RESUME
ABOUT ME:
A passionate first-generation architect student who is excited to understand and learn more about the technical side of design. I take on projects with the goal of creating spaces that prioritizes the well-being and inclusiveness of all those who enter these spaces as well as completing them to the highest standard. I have a high interest in urban design with an special interest in sustainability and urban design. I am eager to gain experience and learn what it is truly like to be in an architectural firm enviornment.
SOFTWARE SKILLS
Rhinoceros 7/8
Microsoft Office
AutoCAD
Adobe Illustrator
Enscape
Autodesk Revit
Adobe Photoshop
Construction Documents
Adobe InDesign
Lumion
V-Ray
Grasshopper
SOFT SKILLS
Organization
Dependability
Time Management
Communication
Teamwork
Critical Thinking
Problem Solving
Leadership
AWARDS /
HONORS
Distinguished President Scholarship (2020 - 2024)
Dean’s List (2020 - 2021, 2024)
Honor Roll (2021, 2023)
3x Hispanic Scholarship Fund Recipient (2020 - 2022)
MARK LOPEZ
Phone: 512.738.9935
E-mail: lopez.mark1125@gmail.com
Location: San Antonio, TX, 78256
Education
Fall 2024 - Spring 2026
University of Texas at San Antonio I School of Architecture and Planning
Master of Architecture (M.Arch 2)
Expected graduation date May 2026
Fall 2020 - Spring 2024
University of Texas at San Antonio I School of Architecture and Planning
Bachelors of Science Degree in Architecture
GPA: 3.62/4.0 - Cum Laude
Study Abroad Program - Universitad di Urbino Carlo Bo (Aug 2022 - Dec 2022)
Experience
Sept 2024 - present
Graduate Assistant I The University of Texas at San Antonio
-Managed social media platforms for different programs within the REGSS department
-Assisted with set-up and tear-down of presentations aimed to students interested in different programs within REGSS
Sept 2021 - May 2024
Student Assistant I The University of Texas at San Antonio
-Provided outstanding customer service and gave appropriate information regarding academic advising resources via telephone or in-person
-Provided front desk services with clerical office duties including telephones, proper etiquette, and break room areas
-Maintained advisors calendars while managing front desk area and hectic work environment
May 2021 - Aug 2021
Online Ordering & Delivery I Walmart
-Acknowleged and greeted customers with excellent customer service.
-Utilized efficient process for item collecting and organizing
-Assisted customers and associates simultaneously
Other Experiences
Student Organizations
NOMAS I UTSA Chapter
National Organization of Minority Architect Students
-Public Relations / Communications Chair (2024 - present)
-President (2023 - 2024)
-Vice-President (2022 - 2023)
-Treasurer (2021 - 2022)
AIAS I UTSA Chapter
American Institute of Architect Students
-Representative (2021 - present)
Student Leadership Council I UTSA
School of Architecture and Planning
-Graduate Representative (2023 - present)
Student Advisory Board I UTSA Career Center
-Downtown Representative (2023 - present)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ROAD TO FREEDOM
Spring 2024
Forks of the Road Slave Market and Interpretive Center
LA RUTA
Fall 2023
Resource Center for indigenous community in Guatemala
MIX ON CEVALLOS
Spring 2023
Restaurant, Gym, and Retail Store in downtown San Antonio
Road to Freedom
Forks of the Road Slave Market and Interpretive Center
Academic Fall 2024
ARC 4246 - Systems Studio
Professor Diane Hays
Individual Project
The Forks of the Road in Natchez, Mississippi is a historical site that dates back between 1833-1863 when slave trading was at its peak in the United States. During this time period, Natchez was a hub for buying and selling slaves, with an estimated 437,000 being sold during its operation. Despite the oppression these individuals faced, resistance seeped throughout the enslaved community where acts of rebellion and attempts to charter freedom went underway, both legally and clandestine.
This design attempts to preserve this historical landscape through an interpretive center and Memorial. Through its design elements and features, these structures aim to tell the story of the slave trade and how the enslaved rang their bells to freedom. The interpretive center is meant to display features and moments of how the enslaved lived through these times and how their purpose was to serve for numbers - money. The memorial is to serve as a space that transitions into emancipation, the many enslaved dreamed of, with the importance of impact upon American history.
CONCEPT DIAGRAM
The Log Cabin quilt pattern is a representation of a safe place. Within this design, the incorporation of this symbol, with proportional geometry associated with the pattern, creates a path that continues throughout the site to create this idea of safety with the “Red Square”. Throughout your passage through the interpretive center, you are passing through timepieces in chronological order of the events that happened during slavery. This transitions to the idea of emancipation at the end of the interpretive centerpiece and immediately continues to the memorial space. As you come towards the memorial area, the emancipation people aimed for. This creates spaces to aid the visitor in understanding and reflecting upon the Emancipation Act and how far the acts of slavery have come from. After existing at this pace you enter the last piece of the interpretive center which combines the idea of the “True Square” with features that help the enslaved feel safe.
