Thomas Wang Selected Works 2024

Thomas Wang Selected Works thomaswang.wht@gmail.com +12139996880

CONTENTS

01.

PIN-POINT

03 - 09

02.

LIMITS OF NATURE

10 - 14

03.

CROSSROADS

15 - 20

04.

CURTAIN

21 - 25

05.

WANGXIAOHUI ART MUSEUM

26 - 28

06.

KUUNMING WUJIABA GREENLAND HEADQUARTERS

29

07.

DONGGUANGNAN STATION TOD

30

08.

TRAVEL SKETCHES

31

Mass-Timber Comprehensive

Speculative Biomaterial Exploration

Monumental Armory Reuse

Environmental-Driven Computational Skyscraper

Built Façade Redesign

Podium Façade Internship Project

TOD Viability Analysis Internship Project

Korea, Singapore, Vietnam

01. PIN-POINT

Mass-Timber Comprehensive Fourth Year - May 2022 Instructor: Jennifer Siegal Programs: Rhino, Grasshopper, Vray, Illustrator, Photoshop Pin-Point is a 6-story, 42,000 SF mass timber project designed for the USC Center for Social Justice located on the corner of the primary N Alameda St and the Ord St side street with a less busy N Main St on the east side of the building in Chinatown. The architecture creates a connective and welcoming space where USC faculty and students from multiple disciplines engage with the diverse neighborhood community in issues of social justice through three departments: service, research and community engagement. The design gestures respond to climate and sustainable concerns to reduce resource use, while providing additional green space to the community.

3

SITE ANALYSIS DRIVES MASSING AND PROGRAMMING

Building Height

FLOOR PLAN POROSITY AND FORMATION DIFFERENCE

Vegetation

Traffic Density

Organic Bridge on Third Floor

Transportation to Site

Building Type

Site Topography

Lot Size

Public Space

3 Wings Stagger in Height

0’

8’

16’

32’

Porous First Floor

Carve Away to Lighten Building

4

Bridge to Connect Wings

Program Assignment into 3 Wings

The first floor of the project is more porous with flexible circulation paths to increase visual connections across the ground floor green spaces and encourages communal interaction between the students, professors, and researchers on the site. The third create ease of movement across the two wings on the busiest floor with a fluid connection. The organic, alienated bridge breaks the rigidness of the orthogonal building form and harshness of the aluminum louvers to reveal the glass on the shaded side.

FAÇADE STRATEGY

Sun Exposure

Natural Ventilation & Wind Direction

Pin-Point’s façade comprises of aluminum louvers that wrap around the entire building, strategically oriented against the sun path to reduce direct sunlight into the building. The façades facing southwest and southeast are largely shielded by the aluminum louvers, optimizing thermal comfort and energy efficiency. Conversely, the northern façade benefit from increased exposure to sun from the excavation of the aluminum louvers, continuing the void created the bridge formation.

East Elevation More Sun Exposure

Northern Façade Exposes Internal Terrace

5

North Elevation Less Sun Exposure

COMPOSITE OF WORKING PARTS AND SYSTEMS

0’

6

3’

6’

12’

9

02. LIMITS OF NATURE

Speculative Biomaterial Exploration

Fifth Year Thesis - May 2023 Instructor: Wendy Fok Programs: Rhino, Grasshopper, Houdini, Enscape, Illustrator, Photoshop Awards: Final Degree Project Award; A + D Museum In School Critical Computation Alibi Winner; Featured on Dezeen The Limits of Nature critiques the current top-down design approach in architecture, highlighting the industry’s vulnerability to human biases and errors, such as greenwashing, amid efforts for sustainability. It proposes a shift towards a nature-centric, bottom-up process, inspired by architects like Étienne-Louis Boullée, advocating for a future where human environments harmoniously coexist with nature. In this paradigm, biomaterials such as crystals take center stage, growing into architectural structures and evolving alongside the natural world.

10

THEORETICAL RESEARCH

Problem at Hand: Is it possible to have a completely bottom-up, nature-led design process that reduces biases and problems caused by today’s top-down, human-led design process?

Conclusion from Research: Nature-led design is its own method of design, whose presence is affected by the existence of human and computer-generated design

