Whitney Ranson Portfolio

WHITNEY RANSON

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY | Master of Architecture | 2016 RHODES COLLEGE | Bachelor of Arts | 2010

CONTENTS SAMPLES OF ART + ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN WORK

BACKBONE 1 COMMUNITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROTOTYPES

+ WOOD 4 PAPER A VESSEL FOR LETTERS

GREENLINE 2 ALAMEDA A NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET + GREENWAY

CAMPUS 5 FLUID A NEW STUDENT CENTER FOR SC STATE UNIVERSITY

AS A PERFORMANCE 3 BUILDING A NEW THEATRE FOR SOUTH OF BROAD THEATRE COMPANY

6 ARTWORK A SERIES OF PAINTINGS

Nicholtown, SC | Fall 2014 | Design Studio III

Nicholtown, SC | Fall 2014 | Design Studio III | Partner, Ivan Huber

Daniel Island, SC | Spring 2015 | Design Studio IV | Partner, Brandon Roak

Fall 2015 | Introduction to Craft

Orangeburg, SC | Spring 2016 | Comprehensive Design Studio | Partner, Ivan Huber

2009 - 2013

1 | COMMUNITY BACKBONE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROTOTYPES Nicholtown, SC | Fall 2014 | Design Studio III Nicholtown is a community that is in the midst of rediscovering and redefining their community. The charge for this project was to design a 1,000 square foot housing prototype with a budget of approximately $40,000.

The project client, a pastor at the church on the adjacent site, desired flexibility in the program and the ability for the structure to grow as the community that he serves through the church expands. The design of the project strives to introduce a new “backbone,” both physically and metaphorically, to the site by linking together the exisiting buildings on the site and creating a spine into which modular units can be “plugged in” as additional space is needed in the future. The modular design for this housing prototype allows for ease and speed of construction, ease of relocation, cost effectiveness, and finally the ability for the program to expand and contract as needed.

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SITE PLAN + PROGRAM A Existing Pastoral Residence B Fellowship Hall C Church of God Laurens Road SECTION

EAST ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION

2 | ALAMEDA GREENLINE A NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET + GREENWAY Nicholtown, SC | Fall 2014 | Design Studio III | Partner, Ivan Huber The goal of the Alameda Greenline Project is to establish a new gateway for Nicholtown that will capitalize on current pedestrian traffic generated by the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

The spatial strategy of the project is to lead the program users through a series of nodes that will be established, through the implementation of future phases, along the Alameda Greenline. In the first four phases of the project, the goal is to create an experience that encourages interaction with the landscape and a public space that is able to host a variety of community events from health and wellness clinics to farmers markets to festivals, concerts, and other activities.

KEY Program Architecture Notable Structures Nicholtown Boundary Swamp Rabbit Trail Reedy River/Streams Permeable Pavers Roads 2’ Topo Lines Greenway

SITE PLAN

Property Lines

PHASE 5 1

Growing a Network

PHASE 5 | Growing a Network PHASE 1-4 1 2 3 4 5

Parking Farmer’s Market Pavilion Bridge to Redirected Trail Amphitheater Pocket Park Renovation

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MODEL PHOTOS

A Parking B Farmer’s Market Pavilion C Bridge to Redirected Trail D Amphitheater E Pocket Park Renovation

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PHASES 1 - 4

SITE SECTION

SECTION THROUGH FARMER’S MARKET

3 | BUILDING AS A PERFORMANCE A NEW THEATRE FOR SOUTH OF BROAD THEATRE COMPANY Daniel Island, SC | Spring 2015 | Design Studio IV | Partner, Brandon Roak The concept for the South of Broad Theatre Company was to create a civic space that outwardly reflects the mission of the theatre company and the performances that would take place inside the theatre. Therefore, the project called for a building that is both theatrical and unique, but simultaneously relates to the site. This project proposes a building that acts as a figure in the ground in order to distinguish its significance as a civic building. The resulting theatre design is one in which the program is contained within dramatic, monolithic concrete planes that cut through the site on axes that relate back to the larger Daniel Island site. The drama of this concept allows the structure that houses theatrical performances to become a performance itself.

RIVERLANDING DRIVE

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

LOBBY PERSPECTIVE

4 | PAPER + WOOD A VESSEL FOR LETTERS Fall 2015 | Introduction to Craft The objective for this project was to design a box with a volume of 250 – 275 cubic inches. Using the act of hand woodworking and craftsmanship as inspiration, I programmed my box to be a vessel for handwritten letters and handcrafted cards. I used a high contrast palette of wenge and maple to highlight the public – the exterior sliding shell of the box – and private – the interior drawers for letters – spaces of the box.

ASSEMBLY DRAWINGS

OPENING SEQUENCE

FABRICATION PROCESS

PEN + INK ON MYLAR

5 | FLUID CAMPUS A NEW STUDENT CENTER FOR SC STATE UNIVERSITY Orangeburg, SC | Spring 2016 | Comprehensive Design Studio | Partner, Ivan Huber This design proposal for a Student Life Center in Orangeburg, SC is inspired by the heart and strength of South Carolina State University – its student body. The school has a rich history of civil rights action and tragedy, a history that instills a sense of pride in the predominantly African American students. Though the students of SCSU show solidarity, the built environment shows ambiguous building typologies and disjointed campus planning.

This project seeks to bring connection and integration of the built environment to the campus while showcasing the student body and certain cultural artifacts from the school’s history.

The project also introduces an unexpected aesthetic meant to incite inquiry as to what makes this university unique and how the built environment can enrich this evolving narrative.

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FORM DEVELOPMENT

1 | EXISTING STUDENT CENTER

SITE PLAN + PROGRAM A Gameroom Patio B Covered Walkway C Food Court Service Entry D Duke’s Historical Gymnasium E Existing Student Center Plaza F Multi-Purpose Athletic Field 2 | STRETCH PROGRAM

3 | SHIFT BUILDING FORM

4 | ELEVATE CIRCULATION

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BOWLING ALLEY

BALL ROOM LOBBY

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READING ROOM

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FIRST FLOOR PLAN A Gameroom B Bowling Alley C Convenience Store D Student Kitchen

E Barber Shop F Plating Kitchen G Ballroom H Lobby

I Dining Area J Food Court K Kitchen L Service Entry

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PERSPECTIVE FROM NORTH

SECOND FLOOR PLAN M Yoga Studio N Fitness Center O Weight Room P Computer Lab

Q Lounge Area R Reading Room S Print + Copy T Lounge Area

U Presentation Area V Movie Theater W Student Government Offices X Presentation Area

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A | Circulation Tube

B | Food Court + Student Government Offices

6 | ARTWORK 2009 - 2013 | A COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS In this work I used watercolor, ink, and gouache to create gestures and forms that oscillate between intentional and organic in an effort to create a sense of space that is both recognizable and abstract. My use of a material that is difficult to control creates an opportunity for experimental mark making as I respond to the spontaneous marks created by the free flowing material.

THANK YOU.