ALEX ROBINSON 2012 13

Covers: GRAVITY. FORM. LIGHT (2013)A material investigation of concrete. The concept was ‘lunar’ surfaces.

Experiencing design process (2012)

ALEX ROBINSON

texarob@gmail.com

3701 34th Ave SMinneapolis, MN

55406

Wetland Research Labs (2013)

Front Office ReDesign (2013)

St. Anthony Falls Labs (2013)

Food in Five Acts (2012)

Net-Zero Architecture School (2012)

Minneapolis Greenway (2012)

Resume

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Selected Academic Works

Wetland Research LabsMinneapolis, MN

Robinson2013 - ARCH 8253Graduate Design 2Mandyck

This Research Facility/Community Center functions as a public gateway to the Mississippi River, offering kayak rentals and wild space to explore the serene beauty of wetlands.

The building is organized around a central atrium that leads directly to the river. The public is able to occupy classrooms and gallery space on the ground level. Researchers are elevated above with screened lab space and offices.

The exterior glass double curtain wall houses reclaimed barn wood screens as a symbol of energy efficient material reuse.

Section through West entrance

Building is sited between two hills and open to public exploration

Context with trails overlay West Approach

Entrance

Riverwalk South

Second Floor

Lab spaceConference roomOfficesAccessible green roof

First Floor

Lab space250 seat auditoriumOfficesOpen Offices

Ground Floor

Wet/Dry ClassroomsComputer LabLunch RoomSeminar RoomsBreak Out SpaceGallery

East - West Section looking north

Front Office ReDesignUMN Architecture OfficeMinneapolis, MN

Robinson/Greene/AdamsSpring/Summer 2013 Independent StudyComazzi/Swackhamer

The College of Design asked me, along with two other students, to make the face of the Architecture School a more functional and inviting space. We spent a semester exploring flexible work environments and built our design over the summer.

The design concept started with a barcode. By expressing a vertical linear rhythm across horizontal datums, we addressed the various program requirements by growing out or pushing in parts of the structural ribs. We used the CNC Router to mill the ribs and the CNC Plasma Cutter to cut metal display strips.

“Peeling” of major program zones

Current foot traffic and congestion

Flexible function and program heights

View from main entrance

West and East wall assembly with kit of parts Module mockup

Desk screen peels to make cornerMagnetic ribs make pinup spaceProgram peels out of ribs

St. Anthony Falls LabsMinneapolis, MN

RobinsonARCH 8253 - 2013Graduate Design 2Mandyck

Along the banks of the Mississippi River lies a world-class hydrology lab. The researchers asked our studio to design a more publicly accessible addition to their labs.

My proposal links the historic St. Anthony District to the laboratory with an industrial pedestrian bridge and carpark. The new connection elevates people above a steep slope, creates a direct link from the lab to the public and offers views of the river and downtown.

Parti ExistingNew

Approach looking EastN

Pedestrian Park

New Entry

New Pedestrian Bridge

Food in Five ActsUMN College of Design

Robinson/Kraft/Chen/BearssARCH 5243 - Fall 2013Graduate Design 1Marcus

The goal of this project was to create a choreographed video of a meal taking place based on earlier explorations of sectioning vegetables. This called for very careful examination of what a meal is and how to best capture the essence of ‘meal.’

The form was influenced by sectioning of vegetables to expose edible components. We utilized the CNC router to create the structural framework and wrapped the exterior in mdf strips.

Sectioning a pepper

THE MEAL APPETIZER

SMALL DISH

ENTREE

DESSERT

DISHES

Net-Zero AdditionUMN College of DesignMinneapolis, MN

Robinson/Zeeb/Maung/YoungARCH 5243 - Fall 2013Graduate Design 1Guzowski/Abrams

This 7-week module explored the design concepts and technologies involved in designing a net-zero addition to the Architecture School.Optimization tools (IES-VE) kept our design ideas in check by forcing us to work towards the goal of 0 kBtu/sqft.

Northwest view of addition

Snow drifts as concept

Plan of exterior wall construction

4” Brick Face

4” EPS Insulation

4” Concrete BlockFraming

1/2” Sheetrock

Southern glazing refracts intense summer sun, allows low winter sun angles, and, through phase change material, functions like a trombe wall

Summer Sun Winter Sun

PCM Prism PCM Prism

Typical East/West Wall Typical South Exterior Wall

Plan of exterior wall construction

4” Brick Face

4” EPS Insulation

4” Concrete BlockFraming

1/2” Sheetrock

Southern glazing refracts intense summer sun, allows low winter sun angles, and, through phase change material, functions like a trombe wall

Summer Sun Winter Sun

PCM Prism PCM Prism

Typical East/West Wall Typical South Exterior Wall

Sun slides in courtyard

West side sun shelves

South face looking North

New lobby looking South

South side phase change glass

By consolidating program space along the North and South wings of the existing structure, then lowering the existing courtyard roof, we were able to maximize solar gain for the lengthy Minnesota winters. The two wings are connected by unconditioned glass hallways to provide a seasonal experience.

Seasonal Hallways

3

Greenway InterventionMinneapolis, MN

RobinsonSummer 2012Graduate Design 1Swackhamer

This intervention is a transportation and rest hub for bicyclists along the Minneapolis Greenway. The hub connects the Greenway to the residential neighborhood nearby.

The structure was informed by variable levels of opacity. A private internal bench offers a place for solitude. The more open exterior benches are for people stopping for a quick break

Alex RobinsonGD 1 2012-2013

3+ Summer 2012

Diagramming Plan for An InterventionMinneapolis GreenwayMarker on Trace

The Greenway is a major pedestrian corridor

Thinking through connectivity

Alex RobinsonGD 1 2012-2013

3+ Summer 2012

Diagramming Plan for An InterventionMinneapolis GreenwayMarker on Trace

Final intervention footprint

Finalizing internal and external organization

Elevation from South

Education and Fellowships

Experience and Employment

Digital Toolbox

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN Master of Architecture, May 2015 Expected Fellowships - Skidmore, Owens, Merril Award Minnesota Society of Architects Award

Saint Olaf College, Northfield, MN Bachelor of Arts - Biology, January 2009 Concentration - Environmental Studies Freeman Grant - Organic Farming Internship, August 2008 Asian Rural Institute - Tochigi, Japan

Teaching Assistantships Design Fundamentals II, Spring 2014 Intro to Architectural Drawing, Fall 2013

Research AssistantshipsDesigner/Builder, Summer 2013 Programmed toolpathing for CNC router operation. Milled, assembled, finished, and installed design.

W.L. Hall WorkshopStudent Technician, September - May 2013 Taught architecture students construction methods and how to safely operate power tools in order to achieve design goals.

Construction Intern, September 2009 - August 2012 Read construction documents to organize and direct volunteer labor on jobsites. Managed purchases, deliveries, and scheduling of construction supplies and equipment to maintain organized jobsites. Communicated with and monitored subcontractors.

Wetland Research Technician, February - August 2009 Caught, Identified, and counted reptile and amphibian populations by hand in a wetland habitat for graduate student research under the direction of Dr. Mike Lannoo. Used telemetry equipment and gps to track and map 30 Crawfish Frogs’ daily movements and burrowing habits

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - Minneapolis/St. Paul

INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY - Terre Haute, IN

Rhino AutoCAD ArchiCADSketchUP GIS Mapping RenderingPhotoshop Illustrator InDesign Premiere

ALEX ROBINSON

texarob@gmail.com

3701 34th Ave SMinneapolis, MN

55406