ELLEN DUFFGraduate School Portfolio | 2015
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ELLEN DUFFTable of Contents
Academic
La Phalanstère 4
Family Cancer Center 12
Caterpillar 18
Metal Jewelry Fabrication 24
Dudley Square Housing 26
Timber in the City 34
Modern Vernaculars 40
Other
Professional Work 46
Competition: Hult Prize 50
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LA PHALANSTÈRE: THE BORDER CROSSING
Networks Studio, Fall 2013
La Phalanstère is conceived as an urban utopian
response to the arrival of the new US-Canada
bridge crossing in the old manufacturing district
of Delray, Detroit. The project explores human
interactions with highway interchanges for new
paradigms in sustainable networks. Spatial
arrangements cater to social declarations
within the trucking community, leveraging
utopian ideals of possible urban futures with
international trade logistics.
Team: Ellen Duff + Zachary Potts
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3/3/2015 #4.psd
https://docs.google.com/a/umich.edu/file/d/0B9AK-VeFWklnQ0pheUU4NmpaMlE/edit 1/1
Diagram 1 - Urban sprawl
Old manufacturing facilities and parking
lots fill existing landscape
Diagram 2 - High rise construction
Increase communal access to amenities
Diagram 3 - Trade crossing
International trade crossing brings
constituents in contact with structure
Diagram 4 - Truck based circulation
Circulation extends into building to bring
trade amenities to thru-traffic
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Urban Utopia in Delray, Detroit
Trade Inspection Entrance
Left Page: Cargo Inspection Drop off
Left: Section through high rise
High rise typology forms from desires of
social and logistical trucking needs.
View from bottom floor
FAMILY CANCER CENTERDesign Jr., Fall 2014
As a new prototype for alternative health care
design, the family cancer center design provides
interlocking spaces to bring playfulness
into an otherwise rigid typology. Explored
through graphic representation, hexagonal
shapes accommodate complex programmatic
adjacencies for improved interactions between
doctors, families, and patients.
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13
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Book Graphic Representation
Unprogrammed, small scaled circulation spaces
foster playful interactions with patients.
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Graphic representation of child based pavilions within cancer center
CATERPILLAR: INTERACTIVE FURNITURE
Design Jr., Fall 2014
Caterpillar is an ergonomically based piece
of children’s furniture designed to foster
self expression through the act of play. The
design encourages children to sculpt their
surroundings without prescribed notions. The
use of a CNC 3-axis router and 3D printer
allowed for 1:1 fabrication to create a prototype
for kindergarten aged children.
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10”7”
15”
9”
17”
9”
12”
9”
14”
9”
17”
9”
24”
2’ - 0” X 4”
8” X 4”
15”
32”
22”
40”
4" SLATS1/32” GAP
8" SLATS1/16” GAP
10”7”
15”
9”
17”
9”
12”
9”
14”
9”
17”
9”
24”
2’ - 0” X 4”
8” X 4”
15”
32”
22”
40”
4" SLATS1/32” GAP
8" SLATS1/16” GAP
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Kindergartner interacting with Caterpillar
Kindergartner interacting with Caterpillar
Construction DETAILS
4” PAINTED FOAMBOARD
5/8” SLITS
3/4” WEBBING
3/4” SLITS FOR WEBBING INSET
3D PRINTED BUNGEE CONNECTORS
WOODEN SLOT
6"
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BROOCH DESIGNMetals + Jewelry, December 2014
As an additional fabrication course to my
architectural studies, I researched ancient arts
works from the University of Michigan’s Art
Museum as inspiration for metal-smithed jewelry.
Findings rendered themselves in the form of small
scale brooch designs. The course generated
deeper understandings and appreciations for
attention to detail and the design process, while
bridging interdisciplinary practices.
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DUDLEY SQUARE HOUSING Design Studio, Fall 2012
The existing Blair Lot at Dudley Square in
Boston, MA is a large parking area. Adjacencies
to the historic Ferdinand building and
commercial streets makes the area a prime real
estate investment for a new residential housing
development. Dudley Square Housing proposes
bringing open green space to the community
while interlocking with existing buildings.
Right: Prototype unit design model
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Existing Site Social Plaza
Courtyard access
Green roof access
Complete block
Direct views to Ferdinand
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UP
UP
UP
UP
UP
UP UP
UP
UPUPUP
UP
UP
UP
UP
UP
UP
UPUP
UP
UP
UPUP
UP
UP
UP
UPUP
UP
UP
UP
UP UP
DNDNDN
DN DNDN
DN
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Section Through Housing
Skip stop circulation allows for natural ventilation
through the units, while giving access to views on
both sides of the building
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TIMBER IN THE CITYComprehensive Studio, Spring 2013
Red Hook, Brooklyn has great potential for
development with proximity to Manhattan,
low density, and low land costs. However,
Hurricane Sandy revealed the neighborhood’s
vulnerability to flooding. With a market for
new housing, Red Hook has the potential to
address residential prototypes for climate
change needs in the area.
Team: Ellen Duff + Abigail Lupien
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Timber Bridge Construction Social Factors
CirculationEnvironmental Factors
ELEVATION
SECTION
Typical Upper Floor Plan
First Floor Plan
BIKE STORAGE
WOOD PRODUCTION
SHOWROOM
BIKE SHOP
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Typical Unit Plans:
Each unit has their own parking space
and shared a stair with one to two
other units. Each space is offset to
allow for ideal shading from the sun
during summer months. A green facade
facilitates cleaning of the smog from
the car exhaust within the structure.
