tyler lafontaine: architecture + design portfolio

TylerLaFontaineVirginia TechCollege of Architecture + DesignPortfolio of Selected Works

SELECTED UNDERGRADUATE WORKS IN ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN

BRIDGEVIEWCOMMUNITY CENTER

FRUIT STANDURBAN LAB +OBSERVATORY

WATERSHEDOBSERVATORY

PETROSINO PAVILION LIGHT SCREEN

BLOCK OUTSTUDIO +RESIDENCE

MA “IN-BETWEEN” // THESIS: THE HIGH LINE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

DESIGNEXPERIENCE

FELT VERTEBRAE

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As it exists, the High Line snakes around the vast Hudson Yards leaving a massive void of urban growth. Simultaneously, the High Line begins to gradually descend to meet the street level of the city at West 34th Street. This High Line Center for the Arts will become the iconic gateway between the High Line and the city and mediate between the two radically different spatial conditions by occupying the void at Hudson Yards.

THE HIGH LINE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Thesis YearNew York, NY

9

The High Line Center for the Arts addresses the three dimensional void that exists at West Hudson Yards. The proposal studies how an urban park and community gathering space can exist between the High Line and the city, and allow the physical space to become seamless by addressing the Japanese spatial concept of Ma: the “in between space.” Ma exists at all scales and is the main element to connect people through the spaces created for the performing arts and the High Line.

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1 2 3

6 7 8

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The Japanese spatial concept of Ma is based on two important variables: mass and void. Neither can exist without the other and they can only be understood through the juxtaposition of the two together. The first exercise to understand MA is explored through a series of rockite and plaster cubes. Each pair compares and contrasts mass and void, and reveals the complexity that truly exists between the two spatial entities. The second exercise applies the concept of MA to a rooftop composition. The two sections describe the blurry existence of MA, and the two models demonstrate how materiality begins to affect the boundary of mass and void and the potential the exists within the negative space.

4 5

9 10

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The felt installation was digitally designed and fabricated by a collective group of architecture students and Zach Downey from Parabox Labs. In collocation we created an overhead plane that was divided into strips of felt with double catenary curves. The size and depth of the curves change throughout the installation creating movement and enclosed spatial conditions where needed.

FELT VERTEBRAE

Thesis YearBlacksburg, VADMCO + PARABOX LABS

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The architecture is composed of a series of repeating units that are in the shape of a basic house. Interruptions in the form of voids are introduced to create courtyards that separate the programs and provide more natural light throughout the space.

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STUDIO + RESIDENCE

Third YearWilmington, NC

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3/4” = 1’Typical wall sections within the building

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Given only CMU blocks of varying sizes, the team created a series of arches. The arches allowed people to walk through the architecture and provoked more public interaction of the urban plaza.

BLOCK OUT

Fourth YearBlacksburg, VACompetition

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This building is composed of three components: the existing building, a volume wrapping around the neglected faces of the building, and a rotating, spiral core connecting everything together from the pedestrian promenade to the rooftop garden. The spiral is a large void creating visual connections between the multiple programs and allows light to penetrate into all parts of the building.

BRIDGEVIEW COMMUNITY CENTER

Fourth YearChicago, IL

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PARASITE AN ORGANISM THAT LIVES IN OR ON ANOTHER FULLY INDEPENDENT ACTIVE ORGANISM [ITS HOST] AND FUNCTIONS BY DEPENDENCE UPON THE HOSTS PROTECTION AND ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES TO LIVE.

CONNECTLIVECELEBRATEGROWCOLLABORATEDINEENTERTAIN

ERODED EXISTING

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

ERODED ADDITION ERODED EXISTING + ADDITION PARASITE PARASITE ERODING EXISTING + ADDITION

AXONOMETRIC OF BUILDING PARTS DISPLAYING PARASITIC VOID TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE EXISTING AND THE ADDITION.

