As a recent graduate of the Master of Architecture program at Politecnico di Milano, I am eager to apply my skills in sustainable design, urban planning, and building architecture. My academic journey has focused on integrating technology and innovative construction techniques to address real-world challenges. My thesis, which explores the redevelopment of Rotterdam’s Maashaven, emphasizes connectivity and environmental resilience. With a strong foundation in design principles from WashU, I have furthered my technological skill set at Politecnico di Milano and my grasp of computational urban planning at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. I look forward to contributing to projects that enhance the built environment and improve urban life.
CONTACT
Spencer Scott Derthick https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerderthick/ spencerderthick@wustl.edu +1 (303) 551-4600
EDUCATION
Sept 2022-October 2024
Politecnico di Milano, Milan, IT — 110/110 Laurea Magistrale (Master of Science) in Building Architecture
Aug 2018-May 2022
Washington University in St. Louis St Louis, MO — GPA 3.82/4
Bachelor of Science in Architecture — Sam Fox School of Design Minor in Landscape Architecture — Sam Fox School of Design
Minor in the Business of Social Impact — Olin Business School
EXPERIENCE
June 2022-Sept 2022, July 2023-August 2023
SmithGroup - Architecture Intern
Built a physical model for CU Denver Engineering schematic design presentation and collaborated on program diagrams
Built and edited Revit and SketchUp models for healthcare and higher education renovations and new constructions
May 2021-May 2022
Damon Farber - Landscape Architecture Intern and Marketing Intern Develop schematic designs, produce construction documents, create renderings, and organize marketing layouts from over 300 projects for the new company portfolios
Feb 2022-May 2022
WashU Digital Ceramics — Research Assistant
Work on a design research team fabricating 3D printed ceramic modules for a temporary art installation in downtown St Louis
Feb 2021-May 2021
Populous — Consulting Group Team Member
Met with employees at Populous and worked with a team of students to organize a presentation that documents how the firm can use data to create journey mapping algorithms for event attendees at Populous venues
May 2020-Aug 2020
Sterling Rice Group — Insights Intern
Wrote quantitative research reports using primary consumer data for clients such as PepsiCo, Quaker, and Gatorade
Presented comparative data and opportunities for growth within the target market sector in research reports
SKILLS
Jan 2019-May 2022
V.E.R.D.E (Volunteers for Environmental Restoration, Development, and Education) - President (2020-2022) and Treasurer (2019-2020)
Direct volunteer teaching at five local schools to incite greater awareness about the environment
Establish teaching schedules and oversee lesson plan creation for 72 other members/volunteers
Sept 2018-May 2022
Architecture School Council - President (2021-2022), Treasurer (2020-2021)
Designed architecture school apparel for five semesters and sold and distributed over 800 total items
Responsible for managing club operations and a $20,000 budget from the university for events and special programs
Oct 2020-May 2022
Student Environmental Council - Council Representative
Work with other environmental groups to communicate events on campus and create a larger impact within St. Louis Collaborate on the 2030 Sustainability Checklist for WashU’s strategic plan
Aug 2020-May 2021
Residential Life — Resident Advisor
Responsible for 25 first-year students’ transition into college by living in the dorm with them throughout their first year Plan bimonthly programs for my floor that raise awareness to issues such as mental health, sexual assault, and racial bias
Mar 2019-May 2020
First Year Center - Washington University Student Associate (WUSA)
Worked with a team in a first year student dorm to foster positive floor dynamics and create meaningful relationships Over 125 hours of training on mental health, de-escalating conflict, building relationships, and creating community
Completed specialized courses at Bauhaus University
Weimar, complementing my Master’s Thesis at Politecnico di Milano, and gaining expertise in parametric design, urban modeling, and environmental analysis.
Oct 2020-Oct 2021
Washington University Admissions - Campus Interviewer
Interview 1-3 college applicants per week to help with the admissions process of students into the University
Represent the university to provide information to the student about WashU during their interview
Mar 2020-Oct 2021
Alpha Rho Chi - Professional Architecture Fraternity Member
Philon Chapter member responsible for organizing recruitment events and attending weekly chapter meetings
Sept 2022- Oct 2024
Fulbright Scholar - Award for Politecnico di Milano
The Fulbright Program aims to improve inter-cultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and inter-cultural competence between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills.
