PORTFOLIO
Dash Maxwell
+ M.Arch, B.F.A.
+ dash.maxwell@outlook.com | 778-865-1892
+ 12688 15a Ave, Surrey, BC, Canada, V4A 1L7
Profile
As a dedicated and motivated graduate, I am looking for employment.
I have recently graduated from the Masters of Architecture program at the University of Calgary. Having completed my university studies after years of vigorous work, I am excited to begin my first step as a professional architect.
Prior to studying architecture I completed a Bachelors of Fine Arts at the University of British Columbia where I graduated with distinction and was nominated by the faculty for the B.M.O. 1st Art Award. Before studying at U.B.C. I studied History at the University of Victoria for three years before discovering my passion for contemporary art.
Upon being accepted into the University of Calgary’s Architecture Program I was awarded one of ten entrance scholarships, and since then have excelled academically; achieving Dean’s List several times, and receiving the G.E.C. Award for Comprehensive Architecture. I am an extremely hardworking and ambitious individual.
During my time at Calgary, I took a year off to supplement my practical knowledge of architecture. I enrolled in several Architecture and Building Science courses at BCIT, and afterwards, through my BIM professor, completed an internship at Arcadis as a member of a residential design team.
I have a passion for history, art and design, and I have studied these subjects rigorously for the last ten years. I look forward to being able to continually learn, and finally have the opportunity to put my cumulative knowledge to work in the real world.
Education
University of Calgary, 2020 - 2024
+ Masters of Architecture
British Columbia Institute of Technology
+ Credits in Architecture & Building Technology
Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 2020
+ Certificate in Computer Aided Design
University of British Columbia, 2017 - 2020
+ Bachelors of Fine Art (with Distinction)
Interests
Professional
+ Multi & Single Family Residential
+ Office to Residential Conversion
+ Parametric Design
+ Cultural Institutions
+ Model Making
Recreation
+ Contemporary Art
+ Film
+ Classic Literature
+ Boxing
+ Fencing
Professional Experience
Arcadis
September 2023 - December 2023
+ Responsible for the BIM modeling of a mid-rise mix use development.
+ Aided in design of residential unit layouts.
+ Developed schematic renders for a variety of projects.
Graduate Teacher Assistant
University of Calgary
January 2022 - April 2024
+ Aided in instructing class of ~60 graduate students.
+ Troubleshot technical problems in Adobe, Rhino, Grasshopper, etc
+ Participated in daily desk crits and provided technical workshops.
Research and Design Intern
Center for Civilization
September 2022 - December 2022
+ Produced large scale, high quality models.
+ Worked along side Canadian Urban Institute.
+ Produced research and diagrams.
+ Designed several affordable living facilities and office space retrofits.
Accolades
University of Calgary
+ Illustrations to be featured as figures in TAD, 2024
+ Dean’s List, 2021 & 2022
+ Sculpture Selected for Y.E.S. Show, 2022
+ Project & Model Selected for JUST Show, 2022
+ G.E.C. Award for Comprehensive Excellence, 2022
+ Project & Model Selected for Y.E.S. Show, 2022
+ Entrance Scholarship, 2020
Kwantlen Polytechnic
+ Dean’s List, 2020
University of British Columbia Co-op Student
+ Bachelors of Fine Art with Distinction, 2019
+ B.M.O 1st Art Award (Nominee), 2019
+ Phi Gamma Delta Graduating Brother Fellowship, 2019
+ Phi Gamma Delta Triple AAA Scholarship, 2017, 2018 & 2019
+ Photograph Selected for A.H.V.A. Graduating Exhibition, 2019
+ Sculpture Selected for A.H.V.A. Mid Year Show, 2019
+ Print selected for A.H.V.A. Permanent Collection, 2018
Technical Competencies
Extracurriculars
University of Calgary Rifle Club
+ Member, 2023
University of Calgary Fencing Club
+ Member 2022
Petley Jones Gallery
+ Assistant, 2019
Jennifer Kostiuk Gallery
+ Art Handler
Phi Gamma Delta
+ Risk Management (Co-Chair), 2019
+ Scholarship Chair, 2019
+ Philanthropy Committee, 2018
Elevations
Arcadia Lectern
personal project (w.i.p.)
dash maxwell
Inspired by the work of Mark Foster Gage’s Helsinki Guggenheim Museum, and Andrew Holder’s essay On Sufficient Density. The Arcadia Lectern is a personal attempt create a practical and contemporary ornamental process which utilizes the computational tools at my disposal. A small low resolution concrete proof of concept cast has been made, and a high resolution 10” version is currently in the works.
