Architecture Portfolio 2025 - Hunter Johnston by Hunter Johnston

HUNTER JOHNSTON

Selected works (2022 - 2025)

HUNTER JOHNSTON

ARCHITECTURE STUDENT

Minneapolis, MN 55413 | (507)208-9437 | johnstonhunter18@outlook.com

PROFILE

Detail-oriented and disciplined architecture student adept in using BIM software to create 2D and 3D technical models and documents. Successful at utilizing past art experience in combination with new architectural learnings to create both accurate and beautiful work. Currently pursuing a BARCH program and looking to utilize learned skills and past internship experience at an Architecture firm.

SKILLS

4+ Years of Experience

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Sketchup

Hand Drawing / Drafting

Microsoft Suite

2+ Years of Experience

Autodesk Revit

Autodesk AutoCAD

Adobe InDesign

Bluebeam Revu

Enscape

Vray Render

0-1 Year of Experience

D5 Render

Lumion

ArcMAP GIS

THERM

HOBBIES

Drawing / Creating Artwork

Created a small business commissioning pet-portraits and wildlife art

Photography

Architectural Visualization

RECOGNITION

Phi Thetta Kappa Honor Society

Dean’s List

AIAS Board Member

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Architecture | Dunwoody College of Technology

Sept. 2023 - Present

Associate of Architectural Drafting & Design | Dunwoody College

Sept. 2022 - May 2024

Dean’s List | 3.73 GPA

Bachelor of Industrial Design | University of Wisconsin STOUT

Sept. 2020 - May 2021

Unsatisfied with program and found my passions leaned towards architecture

WORK EXPERIENCE

Facade Design Intern | H Window Company

May 2024 - Present

-Created highly detailed window details and parametric detail families in Revit.

-Built a complete 3D Revit window family library for current window offerings.

-Assisted with product development with future H Window products.

Sales Associate | IKEA

March 2023 - May 2024

-Assists customers with providing design advice for their homes and design needs.

-Keeps sales floor organized and functional by creating floor displays, adjusting floor layout, and assisting with visual merchandising work.

-Utilizes product knowledge, customer service skills, and problem-solving skills to help customers make conscious purchase decisions.

Furniture Installer | Advanced Commercial Interiors

January 2022 - February 2023

-Uses precision and attention to detail to construct furnished office interiors.

-Analyzed detailed furniture floor plans to understand how and where to install furniture.

-Used problem-solving skills to make any changes to unexpected issues that may arise when installing furniture.

1 2 3 4 5

THE OVERLOOK

Public park for city of Owatonna Fall 2023

THE BRUNSFIELD

Commercial space design Spring 2023

THE CAMPUS

On-Campus Student Housing Spring 2024

Ney Nature Center Education Building Fall 2024 SEARCH

Sears Site Redevelopment Winter 2025

OWATONNA PARK

1 THE OVERLOOK

Typology: Educational Center

Location: Ney Nature Center, Henderson, MN

Year: Fall 2024

The Ney Nature Center in Henderson, MN is looking to expand upon their current needs, which includes more office space and classrooms for various uses. The new education center design aims to solve these issues by providing enough space to facilitate multiple programs, while not being intrusive to the landscape. The building will overlook the Minnesota River and downtown Henderson, which will bring a new view to the nature center. Along with being a functional educational center, a housing building is added to the program to allow students or others to experience the nature center through a full day cycle.

Graphite hybrid drawing of nature center entry

1. EDUCATION CENTER

2. FARMSTEAD

MINNESOTA RIVER

NATURE CENTER

VIEW OF DOWNTOWN HENDERSON FROM OUTLOOK

SOUTH ELEVATION

OFFICE / EMPLOYEE SPACE

CLASSROOMS

BUNKROOMS

BATHROOMS / UTILITY

PHYSICAL DETAIL MODEL OF FLOOR TO ROOF CONSTRUCTION

1. Passive solar allows for summer sun to be blocked by roof overhang, and winter sun is allowed through to provide heating.

2. Cantilevered design brings the building closer to nature and provides seemingly impossible views.

3. Large sliding doors allow passive ventilation during summer months. Operable skylights provide indirect natural light as well as passive ventilation.

The building combines a traditional thatch roof with contemporary structural components including CLT columns and beams The interior and exterior timber finishes create a neutral and warm aesthetic that provides both durability and structural integrity. The skylights with timber trim introduce increased natural light, enhancing the space’s sustainability and daylighting. The integration of natural and contemporary materials creates a structure that feels organic yet modern. The repetition of timber elements in the beams, paneling, cladding, and trim ensures cohesion, while the thatch roof anchors the building in traditional craftsmanship. The combination of these construction materials creates a space that blends into the natural surroundings of the nature park and celebrates the environment rather than imposing on it.

Interior view of classroom overlooking hillside

2 OWATONNA PARK

Typology: Public Park

Location: Owatonna, MN

Year: Fall 2023

Collaborator: Josh Johnston

This design project is a complete rework of the 6.8 acre site which houses the existing Owatonna power-plant building. The objective going into this project was to create a public space that feels like an expansion to the neighboring MoreHouse Park, and brings nature closer to the residential neighborhoods. This was achieved by designing 4 programs that bring life to the site, with these being a restaurant, outdoor amphitheater, park building, and a water retention pond.

The site south of the Owatonna Public Utilities building has been through tough climatic events, with floods destroying homes in the past. The new site design proposes a program which brings back community to the nearby neighborhoods, and also provides flood control to keep the city safe.

