My name is Drew Ngo, and I am a Texas-born architecture student at the University of Oklahoma. I attribute my passion for design to my parents, Vietnamese immigrants and mechanical engineers whose creativity and determination shaped my upbringing. Growing up, I spent weekends helping them transform neglected houses into welcoming homes. These early experiences instilled a love for in me design that balances technical precision with artistic vision. Now, five years into my architecture studies, I am driven by the challenges and rewards of a field that demands innovation, problem-solving, and enduring design.
Name Age Place Contact Email
EDUCATION
Drew Thomas Ngo 23
Norman, OK +1 972 965 4495 drewngo@ymail.com
Richardson High School
Architecture Magnet Program Led by Oswaldo Rivera, AIA
Architecture Magnet introduces students to the world of architecture with yearly design competitions. In my senior year, my class won a grant from the district for our proposals of outdoor learning spaces.
University of Oklahoma
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture
- AIAS | Member
American Institute of Architecture Students, Weekly Meetings and event organization.
- NOMAS | Creative Director
National Organization of Minority Architects, Semester long Design Competitions with other universities nationwide.
AIA - Rome, Italy
American Architecture study abroad institution
Academic Initiatives Abroad is an American study abroad institution. During my time at the AIA Rome Center, I took Architectural History and a 5 month Design project in the historic Trastevere Neighborhood.
EXPERIENCE
Haskell/Benham
Design Intern | Oklahoma City, OK
Haskell Benham is an architecture, engineering, and construction company that has 1300 employees across the world. Through my time working within the architecture division, I developed essential collaborative and interpersonal skills that I will utilize forever.
Advantage Construction
Project Engineer | Richardson, TX
Advantage Construction is a general contractor that builds self storage units out of Richardson, TX. While working under the supervision of project managers and contractors, I was able to gain firsthand experience operating within the construction field.
PBK Architects
Design Intern | Dallas, TX
My internship with PBK Architects was a program sponsored by the Architecture Magnet. While still attending high school, I worked within the Dallas office part-time in collaboration with the design team.
SKILLS
VERDE
Dallas, Tx, USA | Fall 2023 | Prof. Alan Moring
Verde is my capstone housing project from my 4th year of architecture school, designed as a mixed-use development located just north of downtown Dallas, TX. Situated in a fringe neighborhood predominantly home to minority immigrants from Southeast Asia, many of whom are women, the project aims to address the unique needs of this community, identified through extensive site analysis.
The design of Verde focuses on creating a safe and nurturing environment that feels like home for its occupants. To achieve this, Verde reimagines urban living by introducing a green oasis in the heart of Dallas. By minimizing the building’s footprint and strategically orienting the structures to maximize natural sunlight, the project dedicates 70% of the site to greenery. Communal gardens and personal planters are integrated into each residential unit, empowering residents to grow their own produce and fostering a sense of connection to nature through accessibility. Through thoughtful design, Verde combines sustainability with community well-being, offering a sanctuary where
Perspective Render
VICTORY MEADOW
32.871, -96.761
Area: 5.3 square miles
Dallas, TX
Population: 53,000 residents
02. Neighborhood
03. South Elevation
West Elevation
05. Entrance
06. Typical 2 Bed
Membrane
Metal Siding 1/2" Reveals
Escape Stair
Rooftop Gr eenhouse
Entrance
Entrance
12. East Elevation
13. BLDG A Elevation
14. Structure Axon
LA RADICE
Rome, Italy | Spring 2022 | Beatrice Bruscoli Ph.D.
La Radice, translated as “the Root” in English, is a museum project I designed during a 7-month study abroad program in Rome, Italy. This project, created in collaboration with my partner Joseph Vint, was deeply influenced by our experience living in the Trastevere, a vibrant neighborhood “across the river” from the historic center. Our goal was to design a museum rooted in the community’s daily life while celebrating its cultural and architectural heritage.
Our primary inspirations came from observing Rome’s diverse traffic patterns—an intricate circulatary flow of bikes, cars, buses, scooters, and pedestrians. These patterns informed the design of La Radice, which seeks to harmonize movement and connection. Situated on the site of an ancient Roman boathouse, the museum is intentionally embedded underground, symbolically “rooting” itself into the earth. This approach not only preserves the historical significance of the site but also reconnects the neighborhood with the river, reestablishing a sense of place and community.
