Katherine Knutson Portfolio - Fall 2015

KATHERINE KNUTSON Academic Works Portfolio

2015

KATHERINE KNUTSON Academic Works Portfolio

KATHERINE KNUTSON 1821 S. Winnifred Street Tacoma WA, 98465 (253)651.3226 katherine.knutson@wsu.edu Through my academic career, I have successfully completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Studies and am currently in progress of completing a Master of Architecture degree, both from Washington State University.

This portfolio is designed to display my academic achievements to date, my professional capabilities, and my personal aesthetic styles and convictions overall. I hope it gives you insight into my personality and who I am as a designer.

Thank you for your time and interest.

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EDUCATION

MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE (in progress)

Washington State University GPA: 4.0 Pullman, WA | May 2015-Present

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES (with honors)

Washington State University GPA: 3.68 Pullman, WA | August 2011-May 2015

WORK EXPERIENCE

WSU SCHOOL OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. August 2015 - Present Position: Teaching Assistant

WSU SCHOOL OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. May 2014 - August 2014 Position: Service Worker, Desk Assistant

WSU DEPARTMENT OF RESIDENCE LIFE. August 2012 - May 2013 Position: Paraprofessional / Resident Adviser

ACHIEVEMENTS

HONORS

Graduated from Washington State University with Honors and Cum Laude.

Received a ‘Pass with Distinction’ on graduating thesis project.

Accepted to Washington State University’s School of Design and Construction

accelerated graduate degree program.

Maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.68 during undergraduate studies.

Graduated high school through International Baccalaureate program.

AWARDS

2015 Senior Capstone competition winner.

Awarded President’s Honor Roll: Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring

2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, and Spring 2015.

SKILLS

REFERENCES

COMPUTER PROFICIENCY

Rhino | Revit | Sketchup | AutoCad | Photoshop | Illustrator | InDesign | Word |

PowerPoint | Excel | Etc.

GREG KESSLER | Professor | (509)335.1229 | gkessler@sdc.wsu.edu PHIL GRUEN | Director | (509)335.2309 | jpgruen@sdc.wsu.edu

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REFLECTION POOL LOCATION: Pullman, WA PROGRAM TYPE: Educational INSTRUCTOR: Greg Kessler YEAR: 2014 Group work with K. Jancola

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EXPLORATION + EDUCATION LOCATION: Portland, OR PROGRAM TYPE: Mixed-Use Educational INSTRUCTOR: Rafi Samizay YEAR: 2015 Group work with W. Bilyeu

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LOOKING OUTWARD LOCATION: Vancouver, WA PROGRAM TYPE: Mixed-Use Housing INSTRUCTOR: Brent Young & LSW Architects YEAR: 2015

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GUIDING LINES

OUTREACH

PROGRAM TYPE: Educational INSTRUCTOR: Tom Hille YEAR: 2013

LOCATION: Pullman, WA PROGRAM TYPE: Mixed-Use Commercial INSTRUCTOR: Bashir Kazimee YEAR: 2014

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REFLECTION POOL LOCATION: Pullman, WA PROGRAM TYPE: Educational INSTRUCTOR: Greg Kessler YEAR: 2014 Group work with K. Jancola

This design for an educatorium focuses on the sensory experience of water. It is intended to create an environment that further connects campus through education as well as containing areas of public research and exhibition space.

The design incorporates a variety of program functions including an auditorium space, scholar residences, offices, classrooms, and open research and exhibition spaces. The building is sunk into the existing topography to emphasize a connection to the natural landscape as well as draw students into the building from all sides.

To emphasize the use of the plaza element, the auditorium space is underground with a large skylight supporting a pool of water overhead.

This allows for natural light to penetrate into the space, and communicates the inherent blending of the floor and ceiling elements. The sensory experiences are connected throughout the building through the use of this overhead pool as well as water walls, a rain tunnel, and misting benches.

Overall, the element of water can be clearly seen throughout the site and continues to be an integral part of the design.

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MASSING: The building utilizes the natural slope to activate a second floor plaza.

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SITE CONTEXT: Located in the heart of the Washington State University Pullman campus, this site would act as a gateway for students traveling to and from classes. Students would be encouraged to stop and rest during their day and take in the natural and historic scenery of the palouse.

North elevation

North section

East section

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Reflection Pool serves as roof to auditorium below, gently diffusing natural light into the learning environment.

