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ASHLEE TAYLOR WELLS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO
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As a student in Landscape Architecture, I believe it is my
exposure to different experiences that have helped me grow as a
designer. These past five years have trained me to explore my
creativity, while considering limits to real world problems. This
has allowed me to advance with each and every project. Virginia
Tech has prepared me with an applicable understanding of the field,
and the endless possibilities that are associated with it.
Experiences in internships, as well as time spent overseas, have
also contributed to practical exposure that matures a systematic
approach to design. Still learning, I aspire to gain knowledge
within the field of landscape architecture in gaining valuable work
experience to further my career. I would gladly be open to any
opportunity given to me in order to achieve this goal.
Ashlee Taylor WellsDESIGN PORTFOLIO
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A B C
A FORK IN THE ROAD
DURHAM URBAN RENEWAL
PEACE PARK THESIS PROJECT
CONSTRUCTION DOC + INTERNSHIP SAMPLES
A B C DPG 1-10 PG 11-18 PG 19-26 PG 29-33
A Fork in the Road Durham Urban RenewalPeace Park Thesis CDOC +
Work Samples
D
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The intention of my thesis is to discover how design can play a
role in facilitating conflicting parties towards a form of shared
coexistence through an environmental peacebuilding strategy.
Exploring the link between physical space and conflict mediation, I
wish to understand how to connect boundaries through the use of
social program, ecology and study of cultural identity. While the
project is not intended to resolve the conflict it should establish
and environment that allows for the integration of Jewish and Arab
populations within a peaceful context/setting.
My site is called the HaShalom Forest, currently land zoned as
national park space by the Jerusalem government. Sitting within an
urban context, the site is a planted hillside that acts a buffer
between East & West Jerusalem communities. Because of its
isolation and lack of program, the site is very littered and known
for criminal activities such as arson. It is therefore, the public
does not use the forest as it is a reminder a never ending
divide.
This is my summary of work on the project. The concept is based
on shared community resources in water collection, agriculture and
education as a solution for change.
[PEACE PARK]
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL
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EAST
My site sits on the 1967 proposed borders of East & West
Jerusalem. The site is currently a hillside with Jewish communities
on top, Israeli Arab on the bottom, and lined on the western top
sides with a promenade that is predominantly populated by tourists.
Currently a national park, the forest is used only as a buffer
between the local populations.
[ESTABLISHING BOARDERS]
1967 ARMISTICE LINE
EAST
WEST
EST 1967
NO MANS LAND
GERMANCOLONY
ABU TOR
BASALAMUND
SITE
JERUSALEM
ISRAEL
NO MANS LAND
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CONFLICT MAPPING ISRAELI
ARAB
OLD CITY
HOLY CHRISTIAN SITES
HOLY JEWISH SITES
HOLY ISLAMIC SITES
PUBLIC SEGREGATION
A
B
C D
E
URBAN DISCONNECTION PLANNED/NATURAL TOPO BUFFERS INVISIBLE
BOUNDARIES PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES
A: CHRISTIAN QUARTERB: MUSLIM QUARTERC: ARMENIAN QUARTERD:
JEWISH QUARTERE: TEMPLE MOUNT
OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM
(MO
DE
RN
) C
ON
FLIC
T O
VE
R T
IME
1920 1947 1948 1949 1967 1980 2000 2001 TODAYBritish
Mandate/First riot of conflict
UN Partition Plan Creation of the State of Israel
Jerusalem madeIsraeli Capitol
6 day War/OccupiedTerritories won
Jerusalem Laws Camp David AccordFailed peace efforts
Construction of Separation Wall
It is necessary to recognize the history of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict as deriving from the origin of
Jerusalem. The question of land sovereignty/ownership is nothing
new to the 21st century, but has been an ongoing struggle since the
birth of civilization. Within the modern era of the conflict, the
same questions are being addressed, who are the rightful owners of
the land?
