01 ECOWAS CULTURAL CENTER
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Cultural Center works to cultivate strong relationships through cultural outreach between the members of the group and the Midwest and Central Plains regions. To encourage cultural growth, the site is located in Topeka, Kansas, directly Northeast of the Topeka Capitol building. The project includes educational and political hubs with program including a consul’s office, library, theater and gallery space.
With the ideas of community growth in mind and connection, the public and private aspects of the program are connected vertically through double height spaces. The first two floors hold the public aspects of the program, including the theater, library, classrooms, and gallery. The double height gallery space connects these two floors, and ties the public spaces back to each other. Between the second and third floor, the program goes from the public spectrum to semi public with the consul’s office. This space is once again connected by a double height space so that from the consul’s office you can have views down into the public realm. Finally, the fourth floor is a completely private program with apartments for visiting artists as well as the director of the consul office.
The building works as a backdrop for the art and culture it is showcasing, with a grey slate floor and a wood slat ceiling creating a calming and warm space for viewers to simply enjoy the art in front of them. The exterior structure is larger, concrete piers to continue highlighting the verticality of the building that connects the multiple programs. Overall, this building works to be a space for the communities of the West African States and the citizens of Topeka to gather together and learn about their cultures.
GROUND FLOOR SECOND FLOOR THIRD FLOOR FOURTH FLOOR A A B B C C
SOUTH ELEVATION
SECTION A-A
SECTION B-B
WEST ELEVATION
SECTION C-C
The CERAAS Agricultural Innovation Center promotes research and innovation in concerns for agriculture communities. The campus expands the research center currently used in Senegal, Africa by the Center for Improvement of the Adaptation to Drought (CERAAS). This project works with the hot climate of Senegal, as it is located just south of the Sahara Desert. It works with agricultural innovations, and thus have programs such as labs and a large greenhouse which can house multiple plant varieties.
To work against the hot climate of Senegal, Africa, the building has a passive design strategy of large thermal mass walls on the east and west facades to protect against the intense sunlight. The greenhouse is set on the second level of one of the program blocks, to take in the sunlight and diffuse it before it enters either a laboratory or the cafe for workers and guests alike. In the center of the design is a sunken courtyard that all the program blocks revolve around. This sunken courtyard helps with cooling, and also allows access to a shaded outdoor area directly off of the forum as well as the laboratories, so both the public and workers can enjoy it equally. The gabled roofs work to mimic the shape of the greenhouse and create continuity, as well as allowing hot air to rise and travel through the tempered roof.
The program blocks are split into public and semi public blocks, with the southwest corner of the site involving the most public program. Coming from the west to the east, there is a public courtyard that allows visitors to either enter the forum where presentations or lectures may happen, or to go to the cafe. Both the cafe and forum are double height spaces to create open and welcoming areas for the public, as well as creating lower access to the sunken courtyard. The labs are in their own block of program, but still connect back to the public aspects through hyphens between each block.
02 AGRICULTURAL
INNOVATION CENTER
SECOND FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR
A A B B BASE FLOOR
SECTION A-A
WEST ELEVATION
SECTION B-B
The Alma Public Library works to create a multipurpose space for the rural community of Alma, Kansas. It sits in the center of Main Street where there was previously an open area, and now acts as a connection between Main Street and the public park and pool located directly west. This project is a space for young and old alike to come together and enjoy an array of activities.
The program of the library includes much more than book stacks, but also reading spaces for young children, meeting rooms, study rooms, outdoor areas, and a cafe. The main floor acts as a more public realm with the cafe and children’s’ areas located on the first floor for direct access from the street, as well as from the pool and the park. The second level consists of the adult book stacks, as well as the study rooms and an outdoor patio. To connect the two floors, the central circulation space is a double height atrium that includes a grand staircase. Along the south facade of the building, there is yet another circulation space towards the children’s area that is also a double height volume, and allows guests in the study rooms to view down to the first floor.
