The prominent render showcased in ASCA’s 2023 COTE Top Ten for Students website.
This was a group project of three for our fourth year capstone Integrated Design studio. This project involved designing a sustainable building using mass timber as the primary structural material. The project integrated knowledge from our previous courses in construction, environmental studies, and structures. Our results were evaluated through the building’s Energy Use Intensity (EUI) score
At the end of the semester we participated in a competition against our classmates and secured 1st place in the student vote and 2nd place in the faculty vote. We were encourage by our success, to enter a competition organized by the AIA COTE collaboration with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA).
A semester later, we were thrilled to be announced as one of the ten winners of the 2023 AIA COTE Top Ten for Students Competition This achievement gained our recognition for our university as a whole.
TIMBR is a mass timber office building that aims to foster a strong sense of community by integrating with the neighboring local buildings and Riverwalk. It offers captivating views of the Detroit Riverfront and seamlessly connects users from the townhouses, Outdoor Adventure Center, and the harbor, embracing the spirit of the Detroit Riverfront. TIMBR also creates a sense of belonging for the building tenants; by providing user comfort, personal choice, and flexibility of program – by adapting to an open floor space. The building employs renewable energy and a sustainable mechanical system, positioning TIMBR as a hub for energy production with its ambitious goal of achieving below net-zero emissions
ALLEY
WILLIAM MILLIKEN STATE PARK
Th The HEX vision is to arts and culture hub, taking advantage of all 18 lo 18 lots’ square footage and embracing their existing greenery and and open ambiance, making the space goal to be an space inviting neighborhood gathering space to the Chadsey Condon neighborhood. The proposed modular de design would allow the site to various activities onsite at a particular time. The intent is to create a vibrant vibrant, we welcoming environment for all generations to enjoy and feel they have a space to identify. The HEX provides a community voice, allowing community members to decide on the placement of structures and paths onsite. The intent is to mi-permanent begin with semi-permanent structures, and over time will have the ability to become pe permanent structures if the community wishes them to be so. The community has the opportunity to inte interact with the structures and add their own artwork to the building facades. Creating spaces that can be used for needs and will ge Cultural longevity of Garage Cultural, having of income community partnerships and sources of income ––
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This was a group project provided by my Public Interest Design studio. The Public Interest Design Studio provides a real life example of a local project needing help. In this case the Garage Cultural needed help designing for 12 total lots they just purchase with the intention of community focus.
My area of focus within my group was to design three specific elements of design for site, from the alley being celebrated, to the stage being enjoyed, and lastly a garden component that would help educate users. These elements were thought off through our community engagement meetings with the owner Amelia Duran. We broke down elements into stages, to make elements
I contributed in additional need of help such as presentation work, and process for the overall Hex
The alley is currently used as a service alley, but with our new site plan, it’s now a pathway that connects all lots. The alley design element includes water storage, seating, and color to enhance the surroundings.
Amelia, the owner of Garage Cultural, emphasized the need to educate everyone in the program about healthy living, including healthy eating. The garden component included a place where they can plant vegetation, have seating and storage for tools and etc.
The stage was a very important task to be celebrated, as this is where the community would gather and present their skills learned , during there time spent on Garage Cultural
Group Work,
We worked as a group to work on circulation of all lots, and location of elements, and placed our individual elements in selected areas. Overall, we were happy with the group outcome.
Awards: 1st place student vote.
In order to fulfill the graduation requirements at the University of Detroit Mercy, students are expected to complete two Co-Op internships. These internships provide valuable experiential learning opportunities and can be pursued either within the same company or by transitioning to a different organization. In line with these expectations, I had the privilege of serving as an intern at the Detroit Collaborative Design Center, commencing in the summer of 2022 and concluding during Winter break. Subsequently, I furthered my professional growth as an intern at W/Purpose, where I continued to gain valuable experience from the Winter of 2023 until the Summer of 2023.
Both these internships were in small nonprofit offices, that focused on Detroit’s revitalization.
This project had the objective of addressing the concerns of business owners in the community regarding street safety, particularly along Gratiot Street, which starts at the inception of a freeway and concludes with the anticipation of high-speed traffic. Throughout the course of this project, I had the opportunity to visit the actual site and observe the initial stages of rendering, envisioning the areas with the greatest potential to capture the complete essence of the neighborhood. Furthermore, I had the privilege of attending in-person business meetings where I actively listened to their specific requirements and desires. Lastly, I incorporated the valuable feedback provided by the business owners, applying my proficient Photoshop skills to enhance the render accordingly. Through this project I also learned the importance in the community to showcase a neighborhood identity.
