PORT FOLIO
SELECTED WORKS
MOSAIC HOUSING
COMMON GROUND
SYMBIOSIS
NATURE'S
MOSAIC HOUSING
THE VILLAGE AS NET-ZERO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
TYPE: MIXED-USE, COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL
SITE: EAST AUSTIN, TEXAS
PARTNER: DEYANIRA RODRIGUEZ
MOSAIC HOUSING
The Village as Net-Zero Affordable Housing
What if the Key to Housing Density Was Not a High-Rise, but a Village?
MOSAIC Housing reimagines affordable housing through a "village" typology that prioritizes shared courtyards, gardens, and vibrant public spaces to foster community, enhance livability, and promote thermal comfort. Its interconnected layout creates microclimates through self-shading and natural ventilation while reducing impervious cover and increasing urban greenspace. By embedding essential resources like childcare centers, grocery stores, and small business spaces, the design becomes a hub for community well-being.
A Blueprint for Net-Zero Affordable Communities: MOSAIC Housing leverages mass timber construction, BuildSMART prefabricated panels, and solar panel shading to achieve net-zero energy while minimizing embodied carbon and operational costs. The village layout not only optimizes energy efficiency but also reduces urban heat island effects through increased greenspace and green stormwater infrastructure. A diverse mix of affordable, luxury, and market-rate units ensures economic equity, with commercial spaces supporting small businesses and subsidizing affordable housing. By harmonizing sustainability, social equity, and economic diversity, MOSAIC Housing offers a transformative solution to the housing crisis and sets a new standard for resilient urban living.
RESTAURANTS
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART
HOURLY HEAT MAP
WIND ROSE
SMALL KIOSK
MEDIUM KIOSK
DAYCARE
THE VILLAGE | SOUTH ELEVATION
STREET ACTIVATION | NORTH ELEVATION
SYMBIOSIS
ADAPTIVE-REUSE
AS A LIVING BUILDING
TYPE: MIXED-USE, COMMERCIAL, AGRICULTURAL, RESIDENTIAL
SITE: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
SOFTWARE: RHINO, GRASSHOPPER, LUMION
SYMBIOSIS
Adaptive Reuse as a Living Building
Waste to Resource: In our present era of rapid urbanization, overconsumption, equity imbalances, and the resulting global climate crisis, what if we completely challenged the concept of "waste" as instead a world of self-sustaining, untapped resources?
Living Systems: Inspired by the Living Building Challenge and the Walkable City, SYMBIOSIS answers this question by proposing a new adaptive reuse strategy for mixed-use, communal, and sustainable living. Serving as a prototype for a new way of thinking about existing buildings, this strategy utilizes geological carving, computational unit voxelization, and engineered system interventions as parameters that are adaptable to different site contexts.
CAVERN BRIDGE
REST + RECREATION Connection, Escape Space, Framed View, Circulation
GEOLOGY + PROGRAM DIAGRAM
ENTRANCE + EXCHANGE MARKET
Enclosure, Street Activation, Transition Space, Threshold, Exploration
URBAN FARMING + UNITS
Terracing, Daylighting, Active View, Circulation, Greywater Irrigation
PUBLIC PARK + GARDEN
Large Expansive Space, Flat Land, View from Street, View to Community
VALLEY PLAINS RIVER
WORK + EDUCATION
Semi-public Space, Connection from Street, Aquaponic Water Features, Solar Panel Shading, Rainwater Collection
THE LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
Source: BIG, Oceanix City
Preliminary Sketches
FOOD
ENERGY WATER WASTE
SOLAR SHADING + RAINWATER
COLLECTION + AQUAPONICS | INTEGRATED SYSTEM DESIGN
Solar panel angled slope guides drainage, rainwater gutter system integrated with structure, cisterns double as fish farming
VERTICAL FARMING | AGRICULTURE + GREYWATER RECYCLING + MICROCLIMATES
Greywater irrigation connection from units, Microclimate reduces heating load, Oriented to Solar East/West
UNIT MODULES | FRONT DOORS + WINDOWS + BALCONY GARDENS
Voxelized to match existing structural grid (6x6x12'), Oriented to Solar North/South
1 VERTICAL FARMING
2 SOLAR PANEL SHADING
3 GREYWATER RECYCLING
4 RAINWATER COLLLECTION
5 AQUAPONIC FISH FARMING
UNIT VOXELIZATION
VERTICAL FARMING VALLEY
RESOURCE HUB PARKS
SYMBIOSIS
AXIS THEATRES
A GATEWAY ACROSS AUSTIN'S CULTURAL DIVIDE
TYPE: CIVIC, COMMERCIAL, PUBLIC PARK
SITE: DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, TEXAS
PARTNER: COLLEN HARROD
AXIS THEATRES
A Gateway Across Austin’s Cultural Divide
How can commercial architecture reclaim public space for the city? Austin’s cultural identity is defined by its vibrant arts scene, expansive greenspaces, and progressive values, attracting a diverse mix of residents, from artists and musicians to tech professionals and academics. Yet, the city’s history of systemic segregation, particularly the 1928 City Plan that displaced low-income communities of color, continues to shape its socioeconomic landscape. In response, commercial architecture must prioritize reclaiming public space—not solely for consumer use, but to foster communities of diverse backgrounds and all socioeconomic classes.
