Beltline Musicians’ Collective
Murphy Hub Mixed Use
Dubois Integrity Academy*
The Cornell Vineyard* “The New Panopticon” Smart
Located at the intersection of North Highland Ave. and Beltline the building program consists of performance spaces, recording studios and retail areas along with luxurious lofts for musicians’ extended stay. Inspired from Beltline Annual Lantern Parade building envelope resembles a lantern with its translucency. The challenge in terms of entry sequence was connecting these two major circulation paths on different levels and intertwining the public v private spaces. The resolution involved locating the performance hall at the beltline level, positioning shops on the street side with a stepped structure, and incorporating a public staircase to serve as a buffer in between the neighbor building.
Floor layout was designed in a radial orientation emphasizing the placement of primary spaces along the building perimeter. Each loft floor features three types of units. The largest unit is the ADA compliant corner unit, with an open plan consisting a kitchenette, double bed , dining area, restroom, and adequate space for musical assemblies. The other two unit types include a small music studio with a mezzanine above as a bedroom and a balcony. While furnishing, softer colors and complementing finishes have been selected for the best residence experience.
Envisioned as a transformative hub in the heart of Atlanta the Murphy Crossing project aims to seamlessly connect three distinct ground conditions on a vertical axis, creating a dynamic space that caters to the local community. Positioned at the intersection of major circulation paths interstate railroads, metro (Marta-Red Line), road (Murphy Avenue), and the Atlanta Beltline pedestrian corridor the design integrates affordable housing, retail spaces, food courts, concert halls, art galleries, parks, recreational areas, and a new metro station. This cohesive master plan not only responds to the diverse needs of the community but also harmonizes with the existing urban fabric, fostering a vibrant and sustainable urban ecosystem.
In order to optimize unit size and construction costs, three distinct options were devised. While two and three-bedroom units were crafted with a focus on social and shared living spaces, the one-bedroom option holds broader demographic appeal compared to a studio unit. The design features double-loaded corridors on each level, strategically prioritizing sunlight exposure for bedrooms at the building perimeter.
Had the privilege of leading the design and construction documentation efforts for the Dubois Integrity Academy Campus Expansion project (Middle School - Charter). The goal was to design a new building on the existing campus’s vacant parking lot, connected to the existing building by a bridge. With 33,000 square feet, the new precast building included a gymnasium, 12 classrooms, labs, a band room, offices, and conference rooms. From project initiation to permitting, I was responsible for all AE and CM coordination including their contracts and design progress. This was a pivotal experience for me as an architectural designer.
During my early days at Tarchitects Inc. I was entrusted with designing the Cornell Vineyard from scratch to construction documents. Seing this project pass through permitting process and get built was a huge milestone in my career. The program, centered around a wine tasting facility, featured a design incorporating pre-manufactured truss systems and conventional wood framing in the most sustainable fashion.
Introducing a transformative vision for the San Quentin State Prison, our innovative proposal departs from the traditional Panopticon layout and aims to adapt its principles to the modern age. Historically, Panopticon layout has been criticized by philosophers like Michel Foucault, privacy of the residents has been the main concern. Through the interlocking blocks and its compartmentalized structure
“The New Panopticon” enables direct supervision security system which offers a safer environment both for the security officers and the residents.
Form Emerged
Units and terraces with Bay views nestled within historic prison block walls, the new design will enhance residents’ mental and physical health. With its interconnected spaces like classrooms, lounges, dining halls and courtyards
“The New Panopticon” strives to reshape the concept of rehabilitation within correctional institutions. Inspired by the phenomenology idea, the resident experience from meandering through the landscape, walking down the curved corridors to radial views looking in and out of the prison confines offers a sense of reflection for residents and aims to help with the rehabilitation process. Also, higher window to wall ratio complemented with spacious unit spaces sets the new standards beyond the current state and federal minimum requirements to give each resident a sense of home and relief.
Collaborating with the Bjarke Ingels Group for Portman Studio, we delved into an extensive investigation of various infrastructure systems in the metro Atlanta area. This exploration encompassed distribution, data, transportation networks, civil gentrification zones, and property values. Following the insightful mapping exercise, our team proposed an innovative distribution center prototype designed to adapt traditional warehouse structures seamlessly into neighborhoods.
Group Project w/Begum Namal GT-M.Arch
Program Diagram
Intersection Iterations
Intersection Resolution
Amazon:
Amazon has 40 plants in Georgia and operates under 5 warehouse types. Fulfillment Centers for packing, Delivery(Bulk) Stations for distribution, Airport hubs for inbound air deliveries, Inbound Cross Dock for dock transfers. United Parcel
Service:
Ranked #1 Globally, UPS utilizes Route Optimization System with minimal left turns on deliveries. UPS has one Smart Hub , 7 Distribution Centers and over 40 UPS stores in Metro Atlanta Area.
Dalsey, Hillblom and
Lynn:
Ranked #2 Globally, DHL is pioneering automated and electrified delivery systems. With 15 Distribution Centers and 12 Service Points DHL is utilizing Atlanta as a regional hub serving under Cincinnati continental hub.
These new hubs are not only dedicated to facilitating distribution activities but also serve as civic spaces, hosting educational facilities spearheaded by tech giants like Amazon through government incentives such as tax deduction or zoning amendments. This approach contributes to job creation within local neighborhoods. Positioned strategically on multimodal connection zones within cities, these hubs support sustainable solutions like drone delivery, promising a significant reduction in traffic congestion through their widespread and well-distributed presence.
This award winning (1st place) project’s intent was to understand and practice the tectonics of construction materials such as wood, glass and steel by designing a bus shelter at GATech Main Campus. Composed of 6 benches and overarching rib structure to reflect the dynamism of the campus. Connectivity between these materials has played a major role in the design process. Examples of joints find in this project are spider, bolted, and dowel joints.
In our Integrated Building Systems class, we undertook case study projects to better understand the building components that went in place from design to construction. Starting with the structural analysis of the building and progressing to architectural details. Our focus evolved to reconstructing a portion of the building in a 3D representation format meticulously derived from the original construction documents. This hands-on approach allowed us to dissect buildings systematically, deepening our understanding of structural and architectural sets. Interacting with professionals like Jim Case and Karen Jenkins provided invaluable insights, enriching our comprehension of the connection between structural and architectural components in select projects.
CMU Block - 4" Thickness
Light-Gauge Steel Frame - 4"-6" WidePartition Framing
Metal Deck - 5"
Primary Str. Steel Column/Beam(W-Series)
Primary Str. Steel Column(HSS-Round)
Secondary Str. Steel Beam(HSS-Rect.)
Storefront Frame - 8" Deep Green Roof/Earth - 12" Deep Drainage Mat - 2"-3" Thickness
Gravel Paver - 2 1/2" Thickness
Foundation Wall - 12" Wide
Footing - 24" Wide Strip
Gravel
Floor Slab - 5" Thickness
Concrete Topping - 2" Thickness
Rigid Insulation 5"-10"
Wapor Retarder
Metal Cladding w/Concealed Fastener-6"
Acoustic Ceiling Plank
Gypsum Board- 5/8" Type X
Batt Insulation- 4"
Corrugated Metal Cladding - 2"
Plywood Sheating 1.5"
Metal Panel Coping
Drainage Board - 1/2"
GFRC Paneling Paneling - 8"x48"
Metal Furring + Concealed Fastener Clip
