Design_Portfolio

Joel OverstromUniversity at Buffalo II Undergraduate Portfolio

During the Spring 2010 semester, the freshman architecture program was assigned an exercise in both modularization and prefabrication. We were asked to create a living unit to house a minimum of three sleeping spaces, a sitting area, and an entrance. All of these accommodations had to be created through only two cuts and shifts of a 6'x6'x8' volume. Starting with individual ideas, students were progressively paired up to continue production on a single idea.

The Living Wall

Process of Cutting and Shifting

Process of Modulization

Plan_Section Exploded Axonometric

Sequence of Fabrication

1. Fabrication in studio 2. Bracing of the modules 3. Protective wrapping of the modules

4. Loading of the modules 5. Transportation of the modules 6. Unloading of the modules

7. Laying of the bases 8. Moving of the modules 9. Moving continues

10. Placement of modules 11. Placement continues 12. Final Construction

After the full development of the project, students were given the opportunity to construct, in full scale, the living modules. With such a large scale construction, teams of seven students were formed, all working toward the same goal. My teams project, named Triplex, was built on campus in our high bay studio areas, then braced and wrapped for transportation. The modules were then loaded on to a semi truck and other vehicles to carry them to Griffis Scuplture Park. There, they were assembled into units, creating a unified "Living Wall" for the final presentation.

During the Fall 2010 semester, the sophomore architecture program was assigned to design a library for a specific site in Buffalo, NY. I was assigned to work with an open, green space on the north campus at the University at Buffalo. Out of the four libraries on north campus, I chose to design for the music library.

University at Buffalo Music Library Circulation of North Campus

Axial lines of north campus

Since the site was an open, green space where students frequently walk across and inhabit, preserving this space was important. I divided the site into equal bands, then undulated them to permit different programming underneath. Under the main sixteen bands is the music library and a large computer library for all students. Underneath the large band is an auditorium for the music and art departments to use.

Plan

Longitudinal Section

Individual section of each band

Since each band is unique and had a different sectional view, a section of each band was necessary to understand the undulation and programming of each.

Physical Model

In the Spring 2011 semester, the sophomore architecture program was asked to design a mosque on a site located on the Buffalo State Campus. To begin our design, we had to develop a form and experiment with it on several different scales.

Buffalo State Mosque Path of Circulation and Above Lighting

Folding of Angled Walls and Reflectance of Light

The concept of procession was a great influence on the mosque project. The Islamic faith puts a great emphasis on the different steps of preparation for pray, as well as what direction Mecca is in, making mosques quite directionality. So, the conceptual forms I designed allows for people to move between rooms easily; however, each room has an isolating quality to it. Inhabitants cannot see where they have come from once they have entered the room and cannot see the exits to the next room. This isolation allows them to focus on the procession into the prayer hall, be it the shoe room or the absolution room. These forms also allow for elegant natural lighting.

Conceptual Models_Interior

Photos of site Roof_Site Plan

Sections

Physical Model Plans

The procession through each space is affected by both the programming and form of each room.

Absolution_Shoe RoomPrayer HallReading RoomCirculation SpaceMultifunction RoomKitchen_Bathroom

Development of Circulation

In the Fall 2011 semester, the junior architecture program was asked to design a mixed use building in the market district of Pittsburgh, PA. The ground floor of the building needed to be a marketplace of our choosing and with accommodations for an office building above. This created a connection between the business district and market district in which our site was situated.

Pittsburgh Office_Market Physical Model

Inspirational Photos Conceptual plaster models

UV photo of space

Bridal Lace

The first phase of the project was to develop a facade from the inspiration of a photo of nature and a textile. I chose a photo of space taken with an ultraviolet camera and a bridal lace for the textile. Each had the characteristic of nodes or focal points as well as some way of connecting them together. From this, I began to look at these nodes as negative space while the rest is positive, structural space. This led me in the direction of plaster conceptual models and later onto concrete construction.

N

Ground Floor

N

Detail Section Exploded Wall Construction

A. 1" Insulated Clear GlazingA'. Aluminium Framing SystemB. Precast Concrete, Insulated Structural Wall SystemC. Structural Wood Truss SystemD. Precast Concrete Floor Panel

A_A'.C.

B.A'.

A.

