L Medina_Portfolio 2021

PORTFOLIO Laura Isabel Medina

Boston Architectural College B. arch

ABOUT ME

Since I can remember I have always been interested in a career related to design and the art of creating. Everything went from being a drawing teacher, to a fashion designer, to finally, an architect, And even there at that moment i still had doubts as to whether it was what i really wanted.

During my first semester at College I was still full of insecurities and doubts. I always worried wondering if this would be the perfect place to further develop my interest in art or if it would just be a mistake to think that I could do this major. I spent the first few days thinking that, at least, until I started delving into classes like my first studio and Design Representation. My first studio led me to start my manual modeling skills and with Design Rep my drawing skills improved exponentially.

With this knowledge that I acquired, I began to want to continue learning more, I was very excited about upcoming classes and to see how far I could go and what new skills I could learn to be the architect I want to become. I must say that during my first year of architecture I learned that opening my mind and thinking outside the box is crucial. And despite being a work in progress, I know I can go a long way and I’m sure I want to design for those who need it, I want to be able to help them when everyone is turning their back.

I want to be able to try to change the world with my designs before the world has a chance to change us first.

LAURA

LAURA ISABEL MEDINA (UNDERGRADUATE THIRD YEAR STUDENT)

EDUCATION 2019 - Present

25 Queensberry St, Apt 7, Boston MA 02215

BOSTON ARCHITECTURAL COLLEGE Bachelor of Architecture

2018 - 2019

EF INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE CAMPUS University Preparation Course

2013 - 2018

U. E. DR. JOSE ANTONIO RAMOS SUCRE High School Diploma

LEADERSHIP PRESIDENT OF BAC SOCIAL CLUB, STUDIO Q (646) 852 - 4577

Lauramedina01.lm@gmail.com

Lauramedina.arch

The purpose of the club is to elevate the importance of personal well being and respect of the LGBTQ+ community at the Boston Architectural College. As the president’s responsibilities, I make sure to organize workshops, events, and discussions to educate students about LGBTQ+ in and outside the BAC community. By doing so, we provide additional resources to help students going through gender or sexuality transitions.

CHAIR LEADER OF BAC ORGANIZATION, NOMAS The BAC Chapter of NOMAS deals with the spirit of inclusion in the architectural field. My position as Chair Leader belongs to the Media Committee, in which we are responsible for 1) Marketing the chapter on social networks, 2) The creation and publication of posters and 3) Review the presentations. My responsibilities include assigning and supervising tasks to each of the members and myself.

BAC ORIENTATION LEADER AND BEEKEEPER In this positions, I had the opportunity to guide, share experiences, and offer my help to new students of different backgrounds and ages in any ambit they might need. As well as to provide them support and confidence as they start their new journey at the school. Some of my responsibilities were to organize events, provide my advice, and be a mentor for their respective classes or assignments.

VOLUNTEER WORK SENEGAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL “SAMBOU TOURA DRAME” Architecture competition based on researching low-cost and innovative building techniques to develop a sustainable community design to replace an existing school in Marsassoum, Senegal. I was responsible of data and research of the existing site and material selection for the new proposal.

HIVE MIND, BAC STUDENT COLLECTION Remodeling of a gallery to show the architectural work of Boston Architectural College students. I was in charge of making the design that was going to be placed on the windows and painting the wood shells in which the work was displayed.

REFERENCES

SKILLS

DANIEL STEGER Dsteger@dgsarchitecture.com (617) 216 - 7643

AUTOCAD

ILUMINACION LAWRENCE The project is intended to develop various lighting installation strategies in the Lawrence, MA neighborhood. It is meant to improve the identity and security in the area. My responsibilities included; Project Manager for the middle of the project, as well as analysis of possible sites, diagrams of the light proposal, 3D modeling of the prototype, creation of renders of the final product, and the creation of graphics for an explanatory book of the project.

SKETCHUP RHINO REVIT

RASHMIMALA RAMASWAMY Rashmimala.ramaswamy@the-bac.edu (312) 731 - 4832

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP ADOBE INDESIGN ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR ENSCAPE

CHRISTINA LIU Christina.liu@the-bac.edu (617) 585 - 7352

MICROSOFT OFFICE 365 HAND DRAFTING HAND MODEL MAKING

LANGUAGE ENGLISH | SPANISH

CONTENT ACADEMIC PROJECTS Ferry Terminal Cider brewery / Community Center

VOLUNTEER PROJECT Senegal elementary school LAWRENCE ART Lighting installations

ACADEMIC PROJECTS Ferry Terminal cider brewery / Community Center

01 Ferry terminal, Public and Programmed space Architectural design studio B. Architecture Final Score: 100/100

The project takes place in the Long Wharf area of Boston,

MA. The task was to design a ferry terminal that should enhance Boston’s mass transit system by combining internal and external relationships at the site to facilitate communications for users to and from East Boston. To achieve this, it was necessary to take into consideration the human inhabitation and experiences to create a more enlightened relationship between site conditions and its occupation.

