Joseph Ortiz - Portfolio 2023

Architectural Design & Drafting Portfolio

Joseph Ortiz

1 – 2 …………….. Contents & Personal Statement

3 – 4 …………….. Body & Motion (Env. 101)

5 – 6 ………….…. Spring Light (Env. 102)

7 – 8 …………….. Joshua Tree Sun Shelter (Env. 102)

First Year Design

9 – 10 …………… Los Angeles ADU (Arc. 201)

11 – 12 …..……… Silverlake Cultural Center (Arc. 201)

13 – 14 ….………. Crossroads Plaza (Arc. 202)

Second Year Design

These are design projects I made over the course of a few years during my time at East LA College. In the First Year Design courses, we focused more on conceptual & environmental design, while in the Second Year design courses, we focused on Architectural Design.

First Year Drafting

15 – 16 ….………. Second Story Addition (Arc. 173)

17 – 18 ….………. Monterey Park Fire Station (Arc. 271)

19 – 20 ….………. Amazon Warehouse (Arc. 272)

Second Year Drafting

21 – 22 ….………. Construction Drawings - Revit

23 – 24 ….………. ADU Drawings/Renders - AutoCAD

25 – 26 ….………. Gear Shift Renderings - Rhino 27 – 28 ….………. Summer Cabin Renderings – SketchUp

29 – 30 ….………. Wind Turbine Exhibition – 3DS Max

Software Showcase Projects

These are architectural drafting projects I made over the course of a few years during my time at East LA College. These projects consist of Type 5 Wood construction, working with CMU, and large scale Tilt-Up construction & site planning.

These projects are simply to show my capabilities in the specified software mentioned on that page. These projects consist of projects from First Year Software Courses, as well as Second Year Software Courses. This section is purely to demonstrate familiarity, skill, and ability in the program.

My name is Joseph Ortiz. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and I am actively studying Architecture at East LA College. I believe that Architecture is one of the best means of creation that exists, and this is why I’ve dedicated myself to learning as much about the practice as I can. The way Architecture directly impacts culture, socialization, and even the mentality of oneself is unlike anything else, and it has always fascinated me. I have been studying Architecture since 2018, and since then, my worldview has changed in more ways than I can count, and it has altered my perception outside the subject of Architecture itself as well. However, I am now much more capable of appreciating Architecture in a way that my younger self simply couldn’t. To me, architecture is a testament to humanity & time, whether it was intended to be or not. I also believe that architecture provides a means of leaving your essence on the physical world, which I too wish to leave behind one day.

In this portfolio, I wish to demonstrate my skills & abilities that I’ve picked up during my time at East LA College. I have separated this portfolio into three distinct sections to be able to dissect my academic progress in a distinct and accurate manner. The first section is dedicated to my Design Projects, and the evolution of my design process in terms of language & scale. The second section of this portfolio is dedicated to my time doing Architectural Drafting, to which I was fortunate enough to learn different construction methods & what it really takes to construct a building. The third and final section of this portfolio serves as a showcase of projects organized by Software, and its purpose is to show that I am capable of learning & controlling many different types of software.

Body & Motion

ENV 101 – Environmental Design 1 Prof. Alexis Navarro

In this project, I aimed to capture force exerted by the human body while doing a given activity, in this case, throwing a ball.

I divided the movement into 3 Key Figures which represent the most forceful parts of the action. I then highlighted the different parts of my body with color-coded squares, then translated these squares into a physical model in the form of rectangles made of basswood. Depending on the amount of force being exerted, the rectangles would get deeper, emphasizing importance & strength of that specific motion. The final wood model is a combination of all three Figures, representing the drastic change in energy from one part of the body to another in one simple action.

Spring Light

ENV 102 – Environmental Design 2

Prof. Alexis Navarro

In this project, my objective was to create an apparatus of light out of an ordinary, everyday material that could be mass produced & readily available, no matter where you are.

The material that I chose was Paper.

I wanted to choose something light, adaptable, and easy to manipulate if I chose to do so. I chose to cut slits into the middle of the paper to alter the pattern of light that comes out of it, and this created a geometric effect on the ceiling and wall immediately adjacent that was further emphasized by adding a second form of the exact same style to the lower half, creating for two separate moments of unique lighting.

Evolution No. 2

Evolution No. 1

Evolution No. 3

Evolution No. 4 (Final)

1 DESIGN

Joshua Tree Sun Shelter

ENV 102 – Environmental Design 2

Prof. Alexis Navarro

In this project, my goal was to create a temporary Sun Shelter that would provide much-needed shade along an existing hiking trail in Joshua Tree National Park.

My design was inspired by natural species found in Joshua Tree, including both the Jumping Cholla cactus, as well as the Tarantula Hawk wasp. I found that a common trait between the two was their use of sharpness in the way of barb and stingers, which are used to defend themselves. I took inspiration from this and incorporated sharp instances into my design to signify that this shelter is your defense against the brutal desert sun & heat.

