Portfolio

Chelsea T. Serrano-Piche

Bachelor of Science in ArchitectureGraduate + Undergraduate Portfolio

Texas Tech University

For professional consideration.

COVER LETTER

As a high-achiever, even in high school, I had expectations that Texas Tech University and the College of Architecture would be rigorous. Those challenges were, at times, more than I had ever anticipated. Still, having gone through my Bachelor’s degree and most of my Master’s degree in Architecture, there are not many alternatives I would have chosen instead. I like designing things that are interesting, yet practical, and most importantly things that will leave a positive impact on people economically, emotionally, or socially. As much as I enjoy designing, this in addition to successfully meeting deadlines and being genuinely challenged is exciting. It teaches me the basic foundation for success: process, practice, design, problem solving, technicality in details and presentation, and teamwork.

Although a much more recent discovery, urban design fascinated me from the start. The summer before graduating with my Bachelor’s Degree, I did Texas Tech’s study abroad program in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with the College of Architecture. We were thrown into the city and learned the way people use it. Through discussions and historical site visits, we learned what Montreal had been like and what certain ideas affected the layout of the city. Living in apartments next to people who had lived there for years, we got a chance to take an anthropological approach and ask questions of how they live and feel about the city. This feedback and research ultimately affected the urban infill project that we designed.

Montreal left me with a sense of excitement, rejuvenation, and passion for cities. Texas Tech University’s Graduate School and their College of Architecture recently started a demanding program where students have the opportunity to study Urban and Community Design, with an emphasis on research, in Houston. As a member of the first group to participate in the program, I have learned that change is good; Montreal helping me make the adjustment. This Houston Program has made me different from other graduate students. Our classroom is owned by HOK, thus expos-ing me to a professional setting and workspace that graduates from other schools would never get to experience. Instead of going to school every day in shorts and a t-shirt, I go to an office in professional attire and work with not a couple hundred friends and acquaintances, but only eight fellow students. Apart from beginning college, that adjust-ment has been the biggest I have ever had to make.

A new resident to Houston, I am eager to continue figuring out this city as a student and as a professional. I hope to learn from and dedicate myself to a firm that can physically and mentally take me around the world, challenge me for more, and working with other professionals that want the same. My exposure to graphic design, urban design, interiors, and green building enables me to be a flexible and valuable employee. I am not afraid of going places and experiencing change. I crave it.

Education:Masters in Architecture (currently enrolled) First-Professional + Certifi cate in Urban Design Texas Tech University Graduation date: December 2011

Bachelors of Science in Architecture with Mechanical and Civil Engineering Courses Texas Tech University Graduation date: December 2009Study Abroad Summer 2009 - Montreal

Technology:Adobe Creative Suite CS3, CS5 ArcGIS – ArcMap, ArcSceneRevit, AutoCad, ArchiCad 12, DProfi ler Microsoft Offi ce WorksFormZ Google Sketchup

Work Experience: Interiors and Design Solutions Free-Lance Consulting & Design Clients: Christopher A. Hysaw [June + August 2010] ; Shirley Serrano [May 2011]

Buford-Thompson Co. [May 2010] Workdesk design for Longview Project Offi ces Project description: Designed and detailed built workdesk installation for Project Manager offi ces of Longview, Texas.

Pacifi c Sunwear [March 2009 – August 2010]Supervisors: Jimmy Friessen , Kellie Hill Phone: 806-785-4064 Lubbock, Texas -Senior Sales Manager Duties: Greeter, cashier, store maintenance, lead sales, trainer Accomplishments: Employee of the Month March 2009 and October 2009

Texas Tech University [December 2006- November 2008] Supervisor: Steve Waden Phone: 806-742-1995 Lubbock, Texas - Recreation Center -Facility Staff and Staff Trainer Duties: Clean, organize, open and close facility, manage equipment issue, facility tours to patrons and prospective students, train facility staff Accomplishments: Employee of the Month May 2008

Noteworthy:Rice Design Alliance Student Member (2011)Wilson Architectural Group/HOK Urbanism Scholarship (2011)Graduate Student scholarship (2010)Sigma Alpha Lambda - Texas Tech University Chapter: National Leadership and Honors Organization Membership Nominee(2007)Collegiate Honor Roll Nominee (2007)Recycling Program Creator - Wall Dormitory, Texas Tech University (2006)Published: “Authors of Tomorrow” by Elder and Leemaur Publishers (2006)Ronald McDonald Charity House Scholarship + multiple local scholarships (2006)“Who’s Who Among American High School Students” (2004-2006)

Hobbies:- Music - Models - Sports + Recreation- Drawing + Art - Museums - Puzzles

RESUME

COURSE PAGE NUMBER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Comprehensive Studio - School of Architecture + Urban Design Daniel Pruske Spring 2010