Sections

Renderings_Exterior and Interior

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org

In the Spring 2012 semester, the junior architecture program was asked to design an extention for the Buffalo-Erie County Botanical Garden, located in Buffalo, NY. The BEC Botanical Garden uses a unique idea for organizing their biomes. They use a the meridian axis that cuts through Buffalo, NY and the rest of the world and collects plant life long this entire meridian. Instead of a Buffalo meridian I focused on a global warming meridian. Focusing on the education of this crisis, the proposed extention would have habitats that are being affected by global warming. The form of the building would take on a more literal interpretation of the global warming trend.

BEC Botanical Garden

The Earth is a living, breathing entity. As the seasons change, the Earth takes a deep breath of CO2 and exhales a breath of fresh air. This is mainly caused by the distance of the northern hemisphere, which is where most of the Earth's vegetation is located, from the sun. During the northern hemisphere winter, temperatures drop and the vegetation hibernates. This is when the CO2 levels spike in the global atmosphere. Yet, when spring and summer comes, the vegetation blooms and grows, and starts to inhale the CO2 and releases precious O2. Unfortunately, humanity is producing more CO2 then the vegetation can handle, so CO2 levels are steadily going up. This is causing global warming and a disruption in our climate, which is putting our planet at risk and everything that lives on it.

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org

Amazon Rainforst_Waterfall Amazon River Basin Everglades

Global Warming Meridian

Amazon Habitat7000 Sq. Ft

Everglade Habitat6000 Sq. Ft

Desert Habitat3000 Sq. Ft

BEC Botanical Garden

Phase construction

Understanding that this is an extention project for a particular client, we were challenged to figure out a way of phase construction to save on costs and allow the facilities to stay open and earn money during construction.

Amazon Habitat7000 Sq. Ft

Everglade Habitat6000 Sq. Ft

Desert Habitat3000 Sq. Ft

Site_Ground Floor Plan

Sections

Renderings_Interior and ExteriorPhysical Model

Elmwood Residence_Music Center Renderings_Exterior

In the Fall 2012 semester, the senior architecture program was asked to design a mixed use building combining residential units and a public program. I was assigned the location along the busy, cultural street of Elmwood in Buffalo, NY. I chose to create a music center for the public to help the growth of music in the Buffalo community.

Site Plan Ground Floor Plan

Egress Axonometric Fire Protection Axonometric Water Piping Axonometric HVAC Axonometric

Unit Plans_Sections

Studio Unit 1 Bedroom Unit 2 Bedroom Unit 3 Bedroom Unit

Collaboration of music was an aspect of design that I wanted to carry through the entire project. To facilitate the collaboration of musicians in the public space, I created an open amphitheatre and sound rooms for people to practice and learn from one another. Each residential floor has a communal area that serves as a gathering place for residents to come together. Private sound rooms are located on the sixth floor to accommodate for private performances. Finally, to connect the public with the private, openings in the floorplates stagger along the Elmwood Street front side of the building. Each communal area is situated next to an opening, which allows for music to travel above and below. This creating an experience of collaboration through the entire building.

Section

Plans

Library and Stage Level 3rd Floor_Residential

Renderings_Interior

Physical Model

Academic Qualifications

2006_2009: Corning-Painted Post West High School

-National Honors Society-Interact-Various sports teams

2009_2013: University at Buffalo

-The National Society of Leadership and Success-Dean's List Recepient_Fall 2011

Computational Skills

Drafting: AutoCAD, Autodesk RevitModeling: Sketchup, Autodesk Revit, Rhino 3DParametrics: Grasshopper 3DRendering: 3DS Max, Autodesk Revit, V-RayGraphics: Adobe: Photoshop, Illustrator, inDesignOffice: Word, Excel, PowerPointAnalysis: Autodesk: Revit, EcotectSound: Audacity, Adobe AuditionVideo: Adobe Premier Pro, Windows Movie Maker

Crafting Skills

Experience with:-Power Tools-Workshop Tools-Laser Cutting-3D Printing-CNC Routing

Work Experience

Fall 2008: Internship with HUNT Architecture, Engineering, and surveyors

-Drafting-Regional Building Codes-On site surveying

Summer 2010_2012: Internship with Corning Incorporated_Stantec

-Drafting-Drawing Review-Building Surveying-Building Information Modeling-Fire Protection_Building Code-Acoustical Properties and Study-Time Management-Meeting Scheduling-Communication with Different Divisions

Qualifications

Contact Information

Email: joelover@buffalo.edu

Phone: 607-368-8164

Address: 1200 Clendenning Rd. Painted Post, NY, 14870