TheArchitecturalPortfolio of KeithEly Kent State University

College of Architectureand Environmental Design

TheArchitecturalPortfolio of KeithEly Kent State University

College of Architectureand Environmental Design

A composition of projects 2008-2012

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NIGHT CLUB

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Project//Night Club//Fall 2008//Pro-fessor Frey

Location// Cleveland, Ohio

Project Overview: A site near Cleve-land was given but the project descrip-tion was open to any program type. For this project the program was de-cided to be a night club with a restau-rant that overlooked the river valley at the back of the site. The main focus of the project was the engagement of the land as well as the importance of visualizing and sketching select inte-rior perspectives that highlighted in-teresting areas of the design. This was the first assigned building in the Kent States architecture program.

HOUSING PROJECT

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Project//Housing//Fall 2009//Professor Stroh

Location// Kent, Ohio

Project Overview: Located in downtown Kent, the hous-ing unit to be designed was a two step design process starting with the design of a single housing unit and then expanding that design into a multi story housing com-plex of mid-upper class apartments. Each having multi-ple square footages ranging from single, to double story ,and loft sizes. The key to this project was the under-standing of real world room sizes and proportions.

WELLNESS CENTER

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Project//Wellness Center//Spring 2010//Professor Sabini

Location// Tremont, Ohio

Project Overview: Able to be approached from either of two program variants (wellness center and gym or a spa) there was a fair amount of freedom within the project. In order to maintain the subtle ap-pearance a traditional orthogonal form was chosen helping the build-ing to maintain a sense of cleanliness. Equipped with a gym area for workouts, pool, sauna, barbershop and exterior patios at which to relax; the building also began to balance itself with greenery to help in the clean and fresh feeling of the natural earth. This paired with the large percentage of glazing on the facade and the clean neutral colors chosen, all helped to create the relaxing appeal that accom-panies a program of this type. This was also the first studio project to be a fully digital design in terms of plans, elevations, sections and renderings.

First Floor Plan

Section Cut

BIKE PATH REST STOP

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Project//Bike Path Rest Stop//Fall 2010//Professor Frederick

Location// Ohio Erie Towpath, Ohio

Project Overview: The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath bike trail is a popular route for cyclists to ride in Ohio. One of the main problems (experienced first hand) is that there is a shortage of rest areas along it. This project involves creating a “philosophical and poetic” place to rest along the trail. A main intention was to express the idea of impermanence of, not so much human life but, our surroundings to show that all things succumb to na-ture in the end. To express this the idea of a temporary (although easily repairable) shelter was created with the use of weathering steel as a frame, plywood for the main surfaces and a metal lattice system. These materials were meant to either weather, decay, or help in natures recla-mation of the shelter. Once the plywood decayed it was assumed that the natural vegetation would have taken a hold on the lattice structure and created a natural sea-sonal canopy to cover the shelter and its occupants.

Construction Detail

Study models that portray the appear-ance of the shelter and its comprising materials at the half life span and at the end of the plywoods life to show that the elements and human use and inter-action help to return everything to the earth

Elevation of Shelters on site

MODULAR UPCYCLE

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Project//Modular Upcycling//Fall 2010//Professor Frederick

Location// Mantua, Ohio; Lake Side Sand and Gravel

Group members// Adam Drawl//Amy Robertson//Faye Pak-ish//Shane Freebourn

Group Overview: Propose a reclamation project for Lake Side Sand and Gravel within a window of the next 50 years that can be completed in stages as parts of the owned and mined, ground is no longer of value and is to be sold off or reclaimed. The site was to contain a vintage machinery/tractor museum as a tribute to the history of the site along with any other uses cdetermined as beneficial to the future of the site. Through the use of shipping containers, which already had a presence on the site, the decision was made to use them as a basis for the construction of the new buildings through a modular approach.Personal Overview: Keeping in mind that the mining process will result in a large lake, the proposal for a housing allotment was reached. The houses, built out of shipping containers , would range in size and features from small 1-2 person homes to those for a family of 4+. The modular construction of the con-tainers allowed for a high degree of personalization that can be built on a tight budget. This also afforded the containers, which usually have a ten year maximum life expectancy [for shipment use] to be upcycled [recycled for a higher use than originally intended] as opposed to being only recycled as scrap steel. Through thorough research it was found that the overall cost of

