Portfolio_Mengrui Zhang

PORT ARCHITECTURE

FOLIO

MENGRUI ZHANG

MENGRUI ZHANG

LEED AP BD+C

Phone: (424) 236-1148

E-mail: zhangmengrui1999@gmail.com

ABOUT

Effective and innovative designer committed to achieving the client's requirements using diverse design skills. Self-directed and energetic with superior performance in both autonomous or collaborative environments working independently and collaborating with others on group projects.

EXPERIENCE

Jun. 2022 - Aug. 2022|Tighe Architecture

Student Intern, Los Angeles, CA

• Worked on House of Lebanon. Researched the social and cultural context of Lebanon, collected information and cases, provided theoretical and practical references for the project's concept. Participated in façade design and used Grasshopper to build 10 façade schemes for comparison

• Worked on Cloverdale Co-Living, Court, Larrabee, Barranca. Optimized 3D models for projects, created Rhino model files for 3D printing and laser cutting, made physical models, expanded company's physical model exhibition

• Organized and summarized all the company's past projects, independently designed and produced a portfolio for each project, and participated in the 2022 AIA LA Design Awards submission.

• Participated in the management of social media accounts including the company website and Instagram, created project animations and short videos using After Effects, Instagram followers increasing from 7,000 to 10,000 during the operation period

Jan. 2019 - Mar. 2019|Homedale Urban Planning & Architects

Student Intern, Beijing, China

• In the design phase of a residential apartment project, collected and studied the relevant building codes and used AutoCAD to check the WIP design and immediately modified the parts that did not comply with the codes.

• Participated in the site analysis of a new residential apartment project in Hebei, analyzed the current traffic situation and neighbor programing around the site, independently conduct preliminary research, presentation and text integration

EDUCATION

Master of Architecture, First-Professional Degree: Architecture

University of Southern California - Los Angeles, CA

NAAB accredited program

Bachelor of Arts, Archeology (Heritage Architecture)

Peking University - Beijing, China

THREE VIEWS

LOCATION:

739 N Main St, Los Angeles

SITE AREA:

34,770SF

BUILDING AREA:

31,500SF

PROJECT DATE: March 2022

PROGRAM: Office

Social justice refers to a political and philosophical theory that focuses on the concept of fairness in relations between individuals in society and equal access to wealth, opportunities, and social privileges.

The project is based on the definition of social justice, and aims to give each group the same and equal spatial experience. There are many social justice related elements around the site, such as the social justice museum in the south; the snowy mountain in the north, which represents the natural resources, and the project itself carries the community resources. The project extracts these elements and defines three axes with these three points, two of which are outward, facing history and nature, and the other is inward, connecting the neighborhood and the public activity space of the building. The spaces corresponding to these three axes are accessible to all groups. Therefore, the concept of equitable access to social resources is thus embodied.

Through the study of the functional zoning of the surrounding area, three sites were sought that corresponded to the concept, corresponding to natural, cultural and community activities. The location representing nature is MT Wilsom which is in the north, the one representing culture is the museum of social justice which is in the south, and the one representing community activities is the project itself. So the three sites generate two outward facing axes, and one inward facing axis. The outward-facing axis is additive, allowing people to look outward. The inward axis is subtractive, acting as an entrance to attract people towards the interior of the building.