N



ERODED EXISTING

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE



N

Existing + Negative Void New + Negative Void

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29



ERODED EXISTING

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE



N



ERODED EXISTING

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE

RED LI

NE

BROADWAY

LAWRENCE



N

Existing + New + Negative Void Existing + New + Positive Void

Parasite as a mass: the positive void

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30

N

PLAN: LEVEL 6 + 7 PLAN: LEVEL 8 PLAN: LEVEL 9 + 10 PLAN: LEVEL 11 - 14

PLAN: LEVEL 1

DINING +RETAIL

DINING +RETAIL

PLAN: LEVEL 2 PLAN: LEVEL 3 PLAN: LEVEL 4 + 5

PROPOSED SITE MASTER PLAN

LAWRENCE

RACINE

RED LINE

BROADWAY

STUDIOS +OFFICES

GALLERY

LOBBY

CONFERENCESPACE

DAYCARE

EXTERIORCOURTYARD

DAYCARE

BANQUET HALL

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

EXTERIORTERRACE

EXTERIORTERRACE

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

EVENT SPACE

OBSERVATORY

EVENT SPACE

Level 1 Restaurants

Level 2 Offices

Level 3 Day-Care

Level 4 + 5 Banquet Hall

Diagrammatic + Programmatic Section

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31

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PLAN: LEVEL 6 + 7 PLAN: LEVEL 8 PLAN: LEVEL 9 + 10 PLAN: LEVEL 11 - 14

PLAN: LEVEL 1

DINING +RETAIL

DINING +RETAIL

PLAN: LEVEL 2 PLAN: LEVEL 3 PLAN: LEVEL 4 + 5

PROPOSED SITE MASTER PLAN

LAWRENCE

RACINE

RED LINE

BROADWAY

STUDIOS +OFFICES

GALLERY

LOBBY

CONFERENCESPACE

DAYCARE

EXTERIORCOURTYARD

DAYCARE

BANQUET HALL

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

EXTERIORTERRACE

EXTERIORTERRACE

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

EVENT SPACE

OBSERVATORY

EVENT SPACE

Level 6 + 7 Apartments

Level 8Apartments

Level 9 + 10 Apartments

Level 11 - 13Apartments

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The Good Food Project promotes healthy foods for elementary students and the community.The fruit stand is an occupiable facade for fruit that allows the user to fully engage and interact with the wall. The wall is composed of four sections, that fold together so that it can be transported easily around the city.

FRUIT STAND

Fourth YearChicago, ILCompetition

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Voids

Columns

Cores

Glazing

Floor Plates

Ribbed Facade

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This Urban Lab Observatory is composed of a series of shifting planes creating a form that draws people into the building and the adjacent public space. The layered facade allows for programs to be more or less transparent and receive different filtrations of light. The exterior facade is also manipulated to become a public staircase for the city.

Diagram of horizontal rib system

URBAN LAB + OBSERVATORY

Third YearCincinnati, OH

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12. Double Glazing 13. Hortizontal Mullions (within the concrete)

1. Vertical Mullions (within the steel coulumn)2. Steel Column3. Concrete Finish Floor4. Concrete Topping5. Metal Decking

6. Steel Rafters7. Dropped Ceiling8. Plaster Finish9. Shear Angle Connection10. Welded Moment Connection 11. Steel Plate

Interior

Exterior Canitelever

19. Pour Stop20. Steel Beams21. Rigid Insulation

Interior

Exterior Canitelever

14. Double Glazing Railing15. Hollow Aluminum Studs16. Base plate

1

2

3 45

6

7

89

10

11

12

13

17. Exterior gunite finish18. Mesh (for the gunite)

141516

1718

192021

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WATERSHED OBSERVATORY

Third YearRadford, VAThe Observatory is embedded in the side of a 35-foot hill next to the New River. Five interlocking volumes are unified by a distinct vertical void open to the sky creating complex interior spaces that allows the programs to interact with one another. Visitors approach the building by entering on the top level, and move down toward the river through a system of ramps connecting each volume to one another.

