ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN LEON LAI

S e l e c t e d Po r t f o l i o 2 0 1 0
www.lhlai.com

resume | 10

Permanent: Suite #1205 168 Bonis Avenue Scarborough, ON Canada | Current: 88 Piazza Della Rovere, Rome, Italy | H:416.335.1779 | C:334.864.0162 (Rome, Italy)

www.lhlai.com | leon_lhlai@live.ca

LEON LAI
CAREER ABSTRACT Leon Lai is a Self-motivated and contributing architecture student seeking for his 5th architectural internship at an innovative design rm that encourages collaborative environment and the duality of research and experiment. RECOGNITION Publications 2010 Exhibitor in 10 Waterloo Year-End Project Review: Abrupt(ure): P.S.1 2009 Canadian Architecture Students Association National Portfolio Publication: Amplifying RareSpace Exhibitor in the 09 Waterloo Year-End Project Review: A Conjoint Cultural Identity Refer to Detail: 08 Visual Communication Class Publication Advantage Steel Magazine SSEF UP! Steel Tower Award of Merit 3B Studio Outstanding Design Award SSEF UP! Steel Tower Competition Award of Merit Canadian Arch. Assoc.s Ignition Competition 1st Team Prize University of Waterloo Entrance Scholarship Grade 9 Piano and History with Honors PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2010 January - August Giannone Petricone Associates Architects Assisted in the Schematic Design, Design Development and Site Plan Approval Toronto-Internship drawings for Trinity Lofts and 90 Niagara Condominiums, with direct coordination with client, structural, marketing and visualization consultants Involved in the master-planning and design of a large-scale mixed-use development in Brampton, Ontario and responsible for an 80 page design booklet presented to the City Conceptual design and presentations for various hospitality projects including Susur Lees restaurant, The Keg and OCAD diner Involved with the Drywall and Millwork Tenders as well as the Construction drawings for Maple Leaf Square Fine Dining Restaurant Participated in the design of various small scale residential renovation projects, also responsible for a small interior custom renovation millwork and detail package 2009 April - August Zeidler Partnership Architects Toronto- Internship Assisted in the St. Thomas Elgin Hospital renovation master-planning business case including hospital room templates, area calculations, decanting & phasing drawings as well as consultant coordination. Responsible for the St. Josephs Diagnostic Imaging department design set, specically tackled challenges regarding structure, circulation, code requirements, areas and equipment layouts. Assisted in the CDs and interior nish presentations for the Canadian Chancery in Kazakhstan. Created the AIA awards submission drawing set for Assuta hospital in Tel Aviv. Responsible for helping 1st year students with their work during class time. Evaluated assignments and answered questions during the rest of the week. FormZ 6.5 and the Adobe Creative Suite 3. Involved with the master-planning and schematics design for the West Side Rail Yards project, created presentation drawings, renders, physical models, booklets, area calculations as well as zoning and rewall regulation drawings. Assisted in the early stage of concept design for the Boston Jumeirah Hotel Proposal, from massing development to schematics design including iterative study models, diagrams and presentation drawings. Produced various interior nish and equipment tender packages for the M5V condominiums. Involved with the schematics designs of 2 sales centers, including site measurements, demolition inspections, 2D design drawings and 3D renderings. Created the Green Living Show Booth construction drawing set, from concept proposal, millwork detailing to assisting on-site for the construction of the booth.

2008 2007 Awards 2010 2008 2007 2006 2005 EDUCATION University of Waterloo Candadate for Honors Bachelor of Architectural Studies, graduating 2011 Albert Campbell C. I. 2006 O.S.S.D. with Honor Standing

QUALIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS English Cantonese Mandarin Italian (basic) Reliable & Positive Attitude Adept Learner Self-motivated Independent Outstanding Team-player Critical Thinker 24/7 Energetic Artist Hand Drafting & Model Making MS Ofce 07 DreamWeaver & CSS Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator CS4 Adobe Premiere AutoCAD 07-10 3D Studio Max 2007-9 FormZ 6.5 Rhinoceros 4 RhinoScript & Grasshopper Vray R3 for 3DS & Rhino Google SketchUP 7 2009 January - April Teacher Assistant Visual Comm. 113 University of Waterloo Course Professor: Mark Cichy 2008 August - December Kohn Pederson Fox Associates New York- Internship

REFERENCES Available upon request.

