“The secret to the movie business, or any business, is to get a good education in a subject besides film – whether it’s history, psychology, economics, or architecture – so you have something to make a movie about. All the skill in the world isn’t going to help you unless you have something to say.”
- George Lucas
ULI Hines Student Competition | 2025 4 - 9
Educational, Communal, Botanical | Fall 2024 10 - 17
Supportive Housing | Fall 2023 18 - 23
Urban Farming Center | Spring 2022 24 - 29
Everland is a forward-thinking urban redevelopment initiative aligned with the Cleveland 2030 District Initiative, aiming to revitalize the city by addressing urban decay and fostering environmental sustainability. The project prioritizes pedestrian-friendly spaces, green infrastructure, and mixed-income housing to promote social diversity and civic pride. Its master plan includes public parks, community gardens, cycling paths, and diverse residential typologies integrated into a walkable, vibrant neighborhood.
Key features include innovation hubs, co-working spaces, diverse retail outlets, a daycare, assisted living, a museum, a hotel, and indoor/outdoor event spaces. An educational core will support manufacturing and STEAM industries, evolving into a hybrid boarding school over time. Transportation is enhanced with a commuter train stop and pedestrian connections linking the industrial site and marina. Green corridors will restore local flora and fauna, while underground and above-ground parking maximizes developable space. Future phases will incorporate tree farms, with selective harvesting ensuring continuous green space integration. Everland’s holistic approach balances sustainability, economic growth, and community well-being, creating a resilient and thriving urban environment.
View of Community Center First Energy Museum and Hotel
Norman, Oklahoma
Several factors led me to choose this particular section of the Duck Pond as the foundation for my design, with the most significant being the presence of the preexisting wooden viewing post. This structure not only served as an initial point of inspiration but also prompted me to recognize the multitude of sightlines and perspectives both to and from this location. Positioned in relation to the few existing bridges and the distant viewing platform across the water, this site naturally integrates into the established pedestrian movement patterns. The well-trodden natural walkways that meander through the landscape further emphasize its role in easing the otherwise lengthier journey around the pond.
By situating the intervention along this organic pathway, the design fosters a more fluid and intuitive connection between Brooks and Lindsey on the campus side.This strategic placement not only enhances pedestrian flow but also strengthens the relationship between the natural and built environments. The integration of this intervention within the existing circulation patterns reinforces accessibility, offering a more cohesive and harmonious experience for those traversing the landscape.
With an attachment to botany is as linked to the ECOLOGY as it could be. Through the instruction on how plant growth works and increasing biodiversity and strengthening. Biophilic connections will be abundant, whether it is in the heat of summer or the biting cold of winter.
My connection to the site includes my identity as a student within the architectural community, a citizen of Norman, and a frequent visitor of the OU Duck Pond. So, to make access to this space EQUITABLE to the COMMUNITY the project seeks to not limit access to specific hours. So that even those with unorthodox learning styles and schedules are provided opportunities
With its placement, the WELLNESS of visitors is being approached. In that, for some they don’t get access to nature or the Sun enough. So, a space attached to a walk is a bit of intended exercise and fresh air. Dangerous materials will be avoided, so that while within the space, visitors can work on refreshing themselves through their mind, body, and souls. With incredibly adjacency to the outdoors, plants that will enrich the user experience.
Only sustainable materials will be employed, as the hypocrisy of creating such a pocket of secure nature then shielding it in the very substances known for their environmental damage would be certainly unwise. As such, RESOURCES will be placed under scrutiny to ensure and promote zero waste life cycles, and to support long term life cycles
Integration:
Focusing more agricultural this project will itself into the sheltered attachment nature. With a off the balance creation and that encouraged to grow hand.
ECONOMY efficient materials and design processes will be heavily focused on materials that avoid the cheap and plastic qualities that so often get utilized to cut corners. Though direct cashflow might not be significant, the overarching educational return on investment will be the primary return on investment.
Change:
Though it might botanical research mation of its placement will ensure that imprint upon the Though with time, sprawl of the campus, sure to come. So, systems and the spaces for natural if the building is Energy
With an intent uninterrupted use, tion will be obviously other buildings with concentration on design systems, ing fruit that more processes
Integration:
Focusing on a agricultural topic, will INTEGRATE site by giving attachment to concept based balance of manmade that which is only grow by a shaping hand.
Discovery:
As a building designed in accordance with DISCOVERY, the sustainability focus will instruct and educate those who interact with the project. Allowing their internal libraries to have the knowledge of these practices for their own future endeavors. In addition to monitoring the post occupancy reports and adjusting ensure efficient and effective operation.
Change: might not always be a research center, the forplacement on the site it maintains a lesser park it resides within. time, and the increased campus, a CHANGE is So, ensuring support the availability of these natural growth works even is retrofitted later on.
Energy: intent of continuous and use, ENERGY consumpobviously higher than most of its type. Though with higher on orientation, passive and the lower hangmore modern design processes allow.
Water:
Placed along such a distinct WATER body, the path of flow will be enshrined and catered to. With sections of the shoreline being utilized to ensure and support the continual flow of the water that is the life blood of all organisms on this planet.