Study Abroad Studio V - Urban Infill Brian Rex, Marti Gottsch, Grant Alford Summer 2009

Studio IV - Underwater Rugby Stadium Zach Pauls Fall 2008

5

13

19

26

Studio III - Green Residence on the Texas Plain Lahib Jaddo Spring 2008

Construction Documents Jeff LaRue [HKS] Spring 2009

Architectonics/Studio I Upe Fleuckiger Spring 2007

History of World Architecture Metthew Gallegos [retired] Fall 2006

Delineation I + II Manuel Gonzales Spring 2007/Fall 2006

Urban Design Studio I - Moment Connection Mary-Alice Torres MacDonald Fall 20010

COMPREHENSIVE STUDIO (Sp10) : Daniel PruskeCOMPREHENSIVE STUDIO (Sp10) : Daniel Pruske

AS

AS

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AS

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ary

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SO

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C

Longitudinal Roots - Organize the main spaces of the programwhile reflecting the original concepts of roots moving verticallyand horizontally

Display totums work to display current studentor faculty work while breaking up the N/S spacemainly between studio spaces

Blend comes together as the condition inwhich the urban city meets the buildingextended and interrupted by roots that verticallyorganize transportation

Movement can easily take place down acorridor so the challenge became connectingthe two big spaces and breaking up the program further

Programatic Diagrams

Project Statement: Through intial, architecture-related , image research and conceptualization practice, this comprehensive design details the concepts of gradient, path connections, and solidity of roots. Programing: for a new College of Architecture and Urban Design 5


Concept Model photos based on ideas of tomatoes growing off of roots, structure, and gradient forms.

All Solids and structure First, second, and third floor + Skin - voids and pathsAll paths, skin, structure, core, and first floor solids

6


Standard cooling of the facility will take placewith an HVAC system. The boilers and exhaustare located toward the back of the building closerto the alley way.

Heating will take place with an electrical radiantheating system in the floors of the building. With this,power costs are cut by approximately 40%

Together the systems can heat and coolthe building with minimal power usage in correspondence with materials

The largest part of the roof is covered withsolar panels providing an even greener building.

The “roots” will house the verticle circulationand penetrate through the roof system.

Truss systems span the length of thebuilding enabling/creating a dynamic roofsystem

Floor slabs are made of EPIC decking andconcrete. The I-Beams that support itspan the long way and connect with theface of the building (aka the gradient).

The flooring will consist of an electric radiantheating system which sits on top of the concreteslabs of the permanent flooring. Over the system lies standard flooring which can includetile, hardwood, and most types of other flooring.

Truss systems span the length of thebuilding enabling/creating a dynamic roofsystem

Stairs are supported with tubes thatconnect from beams, the steel forms insidethe gradient wall, and suspension cablesconnected to the roof and other beams

Mechanical + Sustainability + Structural Diagrams7


Third floor fruit

Second floor fruit

First + Basement floor fruit

Composite fruit

Vertical displays

Divided by floors and heights

Vertical circulation

Perforated covering and regular roof

The beginning

A growth from the urban earth

Interrupted and broken by roots

Evolving for openings and breaks

Program + Gradient + Element Diagrams8

B

A

CC

AS - Urban and Architectural studios

FO - Faculty office

BR - Bathroom/Water closetcc - Custodial closet

IDF - IDF closetME/E - Mechanical/Electrical closet

SO - Staff officeDO - Dean office FL - Faculty lounge with mail room

co st - college storageconf - Conference room

Level 3

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confFL

FO FO FO

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COMPREHENSIVE STUDIO (Sp10) : Daniel Pruske

9

PR

GL

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ary

CLCL

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Level 1

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PR - Print labGL - Gallery

LibraryCL - Classroom with stadium seating

MW - Model workshop

Lobby

Auditorium

gal St - Gallery storageFO - Faculty office

LO - Librarian officeCD - CD/DVD stacks

BR - Bathroom/Water closetcc - Custodial closet

IDF - IDF closet

ME/E - Mechanical/Electrical closet


10

Section BB

West Elevation


11


Bird’s Eye View from inner “alley” or urban garden

Worm’s Eye View from interior fl oor to ceiling opening of roof

12

STUDIO ABROAD - Montréal (Sum09) : B.Rex/G.Alford/M.Gottsch

The project was to study La Ville de Montréal and a specifi c site located at Place d’Youville near Montreal’s riverfront. Historically, this site used to house the Parliament building of Canada. In part to studying the site, we were to design an infi ll in the L-shaped lot, as indicated, and possibly engage or utilize the old footprint of the parliament building.