MODERN VERNACULARS: ARCHITECTURES OF EDUCATION
Amazonian Research, Spring 2014
Through working with indigenous community
members in the Ecuadorian Amazon Forest,
hands on research of the vernacular allowed for
the reinterpretation of contemporary methods
of local construction. Findings led to modern
developments of local techniques that took
form in schematic details for an Ecuadorian
university facade inspired by local culture.
Research Professor: Ana Maria Calisto Duran
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Vernacular bamboo bridge construction
BambooConnector
Structural BambooColumns
Undulating strips of quartered bamboo
Metal Joints
.5 M concrete seating
StructuralSteel Beam
Bamboo Connector
Metal ConnectionDetail
Bamboo Connection Detail
Metal Washer
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Detail of vernacular bamboo construction
IKIAM competition rendering
4cm Recycled Metal Piping[2cm, 4cm, 6cm, 8cm, 10cm]
6cm Flexible Metal Attachment
Metal Bolts
Hanging Metal Structure
4cm Recycled Metal Piping[2cm, 4cm, 6cm, 8cm, 10cm]
I-Beam Metal Bracket
6cm Flexible Metal Attachment
Water Proofed Metal Piping Connector
Hanging Metal Structure
Recycled metal piping connection details
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PERKINS + WILL, BOSTONArchitecture Intern 05/12 - 12/12
Perkins + Will is a national firm specializing
in transformative spaces. While working at the
Boston branch office, I had hands on learning
experience with several different buildings
in the education sector. My role in the firm
varied from assistance with schematic design,
master planning, construction documentation,
and construction administration. Through
working with this practice, I gained a deeper
understanding of how pivotal the role of an
architect can be in effectively nurturing healthy
learning environments.
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UMass Lowell: South Campus 10 Year Sector Plan
Bridgewater State University Dormitory Rendering
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Schematic Office Circulation Rendering
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HULT PRIZEInternational Competition, 2015
The Hult Prize is an annual international
competition formed by the Clinton Global
Initiative. In 2014, President Bill Clinton
encouraged individuals to create sustainable
and scalable social enterprises to address
early childhood education in urban slums
and beyond. Our business, rePLAY, responds
to this challenge by gathering recycled every
day items as a source of material for children
to interact with play based learning through
the creation of educational toys in India. Our
team advanced to the regional finals of the
competition, becoming one of the final 50
competitors from over 20,000 entries.
Team: Ellen Duff, Daniel Sebaldt, Devan
Rostorfer, Barrett Randolph
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Play School
Teachers
Children
Ragpickers
local StaffTraining,
Classroom Companionand Material
Collecte
d Material
Discarded Toys
Play-based Education
Above: Anganwadi School Teacher
Government subsidized pre primary schools
(Anganwadis) have minimal access to healthy
facilities, let alone toys than prosper cognitive,
physical, and emotional development.
Right: Eco System
Materials are gathered from local recycle
companies, cleaned by local staff, and then
given to playschool teachers as resources for the
children to play with and take home.
01 PULL CAR + + + +
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EXPERIENCE
MGA Architecture • Architecture InternHonolulu, Hawaii | 05/13 - 09/13
Assistant designer for facade renovation of large shopping plaza buildingPrimary draftsman of construction documents for 3,000 sq ft renovation in AutoCADGenerated field surveys to document existing conditions on multiple projects
Perkins + Will • Architecture InternBoston, Massachusetts | 05/12 - 12/12
Compiled construction documentation for institutional buildings in REVIT Documented LEED credits for multiple higher education buildingsCreated digital graphics and layouts for design process books and presentationsAssisted in establishment of in-house “Sustainable Initiatives Team”
Downtown Greensboro, Inc • Architecture AssistantGreensboro, North Carolina | 05/11 - 08/11
Generated 3-D models and renderings for potential business storefrontsCreated graphics for proposal of public environmental education building
Turenscape Architecture • Architecture InternBeijing, China | 08/10 - 12/10
Collaborated with project team to create master plan of 134 family neighborhoodDeveloped schematic design of 1,700+ square meter community center
RESEARCH + RECOGNITIONS
University of Michigan • (re)Thinking Architectures of EducationQuito, Ecuador | 05/14 - 06/14
Researched Amazonian construction methods through hands on building with localsCreated modern vernacular schematic facade designs for IKIAM University
University of Michigan • Graduate Student InstructorAnn Arbor, Michigan | 09/14 -12/14
Provided assistance to professor for course ARCH 425: Sustainable Systems IIFacilitated lectures and exams around daylighting, acoustics, and materials
HULT Prize International Competition • Regional Finalist San Fransisco, California | 03/15
Collaborated with interdisciplinary team to develop sustained solutions for affordable pre-primary education in urban Indian slums
EDUCATION
University of MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan | 08/13 - 05/15
Masters of Architecture CandidateMumbai Study Abroad Program: Concentration in High Density Housing
Northeastern UniversityBoston, Massachusetts | 09/08 - 05/13
Bachelor of Science in ArchitectureMinor In International AffairsBerlin Study Abroad Program: Concentration in Sustainable Urban Design
Boston Architectural CollegeBoston, Massachusetts | 07/10
Autodesk REVIT Certificate
TECHNICAL SKILLS
DigitalRevit ‘14
Rhino
DIVA for Rhino
Adobe CS6
AutoCAD ’15
SketchUp Pro
Maya
Ecotect
eQuest
Kerkythea Rendering
Fabrication3D Printing
CNC Milling
CNC Knitting
Hand Modeling Making
KUKA Multi Axis Robot
Laser Cutting
Zund Cutting
a: 401 Lawrence Street, Apt #3
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
t: +1 336 907 2418
e: [email protected] | NCARB | LEED Green Associate ELLENDUFF