LEGEND:
1 - Parking
2 - Bus Drop-Off
3 - Plaza
4 - O’fferral House
5 - Lobby / Existing Space
6 - Exhibition Areas
7 - Memorial
8 - Lookout for Memorial
9 - Surrounding Houses
Site Restriction
Existing Bridge
Log Cabin Quilt Pattern
Quilt Pattern Used
Rotation
FLOORPLAN
LOBBY/BEGINNING INTERPRETIVE CENTER MEMORIAL
Components
Circulation
Circulation is one of the key functions of the overall design. Correlating the timeline of the events in slave history with the overall design, creates an experience that flows similar to the storyline of the past.
- Shipment to the U.S
- Bathrooms 5 - Mechanical Room 6 - Beginnings of Separation
- Examples of Ship Types
- Separation
Facade Design Process:
The exterior facade is a continuous pattern to coincide with the minimalistic interiors along with symbolizing the continous history and journey of the enslaved.
1 - Mechanical Room
2 - Exhibition Storage
3 - Sub-Level Plaza
4 - Lecture Hall
5 - Coffle / Coffle March
6 - Life on Plantation
COFFLE MARCH
This is where visitors will understand what it was like to be part of the coffle march. This trail was over a thousand miles long and was a four month long journey. The enslaved were chained to each other to ensure no one was able to escape. They were within close proximity to each other and needed to be in a single file line to guarantee all of the enslaved were one unit.
LOG CABIN
As the visitor continues through the interpretive center they reach a point where they will begin to understand the lifestyles of those who lived in log cabins created by the masters of the enslaved. Enclosed in a space where the visitor feels part of the housing and understand what all the log cabin entailed.
FLOOR
MAIN PLAZA
The space where you begin your journey of understanding the history of slavery and what it all entails. Using some of the quilt patterns that were using during this time as wall features, this subtle element dictates where you need to travel.
LOBBY
When the visitor initially enters the interpretive center they are greeted by extrusions from the walls with a back lit surface. These are to show the resourcefulness the enslaved used when creating different quilt patterns. These were used from many different scraps with different shapes and sizes.
CONCEPT DIAGRAMS CONTINUED
Utilized more quilt patterns to symbolize the direction the visitor is either walking through or coming towards, similar to what the quilt patterns were ultimately used for - these were used for warning to slaves and guide them to the underground railroads to freedom.
MONKEY WRENCH
Gather the tools you will need to begin your adventure through the interpretive center
LOG CABIN
Safe House - a space where you find peace and tranquility.
FLYING GEESE
A symbol for people to come and understand the passageway for visitors to enter
NORTH STAR
Another guide for the passenger throughout the memorial
MEMORIAL
Serving as a place of reflection, this path of 437,000 bricks is in remembrance of the number of slaves that were part of this era over 200 years ago. Within this space are pockets of reflective points where civilians are able to take a closer look at the people who played a significant role in Natchez during this era.
La Ruta
Resource Center for indigenous community in Guatemala
Academic Fall 2023
ARC 4156 - Building Design Studio
Professor Armando Araiza
Group Project; Partners with Kimberly Zapata
In Guatemala’s highlands, a region where color and tradition mix with nature. The indigenous communities in the region have a deep connection with their Mayan culture - a culture that is represented throughout all of their structures. Even though each village contains their own set of customs and morals, the one factor that keeps the region’s bond is their connection to the land with respect to nature.
With this comes the respect and necessity to grow agriculture including; corn, beans, etc. For these communities to grow agriculture creates a beautiful green scene but their lifestyles are not as easy as most. Many families are poor and do not have access to resources such as education and food. This makes everyday life challenging with the reliance on farming just to get by. Language is another great importance to these communities. Because most of the region speaks mainly Spanish, the goal is to expand the language barrier as much as possible.
Why Guatemala?
Little consideration of the living situation of the individuals in this country are taken into account. The indigenous and rural lifestyles most of the cities face daily do not compare to the United States in any regard. Countries like Guatemala do not have access to recourses to create better communities for themselves making it difficult to advance as a country. Creating a space to aid in that advancement for all individuals to learn and grow as a commynity is desparately needed in order to combat this humanitarian crisis.
In Santa Lucia Utatlan there is little to no support for adults to escape impoverish lifestyles including their children. The lower class life cycle continues to effect the way the community interacts with each other. To inhabit a space for all ages to enhance and further their knowledge brings a sense of community not seen in the region. Living in a rural space limits the potential the civilians are able to attain. Tis center is to minimize the learning gap.
Solar energy is easily attained but hard to maintain in the region of Santa Lucia Utatlan. To create a user-friendly experience and utilize solar energy to reuse in the community nearby we will incorporate solar panels within the design to capture and store this solar power to use throughout the structure including our water collection and filtration system. Water is a viable resource in the region, so with the implementation of a irrigation system, the water we collect will be repurposed for building use and community consumption. RESOURCES
Santa Lucia Utatlan Graduates become teachers
LEGEND:
Learning Centers
Communal Areas
Churches
Housing
Site
EQUITABLE COMMUNITY
Creating a space that is in close proximity to the most occupied housing district within the region was one of our main goals of this project. We wanted to include as many aspects of the Mayan culture as possible to enforce our understanding of the space and how it both stands in and stands out at the same time. We incorporate the history behind the Mayan culture by using symbols and hydroglyphics including pyramids, triangles, and their national bird.
