POR T RA YAL
n.: A depiction of someone or something in a work of art or literature
Griffin Katzenmeier
Griffin Katzenmeier
Fifth Year Architecture Student University of Kansas 785 979 1373 20gkatz@gmail.com https://issuu.com/ku537
Education University of Kansas // M. Arch, Business m. // Aug '16 - Present
I learned a lot about myself and about architecture during my time in Lawrence. From my professors, I learned to express performance in architecture, design for purpose, and design to connect. More importantly, from the friendships I developed, I learned to be true to myself. The mentors and friends I made have pushed me to be a better version of me.
U. of New South Wales // Study Abroad // Sydney // Aug '19 - Dec '19
Academically, courses were highly integrated with students from a wide variety of studies. Personally, I was forced out of my comfort zone by being in a new place and making friends with people from all over the world.
ENSA Paris Val-de Seine // Study Abroad // Paris // Aug '21 - Present My time in Paris, and Europe at large, made me realize that the people you are with are more important than the place. This is reflected in my design philosophy. Architecture is about the connections created, not the buildings.
Honors Sustainability in Social Housing // Student Competition // Nov '19 In this competition at UNSW, my team’s proposal to reduce the environmental impact and energy bills of social housing buildings through simple yet effective solutions was voted 2nd place by the jury.
Kivett Scholarship // KCAF // July '21
I won this Kansas City area scholarship by demonstrating my commitment to an architecture rooted in integration and focused on human experience through letters of recommendations, student work and an essay
Yann Weymouth Scholarship // Architects Foundation // June '21 I was named a finalist for this national scholarship for my application that revolved around the impact that innovative sustainability, resilience, wellness and beauty in architecture have on people’s day-to-day lives.
Most Inspirational // High School Football Team // Nov '16
An injury in the first game of my senior year put an end to my season. My role on the team changed, but my dedication to the team didn’t. Left to a vote at the end of the year, my teammates delivered what is possibly my proudest honor.
Personal Philosophy As a kid, my dad gave my brothers and I three house rules to abide by. 1. Do right 2. Do your best 3. Treat others with respect. They are three incredibly simple rules. But for me, these three uncomplicated requests have developed into my code of honor. By using these as the foundation for my life, I can do what I love, out of love, for those I love. And no matter the situation or the outcome, when I heed to these three principles, all rooted in love, I can be proud of what I’ve done and who I am.
Strengths Passion Curiosity Collaborative
Organization Flexibility Goals Driven Individuality Positive Attitude Detail Oriented
Skills Lumion Adobe Suite AutoCad
Revit Rhino Enscape
Sketchup Hand Drawing Woodworking
Revit Unreal Engine Hand Drawing
Piano Protesting Taking Chances
Growth V-Ray Dynamo Grasshopper
Favorites Book Architect Show Movie
Da Vinci Code Renzo Piano Parks and Rec Dances with Wolves
Travel Band Food Building
Wellington, NZ Real Estate Spaghetti Grandma's House
Design Philosophy My approach to architecture has been significantly influenced by the lessons my parents taught me growing up. As teachers, one thing my parents always asked of my brothers and I was to have a constant sense of curiosity and wonder. Fortunately, architecture cultivates a lifestyle that constantly fertilizes new ideas, perspectives and methodologies. Another simple request of my parents was to leave a place better than it was found. To me, this is what architecture is all about. Good architecture makes a place better by bringing people together, stimulating interaction, elevating a sense of community and enabling cross-pollination of perspectives and ideas. These lessons have begun helping me realize my goal of being responsible for a built environment that people want to be a part of because it gives them a timeless place to live out their ordinary and special lives.
Work Experience Viguier // Intern // Feb - April '21
Reilly Homes // Contracting Intern // Aug - Dec '20
Kala // Summer Intern // Jan - Aug '21
Dairy Queen // Assistant Manager // May '15 - Sept '17
Hoefer Welker // Arch. Intern // July - Aug '19 & '20
Bluejacket Crossing // Summer Job // May '14 - Present
KU Dirt Works // Student // Aug - Dec '18
Habitat for Humanity // Volunteer // Feb - May '21
As part of the exchange program in Paris, I will intern at VIGUIER. VIGUIER is an international architecture, urban planning, and landscape design practice based in Paris with projects all over the world. There will be a lot for me to learn working in an international office that prioritizes environmental design, discipline integration, and BIM solutions to arrive at bespoke designs that aim to challenge what architecture can be.
