Portfolio
Detroit, MI
Welcome, may I introduce myself?
My name is Evan Sanders. I am a Master Candidate architecture student at the University of Detroit Mercy. I will be finishing my Master’s Degree at Detroit Mercy in Spring 2024. Something interesting about me is that favorite architects are Sou Fujimoto, Kengo Kuma, and Frank Llyod Wright. I am a big fan of architecture from Japan due to it’s minimalist shape, but the forms also do showcase the attention to details while having a effective and effiecient form.
I am glad to share with you my selected works.
At-Gleta Headquarters
4100 | Integrated Design
Studio
Fall 2022 | Semester 7
Professor:
James Leach & Kris Nelson
Category:
Building Construction
In Collaboration with: Eduardo Sanchez & Sebastian Rodriguez
The objective of this project is to design a low-carbon and energy-waste building that caters to both the users, and the building needs to keep a long-term sustainable, environmentally friendly structure. We plan to have a spacious and eco-friendly sustainable building that requires less mechanical systems usage than average office spaces. The design will incorporate flexible work environments that will allow all types of work methods to provide a better level of human comfort. While also providing outdoor gathering spaces to capture the prominent views of downtown Detroit and Canada, but also provide the occupants with other work environments. Lastly, to design under GLETA guidelines to develop a safe engineered timber structure within the constraints of our site.
1.4 mi from heart of Downtown Detroit
Perspective from SW
Massing
Mass 00
01
Extrude
Maximize the building envelope on the site (200’ by 150’)
Subtract 02
Subtracting the Exterior envelope to create exterior gathering space, maxmize daylighting & space for prominent views
Creating an Interior Atrium space to allow for sunlight in the back half of the building
Engage 03
Engaging the public by putting our retail, cafe shop, & along the Dequindre Cut (major walkway) to draw people into the building.
Respond
Respond to climate strategy by properly shading the facade, and optimizing solar gain within the building. Respond to flooding, around site, by lowering the Atwater St entrance by 5ft, to collect more rainwater.
By: Evan SandersCove.tool Analysis
Massing 00
+ Building Envelope
+ All Glass Facade
- Shading Devices
Atrium 01
+ Centralized Atrium
+ Maxmize Daylighting on North
+ Simple Facade Strategy
Facade Strategy 02
+ Final Facade
+Shading Devices
+ VAV Heating + Cooling System
Massing + Graphics by: Evan Sanders
Cove.tool info: By Sebastian Rodriguez
Entrance
Formal workspace
Workshop
Elevations + Sections by: Eduardo Sanchez
Upclose Physical Model
Scale 1/2” : 1’
Physical Model
Scale 1/2” : 1’
One Small Step for Zoning Changes
2200 | Designing the 21st Century Neighborhood
Winter 2022 | Semester 6
Professor: Virginia Stanard
Category: Urban Planning
The Fitzgerald Neighborhood in Detroit is lacking in pretty much all essential resources like education, lack of businesses, lack of reliable transportation, lack of walkability, and lack of good food sources, etc.
This project tackles these issues from a zoning perspective. The zoning within the neighborhood follows the 20th-century neighborhood agenda with the business being located on the main streets, with the housing being located behind it. The area that was selected only has four amenities, with none being food sources. There is also a decent amount of abandoned buildings in the area. After doing this initial research it was time to develop a master plan.
Current Businesses
Current Housing
Current Abandoned Buildings
Response to Current Zoning
Adding SD1 & SD2 allows us to provide the area with the right essentials the community desperately needs. Adding SD1 encourages small-scale uses such as residential, local businesses, and offices for a neighborhood. SD2 provides an intensive mixture of uses such as residential, local businesses, & offices, but also promotes pedestrian activity.
Empahsis
On walkability and experiences that connect you within the community
Proritize
Voiced community needs
Design Principle
The idea behind breaking down the zones comes down to the idea of Work-Live-Play. Every Zone should intail some form of the following ideas below. This is so we can create a healthy & sustainable environment for all ages.
Work
Create
A sustainable plan that allows for flexibilty allowing continuous growth of the My
The idea behind Work was to create a diverse number of businesses to create a selfsustaining community. By creating these diverse businesses, it allowed us to bring in different fresh food options, and create spaces for local businesses to grow.
Transform
Empty lots into walkable/flexible spacs for the community
Develop
A plan for various building typologies and uses (promotion of microeconomy.)
Live
The idea behind live was to create diversity of housing typology within the neighborhood itself, as about 80% of the housing within the neighborhood is single family homes, with fences around the homes. Live would open up backyards and open engages with your neighbors
Play
Promote
Community development and redevelopment from within
The idea behind play was to make each district more about doing something for yourself that’s in the moment. Most everything we do is for other people. Play is a form of meditation in that it helps you focus on where you’re at in the moment and reset your busy, perpetually exhausted adult mind. Which makes it easier to go back to something like work.
