Izzy Witten 2025 Portfolio

IZZY WITTEN

Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio

• Selected Works 2025

IZZY WITTEN they/them/theirs iwitten@iastate.edu (+1) 505 - 659 - 347

EDUCATION

EXPERIENCE

Iowa State University

TCA Architects

SKILLS

Annapolis, Maryland August 2019 - July 2020 Internship Position Specialized in Educational Facilities projects Worked with Vectorworks Software Adjusting architectural drawings 3D modeling and developing material profiles

Digital

The Workspace at the Memorial Union

Rhinoceros AutoCAD Adobe Creative Suite

Ames, IA January 2021-Present Lead Staff Member Artistry tools, large machinery, and supply handling Customer service and clerical tasks

Ames, IA Spring 2025 Graduate Bachelor of Architecture Minor in Preservation and Cultural Heritage

Analog Model making Drawing / sketching Woodworking/shop tools

REFERENCES Consuelo Nunez Ciuffa Associate Professor of Practice consuelo@iastate.edu Letitia Kenemer Workspace & Arts Coordinator 2229 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014 Letitia@iastate.edu 515-294-8081

ENGAGEMENT DATUM Collaborative Student Journal of Architecture President and Contributer OPN Workshop with Elise Hunchuck SPACIAL HISTORIES Workshop with Andrew Schachman

ACHIEVEMENTS Hansen Prize Winner 2023 H. Kenneth Bussard Prize Finalist

TAB L E O F CONTENTS 0 4 COALESCE

Landscape Centered Design

14 MASS TIMBER MANHATTANISMS Urban Housing Approach

22 REQ • UI • EM

Experimental Investigation, Installation, and Performance

22 ST. CATHERINE’S REHABILITATION Research and Rehabilitation of Historic Site and Structures

34 PUBLICATION DESIGN DATUM Student Journal of Architecture

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COALESCE 2023 HANSEN PRIZE Ledges State Park Madrid, IA ARCH 301, FALL 2022 In collaboration with Bayleigh Hughson Coalesce: to come together to form one mass or whole, as seen by merging wild land and the domesticated into a newly hybridized environment. The project, located on the edge of Ledges State Park, aims to provide the community with a new center to approach and investigate a unique conjunction of vegetation, topography, animals, and humans. Coalesce acts as an angular extension of the existing landscape, putting the proposed idea that “What it was originally [the landscape] cannot be mimicked” into practice: an abstraction of the topography lines reveals the interdependence of our design with the site. By integrating the building and the landscape, the project reflects their necessary connection and acts as a mediator between realms, highlighting and overcoming the dichotomy between domesticated and wild nature, facilitating their interaction as a hybrid. Coalesce integrates education, research, and community, encouraging these areas to cross over: it houses the functions of an environmental education facility and welcomes the wild into the composition. The project aslo follows the flow of time, allowing Coalesce to become a ruin, evidence of a past time, and at the same time-a new feature, a new piece of the landscape, a hybrid open to new perceptions. Coalesce acts as a reminder that

our roots are forever planted in the earth.

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Ground Floor Plan

Upper Floor Plan

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To approach the building, a unique path is set by changes in topography and in light conditions: the journey to the structure is a slow descent into the landscape.

The actions taken on the land aim to remind visitors of their deep connection to the land as they are nestled into the ground.

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MASS TIMBER MANHATTANISMS Chinatown New York, New York ARCH 302, Spring 2023 In collaboration with Bayleigh Hughson and Sierra Wroolie This studio focused on Manhattan’s congestion through operations of lamination at multiple scales. At the scale of material: dimensional lumber is stacked and glued together to form cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. At the scale of the building: CLT floor “plates” stack to form housing systems defined by notions of laminated space. we designed 24 units of housing with a new notion of hybridity, laminating the work, life, and fun within the New York China Town scene. A tea room interacting with the street level serves as a bridge between the densely packed city scape and the private serenity of flexible apartment living.

