Yifan Wu-Portfolio 2025 by Yifan Wu

Portfolio.

Yifan (Leo) Wu

Carnegie Mellon University

B. Arch | 2022 - 2024

Architectural Softwares: Rhinoceros, Revit, AutoCad Rendering Softwares: Vray, Enscape, D5, Keyshot Fabrication: Wood Shop, Metal Shop, Laser Cutting, CNC Routing, 3D Printing, Vacuum, Casting

Adobe Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Lightroom Language: Chinese (native), English (fluent)

EDUCATION

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States Bachelor of Architecture & Human Computer Interaction minor

· Design Group in Chinese Student Association

Suzhou High School, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China High School Diploma

· President of Photography Club, Vice President of Model United Nation Club

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Digital Media II Teaching Assistant, Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | Part Time

· Provided assistance for students’ Adobe suite skills in drawing architectural drawings

· Helped students with instruction and teaching of digital modeling and rendering

AP Physics Tutor, TestDaily Suzhou, China | Part Time

· Prepared teaching assistant courseware before classes

· Taught students in lecture mode in an average of three times a week

· Provided homework correction

· Offered Q&A services throughout the day to solve students’ related problems in a timely manner

Construction & Design Assistant, LIN Architecture Zhenjiang, China | Apprenticeship

· Participated in the construction process of the Wood pavilion

· Cooperated with on-site construction team about the building strategy and techniques

· Cleared the construction site and drew the baseline on site

· Built the foundation based on the architectural drawing of the pavilion

Shanghai, China | Apprenticeship & Volunteer

· Participated in the design and construction of a Chinoiserie bench in Xintiandi Plaza in Shanghai

· Produced the renderings and diagrams of the bench model during the design

· Contributed in the assembling process of the bench

· Volunteered in on-site publlicity and explanation of the design logistics

ACTIVITIES & SERVICE

Video Editor & Designer, Bilibili Video Blogger with 50k followers

Online | Part Time

· Editted soccer tactical analysis and review videos for the soccer video blogger

· Designed and produced the video cover with photoshop

RECOGNITION

Aug 2022 - May 2027

Aug 2019 - Jun 2022

Jun 2022 - Aug 2024

EXCHANGE Publication: Spring 2023 Poesis Studio Project selected for the EXCHANGE Publication at CMU SOA. Dean’s List: Enrolled in the College of Fine Arts Dean’s List.

Pivoting Parabolas

01 Metamorphic Convergence

Pittsburgh, PA | Fall 2024

Praxis Studio I

Studio Coordinator: Heather Bizon

Studio Instructor: Brad Groff & Jared Abraham

Partner: Yingqi Kuang

The pre-existing railway system in North Pittsburgh, once a key part of the industrial economy, now connects old warehouses like Wools Warehouse and Heinz Company with the artistic transformation in Millvale. This railway, which historically powered Pittsburgh’s industry, is being repurposed to activate artistic regeneration, linking past industrial heritage with present creative growth.

Unused materials transported by the railway are repurposed by local artists, whose finished works are then sent back to repurposed warehouse galleries via the same rail system, creating a continuous cycle of materials. Occasional pop-up trading events will allow locals to exchange unused items for art made from these materials, fostering cultural exchange.

This system repurposes unused materials transported via the railway, which artists can incorporate into their work. Once seen as remnants of Pittsburgh’s past, these materials are given new life as a creative resource. After it’s completed, these artworks are transported back through the same railway system to be reformed warehouse space. In doing so, we are creating a continuous necklace system of materials in motion where the remnants of Pittsburgh’s industrial history are transformed into artistic expression that can be displayed, shared and celebrated.

Exterior View from the Highway

The original structure of the warehouse is being kept and parallel to the coastline. The storage space expanded is parallel to the railway system. The market space for exchanging the artwork is located on the ground level to give more direct access for the public. The gallery space is juxtaposed with the raw materials in the storage, allowing the viewer to see the before and after of the creation of the artwok.

Temporary Exhibition Space

Entrance to the Market Space

Housing: Artists Residency

The concept of modularized “shops” offers a dynamic and flexible approach to creative workspaces designed to accommodate a variety of artists from different disciplines. Various shops vary in size and shape, allowing artists to select a workspace that suits their specific needs, whether they work in sculpture, painting, digital design, or other artistic fields. This modularity encourages diversity in creative processes and ensures that each artist has the ideal environment to develop their work.

