This document appears to be a resume or portfolio for an architect named Sofia Mendez. It includes listings of projects she worked on from 2011-2019, including a thesis project called "Greenhouse" which explored a model to help abuse victims. It also includes details and renderings for two studio projects - a graduate hospitality studio called "The Smith Hotel & Spa" which incorporated both traditional and contemporary design, and a retail studio project called "Testura". Floor plans, sections, and perspectives are provided for some of the projects. Contact information is listed at the top as Sofia Mendez, 3601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

1. 

SOFIA MENDEZ

2. 
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Greenhouse | Thesis, Winner; Faculty Graduate Award
THE SMITH | Graduate Hospitality Studio
Testura | Graduate Retail Studio
1706 Rittenhouse |Graduate Residential Studio
Divine Lorraine: Third Place, The 2014 Barbara G. Laurie NOMA Student Design Competition
McMichael’s School | Independent Study
Light for IDEA | Structure
Portal | Graduate Studio A
Untitled | Digital Fabrication
Components | Graduated Studio A
Freelance Residential
Chair | Structure

3. 

Communal Kitchen
Main Stair Overview
Second Floor Corridor Perspective
Revit | Photoshop
THESIS
1
Greenhouse is an exploration of a model
prototype that promotes once hopeless,
mistrusting and abused victims to act as
agents as their own success. Relationships,
perceptions and behaviors are redefined
to rediscover, balance and reconnect
survivors with the outer world allowing
control and recovery towards a better and
respectful life.
g reenhouse
5000 S Broad Street
Section BB
Section AA

4. 

Floor Plan | Level 1

5. 
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Floor Plan | Level 2

6. 
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Floor Plan | Level 3

7. 
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Group Gathering Perspective Serving Station Perspective

8. 
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Level 3 Overview Reception Overview

9. 

Revit
GRADUATE HOSPITALITY STUDIO
7
Competing with many new hotels
in the area, THE SMITH embraces
androgenous characteristics in many of
its expression. It reveals a story told by
its architecture and interiors interpreted
into strong geometric organization
and framing emphasizing the lines and
weight of the existing building. The
mixture of traditional and contemporary
components play an important role in
representing the masculine and feminine
qualities that will enhance the human
experience for visitors.
THE SMITH
600 Washington Square South
THE SMITH
S fi M d | I t i St di E | Fi l
HOTEL & SPA
Color Inspiration
Concept Board
Furniture Selection
Material Boards

10. 

Second & Third
Floor Plan
Entry Overview
Reception Perspective
Guest Room Hallway Perspective
First Floor Plan

11. 
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Elevator Lobby PerspectiveFirst Floor
Reflected Ceiling Plan
13'-0"12'-2"
10'-11"
12'-2"
11'-0"
14'-6"13'-0"14'-6"
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8'-9"13'-0"8'-9"13'-0"13'-0"8'-9"8'-9"13'-0"13'-0"
13'-0"13'-0"13'-0"
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Second Floor
Reflected Ceiling Plan

12. 
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Section AA Section BB

13. 
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1
A107
ADA
WC
ADA
WC
FITTING ROOM
ADA
FITTING
STORAGE
OPEN TO BELOW
OPEN TO BELOW
AMENITY SPACE
2
A107
OPEN TO BELOW
STORAGE
STORAGE
OPEN TO BELOW
WELCOMING
AREA
Floor Plan | Mezzanine
Cash Wrap Perspective
Cluster B Perspective
Floor Plan | Level 1
Revit | Photoshop
GRADUATE RETAIL STUDIO
11
Inspired by her attention to detail,
asymmetrical cuts and her strong contrast
between hard lines and soft elements, the
design focuses on pairing unique geometric
shapestocreatespaceswhererandomnessand
the unexpected meet expressing spontaneity,
sensuality, elegance and versatility. Each
geometric form, found in her collection,
directly inspired the individual clusters
of merchandising in the floor plan. Each
cluster is divide by different collections of the
seasons, allowing each space to create and
enjoy its own personality. The neutral palette
is adapted from an oyster’s interior shell,
which sets the canvas for Sarah Baardarani’s
work.
TESTURA
by Sarah Baardarani

14. 

Longitudinal Section Cluster A PerspectiveMaterial Board
Latitudinal Section Grand Stair Perspective

15. 

