{Aaron J. Benjamin}

PORTFOLIO

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Feedback InfrastructureHighway to Nowhere Redevelopment

Teatro Delle Therme Thermal Baths in Como, Italy

Plug-In UrbanismSkid Row Housing Trust Apartments

Pneus BridgeTop Fuel 2012 Pneumatic Installation

Sacred GeometryTwo Design-Build Sukkah Projects

Analog InvestigationsVarious Design Projects and Skills

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Feedback Infrastructure

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Highway to Nowhere DevelopmentIndependent Degree ProjectLocation: Program:Awards:

Baltimore, MarylandVarious

Thomas Byerts Award 1

For my undergraduate degree project, I elected to pursue an independent thesis. I challenged myself to develop an architectural solution to the Frank-lin-Mulberry Corridor in Baltimore, a stretch of freeway built in the 1970s but never connected to the rest of the free-way system, leaving it virtually useless.

Research was a major component of the project, including everything from personal interviews to a trip to the Li-brary of Congress. The current free-way was originally proposed by Rob-ert Moses, while S.O.M. took charge of the project in 1968-1970. The area around the site has fallen into disrepair and is now largely a slum.

My proposal was to turn this 1.5 mile, 12 block site into an economic and so-cial incubator. The existing depressed roadway is to became a factory, pro-ducing the architectonic elements of this new system, including the overall structure, but also pods which con-tinually move throughout the system, recombining and creating new pro-grams. Ideas and businesses are to be tested in a series of incubator spaces built onto the existing overpasses. The large areas in between are turned into public spaces, called Agoras, each designed to spur different uses and interactions. Over time, the pods can then be moved into the surrounding community, redefining west Baltimore.

“Some of the slum areas through which the Franklin Expressway passes are a disgrace to the com-munity and the more of them that are wiped out the healthier Baltimore will be in the long run ... business leaders as well as citizens sensitive about the appearance and reputa-tion of their city should be unwilling to longer tolerate this close juxta-position of civic center and slum ... nothing which we propose to remove will constitute any loss to Baltimore”

Robert MosesBaltimore Arterial Report, 1944

1 “In recognition of an outstanding comprehensive project involving social and community service”

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44CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT: BALTIMORE INTERSATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM 3-A/SEGMENT 10 URBAN DESIGN CONCEPT ASSOCIATES DECEMBER, 1970

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1970

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FEDERAL HIGHWAY ACT

NATHANIEL OWINGS LEADS HIGHWAY PROJECT

BALTIMORE RACE RIOTSPLAN 3A (BUILT SYSTEM) ADOPTED

FIRST PROPOSAL FOR A HIGHWAY SYSTEM THROUGH BALTIMOREROBERT MOSES CREATES BALTIMORE ARTERIAL PLAN

LEXINGTON TERRACE (PUBLIC HOUSING) BUILT

FREEWAY REVOLTS BEGIN

DEATH AND LIFE OF GREAT AMERICAN CITES PUBLISHEDMLK JR. ASSASSINATION, RACE RIOTS

LEARNING FROM LAS VEGAS“DEATH OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE” (PRUITT-IGOE)

OWINGS LEAVES PROJECTLAWSUIT AGAINST F-M CORRIDOR DISMISSED CONSTRUCTION BEGINS

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETEDCONNECTING SEGMENT PLANS ABANDONED

MURPHY HOMES DEMOLISHEDBALTIMORE RED LINE PROPOSED

DEMOLITION BEGINS

Site Timeline

Moses Proposal Owings Proposal Current Condition

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Section-Axonometric

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Key1. Production Floor (Existing Roadway) 2. Automotive Overpass (Existing)3. Incubators4. Agora5. Movable Pods6. Cranes7. Light Rail Station

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Site Plan

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Rendering - Community DevelopmentRendering - Agora

Rendering - Production Floor Rendering - Incubator

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Physical Model

Teatro Delle Therme

Completed during the 2011 USC Mar-nell Italian Studies Program, this proj-ect called for a thermal baths and sup-porting program within a tight urban site in Como, Italy. Ruins dating to me-dieval times survive beneath the site.

