Mira Davis Graduate Portfolio

Hello,

I’m Mira Davis, a young designer fueled by my Afro-Indigenous background to create dynamic, community-oriented spaces across various typologies. With a keen focus on residential design, my Master’s thesis explores multigenerational housing in Southern California. My academic pursuits and life experiences have influenced my values and approach to architecture, and I’m eager to apply my skills to develop functional and meaningful living environments for all residents.

- Mira

EDUCATION

University of Southern California - Master of Architecture

University of Virginia - B.S. Arch, Minor in Arch. History

Informative Coursework | Baroque Art and Architecture Study Abroad in Rome

WORK EXPERIENCE

Hart Howerton - New York, NY

Summer Intern

Produced construction drawings for oceanfront condominiums with an avg. market value of $4 million in South Carolina. This included individual owner modifications of 22 units using Autodesk Revit.

University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA

Student Research Assistant

Prototyped formwork using bio-based additive manufacturing methods in preparation for a recyclable pavilion in partnership with Autodesk and professor Ehsan Baharlou.

MBB Architects - New York, NY

Summer Intern

Assisted with business development and marketing during the COVID-19 pandemic .

FX Collaborative - New York, NY

Winter Extern

Developed on-site field measurement drawings and spatial diagrams for a NYC university retrofit project.

Glavé & Holmes Architecture - Richmond, VA

Summer Intern

Produced drawings for the interior and exterior redesign of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.

Virginia Museum of History and Culture - Richmond, VA

Summer Administrative Intern

Engaged with researchers, maintained administrative data and documents, and organized events for administration, board members, community members and staff.

ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP

Graduate Teaching Assistant - Architectural Theory, Architectural History, and Intro to Real Estate

UVA A-School Young Alumni Council - Career Development Committee

Graduate Architecture Student Association - Partnership Senator

UVA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Task force - Undergraduate Representative

SARC Student Ambassadors at UVA - Inclusion + Equity Open House Coordinator

NOMAS Chapter at UVA - President

AWARDS

USC Architectural Guild Design Competition - Awarded Best Interdisciplinary Collaboration

University of Southern California - 2021 Warren Lortie Award

University of Virginia - Architecture Faculty Award for Public Service

Kishore Memorial Scholarship Award for Public Service - Finalist

PROFICIENCIES

Proficiencies

Expected May 2023

May 2021

May 2022 - Aug 2022

Feb 2019 - Feb 2021

Jun 2020

Jan 2020

May 2019 - Aug 2019

May 2015 - Aug 2018

Fall 2021 - Present

June 2021 - Present

Dec 2021 - Feb 2023

Aug 2020 - May 2021

Oct 2018 - May 2021

Aug 2018 - May 2021

Feb 2022

August 2021

May 2021

March 2021

AutoCAD, Rhino, Grasshopper, Revit, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, 3D Printing, ArcGIS, Microsoft Office Suite, Model Making, Laser Cutting, Communication, 3D Modeling and Autodesk Fusion 360

“Our communities are designed to express this interconnectedness and promote a sense of balance and harmony with nature. When people gather together in spaces that are designed with these principles in mind, they are more likely to feel a sense of connection, belonging, and beauty.”

- Douglas Cardinal

Reflection on Connectivity

1. SOCIAL NETWORKING

Los Angeles, California Social Justice Office Building

As the importance of social justice continues to rise in public discourse, it is essential that our design methods evolve to reflect this changing landscape. This particular project aims to promote greater visibility of social justice work by exploring new approaches to the relationship between public and private spaces in office typologies. By rethinking these traditional relationships, we can create spaces that are more inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the evolving needs of our communities. Through thoughtful design and innovative strategies, we can create work environments that foster collaboration and engagement, while also promoting the values of social justice.

ARCH 605B | Comprehensive Studio | Patrick Tighe | Spring 2022

“Empowering the work of nonprofit organizations and government entities through grant-making”

Cultural Plaza

- Chinese American Museum

- El Pueblo de LA Monument

- Pico House

- Museum of Social Justice

- Mexican American Museum

- Italian Musem of LA

- Olvera St. a

Union Station Transportation hub from all over Los Angeles including car rentals, shuttles to LAX, busses,

Open floor Workspace

Public Space Collaboration Spaces

2. USC COMMUNITY CONNECT

Los Angeles, California University Community Resource Center

This project entails a careful consideration of the spatial conditions of the University of Southern California’s campus, with the aim of creating a new gateway that scales down the existing campus fabric. In contrast to the academic Gothic revival style of the USC Village, the design emphasizes elemental legibility, with Cross Laminated Timber frames serving as both the interior and exterior structure, supported by timber and steel members. The glazing is designed primarily for ventilation and illumination, while the roof provides shading from the sun. Courtyards and adjacencies are integrated to promote a range of interactions that foster engagement between students and community members. By prioritizing legibility, this design not only creates a welcoming gateway for the university, but also promotes accessibility and inclusivity.

ARCH 605a | Graduate Design Studio | Hadrian Predock | Fall 2021

-

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”

Booker T. Washington

3. THE JOURNEY

Grand Central Terminal, New York Interpretive Spatial Experience

“The Journey” is a project that seeks to translate the lived experiences of African Americans during the Great Migration. By juxtaposing New York’s visible expressions of control with the metaphorical unraveling of the invisible hand’s role in the Black Experience, the project provides a powerful representation of the complex historical and social forces that have shaped the African American experience. Through thoughtful design and innovative strategies, “The Journey” creates a dynamic visual narrative that engages viewers and inspires reflection on the rich cultural heritage of African Americans. By integrating diverse perspectives and exploring the intricate connections between history, memory, and identity, “The Journey” offers a powerful vision of hope and possibility for future generations.

ARCH 4010 | Research Studio | Elgin Cleckley | Fall 2020

“The invisible hand ruled their lives and the lives of all the colored people.”

-Isabel

Wilkerson

Spatial Optimism

Spatial Oppression

4. CONNECTIVE HOUSING Charlottesville, Virginia Co-living Complex

This project entails the design of a gateway residential hub for under-resourced communities located south of Charlottesville’s downtown mall. The design aims to provide housing options for unconventional and communal households, as well as the necessary infrastructure for semi-permanent market spaces. Through thoughtful design and innovative strategies, the hub serves as a platform for promoting community engagement, economic growth, and social equity. By creating a space that is both functional and welcoming, the hub provides a new model for residential design that promotes inclusivity and accessibility. The project reflects a commitment to creating vibrant and sustainable living environments that meet the evolving needs of our communities.

ARCH 2020 | Foundation Studio | Anthony Averbeck | Spring 2019

Residential Proximity to Project and Retail Strip

Type B

5. MINIMAL HOUSING STUDIES

ARCH 2020 | Research Studio | Anthony Averbeck| Spring 2019

“The desert is not a barren wasteland but a beautiful and valuable ecosystem full of life. It has much to teach us. It’s time we pay attention.”

-Edward Abbey

ADOBE HOUSE

This is a home for a retired teacher who needs a small space to live in her later years. The house is designed in preparation for her older age, and subsiding mobility.

Typology

Minimal Home

Occupants

Single woman

VERTICAL HOUSE

A residential project for a single father working from home that explores a gradient between public and private starting from his public office to his private bedroom.

Typology

Vertical Home

Occupants

Single father and two sons

WORKING HOUSE

This is a home for four young architects that need to have the means to work comfortably in their own spaces. The home also incorporates nature and collaboration at two different scales, one public, one semi-private, and private.

Typology

Horizontal Home

Occupants

Four young architects