Following my 4th year at KU, I decided to take a year off school to learn how to build responsibly and well. At Kala, I learned how to build to PHIUS and LEED standards. More importantly, I learned the importance of working in an office environment that prioritizes relationships with one another as much as a commitment to work. More on page 84
In my two summers interning at Hoefer Welker, I experienced architecture through the lens of a professional by working with contractors, understanding budgets, and seeing projects through from conception to completion. But the most rewarding aspect of my internship was understanding that the projects I worked on would make day-to-day life better for the people that used them.
This highly collaborative design-build studio was a learning experience from start to finish. Working as a team to design a project that could easily be built, stay within budget and meet the expectations of our clients was often challenging, but enriching. Getting our design approved and being able to build it was one of my most rewarding academic accomplishments.
At the start of my 2020 gap year, I worked for residential contractor Reilly Homes. In the office, I digitized drawing sets and in the field, I worked with sub-contractors to find solutions to on-site problems. My efforts made it easier for our team to meet client expectations, and give them a house they could live in for years.
As a manager of primarily high school students, I needed to be both liked and respected to make sure the rest of the staff did what I needed them to do. I worked hard to earn their respect and but kept the environment light-hearted to keep them motivated. Dealing with customers complaints as a manager helped me develop a level head in the face of scrutiny and pressure.
I owe the tenacity I work with today, to my first job; working on a vineyard in the summers through the unrelenting Kansas heat starting at the tender age of 13. I worked for a retired architect and contractor through life on the vineyard, he taught me how to design using natural forces.
During my gap year, in the spring of 2021, I started volunteering for Habitat for Humanity as a way to learn more about building, but also as a way to give back to a community that had done so much for me. This was an incredibly rewarding experience because I saw first-hand how my work was going to help a family in need.
Up and Out Living Building for the University of Kansas 2nd Year Fall 2017
4,400 ft2
On-campus addition between Wescoe & Budig
Emphasis on: •Order •Overall Synthesis •Sustainability
1. Organization A linear organizational pattern configured on a grid was the perfect layout for the long and narrow site between Budig and Wescoe Hall.
2. Horizontal Stagger Each module is staggered to maximize outdoor, negative space, allowing for a clear path of circulation that follows the stair-step motif.
3. Vertical Stagger The modules are offset vertically to further maximize outdoor space, allowing access under the top module and on top of the bottom module.
4. Sustainability Response Glass boxes are added to the top of each module to allow for natural lighting and to create a greenhouse effect that cools the module.
5. Context Response The glass boxes and the ends of the modules are truncated to face directly south in order to emphasize the off axis tilt of Jayhawk Blvd.
6. Circulation Response Covered entries are created creating a soft transition between inside and outside. The glass box on the bottom module is extruded to accommodate human activity.
Sustainability
The project takes advantage of geothermal cooling by partially submerging the bottom module, evaporative cooling through use of a water wall and the extruded skylights facilitate stack ventilation and fill the spaces with daylight.
Campus Context
As part of the "Jayhawk Trail", language found throughout campus is integrated into the project. The exterior finish matches the color palette of other buildings on campus and the overall design fits in with several of the other projects completed in recent years.
Stair Step
The stair step plan-section congruency creates usable negative space on the exterior of the project. A strong interior and exterior circulation pattern emerges from this gemoetry.
Site Integration
Given the complexity of the site with it’s steep grade, heavy traffic and elongated shape, I found it vital to incorporate the same strategies used to design the building when it came to site design. This created a strong site context, building to site relationship and also an indoor to outdoor ambiguity.