[LOOKING AT THE CRACKS WITHIN THE BREAK]LIKE SHATTERED GLASS,
ONE LARGE CRACK WILL EXPAND, BREAKING INTO
FISS
UR
ES
WH
ICH
WILL IN
TER
TW
INE IN
ALL A
SP
EC
TS
OF S
OC
IETY
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WHY JERUSALEM? [A city founded through peace full roots]Surah
17:10
S-L-M:
Root in Semitic Languages;
Derived from the meaning to be
Safe, Secure & Peace
Shalom: Peace in Hebrew
Salam: Peace in Arabic
7 HEAVENS
ISLAM
CHRISTIANITY
AXISMUNDI
JUDAISM
For all 3 Abrahamic Religions, Jerusalem is the center of the
worldThis is called Axis MundiIt is only through the center one can
reach enlightenment through a journey of 7 heavens
CONCEPTUALIZING PEACE
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01 COLLECTION IN THE VALLEYS 03 CONNECTION WITH 7 TERRACESTHE
CONCEPT + STRATEGY
LANDSCAPE AS A CATALYST
NO SHARED BENEFIT
SHARED BENEFIT
02 EDUCATION AS A MIDDLE GROUND
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03 CONNECTION WITH 7 TERRACES
KIDRON VALLEY HAS PROMENADE
HASHALOM FOREST
1.2 MILES
FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE(THE PROMENADE)
PEACE PARK regional PLAN An urban gateway into the kidron
valley
FOR THE ARAB PEOPLE(THE COMMUNITY GARDEN)
FOR BOTH(THE MIDDLE GROUND)
WATER AS A GIFT & EDUCATION AS A COMMONALITY
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THE COMMUNITY GARDEN
THE BUSTAN ORCHARDS
THE PROMENADE EXTENSION
This is a loosely designed environment that mimics communal Arab
agriculture spaces. As the final destination for the water
collected in the valleys, the agriculture plots become a new public
space for the Arab citizens of Abu Tor, also while providing for
them an outlet for locally grown food.
A Bustan is an Arabic Orchard, typically terraced, planted with
olive groves, crops and desert perennials. The Bustan landscape was
very popular on the hillsides within the Jerusalem cultural
landscape before Israeli occupation.
By extending the existing promenade down further into the site,
there become new opportunities for urban connection, view sheds,
and water collection. The promenade (on the Jewish side) resembles
a Jerusalem urban park; spaces for programming that are accompanied
with lush Mediterranean planting.
THE 7 WATERS INSTITUTIONBuilt into the sloping landform, the
Institution sits as if a natural element in the topography. As the
program element of 7 waters park, the institution focuses on
interfaith relations, conflict/environmental research and community
engagement.
PEACE PARK MASTER PLAN 7 WATERS PARK: A PEACE PARK
Vehicular AccessPedestrian Access
Natural vs. Maintained
Natural
Maintained
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THE 7 WATERS INSTITUTION
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INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN 7 WATERS PARK: A PEACE PARK
a. ENTRANCE COURTYARDb. ENGAGEMENT TERRACE c. LEARNING TERRACE
d. WORKING TERRACE e. GREENROOF NETWORKf. LIVING TERRACE g.
COMMUNITY GARDEN h. THE WATER CONNECTIONi. BRIDGED LAWN AREAS j.
UNIVERSITY ORCHARDS
A.
C.
D.
B.
E. F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
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A HIERARCHY OF WATER Collected through an ancient Mediterranean
water harvesting practice called quanats, the water is brought from
the terraces to community garden at the bottom of the hill. The
water is spread into the land using a system of channels similar to
the Spanish moors. The institution collects, filters & reuses
water as a continuing cycle.
FILTER
A.
a.
INFILTRATE RECYCLE
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[A FORK IN THEROAD]
In between three growing cities in Southwest Virginia, the town
of Prices Fork is a small rural community only a few short miles
from Virginia Tech. With an expected growth of the nearby
surrounding colleges, Prices Fork is projected to see a large
influx of growth within the next few decades. The problem with this
lays in the hearts of the local towns people, many whom have been
residents of the area their entire lives. Residents of Prices Fork
know change is coming. However, when it does, citizens want new
developments to be in sync with existing community values. This
includes maintaining a culture based on agriculture, small town
living, and a rural aesthetic.