A Gateway at the Axis of Cultural Convergence: At the intersection of East and West Austin, Waller Creek, and the I-35 and Red Line corridors, AXIS Theatres embodies this vision. By lifting its program above the ground using a truss superstructure, the project minimizes its building footprint, maximizing the ground level for public space accessible to all. A cascading public staircase allows the public park to flow up into the building, linking green terraces and a rooftop theater with expansive views of the city. AXIS Theaters is not just a space for commerce; it is a true gateway to Austin’s cultural convergence, offering a place where people of all backgrounds can connect, share, and celebrate their city.
SECOND LEVEL | BRIDGE, STAIR, TERRACES, ROOFTOP THEATRE
GROUND LEVEL | PUBLIC PARK, AMPITHEATRE, RESTAURANT
COMMON GROUND
DESIGN FOR MENTAL HEALTH INTERSECTIONALITY
TYPE: RESIDENTIAL
SITE: EAST AUSTIN, TEXAS
CLIENT: BLACKLAND CDC
PARTNER: AARIF AHMAD
COMMON GROUND
Design for Mental Health Intersectionality
How can we unlock the design potential of mental health intersectionality? As we move from inclusive to universal architecture, we recognize that designing for disability extends beyond code minimums—it is designing for all. Mental health design should not be framed as mere accommodations for those who don’t fit an outdated definition of "normal," but as a celebration of the diverse mental health experiences we all navigate.
By exploring the unexpected overlaps in spatial needs—such as autism and PTSD benefiting from sensory zoning and transition spaces, depression and anxiety requiring escape spaces, and dementia and ADHD thriving with personalization and vibrant colors—Common Ground demonstrates that our shared and unique experiences hold untapped potential for beautiful, equitable, and innovative spaces.
The Future of Housing for the Blackland CDC: The Blackland Community Development Center faces a critical challenge in its future growth: how to increase housing density while preserving the vibrant, familial sense of community it has fostered for decades. A core goal of Blackland has always been to integrate residents of diverse backgrounds—including those who were previously unhoused or have mental disabilities—rather than separating them based on differences.
Through in-depth research and close collaboration with the Blackland community, we discovered that prioritizing mental health in design offers the most impactful path forward.
ACCESSIBLITY
VIVID COLORS
ESCAPE SPACES
ACCESS TO NATURE
PERSONALIZATION
SURVEYING VIEWS
SENSORY ZONING
TRANSITION SPACES
Blackland CDC Anticipated Maximum Units = 12 Maximizing the number of affordable units possible on the site allowed for additional
12 Final Common Ground Units Achieved = 24 additional tax credits, increasing project's potential value and offsetting costs.
Decorating the Courtyard Through Individual Expression: Polycarbonate panels balance privacy and transparency, allowing residents to shape their unit’s facade through interior design. Curtains, furniture, and materials become architectural expressions—driven by creativity, not cost. Thrifted fabrics and affordable decor naturally define each sub-community’s courtyard identity while enhancing wayfinding.
NATURE'S PLAYGROUND
PIONEERING A NEW URBAN PARK TYPOLOGY
TYPE: PUBLIC PARK, AGRICULTURAL, RECREATIONAL
SITE: SITE-ADAPTABLE
SOFTWARE: STABLE DIFFUSION + CONTROLNET AI
NATURE'S PLAYGROUND
Pioneering a New Urban Park Typology
What if we redefined play for all ages? What if play could be for everyone, at every age? Could fitness and exploration merge in unexpected ways, with rock climbing used not only for movement but also for harvesting produce from a vertical farm? What if natural pools interweaved between spaces, filtered by aquaponics, while the vibrant colors of UV grow lights illuminated the environment? Could exploring the symbiotic relationships between unlikely programs pioneer a new public park typology entirely?
A New Vision for Public Parks: This proposal combines rock climbing, vertical farming, and a farmers market to create a public park that addresses a diversity of urban challenges. First, it tackles urban density and food production through space-efficient vertical farming, contributing to sustainability and local agriculture. As you ascend, rock climbing provides an engaging way to circulate between floors, promoting physical activity while allowing visitors to harvest their own produce, fostering a deeper connection to sustainable food sources. Finally at the ground-level, a farmers market supports local businesses and offers a vital resource for urban food deserts, creating a vibrant communal space for the public.
