I am a Student at Kansas State University pursuing my final year in my Masters in Architecture. During my studios I have discovered and developed my appreciation of open program building and blurring the lines between interior and exterior. Three of my selected works are within this portfolio to highlight this. The Lawrence River Station, CERAAS Innovation Center, and E. Douglas Theater all have large programmatic spaces in which I incorporate these design choices.
Lawrence River Station
The Lawrence River Station harmonizes three distinct elements: the train station and café, the protective canopy, and the surrounding park. At ground level, the station and café nestle beneath an expansive canopy that shelters the entire complex. Visitors are naturally drawn to the entrance through generous glazing that distinguishes public areas from private spaces, which are discreetly clad in dark aluminum panels. The entrance features outward-angled stairs that extend toward the street, creating an intuitive and welcoming pathway. Strategic vegetation further defines the entry points and guides visitors’ movement. By deliberately separating the buildings from the soaring canopy overhead, the design emphasizes the canopy’s commanding presence while creating a simultaneous sense of openness and protection from the elements.
UPPER ROOF providing a cover for train passengers to cross the tracks to the commuter rail
ROOF PAVERS
roof pavers are used for the circulation on the roof allowing the negative space to become a green roof
ROOF DECKING
spanning 12’ 5” a two inch decking with three inches of concrete make up the canopys roof decking
CANOPY STRUCTURE the canopy is held up by a column and girder system that span 50’ in both directions. Around the edges and openings special situations have to occur
CANOPY
The roof canopy provides a connection for the Lawrence Loop and the Levee trail that is on the other side of the Kansas River
CEILING PANELS below the canopy are perforated aluminum panels that are backlit and cover the entire under belly of the canopy
CONCRETE SITE CAST TOPPING
allows the hollow core slab to span larger distances
HOLLOW CORE SLAB
DROP CEILING allows service to be hidden 12” thick concrete spans 50’
STRUCTURE a column and girder system is used for the construction
SCULPTURE GARDEN keeping some of the existing trees and cutting them to shape the paths and views through the sculture garden
CONNEC OLE EEE
LEVEE TRAIL across the Kansas River is a levee trail that is used by the community on that side of the trail but it does not connect to the Lawrence Loop
COMMUNITY BUS STOP a bus stop for the train station will allow locals to have easy access to the station.
BOARD WALK providing a walking path around the site promotes users to explore and gives a safe walking path the ampitheater will service as a gathering place for the locals to watch outdoor shows with the Kansas River as a back drop
AMPITHEATER K NS S RI ER
2’ SOIL
2” ROOF DECKINGW/ 3”CONCRETE
6’ X 2’DARK BRONZEANODIZED ALUMINUM PANELS
4’ X 2’ PERFORATED DARK BRONZEANODIZED ALUMINUM PANELS
2’ X 4’ X 2”CONCRETE ROOFPAVERS
ADJUSTABLE ROOFPAVER PEDESTALS
W30 X 391 SECONDARY STEEL BEAM STEEL CABLE GUARD RAIL
Bridge Detail Section
W44 X 335 STEEL GIRDER W8 X 48 STEELCOLUMN WRAPPEDALUMINUM
detail BRIDGE SECTION
Concept Sketches
SCALE 3/8” = 1’-0”
CERAAS Innovation Center
The proposed innovation and research center expands the Ceraas Agricultural Campus in Senegal with climate-responsive design at its core. Passive strategies permeate every aspect of the architecture. Substantial thermal mass walls resist heat infiltration, while a concrete roof with deep overhangs incorporates native plantings in an integrated green roof system. By nestling the structure into the landscape, the building minimizes surface area exposed to the region’s intense sun and heavy rainfall. Maintaining a single-story profile above grade while extending below ground creates a naturally shaded sunken courtyard and underground research facilities. Strategic trees in the courtyard provide additional shade precisely where the sun’s angle would otherwise penetrate interior spaces. Through the thoughtful combination of concrete thermal mass, earth integration, and careful orientation, the center maintains comfortable conditions throughout all its spaces regardless of external conditions.
East-West Section
North-South Section
An earth-integrated thermal mass roof provides the main passive cooling system.
This is concrete to ensure the internal thermal temperature is effective in cooling the spaces below.
Additionally, it provides shade with deep overhangs.
The tree in the courtyard is both aesthetic but serves as more shade to the circulation path.
Passive Design Strategies Diagram
Design Strategies
Passive
Hubs Courtyard
E. Douglas Theater
The E. Douglas Theater in Wichita, Kansas, revitalizes its site as a black box theater while forging a dynamic connection with the adjacent park. The design centers around the interplay of two stacked theaters—each distinct yet interconnected—creating an outward expression of performance and space.
A Black Box Theater, enclosed and immersive, is nestled in the lower level, offering a retreat for intimate performances. Above it, the White Box Theater emerges as an open, celebratory space, drawing in natural light and overflow activity from the park. This vertical arrangement not only links the building’s levels but also shapes its architectural identity.
The Black Box is embedded into the ground, creating a protected and adaptable performance environment. In contrast, the White Box is elevated, making it a visible beacon from both the entrance and the park. While the Black Box retains a traditional, flexible performance setting, the White Box expands theatrically, its third-floor program wrapping the edges like a catwalk. The building’s elevations frame the White Box like a proscenium, with solid corner supports anchoring the structure. A sun screen drapes the facade, evoking the curtain of a classic theater, reinforcing the building’s role as both a stage and a performance itself.
