Ben Jensen - Portfolio

design portfolioBENJAMIN JENSEN

JEEENN

B NS

SELECT WORKS

CONTENTS:About Me

Free State Opera House802 Garfield Street

KU Field Station Entry GatewayIntergenerational Community Master Plan

Ubuntu VillageDouglas County Senior Center

Glass Art MuseumCongo School

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JEEENNB NS

3

My name is Ben Jensen. I am an architectural student and aspiring designer.

I believe design has a direct impact on the way humans interact, behave, and ultimately live their day-to-day lives. With so many different technological advances and emerging fields of

design, I see the opportunities for innovation and creative solution-making to be endless.

I am drawn to design that focuses on user experience, design research, and context awareness.

I will graduate in May 2015 with a Master of Architecture (M.Arch I) and a minor in Business from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.

I am excited to continue to learn as I begin my professional career.

BENJAMIN JENSEN

The University of Kansas School of Architecture, Design, & Planning Master of Architecture, Minor in Business

Study Abroad: Architecture in Germany & Switzerland: Urban Form in Transition + Emerging Technologies

[email protected] Valley Lane, Lawrence, KS 66044

Bell/Knott & Associates - Leawood, KS Student Summer Intern, June 2013 - August 2013

The Learning Tree Toy Store - Leawood, KS Sales Associate, June 2008 - January 2012

American Institute of Architecture Students - University of Kansas Member, Fall 2010 - Present Class Representative, 2014 - 2015 Academic Year

Sigma Nu Fraternity, Nu Chapter - University of Kansas Member, August 2010 - Present Social Chairman, 2011- 2012 Academic Year

INVOLVEMENT

SKILLS

2010-2015

Expected May 2015

Summer 2014

EDUCATION

WORK EXPERIENCE

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Adobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopAdobe IllustratorAutodesk AutoCADAutodesk RevitAutodesk 3D Studio MaxGoogle SketchUpGoogle EarthMicrosoft WordMicrosoft PowerPoint Microsoft ExcelHand Drafting & DrawingModel BuildingLaser CuttingCNC Routing3D Printing

FREE STATE OPERA HOUSE

The Free State Opera House project called for the design of a major civic center for Lawrence, Kansas - a growing town that is on the threshold of becoming a city.

The site is an entire city block in Downtown Lawrence: bounded by Sixth Street to the north, Seventh Street on the south, Vermont Street to the east, and Tennessee Street on

the west.

CHALLENGE:

The final design includes a 1600-seat Opera House, an 800-seat recital hall, a café, underground parking garage, backstage support spaces, administrative offices, and a civic

plaza for public use.

The main Opera House and the smaller Recital Hall are separate boxes connected by a glass bridge that spans over an outdoor public plaza. The exterior design took a focus on

public versus private spaces. The private backstage, support, and administrative office spaces in both the Opera House and Recital Hall have solid concrete exteriors covered in

perforated metal sheeting. As one moves from the private backstage and support spaces into the public lobbies and bridge, the exterior begins to transition from concrete

with perforated metal into transparent glass. The public lobbies, café, and bridge walkway are transparent glass boxes to reflect that they are spaces for public use.

SOLUTION:

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Fall 2013Lawrence, KansasPerforming Arts Center Design3 people

Term: Location:

Objective:Team:

4th Year

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UP

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802 GARFIELD STREET

This client-oriented project called for a net-zero home design with full construction drawings and specifications for the Department of Energy’s Net-Zero Home

Competition.

The project was also paired with the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority (LDCHA) as a client. LDCHA was seeking a design for a two-bedroom home to be

built on a site they own in East Lawrence, Kansas.

The client was looking for a two-bedroom home that would be low-maintenance, durable, and cost-effective. LDCHA provides affordable housing options to

low-income individuals and families in the Lawrence area.

One-third of LDCHA residents are physically handicapped, while another third of their clients are over the age of 65. With this in mind, the house was designed to

fully-comply with ADA standards.

CHALLENGE:

Term: Location:

Objective:

Team:

Spring 2014Lawrence, KansasSingle-Family Home DesignConstruction Documentation3 people

4th Year

While keeping the LDCHA’s budget in mind, the final design meet their needs: the client was provided with a full set of construction documents to take to licensed professionals for future project development.