Live
Co-Living Community
Focused on...
• Affordablity
• Convinence
• Community
Walkable Community
Focused on...
• Affordablity
• Accessablity
• Convience
Previous
Developments
Brilliant Detroit Community Residential
Focused on...
• Affordablity
• Accessablity
Axon of Proposed Site
Legend
Mixed-Use
Residential Flex Spaces
Converted Garages
By allowing zoning changes within this neighborhood, this area could be modernized into a 21st-century neighborhood. That is fully equipped with a diversity of building typologies, a diversity of businesses, and a diversity of public spaces. To provide the neighborhood with the essential care that is required for 21st-century residents to live comfortably. Even just making small changes to the current zoning layout can make big changes to the neighborhood.
Plan of Proposed Site
Legend
Offices
Live-Work
Live-Work Co-op
Townhomes
42 mi
Next Four Artist Retreat Center
42 mi from heart of Downtown Detroit
1200 | Architectural Design II
Winter 2019 | Semester 2
Professor: Erika Lindsay
Category:
Building Construction
Location: Barton Nature Area, Ann Arbor, MI
Prompt: In the final project of my freshman year, we had to design a retreat for four unrelated artists. The fellowship would be three months long, during spring, summer, and fall.
The retreat center is located in the Barton Area Nature Site, Ann Arbor, Michigan. The site is relatively closed off, and there is a path that goes around the site, but the site was not very noticeable at first. In this project, the main focus is on sustainability, usage of natural materials, and inclusiveness of the community. The design started by separating the loud area (Wood/Tool shop), and the quiet area (resting, living, exhibition space), to allow for better focus and more productivity from within quiet area. The retreat is only occupied during spring, summer, and fall, so solar energy would be available for most of the time the house is occupied.
East Elevation
West Elevation
Section
Second Level
Main Entrance to Building
0.3mi
Diamond in the Rough Museum
1400 | Architectural Design IV Winter 2020 | Semester 4
Professor: Enrique Ledesma
Category: Building Construction
The objective of this project is to design a museum that caters to both the users and engages the public, to create a unique experience. The plan is to design a building that redefines the set grid of buildings around it and can blend in with its surrounding context. The design incorporates a glass structure cut through the center of the building that will allow users inside to view Capitol Park Uniquely and capture the prominent views of downtown Detroit. The idea for what was inside the museum came from the form. The glass structure symbolizes pulling away dirt and finding something in the ground. So, the Museum’s theme will be fossils, an ode to the first governor of Michigan who was buried under his statue in Capitol Park. The plan for this museum is for it to contain Fossils. It will incorporate different kinds of fossils from history, including but not limited to human fossils, animal fossils, dinosaur fossils, etc.
0.3 mi from heart of Downtown Detroit
Mass 00
Maximize the building envelope on the site (100’ by 60’)
01
02
Views
Create a glass center that cuts through the site to maxmize daylighting & create a frame for prominent views to Capitol Park
Split
Split the building to allow for sunlight in the back half of the building
Activate 03
Activate the street by extruding out from the building around it, to stand out & putting the retail on the ground level
Respond
To Further stand out from the building around it, create a unique glass pattern to create different sunlighting patterns into the building, also to provide a unique experience of vertical transportation that provides views to Capitol Park.
Changing Gallery
Elevation & Wall Details
Roof
Level 6
Level 5
Wall Section Detail (Outside to Inside)
Stone Cladding
Type S Mortar Joint
Stone Setting Bed
Scratch Coat
Air Barrier
Water Resistant Barrier Wood Sheathing
Insulation
Gypsum Board
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
1. 2.
ELECTRICAL NOTES
Measure demand at all panels, load centers and other equipment prior to starting work and advise engineer of results in addition to existing feeder conductor sizes. Measure the highest 15 minute power demand over a minimum 30 day period using a recording ammeter per NEC 220.87. Also advise engineer if any overloaded phases are found (typical for all existing load centers). Provide new light fixtures as scheduled. Connect to existing exterior lighting circuit. Control through new photocell installed on exterior of the building.
Renderings from Car Wash
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Marketing + Branding
During my tenure as a young architectural intern at a small architecture firm, I recognized an opportunity to contribute beyond traditional roles. I proactively stepped up to assist in these areas, leveraging my creative skills and understanding of design principles, I collaborated with the team to refine the firm’s brand identity, develop marketing materials, and enhance its online presence. By taking on these responsibilities, I not only expanded my own skill set but also made tangible contributions to the firm’s visibility and reputation within the industry. My initiative in embracing additional roles underscored my dedication to supporting the firm’s success and demonstrated my commitment to continuous learning and growth in the field of architecture.
University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture and Community Development 2024
Evan Sanders