PERSONAL INTERESTS Active racquet sports: badminton, tennis, squash Fine Art & Photography continue to practice at a drawing studio outside of school Travel visited much of big North (Canada), from Banff to Peggys Cove; Italy is just the begining for Europe Film & Cinematography an avid movie watcher, enjoys writings on lms, also interested in creating short animations and short lms 2008 January - April TAS DesignBuild Toronto- Intern Designer

ACADEMIC PROPOSALS
p. 4-5 Porous Densication 2nd Year Kathy Velikov Studio p.6 Abrupt(ure): P.S.1 MoMa 3rd Year Maya Przybylski Lab/Studio p. 7-8 Amplication of rareSpace 2nd Year Geoffrey Thun Studio p. 9 Atlantic City Holocaust Memorial competition 10 p. 10-11 A Conjoint Cultural Identity 3rd Year Philip Beesley Studio

PROFESSIONAL WORK
p.12 Bringing Green Home TAS DesignBuild, Toronto p.13 3 Wells Hill- House Addition Giannone Petricone Associates, Toronto p. 14 Eastern & Trinity Lofts Giannone Petricone Associates, Toronto p. 15 Boston Jumeirah Hotel Kohn Pedersen Fox, NY p.16-17 The West Side Rail Yards Kohn Pedersen Fox, NY

OTHER
p.18 New York Times Building Study 3rd Year Philip Beesley Studio

residential complex | 2nd year studio 07

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Massing Block

Courtyard Opening

Liberated Ground Plane

Overall Building Slope

Sunken Public Space

Site Plan (CAD + Illustrator)

7TH FLOOR

Ground Floor Plan

6TH FLOOR

5TH FLOOR

4TH FLOOR

3RD FLOOR

Porous Densication
Location: Queen Street East, Toronto Typology: Residential Complex ____________________________ 2nd year Kathy Velikov studio Composed of volumes and voids, groupings of townhouses and 3-5 storey mid-rise apartment dwelling units allow sun penetration into the city block. The ow of courtyards shared by every 2 units express a unique communal urban lifestyle. In order to provide light for the rear end of the courtyards and diffuse light into corridors, light wells are introduced. Deep terraces provide an immense amount of natural light for the building, making all adjacent units into corner suites; encouraging active gardening, vegetable cultivation, and social interaction between neighbors. Circulation Diagram (Illustrator)

2ND FLOOR

Typical Floor Plan (CAD & Photoshop)

GROUND FLOOR

UNDERGROUND PARKING

Form & Spatial Concepts

East & North Elevation (FormZ & Photoshop)

residential complex | 2nd year studio 07

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Sectional Model 1:50 (Laser cut Museum, Millboard & Plexi)

Townhouse Sections

2 Bedroom Corner Suite + Terrace & Lightwell

Section of Light Well

natural light penetrates deep into units and corridors

South Section (FormZ & Photoshop)

Exterior View of the Building from street (FormZ & Photoshop)

View of Courtyard (FormZ & Photoshop)

courtyard intervention | 3rd year computational studio 09

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Form Evolution

Form Components

Structure Generation
[15] [14] [13]

[12] [11] [10] [9] [8] [7]

100% PLANE

Surface Subdivision

[6] [5] [4]

Form Computation + Generation (Grasshopper + Rhino, 3DS)

[2] [1]

1:50 Physical Model- 1459 pieces of laser-cut sections

Section Generation Framework
Consistent Number of Segments per Curve Consistent Number of Control Points per Curve Control Points can overlap: Total Number of Control Points per Section varies Total # of Control Points: 41 *excluding secondary handrail modules

[15]

[14] [13]

Anchor Sections

Secondary Handrail Modules Handrail Module 1 Handrail Module 2

Section Generation Framework

100% PLANE 100% PLANE

[12] [11] [10] [9] [8]

