TheresaMathews_Portfolio2026

PORTFOLIO

THERESA MATHEWS

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

Marymount University

THERESA MATHEWS

EDUCATION

ANTICIPATED GRADUATION JUNE 2026

B.A Interior Architecture and Design

Minor - Business Administration

GPA: 3.98

EXPERIENCE

ETD Erin Tripodi Design

Design Intern, Arlington VA | October 2025-Present

- Assisted across design phases including material selection, space planning, drawings, and project schedules, and client proposals to communicate design concepts effectively.

SOCIETIES AND AWARDS

Kravet | 2023 Marymount Design of Distinction award

National Society of Leadership and Success

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

Phi eta Sigma Honor Society

Dean's List 2022-2024

ACTIVITIES / INVOLVEMENT

- IIDA President Marymount University IIDA MAC Campus Center, 20242025

Marymount’s interior design organization - Provides networking opportunities for students within the industry

- ASID & IIDA Student Member

- Women’s Soccer | Marymount University, Division III · Fall 2024 – Fall 2025

+703-789-1440

tmmathews21@gmail.com

Annandale VA, 22003

www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-mathews

Interior Design has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. Growing up in a busy home with five siblings, I quickly learned the value of creating my own little world. I’d often draw and re-draw the floorplan of my shared bedroom, re-imagining how to make the space feel right amongst the everyday commotion. I would regularly present my mom with “improved” layouts for the rest of the house, many of which involved removing walls, or purchasing furniture we could not afford (ideas I know she was sure to have loved), all with the goal of my family living better together.

That creative thinking became my way of bringing order and possibility into a lively but chaotic household, and it sparked a natural intuition for design and problem-solving with purpose.

As I got older and discovered interior design as a career path, I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do. Today, those same ideas guide me in designing with people and purpose in mind.

The questions I asked as a child: how a space feels, how it supports daily life, and how people share it, are the same questions I bring to every project. I believe spaces must function well, but they also need meaning to be truly exceptional. Function, to me, is shaped by real use - how a space supports routines, privacy, and shared moments. I aim to design environments where purpose and experience reinforce one another, creating spaces that feel natural, clear, and human-centered.

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NEXT AD ADJENCY OFFICE SPACE

UNITY CIRCLE

INTERGENERATIONAL CARE

HOXTON GEMENS

HOTEL

01NEXT OFFICE Ad

Agency

PROJECT BRIEF

NEXT Ad Agency is an independent , global creative advertising agency recognized for its innovative approach at the intersection of advertising, digital, and brand strategy. By focusing on a human-centered, forward-thinking environment, NEXT aims to inspire creativity, collaboration, and build meaningful connections with clients.

Headquartered in New York, NEXT is expanding its presence with a new office in Chicago, Illinois. This space will accommodate 43 employees, as well as visitors, and feature the flexibility to host events and large client meetings. The design must support seamless virtual integration for remote team members, enabling them to participate in meetings throughout the day.

Location: 811 West Fulton Market Chicago, IL 6060

Year built: 2018

Stories being occupied: LVL 6-LVL 7

This color palette is inspired by the site’s connection to Lake Michigan and the skies above it. blue from the lake and river, pink and orange from the sunsets that light up the city.

CONCEPT

This office is inspired by the historic and functional layout of Chicago’s urban grid, this office design incorporates a rectilinear layout as an organizing framework that structures and aligns content within the space. It aims to reflect the city’s easy-to-navigate streets and vibrant community created by the grid. In doing so, the design promotes mental clarity, productivity, and easy opportunity for social collaboration through its orderly design.

WHATS NEEDED NOW

Belonging: Community and Trust

- Double-height ceilings to create openness and visibility.

- Team meeting spaces near each zone to encourage interaction.

Control: Choice Over Work

-Flexible private and public workspaces to support different work styles.

Productivity: Collaboration and Focus

- Team meeting rooms for group work.

- Lounge spaces with modular screens for informal collaboration and brainstorming.

- Formal meeting rooms with professional setups.

- Modular walls to open up or define spaces as needed.

Comfort: Wellbeing and Rejuvenation

- Wellness rooms and node spaces for rest and focus.

- Plants to improve air quality and create a calming environment.