construction was roughly 47% that of a comparable, traditionally built home. Many of these savings were in large part due to factors such as the preinstalled hardwood flooring, no needed structure, ease of insulation [spray on], and the existing corrugations provide adequate depth for plumbing and wiring.The overall modular design [as originally intended for the containers] allows for numerous design vari-ants that can be adapted by need and budget. Fu-ture additions would also be possible through the addition of more containers through a punched opening and simple welded reinforcement. With slight changes [staggers, cantilevers, flipping, or turning] there are few forms that can not be created. The idea of a quick to build and affordable home, as well as the environmental contributions from the upcycling create a modern house for not only the ec-onomically conscious but the environmentally con-cerned as well.

Master Plan of Housing Development

MEDIATHEQUE

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Project//Mediatheque//Spring2011//Professor Giaconia

Location//Florence, Italy

Project Overview: Florence Italy is without a doubt a different setting than Ohio; introducing a different setting a new set of design challenges, ones that after spending four months study-ing abroad became easily noticeable. It was not only different building styles that needed to be met but also different culture and lifestyles that needed accommodating. The Mediatheque was located in the Fortezza da Basso, one of Florence’s land-marks and respectively a historically sensitive area. This made it essential to create a form that was as un-intrusive as possible to the surroundings while also creating a new landmark for the city. Concrete became the material of choice to reflect the stone structures next to it as did glass to maintain a partially transparent facade. Subtle colors and gentle curves helped create an inviting rather than offensive building. The project as a whole was not merely an exercise in design but rather an exercise in adaptation, respect, and how to submerge and mix natural intentions with a new culture, it has the ultimate exer-cise in compromise.

The main theme of the design was to take a seemingly simple and pure external form that wouldn’t clash with the historic Fortezza, and use the interior of the building to create the real experience through an intertwined system of bridges and catwalks that are suspended overhead in open atriums looking down on the people below.

ARTISTS HOME

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Project//Artist’s Home//Fall 2011//Professor Goodman

Location// Generic site, Minnesota

Project Overview: Using sustainable strategies is an ever in-creasingly important aspect of design and is a key aspect of designing a house for an artist. The artist chosen was an auto-motive designer which caused the decision to use raw materials and an elegantly simple form. The house was dug into the site to protect it from the winter winds. A large thermal mass was the best choice for both insulation and heat gain, which was gained through the mostly glazed south facade. The house is meant to be low maintenance, so time can be spent on the art-ists own designs instead of upkeep, and most importantly the house became a home by creating an atmosphere where the artists thoughts and expressions could easily flow.

ROTUNDA REDESIGN

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Project//Rotunda Redesign//Fall 2011//Professor Goodman

Location//Rotunda, Kent State University

Project Overview: Continuing with the sustainable design strat-egies the redesign of the current Rotunda at KSU, and the loca-tion of the present 4th year architectural design studio was a must. Currently being one of the least sustainable buildings on the campus, it is hardly the place for architecture students to design in. With a retrofit including operable high R-value win-dows, solar panels, a double roof (green roof), an open atrium and a large vertical turbine, as well as the removal of some parts of the current floor plan a design that improved efficiency by an estimated (minimum) 80% it was a drastic improvement. Most notable was the increase in natural ventilation and sunlight, even with the double facade. The rotunda was able to maintain its current shape and structure with the exclusion of the new central atrium and lower exterior lobby area.

First Floor Plan

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Project//Black Box Theater//Fall 2011//Professor Goodman

Location//Oberlin, Ohio

Project Overview: Oberlin Ohio has been known for many years for its performing arts schools and theaters. One thing that has always been missing from the area though is a black box the-ater. With Oberlin currently working to begin implementing the first stages of The Oberlin Project, it is a great opportunity to build a new theater to replace some of the older ones that have seen better days. The Oberlin Project is a full urban design plan that aims to re-work the entire city into the first of its kind: a “living city.” It would have a complete Net-Zero system for electric, water, and waste. To do so it would follow the guidelines of The Liv-ing Building Challenge (as did this project) which mandates regulations that control the use of resources. These guidelines would form the basis of a good sustainable design thus creating a building whose form is a resultant of its function.

