Shayla Jorgenson 2026 Portfolio

SHAYLA JORGENSON

ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN PORTFOLIO

THE OXBOW

Research Center

Fall 2024 I 12 Weeks

Lincoln, Nebraska

Collaboration I T. Zelenka + R. Gunter

Tian Li, P.h.D

CULTIVATE

Adaptive Reuse Spring 2025 I 12 Weeks

Omaha, Nebraska

Collaboration I T. Nguyen + G. Teachworth

J. Reding + G. Trerotola

THE COLLECTIVE

Nature Integration in the Urban Interior Fall 2022 I 10 Weeks

Austin, Texas Kendra Ordia

EXPOSED

Innovative Community Spring Wayne, Steven

Community Center Spring 2023 I 12 Weeks

2024 I 8 Weeks

Rome, Italy

Collaboration I A. Miller

B. Bruscoli + S. Schlimgen

UNDERGRADUATE WORK: The Collective Radicata Una Serra Naturale

GRADUATE WORK: The Oxbow Exposed Cultivate

SHAYLA JORGENSON

402.431.0990

shaylajorgenson13@gmail.com

EXPERIENCE

DLR Group I Design Intern Denver, CO I Summer 2025

• Collaborate with project team to contribute to design development and with producing construction documentation

• Assist in the development of architectural drawings and renderings

CoCreate Design Studio and Altus Architectural Studios I Design Intern Omaha, NE I Summer 2024 - 2025

• Collaborate with project team to contribute to design development and with producing construction documentation

• Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment selection

• Assist in the development of architectural drawings and renderings

• Participate in site visits to gather relevant project information

HDR I Interior Design Intern Omaha, NE I 2022-2023

• Collaborate with project teams to contribute to design development and with producing construction documentation

• Material and finish research

• Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment selection

• Participate in site visits to gather relevant project information

PORTFOLIO

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayla-jorgenson/ Issuu

https://issuu.com/shaylajorgenson

• Adobe Suite

• AutoCAD

• Bluebeam

• Microsoft Office SKILLS

• Physical Models

• Photography

• Revit

• Rhino

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA - LINCOLN Lincoln, NE I 2018 - 2023

Cum Laude I GPA: 3.8

Bachelor of Science in Design I Interior Design Minor in Education

Study Abroad: Academic Initiatives Abroad in Rome, Italy I Spring 2023

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA - LINCOLN Lincoln, NE I 2024 - 2026

Master of Architecture

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

• Regents Scholar I 2018-2023

• Dean’s List I 2023

• Norman Ochsner Scholarship I 2024

• W.Cecil Steward Arch. Fellowship I 2025

• HDR G.Spring Memorial Scholarship I 2026

INVOLVEMENT

ACADEMIC ASSISTANT - UNL

Graduate Learning Assistant I Fall 2023 - 2025

Graduate Teaching Assistant I Spring 2025 - 2026

• Provide students with learning opportunities

• Communicate effectively with students

• Assist supervisor with grading

• Assignment preparation and review

THE GALLERY

Co-Founder I 2023

Vice President I 2024-2026

• Create and publish a biannual student project book, celebrating college acheivements

• Shaping the identity of the organization, ensuring it is both impactful and cohesive.

AIAS

UNL Chapter I 2024 - 2026

ASID/IIDA

UNL Chapter I 2022 - 2026

THE OXBOW

RESEARCH CENTER

RESEARCH CENTER

FALL 2024 I 12 WEEKS

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

COLLABORATION

T. ZELENKA + R. GUNTER

TIAN LI, PH.D

The Oxbow Research Center is a 110,000 square foot public research and education facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. As the culmination of a campus master plan, the center sits along Salt Creek, drawing inspiration from its geological and historical significance, once a natural meat preservative in the capital of the beef state. Its location near ongoing food studies at Nebraska’s Innovation Campus makes it an ideal site for a hydraulic research lab, reinforcing the link between land, water, and science. The building directly connects researchers to the landscape while welcoming the public into a flexible learning environment that supports exhibitions, workshops, and informal gathering. Within city limits, the center acts as a civic hub for continued education, reflection, and environmental awareness. Architecturally, the design embraces the fluid forms of oxbows through seamless spatial transitions, sustainable materials, and open circulation. Expansive glazing connects interior activity to the surrounding prairie, while adaptable interiors support both formal research and public engagement. The Oxbow Research Center unites academic exploration with community access, fostering a deeper understanding of Nebraska’s ecosystems and promoting long-term environmental stewardship.

EIDETIC IMAGE

CONCEPTS I MASTER PLAN

This master site plan illustrates how an economy can thrive when it is thoughtfully activated. By creating purposeful destinations, the design draws people into previously underutilized spaces and fosters a welcoming sense of community. The plan invites individuals of all backgrounds and industries to come together to engage with nature, through recreational use of the paths or through the study of hydrology, encouraging both social connection and environmental awareness.

CROSS SECTION OF SALT MARSH

NET ZERO FACTORS

ENERGY I MATERIAL + FORM

The Oxbow Research Center fosters education, research, and community engagement while strengthening connections to the earth. The ground floor includes a café, study spaces, laboratories, and lecture halls, with classrooms and a library above. Shaped by site conditions, the building responds to sun and wind patterns to maximize natural energy use. Sustainable strategie, such as passive solar fins, a rooftop biosolar system, a wind turbine façade, a green roof, and solar control glass, support a net-zero energy goal and occupant comfort, while on-site bioswales contribute to sustainable water management.

