Graduate Portfolio by Michaelakanni1

Portfolio

Michael Akanni | 2025

Architectural Design

Acoustic Design

Team Collaboration

Michael Akanni

m.akanni1@icloud.com 312-918-0650

Chicago, IL | Gary, IN https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-akanni-1aa188237

Revit SketchUp Enscape

Rhino / Grasshopper

Adobe Creative Suite

University of Kansas

B.A.Arch (2025)

M.A.Arch (2025)

Acoustic Certificate (2025)

Education Skills

Technical Workflow

Cultural Analysis Design-Build Execution

Program Experience

Final Cut Pro

Microsoft Excel

BlueBeam Insul

EASE Auralization

References

Silva, Kapila - kapilads@ku.edu

KU Architecture Professor

Pittman, Jason - jason.p@branchpattern.com

Branch Pattern Acoustic Account Manager

KU Acoustics Professor

Waggoner, Ryan - wag44@ku.edu

Evans Scholar Advisor

Specncer Musseum Director of Creative Services

Work Experience

Acoustic Designer 2024-2025

BranchPattern - Kansas City

Technology & Acoustic Team

Audio Engineer Asst. 2019-2023

University of Kansas School of Music

Audiovisual editor (editing, recording, & streaming)

Technical Designer, Owner 2025

Akanni Technical Studio

Consultations, project research, site walkthrough, and technical deliverables using CAD and DAW software

Projects / Experience

NOMAS Design Competition 2022

University of Kansas Chapter Annual NOMA Conference in Nashville Tennessee

DirtWorks Studio, Haven 2022-2023

Design-build Studio Solar Decathlon Competition to design net zero house. Construction documentation, prefabrication, shop drawings

Design & Culture in Cuba 2024

Winter Study Abroad

Explored historical and contemporary architecture & art through field documentation and cultural research

Honors

Chick Evans Scholarship Undergraduate

Western Golf Association

Full tuition and housing

Kansas Chapter Executive Board - VP of New Scholars

MSP Undergraduate - Graduate

University of Kansas Mentored Scholar Program

Helps students apply talents to their studies and personal-

Table of Contents

Kansas City Jazz Center pg. 6-13

Haven DesignBuild pg. 14-23

KU NOMAS Barbara G. Laurie Design Competition pg.24-33

Acoustic Design / AV Operations

pg. 34-39

Architecture and Arts in Cuba pg. 40-45

Kansas City Jazz Center

Revit / Enscape / AutoCAD / Adobe Suite

Course: Architecture Studio 508

Instructor: Professor Jae Chang, University of Kansas

Location: Kansas City, Missouri - the border between downtown and the Crossroad district

Objective: This project celebrates Kansas tries. It aims to provide an immersive experience full-scale design installations.

Overview: Situated adjacent to a park highway features a flexible auditorium, a public restaurant, around a central courtyard that enhances

Design: The design emphasizes transparency, ventions to indoor markets. On the third ing device. Throughout the building, collaborative community.

Kansas City’s rich cultural identity and highlights the innovation within its architecture, engineering, and construction indusexperience that presents design through the lens of the architect, engaging the public with interactive exhibitions and highway cap, the exhibition center bridges public gathering spaces with the surrounding urban fabric. The ground floor restaurant, and multi-use gathering areas. The upper levels are dedicated to private studios and office spaces, arranged enhances natural light and spatial flow. Each programmatic element supports creativity, education, and public engagement. transparency, adaptability, and spatial connectivity. Public areas are designed to accommodate a range of events, from conand fourth floors, private studios and offices are interconnected by a skylit courtyard that also functions as a wayfindcollaborative zones foster interaction and creativity, reflecting the openness and progressive vision of Kansas City’s design

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

1st

Vertical Circulation / Egress Stair

Under-Ceiling displays

Much of the setbacks on the site were created to provide pleasant outdoor experiences.

Site Boundary

Gallery Entry Stair

Display graphics as an artistic canvas for local artists to be used in show curated pieces. Located in programed spaces like outdoor restaurant seating and courtyard.