Sept 2022- Oct 2024
Platinum Scholarship - Award for Politecnico di Milano
Awarded the highest merit-based scholarship to pursue a graduate degree at Politecnico di Milano on the basis of GPA, portfolio, academic achievements, previous education, and a written narrative.
Aug 2018-May 2022
Danforth Scholars - WashU Advancement Speaker and Interviewee
Represented the student body in a $24 million fundraising effort for more university scholarships eventually helping to secure WashU as a need-blind admissions school in October 2021
Designed our team’s prototype for a set of eight light-modulating concrete structures that we casted over two days
May 2020
Outstanding Student Associate Award
Nominated for and awarded out of 33 eligible floor communities based on leadership in service and community impact
Spencer Derthick
303-551-4600
spencerderthick@wustl.edu
WORKS IN PROGRESS
DE VLINDER
COMPLEX CONSTRUCTIONS II, THESIS
Collaborator: Jonathan Santaguida
De Vlinder encapsulates the convergence of health, climate, and energy research, and represents a synthesis of historical homage and contemporary innovation. The project combines the imposing volumes and color palette of the Meneba grain factory and the Maassilo, with the curving character and facade language of Mecanoo’s proposal for the Rijnhaven maritime center. The duality of lightness and heaviness also manifests in the building’s form – a rhythmic monumental mass punctuated by a delicate skylight.
The building houses four main programmatic volumes arranged in a butterfly-shaped layout, which are wrapped together into a unified volume by a curving facade. This deliberate choice provides the necessary spatial requirements for labs while promoting cross-collaboration through expansive corridors, 12m free spans, and strategic cantilevers and setbacks.
Like a spool of film unraveling, a loose strand of the mass invites its users to the first level where a social stair overlooking the harbor initiates movement through the space. The circulation path takes the form of an infinity symbol (∞), a conscious choice reflecting the project’s core values — infinite life, potential, and resilience. This figure-eight path, overlaid with a cruciform layout on the axes, creates a continuous loop punctuated by unexpected views which morph from floor to floor. The circulation, informed by human movement patterns rather than predetermined geometries, empowers users to navigate the space intuitively.
Curved architecture, exemplified by iconic structures worldwide, evokes profound psychological responses rooted in our innate affinity for organic forms. Research suggests that curved shapes activate brain regions associated with positive experiences and trigger emotions of warmth, harmony, and attraction. Whether inspired by nature or human physiology, curved buildings resonate with our primal instincts.
Beyond the building level, the project’s goals extend into a comprehensive reimagining of urban living. By leveraging space syntax and agent-based modeling strategies, the masterplan ensures optimized programmatic distribution and a socially and economically sustainable design. Adaptive reuse structures, cultural and commercial hubs, and a diverse range of housing models intertwine seamlessly, establishing de Vlinder not merely as a research hub but as an anchor for a dynamic urban ecosystem. It seeks to transform Rotterdam South’s industrial character into a forward-thinking metropolis by densifying the urban mesh which connects to the city’s more frequented neighbors – Katendrecht and Kop van Zuid.
ETH ZURICH MEDICAL
CENTER
COMPLEX CONSTRUCTIONS I
Collaborator:
Ji Eun Park
This proposal for a medical research building for the ETH Zurich Zentrum campus embodies a distinctive architectural language, characterized by two C-shaped wings that embrace a central pedestrian area. A main promenade connects the wings and leads to the circulation core. Within one wing, a grand climate-controlled glass atrium showcases a hortus conclusus, creating a captivating environment with a diverse range of plant life. The other wing surrounds an open courtyard, featuring an imposing shade tree and descending steps leading to a gathering lawn. The circulation path weaves throughout the interior of the C shapes, while the programmatic spaces occupy the external portions of these forms.
The architectural design of the building prioritizes network relevance and walkability, enhancing connectivity between buildings. A central atrium promotes extended stays and encourages interactions, serving as the vibrant social heart. Alive with energy, light, and greenery, the atrium incorporates balconies, meeting rooms, academic neighborhoods, flexible work areas, event spaces, and informal interaction spots. Informal spaces are fundamental to the design, encouraging spontaneous encounters and a sense of community.
Embracing emerging models of work, the project incorporates open and flexible workspaces. Structurally, this is made possible by using long-span beams and trusses that facilitate future adaptability and seamless connection between larger spaces. Biophilic design principles such as green landscaping, and visual connectivity, promote collaboration and the well-being of occupants. Natural air ventilation and optimized façade openings capitalize on daylight, reducing reliance on electric lighting and minimizing energy consumption.
