Hi there! I am an architecture student at the University of Waterloo. I am inspired by the inclusive aspect of designing public spaces by exploring ways in which anthropological approaches can be implemented in architectural design and research processes. I have recently presented a research titled “ACTitecture: Socially Transformative Architecture” at the 48th Annual Conference of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada (SSAC). My research sheds light on the experiences of vulnerable and marginalized people in the built environments and further attempts to challenge the binary concept of private/public spaces. Before pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Architectural studies, I had completed one year of studying Anthropology at York University and successfully presented research at the Annual Undergraduate Research Conference in 2021 titled “Identity Text Project”.
Summary of Qualifications
• Excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills achieved thorough conscientious work habits, ability to work independently, balance a variety of tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Extensive experience in design developed through creating shop drawings using AutoCAD as well as creating informative and visually appealing manuals and posters using InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
• Regenerative agriculture and gardening skills developed through the experiential learning offered at the 4th Renewable Energy & Agricultural Learning Project at York University.
• Experience in implementing academic research projects demonstrated in being selected to present a research paper at the 48th Annual Conference of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada (SSAC) as well as the annual Undergraduate Research Fair (2021) at York University.
Technical Skills
• Rhinoceros 3D Modeling
• Enscape/Lumion Rendering Software
• AutoCAD
• SketchUp
• Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator
• QGIS
• Bluebeam
• MS Office & Microsoft Visio
• Metashape
Work Experience
Design & Construction Management - University of Toronto
Soft Skills
• Self-management
• Implementation
• Critical Thiniking
• Design
• Collaboration
• English Language; Native Fluency
• Arabic; Native Fluency
• German; Intermediate Level (B1)
• French; Limited Working Proficiency
Project Management Intern, January - April 2023, Scarborough, ON I Outstanding Performance Rating
• Participated as a key member of the team in the design phase of assigned projects, liaising with the University client group, developing project purpose, scope and requirements and ensuring all decisions are documented.
• Participated in client and consultant meetings including taking meeting minutes, identifying action items, preparing reports.
• Assisted the design team using AutoCAD in creating shop drawings and updating campus layouts.
• Created templates for use in campus design projects.
• Performed contract administrative tasks to keep the construction project(s) running smoothly.
• Coordinated procurement of furniture, equipment and supplies.
• Prepared process mapping for campus design projects, start to finish, to enable a consistent sequence for designers and managers; maintain effective communications with Project Manager, Client, Consultants.
The Canadian Training Institute
Administrative Assistant, May - August 2022 and June - August 2021, Toronto, ON
• Successfully applied to Google Ad Grants for non-profits on behalf of CTI which resulted in receiving $10,000 for non-profit advertising purposes.
• Redesigned CTI training manuals in a more visually appealing way which increased participants' interaction.
• Designed CTI’s Instagram posts and workshop posters that relate to reducing social conflict.
• Increased public interaction with CTI’s social media accounts.
4REAL project (Renewable Energy & Agricultural Learning) - York University
Participant, July 2022 - September 2022, Toronto, ON
• Contributed to the process of Regenerative Agriculture and Permaculture design through farming, harvesting, and transplanting crops in the Wild One Permaculture based in Utopia, ON.
• Worked collaboratively with Community partners to achieve results in these key areas: regenerative agriculture; climate change solutions; renewable energies for farming; arts for environmental education; Indigenous reconciliation.
• Worked collaboratively with the Toronto Black Farmers Collective to create an accessible pathway at Downsview Park.
The Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education - York University Facilitator and Support Person, August 2021 - March 2023, Toronto, ON
• Facilitate educational sessions for various student clubs and associations at York University on fostering a culture of consent within the York University community and society at large.
• Facilitate sessions on Active Bystander training including the 5 D’s of bystander intervention to promote social intervention and action in case of witnessing forms of sexual violence.
• Support the session attendees by providing appropriate emotional support and the necessary resources and support services available at the center.
