NOAH KOTLINSKI
DESIGN CATALOG
A B O U T M E
noah.k_arch
noah36@ksu.edu
Hi, I’m Noah, a Master’s of Architecture student at Kansas State University. My passion for design fuels my educational and professional journey. I thrive on exploring architectural concepts that inspire and connect people. Every project is an opportunity for me to combine creativity with precision, and I pour careful attention into the details to ensure my vision is represented with clarity. What excites me most about architecture is its ability to solve complex challenges in innovative ways. My dedication to thoughtful, groundbreaking design motivates me every day to bring fresh perspectives and impactful solutions to the architectural world.
R O J E C T S
CENTER FOR KAW RIVER CULTURE
BLACK BOX STAGE
PRAIRIE PASS 10 RESIDENTIAL
ALVIN AILEY COMMUNITY SPINE
AZTEK CINEMA
CENTER FOR KAW RIVER CULTURE
The Kaw River Culture Center in Topeka, Kansas sculpts a fluid environment from its rectilinear form, that transcends conventional boundaries by blurring the lines between interior and exterior. The design manifests a floating mass above, capturing the essence of the sky, while a dense earth mass below evokes grounded solidity. This juxtaposition mirrors the relationship between the heavens and the earth. The result is a harmonious architectural expression, where the built environment seamlessly merges with natural elements, embodying the celestial and terrestrial realms.
FALL 2023
LONG SECTION
The building’s undulating section within its otherwise rectilinear footprint, creates a striking contrast within its composition. This dichotomy occurs between the elevated light truss-supported mass and the grounded earthen volume housing the water cistern. The fluid and dynamic section, nestled within the orthogonal framework, forms a crucial threshold where the architectural language shifts. This interplay bridges the grounded solidity of the earth with the airy lightness of the structure above. This connection embodies a unified relationship between the built environment and its natural surroundings.
SHORT SECTION ONE
SHORT SECTION TWO
The reflecting pool strategically reinforces the overarching concept by introducing a serene plane that reflects the roofs flowing form, while emphasizing the importance of water to the the project.
The powwow circle serves as the vital heart of the island’s design, positioned strategically along the main axis to symbolize cultural significance and communal unity. Surrounded by diverse programs, it becomes a focal point where traditions intersect.
Six meeting spaces dedicated to distinct tribes are mirrored by a sculpture display, creating a dynamic interplay between functional areas and artistic expression. This juxtaposition fosters an environment for congregation while making the meeting spaces into engaging visual experiences.
The geometric manufactured island gracefully terminates at a point on the river. Across a channel from the island a boardwalk mirrors the natural shoreline, creating a compelling fusion of organic beauty and human intervention.
Traditional farm plots artfully create enclosure for a small lawn. These plots not only serve as green boundaries but also enhance a sense of cultural richness, transforming the lawn into a tranquil haven within the embrace of native agricultural tradition.
A distinct enclosure houses recreational amenities and the availability of outdoor pursuits. Within this multifunctional pavilion, the public gains easy access to recreational equipment like kayaks and fishing poles.
ENTRY LEVEL FLOOR PLAN
At dusk, the Kaw River glimmers under the fading sunlight as members of the six Native tribes gather at the river’s edge. The island, cradled by the river, stands like a sacred heart in the landscape.
Together, they ascend the stone promenade, smartphones capturing the moment alongside the steady rhythm of drums. The crowd watches as they march toward the Powwow Circle under the vast, heaven-like canopy, its surface catching the last light of day and creating a shimmer on the river below. In that moment, under the celestial cover and surrounded by the life-giving waters of the Kaw, the six tribes celebrate not just their individual identities, but the shared strength of their culture.
BLACK BOX STAGE
The Meatpacking District of New York City holds a rich historical and industrial significance. Today, the district has undergone significant transformation, evolving into a vibrant cultural and commercial center, while still retaining echoes of its industrial heritage. Against this backdrop, the Black Box Stage is a melding of past and present. The building serves as a modern architectural machine. Adjacent to the Gansevoort Plaza, this theater becomes not just a venue of artistic expression but a nod to the district’s industrial past.
