This portfolio displays work completed in the Master of Architecture and ecological design program at the University of Oregon by Vivek Sarma. In addition, it includes work samples as an architectural designer at Kann Partners in Baltimore, MD

1. vivek
sarma
regional.climate
community.ecology

2. Selected Work
Introduction ii
Graduate Design Work Professional Work
Milwaukie Urban Design 1 The Title Building 23
Milwaukie, Oregon USA Baltimore, Maryland USA
Instructors: Brook Muller, Joshua Cerra Kann Partners, Inc.
2009 2007
Tasty Avenue 5 The Jefferson Building 27
Milwaukie, Oregon USA Baltimore, Maryland USA
Instructors: Brook Muller, Joshua Cerra Kann Partners, Inc.
2009 2006
Albina Housing 11 Professional Arts 29
Portland, Oregon USA Baltimore, Maryland USA
Instructor: Christopher Kilbridge Kann Partners, Inc.
2008 2005
Museum of Ukrainian Cultures 15 The Mayfair Theater 31
L’viv, Ukraine Baltimore, Maryland USA
Instructor: Thomas Hubka Kann Partners, Inc.
2008 2007
Ecological Design Work Contact Information 33
Ecological Prototype Residences 19
Eugene, Oregon USA
Instructor: Bart Johnson
2009
i | table of contents

3. Briefly
Master of Architecture | 2009
Graduate Certificate in Ecological Design | 2009
LEED Accredited Professional | 2009
Bachelor of Science in Architecture | 2005
3 years professional experience in | 2004
design and construction 2007
please refer to curriculum vitae/resume for more detailed
descriptions of professional experience, education,
volunteer membership, and honors bestowed
How Can Design
Contribute to a Place’s Health?
The core of the design approach centers around
the above fundamental question. In this
collection of academic and professional design
work, this question is answered through
investigating the following attributes and
employing the subsequent design implications:
regional
climate community ecology
patterns
• attentiveness to regional design patterns
• a keen understanding of climate
• creating local, community relevance
• sensitively incorporating design into ecology
Each of these are employed in various degrees
across the projects, and are represented in a
diagram on the first page of each project. Ulti-
mately, the design approach intended to create
conditions in which humans, plants, and wildlife
alike persist and thrive through time.
introduction | ii

4. Milwaukie Urban
Design
In conjunction with Portland Metro, this
rising food prices and high
associated carbon footprint
$ north to
Portland
traffic on
mclaughlin
project knitted together disparate ele-
ments in Milwaukie. A grand street (Tasty
Avenue) connected Milwaukie’s Main
Street, the future MAX light rail stop, the increasing development stratifies
site, the Willamette River and Elk Rock Is- and defragments habitats disconnected
land, a local restored bald eagle habitat. willamette from water and
river landscape
This scheme suggested urban food pro-
duction to “re-web” community through south to
local food growth. The “edible courtyards” Oregon City
allowed residents to tend pocket gardens. increasing stress on energy reserves,
Trellises and slats supported growth of partially due to transport infrastructure
squash, kale, and other foods lining the tracks
larger issues addressed
willamette river and elk rock island local issues addressed disconnect
grand street. One can grab fruit and veg-
etables as they walk down the street.
tasty avenue
Cherry trees and pacific dogwoods lined
the street, recalling Milwaukie’s motto
as the “Dogwood city of the West”, and
acknowledged the local discovery of the
bing cherry. The riparian cores provided
habitat for native wildlife and plants.
edible courtyards
Site: Milwaukie, Oregon
Course: Thesis-level Studio
Date: Winter 2009
Critics: Brook Muller, Joshua Cerra
rent a boat wade in the willamette
*
willamette esplanade activate the water’s edge
1 | milwaukie urban design

5. downtown milwaukie
riverpark
and main street
ard
a
n boulev
future MAX
willamette river riparian core
light rail stop
li
mclaugh
preliminary implementation
downtown milwaukie
main street and site
connected through b
landscape
ue
ven kellogg creek
t ya
tas
willamette river future MAX light rail stop
light rail and site
connected through
pedestrian bridge elk rock edible
island pier court
elk rock island
grand street and
plaza orient toward a riparian
local landmark core b
island station
neighborhood 0’ 100’ 200’
urban and landscape design drivers north site plan
milwaukie urban design | 2

