Sidney Bettenhausen Portfolio 2026

Selected Works

Sidney Bettenhausen. 2026

Selected Works

Sketchbook

Model Making Materials

1 water’s edge. [06-15]

2

chatfield wellness center.

studio work [16-23] [24-37] [38-51]

3 the therapy center.

4 the cinema.

supplementary course work professional work

5 etched. 6 the baker house.

7 crossing roads.

8

9

Edge.

Location: Denver, Colorado

3-Week Design and Production

Supervisor: Michael K. Jenson, PhD.

Water’s Edge immerses visitors in nature by bringing them eye to eye with the water. Located on the southeast edge of Chatfield Reservoir, this installation engages all the senses, from the feel of the water to the sounds of birds, fostering a spiritual connection to the natural world.

As visitors descend into the site, they are gradually brought down to water level, creating a sense of coexistence with the reservoir. The rusted corten steel walls bear marks of past water levels, a reminder of how human actions shape the environment, especially on this site.

The structure itself adapts to changing water levels, evolving with the landscape and offering a unique, moment-specific experience each time. From this close vantage point, visitors reflect on their connection with the water before ascending again.

Responsive Design / Designing a Pavilion that Reflects a Changing Site

Structure is Lowered to Meet Earth

Rises to React to Water

Material Inspiration / Material that Marks the Changing Site

taken at initial site visit

Reflection

Reconnection

Realization

Connection Details

Top: Detail AA

Bottom:Detail BB

Location: Denver, Colorado

8-Week Design and Production

Supervisor: Michael K. Jenson, PhD.

Chatfield Wellness Center is located at Chatfield Reservoir in Littleton, Colorado. The design explores how architecture and nature can come together to nurture the health and well-being of the whole person. By integrating programs such as therapy, outdoor gardening, and meditation, the space supports visitors in a holistic way, creating a strong connection between human experience and the natural environment.

The steel structure is anchored by a central metal core, which serves as the structural backbone for the surrounding program. This spine also functions as the main circulation, guiding movement through the space. The wellness areas are designed to feel lighter and more ephemeral, reflecting the impermanent and ever-changing nature of the activities within. The contrast between the solid core and the delicate program spaces embodies a balance between stability and transformation, mirroring the journey of personal growth and well-being.

Section Perspective

Communal Garden

Psychedelic Therapy Center.

Grad Studio V 2025

Location: Denver, Colorado

8-Week Design and Production

Supervisor: Felix Tannenbaum

Psychedelic-assisted therapy has demonstrated significant potential in treating a wide range of conditions, including addiction, depression, and PTSD. This project explored how architectural space can actively support the healing process. The site is a vacant parking garage in downtown Denver, and a central design challenge was transforming a dark, cold structure into an environment capable of supporting individuals in a highly vulnerable state.

Because visitors may occupy the space for extended periods of time, the program was designed to sustain both physical and emotional well-being. Research has shown that natural elements can produce positive effects within psychedelic therapy. In response, the design integrates ecology, daylight, and natural materials as active components of the therapeutic environment, allowing architecture to function as a supportive and restorative presence throughout the session.

Access to Ecology / Providing Visitors with Private Access to Nature to Aid in Dosing Experience

Threshold to Dosing Area

Threshold to Dosing / Guiding Visitors Through Light and Material

Grad Studio V 2025

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

8-Week Design and Production

Supervisor: Amir Ameri

Partner: Matthew Winans

Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this studio explored how a building’s form can shape movement and define surrounding space. The project aimed to connect with the city, engaging the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in a continuous loop that responds to its urban context.

With the directive to disregard material, the design focused on how form alone, through transparency, opacity, and void, can guide experience and visual connection. The cinema is conceived as a unified form, where no single part dominates, and each space contributes to the whole.

The result is a space that encourages movement, observation, and interaction with the site. Light, shadow, and spatial relationships guide the visitor, creating an environment that feels integrated, deliberate, and responsive to both the city and its users.

Form Development

Graduate Studies

The following work represents a selection of projects from supplementary elective courses taken as part of my program at the University of Colorado. Memories in Built Form explored the role of memorials in architecture, examining the subtle meanings and associations they convey.

Historic Buildings in Context focused on historic districts. This specific infill project investigated how to design a new house while respecting the constraints and character of a historic district.

Professor: Jesse Kuroiwa Etched. Sidney

ARCH 3600 Memory in Built Form

For the final project in this class, we were tasked with designing a memorial of our choosing. I began by asking, “How do we memorialize trauma?” Trauma is experienced differently by each individual. This memorial focuses on honoring the voices of those who have suffered sexual trauma. My goal was to create a space whose primary purpose is simply to be present and to listen. The design, Etched, allows visitors to carve their thoughts, feelings, and emotions permanently into the walls, then release that weight into the stone waterfall pool at the center. This act becomes a physical and symbolic gesture of memorialization, transforming personal burdens into a shared, contemplative space.

Situated within a dense park, Etched features a long circulation path lined with groves of trees, providing visitors with a sense of privacy and a natural buffer.

The Baker House.

ARCH 6233 Historic Buildings in Context

Professor: Abbey Christman

Designing within the Baker Historical District presented unique opportunities to meet the standards set forth by the Historical District Committee. The street is primarily characterized by Queen Anne–style historic buildings. Working within these constraints encouraged a creative approach to developing a design that is visually distinct while remaining respectful of the established context. The project balances originality with careful attention to scale, proportion, and the overall rhythm of the street.

Maintaining the Rhythm

Maintaining the Proportion

HDR Great Plains Studio(s) Professional Work.

Over the past two years at HDR Headquarters in Omaha, I have contributed to schematics, proposals, and early concept design. I have gained experience seeing designs across various sectors such as healthcare, sports, civic, and urban planning.

My work has included visual communication, production of graphics and printed materials, and coordinating with clients and consultants to bring designs from concept to reality. More work available upon request.

Crossing Roads.

Urban Planning Initiative

Supervisor: Thomas J. Trenolone, FAIA, AIA tom.trenolone@hdrinc.com

72nd and Dodge in Omaha serves as a key crossroads, connecting different parts of the city. It is a major intersection for vehicular traffic and, with the addition of the new central library, raises important concerns about the safety and comfort of pedestrians. I helped facilitate a charrette study that brought together urban planners, traffic engineers, local business owners, and government officials to discuss these issues. The findings were compiled into a booklet and distributed throughout Omaha to inform the community and guide future improvements.

Conceptual Section

Union Omaha.

Sports Architecture Pursuit

Supervisor: Thomas J. Trenolone, FAIA, AIA tom.trenolone@hdrinc.com

The Union Omaha project explored the integration of residential spaces with the new Union Soccer Stadium. Conceptual diagrams examined how the stadium and residences could coexist, creating a dynamic relationship between sport and daily life. Phase 1 focuses on the stadium itself, with residences introduced over time to provide an immersive viewing experience, allowing residents to feel intimately connected to the energy of the game. This approach transforms housing into an experiential layer of the stadium, blending architecture, community, and sport.

Built Installation Design

Supervisor: Bill DeRoin william.deroin@hdrinc.com

One of my first projects at HDR involved collaborating with the Joslyn Art Museum on an installation focused on Native American weaving. We worked closely with the museum team to develop a concept for a weaving loom installation. The final design incorporated curved, playful edges, reflecting the team’s vision, while ensuring the solution was practical and buildable in coordination with the general contractor and steel fabricator. The image to the right shows the final installation as it currently exists in the children’s space.