FLORA FIELD
Collaborators: Kelley Van Dyck Murphy, Faye Hu, Zachary Ebbers
Completion: June 2023
This project is a winner of the Insite 2020 international competition which asked artists and designers to propose a site-specific, temporary public artwork in the Downtown St. Louis core. The Insite 2020 competition charged artist to consider how we see downtown St. Louis “… from the actual physical character to different views and sight lines, to our views or perceptions of what this area is and can be – encouraging exploration, curiosity, and a new way of seeing.” This project is a result of am adaptation of the project, Sine Screen, to the new site at the Wainwright Building. In Adolf Loos Ornament and Crime, he romanticizes the elimination of ornament from useful objects, claiming the aesthetic properties of the materials are sufficient enough. Since then, our preferences for color and pattern have ‘regressed to the mean’, with contemporary, minimalist palettes often being composed of only white, black, and grey. When we blindly follow the rule of averaging colors, patterns, numbers etc and use it to override our creative power, we risk everything we create and surround ourselves with looking the same. This project references Sullivan’s ornamentation, while aspiring to engage passersby and instilling a new relationship with this historical building and downtown St. Louis.
Unit Geometry Derivation
CINIFABRIQUE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION STUDIO
Collaborators:
Maira Lopez Barrera
The expansion proposal of the Cinifabrique vocational training school in Cinisello Balsamo aims to revive traditional artisan techniques and ex pand production in a new set of laboratories, while also increasing the learning process about tradition. The program includes a large storage and mechanical room, stairs, an elevator, conference rooms, bathrooms, classrooms, offices, and various labs including 3D printing, metalwork ing, ceramic, and textile. The site has a flat topography, with a 5-meter setback from the South and West and a 10-meter setback from the East.
The building will use precast modular units and modular steel frames for easy assembly and disassembly, with a terracotta block facade and a warm interior color palette. The steel and glass modular classroom and open workspace structure is a sustainable and adaptive design incor porating various environmentally-friendly features. The building features super-insulated walls made of high-performance materials, and enough solar panels on the roof to make the building electrically self-sufficient.
The natural ventilation system is designed to take advantage of the building’s natural airflow, reducing the need for mechanical systems and reducing energy consumption. The building’s exterior features a custom pattern terracotta screen, creating a layering effect of different textures and finishes. The screen allows for the entrance of sunlight and natural ventilation while also blocking solar glare and radiation. The other exte rior surfaces include fiber cement cladding and large windows that allow for direct sunlight from the east and west, as well as indirect sunlight from the north to enter the spaces. Together these facade systems work to reduce the need for artificial lighting and improve indoor air quality.
The building’s modular construction allows for easy assembly and disas sembly, making it possible to move or expand the building as needed. This not only saves on construction costs but also makes it possible to reuse or recycle the building’s materials in future projects. The structure is made from 2 types of columns and 4 types of beams, joined together by bolts. The adaptive design of the building with interior partition walls allows for flexibility in the use of the space, making it adaptable to dif ferent needs, such as classrooms, open workspaces, or other uses. This allows the building to be easily re-purposed as needed and maximizes its value over time.
Plant Palette & CONIFEROUS
Sweet mock-orange Philadelphus coronarius
Norway maple Acer platanoides
Chinese box Buxus sinica Marvel of peru Mirabilis jalapa
Cabbage tree Cordyline australis
Sweet cherry Prunus avium
Maira Alejandra Barrera Lopez Students
Longitudinal Section
Longitudinal Section
Transversal
Gian luca Brunetti Giacomo Bo Marco Scaioni
Alejandra Barrera
Derthick
Maira Alejandra Barrera
South Facade
North Facade
East Facade
West Facade
CU DENVER ENGINEERING
SmithGroup
Larimer St Denver, CO 80201
To date, innovation districts have advanced dozens of global cities across the U.S., including Boston, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Prioritizing place-making and sustainable, mixed-use development, CU Denver’s innovation district will leverage blended spaces that encourage creative thinking, nurture living laboratories, power the future of discovery, and advance equity in computing.