Education
University of Waterloo, Cambridge, CA
Excellent Academic Standing I Candidate for Honours Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS), Fall 2021 - present
York University, Toronto, CA
Candidate for Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, Winter 2020 - Summer 2021
Achievements
Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada (SSAC) - University of Quebec Research Presenter, May 2022, Montreal, CA
• Honorable invitation to present a research paper titled "ACTitecture: Socially Transformative Architecture" at the 48th (2022) Annual Conference
Featured work on University of Waterloo (School of Architecture) Instagram Page
• Project: Embraced by Trees (Urban Library)
Awards
The Daniel Schickedanz Scholarship Award Program
• Awarded for positive community engagement and educational commitment
4REAL (4th Renewable Energies & Agricultural Learning) Scholarship
• Awarded for completing training in renewable energies and regenerative agriculture as pivotal climate change solutions
Certifications
• Mould: Evaluating and Controlling the Hazard - University of Toronto
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems (WHMIS) - University of Waterloo
• Sexual Violence Response Training by The Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education - York University
• Motivational Interviewing Certificate from the Canadian Training Institute
• Goethe German B1 (intermediate level) Certificate - Goethe Institute
20 April 2023
To Whom it May Concern:
It is my great pleasure to provide this letter of recommendation for Joudy Kusaibati.
Joudy joined the Design and Construction Management Department (DCM) at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) as Project Management Intern to fulfil the January to April 2023 fall work term. Joudy is bright, dedicated, and hardworking individual whom I have had the pleasure to guide and supervise during her co-op tenure. She immediately showed an incredible dedication to work and huge appetite for learning.
Joudy gained experience working under licensed architects and experienced project managers. She worked with the DCM in-house team of architects, designers, engineers, and project managers who oversee renovations to research and teaching laboratories, classrooms, student amenity spaces and other infrastructure related design projects. She worked on various campus projects including the Renovation to the Biological Sciences Teaching Labs, Renovation of the Library and IITS, Signage and Wayfinding for the Valley Land Trail and the Indigenous Gathering Circle.
Joudy had several responsibilities including:
- Participated as a key member of the team in the design phase of assigned projects, liaising with the University client group, developing project scope and requirements, preparing design drawings, and ensuring all decisions are documented.
- Participated in client and consultant meetings including taking meeting minutes, identifying action items, preparing reports.
- Participated in the creation of schedules and tracking of project progress.
- Attended site construction meetings and prepared deficiency lists and action items.
- Maintained effective communications with clients, consultants and contractors
Joudy took directions, prioritized work, and accomplished assigned tasks with minimal supervision. She managed multiple responsibilities effectively and managed her own deadlines. Joudy ensured that the work was done to the best of her ability, she paid close attention to detail and worked with accuracy. She demonstrated the ability to work independently or in a team with great creativity and enthusiasm.
Joudy was always a pleasure to be around, she was well liked and respected by all of DCM team and clients. She approached the workplace with a positive attitude and demonstrated integrity and ethics in the office. Joudy’s contribution to the Design and Construction Management was greatly appreciated by the whole team. I have no doubt that she will prove to be an excellent employee. I give her my highest recommendation.
Please feel free to contact me at mayes.rihani@utoronto.ca if you have any questions or would like any additional information.
Yours truly,
Mayes Rihani Senior Manager, Project Development and ManagementCambridge, ON, Canada
tmbissett@uwaterloo.ca
June 7, 2023
To Whom it May Concern,
I am writing this letter in strong recommendation for Joudy Kusaibati as a co-op student Joudy was my student in a second-year Cultural History course in 2022. Throughout the course, Joudy consistently demonstrated a high level of achievement in all facets of the course.
Joudy was a pleasure to have as a student. Her maturity and professionalism were evident in our day-today encounters. She was always punctual, consistently prepared, and fully engaged in the course material. Joudy was eager to grow in her work, handling suggestions for change with reflection, and showing tremendous aptitude for growth, resilience, and self-reflection. Her interpersonal skills were excellent.
Joudy’s contribution to the course discussions was immense. She often posed questions and offered thoughtful comments that raised the quality of student discussions in the course. Her weekly course responses showed depth and thoughtfulness. It was wonderful to have such an engaged student in the course.