Precedents of Different Methods of Biomaterial Design

11

MATERIAL STUDY

MYCELIUM

3D Mold for Mycelium

Linear Guidance for Mycelium

Point Guidance for Mycelium

3D Mold for Cellulose

Linear Guidance for Cellulose

Point Guidance for Cellulose

3D Mold for Crystals

Linear Guidance for Crystals

Point Guidance for Crystals

CELLULOSE

CRYSTALS

12

SPECULATIVE STRUCTURE CRYSTALLIZATION PROCESS

Building Model: #2

Urban Model: Framework Construction

Urban Model: Crystallization Process

Urban Model: Full Crystallization

Sectional Model: Interior

Crystallization Timeline at Room and Building Scale

13

Building Model: #1

Building Model: #3

SPECULATIVE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

14

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS ON OLIVE ST. DOWNTOWN LA

Day 0: Top Down Design

Day 60: 3D Fabricate Fiberglass Reinforced Polyester

Day 75: Frame Assembly

Day 90: Joist Assembly

Day 105: Choosing Initial Growth Point

Day 110: Continuous Input of Supersaturated Solution

Day 146: Primary Occupancy

Day 170: Final Occupancy

Interior Chunk

Exterior Chunk

Core Chunk

Floor Connection

Joist Connection

Core Connection

03. CROSSROADS

Monumental Armory Reuse

Graduate - December 2023 Collaborated with: Lula Chou Instructor: Laurie Hawkinson Programs: Rhino, Grasshopper, Enscape, Illustrator, Photoshop What if the armory transcends its physical boundaries and becomes an urban condenser, a local culinary center, and a nexus of human connection?

With a balance of landscape and buildings, density and expanse, passages and destinations, this proposal utilizes the space under the armory roof to integrate various programs and specialized services for the surrounding neighborhoods. Different user groups of the neighborhood meander through four interconnected towers under the reused armory, each dedicated to address specific local needs, gaining a diverse range of experiences and social interactions with others. Opening up the exterior facade and sculpting pathways allow people to use the building as a portal to shortcut passages and continuous journey experiences.

15

SITE ANALYSIS INFLUENCE ON PLAN

4 User groups: Patients, Students, From Aways, and Local Residents

User Groups Dictate Path Cuts, Create New Entrances, and Protect the Existing Ornamentations

4 Program Groups Contained Within Their Own Stack While the Food Program Sprawls Across the Entire Project

0’

First Floor Plan: Difference in Orientation Between Stack and Field

16

16’

32’

64’

OVERALL VIEW FROM ON TOP OF ROOFTOP FARM

17

USER ACTIVITY ZONE AND EXPERIENCE

Courtyard and Bridge between Health and Sports’ Stack.

PATIENTS ACTIVITY ZONE AND CIRCULATION

LOCAL RESIDENTS ACTIVITY ZONE AND CIRCULATION Across Bridge and Social Interactions on Upper Level

FROM AWAYS ACTIVITY ZONE AND CIRCULATION

STUDENTS ACTIVITY ZONE AND CIRCULATION

Subway Station Connection

View Inside Library

18

ENVIRONMENT-INFORMED ROOF DESIGN

B.

A.

D.

C.

A. ROOF OPENING CORRESPONDS WITH ROOF FARMS

19

B. SUN ANALYSIS DICTATE LOCATION OF ROOF FARMS

C. DOUBLE HEIGHT EVENT SPACE

D. AWNING WINDOWS FLAP OPEN FOR NATURAL VENTILATION

PROJECT MOMENTS & MATERIAL

20

Subway Entrance Connection Directly into the Cultural Stack

Opening Leading to Internal Path

Sunken Courtyard and Stack Extrusion Out of the Existing Armory Walls.

Bridge Connection to Cultural Stack

04. CURTAIN

Environmental-Driven Computational Skyscraper

Graduate - December 2023 Collaborated with: JJ Jin, Tai Ning, Chung An Lu Instructor: Joe Brennan Programs: Rhino, Revit, Grasshopper, ClimateStudio, Vray, Illustrator, Photoshop, Excel Located on a 29,990-square-foot lot on Broadway, near Madison Square Park and east of Penn Station, the mixed-use building will capitalize on its prime location and Broadway’s future conversion into a pedestrian-only street by featuring commercial hotels, serviced apartments, and offices. The tower’s orientation, size, and form are informed by zoning research, FAR calculation, and environmental analysis to maximize occupancy, square footage, comfort, and energy efficiency. User contentment is additionally elevated by façade introduction, which not only improves the building’s environmental response further, but also optimizes quality views for the users.

21

WORKFLOW & ANALYSIS

MASSING DECISIONS

Pushed Back for Open Space

Match Lot Lines

Towers Staggered to Eliminate View Obstruction

Commercial Programs Pushed in to Shade Plaza

Void for Public Traffic Flow, Natural Air Flow, and Lightness to the Tower

Bridges, Viewing Decks, and Terraces Extend Out to Capitalize on Views

The project is based on a computational workflow between Excel, Grasshopper, Rhino, RhinoInside, and Revit. The workflow allows easy alterations through an iterative process that is informed by continued building simulation and analysis.

Site is located near landmarks and aligns height to taller surrounding tower.

22

PROGRAM & FEATURE DIAGRAM

CONDOS

ROOF GARDEN

BARS

HOTELS

LONG-TERM STAY/SERVICE APARTMENTS

GYMS & POOLS

AMENITIES

OFFICES

PUBLIC TERRACE RETAILS

HOTEL LOBBY APARTMENT LOBBY

Commercial program on ground floor for most amount of foot traffic; office on lower floors to reduce glare; hotels and service apartments raise into the two towers to optimize views; condos at the top to maximize view value.