Coming Up Barney Allis Plaza Mixed-Use Redevelopment 3rd Year Spring 2019
70,000 ft2
Urban Infill Downtown KC 12th & Central
Emphasis on: •Accessibility •Community •Sustainability
Fitness ~8,400 sf
Food ~9,500 sf
Daycare ~12,000 sf
Lobby ~6,000 sf
Parking ~600 spots
1. Program Organization An adjacency diagram is developed centralized around the lobby.
Plaza Office ~18,000 sf
2. Site Accessibility I wanted to maximize travel through the site by connecting P&L, the Convention Center and Municipal Auditorium to the hotels, apartments and housing.
3. Organization The main path of travel creates a datum. The site is split into a private section that houses the office and a public sections. The public functions are then organized around a social central area.
4. Form Deviation Spirals are deviated from the circles to facilitate circulation and to create a more interesting architectural language. This creates clear paths of travel both inside the building and above.
4. Vertical Translation The spiral forms are then pulled up creating a clear experiential spatial organization. This also maximizes natural daylighting, ventilation and water reclamation.
5. Creating an Urban Park A timber gridshell structure is employed to softly mimic the spiral typology of the project. This allows for vines to grow and shade the glass tops and create a green space in the heart of KC.
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Daylighting
Stack Ventilation
Rain Water Collection
The top pieces covering the daycare and fitness areas allow for those spaces to be top lit. The vine growth prevents the glazing from over heating.
The heating of the tops in the daycare and fitness spaces creates a greenhouse effect, exhausting air through the tops. This creates air movement which cools the interiors.
Rain water is shed off the top pieces and is collected through drainage gaps in the concrete surrounding the tops. The rain is reclaimed for irrigation and to pump into the fountain.
Evapo-Transpiration The water from the vines and surrounding plantings is evaporated into the surrounding atmosphere, creating a cool and comfortable environment.
The Fountain The fountain brings diffused sunlight into the lobby. The fountain also creates an evaporative cooling effect.
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Bamboo Vine Facade
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Glulam Gridshell
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Silicone Joint
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Rotating Gridshell Connection
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Pressure Plate
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Nut & Bolt Fasteners
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Triangular Insulated Glazing
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Beam Connection Gridshell
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Gridshell Connection
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Concrete Embed Bars
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Glulam Gridshell Member
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Concrete Ring Beam
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Rotating Gridshell Connection
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Ring Beam Connection
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Pin Plate Soil Sand Filter Fabric Drainage Mat Aeration Layer
Drainage Gap Concrete Walkway Root Barrier Levelling Sand Membrane Protection Waterproofing Membrane Rigid Insulation Concrete Slab on Metal Deck Plaster Ceiling Finish In-Situ Concrete Ring Beam
Triangular Insulated Glazing Silicone Joint Glulam Gridshell Member Rotating Gridshell Connection Ring Beam Connection
Sustainability In response to this notion, the spiral tops were designed to display the passive environmental features. This includes maximizing natural light, creating stack ventilation, shading the glass with vines and water reclamation.
Green Space Maximizing green space creates an urban park in downtown Kansas City. This creates a more inviting atmosphere for visitors.
Circulation The ramp allows for ease of access through the site. Both internally and externally, the circulation patters are dictated by the use of the spiral.
Community
The ramp allows people of all abilities and backgrounds to enjoy the many public features of the project together. The fountain acts as the main gathering spot and ties users to Kansas City through “The City of Fountains” nickname.
Rise Soccer Academy & Comm. Wellness Center 4th Year Spring 2020
35,000 ft2
Urban Infill Madina Neighborhood Accra, Ghana
Emphasis on: •Scale •Movement •Repetition
1. Form The evocative form of our building is also inspired by the anthills found outside of Accra. We intend to use this towering form to draw in visitors.
2. Split Level Because of the frequent blackouts in Accra, we avoided using elevators in our project. In response, we used a series of split level platforms connected by an exterior ramp and interior stairs.
3. Structure Geometry The structure geometry draws inspiration from the traditional Kente cloths and is based of Norman Foster’s Gherkin
4. Structure Materiality Wood is chosen as the primary structure to keep with traditional materials, create a carbon sink and because of its fire safety properties.