In her coursework, Joudy was equally creative and rigorous- a rare combination. She wrote very interesting papers with creative and critical engagement. Her writing, drawings, and reading responses were among the highest level of the class. Joudy showed a great range of curiosity in her interests, which encompassed politics, design, social justice, architectural history, and cultural theory, among other interests.
I am confident that Joudy will contribute meaningfully to your team in a cooperative term. Her creative approach, reliable demeanour, and vibrant personality would be an asset to any professional workplace.
If I can provide any more information, please feel free to contact me,
Tara Bissett, PhD Assistant Professor University of Waterloo School of Architecture
Community Garden Yards Building Community & Ecological Relations
Location: 151 Water St S, Cambridge, ON, CA.
The City of Cambridge has been lacking affordable housing for immigrants and refugees, students, and low-income families. The population of Cambridge has drastically increased to 129,920 as reported in 2016 compared to 120,371 in 2011. This showcases that the population has grown at a rapid rate recently, with newcomers constituting half of the increased population which suggests a need for supportive housing. Additionally, students at the Waterloo School of Architecture have been facing challenges in finding affordable housing at a proximate location from the School of Architecture. The site is located on Water Street South and Ainslie Street South. This project consists of an apartment building for intergenerational townhouses offered as supportive housing for newcomers, and a co-op student residence building. Additionally, the buildings are surrounded by four courtyards and pathways which make the site a highly social neighborhood with multiple community facilities: a restaurant, a language training center, a community garden, playgrounds, and barbecue areas. The Community Garden Yards project proposes the idea of offering agency-based affordable housing while connecting multiple types of users facing housing instability.
In collaboration with Mattan Jin
Tommy Thompson Bridge
Location: Tommy Thompson Park, 1 Leslie St, Toronto, ON, CA.
Tommy Thompson Park is a preserved man-made land that is known for its native wildlife and plants. The Tommy Thompson Bridge replaces the floating pedestrian bridge located in the heart of Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto, Ontario. The proposed bridge would allow both pedestrians and cyclists to roam around effortlessly through the park, observe the unique nature of the park, and sit comfortably, enjoying the breathtaking view of the Toronto skyline. The bridge connects the multi-use trail on-site by connecting the north side of the park with the south side, offering a pleasant peak for birdwatching and photography enthusiasts.
In collaboration with Nathan Man
Cable to Bridge
Connection Details
Mast to Foundation
Cable to Mast
Materials
Stainless Stainless
Elements Finish
Railings, Columns, Cables, Hot Dip Galvanization
White Paint Protective Coat-
600 mm wide Laminated Veneer Lumber Slabs
280 mm Steel Column
50 mm diameter Steel Cables Base
100 mm Hollow Structural Section Beam
4600 mm Stainless Steel Plate Grider
950 mm Steel Mast
3000 mm Concrete Pier
Cross Section Aa
The designed connection details were purposefully chosen to adhere to AESS Standards. Visible elements ( viewed from 6 meters and less) such as the steel cables, mast, and railing were detailed carefully for viewers to observe and enjoy aesthetically and thus achieving AESS 4 standards. Relatively hidden structural elements (viewed from 6 meters and more) such as steel columns, beams, and plates were designed in a way that is not concerned with proximate ob-
Structural Axonometric
1 Concrete Foundation
2 White-painted Steel Columns- AESS 1
3 Stainless Steel Plate Grider- AESS 1
4 Two Layers of HSS Beams- AESS 1
5 Wood Decking and Seating
6 Stainless Steel Railing- AESS 4
7 White-painted Stainless Steel Cables- AESS 4
8 White-painted Steel Mast- AESS 4
Damascene Oasis Courtyard House
Location: Damascus, Syria.
As Syria remains engaged in civil war for over ten years, a severe threat to the population’s safety lies in unreliable access to a clean and safe water supply. Landlocked, Damascus’s central water supply is drawn from two overexploited springs in the Barada Basin. As temperatures continue to rise and rainfall continues to drop, the future of the springs is uncertain. In addition to a worsening climate, attacks on water treatment plants have been a tactic used as a weapon of war, rendering 50% of the facilities ineffective, leading to raw sewage outflow contaminating the water table and extreme water insecurity for millions.