Floor Plan - 1706 Rittenhouse
Revit | Photoshop
GRADUATE RESIDENTIAL STUDIO
13
1706 Rittenhouse is owned by a couple
in their 60s who recently moved into
Philadelphia from their Paris, France.
Their love for traveling and their
wonderful collection of artwork became
the canvas for the design. Throughout the
space, once can find a calming neutral
palette rich in textures and materials
that combine to create a sophisticated,
chic atmosphere. Bringing in Parisian
elements throughout moldings created
the perfect envelope to balance both
contemporary and the antiques.
1706 RITTENHOUSE

16. 
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Elevations - Den

17. 

Elevations - Bathroom

18. 

Elevations - Dressing Room
Elevations - Dining Room

19. 

Living Room Elevations & Perspective

20. 

Elevations - Bedroom

21. 

Competition Boards - Submitted
Revit | Photoshop
COMPETITION STUDIO
19
The competition challenge was to
design a Youth Based Facility that will
“fundamentally change lives”. The
design required a redevelopment plan
of the Divine Lorraine that incorporated
historic preservation, adaptive reuse,
and sustainability metrics, all while
maintaining the current vision for the city
of Philadelphia.
Design Team: Sofia Mendez (Interior Design),
Nic Beardsley (Architecture), Juliana Nawn
(Interior Design) and Muteti Ndeti (Architecture)
DIVINE LORRAINE
Third Place at The 2014 Barbara G. Laurie
NOMA Student Design Competition

22. 

Final Model
Design Team

23. 

Revit | Photoshop
GRADUATE INDEPENDENT STUDY
21
The design for the Solar Canopy was
inspired by the shape of a boomerang.
The Solar Canopy will have a south-facing
solar array of solar powered cantilevered
units that seamlessly connect to each
other, integrated with digitally fabricated
perforated panels that will depict student
artwork involving the students of
McMichaels in the design process. This
creates a great opportunity for students to
learn about renewable resources and have
direct interaction with such technology
presenting itself as a teaching tool.
Collaborative Solar Canopy Design
McMichael School STEAM Curriculum
Overview
Shading
Design
Structural Education
Electrical
The McMichael Elementary and Middle School is located in Philadelphia’s Mantua Community. The McMichael schoolyard is undergoing
major renovations to improve its image and enhance the learning and recreation environment for students. It is being designed as a sus-
tainable site that promotes STEAM learning and play.
As part of the project, Drexel’s Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Architecture & Interiors Departments
have collaborated to design a Solar Café. The café will have a Solar Canopy system that has been designed to produces 4 kW of peak DC
power as well as provide a shaded space for students and faculty to relax and continue the learning process.
The canopy was modelled in Bentley RAM Elements. This software allows the user to apply loads, pick materials, and analyze the stresses
caused by the loads. The loads to be accounted for on this structure are caused by wind, snow, and weight. Multiple wind loading scenari-
os were analyzed. Materials and cross sections were chosen based on the highest stresses caused by the different loading scenarios.
There have been integrative educational opportunities with the stu-
dents of McMichael throughout the design process for their school’s
new schoolyard.
This project integrates the solar canopy system into the STEAM cur-
riculum through the use of a Solar Lesson. The objective of the lesson
is to teach students about the forms of energy the world uses, how
the panels on the Solar Canopy work, and then allows students to test
solar panels through a solar powered car activity.
The completed playground itself will generate an opportunity for
STEAM curriculum for learning. As a whole, the playground will be-
come a sustainable teaching tool for students to experience and
engage in.
Microinverters were used in this canopy system design. They were chosen to optimize the power output when shading is present. Microin-
verters allow for real-time, panel-level monitoring, enabling technicians to troubleshoot specific issues, and support installation of an energy
display in the school.The 15-panel design will produce a peak power of 4.13 kWdc and 6,730 kWh per year.
Whenever shade is cast onto a solar panel it reduces the output power of that module. A shading analysis was performed to determine
how great an effect shading would have on the canopy system. Using an Iphone application, Solmetric iSV, the altitude and azimuth co-
ordinates of all obstructions surrounding the site were collected and plotted onto a solar path diagram. The worst-case scenario was ana-
lyzed for December 21st, the day during which the sun has its lowest peak altitude and shortest amount of sunlight. During this day, array
shading will begin between 2:00pm and 3:00pm. This shading scenario will only be present during the months of November, December and
January.
The Solar Cafe will have a south-facing solar array, integrated with digitally fabricated perforated panels that depict student artwork, will provide shade for
tables and seating and will involve the students of McMichael in the design process. The design of the Solar Cafe aims to serve as a transition from the school
to the new outdoor playground, serving as a collaborative learning space as well as a recreational spot to sit and relax.
Sophia Frelke2
, Katie Vaccaro3
, Katherine Walker1
, Joshua Stoner2
, Karlie Primich3
,
Reginald Pharaud1
, Sofia Mendez3
Advisors: Dr. Kevin Scoles1
, Debra Ruben3
1
Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2
Mechanical Engineering, 3
Architecture and Interiors
Electricity From System (kWh)
Basic Canopy Cantilever Canopy Windmill Canopy Final Design
Canopy Site
Plan Perspective View Perspective View Schoolyard PlanPerspective View
December 21st Shadow Timestep Sunpath Diagram
Stress Distributions Detailed Final Design
Member Stress
Legend
Single Line Diagram
Design and photo taken from Ben Volta’s website
Pergola
BenchesStudent Work
Panels
Solar Panels
(15)
13.5 ft17.5 ft
28
25
21
17
13
9
6
1
-2
-6
-9
-13
-17
-21
-24
-28
McMICHAEL SCHOOL
3543 Fairmount Ave.