The design focuses on emphasizing the indirect unity between

land and sea in the first floor and mainly the sea and the urban environment around it in the second floor. The design is doing this by developing framed views that prioritize two focal points, Boston Harbor and the Inner Marina. This characteristics allows each floor of the architecture to pay homage to the view of each existing landmark located in the site. The design also enhances the existing pathways of the site by highlighting a hierarchy of how people come in, consequently deriving its form and the view conditions of each space based on its proximity to an specific pathway. The first floor is a fast activity zone while the second floor has more moments of pause. The design also implements voids or open spaces between the solid structures to help develop a more intimate connection with its environment (i.e The use of columns in the design is not only to sustain the structure above, but also, to provide framed and controlled views that allows the user to see, feel, and smell the sea breeze and the water itself).

Boston, MA

10

N SITE PLAN SCALE: 1” = 100’

11

Ramp

Main Entrance

Ticket Stand Bicycle Storage

RN

12

Restaurant

Space

Office

Secondary Entrance

1

Circulation

Blocking Diagram - First Floor

Elev

Stairs y Tertiar

Entran

ce

Deck

Waiting Area

Inclusive Bathroom

Lockers

2

Circulation Space

Elev

Cafe

Stairs

Blocking Diagram - Second Floor

13

14

3

Roof

2

Second Floor

1

First Floor

Skylight.

Green Wall.

Supporting Columns.

Double Glazed Curtain Walls.

Deck to Ferry.

Waiting Area.

Inclusive Bathrooms.

Lockers.

Cafe.

Main Entrance.

Bicycle Storage.

Offices.

Ferry’s Ticket Stand.

Information Point.

Elevator + Stairs.

Chart’s House added outside restaurant.

Ramp to experience the water in the site by getting closer to it.

15

DN

UP

DN

N

SCALE: 1/16’ = 1’ - 0”

1

First Floor

DN

DN

DN

N

SCALE: 1/16’ = 1’ - 0”

2

16

Second Floor

17

02 CIDER BREWERY, Community center, multi-functional space ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUDIO B. Architecture Final Score: 100/100

The project takes place in a parking lot on Mission Hill,

Boston, MA. The task was to embrace the memories of Mission Hill’s past, support the current livelihood of the city, highlight the site’s agricultural past, and enhancing the engagement within the neighborhoods nearby. Additionally, to design with the knowledge of tectonics to develop a language and harmony within the design.

The design is intended to serve as a unifying space between

the commercial area and residential area that is around the site by promoting a sense of engagement, blending, and integration within itself. Both sides facing the designated area has different experiences of views and perception by representing wide or narrow spaces within themselves due to the changes of ambiance, materiality, and function.

The design will also make use of interlocking spaces in the main entrance to make the user feel like they have entered the design before actually enter through the front door, thus creating areas of comfort and engagement that increases throughout the whole building. The design also implements different techniques and languages; such as, transparency and linear elements of varying thicknesses and lengths, to generate a rhythm/repetition that will create a visual echo and controlled view that will allow the users to interact and feel more connected with the natural surroundings without necessarily being in an outdoor space,it also contributes to create moments of pause, transitional spaces, and give more access to natural light to illuminate the interior spaces.

Boston, MA

20

N SITE PLAN SCALE: 1” = 100’

21

Cider Production

Elev

Cider Production

Green Spaces

Circulation Space

Storage

Circulation Space

Storage

HVAC System HVAC System

Inclusive Bathrooms Inclusive Bathrooms

Administration Office

RN

Outdoor Pathway Outdoor Pathway

Green Spaces

Elev

RN

Stairs Stairs

Administration Office

Kitchen & Mini Bar Kitchen

& Mini Bar

Indoor Cafe Indoor Cafe

Circulation Space Gallery Space 1

Blocking Diagram - First Floor

Classroom Classroom

Inclusive Bathroom Inclusive Bathroom

Terrace/Outdoor Gathering Space

Elev

Terrace/Outdoor Gathering Space

Elev

Sitting Area Sitting Area Terrace/Outdoor Gathering Space Terrace/Outdoor Gathering Space

Circulation Space Circulation Space

Stairs Stairs

Gallery Space 2 Gallery Space 2

2

Blocking Diagram - Second Floor

LONGITUDINAL SECTION SCALE: 1/4” = 1’ - 0”

22

Outdoor Cafe

Circulation Space

Gallery Space 1

1

Outdoor Cafe

Main Entrance Main Entrance

Vertical Circulation Horizontal Circulation

23

UP

DN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN SCALE: 1/8" = 1' - 0"

1

First Floor

0

SECOND FLOOR PLAN SCALE: 1/8" = 1' - 0"

2

24

Second Floor

5’

10’

15’

25

VOLUNTEER PROJECT Senegal Elementary School LAWRENCE ART Lighting installations

01 “Sambou Toura Drame” SENEGAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Architectural competition B. Architecture

The competition was based on researching low-cost and

innovative building techniques to develop a sustainable community design to replace an existing elementary school in Marsassoum, Senegal.