THE EXTERIOR
To integrate with the Trastevere neighborhood, we drew upon classical Roman architectural forms while reinterpreting them with modern materials and proportions. The result is a space that bridges the past and present, offering the community a museum that reflects both its rich history and its evolving identity.
01. South Elevation
02. Courtyard
03. Exhibition Spaces
Street Level
07. Courtyard Section
05. 2nd Level
08. Exhition Space Section
06. River Level
09. Archive Section
CIRCULATION
10. Entrances
14. Plaza
11. Circulation in Museum
Courtyard
12. Circulation for Waterfront
16. Connection to Waterfront
13. Circulation of Archivists
LAKE THUNDERBIRD CAFE
Norman, OK | Fall 2022 | Prof. Wanda Lieberman
The Lake Thunderbird Café was a project from my 3rd year of architecture school, designed with a focus on seamless site integration. Located in Lake Thunderbird State Park in Norman, OK, the café capitalizes on its waterfront setting by serving as both a dining destination and a nature center that highlights the area’s natural beauty.
The roof design was a key consideration, featuring large overhangs and carefully shaped forms that provide ample shading while maintaining a strong connection to the outdoors. This integration of functionality and aesthetics creates a welcoming space that invites guests to relax and immerse themselves in the serene environment of Lake Thunderbird.
01. Perspective Render
THE EXPERIENCE
Visitors to the café experience a scenic drive along the shoreline before parking near the water, where the design thoughtfully blends with its surroundings. Seating and dining areas are strategically positioned at the building’s edges to maximize engagement with the landscape and water views, while the core interior houses the café’s primary functions.
02. Site Section
05. Nature Center
06. Entrance
07. Cafe
OUTRÉ WEST
Museum Exhibition Norman, OK | Fall 2023 | Ken Marold
Client:Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center
In partnership with the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center showcased iconic works from The American School of Architecture, a group of visionary architects educated and mentored in Oklahoma during the 1950s and 1960s. These architects later pioneered groundbreaking design practices in California, leaving a lasting legacy in the field.
As part of this collaboration, I, along with other architecture students, was tasked with recreating some of the American School’s most notable works. These included The Moon-Gate, The City Sleeper, and Mickey Muennig’s personal studio. Each project offered a unique challenge and required learning new skills in fabrication and Construction.
01. Mickey Muennig’s Studio
EXHIBITS
The Moon Gate
This striking entrance structure to Mickey Muennig’s home in Big Sur, California, features a distinct, unconventional shape. Recreating it was particularly challenging due to the limited drawings available. We constructed its interior structure using ¾” OSB board, CNC-cut into a waffle grid system, enabling it to be easily assembled and disassembled.
The City Sleeper
Designed by Donald MacDonald as a proposal for affordable housing for San Francisco’s homeless population in the 1970s, this project was reconstructed using detailed original plans provided from his personal archives. CNC technology allowed us to fabricate the structure efficiently from 5/8” plywood, highlighting the simplicity and practicality of MacDonald’s innovative design.
Fabrication
A team of students took one semester to design and build the three exhibits and learned how to use technical fabrication equipment
02. Donald Mcdonald’s City Sleeper
03. Outre West Moon-Gate
04. Outre West Exhibits
RENGADE DESIGN BUILD
Norman, OK | Fall 2024 | Ken Marold
Client: Sunhive Collective Norman, OK
In my 5th year of architecture school, I participated in a Design & Build Studio, collaborating with eight classmates to construct a new barn for the Sun Hive Collective in Norman, OK. Sun Hive is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive environment where young adults with disabilities can develop daily living, social, and transitional skills. This project was supported by Renegade Design+Build, a program within the Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma.
The Project started with client meetings with Sunhive Collective to understand their needs and wants for their new building. They were interested in a multi-use barn that both could store feed for their animals and act as a learning space for their members. During the schematic design phase, our group emphasized creating a flexible space to meet the dynamic needs of the organization. Creating detailed construction documents helped to deepen our understanding of the construction process.
