PORTFOLIO
ACADEMIC UNDERGRADUATE PORTFOLIO 2022-2024
EMILY MELENDEZ
Emily Melendez
14379 Paradise Tree Drive • Orlando, Florida 32828 • Cell: (407) 965-9713
E-mail: 3milymelendez@gmail.com • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/emily-melendez-40786b285
SKILLS & CAPABILITIES
Revit
Enscape
Rhino
EDUCATION
2024-2026
Masters of Architecture
2022-2024
AutoCAD
Photoshop Illustrator
Bachelor of Design in Architecture
Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)
Efficient and Accurate
Organized
Teamwork Abilities
Customer Service and Time Management
Fluent in English and Spanish
University of Florida – City Lab Orlando, FL
University of Central Florida Orlando, FL
2020-2022 Valencia College Orlando, FL
Associates in Arts
WORK EXPERIENCE
Oct 2023 - Present Romero Trumpp Farmer Architects Orlando, FL
Architecture Student Intern
Assist in setting up project files and drawing sets utilizing firm standards.
Participate in the process of exploring and completing usable construction document detailing solutions within given parameters.
Incorporate established schematic design, material selections, code required clearances, spatial limitations, and production time constraints into detailing solutions.
Aug 2022 – Sep 2023
Student Certifying Official Assistant
UCF Military and Veterans Success Center Orlando, FL
Assist student veterans and dependents understand the terms of using their chapter benefits for their tuition.
Provide friendly customer service at front desk.
Input student certifications into the database to submit to the Veterans Affairs Office.
Aug 2020 – May 2022
Student Certifying Official Assistant
Valencia College Military and Veterans Affairs Orlando, FL
Assist in the distribution, acceptance, and processing of applications for different veterans’ benefits programs.
Report, track, and submit updates to student course enrollment.
Resolve any discrepancies on the student profile
CERTIFICATES
May 2023 – Jun 2023
Revit 2023: Essential Training for Architecture (Imperial and Metric)
LinkedIn Learning Certification Orlando, FL
VOLUNTEERING
Aug 2023 – Dec 2023
Student President
Supervise and coordinate the activities of the organization.
Preside over all meetings and call all meetings to order.
UCF American Institute of Architecture Students Orlando, FL
Maintain communication with the Office of Student Involvement and/or Student Engagement (Downtown) and ensure that all paperwork is current.
01
THE MICRO COMMUNITY
THE HEART OF PARRAMORE ORLANDO
Orlando, Florida
ARC 4323L - Joshua Treadway
The goal of this project was to establish a micro community in the heart of the Parramore downtown Orlando area. We were given a block of space where we needed to analyze the most efficient and beneficial way to establish a community.
Unlike other major cities, downtown Orlando is one of the least walkable cities out of a list of major cities in the country. This reduces the amount of walking individuals can do per day going to work, grocery shopping or just effortlessly getting from one location to another. This greatly reduces the amount of exercise individuals who live in the downtown area need to stay healthy. The CDC states Individuals between the ages of 22-65- the age of individuals who live in the downtown Orlando area- do not get the required amount of exercise they need per day. The most efficient way to meet their exercise threshold is to participate in about 30 minutes of aerobic outdoor activities.
My solution was to create a circulatory system that provided multiple avenues of access throughout the site with each entrance having two entrances– one that served as a direct means of access and the secondary which functioned as a way to get individuals to spend more time outside. The circulatory paths would lead to multiple areas of engagement where community members can participate in group outdoor activities to not only meet their exercise threshold but also allows them to interact with their community members.
The site is composed of five main entrance points (!) : each located where a major bus stop is or adjacent to (*) . Each entrance has two main paths: one primary and one secondary. The primary path functions as the most direct form of access into the site providing the quickest way into the site and direct access to the community center. The secondary path functions as a meandering less direct path meant to allow individuals to spend more time outside. The secondary path also takes individuals to the private residences with adjacent private engagement zones meant for community members. In the center of each path is a public engagement space where community members can participate in activities meant for all ages getting individuals to spend more time outside with activities such as a skate park, basketball court, track and field, pickle ball courts as well as open fields where group activities like soccer and football can be played.
SMALLEST UNIT - Designed with college students in mind. Living facilities are characterized by having only basic necessities in units such as bedrooms and bathrooms. Design influenced by dorm style living.
In order to understand the site commodations the residences the age group of individuals who amount of exercise they need search- and compared that to town Orlando area. The three in the downtown Orlando area families and the elderly. The each age range would need to
LARGEST UNIT - Designed with young families in mind. Living facilities ‘grow’ with the family: if more space is necessary the family can ‘add’ an additional level to accommodate for space like a building block. Design similar to elderly unit.
site and what sort of living acresidences would need, I took a look at who weren’t getting the required need per day-based on prior reto individuals living in the downthree main people groups who live area are college students, young three units explore what size to function and live comfortably.
MEDIUM UNIT - Designed with elderly in mind. Living facilities are characterized by having large open walk ways to avoid accidents and typically based at the base of each complex for easy access.
02
A CITY WITHIN A TOWER
THE FIFTEEN MINUTE CITY
Chicago, Illinois
ARC 4322L - Joshua Treadway
The goal of this project was to construct a multicultural mixed use tower on Site 78: a new development in the downtown Chicago area that would engage, educate and embrace the differing people groups which surrounded the site.