Damascene Oasis maintains access to potable water despite spring conditions, water pollution, or violence upstream, an intake and output pipe will connect the nearby Barada river to the home. As water is brought into the home, it will be treated through a reverse osmosis water filter removing pollutants such as high levels of E. coli or chemicals discharged from industrial and agricultural industries. This potable water is electrically heated and will be connected to high-efficiency fixtures to be used for drinking and cleaning within the house. After being used, greywater is treated through an on site membrane bioreactor and is released back into the Barada river cleaner than when it was taken out.
In collaboration with William Guinane
Rainwater is collected from the sloped roof in water barrels located on the balcony. This water is stored during the rainy season and is used to water plants and stock the water fountain. This water is evaporated into the air and percolates through the courtyard tiles to reenter the groundwater supply on its way into the river. With these two systems in place, the Damascene Oasis not only has an independent supply of clean water but also helps improve the
Clean Water from home
Polluted Water from river
Section Bb
Solar Panels to saltwater battery in utilities room
Rain Water Collection
Courtyard Door Detail and Thermal Mass
Syria has a long history of incorporating courtyards into house design with the earliest examples of the typology found on sites just to the south of Damascus. (Soni) Vernacular courtyard houses are identified by a limited number of windows facing the exterior facade and an abundance of windows opening into an interior-facing courtyard. Within the courtyard is often a water fountain and a lush garden of plants. The courtyard serves to create an important private space for inhabitants to live in protected from the outside.
200 mm Limestone
25 mm Air Space
150 mm Rockwool Insulation
TYVEK
200 mm Basalt Stone
Stone Tie in Mortar
Lintel
Finishing Trim Head Screw
Low Expansion Polyure-
Wooden Door
Backer Rod and Sealant
Aluminum Window
Double Glazed Window
Daylight Diagram
Gutter
Peat Gravel
TYVEK
150 mm Rockwool Insulation
300 mm Concrete Slab
200 mm Limestone
25 mm Air Space
150 mm Rockwool Insulation
TYVEK
200 MM Basalt Stone
Concrete Slab Foundation Wood Floor Joists
'Prime Time' Imagined Utopia
Year 2560
Location: Manhattan, New York City
This report showcases the imagined discovered archives of a small, self-contained city experiment that was found 2 kilometers south of what was once downtown Manhattan, New York City. The archaeologists have speculated that the anonymous architect of this radial Utopian city had initiated their design in response to the recession and burnout of the young aspiration of young citizens reflected in the problematic idea of the American dream where one must wait until retirement age to finally stop working. The radial city aimed to observe, analyze, and critique the past conditions of New York City by creating a vision for a play-based society that prioritizes people in their Prime Time (ages 18-30) while systematically marginalizing the citizens in their senior years (ages 65-80).
In Collaboration with Cindy He, Erin Kim, Lana Dang, Snow Jia
1 'Prime Time' Capital
2 Education sector
3 Extraction
4 Agriculture
5 Manufacturing
6 Utilities
7 Trades
8 Research and development
9 Old-age sector
10 Cemeteries
Embraced by Trees Urban Community Library
Location: 39 Davies Ave, Toronto, ON, CA.
This project reflects the fusion between the traditional definition of a library as a public place to learn and rest with the additional program of a community greenhouse where people can learn how to grow medicinal herbs and then make herbal beverages in the library’s kitchen/cafe. This library is located at the intersection of Queen Street East and Davis Avenue in Toronto, Ontario. The design of the library contributes significantly to the increase of green spaces that can be observed from 2005 until 2021 by keeping the original tree found on-site and also planting another tree at the core of the library. It serves as an urban landmark for healing through medicinal herbs. The library features a roof that permits light according to the placement of green spaces in the building. Most prominently, the library features a light well that captures light from all orientations.
1 Community Greenhouse
2 Workshop Space
3 Meeting Room
4 Gender-inclusive Washroom
5 Children Space
6 Green Terrace
7