As a group, we were to research and design the community of
Prices Fork at the master scale. We then broke off in order to
design our own individual districts while utilizing concepts from
the comprehensive plan. We were then asked to evaluate one area of
our individual master plan in greater detail for a site scale
design project.
In my last year of college, I revisited this project, completely
redesigning both the Master and site scale plan. The following work
(although originating from a group) is completely my own. Prices
Fork Reloaded.
PRICES FORK, VIRGINIA
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5 m
in
10 m
in
15 m
in
20 m
in
6.25 miles
2.75 mil
es
7.5
mile
s
BLACKSBURG
CHRISTIANSBURG
RADFORD
Prices fork rd.
Prices fork elementary
Existing stream
Existing community
marrimak farm
Existing stream
The grange
Agriculture fields
SITE AERIAL:
SITE CONTEXT:
MARRIED CO
UPLES
0
10
20
30
40
50
6%22%
3%
15%12%
11%
37%
0-5 6-17 18-22 23-39 40-49 50-64 65+
Population growth will continue over the next 25 years with 8000
more residents in the Prices Fork area
52%
Single Home
23%
Townhouse
6%
2+ units
0%
3+ units
19%
RV/trailer
MARRIED WITH KIDSSINGLE
9%
Public Green Spaces-7%
Opportunity for Public Transit-15%
Preserving the Rural Aesthetic-17%
Incorporating Sustainable Principals-19%
More Mixed Use/Commercial Development-20%
A Diverse Range of Housing Types-22%
02
0103
0405
06WHAT THE CITIZENS WANT
Of Residents Single Without Children
POPULATION
HOUSING TYPES
NEED FOR CHANGE
The Prices Fork Community will need to account for population
growth in planning as well as account for university housing
expansion
PRICES FORK POPULATION GROWTH VA STATE POPULATION GROWTH
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
AVE
RA
GE
GR
OW
TH
%
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SITE CONTEXT:
01 02
03 04
INDIVIDUAL PRICES FORK MASTER PLAN
Mixed Use+ Commercial
Residential
URBAN DENSITY
GROUP DISTRICT PLAN
HOUSING TYPES
PROGRAM DIAGRAM
HIGH
LOW
34%
22%
19%
25%
PRICES FORK COMMERCIAL
RIVERSIDE DISTRICT
RANGE DISTRICT
HILLSIDE DISTRICT
RETAIL
AGRICULTURE
SPORTS/REC
STREAM BEACHES
FOREST AREA
MIXED USE
HIGH/LOW RISE APARTMENTS
SINGLE FAMILY
PRICES FORK COMMERCIAL
PRESERVED AGRICULTURE
THE UNCOVERED ECOLOGY
NEW COMMUNITY LIVING
A new center for Prices Fork with commercial/mixed use
development, creating a connection to the main roadway and
elementary school
Preserving the soils most adequate for farming, Prices Fork
Community will still be agriculture based and provide locally grown
food for residents
Underneath Prices Fork lies a streambed that has opportunity to
be an urban water feature to connect community residents to the
greater ecology
A mixed variety of housing types that range from high to low
density give new/old residents more lifestyle choices
Community Districts
Streetscapes
Ecology
Density
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NAPKIN SKETCHESProcess
INDIVIDUAL PRICES FORK MASTER PLAN
THE URBAN
DIS
TR
ICT
COMMERCIAL
MIXED USE
HIGH RISE UNITS
LOW RISE UNITS
CONCEPT
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Urban district master plan Prices fork community
a. PRICES FORK ELEMENTARY b. SUSTAINABLE PLAYYARD c. PLAYGROUND
d. COMMUNITY GARDENS e. RESIDENTIAL COURTYARDS f. OPEN NATURAL
SPACE g. FORESTED TRAILS h. COMMERCIAL FOUNTAINi. PRESERVED
AGRICULTURE j. PRICES FORK PROMENADE
J.
