My name is William Coulter, and my passion for architecture began in childhood, sparked by a fascination with how buildings stand and an early love for drawing and creativity. This curiosity led me to explore the mechanics of structures and the process of turning designs into reality. Architecture became the perfect career path, blending my interests in creativity, engineering, and community impact. For me, it’s not just about designing buildings but creating spaces that inspire connection and enrich lives, uniting my skills and passions to make a lasting difference.
My design philosophy centers on balancing function and aesthetics, with a strong focus on structural integrity and buildability. I strive to create spaces that cultivate a sense of community and belonging, enhancing the human experience in meaningful ways. Each project is an opportunity to contribute to cultural growth and social cohesion. Through my work, I strive to create a built environment that is more inclusive and equitable, while maintaining a strong commitment to structural soundness and stability.
01 BETWEEN THE BLUE - 01 A City Corridor
03 04 02 05
06 UNI(t)FIED - 13
OPEN-MINDED - 19
INTERMINGLED - 07 IN THE OFFICE - 25
TRANSFORMATION - 29 A Modular Highline Tower A Civic Arts Center A Transitional Housing Complex Exploring Architectural Practice
Hand-Drawing to Architecture
BETWEEN THE BLUE
A City Corridor
Professor Schuyler Clogston
Partnership with Valerie Evans Charleston, SC
In this urban design-based studio, we contributed to the Charleston
MARSH project by creating an ecological corridor to connect tidal creeks, restore green spaces, and enhance the overall human experience on the peninsula. Guided by the concept of “bringing people to the water,” my partner and I designed a cleaner, greener urban environment while also incorporating new development to improve the city’s density. My partner focused on streetscape design and mapping, while focused primarily on the new development ideas and renders.
To reconnect Charleston locals with the water, we designed access points such as kayaking launch sites, boardwalks, and waterfront gravel trails to encourage recreation and exploration. Each feature was thoughtfully integrated to deepen appreciation for the city’s waterways and tidal creeks. These access points aim to strengthen community ties to the environment while improving outdoor accessibility and experiences.
CRABBING ACCESS POINT
KAYAK LAUNCH POINT & FISHING DOCK ELEVATED BOARDWALK
TIDAL GATE
Elevated Boardwalk Lookout
Gravel Trail
WATERFRONT TRAIL
KAYAKING ROUTE
KAYAK LAUNCH POINT AND FISHING DOCK
ELEVATED BOARDWALK
WATERFRONT TRAIL HALSEY
We revamped Rutledge and Fishburne Avenues as the primary routes within our corridor by adding new bike lanes, native plants, and bioswales to improve sustainability and accessibility. We implemented a wayfinding system with bus stop structures to remind people of the corridor and guide them to the water.
BIOSWALE SECTION
Metal Flashing Sheet
Steam-bent Plywood Sheet
Stormwater Canal Opening
Laser-Cut Metal Tie Plate
Stormwater Hole Opening
Hollow Steel Tubing
Signage Plate
Plywood Bench
As part of our housing developments, we converted the top floor of the Big Bertha storage building into a coliving space, balancing common areas for social interaction with private spaces for personal retreat. This design fosters community while maintaining privacy, catering to modern residents seeking both connection and autonomy.
We designed a pocket neighborhood with 6 homes on a single lot, incorporating shared green spaces and parking zones to foster community engagement and maximize urban density. This approach provides more housing in a smaller area, reducing the need for dispersed developments.
BIG BERTHA STORAGE CO-HOUSING PROPOSAL
SINGLE-LOT POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD LAYOUT PROPOSAL
We transformed the underutilized Food Lion parking lot on King St by adding a mixed-use building with retail below and apartments above, increasing density in North Central. A new green space with trees, benches, walking paths, and a reflection pond will offer a park for residents, enhancing recreation and the community’s visual experience.
LEGEND
PRIMARY ROUTE
SECONDARY ROUTE
TERTIARY ROUTE
MARSHWALK TRAILS
KAYAKING ROUTE
INTERSECTION REDESIGN
CONNECTION TO GREEN SPACE
CONNECTION TO WATER - SIGHT
CONNECTION TO WATER - TOUCH
WAYFINDING/BUS STOPS
COMMERCIAL
MIXED USE (RETAIL/HOUSING)
BUSINESS INCUBATOR
MIXED USE (RETAIL/PARKING GARAGE)
HOUSING
CO-LIVING
POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD
02
INTER-MINGLED
A Transitional Housing Complex
Spring 2024 ARCH 3510
Professor Joel Brown
Partnership with Leo Hernandez Los Angeles, CA
In response to the housing crisis, our studio was tasked with designing affordable housing for Los Angeles’ homeless population, incorporating 3D printing technology. After researching the LA housing crisis and additive manufacturing, my partner and I designed a transitional housing complex inspired by Santorini’s architecture. My role focused on developing the digital model, including structural drawings, conceptual diagrams, and line drawings. I redid all of the renders and site section to my liking after the studio concluded.