Santa Lucia Utatlan, Guatemala 14° 45’ 59.99”N & -91° 15’ 60.00”W
CONCEPT DIAGRAM
Center
Utilizing Mayan culture elements by using a circle to emphaszie the sense of comfort that comes along with the shape.
SPACE PLANNING
Rotation
Shifting each side of the semisphere aids in the circulation around the site and funnel the community to enter the space.
Orientation
From here we start to section the different areas in our building and orientate the form to be sustainable with the wind patterms, sun and the different roads/pathways.
The deer dance signifies the relationship between Mayan culture and the land, typically done during the colder months closer to winter solstice. The dance celebrates mestijaze Amer-Inidian spiritually with the Catholic Easter ritual. During the dance, one masked dancer, the pascola, ultimately seeks forgiveness while the dancer with the part of the deer represents the good in the world. Mayan heritage practices are crucial for community growth and well-being that is introduced in our organization of spaces in our buildings.
FIRST FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
LEGEND:
Pyramid
the hierarchy of the city and its inhabitants
Extrusion
diamond extrusion signifies the craft of meshing into societal standards
Using symbols of the Mayan culture through the parametric design creates a narrative that encompasses the indigenous’ culture while also providing a space for the local community to find a middle ground.
Angle 4-corners
four edges of the universe weaving with the evolving community
Module
creating a dialogue between the sky and the ground
Water is to be collected through the water irrigation system fond in the roof to be resued throughout the building and for the general public.
Students will have the option to be in a class that aids in the understanding of how crops are grown and how to do so. This will ensure a new skill for children can be attained while, at the same time, assist in closing the access to food gap throughout the community.
The modular pattern acts as a shading device during the hotter times of the year while also adding a sense of the Mayan culture. With the modular pattern being placed here, students and any personnel have immediate access to the patterns capabilities as well as exposure to the agriculture that surrounds the classrooms. Having this agriculture nearby creates that sense of having what is fimiliar to the community while also being exposed to the new language of English will begin to understand and learn.
CLASSROOM
Mix on Cevallos
Restaurant, Gym, and Retail store downtown San Antonio
Academic Spring 2023
ARC 4156 - Building Design Studio
Professor Hollie Sanchez
Individual Project
The mix on Cevallos is a two-story building that consist of a restaurant on the first and a gymnasium with a retail store on the second.
A void and greenery being present along the entrance of the building, draws the person to enter the building with curiosity. Immediately entering the building comes the emphasis on industrialesque style by incorporating different materials uses including brick and wood planks. This creates a modern experience combined with the greenery making the space feel lived in and more homely.
Transitioning from this masonry-based first floor to a highly modern second floor by highlighting materials commonly used while keeping nature nearby by having floor-to-ceiling windows. These features come intending to pay homage to the locale while infusing a sense of harmony with the natural environment. With both levels being accessible to both surrounding residents and the public, the overall building enhances the connection with nature.
415 E. Cevallos St., San Antonio, TX 78204
Blue Star St. E. Cevallos St.
ClaySt.
Probandt St.
La Tuna Icehouse
Casa Hernan
SURROUNDING
San Antonio River
SITE AS BASE
Using the site as a base helps to understand the type of geometry that comes from a rectangular shape. Using this geometry and extruding it up creates a block. This block will be used to create voids within a space and determine the placement of spaces within the structure.
CREATE A VOID
From the base, we can carve out a frontal piece of structure to create a void that will lead the passenger inside of the design, the cantilever on the side of the structure will see interest from the passenger and begin to explore the structure.
USE SITE ANALYSIS
With this void creating a simple gesture to enter and seek entrance of the building, it becomes an enclosed yet open space next to the outer street, assuring people to come inside to get to their destination of the restaurant or gym. Having a parapet roof will impact the way the structure articulated within.
LEGEND:
1 - Foyer
2 - Outdoor Seating
3 - Indoor Seating
4 - Bar Area
5 - Elevator
6 - Stairs to Second Floor
7 - Restroom
8 - Kitchen
9 - Washroom Station
10 - Walk in Refrigerator
11 - Storage Area
12 - Emergency Stairs
ENTRANCE
LEGEND:
- Main stairs
- Retail Store
- Storage Room
- Dressing Rooms
- Men’s Locker room 6 - Women’s Locker room 7 - Elevator 8 - Front Desk 9 - Gymnasium
- Emergency Stairs
RETAIL STORE
EXTERIOR ELEVATIONS
EAST ELEVATION
WEST ELEVATION
NORTH SECTION
NORTH ELEVATION
SOUTH ELEVATION
Wood Planks
Brick
Black Cladding
1B. WALL SECTION
RETAIL STORE - COUNTER
RESTAURANT - BAR AREA
RESTAURANT - ENTRANCE FACADE
GYMNASIUM - MAIN