Digital and Physical Process
Packing Logic
5. Mold Filled with Concrete
TYPE CONTEXT
DATE
LOCATION
Presentation Box Portfolio Application Fall 2024 Surrey, BC, Canada
QR Code Assembly
Portfolio Box
personal project
dash maxwell
A small presentation box fabricated to help my portfolio stand out. To produce the box I joined a small community run machine shop where I spent 3 months learning how to use a metal CNC and resin printer. Along with milling the QR Code, I did all of the prototyping including 3D printing, foil stamping and painting myself. The final laser etching was done by Arvin Design, bulk 3D printing by Deci3D and lastly the gold stamping by Essential Packaging. An enjoyable project which taught me several valuable lessons regarding the design of a product, including manual production, sourcing material, and working with suppliers and fabricators.
Conceptual Render
Aluminum Plate
Brass Frame Magnet
Note: Due to roughness of shipping magnetic attachment proved inviable.
Note: Previously attached via embedded magnet
Box
Process
Glue
SLA
Side Section
Front Section
Failed Pavilion v3 personal project (w.i.p.)
Continuation of a failed class project. In 2023 I enrolled in a pavilion design elective which unfortunately was under attended. We were tasked with the design and fabrication of a parametric pavilion to sit outside of the faculty’s main entrance. Due to a lack of experience, manpower and drive we encountered innumerable issues with the project. I have since revisited and completely redone the it from scratch. The script is finally able to turn any closed surface shape into a customizable waffle structure complete with all necessary cut sheets.
Variant A
Variant B
Variant C
Variant D
Variant D Cut Sheets
DATE
LOCATION
Home Competition Spring, 2025 Vancouver, BC, Canada
Winch House
“competition” entry
dash maxwell & colin staffer
A tiny home inspired by Volume Zero’s 2025 Tiny Home Competition. It was to be a tiny home not exceeding a combined floor area 25m^2, designed for a young professional, with extra consideration for off grid elements and the use of real world products. For Winch House, Colin and I designed our project around a mechanical track mounted stair system that acts as both stair, walkway, storage and table. By adjusting the stair system, different amenities can be accessed. Several existing products were used, particularly for the exterior wall, skylight, gutter and water reclamation system.
Tiny
G.E.C.
Award
for Excellence in Comprehensive Architecture
Production & Restriction
comprehensive studio dash maxwell & harmen verbrugge
Production and Restriction is a comprehensive project which investigates the productive potential of our desires to separate, and be separated. At its core, it is an art gallery which exists between two dissonant populations, and attempts to construct a symbiotic program to serve each population’s unique needs.
According to Aurelli, separation is the most basic condition of architecture. It is through separation that the political, the conditions of how we relate to another, take palace. Once a wall has been constructed, who is allowed to exist on either side, and who is allowed to pass through must be defined.
By approaching the project with a critical emphasis on separation rather than unity, we developed a cynical, yet practical solution to the problems presented to us by our studio.
Sitting between Calgary’s river walk and the Drop In Center, the vacant site acts as a territorializing force separating two dissonant populations
Problematic Programing
Although tasked with designing an art gallery, we face the challenge of creating a space that both limits interaction and benefits both populations, one of which may have little interest in the gallery. To address this, we developed a programmatic spine — an architectural framework designed to support both groups while minimizing contact.
Our approach involved rethinking the program. We reduced the space for public amenities (like the café, retail, and seminar rooms) and reallocated it to serve the "less-than-public" population — those excluded from mainstream public services, such as the people in the encampment who use the drop-in center. This group is nearly as large as the general public, and their needs are central to the design.
Assigned Program
Program
As is, the site does not allow either population in.
Populations have no desire to share space.
Amended Program
admin. office admin. workstations
admin. support/print/storage
r.c. resource area
r.c.
servery seminar rooms x4 retail and
Private admin. office admin. workstations
admin. support/print/storage
r.c. resource area
r.c. support
loading dock/shipping/receiving exhibition sotrage/preparation
Public lobby reception
lecture area
servery seminar rooms x3
retail and bookstore coat check
Less than Public food service
temporary shelter x3 day labour office clothing bank
Distinct spaces must be designed for populations
Use of spaces can create benefit for opposing population
Based on our site visits, we determined 4 main points of perspective that best represent the two populations.