The program is arranged sectionally around the central space containing the main indoor pool. The geometry of the project, from the scale of the details to the overall plans and sec-tion are derived from abstractions of a square, a theme drawn from the work of Guiseppe Terragni, a native of Como and his masterpiece, the Casa del Fascio a few blocks away.

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Thermal Baths in Como, ItalySpring 2011 (Semester Abroad)Location: Program:

Como, ItalyBathhouse and Spa

Ceramic tile is used throughout the project as the primary finish material. A multitude of colors and patterns are used in conjunction with architec-tonic and lighting effects to create a series of distinct experiences. The main facade is based on an abstrac-tion of an image of water from Lake Como, and the colors are derived from the traditional colors used in the ar-chitecture in the Lombardy Region.

Parti

Context Analysis

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Main Indoor Pool

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SectionExperience Pools

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Main Indoor Pool

Hot Pool (Outdoor)

Cool PoolColor Pool

UP

DNUP

First Floor Plan

Plug-In Urbanism

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Skid Row Housing Trust Apartments Fall 2010Location: Program:Publication:

Los Angeles, California280 Apartments & Support

IDWRK 10-11

Under the direction of Lorcan O’Herlihy and with the involvement of Skid Row Housing Trust, this proj-ect focuses on a theoretical solution to the homeless problem in Los An-geles by offering a new model for supportive housing. The site given is located at 7th Street and Gladys Av-enue, in the heart of Skid Row. Two existing buildings, one six stories and another two stories are on the site.

The project was inspired by a per-sonal experience working with a homeless man on a separate com-munity art project. This man ex-pressed that being homeless led him to feel “unplugged” from society.

The proposed solution was to cre-ate a strong infrastructure, not only of structure, MEP and circulation, but also programmatic. Into this the indi-vidual living units, and by extension the residents who live in them, are “plugged in” to the overall system. The units are designed to be highly inter-active, engaging the residents further.

Realizing that an apartment alone is not enough to rehabilitate the resi-dents, supportive services, community kitchen, terraces and other programs are included. A visual arts coopera-tive is proposed, to not only provide art therapy, but also create perma-nent installations within the structure.

Inspiration Image

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Exterior Montage

18Massing Progression

Public Space Distribution

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Unit Plan and SectionNinth Floor Plan

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Montages

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Physical Model

Pneus Bridge

Top Fuel 2012 was a week long de-sign-build workshop at USC under the direction of Achim Menges and Thom-as Auer. The focus was on pneumatic structures. My team chose to cover a bridge between Watt and Harris Halls, the two School of Architecture Build-ings.

The design consists of 320 inflated tubes laid parallel to create a canopy. The shape utilizes the Venturi Effect to cool the space underneath and limit summer heat gain. To minimize build difficulty only two types of joints were used. The team built the structure in approximately two days, out of almost 3000 linear feet of plastic tubing.

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Top Fuel 2012 Pneumatic InstallationApril 2012 (One Week Workshop)Location: Program:Publication:

Los Angeles, CaliforniaTemporary Installation

Architect’s Newspaper

Process Photographs

This project was completed with teammates Olivia Burke, Kiana Dolat, James Donovan, Winston Kahn, Eric Linnaus, Nathan Myers Sukreet Singh and Alexander Tertychny.

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Finished Installation Photographs

SacredGeometry

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Two Design-Build Sukkah Projects2009 (Rebuilt Annually); 2012 Location: Program:Publication:

Maryland, MichiganSukkah (Religious Pavilion)Reform Judaism Magazine

Every year the Jewish holiday of Suk-kot requires the building of a tempo-rary structure called a Sukkah. Temple Emanuel rebuilds the same structure every year, and by 2009 it was ag-ing and a replacement was neces-sary. I approached the synagogue with a new design, which was sub-sequently approved and constructed.

My design is based on the sa-cred geometry related to the holi-day. The structural frame is of wood and takes the form of a square. The frame can be separated into twelve individual panels to allow for easy storage and reconstruction.