6. elk rock
cumulonimbus
island
island station
neighborhood
elk rock willamette
island pier river
precipitation riparian
trees
pedestrian
bridge riverpark
future MAX light
rail stop bioswales treat aquifer recharge
runoff
main
street
aerial median-park rainwater collection and irrigation
towards Elk Prunus avium Cornus nuttallii
Rock Island Bing Cherry Pacific dogwood
elk rock tasty avenue median-park mclaughlin pedestrian bridge light rail main street
island pier boulevard
0’ 80’ 160’
tasty avenue site section (a)
3 | milwaukie urban design

7. elk rock island
Prunus avium Cornus nuttallii
Bing Cherry Pacific dogwood
fruity
median-park
fenestration
food and play:
multifunctional landscape
tasty avenue promenade community-supported agriculture
stack ventilation unit greenhouses green roof bioswales photovoltaics
rowhomes edible courtyard mixed-use tasty avenue riparian habitat
0’ 30’ 60’
from riparian core to willamette (b)
milwaukie urban design | 4

8. Tasty Avenue
rainwater
unit greenhouses
collection
As a continuation of Milwaukie’s Urban
Design, this project focused on a proto-
typical condition within the urban design.
The grand street, Tasty Avenue, is lined cool air
with mixed-use buildings further detailed
here. cherry tree
South-facing units had greenhouses and light shelf warm air
incorporated passive heating and cooling
concepts. In contrast, Tasty Avenue units farmer’s market
grew shade-tolerant berries and herbs
and plants to attract native birds. Herbs, radiant
tasty avenue
berries, and vegetables are sold at Tasty heating
Avenue’s Farmer’s Market. Units created a
multi-sensory environment.
Units themselves are clustered around
breezeways where community activities
occur; people can dine together, play
board games, read the newspaper, or use
however they wish. The attributes created
socially relevant housing; it engaged all
the senses and catered to specific community garden
milwaukie video
resident needs and desires. and dvd
garden to market and the dwelling systems between
tasty
a avenue
Site: Milwaukie, Oregon
Course: Thesis-level Studio studio 2 bed
Date: Winter 2009
Critics: Brook Muller, Joshua Cerra
b
a
1 bed
* b
elk rock 2 bed community garden
island pier
area of interest typical floor unit distribution and immediate context
5 | tasty avenue

9. median-park
new milwaukie tasty outdoor tables for
pacific dogwoods
farmer’s market avenue open-ended use
inhabited spaces stay cool
tasty
avenue
communal
hearth
community
garden
operable walls open communal
to communal hearth breezeway and hearth
connections
community dining
community
garden
community garden
cottonwoods
edible courtyard
north
0’ 10’ 20’
cluster plans tasty avenue
tasty avenue | 6

10. sight | life downriver taste/smell | passive aroma conveyance
offers views out towards the riparian habitat, its not only can unit-grown produce be eaten, passive air movement transmits
wildlife, and views down the willamette river. aromas within the unit and units above and below.
2 tablespoons olive oil olive oil communal breezeway/hearth facade thermal mass unit greenhouse
1 medium onion onion: $0.49/lb; $0.25
4 cloves garlic garlic: $2.99/lb; $0.37
1 teaspoon oregano oregano
1 teaspoon basil basil
1 teaspoon parsley parsley
24 ounces tomatoes tomatoes: $3.19/25 oz; $3.06
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon thyme thyme
2 medium zucchini zucchini: $1.99/ea; $3.98
1 eggplant eggplant: $2.98/ea; $2.98
1 medium yellow squash squash: $1.69/ea; $1.69
1 cup button mushrooms mushrooms: $2.99/8 oz
2 portobello mushroom portobello: $9.99/lb; $3.23
1/2 cup low-fat ricotta ricotta: $2.79/16 oz; $1.40
1 cup shredded mozzarella mozzarella: $4.69/2 cups; $2.35
1/2 cup grated Parmesan parmesan: $2.99/5 oz; $2.39
Savings: $12.08; 8/17 ingredients unit-grown
prices current as of 3 June 2009
community garden
edible courtyard
0’ 22’-6” 45’
on-site ingredients for vegetable lasagna in-process south elevation: heavy vs light
7 | tasty avenue

