Hi! I’m Hayley Warnalis, a senior at Thomas Jefferson University, with a deep passion for research-driven design that prioritizes human behavior and user experience. I believe that design should be rooted in understanding the needs and experiences of those who interact with it, and I focus on creating spaces that foster connection, well-being, and inclusivity.
1st Place - Best Design Pitch in Accessible Design Challenge
Archived Works for CIDA AccreditationDesign 2, 3, 5; Textiles and Materials
Dean’s List - Fall 2021 - Present
Excellence in Writing Finalist
Member of Tau Sigma DeltaArchitecture Honor Society
IIDA Jefferson Chapter - Co-President
April 2024 - Present
Student Member, IIDA
August 2021 - Present
Enscape
Rhino
Canva
InDesign
Photoshop
Illustrator
Google Docs
Google Slides
Google Sheets
O1 - office O2 - retail O3 - community
O1
sustainable office
Project Type:
Sustainable Office
Client:
National Audubon Society
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Year: 2024
software used
revit | enscape | rhino | procreate
overview
The National Audubon Society’s new office in the Navy Yard prioritizes sustainability and employee well-being through natural ventilation, advanced air filtration, and biophilic elements, fostering productivity and a deeper connection to nature and avian life. The design translates the movement and lightness of birds into dynamic spaces, using airflow and materiality to create an environment that inspires collaboration, focus, and a shared commitment to conservation.
the plan
The floor plan was designed to enhance natural ventilation, supporting the Audubon Society’s focus on sustainability. The layout takes advantage of the southwesterly winds, drawing air in through the main entry and lobby. Operable louvers, placed vertically and as ceiling elements, guide the airflow through the building. On the northeast side, kinetic windows release the air and capture energy, ensuring a continuous and efficient ventilation system.
The office is thoughtfully designed to support the well-being of both its human occupants and avian friends. Bird-safe features, such as bird-safe glass, kinetic windows, and nightsafe lighting, ensure a safe environment for local bird species, while native plantings and feeding areas provide essential habitat and food sources. Employees are encouraged to connect with nature through birdwatching amenities, outdoor spaces, and curated bird livestreams, fostering a shared appreciation for conservation and the natural world.
open workspace perspective
The lighting design prioritizes natural daylight to minimize reliance on artificial lighting and enhance the connection to nature. Kinetic ceilings, mechanized shading, and an interior glass curtain wall work together to optimize daylight, control glare, and maintain comfortable temperatures. Skylights and the nest structure further enhance lighting quality, creating a bright, energy-efficient environment that supports well-being and productivity.
wayfinding
Bird imagery is integrated into the wayfinding signage, with each bird symbol thoughtfully representing the function of a specific room, connecting users to Audubon’s mission. Tactile bird tracks are incorporated into the flooring, guiding visually impaired individuals through the space.
color & materiality
Color and materiality play key roles in distinguishing “the breezeway” (open office workspaces) and “the nest” (private offices, birdwatching nest, and recharge rooms).
The breezeway features light, airy furniture and lighter colors, creating an expansive, uplifting atmosphere, while the nest uses deeper blues and heavier materials to evoke a sense of coziness and security. Materials were carefully selected for environmental responsibility, while indoor plants improve air quality and add natural sound absorption.
breezeway mood collage nest mood collage
O2
Project Type:
Retail
Location:
New Hope, PA
Year: 2023
software used
revit | enscape | rhino | procreate
Out Loud aims to empower its visitors to live out loud and be their true selves, but it recognizes that for many, this journey of self empowerment and expression is private to the general public and seeks support from within the LGBTQ+ community. As customers move up the levels, their experience gets more personal and private, but also finds the community that loves and supports them greatly. The interactive string element reflects this journey, as strings go from a backing element to show support from behind of the LGBTQ+ community and move to a frontal element that envelops the customer within a warm embrace of the community.
context
New Hope, PA, lacked a dedicated retail space that catered specifically to its LGBTQ+ residents and visitors, despite being home to one of the largest same-sex couple populations in the U.S. The town’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community, highlighted by the annual PrideFest that attracts over 15,000 people, had long been underrepresented in terms of year-round retail spaces. This project aimed to fill that gap, offering a safe, inclusive space for both residents and visitors. Additionally, the selection of an old church as the site for this store held symbolic significance, reclaiming a space often associated with exclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals.
cash wrap elevation
instagram wall elevation
color & materiality
The project features a deliberately chosen pastel and neutral color palette that pays homage to Gilbert Baker’s original pride flag, with each pastel shade carrying specific significance: pink/red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for serenity, and violet for spirit. These softer tones have been shown to be visually appealing to individuals of all age groups, challenging the conventional idea that LGBTQ+ colors must be vivid and vibrant. This concept aligns with the store’s name, “Out Loud,” emphasizing that one can express their identity loudly and proudly, even in pastel shades.
material palette
Out Loud uses lighting to create a welcoming and safe space, prioritizing natural daylight through features like a rose stained glass window and strategically placed skylights. At night, LED light strips illuminate the strings, creating a vibrant atmosphere,, helping LGBTQ+ individuals feel safer in public spaces after dark.