Consistent Number of Segments per Curve Consistent Number of Control Points per Curve Control Points can overlap: Total Number of Control Points per Section varies

Bridge Module 1

Bridge Module 2

Ground Module Total # of Control Points: 41 *excluding secondary handrail modules

[C] [7]

Secondary Handrail Modules Handrail Module 1 Handrail Module 2

Abrupt(ure): P.S.1 MoMa

Rendered Plan + Interior of Installation (Rhino + Grasshopper, 3DS, Photoshop) Location: Long Island City, New York Typology: Temporary Installation ___________________________ 3rd year Maya Przybylski lab/ studio The courtyard installation is a continuous artifact that creates a uid transitional area where the ground begins to erupt and split, creating various elevation differentiations, achieving an articial, artistic landscape. We are interested in

[6] [5] [4] [2] [1] TRAITS [J]

Section Generation Framework

[W] [K]

Consistent Number of Segments per Curve Consistent Number of Control Points per Curve [R] Control Points can overlap: Total Number of Control Points per Section varies
[A] [S]

Total # of Control Points: 28

Bridge Module 1

Bridge Module 2

Total # of Control Points: 41 *excluding secondary handrail modules

SUBJECTS

Ground Module

Rib Structure

Section Generation Framework

Consistent Number of Segments per Curve Consistent Number of Control Points per Curve Control Points can overlap: Total Number of Control Points per Section varies

Secondary Handrail Modules Handrail Module 1 Handrail Module 2

Surface Panels- 2x Copper Mesh, distorted Moire pattern

Panel Framing- provides support for lighting and mist

Total # of Control Points: 32

how a surface or form could be generated Surface Morphology Analysis and inferred by an underlying set of systems so that it is responsive to the site and in the end how those systems could manifest themselves spatially to facilitate interaction with and between the occupants. Geometry Generation Framework
Total # of Control Points: 41 *excluding secondary handrail modules Secondary Handrail Modules
100% PLANE

Bridge Module 1

Exploded Structure Study

Total # of Control Points: 28 7 Bridge Module 2 9

Skin + Structure Study

Total # of Control Points: 45 *including 2 secondary handrails

Ground Module

Handrail Module 1

Handrail Module 2

Bridge Module 1

Bridge Module 2 Total # of Control Points: 28

Total # of Control Points: 32

[C]

Ground Module

[W]

[K]

[R]

[A]

Total # of Control Points: 28

TRAITS [J] SUBJECTS

[S]

Total # of Control Points: 45 *including 2 secondary handrails Total # of Control Points: 32

Total # of Control Points: 32

Total # of Control Points: 45 *including 2 secondary handrails

Longitudinal Section

Total # of Control Points: 45 *including 2 secondary handrails

performance landscape | 2nd year studio 07

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Initial Natural Phenomenon Studies- observe, isolate, enhance and iterate

Relationship to river and nearby park trails Sound Reection

Hollow concrete walls with glulam structure increase reverberation of sound

Sound Diffusal Walls

Weather treated cedar panels

Sound Absorption
Insulated building envelope cladded with perforated copper sheets

Sound Amplication
Curving wall composed galvanized steel pipes of different lengths

Sound Barrier
Concrete walls break the movement of sound

Amplication of RareSpace
Concept Experiential Section- lter, approach, reveal and enclose Location: Cambridge, Canada Typology: Outdoor Performance Landscape __________________________ 2nd year Geoffrey Thun Studio The amplication of the experiences of rareSPACE exploits our 3 dominant senses--audition of sound, sight and touch. Employing these 3 elements as a design structure, a framework of open-ended experiences are set up for the users. The uniqueness of the material palette and the uctuating, sometimes limited visibility in the eld constitute to an emphasis of a constant acoustical datum. Controlled by visibility and materiality of the spaces, users wander and listen to the landscape, moving from one sound to the next. Sound Absorption
Perforated copper sheets diffuse and collect sound