11. feel | the sun’s warmth hear | wren’s chirp housing towers | ingo bucher-beholz
the greenhouse is a sunspace, providing covered, year-round outdoor-space. herbs, flowers, and vines grow and attract songbirds.
communal breezeway/hearth
tasty avenue median-park
0’ 22’-6” 45’
in-process north elevation institutional building | lacaton & vassal
tasty avenue | 8

12. rain
fabric awning
warm air
riparian habitat
cool breeze
maria
cistern
community garden drip irrigation and bioswale access road greenhouse units
maria turns six in the community hearth air-water movement and disbursal
community hearth unit greenhouse
access road community garden access road
0’ 20’ 40’ carrots onions potatoes
plant: march-july plant: march-may plant: april-june
pick: july-november pick: may-november pick: july-november
south elevation: harvest
9 | tasty avenue

13. shade-tolerant
herb growth 23c
fa
cad greenhouse vegetables sold
e
he
rbs
so
ld
23c’s eggs
chickens
on sale
local store goods obtained and sold
new milwaukie
farmer’s market
tasty avenue units tasty avenue
local commodity potential new milwaukie farmer’s market and elk rock island
green roof lobby/entrance communal breezeway/hearth balsamroot (left)
oregon swallowtail (right)
• eats: flower nectar, thistles, balsamroot, phlox
access road retail tasty avenue median-park access road willamette river
bing cherry (left) pacific dogwood (left) 0’ 20’ 40’
cedar waxwing (right) band-tailed pigeon (right)
• eats: berries and sugary fruits • eats: dogwood fruit, acorns, berries north elevation: ecology
tasty avenue | 10

14. Albina Housing
project
location
Working with the Portland Development irving
Commission, this studio focused on creat- Fremont Street
park
ing viable housing while also creating
conditions for a strong community.
The project was additionally revisited in
a “Passive Cooling” seminar. Revisions
reduced heat gains and increased exposed
thermal mass allowed for units to be par-
tially passively cooled and thus reduced
reliance on mechanical cooling.
Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard
On the site in the Albina neighborhood Cook Street
of northeast Portland, designing seventy lloyd
portland
units on an empty, one acre site in- center
creased construction viability. The scheme
pedestrian street
called for progressively taller urban build-
local proximities
ings defining the street-edge on Martin
Luther King, Jr Blvd and Fremont St with
new TriMet bus pedestrian rowhomes buffer
rowhomes on the site’s eastern edge.
stop for the #33 street single-family
The mid-block pedestrian street provided
a place for the elderly to take evening
strolls and children to safely ride bicycles,
a a
while also showcasing local artists’ work.
Site: Portland, Oregon
Course: Graduate Studio (intermediate level)
Date: Winter 2008
Instructor: Christopher Kilbridge
Ivy Street
*
north
0’ 35’ 70’
urban design features typical level plan with neighboring streets
11 | albina housing

15. nature
art
2 Bedrooms 3 Bedrooms
friends
new TriMet pedestrian
bus stop street
pedestrian
pass-through
neighborhood interaction study model
apartment block
fremont street ivy street pedestrian pass-through cook street
0’ 20’ 40’
martin luther king, jr boulevard elevation
albina housing | 12

16. photovoltaics canvas shelter
albina tower rooftop terraces
local art on
the street
pedestrian street
martin luther king, jr boulevard apartment block pedestrian street rowhomes irving park
single-family homes
0’ 16’ 32’
site section (a)
13 | albina housing

17. large heat gains from air entering apartment cannot fixed awnings ceiling fan increases
unshaded windows move without openings reduce heat gain comfortability
operable windows no exposed thermal cross-ventilation louvers deep sill encases thermal excess heat leaves through
ventilate mass to absorb heat encourage air movement mass water tubes cross-ventilation plenum
0’ 8’-9” 17’-6”
original ventilation north passive cooling remix
albina housing | 14

