PORTFOLIO
UNDERGRADUATE 2024
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE SYDNEY LY
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UNDERGRADUATE 2024
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE SYDNEY LY
+1 (980) 205 - 1899
I’m a dedicated and ambitious undergraduate architecture student at UNC Charlotte with a passion of long-life learning. I thrive in engaging environments that values , , and . I’m an advocate for personal growth and community empowerment, eagering to make a broader impact on the community. My interests are deeply people-focused, striving to find solutions that enhance lives and empower communities. I’m open-minded and looking to diversify my experience in all areas. I’m currently seeking a full-time position to start in August.
, Charlotte, NC
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture | Minor in Urban Studies & Geography | 3.92 GPA International Studies: Tokyo, Japan | Rome, Italy | Bangkok, Thailand (Expected Summer 2024)
WORK EXPERIENCE(S)
Architectural Intern | Charlotte, NC
Collaborated closely with design professionals, providing invaluable assistance across all project phases, from schematics to construction administration.
Produced engaging graphical drawings and renderings for project-specific deliverables and award journals.
Developed innovative room layout options to strategically plan medical equipment placement in a university hospital, and ensuring strict adherence to ADA standards, ANSI, and BOMA.
Configured views and sheets for VA clinics, coordinating with the exterior team to advance elevation drawings.
Assisted in calculating and sizing egress stairs for senior living and healthcare projects, conducting in-depth studies and implementing 3D design to ensure compliance with relevant codes.
Front Desk Associate | Charlotte, NC
Resolved issues and inquiries promptly, demonstrating strong problem-solving skills and a commitment to exceptional customer service.
Executed administrative tasks, including scheduling appointments, managing reservations, and maintaining organized front desk operations.
Student Building Manager | Charlotte, NC
Fostered a collaborative environment by liaising with student organizations and campus groups to facilitate successful events at all scale and provided direct customer service and event support within the buildings. Collaborated with Operation Assistants and Building Services in performing 100+ room setup for events. Executed detailed building rounds and inspections to guarantee the seamless operation of the facility, proactively identifying and resolving mechanical issues and leaks promptly.
EXTRACURRICULAR(S)
CLT Education Abroad Office | American Institute for Architecture Students | Office of Undergraduate Research, Architecture | MIDAS Magazine | Emerging Leaders | Vietnamese Student Association | 2023 2020-2022 2021-2022 2020-2021 2019-2020 2019-2020
Digital: Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, Rhinoceros 3D, Affinity Programs, Enscape, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office
Languages: English, Vietnamese
Interests: Management, Planning, Design, Marketing, Research, Community, Transportation, Aviation, Healthcare, Education, Commercial, DEI Initiatives, and Photography SKILL(S) & INTEREST(S)
HONOR(S) AND AWARD(S)
Golden Globetrotter Award
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
Dalton F. Halton International Scholarship
Leonard J. Vogel Jr. Architecture Scholarship
HDR Inc. Endowed Architecture Scholarship
UNC Charlotte Chancellor’s and Dean’s List 2024 2023 2023 2022-2023 2021-2022 2019-Present
YEAR: 2024 pg. 6-13
01. 03.
RE.GEN.
YEAR: 2023
pg. 24-33
05.
YEAR: 2023
pg. 42-45
CAFE + BOOKSTORE | ROME, ITALY
CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS: SAMANTHA BRENNAN & FERNANDA ADRI LIMA
“Amore Stellare” cafe bookstore, drawing inspiration from Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain, aligns with its surroundings by replicating its topography. Situated facing the fountain, the bookstore embodies its essence, with a focus on Romantic and Poetry books. Emulating the fountain’s steps, the interior design fosters a sense of spaciousness, illuminated by natural light pouring in from above. This strategic layout entices visitors to transition seamlessly from the bustling piazza to the tranquil atmosphere within. Key design elements include uplifting forms, maximizing light penetration, and fluidly integrating architectural features. By harmonizing with the Trevi Fountain’s aesthetic and ambiance, “Amore Stellare” not only pays homage to its inspiration but also creates an inviting space for book enthusiasts and café-goers alike to immerse themselves in literature and leisure.
