Situated on an experimental research farm in rural Virginia, this studio focused on creating a greenhouse that would allow visiting botanists to study local flora and fauna. I focused on lichen propagation, an understudied area. The design excavates the site to expose bedrock, facilitating spring water access and creating a humid environment. Walkways provide easy access for lichen study, and a glass tile roof mimics the topography to introduce natural light. The space is non-hierarchical, allowing objects to come into focus and fade as one moves, emphasizing time, space, and movement.
THRESHOLD TO NATURE
THERMAL BATH RETREAT EMBRACING NATURE
FALL 2020
CRITICS: Luis Pancorbo
Ines Robles
Situated in rural Bolar Springs in western Virginia, this project aims to create a thermal bath complex that is an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This site has historical significance as a natural spring with healing properties. The concept was to create a structure that celebrates and frames the natural landscape, elevating the experience of the visitor and allowing them to find peace while also experiencing the beauty of the site in new ways.
01 COURTYARD, BATHING, SPA THERAPY SPACE
02 MULTI-USE SPACE
03 INDOOR/OUTDOOR SHOPPING AND CAFE
04 SLIDING GLASS WALLS AND FACADE
05 ROOF
The sunken concrete layer is further sheltered by the cantilevered deck while the height of the deck exaggerated by the excavated space of the courtyard.
CHICAGO STAGE
RECLAIMING SPACE THROUGH CULTURAL EXCHANGE
SPRING 2022
CRITICS: Seth McDowell
Erin Putalik
Located in Chicago’s New City suburb, this project addresses Mayor Lightfoot’s Invest South/West initiative to revitalize a historically underinvested corridor. The library aims to serve as a dynamic hub for the local community, blending library, classroom, and theater spaces. It fosters cultural exchange and strengthens community ties through casual interactions. The design features three distinct areas: a lively cultural space, a library, and a quiet study zone. Library stacks act as a buffer between the vibrant cultural space and the serene study area, making the building a focal point for community engagement and revitalizing the surrounding corridor.
THE LIVING ROTUNDA
ARTS COLLEGE REIMAGINING UVA'S LEGACY
FALL 2022
CRITIC: WG Clark
Situated across from Jefferson’s historic lawn at UVA, this art college and museum honors the values of the lawn while embracing an urban evolution. As density dictates the modern landscape, the design rethinks traditional architecture, placing the art museum at the center as a new monument of knowledge, taking the place of Jefferson’s Rotunda. Surrounding domestic, learning, and creative spaces engage with this hub, fostering constant interaction. The museum’s design blurs the line between architecture and sculpture, with gallery spaces themselves becoming visible works of art from the exterior.
HOUSING
ART STUDIO
CAFE
ART MUSEUM
CULTURAL COURTYARDS
SHARED HERITAGE THROUGH COMMUNITY ART
SPRING 2022
CRITICS: Luis Pancorbo
Ines Robles
Boyle Heights is a vibrant community with rich Mexican cultural roots. The art center responds to the need for an accessible space where residents can express their culture through art. The design features two central courtyards that foster community and showcase local murals. A prominent tower serves as a monument to Boyle Heights residents, affirming their place within the broader city of Los Angeles.
Situated on the southern edge of Rockefeller University in Manhattan, the site is positioned between two research buildings overlooking the East River. The project involves designing a 40-unit housing complex tailored for medical professionals. The design integrates the two adjacent buildings, extending their amenities into the new housing and creating a physical connection through walking paths that offer multiple views of the East River. The facade reflects the University’s pioneering use of the electron microscope, linking the building’s design to its historic contributions to cell biology.
DESIGN ITERATIONS
River Walkway Bridge
GRAND BOHEMIAN SPA CENTER
CLIENT: Kessler Collection
SIZE: 10,000 SF
PROJECT TYPE: Hospitality PHASE WORKED: SD - 50% CD
For this project, McMillan Pazdan Smith served as the architect of record for a new high-end Grand Bohemian Hotel and resort village in Cashiers, NC. The design features a spa on the ground floor, with treatment spaces on the upper floor. My role involved translating the design architect’s sketches into functional construction drawings using Revit. I initiated the selection of key wall sections and began detailing drawings for senior architect review. At the time, the project was in the early Construction Documents (CD) phase.
DESIGN ARCHITECT SKETCH
CLEARANCES, FIXTURE MOUNTING
11. REFERENCE EXTERIOR ASSEMBLIES SHEET A002 FOR TY 12. REFERENCE A-400 FOR UNIT FINISH SCHEDULE AND NOTES
13. REFERENCE A111 FOR FINISHES AND FINISH SCHEDULES.
VALUE HALF-ROUND GUTTER W/ ROUND DOWNSPOUTS CONNECTED TO ALUMINUM CLAD WOOD WINDOW WITH MUNTINS, TYP. WOOD PORCH POSTS WITH CHAMFERED CORNERS ALUMINUM CLAD WOOD DOORS AND TRANSOMS
DECORATIVE PENDANT FIXTURE, REF. E-DWGS EXTERIOR
CASHIERS,
A4/25/2023SCHEMATIC DESIGN
B05/11/2023SCHEMATIC DESIGN
D06/03/2024SCHEMATIC DESIGN CHECK SET E08/16/2024FOR REVIEW F??/??/2024DD PROGRESS
PEDIATRIC THERAPY ADDITION
CLIENT: NC Pediatric Therapy
SIZE: 6,000 SF
PROJECT TYPE: Medical PHASE WORKED: SD
The client requested that McMillan Pazdan Smith design an addition to their Pediatric Therapy practice, which was initially put on hold for several years. When the project resumed, they asked for a scaled-down version of the original design. My task was to reduce the footprint while maintaining functionality and adequate parking frontage. Through multiple sketch iterations, I developed a design that met the client’s needs, and we are now moving forward with pricing the design for construction.
COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
CLIENT: Western Piedmont SIZE: 20,000 SF
PROJECT TYPE: Government PHASE WORKED: SD-50% CD
The client requested that McMillan Pazdan Smith design an addition to their government accounting offices, seeking a design that complemented their existing brick building while adding new amenities and meeting spaces for employees. I participated in design decisions, including the design of the central stair. As the primary Revit modeler, I was also involved in creating Enscape renderings for client presentations.
WESTERN PIEDMONT COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS EXPANSION 6 /19/2024
