Chris Gillen Portfolio

christopher gillenstudent portfolio

The following pages are selected work completed during my education at the University of Detroit Mercy. An example of professional work completed during a co-op at Hobbs and Black Architects followed by various studio projects. I thank you for your time in considering the work that follows.

-Chris Gillen

a few words...

Resume

EducationUniversity of Detroit Mercy - School of Architecture, Detroit, MIAugust 2005 – August 2011

Master of Architecture, Graduation: 2011 DeansScholar2005-2011 StudentAdvisoryGroup StudiedabroadinVolterra,Italy.Sketching,Analyzing,and visitingItalianarchitecture Relevant Work ExperienceHobbs + Black Architects–AnnArbor,MIFallIntern,August2008-January2009 WorkedonconstructiondocumentsfortheCityCreekCenter. SaltLakeCity,UT ResponsibleforproducinganduploadingPDFbidpackage drawingsforconsultantsthroughFTP. FacadeanalysisforLEEDcertification. Coordinatingstructuralconsultantsconnectiondetails withconstructiondocuments.

Farbman Group-HenryFordHealthSystem,Detroit,MIWinterIntern,December2007-April2008 Performedaspaceanalysisandproducedadatabasefor medicalroomusage Preparedfurniturelayoutsforproposedspaceusechanges Assistedinprojectestimatingforsmallscaleremodelsof healthcare spaces

Pinacoteca e Museo Civico - Voltera, ItalyExhibitedwork-alabastersculptureandpencilsketches

Proficient in...MicrosoftOfficeSuiteAutoCADGoogleSketchUpAdobeSuite:Photoshop,InDesign,IllustratorVrayforSketchUpPhysicalModelMaking

Third year studio. Urban re-assemblageNoah Resnick

Third year studio. Study abroad. Volterra, ItalyWladek Fuchs

Freehand sketches.

Fourth year studio. SymbiosisAmy Green Deines

Fourth year studio. University of Detroit Mercy LibraryJoe Odoerfer

Contents

Professional Experience. City Creek Center Salt Lake, UT Hobbs + Black Architects

Professional Work

Academic Work

Graduate ThesisGraduate Thesis. Sacred/Profane LandscapeAdvisor: Noah Resnick (Book available upon request)

ProfessionalExperience

Hobbs + Black ArchitectsAnnArbor,Michigan

Project:TheCityCreekCenter-SaltLakeCity,Utah

Duringaco-opatHobbs+BlackArchitects,IworkedasaninternontheCityCreekCenterinSaltLakeCity,Utah.TheCityCreekCenterisa2blockmixedusedevelopment in downtown Salt Lake. Someofmyresponsibilitiesweretoassist inthedevelopmentofsectiondetailsusingAutoCad2010,preparingandsupplyingPDF’sofsheetsetsforbidandaddenda,assisting in the coordination of structural connections tobuildingmaterials,etc.Theworkshown isawalldetailing one of the large sconce features that were togoatthemainentryoffMainSt.

Project: University of Detroit Mercy Architecture Library

This project was developed in a studio with focus given to the integration of building systems in design. We were asked to rough size the mechanical systems, consider natural and artificial lighting, code constraints, structure, and compose interior and exterior materials. In this design, it was a desire to consider a connection to the existing library, in which attention was given to the circulation pattern and integration of new program within the added space, while opening the building to the existing campus plaza. The final product is a three story addition which faces the redesigned campus plaza.

Proposal for redesigned campus plaza and section relationship.

University of Detroit Mercy Architecture Library

0 FloorPlan 1st FloorPlan

2nd FloorPlan 3rd FloorPlan


auditoriumcirculation desk

campus cafe

stacks

reading room

stacks

reading room

storage


Wall section cutaway


Interior - second floor reading room

Detail of central stair


HVAC model with structure


Project: Urban Re-Assemblage. Considering Tiger Stadium

This studio emphasized adaptive re-use and understandings of re purposed items. Beginning with investigations into smaller scale objects such as a dining chair, the studio progressed in scale to the re-thinking of the Tiger Stadium site and structure. In this investigation, concepts of vertical farming were explored. Included in the program are a corner cafe/restaurant, accompanied by a street accessible grocery store, and lined with vertical growing platforms and distribution center. The integration of these programs to the infrastructure and need of the community were of importance and helped to focus the investigation.