Housing Unit Axonometric & Section

Exterior View from Railway Station

Public Studio Space

Event: Pop-up Installations

These pop-up stations, located in adaptable spaces throughout Pittsburgh, serve as pickup and drop-off points for artwork, as well as temporary galleries or workshops for artists-in-residence, fostering community engagement and blending art with public space.

Tranquility Edge

Shanghai, China | 2024

Hospice - Home for the Terminally ill Competition

Partner: Yifan Feng, Taylor Wang

Tranquility Edge is designed with a focus on enhancing the well-being of patients through a deep connection with nature. Located in Shanghai, China, on the edge of the Dishui lake, it has a very serene view looking into the body of water.

The architecture integrates natural elements such as abundant sunlight, greenery, and serene outdoor spaces, creating a healing environment that promotes peace and comfort. By prioritizing access to nature, the hospice aims to improve the physical and emotional well-being of patients, providing a tranquil setting that supports their journey with dignity and care. To further strengthen this central theme, we incorporated elements of Japanese garden style architecture, including carefully designed landscapes, flowing water features, and meditative spaces. These features enhance the sense of calm and spiritual reflection, deepening the connection between patients and the natural world.

Entrance Render

Gathering Lounge

Central Courtyard

Tea Room Public Toilet

Courtyard Render

Chapel

Tea Room

Library

Central Courtyard

Culinary Institute

Pittsburgh, PA, United States | Fall 2023

Poesis Studio III

Studio Coordinator: Laura Goffalo

Studio Instructor: Jongwon Kwon

Partner: Ishika Dinesh

Starting from the chef and precedents, the chef Dan Barber focuses on the rotation and circulation of food and respecting nature. The chef Manuel’s core idea is the changes in elevation and presenting food in its real form. The Yurt house’s circular movement thrgh different spaces are based on climatic conditions. For the Thai vernacular, the spatial organization forms a cluster and is surrounded by agriculture land and contains the water collection below structure, which inspires our design.

From our field model, we created different clusters and wanted to retain the overlapping conditions created by the rotation and the idea that there is network spreading across the clusters. And the main idea for the massing is clusters on a single strip that creates a pathway. We maintain the Hexagon shape in our design and keep the overlapping area in plan to be circulation space.

The canopy is derived from wires connecting different blocks in the field model, its in wooden structure and the surface has multiple triangular openings covered by polycarbonate. Different height of the canopy imply different intimacy level, which people feel in a more open space under a higher height. Moreover, the density of the openings depends on how much light the courtyard needs. The canopy also serves as a water collector, which water runoffs from the roof and saved for urban farm.

1st Floor Plan

Field Model

2nd Floor Plan

Section Model

Section Perspective

CONSTRUCTION KEY:

1. Weeping tile

Spread footing

Dimple drain

4” xps insulation

4” gravel

Bond break

7. 4” xps insulation

8. Steel reinforcement

9. 4” concrete slab 10. Trex wood frame

6” polyiso insulation

6” rammed earth

Window frame

Window

Wood beam

Wood joist

17. Structural insulated panel

Wood Panel

the Glass Atelier

Pittsburgh, PA, United States | Spring 2023

Studio: Poesis Studio II

Studio Coordinator: Tommy CheeMou Yang

Studio Instructor: Nickie Cheung

When studying the Pittsburgh Glass Center, consideration is given to how it evolved from a single-use factory to a multifunctional community space with a gallery, studio, and workshop. Several flows can occur inside thanks to the multipurpose element, which creates overlapping places where people can engage.

A dynamic ground floor and static upper floors result from Lower Lawrenceville’s use of the first floor for retail and the upper floors for homes. This contrast motivates me to design a space where interaction can take place in a two-flow system on both the horizontal and vertical axes.

The design is called “Glass Atelier”; the word “Atelier” is French for “workshop” or “studio,” a homage to the building’s use as a live-work environment for makers and artists. The inclusion of the word “glass” in the name emphasizes the gallery’s focus on glass art and lends the name a unique and memorable aspect. Overall, “The Glass Atelier” has a refined and artistic vibe that can be appealing to both locals and tourists.

Learning from the site of Lawrenceville, the ground floor is for commercial and dinning use, which is relatively more dynamic. The upper floor is majorly for residential use, which is more static. A gap between the ground floor and upper floor occurs and it lacks interaction in the middle. The finding makes me to create a space that let interaction happens in the middle of both horizontal and vertical axis.

Axonometric

Parti Diagram