PARKINGGARAGE
The design promotes community with a central gathering space and interlocking units that form terraces and interaction spots.
Several elements, such as the large steps, structural arches, and curved roofs were implemented to resemble Santorini’s iconic architecture.
CALIFORNIA TRUCKING RESTRICTIONS
Each 15-foot-wide unit meets California’s trucking restrictions, enabling transport without special permits.
The unit distribution reflects LA’s homeless population, with 80% for individuals and 20% for families. The 37 interlocking prefabricated units, stacked around a central community space, echo Santorini’s steep slopes and promote healing.
EXPLODED WALL
Prefabricated units are placed by crane, forming cantilevers supported by a structural arch system. The walls are crosslinked concrete with stucco cladding, while timber-framed curved roofs connect via a pressure-treated top plate.
DIAGRAM ROOF DETAIL
CLARESTORY WINDOW DETAIL
The complex hides its modularity with Santorini-inspired elements like arches, curved roofs, and stucco cladding. South-facing skylights and terra cotta tiles bring natural light, while interlocking units create varied designs from the garage to the fifth floor.
In summary, this transitional housing complex addresses Los Angeles’ housing crisis with cost-effective prefabricated units. Inspired by the iconic architecture of Santorini, the complex offers a nurturing space for families moving to permanent housing.
03
UNI(t)FIED
A Modular Office Tower
Partnership with CJ Duff Chelsea, NY
My partner and I collaborated on designing an office building along New York City’s iconic High Line. The project involved researching contemporary urban environments and workplaces to create a design that integrates with its urban context. Through several case studies, we developed our core concepts, culminating in the final design. I heavily contributed to the conceptual development, digital modeling, and was responsible for producing the line drawings, wall sections, and physical model. After the studio concluded, I redid the renders to my liking.
Professor Clarissa Mendez
We worked to react to the site conditions at 289 10th Avenue, prioritizing the preservation of the city’s atmosphere. By stacking and overlapping modular units, we created ample space for exterior balconies. We also added a staircase that wraps around the building up to the rooftop, reflecting the High Line and offering a visual connection. Through the balconies and staircase, we aimed to give workers opportunities to enjoy the city’s environment, recognizing that they thrive in it.
We designed 13 distinct units, each tailored to a specific occupant type, whether an artist, innovator, or designer. Acknowledging the diverse needs of New York City workers, each unit has unique features and reflects one of three workspace types: collaborative, speculative, or incubator. Collaborative spaces, made with wood, create a relaxed, versatile environment. Incubator spaces, with concrete, foster focus and privacy, while speculative units, in white plaster, offer neutrality and flexibility. The design aims to celebrate individuality while unifying people in a workspace that suits their unique needs.
EXPLODED UNIT AXONOMETRIC
The building’s structure uses two central cores with precast concrete corridors supported by steel beams and columns. Each module is designed to “clip” onto the central steel column system and is constructed on-site. Once completed, modules are lifted by crane and attached to the columns.
The design adapts to New York’s postCOVID remote work shift with flexible units that can transform underutilized office spaces into apartments, educational areas, or other uses, while maintaining structural permanence and design integrity.
04
OPEN-MINDED
A Civic Arts Center
Spring 2023 ARCH 2520
Professor Byron Jefferies
Professor Amy Trick (Structures II) Cayce, SC
For this project, I transformed a narrow site in Cayce, South Carolina into a public civic complex celebrating art and culture, reflecting the area’s identity as an art district. The final design highlights how architecture can support creativity in a vibrant community. After taking Structures II a year after this studio, I was provided the unique opportunity to redesign a great portion of this building. I revised the building’s framing, adding several interior columns, restructuring the roof, and redesigning the clerestory window, updating all drawings and renders accordingly.
The project aims to create a complex with a distinct atmosphere, centered around the black box theatre and exhibit space. The exhibit space serves as the focal point, with smaller rooms and classrooms branching out. Hierarchy was key, reflected in ceiling heights: the theatre and exhibit space are elevated above the lobby, café, and art shop, which are higher than the private areas, reinforcing the building’s design hierarchy.
Identified and designated an optimal zone within the site suitable for new construction
Broke down the original mass into the required program elements
Developed initial square mass by extruding the volume to align with the total square footage of the program
Implemented the precedent-driven concept of “peeling” different parts of the program away from the central origin of the building
Adjusted ceiling heights based on the functional significance of each space to establish a clear hierarchy within the building
Refined and integrated program elements to create a cohesive design with seamless connections and well-defined massing
The development of the programming layout for my Cayce Arts Center was a meticulous process, involving multiple iterations before reaching the final design. Establishing hierarchy, optimizing circulation, and balancing public and private spaces were the primary driving factors throughout the design phase. This iterative process gave me valuable insight into the complexities of architectural practice, highlighting the importance of adaptability and critical thinking. It also set a foundation for my future design approach, emphasizing the need for intentionality and responsiveness to both functional and human-centered goals.