18. Museum of
Ukrainian Cultures
Formerly within the Polish-Lithuanian
empire, western Ukraine was home to
Ukrainians, Poles, and Jews. This studio
partnered with L’viv’s Museum of Folk industrial view
Architecture and Everyday Life to create plant tower
a museum in memory of the lives of the
area’s former cultural makeup.
Applying the type of the “village court-
yard” connected the project to its place.
Traditional buildings, with a Ukrainian Or-
thodox Church, a Polish Catholic church,
and a synogogue formed the courtyard. In
ukrainian wheatfield stage
the future, reconstructed period residen-
tial buildings will form more of the site
to suggest the typical makeup of a west
Ukrainian village.
Finally, the design intended to foster
community events such as picnics and
performances. By doing this as well, this
solution attempted to remember the past,
but also be relevant to the present.
from the ramp to the town square
communities come together in
the town’s main square
Site: L’viv, Ukraine
Course: Graduate Studio (intermediate level)
Date: Spring 2008
Instructor: Thomas Hubka
*
*adapted from Thomas Hubka’s
village typical cultural makeup Resplendent Synagogue, pp. 46 re-interpreted makeup
15 | museum of ukrainian cultures

19. museum, auditorium, and
workshop vs square
deciduous/mixed conifer forest
a
access road open-air museum entrance
visitor center information kiosk
new open-air
intersection museum entrance
cafe
catholic church
offices stage synagogue
deciduous/mixed soviet-era
conifer forest industrial plant
building stretched
along new axes
picnic pavilion workshop work courtyard orthodox church
town square
0’ 35’ 70’ a building
ground floor plan in context north square concept evolution
museum of ukrainian cultures | 16

20. auditorium
museum exhibits
work courtyard
workshop
town square
service access
0’ 31’-6” 63’
promenade: entry and picnic north first floor plan
ukrainian wheatfield cafeg officesg
auditorium1 museum exhibits1&2
kiosk rebuilt buildings/future vernacular buildings museum of ukrainian cultures picnic pavilion
0’ 40’ 80’
north elevation
17 | museum of ukrainian cultures

21. museum exhibits
work courtyard
town square
0’ 31’-6” 63’
second floor plan north ramp
museum of folk architecture Larix decidua: european larch
and everyday life • traditional timber used in area’s construction
offices0
access road museum exhibits1&2 workshop view tower soviet industrial plants
0’ 40’ 80’
site section (a)
museum of ukrainian cultures | 18

22. Ecological Prototype
Residences
This project was an exploration in proto-
typical residential lots in the South Hills
neighbhorhood in Eugene, OR. Typical lots oak
had vast impervious surfaces, leading to savanna south hills
lower water quality and stream degra- neighborhood
dation. This project sought to address
k
ree
water quality and stream health issues fox hollow
nc
while also targeting a native species as elementary school
azo
an indicator of water quality and stream
am
health as its health and the surrounding oak
environment are interconnected. savanna
culv culve
ert rt
The species chosen was P. regilla, or the
riparian
Pacific Chorus Frog. Supplementing the
zone
park’s core habitat with subsidiary habitat oak
was key to the frog’s success in this envi- savanna
ronment. In this scheme, residential lots
were supplementary to the core habitat
t
ver
of the nearby park. The three schemes
cul
displayed represented three varieties of
ecological restoration; extreme, hybrid, douglas douglas
and minimal restoration versions are fir forest fir forest
shown. 0’ 140’ 280’
south hills neighborhood context north
non-native impervious asphalt roof impervious asphalt
neighboring water
vegetation and turf with storm drain gutter driveway, sidewalk,
pools for foraging
and road
Site: Eugene, Oregon
Course: Principles of Applied Ecology
Date: Fall 2009
Instructor: Bart Johnson
shallow water with
aquatic vegetation
for breeding
*
minimize toxins for
proper tadpole and
residences encourage increased runoff P. regilla and habitat needs froglet development
19 | ecological prototype residences

23. pervious paving juvenile P. regilla move P. regilla mates, lays
increases groundwater to subsidiary pools for variable phtyoremediation eggs, and feeds in a
infiltration own reproduction green roof plants remove toxins range of 150 m of its
“home pool”
cleansed water
lot optimized for biological integrity
the buffalo grass
Ajax junius s green darner, but it hides in it
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
green darner the blackbird attack ating yellow-headed blackbird
om e
ird fr
lackb
the b
ting
preven
Danaus plexippus xins
its to
monarch butterfly ch em
onar
the m
Asclepias syriaca buffalo grass removes cattails provide cover for
common milkweed potential rainwater toxins insects to avoid being eaten
lay egg
variable soil depth provides s
greater grounds for greater
biodiversity
variable green roof ecosystem
ecological prototype residences | 20

