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Larissa Mazzacca

My name is Larissa Mazzacca I am a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) from the University of Waterloo, deeply passionate about how architecture can foster community building and placemaking. I am particularly interested in how spaces can cultivate identity and meaningful connections, and I aim to explore these themes further in my Master of Architecture studies. My current focus is on Canadian architecture, with a specific interest in ornamentation and its role in shaping cultural identity. I am excited to investigate how these elements may evolve in the coming years and contribute to the development of a distinct and resonant architectural language for Canada.

Curriculum Vitae

education professional experience

B.ARCH honours co-operative program - with distinction

Universityof Waterloo School of Architecture // 2019 - 2024

Qualifications

Knowledge of professional architectural practices gained through work experience strong work ethic and organizational skills gained through work, sports and education.

Willing to take on new and challenging tasks in order to learn and develop skills

Strong , wide range of digital skills gained through school and work experience

awards & achievements

HALTON SKILLS Competition Landscape Design | Gold

ONTARIO SKILLS

COMPETITION Landscape Design | Silver

Arquitectonica // Architectural Intern

September 2021 - December 2021

⁄ Designed a mural art wall in photoshop and illustrator that was selected by the client to be featured in the design of a high-rise building

⁄ Developed an index for a large-scale project in order to streamline the client’s access to multiple drawing sets

⁄ 3d modelled building components in Revit, 3ds max, and SketchUp that contributed to the design development of a high-rise tower

⁄ Prepared design drawings and presentation packages in collaboration with a project team to illustrate the design intent for clients

MGBA // Architectural assistant

May 2022 - September 2022

⁄ produced a complete construction drawing set through CAD, for a plaza cladding renovation that was later submitted and approved for building permit.

⁄ 3d modelled existing site conditions for various projects; in SketchUp to aid project team in the schematic design phase.

⁄ Refining a Revit model of a high-rise tower, in its construction phase, to meet code requirements that were addressed on site.

Fabrik architects // architectural assistant

January 2023 - April 2023

⁄ Created conceptual renderings in Lumion to generate render proposal packages on 3 different projects to be outsourced.

⁄ Contributed to the design development of a luxury home in central Ontario, utilizing Revit to meet client wishes and expectations.

⁄ Produced marketing drawings for the company website, such as elevations, axonometric, in Revit and adobe illustrator to effectively illustrate 2 projects design intentions.

⁄ Conducted a site analysis of existing conditions to be demolished using a laser that resulted in a 3d replica of a site generated in Revit to be further developed

⁄ Generated product research reports for team members and principal to review.

professional experience

FineLines design & measured plans // Architectural Intern May 2023 - August 2023

⁄ Designed a mural art wall in photoshop and illustrator that was selected by the client to be featured in the design of a high-rise building

⁄ Developed an index for a large-scale project in order to streamline the client’s access to multiple drawing sets

⁄ 3d modelled building components in Revit, 3ds max, and SketchUp that contributed to the design development of a high-rise tower

⁄ Prepared design drawings and presentation packages in collaboration with a project team to illustrate the design intent for clients

Architecture 49// Architectural Intern January 2024 - April 2024

⁄ Contributed to a transportation and industrial sector project from concept to 60% design completion, supporting the architectural team through detailed planning and execution.

⁄ Ensured compliance with building codes and regulatory requirements throughout the project, conducting thorough reviews to maintain design accuracy and legal standards.

⁄ Attended weekly project meetings with the team, providing updates on progress, addressing challenges, and tracking project milestones to ensure timely delivery.

⁄ Collaborated with engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders to resolve design issues and improve project efficiency, maintaining alignment with project goals and deadlines.

extra curriculars

F_rm Lab

⁄ Collaborated alongside peers to engage in computational design tools and alternate methods of digital fabrication.

