McEwen School of Architecture // Noor Balit

PO T O R

F

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Noor

// 2025

Balit

personal statement.

My perception of great architecture has evolved over the years. Growing up in Dubai, U.A.E, I admired the city’s ambitious skyscrapers and innovative designs. Iconic landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab shaped my early understanding of architecture as a realm defined by grandeur, luxury, and monumental scale. After moving to Montreal for CEGEP, I found myself instinctively ranking buildings based on their uniqueness, ambition and aesthetic appeal.

However, through my studies at the McEwen School of Architecture in Northern Ontario, my understanding of architecture has expanded beyond these aesthetic elements. I began to value contextually sensitive design—the ability to create a building that responds to unique site conditions and addresses the needs of both human and non-human inhabitants. I also learned to prioritize sustainability, considering environmental impact and designing for longevity.

This shift has profoundly influenced my approach to design. Now, I begin each project by deeply analyzing the site and program, ensuring that my designs remain closely aligned with their context throughout the process. My portfolio reflects this philosophy. While I continue to strive for innovative design and visually striking aesthetics, I place equal emphasis on the value each project brings to its users and its site.

resume.

Software

Languages

Rhino

English, Native

Revit

Arabic, Native

AutoCAD

French, Working Proficiency

Enscape Illustrator Photoshop InDesign Microsoft Office

content.

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GATHER GROVE RESIDENCE

FLOUR MILL KINDERGARTEN

PARAMETRIC SNAKE BENCH

STEWART PARK BOATHOUSE

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14

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ICE STATION

ECOLOGICAL CENTRE

CLADDING CAMPUS WIIGWAM

SCARLET DRESS

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Gather Grove Residence ARCH-4505: Studio 7- Integrated Design // 2024F Partner: Kea Koutsoukis

Co-housing Diagram

Fourth-year studio focuses on a comprehensive mixed-use housing project developed over eight months. My partner and I designed a co-housing project catering to small families and seniors, with a strong emphasis on social interaction. Our design prioritized creating spaces within the building to accommodate gatherings at various scales, fostering community engagement and connection.

Site Plan 1:200

unit

apartment

intimate

personal

cluster

Scales of Gathering Diagram

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floor

building

social

ground floor

public

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The building is primarily constructed using cross-laminated timber (CLT), resulting in a highly sustainable structure that also provides warm, inviting spaces to support the community-focused design.

South Elevation

The project’s defining feature is its ramp circulation pathway, which winds through the central atrium. This open, functional pathway is designed to foster spontaneous interactions among neighbors, creating an enjoyable and dynamic social environment.

West-East Section

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Render of Atrium Space

Residential Floor Plan 1:200

Render of Shared Kitchen

summer

winter

Highly insulated air-tight construction

Single-sided ventilation

Flooring stays cool

Solar shading

High performance windows

Thermal mass

Shared Terrace Passive Design Strategies

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The atrium serves as the primary gathering space for the building, while each floor features its own shared amenities, including a kitchen and dining area, an indoor greenhouse, and a communal terrace. The terraces showcase key passive design strategies integrated into the building to enhance its overall sustainability.

Terraces are built separate from building to decrease thermal bridging

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The building’s structure integrates shear walls, structural cores, and bracing to ensure lateral stability.

Working in conjunction with these systems, glulam post-and-beam elements and CLT load-bearing walls form the primary structural framework.

residential left wing retail

+

lobby

+ ramp

residential access

Lateral Stability Diagram

Structural Exploded Axonometric

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Flour Mill Kindergarten ARCH-3505: Design Studio 5: Northern Building // 2023F

The Flour Mill, one of Sudbury’s oldest neighborhoods, developed around the active flour silos that once dominated the site. Once known as the city’s French Quarter, it has transformed into a residential area for low- and middle-income families. Despite these changes, the community remains deeply connected to the historical activities that have shaped its identity.

My vision was to create a space that brings together the Flour Mill community by drawing on its rich historical roots. I accomplished this by using the silos as a powerful symbolic focal point, helping to foster a sense of unity and connection within the neighborhood.

