ArchitecturalPortfolio
Claire Seger
“Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.” -Henri Kaiser
03Master Planning
05 Design + Build
06 Modular Systems
07Recreation Design
04 Historical Reuse
08Event & Site Response
01 Studio ProjectsThesis Project Part I
02 Thesis Project Part II
11 Luminaire
14 Contact Information
13 Photography
09 CourseworkDetail Drawings
10 Trombe Wall
12 MorePersonal Projects
The studio traveled to Libreville, Gabon to conduct a participatory week-long workshop to help the Université Omar Bongo re-vision their campus. Working with both students and faculty, we spent time analyzing and understanding the current conditions and asked students what the strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats of their current campus are. We then facilitated non-architecture students to design their visions and master plan for their new campus using New Urbanist principles. The group of students I facilitated focused on minimizing demolition and redeveloping the existing campus.
It was an amazing experience that allowed me to grow both personally and professionally, and reminded me how selfless and interactive design should be. The following term, the studio developed individual buildings to illustrate sustainable uses on a smaller scale. This is documented in the following chapter.
01Thes i s Pro ject Par t I
Gabon University Participatory Master Planning
VisioningPublic ParticipationDesign Facilitation
Master Planning (75+ years)New Urbanism Principles
Landscape DesignWater Urbanism Research
Size: 120 Acres
Street Section
Quad Visioning Character Sketch
1. Workshop in Libreville (Jan. 9-20, 2014)
Worked with students, faculty, & staff to analyze the existing
campus conditions (using Albert Humphrey’s SWOT Analysis)
Taught principles of design through precedents of successful designs and spaces (quads, streets, buildings, &
nodes) of campuses worldwide
Conducted a Visual Preference Survey
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Facilitated the design of 4 alternatives & their phasing with
students and faculty
Th e Four Alternatives: 1. Minimum Demolition 2. Compact Infi ll 3. Radial Plan 4. Maximum Demolition
Reviewed and refi ned designs and phasing for both the master plan of
the campus and the infrastructure
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Presented the designs and discoveries of the workshop to the Université
Omar Bongo President
Section C10m
5m2.5m
1m
Project Timeline
Minimum Demolition Final Illustrative Plan
Student Dorms
Soccer Field
Student Rec Center
Faculty Housing
Main Quad
Library Pedestrian Entry
Mixed-Use
2. Bringing it Home / Production (January-February)
Produced physical and 3D models, drawings, & diagrams to
communicate the designs of the collaboration between the studio
and the Gabonese students
Shared experiences and outcomes of workshop via an open house, videos,
presentations, & our website/blog
3. Creating Regulating Plans using Form-Based Codes (February)
The Form-Based Codes specify:
Parcels of land for development, what type of development, build-to lines, setbacks, parking placements,
designated open spaces, critical building entry points, minimum/maximum building heights, and
building envelope standards
To understand and test the effectiveness of our Regulating
Plans, we redesigned the campus using the Form-Based Codes Plans
previously created
4. Building Development (March-June)
For the second term of the studio, students chose to design buildings
on parcels from the regulating plans of any alternative. This work is
shown in the next chapter of this portfolio
Minimum Demolition Regulating Plan
Photo Collage Vignette
Minimum Demolition Alternative3D Massing Model in Revit
5. Come to a Design Consensus (June 7-15)
I and a few other studio classmates returned to Libreville to work in a second workshop towards creating the final master plan. This process
began with creating a weighted ranking system to judge each
alternative on how well they met the vision
More site analysis was conducted on detailed projects such as the library staircase & the boulevardization of
Leon M’Ba. The positive aspects of each alternative were taken into account and merged to create the
final master plan & its phasing
Students presented the collaborative work to the President of Université
Omar Bongo
6. Documenting the Final Design (June 16-20)
Nine Gabonese students were selected to travel back to the
University of Oregon with us to help produce a final illustrative plan,
regulating plan, phasing, capacity calculations, street sections, and information about the detailed
projects
After developing regulating plans for the four alternatives during the fi rst term, students chose which parcel and what type of building they wanted to develop.
It was very important to me to continue to work within the constraints of the Minimum Demolition Alternative because not only had I worked closely with some of the Gabonese students to develop that plan, but it also is the most realistic for the future development of the campus.