ROME EXHIBITION// distillery district september 2024

⁄ Collaborated in the setup and curation of an exhibition showcasing architectural projects, sketches, and photos from a study abroad term, effectively presenting the work and cultural experience to a broad audience.

skills

Digital

Revit

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Microsoft office

Grasshopper Rhino 7

Enscape

Vray

Autocad

Sketchup

3Ds Max

Analogue

Modeling

Casting

3d printing

Sketching

Painting

Hand drafting

Foam cutting

Wood working

URBAN MARGINS

EXISTING

NEW ADDITION REPLACING DETERIORATING ROOF AND STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS + ADDING HOUSING BLOCKS

Situated in Portuense, Rome, the “Urban Margins” project involves the rehabilitation of the abandoned exMira Lanza industrial site. The project aims to create new edge conditions that serve its existing adjacent programming. Given the absence of green spaces in the neighborhood, the project strives to benefit the Marconi neighborhood by introducing a spacious park framed by the site’s new margins. An additional entry point from the Tiber River is established, providing a more public entry to the site, along with multiple access points from the Marconi neighborhood. Residential programming is retrofitted into the existing Mira Lanza buildings, ensuring that the maximum available floor area remains open for public use and programming. A series of community center bar buildings act to directly serve the schools that border it and generally serve the greater community. Given the notably higher concentration of children in this neighborhood compared to other parts of Rome, the site offers a range of programs tailored to this demographic.

Ex-Mira

Academic year: 4A 2023

Supervisor:

Location: Rome, Italy

Lanza

Beatrice Bruscoli

LEGEND

educational zone

1. enviromental learning center

2. community kitchen

3. bike shop

4.cafe

5.recreational swimming pool

6. seed storage

7. multi purpose room

8. lobby lounge

9.lookout point

10.water feature

11. marconi residential buildings

12. picnic area with grass mounds

13. playground

marconi neighbourhood residence and daycare

14. kids library

15. library

16.library-reading/ working space

17. installation and exhibition space

18. daycare

19. residence lobby

20.grocery store/ market

21. art gallery

22.tabaccheria

23.poste italiane

24.cafe

25.services; clinic, legal/finacial assistance

26.gym

27.kitchen&dining

28.co-working space

29.mechanical

30.laundry

31.residential lobby

ELEVATED PEDESTRIAN PATH

PONTE DELLA SCIENZA

RIVER TIBER

RIVER SIDEWALK

7. 8. 9.

cross section BB

FIELD TO KNOWLEDGE

Comprehensive Building Studio

Academic year: 4b 2024

Supervisor: Jaliya Fonseka

Springbank outdoor gardens

Arrival Garden

Education Landscape

a. classroom observation deck

b.outdoor classroom green roof

Positioned central in relation to rare’s agriculture, The school behaves as a tool that straddles the agricultural center of rare together placing education in the middle of the “action”.

This placement not only facilitates direct interaction with sustainable agricultural practices but also embodies the principle of “learning by doing,” which is central to Rare’s mission and its outdoor programs for children. By integrating education with active agricultural environments, the school provides students with direct access to practical experiences, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of sustainability.

The indoor classrooms are directly adjacent to the observation patio. The multipurpose room is an extension of the gardening plots, the outdoor classroom is the nexus of all programs converging, enforcing the projects core thesis of encouraging the importance of

LANDSCAPE ZONES

ARRIVAL VIEW

educational & community zone

research zone

10.self-contained live/work space

11.outdoor private worshop

12.universal composting washroom

1. classrooms with sinks & storage area

storage & equipment room

library & recource center with reading area

turtle hatchling room

change hallway & lockers

seed storage

multi purpose room

communal kitchen with pantry

communal dining

horticulture zone

13. rain garden

14. outdoor classroom

15. indoor learning garden/greenhouse

16. existing greenhouses

17. workshop, farm-machinery & storage

18. bike storage

administrative zone misc.

19. foyer

20. office

21. staff room with working space & kitchenette

22. washrooms and change stalls

23. outdoor showers

loop

road and parking

washing station and picnic area

24. butterfly

1. Photo - Voltaic panels

2. Orientation

3. Geothermal energy

4. Well - potable water on site

5. Ventilation

6. Shading

7. Wind barrier

8.Waste-water management

The RARE Learning Center is designed with two axes: one perpendicular to the south for maximizing sunlight, and another aligned with true north for areas benefiting from ambient light. This layout places administrative functions such as classrooms, libraries, and office spaces along the north-facing axis, while south-facing spaces like the greenhouses and community kitchen optimize exposure to sunlight through the southern facade. The north-south axiality of the building design, combined with adjustable outdoor partitions, shields the outdoor classrooms, greenhouses, and wrap-around patio deck from prevailing western winds while allowing users to customize their comfort levels.