The Future of Architectural Ideation: At the frontier of this new era of design, artificial intelligence offers unprecedented opportunities to transform how architects conceptualize and innovate. By leveraging AI, we can spontaneously model with more affordable and sustainable materials, adapt designs to diverse scales and contexts, and explore spatial qualities with greater precision. If we can reduce material waste, optimize workflows, and expand our creative potential, why not embrace AI as we once did with technological advancements like Revit, Enscape, and Grasshopper?
ENTRANCES + THRESHOLDS
POOLS + CIRCULATION
LIGHT + ATMOSPHERE
ENTRANCES + THRESHOLDS
STRUCTURE + VERTICAL FARMING
TIMBER + LANDSCAPING
POOLS + CIRCULATION
LIGHT + ATMOSPHERE
COLOR + ROCK CLIMBING
COLOR + ROCK CLIMBING
POOLS + CIRCULATION
STRUCTURE + VERTICAL FARMING
LIGHT + ATMOSPHERE
+ LANDSCAPING
STRUCTURE + VERTICAL FARMING
TIMBER + LANDSCAPING
CONTEXT + ENTRANCES + SKIN
STANTEC GARNETT COMMUNITY CENTER
LOCATION: PLANO, TEXAS
DURATION: MAY 2023 - AUG 2023
JOB TITLE: ARCHITECTURAL INTERN, CROSS-DISCIPLINARY TEAM LEADER
SOFTWARE: REVIT, ENSCAPE, ILLUSTRATOR, PHOTOSHOP
GARNETT COMMUNITY CENTER
INTERIOR DESIGNER + CO-LEADER: SOPHIE FORRER
ARCHITECTS: LUCY BAIRD, JENNIFER LEE
MEP ENGINEER: CONNOR HLADIK
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: ELISE KAARTINEN
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: HALEY YELLE
CHEMICAL ENGINEER: LAUREN HOLTGREN
CLIENT: GARY EAST SIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
TYPE: ADAPTIVE RE-USE, MIXED-USE, EDUCATION, WORKPLACE, PUBLIC PARK
SITE: 46407 JACKSON ST, GARY, IN
- Led a multi-disciplinary team across Texas and Canada, delegating tasks and aligning design visions.
- Collaborated with mechanical, structural, and chemical engineers to integrate geothermal + VRF heating and cooling, adaptive-reuse structural modifications, and LEED analysis.
- Designed interventions such as a programmatic stair, embedded seating, and a solar panel pavilion.
- Produced BIM 360 models, renderings, concept diagrams, and an animated section for presentations.
- Delivered nationwide and client presentations, communicating cross-disciplinary design strategies.
GENSLER
LOOM TO BLOOM + CONFIDENTIAL PROJECT
LOCATION: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
DURATION: MAY 2024 - AUG 2024
JOB TITLE: ARCHITECTURAL INTERN
SOFTWARE: RHINO, SKETCHUP, REVIT, GRASSHOPPER, CLIMATE STUDIO
LOOM TO BLOOM
PROJECT
LEADERS : SIMBA MAFUNDIKWA, FRANCI VIRGILI
CLIENT: SEATTLE DESIGN FESTIVAL
SITE: SOUTH LAKE UNION, SEATTLE, WA
RECOGNITION: GDUSA AWARDS
- Involved in all project phases, from concept development to construction.
- Created concept sketches and models to visualize design ideas.
- Team of architects, interior designers, strategists, and graphic designers.
- Worked with a diversity of industry partners, including zero-waste textile artists.
- Provided embodied energy calculations to support waste-to-resource concept.
- Assisted architecture team in roof and structural design iterations.
- Produced structural diagrams for coordination of construction and bidding.
MIXED-USE
DESIGN DIRECTOR: JEROEN TEEUW | ARCHITECT: HONG JOON
Involved in schematic design and design development project SketchUp, Rhino, Grasshopper, and Revit. Worked closely radiation and daylight simulation analyses throughout the energy efficiency. Collaborated with Gensler technical architects with a landscape architecture firm for site and topography consultants throughout
Confidentiality Note: Project visuals cannot be shared due to client confidentiality.This without disclosing specific
MIXED-USE PROJECT
JOON YANG | SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR: OMER KARAGUZEL project phases. Assisted with concept modeling across closely with the Sustainability Director to integrate solar the design process to inform facade design and optimize architects and interior designers across states. Worked topography modeling. Coordinated with cross-disciplinary throughout design development.
confidentiality.This abstract sketch represents the driving design concept specific project details.
