovation research meet. Crossroads - bringing the two together in a seamless manner, creating a welcoming and comfortable academic space for students and faculty with all of the necessities for health and design innovation research. A place where research can take place successfully and comfortably.
Concept
In the mid 1800’s Roanoke, Virginia became a crossroad for the railroad system, as two railroad systems converged coming together to provide service throughout the region. The design for this space is based off of the crossroads, specifically the crossroads for health and design, where they meet each other and how they interact. The layout of this space connects back to the purpose of a crossroads, creating spaces that come together for collaboration and innovation. Using criss-cross patterns to enhance a path of travel, walkways connecting you from one space to another, and places where health and design can meet.
Overall perspective highlighting work cafe and reception
Focus perspectives highlighting heads down and study spaces
Perspective highlighting downstairs double high space and collaboration space
Axonometric highlighting entire space
Large Meeting axon
Private Office axon
Classroom axon Cafe axon
Material Board
1. Oak Wood
2. Tilebar Crossbraids Tile
3. Hayworth Clara 2 NV
4. Haworth PIXEL (2A) Imagine, 2A-IM
5. Haworth KING II (67) Warm Grey, 67-WG
6. Haworth BRISA (XG)Aztec, XG-3
7. Haworth HOBSON (3J) Briar Rose, 3J-1
8. Concrete
Collaborative study space
Small Meeting Room
Haworth Hush Booth
Haworth Basket Armchair
Haworth Trivati Walls
Haworth Planes Conference Table
Haworth Forest Chair
Haworth Poppy Lounge
Haworth Jive Table
Haworth Poppy Guest Chair
Fall 2023 - 3rd year|Individual|10 weeks|8,000 sqf
Software used: Revit, Enscape, Photoshop
The way we work is rapidly changing for a variety of reasons, and offices are switching to hybrid and coworking solutions to respond to their employees needs. The office needs to evolve from a place where people are required to go, to a place that draws people in. My goal for this project was to design a new and enticing workplace in downtown Roanoke, VA. I wanted to bring all of the different places where people enjoy working, into one space. The design needed to address changes in the current workforces attitude towards the workplace, creating a space that employees are excited to go to everyday. I chose Google as the company to work with, and their logo inspired a lot of my design.
Concept
A common design problem seen in co-working spaces post Covid-19 is poor space utilization. Office spaces aren’t being fully utilized as people continue working from home. By making the space more inviting and comfortable, creating “neighborhoods” to mimic personal spaces and interaction places, workers will feel more ownership of space and will be more open to returning to the office. I used angled walls, inspired by the Google logo, to create movement and direction throughout the space.
Flex workspaces and conference rooms
Work Cafe and upstairs conference rooms
Work Cafe
Axonometricofwholespace,highlightingtopfloor
“neighborhoods”
Blue + Green spaces = private space
Red + Yellow = co working/collaboration space
Axonometrichighlightingbottomfloor
Physical Model Images
Second Floor layout
First Floor layout
Entrance Work Cafe and Reception
Small Scenes
“neighborhoods” of flex workspaces to integrate open space into rows of closed rooms
First Floor flex workspaces
First Floor flex workspaces
Entryway
Work Cafe
Section Cut 2 NTS
Section Cut 1 NTS
1. Knoll Textiles Color Collage in Trapeze
2. Knoll Textiles Nature Walk in Park
3. White Brick
4. Johnsonite Defiant Commercial Rubber Tile in Mariner Hammered Speckled