PV panels are strategically oriented southward to maximize sunlight exposure, optimizing energy generation throughout the day and enhancing the building’s overall sustainability.

The design maximizes cross ventilation and the stack effect by strategically positioning openings and utilizing vertical shafts to enhance natural airflow and temperature regulation throughout the building.

accessible green-roof

Cork paneled facade 40mm // R-5,4

horizontal wood strapping

vertical wood furring

2” wood fiber rigid insulation //R-7.6

air/water membrane

exterior sheathing 15mm // R-0.9

6” cellulose batt insulation // R-21

vapour membrane

12mm interior gypsum boards sheathing // R-.9

lime plaster interior finish

12” southern pine glulam column// R-15

* pre cultivated green roof mat (vegetation layer)

angled roof bracket

*optigrun extensive substrat (growing medium)

*optigrun extensive substrat (filter layer)

*optigrun pitched roof board (10-15deg) with drainage layer and deck

*optigrun protection fleece, which is a non woven geotextile

(protection layer)

*EPDM water proofing layer

plywood sheathing

wood fibre rigid insulation

water proofing membrane

gypsum board sheathing

cellulose batt insulation

vapor barrier membrane

gypsum board sheathing

lime plaster interior finish

glulam roof beam

STUDIO +

Community and Belonging Option Studio

Academic year: 3b 2023

Supervisor: Jaliya Fonseka

Music, dance, story-telling, and play have always been a part of the human condition. In highly academic environments, a sedentary lifestyle is most common among students and faculty and detriment to the individuals’ cognitive health.

Studio + is a community dance studio space at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture in Cambridge, Ontario. Its form is influenced by the relationships of architecture, movement, and dance, resulting in curved walls influenced by the existing paths on site. Studio Plus is a vessel for those needing a space to express themselves and form connections. It is an art form that involves implementing all senses in meaning-making, whereby one can engage with the world through perception, reflection, and expression.

Through a community survey, it was apparent that there was a need within the school for this kind of additional space. Providing a place in immediate proximity to the school that is conducive to movement. More specifically, dance being the action that brings people together into a community.

community surveys

KYRA & GILLIAN // 2A ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS

“In my experience with dance, more specifically contact improv, there is a real sense of community around the activity, everyone always knows someone else, and you become very interconnected within

“There is a lack of help within these spaces (retirement homes) to organize events and programs. Our lives often are confined to these old age homes. There isn’t much activity that is FRED // ARCHITECTURE FACULTY LEANNE// SENIOR RESIDENT

“I love the idea of being part of a creative community that isn’t school related.”

“When I danced competitively, change rooms and lounges were where we spent much of our time pre and post-class. It became a place of socialization

exploded axonometric circulation diagram

Intergenerational presence in Galt’s community

Offering programs to the greater community of Cambridge is vital in bridging the University of Waterloo’s connection to the greater population. By providing programs and classes catered towards Cambridge’s large senior population, Studio + will begin to generate a complex community that can only be fulfilled by an intergenerational presence. The creative action of dance encourages one to find new ways of creating and sustaining movement. Periods before and after class are where informal conversations and interactions take place—providing an additional opportunity for individuals to get to know one another. 75

Grand River

LEGEND

entrance

composting washroom

public lounge

accessible studio space

change rooms

atrium

change hallway & lockers

river

University of Waterloo School of Architecture

Melville cafe

Cafe

HOUSE FOR A COLLECTOR

Situated along a quiet hillside in Cambridge, Ontario, this architectural project envisions a residence that functions as both home and archive for a dedicated collector of vintage computers and loom boards. Inspired by the intricate logic and structure of a motherboard, the design transforms the house into an instrument of circulation and storage—organizing space much like circuits channel energy and data. Rooms and corridors act as pathways for movement and display, connecting carefully curated zones that reflect the collector’s passion. Tucked beside a reclusive pedestrian path, the home offers a layered experience of privacy, order, and technological nostalgia embedded within the landscape.