23

ANALYSIS INFLUENCE FAÇADE STRATEGY

B. A. 12” CORRUGATED CAST-INPLACE CONCRETE SLAB A. C.

Direct Sun Hour: Direct sun hours and heat gain dictate the depth of louvers to reduce overheating and excess energy usage

B.

W16 X 12 H-BEAM

C.

SOLARBAN 60 SOLAR CONTROL LOW-E GLASS

D. 2” X 4” CASTED ALUMINUM MULLION

D.

E.

STEEL LOUVER SUPPORT FRAME

F.

CAST ALUMINUM MEMBERS

G.

2” AF LOUVER PANEL

E. F. G.

WIND ROSE ANALYSIS DICTATE LOUVER DIRECTION TO ENHANCE VENTILATION

View: 30 degree view analysis dictate openings in facade to optimize users’ views of landmarks and avoid blockage

Wind Rose: Wind rose dictate direction of louver fins to maximize ventilation

25

SUNLIGHT ANALYSIS DICTATE ALUMINUM LOUVER DEPTH TO REDUCE SUNLIGHT AND HEAT GAIN

05. WANGXIAOHUI ART MUSEUM Built Façade Redesign

April 2021 Collaborated with: Elaine Zhu Client: Xiaohui Wang Phase: Façade Concept Design, Façade Design Development

The façade redesign transformed an old office building into an eye-catching art museum for Xiaohui Wang, featuring a distinctive red color that contrasts with the gray surroundings and enhances visibility. The design emphasizes simplicity and boldness through two prominent slabs and stark colors through material and lighting that make the building stand out even at night.

The slabs’ angles create dynamic spaces and opportunities for art projection, while the cleared front courtyard offers both visual access and a versatile event space. This makeover not only modernizes the building but also establishes it as a unique and vibrant focal point in the area.

26

SITE DOCUMENTATION

DESIGN ITERATIONS

ITERATIONS 1

ITERATIONS 2

Past Condition: Front Elevation

ITERATIONS 3

ITERATIONS 4

ITERATIONS 5 Concept Sketch

The original façade of the building is chaotic and uncoordinated with the rest of the building. The grid systems misalign and distract from the building side façade. The goal is to create a uniform, simplified, and bold façade to stand out from the surrounding monotoned buildings and attract a younger generation of museum guests.

ITERATIONS 6

27

ASSEMBLY & BUILT PRODUCT

Slanting Slab with Lights at Night

Aluminum Façade Assembly

28

Overhand Over Narrow Path from Slab Slanting Up

Entrance Material and Slab Material Relation

WUJIABA GREENLAND 06. KUNMING HEADQUARTERS Podium Façade Internship Project

July 2019 - Currently Under Construction AECOM Design Lead: Ross Wimer, Colin Franzen, Bryan Chow Phase: Concept Design & Design Development Role: Façade Wrap Design Around Podium

As the part of the design team, I mainly focused on the podium design with significant contributions to the façade wrap and podium form. The wrap is composed of light aluminum board with perforated that allows LED lights to be inserted, acting as a screen for advertisements or entertainment purposes. The façade wrap thins out on one end to allow the terraces to overlook the streets. The terracing landscape, influenced by the rice terrace and silk road, generates an outdoor public green space for the users to gather and socialize.

Rice Terrace + Silk Road

29

Maximizing Coverage

Yunnan Rice Terrace to Create Vertical Green Garden

LED Façade Thins Out on One Edge to Give Visual Access to Street

07. DONGGUANGNAN STATION TOD TOD Viability Analysis Internship Project

July 2019 AECOM Design Lead: Wu Hang Phase: Pre-Concept Design & Concept Design Role: Analyze Surrounding Program Typologies, Surrounding Building Massing, Circulation Diagram As the part of the analysis team, I researched and diagrammed the metro lines across Chengdu as well as the surrounding building typologies, analyzing the most optimal position for the TOD station. With the two sites, I also diagrammed circulation and path of travel through the three levels of the proposal: below ground, on ground, and above ground through the sky bridge. Additionally, I created the massing for all surrounding buildings for the design team to situate the TOD stations’ building size and height in accordance to the surrounding environment.

Circulation Circulation Circulation Circulation (Covered) Circulation

Surrounding Massing

Circulation Diagram

Office

30

Commercial

Residential

School

08. TRAVEL SKETCHES Korea, Singapore, Vietnam

Heritage House Hanoi

Simsimheon House

Singapore Landmark Buildings

Music Shop Tubehouse

Songeun Art Space: Herzog & De Meuron

Juice Shop Tubehouse

Dongdaemun Design Plaza: Zaha Hadid Architects

31

Ewha Womans University: Dominique Perrault Architects

Bukit Ho Swee Emergency Flats

Imperial City of Huế Emperor Gia Long

Thomas Wang Selected Works thomaswang.wht@gmail.com +12139996880