I chose steel framing for its flexibility, durability, and suitability for large-scale buildings. It allows open interiors and has a high strength-to-weight ratio for lighter, durable structures. Through taking Structures II, I was assigned to frame this entire building, teaching me a great deal about steel structures.
The design of the art center is driven by the concept of “openness,” reflected in the glass windows and open floor plan. This atmosphere fosters creativity and free expression, offering an ideal setting for both creating and appreciating art. The center provides a fresh perspective on art and serves as an ideal destination for those immersed in the creative world.
Another key concept influencing the design is circulation. Wood-covered steel columns define the interior path around the exhibit space, providing easy access to all public areas. While these columns guide movement, the design encourages freedom, allowing visitors to explore the space without restrictions.
BUILDING
05 IN THE OFFICE
Exploring Architectural Practice
Summer 2024
McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture
Project Architects: Rob Couch, Daniel Taylor
Living Practice Area
Greenville, SC
During my first experience at McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture in Greenville, SC, I worked in the Living Department on several high-profile projects, enhancing my skills in Revit and Bluebeam. This experience taught me about the fast-paced nature of full-time architecture work. I contributed to notable projects like the Slighs Avenue Apartments in Columbia and the Neighborhood Cancer Connection Center in Greenville, both featured here.
I contributed heavily in several presentation drawings of the Slighs Avenue apartment complex in downtown Columbia, aimed at blending with the neighborhood and fostering resident belonging. The project includes quadplexes and townhomes, with quadplexes featuring mirrored 2-bedroom units for efficient construction and accessibility. Townhomes offer 3 bedrooms, and all units include spacious kitchens, living areas, and generous porches.
QUADPLEX
TOWNHOME
The quadplexes and townhomes use wood and brick exteriors to blend with the neighborhood. Townhomes have symmetrical facades, while quadplexes feature asymmetrical fronts with balconies. Different materials highlight the levels, emphasizing the townhomes’ verticality and distinguishing the quadplexes.
As an MPS intern, my first project was designing a garden pergola for the Neighborhood Cancer Connection Center in Greenville, SC. This introduced me to Revit, where I applied my modeling skills to create several pergola iterations. After refining and presenting three concepts, this one one was chosen. Despite budget uncertainties, the project aimed to provide a peaceful space for cancer patients and gave me valuable Revit experience and practical architectural insight.
FRONT ELEVATION
GROUND
06 TRANSFORMATION
Hand-Drawing to Architecture
Tara Schumacher
As a child, my fascination and talent for drawing ignited a spark that evolved into a passion for architecture. Those drawings taught me about spatial relationships, perspective, and design principles. Through those drawings, I unconsciously learned about form, balance, and composition, which are skills essential to architectural design. My interest in drawing allowed me to explore different styles, materials, and structures, providing an intuitive understanding of aesthetics and functionality that now seamlessly translate into my work in the architecture field.
Spring 2021
AP Drawing
Exploring Shadows and Reflections Exploring Shadows and Reflections
In my senior year AP drawing class, focusing on metals and reflections deepened my understanding of three-dimensional representation. Capturing light on metallic surfaces improved my ability to depict depth, form, and perspective, while exploring shadows and highlights enhanced my grasp of value and contrast, essential for both hand and architectural drawings.
H I N K I N G O U T S I D E T H E B O X
Surrealism
In my junior year of high school, I was introduced to surrealism, which taught me to adopt an architect’s mindset. Creating a surreal drawing, like this food forest, involved breaking free from the ordinary and exploring unconventional angles, which set a precedent for my future work.
Problem-Solving
Becoming an exceptional architect requires strong problem-solving skills. In the drawing above, I transformed a water-damaged marker piece into an abstract portrayal of fish. Architecture demands not only envisioning structures but also skillfully tackling challenges—from site constraints to client needs. An architect’s ability to dissect problems, explore solutions, and resolve issues shapes their identity.
The drawing below was my first attempt at perspective with a vanishing point. Guiding lines toward the vanishing point revealed how perspective adds depth, giving me a deeper appreciation for its role in creating dimensional art.
Tying it all Together
This final project for ARCH 1010—a drawing of Holtzendorff Hall—showcases my AP drawing skills through an unconventional use of pen and markers to add depth and shadows. Overcoming challenges with realistic shadowing, I used my fingers to create a three-dimensional effect. This drawing illustrates how hand drawing directly translates to architecture, highlighting the importance of light, space, and perspective manipulation.
