Connection: Tohono O’odham Wellness Clinic

Fall 2022

Arch 208

Professor Kent Spreckelmeyer

Revit, Enscape, Adobe Suite

Tohono O’odham Nation

Reservation, Sells, Arizona

The night before this project began, I was sitting next to an ICU bed watching my grandmother pass. It was a feeling I had never experienced before, the most pure form of pain. As we began this project, I reflected back on my experiences with my grandma over the years; for several years I worked as an aide for her, often taking her to her doctor appointments. I thought back on dark, basement exam rooms, sterile waiting rooms, and nothing reflecting a bit of warmth. At her funeral, one of doctors told us that if she had not had us as her community, she would not have made it through the decades of illnesses she battled. These were major sticking points to me.

The Tohono O’odham Wellness Clinic contains body health on one side and community health on the other, all centered around a central courtyard, symbolizing their commitment to one another and themselves.

At the heart of the Tohono O’odham culture is community. When considering how to approach this project, I wanted to address to connection between health and community. Without community, health atrophies; without health, community atrophies. With the use of the traditional Tohono O’odham Round House, I was able to gather the form that would house the connection the reservation desperately needed. Their culture and love for one another was evident, they needed a place to connect that back to their health.

Section

1. Overhang creates shade for outdoor activities

2. Extended overhang acts as a light shelf

3. Clerestory allows sunlight into northern building

4. Operable windows create breezes

5. High ceiling allows warm kitchen air to flow up and out

6. Underground rainwater storage for non-potable uses

7. Tree adds humidity and helps to cool the courtyard

Artist Studios

Spring 2022

Arch 109

Professor Anne Patterson Models, Drafting

Lawrence, KS

The objective was to create a series of 6 artist studios with a gallery and a few small support spaces. The site was the hill behind Watson Library on KU’s campus. The slope from north to south was very steep, but was slightly more gentle from east to west. I created a series of staggered artist studios, utilizing the more gentle slope. The 3’ height distance between each studio space allowed for privacy, while still having an open, collaborative environment. The gallery was placed on the main floor, giving the easy access to the parking lot.

These artist studios were my first foray into a “real” building. It was the most exciting feeling to go from conceptual, skillbuilding projects to a place I could picture people visiting, giving this structure a special place in my heart.