harsha raju
architecture portfolio
PROFESSIONAL
ECU Brody School of Medicine
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Rural Twin House
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Architectural Intern | BSA LifeStructures
Associate Architect | Atelier NORD
The Cantilever Staircase Associate Architect | Atelier NORD
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ACADEMIC
Tectonics of Precast Concrete
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Center for Student Athletes
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Unreal Engine Visualization
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Concrete Creations Studio | Individual & Team
Integrative Design Studio | Team
Digital Twin | Individual
professional work
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Base render not mine. Post production done by me for portfolio use.
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ECU Brody School of Medicine Location Greenville, North Carolina Professional Internship, Summer & Fall 2024 Firm BSA LifeStructures Mentor Kevin Hunt, Architecture Lead Contributions Worked on construction documentation, including parapet details, plan details, wall section details, material specifications, and code path drawings. Collaborated with the architects at BSA and SmithGroup to resolve documentation challenges. Engaged in team discussions to refine technical details
The ECU Brody School of Medicine’s New Medical Education Building is a 195,000 sqft, $265 million project designed to expand ECU’s medical education facilities. The project required architectural, structural, and systems coordination between BSA LifeStructures and SmithGroup to develop a comprehensive construction package. During my internship, the project was in the construction documentation phase, where efforts were focused on refining technical drawings and material specifications.
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Floor Plan The Brody School of Medicine project is an addition to the existing building, requiring careful integration of expansion joints and structural connections. Work focused on refining key details to ensure seamless coordination between new and existing construction.
Mockup Panel Led the development of a full-scale mockup panel, refining the design through collaborative iterations. The design progressed to the approval drawings stage without revisions from others. The panel incorporated a specialty brick wall, multiple cladding types including brick and composite metal panels, different mullion types, parapet caps, and lintel and sill connections.
Parapet Details Developed critical façade details, focusing on the integration of thermal, air, and moisture barriers to enhance building performance. Work involved understanding metal flashing details, roofing systems, and metal composite parapet caps.
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Rural Twin House Location Munivalai, Tamilnadu, India Professional Associate Architect, 2020-2022 Firm Atelier NORD, Chennai, India Contributions Led the project as the principal designer, overseeing all phases from concept through construction. Collaborated on design, detailing, and strategic planning; sourced materials, coordinated with local artisans and masons, and remained on-site to ensure execution matched intent.
Located in Munivalai, South India, this twinhouse residence was designed for a client returning to his village to start an organic farm. The program required two homes, one for the client and one for his parents, internally connected by a semi-private courtyard. Working within a tight budget, the project emphasized ecological sensitivity through the use of reclaimed materials, low-embodiedenergy construction, and passive design strategies. Materials were recovered from onsite demolitions and sourced within an eightmile radius, including rubble stones, reclaimed teak doors and windows, handmade bricks, and Athangudi tiles. Construction techniques took inspiration from British-Indian Architect Laurie Baker’s principles, using load-bearing walls, rat-trap bond masonry, and filler slab roofing with terracotta pots and reclaimed Mangalore tiles.
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View from the South West side of the Residence showing different levels of roof slabs, Clerestory window and the Bay Windows o
of Bedrooms supported by Brick Corbels 17
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GROUND FLOOR PLAN 01 Foyer 02 Living 03 Dining
04 Kitchen 05 Store Room 06 Utility
07 Guest Bedroom 01 08 Wardrobe 09 Toilet
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10 Parents Bedroom 12 Patio 13 Courtyard
Random Rubble Foundation
Clay Tile Filler Slab
Stone and Brick Wall Masonry
Electrical Pipes in Walls
Rat-Trap Bond Brick Walls
Built-in Furniture
The village has a moderate-hot climate, with maximum radiation coming from the South and the West. The predominant wind direction is West. Therefore, the house was designed in such a way that the tallest part of the building is in the south which shades the courtyard, and the bedrooms. Fenestrations were placed carefully to make maximum use of the predominant wind direction. In the north, they were sized bigger to utilize the reflected sunlight with minimal radiation By limiting the roof heights of every space specific to their needs, we reduced material usage which in turn created interesting levels in the facade. The Rural Twin house thus stands as an expression of a collage of these indigenous and reclaimed materials. Today their second life continues.
