Theisen Portfolio by Tom Theisen

PORT FOL IO

THOMAS THEISEN

UNDERGRADUATE SELECTED WORKS 2020-2025

THOMAS THEISEN

Hello, my name is Tom, and I am gradua ng from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with an NAAB accredited Bachelor of Architecture degree. To me, design is more than a career pursuit or a passion. It drives my percep ons of the world and mo va ons for ac on. As a Michigan na ve, I aimed to place myself in a new place for a diﬀerence in perspec ve. Studying in Tennessee and abroad in Rome, Italy have greatly inﬂuenced my ideas. Outside of the workplace, I enjoy par cipa ng in design compe ons and personal works for myself, friends, and family. I love to explore the great outdoors and to watch movies. Thank you for your interest in my work within this por olio. Go Vols!

CONTACT

phone: 734.693.1980

email: tomtheisen.design@gmail.com

www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-theisen

TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS

AutoDesk

- Revit

- AutoCAD

Bluebeam

- Revu

Adobe

- Illustrator

- InDesign

- PhotoShop

- PremierePro

Rendering

- V-Ray

- Enscape

- TwinMo on Rhinoceros 3D

Grasshopper

3D Prin ng

Lasercu ng

CNC Rou ng

PHYSICAL SKILLS

Hand Dra ing

Sketching

Model Making

Woodworking

EXPERIENCE

Internship // Kohler Architecture

- May 2024 - August 2024

Internship // F.A. Studio

- May 2023 - August 2023

- General Internship responsibili es included:

- Eﬃcient use of Revit and AutoCAD

- Collabora on through Bluebeam Revu

- Use of LiDAR scanner and Point Cloud Files

- Par cipa on in Company Mee ngs

- Composi on of Project Detailing

- Assembly of Construc on Document Packages

Plant Health Care Technician // Davey Tree Service

- May 2020 - August 2022

Student Ambassador // The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

- September 2022 - December 2024

Woodshop A endant // The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

- January 2021 - December 2023

Design Ma ers Camp Counseler // The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

- July 2022

RECENT AWARDS

Nominee, 2023 Integra ons Compe on

3rd Place, 2023 UTK EURēCA

Nominee, Spring 2022 UBER Review

The Volunteer Academic Scholarship

EDUCATION

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

- Bachelor of Architecture

- Minor in Plant Sciences with a concentra on in Sustainability

- August 2020 - May 2025

Study Abroad, The Rome Center, The University of Arkansas

- January - April 2024

- Palazzo Taverna, Rome, Italy

- Semester courses focused on historic preserva on and hand sketching

MISCELLANEOUS

Alpha Rho Chi Fraternity of Architecture

- October 2021 - Present

- Elected Worthy Associate Architect

(Vice President) (May 2022 - May 2023)

REFERENCES

Keith Kohler

- Principal Architect, Kohler Architecture

- email: kkohler@kohlerarchitect.net

Hansjörg Göritz

- Studio Professor, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

- Principal Architect, Hansjörg Göritz Studio

- email: goeritz@utk.edu

THE CENTRAL STREET

Nominee - Annual Integrations Studio Competition

A RECLAMATION

THARO KHARETSA

ADMIXT SEITIES

Selected Project - 2022 Spring UBER Review

THE CENTRAL STREET

Nominee - Annual Integra ons Studio Compe on

Professor Hansjörg Göritz’ Studio

In collabora on with: Neal Gardner Winn Gramling

The University of Tennessee’s Art and Architecture Building, completed in 1982, has established itself as a cultural icon and a hub for the greater southeastern regions’ educa on and implementa on of design and the allied arts. Tasked with doubling the ﬂoor area of the building with an addi on seemed like a forbidden task for a building of such importance. However, with the passing of me comes new uses and new needs. To expand the capacity of the campus, the addi on disperses itself throughout the landscape north, east, and west of the current campus footprint. Its winding form inten onally contrasts with the angled and rectangular exis ng forms as it nestles itself amongst the exis ng context.

The addi on, named The Central Street, begins with an elevated gallery and exhibi on space. This elegant form rises one story above grade crea ng a shaded walkway for more than 1,500 feet of the new Arts’ Quad. Looking below, 190 addi onal educa onal spaces lie below grade with excavated, daylit garden spaces. This floor, on grade with the first floor of the current building, includes studios, conference rooms, prin ng centers, study suites, auditoriums, lecture halls, public stores, and restuarants, as well as outdoor gardens and terraces.

Below the educa onal spaces of Floor 01 is an extensive subgrade parking similar to the exis ng east subgrade parking lot illustrated in Floor 01 Plan. Originally the footprint of the educa onal suites was u lized for surface level parking. Not only has this new project retained the same amount of parking, it has added 190 educa onal spaces and created a ground level park. Each educa onal

space has access to a 30’x30’ light well, with half of these being physically occupiable. The light wells that are not accessible from Floor 01 decend to the parking level to provide dayligh ng as well as natural ven la on. Enough natural ven la on has been provided, nega ng the need for fans or other ar ﬁcial methods. With all educa onal spaces placed below grade,

the Arts’ Quad retains minimal obstruc on on quad level (Floor 02). Of all new structures, only the structural stair cores of the elevated gallery and the outlet stores beneath the auditorium touch grade on Floor 02. Floor 03, shown above in Floor 03 Plan, hold the new over 1,500’ gallery, a library, as well as the main auditorium and six minor auditorium spaces. The gallery is intended to showcase

work from all students of the Arts’ Quad. It is intended to broaden the boundaries of those inspired by the work of the Quad through its reach to the corners of the campus.

