Helix Design Inc

For the Chicago Architecture Today design competition I am working with Helix Design Inc. In our previous meeting we were asked to sketch some rough ideas for a possible logo to represent our firm. Adjectives that we thought would be important in incorporating into our logos were: fluidity, 2 towers, greens and greys, sustainable design, and futuristic. Here are a couple of logos that I have been working on individually.

For the Avenues event the Professional Practice students had the opportunity to sign up for mock interviews with a variety of different design firms. This gave us a chance to have a professional in the field review and give us feedback on our Personal Marketing Packages we did for our class.

Over the past few years I begun to lean more towards graphics and photography, and since there wasn't a professional photographer there to speak with I interviewed with Keith from Out of Our Minds Studio an Animation and Graphics Studio. The interview was very helpful in regards to my portfolio, I received great feedback, but I was disappointed that Keith said his firm was shying away from doing graphics, which is what I was really interested in talking about.

Networking - VA Tech Alumni Association

As one fo my Networking Events I attended the NC Triad Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. Even though this event is usually catered to only VA Tech Alumni, the UNCG students that attended were welcomed with open arms. The event was hosted by Tom Hughes the President of the NC Triad Chaper. It was held in the Volvo Trucks North America building located in Greensboro, NC.

The event started with a brief H'orderves social followed by a presentation by Jack Davis the Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech. Jack introduced one of the colleges biggest projects the Lumenhaus. The Lumenhaus is a 100% self sustaining house that draws inspiration from The Farnsworth House by Miles Van Der Rohe. The house began as a research project in 2002 and developed in to a full scale building, that has entered many competitions including one in Madrid Spain where it came in first place. Since coming back to the USA the house has been featured in Times Square NY, and Millennium Park in Chicago.

I really enjoyed hearing about a different way of approaching design, which I think VA Tech does, and the fact that they are using research and actually full-scale builds to create new and innovative approaches to design.

Phase II: Strategy and Tactics

[Re]visioning 614-618 S. Elm St.

A brief synapses of our current Studio project:

This studio will be concentrating on a historic commercial building located in downtown Greensboro. Since the mid 1940's Deal's Printing company has housed it's business in the lower level of the building. Since then Charlie and Ruth Jones have bought out the building and have began to envision many new ideas they hope to instill in the buildings future.

The first week of our studio was dedicated to the introduction of the project, and the owners of the building. Phase I consisted of Site visit, Interviews and Research. Our first site visit was on Wed 12th. Charlie and Ruth gave our class a tour of the building while noting key parts of the building that presented present problems as well as hopes for certain spaces. After our initial tour we broke off into groups to begin measuring the space for our digital model as well as our other break down groups for the project. After the allocated amount of time for measurements and pictures we meet back upstairs with the Jones' where we were able to get a more formal idea of who they were as people and as a non-profit company. We also had a chance to ask them more in-depth questions about where they saw the building going and their main goals for the building.

Here is an idea of what they Jones' envision:

1st Floor:

• Central lobby area that will give customers access to both PB&Java and Theater space.
  
• PB&Java: a cafe that will offer the public of Greensboro multiple varieties of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Large enough for 49 people.
  
• A theater space that will encompass a 36" high stage, movable seating and if possible a full backstage area. Large enough to seat 150 people.
• Shared restrooms adjacent to both the cafe and theater.

2nd Floor:

• 6 Dormitory style rooms that will hold 2 interns each.
  
• Shared restrooms, kitchen and living quarters for interns.
  
• 3 Private guest rooms that will house guest of Charlie and Ruth. (Must have private access to 3rd floor)
• Shared restroom for guests.

3rd Floor:

• Private residence for Charlie and Ruth.
  
• Larger kitchen, prep, and storage space for "the Grub"
• Studio office for Ruth.