24. 


25. 

Foam Core
STRUCTURE
23
This fixture is a system design in light
and form, in which multiple units joint to
make the total. Direct lighting is produced
by the openings in the fixture. There is a
poetic combination between spaces of
intense illumination and spaces with no
illumination. The biggest challenge was
to create a design aesthetically pleasing
and structurally stable, without the use of
glue, producing good quality of light.
LIGHT
Light Fixture for IDEA

26. 

Model Studies
Analytic Final Model
AutoCAD | Chipboard
GRADUATE STUDIO A
24
This is an investigation of the Portal
as both a material construction and a
cultural construct. Using Portal as a
process, I explored spatial conceptions,
the nature of “opening” and ideas of the
relationship between interior and exterior
spaces.
PORTAL
Opportunity 1

27. 

CNC Routing
This piece was used to study the proposed pattern, dimensionality and to see the
extent of the capabilities of the CNC Router. During the process, this original piece
was then used as a base for the new studies (casting and 3D printing) as a indirect
comparison of the old vs. new.
Inspiration
Final Model
Casting
This piece was used to created a mold out of the CNC routed model. The purpose
of such was to create a flexible layer to add dimensionality, texture and color.
Rhino | CNC Routing | Casting
DIGITAL FABRICATION
25
This project is an experimentation of
different technologies to develop and
sustain different procedural approaches
to 3D patterning and form generation.
This became an opportunity in creating
casualties and beauty through the use
of color, texture and materiality. The
inspiration behind the pattern is food
textures and patterning.
FINAL
Untitled

28. 

AutoCAD | Chipboard
GRADUATE STUDIO A
26
This project is aimed at developing a
toolkit of procedural approaches to
pattern and form generation in addition
to a range of representational techniques
including diagramming, drawing and
layout. These pieces were individually
sewn together.
COMPONENTS
Opportunity 2
Individual Component
Sewing Experimentation Final Model

29. 

Manufactured by Air Master, Inc.
GUAYNABO, PUERTO RICO
27
The inspiration for this design is derived
from an existing pivoting gate door seen
in a window production company. The
play between the closed/opaque and the
open/transparency became the perfect
combination allowing the lighting inside
of the structure to travel bringing out the
life within. This door was manufactured
by Air Master Inc. for a residence in
Urbanización La Villa de Torrimar in
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
Basswood
STRUCTURE
28
The inspiration for this chair is a
development from the curtain door
designed by Matharoo Associates and the
game Jenga. The generators for this design
are uniqueness, sequence, movement,
span and connection. This chair is meant
for outdoor use. The screen became the
companion piece, in which the space
created will serve as storage. The intended
material for this chair is acrylic or a water-
proof wood.
FREELANCE
Residential
CHAIR
Generators of Design
Inspiration & Model Studies
Final Model