Park Display

Main St Display

Main Kansas City attraction display connected to the south loop development and downtown. Show Kansas City news, events Canvas for students to display their work and promote architecture & design

LEVEL 4

CONFERENCE ROOMS KITCHENETTE LOUNGE

PRIVATE COLLAB ROOMS

Interior Render of Gallery Space

Detail 1

STONEO ENGINEERED CLADDING M03

SMOOTH FINISH

VERTICAL T RAIL

CAVITY INSULATION

METAL SHEATHING

STEEL WALL STUD

PAINTED GYPSUM BOARD

Detail 2

HAWK SERIES 10.4 LED DIGITAL DISPLAY SCREEN

DIGITAL DISPLAY MODULE CABINET

RIGID INSULATION BOARD

METAL SHEATHING

CAVITY INSULATION

GYPSUM PANEL BOARD

SLANTED I-BEAM

PAINTED GYPSUM BOARD

GX SERIES INDOOR DIGITAL DISPLAY

FILTER FABRIC

PRELOCATION LAYER

VAPOR BARRIER

EPS INSULATION

PLASTIC SEALING

CONCRETE SLAB

METAL DECK

HAWK SERIES 10.4 LED DIGITAL DISPLAY

CONCRETE FLOORING

RIGID STEEL STRUCTURE

STONEO ENGINEERED CLADDING M03 SMOOTH FINISH

Haven DesignBuild

On-Site Fabrication Team / AutoCAD

Course: Architecture Studio 509

Instructor: Professor Chad Kraus, University of Kansas

Location: Lawrence, Kansas - on the site of the school’s construction warehouse

The Haven DesignBuild Project, undertaken in the DirtWorks versity of Kansas, provided me with a valuable opportunity on-site experience in the execution of a built project. dio members, I contributed to the fabrication of key elements house, specifically the floor frame and the steel window responsibilities was the construction of detailed shop we installed. Although the cabinets were sourced from mented custom Baltic birch faces with flush under-handles, and smooth finish.

DirtWorks studio at the Uniopportunity to acquire real-world, Collaborating with fellow stuelements in the sustainable window frame. Among my primary shop drawings for the cabinetry from IKEA, the studio impleunder-handles, achieving a seamless

CONTEXT & TIMELINE

Dirt Works Studio is a design-build studio for third-year architecture students, affiliated with ARCH 509 Design-build Studio and special electives. The team’s structure evolves over four semesters based on course enrollment. The officers and a core group from Fall 2021 are committed for the project’s duration. Additional students may join for a semester, with the option to continue. Team leads organize tasks and timelines, while officers oversee specific team roles. Collaboration with engineering students and faculty supports technical innovations.

The project timeline aligns with the University of Kansas semester schedule, involving architecture students through studio and elective course credit. Initiated in Fall 2021, the design-build studio, consisting of 18 third-year students, progressed from conceptual to schematic design. Partnerships were established with entities such as BNIM, Apex Engineers, Good Energy Solutions, Build SMART, Prosoco, and Wood Haven. In Spring 2022, the team collaborated with consulting professors and created large-scale models to prototype systems. The permit set, crucial for approval by early August, is a priority. During Summer 2022, a smaller student group will advance the project, focusing on custom elements’ shop drawings.

Returning in Fall 2022, select students continue with elective credit, and a new group of 15-18 students joins for construction collaboration. Dirt Works Studio benefits from the University of Kansas Design Build Lab in Lawrence, facilitating extensive fabrication off-site to enhance construction quality and efficiency. The goal is near completion by the semester end, with remaining work scheduled for the following semester. In Spring 2023, a new group finalizes construction for inspection, testing, and public exhibition.

PROJECT

CHAD KRAUS,

The proposed Lead. The intial student Lauren Maloney (Community Outreach to the next semester, increase in size as their students, will

SPRING 2022

will join the project for a semester, with options to continue on in later phases. The team leads will guide the project by organizing tasks and creating timelines meeting milestones. The other officers will lead students to complete the tasks that fall within their team’s role. The team will collaborate with engineering students and faculty as needed to support technical innovations. PROJECT