Via this perspec ve sec on, a be er understanding of the floor to floor dynamic is provided. Within the cut plane, the staggered layout of the light wells and subfloor parking can be seen. In the near background, the studio bays have access to some of these lightwells. The gallery

adds an element of surprise as it disrupts the gridded layout of the studios. it directly follows the main subgrade hall of the educa on spaces, allowing for stair and elevator cores to navigate between the educa onal spaces to the gallery and lecture halls.

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The original Art and Architecture Building is shown on the right side of the spread. A new water reten on pond is situated outside the current reading room between the Central Street and the original building. This building now hosts lecture style classes on the second, third, and fourth ﬂoors. Floor 02 hosts administra on oﬃces and Floor 01 now hosts shop style classes for woodworking, metalworking, material experimenta on, and more.

Gallery Bay 14

Studio Bay 2E

LIGHTHOTEL

TerraViva Compe on Entry

In collabora on with:

Abigail Thompson

The vision of a luxury lighthouse hotel where the design is not just a backdrop but a fundamental part of the experience. Nestled along the edge of San Domino Island, this unique stay will blend the meless allure of a lighthouse with the elegance of immersive design, crea ng a modern sanctuary that oﬀers unparalleled comfort and awe-inspiring views. By blending adap ve reuse with contemporary design, the project emphasizes immersive sensory experiences through natural materials, space transforma on, and passive climate strategies.

Guests are invited to enjoy the tranquility of seclusion, a seamless connec on to the outdoors, and the rhythm of the island’s lush vegeta on, drama c coastlines, and serene waters. The structure itself is a testament to tradi onal cra smanship, contrasted by the modern interior to enhance the interior experience. Guests will be invited to explore the interplay of light and shadow, the symphony of waves against the cliﬀ s, and the embrace of natural materials that echo the surrounding landscape.

The rooms reﬂect an in mate experience of comfort that will provide a sense of seclusion and serenity for the visitor’s stay. The design will priori ze natural light, ven la on, and a seamless connec on to the outdoors, allowing guests to feel the rhythm of the water and the changing skies.

Here, luxury is deﬁned by more than the quality of the ameni es. It is the richness of the experience that drives the quality of stay.

0’5’10’20’ 40’

Floor

A RECLAMATION

Sco Wall’s Studio

In an effort to an cipate the progression of the climate crisis, A Reclama on entertains the theory of climate havens; geographic regions which will be the most habitable for humans in the next one hundred years. The greater Tennessee area has been predicted as such a place and influenced the site of the banks of the Douglas Lake in Newport, Tennessee. This project seeks to return the sense of community and ownership of the flooded lands back to the people of Newport while simultaneously providing refuge to travellers in search of climate havens.

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The main focus of the project is the water research laboratory. The structure intends to create a dialogue of reclaimed space as it casts over the land that has since been claimed by the floods. It is organized between three levels. The first floor allows for research work to be conducted through a series of spaces connected by a central hallway. The second floor mirrors the central hallway with viewing glass lining the hallway on both sides. This is intended to engage the local community and provide laboratory tours with an elevated 360 degree view of the research occuring

below. A roo op meadow allows for the form to have a low proﬁle as to allow for con nuity of the scenic landscape facing the lake on the approach to the site. This meadow sa sﬁes the need for recrea on space within the town.

Water Research Center - Boat Approach

Water Research Center - Lounge Deck

Water Research Center - Roof Meadow

Water Research Center - Upper Hall

THARO KARETSA

MOA Design Compe on Entry

In collabora on with:

The compe on prompted for a pavilion in which wildlife and the natural elements could be observed. The design was to celebrate the region of the designer’s choice by designing with half of the materials being locally sourced.

Our research and inspira on led us to the Drakensberg Mountains of Lesotho. Lesotho has the highest average eleva on of any country and its weather reﬂects that. With a cold, dry climate, na ves to Lesotho cherish their tradi on of houses made from thatch and mud brick. These invi ng, insulated homes were the inspira on for our pavilions. the parametric roofs were inspired by the local aloe plants of the area

Tharo Kharetsa, meaning “Three Aloes” in the local language, are three pavilions located along a three day hiking trail. The pavilions provide relief for weary travellers and are intended to direct a en on from the rigorous hike to the scenic beauty of the mountains.

Anja Cordell

Roarke Lanning

Abigail Thompson

S29˚54’

ADMIXT SEITIES

Nominee - Studio UBER Review

Lindsay Clark-Griﬃn’s Studio

The following items are a culmina on of mul ple studies as well as physical and digital representa on. The studio itself is tled A Monestary for Feral Domes city, a term coined by Lindsay Clark-Griﬃn; the concept of an internal insanity as a result of our tamed lives within modern society. I analyzed Feral Domes city during the Coronavirus pandemic. While classes were held virtually, a new sense of surveillance from my peers had become the new normal. I no ced changes in my behavior while being recorded daily for class.

Admixt Sei es is a space set around a seemingly haphazard pillar of spot lights. These ﬁxtures face all direc ons and project mul colored lights. A new direc on of light illuminates to replace the former one once every second. As the direc on of the light changes, so does the contour and shadow on the bodies and faces that occupyz the space. This light show causes a slight op cal illusion, as those within the lights’ grasp become slightly uniden ﬁable. The lights are supported by a metal “branch” network that seems to invade the pure geometries

of the building. These lights represent the infec on of possesing a false iden ty and how it grows to a point of diﬃcult return. The roof is meant to appear to be collapsing while the only support le for it to rely on is the metaphorical web of lies: the lights. The space also u lizes an augmented reality within the windows. The natural environment may be seen in the windows, but overlays via a screen show unreal imagery. This causes the viewer to reevaluate what their eyes may trust. Head busts are also within the space for those visi ng individually.