In an effort to promote engagement, we considered the ratio of common to private space, what were average distances that promoted social interaction, and what activities would facilitate engagement. The location of the tower was also analyzed: we noticed that two of the five top people groups living in the area were at an increased risk of developing chronic illness due to the area’s poor air quality.
A remedy to reduce the poor air quality in the area was to employ algae air purification systems that would reduce the amount of fine PM2.5 Particulate Matter in the air around the tower improving overall air quality.
This project was in collaboration with Sarah Le and Karla Suarez.
FUNCTION - The algae circulates within the tubing with water. The tubing has micro openings which allows for air penetration. The air penetrating the tubes creates a reaction with the algae, allowing for CO2 to be absorbed, expelling clean O2. This filtering process eliminates Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) from the O2 which is the highest pollutant in the Chicago area. This systems improves air quality in the indoor and outdoor settings.
UTILIZATION - The plan depicts how the residences and the office spaces alike both utilize the auxiliary space to circulate throughout the structure and to engage with residents and visitors. This area has the algae facade providing and enclosed indoor/outdoor space with improved air quality.
FUNCTION - The civic space combines attributes from prominent cultures within the Chicago area that creates a space to embrace cultures, engage with differing cultures and educates visitors about these unique cultures in a community setting. Providing differing view points and a variety of activities in the space gives visitors the opportunity to view the space in its entirety and determine where they would want to explore next.
FUNCTION - The civic space also has an exterior space known as the plaza. The plaza has exterior venue space for pop-up markets as well as green spaces for lounging. This area is meant to promote community engagement as the plaza faces directly towards a large park directly in front of the tower.
03
MUSEUM OF URBANISM
FROM WHERE WE FELL
Savannah, Georgia
ARC 3321L - Tommy James
The goal of this project was to construct a museum of urbanism in Savannah Georgia that would highlight slavery, water and Savannah’s new innovations in a way that was conscious and considerate to Savannah’s history.
Our concept focused on the journey of the participants– traveling through time to see how Savannah’s past influenced its future. The use of three different words– intervene, disorient, and probe– to describe three different systems–program, circulation and skin and structure– are what made up the museums’ interior and exterior designs.
This project was in collaboration with Amelia Karadsheh and Sarah Le.
LEVEL 2
1 -ASCENDING STAIR
2 - ASCENDING STAIR
3 -AUDITORIUM
4 - RESTROOMS
5 -DESCENDING STAIR
6 -ELEVATORS
7 - OUTDOOR WAITING AREA
LEVEL 3
1 - URBANISM GALLERY
2 - URBANISM GALLERY
CONT.
3 - ASCENDING STAIR
4 - ASCENDING STAIR
5 -DESCENDING STAIR
6 -ELEVATORS
Urbanism Gallery Perspective Level 03
The museums galleries specifically the, depicts the word probe. Having two different perspectives to view the art nods back to out initial concept of the city planner and slave’s point of view through the construction of Savannah.
Central Void Stairwell
The museum was designed with the idea of having a central stairwell to give a sense of illusion and foreshadowing enticing individuals to take the journey through the museum. The stairwell was meant to depict disorient: appearing as if the stairs themselves were cascading and colliding with each other.
Slavery Gallery Level 01
The museum was has floors that were uneven in construction. This was an example of intervene: having the floors negotiating space created an opportunity to maximize gallery space while also creating a unique journey through Savannah’s history.
04
FROM WHERE WE FELL
CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS
ARC 3321L - Tommy James
Representing the two main perspectives of Savannah’s development: the city planner and the slave. The city planner is represented at the top– controlling the city with their oppressive firm hand. The hand drips with authority, flooding the grid system that developed and entangled the city. The bottom portrays the slave, disoriented in the new land they were forcibly brought to, they are shackled to the city. The control of the city planner seeps into the slaves’ lives, turning their control red as a nuisance to the brutality slaves faced and the blood that was shed to create the Savannah that is known today.
Representing the final concept for the museum of urbanism. Depicting how the city planner and slaves’ perspectives were on the development of Savannah. The city planner is represented with order and control expressed through the orthogonal construction of the grid and the looming power they imposed over the city and the people in it-the city metaphorically and literally being the palm of their hands. While the slave is represented by chaotic disorienting movements, probing into their past showing their unclear future with images of a slave’s journey
Represents Probe - Discovery through pique moments of intreset.
Associated System - Skin and Structure.
Represents Intervene - Distinct moments that establish space.
Associated System - Program.
Represents Disorient - Multiple paths which assist in creating choice and unqiue experiences.
Associated System- Circulation.
INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTER FOR THE ARTS
LIKE CLOCKWORK
Clermont, Florida
ARC 3320L - Matthew Johnson
The task was to design an interdisciplinary community artist facility located on the site adjacent to Southern Hill Farms in Clermont Florida.
My thesis was to create an atmosphere of self discovery through art. As the participant travels through each space, their ideals shift depending on how the space they were in influenced their thought process: creating a unique experience for each guest.
A clockwise rotation assisted in creating a rhythm that would allow discovery through spaces. Starting with discovery through music, which is proven to stimulate the mind, discovery through self reflection– reflecting on thoughts previously not thought of in the philosophers studio and discovery through creation, a physically tangible representation of what that journey of discovery was like for the participant.
Composer’s Studio Mental Stimulation
Welcome Center Journey’s Beginning
Philosopher’s Studio Self Reflection
Studio Epiphany through Creation
Artist’s
Artists Living Facility Community for Artists