Concept Diagram

North Elevation

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Site Plan

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Kindergarten Plan

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I incorporated the Flour Mill Community Farm initiative into the Early Learning and Play Center, enriching community engagement and offering children valuable lessons in land cultivation and sustainability.

Metal Roofing

Secondary Timber Joist

The kindergarten was designed to resemble a cluster of residential homes, creating a nurturing and familiar atmosphere to help ease the transition for young children leaving home for the first time. This design aimed to provide a sense of security and comfort,

Curtain Glass Wall

Primary Timber Column

Curtain Glass Wall

Secondary Timber Stud Framing

Horizontal Aluminum Siding

Primary Timber Truss

Primary Timber Beam

Community Garden + Playground Vignette

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Structural Axonometric

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Glazing gaskets Structural Attachment

Double Pane Curtain Glass Wall

Toddler Classroom Vignette

Timber Post with Hooks

Timber Bench with Slat Cut-Outs

Grey-Water Gathering System

Grate Pipe Connected to Septic Tank

Play Wall Perspective

Bench Detail

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Parametric Snake Bench ARCH-4306: Digital Fabrication // 2024W Partner: Kea Koutsoukis

430mm

This parametric bench was designed as part of a class focused on learning Grasshopper software, where we utilized its parametric tools to create the “Snake Bench”. The form of the 450mm bench was inspired by the fluid movement of pedestrian traffic, envisioning it as a functional element in a park along a main walking route. The design reflects the organic flow of people, seamlessly integrating with the surrounding environment.

430mm

660mm

450mm

660mm

Side Elevation

Front Elevation

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4500mm

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STEP II

STEP I 1

STEP IIII

STEP III

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32

A

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A A B B

B

C

C

C

C D

B

D D

Slide prefabricated board into to dowels A, B + C and screw on rod nuts. Between each board, slide in a spacer at each of the dowels.

After board 29, introduce rod D with a nut on one end and continue to add spacers to the other rods (A,B +C)

After board 32, cap off rod A with another nut and tighten. Add spacers to the remaining rods and continue sliding boards through rods B, C + D

STEP V

After board 37, introduce rods E + F, with a nut on one end and continue to add spacers to the other rods(B, C + D).

E

STEP VI 1

62

B

1

62

C

C

F

F

D

D

After board 62, cap off rod B with a nut and tighten. Add spacers to the remaining rods (C, D, E + F) and continue sliding boards in.

E

STEP V11

After board 63, cap off rod C with a nut and tighten.

Add spacers to the remaining rods (D, E + F) and continue sliding boards in.

E

STEP V111 30

D

93

58

E

F

121

F

After board 93, cap off rod D with a nut and tighten. Add spacers to the remaining rods (E + F) and continue sliding boards in.

Sequence of Installation

E

At the last board (number 121), cap off rods E + F with nuts and tighten.

Physical Models

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Stewart Park Boathouse ARCH- 3505:Design Studio 5: Northern Building // 2023F Partner: Rheanna Bowler

This boathouse project’s aim was to design a community boathouse in one of the few public parks with access to Lake Nepahwin.

When visiting the site, my partner and I took an interest in the smaller rock outcrop on the right side, as unlike the larger outcrop on the left, there was no designed path leading visitors to it. Thus we sought to create a path to the rock and place an outdoor shower at its curve point to highlight its presence.

Site Plan + Roof Plan

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Early Design Intention Sketch

North-South Section

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For the boathouse (bottom building) we investigated the idea of transparency by enveloping it in perforated metal panels rather than solid walls as the space did not need to be insulated. Contrastingly, the building above the boathouse, which houses a public kitchen + dining room and a loft space is a insulated space to create a comfortable environment to eat and rest.

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Legend

Legend

Legend

1 Boat Storage

1 Bathroom

1 Loft

2 Bathroom

2 Open Kitchen + Dining Room

2 Stairs

3 Garage Door 4 Outdoor Shower

3 Stairs 4 Terrace

3 Open Kitchen + Dining Room 4 Terrace

5 Deck + Pier

5 Deck + Pier

5 Deck + Pier

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5

3

4

2

4

3

3 1

2

2

4

1

N

Boathouse Floor Plan

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1

N

N

Community Kitchen Main Floor Plan

Community Kitchen Loft Floor Plan

Balit Corrugated metal roofing

Plywood

Structural steel columns + beams

Perforated metal panels

The boathouse is made up of a metal column and beam structure with secondary wood members to allow for customizable boat and equipment storage.

