Michael Salib // Architecture + Design Portfolio // January 2023 // Product/UX Design Edition

Hey there!

I am currently a third year student at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture.

My design approach is holistic, detail-oriented and people-centered. I am inspired by the power of design in our daily lives; design is everywhere, but only great design is noticeable. I enjoy conceptualizing and problem solving, and am passionate about leveraging design to create an ultimately better world. I aspire to always get out of my comfort zone to create work that prioritizes human connection and the health of both people and the Earth

Apart from design, I enjoy travelling, hiking, cooking, taking photos, and creating art.

In viewing this portfolio of some of my most recent works, I hope you can see my passion, willingness to learn, and drive Enjoy!

website:

Skills

Digital

Rhinoceros Illustrator Photoshop InDesign Microsoft Office Squarespace

Figma (beginner) Enscape AutoCad Premier Pro

Experience

Sep-Dec 2022 Paris, France

Architectural Intern

Studio Vincent Eschalier

Designed & iterated possible solutions to design problems in two 29003000 sqm buildings for large tech clients. Completed & updated business consultation folders and construction detail drawings, in scales ranging from 1:100 to 1:10. Handled material selection & product research for client presentations.

Analog Language

Jan-Apr 2022 Toronto, ON

Architecture + Urban Design Assistant SvN Architects + Planners

Hand drafting Model making 3D printing Laser cutting CNC milling Public speaking

Sculpting Sketching Painting Photography Videography Calligraphy English French Arabic

I’ve been up to...

May-Jul 2021 Remote

Realized a one-week schematic urban proposal with one other architect. Produced large drawings, communicative diagrams and clear presentation decks, showcasing projects for clients & public display. Edited renderings for large developments in landscape architecture, architecture and urban design (40+ storey).

Research + Creative Intern Yconic

Researched and authored 25+ articles, around 1000 words each, about different post-secondary programs, student life & more.

Jul-Aug 2021 Bavaria, Germany

International Camp Counsellor LEOlingo Language Camps

Taught 200+ children aged 7-15 English and French through games, arts & crafts & sports while collaborating with a diverse group of counsellors. Managed conflict immediately, using emotional intelligence, stress management, non-verbal cues, communication and compassion.

Achievements

2020Present

Golden Jubilee Scholarship

Education

University of Waterloo

Candidate for Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Co-op Program

Expected Graduation: Aug 2025

Cambridge, ON

Interests

Travelling Hiking Conceptualizing Writing/Journaling

Reading Cooking Adventuring Storytelling

2022

20212022

May-Aug 2022 Cambridge, ON

Sep 2019Present Mississauga, ON

Jan-Mar 2022 Remote

Mentorship Award

2022 2020

2020 2022

Mon Sheong Foundation University of Waterloo 95%+ Entrance Average

Dean’s List

University of Waterloo

International Experience Award Valedictorian

President’s Scholarship of Distinction Outstanding Co-op Rating

University of Waterloo St. Aloysius Gonzaga CSS

University of Waterloo

Studio Vincent Eschalier

Community Impact

Co-President

Waterloo Architecture Student Association

Led 15 student representatives in organizing & executing 5+ school events while coordinating with several stakeholders.

Sunday School Leader

Mentor 25+ children in Grade 5 about faith, integrity, and navigating life by preparing various activities and retreats.

Innovator

Canadian Coptic Centre Zero Experience @ University of Waterloo

Prototyped solutions to real-life problems, collaborating with various students in weekly fast-paced ideation and innovation sessions.

18 May 2022

RE: Reference for Michael Salib

To Whom It May Concern:

I had the pleasure of working with Michael while he was an intern in my office in early 2022. Michael was a key support in a number-of my projects and played a critically important role in the generation of key project documents and presentation materials. In the few months we worked together, I came to rely on Michael for his graphic sensibility, inquisitive approach to the work (he asks many GOOD questions), and ability to work in the pressure cooker of pre-submission / pre-presentation time frames.

Michael’s project involvement included:

1. Beaver Valley Ski Club

• Played an integral role in the production of townhall presentation materials for a ski resort renovation and addition.

• Led a key axonometric view, showcasing design goals and intentions.

2. 16 Eastern Ave. Zoning/Gilead St

• Worked on a quick and intense one-week study showing clients the potential of the site.

• The vision was a “mini distillery district” that would generate revenue for 15-20 years before a full mixed -use buildout.