As to what type of building, after spending time with the students, it was apparent that what they both wanted and needed most was simply resources. Walking into their existing library, one sees only a handful of books and many empty tables. Th is might be partially due to the fact that all student resources are now online journals, but aren’t accessible while on campus since Wi-Fi is diffi cult, if not impossible, to fi nd.
02Thes i s Pro ject Par t I I
Université Omar Bongo’sMédiathéque
Building Schematic DesignDesign Development
Envelope DetailingFinancial Analysis
Energy Analysis (eQuest)
Size: 3,500 sq.ft.
One of the most important aspects of the Minimum Demolition Alternative is the new pedestrian access from Leon M’Ba. Th e 10-foot tall concrete wall surrounding the campus only exacerbates the uneasiness between the students and public. By replacing this opague barrier with permeable, usable buildings, the security issues can be improved by eyes on the street and natural surveillance.
It was also very important to connect to the existing library. By utilizing the current resources, the new multimedia library can focus on providing new technologies and provide for a fl exible learning complex.
To connect to the existing library, I had to apply and present a zoning variance, as the skybridge crosses over the regulated pathway.
Th is parcel not only acts as a gateway to the campus, but also as an intermediary between the campus and the public, creating a need for permeability along the campus pedistrian axis.
Large Reading Room
First Floor Plan (Campus Entry)
Second Floor Plan
Third Floor Plan (Leon M’Ba Entry)
Fourth Floor Plan (Skybridge Connection)
South Elevation
West Elevation
North Elevation
East Elevation
Longitudinal Section(North-South Section)
Axes of Views
Conditioned vs. Passively Cooled
Vehicular Circulation
Transverse Section(East-West Section)
New Pedestrian Entry to Campus
Circulation Axes
Permeability
From Staircase, Looking South
Wall Section Detail
Vegetated Roof Detail
Reading Terrace
This project was to re-vision an old, beloved raceway in northern Portland. The project was very complex in that the site is located in a flood plane, so we spent many weeks of the term working to reserch and develop landscape and stormwater plans.
The driving goal that led to my design was to connect the various pieces that go into a racetrack, as well as the new programmatic elements such as an E.V. testing facility and small wetland research facility. This connection was formed through the concept of movement. The movement of visitors, racecars, and floodwater alike is a constant cycle on the site, tying into the changes and evolution of racing over time. These ideas from the site were then carried to a smaller scale to Schematic Design of the flexible E.V. testing facility.
03MasterP lann ing
Portland InternationalRaceway
VisioningMaster Planning (50+ years)
Landscape DesignWetland Research
Building Schematic DesignEnvelope Detailing
Size: 500 Acres (Site)8,180 sq. ft. (E.V. Testing Facility)
Site Rendering During Sunset
Final Presentation Rendering
Conceptual Process Models
Promenade Physical Model
Promenade Physical Model
E.V. Testing Center Interior Perspective
Garage Organization & Safety Zoning
E.V. Testing Center Section Model
This old flour mill site is a real project of the Portland Development Commission, who we had the chance to work with throughout the design process. Our goals were to re-vision the site and think about the edges of the river, train tracks, Field’s Park, and the Pearl District. My partner and I chose to engage each of these elements and focus on the transitions between spaces. We were also encouraged to save much of the older buildings while adding new pieces where the program required. We did this by saving the structure of some older buildings while adding new pieces to juxtapose the existing and highlight one another.
We then took our concept of ‘new breaking out of the old’ to a building scale; we developed the visitor center by using pieces of the existing and iconic warehouse on the river’s edge such as its structure and roof.
04Histor ica lReuse
Centennial MillsRedevelopment
Reuse and RestorationMaster Planning
Landscape DesignCity Transit Research
Building Schematic DesignArchitectural Typology Study
Size: 2 City Blocks (Site)20,000 sq. ft. (Visitors Center
& Museum)
Design Partner: Gina Auduong
1.
2.3.4. 4.
5.
6. 7.8.
9.
10.
10.
11.
Willamette River
NW Naito Parkway
9th Ave.