In order to meet the Department of Energy’s Net-Zero competition criteria, another con-struction set was produced that incorporated the various active systems that help the house reach net-zero energy consumption.

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SOLUTION:

Challenged with meeting the needs of the local housing authority while also creating a net-zero home design for the Department of Energy’s competition, the final product is a minimalist yet durable design that could easily be updated over time. By using affordable materials and analyzing the cost and return on investment of each material and mechanical system, a cost-effective, affordable, and net-zero energy home design was able to be created.

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KU FIELD STATION ENTRY GATEWAY

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Spring 2013Lawrence, KansasDesign-Build Project17 People

Term: Location:

Objective:Team:

3rd Year

+

In Spring 2013 I took part in the Dirtworks Studio: a design-build studio class offered to third year students in the University of Kansas architecture program. The

studio was invited by the University of Kansas Field Station to design and build a new entrance gateway to their Research and Operations offices and research

center in northern Lawrence, Kansas.

CHALLENGE:

As a class we designed and constructed a thirty-five foot long rammed earth wall. The Gateway rises from the earth, serving as a threshold between the surrounding

prairie landscape and the Field Station; offering both signage and direction to those visiting the site, as well as paying homage to the prairie environment surrounding

it. Locally gathered materials were utilized in rammed earth construction to create a structure that is truly a part of its surroundings.

SOLUTION:

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This project has been awarded: • The Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design Awards 2014: Student-Built Category – Honorable Mention • Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) Awards 2014: Design-Build Award

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INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY MASTER PLANFall 2014Lawrence, KansasCommunity Master Plan Design10 People

Term: Location:

Objective:Team:

5th Year

+

This master planning project focused on rethinking senior housing. Driven by increased demand, skyrocketing healthcare costs, cuts in pensions, and losses in

savings and home values; a huge market for cost-effective housing and care for aging seniors is emerging. Providing for aging baby boomers cannot be

accomplished by traditional development means, thus a new holistic approach is necessary.

Traditional retirement communities isolate their inhabitants from the rest of society. Studies show contact with younger people—especially children—can be hugely

beneficial to people as they age, thus the final design needed to include provisions for both structured and spontaneous interactions across multiple age-groups.

Intergenerational connections are vital to a healthy aging process and a vibrant community.

The project program calls for rethinking senior housing from a design standpoint. The final design includes for a compilation of building types, parking, and green

spaces that make up an intergenerational community master plan.

CHALLENGE:

Knowing what the senior market wants along with how to broadly categorize this information into typologies allowed for the creation of a simple list of necessary and desirable community infrastructural elements that can be easily quantified and calculated into a successful master plan. A list of the necessary program coupled with a bubble diagram to show relationships served as a starting point.

Goal:Intergenerational

Community

ResidentialApartments

KU LivingLaboratory

StructuredParking

DiagonalParking

AccessibleParking

Mixed UseRetail

OfficesDining

Assisted Living

MedicalSatellite

Community Center

Visitor’sCenter

GreenSpaces

Single-FamilyHomes Condos

Hotel

Town Homes

ParkingHealth Care

CommercialCivic

- Apartments - Single-Family Homes - Condos - Town Homes - Hotel for Rock Chalk Park Site

- Mixed Use Retail - Dining Establishments - Business Offices - Super Market

- Visitor ’sCenter - Community Center - Green Spaces - Educational Facil i t ies

- KU Living Laboratory - Medical Satel l i te - Assisted Living - Pharmacies

- Mult i - level Parking Structures - Diagonal Street Parking - Bus Stops - Bike Paths

Residential:

Commercial:

Civic:

Health Care:

Transportation:

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S

S

Walmart

Dillon’sThe Big Biscuit

Taco BellBurgers ByBiggs

Johnny’s Tavern West

Salty Iguana

Six Mile Tavern

Rock ChalkPark

Scale: 1” = 200’

5 Min Walk

Rock Chalk Park Points of Interest

10 Min Walk 15 Min Walk 20 Min Walk

Rock Chalk Park Points of Interest Diagram

Scale: 1” = 200’

West Lawrence 1991 West Lawrence 2004 West Lawrence 2014

The site is located in West Lawrence: an area of low-concentration density made up of primarily suburban neighborhoods, massive apartment complexes, and “Big-box” commercial developments.