24. frank kinney park core impervious roof diverts
habitat and riparian zone rainwater into bioswales
underground cistern stores water bioswale cleanses rainwater and romer’s fescue
before aquifer recharge releases it to recharge aquifer native grass lawn
sustainable minimum
evapotranspiration
precipitation
evaporation
infiltration
percolation groundwater stream water table
romer’s fescue lawn
promotes good infiltration
backyard native grass lawn
21 | ecological prototype residences

25. frank kinney park core simple green roof provides evaporate cooling, supplementary backyard frog
habitat and riparian zone heat retention, and stormwater absorption habitat in neighbor’s yard
perviously-paved native plants and cisterns encourage
backyard frog habitat
sidwalks a healthy hydrological process
between sustainable minimum and biological integrity
evapotranspiration
precipitation
evaporation
infiltration
percolation groundwater stream water table
romer’s fescue lawn and native shrubs
promote good infiltration and restore
habitat for P. regilla
backyard frog habitat
ecological prototype residences | 22

26. The Title Building
b
Located in Baltimore’s Financial District
across from the Court House, this office
building was built in 1913. RWN Develop-
ment Group and Quality Inn wished to
turn the building into an extended stay new ADA-accessible
hotel. ramp and handrail
Part of creating the extended stay hotel
was to revamp the building’s entry se- bent gutter
structural steel
quence. This revamping included creating towards downspout
framing - tube
a new entrance canopy and accessible
ramp in conjunction with the Secretary of
one point glass support
Interior’s Standards and also creating a downspout
fitting with support
second means of egress. attached to tube steel
channel below
The glass canopy intended to sensitively metal gutter
laminated glass canopy
recede into the background, while also laid to slope
denoting clearly the main entrance.
Stones removed from the exterior created structural steel
the second egress, and also complied to high point of gutter framing - pipe
obtain federal and state historic tax cred- a a
its. Thus, while the design satisfied con- one point glass support
temporary requirements, it also salvaged structural steel fitting with support
a key “face” of downtown Baltimore. framing - “c” channel channel below
structural steel
Project Tasks: framing - “c” channel
• coordinated details between drawings downspout
• designed new ADA-accessible ramp attached to tube steel
• designed new glass entrance canopy
one point glass support
structural steel fitting with support
framing - tube channel below
structural steel
b framing - “c” channel
110 Saint Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Date: 2007 (design development) 0’ 1’-9’ 3’-6”
Firm: Kann Partners, Inc. plan above entrance canopy
23 | the title building

27. existing exterior
building wall
first floor
existing exterior
building wall beyond
existing
non-operable window
new transom detail section (c)
stainless steel gutter
new signage
structural steel
framing - tube
structural steel
framing - tube
brass handrail
new door and
frame assembly
downspout attachment
ground floor
lowest extent
concrete landing
of ramp beyond
0’ 2’ 4’
canopy section (a)
the title building | 24

28. detail
elevation (d)
new laminated
glass canopy
new door frame
and assembly
brass handrail new signage
poured poured
concrete landing concrete ramp
ramp slope @ 1”
concrete footing = 1’-0”
0’ 1’-3’ 2’-6”
entry ramp section (b)
25 | the title building

29. one point glass one point glass support
support fitting with fitting with support angle
support angle
laminated glass
angle support
attached to channel structural steel framing -
and metal gutter “c” channel beyond
integrated downlight
metal gutter attached under channel
integrated
downlight attached
under channel
new 8” tall signage
structural steel
framing - “c” channel
structural steel framing -
“c” channel
downspout structural steel
framing - pipe
0’ 6” 1’
canopy section (c)
one point glass laminated glass
support fitting with (topmost extent)
support angle
metal gutter
integrated
structural steel
downlight attached
framing - “c” channel
to “c” channel
angle beyond
attached to laminated glass
metal gutter (lower extent)
structural steel
new 8” tall signage
framing - “c” channel
0’ 11” 1’-10”
canopy elevation (d)
the title building | 26

