portfolio - emily merrill

emily merrillMaster of Architecture

Concentration: Building TechnologiesThe University of North Carolina at Charlotte

May 2012

Bachelor of Fine Arts Concentration: Art - Interior Design

The University of GeorgiaMay 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTSARCHITECTURE

BIOREACTIVE BUILDING ENVELOPESPRING 2011

NEW CAMPUS MEDIA + LIBRARY CENTERFALL 2010

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH

FALL 2009

GRADUATE THESISSUMMER 2011 - SPRING 2012

MISCELLANEOUS

INTERIOR DESIGNTHE BRANDING OF A CITY:

ART + MUSIC + COMMUNITY FALL 2007

SINGLE FAMILYRESIDENTIAL: HOME AND OFFICE/GALLERY

FALL 2006

ART

PHOTOGRAPHY

RESUME

23S

7F

11 OF

15S

17

2425AF

27 HF

30

36

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SELECT WORKARCHITECTURE

LIFECYCLE INTEGRATED KINETIC FACADES

BIOREACTIVE BUILDING ENVELOPE

The objective of the research-based topical studio entitled “Lifecycle Integrated Kinetic Facades” was to explore performative building envelopes for their potential to positively impact climate change and energy usage. The main portion of this course con-sisted of the design of a kinetic facade based on two environmental constraints, in my case, UV light and air pollution. Prior to the design of an envelope system, each student selected a site and carried out computer simulations to determine a form for a 50,000 sq ft museum (program to be determined by each student) optimized for energy efficiency. The kinetic facade that I developed is a “bioreactive building envelope,” this means the skin of the build-ing incorporates an aspect of biology into its design. The facade system designed utilizes micro algae to both clean the surrounding air and harvest biomass for biofuel. Additionally, operable shading devices were designed to enhance daylighting and further optimize the system. Through research and analy-sis, I predict this envelope system could sequester all of the CO2 emitted by the building plus some and produce approximately 122,640 gallons of biofuel per year.

Revit, Project Vasari, Ecotect, and Sketchup Pro were used to design and analyze this project.

This project was nominated by faculty to be present-ed at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s “Campus Conversations: Students Talk About Sus-tainability.”

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TOPICAL STUDIOSPRING 2011

emily merrill I bioreactive building envelope

inspirational images

kine

tic s

hadi

ng d

evic

e

mul

lion

syst

em

glas

s pa

nels

faca

de fr

ame

alga

e ph

otob

iore

acto

rs

exploded axonometric

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bioreactive building envelope I emily merrill

1/16” physical model

exterior perspectiveInterstate 277transportation is the second largest contributor of CO2

emissions in the US

Uptown Charlotte, NCbuildings are the largest contributor of CO2 emis-sions in the US

site study

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emily merrill I bioreactive building envelope


south elevation

adaptive component shading studies

closed

partially deployed

fully deployed

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bioreactive building envelope I emily merrill

interior perspective

section b

Algae PBR - Me-chanical Space, Input

Dropped Ceiling

Perimeter Beam

12” Round Column

Algae PBR - Trans-parent Polycarbon-ate Sheet

Algae PBR - Culture Chamber

Algae PBR - Air/CO2 Intake

Algae PBR - Me-chanical Space, Output

Retractable Shading Device

Shading Device - HousingShading Device - Mechanical Space

Shading Device

High Performance Glazing

Aluminum or Steel Tube Mullions (note: algae pbr mechani-cal system will run

steel tube facade structure

raised floor

Mullion Clip

Steel Angle

8” Concrete Slab

wall section detail through facade system

The intent of the comprehensive design studio is for students to develop a project that explores assets of design other studios may only brush upon. These assets include things like building codes, accessibil-ity, and structure. As an additional component this comprehensive project was to include environmental components specifically relating to a particular cli-mate. The location of my building was in Seattle, Washington on the University of Washington Seattle campus. The specified site ironically happened to be the most beloved open space on the entire campus. I set out to design an environmentally conscious building that would give something back instead of take away. Designing small and tall allowed me to preserve as much of the site as possible. An inte-grated vertical park was designed with the intention of creating a heightened experience for the user as well as additional public space. Daylighting, stack ef-fect, and focus on recycled materials were additional environmentally conscious strategies employed.

Revit was the primary software used for this project.