Inside is a series of six canvas pan-els, painted by the members of the synagogue with a mural. These pan-els are arranged such that their base is a hexagon and the top forms a circle. The panels and the traditional roof of bamboo and greenery, called a s’chach. They are supported by wires, which allow them to appear to float.

As the instigator of the design, it was my job to get multiple committees to approve it and allocate the budget. I also had to communicate the design to the volunteer labor force, even though I was in LA for school. The structure was built on time and embraced by the community. It is reused every year. Form Development

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Completed Structure

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4'-11"

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1'-712"

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3'-412"

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Construction Drawings

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Night View

Aaron J. Benjamin 808 Carriage House Court , Reisterstown, MD 21136 E-mail: Aaron.Joshua.Benjamin@gmail.com Phone: 443.857.3302 Education

Bachelors of Architecture , minor in Urban Policy and Planning University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California In Progress ( Expected Graduation Spring 2012) Cumulative GPA 3.6 8 Unweighted

Work Experience

Intern, O�ce of Engineering and Construction June 2010 – August 2010

Worked for Baltimore County Public Schools, Department of Physical Facilities. Completed duties on a wide range of projects including the renovation of Milford Mill Academy, the new West Towson Elementary and a variety of �ooring and locker installation projects. Tasks included communication with contractors, selec tion of architectural details, and on-site inspections.

Intern, Community Arts Department June 2009 – August 2009

Worked for Baltimore Clayworks, a ceramics cooperativ e in Baltimore, Maryland. Directly assisted Herb Massie, coordinator of the Community Arts program. Duties included co-teaching pottery classes to children, assisting with the transportation of artwork, the installation of exhibits, coordinating work with local artists and minor administrative duties.

Muralist June 2009 – August 2009 Worked on a large scale interior mural for Cromwell Valley Elementary School in Towson, Maryland. I was involved at all stages of the process, from preparing the wall, to guiding involvement with students, faculty and sta�, to the �nal painting; completed during summer recess.

Community Art Volunteer May 2008 – August 2008, May 2010 – August 2010

Working with the Rebuilding Through Art Project (RAP). Facilitating and helping in the completion of multiple community based art projects in the Edmonson neighborhood of western Baltimore. Projects included a large scale outdoor mural at Lockerman–Bundy Elementary School and the creation of a pottery cooperative with the intent to create jobs for local residents. Duties included everything from creating pottery to the application of canvas panels on to the façade of the building. The most recent project was for a l arge indoor mural at Lockerman-Bundy Elementary in collaboration with the ORCHkids program of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Assistant Artist in Residence August 2006, August 2010

Second in charge for the Visual Arts portion of the 2006 and 2010 Maccabi ArtsFest , a weeklong event that brings together Jewish artists from around the United States and the world. The 2006 ArtsFest was the year of the program’s creation. Both programs resulted in the creation of a large mural, one indoor and one outdoor.

Artist’s As sistant August 2006 – August 2007, May 2008 – August 2008, May 2010 – August 2010 Private assistant to the artist Jay Wolf Schlossberg -Cohen. Assisted in the completion of large scale art pieces. Duties included jobs such as attaching completed canvas pieces together, painting background colors and details, AutoCAD drawings of project area and coordination of components for large scale projects.

Awards and Achievements College

- A. Quincy Jones Scholarship Fall 2010 – Present - Baldwin/Kennedy Endowed Scholarship Fall 2010 – Present - Sackley Architectural Scholars hip 2009 - Leonard Shoniger Scholarship Fall 2008 – Present - Robert C. Byrd Scholar Fall 2007 – Present - University of Southern California Presidential Scholar Fall 2007 – Present - University of Southern California Alumni Achievement Award Fall 2007 – Spring 2008 - USC Alumni Club of the Nation’s Capital Scholarship 2007 - Procter & Gamble Scholarship 2007

High School - Valedictorian, Class of 2007 (Graduating Class of Approximately 360) 2007

- Honorable Mention, Maryland Distinguished Scholar 2007 - AAA Travel High School Challenge State Finalist 2007 - AP Scholars Award 2006, 2007 - Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award 2006

Skills College Involvement Alpha Rho Chi, a Professional Co-Educational Architecture Fraternity Joined Fall 2007

Positions held include Library Manager, Social Chair, Rush Chair and Library Manager.