5. Fenestration Perforated metal panels patterned to match the Kente cloth spiral each pod. Vines grow on the panels to maximize shade and create an evapotranspiration effect.
6. Cooling Ponds Ponds that surround each pod create a unique entry and sense of lightness as well as an evaporative cooling effect.
Community Outreach Level 1 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Cafe Counter Cafe Prep Cafe Seating Restrooms Locker Rooms Free Weights
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Cross-Fit Training Aerobic Multipurpose Fitness Room Quiet Office Space
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Restrooms Collab Office Space Private Office Conference Room
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1. Flex Training 2. Pump Room 3. Hydrotherapy
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Community Daycare
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Reception Administrative Office Admin. Conference Storage Staff Break Laundry Nurse's Office Sick Room Infant Activity Infant Changing Infant Nap
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Infant Nap Younger Toddler Nap Y.T. Storage Y.T. Changing Y.T. Activity Shared Activity Older Toddler Activity
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Training Room P.T. Wait Area Staff Break Staff Changing Comm. Changing Exam Wait Room
1. Exam Room 2. Physician Office
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1. Private Office 2. Conference Room 3. Viewing Deck
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Community Sports Medicine
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Community Nutrition Training Level 1
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O.T. Storage O.T. Changing O.T. Nap Preschool Activity Preschool Restroom After-School Activity After-School Restroom
1. Resource Center 2. Restrooms 3. Lecture Classroom
Level 2
1. Classroom Kitchen 2. Back of House
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WATER
FIRE SAFETY
Water is pumped vertically throught the atrium The water is then gravity fed down the exterior to the planters at each landing location. The water evaporates, cooling the air around the pods.
The porous exterior gridshell allows air to dissipate smoke. The central atria draws air and smoke up through it and exhausts it out of the top. In cases of fire, a deluge system comes into effect.
Load Path Diagram 1
Vertical forces on the floor plates are transfered laterally to a vertical strut.
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The strut transfers forces vertically to the next node down.
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Forces are concentrated in tension at the nodes.
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These node forces are transfered down the diagrid
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DAYLIGHTING
VENTILATION
The shape of the pods allowed us to take advantage of the equatorial sun angles. Solar panels are placed on the top of each pod to harvest maximum sunlight.
By placing a glass gap on each pod, a greenhouse effect is enacted. The warm Ghanaian air will be cooled as it flows over the reflecting pools.
Community
Much of the design revolves around the idea of bringing Ghanian’s together to foster national pride and unity. The evocative form draws in visitors and incites interaction. The increase in human traffic will benefit the surrounding shops and restaurants.
Culture In order to design a complex that the people of Accra could relate to and get excited about visiting, we needed to respond to their culture. Our form, materiality and much of our geometry responds to Ghanaian culture.
Health & Wellness Our building and site design forces people to walk as opposed to ride. This engages users physically, reflecting the initial purpose of the building type.
Sustainability The frequent black outs in Accra meant we had to design a building that wasn’t reliant on mechanical systems. The openness of the design allows for air circulation and plenty of natural light.
Rock Chalk Prairie Acre Outdoor Classroom For KU 3rd Year Fall 2019
1,500 ft2
On-Campus additionPrairie Acres Behind Watson
Emphasis on: •User Experience •Tectonics •Team Design
Design Proposal Render Final Outcome
Above the Plains Think Tank for KU Arch. & Design 2nd Year Fall 2017
1,400 ft2
On-campus addition between Marvin & Lindley
Emphasis on: •Order •Overall Synthesis •Sustainability
1. Site Placement The 25'x60' area is placed at the entrance to Lindley Hall at the intersection of several circulation paths.
2. Repetition A panel system is developed that create a strong datum and recognizable form.
3. Split The original 25'x60' area is split in order to create exterior entry spacecs and easy circulation through the building.
4. Push The east wing is pushed forward to create an entry foyer, allowing easy access between galleries. The sidewalks are altered to create entry plazas.
5. Climatic Response Louvers control direct sunlight. The tower is reminiscent of the Campanile Tower on campus and also facilitates stack ventilation.