Amtrak Railroad
Fields Park
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
A
10. Pedestrian Tunnel11. Pedestrian Bridge12. Event Expansion Space13. Organic Park Space14. Second Story Boardwalk15. Reflection Pool 16. Formal River Connection17. Underground Parking Entry
1. Main Plaza2. Retail3. Apartment Housing4. Workspace5. Visitor Center6. Transitional Ruin Garden7. Greenway8. Arts & Culture Gallery9. Restaurant/Event Space
Site Section
Hierarchy of Spaces
Access to Water Edge
Formal vs. Organic
Ope
n Co
rrid
or
Ope
n Co
rrid
or
eerr
Activated Green Spaces
Fiel
ds P
ark
PPaa
Greenway
City
Stre
et
Site AccessOpen Spaces
Hierarchy of Spaces
Access to Water Edge
Formal vs. Organic
Ope
n Co
rrid
or
Ope
n Co
rrid
or
eerr
Activated Green Spaces
Fiel
ds P
ark
PPaa
Greenway
City
Stre
et
Site AccessOpen Spaces
Hierarchy of Spaces
Access to Water Edge
Formal vs. Organic
Ope
n Co
rrid
or
Ope
n Co
rrid
or
eerr
Activated Green Spaces
Fiel
ds P
ark
PPaa
Greenway
City
Stre
et
Site AccessOpen Spaces
Hierarchy of Spaces
Access to Water Edge
Formal vs. Organic
Ope
n Co
rrid
or
Ope
n Co
rrid
or
eerr
Activated Green Spaces
Fiel
ds P
ark
PPaa
Greenway
City
Stre
et
Site AccessOpen Spaces
Hierarchy of Spaces
Access to Water Edge
Formal vs. Organic
Ope
n Co
rrid
or
Ope
n Co
rrid
or
eerr
Activated Green Spaces
Fiel
ds P
ark
PPaa
Greenway
City
Stre
et
Site AccessOpen Spaces
Hierarchy of Spaces
Access to Water Edge
Formal vs. Organic
Ope
n Co
rrid
or
Ope
n Co
rrid
or
eerr
Activated Green Spaces
Fiel
ds P
ark
PPaa
Greenway
City
Stre
et
Site AccessOpen Spaces
Diagramming the Site
1. Human Interaction
2. ShiftingComposition
3. New Reactions(each time)
ProgrammaticSpacing
CentralCirculation
Main Access
Visitors Center Conceptual Diagrams & Model
1. Human Interaction
2. ShiftingComposition
3. New Reactions(each time)
ProgrammaticSpacing
CentralCirculation
Main Access
1. Human Interaction
2. ShiftingComposition
3. New Reactions(each time)
ProgrammaticSpacing
CentralCirculation
Main Access
1. Human Interaction
2. ShiftingComposition
3. New Reactions(each time)
ProgrammaticSpacing
CentralCirculation
Main Access
Glass Skylight
Existing Warehouse Roof
Expose Existing Structure
Exhibit Mezzanine Space
Glass Enclosures
Openings allow Cross Ventilation
Existing Warehouse
Concrete Slab
View to River
Glass Skylight
Existing Warehouse Roof
Expose Existing Structure
Exhibit Mezzanine Space
Glass Enclosures
Openings allow Cross Ventilation
Existing Warehouse
Concrete Slab
View to River
Glass Skylight
Existing Warehouse Roof
Expose Existing Structure
Exhibit Mezzanine Space
Glass Enclosures
Openings allow Cross Ventilation
Existing Warehouse
Concrete Slab
View to River
Visitors Center Ground Floor Visitors Center Exploded Axon
Visitors Center Mezzanine
Architectural Context Analysis of Pearl District
Final Presentation Rendering
OregonBILDS is the first Design + Build student program of its kind in Oregon. The money made by selling the house supports the following year’s design and budget. Because of this, we were very concerned with staying within budget, constructability (as students will be the laborers), and marketability (we had a profiled user group and needed to make a profit).
We designed an affordable house for a large extended family that can expand easily. We focused on getting the drawing set ready for permits and met with consultants. As a group studio, much was gained from the organization of dividing work and communication.
05Res ident ia lDes ign + Bu i ld
The Hope Loop House
Site DesignCity CodesBudgeting
Construction & Permit DrawingsLandscape Design
Building Schematic DesignDetail DesignConstruction
Communication: Group Studio
Size: 1,280 sq. ft.Construction Began: Jan. 2014
Sold: July 2014Project Budget: $100,000
Rendering by Classmate, Cameron Huber
Typical Foundation Detail
Eave Detail
Garage Ledger Detail
House Under Construction
For the fi nal presentation, I pursued my interest in the heart of the house, the stair-case. Th is exploration included materials, bookshelf, handrail, and guardrails.