C.
E.
D.
F.
G.
H.
B.
A.
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THE FRONT COMMERCIAL
An URBAN PUBLIC SPACE
THE COMMUNITY WATERFRONT
The Front Square of Prices Fork is the new neighborhood
commercial hub including business offices, small-scale retail and 2
restaurants. The purpose of the development is to provide job
outlets for the citizens living in the community to cut down on
unnecessary commute into surrounding cities.
The urban district master plan incorporates a vast amount of
urban public space opportunities for the residents of the mixed use
and high rise apartments. Parking for the units is entirely
underground, therefore leaving the surface level as courtyard and
open park space.
By preserving agriculture fields suitable for crop production,
the citizens of Prices Fork have the opportunity to grow and sell
their own food. The central farmers market pavilion with
neighboring community garden plots take full advantage of the rural
way of life already existing within the community.
By delighting the underground stream of Prices Fork, there opens
up new recreational and ecological opportunities for the community.
The waterfront allows for fishing, swimming, and nature trails that
unite each district to their own wildlife corridor.
D.
I.
A MARKET OF AGRICULTURE
2019
PHASING DIAGRAM
20222022
2016
THE FORESTED TRAIL
THE AGRICULTURAL TRAIL
LIVING AGRICULTURE
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urban sitescale master plan Prices fork community
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The Prices Fork plaza will become the new community heart, the
urban center of the commercial/mixed use district. The lower
fountain area will be utilized for community celebrations, shows,
and events. A tree-lined streetscape creates rooms which enclose
the surrounding spaces, leaving the plaza view open for those
looking from the road.
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[DURHAM]NORTH CAROLINA
Founded with industrial roots and a unique historical diversity,
Durham has become a local favorite for a variety of cultures within
the North Carolina Triangle development. With a range of sports,
arts, food and nearby college campuses, this small southern town is
expanding to fit the needs of the growing population needs of the
surrounding area. However, compared to the neighboring towns of
Raleigh and Chapel Hill, Durham is moving much slower towards urban
development with a series of racial, economic and development
problems.
As a group, we were challenged to investigate the problems of
Durham in the creation of a new citywide master development plan.
From this concept, we developed a district scale greenway, where
each team member was to choose a site scale section to design
further.
TEAM MEMBERSMICHELLE WOODSKATELYN MCKENNAMENG QUI
I was responsible for all graphicsexcept those with *
-
03
triangle transit network durham urban renewal
An analysis of Durham reveals segregation between the
Western/Downtown and Eastern districts in terms of character,
socioeconomics & aesthetic. Our group mission is unifying the
divided population economically, environmentally & socially
through shared public spaces. In particular, utilizing an old rail
line that currently divides the city into a catalyst for a cohesive
downtown environment. This will be done through T.O.D (Transit
Oriented Development)
[A DISCONNECTED CITY]
HOUSING DAMAGE ETHNICITY/POVERTY TOTAL CRIME A DIVIDED CITY+- +
=+
WEST
EAST
*KM
-
downtown DURHAM MASTER PLAN DURHAM URBAN RENEWAL
01 0302
NEW HISTORIC DISTRICTS
NEW MIXED USE DISTRICTS
NEW PARK SPACE
LIGHT RAIL LINE
GREENWAY NETWORK
NEW TRANSIT CENTERS
TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
NEW/REPURPOSED DEVELOPMENT
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Through the implementation of T.O.D (Transit Oriented
Development), downtown Durham can once again see a cohesive
circulation between its West & East districts. The light rail
corridor acts as the link between the established green-way network
and art districts.
