Lisa Chen Selected Works 2024 by Lisa C.R. Chen

LISA C.R. CHEN

INTERN ARCHITECT AIBC| M.ARCH

Hi there! My name is Lisa and I am an Intern Architect registered with the AIBC with 2 years of full time professional experience in Healthcare, Institutional, Commercial, and Residential Architecture. I also have almost 2 years of relevant Co-op experience working in Canada and China.

EDUCATION SKILLS

2015-2021

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE

University of Waterloo

2021-2022

MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE

University of Waterloo

EXPERIENCE

2023-2024

Revit

Rhinoceros 3D

AutoCAD

SketchUP

Photoshop

KIRSTEN REITE ARCHITECTURE (VANCOUVER CANADA)

Junior Intern Architect

2018-2019

NERI&HU (SHANGHAI CHINA)

Architectural Intern

2017

HCMA ARCHITECTURE (VANCOUVER CANADA)

Architectural Intern

2017

WALTERFEDY (KITCHENER CANADA)

Architectural Intern

Indesign

Illustrator

Lumion

Enscape

Physical Modelling

August 29, 2018

To Whom It May Concern:

Lisa Chen was employed by Neri&Hu Design and Research Office in Shanghai from May to August 2018 as an architectural design intern. For your reference, Neri&Hu is a concept-driven architectural design office which follows through with construction documentation and management. We try our best to manage the whole process of developing the overall large-scale concept and follow through with smaller-scale details. Lisa played a significant role in a large mixed-use project from concept to the schematic design phase and became familiar with our process in developing the overall concept.

Lisa was a key member of our “DQSW Project” which includes the design of a large “super-block” building with a company headquarters, a hotel, and additional office building. The project appears as a large sculptural building which required extensive 3D studies using physical and virtual models. Lisa worked within a small team, developed a series of forms utilizing the models, which effectively led to the final schematic form of the building. The project had an aggressive schedule but Lisa had a tenacious attitude, worked diligently, and showed great potential management skills as she took charge of a massive model that filled our conference room. In addition to Lisa’s design skills, her communication and language skills proved to be effective, as she confidently and effortlessly switched from speaking English and Chinese with our team.

Lisa is a talented designer, a quick-learner, and a great team member. During her time in the office she quickly developed new skills and fearlessly took on responsibility. I would highly recommend Lisa to any future design office given her tenacity, thoughtfulness, communication skills, and design abilities.

Sincerely,

Jerry Del Fierro Managing Director Neri&Hu Design and Research Office jdelfierro@neriandhu.com

INTERMIDIARY COMMONS

A HUB FOR CONVERSATION

located in downtown Toronto on MacCaul Street. The project itself calls for a center servicing the broken parts of society and provide a place for making amendments.

if people feel like they are in control of their environment that makes them more likely to speak out. By combining breakout spaces and circulation, this creates a range of spaces and conditions for various groups that could become catalysts for conversations. The central spine, the vertical circulation acts as a social condenser taking the circulation and activities then drawing this energy up and disperse throughout the floors.

Visualizations

Second Floor Patio Garden

Semi-Private Breakout Reading Space

Patio Garden

Semi-Private Bookshelve Space

Entrance Fixed Seating and Cafe

Meeting Room In-between Space

Semi-Private Breakout Space

Atrium Circulation and Hanging Seats

Roof Patio Garden Seating

Roof

DQSW SUPERBLOCK

The “super-block”

During my internship with Neri&Hu I worked as a part of the design team taking on a large mixed-use project from concept to the schematic design phase and became familiar with the process in developing the overall concept.

The “DQSW Project” which includes the design of a large “super-block” building with a company headquarters, a hotel, and additional office building is situated in ZhengZhou. The project appears as a large sculptural building which required extensive 3D studies using physical and virtual models. Each round ot client presentations called for photoshopped renders, floorplans, sections, and mood boards.

Photoshopped Render

Photoshopped Plan

Physical Model Photos

VCH IMAGING

Imaging Suite Renovation Schematic Design

During my time at KRA, I worked on demolition and Proposed Drawing sets for 5 different VCH hospital imaging suite locations. Locations include Bella Bella, Bella Coola, whistler, Powell River, and Sechelt hospitals. The suites are to be renovated and updated with new imaging equipment.

The Renovations included considerations for the location and transportation of equipment, hoarding locations, generall hospital access, and communications with electrical and structural engineerings for coordination. There are various instances in which the hospital itself is in need of patch and repair, and in that case new paint, finishes, millwork, furniture, and some new structure for patient lifts are also kept in mind as the drawings are coordinated.