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UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SEATTLENEW CAMPUS MEDIA

+ LIBRARY CENTER

emily merrill I new campus media + library center

COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN STUDIOFALL 2010

exterior perspective

study models

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new campus media + library center I emily merrill


exterior perspective

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emily merrill I new campus media + library center

wall section

west elevation

section b

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new campus media + library center I emily merrill



The primary project undertaken in the design funda-mentals/skills studio was a Center for the Study of the American South. The main programmatic pieces of this building were an archive and research facili-ties. The site for the project was Middleton Place, a historic plantation adjacent to the Ashley River outside of Charleston, South Carolina. This studio was the most conceptual and theoretically driven of all the studios I have taken during my Master of Ar-chitecture education. The built history of Middleton Place began in the 1700’s and has continued into the present with Clark and Menefee’s contempo-rary intervention of an Inn. I designed my build-ing thinking about the history of the American South as one with many layers. The history presented at Middleton Place is enchanting and magical, so much so that the underlying darkness that is the reality of a plantation can be overlooked. I wanted my building to speak to this relationship of presen-tation versus reality. I chose a site for my building away from the manicured gardens of the planta-tion. Site became an important part of my building and I chose to extend the building into the imme-diate site in such a way that it touches the ground lightly and yet is grounded to one specific place.

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MIDDLETON PLACECENTER FOR THE

STUDY OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH

DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS/SKILLS STUDIOFALL 2010

emily merrill I center for the study of the american south

study models

aerial view

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center for the study of the american south I emily merrill

work space

conference room

kitchen & lounge

storagebook storage wall

archival filing cabinets & drawers

archival vault

librarian office

librar-ian

office

document request desk

level 2 floor plan

lobby gallery bookstore/cafe

men’s rest- room

wom-en’s rest- room

service room

storage

lecture/performance/

storytelling

outdoor lecture/performance/

storytelling

visiting scholar offices

reading room

privatereading/

listening room

privatereading/

listening room

privatereading/

listening room

boat dock

a

b

level 1 floor plan

entranceramp

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emily merrill I center for the study of the american south

section b

1/64” physical site model interior perspective

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center for the study of the american south I emily merrill

east elevation

1/16” physical section model

In order to sustain expected population growth and urbanization - additionally life beyond the extinction of nonrenewable resources - the skyscraper is a building type that is an increasingly relevant solution for the twenty-first century. Skyscrapers are now being conceived as smart, energy efficient buildings fundamentally different from skyscrapers of the past.My graduate thesis, entitled “Mapping an Emerging Typology: A Paradigm Shift in the Twenty-First Cen-tury Skyscraper,” is a research-based project that ex-plores a paradigm shift in skyscraper typology driven by issues of energy and ecological and environmen-tal sustainability. My thesis critically examines a new generation of skyscrapers with the intent of providing insight on the current state of this important typology as well as direction for its future success. The final documentation of my thesis study takes the form of five written chapters: an introduction, exploration of a paradigm shift in base and design and vertical or-ganization, exploration of a paradigm shift in form, exploration of a paradigm shift in facades, and a conclusion. In addition to traditional research and writing, data was collected in a set of 232 skyscrap-ers and in a sub-set of 26 skyscrapers. Conditions of base design and vertical organization, form, and facades were measured in each of the data sets. Data was analyzed and visualized for further analysis of the ideas explored in each chapter.

Selected to present research at the upcoming Coun-cil on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s 9th World Congress in Shanghai.

Among 7 of 31 thesis students short listed by faculty and top 2 of 7 voted upon by classmates to rep-resent UNC Charlotte at Critical MASS, an annual symposium of graduate thesis work from the South-east Region of the US.

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MAPPING AN EMERGING TYPOLOGY: A PARADIGM

SHIFT IN THE 21ST CENTURY SKYSCRAPER

GRADUATE THESISSUMMER 2011 - SPRING 2012

emily merrill I graduate thesis

Global Population7.3 billion in 2014

# of Tall BuildingsCompleted per Year114 in 2014World EnergyConsumption13 billion tonnes ofoil equivalents in 2014

Urban Population3.9 billion in 2014

2.5 Billion in 1950

~4.1 billion tonnes of oilequivalents in 1970

0.75 billionin 1950

2 Tall Buildingscompleted in 1960

Global Population, Number of Tall Buildings (200 meters+) Completed per Year, World Energy Consumption, and Urban Population from 1950 to 2014

