The Road to final review
Juniors Shea Reeves (left) and Kendall Ferguson (right) are students at UT’s School of Architecture (UTSOA). Although Shea and Kendall are juniors, they are only halfway through their college experience. The architecture program at UT is a five-year degree and once the pair graduates, they will be prepared for professional practice. UTSOA’s educational philosophy is based on the studio model so the students are always working on a project, constantly learning and creating.
This spring semester, they were tasked with designing an organic-style art gallery in a flood plain by Barton Creek. While the professors of other sections opted for an easier approach, Shea and Kendall’s section was forced to incorporate a flood zone. The building’s location compounded with the requirement to incorporate the original building on site presented a veritable challenge.
Reeves and Ferguson stand outside during their studio to receive feedback on March 25, 2024. They are one of six pairs in the studio class taught by architect Kyriakos Kyriakou. Throughout the process the pair closely collaborates with their instructor. They maintain a friendly rapport that allows criticism while still remaining “authentic to original intent,” says Fersuon.
Reeves stands in front of a 3D printer and records a video of the failed print to her design partner on April 4, 2024. "One aspect of completing a project is the time management and scheduling to have access to the machines in addition to the physical work we put into it” Ferguson emphasizes.
Reeves reminisces about her freshman year with first-year Hannah Peterson in the studio architecture students affectionately refer to as “the attic." Although all freshmen attend the studio in the attic, Reeves explains that “meeting over Zoom made it really hard to get feedback.” Ferguson adds, “we still learned a lot of the fundamentals, but there's just a different rigor being in person and having that personal relationship (with the professors).”
Reeves removes a freshly cut piece of chipboard from the laser cutter bed in the basement of Sutton Hall on April 8, 2024. Each layer takes approximately 40 minutes to cut and this was one of 9 layers needed to construct the final model.
Ferguson glues a figurine to the model on April 10, 2024. “This is the biggest model we've ever done so it’s really exciting to see it come together,” says Ferguson.
Professor Kyriakou reaches his hand through the model to reach a figurine on April 10, 2024. Reeves explains that they were inspired by the Japanese library/ gallery, Sendai Mediatheque. Elements from the Japanese structure like large white columns that pierce the structure can be clearly seen throughout the iterations of their design. The HVAC (air conditioning system) and electrical equipment run throughout their reinforced concrete waffle ceilings that make up the columns so that the structure appears neat and clean.
Reeves checks out at Jerry’s Artarama, a local art-supplies store, on April 15, 2024. Reeves purchased two large sheets of paper, totaling $59.29. “I’m really fortunate because my parents help pay for the supplies because it's a school expense,“ Reeves states. As far as Reeves is aware, the university does not provide financial assistance to students who cannot afford such physical modeling supplies.
Professor Kyriakou critiques Reeves and Ferguson’s digital model on April 22, 2024. Three days before final review, the pair is anxious about completing their project on time. After Kyriakou leaves, Ferguson admits she pulled an all-nighter to work on the project and will likely get little sleep leading up to final review.
From left, Daniel Escotto, Ryan Lemmo, and Nichole Wiedemann, three of the five reviewers, watch the first pair presentation of the day on April 25, 2024. “It’s a mix of professors and external people in the architecture world,” Reeves says. “It's kind of cool because Professor Weidemann was one of Kendall’s professors last year so she gets to see how our style evolves.”
Reeves presents the model to the panel of reviewers and classmates. After the presentation, Reeves admitted that she suffered from a stutter when she was younger and would therefore avoid giving oral presentations whenever possible. However, a large part of the UTSOA program is being able to articulate your ideas to your professors and peers. “(The program) really helped me with public speaking,” Reeves says.
UTSOA professor and final review panelist Vincent Snyder comments on the pair’s style and how it differs from when he was an architecture student in that “[his generation was] encouraged to break out of the box.” He explicitly said that he didn't want Reeves and Ferguson to walk away thinking their project was ground-breaking. Ferguson responded by saying, “throughout the process we asked ourselves if we wanted to play it safe and do something we could be really proud of or try a novel idea and risk failure.” Snyder encouraged them to think more creatively and allow themselves the grace to try something more experimental. Reeves and Ferguson agreed, saying they would be interested in reworking the build in a future studio using the knowledge that they accumulated while working on this project.
Reeves removes the roof of the physical model to give her friends Emma Arrington (left) and Riley Pracht (right) a closer look at her project. Arrington, a junior English major says, “knowing how dedicated and passionate Shea is about architecture, it came as no surprise to see how exquisite her project turned out after all the late nights she stayed up perfecting every detail.”
Reeves and Ferguson walk through Goldsmith Hall after disassembling their presentation wall. Ferguson says, “the review was very fair; I’m content.”
While Reeves and Ferguson figure out what to do with their design plans, they dump them on top of their work station. “A lot of it will probably go in the recycling but we still have to photograph our most recent model so it will just sit here for now,” Reeves said.
Ferguson triumphantly stands on her desk stool holding a model power line she made for the presentation during the second week of the semester. After final review and as the semester draws to a close Ferguson reflects, “even in the midst of a stressful review, moments of joy can be found within the process.”
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