• Particularly focused on creating diagrams that clearly communicate to the client the intent of the project.

3.1630-1632 Bloor Street West

• Created massing models and many presentation decks for client and city staff meetings.

• Was a key team player in the planning rationale report

4 309 Cherry Street

• Prepared renders and marketing packages for investors

He did very, very well with us and demonstrated many of the core strengths that will allow him to be successful moving forward. We (SvN), and I personally, don’t say this about all the interns who work within our practice, but we would happily welcome Michael back if the opportunity presents itself.

Thank you,

Drew Sinclair, OAA, FRAIC Managing Partner

SvN Architects + Planners

110 Adelaide St E, 4th Floor Toronto, ON Canada M5C

T 416 593 6499 F 416 907 7224 svn-ap.com

Date: 10.9.2021

Re: Reference for Michael Salib

To Whom it May Concern ,

It is my pleasure to write a letter supporting Michael Salib’s application I am the Director of the Human Experience Lab at Perkins &Will, a global architecture and design firm . I have training from Columbia and Harvard University and hav e taught and mentored hundreds of students over the last decade. Michael ’s enthusiasm, informed questions , and fearless engagement will be an asset to any team

I have known Michael since Spring 2021 , when I guest lectured for the University of Waterloo on the co nnection between public health and architecture While most students kept their video off during the virtual class , Michael was a visibly attentive listener and asked thoughtful , energized questions – a real gift for a guest lecturer. When Michael reached out to volun teer as a research assistan t for a U.S.- based study on healthy , affordable housing funded by the American Society of Interior Design Foundation , I was delighted to have him join the team.

Over the summer, Michael showed that he was both a team player and in depen dent worker He and another class mate fro m the University of Waterloo spearheaded a case study in Chicago , Illinois . Th ey research ed the neighborhood and building context, participated in virtual focus groups with residents , provided question s for meetings with building management, and contributed to the overall structure of the final repo rt, which will be released later this fall Michael is an increasi ngly strong communicator and contributed to weekly team meetings with useful clarifying questions about team direction and approach.

I am impressed by Michael ’ s initiative and commitment to healthy buildings . Although early in his training, his curio s ity , rigor, and diligence will mak e him a formidable designer who will leave the world a better place.

I support Michael Salib’s application without reservation and would be happy to answer any questions about his qualifications.

Sincerely ,

Director, Human Experience (Hx) Lab Perkins&Will

225 Franklin Street Boston, Massachusetts 02110 www.perkinswill.com

Mosaic Mosaic

Library & Community Hub

+ Selected for display at the 2021 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Conference

The Mosaic Library and Community Hub lies at the intersection of three Torontonian neighbourhoods, longing to be a dwelling for all of the residents. By directly addressing different people and their needs and creating a welcoming space through program, circulation, materiality and light, the Mosaic library encourages the intermingling of Toronto’s diverse peoples, emphasizing the celebration of culture and the fostering of community. Specifically, the Mosaic Library and Community Hub includes a library program mixed with a community kitchen, garden and food bank, aiding with issues of food (in)security. A central staircase symbolic of the intersection of the neighbourhoods and clad in mosaic tiles grounds the building and offers moments of socialization and rest. After all, Canada is given the name “Multicultural Mosaic” for a reason.

Supervisor Cam Parkin Skills Rhino 6, Enscape, Adobe Ai, Ps , & In

Individual Course Winter 2021 Design Studio

How can a building benefit the lives of its occupants?

Team

The library occupies an L-shape, tying together the urban fabric, wrapping around the community and giving occupants of the adjacent building a view of the exterior space.

The southern side of the building is lowered to provide the outdoor community garden with maximum direct sunlight.

The library allows the community garden to receive east light but blocks it from west light (which can damage plants).

Maximum glazing and a skylight are added to the library to provide natural daylight.

Massing Diagram

Mosaic

Kitchen Perspective

Second Floor Library Perspective

a Section

East Exterior Perspective

Sheltering & translucent upper floors

Public & transparent ground floor

Facade

1

3 3

4

Prefabricated insulated panels clad in white aluminum for thermal control

Fritted glass to diffuse east & west light Glass topped with reclaimed metal to diffuse light and create a sheltering environment Clear glass for city and park views

The acorn is a very special symbol for the inhabitants of Toronto, showing up in Joel Weeks Park and sculpted on Toronto’s old street signs. Because acorns grow on mature oak trees, they are a symbol of resilience and growth. They are also a symbol of Indigenous culture, since Oak trees are native to Toronto, originally the Carolinian forest. The Mosaic library’s envelope consists of a curtain wall inspired by the acorn shape and uses different materials to address dichotomies such as light vs. dark and public vs. private.