Sectional Approach
To allow for greater ease of public access, most of the public program will be located on the ground level. Private programing, such as housing or building admin will be raised up to the second floor.
We applied the parti of the spine literally onto the site. As both a visual and physical barrier two distinct territories emerged.
The Spine houses and filters the buildings program. It provides a programmatic and structural framework for the symbiotic relationship to function through.
Massing Strategy
1. Perspective Points Established to Carve Away General Massing
3. Roof Line Determined by Sight Line of Overpass
2. Resulting ‘Islands’ Extruded 4. Islands
Computational Analysis
Cafe
Spine can be used as Thermal Mass
Thermal Exposure: Summer Solstice
Thermal Exposure: Winter Solstice Wind Analysis
Program and Material Relationship
Program in Action
Baked goods enjoyed by riverwalk users
Baked goods sold in Cafe
Baked goods transported to Cafe Day laborers produce baked goods for cash Bakery offers cash in hand day labour
The bakery, located at the top of the spine, on the south side, offers no questions asked, cash in hand day labor. Those who need a quick pay check can show up early in the morning, work for a day and get paid at the end of their shift. They get cash, and potentially a reference. Goods produced by the bakery can then be sold on the north side of the spine by the cafe to those visiting the gallery, or walking along the riverfront. Similarly below, the event kitchen can be used simultaneously to provide catering for the gallery, or food services to the soup kitchen.
nail laminated and notched
suspended wood ceiling
polycarbonate translucent panel
steel cable cross bracing
glass fiber reinforced concrete panel
100mm x 500mm glulam beam
gallery space
underground parkade
Construction Details
1. cast in place concrete
2. 2- ply sbs roofing membrane
3. pre-finished metal flashing
4. 3 ply clt panels
5. light gage steel framing
6. clt wood ‘slat’
7. r48 xps rigid foam board insulation
8. mineral wool insulated backpan
9. horizontal mullion
10. weather stripping
11. r28 mineral wool insulation
12. metal timber fin connection
13. vertical timber fin extrusion
14. wood stud
15. 100mm x 500mm glulam beam
16. glass
17. radiant heating
18. 3-ply clt panels
19. window trim
20. steel stud
21. concrete topping
22. pavement
23. sand
TYPE CONTEXT
DATE
LOCATION
Residential Development
Final Research Studio Winter 2024 Calgary, AB, Canada
Prof. Jinmo Ree’s program (and focus of his current PhD) can be fed mesh models of any city. Once fed, the program compares forms and generates a number of types. Each color in the diagram represents a type of architecture found in Calgary, from single story pitched rooms to podium based towers...
x
Studio VI wesley tran & dash maxwell
Figures to be Featured in TAD Journal
Example of Black Box Morphology by Hirschberg, Rock, and Sevestyen via Researchgate
section o1: access path perspective
section o2: plaza perspective
TYPE
CONTEXT
DATE
LOCATION
CORBUSSY STUDIOS: THE BIG COWGIRL
dash maxwell & gregg campbell
begrudgingly selected winter 2023 year end show
Elective Architecture is a Joke Winter 2023 Calgary, AB, Canada
Have you ever wanted to f*ck your own building? How about a Mies, a Corbusier? Of course you have, you’re a Capital A Architect. We’ve read your essays, we’ve listened to your interviews. We are Gregory Campbell & Dash Maxwell, and we have designed the perfect product for you: The Corbussy.
The Corbussy is the ultimate archisexual experience, the perfect marriage of physical and intellectual self pleasure. Precision molded in skin and dishwasher safe silicone, the Corbussy gives you an unparalleled opportunity to intimately experience all your favorite towers the way their designers wished they could have themselves: Balls deep.
Based on the sensual and feminine forms of Bjarke Ingle’s Telus Sky Tower in Calgary, Alberta, the BiG Cowgirl is the first to be released of this radical collection. Its feminine, lady-like curves give its users maximum physical pleasure. As you enter the tower through its base you’re carried up into its tightly twisting feminine form. Its parametrically contrived skin dominates you, forcing you to experience every pixel of its iconic facade. Are you a strong enough man to break in this cowgirl?*
*Must be a licensed architect with the R.A.I.C. to purchase.
