Portfolio

TRACI REYES

2019-2021 SELECTED WORKS

DESIGN PORTFOLIO

traci.rey1@gmail.com 318.205.0579 tracireyes.myportfolio.com

HELLO, I’M TRACI REYES. I am twenty-three years old and I have a Master's Degree in architecture from Louisiana Tech University. I am very passionate about architecture and being a designer because it is able to create spaces that help improve the quality of life and can also be used in such a way to help strengthen the interaction and connection within a community.

Some of my recent accomplishments that had such an impact throughout my academic career was through my involvement with MedCamps during our design build studio and working with Poverty Point World Heritage Site.

The experience I gained through the design build studio involved working with a client to offer a new facility to improve the camper’s experience. It also involved the process of both coming up with a design and working hands on to make the design come to life.

The impression of the camper’s faces when they first saw the new facility left an impact that changed the way I viewed architecture for the better.

My second accomplishment involved working with Poverty Point World Heritage Site, which is a prehistoric earthwork constructed by the poverty point people. This was a group project that involved coming up with ideas on how to improve their facility. Along with my two partners, we gave a presentation to the Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana and he has taken forward some of the ideas that we have provided. I am very grateful for these opportunities that have helped me grow as an individual and also improve my architectural abilities.

I hope this selection of different projects will give you an idea of who I am as a creative person and hopefully a suitable candidate for your practice.

Thank you

CONTENTS

01. VENTURA RECREATIONAL CENTER

02. STROUD STORE DESIGN BUILD 03. NORTH PARK MALL REDEVELOPMENT

04. GRADUATE PROJECT

01. VENTURA

RECREATIONAL CENTER

W I N T E R

Q U A R T E R

2 0 2 0

This studio is primarily focused on the ACSA COTE Competition. Located in Ventura, California, this program is designed to be a full time recreational center serving the alternative program of a disaster relief center during tragedy. Right at 17,000 sq. ft. the building program is condensed. Located in a park within the Ventura Mountains, this site has direct connections to many outdoor activities. Between two wildlife trails, the design integrates a bike shop for rentals and purchase to promote interaction with these trails. Serving as a post disaster relief shelter, it was important to examine what type of disasters this area is prone to. Combating earthquakes, wildfires, and tsunamis through building materials was best achieved through the use of concrete. Although Ventura does lie within a Mediterranean climate, meaning the temperatures are mild and there is very little rain, it is important to harvest the small amount of rainwater the site will receive. This is important for sustaining plant life year around. Although the main landscaping strategy is xeriscaping, the water collected will help the small number of plants on the site that do require regular watering.

C O N C E P T + FO R M

DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY In response to the location of the site, the building becomes a destination through the park trails. The use of pedestrian connections will create social interactions among the community. In terms of transportation, there is a bus stop within a ten minute walk which makes the site easily accessible. Since the site is located in a park, the recreational building will provide a bike shop for those who travel on bikes. The design also includes a skate park.

1st FLOOR

2nd FLOOR

DESIGN FOR ECOLOGY Xeriscaping is implemented in the landscape as a response to the drought issues seen in California. This type of landscaping will support the ecosystem as well as promote local wildlife. The plants on the site would benefit the more than 300 species of bird in this area as well as small rodents and insects, enhancing the local ecosystem.

L I F E P R E S E R VAT I O N + O P T I M I Z AT I O N

DESIGN FOR ENERGY The use of concrete creates a thermal mass and the cross ventilation will provide air circulation which will decrease the use of an HVAC system. In case of any power outage, there are generators that provide power to the building in case of a disaster. The daylighting controls implemented in the building will harvest energy. The PV windows will convert sunlight directly into electricity.

By using solar cells to generate electricity, it will provide immediate assistance as well as long-term relief in times of crisis.

DESIGN FOR ECONOMY The cost of concrete is a very large cost up front, but it will last much longer than opposing materials. This results in saving money later in areas such as maintenance and longevity. Hiring local contractors is beneficial because of their awareness of the location and there is no need for outsourcing. The use of local materials will reduce the fossil fuel emission and help the economy by promoting local business. The sustainable strategies are also a large cost that saves money in the long run.