Number of Tall Buildings (200 meters+) per Region in 1999 and 2014

1999

2014

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graduate thesis I emily merrill

Total # of Cond

itions per B

uilding

2010

# of Skyscrapers Analyzed in Chronological Order

1891

2015

2018

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2011

2012

2013

2014

2016

2017

1972

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

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Conditions Measured in 232 Skyscrapers (200 meters+)Red Lines Represet Buildings Selected for Further Analysis

Skyscrap

ers Analyzed

Condition Subcategories Condition SubcategoriesCondition Subcategories

FacadesFormBase Design + Vertical Organization

Skyscrap

ers Analyzed

Skyscrap

ers Analyzed

Throughout the course of my Master of Architec-ture education I developed a specific interest in sustainability and environmental design. A con-centration in Building Technologies and associated course work allowed me to further purse and ex-plore these personal interests. The images on this page and the next illustrate a few different analyses conducted in various courses. Ultimately, I hope to be able to employ these interests and knowl-edge on the topic gained thus far to real build-ing projects for the betterment of the environment.

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SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

FALL 2009 - SPRING 2012

emily merrill I environmental design

an exploration of wnd velocity in high rise buildings (software: project vasari)

butterfly shadow analyses (software: ecotect)summer solstice fall equinox winter solstice

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environmental design I emily merrill

lum

inan

ce a

naly

sis

(win

ter

sols

tice)

isocontour line overlayfalse color overlayluminance image

refle

cted

sol

ar r

ays

from

a li

ght

shel

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winter solstice, noonfall equinox, noonsummer solstice, noon

sola

r in

sola

tion

anal

ysis

direct insolation diffuse insolation total insolation

The ‘Shadow Box’ project was a component of the second Structures course undertaken in my Master of Architecture program. The main goal of the project was to allow students to think about materials, details, and connections by physically building something. Each project was to include concrete, steel, wood, and another material of the student’s preference. An artist and architect were selected by each student to serve as initial inspira-tion for the Shadow Box’s design. My artist was Robert Rauschenberg and my architect was Dorte Mandrup. My personal objectives were to cre-ate a composition that was minimal overall, but precise and beautifully articulated in the details.

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STRUCTURES IISPRING 2011

emily merrill I shadow box

STRUCTURAL EXPLORA-TION OF DETAILS

AND CONNECTIONSSHADOW BOX

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performative maquette I emily merrill

The ‘Performative Maquette’ was a week-long project that was part of the Comprehensive Design Studio. Students were asked to design a physical object that in some way ‘performed.’ This object was intended to allow a student to further explore an idea to be implemented in the design of a New Campus Media + Library Center (the main project undertaken during this studio). Sustainable strate-gies were key to my project, so I decided to explore how light might be diffused through non biodegrad-able and/or recycled materials. I built a light-tight box with an opening in the top in which trays con-taining materials sat. A shelf within the box allowed observations about natural light through specific ma-terials to be made at various heights. Additionally, a light was put into the box to allow observations about the properties of light from the exterior at night.

LIGHT AND RECYCLED MATERIALSPERFORMATIVE MAQUETTECOMPREHENSIVE DESIGN STUDIOFALL 2010

green glass plastic bag packing peanuts

The objective of this exploration of light in E. Fay Jones’ Throncrown Chapel was to isolate a single aperture and study the way in which this particular aperture allows light to enter, further how that light is then distributed inside the space. An overhang and opening underneath were isolated in an attempt to understand how this particular overhang affects the way light enters the building. The goal of this project was to explore light utilizing the artificial sky in UNC Charlotte’s School of Architecture Daylighting Lab and to represent the findings in a creative way. A 12 inch by 12 inch physical model was created and used in the artifical sky. Measurements of light were taken every 2 inches in every direction. 36 measurements were taken at 6 different levels for a total of 216 measurements. In designing a three-dimensional representation of the way in which light was distributed through my isolated aperture, I knew I needed to depict a fairly evenly distributed coverage, but I also wanted to show subtle differences in where light intensity differed. I decided to sort my data points into four different ranges of foot candles. I used four different sizes of beads and assigned each size to a respective intensity range. At each point for which I measured data in the artificial sky, I placed a bead sized appropriately. When looking into the three-dimensional representation, the viewer is able to visualize the distribution of light through the density of the beads. Additionally, by looking at the elevation of the representation, light distribution can be observed in a different way. The beads also cast a shadow showing their collective density.