The site exists on the edge of suburbia in West Lawrence. Its closest neighbor is the newly-constructed Rock Chalk Park, host of many athletic events for several schools around the area, including the University of Kansas.

While Rock Chalk Park dominates the area northwest of the site, single family neighborhood and multifamily housing developments expand to the east, causing a rift between building and zoning typologies on either side of the site.

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Rock Chalk Park

George Williams Way

G E

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O V E R L A N D D R I V E

West Lawrence 2014

Based on the general list of community infrastructural elements (seen on page 16), the final design includes residential, commercial, civic and transportation structures, along with a satellite health care facility and University of Kansas Living Lab to serve aging residents.

The residential structures host a variety of affordable living conditions to attract residents from varying economic backgrounds and age-brackets. For the community to be self-sustaining and business-oriented, commercial businesses and markets are included with retail.

To stay active and vibrant, civic or public use areas are incorporated throughout the site. Health care facilities and assisted living are incorporated to be available to our target market: the Baby Boomers. Transportation structures and strategies tie all the buildings together and provide means of circulation in and out of the community.

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SOLUTION:

MIXED USE APARTMENTS

+ STUDIOS

DUPLEXES

SINGLE FAMILYHOMES

HOTEL

ROW HOUSING

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

SENIOR LIVINGQUARTERS

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ICON KEY

Rock Chalk Park Phasing Plan

PHASE 1Utility and street construction$2,000,000.00 investment

PHASE 2Mix-Use Retail/Residential99,807 sq ft development$15,873,172 investment




PHASE 6Living Lab/Senior Housing94,247 sq ft development$17,152,954 investment


PHASE 8Retail Block10,722 sq ft development$1,844,184 investment

PHASE 9Elementary School50,222 sq ft development$8,286,630 investment

ROCK CHALK VILLAGE SITE PHASING PLAN

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Rock Chalk Park Site Parcel Matrix

Parcel Zoning Potential Use FAR Height (ft)

A1 Residential Mixed Use Retail/Office/ Residential 37,962 90,255 2.38 60 54 61.96


A3 Residential Commercial Retail 22,933 5,722 0.25 20 - -


A5 Residential Commercial Hotel 89,463 239,829 2.68 60 476 231.77




A9 Residential Mixed Use Market 55,759 14,569 0.26 20 - -

A10 Residential Public/ Institutional Library 55,759 28,875 0.52 20 - -

A11 Residential Mixed Use Senior Living/ Living Lab 113,226 94,247 0.83 24 28 10.77

A12 Residential Public/ Institutional Elementary School 205,890 50,222 0.24 20 - -

1.31 44 828 43.98

Parking Zoning Type Key

Parcel Structured SurfaceA1 X 181 6 A2 X X 96 4 A3 X 11 1 A4 X 141 5 A5 X 480 9 A6 X 205 7 A7 X 131 5 A8 X 332 9 A9 X 29 4

A10 X 58 4 A11 X 188 6 A12 X 100 4

1,952 64

Total Standard Stall Count

Total ADA Stall Count

Standard Parking Stall Count

No. of Units

Dwelling Unit/ Acre

ADA Stall Count

Building Area (S.F.)

Mixed Use

Commercial

Public/Institutional

Existing Zoning

Stall Type Present

Average Height

Parcel Size (S.F.)

Average DU/A

Total No. of Units

Average FAR

A1 1 - Retail1- Offi ce

3 - Residential

A21 - Retail1- Offi ce

3 - Residential

A3 1 - Retail


3 - Residential

A5 5 - Hotel


3 - Residential


3 - Residential


3 - Residential

A91 - Market

A101 - Library

A111 - Living Lab

1 - Senior Housing

A121 - School

Geo

rge

Willi

am

s Wa

y

Overland Dr

ROCK CHALK PARK SITE

PARCEL KEY ROCK CHALK VILLAGE SITE PARCEL MATRIX PARCEL KEY

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PLA

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NTA

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Community Cafeteria

Market + Pharmacy

Community Garden

- community garden withelementary school programworking with businessincubator

- market cooking classesuses some produce fromcommunity garden and hasa varitey of classes for allages

- cooking classes producefood that is given to low-income families in theneighborhood

Central Atrium- natural lighting- visual connections

Conference Room

Community CafeteriaCooking Classroom Lounge

Art Studio

Reading Room + Library

COMMUNITY CENTER

The Community Center has long been a culmination of program spaces ranging from the traditional lobby to more specialized areas such as art classrooms. In order to take full advantage of an Intergenerational Community Center, programs are of vast importance. Some suggestions include an art studio, community cafeteria (which could house cooking classes), a reading room and library, and possibly a conference room to cater to encore careers. All of these elements would be integrated with the existing amenities in the community.