Since conception, this project has been based upon three factors, sustainability, growth, and respect. In that the project fosters an environment that is not simply just a place for people to exist but to thrive. With educational aspects hand in hand with those required for a respectful life. Embracing an alternative and modern approach by shifting to a mass timber frame design. A majority of the residential facade will incorporate weathered steel, a material known for its resilience to the elements. The commercial floor is incorporating dark corrugated steel, giving a clean and permanent anchoring of the space that will contrast with the weathered steel as its tone shifts over time.
Furthermore, polished concrete incorporated into these commercial areas, providing a balance between aesthetics, functionality, and environmental considerations. By utilizing these materials and the choice of featuring both a thrift store and a hobby store not only is the community provided with the means of creativity but also the ability for self-expression
These material selections are not mere aesthetic preferences but caring for sustainable construction practices and principles. The choice of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) as a fundamental building material is a key feature of this project. It exemplifies precision manufacturing, which significantly reduces construction waste and aligns seamlessly with the project’s sustainability objectives. During construction, waste management will be in place, ensuring that material waste generated during construction is systematically sorted by the builders and recycled.
This approach not only minimizes the environmental impact associated with landfill disposal but also enforces the project’s holistic commitment to environmentally responsible design and construction. Additionally, CLT’s structural effeciency and carbon sequestering properties are in line with the overarching goal of creating a structure that is both environmentally responsible and aesthetically striking.
As we know, the balance between public and private is of the utmost importance within this project. Those concerns of safety for the residents is certainly an issue to resolve. So a few design elements that can be incorporated include things such as full and undamaged access to sidewalks and other paved ways so that those with differing abilities are not left out or walled off by the creation of the housing project. We certainly need to address issues of who may use the areas that are labeled as “communal”, as for things like free Wi-Fi or communal gardens, it becomes hard to secure and filter out those with poor intentions.
Several design ideas that can promote cultural exploration include the obvious communal spaces like multipurpose rooms, outdoor gathering spaces like courtyards or picnic areas, public art and mural displays that can accept and showcase different art styles or artists, those cultural garden`s that work to showcase specific plants from various areas, and wayfinding techniques that are of more than English languages. Additionally, spaces that can be more private that attach to these public areas, as in some cases the presence of the opposite gender can be highly problematic.
In Vickery Meadows, there is roughly 36” of rain per year. In implementing several foundational steps to being a more passive design, we see the use of permeable parking besides in accessible parking areas, solar panels on the roof, greenery along the facade, roof, and on grade.
Choosing appropriate plants for bioswales and retention ponds is crucial for water management. Through the uses of things like bioswales and retention ponds, water quality increases, habitats for creatures are not as harshly destroyed, creates biophilic connections, recharges local aquifers, and controls stormwater flooding
The project's approach management is comprehensive innovative, addressing stormwater control conservation recycling treating and greywater for applications. native and drought-tolerant landscaping minimizes irrigation, while fixtures inside the potable
Educational elements awareness about water management promoting responsible communal understanding sustainability and will “trickle” down of
approach to water comprehensive and addressing both control and water recycling is employed, repurposing for non-potable applications. The use of drought-tolerant plants in minimizes the need for while low-flow buildings conserve potable water.
elements raise these innovative management strategies, responsible water use. As understanding of it’s positive effects into other aspects life
Specific sections of the facade will incorporate Weathered Steel, a material known for its resilience to the elements. Furthermore, polished concrete will be integrated into common areas, providing a balance between aesthetics, functionality, and environmental considerations.
The embrace of CLT, combined with waste reduction and recycling practices, underscores the project's commitment to creating a structure that is not only architecturally noteworthy but also a symbol of responsible and sustainable design in an era where environmentally conscious construction practices are of paramount significance.
This project, while intended to be the home and communal space for its residents and the community of Vickery Meadows, can potentially as time progresses grow as it’s facade darkens
The facade of the mixed-use occupancy structure reflects the mixed and ever changning soul of Vickery Meadows, featuring a unique blend of weathered steel cladding that tells the tale of resilience within and out.
A detention pond gracefully resides beneath a wing of housing units. This pond serves a practical purpose in stormwater management.
In this supportive housing project, change is not just a concept; it's a tangible, thoughtful evolution. From the adaptable interiors of the mixed-use spaces to the enduring materials that shape the facade, our project is a living canvas where past, present, and future coalesce in an embrace of transformation. It's not just architecture; it's a narrative of resilience, adaptability, and the enduring spirit of Vickery Meadow
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma is the third most populous city in the state. Home to the University of Oklahoma and only half an hour drive to the capital. Currently, travedown Main Street exudes a rather small town feeling. With a red brick facade broken up by sidewalks and parking lots. This rigid urban grid does however have occasional moments of greenery. One of the most notable being the site we were tasked to alter. Why not then let ourselves fall into nature’s embrace?
Deepening not only Norman’s connection to it’s metaphorical and literal roots, but also giving a space to to allow for the rift in our community to heal. As, who can deny the positive effects of feeding those who need it?
As one enters into the center, greetings and programmatic briefings occur within sight of a set of stairs, a demonstration space, and a cafe with freshly procured nourishment to guide a visitor further within.
Communal Gathering Space
Communal Gathering Space
Ground Floor
East West Section
North South Section
Equine Assisted Therapy Center| Fall 2021
Lakeside Cafe | Fall 2022
Infil Housing | Spring 2023
Multifamily Housing and Master Plan |Spring 2025