Isometric Section Fragment

How can a building give agency to its users?

IN-4-MALL IN-4-MALL

+ Featured on the Waterloo Architecture Instagram

Arts & Cultural Centre

An informal space for all people, IN-4-MALL is situated in the civic district of Kitchener’s downtown core and responds to the Arts Reboot movement and adaptive reuse by placing an open and informal performance space in the middle of an old police station. The goal is to create a building that is simple to navigate and understand, humble not to feel foreign to visitors and the context, and flexible to host a wide variety of events that engage the community. These goals are reflected in every design decision taken- from the layout of the plans to the facade materials chosen. With traditional theatres around the site, what artists really need is a space where they feel they have agency and are provided with the infrastructure to celebrate their work, no matter who they are. IN-4-MALL seeks to do just that with a centre that’s always buzzing with creative energy!

Supervisor

Skills Rhino 6, Enscape, Adobe Ai, Ps , & In Team Individual Course Fall 2021 Design Studio

Rick

Haldenby

Program

IN-4-MALL contains approximately 4,000 sqm of functional space, spanning many different types of programs. In the basement, the incubation theatre is surrounded by a variety of back-of-house spaces like green rooms, dressing rooms and admin spaces. Many multipurpose spaces occupy the ground floor, while the second floor is reserved for rehearsal halls and artist studios. Finally, the third floor has the remainder of the studios and all artist residences.

Basement Ground Floor Second Floor Saved columns Saved walls

Original Plans Basement

Floor Plan

Ground Floor Plan

Third Floor Second Floor Plan

Perspective Studies

Middle Ground Middle Ground

Re-imagined Coffee Shop

+ Editor’s Choice

+ Chosen for yearbook feature

Bali has quickly become Indonesia’s most popular tourist destination. However, while tourists come to appreciate the unique sites and culture, they ignorantly destroy them in the process. Middle Ground is the first step in solving Bali’s mass tourism crisis. The solution is not to eliminate tourists, but to attract them in a new way that places them in the middle of a movement that cares just as much, if not more, about Bali’s cultural and environmental preservation than about its economic growth. For too long, the experience of the tourists has been prioritized at the expense of the island’s environment, culture, and people. Thus, a middle ground is proposed, a space that benefits both the tourists and the locals. In this context, the action of getting a coffee is the medium through which the local-tourist relationship is mended interpersonally, through conversation, culturally, through performance and storytelling, and environmentally, through sustainable construction and biophilia.

Competition

Brewed- Bali Beach Café Design Challenge Skills Rhino 6, Enscape, Adobe Ai, Ps, & In

How can a coffee shop play a larger role in its social and urban context?

Team Tuan Pham & Patricia Poiana

Conceptual

Entrance Perspective

Storytelling Pit Perspective

Second Floor Plan

Ground Floor Plan Tourists Locals

Framework Framework

Market

With an increasing population of various diasporas and nearly 80% of inhabitants identifying as visible minorities, Markham is quickly becoming a hub of rising immigrants and entrepreneurs. This has instigated rapid urbanization within the city, particularly in the downtown area. However, while current development ambitiously addresses sustainable and economic growth, it neglects Markham’s rich cultural history. Framework is a market located in downtown Markham, aiming to highlight the immense role that culture plays within the city. Drawing inspiration from the scale and atmosphere of various traditional street markets, it is a place where Markham residents can showcase their small businesses, gather, and keep culture at the epicenter of the city. A system of steel modules containing multiple voids provides a framework for the display of several metal screens and textural fabrics. This creates a mosaic that is reflective of the city’s existing and growing cultural and urban identity.

Competition

Supervisors

CISC Competition Skills Rhino 6, Enscape, Adobe Ai, Ps, & In

Justin Forrest Breg & Cam Parkin

How can a steel canopy fight the erasure of a city’s culture?

