architecture portfolio
About Kayla Stock
Chicago, IL
773.414.5233
klstock@syr.edu
EDUCATION
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Bachelor of Architecture, Minor in Art History, Expected in 05/2027
Lane Tech College Prep High School, Chicago, IL
High School Diploma, 06/2022
LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Graphic Design Executive, Fetch Collective Magazine (Affiliated with Syracuse University)
Oversaw the production of the Fall 2024 Issue and creative graphics for both digital and print articles
Social Media Manager, AIAS
Manage the Instagram page and send out information on events to the remainder of the school of architecture, participate in Firm Crawls
Peer Advisor, Syracuse School of Architecture, Fall 2023
Helped with freshmen orientation week and mentored a group of 16 incoming freshmen
Dean’s List
Awarded for Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, and Fall 2024 for maintaining a high GPA
Summer Intern, M+M Interior Design, Summer 2024
Attended meetings with clients, produced drawings sent to clients and contractors
King + King Architecture Library Assistant, Fall 2024
Shelved books and assisted students in the library and professors in the School of Architecture
Photographer and Photo Editor, Sourcelink Solutions LLC., Spring 2020 to Fall 2023
Photographed and edited images for marketing materials and company website
SKILLS
Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, proficient in Rhino 3D modellng, Sketch Up, laser cutting, V-Ray rendering, Lumion Rendering, photography, organization, time managment, customer service
modular dwellings
Modular Dwellings is a low income housing project focused on the previously unhoused population of Syracuse, NY. Conducting research on the surrounding area revealed that the majority of the neighborhood was in the low to mid income bracket and had good access to public transportation. This made this an ideal location for a low income housing project.
The initial idea for this project came from personal volunteer experience at Humble Design Chicago, where groups of volunteers help to furnish homes for people who were previously unhoused or seeking asylum. The take-away from the experience was that most people that move into their new homes have little to no furniture and very few belongings. With this in consideration, the units in Modular Dwellings are compact with built-in furniture and storage. The idea was to put more emphasis on shared spaces so that residents can build a community.
Low income housing projects traditionally have low success rates, so it was important to research what residents desired in their housing accommodations. A common theme amongst residents was the desire to feel safe and dignified in their residences. Spaces open to the public were less favorable than private communal areas due to safety concerns. Courtyards were the most popular form of communal space. Cookie-cutter housing, minimal natural light, and adaptive reuse were generally seen as prison-like and demeaning. For this project to succeed it was important that residents feel comfortable and respected in their residences since they do not have the financial freedom to choose where they live.
Many amenities, such as balconies, seem like luxuries in market-rate housing, but are necessities in affordable housing. Although the units are small, each unit is well lit and has a private balcony so that residents can have fresh air and natural light. Residents of affordable housing projects typically spend more time in their units than those in market-rate housing, therefore it is important that the amenities provided reflect this.
Community engagement and group identity were important themes in this project. Every four units share a collective balcony with grills and tables to encourage social interactions. The collective courtyard is for all the residents to interact and for building-wide activities. The second floor is dedicated to the well-being of residents: the perimeter of the courtyard consists of a fitness studio, computer lab, private office, and conference rooms. In contrast, the first floor is intended for the unhoused/low income community as a whole with food services, clothing donation, and child care.
PROGRAM DIAGRAM
A. units
B. cores with fire stairs, elevator, laundry, garabage room
C. communal outdoor space
D. health and fitness services
E. plants and vegetation
F. computer lab
G. private office spaces
H. conference room
I. mail room
J. childcare
K. food services
L. security and employee offices
M. library
N. clothing donation
Modular Dwellings argues that good housing can be for everyone and people have the right to feel safe and dignified in their housing regardless of income.
malleable walls
This architecture school is located in Paris, France on a public site just across from the Pompidou Center. The architecture takes inspiration from the notorious, historical Haussmann style that defines Parisian architecture. Malleable Walls exemplifies this style through the flattened corners and overall form, the inclusion of balconies, and the public first floor. The building’s structure consists of a series of CLT load bearing walls that span from ground to top floor and expand and contract on each floor depending on the program of the space. The walls shorten on floors with a more public program and elongate for private spaces.
Due to the facade being primarily made of windows, there is an external, operable shading system so that occupants can control how much light is let into the space. It is also a strategy for combating direct heat gain during warmer months.
water harvest bath house
The purpose of this project was to design a building on the banks of a river/waterfall in Deckertown Falls, NY. The site is steep and inaccessible to the elderly, young children, and those with disabilities. The design is meant to provide a similar experience for all guests, including those with mobility limitations. In doing so, the architecture could not take away from the beauty of the natural surroundings or hinder the experiece of people who want to explore the landscape around the structure. Water Harvest Bath House is designed around three main concepts: materiality, sustainability, and the user’s experience.