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Stone Coping Brickwork 225 mm
Filler Slab 140 mm Mangalore Clay TIles 80 x 80mm Rat-Trap Bond Brickwork 225mm Storage Unit RCC Slab 100mm
Wood Panel Glass Window
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Brick Corbel Detail Storage Unit
Filler Slab 140 mm
Flemish Bond Brickwork 225mm
Isometric p
Section through Bay Window (1 : 20)
showing Brick Corbel under Bay Window
c projection showing the brick arrangement pattern of Corbel normal to the wall
Isometric projection showing the brick corbel detail under the Bay Window Slab at the Sill level 21
Detail A (1 : 5)
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Section through Living North Facade (1 : 20)
Filler Slab 140 mm Built-in Couch (RCC Slab) Athangudi Floor Tiles PCC 150mm Plinth Beam 225x381mm Random Rubble Foundation Rammed Earth PCC 150mm Boulder Stones GI Metal Plate 10mm thk. 8mm Toughened Glass Wooden Frame 25mm Thk. Mortar
Breakfast Counter, Filler Roof Slabs and the Reused Windows
Clerestory Window at the double-height space above the stairs
View of the Courtyard showing the Patio, the reclaimed Teak wood French Doors, the Concrete Staircase and the Storage below
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The Cantilever Staircase Location Minjur, Tamil Nadu, India Professional Associate Architect, 2020 Firm Atelier NORD, Chennai, India Contributions Designed, detailed, and executed the staircase by coordinating with welders, masons, and other skilled laborers.
Designed for a cost-effective, compact residential project, this cantilever staircase was implemented to visually widen a narrow corridor while minimizing material and labor costs. Budget constraints required an alternative cantilever design using MS plates, C-channels, L-channels, and welded steel joints for structural integrity. Concrete and plywood provided structural support, while vinyl planks, stainless steel hollow bars, and enamel were used for finishes. The final design reduced costs by 50% compared to market rates, maintaining structural integrity while achieving the desired spatial effect.
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16mm dia. SS Hollow Pipe
10mm thk. MS Solid Plate
16mm dia. Steel Bar
Black Enamel Finish
Cantilever Staircase Detail
5mm thk. MS L-Section
1.5mm thk. Vinyl Plank Finish
12mm thk. Plywood Base for flooring
25mm wide - 5mm thk. MS Flats
75mm wide - 5mm thk. MS C-Section
Staircase Fabrication Detail
MS Plate installation
MS Plate Alignment
Welding Stairs to the MS Plate
Ply Framework for Concreting
L-Clamp supports to stairs
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academic work
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Tectonics of Precast Concrete: Rare Book & Manuscript Library Location Raleigh, North Carolina Academic Creations in Concrete Studio, Spring 2024 Instructors Dana Gulling, Greg Lucier Contributions Designed and detailed the project, integrating precast concrete through iterative studies. Produced all drawings, renders, and the physical model displayed in the project.
The Rare Book and Manuscript Library is a design proposal for a dedicated archival facility in Raleigh, North Carolina. The project explores the use of precast concrete as both the structural and enclosure system to create a durable and controlled environment for the preservation of rare books and manuscripts. The program includes climate-controlled archival stacks, a reading room, restoration spaces, and public exhibition areas. The design balances daylighting strategies with material performance, ensuring that the library remains both functional and architecturally expressive.
The design features a veil-like precast concrete envelope that defines openings and controls daylight. The form is split into two blocks, separated by an atrium that directs circulation and frames views. Precast panel widths vary based on daylight needs, guiding movement and differentiating public and restricted areas.
01. Rare Book & Manuscript Library 02. NC Freedom Park
Concept Diagram
Spaces that need daylight Spaces that doesn’t need daylight
Adjacent to NC Freedom Park, the project responds to key civic structures like the General Assembly Building, State Archives, and Governor’s Mansion. The building height and verticality of the precast panels align with the surroundings. A modified pathway from Freedom Park enhances site connectivity.
East Lane Street
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North Wilmington Street
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North Blount Street
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East Jones Street 01. Rare Book & Manuscript Library 02. NC Freedom Park
03. State Archives of North Carolina 04. NC General Assembly Building
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Site Plan
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First Floor Plan 01. Lecture Hall 02. Repairs / Bindery 03. Atrium 04. Exhibition 05. Reading Room 06. Mechanical Room 07. Loading Dock 08. Restrooms
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Second Floor Plan 01. Reading Room 02. Map Room 03. Atrium - Seen Below 04. Balcony 05. Manuscripts 06. Rare Books 07. Admin Offices 08. Restrooms
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Third Floor Plan 01. Group Reading - Big 02. Group Reading - Small 03. Atrium - Seen Below 04. Rooftop Deck 05. Restrooms 06. Fire Stairs 07. Mechanical Room 08. Elevator
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Rooftop Deck
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Archival Stacks
Facade | Wall Section
Reading Ro
East Facade
North Facade
oom The relationship between the façade and wall section highlights the building’s response to light, program, and materiality. The reading room on the ground floor receives ample daylight, while the archival stacks on the second floor are enclosed by precast sandwich panel walls and a precast concrete veil, limiting sunlight exposure to protect the books. On the third floor, a rooftop deck offers users an open space with views of the urban context. 41
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Tectonics of Precast Concrete: Full-Scale Roof Panel Location Raleigh, North Carolina Academic Creations in Concrete Studio, Spring 2024 Instructors Dana Gulling, Greg Lucier Team Harsha Raju, Kunal Bhardwaj, Gabrielle Schiltz, Isabella Powell, Arianna Lotfi, Wayne Holness, Christian Gonzalez, Aakriti Khadka, Zoe West, Khaled Al-Sakaji Contributions Involved in design development, coordinated with civil engineering students on structural reinforcement, assisted in mold fabrication and casting, and documented the process.