PLANNED AND SPONTANEOUS INTERACTIONLIFE-LONG LEARNING

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BLOCK SHORTENING

Curbside Boundary Native Plants

Permeable Surface Drainage

CURBSIDE BIOSWALES

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Sunshading Systems

STREET ACCESSIBILITY AND INTERACTIONS

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PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCES

Cycling Bus RidingExisting Bike RoutesProposed Bike RoutesExisting Bus RoutesProposed New Routes

Existing Bus Stops

Proposed Bus Stops

Key

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On-Site Emergency Beacons

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29' -

6" 40' -

6"

20' - 0"

1' -

9"

4327 TROOST AVE.

4329 TROOST AVE.

4' - 10"

TRO

OST

AVE

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PROPERTY LINE PR

OPE

RTY

LIN

E

PROPERTY LINE

PR

OPE

RTY

LIN

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PR

OPE

RTY

LIN

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PROPERTY LINE

44TH STREET

150' - 0"

30' -

0"

30' -

0"

VACANT LOTS TO BE PURCHASED FOR LARGER PLAYGROUND AND PARKING

EMPTY LOT

EMPTY LOT

SLO

PE. SL

OPE

.

SLOPE.

SLO

PE.

SLO

PE.

SLOPE.

PARAPET1' -

0"

EXISTINGJUNGLE GYM

EXISTING PAVEMENT

144'

- 0

7/16

"11

' - 0

"

EXISTING RETAINING WALLAND CHAIN LINK FENCE

UBUNTU VILLAGE

Current Ubuntu North Building - 4327 Troost

Current Ubuntu South Building - 4329 Troost

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The Ubuntu Village of Kansas City is a community-based non-profit initiative that is designed to empower and engage community building through cooperative and

village-centered creativity. Ubuntu Village is currently split up between two buildings on Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. The North Building houses a congregation space

for a religious worship group, the Village Artisans Art Gallery, as well as additional event spaces for rentals, office space for leasing, and large meeting/gathering rooms. The south

building houses the Ubuntu Academy, a day care and early learning center.

The objective of this project was to design a renovation of the existing Ubuntu North and South buildings to accommodate a charter school. The Ubuntu Village plans to move out

its current tenants in hopes of using both buildings for a school. The Academy for Integrated Arts (AFIA), is currently located one mile south on Troost Avenue, and has an interest in relocating to the Ubuntu Buildings as a new location for the growing school.

AFIA has a strong focus on the arts and a very open learning environment, and they stray away from traditional institutional classroom practices.

CHALLENGE:

Term: Location:

Objective:

Team:

5th Year

+

Spring 2015Kansas City, MissouriRenovation/Remodel ProjectSchool DesignConstruction Documentation4 People

The team of four assigned to this project aimed to design a place that would encourage the AFIA’s innovative and transparent approach to creative learning. With the client’s budget goals in mind, the final design was very modest and cost-efficient; keeping as many existing walls as possible. For accessibility purposes an elevator was added to the North building, and ADA-compliant ramps were designed for the south building.

SOLUTION:

UP

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2A5.0

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A B C

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Administration

Visitor / Gallery

Shared / Misc.

Support

Restrooms

Circulation

Kindergarten - 1st Classrooms

UP

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2A5.0

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A B C

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2nd - 3rd Classrooms

4th - 6th Classrooms

First Floor Plan

dining / dance / community / misc.