A Common Table is a collaborative community center project that brings together landscape architecture and interior design to create a space centered around food, social connection, and neurodiverse design considerations. The design recognizes the importance of food in shaping our physical and emotional well-being, as well as its role in fostering community ties and cultural exchange. With a focus on a large central teaching kitchen and its ties to the outdoor growing spaces, it aims to improve cooking skills and address food insecurity, offering long-term benefits to individuals and the broader community.
neurodiverse design
The design incorporates sensory zoning, offering a transition zone (lobby) with the choice to enter either a high-stimulation area (kitchen/dining) or a lowstimulation space (workrooms, computers). Natureinspired colors like terracotta, dusty blue, and sage are used to create a calming, soothing atmosphere.
the missing half: an exploration of female connection and its spatial implications
capstone project
Project Type:
Capstone Research
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Year: 2024
software used
adobe illustator | adobe indesign
overview
Despite comprising half of the population, women’s needs are frequently overlooked in public space design, which is often shaped through a malecentric lens. This project explores how the built environment limits women’s full engagement with public spaces and proposes inclusive, intentional design solutions to foster environments where women feel welcome, safe, and connected. While women often adapt to spaces not designed with them in mind, such as parks, laundromats, and gyms, a thoughtfully designed environment can better facilitate social bonding, emotional support, and a sense of belonging. This project focuses on creating a space that encourages women’s participation in public life and fosters community, while acknowledging the diverse needs women have across life stages. The design will integrate spatial strategies that prioritize comfort, connection, and inclusivity, ensuring women are empowered to actively engage in the public realm.
A Woman's Place is in the City (1985)
Making Space: Women and the Man Made Environment (1984)
The Grand Domestic Revolution: A History of Feminist Designs for American Homes, Neighborhoods, and Cities (1981)
Made in Patriarchy: Toward a Feminist Analysis of Women and Design (1986)
The Home of Woman:
Women's Fear and the Design of Public Space (1990)
Invisible Women in Invisible Places: Lesbians, Lesbian Bars, and the Social Production of People / Environment Relationships (1992)
Women and the Designed Environment (1990)
Gendered Spaces and Women's Status (1992)
Gender and Housing: The Impact of Design (1990)
girls in architecture collective care
A View from the Interior: Feminism, Women and Design (1989)
A View from the Interior (1984) Gender, House, and “Home”: Social Meanings and Domestic Architecture in Britain (1991)
Design and Gender: Where is the Heart of the Home? (1987)
'Gendered Exclusions': Women's Fear of Violence and Changing Relations to Space (1999)
Framing Places: Mediating Power in Built Form (1999)
Gendering the City: Women, Boundaries, and Visions of Urban Life (2000)
Theory and Space, Space and Woman (1999)
Putting Women in Place: Feminist Geographers Make Sense of the World (2001)
Women and the Designed Environment: Dealing with Difference (1997)
Design and Feminism: Re-visioning Spaces, Places, and Everyday Things (1999)
Unbending Gender: Why Family and Work Conflict and What to Do About It (2000)
intersectional design fear & space
Feeling Unsafe in Public Places: Understanding Women's Fears (2007)
Barred from the Barroom: Second Wave Feminists and Public Accommodations in U.S. Cities (2008)
Finding the Movement: Sexuality, Contested Space, and Feminist Activism (2007)
Girls, consumption space and the contradictions ofhanging out in the city (2005)
Introducing Ecofeminist Theologies (2005)
reclaiming space gender & power dynamics
Constructive Feminism: Women’s Spaces and Women’s Rights in the American City (2016)
Make Space for Girls (2021)
Gender, urban space, and the right to everyday life (2016)
A Feminist Disability Theory of Universal Design (2013)
Material Matters: Gender and the City (2011)
A Girl's Own Adventure: Gender in the Contemporary Architectural Theory Anthology (2012)
Domesticity at War (2007)
Design for Gender Equality: The History of Co-Housing Ideas and Realities (2012)
Gender and Gentrification (2018)
Living a Feminist Life (2017)
Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World (2020)
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men (2019)
Project Type: Construction Documents
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Year: 2022-2023 construction docs
overview
These construction documents showcase my work on the proposed redesign of the SEED Center on campus, transforming the existing design building into a daycare for faculty members’ children. The project involved developing detailed plans and sections that prioritized safety, functionality, and a nurturing environment for young children.
hand renders
Project Type: Hand Renderings
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Year: 2021-2024
Selected renders were completed in various design and visualization courses using alcohol markers. overview