DESIGN FOR WATER The main landscaping strategy incorporated in the design is xeriscaping, a response to the drought issues. The water collection system integrated in the roof of our building will store water to provide for the plants as needed during long periods without rain. Reducing indoor water use is accomplished through water-efficient plumbing fixtures.

02. STROUD STORE DESIGN BUILD

S P R I N G

Q U A R T E R

2 0 1 9

This studio is taught as a design build studio. Every year, the third year architecture students at Louisiana Tech University add another project to Med Camps; a non profit organization that holds a series of one-week, fun-filled camps each summer free of charge for children in Louisiana facing the challenges of a variety of physical and mental disabilities. Our class had to redesign and re-purpose a storage shed into a camp store and concessions for when the campers go and get their snacks. We also had to design a gate with signage and a bell tower. The duration of the project was 10 weeks. The first half was spent developing schemes for the client and drawing up the construction documents. The second half of the project was dedicated to executing the design. This quarter was very exhausting but the hands on knowledge that was gained and the relationship created between the campers was an unforgettable and the most rewarding experience in my college career.

BELL TOWER The design of the bell tower was inspired by the surrounding trees. The design was achieved by having tree branches made from steel rods that wrap around the structural frame of the tower.

The finished height of the bell tower is at 26’ tall placed in the middle of the pond; directly in front of the camp store, there is a deck that extends out under the bell tower.

The purpose of the bell tower is to call the campers back to the main building of the camp and to call the campers for snack time. Ringing the bell has also been used as a reward for campers or sometimes whenever they need a reason to cheer up when they are homesick.

BEFORE This picture shows the original condition of the building. It was mainly used to store equipment such as pools, kayaks, paddles, and fishing gear.

AFTER This picture shows the finished product of the design. The shed has been transformed into a camp store. A place where visitors can come buy camp gear and a destination spot for campers to come get their snack.

CONSTRUCTION The second half of the quarter was spent doing the construction part of the design build phase. The construction phase was exhausting but seeing the final design come to life was such a rewarding experience.

TOP PICTURE:

We built a jig to help guide the construction of the main frame for the bell tower.

BOTTOM LEFT PICTURE:

A close up detail of the connected joints of the bell frame that were welded together.

BOTTOM RIGHT PICTURE:

The bell tower was transported for 15 miles and placed on the piles where it was bolted and welded.

Construction photo of one of the trusses.

Interior snapshot of the exposed truss structure.

New gate and new signage

Construction process

View from the street

Aerial view from bell tower

Finished interior

CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS The final week of the design phase was focused on producing a construction document set. This process helped us understand the connections and details that we would be putting together once we were out on the site. This was also the very first construction set document that we as a class have ever done and was an introduction of what to expect during a construction document phase at a firm.

03. NORTH PARK MALL REDEVELOPMENT

F A L L

Q U A R T E R

2 0 2 0

This studio revolved around the re-development of Ruston, Louisiana after being hit by a devastating tornado in 2019. Ruston currently has a lack of commercial and urban development through the city, and after an in depth analysis, four main locations had ideal qualities for development based on density and the surrounding conditions.

Four site locations were chosen to be re-developed into locations that will better serve Ruston and its growing population. The North Park Mall contains over 300,000 sqft of parking. The parking lot is rarely full and a lot of its surrounding retail is going out of business. The goal of this proposal is to revitalize Ruston’s shopping center by redeveloping the site into a pedestrian friendly environment and adding more vegetation. The site will include: lounging areas, community garden, sculpture garden, and sustainable parking area.

S ITE + PR O P O SA L OVE RVI E W

GREEN-WAY RE-DEVELOPMENT NEW DEVELOPMENT

PROPOSAL: The Ruston Green-way is a proposal for a better connection throughout the city of Ruston. The first phase of this proposal is to connect the four sites in which we focused on designing and re-designing.

The second phase of this proposal are the connections across the newly developed sites that will weave a connection into the neighborhoods that exist in Ruston to allow better walk-ability and a better connection to the new developed areas.