Sound Box
An instrument for sound transmittal

Diagrammatic Plan- architectural components and their materiality

performance landscape | 2nd year studio 07

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Entry

Sound Box

Tunnel

Multi-purpose Auditorium

Vocal and Dance Hall

a guided sequence of experiential performance spaces

Longitudinal Site Section

1:200 Physical Site Model

Performance Space Section

atlantic city holocaust memorial | competition 10

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Atlantic Boardwalk- Existing Pavillion on Site

Extent of Site

Re-claiming Scarred Space

Location: Boardwalk, Atlantic City Typology: Public Memorial _________________________ Atlantic City Holocaust Memorial Competition

Voids Emerge from the Historical Grid- City Connects with the Past once more (Rhino + 3DS + Photoshop)

Plan- Mitigating Zone between City and Nature

We began by accepting the axiom that the scars left by the Holocaust The site is envisioned as a zone of anti-life where are permanent in spite of continual attempts to deemphasize it through time can be paused, convention inversed and the time. But there must be hope nevertheless, and means by which the consequences of the past - the scars - resurfaced as EMERGENCE EMERGENCE EMERGENCE Holocaust survivor - burdened with the responsibility toOF summon and a grid of voids that YIELDING emerges from an equally static, OF VOIDS OF VOIDS VOIDS OF OF SCARS OF SCARS SCARS YIELDING YIELDING retell their stories lest our societies fall into the same inhumane path historical and unyielding grid of the city. The void to again - can reconcile their paradoxical desires to move on and to not us is the anti-architecture that accurately depicts a forget concurrently. deconstructed and absented past where all ephemeral qualities accumulated are eradicated. Thus we must reclaim the scar.

A fragile present layer being the elusive extension of the boardwalks wooden path invites the pedestrians into the site, to the voids, where the layer is punctured, denied, transformed and re-orientated while confronting the presence of the absented space. (Rhino + 3DS + Photoshop)

PRESENT PRESENT PRESENT

PAST PAST PAST

Unyielding Grid of Atlantic City

Separation of Past & Present

Emergence of Voids

Permanent Yielding of Scars

Puncturing of the Fragile Present Layer

10 ministry of culture | 3rd year studio 09

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Massing Model featuring transparent skin

Site Plan

Extension of Existing Paths through Site

Suspend interconnected Programs Ground Plan (CAD & Photoshop) Diagrammatic Massing Model

A Conjoint Cultural Identity

Location: Queens Park, Toronto Typology: Ofce + Retail Complex __________________________ 3rd year Philip Beesley Studio

Enclosed with a Translucent Double Facade

A proposed centre for the Ministry and other cultural education facilities, the buidling redenes the idea of a truly public civic complex, also including retail, restaurants, library and an exhibition space. The liberated ground oor gallery welcomes pedestrian trafc; the suspended, interconnected programs above are spatially attached to the ground. This project explores the poetic identity and experience of working in a city. 3rd Floor Plan 4th Floor Plan Circulation Diagram

11 ministry of culture | 3rd year studio 09

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

the unrestricted and civil nature of the ministry of culture encourages an interconnected, multi-leveled public realm

Program Organization Studies

Conguration of the major Columns, Boxes and supporting Trusses (CAD & Illustrator)

The Facade gives a Transparent Reading of the Building (CAD & Photoshop)

Exploded Building Axo (Rhino & Illustrator)

View from Ground Floor Green Lane (Rhino, Vray & Photoshop)

View from the 3rd oor looking down (Rhino, Vray & Photoshop)

The Section demonstrates the layered public realm (CAD & Photoshop)

12 presentation booth | TAS DesignBuild 08

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Center Lattice Wall Detail

Millwork Details

Concept Renders and Elevation (CAD & SketchUP)

Bringing green Home

Location: Toronto, Canada Typology: Presentation Booth Sq. Footage: 3000 sq. ft Phase: Complete design and construction _______________________ TAS DesignBuild, Toronto initial research and conceptual presentation 2D and 3D design drawings produced much of the construction package structural and millwork detailing on-site assistance and coordination Plan from CD set Photos of Finished Booth Interior