FALL 2022

SPRING 2023

KRAUS, LIZ FRAKA, LAUREN MALONEY, ANDREW STENDER, HARLEIGH BRANDON, ERICA VILLAMAYOR

WORKS STUDIO FALL 2021

DIRT WORKS STUDIO SPRING 2022

DIRT WORKS STUDIO FALL 2022

DIRT WORKS STUDIO SPRING 2023

FACULTY ADVISORS JAE CHANG, HUGO SHEWARD, ELAINA SUTLEY, MARIO MEDINA, HONGYI CAI, CHEIN-HO KO

SUPPLEMENTAL GROUPS ENGINEERING STUDENTS, ARCHITECTURE PHD STUDENTS

Schedule completed by students in studio Self participating semesters

proposed team structure is anchored by the Dirt Works Studio, directed by Associate Professor Chad Kraus, who will serve as the Faculty Team student team is comprised of the Dirt Works Studio (Fall 2021), which includes all five student officers: Liz Fraka (Student Team Lead), (Health and Safety Officer), Andrew Stender (Construction Officer), Harleigh Brandon (Measured Contest Officer), and Erica Villamayor Outreach Officer), in addition to 13 other dedicated students. Each semester it is projected that some members of the current team will continue semester, where they will be joined by a new incoming group of Dirt Works Studio students. With this model, the team is anticipated to gradually as the project unfolds. In addition to the core Dirt Works Studio team, Faculty Advisors from KU Architecture and KU Engineering, along with will play a supporting role by lending their specific expertise to the project.

The Good Work Solar Decathlon

Safety

Dignity

Education

Health & Wellness

Market Analysis

Model Home

Net-Zero Energy

Community

Experience

Prospect Harbor

Cross Ventilation

Passive Heating

Durability & Resilience

Passive House Standards

Dirt Works Studio Team Strategy

ACCESSIBLE TRANSFER SHOWER W/ SHOWER SEAT

Native Vegetation

Embodied Impact

Energy Efficiency

Biomaterials

Right-Size

Contest 1: Architecture [Juried]

Dirt Works Studio is partnering with The Good Work, whose mission is to provide dignified shelter to individuals or families experiencing domestic violence and to support them while they transition to more secure and happier lives. Each family served by The Good Work has a different background, but one commonality is that their lives have been fundamentally disrupted. Recognizing this, Dirt Works Studio aims to provide a place of refuge while remaining connected to the fabric of the Strawberry Hill neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas. The mutually reinforcing and complementary aspirations of The Good Work and the Solar Decathlon - advocating for the health of the planet and the health of the community - results in clear and potent design criteria.

Strawberry Hill, previously called Splitlog Hill, was named after a wealthy Native American mill owner named Mathias Splitlog, who built a manor here in 1870. In the early 1900s, the area was populated by Slavic immigrants working in nearby industries. This area suffered from redlining in the mid-twentieth century, resulting in systemic disinvestment. In 1957, roughly one-third of the neighborhood’s land area was claimed by eminent domain for the

demanding

Design decisions completed by studio with primary contribution to redlining revisions

concrete

which could uses BuildSMART’s tionally walls will which will moisture home at While the connected ments set energy from the renewables. ful passive solar energy Contest In addition considered als and selected important hour, making because When low als selected, not need bon. The ground as a thermal

Material Durability

very durable if done properly

PROJECT PURPOSE: NEW CONSTRUCTION

REASON OF SUBMITTAL: NEW CONSTRUCTION 2018 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE LOCATION: 3813 GREENWAY DRIVE, LAWRENCE, KANSAS 66046

5. OWNER: UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

6. CODE FOOTPRINT CREATED: AUGUST 8,

7. FIRE SERVICE:

8. BUILDING INSPECTOR: CITY OF LAWRENCE

high shock resistance and moderate bending strength

ideal for rainscreens and other exterior uses

an increase in overall strength and water resistance

proper placement and

degrees of loads placed on it

could be discouraging to families. The project’s structure BuildSMART’s prefabricated E-Walls, which provide exceptionally high-strength walls, especially for a home this size. The will be clad in horizontal, thermally-treated wood siding, will enhance the shear strength and reduce wear on the moisture barrier. The standing seam metal roof will protect the at its most vulnerable surfaces.

the intention is for this home to be net positive, it will be connected to the electrical grid and use local net metering agreeto sell excess energy during peak production times to offenergy use after the sun sets. Even when drawing electricity the grid, 44% of the energy produced in Kansas comes from renewables. The home’s energy load will be reduced by thoughtpassive strategies and active systems, and offset by a robust energy collection system.