A series of four rectangular trusses divide the site into three sections.
Three staff-accessible programatic volumes are hung under the theater space.
The trusses are architecturally scaled to create a vertical and horizontal grid to house the theater.
The system is lifted off the ground floor by a series of shear walls and structure trees to create an uninterrupted lobby space with direct connection to the adjacent plaza.
1. Unitized Glass Panel
2. Unitized Fitted Glass Panel
GLASS WALL ASSEMBLY
1. Strip Lighting
2. Gypsum Panel
3. Acoustic Panel
THEATER WALL ASSEMBLY
HANGING SUPPORT SPACES FLOOR PLAN
THEATER FLOOR PLAN
ASCENT TO THE EVENT
After purchasing your ticket at the digital kiosk trees, you step into the lobby, where deployable program screens present the evening’s lineup with intriguing visuals. The rhythm of muffled chatter guides you up the staircase toward the bar and lounge. As you move past the hanging support spaces, glimpses of performers in preparation add an intimate layer to the experience. Finally, you arrive at the sub-lobby, a transitional space preparing you for the immersive journey awaiting behind the theater doors.
PRAIRIE PASS RESIDENTIAL
Prairie Pass 10 is a harmonious blend of modern architecture, community engagement, and environmental regard. It not only offers ten comfortable housing units, but it also enriches local culture and respects the natural landscape of the Flint Hills. It a model of sustainable and community-centric development in Eureka, Kansas. Situated at the corner of Main Street and Highway 54, the project serves as a gateway to the town. It respects the existing urban fabric while enhancing the streetscape with a contemporary design.
FALL 2023
The resident leaves behind traffic noise and steps into the shaded entry courtyard after a busy work day. On the other side of the passsage, the resident walks through a landscape that blurs the line between nature and design. Tall prairie grass sways gently in the breeze, mingling with the earthy textures of wood and board-form concrete used throughout the complex. Each building is tucked into the landscape as though it has always been part of it. The thoughtful placement of the units ensures privacy, creating the sensation of being isolated in nature rather than surrounded by neighbors.
Reaching home, the resident steps onto a patio with sweeping views of the landscape. Just beyond the complex, a creek meanders toward a park dotted with trees. Here it is easy to savor an outdoor meal. The subdued sounds of chirping crickets and the soft rustle of grasses provide a soundtrack to the evening. As twilight deepens, the bioswale firepit flickers invitingly, offering a gathering place for quiet conversation with neighbors. Or perhaps the night calls for a peaceful walk across the footbridge to the park.
BUILDING MATERIAL REUSE
By utilizing a non-toxic soy-based form release, board-formed concrete formwork used for lower units and retaining walls can be preserved and repurposed as wood paneling for the upper units. This approach not only reduces waste but also eliminates additional expensive material transport to Eureka, optimizing resources while maintaining aesthetic and functional continuity across the construction.
ENTRY VIEW
Drainage Layer
Membrane
Insulation
Vapor
Metal
GREEN ROOF ASSEMBLY
Growth Medium
Retarder
Deck
AZTEK CINEMA
In the age of the decline of movie theaters, Aztek Cinema looks to stand out as a public center for cultural events and interaction. The Aztek reinvents the common narrative of cinema typology. Programmable LED screens operate as moving partitions to cover and uncover openings, as well as advertise current and upcoming showings. These animated panels establish a connection between the theaters and the surrounding city of Topeka, Kansas. This enviroment revitalizes nostalgia for theaters of the future.
1
2
Theaters are oriented so that one side of each of them are facing the open sides of the site.
3
Operable panels are placed on each of the theaters to allow connection to the surrounding context.
4
On top of the panel support column spotlights shine into the sky to mark Aztek Cinema as a destination.
All four theaters are lifted off the ground floor to create an uninterupted first floor public lobby.