6. Form Deviation An undulating pattern is used in the louver system and the cooling tower to signify the importance of their functions.
Light Modulation
Parabolic Form
By combining the paneled structural system, plant covering over glazed surfaces and the parabolic louver system, a unique light modulation emerges.
Creating a parabolic shape from a series of linear objects created a dynamic environment that allowed for interesting design opportunities throughout the rest of the project.
Panel System
Site Integration
The concrete panels are structural and also create intermediate human scale spaces, perfect for review nooks. The panels also act as vertical louvers that modulate sunlight.
The cut stone extends into the site based on the same five foot intervals as the panels. This creates a seamless indoor-outdoor transition
A Village for All Lakin Children’s Center & Exploration Place 2nd Year Spring 2018
40,000 ft2
Kearny County Hospital Addition Lakin, KS
Emphasis on: •Multi-Culturalism •Intergenerational •User Experience
1. Form Inspiration Villages from around the world are made up of huts with modest scales and specific functions.
2. Village Organization The space between huts allows for community gatherings and a place for children to play.
Community/Play Spaces
Defined unit spaces
3. Form Manipulation Form resembles vernacular architecture used worldwide Units are single story and are used for specific functions and activities
4. Program Organization The program is organized in a similar fashion to the way village are organized. Defined units create spaces in the middle for community and play.
5. Site Context I created grid lines using a set of N/S lines from the Retirement Home, a set of lines parallel to the road defining the North side of E/W lines the site and a set of lines to connect them
6. Final Synthesis The vernacular form was placed on each defined space. The daycare tops are tilted away from the courtyard and the Exploration tops are tilted away from each other.
Daycare 1. Lobby 2. Prayer Room 3. Sick Room 4. Nurse 5. Laundry Room 6. Break Room 7. Office
8. Storage 9. Infants 10. Younger Toddler Nap Room 11. Older Toddler Nap Room 12. Restroom 13. Younger/Older Toddler Activity Room
14. Preschool 15. After School 16. Courtyard 17. Game Area 18. Kitchen
20. Conference Room 21. Gallery 22. Loading Dock
Exploration Center 19. Multi-Purpose Room/ Tornado Shelter
Basement 23. Mechanical Room 24. Janitor's Closet 25. Electrical Room
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1st + Basement Floor Plan Section A
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Outside 9" x 3" Glulam Perforated Aluminum Skin Bar to hold skin Knife Plate Insulated Glass Mullion Inside 4"x12" Glulam 2" Diameter Steel Tube
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Concrete Vapor Barrier Rigid Insulation
Detail Drawing (Plan) Section B
Detail Drawing (Section)
Multiculturalism
Creating an environment that was welcoming to all walks of life was vital throughout all stages of the design process .
Youthful
The colors and organic form of the building create an exciting environment for both kids and visitors of all ages.
Inter-generational The central community park connects the adjacent senior living center to the daycare units and community at-large.
As part of the Kala building science team, I used my skills as a graphic designer to relay the team's building science objectives to prospective home buyers that don't necessarily know right from wrong when it comes to how to properly build a home. The diagrams I developed, along with the overall website organization, illustrate the different components necessary to build a high-performance, Kala home. Everything from airtight wall details and water-proof wall assemblies to state-of-the-art mechanical systems and alternative energy solutions were diagrammed and organized in a way to help people understand each components function individually as well as its importance as part of the integrated building system.
https://www.kalabuilt.com/the-kala-experience
Essential Systems Carefully curating and designing the mechanical, electrical, and automated systems is critical to operating a high performance home.
Pure Air Spending 70% of your life inside your home breathing 7-8 liters of air per minute means it should be the best air you breathe.
Natural Design Great design embraces nature's power to energize our homes and heal our minds and bodies.
Innovative Materials You should care about the materials used to construct your home in the same way you care about the ingredients used to prepare your food.
Durable Constrcution Durable construction protects your investment and provides decades of troublefree living.
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Architects have to dream. We have to search for our Atlantises, to be explorers, adventurers, and yet to build responsibly and well. Renzo Piano