Melissa Frias Architectural Portfolio

architecture portfolio 2021-2024

MELISSA FRIAS CHAVEZ

“COASTAL

“COASTAL HAVEN: Rising Health through Shoreline Wellness”

SITE: #5 Jireh Plaza Freeport Grand Bahama, Bahamas

The Bahamas is increasingly vulnerable to environmental challenges like sea-level rise and natural disasters, exemplified by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. These threats underscore the urgent need for resilient infrastructure to safeguard public health and community well-being.

In response, a stilt-based clinic has been designed to withstand flooding and provide essential healthcare services. Elevated 9.5 meters above ground, it includes private patient rooms with natural ventilation, smart glass for energy efficiency, and wooden louvers for passive cooling. Solar-powered algae tubes ensure sustainability, while the rooftop fosters education and community engagement with sustainable food practices. A vertiport facilitates emergency rescues with rapid response capabilities. By combining advanced technology, sustainable design, and resilience, this clinic serves as a model for addressing climate challenges. It showcases how thoughtful design can protect vulnerable communities, ensuring health, safety, and sustainability in the face of escalating environmental threats.

2060

Studio

ARC 6970- Masters Project

Professors

Thomas Spiegelhalter

Semester

Spring 2024

Software

Autodesk Revit

Rhinoceros 7

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Midjourney

Autodesk Veras

Green Building Studio

Microsoft Excel

Images

a.1-a.4 : The Bahamas sea level rise + major flood scenarios in the years: 2030, 2060, 2080, 2100

a.5 : site plan

Year 2100 Site Scenario AmphibiousTransportation

Site Elevation: 4 MASL

‘Great Miami’ CAT 4 1926

Pharmacy

Doctor’s Office

Pharmacy’s Storage

Treatment Room

X-ray/CT Room

Supply Room

Dress Room

Recovery Room

Operating Room

Medical Records Room

Laboratory

Nurse’s Area

Storage

MEP

Reception

Specialty Room

Cafeteria

Doctor’s Office

Examination Room

Nurse’s Area

X-ray/CT Room

Procedure Room

Isolation Room

ER Treatment Room

Medical Records Room

Reception

Triage Room

Laboratory

Lab Waiting Room

MEP

Consultation Room

a.6-a.7 : axonometric clinic floor plans

a.8-a.9 : axonometric daycare floor plan + axonometric administrative floor plan

Locker

Weight

Parents

Assembly

Medical

Nurse’s

Infant’s

Consultation

1. 14X102 CARBON-NEUTRAL STEEL IBEAM

2. ANCHOR BOLTS

3. STEEL ANGLE

4. 14X102 CARBON-NEUTRAL STEEL IBEAM- WELDED TO COLUMN

5. 14X0.500 ANGLED CARBON NEUTRAL HSS ROUND HOLLOW STRUCTURAL

SECTION COLUMN

1. DOUBLE GLAZED PANEL

2. VERTICAL MULLION

3. HORIZONTAL MULLION

4. GRAVEL BUFFER

5. FILTER LAYER

6. DRAINAGE LAYER

7. MOISTURE RETENTION MATT

8. WATERPROOF MEMBRANE

9. 150MM CONCRETE FLOOR

10. 200MM CONCRETE WALL

11. 14X102 CARBON-NEUTRAL STEEL I-BEAM

12. STEEL ANGLE

13. ANCHOR BOLTS

14. FLASHING

15. WOOD STUDS (STRUCTURAL)

16. SCUPPER

17. GUTTER

18. STEEL ANGLE SCREWED TO STRUCTURE

19. 80MM RIGID INSULATION

20. AIR GAP-STRUCTURE

21. EXTERIOR CLADDING

1. VERTICAL MULLION

2. DOUBLE GLAZED PANEL

3. 40.7CMX40.7CMX5.5.1CM MYCELIUM INTERIOR PANELS

4. RIGID INSULATION

5. WATERPROOF MEMBRANE

6. 200MM CONCRETE WALL

7. WALL SEALANT

8. 50MM ACOUSTIC INSULATION

9. WATERPROOF MEMBRANE

10. 80MM SCREED (CONCRETE+SAND)

11. THERMOACTIVE FLOORING FLOOR FOR HEATING AND COOLING

12. SCHOCK ISOCORB FOR THERMAL BREAK

13. 200MM CONCRETE WALL

14. SANITARY SEALANT

15. 2.5MM X 7.5M ALTRO WHITEROCK CLADDING PANELS

1. 120MM EARTH LAYER

2. GRAVEL BUFFER

3. DRAINAGE LAYER

4. MOISTURE RETENTION MATT

5. 80MM RIGID INSULATION

6. 200MM CYANOBACTERIA CONCRETE WALL

7. 2540MMX 2540MM ALUCOBOND PANELS

8. SEALANT

9. 50MM ACOUSTIC INSULATION

10. 80MM SCREED (CONCRETE+ SAND)