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IZZY WITTEN Ground Floor Plan

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First Housing Floor Plan

Sixth Housing Floor Plan

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IZZY WITTEN North Elevation

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REQ • UI •EM H. KENNETH BUSSARD PRIZE FINALIST Black Contemporary Imaginary, Bin NO. 12 Fall 2024 In collaboration with Sierra Wroolie, Elly Schuemann, and Zoë Stenseth Black Contemporary is Located just south of Ames, Iowa on a defunct seed drying farm consisting of farm equipment scattered throughout the property in an organized chaos with natural prairie threatening to overcome the dormant machinery. Here, previously functioning corn drying bins serve as a vessel for examining ideas within and beyond architecture where the creative output is an experimental set of speculations. We were tasked to answer the question inspired by the 60th International Art Biennial, asking what it means to be a foreigner. The ideas brought forward through the biennial were First of all, that wherever you go and wherever you are you will always encounter foreigners as they are everywhere. Secondly, that no matter where you find yourself, you are always truly, and deep down inside, a foreigner. Our work requiem draws from the latter of two meanings.

Beginning with the void of the corn bin, the darkness creates an intimacy between the person and the room. To a foreign entity, intimacy is a way to relate to a space. The foreignness of the bin is diminished through developing a comforting and intimate relationship as a means of familiarity. Here, a sense of comfort emerges through the repetition of labor. Our work is a body of our labor; a performance of finding familiarity. It touches on the tense relationship between Iowa’s natural prairie lands and the colonial capitalist practices that are now Iowa’s reality.

The land and the prairie were once one, now made foreigners.

Requiem curates the prairie to the bin allowing a moment of humble contemplation of the re-imagining of the landscape.

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ST. CATHERINE’S REHABILITATION PROJECT Santa Fe, New Mexico DSNS 546 Spring 2025 In collaboration with Elly Schuemann and Brett Cherry St. Catherine’s Indian School, a former Native American boarding school, forms a campus on the northwest side of Santa Fe, just south of the Santa Fe National Cemetery. The school is a remnant of the Christian conversion system, implemented across the Southwest to “educate, assimilate, and civilize” indigenous children into Western culture.

Comprised of nineteen buildings, St. Catherine’s consists of a former chapel, boy’s and girl’s dormitories, multiple classroom buildings, a gymnasium and rec hall, and various faculty residencies.

Throughout its century-long history, multiple buildings and additions have been added to the campus, resulting in a patchwork collection of buildings from multiple different eras.

Taking historical records into account, our proposal preserves and rehabilitates ten historically landmarked buildings that exist on the campus grounds. By rehabilitating the site, we aim to transform it into a UNESCO World Heritage Center that aims to facilitate connections between the local and international communities. To achieve this, the site now provides museum spaces, showcasing the identity of UNESCO, community art and stories, and ancestral history. It also provides educational spaces including a pottery workshop and a culinary studio, and community spaces, including a multipurpose market, artist residencies, as well as an event center.

By giving the site a renewed purpose, our proposal provides a safe and welcoming space for people to learn about the history and artistry of historical sites in New Mexico, the American Southwest, and around the world.

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DEMO METAL POLE BARNS DEMO BUILDING

DEMO BUILDING RUINS & SURROUNDING SLAB

DEMO TEMPORARY BUILDING & SURROUNDING ASPHALT

Educational Block: - Classrooms (Lectures, Art, Photo Studio) - Flex Space - Workshops (Pottery & Culinary)

DEMO ALL EXISTING PAVED ROADS - REDO WITH NEW MATERIAL

Museum Block: - Museum Building (UNESCO, Cultural, & Art Exhibits, Theater, Cafe) - Jarmaillo House Walk-through Exhibit - Restaurant Administration / Archives / Library Building: Artist Residencies - Montoya, Chavez, & Abeyta:

Demolition Site Plan 0’

25’ 50’

100’

Outdoor Block: - Rock Garden - Sculpture Garden - Kid’s Play Area Outdoor Market:

Programmatic Site Plan 0’

25’ 50’

100’

Cemetery:

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Key:

Key:

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Museum Atrium

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Museum Cafe

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Seating Area

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St. Catherine’s Indian School Exhibit

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UNESCO Exhibit - World Map Introduction

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UNESCO Exhibit - Main Hall

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UNESCO Exhibit - New Mexico Showcase