Staircase PerspectiveGuardrail Section
Elevation View from KitchenFull-Scale
Guardrail Model
This project was an in-depth look at modular systems of structure. We focused on materiality, joinery, and form (both at the scale of the module and the overall shelter). Our design was inspired by the strength, elegance, and complexity of a möbius strip. My partner and I repeatedly tested different materials and base angles to find the strongest solution for the overall shape of each strip.
Our structure’s stability was formed by the bending stiffness of the strips, but when the plastic was divided (since they had to be transported to Paris for our final presentation), their bending stiffness was decreased. This did not align with our hypothesis and caused the need for a cushioning material between the plastic strips that could transfer shear forces down to the base. This allowed our full-scale model to be strong enough to hold its own weight, as seen to the right.
06Eng ineeredModular System
Paris Metro Shelter
Global Shell-Like ConceptLocal Double-Curved Modules
JoineryFull-Scale MockupMaterial Research
Transit Planning & Construction
Design Partner: Stefan Scheffler
Process/Testing Models
Front View
Footing Detail Drawings
Section
The Eugene YMCA is looking to expand in phases on their existing site. Because of this and the local zoning, there was a strict pull to build the main building on the south half of the site. The YMCA tennis courts are some of the only indoor courts in the city and are extremely valued, so finding space for them became a priority. We worked with the clients and presented schemes to them throughout the process.
As the program of this project dictates much of what and how to design, I organized the main spaces around a barbell-shaped circulation zone. Safety being a large concern from the clients, I focused on breaking up the mass and allowing views through the entire site so as to employ natural surveillance.
07Recreat ionDes ign
Eugene YMCA
Site PlanningProgramming
Client InteractionBuilding Codes Research
Building Schematic Design
Size: 2 City BlocksMinimum Parking: 125 Spaces
Natatorium
Wellness Center
Wellness
Gym
SmallLounge
Racquetball
Men’s Women’s
Lau
nd
ry
Sto
r.
Sau
na
Stea
m
FL
FL
FL
Off
.
Child Watch
Outdoor Play
Café
Lobby
Storage
FrontStaff
Admin.
Office
Storage
Mech.
Elec.
ExerciseStudio
Multi-purposeRoom
YogaStudio
OutdoorRoof
Garden
BoardRoom
Admin.
Observation
Walking Circut
Skybridge
Off.
Gat
her
/O
bse
rv
atio
n
Tennis
2’ Subgrade Parking(126 Spaces)
Natatorium
Wellness Center
Wellness
Gym
SmallLounge
Racquetball
Men’s Women’s
Lau
nd
ry
Sto
r.
Sau
na
Stea
m
FL
FL
FL
Off
.
Child Watch
Outdoor Play
Café
Lobby
Storage
FrontStaff
Admin.
Office
Storage
Mech.
Elec.
ExerciseStudio
Multi-purposeRoom
YogaStudio
OutdoorRoof
Garden
BoardRoom
Admin.
Observation
Walking Circut
Skybridge
Off.
Gat
her
/O
bse
rv
atio
n
Tennis
2’ Subgrade Parking(126 Spaces)
Natatorium
Wellness Center
Wellness
Gym
SmallLounge
Racquetball
Men’s Women’sLa
un
dr
y
Sto
r.
Sau
na
Stea
mFL
FL
FL
Off
.
Child Watch
Outdoor Play
Café
Lobby
Storage
FrontStaff
Admin.
Office
Storage
Mech.
Elec.
ExerciseStudio
Multi-purposeRoom
YogaStudio
OutdoorRoof
Garden
BoardRoom
Admin.
Observation
Walking Circut
Skybridge
Off.
Gat
her
/O
bse
rv
atio
n
Tennis
2’ Subgrade Parking(126 Spaces)
Natatorium
Wellness Center
Wellness
Gym
SmallLounge
Racquetball
Men’s Women’s
Lau
nd
ry
Sto
r.
Sau
na
Stea
m
FL
FL
FL
Off
.
Child Watch
Outdoor Play
Café
Lobby
Storage
FrontStaff
Admin.
Office
Storage
Mech.
Elec.
ExerciseStudio
Multi-purposeRoom
YogaStudio
OutdoorRoof
Garden
BoardRoom
Admin.