North east axon 09

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Third floor plan

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REFLECTION POOL WALL SECTION

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4” concrete topping 3” rigid insulation vapor barrier 8” concrete slab 3/4” water 1” glass water wall 1’ concrete column return piping (in column) glass backrest 2“ finished wood seat 2” finished concrete backrest

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1” plywood cover 4” wood support framing 2x4 wood bracing stainless steel grating drainage piping 1’ concrete drainage base wall gravel 2” concrete slab 8” hollow core slab water storage tank 1’x3’ footing 6” concrete slab

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Auditorium exploded axon 11

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The main attraction of this design is its reflection pool. Suspended above the first floor auditorium and accessible from the second floor plaza, a thin sheet of water would create a gentle diffusion of light. This room is designed to inspire relaxation and reflection, among occupants.

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EXPLORATION + EDUCATION LOCATION: Portland, OR PROGRAM TYPE: Mixed-Use Educational INSTRUCTOR: Rafi Samizay YEAR: 2015 Group work with W. Bilyeu

In the final iteration of our design, an emphasis was placed on approach to and movement within the site. As pedestrians complete the Portland Riverwalk, they are guided through a public market space and then either into a lower courtyard within the extended arms of the science center or further back to a riverfront plaza angled to view the iconic Fremont Bridge. A secondary main pathway instead offers the ability to move through the market, up to the second floor, and through a series

of rooftop plazas cutting through the two northernmost buildings, again ending with a picturesque view of the river. Similar changes in elevation can be found in the pier slab wherein several courtyards or outlook points are lowered to the level of the river, creating an element of variability in the movement experience. Overall, the site is designed to encourage cultural experience within the nearby community and to provide a space for exploration and education.

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01 SITE + CONTEXT ANALYSIS Located adjacent to the Willamette River, this site straddles the edge of the North Pearl district in Portland, Oregon.

To its south is located a series of public housing and a bustling market district, to its west the Nob Hill neighborhoods, and to its north large industry warehouses. In our investigation of the site, we focused on the amenities found within these three districts and, specifically, the distance to them from the adjacent apartment buildings.

Our programs were chosen based on what amenities would most benefit those occupants. We also studied physical characteristics Sun Path Analysis of the surrounding area such as city grid, nearby building proportions, outward and inward viewpoints, and environmental factors. Through this portion of the study, we were most captivated by data concerning the river and its declining state of health.

District Identification 15

View Corridors

City Grid Extensions

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RESEARCH HOUSING

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Site Plan

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ART STUDIOS

RESEARCH OFFICES

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CASE STUDIES

EARLY DEVELOPMENT

After analyzing the context surrounding our site, specifically after identifying several missing amenities which we believed could most improve the quality of life of nearby residents, we looked to several case studies for guidance. Knowing we wanted to place an emphasis on the Portland Riverwalk, we first looked toward the New York High Line project to study how to most effectively create interesting pedestrian movement.

Next, we decided to highlight our site being an endpoint to the Riverwalk by putting a major cultural amenity for the community: a science center focused on the river. We looked toward several other centers for inspiration on massing and the creation of a visual icon.

Finally, we studied the nearby apartments and warehouses to inform the massing proportions and directionality of our programs.

After studying the previously mentioned case studies, we began our investigation into the development of our chosen programs: retail, industry, a science center, research offices, research housing, artist studios, and a public market. To create physical forms, we set a series of limitations to the site by extruding lines from the city grid and the surrounding buildings.

For example, we decided to maintain view corridors, mid-site roadways, and the Riverwalk path. Using these site limitations as guidance, we developed several potential massing formations wherein each building was prioritized by its need for street adjacency or river view availability.

Through the refinement of these formations, we selected a massing plan which mimicked both the locations and scales of nearby warehouse buildings and adjacent apartment buildings.

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FINAL DESIGN Second Floor Plan

In the final iteration of our design, an emphasis was placed on approach to and movement within the site. As pedestrians complete the Riverwalk and, they are guided through a public market space and then either into a lower courtyard within the extended arms of the science center or back to a riverfront plaza angled to view the I-405 Bridge. A secondary main pathway instead offers the ability to move through the market, up to the second floor, and through a series of rooftop plazas cutting through the two north-most buildings, again ending with a picturesque view of the river.

Similar changes in elevation can be found in the pier slab wherein several courtyards or piers are lowered to the level of the river, creating an element of variability in the movement experience.