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EXPLORATION AND REP-RESENTATION OF LIGHT

DAYLIGHTING STUDY DAYLIGHTING ELECTIVE

SPRING 2011

emily merrill I daylighting study

building section

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parti study I emily merrill

The images on this page illustrate one of the proj-ects completed during a summer internship with Blair Remy Architects located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A two-dimensional parti was provided and the charge was to create conceptual diagrams and models, both physically and digitally, from this parti. The images on this page depict a physi-cal conceptual model approximately 4 inches by 6 inches in size. The goal was to consider scale and proportions to develop a three-dimensional compo-sition from a two-dimensional drawing. This model, along with three other related diagrammatic studies, are displayed in shadow boxes in the firm’s office.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEPARTI STUDYARCHITECTURAL INTERNBLAIR REMY ARCHITECTSSUMMER 2010

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SELECT WORKINTERIOR DESIGN

The object of this project was to develop a new pro-gram for a building already in existence in Athens, Georgia. The program chosen was the result of research on the building’s context and exploration into what the community of Athens might desire. I found the community to be rich in all areas of the arts with an emphasis on music, but lacking any kind of establishment that incorporated more than one area. I created a multi-use program that includes a recording studio, rentable spaces for musicians and studio artists, and a coffee shop. The coffee shop is intended to be a place for the artists in the build-ing to display and sell their work. Ironically, research suggested the existing structure of the particular building provided for a unique and sought after con-dition conducive to live recording, thus the coffee shop would be used for this as well. I was fortunate enough to have this project critiqued by the manag-ers of the band REM who got their start in Athens. Through this project I gained a better understand-ing of incorporating context into design and devel-oping a branding concept for a specific program.

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STUDIO III: SPACE PROGRAMMING AND OFFICE DESIGN

FALL 2007

emily merrill I art + music + community

ATHENS, GEORGIA: THE BRANDING OF A CITY

ART + MUSIC + COMMUNITY


floor plan

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art + music + community I emily merrill



The Home and Office/Gallery project was the sec-ond design project I completed in my Interior Design program. The goals of this project were seemingly simple, but the lessons learned were absolutely es-sential in developing a strong design vocabulary and knowledge base. Through completion of this proj-ect I learned about various drawing types and how to execute these drawings by hand. I also learned about one and two point perspective, and how to hand draft these as well. For this project I was given a rectangular shaped building located in an urban setting. I was required to create a multi-use build-ing including a gallery space, office space, and living space. I was also required to include a two story space in the design. Additionally, I studied and be-gan to think about ADA compliancy. Upon comple-tion of this project I was involved in my first studio cri-tique and learned how to effectively contribute to an intelligent design discussion, as well as accept criti-cism. This project was fundamental to my develop-ment as a designer, and although it was completely over six years ago, it is still a project I am proud of.

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STUDIO I: LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF INTERIOR DESIGN, MEASURING AND

SCALING, & APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

FALL 2006

emily merrill I home and office/gallery

SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DESIGN

HOME AND OFFICE/GALLERY

sections

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home and office/gallery I emily merrill


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SELECT WORKART

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SELECT WORKART

emily merrill I art

detail from Cemitério de AgramontePorto, Portugal, 2011charcoal14” x 18”

This set of drawings was on display at the Univer-sity of North Carolina at Charlotte’s School of Ar-chitecture Foriegn Study Abroad Exhibition in September 2011.

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art I emily merrill

SELECT WORKART

gate detail at Palau Güell by Gaudi

Barcelona, Spain, 2011charcoal

14” x 18”

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SELECT WORKART

emily merrill I art

happily ever after 2006colored pencil and pen15” x 11” each

Series inspired by the work of Roy Liechten-stein.

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art I emily merrill

SELECT WORKART

leftuntitled still life

2005charcoal

18” x 23-1/2”

rightstill life of closet

2005charcoal

18” x 23-1/2”

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SELECT WORKPHOTOGRAPHY

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emily merrill I photography

detail from Le Corbus-ier’s Villa SavoyePoissy, France, 2011Nikon D6018-55mm VR lens

This image is straight out of the camera, uneditted.

The following images are part of a larger collec-tion entited “Architectural Details: The Pristine and The Imperfect” displayed at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s School of Architecture Foreign Study Arboad Exhibition in September of 2011.

