Bobby Zhao Portfolio 2025

"An

architect is not just a builder of structures, but a sculptor of dreams — shaping the future with vision, courage, and the power to turn that imagination into reality."

Sea Level Rise In Portland

This historic waterfront community on the Gulf of Maine’s Casco Bay is experiencing rising sea levels at three to four times the global average, a direct result of global warming driven by increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This rapid rise is causing record high tides, frequent flooding, and the destruction of historic structures and wharves, highlighting the urgent need for climate resilience in vulnerable coastal areas.

Portland January 2024 Storm

On January 10, 2024, seasonal high tides and heavy rainfall hammered Maine’s coastline, causing record flooding and leaving coastal communities with extensive flood damage and repair needs. Record-breaking water levels were driven by the storm coinciding with the new moon, which amplifies tides.

December 18th January 10th January 13th

01

Southern Maine Pier For Leisure

Encourages water-based activities, supports marine life, and fosters a strong community bond with the waterfront.

02

Fisherman’s Point Pier

This landmark honors the community’s history and resilience, symbolizing its enduring connection to the sea.

03

Beach Accessibility Pathway

Designed to adapt to flooding, it will also serve as a connection for water activities, ensuring accessibility, resilience, and community engagement.

04

Gabion Wall Platform

Over time, the structure will transform into a seabed, fostering marine life and blending functionality with ecological restoration.

Willard Heights: Affordable Housing Proposal

As sea levels rise and displace communities, this affordable housing proposal aims to replace homes lost to flooding while restoring space to areas now underwater. It balances resilience with equity, ensuring housing security and giving back to the built environment.

Living With The Tides

The vision of this project is to create a vibrant, resilient community that works in harmony with the natural resources of Willard Beach. By incorporating elements like breakwaters, community piers, elevated walkways, restored sand dunes, and affordable housing, the design addresses the challenges of sea level rise.

INTERGRATED DESIGN: THE CITY OF ARTS

Cornerstone Muse Museum

Graduate Design Studio

Instructor: Annette LeCuyer

Partners: James Metzger

Spring 2024

The proposed museum design, located at the intersection of Allen Street and Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, represents a bold and innovative addition to the cityscape. It seeks to enrich the cultural landscape while revitalizing the urban fabric. At the heart of the design is the striking architectural gesture of lifting the building’s corners, a deliberate move that serves multiple purposes.

One of the key objectives is to create inviting and functional spaces for the community. By elevating the corners, the design opens up dynamic, sheltered areas at street level, offering pedestrians visually engaging spaces to gather and interact. The front of the museum is thoughtfully set back, forming an exterior atrium that acts as a transitional zone between the street and the interior galleries. This atrium not only enhances the building’s aesthetic appeal but also functions as a versatile public space, capable of hosting events, exhibitions, and community activities. The result is a design that integrates its surroundings while fostering connection and engagement.

Form Finding

Engages the street front, returning space to the community while emphasizing the building’s verticality through a tall void. This feature allows for the creation of an on-street sculpture garden, showcasing a variety of sculptures and artworks.

Circulation

The elevators and service cores are stacked to maximize efficiency and provide structural support, while also doubling as additional art spaces along the walls. The public tiered stairs lead visitors directly to the first gallery, creating an inviting entrance. From there, visitors are encouraged to explore and wander through the museum, discovering the wandering stairs that guide them upward to the next levels.

Light Chimneys

Located at each corner of the museum, the column of lights shines inward, filling the galleries with warm, natural daylight.

CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE DYING

The Death of Street Arts: The Urban Canvas

Graduate Design Studio

Instructor: Adam Thibodeaux Fall 2023

The Jesse Kregal Pathway is home to a diverse array of street art, which served as a key inspiration for the Black Rock Urban Canvas Center. The surrounding neighborhood, adjacent to the site, also features numerous street art pieces, particularly along a lively alleyway where people gather to dine. However, the authenticity of these commercial street art installations is somewhat diminished, as they are often created by commissioned artists, straying from the raw, unfiltered essence of traditional street art culture.

The goal of the Black Rock Urban Canvas Center is to create a space where stories are told and narratives are etched into its very fabric. It aims to serve as both a canvas for personal self-expression and a platform for thought-provoking, sensitive works that spark meaningful conversations and reflections along the way. This center aspires to become a beacon of artistic innovation, where every stroke, color, and design celebrates the power of self-expression and inspires dialogue. Through its vibrant tapestry, it seeks to leave a lasting impression on all who engage with it.

Black Rock has been a central hub for Buffalo’s music and entertainment scene, even before the revitalization of Chandler Street. Now , with its redevelopment, Chandler Street has blossomed into a lively destination, featuring vibrant murals, craft breweries, and a diverse food scene, embracing the neighborhood with its rich energy and creativity.

An exploration into the "life cycle" of a material, tracing its journey from creation to its eventual end. By examining how materials can be transformed, readapted, or given new life, it ensures a way in which they can continue to thrive, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient built environment.

An immersive maze, inviting visitors to explore and lose themselves in its paths. Walls rise around every corner, creating a sense of mystery and discovery. As one wander, the layout encourages curiosity and interaction, with no set path or destination.