comp. lab

home area

art studio

gallery

officerecycled material storage

stagekitchen

teacher’s collab. room

reception

office

kindergartenclassroom

1st gradeclassroom

kindergartenclassroom

DN

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2A5.0

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A B C

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Second Floor Plan

library

home area

4th graderoom

5th graderoom

6th graderoom

3rd gradeclassroom

2nd gradeclassroom

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In the North Building, a new atrium and central stair were put in the entryway, serving many purposes. The atrium’s green and

yellow-hued glass walls create a separation between visitors and children for security purposes, but also allows parents and

guardians to be able to see school activity and allow students views down to the main lobby and outside. The atrium also allows for

natural light to flood the interior spaces. A colorful, patterned curtain wall system is envisioned for the atrium to add a sense of

playfulness to the school’s design. The South Building would see some existing walls being changed s to glass walls to contribute

to the sense of transparency and community that tie in with AFIA’s educational themes. The team also imagined and sketched some potential facade options. The facade options served as a creative

exercise within the project, but were not included in the final design. 3 4 5 621

Exisiting Front Facade

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North Roof27' - 4"

South Roof17' - 0"

N First Floor Ceiling13' - 5"

1 3 5 642

NEWDROPCEILING

NEWDROPCEILING

LIBRARY &COMPUTER LAB

ARTCOORDINATOR'S

OFFICEWAITING AREA RECEPTION PRINCIPAL'S

OFFICE

4TH GRADE RM

NEW ATRIUM

ELEVATOR PIT

4' -

0"6'

- 0"

7' - 0"

7' - 0"

North Roof27' - 4"

First Floor ReflectiveCeiling Plan

2' - 0"

South Roof17' - 0"

N First Floor Ceiling13' - 5"

A B C

STAIR54

2ND - 6TH HOMEAREA

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2ND - 6TH HOMEAREA

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ENTRY4

HALL9

BOYS RESTROOM11

GIRLS RESTROOM33

BOYS RESTROOM34

NEW DROP CEILING

6' -

0"

6' - 2 3/4" NEW STAIR AND ELEVATOR

NEW ATRIUM

Section looking East, Cutting through New Atrium

Section through North Building, Looking North 30

DOUGLAS COUNTY SENIOR CENTER

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Term: Location:

Objective:

Team:

5th Year Spring 2015

Lawrence, KansasRenovation/Remodel ProjectCommunity Center DesignConstruction Documentation3 People

The project program called for a building use study and a renovation design of the existing Douglas County Senior Services (DCSS) Senior Center in downtown

Lawrence, Kansas. Tasks include program analysis, site analysis, context analysis, and a final program reconfiguration.

CHALLENGE:

Design development aimed to resolve the building’s space-use problems in a way that ultimately leads to the DCSS Senior Center building’s highest and best use.

Final renovation designs include a new open atrium and a spiraling grand staircase in the main lobby, as well as the addition of clerestory windows in the main lobby atrium and in the main gathering room on the second floor. Design development final deliverables include a space plan solution, existing plans, demolition plans,

renovation plans, and graphic renderings of the proposed renovations and changes to the existing building.

SOLUTION:

EXISTING DCSS BUILDING

Demolition Plans of Existing DCSS Senior CenterGround Level Level Two

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Proposed Ground Level Construction Proposed Level Two Construction

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W/E Section facing North N/S Section facing West

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GLASS ART MUSEUMTerm:

Location:Objective:

Team:

2nd Year Spring 2012

Lawrence, KansasMuseum/Gallery DesignIndividual Project

This project’s site is located in a vacant lot near the corner of 7th Street and Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence, Kansas. The project calls for a museum

space that will use gallery spaces to exhibit the beauty of glass art.

CHALLENGE:

SOLUTION:My final plan uses light along with varying ceiling heights and wall thicknesses, in order to

separate galleries and administrative spaces. Light wells bring in natural daylighting that helps exhibit the glass art.

First Floor

Second Floor

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CONGO SCHOOLTerm:

Location:Objective:

Team:

1st Year Spring 2011

Democratic Republic of CongoSchool DesignIndividual Project

This project called for a school building for a site in a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo consisting of three classrooms and an outdoor gathering space.

The building has no access to electricity. The goal is to efficiently use passive lighting and ventilation throughout the space to optimize natural light and air

circulation.

CHALLENGE:

Materiality is both local and cost efficient: the roofing is corrugated metal, and the structure and supports are wood. The ceiling is made of a thick corrugated plastic,

with walls of bricks made from local clays and mud.

SOLUTION:

The building’s plan is inspired by a traditional African mask. The mask’s circular shape influences the semi-circle shape of

the classrooms.

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Ben Jensen - Portfolio