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UNESCO Exhibit - Theater

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Museum Atrium

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Lecture Hall

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Seating Area

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Ancestral Voices Exhibit

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Emerging Voices Exhibit - Gallery

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Emerging Voices Exhibit - Main Hall

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Emerging Voices Exhibit - Film Room

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UNESCO Showcase & Museum Building - Upper Level

UNESCO Showcase & Museum Building - Main Level 1/16” = 1’-0”

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1/16” = 1’-0”

Key:

Key:

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Restaurant Dining Area

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Administration Offices Lobby

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Restaurant Kitchen

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Administration Research Area

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Administration Building Lobby

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Administration Offices

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Archival Storage

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Archive Library

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Administration & Restaurant Buildings - Main Level

Administration & Restaurant Buildings - Upper Level

1/16” = 1’-0”

1/16” = 1’-0”

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REHABILITATION REPORT Report of suggested preservation and rehabilitation approaches in reference to the Nation Park Service preservation briefs.

4 | Main Building

St. Catherine’s Indian School Rehabilitation Report

30 | Arcade

12 | Girl’s Dormitory

38 | Jarmaillo House

18 | Classrooms

42 | Abeyta House

22 | Boy’s Dormitory

46 | Chavez House

26 | Gymnasium

50 | Montoya House

Main Building The main building of St. Catherine’s Indian School was constructed in 1887. The school is a remnant of a system of Indian boarding schools, run by many Christian religious orders. These were developed in the nineteenth century to educate, assimilate, and “civilize” indigenous children into Euro-American culture. It consists of adobe walls with stone foundations and it has architectural details such as a bell tower, stone quoining, and dormers. It has been marked as a city landmarked building on the site. In terms of rehabilitation, the main building has concerns revolving around the graffiti on the exterior, the condition of the existing adobe, and restoring the original stairs at the main entrance on the building.

Brett Cherry, Elly Schuemann, & Izzy Witten DSN 5460 | Mikesch Muecke & Diane Alshihabi

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54 All areas where adobe shows signs of deterioration, including but not limited to; water related problems, wind erosion, vegetation and/ or pests, etc., must be addressed and repaired properly. Method of rehabilitation should use restoration techniques and methods that are as similar as possible to the techniques used in the original construction.

One should refer to Preservation Brief 5 by the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Cultural Resources for guidance.

For any graffiti on adobe, proceed with caution in terms of what solvents are used to avoid damaging the existing adobe. One should start with a test area to ensure to chosen solvent is successful. Refer to Brief 38 of the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Cultural Resources to determine which removal method to use. If graffiti is unable to be properly removed, adobe should be properly removed and replaced according to the Standards.

Staircase of the main building needs to be properly restored to resemble the original as closely as possible. The same or similar materials should be used to match. One should refer to Preservation Brief 17 regarding architectural character and Preservation Brief 16 regarding use of substitute materials on historic building exteriors from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Railings should also be addressed in a similar manner.

Image of original staircase at main entry.

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All the roofs within this wing needs to be repaired and/or replaced with the same or similar materials. Refer to Preservation Brief 4 to learn about proper repair and replacement methods. Also refer to Preservation Brief 16 for guidelines regarding the use of substitute materials.

All original murals found within the arcade (and on overall site) should be properly restored and persevered. Depending on the material that the mural has been produced on, refer to the corresponding preservation brief to learn what kind of care is required. If painted on adobe, refer to Preservation Brief 5. If painted on masonry, refer to Preservation Briefs 1 and 2.

Girl’s Dormitory The girl’s dormitory was built between 1908-1913 as an addition to the main building. The dormitory also included the area where laundry was done at the school.

It is a two-story red brick building with two pre-1960 one-story additions added on the South side of the building. This addition to the main building replaced the original girl’s dormitory that burned down in a fire in 1908.

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All areas where adobe shows signs of deterioration, including but not limited to; water related problems, wind erosion, vegetation and/ or pests, etc., must be addressed and repaired properly. Method of rehabilitation should use restoration techniques and methods that are as similar as possible to the techniques used in the original construction.

One should refer to Preservation Brief 5 by the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Cultural Resources for guidance.

