Willie Leidolf - Portfolio

Design Portfolio

Willie Joe Leidolf

“The word, the right word, the apt word, it’s the opposable thumb of the mind. It is not important that I be noticed, but that my work be noticed. The engine of genius is endurance. Happiness; it’s a sales pitch. Doing right, the rock.”

-Mr. Canon

Lo-Fab

Fabrication Design

Vera Iconica

Residential Experience

Montessori

Digital Workflow

Architectural Workshop

Higher Education Experience

Orphaned Oil Wells

Master’s Thesis Bike Shelters

Lo-Fab Fabrication Design

During a ‘locally fabricated’ studio conducted by MASS Principal Architect and Montana native Sarah Mohland, vernacular construction, and sourcing were researched to combat what we dubbed ‘fast architecture.’ After this stage, we attempted our scaled-down physical manifestation of lo-fab and its potential. To do this, I focused on the historic vernacular architecture of grain elevators in rural Montana, constructed using a method called ‘cribbing,’ which is the stacking of 2x4s. To attempt to re-invent this inherently beautiful method more sustainability, I sourced waste wood 2x4 scrap from a local truss factory, stacked them in a gradient pattern, and dowel laminated the resulting wall to connect them without carbon-intensive metal fasteners, making it easy to reconstruct. Finally, to add interest and bring it into the 21st century, CNC technology to intensified the gradient and bring depth. The result was an easyto-understand, carbon-negative low-fab partition wall/rain screen.

Trial + Error 01

Pallets are collected and disassembled to use as a material source. Due to the time needed to remove the nails, the locally sourced waste material is deemed unusable.

Local Source 02

A consistent source of waste 2x4 material was identified at local truss manufacturing plant, Kenyon Noble.

Once dimensions of our material was decided, parametric design was used to play with possibilities at a faster pace. Eventually, this led to exploration of CNC milling technology.

CNC Milling

A template was created that allowed for a factory-like production of standardized pieces of 2x4. In addition, precise holes were drilled to allow for dowel lamination.

Kit of Parts 05

Combined with wooden dowels, the stud cutoffs formed a ‘kit of parts’ that could be easily assembled without glue or fasteners to a degree of customization.

06

Final Touches

Once put together, the wall assembly was then drilled into plywood and placed back into the CNC to add aesthetic interest by playing with light and curves.

Vera Iconica Professional Experience

While at Vera Iconica Architecture, I worked on several residential projects of varying scales, budgets, and types. The following spreads show two opposing ends of that spectrum, with images highlighting a grasp of construction documentation and administration.

Project A exemplifies careful navigation of a second story addition to an existing log cabin. This project brought forth countless challenges in terms of structural engineering and the implementation of new building technologies to vernacular ones. Perhaps my proudest design input on this project was realized during the CA phase, when it was decided any removed logs be utilized as stair treads leading to the added second story.

Project B, while being a single family residence, required the expertise of a commercial project. With 23 sections total, much of the detailing was centered around the steel space-frames supporting the double height center hall space which were coupled by extruded steel awnings suspended over walkways. While conducting a structural model of the project, I was able to work with civil engineers to detailing concealed gutters within the awnings in order to provide freedom for landscape design opportunities.

Project A

Type: Log Renovation, Residential

Size: ~1,700 Sq. Feet

Location: Jackson, Wyoming

Team Size: 4

Project B

Type: New Construction, Residential Size: ~11,000 Sq. Feet

Location: Jackson, Wyoming

Team Size: 7

Project A

Project B

Montessori Digital Workflow

Within the Montessori education system exists an instilled importance of respect for the environment, self-reliance, and observation. These values are paralleled by the ecology of the Western homestead. By studying and manifesting traditional typologies, we can better learn to synchronize an educational facility with its surroundings in a way that is conducive to the installment of these values. When done successfully, a more sustainable built environment will be created. This project, completed during a Master’s studio, aims to embody these ideals.

Koelbel Renovations

Architectural Workshop

In my time at Architectural Workshop I’ve had the pleasure of expanding my experience into higher education with a plethora of the firm’s working being with the University of Colorado. These projects come mainly in the form of renovations which require careful navigation of both local building codes and University building standards. The main project I’ve been tasked with is the renovation of both the Graduate and Undergraduate office spaces in Koelbel Hall. Currently nearing construction, I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in a variety of tasks ranging from on-site surveying and schematic design to 100% CD’s.

The following images showcase a code plan conducted for the building, as well as of schematic design plans created for a client presentation and their transition into construction documentation.

