M. McKinley Mertz Portfolio

M. McKinley MertzPortfolio-------------------------B.F.A Architecture + Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) Candidate

410 Cedar Ave. Highland Park, NJ 08904 [email protected] 609.529.0025

2 M. McKinley Mertz Undergraduate and Graduate Portfolio

M. McKinley Mertzaddress410 Cedar AveApt 2Highland Park, NJ 08904

tel (609) 529-0025

email [email protected]

VolunteerConnectOPPERATIONS COORDINATOR •Integralpartinsecondyearoforganization’srelaunchand reorganizationbycollabortingwithexecutivedirectortoadvanceour newmissionandgoals •Createinformationalbrochures,invitations,andotherpromotional materialusingInDesign,Photoshop,andIllustrator,thatpublicizethe organization’seventsandbolsterourimageandfurtherourmission •Initiatedemailmarketingandoverseeemailcampaignsthrough ConstantContact •ManageandupdatewebsitedailyusingWordPress,resultinginhigher usageandmoredirectcontactwithvolunteers •Reorganized,maintain,andupkeeporganization’smembership databasesinExcelandGoogleDrive.

Gary Mertz Architects, PC. INTERN •Producedsitemeasureups,kitchenandbathplansand elevations,floorplans,andmechanicaldrawingsforthecondorebuild projectatSouthForkinEwing •Praisedbysupervisormanytimesonproficiency,accuracey,andspeed ofwork

Bloustein Center for Survey ResearchWEBSITEREDESIGNINETERN •TransferandrediesigncontentontheBlousteinSchool’snewwebsite inWordPress •LaunchedMarch2015,welcomedbystaff,faculty,andstudentswith highregards

Keegan & Coppin Co., Inc.RealEstateTEMP RECEPTIONIST/ RESEARCH ASSISTANT •Supportedanofficeoftenrealestateagentsinpropertyresearchand informationalbrochuresproducedinInDesign •Producedreportsofpropertieswithintheagents’requesterperameters; thesereportswerethenusedtocreateappraisals

Experience

Technical SkillsAutoCAD Acrobat ProfessionalPhotoshop InDesign IllustratorGIS Basic Revit skills SketchUp Microsoft Word Outlook PowerPoint Excel Constant Contact WordPress Digital Photography Social Media Tools

Princeton,NewJerseyNovember2012-Present

Sergeantsville,NewJerseyMay-August2008,2010,2011September2014-Present

NewBrunswick,NewJerseyOctober2014-Present

Petaluma,CaliforniaOctober 2011 - December 2011

Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyTheEdwardJ.BlousteinSchoolofPlanningandPublicPolicy,NewBrunswick,NewJersey •MasterofCityandRegionalPlanning(M.C.R.P.)ExpectedMay2015 •ConcentrationinUrbanDesign

Miami UniversityCollegeofCreativeArts,DepartmentofArchitectureandInteriorDesign,Oxford,Ohio •BachelorofFineArtsinArchitecture,May2011 •ConcentrationinConservationandtheEnvironment

Leadership/Activities/Organizations2015 Women’s Leadership ConferenceCOMMITTEECHAIRANDORGANIZER •Oversawcommitteeoffivegraduatestudentwomentoorganizethe 2015AnnualWomen’sLeadershipConferencehostedattheBloustein schooleachyear •CraftedalladvertisingusingPhotoshopandInDesign,maintained socialmediaandemailcampaignsusingFacebook,Twitter,and EventBrite,organizedthecatering,andliaisedwithinternalandexternal agents,ensuringasuccessfulevent,yieldinghighpraiseandacolades fromattendees,speakers,andschooladministration

Bloustein Journal of Planning and Public PolicyEDITOR-IN-CHIEF •Collaboratedwitheditorstoreformattthejournal’ssubmissionprocess, resultinginhighervolumeofsubmissions •Manageweeklyandmonthlyoperationsoftheonlinejournalduringthe journal’sinauguralyearincludingassigningsubmissionstoeditorsto review,stayingintouchwithauthors,andsendingoutcallfor submissionsthroughemailchainsandsocialmedia

HiTOPS, Adolescent Health ClinicVOLUNTEERRECEPTIONIST •Operatedfrontdeskonedayaweekgreetingclients,answeringphones, makingappointments,andpreparingclient’schartsforclinicians.

