YUEXI CHEN
USC School of Architecture, M.Arch III
Certificate in Sustainable Design
yuexic@usc.edu | (424) 249 -5016
EDUCATION
Chongqing University, CQU
- Degree: Bachelor of Engineering, School of Urban Construction and Environmental Engineering
- Major: Building Science
University of Southern California, USC
- Degree: Master of Architecture, School of Architecture
- Major: Architecture Design
Tongji University, CAUP
- Go Local Project: College of Architecture and Urban Planning
École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville
- Summer School: School of Architecture
EXPERIENCE
Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd. (BIAD)
Student Intern, Creation Department of 1A1
Student Intern, Building Information Modeling Department
Zaha Hadid Architects
Student Intern
SOFTWARE & SKILLS
English (Advanced), Chinese (Native)
Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, Revit, AutoCAD, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Enscape, IES VE, Microsoft Office, 3D Print, Laser Cut, Photography.
MÖBIUS TOWER
USC SOCIAL JUSTICE CENTER
ZIG-ZAG HEALTHCARE HAVEN
MIXED-USE HEALTHCARE CAMPUS
THE RIBBON
MARSHALL EXTENSION BUILDING
MODULAR BRIDGE HOUSES
LOS ANGELES ADU RESEARCH
INCLUSION INSTITUTE
USC SOCIAL JUSTICE CENTER / GROUP PROJECT
HVAC SYSTEM DESIGN
LONGHU COMMERCIAL COMPLEX
PARAMETRIC DESIGN
ORGANIC PAVILION DESIGN / GROUP PROJECT
MÖBIUS TOWER
USC SOCIAL JUSTICE CENTER
The design of the building is inspired by the Möbius Ring. The building connects all programs in a circular flow, where people with different jobs and different purposes intersect. The immigration history of Chinatown and the design concept of the building are similar. In the early immigrant era, people of different races and cultures walked through their own histories and merged and converged in the new era, creating communication and empathy.
The building has four towers, which form a small circulation two by two, and then converge at the podium to become a complete large circulation. The Möbius Circle symbolizes social justice as a circular and progressive process.
SLOPED CAP-FLASHING
2-PLY SBS ROODING MEMBRANE OVER GYPSUM ROOF SHEATHING
W-FLANGE
ROOF SHEATHING
TWO LAYERS OF POLYISOCYANURATE INSULATION
SELF-ADHERED AIR AND VAPOR BARRIER MEMBRANE ON TOP SIDE OF CLT PANEL AND ONTO
BACK SIDE OF CLT WALL PARAPET
SLOPED CAP-FLASHING
CLT ROOF PANEL
GLASS CURTAIN WALL
WINDOW ASSEMBLY
INTERIOR WINDOW TRIM
BACKER ROD AND SEALANT
SLOPED BLOCKING
SELF-ADHERED MEMBRANES
AIR BARRIER
MENTAL PANEL
TWO LAYERS OF POLYISOCYANURATE INSULATION
CLT PANEL INSULATION
WOOD TRUSS
CONCRETE FOUNDATION
BUILDING ENCLOSURE SYSTEMS
ASSIGNMENT 7: DIGITAL CHUNK MODEL AND DRAWINGS
Scale: 3/8" = 1'-0"
Sheet Size: 36" by 72"
Yuexi Chen
ZIG-ZAG HEALTHCARE HAVEN MIXED-USE HEALTHCARE CAMPUS
Angelica Theiriot, the founder of Planetree, quoted that “Many of the most important moments in people’s lives are spent in hospitals. Yet for the most part, They are the coldest and ugliest places on the earth.”
For the modern healthcare, it is important to provide patients supportive human relationships, physical comfort, independence and a sense of autonomy and dignity.
Zig-Zag Healthcare Haven is a mixed-use healthcare setting with Outpatient Clinic, Lifelong Housing, and Memory Care Cluster. The community-oriented healthcare center is a haven of calm in the busy city.
Overall, Zig-Zag Healthcare Haven is protected, peaceful, and conducive to rest or enjoyment.