Classrooms The classroom building is a Spanish Pueblo Revival that was built on the site sometime during the late 1920s. This is where a majority of the classes that were taught at St. Catherine’s Indian School were held. The exterior walls are constructed of adobe and some concrete. This building also features corner buttresses, exposed carved lintels, and corbels.

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Images from Historic Preservation Division, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs

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Boy’s Dormitory The Boy’s Dormitory was built sometime around 1970 and was constructed from variegated red and black brick. This dormitory was built to replace the old adobe constructed boy’s dormitory that existed on the site before. It also features a brick arched walkway along the front main level of the building that connected it to the recreation hall.

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PUBLICATION DESIGN DATUM - Student Journal of Architecture DATUM is a student led journal of architecture at Iowa State University with a goal to document the thoughts and creations of the student body it represents, acting as a tool for critical academic discourse through the exchange of bold design and progressive ideas. The journal makes space for student content that explores many mediums: essays, poetry, artworks, and interviews. The members of DATUM are involved in every phase of the journal’s production, from content creation, design, and formatting all the way to printing and distribution.

My own involvment began as a simple interest in learning the publication process and ended as a passion for thoughful publication design that curates a connection and understanding of the content being shared. Both as a member and president, I have contributed original graphic and written content. I have also collaborated on the publication design and group content.

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NO. 14 (SUPER)NATURAL DATUM Student Journal of Architecture

OF ARCHITECTURE

(SUPER)NATURAL

DATUM NO. 1 4

JOURNAL

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The very concept of leaving our mark in the world carries a special power; it encourages us to reflect on and solidify the impact that we are leaving in our wake alongside each other, feeding into the desire to be part of something larger.

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is a common thought that REMAINING Itleaving your mark on the world is the way to solidify your MARKS experience or impact as a human.

Izzy Witten

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It is an idea that is seemingly born with us, whether large or small, an impulse that drives us.

But why do we have this desire?

What is the reasoning behind a seemingly frivolous pursuit?

What are the ways that it manifests itself in the world around us?

Imagine a packed cityscape, such as New York or Chicago. Places such as those are often a hub of human activity, a melting pot of human experience and emotion. Appropriately, there is an abundance of art expressing the masses. I’m talking about Graffiti.

Marking our names or symbols in places as we pass through them solidifies our abstract experience of life.

Linking the eternal concept of human experience to a tangible sign of its passing. Leaving our mark provides us with a chance to bridge the two - our tangible, concrete world and the oftenintangible nature of our lives.

Our mark, then, stands as a powerful reminder of our life in a fleeting, transient world.

The mark is an embodiment of the impermanence of a personal human experience combined with the permanence of a mark. Whether it is a simple primal instinct or some deeper,

universal pull, I can only provide my insight. There are no reasonably explainable answers as to why exactly we long to mark the world around us, only speculations on the collective human behavior and a (super) natural instinct. It’s something we all possess: the ability to find something within us to leave behind in the world and make an imprint. The idea of leaving our mark is an idea that speaks to the very essence of being human.

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special thanks We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who has made a contribution. Large and small.

Cameron Campbell Cruz Garcia Firat Erdim Jason Griffiths Nathalie Frankowski Pricillia Djunaedi Peter Zuroweste Yeni Mao

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DATUM is a medium for critical academic discourse through the exchange of bold design and progressive ideas. As a student-run publication, we are grateful to print local at Heuss Printing Inc. and thankful to the Iowa State Student Organizations for their continual support. We would also like to thank previous donors for providing the funds to get us to where we are today. Donors have no influence on, or involvement with the work selected for the publication.

national parks: what are we without them? izzy witten It seems not a day passes without another executive order from President Donald Trump’s federal team of billionaire sociopaths that fundamentally alter ways of life for those living in the U.S. The range these orders have covered is extensive; Dismantling of

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices, attempting to remove birthright citizenship, and unprecedented governmental job cuts. Though almost all have stirred up turmoil, one of the most widely denounced was the order that took a huge swing at

the National Park Service and issue, what Park Rangers do, laid off over 1,000 National Park and what their importance was.

Summed up, most Ranger’s goals workers across the U.S. are “protecting the park from the Perhaps the President’s way of people, protecting the people making “America Great Again” from the park, and protecting is by mercilessly attempting to people from people” in Dutton’s destroy “America’s Best Idea”. words.

