Construction Document Details
Here are a couple of snippets from the CD’s of projects I’ve worked on. More work samples area available upon request, so feel free to reach out.
ARCH 5030 (5th year design studio)
The Capstone design series features a three part structure which addresses a complete view of design. The first part (ARCH 5010 found HERE), consists of the written essay and conceptual basis for the proposed project. The second part of the project (ARCH 5020) takes the conceptual platform and follows with the development of a physical design. Lastly, the final capstone trimester (ARCH 5030) is set to define the architectural project with a certain level of reality with regards to its material completion.
Although the most common means of transportation from McCarran to the Vegas Strip is the Taxi, the Scripted Space / Scripted World project intended to control the arriving spectator’s first impression of the city. The hypothetical expansion’s glass cloister would provide an analogue theme to the scripted language of the strip. In consequence, the ‘rail connection’ would include stations and stops along the strip that would deposit the traveler directly along the Las Vegas Boulevard.
The project’s roof employed impact resistant, tinted glass panels with textile unions. The idea of bringing the sun into the project, while adhering to concept, presented a practical obstacle for HVAC considerations. However, the conceptual gain of this practice was centered in the identification of a “desert script”. The sun and heat would be a constant reminder to the user. As the project developed, the design of the roof had to incorporate different coverings or changes in translucence in order to address these issues.
While taking into account the desert conditions that characterize the state of Nevada, the proposed addition to the airport chooses to present the desert as script & program with stark contrasts to the Vegas Strip just 5 minutes away. During the day, the clear glass roof structure will allow for massive amounts of light to enter the space, perhaps bordering on the uncomfortable. Heat would be a regulating factor, so the glass enclosure employs glass elements akin to ETFE technologies, so that temperature and other interior environment considerations can be finely tuned. The nighttime conditions of the enclosure will also make evident the change between night and day, further strengthening a perception of being outside in the desert.
Roofing Module Section
Wall Section
Longitudinal Section
The proposed spatial transitions between airport and city will present the traveler with open and close scenarios of the two environments of Las Vegas. As such, the proposed rail system will operate underground except at key points (McCarran&VegasBlvd), therefore re-enforcing the programming change and spatial perceptions between the two.
Departures, Check-in & Transport
Commercial & Distribution
Commercial & Transport
Baggage Claim & Arrivals
Building Facade.
ARCH 4010 (4th year design studio)
The 4th year design project called for the design of a high density residential building. Placed in the area of Isla Verde, Carolina, the project was aimed towards a moderate to high income potential residents.
Existing views were restricted by other high-rise residential towers in the area, prompting a design strategy that sought out and maximized what views of the landscape were available for exploit and management.
Street view.
El Yunque mountain range was the primary element to address when facing south. To the north was the coast, that even with other buildings blocking potential views, was a major attractive in the selection of target landscapes. Taking into consideration Sun movement and the shadows the building would cast (upon itself and immediate surroundings), the tower employed two center joined, mirror-image volumes that staggered in position and height. The resulting project layout gave way to recreational areas that made use of the sun-shadow relationship and selected panoramas.
ARCH 4030 (4th year design studio)
The 4th year design studio focused on the design of a high rise office building with commercial facilities and parking in accordance with the building's capacity. Because the project was set in Puero Rico, the steel frame design featured a glass curtain wall, overlapped by vertical panels designed to deflect and absorb sunlight and heat. The resulting facades played like a faceted mirror that reflected the tropical sky in a fractal manner.
The building's commercial facilities outlined the streets of the surrounding sites, but allowed for ample sidewalks to be used by workers, clients, and nearby residents of the area.
Conceptual. Station from below.
ARCH 3020 (3rd year design studio)
How can a space articulate an explanation for ecological architecture?
"Green" architecture and its application in Puerto Rico constitutes an important theme in the island's architectural panorama. In order to articulate a better understanding of this practice within the general public, this 3rd year design proposes an environmental station in the Hacienda Buena Vista terrains in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The station includes a common area, an exposition room and a laboratory for investigation management. The crossing of steel cables provides the structure of the hanging laboratory. These cables tie up to concrete foundations in the surrounding mountains to effectively position the station above ground and closer to the forest canopy.
Perspective of observation station seen from the forest floor.
Conceptual. Station from above.
Conceptual. Canopy view of station.
Observation Station floor plan
The floor and roof systems consist of lightweight metal panels that tie to custom fabricated structural locking mechanism. Where cable defines the building's perimeter, the structural ties join cable and panel alike. A slightly similar module is sued when the cable traverses an interior space, serving as support redundancy for floor and ceiling panels. Other spatial elements, like walls, railings and support systems are attached to the module cable ties. Due in part to its customizable format, the project aims to propose an alternative to temporary structures for ecological studies in mountainous and forested enclaves.
Interior perspective and Modular Ties detail.
Images and text cited above are referenced from: "¿Cómo puede un espacio propiciar una explicación para la arquitectura ecológica? / How can a space articulate an explanation for ecological architecture?" in: Rigau, Jorge. Editor. 100 Preguntas que nos hemos hecho sobre Puerto Rico en la Nueva Escuela de Arquitectura de la Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico. Universidad Politécnica, San Juan, 2005.
This 2005 publication gathered a selection of student projects about the architectural condition in Puerto Rico, seen from various subject matters and concerns of the discipline.
ARCH 2020 (2nd year design studio)
This 2nd year project started with the establishment of a fictional client. From the characteristics of this fictional construct, techniques would be drawn that explain the character’s way of life in terms of space. From this point, 2-dimensional diagrams and 3-dimensional mediums would give way to the design of a residence for said character. The project was developed through a 4 stage process: Establishment of techniques, spatial explorations, interfacing, and finally, structuralizing. The last stage of the design process would specify and give a semblance of constructive credibility to the project.
The image above is a composite of how the project was printed and presented to the jury. Each individual board is presented below at a higher resolution.
ARCH 2010 (2nd year design studio)
The final project for the 2nd year design dealt with the issues of modularity in design. Utilizing wood construction, the students would choose a construction module and design the annex for architecture & design school. Architectural drawings were hand drawn using graphic pens and a Mylar medium.
The chosen construction for the design pavilion, from the wooden structure, to the use of openings provides cross-ventilation to address the climate conditions of the tropical setting of the program. The modularity of the wooden structure allows for future expansions and easy design modifications to the project.
ARCH 1010 (1st year design studio)
The first year design studio, called "point, line & plane", challenged the student with a relatively simple project: build a walkthrough using a limited number of pieces that include walls, columns, and an exhibit piece. Having lost the original cardboard model, the above image shows my solution for the walkthrough space.