Contest 5: Embodied Environmental Impact [Juried] addition to Operational Carbon, Embodied Carbon has been considered by prioritizing non-fossil fuel-based and local materiand assemblies. Low-toxicity and non-toxic materials will be selected to ensure good indoor air quality, which is particularly important in a home that will have relatively few air changes per making the home a healthier place to live in. Wood was chosen because it has low embodied energy and functions as a carbon sink. low embodied carbon materials are not available, the materiselected, like the standing seam roof, are highly durable and will need to be replaced often, which offsets their embodied carThe concrete foundation will be finished and exposed for the ground floor, which will be long-lasting, easy to clean, and function thermal mass. It may also serve as a radiant heat source.

one of the most durable

can last up to 50 years

concealed fasteners eliminates any possibility of leakage

can withstand extreme resistant

9. OCCUPANCY TYPE: EDUCATIONAL: CLASSROOM AREA

10. CONSTRUCTION TYPE: TYPE V-B

excellent thermal and sound stronger than most and do not deform when stressed or exposed to extreme temperature or humidity

11. STRUCTURAL CODE REQUIREMENTS:

A. FLOOR AREA: 520 SF (9,500 SF ALLOWABLE)

B. BUILDING HEIGHT: 13'-5" (40' ALLOWABLE)

C. FIRE RATINGS: 0 HOURS (0 ALLOWABLE)

12. ACTIVE FIRE SAFETY FEATURES:

A. NO FIRE SUPRESSION SYSTEM

B. NO FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

C. NO EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND POWER

D. A SINGLE SMOKE ALARM IN STUDIO AREA

13. THIS NEW CONSTRUCTION IS DESIGNED AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE TO THE EXISTING INDUSTRIAL BUILDING.

14. COMBINED NET AREA OF THE STUDIO AND GALLERY IS 320 SF. BASED ON 2018 IBC TABLE 1004.5 MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA ALLOWANCES PER OCCUPANT, WITH A 'CLASSROOM AREA' FUNCTION OF SPACE, THE OCCUPANT LOAD FACTOR IS 20 NET OCCUPANT. THEREFORE, THE TOTAL OCCUPANT LOAD OF THE STRUCTURE IS (OCCUPANTS X 20 = 320 SF) 16 PERSONS.

been specifically chosen as it is a tree ubiquitous to this area, but not regularly harvested. It will be thermally treated to be rated for exterior exposure. Thermal treatment will help to avoid the chemicals typically found in exterior-rated wood. The BuildSMART prefabricated system is produced locally, so the transportation impact is low. The system will also reduce onsite construction time, which saves significant carbon. For the batt insulation within the wall cavities, the team is exploring a timber-based batt, in keeping with our preference for biomaterials.

15. EGRESS DOOR WIDTHS: THERE IS ONE EGRESS DOORS (EXIT DISCHARGE), WITH CLEAR OPENING OF 36", EXCEEDING THE MINIMUM OF 32" AS WELL AS THE MINIMUM BASED ON THE MULTIPLIER OF .2" PER OCCUPANT.

Contest 6: Integrated Performance [Measured]

Success in this contest will hinge on strategic choices in plumbing and HVAC systems. Integrating systems into the home will improve the lives of the family, in ways they might not even realize. At each fixture, there will be a point-of-use tankless hot water heater, which will minimize wasted water at faucets and showerheads, and eliminate the wasted energy of a tank water heater. This may be combined with a central tankless hot water heater to address higher demands.

The Build SMART system’s prefabricated panels provide accurate rough openings to make tighter fits for windows and doors, and liquid flashing fully seals the openings to prevent air leakage. This system in conjunction with solid-core doors can serve as noise absorption in the home. The mini-split reduces the amount of ducting needed for the space, which will also reduce interior noise.

Increased daylighting saves energy throughout the day and has been shown to improve mental health, aligning with the heightened needs of the client. The large southern window wall brings

The home is characterized by a few carefully selected materials, including natural materials such as wood, and durable, long lasting materials such as

and metal cladding.

Birch Plywood Thermal Hackberry Concrete Standing Seam Metal Enviroboard

demanding high strength and rigidity or cabinetmaking and Interior Walls Exterior Walls Roof & Exterior North Wall Ceiling & Interior North Wall

1/2" 13-PLY BALTIC BIRCH PLYWOOD CABINET, TYP.

WARDROBE CABINET

CABINET FINGERPRINT-FREE STAINLESS STEEL REFRIGERATOR

BASE CABINET AND ACCESSORIES TYP, - PLAN SECTION C

1/2" = 1'-0"

WALL

WALL CABINET

1/2" 13-PLY BALTIC BIRCH PLYWOOD DRAWER, TYP.

13-PLY BALTIC BIRCH PLYWOOD CABINET, TYP.