Bella Coola Demolition Plan

Bella Coola Proposed Plan

Proposed Plan

Sechelt Demolition Plan

Sechelt

INTERBEING

TREATMENT THROUGH RECONNECTION

This is a healing facility dedicated to treating a condition known as fatigue syndrome ,characterized by stress, anxiety, and depression. This condition is mainly caused by “Time Poverty” a psychological term that basically translates to people are always in a hurry and there is no time to examine the essential relationships of life.

Interbeing comes from a Buddhist philosophy called Pratityasamutpada or Codependent Arising, meaning that anything and everything is interconnected in their influence on each other, thus this form the basis for the design of this project, treatment through reconnection.

This facility seeks to create a therapeutic environment through a holistic experiential relationship between the waterfront, landscape, and tea. The programm ing is geared towards treatment of fatigue syndrome with three different greenhouses, a consulting centre, spa, physiotherapy, workshop, and a swimming area.

The greenhouses are separated according to the types of plants they house and the conditions for year-round growth. The first greenhouse grows camellia sinesis or tea plants, the second grows aromatic flowers that could be used in herbal tea blends, and the third produces herbs that could be used in tea and essential oil production. The greenhouses act in harmony with the workshop where the tea and herbs would be stored and processed into tea and essential oils for usage. The essential oils would then be used inside the spa and the physiotherapy centres for treatment.

SECHELT MASTERPLAN

Future Development on First Nations Land (KRA)

This masterplan project is located on shíshálh Nation land and it includes the future development of a new Sechelt hospital, residential units, CRU (Commercial Retail Units), a community centre, gathering spaces, new medical office units, and VCH health campus.

The design and layout of the masterplan underwent multiple iterations due to the delicate balance of existing and new developments. With the existing Sechelt hospital there are already plans in place to renovate so the incorporation of new VCH health campus and commercial units need to take the future Sechlt hospital and its connecting programs into consideration. Also with the location of this masterplan being so close to the residential core of Sechelt there needed to be connections and considerations noted for existing and future residential development, as well as height restrictions around the area.

THE EXTENDED REALM

CIRCULATION AS PROGRAM

The site is in downtown Toronto, with the introduction of a LRT line to Jane and Finch there is a potential for the neighborhood to become a pedestrian friendly economic social centre alive with activity.

This project seeks to bring inward this potential liveliness in the form of an extended public realm. the public path winds, cuts, shrinks, and expands to become a band of activity that encompasses and connects all the programs offered in this building. As for the fixed programming, it is carved and zoned into smaller areas that is easy to lease providing opportunities for local businesses. Programs include a bustling market place accompanied by seating and food court, residential apartments with large common spaces. Nursing homes and educational programs are closely connected with a wellness and fitness centre. The offices can be reconfigured easily thus making the spaces more leasable, and co-working spaces can be leased.

Basic program sizes assigned: 10% recreation, 20% education, 30% residential, 20% office, and 20% commercial

Programs relocated, courtyard and tower condition created. Main and side entrances located

Basic program sizes assigned: 10% recreation, 20% education, 30% residential, 20% office, and 20% commercial

Programs relocated, courtyard and tower condition created. Main and side entrances located

Recreation

- Gym

- Dance Studio

- Spa/ Physiotherapy

Education

- Seneca College

- Continued Education

- Public Lecture

Shared

- Community Kitchen and Cafeteria

- Co-working Space

- Start-up business leasable space

Residential

- Rent Geared to Income Units

- Market Price Units

- Care Home

Office

Commercial

- Ground Floor Market and Cafeteria

- 30 % Local business

- Storage and open Leasable Space

Axonometric

Sections

The main entrance includes occupiable stairs and double entrance, one directly to the main market place on the second floor and another directly into the supermarket on the ground floor. The Entrance facing busy intersection where the LRT station will be

Open market and seating area on second level with leasable market stalls made of lightweight steel and fabric, easy for storage. Food stalls are pushed to the side to open middle up

The residential commons avaliable every fifth floor include shared Planting spaces and seating to encourage interaction between residents. Every common space can be accessed via ethe private levator core.

The public realm connect the fragmented program blocks. The path contracts and expands to create moments of interaction and views to the exterior. The path also creates atrium spaces and allows for views between programs

The ground floor is the concentration of pedestrian traffic mostly programmed with food service. The seating areas have direct connection to the inner courtyard space to allow for maximum flexibility.

ON COMMON GROUNDS

COMMUNAL LIVING FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Master of Architecture Design Thesis proposes an affordable alternative communal living typology for young professionals In urban centers

The design proposal aims to adapt to the growing urban downtown environment as an alternative urban residential option that will be socially and environmentally healthy, affordable, and foster positive, supportive relationships between the residents. By learning from existing communal living models, this design strategy utilizes the concept of cluster communities, a modified version of communal living that includes tiered common spaces servicing designated floors of residents, forming various micro-communities within the apartment tower block.