Flagship Store and Headquarters in London

Architects: Squire and Partners

Professor: Annette Lecuyer | Spring 2024

Façade Specification Notes

01. 30–50 mm acrylic panel

02. 42/42 mm aluminium section cover plate A.Brushed, shrouding LED fitting

03. 40/70 mm bright mild steel structural cable tray

04. 30/80 mm steel RHS post, powder-coated

05. 30/80 mm steel flat, powder-coated

06. 30/170 mm steel flat cantilever beam

07. Maintenance deck: 40 mm steel grating, powder-coated

A. Aluminium coping fixed back to concrete upstand

B. Lateral close of facade cavity: toughened glass panel

08. Door: 2≈ 8 mm toughened glass bonded to bright mild steel frame

09. Retail facade: 2≈ 11 mm laminated safety glass

10. 200/400/5 mm steel beam

11. SSG curtain wall system

12. 2≈ 6 mm laminated safety glass + 16 mm cavity +

13. 6 mm toughened glass

Façade Specification Notes

01. Roof

Raised roof cladding: 75 mm (3 inch) thick open jointed precast concrete pavers on pedestals and 200 mm (8 inch) void for drainage. 200 mm (8 inch) rigid insulation. Waterproof membrane.

Parapet: Precast concrete upstand, aluminum overhanging coping fixed back to concrete upstand, and frameless glass balustrade.

02. Typical Floor

Raised floor: 50 mm (2 inch) thick precast concrete panels on pedestals,150 mm (6 inch) void for services distribution, 250 mm (10 inch) site cast reinforced concrete slab, 200 x 400 x 5 mm (8 x 16 x 1/4 inch) rectangular hollow section steel beam.

03. Exterior Envelope (Inner Layer)

Structural Silicone Double Glazed Curtain Wall System:

2 layers x 6mm (1/4 inch) thick laminated safety glass +6 mm (1/4 inch) cavity + 6mm (1/4 inch)

toughened glass with clear sealant joints: and 200 x 800 mm (8 x 3-1/4 inch) rectangulat hollow section vertical posts at doors. Metal clad insulated spandrel panels to cover slabs.

04. Exterior Envelope (Outer Layer)

4a Structure:

30 x 170 mm (1-1/4 x 6-3/4 inch) steel flat cantilever beam at roof, 30 x 80 mm (1-1/4 x 3-1/4 inch) steel flat beam at typical floors, powder coated, 30 x 80 mm (1-1/4 x 3-1/4 inch) rectangular hollow section post, powder coated, 7 mm (1/4 inch) diameter stainless steel lateral loading rods, 4 per floor, mechanically restrained back to post.

Steel pin to loading rods, milled.

4b Maintenance Catwalk:

40 mm (1-1/2 inch) steel grating, powder coated, 40 x 70 mm (1-1/2 x 2-3/4 inch) bright mild steel structural cable tray.

4c Cladding:

30-50mm (1-1/4 to 2 inch) thick acrylic panel secured with T-shaped recessed steel brackets, 42 x 42 mm (1-3/4 x 1-3/4 inch) brushed aluminum cover plate/ shroud to individually controllable and programmable LED fittings.

Chimney Specification Notes

01. Foundation for House Wall

30-inch wide x 12-inch deep site cast concrete strip footing with 3- #5 rebar long.

02. Foundation at Fireplace

12-inch deep site cast concrete pad footing to extend 6 inches beyond the outer face of masonry, with 10- #5 rebar north/south bottom and 8- #5 rebar east/west bottom.

03. Foundation at Retaining Wall

60-inch wide x 12-inch deep site cast concrete strip footing with 4-#5 rebar long top and bottom, and #4 at 12 inches OC short.

04. External House Wall Below Grade

8 x 16 x 16 single wythe CMU with #6 vertical rebar grouted solid at 24 inches OC outer face and 48 inches OC inner face, and horizontal joint reinforcement at 8 inches OC.

05. External House Wall Above Grade

8 x 16 x 8 CMU inner wythe with 3-#5 vertical rebar grouted solid at corners, each side of large openings, and 48 inches OC; horizontal joint reinforcement at 16 inches OC.

06. Retaining wall

8 x 16 x 2 CMU single wythe with #5 vertical rebar at 24 inches OC grouted solid; horizontal joint reinforcement at 8 inches OC.

07. Fireplace at Lower Ground and Upper Ground Levels

8 X 16 x 8 CMU single wythe with 1-#5 vertical rebar grouted solid at corners and midpoints of walls; horizontal joint reinforcement at 16 inches OC.

8-inch site cast concrete L-shaped hearth with #4 rebar at 16 inches OC on top and bottom in the slab, and #4 rebar at 16 inches OC on both faces of the wall.

8-inch thick site cast concrete cap at living room level.

08. Fireplace Chimney

8 x 16 x 4 CMU single wythe with vertical rebar grouted solid at corners and horizontal joint reinforcement.

8 inch thick site cast concrete cap.

09. Living Room Floor

2 x 10 solid web wood joists/TJIs at 16 inches OC with batt insulation between.

2 x 6 tongue and groove wood deck

10. Loft Floor

W12 x 14 steel beam

3 x 10 wood joists at 16 inches OC

2 x 6 tongue and groove wood deck

11. Roof

Flitch beam: 4-2 x 10 wood joists and 3/8 inch steel plate, stagger bolted.

2 x 10 LVL (laminated veneer lumber) joists at 16 inches OC.

Plywood sheathing

Underlayment/building paper

Standing seam metal roof

12. Ceiling

Batt insulation between LVL joists

Vapor barrier

Painted plywood ceiling

13. Window

Site-cast concrete sill

16-inch high site cast concrete lintel

window

Study