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...
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
University of Detroit Mercy Architecture Library
auditoriumcirculation desk
campus cafe
stacks
reading room
stacks
reading room
storage
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
Massing model to study scale implications within the site context
Urban re-Assemblage Growing Platforms
Michigan Central Station ( vacant )
Site
I-75
historic Corktown Neighborhood
Wire frame model to study structure, circulation and lighting conditions
Urban re-Assemblage Growing Platforms
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.
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.
Symbiosis Detroit+Toronto
Study models for site landscape strategy
Above:
Study in site landscape and the intersection of east/west infrastructure
Night rendering of corner film plaza and lit rest room structures
Daylight rendering of corner plaza
Symbiosis Detroit+Toronto
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.
A series of conceptual collages were made todepict emotions and sensations experiencedthroughthesacred.Thevisualcollageswerethenaccompanied by a spatial translation and thusbeganthequestioningofspace.Theseelementswereimportantintheexchangeofarchitecture,theenvironment,andpersonalexperienceinthefinaldesign.
Sacred/Profane Landscape Graduate Thesis
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
Sacred/Profane Landscape Graduate Thesis
Afoammodelwasusedtotesttheorganizationofspace.Themodelprovidedforcontinualadaptationsandprogressionofcarvedspaces.
Sacred/Profane Landscape Graduate Thesis