The Full-Scale Roof Panel project is a fabrication and testing exercise exploring precast concrete as a spanning structural system. Designed and built in collaboration with civil engineering students, the panel was tested for strength, durability, and aesthetic qualities to assess its viability for real-world applications. The project involved mold-making, concrete casting, and structural load testing, integrating material research and fabrication techniques. The design considerations included surface finishes, formwork innovations, and modular assembly, providing key insights into the application of precast systems in architectural design.
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01. Formwork Preparation
02. Mold placed in Formwork
03. Structural Reinforcement
04. Top Mat Reinforcement
05. Concrete cast into the Mold
06. Precast Panel Demolded
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Top Mat Reinforcement
Primary Reinforcement
CNC-Cut MDF Mold
Plywood Formwork
Exploded View of Formwork & Reinforcement Assembly
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CNC cutting MDF layers for the mold.
Preparing and cutting MDF layers.
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Applying Bondo and mold release.
Placing the mold inside formwork.
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Casting concrete into the mold.
Curing the concrete.
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Stacking and aligning MDF layers.
Securing the mold for stability.
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Sealing formwork with silicone.
Placing reinforcement in formwork.
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Removing the formwork.
Demolding the panel.
The precast panel was tested for stability and later subjected to a load-to-failure test to assess structural performance. The process helped evaluate material behavior, reinforcement effectiveness, and failure patterns, providing key insights for future applications.
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Center for Student Athletes Location Raleigh, North Carolina Academic Integrative Design Studio, Fall 2023 Instructor Dr. Jianxin Hu Team Harsha Raju, Weatherley Tripp Contributions Developed the schematic design, produced exterior renders, created wall sections, and worked on mechanical and code path drawings
Center for Student Athletes is a design proposal to replace the outdated Case Academic Center on NCSU central campus. The overarching goal of the project is to enhance the academic, nutritional, personal, and professional development of student-athletes at NC State University. The design program includes athletewellness facilities such as Kitchen, Dining, Nutritionist and Psychologist Offices; Learning and Tutorial spaces such as Computer labs and Classrooms; Common spaces such as Basketball court, Workout spaces, Media rooms and Lounges.
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01. Case Academic Center 03. Reynolds Coliseum
02. Talley Student Union 04. Coliseum Parking Deck
The design integrates into its context, complementing both the historic Reynolds Coliseum and newer campus landmarks like Talley Student Union and Carmichael Gymnasium. The facade combines terracotta panels and curtain walls in an eclectic approach, balancing NC State’s traditional brick architecture with modern elements.
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Realigning th Reynolds Co street activa
he building with oliseum enhances ation and visibility.
Angular cuts create a funnel effect, drawing pedestrian traffic inward.
A water body guides circulation and extends space for the basketball court.
A central atrium channels movement through the building, connecting all facilities.
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A Two-point perspective night render of our Students Athlete Center design visualizing the facade facing the Cates Avenue
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First Floor Plan [1:300] 01. Atrium 02. Kitchen 03. Dining 04. Mechanical 05. Tutor Room 06. Computer Lab 07. Lounge
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Second Floor Plan [1:300] 01. Basketball Court 02. Workout Space 03. Patio 04. Mechanical 05. Tutor Room 06. Office Space 07. Lounge
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View showing the entrance, water body, activities inside the Students Athlete Center and the pedestrian interaction with the deve
eloped site
Interior View of the Atrium from the Corridor at Level 2
Interior View of the Basketball court from the Running Track at Level 3
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Unreal Engine Visualization: The Slow House by DS+R Location Long Island, New York State Academic Digital Twin, Fall 2024 Instructor Shawn Protz Contributions Researched and identified the exact project site, modeled the building in Rhino, and developed the terrain and context in Unreal Engine. Visualized the environment and edited the final walkthrough video using Adobe Premiere Pro.
The project reconstructs The Slow House, an unbuilt residence by Diller and Scofidio from the early 1990s, as an immersive digital twin. Though never realized, the house remains a key reference for its treatment of form, media, and the framed view. Using local press releases from the time and cross-referencing other sources, the site was identified and reconstructed. The project explores how digital tools can recover and reframe lost architecture. By translating archival intent into real-time experience, the work engages questions of memory, representation, and presence within virtual environments.
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Screenshots from the cinematic walkthrough visualizing the interior of The Slow House. The sequence emphasizes slowness, scale, and mediated perception through light and movement. Full Video: Cinematic Walkthrough Research Archive: Are.na Channel
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THANK YOU
harsha raju
ar.harshavardhan.r@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/harshavardhan-raju