ANALOG EXPLORATIONS
STUDIES IN LIGHT AND COMPOSITION
MEDIUM: BALLPOINT PEN
MEDIUM: CHARCOAL, ERASER
MEDIUM: GRAPHITE
ADVOCACY
At the Intersection of Architecture and Activism
My mission is to showcase the power architects hold to lead social and environmental change. I believe that at the intersection of innovative design, advocating for our communities, sociopolitical initiatives, and crossdisciplinary collaboration at all scales, we can play an active role in the futures of the people we design for and the environments we shape.
LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL + SIGNATURES: Windowless Hou sing Initiative letter representing 800+ students, faculty, alumni, and community members
THE DAILY TEXAN: "Austin City Council approves windowless housing resolution, preventing construction of new windowless bedrooms"
PBS NEWSHOUR: "Why many college students are forced to spend more on housing than tuition"
WALL STREET JOURNAL: "Windowless Bedrooms and Town-Gown Battles: How Student Housing Got Expensive"
AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN: "''We are all vulnerable': Why UT students are launching a tenants union on campus"
KUT: "UT Austin students form union to help fellow renters in the state's most expensive city"
KAYLA QUILANTANG CURRICULUM VITAE
kaylakwil8@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-quil 972.624.9264
EXPERIENCE
Gensler | Seattle
Architectural Intern
• Contributed to all project phases, from concept development to construction documentation, across multiple projects.
• Supported schematic design to design development, utilizing SketchUp, Rhino, Grasshopper, and Revit.
• Collaborated with architects, engineers, and cross-disciplinary teams across states.
• Produced diagrams and 3D models, integrating embodied energy calculations for sustainable design.
• Worked closely with the sustainability director to optimize energyefficient facade design through solar radiation and daylight simulations.
University Tenants Union (UTU) | Austin
Co-founder & Chair
2023-2025
• Co-founded and led the UT Tenants Union, advocating for housing rights at the University of Texas and across Austin.
Led a successful campaign to change an Austin building code, halting the construction of windowless bedrooms, long illegal in major cities worldwide.
• Authored a letter to city council, gathering 800+ signatures from students, alumni, and professionals, demonstrating diverse citywide support.
• Spearheaded collaborations with AIA Austin, Texas Housers, city council, and students, organizing town halls and successfully amending the city code (effective May 2024).
Stantec | Plano
Architectural Intern & Team Lead (Cross-disciplinary)
2023
• Led a multi-disciplinary team across Texas and Canada, facilitating team meetings, aligning design visions, and managing project delivery timelines.
• Collaborated with engineers to integrate geothermal systems, structural modifications, and LEED workflows into designs.
• Led the design of an adaptive reuse project chosen for city revitalization efforts.
• Delivered presentations in client meetings and the annual firm-wide design excellence showcase.
O'Connell Robertson | Austin
Architectural Intern
• Contributed to schematic design for a new behavioral health hospital as part of the healthcare architecture team.
• Assisted in completing construction document sets in Revit, including mock-up walls and details
• Designed a visual diagram in collaboration with the business development team to showcase the firm’s extensive work with a long-term client.
SKILLS
Rhino, Revit, Sketchup, Grasshopper, AutoCAD Enscape, Lumion, Adobe Suite, MS Office
Stable Diffusion, ControlNet, Midjourney
Climate Studio, LEED Benchmarking
3D Printing, Physical Modeling, Hand Drafting
Englsh (Fluent), Japanese (Basic Conversational)
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)
University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture
DESIGN VISUALIZATION
AI + COMPUTATION
SUSTAINABILITY
FABRICATION LANGUAGE
• NAAB-Accredited 5-Year Professional Degree (Master's Equivalent)
GPA: 3.8/4.0 | University Honors
CERTIFICATIONS
LEED Green Associate 2024
ACHIEVEMENTS
+ GDUSA Awards Winner | Gensler
+ Women in Architecture Scholarship Recipient
+ Texas Housers Academy Fellow
+ Dean's Design Distinction | UTSOA
+ Design Excellence Nominee | Design I, II, & IV
+ HCA Healthcare Scholarship
+ Butler Excellence Scholarship
+ Parkhill, Smith, & Cooper Scholarship
+ ACE Mentorship Design Competition | First Place
PRESS & MEDIA PUBLIC SPEAKING
PBS Newshour
• Wall Street Journal
American Statesman
• KUT Austin
The Daily Texan
• ISSUU Magazine
VOLUNTEERING
AIAS National Conference 2025
• LiA Shaping Tomorrow Series
Gensler Humble Brag Series
• NOMAS SB-17 Panelist
UTSOA Guest Lecturer
• UTU City-wide Townhalls
NOMA Project Pipeline Mentor | Gensler
Blackland CDC Design Collaborator | UTSOA
AIA Austin Homes Tour Volunteer | Restructure Studio
Architecture Student Council | President '22-23
YOU
hope to see you again soon!
kaylakwil8@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-quil 972.624.9264