To create more privacy for the upper floor as well, vertical louvers act as a shading device as well as a blanket around the quieter upstairs, where people are free to read, study and relax. To allow for the double height spaces that accent the connection between the levels, the service core is pushed to the north wall where it can act as a space separate from the public. The building has a very open and airy feel with glass curtain walls, and large, mass timber beams that span across the public realm to create a very flexible and warm spaces for guests.
03 ALMA
PUBLIC LIBRARY
GROUND FLOOR SECOND FLOOR A A B B C C
WEST ELEVATION SECTION A-A
B-B
C-C
SECTION
SECTION
Creating a staircase in the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, inclusivity was the main focus. This space is located directly to the left of the entry, and connects the library to the upper level which includes a technology center. The objective of the project was to create a space that is usable for all, whether that is for the blind or other guests who visit as well. The room has a large glass facade on the west that allows in quite a bit of natural light, and makes it easier for people to navigate the space.
After research into creating spaces for the blind and physically handicapped, this design focuses on incorporating light into the stairs. It was found that many blind people can often still see shapes, and with the help of light it can become clearer. To create contrasts between the materials of the room, the steps of the stair are a dark oak to indicate a material change, which many blind people can often sense through the sound it makes. Under each step the stringers are pushed in to allow space for lights to be put in. This creates the effect of a strip of light that follows up the stairs, and highlights where the steps are for guests who may have a harder time seeing their surroundings.
The lights not only follow along the steps as they go up, but there is also lights recessed into the steel casing on the underside of the stairs. This creates usable space for guests underneath the stairs, and gives them light as they relax and enjoy the library and all it has to offer. This staircase works to be usable for any guest that enters the library, and has a function not only for circulation but creating spaces of connection and socialization.
04
LIBRARY STAIRCASE
0 1 3 5 10
LIGHT
CASING
NORTH ELEVATION FLOOR PLAN C C A A B B
STEEL
SUPPORTS STEEL CASING STRINGERS RISERS TREADS STEEL
RAILINGS
SECTION A-A
SECTION C-C
B-B
SECTION
Outside of my studio classes, I also started working for Cargeaux Pools in August of 2022. I work remotely under the founder of Cargeaux Pools, Daniel Fears, who travels the country installing durable container pools and hot tubs. These pools can be custom made by adding enhancements to the recycled 8 x 20 shipping containers such as benches and stairs. Under Cargeaux Pools I create fast and simple renderings to be used to show customers what their pools will look like right in their backyards.
These renders are used either to get pools sold to customers after they are able to view what the product would look like, or helps them decided more concretely how they want the pool put in their yard and the design that goes into it. I work directly through Mr. Fears in creating images that the customers have asked for, including down to the custom size of the concrete pad that would surround the pool, as well as possible furnishings. I enjoy getting to help people’s visions for their homes come to life and know that Mr. Fear’s is actively helping people and reusing materials.
05.1 CARGEAUX POOLS
Images used with permission from Cargeaux Pools. All Rights Reserved.
Outside of architecture I still enjoy to build with my hands, and continue to practices ceramics. This was my senior year ceramics studio project, and I had the freedom to choose my project. I created a life sized koala and matching mugs after learning more about koalas, as at the time Australia was experiencing intense wildfires. The koala took three months to build by hand, which was formed through the use of coils. The mugs were thrown on a wheel and then both the mugs and koala I hand painted. To this day, I also enjoy model making in studio which continues my love of using my hands for creativity.
05.2
CERAMICS
Since middle school I have been an active photographer, especially of nature and landscapes. I mostly do digital photography but have also done film as well. My photography has been submitted into multiple competitions, which is an honor. I had been selected to participate in the High School Visual Arts Competition at the Tim Murphy Art Gallery in Merriam, Kansas twice and shown my work there. I have continued my pursuits in photography into college, and enjoy photography during my free time.
05.3 PHOTOGRAPHY
Photo Selected for the Tim Murphy Art Gallery Visual Arts Competition, 2D Category