Team Danny Pang & Naya Sanchez

East Exterior Perspective

FRamework

Market Space Perspective

Performance Space Perspective

Materiality & Details

Due to the scale of the site, it was decided for Framework to use a modular approach to design. A single structure of galvanized steel with different patterns of galvanized metal screens and a combination of PVC mesh fabric, outdoor fabric and fabric handwoven by members in the community is repeated at different scales throughout the structure. While the front is large and open, as one moves towards the stage, the space becomes more intimate. Much care was taken into account to ensure all modules are constructed carefully and deliberately, as described below.

Detail 1 (Bolted Connection)

AESS Category: 1 (All modules)

Detail 2 (Bolted Connection)

AESS Category: 2 (Module 1) 3 (Modules 2 & 3)

Detail 3 (Welded Connection)

AESS Category: 4 (Market Perimeter) 2 (Other cast nodes)

Detail 4 (Tensile Connection)

AESS Category: 3 (All modules)

Other Works Other Works

A Variety

The work that this portfolio has displayed thus far is only a small part of the way I express myself as an artist and creator. But ultimately, I’m a storyteller, and this section goes beyond architecture, showing you the other ways in which I create and tell different narratives. I enjoy expressing myself through film sets, installation art, calligraphy, photography, food and more. My engagement in various media inspires and informs my architectural work. It also allows me to find inspiration in everything around me. This section also includes some work from my professional experience at SvN Architects + Planners in Toronto, where I worked from January to April of 2022.

Time 2020-2022 Skills Illustration, Installation art, Set Design, Calligraphy, Branding, Photography, Model-making

How can my architectural education impact the other ways I express myself, and vice versa?

michaelsalib.com

Jan 2021- Present

Following my interest of design and user experience, I decided to experiment with the media of web design by creating my own website through Squarespace. After pages of sketching, I created a wireframe, followed by a mockup, and finally executed my plans. This poses an interesting challenge as I constantly have to rejig material that is often designed for print, onto a digital interface. Since then, the website has gone through, and continues to experience, minor iterations and modifications.

Other Works

Other Works

“Mama” Set Design

May -Aug 2020

“Mama” centers around a family who has recently immigrated to Canada and is told from the POV of the child, Mina. It was decided that colour is to be used to orient the audience through the different timelines, the design is to reflect Mina’s character arc while also revealing the family’s Egyptian heritage & all is to be accomplished at a very low budget and within a very short shooting schedule. Drawing on personal experience and many references, I designed an apartment consistent with the family’s social class but one which changes as Mina does. The colour blue acts as a motif reflecting Mina’s growing isolation; as the film progresses, the colour blue gradually dominates the look of the film.

Sheer off-white curtains

Bedside Bible

Lamp with shade Blue Ipod Crucifix on wall Piggybank

Child drawings of scenes from film

Dirty laundry on floor

White shower curtain Soap bar

Blue soap bar container Blue scented candle Shaving kit Toothbrushes

Added

Hand-drawn family portrait with magnets on fridge Arabic shopping list

Wooden chair

Blackout & sheer curtains Cornice box

Tablecloth under TV Statuettes

Brown sofa covers Carpet on floor Lace detail on middle cushion

Lamp with shade Tablecloth with tassels St. Mary Statuette Framed child photo TV remote Medicine box Cup of water

Tablecloth with tassels Crucifix on wall Blue vase

Salt & Pepper shakers Cutting board

Pot Soup Packaging Dishes in sink Blue dish-soap

Set Pictures & Film Stills

Works

“Demons” Installation

Dec 2019- Feb 2020

“Demons” is an eight foot tall 3D installation artwork I created at my high school to break the stigma around mental illness. The piece uses chicken wire, varying yarns and fresh flowers to convey the vulnerability of humanity. Suspended by a PVC pipe structure that is screwed into a concrete wall, “Demons” uses space, form and light techniques to create an environment that can be filled by students. My goal was to show students that they are not alone and to encourage anyone to seek help, a task that seems impossible at times, but one whose completion is the ultimate action of strength.

Other Works

Mikewrites Calligraphy

Apr 2020- Present

Started as a quarantine hobby, my calligraphy Instagram account became an outlet of creative expression for me, and slowly turned into a small business. In the summer of 2021, I gave the brand an identity, created a logo, made business cards and wrote copy for marketing material. I quickly became interested in the process of iteration and kept refining my designs until they resonated with the brand. Ultimately, the branding increased recognition, resulting in more sales.

Business Card

Calligraphy Samples

Other Works

Acrylic Calligraphy Commission