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

CULTIVATE

ADAPTIVE REUSE

SPRING 2025 I 12 WEEKS

OMAHA, NEBRASKA

COLLABORATION

G.TEACHWORTH + T.NGUYEN

JEREMY REDING + GUY TREROTOLA

Cultivate is is a cultural and community-centered architectural space in Omaha, Nebraska, conceived as an adaptive reuse of the existing Mutual of Omaha building. Designed to celebrate and preserve global traditions in a world often divided by conflict, the project transforms the existing structure into a living collage, drawing inspiration from the layering of images, materials, and meanings found across diverse cultures. Situated as a place of convergence, the building weaves together global identities into a collective experience that fosters understanding and exchange. The project welcomes the public into flexible spaces that support gathering, performance, education, and informal interaction, allowing culture to be lived rather than displayed. Within its broader context, the building functions as a civic anchor, promoting cultural continuity and dialogue across generations. Architecturally, the design embraces layered spatial organization, textured materials, and adaptive forms that reflect the richness of cultural overlap. Transparent thresholds and interconnected interiors encourage movement, visibility, and participation. More than a singular structure, the project acts as an evolving tapestry of global identity, demonstrating architecture’s capacity to cultivate, celebrate, and sustain culture into the future.

CONFLICT I CULTURE

Cultivate draws inspiration from the concept of Conflict Kitchen in Pittsburgh, PA, inviting people to share the beauty of their culture, especially in times of conflict. Although there are many differences in the world, that separation can also help us coexist peacefully. The design translates this concept into a physical space where gathering, storytelling, and communal interaction are central, encouraging meaningful dialogue through architecture as much as through programming.

CONCEPTS I INTERIOR

These conceptual sketches explore how the building’s volumes, circulation, and rooftop terraces can be reinterpreted to support cultural gathering, storytelling, and community interaction. Pathways and visual connections, shown with directional flows, guide visitors through layered experiences while integrating green spaces that promote reflection and social engagement. The floor plan translates these ideas into a cohesive layout, balancing interior flexibility with exterior public gathering areas. Together, these strategies reinforce the project’s mission: to transform an existing structure into a dynamic cultural hub where architecture actively cultivates, celebrates, and sustains global traditions.

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

GATHER

SAVOR

DIGEST

DESIGN I APPLICATION

The Cultivate space is designed to welcome people to gather, savor, and digest. Visitors are encouraged to connect with one another while participating in the harvest, cultivating both relationships and fresh produce. They can savor the experience by exploring the preparation of the food and engaging with the products for sale. Finally, the community is invited to digest these experiences by enjoying the harvest and learning about the origins of the ingredients and the farming practices that produced them.

THE COLLECTIVE

URBAN INTERIOR

NATURE INTEGRATION IN THE URBAN INTERIOR

FALL 2022 I 10 WEEKS

AUSTIN, TEXAS

KENDRA ORDIA

The Collective aims to foster experiences within the urban interior that increase awareness, knowledge, and create meaningful connections to nature for underrepresented youth and young adults, with a focus on food security and healthy eating. This biophilic design offers a space where students can grow food, develop recipes, and share their cultural heritage with the Houston community. Students also have the opportunity to sell their creations to both the professional community connected to the space and the public through an indoor-outdoor café.

CAFE SECTION PERSPECTIVE

INTERIOR I MATERIALS

The interior of The Collective is a warm space that plays off of its surrounding nature. With many natural materials and opportunities to interact with nature through the interior and exterior. The Collective also features wallpaper from local artists with inspirational art of Houston itself. With the site being directly across from a school it gives students the chance to share, learn, and connect with their community.

EXPOSED

INNOVATIVE MULTI-USE COMMUNITY CENTER

FALL 2024 I 8 WEEKS

WAYNE, NEBRASKA

STEVEN HARDY

Exposed is a mixed-use space designed to foster community engagement in Wayne, Nebraska, offering a place for people to connect, relax in their own space, and showcase artistic creations. It invites workers, students, and seniors to participate through entrepreneurship, artisan features, and educational classes. The space is not only a hub for creativity but also a platform for personal and professional growth. Exposed inspires a diverse range of users to create and collaborate like never before, providing a vibrant new environment that reflects the historic fairgrounds on which it stands. By merging the past and present, it cultivates a sense of belonging and shared purpose for all members of the community.

BLOCKING DIAGRAM

collaboration and innovation, it provides a supportive environment for the community to connect and thrive.

KEY CONCEPTS

RADICATA UNA SERRA NATURALE

COMMUNITY CENTER

SPRING 2023 I 12 WEEKS

ROME, ITALY

COLLABORATION I ABBY MILLER

BEATRICE BRUSCOLI AND SCOTT SCHILMGEN

The Radicata Una Serra Naturale has the main intention of revitalizing to create a community space where people have the opportunity to gather every day rather than once a week. This project will add color, light, and life to the area creating a welcoming and vibrant space. It will also continue to introduce the topic of an aquaponics system to Rome but in a more public and commercial way. This includes a food waste partnership with a local shelter to give back to the community that has made this possible. In order to celebrate the future it is important to recognize the past so the gallery space will represent the flora and fauna around the river to bring back its history. Functionally this area will bring both a night and day life with many play aspects through water for families celebrated with color, light, and culture.

Radicata Una Serra Naturale is a site that incorporates multiple buildings, offering an opportunity for a more unified design. Below is an overall blocking plan that illustrates how the spaces can function together, accompanied by a perspective rendering of the envisioned layout. Ultimately, this space provides the community with a place to gather and connect with the natural environment.

RADICATA RESTAURANT

2. POLYCARBONATE

3. GRAVEL

8. RECYCLED GLASS