BASE CABINET WITH DRAWER / 2 DOORS

1/2" 13-PLY BALTIC BIRCH PLYWOOD CABINET, TYP. 1/2" 13-PLY BALTIC BIRCH PLYWOOD DRAWER, TYP.

BASE CABINET FOR SINK / 2 DOORS

CABINET TYPE 3 - FRONT ELEVATION @ LOWER CABINETRY

BIRCH

BASE CABINET TYPE 3 - PLAN SECTION @ LOWER CABINETRY

CABINET TYPE 4 - PLAN SECTION @ LOWER CABINETRY

= 1'-0"

BRACKETS

Highway Cap & Cultural Center

NOMAS Barbara G. Laurie Design Competition 2022

Team Members:

Anna Dennison

Fernando Echauri

Abraham Simon

Instructor: Partnered with Professor Shannon Chris to transform the competition prompt into a structured course

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Competition: This design competition was one chose to participate in. The opportunity presented the National Organization of Minority Architects tition spanned three semesters, including a dedicated journey culminated in a trip to Nashville for the chance to present our project to the judges.

one that I, along with other architecture students, presented itself through the campus organization of Architects (NOMAS). Our engagement in this compededicated summer semester for the project. The the annual NOMA conference, where we had the

This map illustrates the North Nashville community and the aftermath of the division caused by the constructed interstate (I-40). The interstate not only acts as a physical barrier separating the Hadley Washington Neighborhood from Osage North Fisk but also influences the utilization of Jefferson St. as a connection between the public and the neighborhood business center.

The region boasts a significant educational presence, with universities and a high school located nearby. Additionally, there is a park housing a community center and an adjacent library, providing essential resources for the community. The site’s functionality has been significantly affected by the highway and its impact on vehicular circulation

Outdoor Murals

Pedestrian & Bike Circulation

Community Staple Businesses

I40

We used light and transparent to allow users to look through idea of a connected community.

This project combats adversities space where culture, entrepreneurship, education coexist and work together plify the voices of its inhabitants. a space where North Nashville the values of the community, it a way to grow from the history founded on.

transparent materiality and foster the community. adversities by creating a entrepreneurship, and together to aminhabitants. Providing Nashville can express it allows them history they were

Acoustics

& Audiovisual

Insul / EASE Auralization Final Cut Pro

Experience: BranchPattern & KU School of Music

Certificates: Graduate Acoustics Certificate

Instructor: Jason Pittman – Project Manager, BranchPattern, Acoustics Professor, University of Kansas

Brock Babcock – Audio Engineer, University of Kansas - School of Music

As both a designer and occupant of sound-sensitive tion for the role acoustics play in shaping I worked closely with the acoustics team reverberation times and mitigated unwanted

This experience equipped me with practical loss calculators in Excel, as well as reconstructing simulations. I also collaborated with mechanical implement CFM adjustments in support

sound-sensitive spaces, I’ve developed a deep appreciashaping spatial experience. During my time at BranchPattern, team to develop design strategies that achieved targeted unwanted noise.

practical skills in creating reverberation and transmission reconstructing 3D models for surface analysis and ray tracing mechanical engineers to interpret reference drawings and support of meeting specific NC (Noise Criterion) targets.

Mechanical Drawing assessing background noise Vibro-acoustic

Wareham Concert Hall Reverberation Modeling

During my studies at the University of Kansas, I developed a strong interest in designing sound-sensitive spaces, earning an Acoustics Certificate through focused coursework and field observation. My experience with AV equalization sharpened my ability to design with the user’s auditory experience in mind, integrating technical knowledge with spatial intent.

Architecture and Arts in Cuba

KU Study Abroad - Winter 2024

Experience: Traveled throughout Cuba for 2.5 weeks, based in Havana with excursions to cities such as Sancti Spíritus, Trinidad, and Matanzas. The trip concluded with a four-day investigation of U.S.–Cuba cultural connections in Miami.

Instructor:

Professor Tim Hossler – Chair, Department of Design, University of Kansas

As part of KU’s M.Arch program, I participated in a multidisciplinary experience in Cuba, exploring the country’s rich architectural direct cultural immersion. Traveling alongside students backgrounds, I engaged in site analysis, field documentation, research. The experience expanded my global perspective form my approach to culturally

multidisciplinary study abroad architectural history through students from various design documentation, and reflective perspective and continues to inculturally responsive design.