I call this project, the Desert Shard.

Early Conceptual Designs & Inspiration

YEAR 2 DESIGN

Los Angeles Accessory Dwelling Unit

ARC 201 – Architectural Design 1

This ADU is a modern example of a unit specifically designed for Los Angeles. The prompt for this project was to design an ADU using the existing 2-car garage on-site, and to give both residences their own private designated outdoor spaces.

In this project, I wanted to begin by developing my own unique design language that I would later incorporate into future projects as well. For this particular project, I incorporated aspects of design typically found in Japan, and I infused it with a touch of modernity in the way of strong angles found throughout the design of the accessory dwelling unit.

Prof. Orhan Ayyuce

Silverlake Cultural Center

ARC 201 – Architectural Design 1

Prof. Orhan Ayyuce

This gallery is designed to showcase local artists from the Los Angeles Area. The site is off Santa Monica Blvd in Silverlake. It includes indoor gallery spaces, an outdoor exhibit, a coffee shop, an outdoor dining area, & a full set of offices on the 3rd floor.

For this project, I wanted to take a modern design language & infuse it with traditional materials like brick and concrete. I emphasized large corner windows in the entrance & offices to bring in as much light as possible, contrasting the window -less areas of the galleries. In the galleries, light is provided by efficient LED light fixtures, and in the main first floor space, light comes through a set of skylights on the roof. Part of this project also contains a section on the exterior where metallic arches cast dramatic shadows to create a unique, photogenic moment at sunset.

Crossroads Plaza

ARC 202 – Architectural Design 2

Prof. Jesus Abril

For this project, we were given an existing site at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Ave. and Spring St. in downtown Los Angeles, and our objective was to create a mixed-use development that would easily incorporate itself into the surrounding areas of Placita Olvera and Chinatown.

When I was designing this project, I wanted to focus on verticality and making sure that the rooftops of each building were capable of being used for more than one purpose. My development consists of Retail & Restaurant space, museum space, residential units, and a community center that is open to the pubic. Crossroads Plaza is designed in a way that has paths that easily lead you into different parts of the city, with one path leading directly to the Chinatown Gate in the north, and the Placita Olvera Plaza in the south. The plaza itself has a fountain at its center that is to serve as a congregating space, and large green spaces to encourage residents to enjoy the beautiful Los Angeles weather.

Walkability Analysis

Cesar

Residential Second Story Addition

ARC 173 – Arch. Drafting 2 Prof. Orhan Ayyuce

In this project, we were tasked with designing a Second-Story addition to al already-existing home, fully taking into account who was going to go into which rooms, and how to properly incorporate it into the first floor in a way that feels seamless.

I focused on putting the stairs into the new second story addition in the first floor’s family room as to not to take away valuable space from the living room, dining room, or any of the bedrooms. I purposely designed it so that when you reach the top of the stairs, you’re facintg the door to the new balcony on the second floor, and then to your left, would be the new sitting room where the residents of the upper floor could relax without disturbing the residents on the first floor. I also designed the bedrooms with built-in cloest spaces, along with large windows that look into the front, side, and back yards, providing ample light. In addition to this, the master bedroom is directly tied into the bathroom for convenience.

A-1: Floor Plans

A-2: Site Plan & General Notes

A-3: Roof Plan A-4: Elevations

A-5: Foundation Plan A-6 Bathroom Elevations

A-7: Details A-8: Sections

Monterey Park

Fire Station No. 62

ARC 271 – Arch. Drafting 3 Prof. James Kawahara

In this project, we were tasked with designing a brand new fire station for the Monterey Park Fire Department, and this particular fire station would be located on Garfield Ave. and Elmgate Ave. We were allowed to purchase the property directly behind the firestations original Lot to further expand our design, and accommodate more members of the fire department.

I wanted to create a design that would match the design language of the surrounding homes, as this fire station would be directly next to them. There is both private, gated parking spots, as well as spots on the exterior of the fence as well. In this firehouse, the Paramedics have their own dedicated parking area for their vehicle that won’t ever be blocked by the firertrucl at any time. In addition to 6 bedrooms, there is also a gym, laundry room, kitchen, a spacious lounge area for off-duty firefighters, and additionally, there are also spacious balconies along the common spaces as well.

A-1: Floor Plans

A-3: Elevations

A-4: Section Cut

A-4: Wall Sections

A-5: First Floor Single-Use Bathroom (ADA Compliant)

Amazon Warehouse

ARC 272 – Arch. Drafting 4

Prof. James Kawahara

For this project, we were designed with designing a 145,000 sq. ft. warehouse in the city of Monterey Park for a company of our choosing. We were to include at least 150 parking spaces for employees and the public, as well as large truck loading ducks for shipments to be received and sent.