1. SOCIAL JUSCTICE CENTER LOCATION

2.MUSEUM OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

3.MT WILSOM

1. MASSING 2. FLOOR SYSTEM 3. SUBSTRUCTURE SYSTEM 4. FRAME SYSTEM 5. LATERAL SYSTEM 6. FOUNDATION SYSTEM

POLYCARBONATE SCREEN

1. SLOP-CAP-FLASHING

2. SELF-ADHERED MEMBRANE

3. 2-PLY SBS ROOFING MEMBRANE OVER GYPSUM ROOF SHEATHING

4. SELF-ADHERED MEMBRANE

5. ROOF SHEATHING

6. TWO LAYERS OF POLYISOCYANURATE ISULATION(STAGGERED JOINTS)

7. SELF-ADHERED AIR AND VAPOR BARRIER MEMBRANE

8. CLT ROOF PANEL

9. 12”*18” GIRDER

10. 10”*18” PURLIN

11. 12”*12” COLUMN

12. RIGID INSULATION

13. AIR GAP 14. CLT PANEL

15. PAINTED METAL PANEL 16. FLASHING

1. STORAGE 2. HAVC ROOM 3. BICYCLE PARKING 4. LOBBY 5. JANITORIAL ROOM 6. OFFICE 7. EVENT SPACE 8. BREAK ROOM 9. OPEN SERVICE OFFICE 10. OPEN RESEARCH OFFICE 11. MEETING ROOM 12. MUSEUM

HEALING JOURNEY

LOCATION:

4020 Compton Ave, Los Angeles

SITE AREA:

218,560SF

BUILDING AREA:

185,800SF

PROJECT DATE: September 2022

PROGRAM: Healthcare Campus

Hans Christian Andersen famously said: “Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” The project intends to create a feeling of nature by blending indoor and outdoor spaces with the landscape. A large circular flow ties all the buildings and landscapes together. People walk, stay, watch and fully feel the healing power of nature in it as if they are on a healing journey. In addition, wood was used as a natural material for the entirety of the building's design since it satisfies both functional and biophilic requirements, and the warm colors enliven the senior community.

The project also benefits the community. Public amenities including classrooms and library are available at the community activity center close to Compton Ave for use by the entire neighborhood. The retail space next to E 41st St, which mirrors the commercial district across the street, is convenient for everyone. Finally, a vibrant campus can bring peace and happiness to seniors and can energize the entire community.

Famers’ Market Structure

As a transient building, wood, which is portable and simple to deconstruct, serves as the primary structural material.

Outpatient Atrium Area

The staircase and elevator are both located at the very center of the building, emphasizing the same access experience for both.

Healing Garden

The healing garden, semi-surrounded by the outpatient building, provides a close experience to nature for patients and staff.

Walking Park

This walking park uses soft ground with double rows of street trees to provide a secluded space, like walking in the jungle.

Memory Care Cluster

Wood surfaces makes the entrance more welcoming, and the huge glass wall provides a view of the interior staircase.

Lifelong Housing

The balconies of the unit, which open outward, are connected in a long, wood colored form on the façade.

1. LOBBY 2. TRIAGE 3. LAB 4. PHYSICAL THERAPY 5. PHARMACY 6. GREEN GROCER 7. FLOWER SHOP 8. STORAGE 9. SUPPLY MANAGEMENT 10. HEALING GARDEN

1. CLINIC 2. DOCTOR'S OFFICE 3.

3. CIRCULATION 4. GREEN SPACE

1. CIRCULATION 2. RADIATION AND IMAGING 3. STAFF'S OFFICE 4. STAFF LOUNGE

OUTPATIENT THIRD FLOOR PLAN

1. LOBBY 2. EXERCISE 3. STUDIO 4. DAYCARE 5. MEDIA 6. EXAM ROOM 7. MEETING 8. LIBRARY 9. CLASSROOM 10. RESTAURANT 11. STAFF SPACE

LIFELONG HOUSING GROUND FLOOR PLAN

1. CIRCULATION 2. SHARED SPACE

LIFELONG HOUSING TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN

MEMORY CARE CLUSTER TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN

MEMORY CARE CLUSTER ROOF PLAN

1. CIRCULATION

2. SHARED SPACE

3. STAFF OFFICE

4. LIBRARY

5. GREEN SPACE

This project uses a hybrid structural system that combines above-ground steel structure with underground concrete structure. The main structure of the triangular entryway, which takes the weight above it, is made up of two steel support columns that slope upward at the entrance of the outpatient building. Truss structures are also used in house cross sections to create large span spaces.