Observation
Walking Circut
Skybridge
Off.
Gat
her
/O
bse
rv
atio
n
Tennis
2’ Subgrade Parking(126 Spaces)
Second Floor Plan
Ground Floor Plan
Tennis Court Section
Entry to Natatorium Section
Entry Courtyard Vignette
This project was located on an old orchard site that is used now as a public park and living history site. It is often used for events, so the task was to design an events center anywhere on the site. My events center lies atop a gentle hill that overlooks some of the only open space on the property and is bordered by orchards. It is visible from the entrance of the site and the curvilinear spine of my building reaches out towards the entry to greet visitors and then guides them through the building and back out to the open space.
I organized the building in that one would pass through the spine several times, but always be grounded by that constant presence. The services are located in the back, while the larger events space looks out towards the orchards, open space, and butte in the distance. The roof structures of the front and back pieces differ to help illustrate this differentiation.
08Event & S i teResponse
Dorris Ranch Events Center
Site PlanningBuilding Schematic Design
Construction Details
Size: 4,800 sq. ft.
Concept Models
East Elevation
Perspective Along Spine
Canopy Detail
09CAD & HandDeta i l Drawings
Straub Hall Remodel
Enclosure Systems & ClimateEnclosure Barriers
Roof Membranes & Cladding
Building Materials:Masonry & Terra Cotta
Glass & Glazing SystemsWood
ConcreteStone
Metals
Parapet Detail Layered Structural System
In theory, this up-cycled cob wall acts similar to a traditional mass-and-glass as-sembly for a trombe wall. The only difference is that the air cavity is divided into smaller portions, held within the glass bottles.
Purpose: to compare a standard cob wall’s heat capacity to that of an up-cycled wall assembly of cob and recycled bottles.
Hypothesis: the recycled glass bottles will absorb the sun’s heat, and then transfer the heat to the thermal mass of the cob. Indirect gain from the suns rays then radi-ates the heat after there is no longer exposure to sunlight.
Methodology:
10An Up-Cyc ledExp lorat ion
Recycled Trombe Wall
Project Groupmates:Rachael HudsonSpencer RoedelJenelle Barzola
Recycled Bottles During Curing Process
Results: the empty bottle assembly performed better than the plain cob in regards to maximum temperature reached. The water-filled assembly, on the other hand, retained its heat for longer than the two other assemblies.
Stompling the Cob!
Lighting QualityLuminaire Plan & Section
11Mus ic Schoo lInter ior Redes ign
Luminaire
Project Groupmates:Arnold Toriumi
David ChoLena Traudt
1
12Wal l Ar t , G i f t s , Hand Med iaPersonal Projects
1. Board Game(Hand-cut pieces, Laser-cut
images, Woodburning, Cards)
2. Angel in Tree(Pen & Ink)
3. Abstract(Graphite)
4. Symmography(Yarn Art)
5. Pattern Exploration(Pen & Ink, Colored Pencil)
6. Mural(Construction Paper)
7. Wedding Gift (Box & Original wine label)
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4
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7
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13Trave l s , Pat terns ,& L ight
Photography
1. Church on a Hill(Stykkishólmer, Iceland)
2. Lines of Moss(Flatey, Iceland)
3. Heated Landscape(Iceland)
4. Under the Bridge(Florence, OR)
5. Framed Path(Budapest, Hungary)
6. Shadow of Three(Stuttgart, Germany)
7. Cover Photograph:Colored Landscape
(Ireland)
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4
65
Problem-solving has always been my greatest hobby. Since I was young, I’ve loved piecing together puzzles, answering riddles, and figuring out every math
question. Architectural design presents some of the most challenging problems in this world that are just waiting to be solved.
Each design decision has both consequences and benefits. As designers, we
accept the responsibility to serve the future users of a space to the best of our ability. It is this idea of learning to think for the good of others, and not for
ourselves, that makes architecture so difficult.
Yet, this is also what excites me about architecture. The more complexities to any problem, the more creative I am encouraged to be, not for
myself, but for others. The responsibility and opportunity to create positive change in my environment is incredibly exciting to me and I cannot wait to
start!
Claire Seger, LEED Green AssociateBachelors of Architecture 2014
University of Oregon
Phone: (402) 651-6493Email: [email protected]
Online Portfolio: segerclaire.wix.com/portfolio
Thank You.