01 02 03
A COHESIVE DOWNTOWN
[DOWNTOWN DURHAM]TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT THE GREENWAY CONNECTION NEW DURHAM
ART & HISTORIC COMMUNITIES
*MQ
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The Greenway Connection is an artery to the heart of the Durhams
new urban core. The Greenway Park will intend to extend downtown
Durham to the east side of the city, across the unused railroad
tracks, which currently act as a divide. The park will increase
land value in the surrounding area, therefore bringing in more
development to East Durham in potentially creating new employment
opportunities. An economic, social, & physical catalyst, each
group member has decided to focus on an area along the greenway as
his or her individual site design.
the greenway connection DURHAM URBAN RENEWAL
01 0302
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Railway park master plan
[A RAILWAY GREENPARK]INFRASTRUCTURE TO INNOVATION
+ THE NORTHRAIL PARK
+ THE JOE FACTORY DISTRICT
+ THE GOLDEN BELT ART DISTRICTTHE NEW ART CENTER OF
DURHAMCONNECTION TO TRANSIT DEVELOPMENTBRINGS PARK PROGRAM +
ECONOMICS
# streets
HISTORIC DISTRICT URBAN RENEWALA TOURISM CENTER + LOCAL
HOTSPOTTHE CENTRAL GARDEN HUB
CONNECTION TO GREENWAYSOPEN LOCAL PARKSPACENATURAL +
INFORMAL
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Golden belt art districtDURHAM URBAN RENEWAL
01 0302
a. PARKING/VENDOR SPACEb. PEDESTRIAN BRIDGEc. INNER COURTYARDd.
URBAN PARKe. URBAN STREET PLAZAf. NATURAL PARKg. OUTDOOR
CLASSROOM/STAGEh. COMMUNITY GARDENi. ORCHARDj. RAILPARK GREENWAYk.
PRESENTATION/CLASSROOMl. PLAYGROUNDm. RESIDENTIAL PARK
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.h.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.m.
A
B
C
D
EF
G
A. CORDOBA CENTER FOR ARTSB. OFFICES, RETAIL, STUDIO + GALLERYC.
LOFTS, RETAIL + OFFICESD. ART CENTER + OFFICES E. COMMUNITY
BUILDING + LOFTSF. RETAIL, ARTS + GALLERYG. EDUCATION
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PLAY
DURHAM ART WALKS + EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES + COMMUNITY CLASSES
+ FOOD TRUCKS + LIVE MUSIC + INVOLVEMENT
CONNECTING EAST + WEST THROUGH ART & PROGRAM
+
AR
T &
ED
UC
ATIO
N P
RO
GR
AM
+
ICO
NIC
UR
BA
N S
TR
ATE
GY
+
TH
E W
ALK
AB
LE G
RE
EN
GR
ID
[DURHAM ART DISTRICT]THE GOLDEN CONNECTION
TRANSFORMING DURHAMS GOLDEN BELT DISTRICT INTO AN URBAN AND
SOCIAL CONNECTOR
#DURHAMART
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EXISTING CONDITIONS PLAN GRADING PLAN
LAYOUT PLAN PLANTING PLAN
The construction document samples are from a small hydrology
design at the Garth Newel Music Center in Bath County Virginia.The
following pages are selected examples from previous internship
experiences that I would like to showcase for my portfolio. Through
my college career, I have had the opportunity to engage in
internships ranging from residential, urban, commercial,
non-profit, community development and marketing. Listed below the
renderings are what I was responsible for with each image. I have
been fortunate enough to work with a wide variety of practices in
both local and international settings.
The following work is only personal. These are projects I have
undergone that are purely design based, contributing to my overall
inspiration for my work.
