Katrina Mills Portfolio

Portfolio

Selected Work by

Katrina Mills

CONTENT

01-08

Professor Nilou Vakil Spring 2022

Design Competition 09-12

Collaborative Tiny House Design Competition January 2024

13-18

School for the Blind KSSB Pavilion

Professor Nilou Vakil Fall 2022

19-22

Internship Experience

Multistudio Internship

May-Dec 2022

23-26

Screen Prints

Personal Printmaking Projects 2022-2023

School for the Blind

Professor Nilou Vakil

Partnered with Madeline Bradley

Prompt

Students were to design a specialized school for visually impaired students aged 5-12 in Denver, Colorado. This school should be designed with consideration toward the unique sensory and wayfinding needs of its students and staff.

Concept

The driving concept for this design was to reflect on the feeling of walking through an aspen forest in Colorado. This was achieved through the intentional use of materials, repetition of structural elements, and delicate control of lighting in order to replicate the feeling of branches overhead with light filtering through the leaves.

Blindness Simulation

As an initial exercise, our class participated in a simulation provided by the Kansas State School for the Blind. The simulation provided us with a more personal understanding of different types and levels of visual impairment and how we could design wayfinding strategies with these limitations in mind.

Massing Model

We focused on the arrangement of vital programs along a curving centralized spine. This approach was chosen due to its strong wayfinding capabilities.

Plan Development

The plan was finalized and developed in collaboration with structural, mechanical, and electrical consultants. All design decisions were made to maximize ease of wayfinding and minimize distracting sensory input.

Final Model

Finally, a physical section model was created as a tool for understanding the interconnectivity of various parts of the building. This exercise was helpful in giving us a perspective of the scale and practical construction of various parts of the overall building.

The form runs along a central circulation spine that creates an intuitive wayfinding system. The central spine was extruded to allow controlled natural light navigation.

The main programs facing the residential street, E 26th ave, responding to existing roof line conditions.

The centralized spine and building then curve in response to the existing park datum lines, allowing the form to snake through some of the existing foliage.

To allow celebration of larger programs, the form pushes out further at key points away from the spine. The pockets of relief naturally create important outdoor pockets filled with opportunity for students and staff.

South Elevation

The southern elevation is the most heavily interacted with by students as it faces the playground. The materials used in the building exterior are intended to be pleasant to touch in terms of texture and temperature. The use of color is controlled to direct students’ attention to wayfinding and tactile elements.

Corridor

The corridor is a primary element of the design, connecting the entire program together. A lit railing is recessed into the wall at a comfortable height for children to provide a sense of direction when navigating the school. Additionally, the overhead windows are only placed on one side to provide further wayfinding advantages.

Classrooms

The classrooms continue the existing wayfinding datum from the centralized circulation spine. The adjustable louvers and textured ceiling features provide additional control of the shadows cast in the classroom.

Exteriors

The exteriors of the building are clad in terracotta tiles to provide a natural color and pleasant texture. The neutral color provides contrast to brightly colored elements.

Final Model

A section was taken from the building entrance to highlight the central circulation corridor and its connection to adjacent rooms. The library and classrooms are modeled to provide examples of tactile wayfinding solutions and potential furniture arrangements.

Entrance

The entrance of the building makes use of tactile pavers and a large overhang to communicate to the children when they have entered the school.

Tiny House Design Competition

Prompt

Designers are tasked to create a concept for a tiny house which can house two adults. The house can be mobile or stationary with consideration given to optimal use of the space. Designs should be limited to 400sf in total.

KSSB Courtyard

Professor Nilou Vakil Fall 2022

Prompt

The Kansas State School for the Blind was interested in improving their existing courtyard. These improvements were intended to provide a more holistic sensory experience for students. The space should be practical for a variety of larger social events, as well as for individual enjoyment.

Mint

Perennial Scent

Lamb’s Ear

Perennial Soft Leaves

Cone Flowers

Perennial Soft Centers

A precedent study of the AudioReader Sensory Garden highlighted elements that should be avoided in the creation of a new courtyard, such as this uneven brick pathway that would be difficult to navigate with visual or physical impairment.

Dianthus

Perennial

Vibrant Colors

Marigolds

Annual Vibrant Colors

Elements such as this overhang can create obstacles for the visually impaired. However, elements such as this railing are ergonomic and comfortable to be used for wayfinding.

Purple Heart

Perennial

Evergreen (Ever Purple)

Auditory elements can be beneficial for a sensory garden. Providing resources for birds can encourage local wildlife sounds and water features can help to create a calming atmosphere.

Design Suggestion

The final design suggestion I provided after an analysis of precedent studies involves a centralized seating area with raised garden beds. The curved paths of varying textures provides opportunities for students to practice cane navigation on organic pathways with changing materials.

The round seating area provides seating options facing the center, allowing teachers to take their classes outside and events to take place where people can gather in a larger capacity.

A separate seating area surrounds a water element, providing students with pleasant background sounds and accessible seating. Shadows and textures are used at various points to communicate to students when they are transitioning between spaces.

Garden beds

The garden beds are raised at various heights to provide people of different heights, ages, and abilities with access to nature. The edges are rounded to encourage a more comfortable tactile experience.

Outdoor Seating

A variety of seating options are provided to allow students to have multiple places to sit and enjoy lunch. This seating is located outside of the cafeteria and incorporates picnic style tables as well as rounded benches for more casual seating.

Internship Experience

Multistudio (Formerly Gould Evans)

May-December 2022

Barstow Teacher’s Lounge

Working with Multistudio architects and Barstow clients, I created plans and renders for a new teacher’s lounge in the Barstow school. These plans were used for permitting, and the renders were presented to clients for approval.

Shown below are images of the space after construction was completed. Minor changes were made such as the number of booths and kitchen shelving, This exercise provided me with experience in both rendering and permitting.

Completed Construction

Auburn Washburn

While creating plans for a new middle school for the Auburn Washburn school district, I conducted related research on the design of modern classrooms and their effects on children with cognitive and physical impairments.

Additionally, I compiled and presented student survey responses related to how students and staff currently use their school building. This data was used to examine the common attitudes toward different elements of their educational environment.

Education Graphics

I created several plans, elevations, and sections for various education projects to be submitted for award submittals and marketing purposes.

Printmaking

Printmaking projects inspired by architectural styles

Nonsense Cities I created these pieces as an exploration of city design by breaking out of the limitations of functional design. By arranging masses chaotically I have been able to explore spacial organization and be more creative in my architecture work.