11. THERMOACTIVE FLOORING FLOOR FOR HEATING AND COOLING

12. 25.4MM CERAMIC FLOORING TILES

13. 150MM CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB

Images

a.10-a.11 : render drone view of site in the year 2080 & 2100

a.12-a.13 : vertical garden interior view & rooftop view

a.10

a.11

a.12

a.13

SITE: R. RUBEN A 210 081, 4150-639 PORTO, PORTUGAL

The fundamental idea behind the project was to design a single-family residence for a museum guard located adjacent to the prominent “Casa das Artes” museum in Portugal. Limestone was selected as the primary building material, mirroring the architectural materials of the surrounding structures. The limestone walls delineate the private areas, comprising the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom.

Elevating the design, a second-floor glass box is affixed to the wall, creating a cantilever that serves as both an office space and an overlook point for the guard within the residence. This glass enclosure strategically aligns with the existing walls, mimicking their angles to minimize disruption to the site. In addition, the glass box is intentionally shifted to the right, optimizing the guard’s view of the garden from within.

The architectural configuration incorporates passive systems to mitigate the impact of harsh sunlight, demonstrating a commitment to both functional comfort and aesthetic cohesion. Overall, the residence harmoniously integrates with its surroundings, paying heed to the site’s existing geometry while providing the museum guard with a purposeful and aesthetically pleasing living space.

Studio

ARC 6356- Design 10

Professors

Jason Chandler & Thomas

Spiegelhalter

Semester

Summer 2023

Software

Autodesk Revit

Rhinoceros 7

Twinmotion

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Green Building Studio

ARCGIS

Insight 360

Images

a.1-a.3 : east, south, north

a.4 : worm’s eye axonometry

4.

5. 3MM SARNAFIL ROOFING WATERPROOF

6. 50MM ROOFING CLAY TILE

7. 100MM RIGID INSULATION U Value= 0.80 W(m2k)

LEGEND:

ROOF:

1. GUTTER

2. PHOTOVOLTAIC HYBRID THERMAL SOLAR PANELS

2. PHOTOVOLTAIC HYBRID THERMAL SOLAR

PANELS

3. PV ANCHOR BOLT

4. AIR GAP

5. 3MM SARNAFIL ROOFING WATERPROOF MEMBRANE

6. 50MM ROOFING CLAY TILE

7. 100MM RIGID INSULATION U Value= 0.80 W(m2k)

7. 100MM RIGID INSULATION

U Value= 0.80 W(m2k)

8. WATERPROOF MEMBRANE

9. 205MM CONCRETE SLAB

10. 13MM THICK GYPSUM BOARD

UPPER WALL:

11. 30MM THICK WOOD DOOR

12. INTERIOR WALL

13. WINDOW MULLION

FLOOR:

14. 12.5 MM THICK WOOD FLOORING

15.THERMOACTIVE FLOORING FLOOR FOR COOLING AND HEATING

16. 80MM SCREED (SAND+CEMENT FIBERS)

17. WATERPROOF MEMBRANE

18. 50MM ACOUSTIC INSULATION

19.150 MM CONCRETE SLAB

20. 80MM RIGID INSULATION

21. 12.5MM STUCCO LAYER

22. 8MM FOAM EDGE INSULATION

CURTAIN WALL:

23. DOUBLE GLAZING - 6MM THICKCLEAR/LOW-E (e=0.05) CLEAR GLASS

23. DOUBLE GLAZING - 6MM THICK -

CLEAR/LOW-E (e=0.05) CLEAR GLASS

24. 1OMM AIR GAP

25. MULLION

26. BATT INSULATION LAYER

27. STEEL PLATE

28. ANCHOR BOLT

29. STEEL PLATE EMBEDDED IN CONCRETE

SLAB

29. STEEL PLATE EMBEDDED IN CONCRETE

SLAB

30. FLASHING

WALL:

30. FLASHING

WALL:

31. 215X102.5X6MM BRICK LAYER

32. 205MM CONCRETE WALL

33. 90MM RIGID INSULATION

34. WATERPROOF MEMBRANE

35. 12.5MM AIR GAP

36. 50 MM EXTERIOR NATURAL STONE LAYER

37. FLASHING

U VALUES:

i- ROOF: 0.30

ii- FLOOR: 0.23

iii- WALL: 0.35

38. MOSQUITO MESH FOUNDATION

38. MOSQUITO MESH

FOUNDATION

39. WOOD STUD

40. WATERPROOF MEMBRANE

41. FOUNDATION WALL

42. 100MM DIAMETER DRAINAGE PIPE

43. GRAVEL LAYER 44. STRIP FOOTING

43. GRAVEL LAYER

44. STRIP FOOTING 2 3

MEP SETTINGS

Images : roof + floor detail

a.10 : wall + foundation detail

SOLAR ANALYSIS

a11 : office rendering

: east elevation rendering

: exterior rendering

Images

a.12

a.13

a.12

Comprehensive Design Studio

SITE: 390 NE 71ST ST., MIAMI, FL, 33174

D2 DISTRICT ZONE

-LEAST REGULATED BUILDING

-ACCOMMODATES COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES OF CERTAIN SCALE

-FLAT ROOFS SHALL BE ENCLOSED BY PARAPETS

-MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT: 8 STORIES

The genesis of the natatorium concept stemmed from the combination of two primary influences: a precedent case study exemplified by the Water Cube Natatorium and the Bassin Blue Waterfalls in Haiti. The focal point of this archi tectural project is a 60-foot atrium, encompassed by diverse wall compositions, emulating the immersive ambiance of a waterfall basin enclosed within a natural grotto landscape.

-OFF STREET BICYCLE PARKING SHALL BE PROVIDED -BASEMENTS MAY HAVE 1 LEVEL UNDERGROUND PARKING SPACES.

SKETCHES

Comprehensive Design Studio

Sheet 1 2 10/04/22 BUILDING

DIAGRAMS

In order to instill dynamism and evoke a vibrant atmosphere within the central courtyard, walls were decorated with yellow and orange aluminum panels. These jagged formations serve the dual purpose of introducing movement and disrupting the inherent rigidity of the pool area.

AND INDUSTRIAL USES OF CERTAIN SCALE

BY PARAPETS

8 STORIES PARKING SHALL BE PROVIDED LEVEL UNDERGROUND PARKING SPACES.

The parametric facade is constructed using glass-fiber reinforced concrete panels, affording the flexibility to be perforated in accordance with interior privacy considerations. This design choice ensures a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality, reflecting a meticulous approach to the creation of a compelling and engaging natatorium space.

DIAGRAMS

Studio

ARC 5361- Comprehensive

Studio

Professors

Marcelo Ertorteguy

Semester Fall 2022

Software

Autodesk Revit

Rhinoceros 7

Twinmotion

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Images

a.1-a.4 : egress, void/solid, wet/dry, BOH diagram

a.5 : site plan

PRECEDENT PICTURES- INSPIRATIONAL BOARD

[alucobond in orange]

[alucobond

DIAGRAMS

[main driver-

[initial outline]

[BASSIN BLEU WATERFALL- HAITI]

[exit stairs- cores]

[main driver- pool]

[wet

[wet area]

[dry area]

= 1' -0"

: north elevation, east elevation a.8-a.11 : ground floor plan, second floor plan, third floor plan, fourth floor plan

a.12 : perspective section a.13 : wall section + callouts

Images

a.14-a.15 : outdoor render + interior pool render

a.16-a.20 : 1/4” scale physical model

a.14

a.15

a.16

a.17

a.19

a.18

a.20

FIT & LIFT

Site: 600 S. Phillips Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57104

The over arching concept behind the architectural project was to transform a library into a gymnasium in Downtown Sioux Falls. The resultant development is characterized by a seamless fusion of contemporary design principles with the permanent features of the original structure. It is remarkable the intentional incorporation of a glass facade at the primary entrance, facilitating the penetration of natural light into the hallways and support desk areas. This strategic utilization of glass serves not only an illuminative purpose but also contributes to a nuanced spatial transition from well-lit public zones to more seclude and private areas.

The preservation of the outer shell encapsulating the inner structure reflects a discerning approach that harmonizes historical preservation with contemporary design sensibilities. The conversion of the former basketball court and mezzanine level into a designated private space further augments the multifunctional aspect of the facility.

Material selection plays a pivotal role in the architectural narrative, with concrete and steel walls comprising the predominant facade elements, ensuring structural integrity and durability.

Studio

ARCH 455- Vertical Building

Studio

Professors

Jessica Garcia-Fritz

Federico Garcia-Lammers

Brian Lee

Robert Arlt

Nesrine Mansour

Semester

Spring 2021

Software