30. The Jefferson Building
As a former historic office building, two
blocks north of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor,
the Jefferson Building was built in 1902
and further renovated in the 1970’s.
Staybridge Suites, a hotel chain, spear-
headed the effort to rehabilitate this his-
toric property as an extended stay hotel. 16” CMU wall
Care was taken to not upset the building’s covered entrance alley
historic components, while also updating shaft for stair
it for hotel use and proper egress. pressurization 8” CMU wall
3 11” treads at 2’-9”
Project Tasks:
• measured portions of existing building
• coordinated details between drawings
• updated plan drawings as per discussions
with project architects and client 16” CMU wall
• designed new code-compliant egress stair two-hour
rated shaft wall
up
a a
metal handrail
4 11” treads at 3’-8”
101 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Date: 2006 (progress ongoing) 0’ 2’ 4’
Firm: Kann Partners, Inc. alley level
27 | the jefferson building

31. gypsum
board ceiling
two hour
6 11” treads at 5’-6”
floor assembly
16” CMU wall
16” CMU wall
shaft for stair
pressurization metal handrail
3 11” treads at 2’-9”
3 11” treads at 2’-9”
two-hour
rated shaft wall
up
a a
continuous bent
8” CMU wall
stringer (typ.)
4 11” treads at 3’-8”
existing
structure to be
demolished
gypsum board
on CMU wall
0’ 2’ 4’
typical level: 5 through 11 trash chute section
the jefferson building | 28

32. Professional Arts
Located in the Mount Vernon district,
this project was formerly a thriving hub
for the dental and medical trades in the
late 1920’s. In conjunction with Somer-
set Development and NAGE Housing, this
project was submitted for federal and
ploy alley
re
state historic tax credits and contained
da
st
ninety-six affordable apartment units.
re
te
This project demonstrated an interest in
adaptive reuse and combining modern
and historic to create an altogether new
design. The existing lobby and entrance,
along with corridors, were maintained as
“character-defining features” surrounded
by a variety of apartment types.
service foyer
A key component of the project was the entrance
idea of injecting density into the city’s
existing neighborhoods. The project is
located close to public transportation and
will attract future commercial and retail.
Project Tasks:
• measuring existing conditions
• assisting apartment design and layout
• detailing kitchen and bath details
• researching and detailing trash chutes
leasable tenant
101 West Read Street
Baltimore, MD 21201 0’ 12’ 24’
Date: 2005 (finished 2009)
Firm: Kann Partners, Inc. entry level plan north
29 | professional arts

33. vented chute cap
entry
bedroom read street
chute ranges from
foyer living/dining
ground to eleventh level
corridor
intermediate c-channel
supports at every level
0’ 6’ 12’
entry level plan
trash compactor
poured concrete floor
and wide flange supports
trash chute section
professional arts | 30

34. The Mayfair Theater
Known originally as the Auditorium
north howard street
north eutaw street
Theater, this building was originally
park avenue
built as a giant indoor swimming pool in
then 1870’s. Remodeled into the Mayfair
Theater in the 1940’s, it began running
films exclusively into the 1980’s. It sub-
sequently fell into disrepair and was ripe
for renewal.
a
Responding to the Baltimore Develop-
a
ment Corporation’s Request for Proposal
for housing units, Accent Development
and Kann Partners submitted a proposal
with rowhomes, commercial space, and
underground parking. west franklin street
The exterior shell, including entrance por-
tion and what used to be the fly loft are
the only sections left intact. Above the
underground parking were two commer-
cial levels, utilizing the entire floorplate.
Rowhomes and common spaces sit above,
protected from busy North Howard Street.
0’ 80’ 160’
Project Tasks: site plan north
• assisted elevation design
• assisted refining plan layouts
• prepared graphics for RFP
506 North Howard Street
Baltimore, MD 21201 academy alley rowhouses in the mayfair north howard street
Date: 2007 (concept design) 0’ 21’ 42’
Kann Partners, Inc. site section (a)
31 | the mayfair theater

35. open to below
resident courtyard
leasable tenant
0’ 18’ 36’
plans aerial vignettes
the mayfair theater | 32

36. 33 | contact information

37. Contact Information
Vivek Sarma, LEED AP
Master of Architecture
Certificate Ecological Design
7 Beasman Court
Randallstown, MD 21133
United States of America
(h) 001.410.922.8024
(m) 001.240.643.7757
sarma.vivek@gmail.com
contact information | 34