My name is Edras Brown, though I go by Eddie, and I hold a Bachelor of Architecture from the Syracuse University School of Architecture. I’m an adoptee from Guatemala who has had the privilege of growing up in several cities—including Irvine, San Diego, Orlando, and Washington, D.C.—before finding a deep personal and creative connection to upstate New York.
Throughout my five years at Syracuse, I developed a strong foundation in both creative exploration and technical rigor. I particularly enjoy the early stages of the design process, where I begin each project with quick hand sketches to freely explore ideas. My education also sharpened my time management, problem-solving, and collaboration skills—tools I’ve carried into professional environments.
I’ve had the opportunity to intern at architecture firms in both New York City and Washington, D.C., where I gained hands-on experience working on residential and commercial projects, developing design concepts, and contributing to client presentations. These experiences strengthened my technical abilities and deepened my appreciation for thoughtful, context-driven design. Working in two fast-paced, design-forward cities also taught me how to communicate ideas clearly, adapt quickly, and contribute meaningfully within multidisciplinary teams.
As I continue to grow professionally, I’m committed to expanding my knowledge across diverse areas of architecture. My goal is to help redefine architecture not just as a collection of static forms, but as a responsive and evolving practice—one that engages with the changing needs of the communities it serves.
SCHOOL PROJECTS
Pocket Avenue
LPC Village
Bathing In Rust
Mushroom House
PROFESSIONAL WORK
Letter of Recommendation
DTCI Field Survey
Podcast Room
Cross Relocation
Pocket Avenue
Challenging domestic space
This experimental communal co-op and housing project challenges the traditional nuclear family model by providing a supportive and inclusive environment for single-parent families in the Bronx. The design utilizes three vacant lots to create a space that caters to the needs of this statistically significant demographic. The project focuses on offering affordable housing while fostering a strong sense of community and mutual support within the complex. A key element of the design is the inclusion of an elderly population, who will both work and co-live alongside the single-parent households.
Location: Bronx, NYC
Site area: 3 Infill Lots
Typology: Modular Co-living and Working
Professor: Marcos Parga
Group: Charlie G.
Year: 3rd, ARC 307
It’s designed to cultivate a dynamic space where resources, knowledge, and companionship are exchanged, enriching the lives of all residents. By fostering meaningful connections between generations, the project aims to create a resilient and supportive community between families.
The project reimagines housing as more than just shelter—Becoming a framework for shared living. Through design strategies prioritizing accessibility, interaction, and mutual care, the proposal encourages everyday moments of connection while supporting the evolving needs of multigenerational households.
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LPC Village
Challenging the typology of a civic institution
After the tragic fire that left only the facade of the Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue standing, we are presented with the opportunity to design a new headquarters for the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC). The design seeks to honor the church’s spirit of collaboration and unity while introducing a new, contemporary civic institution that fosters a stronger connection between the East Village community and the city at large. By creating an inviting and accessible space, we aim to address the growing desire among residents for more involvement in decisions related to building preservation.
Location: East Village, NYC
Site area: Second Ave. Corner Lot - Middle Collegiate Church
Typology: LPC Head Quarters & Social Hub
Professor: Rami Abou-Khalil
Group: Shannon G.
Year: 3rd, ARC 308
Four masses, Church facade, Material Library, Gallery, and Offices, all come together to form a multi-functional plaza. The plaza contains the hearing hall, where the LPC holds hearings for possible Landmarked buildings.
Second Floor
First Floor
The render below reflects our research into the East Village, where I investigated liminal spaces and those informally reclaimed by residents. Through the layering of advertisements, posters, and spray paint, these spaces tell stories of resistance, identity, and local culture.
This research directly informed the spatial character of the project, embracing the raw, expressive, and community-driven qualities of urban life, while fostering an environment that encourages dialogue
Bathing In Rust
Dealing with human tensions and scarcity of clean water
Elba Island, consisting of a long history of mining and degradation, is home to many abandoned iron mines. Using one of these abandoned iron mines, we designed a bathhouse and rainwater purification center (with housing for researchers & scientists).
Location: Elba Island, Italy
Site area: Abandoned Mine, Rio Marina
Typology: Bath House & Rain Water Treatment center
Professor: Luca Ponsi
Group: Jack R. - Emma B.K.