For my design, I chose to keep a simple shape for the office area with large floor-to-ceiling windows in both the offices & cafeteria to capitalize on sunlight, as well as the views of the large courtyard immediately outside as well. My design includes a total of 4000 sq. ft. of office/cafeteria space, and the additional required 145,000 sq. ft. for the warehouse itself. There is also a large outdoor patio immediately adjacent to the cafeteria for employees to enjoy their meals outside on a sunny day, and there is also a spacious separate storage area for important items that the company may need to have locked & secured. There is also a total of 6 ADA spaces, exceeding the minimum requirement for a parking lot of this magnitude.

Software Showcase: Revit Project: Construction Drawings of a House

ARC 164 – Revit 1

Prof. Scott Callihan

In this project, we were instructed to create a simple set of drawings of a home using Revit. We were given the dimensions & layout of the home which we were to create, it was simply our job to create a fully functioning model that could be altered at any time.

With this project, this had been my first time using Revit to create a set of drawings. By this point, I had already been very familiar with Construction Drawings and Design in AutoCAD and other programs, but Revit was still new to me during this period. While I was doing this project, I learned the capabilities and limits of Revit, and I began to see why it’s beginning to become so widely adopted in the Architectural field.

*These images are to showcase my capabilities in this specific program.

Software Showcase: AutoCAD

Project: Proposed ADU

ARC 261 – CAD for Arch. 1

Prof. Patricia Combes-Brighton

In this project, we were tasked to create an ADU in AutoCAD, and in this instance, the dimensions and layout were provided to us. Our job was to successfully create it in AutoCAD from scratch and create realistic renderings, as well as a full 360-view that is fully functional when you scan it with a QR Code.

During this project, I also added touches of my own into the design on both the exterior, and interior. However, my top priority was getting my renderings as realistic as possible, to which I believe myself to have succeeded. This had been my first attempt at making renderings this realistic, and I was able to learn the full capabilities of the AutoCAD software, and how it could be implemented in a work environment as well.

*These images are to showcase my capabilities in this specific program.

Software Showcase: Rhino Project: Gear Shift Model

ARC 264 – 3D Modeling

Prof. Patricia Combes-Brighton

This project served as my final project for my 3D Modeling for Designers course. Everyone was permitted to select anything they wished to model for their final model, as long as it was accurate in scale, and the renderings looked realistic in terms of lighting, angle, and the materials used.

I chose a Gear Shift that you would typically find in a classic car, and part of the reason I chose this was because of the different materials involved, that being the glass, leather, metal, and rubber. I believed that Rhino could render these materials exceptionally well, and these images were the final result of this project. This had been my first time using Rhino to render materials like this, and I was surprised to see the capabilities & sophistications of this software.

*These images are to showcase my capabilities in this specific program.

Detail View – Rubber Shifter Boot & Gear Selector

Perspective View - Gear Shift

Software Showcase: SketchUp

Project: Summer Cabin

ARC 264 – 3D Modeling

This project served as an introduction into the world of SketchUp and all of its 3D modeling capabilities. It was our assignment to populate a cabin with furniture & décor elements on both the interior and exterior to make it feel as lively as possible.

This instance was my first time using SketchUp, and it served as a catalyst for me to begin using it as one of my main and preferred software programs for quick 3D models and renders. In this project, I wanted to focus heavily on the interior of the cabin and making it feel home-y as possible. While doing this, I discovered more and more of SketchUp’s useful features, including the 3D Warehouse, and the Extension Warehouse as well. These are still features which I use to this day, and this project served as a great launching point for SketchUp.

Prof. Patricia Combes-Brighton

*These images are to showcase my capabilities in this specific program.

Software Showcase:

3DS Max Project:

G.E. Wind Turbine

Exhibition Booth

ARC 262 – CAD for Arch. 2

Prof. Patricia Combes-Brighton

This project served as my final project for the last class in the CAD sequences of classes offered at ELAC. The premise of the project revolved around building an Exhibition Booth for a company of our choice. In my case, I chose G.E., and my exhibition booth would be an education-zone that teaches people about the benefits of Wind Power, its history, how it works, and its future.

I used 3DS Max primarily for this project, and the highlight of this project is the realism of the renderings & materiality found throughout the exhibition. Originally, there was also a stop-motion walkthrough video that made use of the moving parts on the models, and it familiarized me with 3DS Max’s video capabilities as well. This project showed me the usefulness of a project like 3DS Max, and introduced me into Animation, and how similar techniques that we learn in Architecture can also be found in animation programs as well.

*These images are to showcase my capabilities in this specific program.

Stages of How Electricity is Transferred

Classic Wind-Turbine Designs

Standard 3-Blade Wind Turbine

Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine

Modern Wind Turbine Designs