IMPACT OF SURROUNDING AREA
CONCEPT DIAGRAM
OUTPATIENT CLINIC PROGRAM:
Lobby
Radiation and Imaging Room
Physical Therapy
Outpatient Exam and Doctor’s Office
Staff’s Space
Lab
Retail
Back of House
FARMER’S MARKET GYM MAIN ENTRANCE OF OUTPATIENT CLINIC
LIFELONG HOUSING PROGRAM:
Lobby
Staff’s Space
Adult Day Care Center
Classroom
Library
Art Studio
Media Room
Kitchen and Dining Area
Gym
Lab
Housing Units
The memory care cluster focus on taking good care and protect the elder’s life, especially for people who has dementia.
PRIVATE GARDEN FOR MEMORY CARE CLUSTER
03
THE RIBBON MARSHALL EXTENSION BUILDING
The design is an extension school of USC Marshall Business School.
The extension school is opening to public, inviting successful businessman and well-known alumni to share experience with students, together with carrying out MBA courses for adults. At the same time, it provides a closer learning and discussion space for business school students who live in USC Village.
A business school aims to engage students, encourage self-motivation, and enhance collaboration. Based on the research of the early design stage, I figure that business students have three main activities inside the school building -- case study, social practice, and group work. It is important to create an enthusiastic atmosphere of communication.
One of the main architectural features is the façade. It is composed by pre-casted wood. 85% of the facade structure are made by original straight wood, 15% of the facade structure are made by bended wood. The organic shape of the facade also highlights the entrance of the building. This idea explores the ways of movement and transformations.
Following the function of the building, the interior space is separated into two parts -- the necessary academic community space and the convenient collaboration space.
During the form generation phase, I extract the two main architectural function areas into two intersection and rotating curves, implying that the core values of the business school intersect and merge within the building. By logically mixing functional areas, this building provides a highly interactive community space.
THE LISTED SPACES:
1 NECESSARY - ACADEMIC COMMUNITY: Conference room, Team rooms, Classrooms, Multipurpose Hall
2 CONVENIENT - COLLABORATION SPACE: Lobby, Café, Lounge, Terrace
3 NONE - SUPPORT FACILITIES: Faculty offices, Storage, Toilets
When viewed from below, the staircases appear as they are interlocking circles, enhancing the energetic indoor atmosphere. The interior space of the building has efficient natural lighting. At the same time, because of the sun-shading design of the facade, even in the hot summer of Los Angeles, the building will not be overloaded with cooling load. The open underground space also increases indoor air circulation and ensures indoor air quality.
The architecture uses multiple building materials. The main structure is made of concrete. Concrete is resistant to fire, wind, water, and earthquakes, keeping people safer and reducing costs. Through using triangular concrete waffle slabs, a 5000 sqft multipurpose space has been successfully built without a column. The facade profiles are made of wood and painted in a similar color to the surrounding buildings in USC Village. The building contrasts with the surroundings in form and echoes it in color, and the whole site still looks harmonious.
WATER PROOF INSOLATION CONCRETE SLAB CONCRETE BEAM CONCRETE COLUMN VAPOR RETARFER INSOLATION VAPOR RETARFER AIR GAP
STEEL MULLION
GLASS CURTAIN WALL
STEEL HANDRAIL GLASS CURTAIN WALL STEEL MULLION CONCRETE SLAB CONCRETE BEAM
STEEL MULLION
GLASS CURTAIN WALL
STEEL MULLION
CONCRETE SLAB CONCRETE BEAM
MODULAR BRIDGE HOUSES
LOS ANGELES ADU RESEARCH
This proposal continues the design research initiated with the double house project that preceded it. Similarly, an L-Block module was adopted as a flexible and adaptable dwelling unit and then multiplied and outfitted to house a diverse group of users including singles, small families, co-living and co-working arrangements.
Various organizational combinations and permutations were studied to form courtyards and bars of units and shared outdoor spaces of different sizes and proportions. Contrary to conventional ways of organizing programs, private and public spaces are mixed between the ground and second floors. Finally, bridges are placed on the second level not only to connect the units but also to provide additional elevated communal and semi-private patios for residents.