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photography I emily merrill


detail from an Alpine Chalet

Gimmelwald, Switzer-land, 2011Nikon D60

18-55mm VR lens


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emily merrill I photography

articulated facade Barcelona, Spain, 2011Nikon D6018-55mm VR lens


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photography I emily merrill


aging chimneyVenice, Italy 2011

Nikon D6018-55mm VR lens


EMILY MERRILLRESUME

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emily merrill I resume

Master of Architecture Concentration: Building TechnologiesFully AccreditedThe University of North Carolina at CharlotteExpected Graduation: May 2012

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Interior DesignFully Accredited The University of GeorgiaGraduated: May 2009

High School Early Entry and Summer Ses-sionThe University of OklahomaFall 2004 and Summer 2006

Norman High SchoolNorman, OklahomaGraduated: May 2005Valedictorian

EDUCATION WORK EXPERIENCE WORK EXPERIENCE CONT.

Sustainability Committee InternOffice of SustainabilityThe University of North Carolina at CharlotteSpring 2011> directly involved with Sustainability Coordinator and 16 committee members> worked with national organizations to research de-velopmental workshops for potential implementation on the UNC Charlotte campus> designed, organized, and delivered a monthly Campus Sustainability Newsletter> largest contribution was an Office of Sustainability PR and Communications Plan

Architectural InternBlair Remy ArchitectsOklahoma City, OklahomaSummer 2010> gained insight in US Defense sector work> worked specifically on a project developing con-ceptual digital diagrams and physical models

Architectural InternPBS&J (now Atkins)Atlanta, GeorgiaSummer 2010> main responsibility was contribution to preparation of a proposal for a US Defense sector competition

Civil Engineering InternPBS&J (now Atkins)Charlotte, North CarolinaSummer 2010> verified and corrected red-line and as-built civil drawings> took part in site visits> attended an all-day US Defence sector project kick-off meeting with members of the national de-sign team and a large client group

SKILLS HIGHLIGHTS

Revit, AutoCAD, Sketchup Pro, Project Vasari, Ecotect, Climate Consultant, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, model making, hand drafting and rendering, freehand sketching, painting and watercolor, photography, excellent written and verbal communication skills

Interior Design InternWarner Summers - Architecture and Interior DesignAtlanta, GeorgiaSummer 2007> gained knowledge in materials, finishes, furniture, and artwork selection> attended firm and client meetings > took part in site visits> assisted on AutoCAD construction drawings, pre-sentation boards, specifications, and library organi-zation

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resume I emily merrill

Self Lead TravelFrance, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, The Neth-erlands, and the United KingdomSummer 2011, three weeks

School of Architecture Summer Study Abroad Programwith The University of North Carolina at Char-lotteSpain and PortugalSummer 2011, five weeks

MArch Studio Field StudiesNew York City, Spring 2011Charleston, South Carolina, Spring 2010Chicago, Fall 2009

Lamar Dodd School of Art Study Abroad Programwith The University of GeorgiaCortona, ItalySummer 2008

Interior Design Annual Field StudiesNew York City, Fall 2008Chicago, Fall 2007San Francisco, Fall 2006

Paper Publication + Poster Presentation“Mapping an Emerging Typology: a Paradigm Shift in the Twenty-First Century Skyscraper”Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat 9th World Congress, ShanghaiSeptember, 2012

Photography ExhibitionTwo photographs selected for the Study Abroad Photo Exhibit (competition)The University of North Carolina at CharlotteApril, 2012

Poster Presentation“Lifecycle Integrated Kinetic Facades: Bioreac-tive Building Envelope”The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Campus Conversations: Students Talk About Sustainability (faculty selected)April, 2011

Emily Merrill1320 Fillmore Avenue #325Charlotte, North Carolina 28203

phone: 405.314.6402email: [email protected]: www.emilymerrill.net

STUDY TRAVELS PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS CONTACT

American Institute of Architects (AIAS) Mem-ber, Master of Architecture Student Society (MASS) Member, The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Student Member, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Student Member, Institute of Classical Architecture Member, American Society of Interior Design-ers (ASID) Allied MemberIncoming Student Committee

Critical MASS Annual SymposiumThe University of Charlotte at North Carolina2010 - 2011

Hospitality CommitteeCritical MASS Annual SymposiumThe University of Charlotte at North Carolina2009 - 2010

ACTIVITIES

CURRENT AFFILIATIONS