The concept to approach the design proposal was to create

a community of three houses to embody the playful feeling of being a child, to do so, the design is elevated from the ground levels at varying heights, producing a zig zag motion or a weave. Currently, the main materials that composes the design is bamboo woven to form structural walls and to generate a pattern characteristic to the culture of West Africa. To separate the school work from play time at the site, two different courtyards were created through the placement of the program. One surrounded by the classrooms, which would be focus in the educational zone, while the other uses the tree in the site to create a more playful/ relaxation zone as a gateway between the two courtyard spaces.

The proposal was called Weave Through Adventure. Firstly,

because of the zig zag movement that is caused by the position of each structure in the design. Secondly, because of the pattern generated in the walls of the structure due to the way the material is being used, and finally, because of the infinity of new knowledge that children learn at school, which opens the doors to a new adventure every day.

Marsassoum, Senegal

WEAVE WEAVE WEAVE WEAVE THROUGH THROUGH THROUGH THROUGH ADVENTURE ADVENTURE ADVENTURE ADVENTURE

Mosque of Marsassoum

Food Market Water and Forests Brigade

Great Mosque of Marsassoum Elementary School of Marsassoum

1

6 55

.82

ft

Hakim’s House Post Office of Marsassoum

Map of Marsassoum, Senegal

Axonometric

Top View

Design Proposal

30

East Elevation

Program - 7 Classrooms = 678.1 ft²

26’ x 26.8’

- Library = 900 ft²

20’ x 45’

- Canteen = 600 ft²

20’ x 30’

- 2 Offices = 150 ft²

10’ x15’

- Latrines = 36 ft²

6’ x 6’

- Orchard / Corral = 600 ft²

20’ x 30’

- Fine Arts / Craft Room = 300 ft²

15’ x 20’

SCHOOL PROGRAM SCHEMES 26ft 7 Classrooms: 678.1ft2

26.08ft

Fine Arts/ Craft Room 11.7%

20ft Library: 900 ft2

45ft 20ft

Canteen: 600 ft2

6.1%

15ft

Open Space

10ft 2 Offices: 150ft2

15.0%

6ft Latrines: 36ft2

6ft

Orchard / Corral

20ft Orchard/corral: 600ft2

Sportsfield: 860ft2

Finearts/Crafts room: 300ft2

Total site area: 9903ft2 Closedspace area: 8414.7ft2 Open space area: 1488.3ft2

Canteen

30ft

30ft

6.1% Latrines

29ft 30ft

1.1%

20ft

Offices

15ft

3.0% Library 9.1% Classrooms 47.9%

BAMBOO JOINTS

Wall Assembly - Bamboo Joints

31

02 ILUMINACION LAWRENCE, ART LIGHTING INSTALLATIONS GATEWAY INITIATIVE - SPRING 2021 B. Architecture

The

initiative

MassDevelopment's

was

formed

Transformative

in

a

partnership

Development

Initiative

with and

Boston Architectural College to guide the design, fundraising and installation enhance

of and

lighting

art

represent

in its

the

city

fascinating

of

Lawrence,

history

and

MA to culture.

For this project's purpose, it was decided to use the existing

street lighting poles located in the Downtown Core of Lawrence as the main focus. This is because they currently project an underwhelming appearance during the daytime and also show a lack of connectivity and interest between their nearby streets. Therefore, ring lights were our chosen art installation to address these problems.

The design proposal use this light fixture to contribute to

way-finding at intersections along Appleton Street and/or other major thoroughfares near it. Thus, not only improving security at night time, but also, to provide representation to the community and neighborhoods of the city showcasing colors that represents their ethnicity. It also allow various functions and interactions within itself; it provides more comfortable resting areas, and not just work as a decoration or ornament showcased in the streets.

Lawrence, MA

Master Planning Connectivity Map

Appleton Street

Essex Street Appleton Street

Focus Area

34

Site Conditions and Opportunities

Current Traffic Circulation

New Circulation & Program

Current Pedestrian Circulation

Connections through Food

Current shadows projected from buildings

Connections through Art

Government Buildings

Lighting Connectivity & Interactions

Appleton Street

Essex Street Appleton Street

Current Street Lighting Poles Canal Street

35

Ring Light Proposal: Light Pole Retrofit 304 STAINLESS STEEL OR PLASTIC

BOLT AND PC

POLYCARBONATE

RGB Flex Light

Hidden-wiring

Type of Lighting

Purpose

Performance requirement

Ring Lights

To illuminate current street lights to contribute to way finding, enhance security at night time, bring representation and promote engagement with neighborhood and its community.

Lighting Quality: Beam Angle/Optic: Listing: Mounting:

Design Proposal

36

RGB Flood Light Radiate Light UL Wet Listed Custom mounting

37