metropolitan community college
outdoor learning space
university of nebraska medical center 02 student health and well-being center kansas city art institute
p. 13
03 department of architecture friesenhahn cave 04 pleistocene research center
p. 23
05 graphite, ink, watercolor, and acrylic works personal p. 3
p. 31 p. 39
urban sketching and paintings
mcc penn valley campus
outdoor learning space
kansas city, mo
internship | hollis + miller architects
july 2022
Learnscape was a three-month-long project completed during an internship; an amazing opportunity to collaborate with a talented team of interns and peers. Our task was to design and build an outdoor learning space that encouraged movement across campus while providing students with a welcoming place to connect and engage outside.
Through meetings with the school board and student interviews, we identified key needs and developed a solution tailored to the campus community. Over the course of the project, we progressed through each phase of the construction process—schematic design, design development, and ultimately hands-on construction. Working alongside professionals, we brought our vision to life, transforming an idea into a functional, meaningful space for students.
My primary responsibilities designing the benches in with engineers to ensure This work bridged design enhancing the space’s usability
split bench - plan bench
responsibilities for this project were in Revit and collaborating their structural integrity. design and construction, usability for many students.
health and well-being center omaha, ne
arch410 | group project december 2022
This project focuses on designing a health and well-being center for University of Nebraska medical students—a sanctuary on campus that is both easily accessible and feels safe and secluded. The core theme of the design is oasis, emphasizing the calming properties of water, both visually and auditorily. Water features and water-inspired materials are integrated throughout the space to create a serene and restorative atmosphere.
The design balances privacy with openness, ensuring students have a quiet retreat while benefiting from ample natural light. Unlike traditional medical spaces, this center avoids the sterile feel of a hospital room, instead offering a warm and inviting environment. The goal is to create a welcoming space that supports students’ mental and physical well-being, ultimately contributing to their success in medical education.
floor plan
floor plan
The initial concept for the monolithic water wall that ceiling and seamlessly flow striking design was intended space while creating ambient atmosphere of the main atrium. serve as both a visual and auditory to the calming, oasis-like environment
main water feature was a that would descend from the through the floorplate. This intended to draw students into the ambient noise and enhancing the atrium. The water wall would auditory focal point, adding environment of the center.
counseling sector
department of architecture
kansas city, missouri
arch311 | group project
may 2022
Designing an architecture school as an architecture student was an exciting and unique opportunity. It allowed us to analyze the spaces we valued most and rethink every detail to create the ideal learning environment for the next generation. This project was a chance to shape a space that fosters creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
A key focus of our design was to encourage interaction among students by incorporating ample open spaces and shared work areas. Understanding the long hours spent indoors, we prioritized biophilic design elements, integrating natural light, greenery, and efficient airflow to enhance well-being and productivity. Additionally, the layout was carefully planned to highlight views of the existing campus architecture, creating a strong connection between the new and the old.
solar angles
This project explores the juxtaposition of time and reality, transporting visitors from the present day to the Pleistocene period, over 10,000 years ago. The design balances futuristic efficiency with historical immersion, creating a seamless transition between two vastly different eras. To enhance this experience, the structure is sleek and airy— deliberately contrasting the surrounding suburban environment while minimizing disruption to the caves below. Circulation plays a key role, guiding visitors through a futuristic journey before descending into the depths of prehistoric time.
At the heart of the design is the Temporal Bridge Room, a space that serves as the intersection of past and present. Fossils excavated from the cave are placed within window frames, allowing visitors to view the site as it exists today while simultaneously seeing the creatures that once roamed there. This creates a striking visual time dilation, reinforcing the project’s core theme of temporal contrast. 04
conceptual circulation sketch
a sloped entrance allowed animals to enter and bring prey into the cave until the entrance collapsed
E.H. Sellards writes an article published by the university of texas that described the firest finds of the cave containing small animals
a sink hole opens allowing access to the cave which was discovered by D.V. Schuchart stating that it was likely to contain fossils
a member of the friesenhahn family donates the cave to concordia university
upper level plan
entry sequence check in/entrance
My work explores the relationship between environments we inhabit. I am captivated behavior, the ways we engage with to reflect our needs. Through my art, ordinary—those overlooked moments
My pieces center on expressive gestures energy and emotion. I create works that spaces often inspire me, influenced
The creative process is integral to my and stretching canvases to mixing colors, hands-on approach deepens my connection piece a tactile exploration of form, texture, to inspire others to find beauty in the evolving relationship with
between human interaction and the captivated by the peculiarities of human with the world, and how we reshape it art, I seek to reveal the beauty in the moments filled with emotional depth.
gestures that bring scenes to life, conveying that feel both familiar and unique. Urban influenced by my architectural background.
my practice. From constructing frames colors, I find peace in each step. This connection to my work, making each texture, and emotion. Ultimately, I hope the mundane and reflect on humanity’s with the spaces we shape.
‘cheesman figures’ 28” x 33”
thank you
email: hrech8@gmail.com
mobile: +1 (402) 838-9360
bachelor of architecture the university of nebraska-lincoln