Some of the guidelines as stated by The Living Build-ing Challenge that had to be met and incorporated into the design included but were not limited to:-no combustion processes-limit vehicular traffic as much as possible (make bike and pedestrian friendly)-net zero water (rain water harvesting and purifica-tion)-a net area of required agriculture (landscape plant-ing on the ground, vertical gardens and rooftop ter-races)-no red list materials (used local and non toxic mate-rials in the construction)-all waste must be treated on site (living machine to treat black water to grey water to be recycled for toi-lets etc.)-zero energy consumption (use passive strategies when applicable and when electrical loads are a ne-cessity use renewable energy sources such as solar and wind located on site)

1: solar panels applied to roof allow for clean renewable energy source2: roof top vegetation adds insulation factor as well as providing usable vegetables and fruits3: living machine to filter waste water which is then recycled for use in toilets4: landscape is a mixture of agriculture and orchard to help provide food and meet living building challenge guidelines5: aquatic agriculture is comprised of freshwater fish/clam harvesting6: green walls add not only an appeal factor but also an added area for growing plants and helps to insulate the building

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Project//IDC//Spring2012//Professor Hawk

Location//Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Partner: Justin Crasi

Project Overview: Currently under progress is the design of a high rise mixed use office building located in Pittsburgh Pennsyl-vania. As part of the Integrated Design Contest (IDC) it must also meet the Living Building Challenge guidelines. This means it would be one of the few high rise designs to be calculated at Net-Zero in its entirety, a tuff challenge to say the least. The IDC will require construction documents, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and environmental design details and diagrams and will therefore be heavily reliant upon CAD, REVIT, VE, Vasari, and any other design software deemed necessary.

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SKETCHING CLASS

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Project//Sketching Class//Spring2011//Professor Duccio

Location//ItalyProject Overview: Sketch-es were from numerous lo-cations around Italy, most were in Florence, under the guidance of multiple professors who taught techniques for sketching different scenarios

SKETCHING CLASS

EXTRA

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Explorations of 3dsMAX Design software:

Due to advancements in technology it is important to try to keep up to date with programs. With the pushing need for more life-like renders, there are few programs better than 3ds Max. I am currently trying to learn the programs architectural applications in my free time.

Completed Projects:

In my senior year of high school I worked along side the school administration, their district architect, and the local senior cen-ter to draw up the preliminary plans for a new field house and senior center mixed use building. It is currently being built with completion set for the end of this summer for the up coming football season.

This past September I drew up preliminary plans to be presented to the zoning board meeting for a local contractor. Its was a dou-ble lot that was to be split into 3 lots each with a duplex planned to be built upon it. It was originally turned down (pre drawings) and was re-examined and passed after I was approached by the contractor to do the drawing sets.

Other experience:

I have completed technical courses in my high school on me-chanical drafting, engineering, and also completed two years of a construction technologies class in which we worked on peoples homes (ranged from full garages being built to replacing roofs and windows).

I also have experience with infrastructure related design since I have worked for a street department the past three years.

Programs known:

PhotoshopInDesignIllustratorRevit -MEP, Structures, ArchitectureCADCad 3d (small amount)3dsMAx (learning)Virtual EnvironmentVasariEcotectRhino (small amount)SketchupClimate ConsultantArchi-Cad (learning)HEED

Keith Ely grew up in Baltic, Ohio, a small village in the heart of Amish Country. Growing up on farms, anything that was needed to be made of repaired was done by hand. From repairing cars and tractors to building furniture and houses, even excavation if needed. It was this hands on approach to life that led to an interest in architecture. Now graduat-ing with a bachelor of architecture from Kent State University in 2012, there are one fewer hurdles to cross on the road to becoming an architect where the thoughts may flow onto the paper and wait their turn to be built.