The new design includes:

1. A restaurant to extend Owatonna’s downtown

2. An amphitheater to bring economic growth through events and performances

3. A park building to maintain the park and facilitate events

4. An irrigation pond to bring nature closer to the city while combating flooding

Residential Homes

Dirt Pit

Grass Lot

City Utility Storage

Existing Powerplant Building

Employee Parking

Park / Restaurant Parking

Existing Substation

PROPOSED SITE PLAN

Restaurant

Amphitheater

Park Office

Irrigation Pond

THE PARK BUILDING

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

PUBLIC SUPPORT BUILDING

The concept started with just a rectangle which fit the needed programs. This first step was vital in understanding the overall massing. 1.

01 The ﬁrst concpet for the support building was just a rectonagle with the proposed area of the needed programs. This ﬁrst step was vital in understanding the overall size of the building.

Rotating the building 45 degrees counter-clockwise creates a better flow throughout the site. The rotation also creates a stronger connection to the amphitheater.

Rotating the building 45 degrees counter-clockwise creates a better ﬂow throughout the site. The building will face more towards the amphitheater, improving views of the building from other parts of the site.

Separating the building into two sections will allow improved circulation for pedestrians. The park ofﬁce and garage will be on the south section, with concessions and bathrooms on the other half.

Separating the building into two sections allows for improved circulation. The park office and garage will be on the south section, with concessions and bathrooms to the north.

Cutting an angle in the open corridor opens up views for the pedestrian. This simple alteration creates a clear path from parking lot to amphitheater.

Cutting an angle in the open corridor between the two structures will open up the views for the pedestrian as they walk through. This simple alteration will make it possible to see the amphitheater from the small parking lot that will be adjacent to the south-west side of the building.

AMPHITHEATER RESTAURANT

3 THE BRUNSFIELD

Typology: Commercial Space

Location: Brunsfield Apartments, Minneapolis, MN

Year: Spring 2023

The Brunsfield Apartments is an already existing apartment building located in the North Loop area in Minneapolis, MN. The task for this project was to model out the existing building in Revit, and then design what could live in the large street level commercial space. The space that I designed is a high-end home goods store with an attached cafe. The objective was to bring warmth to the cold and sharp apartment building. The design also includes a mezzanine that provides extra retail space and interesting architectural details.

Open to Below

Enclosed Display

Employee Office

Dining Room Display

LEVEL 2

Cafe Cafe Seating

Bathroom

Floor to Ceiling Shelving

Living Room Display

LEVEL 1

Interior view of retail space with timber ceiling baffles and custom shelving

4 THE CAMPUS

Typology: Student Housing

Location: Dunwoody College of Technology

Year: Spring 2024

Collaborator: Josh Johnson

Dunwoody College of Technology is a technical forward college which has been growing since its beginning in 1914. The college has been functioning in just two buildings, but is looking to expand in the future to accommodate more students and to create a more typical college experience. The required program which Dunwoody is looking to add is student housing, but there is much more that the college needs to thrive. Outside of new student housing, an addition of study space, a fitness center, and more green space is needed to achieve the college campus feel Dunwoody needs. Dunwoody’s site is large, but currently about 75% of the site is taken up by parking lot. A new site access will be designed with a parking ramp to consolidate vehicles to a more efficient and compact footprint. The parking ramp will allow the needed space for the designed programs.

Existing Site

Proposed student dormitory building with brick and metal facade

The Dunwoody campus suffers from students only going to campus to attend class, thus creating a dull campus experience

This new design brings new amenities which will resolve the issues Dunwoody currently faces:

1. Resolve circulation issues and condense car parking

2. Provide healthy, social study spaces for students

3. Add new amenities to be more competitive with surrounding schools

4. Add a housing solution to help reduce commuting to school

Digital maquette massing of dorms and parking ramp

Warren Building

Cafe & Lounge

Employee Parking

Main Building

Fitness Center

Outdoor Study Area

Parking Ramp

Student Dormitories

Guest Parking / Student Drop-off

Overflow Lot

PROPOSED SITE PLAN

The building is designed with student interaction in mind, with open lobby space, study areas, and open kitchens to improve user and social experience

The first level is constructed with CLT beams and columns to create a warm and inviting space for students. Level 2-4 uses metal stud construction to allow more space within the dorm units.

GROUND LEVEL

TYPICAL DOUBLE UNIT

This fitness center focuses on the betterment and wellbeing of Dunwoody students through a program which facilitates healthier living. Students are able spend their free time exercising, taking yoga classes, or getting a smoothie with friends.

The modern metal facade with shading screen breaks the design language of the Dunwoody campus, but stays true to the philosophy, Born to Do

Gymnasium

Equipment Room

Locker Room

Smoothie Bar / Study Area

Color pencil, pen, and digital render hybrid drawing of connection from parking ramp to fitness center

5 SEARCH FOR SHELTER

Typology: Site Redevelopment

Location: Sears, St. Paul, MN

Year: Winter 2025

Proposed plaza facing the south facade of Sears building

I participated in the AIA MN 2025 Search for Shelter Design Charette, and my team was tasked with designing a redevelopment plan for the abandoned Sears building and site. Our team renovated the Sears building while maintaining most of the external facade to keep the historic value of the building. The site was transformed with large plaza that allows for various events to take place like food truck lines. Housing, wellness amenities, and community gardens were also designed to be part of the redevelopment plan. My task for this project was the design of the plaza space, and to showcase the lively potential of the open area.