COMMUNITY GARDEN

SCULPTURE GARDEN

This first sidewalk iteration consists of a 2' edge zone, a 4' furnishing/planting zone, another 4' for a sidewalk, and a 2' frontage zone with plantings.

2'

4'

4'

2'

S I D E WA LK # 1

12'

This second sidewalk iteration consists of a 4' furnishing/planting zone, 6' for a sidewalk, and a 2' frontage zone for seating or displays.

4'

6'

2'

S I D E WA LK # 2

12'

This third sidewalk iteration consists of a 2' edge zone for lighting, 8' for a sidewalk, and a 2' frontage zone for seating or displays.

2'

8'

2'

S I D E WA LK # 3

12'

PA R K I N G S E C TI O N

IRRIGATION SYSTEM The irrigation system will help water the community garden's plants, help maintain the landscape, and re-vegetate disturbed soils in dry areas. The system consists of stepping stones that vary in height so people can lounge and interact with them.

D RY I R R I G ATI O N SYS TE M

RE-DEVELOPED PARKING LOT A small portion of the parking lat has been maintained but also designed to be permeable parking. The site has areas where community gardens take place and even a sculpture garden to display art. The site also consists of a pedestrian plaza for those who are walking by and need a place to lounge and rest. The site has multiple spaces for large gatherings.

Pedestrians can gather near the water feature or under the pavilion that is served to hold community events.

W E T I R R I G ATI O N SYS TE M

04. GRADUATE PROJECT

S U M M E R

2 0 2 0

-

S P R I N G

2 0 2 1

This studio focused on a year-long project and was done individually. The first quarter of the project was to develop a manifesto that expresses our design philosophy. The specific design philosophy that I focused on was expressing the circulation because I believe it to be an integral part of a user’s experience through the building; it is the circulation that gets your through and in-between spaces. The site for this project takes place at Louisiana Tech University.

The Louisiana Tech School of Biological Sciences is one of the largest majors on its campus with approximately 500 undergraduate students, 45 graduate students, and 20 faculty members. The School’s programs consist of interdisciplinary learning, practical lab work, field work, and field trips to educate students whose future work will be meeting future challenges and opportunities in biological sciences.

The current building that houses the School of Biological Sciences has been outgrown and is in need of a new facility that will better suit the School’s needs to promote professional growth and development between student and faculty through integration of teaching and research. The School contributes to the biological literacy of all students, advances biological knowledge, and is a resource for the state, region, and nation. The new facility will take the place of Carson Taylor Hall, the current existing building that houses the School of Biological Sciences.

The site is located on the south side of LA Tech’s main campus. The site sits on the intersections of Dan Reneau Dr, Adams Blvd, and W California Ave. The east side of the site consists of a cluster of trees that should be preserved and the trees located on the south side of the site should be untouched to be in accordance with Tech’s Master Plan. The site consists of Carson Taylor Hall, Graham Hall, and the Engineering Research / Nuclear Center that will be knocked down to build a new facility for the School of Biological Sciences.

M A N I FE S TO

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES PROPOSAL CONCEPT

Form of the building started off as a rectangular box

CIRCULATION DIAGRAM

Second box was duplicated and rotated to intersect and create circulation path

Corners of the intersecting box are pushed in or out to frame views + create spaces

FENESTRATION EXHIBITION SPACES

CIRCULATION CIRCULATION PATH

FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

THIRD FLOOR

LOBBY + ATRIUM

EXHIBITION SPACE

LANDSCAPE Most of the pedestrian traffic is active on the intersection of Adams Blvd and Dan Reneau Dr; the plaza is designed so that it becomes a gathering area for the students who are either walking into the facility or walking by it. Providing seating areas for students that are also living close by in the oncampus apartment to give them a space to socialize with friends and peers.

EXPLODED AXON SLICE

DETAILED SECTION

TERRACOTTA DETAIL W14X145 8" WALL RAILS

BRACKETS

TERRACOTTA GROOVED FINISH

INSULATION

GLAZING

EXPLODED STRUCTURE

SELECTED WORKS

2019-2021