Place d’Youville

infi ll site

13

STUDIO ABROAD - Montreal (Sum09) : B.Rex/G.Alford/M.Gottsch

The city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada is one that has a lot of history. It once housed the Parliament building, for fi ve years, until 1849 when it was burned down in a rebellion against a bill. Queen Elizabeth decided that the capital of Canada should no longer be Montréal and moved it to the city of Ottawa a few hundred miles away. The site has been several different things throughout the years but the city is not certain of what to do with the historic footprint which is now outlined with a wall and infi lled with a park-ing lot.

Southwest view of in-fi ll site and old parliament footprint

Overall area with site focus in black

14


The site analysis that took place discussed the use and changes of the grid throughout the city, the usage of the current space, and the general trends of the surrounding buildings. These points may or may not have infl uenced massing and system designs that followed. The foam represented mass spaces and the paper models represented systems or materials. Some of the models were based off of the idea of components and mixing and matching them to form new ones. 15


From the 30+ mass models, we narrowed down the choices to three that worked best with engaging the site, the surroundings, and by itself.

concept 1 concept 2 concept 3

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Picking a specifi c kind of mass model was followed by an addition of paper models. The paper models were initially independent from the mass/foam models, and later added and reworked with the mass models in mind. For my project, the massing developed through the history and current events of division and separation within the city and providence, yet engaged the grid of the city. The paper emphasized the close proximity and distance of that separation as seen in elevation and plan. Design refi nement folllowed.

paper model foldout

developed foam model in site

17


Final Project Statement: Belfast, Jerusalem, New York, Mon-treal: all divisive in history, refl ect their dissensions on our urban present and future. The Bureau of the Divided City (Bureau de L'Ville Divisees) is formed from a literal splitting of the site, Rue Normand. Surrounded by zones of contest this fracture of the Bureau houses liminal space programmed for dispute, discus-sion, controversy, and confl ict.

perspective model perspective plan projection (of paper)

18

STUDIO IV (F08) : Zach Pauls

Project Statement: Through research, with particular attention to structure, this studio created a Training Facility for Texas Tech University for water-related sports. The focus of mine was Underwater Rugby.

Initial research and conclusions had led me to research and document dimensions for a slightly smaller rugby fi eld (to literally be put under water) for the National Aquatics Training Academy of Lubbock, Texas located on the campus of Texas Tech University north of Urbanovsky Park. After acquiring the knowledge of Underwater Rugby’s actual existence, my ideas of peoples’ experiences with this sport I wanted to keep although I had to reconsider what I was doing. How much became the new question.

19

First conceptualizations integrating basic requirements for the sport and initial misconceptions of the sport.


The slope was changing to a steepness that allowed people to run up it, thus taking the fi rst step to implementing literal rugby (with fi ns and a snorkel) under water. I also moved the glass panel changing the size of the pool(s) to allow both versions of Underwater rugby. In addition, the glass was calculated to have a minimum thickness between 11 and 12 inches. For safety, 12 inches was the chosen thickness

20

Refi nement of the form, movement spaces, and general volume were in order. A few options are shown.


21


Plan

by + Water

SECTION aa

Connecting the audie

1

2

4

3

Pool Pool Pool

Locker Rooms

Maintenance Maintenance

Guest/Athlete Loungel

Bleachers Bleachers

C

C

Entrance

a

b

a

b

2

Maintenance Maintenance

PoolPool Pool

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Interior View 1

Interior View 4

1) roof membrane

2) Steel cables/supports

4) Concrete

3) roof membrane

5) Synthetic Material + concrete

6) Concrete

7) Acrylic Glass

8) Concrete

9) Concrete

10) Ground

The � nal product: exploded axonometric complete with material call-out.


24

MEDIA: Watercolor on 15x24 watercolor paperGOAL: To focus on an object or surface and accurately portray the texture and color of it.

DELINEATION II (Sp07): Microstudy

25Drawing/painting 3D images in color onto a 2D media

DELINEATION II (Sp07): Sky Meets Built Form

MEDIA: Watercolor and prisma pencil on 12x9 watercolor paperGOAL: To render a built form as it meets sky to better understand the relationship between the two. 26

MEDIA: Graphite on 9x11 sketch paperGOAL: To roughly and descriptively sketch from

an image in only a few minutes time

DELINEATION I (F06): Sketches

27Drawing/sketching 3D images in greyscales onto a 2D media

DELINEATION I (F06): Architectural Study

MEDIA: white prisma pencil on 11x11 black museum boardGOAL: To understand the concept of light against dark working from dark toward light in an architectural study 28

DELINEATION I (F06): Sculpture Garden

MEDIA: Micron pen on 17x11 drawing paperGOAL: To understand the concept of isometric � gures within a sculpture garden as well as human scale to surroundings 29

Portfolio

Documents

workdesk design

design solutions

graphic design

community design

architecture graduate

college of architecture

texas techs study

urban design graduation