TANGENT BARS AND SKEWED SPACE

LOCATION:

4340 Arlington Ave. Los Angeles

SITE AREA:

2,500SF

BUILDING AREA: 800SF

PROJECT DATE: March 2021

PROGRAM: Residence

The design proposal consists of two identical bars that are tangent and skewed from the exterior and spatially connected in the interior. By rotating and joining one bar with the other one, shared living, dining and kitchen zones are created along with two private outdoor patios on the ground level while a loft level is added to one unit to echo the skewing in the section or roof profile. The project is mainly focused on shared space and a communal lifestyle.

This project focuses on the study of minimum dwelling. This issue is not only to reduce the floor space and dimension but also to think about the building's private space and shared space. The area of each person's life is no longer confined to their walls but open to the neighbors or people who live together. The topic of shared space is repeatedly emphasized.

12'X12' GRID

BAR

1. BEDROOM 2. BATHROOM 3. SHARED DINING ROOM 4. KITCHEN 5. LIVING ROOM

GROUND FLOOR PLAN A-A' SECTION B-B' SECTION

LOFT FLOOR PLAN

This diagram directly shows the arrangement of the shared and private spaces of the two units (Two bedrooms are private, kitchen and living room are shared). It also demonstrates the relationship between the internal space and the external space.

RURAL CITY

BUILDING AREA:

105,256SF

PROJECT DATE:

December 2021

PROGRAM:

Multi-family Residence

GROUP PROJECT

DIRECTOR’S CHOICE RECOGNITION IN THE HOME COMPETITION 2021, ARCH OUT LOUD

Rural City is a paradigm for future living condition. Abundant rural land makes it possible to overturn high-rise apartments to single-story row houses, where resources are equally possessed, and personality is dissimilarly developed. The optimized circular form creates two different environments and experiences on both sides of the community: an idyllic rural landscape with open, endless fields, and a more familiar city park surrounded by the transparent façade and distinct skyline.

This atypical deurbanization process is not just a reflective response to the increasingly congested urban built environment and highpressure lifestyle of citizens. Social attributes and effective agglomeration of cities are reserved in form of row houses, assembly workspace and various communal spaces. The definitions of citizens and villagers are vague here. By approaching the two different contexts, a binary space of urban and rural, and a better balance between ease and efficiency are able to be realized.

EXTENSION SCHOOL OF CINEMA ARTS

LOCATION:

1538-1542 E 85th St, Los Angele

SITE AREA:

52,900SF

BUILDING AREA:

20,000SF

PROJECT DATE: September 2021

PROGRAM: Education

An extension facility providing basic film education will be built in USC Village to give career planning and film skills training services, while promoting the long history of the film school. There are multimedia classrooms, lab, stage, cinema, library and exhibition in the school. It mainly focuses on some basic knowledge, such as film history, editing, photography and other courses. The school also offers film screenings and book rentals to the surrounding community.

The students are valued for their sense of belonging. They will have a small campus for their classes here, so the overall feeling of the enclosure is revealed. At the same time, the inclusion of the main street allows for connection to the surrounding community and enhances communication.

SUSTAINABILITY

The main idea of this system is a combination of active and passive strategies to gain sustainable goals. For the active strategy, the HVAC system efficiently controls the temperature in the building. This system is used in multipurpose space, restrooms and other areas where temperature control is required. For the passive strategy, optimizing natural light coming into the space, while minimizing any unwanted heat gain by strategic window to wall ratios and shading devices. The passive ventilation is also an important part. Natural wind enters the room through the windows, takes away the heat from the room and bring fresh air, which can improve indoor air quality.

PARAMETRIC ILLUSTRATION

FROM ROLEX LEARNING CENTER TO GRACE FARMS

1. INPUT

2. BUILDING COMPONENTS

3. TOPOGRAPHY

4. FURNITURE

5. GRAPHIC

1. INPUT

2. BUILDING COMPONENTS

3. TOPOGRAPHY

4. FURNITURE

5. GRAPHIC