Year: 4th, ARC 408
The bathhouse provides a tranquil environment where visitors and researchers can connect with nature and reflect on the island’s renewal. Transforming a former site of extraction into one of healing, the project weaves together history, science, and environmental care—a vision of resilience and regeneration
The entry way to the baths have two suspended cylinders of water. Sunlight shines rusty brown light, highlighting the past quality, while the other shines the new and improved quality.
Drawings emphasize on the important connections between old concrete and brick material with the new rammed earth and dark red steel material. Incorporating familiar materials and styles creates a dialogue between the past, and present, and preserves a sense of place.
Mushroom House
Working With Mycelium as a Sustainable Material
What if we pushed the boundaries of the what walls can look like?
Instead of relying on traditional and non-renewable materials for wall construction, we used just one single regenerative material?
Urban environments face increasing challenges related to sustainable food production and energy inefficiency.
Mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi, offers a bio-based solution that addresses both concerns through its potential applications in insulation and food production systems.
Location: 402 Warren St, Syracuse NY
Site area: Single Family Home
Typology: House Retrofit
Professor: Nina Wilson
Group: Cagla E. - Stephanie K.
Year: 5th, Directed Research
The site, located at 402 Warren Street in Fayetteville, contains an existing structure with minimal to no insulation, making it highly inefficient in maintaining thermal comfort and heavily reliant on active heating and cooling systems. A comprehensive site analysis revealed that the southfacing façade receives the greatest amount of solar exposure, presenting ideal conditions for integrating adjustable airflow systems. These systems offer a strategic opportunity to enhance passive climate control, reducing dependence on mechanical interventions and improving overall energy efficiency.
The objective of our design is to integrate the principles of a double-skin façade system, which led to the development of mycelium chimneys as a bio-informed alternative. Functionally, these chimneys operate on the same passive ventilation principles: during the summer, cooler air descends and enters the interior through operable windows and vents, while warmer air rises and is expelled via the stack effect, promoting natural airflow. In winter, the vents are closed, allowing the chimneys to capture extensive solar heat gain.
This creates a thermal buffer within the mycelium chimneys, enabling passive heating of the interior spaces. This section illustrates how the retrofitted space comes to life, with humans and plants cohabiting a microclimate moderated by the mycelium double skin. The buffer zone becomes more than just insulation; it acts as a seasonal greenhouse, circulation space, and planting zone, inviting residents to interact with the structure. Taking a deeper look at the Wall components
We are keeping the existing roof enclosure, adding a new flashing system that meets the chimney, the window unit, and the mycelium.
The foundation has a ventilation system at the ground level. The brick also helps the mycelium deal with ground moisture
Modular cavities also accommodate planting zones, creating space for small-scale food growth within
Mycelium is the root-like network of fungi, composed of fine, thread-like filaments called hyphae that spread through soil or organic matter to break down and absorb nutrients. In recent years, mycelium has emerged as a promising biomaterial in architecture due to its ability to grow into dense, lightweight structures when cultivated on agricultural waste. Once grown and dried, mycelium becomes a strong, biodegradable material with natural insulating and fire-resistant properties. Architects and designers are exploring its use in applications such as insulation panels, bricks, acoustic tiles, and biodegradable formwork. Its low embodied energy, renewability, and potential for carbon sequestration position mycelium as a compelling alternative to conventional building materials, aligning with the growing movement toward sustainable and regenerative architecture. Working with mycelium as a building material is both experimental and deeply rewarding. As a living organism, mycelium requires specific
environmental conditions—such as controlled humidity, temperature, and airflow—to grow successfully, making the cultivation process more akin to farming than traditional construction.The material begins as a lightweight, fibrous network that colonizes organic substrates like agricultural waste, which are packed into molds to form bricks, panels, or custom forms. Over the course of several days to weeks, the mycelium grows into a solid structure, binding the substrate together.The tactile and visual qualities of mycelium are unique: it is soft and sponge-like when fresh, but once dried and heat-treated, it becomes lightweight, rigid, and slightly textured, with a natural, earthy appearance. Its biodegradability, low embodied energy, and potential for carbon sequestration make it an attractive alternative to conventional insulation or paneling materials. However, working with mycelium involves navigating material variability, contamination risks, and questions of scalability and durability in architectural applications.
