Pia Fuentes' VT Interior Design 2026 Portfolio

Virginia Tech Interior Design Portfolio

Expected Graduaiton May 2026

PROFILE

Hello! I’m a fourth-year Interior Design student at Virginia Tech with a strong passion for creating thoughtful, high-quality spaces that support both individuals and the broader community. I enjoy merging innovative design concepts with practical solutions, ensuring each space fosters growth, functionality, and a positive experience. I’m eager to continue deepening my understanding of design at Virginia Tech and to apply my skills in a professional setting after graduation.

Outside of studio, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, listening to music, cooking, and playing tennis.

Gensler Internship | Community Platform + Christopher St. PATH Station | NYC | 7,000 SQ FT

The Hudson Connect reimagines the Christopher Street PATH Station in New York City’s West Village through a comprehensive rebrand and adaptive reuse. The project transforms the structure above the station into a community center, creating a modern civic gateway that emphasizes connectivity and identity through open, shared spaces. By extending the station’s role as a transportation link into a public experience above, the design celebrates the neighborhood’s rich cultural history while connecting not only New Jersey and New York, but the cultures that shape both.

Summer 2025 - Group - AutoCAD - Revit - EnscapeRhino - Photoshop

Responsibilities: Site map, producing floor plans, material board, creating pedestrianized street, renderings of art gallery and Christophers Rooftop

Main Seating Area

A. ARCILLA RED SUEDE

B. MOSS GREEN STONE

C. SCULPTURED WALL TILE

D. EARL COLLECTION MOSAIC

E. PERFORATED 1/8” DIA POWDER BLACK SAND

F. EMERSON WOOD COLORBODY PORCELAIN

G. BIRCH WHITE TRAVERTINE STONE TILE

H. GUBI WALL TILE SAND PRINT

I. COPPER OPALINE

J. CALEDONIAN

K. RAISE GESSO

L. DECORATED METAL SHEET PATINA

M. CHARCOAL SOAPSTONE SUEDE

N. PRONE AIRSPACE

PATH Platform Plan

Steelacse Competition | Law Firm | LA |

15,200 SQ FT

NEXT draws its concept from Los Angeles’s legendary music and pop culture scene, from the electric energy of the Sunset Strip to the creative pulse of Hollywood’s recording studios. This workplace is envisioned as a stage for innovation where creativity, rhythm, and cultural energy take center stage. Every element of the design celebrates the soul of LA’s pop culture, transforming a traditional office into an immersive environment harmonizes functionality with artistic expression

Inspired by recording studios and concert venues, the space invites movement and collaboration while offering zones for focus and reflection. Dynamic wayfinding elements and rhythmic spatial layouts echo the flow of sound and performance, guiding users through a seamless experience of work and play. Through thoughtful lighting, curated lounges, and performance-inspired details, NEXT becomes morethan a workplace, but an inspiring hub that celebratescreativity, connection, and the spirit of performance.

Fall 2025 - Individual- Revit - Enscape - Photoshop innovation, that expression. ,

This material board reflects the intersection of Los Angeles’ pop culture, music industry, and professional legal environment. Dark polished materials establish authority and sophistication, while gold and brass accents reference the glamour of Hollywood and the music world. Electric blues, oranges, and muted reds introduce energy and creativity, balanced by warm whites and creams to maintain a bright, welcoming atmosphere. All resulting in a professional yet dynamic space rooted in LA’s creative identity.

Canopy Library

Honorable Mention ASID/IIDA Interior Design Excellence Awards

Public Academic Library | Portland, Oregon | 16,000 sq ft

Inspired by Portland’s lush forest parks and deep-rooted connection to nature, the Canopy Library is designed as a seamless extension of the city’s organic landscapes as it celebrates the connection between nature and the built environment. This library is designed as a sanctuary where design and environment merge to foster learning, reflection, and community.

Circulation through the library mimics the experience of walking through woodland trails subtle angles and shifts in perspective guide visitors gently from one area to the next. Spaces open �gradually, offering moments of stillness and discove ry. Views of the outdoors surround the exterior of the building, pulling in natural light and reinforcing a constant connection to nature. The Canopy is a retreat, a learning ecosystem, and a living testament to Portland’s identity as a city that thrives in harmony with its forests.

Spring 2025 - Individual- Revit - EnscapePhotoshop

Study Room Confirgurations:

A Jamie Beckwith Collection- Palette

C Nod to Nature LVT- AHF Contract

E Solana- Justin David Textiles

G Aggregato Terrazzo Forte

D Bloomsburg Carpet- Crossover Light Grey

F Octopus Products- Natural Oak Trapezoid

H Miliken- Share

The material palette for the Canopy Library was chosen to physically and emotionally root the building in Portland’s forest identity. Warm woods reflect the surrounding tree canopy, while layered biophilic elements, natural cork, and wool introduce softness and acoustical comfort reinforcing the library as a sanctuary for reflection and learning. Matte finishes and muted, earth-toned hues were intentionally selected to mimic the quiet depth of woodland environments, allowing daylight to filter gently through the space like a forest canopy. Together, these materials create an immersive experience where visitors feel sheltered yet connected.

Art Gallery | Rust Belt City, Upstate New York | 5,000 sq ft

The gallery embodies a narrative of transformation, echoing the Rust Belt’s shift from industrial decline to creative revival. Designed as a spatial and experiential gradient, it guides visitors through a carefully sequenced journey where shifts in scale, intimacy, acoustics, and light unfold gradually. Movement progresses from expansive, luminous spaces to compressed, contemplative rooms, reflecting the spectrum of artistic expression. This gradient concept not only accommodates a wide range of mediums such as photography, painting, sculpture, and multimedia, but also offers visitors a dynamic, immersive, and multi-sensory experience.

Materiality reinforces this narrative of renewal. Raw metal, reclaimed brick, and exposed structural elements reference the site’s industrial past, while refined finishes, translucent partitions, and carefully modulated lighting introduce a sense of softness and forward momentum. Layers of texture and light create moments of pause and discovery, encouraging visitors to slow down and engage deeply with the work.

angles allow for both horizontal and vertical displays, as well as a circulation path

Displays 2D work with light able to seep through the glass

Ample wall space for art sculptures

Enclosure allows for a more holistic viewing of the

A. Queen Reclaimed Leather 100% PVC (Phthalate Free)

B. Tarkett Event Stone 100% Recyclable, Human Health Impact: Halogenated Flame Retardants Free, Health Product Declaration (HPD), Low Emitting/Low VOC, WELL Compliant Sustainability Action Plan: ESG/CSR

C. J+J Flooring Experiment Modular Climate Impact: Recycled Content, Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), ISO 14001, LEED Compliant, PVC free, Human Health Impact: CRI Green Label PLus Indoor Air Quality, Declare Label- Red List Free, HPD, Low Emitting VOC

D. Habana Dark Classico Porcelanosa LEED Compliant Human Health Impact: CARB Compliant, Low Emitting/Low VOC

E. Benjamin Moore Simply White: OC-117

F. Saint Remy Deco Recycled Porcelain Tile Human Health Impact: Health Product Declaration (HPD), End-of-Life Options: Designed for Disassembly, Reuse, and Recycling

G. Tile Bar Dream Stone Statuario Venato LEED Compliant, Human Health Impact: CARB Compliant, Low Emitting/Low VOC

H. Medium Slats Wined Polystyrene 94.6% Recycled High Density Polystyrene

Sketches