The objective of this project was to transition a parcel in the Delray neighborhood from an industrial zone (M4) to a Mixed-Use zone. To achieve this, I needed to demonstrate the neighborhood’s value as a Mixed-Use Zone. I created seven maps using ARCH-GIS to highlight its significant surroundings. Additionally, I compared historical context and current city planning, referencing the Detroit Framework Plan, which emphasizes the necessity for zoning change. I continued this project by conducting a “DEVELOPMENT TEST FIT” with my partner/boss Will Marquez.
The objective of this project was to draw existing floor plans and transition it to a new design, necessitating the demolition of walls and the scheduling of windows, doors, and stairs to code . This project required multiple site visits for accurate execution, and only involved documentation of the second floor, and backyard patio.
Culture is a vital component of people’s identities. For ethnic enclaves, showcasing culture is crucial to foster a sense of belonging. Currently there are studies that state the many benefits derived from ethnic enclaves that show people living amongst shared race, ethnicity or culture, have a higher percentage of reduced local exposure to prejudice, increased social support, and increased mental health. Ethnic enclaves also serve as important cultural centers, preserving and promoting the heritage and traditions of immigrant communities.
My thesis centers on the Hispanic neighborhood of Southwest Detroit, and how they have cultivated a sense of belonging through their cultural neighborhood image. There are various elements in the main commercial corridor (Vernor), that promotes the strong sense of identity and belonging among the neighborhood’s residents. These enclaves preserve rich culture displaying, it’s important to learn and investigate about these neighborhood backgrounds so that they keep providing their cultural identity. This thesis brings awareness, and celebrates neighborhoods that proudly showcase culture.
How do people adapt to and find comfort in new environments through architecture while preserving their cultural identity?
As cities undergo continuous new construction and development, the question arises: Can cultural neighborhoods naturally evolve or must these buildings stay strictly traditional to be recognizable as cultural?
BENEFITS DERRIVED FROM ETHNIC ENCLAVES
MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS
MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS MENTAL HEALTH
Ethnic enclaves can also act as bridges between immigrant communities and the wider society.
Ethnic enclaves also serve as important cultural centers, preserving and promoting the heritage and traditions of immigrant communities.
11 TOTAL INTERVIEWS TO BUSINESS OWNERS & LONG TERMS RESIDENTS
“Southwest Detroit raised me. It’s the one place I go to feel closest to my roots and people. It is a place that reminds me of my cultura Mexicana and the sacrifices my fellow paisanos have made to get to the other side. I love the different ethnicities we have down here: Mexican, Honduran, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran, Dominican, and many more. When you drive down Vernor, you can smell the wonders of food, from pan dulce to a taqueria.”
“Southwest means a community that shares similar traditions and backgrounds as my family and I. SOUTHWEST brings a small part of our homeland country close to us. Everyone individually adds to SouthWest and it is a community that has solely grown with the mindset of foreigners.”
“Southwest is my home, it is a place that has a lot of great events especially directed to the Hispanic community. It is filled with life and adventure, never a dull experience. Southwest is a unified community .”
“To many, Southwest Detroit is an often overlooked pocket of the city; however it’s truly a culturally rich, tight knit yet welcoming community.”
COMMON THEMES EMERGED:
Ethnic enclaves also serve as economic hubs offering opportunities for immigrant entrepreneurs to start businesses and create employment opportunities.
ETHNIC ENCLAVES OFFER DIVERSE VISUAL AND PROGRAMMATIC EXPRESSIONS, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AND BRING A FEELING OF BELONGING/INCLUSIVENESS LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY LIFE.
“ Southwest is an area where Mexican culture thrives. every corner you turn there is a small mexican owned business. Vernor is a hotspot of the area where you can hear Mexican music blaring from small storefronts.”
BuSINESS
CULTURALLY SENSITIVE DESIGN
It is not one specific space or program, but the network of multiple factors, small scale places, and programs that create the sense of atmosphere and promote the sense of belonging and accessibility.
69.1% OF POPULATION IS HISPANIC
15,139 RESIDENTS
4,804 HOUSING UNITS