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Level 6 Gallery

Level 5Map Room

Level 4Studio

Level 3Residence

Level 2Exterior Gallery

Level 1Library of Water

Perspectives of the observatory being flooded during different seasons of weather

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Elevation1/8” = 1’

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PETROSINO PAVILION

Second YearNew York, NY

This pavilion’s design is based on a modular system of overlapping wood members. The pattern of overlapping joints allows the linear parts to construct a curvilinear whole. Movement and form are derived from the surrounding context and the proposed programs.

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The light screen is composed of interlocking three inch bristol squares. The joints increase in strength as the screen takes on a dynamic, curvilinear form. The screen begins to filter light and can be used vertically or horizontally to create spatial enclosures.

LIGHT SCREEN

Second YearBlacksburg, VA

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EDUCATION

Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, Virginia | Aug. 2010 - May 2015Bachelor of Architecture, Magna Cum Laude

CHICAGO STUDIO | Chicago, Illinois | Fall 2013GREC Architects Office Residency + Professional Internship

HONORS

University Honors | Spring 2011 - Spring 2015Honors Residential College Mentor and Colloquium Magnum Leader | Fall 2011 - Spring 2012

Dean’s List 3.7 GPA | Fall 2010 - Spring 2015

Harry B. Gilbert Merit Scholarship | Spring 2014

OBJECTIVE

Seeking a position as a Junior Designer where I can contribute my creativity and knowledge of architecture with a team of professional designers and mentors.

SKILLS(PC + Mac) Revit, Rhinoceros, AutoCAD, V-Ray, Adobe Creative Suite, 3D Studio MAX, Sketch-Up, Microsoft Office, sketching, hand drafting, screen printing, water colors, and physical modeling.

WORK + EXPERIENCEMG2 | McLean, VA | Sep. 2015 - Mar. 2016Associate: Design Development and Construction DocumentationMade design packages proposing a single concept through plans, elevations, details, diagrams, and renders. Set up and made construction sets for new buildings and remodels, lead communication with our consultants, and conducted site visits.

Architecture in the Schools | McLean, VA | Sep. - Dec. 2015Lead weekly architecture lessons and projects with third graders at Chesterbrook Elementary.

Kohn Pederson Fox (KPF) | New York, NY | Jun. - Aug. 2014Architecture Intern: Construction AdministrationMade AutoCAD and Revit drawings, Revit modeling, created weekly presentations, and assembled the permit set for the building.

Columbia University, Summer High School Program Internship in Building Community | New York, NY | Summer 2012 + Summer 2013Senior Program Assistant + Residential Advisor + Teaching Assistant Mentored and trained a group of residential advisors, lead the media team to create websites, yearbooks, movies, advertisements, and documentation for the program, and served as a liaison for other interns and students.

Burchard Felt Installation | Virginia Tech, VA | Nov. 2014Project Leader: Organization and ManagementOrganized and conducted workshops, lead charettes, and constructed the installation.

GREC Architects | Chicago, IL | Oct. - Nov. 2013Architecture Intern: Schematic DesignMade AutoCAD drawings, made study models, and created a feasibility study within the city of Chicago.

Digital Mentorship Collaborative Team | Virginia TechCo-Leader | Fall 2013 - Spring 2015Responsibilities include designing and implementing a program to encourage and provide incentive for peer to peer learning in areas of digital design and computer programming, and organizing and teaching digital design workshops.

PUBLICATIONSSTUDIO COLLECTIVE | Fall 2014Virginia Tech School of Architecture + Design PublicationDocumentation of the collaborative workshop with Parabox Labs to digitally fabricate a felt installation in Burchard Hall at Virginia Tech.

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TylerLaFontaine

[email protected]

1838 N. Edgemont St. Apt. 2Los Angeles, CA 90027

tyler lafontaine: architecture + design portfolio

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