Cora Clark Portfolio - May 2025

coraclark

Virginia Tech Interior Design Portfolio

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.

My Clifton Strengths describe me well: Adaptability, Strategic, Positivity, Futuristic, Connectedness

coragclark21@vt.edu

/in/cora-clark

304-767-4991

table of contents

01. Thrive

02. NEXT

03. Crossroads

04. Google

Mixed-Use

Advertising Office

Education

Co-working

01. THRIVE 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.

Perspective showing Salt + Sip (work cafe)

Concept 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.

Level 1 Floor Plan NTS

Level 2 Floor Plan NTS

Level 3 Floor Plan NTS

Level 4 Floor Plan NTS

Level 5 Floor Plan NTS

Level 6 Floor Plan NTS

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

The Thrive District

Salt + Sugar (market) Perspective

Level 1 Axonometric

Salt + Sip (work cafe) Perspective

Salt + Stitch (clothing store) Perspective

Salt + Sugar (market) Perspective

Salt + Steel (kitchen store) Perspective

Salt + Stitch (clothing store) Perspective

Thrive Apartments

One Bedroom Living Room Perspective

ADA One Bedroom Axon

One Bedroom Axon

Two Bedroom Axon

ADA One Bedroom Perspective

ADA Kitchen Perspective

ADA Bedroom Perspective

One Bedroom Kitchen Perspective

One Bedroom Perspective

Elevation of Work Cafe NTS

Elevation of ADA Kitchen NTS

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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

2 Bedroom Apartment Living/Kitchen Perspective

Apartment Hallway Perspective

Salt + Sip (work cafe) Perspective

1 A204

1 A203

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1 A201

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RCP Level 1 NTS

RCP Level 2 NTS

RCP Level 3 NTS

1 A204

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1 A203

1 A204

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RCP Level 4 NTS

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RCP Level 5 NTS

RBW Hoist Pendant

Gieger Bumper Chair

Steelcase Bolia Lomi Sofa

Westinghouse Alta Vista 52” 3 Blade LED Indoor Ceiling Fan

1 A203

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RCP Level 6 NTS

RBW Pilor 3 Tier

Armstrong Ceilings WOODWORKS

Steelcase Migration Intro Desk

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.

Level 7 Floor Plan NTS

Level 6 Floor Plan NTS

Perspective of Client Meeting Room

Perspective of Wildcard Space “park”

Axonometric, showing entirety of space

Elevation of Work Cafe Kitchenette NTS

Cross Section NTS

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Material Board

1. Flor Lilting Teal

2. Oak Wood

3, Dovetail 5H44

4. Designtex Pause Whitewater

5.Steelcase Hashtag WUB4

6. Steelcase Wonder

7. Brass

8.Oak Wood

Reception Perspective

Level 6 Work Station Perspective

Client Waiting Area Perspective

Level 7 Work Station Perspective

Office Axon

Client Meeting Room Axon

3form LightArt Acoustical Cylinder Shade

Bolia Kimono Bar Stool

West Elm Work Belle

Funda Chair by Viccarbe

3form LightArt Blossom Pendant

Bolia Alp Dining Table

Steelcase Migration Intro Desk

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.

Overall perspective highlighting work cafe and reception

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.

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Visiting Fa

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Private Office nference Small Co Room

Private Office

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Collabo

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Heads Do

Classroom

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Project Ro

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Project Ro

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Level 2 Floor Plan NTS

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Flex Spac

Storage nference

Large Co

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Classroom

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Private Of

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Commun

Reception

Level 1 Floor Plan NTS

Perspective highlighting downstairs double high space and collaboration space

Focus perspectives highlighting heads down and study spaces

Axonometric highlighting entire space

Large Meeting axon

Classroom axon

Private Office axon

Cafe axon

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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

Cross Section NTS

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

04. Google 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.

Flex workspaces and conference rooms

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.

restroom phone room

restroom

phone room

project room

small meeting

Open to Below

product storage

resource center

work cafe

1 2

Floor Plan Level 2 NTS

restroom private office

small meeting

mothers room

storage

�ex workspace reception

project room

large meeting

1

2

Floor Plan Level 1 NTS

restroom

�ex workspace

private office

Work Cafe

Work Cafe and upstairs conference rooms

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“neighborhoods”

Red + Yellow = co working/collaboration space Blue + Green spaces = private space

Physical Model Images

Second Floor layout

First Floor layout

Work Cafe and Reception

Entrance

Small Scenes

First Floor flex workspaces

Entryway

First Floor flex workspaces

Work Cafe

“neighborhoods” of flex workspaces to integrate open space into rows of closed rooms

Section Cut 2 NTS

Section Cut 1 NTS

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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

5. Pantone P 142-7 C

6. Pantone PMS 123 C

7. Pantone 279 C

8. Pantone 2027 C

thank you coragclark21@vt.edu 304-767-4991