Architecture for Humanity Los Angeles at USC Project Manager: Fall 2009 – Fall 2010 President: Fall 2010 My initial involvement in AfH LA@USC was as leader of a group working in collaboration the United States nonpro�t Border Angels and the Mexican government-supported organization Grupo Beta to design and build small water stations in Mexico/San Diego deserts. First built structure completed in August 2010. For Fall 2010, I also served as President, coordinating meetings and events such as a water balloon �ght fundraiser and the creation of a group t-shirt. I was also in charge of collaborating e�orts with AfH Los Angeles and USC for a lecture by Cameron Sinclair.

Traditional - Model Building - Graphite Drafting - Ink Drafting

Digital Two Dimensional - AutoCAD - Adobe Creative Suite - Microsoft O�ce

Digital Three Dimensional - Revit - Rhinoceros 4.0 with VRay - Google SketchUp

Work Samples: Sacred Geometry / Temple Emanuel of Baltimore Sukkah

Date: June-October 2009, rebuilt every SukkotClient: Temple Emanuel of BaltimoreLocation: Reisterstown, MarylandProgram: Sukkah [Temporary Religious Structure]

Description: Every year the Jewish holiday of Sukkot requires the building of a temporary structure called a sukkah. Temple Emanuel rebuilds the same structure every year, and by 2009 the structure was aging and needed replacing. I approached the synagogue with a new design, which was subsequently approved and constructed.

My design is based on the sacred geometry related to the holiday. The structural frame is of wood and takes the form of a square. The frame can be separated into twelve in-dividual panels to allow for easy storage and reconstruc-tion. Inside is a series of six canvas panels, painted by syna-gogue members with a mural, whose base is a hexagon but the top forms a circle. The panels and the traditional roof of bamboo and greenery, called a s’chach are sup-ported by wires, which allows them to appear to �oat.

The project proved to involve much more than the design itself. As the instigate for the redesign, it was my job to get multiple committees to approve it and allocate a budget. I had to create a detailed budget and construction documen-tation so it could be built by an all volunteer and largely un-trained labor force in Baltimore while I was in Los Angeles. The structure was built on time according to the instruc-tions and was embraced by the community. This project serves a proof that a little design thinking can be used for a powerful e�ect, even on small projects with limited budgets.

4'-11"

8'

4'-6"

1'-6"

3'-6"

6'

5'-9"

8'-9"

8'-6"

1'-712"

8'-9"

2'-10" 2'-10" 2'-10"

A B

C

D

12

3 4

5

6

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3'-412"

2'-1012"

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Construction Drawings

Rendering

Construction

Decoration

Completed Project

Process Photographs

In 2012, I entered the Sukkah Arbor Competition, an open design compe-tition for a design-build sukkah. This design expands upon the geometries explored with the Temple Emanuel Sukkah, but incorporates the themes of the competition: homelessness, hunger and environmentalism. This de-sign is to be constructed of cardboard tubes, which can be completely disas-sembled and recycled afterwards. The tubes around the exterior are planters to grow food, celebrating Sukkot as a harvest festival.

This design was selected as one of the five finalists and will be built in Ann Ar-bor, Michigan in September.

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Section

Interior Rendering

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Exterior Rendering

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AnalogInvestigationsVarious Design Projects and Skills

In addition to my architectural designs, I have also pursued a wide variety of other design fields. These proj-ects represent a sample of my work.

At USC, my education included stud-ies in hand drafting, both in graph-ite and ink. While studying abroad on the Marnell Italian Studies program, I completed a series of field analysis drawings of Rome and other cities.

Outside of school, I have been involved in a variety of arts, working in both two dimensions and three dimensions on a professional level. These projects continue to inform my design process.

Ink Field StudyCampidoglio, Rome

Ink & Colored PencilRome

Graphite Axon.Louis Kahn’s Fisher House

Sandstone Sculpture

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a: 714 South Los Angeles St. Apt. 307 Los Angeles, CA 90014e: aaron.joshua.benjamin@gmail.comp: 443.857.3302

{Aaron J. Benjamin}