Orphaned Wells

Master’s Thesis

‘Orphaned oil wells’ are wells owned by oil and gas companies that have since gone bankrupt. These wells have been left largely uncapped, meaning methane is constantly released from the ground into the atmosphere via well pipe. This project works locally with the Well Done Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to capping these wells, to explore ways to move beyond the status quo to turn a negative into a positive. After several months researching, mapping and photographing the wells, an architectural solution was born.

Emphasizing place making and program, it was decided based on historical heating practices that a small portion of the well emission in Toole County, Montana could be transported and utilized as a power source. These emissions would then be stored in now abandoned grain elevators before powering carbon capture fans through co-generation. After being removed from the atmosphere, the C02 would be used to facilitate hemp growth before allowing the plants to redistribute the gas into the ground. The hurd of the hemp would then be used in hempcrete to sustainability cap the remaining orphaned oil wells. Finally, the byproducts of the hemp would be sold to provide economic incentive and transported via rail throughout Montana.

Research + Mapping

There are 2.15 million unplugged abandoned wells in the U.S. in 31 states

That is the equivalent of:

1.29 million home’s electricity use for one year

1.54 million passenger vehicles drive for one year

The current well capping status quo presented by Well Done Foundation founder Curtis Schuck:

Combined, they emit 7.11 MMT co2e each year

7.85 billion lbs of coal burned

STEP THREE

02 03

Locating Through Shale Xp Excavation + Debris Removal Capping With Hempcrete

Hemp hurd is mixed with slurry and water to create “hempcrete,” which is used to surround the pipe. The hempcrete is biodegradable, crack resistant, and better suited

Contribute to the Study of Architecture Demonstrate

Research and Analysis

Response + Intervention

Piping, Storing, and Converting Waste Emissions at Grain Elevator Sites In Order to Power Carbon Capture Fans and Facilitate Hemp Growth for Create Hempcrete Needed For Capping Nearby Wells

Methane Storage

Waste methane is piped from Oilmont, Mt and stored within re-purposed grain elevators in Toole County

Stored methane is converted to electricity through co-generation in order to power carbon capture fans

Hemp for Hempcrete 03

Captured carbon is distributed to greenhouses to facilitate the growth of hemp and the creation of hempcrete to cap remaining wells

Bike Shelters

Design + Build

The Bike Shelters were a design/build project conducted by Montana State University M.Arch candidates taking place over two semesters by team of students in the M.Arch program at Montana State University. The process entailed everything from physical hand welded details to permit submittal with the City of Bozeman. Every drawing shown has was to be reviewed by engineers, faculty, and the city and is currently under construction by the students outside of Cobleigh Hall on MSU’s Campus.

The project provides much needed bicycle storage on campus, as well as protection from snow without jeopardizing the safety and security of the student population. Throughout the project we managed to remain below the budget of $25,000 for materials, with each shelter costing an estimated $4,000. If the shelters prove successful, the CD set will have continued use as a template for future structures across campus.

BIKE SHELTER

Faure Halvorsen

Internship

At Faure Halvorsen Architects as an Intern, I experienced both commercial and residential projects, both collaboratively and independently. Looking back, the most enjoyable and educational aspect of these projects would have to be a small fishing shack on the Jefferson River. Designed to be a guest house, the highly iterative and personal project was the first in which I was granted complete responsibility of schematic one-on-one design with the client. Under strict budgeting and square footage constraints, we worked alongside a clienthired general contractor. While frustrating at times, the fast pace and intimacy of the project, in addition to the opportunity for relative independence, proved to be a great and exciting learning experience. Featured are several of the iterations of the shack, each resulting from changing concepts and budgeting - the largest of these iterations being the design that ultimately was chosen and constructed.

Villa Chicago Theory

Inspired by the life work of the late Yona Friedman and his vision of ‘mobile architecture’ this studio project was completed in collaboration with Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architects during the beginning of the pandemic. Taking inspiration from works such as Le Corbusier’s ‘Dom-Ino’ House and Kisho Kurokawa’s Nakagin Capsule Tower, the overwhelming scale of the program drove me to experiment with the concepts of modularity, ‘space frames,’ and pre-fabrication during uncertain times which called for flexibility.

To the right are plans of a series of modules which are further complimented by images studying their designs playful integration into a steel frame grid. The suspension of this grid into the air by two cores is then used to examine reclamation of the urban ground level.

Objects Miscellaneous

My preferred method of communicating ideas throughout my education has always been the physical model. Apart from helping to formulate a better sense of scale and spatial quality, the progression of study models towards a final product documents a tactile and clear design progression. The following images showcase designs completed in various studios as well as an evolution in craft, playfulness, and construction.

williamleidolf@gmail.com (571) 232-9539

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