The perforated metal panels act as the skin of the structure that are mounted via a key-hole connection for ease of maintenance. The semi-transparent panels give a passerby a glimpse into the space storing kayaks, canoes and paddle boards and encourage its use.

Steel and wood flooring

Boathouse Exploded Axonometric

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Ice Station ARCH-1515- Design Studio 2: Place 2 // 2022W Studio Project- 15 students

In collaboration with my peers during our first-year studio group, we conceived and built an ice station along the Ramsey Lake skate path for the local community. Our design concept revolved around the theme of “place”. Delving into Sudbury’s environmental history, we aimed to spotlight the positive outcomes of the re-greening efforts. The abstract wooden structure symbolized aquatic life re-emerging from the once acidic lake, celebrating Sudbury’s environmental transformation over the past 40 years.

As skaters glided through, simulating water movement, the strategically positioned ice station offered panoramic views—allowing them to face the lake or witness the sunset behind Science North. This intentional pause fostered a deeper connection and appreciation for Sudbury’s landscape, grounding skaters in the essence of “place.”

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Ecological Education Centre ARCH-2515: Design Studio 4: Landscape 2 // 2023W

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2

Building Form Sketches 9 8

Underground

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This project emerged within the context of a studio course focused on harmonizing architecture with the natural landscape.

My design inspiration for the building forms stemmed from a study of the flight mechanisms and nesting behaviors of diverse bird and flying insect species inhabiting the site. Understanding that local birds construct ground nests through shallow depressions, the concept of a semi-underground structure was conceived to emulate a sheltered version of a bird’s nest.

In a contrasting approach, the main building echoes the shape of a soaring bird’s wing, curving inward to facilitate circulation on both sides and establishing a distinct focal point for entry.

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Legend Trail Dam 1 Parking 2 Drop-off area 3 Covered deck 4 Dock 5 Outdoor storage

Entry & mudroom Education programming Washroom Indoor storage Kitchenette Watercraft Repair Lab Utility & IT

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13 12

6 8 8 7

N 0 1

2

Site Plan

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6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

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Interior Wood Finish Mineral Wool Insulation

Vapor Barrier

Plywood Water Membrane

The incorporation of an underground component in the secondary building provided visitors with a distinctive perspective. Situating the structure in proximity to the marsh and incorporating groundlevel windows enabled visitors to intimately observe wildlife from within the building. This created a seamless connection between the built and natural environment.

Drainage Layer

Laminated Wood Beam

Foundation Drainage Pipe

Steel Hanger Floor Joist

Wooden Bench

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100

200

300

400

mm 500

Underground Wall + Floor Detail

Perspective Section

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Physical Model // Ariel View

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Physical Model // Close-ups

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Cladding Campus Wiigwam ARCH-2515: Design Studio 3: Landscape // 2022F Studio Project - 15 students

The Wiigwam’s Overall Form

A project that first began in 2018 led by local elders and knowledge keepers, the wiigwam at Laurentian’s main campus has become a unique land-based teaching tool to connect students with vernacular building methods adopted by the local Anishinabe community.

My Peers & I Cladding The Wiigwam

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The Wiigwam’s Main Entrance

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Observational Sketches

The traditional Anishinabe Wiigwam structure is constructed using only locally harvested materials; bent saplings acting as the structure while birch bark was used as cladding. My peers and I had the opportunity to learn how to clad the wiigwam by sewing and overlapping the birch bark panels strategically.

Birch Bark Cladding

Elder & Knowledge Carrier, Art Petahtegoose Leading a Sharing + Learning Session

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Scarlet Dress Personal Work

Scarlet organza + polyester lining

I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of learning to sew. To challenge myself, I set out to recreate a dress I had my eye on but couldn’t afford. I approached the project as an opportunity to develop my sewing skills while creating something I was genuinely excited about.

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Noor

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nbalit@laurentian.ca (514)-993-0402