13 house addition | Giannone Petricone 10

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Ground Floor Plan

Section showing existing house + addition

Overall Massing- addition wraps around cornor of house

3 Wells Hill-House Addition

Location: Toronto Typology: Residential Addition Sq. Footage: 1,500 sq. ft. Phase: Design Development __________________________ Giannone Petricone Assocs, Toronto

Wood ceiling folds into back of entrance seating; moving plains leave traces of light (Rhino + 3DS) deliberate play of intersecting volumnes, surfaces and materials; the layered addition anchors into the existing buidling conceptual and design development of house addition using both CAD and 3D visualizations assisted with building permit application drawing set Elevations

14 residential complex | 2nd year studio 07

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Curved facade esblishes a sinuous setback at street intersection

Ground Floor

Typical 2-4 Floor

Eastern & Trinity Lofts

Location: Toronto, Canada Typology: Residential Condo Sq. Footage: 62,000 sq. ft Phase: Schematic and Design Development __________________________ Giannone Petricone Assocs, Toronto assisted from massing concept to detailed building design delegated closely with developer and various consultants including planning, structural, mechanical, visualization and marketing Site Plan Approval package for City of Toronto Unit Plans- 20 Layouts in Total East Elevation

Convergence point of 2 major streets (3DS)

View towards Toronto Downtown- image done by visualization consultant

15 hotel residence | Kohn Pedersen Fox 08

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Programmatic section (Cad + Illustrator)

A series of massing iterations focus on the irregularity of the site, sightlines and draw major massing inuences from adjacent buildings.

Boston Jumeirah Hotel

Location: Boston, Massachusetts Typology: Hotel Client: Jumeirah Hotel Sq. Footage: 730,000 sq. ft Phase: Schematics Design __________________________ Kohn Pedersen Fox, NY plans and sections drawings for client meetings prepared quick 3D exterior massing renderings constructed iterative massing study models and site for presentation and analysis prepared engaging conceptual diagrams

Plans (CAD & Photoshop)

Massing / Views Diagram (CAD, Illustrator & Photoshop)

16 urban development | Kohn Pedersen Fox 08

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Zoning Diagrams presented to the City Council

Context Plan Retail Cultural Residential Ofce Park

The West Side Rail Yards

Location: Manhattan, New York Typology: Master-planning Client: West Side Rail Yards Sq. Footage: 12-15 million sq. ft Phase: Schematics Design __________________________ Kohn Pedersen Fox, NY zoning and rewall regulation presentation diagrams digital and physical modelling CAD plans and sections presentation drawings programming development + area calculations various concept diagrams worked alongside with consultants Elkus Manfredi and MVVA Landscape. Archs Massing Concepts Axo Key Plan Diagrams Master Planning Plans & Sections (CAD & Illustrator)

17 urban development | Kohn Pedersen Fox 08

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

CAD plans red-lining + typical oor layouts construction of a component-based physical model rendered elevations high-lighting the juxtaposition of the tower volumes programming development + area calculations various retail proposal booklets

East Yards Podium + Towers

Typical Tower Low

Roof Garden

Skylobby

Level 5

Level 4

Typical Ofce Tower Layouts

Level 3

Level 2 1:50 Master-planning Model: East Yards Superblock and Towers Highlighted

Plaza Level

West Elevation (CAD and Photoshop)

1:50 Physical Model (Museum Board and Laser-cut Plexi)

18 precedent study | 3rd year studio 09

| architecture | urbanism | landscape | designbuild | research | investigation

Structural System Video (Adobe Premiere)

Passive Lighting Saving Analysis

Floor and Wall Composition (Rhino + 3DS Vray)

The New York Times Building: Craft

Location: Manhattan, New York Typology: Ofce Tower __________________________ 3rd year Philip Beesley Studio

A precedent study on the details and passive sustainable qualities of the structural makeup of the New York Times Building by Renzo Piano. Highly accurate and detailed digital models were created to investigate the ideas of lightness, transparency and passive energy saving for the building. Presentation video features the transformations of various structural systems from the core to the facade. Digital models were later distributed to the class for further studies in the subsequent design project.

Facade, Lighting and Signage Detail at Grade (Rhino + 3DS Vray)

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