Professional Work
Internship Progression
During my summer internships at Page Southerland Page, the second-largest architectural firm in Washington D.C., and through a freelance project for the National Presbyterian Church, I gained invaluable hands-on experience in architectural design, spatial planning, and client collaboration. At Page, I contributed to various projects, including detailed site analysis, interior renovations, and flexible space design. I worked closely with teams to create functional and aesthetically appealing designs while ensuring seamless integration of client feedback. Additionally, my freelance project for the National Presbyterian Church involved creating renderings for the relocation of the church’s cross and designing new architectural features to complement the updated entrance. These experiences honed my technical skills, creativity, and ability to work in diverse project environments, deepening my understanding of architectural design and client-focused solutions.
I am writing to offer my highest recommendation for Edras Brown, who interned at Page during the summers of 2023 and 2024. Over the course of his time with us, Edras – Eddie as we came to know him - consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to the craft of architecture, and I have no doubt that he would be a valuable asset to any team or organization he joins.
During his internship, Eddie contributed to a variety of projects, showcasing both his strong technical abilities with various software packages and his passion for design. He was actively involved in preparing client presentations for Programming and Concept Design, where he consistently exhibited both creativity and clarity in presenting architectural concepts. His work was consistently thoughtful and well-organized, and he displayed an impressive ability to work with multiple team members and became a trusted colleague in no time.
In addition to his work on presentations, Eddie also assisted in the survey and initial design concepts for Class A Office interior renovation projects, providing important insights and data that helped shape design decisions. He was particularly helpful in proposing color, configuration and finish palettes for a new podcast room for the Society for Human Resources (SHRM) HQ in Alexandria, VA. His selections were not only visually appealing but also aligned with the client’s needs and the project’s goals, showcasing his eye for detail and his understanding of both aesthetic and functional design principles.
One of the most impressive qualities Eddie exhibited was his ability to express his ideas confidently to colleagues. Whether it was delivering design concepts, answering questions, or participating in meetings, he showed remarkable professionalism and ease in all situations. His poise, clarity, and respect made him an asset to our team, and I believe this skill will serve him well in his future career.
Throughout his internship, Eddie proved himself to be a hardworking, reliable, and talented individual who always approached his tasks with enthusiasm and professionalism. He was eager to learn, demonstrated a great capacity for growth, and contributed meaningfully to every project he worked on. I am confident that he will bring the same level of dedication and excellence to any future role in architecture. His true passion for the profession will always make him bring the best version of himself to the task at hand.
I highly recommend Eddie for any position that allows him to further develop his architectural skills and contribute to exciting design projects. If you have any questions or would like to discuss his qualifications further, please feel free to contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Juliane Trindade, AIA, NCARB
Project Manager/Senior Associate
DTCI Field Survey
Professional Work
For this project, our team was commissioned by the Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure (DTCI) in Loudoun County, Virginia, to assist in the renovation of their headquarters interior. Our role focused on gathering precise and comprehensive data regarding the existing building conditions, which would serve as a foundation for the upcoming renovation and design work. This involved conducting detailed site analysis and measurements, including recording exact dimensions and elevations throughout the interior. We identified and cataloged existing conditions that could influence the design, such as irregularities in floor levels, ceiling heights, and structural obstructions. In addition to a developed site plan analysis to guide the renovation process, I used Revit to create both the demolition plan and the new floor plan, ensuring that the design reflected the necessary changes to wall locations and overall layout.
Location: Leesburg, Virginia
Site: Loudoun County DTCI
Typology: Interior Renovation
Supervisor: Juliane Trindade
Year: August, 2024
Podcast Room
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) approached our team with the task of transforming their weekly podcast format from audio-only to full visual recordings. Working closely with the project manager, Julie, I was responsible for designing a versatile and adaptable space to accommodate the five distinct podcasts, each targeting a different audience type. This presented a unique challenge, as the space needed to be flexible enough to shift between casual and professional settings, depending on the specific tone and style of each podcast. My initial sketches of furniture and prop layouts played a key role in shaping the final design. The casual setting features two comfortable lounge chairs, creating an inviting and relaxed atmosphere.
Location: Alexandria,Virginia
Site: SHRM Headquarters
Typology: Interior Renovation
Supervisor: Juliane Trindade
Year: July, 2024
Cross Relocation
I created a series of night and day renderings to explore various possibilities for the relocation of the cross at the National Presbyterian Church. My task was to provide multiple render viewpoints for the different options, ensuring that each potential placement was clearly visualized and to introduce a new parapet for the entrance wall. With the main entrance to the church being relocated, there was a need to reposition the cross accordingly. These renderings allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the design choices, helping to determine the most impactful and meaningful location for the cross within the new church layout.