Education

NewBrunswick,NewJerseyMay 2014 - May 2015

NewBrunswick,NewJerseyJanuary2014-May2015

Princeton,NewJerseySeptember2012-August2013


Table of Contents

01

02

03

05

04

06

07

Undergraduate

Graduate

Other

Block ZeroOver-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, Ohio

Sculpture Design

International Blugrass Music MuseumOwensboro, Kentucky

Orange, NJ Development Analysis - GIS

Jersey City Waterfront RedevelopmentJersey City, New Jersey

Photography

Urban Infill - "Suffolk Place"Lower East Side Manhattan


Block Zero

Seen on the opposite page is the program we came up with for Block Zero. We did not have enough members in out stu-dio to address every building on the block but the hope is the selected buildings will set an example for how the others may be looked at.

01Cincinnati, Ohio

Upper Level Design Studio, Spring 2009, Miami University

Block Zero

Block Zero is an existing block in down-town Cincinnati, Ohio. Focusing on social sustainability, our design goal for this project was to collaborate as a stu-dio to design a new program to rebuild this block and set an example for future development within the community.

Our objective was to create, as much as we could, a self-sustaining block that would give back to the community. We worked out a proposal as a studio, seen on the opposite page, and then each took a part of it to work on in de-tail. We presented our designs in Over-the-Rhine to the community.

Location

Course + School

Project

Existing Condition “Block Zero” Reuse Proposal

Storefrontrentedout.Restofbuildingisvacant.

Arestaurantwithafordablefood,whichgetsitsingrediantsfromtheblock’sgarden.

Vacantbuildings Affordablehousing.MixedHousing.Worktoeliminateabsenteelandlords.

Krogers StillKrogersbutnowsellsproducegrownintheblock’sgarden.

Vacantbuildings Daycare/rec center with educationopportunitiesforthecommunity’syouth.

Vacant lot CommunitygardenwitheducationopportunitiesalongwithaFarmer’sMarketallowinglocalpeopletoselltheiritems.

Vacant lot GreenhouseVerticle gardening UseofHyroponics


Live/Work SpaceMixed Housing

ThepartofBlockZeroIfocusedonwasoneofthevacantbuildingsontheNorthWestcornerandtheparkinglotbehindit.Mygoalwastocreatealive/workunitinthehopesofeliminatingtheissueofabsenteelandlords,amajorprobleminthisdistrict.Thediagramsontheoppositepageshowthediffer-entwaysthebuildingcouldbeoccupied,allofthemincludingabuildingownerthatoccupiessomeofthelivingspace.

The parking lot behind mybuildingiscurrentlyreservedforKrogeremployees.Iproposetokeep that a parking lot withthepossibilityofreservingtwoorthreespotsformybuilding’stenants,andaddingasecondstoryterracewithaccessfromthegroundandtoall4buildingsonthisNorthwestcorner.

Block Zero01

Officespaceutilizedbybuidingowner

Communalstoragespace

Circulation

Retailspacerentedout


Circulation

Retailandofficespacerentedouttosametennant


Circulation

RetailspacerentedouttotennantA

OfficespacerentedouttotennantB

Flexible Use Diagrams

Scenario B

Scenario C

Scenario D GroundFloor

GroundFloor

GroundFloor

Officeandretailspaceutilizedbybuidingowner


Circulation

Livingunitutilizedbybuildingowner

Circulation

Rental Unit1

CirculationRental Unit2

Scenario A

GroundFloor

SecondFloor

ThirdFloor

01Block Zero


ExistingFrontFacadewithmybuildinghighlightinorange

ExistingBackLot

ProposedSecondStoryTerraceAboveParkingLot

SecondStoryLivingRoom

ProposedFrontFacadeBuidingonfarleftdesignedbystudiomemberDanielSchuler

When Iwasconsidering theexteriorofmybuilding Imade thedecision tokeep it true to itsoriginallook.ThewooddetailingonthefrontofthebuildingisinsurprisinglygoodshapeandIfinditcharming.Thedesign fitsnicelywith thepurposeof thebuildingand the local aestheticsof theneighborhood.

