Portfolio Ensa Laird
Pressurized Motion - As seen in front of Chalmers Hall
Ensa Laird 5921 W 86th St. | Overland Park, KS | (573) 864-5295 | ensalaird@gmail.com
EDUCATION The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas Graduation Date: May 2025 Degree Seeking: M. Arch.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE PWArchitects Columbia, Missouri Intern ● 3D model development for a bank ● Construction document revision ● Creating project proposal presentations
May 2023 – August 2023
OTHER EXPERIENCE Brewhaha Coffee House Overland Park, KS Barista/Baker ● Bake 15 pastries in one morning ● Preparing baked goods for next day/week, doughs, batters ● Move between kitchen, bakery, and bar when needed
March 2022 – Present
SKILLS Spanish French Adobe Suite SketchUp Enscape Rhino 3D AutoCAD Revit
REFERENCES Erik Miller - Principal Architect/Vice President of PWArchitects Inc. Kimberly Trabue - Manager/Corporate Director of PWArchitects Inc. Alison Trimble - Bakery Manager at Brewhaha Coffee House Kayla MacDonald - Front of House Manager at Brewhaha Coffee House
emiller@pwarchitects.com ktrabue@pwarchitects.com (913) 515-0101 (913) 340-0077
Heritage Trail Center for Historical Kansas City, Kansas - Boat Ramp to Kansas River
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Contents The Geode
6-13
Pressurized Motion
14-21
Water Resonance
22-28
Heritage Trail Center for Historical Kansas City, Kansas 30-43
The Geode Mixed-Use Residential Building Wichita, KS Professor Amy Van de Riet | Fall 2022
A much-needed community center and gallery space located in downtown Wichita, KS. The spaces allow quiet areas to study and learn. The building offers and outdoor green-space open at all times to visitors and passers-by. In the area, spaces to gather and be outdoors are much needed. The building is inspired by a geode, showing that Wichita has much to offer once you crack open the city.
Loading Dock Security and Mainternance
Gallery Sculpture Garden
Gift Shop
[] S Broadway
Reception and lockers Atrium
EV Charging
E English St
0’ 2’
Floor 1
4’
8’
One Bedroom
Restrooms
One Bedroom
One Bedroom
Research Library and Classrooms
Studio Sitting Area Studio
Floor 3
0’
2’
4’
8’
Floor 6
0’
2’
4’
8’
Mechanical Systems
Wall Section
Concrete Flashing Cap Parapet Flashing Waterproof Membrane Foam Insulation Steel Frame
Counter Flashing Base Flashing
Stainless Steel Bolt Stainless Steel Clip
Egress HVAC
2 1/4” Concrete Slab on Metal Deck W 14X22 Beam Open-web Steel Joist Exterior Concrete Air Duct Steel Column Foam Insulation
A
A
0’ 1’ 2’
Section 10
4’
Gravel Roof Membrane Insulation Concrete Roof Deck
1” Polished Concrete
Concrete Slab Foam Insulation 4” Base Gravel
Moisture Barrier 1 1/4” Gravel 60” Concrete Foundation Foundation Drain
0’ 1’ 2’
4’
Exterior, Day
12
Library
Atrium
Pressurized Motion Design-Build Project Lawrence, KS Professor Kurt Hong | Spring 2023 Groupmates: Chloe Eminger, Michael Garrett, Sarah Gibbs
Photo: Kurt Hong A design-build project completed in two phases. First, a wall installation that represented our ability to use Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper to create a parametric design. Second, a sphere created out of the same material using a similar parametric design and built at a much larger scale.
Laminating Wood for the Molds
Photo: Chloe Eminger
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Frame Ideas
Phase 1 A wall installation using expanded metal sheets. Our group created wooden molds which we used to shape heated squares of the metal. We then pressed the heated sheets in wooden molds. The sheets were then arranged in a pattern created in Rhino 3D using the Grasshopper extension. We hand-made the frame and used screws and acrylic rods to fasten each sheet to the frame.
Section
Color-Coded Sphere
Sphere Pattern Ideas
Phase 2 A sphere made of expanded metal sheets. Rectangular pieces were cut from 4’x8’ expanded metal sheets. Our group then proceeded to heat the metal triangles, like in Phase 1. We shaped them into curved triangles and welded them together in a pattern created in Rhino 3D. We then installed the sphere in the space in front of Chalmers Hall on the KU campus.
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Heating the Metal
Photos: Chloe Eminger
Pressing the Metal
Installation of the Sphere
Detail Shot of the Sphere
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Pictured from Left to Right: Chloe Eminger, Ensa Laird, Michael Garrett, Sharah Gibbs
Photo: Kurt Hong
Water Resonance Outdoor Pavilion Rockefeller Prairie Trailhead, Lawrence, KS Professor Shannon Criss | Spring 2022
This Pavilion will introduce a peaceful, relaxing space to gather and interact to the Rockefeller Prairie. Guests will be guided throughout the land as the travel to the pavilion. Sights and sounds will flow around them and enhance their experience at the site. Nature will remain as untouched as possible outside of the pavilion space. Man and nature will twine together and create a harmony.
Can just see Lawrence in the distance
Path follows incline, path of least resistance
Move along treeline for shade, more natural path to take
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New path to and from site Areas where water will collect Construction/train sounds Prairie grass and other sounds Watershed Heavy foilage Winter Wind Summer Wind
Water runs off and creates flatter areas
Visitors drawn to tree then redirected by roof of pavilion
First Models
Sketched Ideas
26
Final Model Sketches
Water Collection
Concept and Nature The pavilion was developed from the idea of being cupped by the land. The roof form was created to be a more geometric representation of a cup-like shape. The roof was designed to catch and redirect water. The final design redirected water to the center of the roof and into a vessel at the center of the pavilion’s platform.
2.5 ft
10 ft
6 ft
10 ft
17 ft
11 ft
11 ft
1 ft 3 ft 6 ft
1.5 ft
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1.4 ft
Heritage Trail Center for Historical Kansas City, Kansas Mixed-Used Community Center KAW Point Park, Kansas City, KS Professor Shannon Criss | Spring 2022
This center will house the history of KCK from native settlement to present day and inform visitors of that history. Interior and exterior spaces will be used to educate visitors on the area that is around it. This building will create a much needed space that invites people from KCK and outward. The black box theater which is the main wildcard space is something that KCK does not have but could benefit from immensely. Other spaces, both inside and outside of the center, will be used to further educate visitors about KCK history in fun and informative ways.
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3 1
6
4
5
Kansas River
Natural Environment 24
Mural Grass Treecover Park Parking Other Parking
2
3
4
5
6
Missouri River
1
Breadth
Depth
26
28
Grass Treecover Parking Paths
1st Floor
9
1 8
2
7 6
3
4
30
1 - Black Box Theater 2 - Restrooms
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3 - Mehcanical Room 4 - Reception & Tours
5 - Gallery 6 - Offices
7 - Egress 8 - Commun
2nd Floor
nity Room
14
1
13 11 12
10
9 - Cafe 10 - Offices
11 - Archive Space 12 - Archive Study Spaces
13 - Kitchenette 14 - Flex Space
Exploded Axonometric 32
East-West Section
North-South Section 34