[CDOC+WORKSAMPLES]LOCATION VARIES
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AUTOCAD EXAMPLES
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mchale & mchale landscape Tel Aviv, Israel
Rendering examples
RESPONSIBLE FOR HAND GRAPHICS + SKETCHUP
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Studio urbanof Tel Aviv, Israel
Rendering examples
WINTER RENDER
PARK DEVELOPMENT RENDER, NORTHERN TEL AVIV
SPRING RENDER
RESPONSIBLE FOR PHOTOSHOP RENDERING + SKETCHUP
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RITZ CARLTON RESORT CONDO SECTION, BERMUDA
MGM HOTEL ROOFTOP POOL PLAN, DUBAI RESPONSIBLE FOR AUTOCAD,
& PHOTOSHOP RENDER
RESPONSIBLE FOR AUTOCAD & PHOTOSHOP
edsa Baltimore & fort Lauderdale
Internship samples
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SKETCH + HAND EXAMPLES
Galleria Nazionale dArte ModernaRome
The ColosseumRome
The Pergamon Museum Berlin
Thesis Sketch: The BustanBlacksburg, Virginia
Prices Fork MasterplanBlacksburg, Virginia
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WOOD[WORK] The chess set Hand carved mahogany + pine wood
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INSTALLATION
The portal (team project) Pine wood
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[MODEL] The HOSTEL GREEN ROOF LASER CAM + pine wood
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PHOTOGRAPHY
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http://issuu.com/ashleetaylorwells/docs/atwlandscape
[email protected] (410) 940 8161
1741 Remington Ct Crofton MD 21114
WVirginia Polytechnic State University Blacksburg, VA/Bachelor
of Landscape ArchitectureExpected Date of Graduation: 2015 GPA:
3.5
EDUCATION
WORK EXPERIENCEADOBE Student RepresentativeDigital Mentor
Workshop Collabrotive Student Promoter/Educator Virginia
Tech/September 2014-Present Promote Adobe in Marketing Events Hold
Adobe Product Student Workshops Digital Education Seminars
EDSA (Centolella Studio)Intern Baltimore/December 2014-January
2015 AutoCad & Drafting of Site Plans Indesign/Photoshop &
Production
EDSA (Behling Studio)Intern Fort Lauderdale/May 2014-August 2014
AutoCad & Drafting of Site Plans Indesign/Photoshop &
Production Work on Site Construction Details
Kidron Valley Workshop Volunteer Junior Workshop Assistant
Jerusalem, Israel May 2014 Presented Student Research to Team
Recorded International Presentations Production of Conference
Book/Data
TAYLORWELLS
SKILLSETS
LEADERSHIP
STUDY ABROAD
Virginia Tech ASLA Gamma Phi Beta SororitySigma Lambda Alpha
Fraternity (VP) Relay For Life Production/Events Committee WUVT
College Radio DjHillel @ Virginia Tech School of Architecture
Digital Mentor
Adobe PhotoshopAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe BridgeAdobe
Acrobat AutoCadVectorworks
Tel Aviv, Israel Fall 2013
RomeSiennaPienzaFlorenceVeniceSalzburg
PragueBerlinHamburgDuisburgCopenhagenAmsterdam
European Summer 2013
ASHLEE
CDAC Design Center Junior Designer Blacksburg VA/January 2014 -
May 2014 February 2015-May 2015 Site Analysis and Community
outreach Designing of Site in Wayland Kentucky
Production of Project Book/Illustratives
Studio Urbanof Volunteer Studio Design Assistant Tel Aviv,
Israel/December 2013 - January 2014 Assisted with
Drafting/Design
Photoshop/Rendering Site Perspectives
MIU/Irit & Dror Urban ArchitectureIntern/ Assistant Designer
Tel Aviv, Israel/August 2013 - January 2014 Collected Site Analysis
of Development Areas Assisted in Process of Designing Community
Creation of Pamphlets Using Adobe Suite
McHale & McHale Landscape Design Intern/ Assistant Designer
Annapolis, MD/May 2012 - August 2012 Used AutoCAD/Vectorworks to
draw Site Plans Built/Rendered 3D Models of Residneital Homes Site
Maintenance Visits/Finished Project Photography
SketchupRhino 3DArc GISHand RenderingDrawingPhotographyPublic
Speaking
AWARDS Virginia Tech 2015 Olmstead Scholar2014 Virginia Tech
E-Portfolio Winner