Block Zero01

Sculpture 02Oxford, Ohio

Sophomore Core Design Studio, Fall 2008, Miami University

Interactive Sculpture

This conceptual steel sculpture is meant as an interactive experience for pedestrians. One distict experience is created out of two other experiences. My sculpture is an established walkway created out of the towering truss-like structures on either side. The truss structures are of slightly different shapes and sizes creating a diagonal path between them. The intended location of the sculpture is in a park, allowing a juxtaposition between nature and man-made.

Location

Course + School

Project


Process Sketches

Final Design

Verticalsectioncutthroughmiddle

02 Sculpture

Models

Sculpture 02


International Bluegrass Music Museum03

EastElevation SouthElevation

Owensboro, Kentucky

Upper Level Design Studio, Fall 2010, Miami University

International Bluegrass Music Museum

Using the existing structure of a 1960’s government building, our studio was charged with the challenge to redesign the space to fit the needs of the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky. The concept for my design was based on the culture sur-rounding bluegrass music. My goal was to incorporate materials, rhythmic schemes, and the musical nature that accompanies bluegrass. Therefore I used a lot of recycled rustic wood materials and worked on recreating the shapes of musical instruments in my floor plans.

Location

Course + School

Project

WestElevation North Elevation


EDUCATIONALPERFORMANCE

EXHIBITSUPPORT

RESTAURANT

GIFTSHOP

MECHANICAL

ADMINISTRATIONEXHIBIT

FirstFloor

SecondFloor

WallSectionDetailingGreenWall

International Bluegrass Music Museum03

I’velocatedthegiftshoponthesoutheastcornerwiththehopeitspresencewilldrawinthosewalkingbyandencouragethemtoexplorethemuseum.Asyouenterthemainentrancethemuseum’sradiostation,RBI,isonyourright.Thisworksasbothanexhibitandanactiveradiostation.Thoseenter-ingcanwatchtheradioproducersatworkwhilealsogazingatvintageequip-mentondisplay.TheeducationwingisonthesouthwestcornerwithitsownentranceforstudentsandtherestaurantislocatedonthenortheastcornergivingdinersawarmviewoftheraingardenandtheOhioRiverbeyond.Thepatchesofgreenwallontheexterioraremeanttoimitatenotesonastaff.Theyareplacednicelywithinthewoodslatsthatmakeuptheentireexterior.

NortheastCorner-Restaurant

03International Bluegrass Music Museum

SoutheastCorner-GiftShopEntrance


The City of Orange Township04Orange Township, New Jersey

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Fall 2013, Rutgers University

Future Development Analysis

Using GIS, I created analytical maps showing the decline of Orange, New Jersey and revitalization efforts currently taking place by a local nonprofit, HANDS, Inc. Using the information collected from the maps, I conclude by recommending sites for immediate and future development.

Location

Course + School

Project

Orange, New Jersey

The City of Orange Township

City of Orange Township Household VacancyPercent Vacant 2000: 6.2%Percent Vacant 2010: 8.4%

Essex County Household Vacancy 2000 and 2010

Essex County Median Income 2010

Housing vacancy in Orange continues to rise, and the median household income is significantly lower than the municipalities to the west. HANDS has done a significant amount of redevelopment in the Valley Arts District of the town. They are working to rebuild the arts community that once thrived here.


Source: New Jersey Office of Informa5on Technology, Office of Geographic Informa5on Systems, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protec5on, HANDS, Inc.

This vacant plot of land is located in the heart of the Valley Arts District and surrounded by numerous HANDS properties. It is right across the street from the Hat Factory Arts Center, which is now under construction. This parcel is an ideal location for immediate redevelopment by HANDS or the town.

Current Development by HANDS, Inc.(Housing and Neighborhood Development Services)

Valley Arts District

Recommendation for Immediate Development

The City of Orange Township, New Jersey04

Amenity Less than 1/4 miles

0.26 - 0.50 mile

0.51 - 1.00 mile

Grocery Store 0 3 12Health Clinic 0 0 6HANDS Development

7 9 10

Train Station 1 1 2Bus Station 4 12 27

Recommendation for Immediate Development

Amenities Near Vacant Parcel

04The City of Orange Township, New Jersey

In addition to being located within the Valley Arts District, this vacant parcel is also near transit, grocery stroes, and other ammenities.