Overall, the site is designed to encourage cultural experience within the nearby community and to provide a space for exploration and education.

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First Floor Plan

RESEARCH OFFICES

SCIENCE CENTER

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First Floor Plan

QUAKING ASPEN 15’ - 0”

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COMMON RUSH // LARGE LEAF LUPINE 4’ - 6”

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First Floor Plan

RESEARCH OFFICES

SCIENCE CENTER

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South East Elevation NW SHERLOCK AVE

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LOOKING OUTWARD LOCATION: Vancouver, WA PROGRAM TYPE: Mixed-Use Housing INSTRUCTOR: Brent Young & LSW Architects YEAR: 2015

Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, this mixed-use housing aims to facilitate community connection. It features retail space, bike parking, and dwelling units as well as an exterior plaza split between the first and second floors. The massing of the building was split into five separate towers to allow for access to the plaza space, recessed within the property line and placed adjacent to the preexisting neighboring building. Pedestrians are able to climb a feature stair and access the rooftop plaza, weaving their way through public community spaces and amenities.

The plaza and circulation offsets are extruded the entirety of the building height to facilitate views both out to the surrounding city and in towards the courtyard itself. Views are also encouraged by means of two circulation tunnels, acting as connectors between the five housing tower segments and designed as two-story lofted spaces with a large tilted curtain wall. They are placed based on direction and height and focus on specific points within the city. Occupants are encouraged to wander these tunnels and look down at their surroundings as they explore the city around them.

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MASSING PROGRESSION:

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Intial Massing

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Community offset

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View creation

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Circulation connection

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Section B | highlighting circulation

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Units are able to interlock around the circulation cores found within each of the five towers in studio, onebedroom, or two-bedroom variations.

Due to their compatible interlocking nature, there is a wide variety of possible unit shapes, shown here.

Typical studio unit

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Typical one-bedroom unit

Typical two-bedroom unit

Section A | highlighting units

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PROGRAM ZONING:

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Fifth floor plan

Circulation

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With the successful creation of five separate towers, a ground-level plaza, and a series of interlocking units, the inserted circulation tunnels are able to reach out into the surrounding community. They are positioned based on both relative height compared to the surrounding elements of the city and based on strategic amenities and viewpoints. The tunnel occupying the third and fourth floors is intended to focus occupants views on the Columbia River and on the nearby freeway movement through its South and East faces respectively. The fifth and sixth floor tunnel directs viewers to the adjacent Esther Short park and to the I-5 bridge which connects the cities of Vancouver and Portland through its North and West faces respectively.

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GUIDING LINES PROGRAM TYPE: Educational INSTRUCTOR: Tom Hille YEAR: 2013

This design for an elementary school began with a study on the possible manipulation and aggregation of a single complex classroom unit form. Through investigation of the individual unit, each classroom is intended to be highly adaptable to the various needs of students and teachers alike and maintains a strong connection to the outside environment through both implied and physical outreach. After the form was identified, it was then repeated, interlocked, and manipulated to allow

for a corresponding glulam structural overlay, consistent throughout the series. Once the aggregation was created and finalized, the structural system was extended to create a total of fourteen classrooms, organized through the use of age-based hierarchy, and several scales of common spaces. Finally, the selective usage of the structural overlay was designed to accentuate the hierarchy of public, private, and mixed-use spaces and circulation zones.

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Structural system interlocks adjacent classroom units.

Typical Classroom Unit

Structural Connectivity 31

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Second Floor Plan

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OUTREACH LOCATION: Pullman, WA PROGRAM TYPE: Mixed-Use Commercial INSTRUCTOR: Bashir Kazimee YEAR: 2014

Located in the heart of downtown Pullman, this community center features a series of both public and private spaces, including a zones for community classes, a Washington State University campus study extension, shared gardens, and an extensive plaza. The programs are carefully and intentionally oriented to encourage community living and also to quite literally bridge the connection between nature and the city through

the use of an extended platform. The north side of the building features a triangular deck which extends over the river and, in combination with the plaza design, encourages direct interaction with the surrounding landscape. The plaza features angled vegetation strips which reflect the irregular spacial organization of the internal programs and further serves to highlight the fundamental and inherent connection to the natural world.

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Site Plan 35

East Elevation

Section A 36

Bi-fold walls allow for a blending of indoor and outdoor zone distinctions.

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan 37

Bi-Fold Wall Section 38

THANK YOU Katherine Knutson | 253.651.3226