Aztek Cinema, a significant addition to the historic district, stands diagonally across from the Kansas State Capitol. Its entrance, carved beneath a perforated screen that glows softly at night, draws visitors into an unexpected transition. Passing under, they emerge into a bosque that pays homage to the landscaped grounds surrounding the Capitol. This thoughtful design links the monumental presence of the Capitol with the cinema’s contemporary expression, creating a dialogue between architecture, nature, and the cultural vibrancy of the city.
EAST ELEVATION
ENCLOSED GARDEN VIEW
SOUTH ELEVATION
AZTEK BISTRO VIEW
EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC
The perforated climate screen is bolted to a substructure, which is welded to the primary structure’s wide flange, ensuring both structural integrity and visual cohesion. As a deliberate design choice, the exterior light columns are offset from the screen. These columns are securely bolted to the wide flange, forming a seamless integration between the functional elements and the architectural framework.
The movable screen panel is suspended from a double-wheel track system, encased in aluminum to conceal the wheel mechanism, ensuring a sleek appearance. This track is securely bolted to a plate extending from the light column positioned behind the screen. The column provides support and enables smooth movement of the panel while creating a light beacon above.
ALVIN AILEY COMMUNTIY SPINE
This project celebrates the legacy of Alvin Ailey, the transformative power of dance, and the spirit of community by creating a new home for the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) at the corner of Highland and 18th Street. The design weaves Ailey’s ethos of purpose, movement, and connection into an architectural spine that links diverse aspects of community life, art, and culture. The Community Spine is a beacon for rejuvenation within the district, fostering engagement through its mixeduse program and vibrant, activated facade.
FALL 2024
HIGHLAND AVE. ELEVATION
18TH ST
SITE
18TH STREET ADJACENT BUILDING USES
18TH ST. ELEVATION
MIXED-USE BUILDING PROGRAM
Visitors drift through the public gallery, pausing to admire the vibrant art lining the walls. Sunlight streams through windows, illuminating pieces that celebrate movement, color, and culture. Ahead, a change in texture and tone signals the transition into the Friends of Alvin Ailey space, inviting people to step deeper into its story.
Inside the Friends of Alvin Ailey space, the atmosphere opens up into a dynamic hub of creativity. Open offices foster collaboration, with workstations arranged to encourage dialogue and shared ideas. Floorto-ceiling glazing floods the space with natural light, creating a sense of connection to the 18th and Vine District.
The dance studio has double-height ceilings that amplify the sense of openness and makes the space feel airy and bright, ideal for fluid movement and focus. On the second flloor a glazed observation area offers a clear view of the practice space below, allowing parents and loved ones to watch the dancers without disrupting the studio’s flow.
Adjacent to the observation area, a rooftop performance space crowns the Friends of Alvin Ailey community spine. The open-air venue offers stunning views, not only of the surrounding district but also the Kansas City skyline in the distance. This elevated space serves as a visual and cultural bridge, subtly reconnecting the historic 18th and Vine District with the wider city.
1. Frosted Glass Panels
2. Aluminum Mullion
3. Aluminum Support Member
4. Aluminum Support Member
5. Clay Brick
6. Metal Frame
7. Glazed Curtain Wall
8. Glazed Roof Panel
9. Aluminum Mullion
10. Steel Girder
11. Frosted Glass Roof Panel
12. Insulating Air Cavity
13. Adjustable Lighting
14. Aluminum Mullion
15. Ballet Barre
16. Metal Panels
17. Continuous Insulation
18. Air Cavity
19. Vapor Retardant
20. Batt Insulation
21. Gypsum Panel
22. Wood Flooring
23. Wood Battens
24. Concrete Topping
25. Steel Girder
26. Aluminum Sub-structure
27. Adjustable Lighting
28. Nexnovo Transparent LED Display
29. Aluminum Mullion
30. Metal Panels
31. Continuous Insulation
32. Air Cavity
33. Vapor Retardant
34. Batt Insulation
35. Clay Brick
36. Rectiliniar Can light
37. Cantilever Beam
38. Steel Girder
39. Concrete Slab
HIGHLAND AVE.