The City of Orange Township, New Jersey04

Sheriff’s Sales by Location # of ForeclosuresMontclair 13South Orange 14City of Orange Twp 23West Orange 29Bloomfield 33East Orange 52Newark 266

To determine the next step for development within Orange, I looked at foreclosed properties, mapped to the left, and the area between the two train stations. I drew a half mile buffer around each train station and highlighted the intersection, seen in the map on the opposite page. This map brought to light that there is one foreclosed proptery within the intersection. This is my proposal for future development. Just like the vacant lot, it is located near transit and grocery stores as well as a park and school.

Foreclosures in Orange, NJ 2013/2014

Within Intersection:• 4 Bus Stops• 1 Grocery Store• 1 Health Clinic• 1 HANDS, Inc. Development• 1 Foreclosed Property

Recommendation for Future Development

04The City of Orange Township, New Jersey


Lower East Side, Manhattan

Introduction to Planning and Site DesignSpring 2014Rutgers University

Urban Infill: For an urban area of up to four blocks, including both sides of the peripheral streets, perpare a mixed and mulptiple use infill plan with the emphasis on housing, of which 20% must be affordable.

Group project done with two fellow classmates

Urban Infill - "Suffolk Place"05Location

Course + School

Project

Existing Site

Our group chose a site in the Lower East Side of Manhattan that is currently two empty parking lots. The site is owned by NYC Department of Preservation & Development. We chose this site because it is a blank slate. The site has no parking requirements, ample public transportation, direct access to the Williamsburg bridge, and is near the riverfront. Suffolk Aveneue runs between the two blocks. Because it is under-utilized and run down, we chose to close it off to car traffic and create a pedestrian street. The blocks themselves are made up of a five-story base with mixed use and a residential tower on top. Green space is provided on the roof of the base and on two middle floors on each tower. The current designs for the site through HPD include an Andy Warhol Museum and so we chose to keep this programming in our site. The neighborhood also has a lack of supermarkets and so in the opposite block we are adding a 33,000 square foot grocery store.

Proposed Development

Proposed Site Plan Proposed Floor Plans


Urban Infill05

Corner of Delancey Street & Norfolk Street

Existing Conditions

Delancey Street

Proposed

Urban Infill 05

Broome Street & Suffold Mews Suffolk Mews


Jersey City Waterfront Redevelopment06Jersey City, New Jersey

Graduate Urban Design StudioFall 2014Rutgers UniversityProfessor: Anton Nelessen

Design Challenge: Utilize the construction and protection of a seawall, based on Dutch design influence, and create a redevelopment plan of Jersey City’s waterfront. This redevelopment plan will ensure protection from future floods and sea level rise as well as devise a plan for funding through new construction. We worked to create self supporting infill between the new seawall and existing coastline. We used the pier line to determine the location of the seawall.

The final product is the result of a five person team working for eight weeks. The images in this portfolio represent a small part of the larger presentation. For a PDF of the full presentation, please see:issuu.com/mmckinleymertz/docs

Location

Course + School

ProjectJersey City

Pier Line (Build to Line) Proposed Infill

Proposed Site Plan


Waterfront Redevelopment06

Proposed

The entire 230 acre infill is pedestrian only, with entrances large enough for emergency vehicles. The proposed development includes plazas, parks, a marina, a wetland, and underground parking for residents and visitors. The density increases as you move north within the site. The purpose of this was to preserve views of Manhattan from exisiting buildings and create several distinct neighborhoods.

Waterfront Redevelopment06A: Goldman Sachs Plaza

B: Exchange Place C: Transit Neighborhood

AA BBCC

Site Plan

The three renderings presented here represent my graphic contribution to the final presentation. These renderings were done with a massing model base, done in Rhino, and details done in Photoshop.


Photography07

M. McKinley Mertz410 Cedar Ave. Apt 2

Highland Park, NJ [email protected]

Documents

M. McKinley Mertz Portfolio