2” Office Space
5.5” Luxury Apartments
Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
TYPE CONTEXT
DATE
LOCATION
Office Re-Use and Social Housing WORK INTEGRATED STUDIO
FALL 2020
Victoria, BC, Canada
Garden City is a downtown revitalization project designed in conjunction with the Center for Civilization and Canadian Urban Institute for the City of Victoria. Since the outset of Covid-19 real estate vacancy rates have skyrocketed, while Canada has seen a nationwide lag in the construction of affordable residential developments. Garden City uses information provided by C.F.C. and C.U.I. to propose the conversion of three near vacant office buildings into a series of emergency, temporary and affordable homes.
Unhoused Statistics for Major Canadian Cities City of Victoria Analysis
High Vacancy Buildings
615 Broughton Street
Single Bedroom Unit
Unit Render
Context Model
13.13 Seconds
Short Film
An architectural form attempts to give a technical tutorial to a room full of exacerbated and perplexed shapes. 13.13 Seconds is my final animation to emerge from Dan Hapton’s class Obviously, its Digital. Using Spinoza as a conceptual framework,
and Blenders geometry node system as our toolset, we modeled, drew, animated and ultimately explored ideas of architecture-as-beast in a predominantly digital age. The audio and video of the animation was taken from our class, unbeknownst to our professor. By inserting my digital creatures back into the classroom, and using them to replace ourselves, the project is recontextualized, and the typically clean relationship of professor, student, and project is reorganized. The work no longer exists in an abstract vacuum, cleanely severed from the means of its own production.
TYPE
CONTEXT
DATE
LOCATION
Kinetic Sculpture Elective FALL 2020 Victoria, BC, Canada
Here & There
dash maxwell, harmen verbrugge & connor glass selected fall 2022 year end show
Here and There is a proposed sculptural system designed to represent those who are not immediately present. For this iteration we have chosen to represent the individuals currently residing in the tent city found in Centennial Park, Victoria, BC. This sculpture tracks those who have been pushed to the periphery, and transports their presence to point in space as a reminder of our civic obligations.
Location of Centennial Park
Motorized Sculpture
Sculpture Detail
The sculpture, which is composed of 70 motorized columns, is controlled by a grasshopper script and arduino board. The script is based on translation of heat maps to height values, and works in two different ways. The first way is through importation of live heat map data through the form of video frames. The imported frames are converted into black and white and placed on a grid, each cell representing a different column. Depending on the cells black/white value, a height value is ascribed and sent to the arduino which then raises or lowers the relevant column.
In terms of the built model, we set up the script to react to a simulation of the camp/park. The simulation was created using the Grasshopper plugin PedSim. Similar to the previous version, a heatmap is created from the live pedestrian simulation which then determines the height of the sculpture’s topography.
Wood Block
Actuator Track
3D Printed Actuator
3D Printed Gear
Servo Motor
Pedestrian Simulation into Heatmap
Heatmap into Height Values
Actuator Implementation
Pedsim simulation of park users
dash maxwell | marc lehody | amina morsli Summer 2022, Spain
Above: Interior Arcade
Below: Community Center & Affordable Housing Section
Above: Plaza and Market
Above: Plaza and Market
6th Street Factory
Studio III dash maxwell
The Factory is a 17 story, multi use art complex located on the corner of 6th Street and 9th Ave. The goal of this project is two fold. First is to create a space of escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, and second, to create an environment in which the entire ecosystem of arts and crafts production could exist within. The building is composed of seven interrelated programs separated into two realms: the Public which is composed of a small cafe, an arts library, art galleries, and garden and the Private which includes a variety of light industrial spaces, artist studio’s and apartments.
TYPE CONTEXT
DATE
LOCATION
Artist Residence and Gallery
Studio III FALL 2020 Calgary, AB, Canada
Level 04 Plan
Isographic Render
Digital Maquette Gallery and Garden Section
TYPE CONTEXT
DATE
LOCATION
Demendia Care Home
Professional Work Summer 2021 Wardsvill, ON, Canada
Beattie Manor Expansion
Junior Designer
The Beattie Manor Expansion is an assisted living facility designed specifically to help house those suffering from dementia. Cues have been taken from Loop Architecture’s and Den Architecture’s work on healthcare facilities, particularly the use of color coordination to help inhabitants identify space, as well as the use of a circular floor plan to avoid dead ends.
Responsibilities included modeling and drafting in Revit, as well conceptual design, and unit design.
Piers Island Renovation
Junior Designer
First foray in into professional work. Piers Island was a renovation to a small cabin which saw the addition of three bedrooms, a bathroom and storage space.
Responsibilities included modeling and drafting in Revit under supervision.