The north side of the site focuses on mindfulness and serenity with its spas, a yoga studio, and saunas. In contrast, the south side is less private with its two large community pools, a restaurant space, and classrooms, where social interactions are encouraged.
SUSTAINABILITY
The primary focus of the project was the collection and reuse of rainwater. The architecture was formed around this idea through the sloped roofs and location of the water collection pools.
This system was choosen for this specific site because of the high precipitation in the Ithica area year-round, and to combat the high water usage of the site due to multiple pools, hot tubs, and showers. First, rain water is collected from the roof and drains into pipes where it is then filtered underground. Next, the water is transferred to a holding pool where it is then pumped back to the building to be used for pools, toilet water, bath water, etc. The water holding pools are exposed, rather than hidden underground, to highlight this sustainable feature of the design and add a sense of serenity.
MATERIALITY
The goal was to create material cohesion throughout the architecture. Wood was choosen because it is a natural material that blends into the heavily wooded site. The design was inspired by Japanese architecture where wood is a prevalent building material due to its ability to evoke calmness and serenity in a culture that practices Buddhism and meditation.
According to research of the nine most common tree species for timber in the state of New York, beech, cherry, spruce, and white pine trees were the best timber species based on their price, workability, sustainability, and durability. Those four species were mapped throughout New York and based on their proximity to the site and the overall appearance of the wood, the white pine was choosen as the primary material of the structure (displayed in the renderings.)
USER’S EXPERIENCE
The intention was for the experience to be primarily outdoors, therefore all circulation through space takes place on outdoor ramps to evoke calmness and a connection to nature. Each building placement was determined by which areas of the site are flattest to minimize disruption to the environment.
creekside youth hostel
The youth hostel is sited in downtown Syracuse, New York near a creek and public walking trail. The plan of the building was influenced by the uniqueness of the site and from a previous study on movement and space.
The facade of the building bends to the shape of the trail as to not disrupt this public space. Additionally, the roof is extruded to highlight the path of the natural water feature below.
As this building is located in a public urban area, a coffee shop was incorporated into the first floor for hostel guests and public use. The seating area is used for both the cafe and dinning area.
The building responds to the environment by utilizing natural daylight through skylights minimizing the need for artificial lighting. The placement of skylights also influenced the geometry of the building.
Syracuse is known to have rather drastic changes in weather from hot, humid summers to cold, snowy winters. Since windows are contributors to heat loss during the winter and heat gain during the summer, windows are avoided in places where they are not needed, like bathrooms. The light coming into the single person rooms are filtered through an array of small metal columns to minimize direct sunlight. Full facades of windows are avoided to increase the insulation of the building envelope.
An important part of the design was to optimize outdoor space, so each single-person bedroom is complete with a small balcony. Two additional balconies are located outside the library and on the 3rd floor. To optimize outdoor usage during inclimate weather, each balcony is either fully or partially covered. An additional goal of the project was to minimize private spaces, bedrooms, and maximize communal spaces. Less spatial emphasis was given to the individual rooms, while spaces that provide communal interaction were prioritized.
The placement of windows and cantilevers was influenced by the climate data of Syracuse, NY. On the left, sunlight and wind patterns of Syracuse are shown in relation to the orientation of the building. On the right is a diagram depicting basic structural decisions and how aspects of the builing envelope react to the climate data.
The overall repeating shape of the units in the building stem from a study of the way a person moves through space. After analyzing and tracing the contours of a common jumping volleyball movement, a basic geometry was found and further simplified into a general shape to serve as the shape of each unit in plan.
professional work
During my time as an intern at M+M Interior Design, I produced a series of drawings that were shared with multiple clients. I contributed to the design process by working closely with the owener to determine the proportions of built-ins and furniture. The project above included a complete renovation of an unfinished basement laundry room into a luxurious bathroom. The drawings on the following page depict a first floor renovation and addition of a pantry to the kitchen.
fetch collective fall 2024 print magazine
As Graphic Design Executive of Fetch Collective Magazine, I lead the design and development of the Fall 2024 print magazine edition. I personally designed the majority of the magazine and oversaw a group of graphic designers within the club, while also working closely with the printing company. The included pages are my personal designs.