Parti Diagram
PARTI DIAGRAM
Parti Diagram
The building’s program spans four floors, each offering a unique experience. Upon entry, guests encounter a recessed seating area resembling the Trevi Fountain’s steps, leading to a mini amphitheater. From there, they can explore the bookstore or ascend to the lounge for a more intimate setting. The aroma of coffee and pastries lures patrons to the cafe, where they can enjoy a snack and conversation. A balcony provides a tantalizing glimpse of the fountain, while the roof terrace offers a panoramic view, allowing visitors to behold the piazza from a new perspective.
This projects represents a strategic initiative to redefine the integration of student residences and educational spaces. This innovative concept envisions a seamless blend of living and learning environments with direct access to an evolving transit hub. Placing student residences in Uptown Charlotte strategically enhances the university’s urban presence, contributing to the city’s academic and economic vitality. This model transcends conventional boundaries, fostering an enriched, interconnected ecosystem that revitalizes the student experience by harmonizing living, learning, and transit elements. The targeted focus on student living and educational spaces aims to provide a professional and academically enriching environment, enhancing not only the direct access to the transit station but also create a connection to UNC Charlotte Main Campus.
This development plan aims to reconnect the community by establishing a vibrant and welcoming district for the First Ward Neighborhood. This plan focuses on developing green spaces, educational institutions, and public amenity areas that complement one another in order to foster better integration between the current residential sector and the larger First Ward neighborhood. Underutilized parking spaces and dead zones are remodeled as parks and gathering places for recreational activities, as well as a link between public and private regions.
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DEMOGRAPHICS
WHITEWHITEBLACKHISPANICASIANWHITEBLACKHISPANIC BLACKHISPANICASIANWHITEBLACKHISPANIC
BLOCK PLAN | 1/256” = 1’-0”
WHITEWHITEWHITEWHITE WHITEWHITEWHITEWHITE WHITEWHITEWHITEWHITE WHITEWHITEWHITEWHITE WHITEWHITEWHITEWHITE BLACKBLACKBLACKBLACKBLACK BLACKBLACKBLACKBLACKBLACKBLACK
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PARKING
9THSTREETSTATION
E.9THSTREET
BUILDING TYPES
DESIGN BEHAVIOR
SW ELEVATION | 1/32” - 1’-0”
SE ELEVATION | 1/32” - 1’-0”
FARMER’S MARKET & RESOURCE CENTER | SEATTLE, WA
RE.GEN is a 45,000-square-foot social creative resource center symbolizing re-growth, seeks to transform a pier site into a vibrant gathering space for diverse users. The project aims to unite Ballard’s communities and support Seattle residents transitioning from homelessness, offering a fresh start. Like a Farmer’s Market, it features permanent and temporary stalls for small businesses, providing financial consulting services and a diverse learning center. This convergence fosters educational advancement. The use of Mass Timber Construction establishes a warm, atmospheric connection to the existing site, encouraging casual and lively movement. Together, these elements cultivate a sense of community among those contributing to the structure’s vitality.
Located on a pier in Ballard, northwest Seattle, the design is shaped by considerations of circulation, emphasizing access from the main street and directing attention to scenic views of the lake and islands. A crucial factor is the integration of existing pier columns into the building’s structure. These columns serve as a foundational element, informing the overall architectural composition. The concept prioritizes seamless movement and appreciation of the natural surroundings, creating a harmonious connection between the site and the proposed building.
DESIGN BEHAVIOR
DESIGN BEHAVIORS
DESIGN BEHAVIOR
The incorporation of an open floor plan on the ground level profoundly influences the creation of an inviting spatial atmosphere. This design not only attracts existing residents to partake in shopping for produce but also encourages them to share the pier’s offerings and panoramic views with others. Positioned above, resource services provide direct accessibility for those in need, adding a layer of convenience to the overall experience.
ROOF PANELS
RAFTERS & PURLINS
COLUMN GRID
AUDITORIUM & CONSULTING OFFICES
CULINARY LEARNING SPACE & ADMIN OFFICES
MARKET HALL
By elongating the concept, diverse spatial experiences unfold, enabling occupants to encounter various businesses and culminate their journey with a scenic view.