As the anchor of this open innovation district, the engineering, design and computing building will be an “integrated catalyst,” and a pivotal strategic investment for the institution. Not only will the new facility become an iconic and symbolic platform for the university’s ambitious strategic plan, but it will also transform the student experience, the College of Engineering, Design and Computing’s curriculum, and the recruitment position for the campus internationally.
During my internship, I worked digitally on program layouts and SketchUp concept models. I also built a physical model for a presentation with the Chancellor, design reviews, and a display case exhibition.
CHOUTEAU COMMONS GREENLINK
411 STUDIO, PATTY HEYDA
This project is the centerpiece in Midtown’s revitalization, creating key connections between St Louis University’s North and South Campuses and the rest of the city. It is dense enough to support mass transit like bikes, buses, and metro lines that plug into schools, jobs, parks, community anchors, and other daily destinations in St Louis. It provides quick access to the MetroLink system and eventually, Chouteau’s Greenway will connect nearby ecological corridors.
This exciting mix of retail, residential, urban farming, and schooling spaces covers 25 acres of industrial land. The mixed-use scheme brings people within walking distance of amenities and also attracts some of the 24,000 daily traffic vehicles from the major crossroads. The housing is compact and leaves room for integrated social spaces and vegetation to lower storm water impact and reduce the heat island effect. The densified housing also improves the economic viability of community services, decreases infrastructure cost per inhabitant, and improves the safety of shared spaces. Finally, creative layout of volumes offers generous light and outdoor areas, creating attractive public realms and increasing social interactions.
The apartments use a system of exterior paneling that responds to changes in solar radiation and two stack ventilation columns to regulate the building’s climate. The tri-plex prototype investigates methods of capturing and storing rainwater to be used as greywater for household activities and watering outdoor plants during drier weeks. Row houses are the most sustainable form of housing, and this area of the project explores ways to realign the row house to maximize passive design strategies
Schematically, the building shapes are formed by a 30x30 ft grid that aligns with the two major cross streets and a diagonal grid that creates connections from the south to the Grand metro station. The diagonal grid also increases the wind flux during the summer and allows helpful solar radiation to reach a larger surface area on the buildings.
Provide
RESTAURANT
325 BLAKE ROAD
DAMON FARBER
Collaborators: HDR, Alatus, Loucks, Inter-Fluve
325 Blake Rd, Hopkins, MN
The 325 Blake Road Restoration and Redevelopment project aims to transform a former industrial site into a vibrant space where people and nature thrive together. The restoration will complete a missing link in the Minnehaha Creek Greenway, a decade-long effort to restore the creek and connect a system of green space and trails around Minnehaha Creek to the surrounding community.
As the project intern, I put together base maps for the HDR design charrette in St. Louis Park, MN and participated in storm water management discussions, helping to implement a goal of treating storm water from 270 acres of surrounding area and restoring the creek frontage. I also created technical drawings for PUD Drawings submitted Oct 2021. Finally, I am working with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to model integrative nodes along the creek and connecting greenway.
TRAILHEAD AND OVERLOOK
MINNEHAHA
CREEKGREENWAYTRAIL
LANDING
M I N N EHAHA CREEK
CONCEPT
NATURE BASED
GATEWAY TO GREENWAY
LAKE STREET
MINN E H A H A CREEK
SINE SCREEN
VAN DYCK MURPHY STUDIO
The project is part of a partnership between the Regional Arts Commission, Downtown St. Louis, and Explore St. Louis for a new public art plan to support revitalization efforts in the area. The project lies at the intersection of Locust and 7th, on the property of Adler and Sullivan’s iconic Union Trust building, now Hotel Saint Louis. Through the integration of old and new technology, ceramic 3D printing has the ability to change both how we design and realize architectural ornamentation. The project explores the role of emerging digital technologies with an understanding of the ways humans have been constructing buildings for millennia. This work replaces the unsustainable, fixed plastic materials of traditional 3d printing with clay: a sustainable, locally-sourced, and reusable medium with deep roots in St. Louis’s rich architectural history.
Sine Screen is comprised of 592 digitally designed and fabricated clay units which aggregate to form a self-structuring hypersurface. The geometry of both the individual modules and wall as a whole is drawn from parallel logics that are both tectonic and historically referential. The sculpted form of the units and aggregated system produce patterns of light and shadow, textural fields, and novel optical effects around the sculpture. Sine Screen references Sullivan’s ornamentation, while aspiring to engage passersby and instilling a new relationship with this historical building and downtown St. Louis.