Urban re-Assemblage Growing Platforms

michigan avenue elevation.

michigan avenue section.

trumbull elevation.

trumbull section.

elevationssections

public grocery

Growing platforms

Distribution center Warehouse

Sketch sample of floral growing platform Urban re-Assemblage Growing Platforms

Massing model to study scale implications within the site context


Michigan Central Station ( vacant )

Site

I-75

historic Corktown Neighborhood

Wire frame model to study structure, circulation and lighting conditions


Project: Study Abroad. Volterra, Italy

As part of the University of Detroit Mercy’s study abroad program, half the summer of 2008 was spent in the hill town of Volterra, Italy. During this time, we were given instruction in site drawing, alabaster sculpture, art history while able to live among the towns well rooted families. Staying in Volterra for this time allowed for investigations into the culture and people which make up such a place. Given this brief experience, the project was to design a building which would house artists abroad and also allow for the exhibition of their work. Special considerations were given to proportion, scale and sense of identity, as the site for this project was on the edge of the town overlooking ruins of a Roman Theatre and the distant city of Pisa.

Volterra, Italy Pro Arte


View from Roman Theatre - outside medieval wall



Project:“Symbiosis”Detroit+Toronto

In this studio, relationshipsbetweenTorontoand Detroit were explored. Initial researchwas done of both cities which included astudio partnership with the HOK TorontoStudio. Presentations were made todesignersandwerealso featuredata firmluncheon.Presentedhereisanarchitecturalintervention in thecityofDetroit.Anarteryof the Detroit freeway system divides thesite in two parts. The project consists of a designed landscape and an anchoring feature cinema.Thecinemaisusedasatoolforcultivatingthisurbansite.

Toronto Installation - “divergent paths”

Symbiosis Detroit+Toronto


Study models for site landscape strategy

Above:

Study in site landscape and the intersection of east/west infrastructure

South facing birds eye of site landscape with theatre structure


Night rendering of corner film plaza and lit rest room structures

Daylight rendering of corner plaza


Freehand Site Drawings

Drawings completed in Volterra, Italy

‘Baptistry Door’Volterra, Italy

Freehand Drawing

The above sketches were done as an exploration into the varied constructions and textures of facades

Freehand Drawing

Project:ThesisTheSacredLandscape*Thesis book available upon request

Sacred space often evokes a broadenedsenseofawareness,itemploysanexperienceof emotion, sensation, and memory thattranscends the spatial. Sacred space isused here as a loose term to describe therelationship of the human to the built andun-built environment. Landscape as thecommon sense of the term, referring tothe physical articulation of vegetation, aswell as a broadened understanding withregardtothecityasacomplex landscapeofmanyparts. Theseconcepts havebeenfused to begin a further understanding forthetreatmentofcemeteryassacredurban

landscape.

NonUniversalExistingthroughtime Journeyto

Sacred/Profane Landscape Graduate Thesis

A series of conceptual collages were made todepict emotions and sensations experiencedthroughthesacred.Thevisualcollageswerethenaccompanied by a spatial translation and thusbeganthequestioningofspace.Theseelementswereimportantintheexchangeofarchitecture,theenvironment,andpersonalexperienceinthefinaldesign.


The former Hudson’s Department Store site in downtown Detroit was used as the site in this proposal. This SketchUp model was created after continued critique and alterations to the foam model seen on the following page


Afoammodelwasusedtotesttheorganizationofspace.Themodelprovidedforcontinualadaptationsandprogressionofcarvedspaces.




site section 1Ascale1/16th”=1’0”



Afinalmodelwasconstructedbytaking32sectionslicesthroughthesiteat8’intervals.Thesectionswerethencutoutof1/2”MDFboardandgroupedtogether.Thefinalmodelwas a series of 5 groups which had theabilitytobeseparatedandusedinunderstandingthefinalproposal.

Documents

Chris Gillen Portfolio