Wallace Stegner lovingly gave the National Parks that title in Much like others, the executive 1983, but it rings true more now order came as a huge shock to Dutton. “I was incredulous! How than ever. dare they attempt to demonize Just as peak visitor season hits, a profession I spent half of my hundreds of workers received life doing? Who the hell were notice that they were let go. they? ... The fact that the Trump Some had served the parks for administration targets people years. Both hardworking and like this; highly skilled, highly dedicated alike, they were let go motivated people; is loudly without prior notice. Now, we indicative of their disdain for are faced with the question: what government employees.” Dutton are the National Parks without is right. It’s evident that the the rangers and staff to protect current administration not only overlooks the dedication and maintain them? of its employees but also fails to As this question began to press even comprehend the immense more on my mind, I had the responsibility and commitment pleasure of meeting David these rangers carry for the Dutton, author of “Paid in parks and for the country. These Sunsets: A Park Ranger’s Story” people go through a lot in order and a retired Federal Park Ranger. to serve the parks we love. The Dutton worked for the National stories from Dutton’s time as a Park Service for 31 years and ranger are both inspiring and served in a variety of roles over gut-wrenching. “Where was his time with the organization. Elon Musk or Donald Trump I was fortunate enough to get when myself and another Ranger the chance to ask him about this did CPR on teenage brothers

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that’d been struck by lightning during a horrendous storm and had to convey to their deafmute mother her two sons were gone? Forever. And watching her cry silent tears. I’ll never forget that as long as I live. Where was Elon or Donald Trump when my Senior Ranger pulled three burning children from an alcoholic car collision, on his way home from work one day...

The point is that park Rangers are incredibly dedicated people and put themselves in harm’s way far too often than they’d likely admit. It’s just part of the job”. For many of the rangers, their positions are not just jobs.

Not only do they risk danger and face uncertain conditions, but they are the very life of the parks.

When that job gets taken from them, they lose their homes, communities, and stability along with it. When asked about what will happen to the parks without their rangers, Dutton says simply; “Get ready for bad things to happen”. Keeping the historical sites and parks in good condition is no easy feat. Without dedicated rangers to protect them, the damage that will be done to the parks can become irreversible. Graffiti, trash, and destruction may become

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a more common sight at these locations instead of breathtaking scenery and preserved history.

Essentially, there will be an onslaught of unchecked damage and depletion that the dwindling staff can’t combat alone.

The significance of these parks and their rangers cannot be overstated and they will continue to be vital in the future. The past is an integral part of our present and future; Drawing lessons and inspiration from it, we live and breathe the past in order to move forward. These parks are not only a bridge to our collective history, letting us understand where we come from, but are also a testament to the wonder and importance of preserving the natural world. The mission of these parks is twofold: they aim to educate the public about the historical events, cultures, and values that shape us, while also highlighting the essential role that conservation plays in sustaining our future. These parks foster a deeper appreciation for the delicate balance between human progress and environmental stewardship.

to following court orders, the threat is still very much there.

Understaffing and underfunding still put pressure on the NPS, causing Ranger burnout and employees faced with coercion to resign. On a larger scale this order, along with the countless other absurd ones, sets a dangerous precedent. If they’re willing to dismantle one of America’s most iconic and beloved institutions, what’s next?

What will they target after this?

Where do we draw the line? It’s a slippery slope toward fascism, and we must put in place and maintain safeguards—both big and small—to protect ourselves from it.

What can you do? Dutton says “GET LOUD!!!!”.

Contact elected representatives, write local outlets, volunteer to help, and protest the injustice.

He leaves us with a shout-out to all park rangers. “Men and women who put on a uniform and step into the crowd to bolster the ranks of the Thin Green Line.

You are the unsung heroes!”

The national parks are the marvel of the United States and serve as a protected friend to all, irrevocably tied to us. It is unsure how this will all unfold, but I do know that the decline or destruction of these great historical sites will be a great loss to all. A void in the hearts and minds of you and me alike, like the loss of a friend and self. So, why don’t we leave its protection in the hands of those who dedicate their lives to its protection and those to care for the future generations to come?

Although many of the positions were already reinstated due

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