LONGITUDINAL SECTION | 1/24” = 1’-0”
WALL SECTION 1/8” = 1’-0”
PLYWOOD SHEATHING SHOU SUGI BAN WOOD CLADDING
RIGID INSULATION NLT ROOF PANELS
2x_ PURLINS WITH STEEL ANGLE CONNECTOR PLATE
GLULAM BEAM WITH STEEL ANGLE CONNECTOR PLATE
GLULAM COLUMN
ALUMINUM PERFORATED LOUVERS ATTACHED WITH STEEL CONNECTORS
CUSTOMIZE STEEL PLATE CONNECTOR
DOUBLE PANE GLASS MULLION
HORIZONTAL BATTENS
2x6 HEADER
3-PLY CLT WALL PANEL (NON-STRUCTURAL)
5-PLY CLT FLOOR PANEL WITH ACOUSTIC MAT AND CONCRETE TOPPING
T-SHAPE STEEL PLATE CONNECTOR
WOOL MINERAL INSULATION SIBERIAN WOOD CLADDING
WALL SECTION
SCALE 1’ = 1/4”
CLOSE UP DETAIL 1/4” = 1’-0”
DIVERGE goes beyond a traditional public corridor, centering on a building intricately designed around the site’s optimal conditions. The project prioritizes seamless integration with the natural surroundings, transforming the structure into a harmonious element that enhances the overall environmental quality. Through thoughtful orientation, the building interacts synergistically with the landscape, creating a holistic and symbiotic relationship. This approach not only fosters dynamic views from the main street to the French Broad River but also emphasizes sustainability and coexistence. DIVERGE stands as a liason between architecture and nature, enriching the environment and inviting a heightened appreciation for the fusion of built forms with the natural world.
PROJECT SITE PLAN
&
PROGRAM DIAGRAM
This plan unveils a public corridor, featuring landscaping and a grand staircase, leading seamlessly to an open landscape and plaza—an inviting space for people to gather and enjoy the scenery. The primary elevations are purposefully designed to face the landscape, ensuring a commanding presence for viewers below.
VISUAL ACCESS TO LANDSCAPE
B-B
1/24” = 1’-0”
Opening terrace spaces invite outdoor engagement, offering panoramic landscape views. Clestory windows introduce additional daylight and cross-ventilation into the building. A spacious open floor plan accommodates cafes and seating, with expansive curtain walls primarily oriented toward the landscape and French Broad River, ensuring an immersive connection with the scenic surroundings.
SOUTH VIEW PERSPECTIVE
Celestial chords, timeless journey
The SERPENTINE Pavilion stand as a centralized vertical structure, strives for tranquility and peace by exploring innovative structural systems. The project investigates hybrid systems, focusing on curvilinear and surface elements. Surface textures, inspired by repetition and the pushpull effect, complement the curvilinear form. This dynamic interplay creates a monumental moment within the pavilion. Unlike traditional shelters, the verticality adds a delicate touch, influencing the view and lighting. The structure harmoniously balances order and arithmetic, akin to a zither producing a calming atmosphere. Beyond a mere pavilion, it becomes a space for interaction, gathering, and a profound sense of tranquility.
AGGREGATION
MODULE
CENTRALIZATION
DIVIDE
MODULE DIVIDE PROGRESSION DESIGN PROCESS
CENTRALIZATION
CENTRALIZATION
PIXELATION
AGGREGATION
AGGREGATION MODULE DIVIDE
CENTRALIZATION
FORCE DIAGRAM
1/8” = 1’-0” PHYSICAL MODEL
1/8” = 1’-0” PHYSICAL MODEL
SIMPLICITY
SIMPLICITY
COMPLEXITY
COMPLEXITY
WATERFRONT INTERACTION
MERGING THE DIFFERENCES
RE-IMAGINING BOUNDARIES in Asheville, North Carolina, transforms a park by integrating public and private spaces. Initially exploring separation, the project evolved to blend the two through strategic landscaping, influenced by existing conditions like the waterfront and a public bus station. Designed with flood levels in mind, a research post near the bus station serves as a unique meeting point. Careful placement of vegetation ensures unity while maintaining privacy. Subtle landscape carvings on the greenway provide a distinct experience, and an elevated curvilinear pathway expands views and interaction opportunities, allowing public and private spaces to coexist harmoniously.
YEAR 3 UNDERGRAD | INSTRUCTOR: DAVID HARRISON