Safety: Physical and Psychological Security

- Natural elements (light, plants) to reduce mental fatigue.

- Private spaces with inviting furniture and colors to recharge.

- Ergonomic, modular, and sustainable furniture for comfort, productivity, and health.

LEVEL 6

Reception Area and Client

Waiting Space

Client Presentation

Right off the right side of f the reception. It accommodates in-person meetings and inclusive hybrid experiences, strengthening firm culture and professional standards.

Large custom acoustic ceiling panels help absorb sound and also serve as a visually striking design feature

Supports two departments requiring close adjacency, and two private offices designed to maintain effective sightlines to employees. Design ensures that each space benefits from access to natural light.

Belonging: Community and Trust

The double-height space visually and physically connects both levels and their work teams, while bringing more natural light deep into the office.

Control: Choice Over Work

These environments create comfortable zones for connection and spontaneous collaboration, as well as intentional pauses away from the workstation that enhance mental clarity and overall performance.

TEAM MEETING / PHONE ROOM / NODE

Comfort: Wellbeing and Rejuvenation

Productivity: Collaboration and Focus

Control: Choice Over Work

The Node Space serves as a collaborative and rest area, offering team meeting zones, phone rooms, private workspaces, and opportunities to take a break from the desk. Strategically located at a crossroads within the office grid, it functions as both a place for connection and informal interaction, supporting collaboration and movement throughout the workspace.

The parti directly aligns with the building’s geometric form, maintaining coherence between concept and form. maintains coherence between concept and form

Work Cafe

A communal and social space where employees can enjoy a meal together or alone

Acoustics, Double Height Team Meeting

Laminated Tempered Glass Panel

Steelcase Acoustical Wall Panels and Ceiling

Steelcase Acoustical Wall Paneled white board

NEXT / WORKPLACE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

UNITY CIRCLE

Intergenerational Community and Health Care Center

PROJECT BRIEF

The 10th & Page neighborhood in Charlottesville, Virginia, is a historically significant African American community that has experienced significant socioeconomic changes, including gentrification, displacement, and health disparities. These challenges have created a need for equitable spaces that promote health, cultural preservation, and intergenerational connection. The goal for this project was therefore to create a geriatric care and community center.

CONCEPT

As a child, the cul-de-sac was the place where all the neighborhood kids met without planning, where games started, and friendships formed. From that shared space, we’d wander back to each other’s houses sometimes through the front door, sometimes slipping quietly in through a backyard gate. There was always a sense of childlike trust, comfort, and easy belonging even if you did not know them well.

This project is built on that memory.

The central gathering space resembles the cul-de-sac It is open and the center is life. Around it are the “homes”: activity rooms and program spaces where people of all ages can step out, join others, and then retreat back into whatever feels comfortable or familiar.

The healthcare center also follows this idea in its circulation pattern utilizing an on-stage-off stage format, creating trust by giving patients a calm, clear path while the busy staff movement stays quietly out of sight.

In the end, the design isn’t just inspired by a cul-de-sac. it’s inspired by the feeling of growing up in one: the ease of gathering, the comfort of slipping in without

CONCEPT SKETCHES

The gallery honors the 10th & Page community by showcasing its history, key milestones, and resident achievements, while celebrating the building’s own legacy. It serves as a visual archive that fosters pride, belonging, and continuity.

UNITY CIRCLE HEALTHCARE RECEPTION

Acoustical Ceiling that speaks to the flooring

Kids corner comfortable space for children to play or read while families are in the clinic. With toys, books, and soft seating,

The flooring acts as wayfinding, leading visitors from reception through the corridor to each exam room where the doors are numbered and highlighted for patients to easily remember and find

ON-STAGE/OFF-STAGE

The on-stage/off-stage concept separates patient-facing areas such as reception, waiting, and exam rooms from staff and support spaces. This creates a calm, organized, and welcoming environment for visitors, while keeping operational functions out of sight, improving staff workflow, efficiency, and overall clinic functionality.

The clinic’s layout follows a “cul-de-sac” concept, with patient-facing “on-stage” areas - reception, waiting, and exam rooms forming the accessible, welcoming loop, while “off-stage” support spaces, such as staff work areas and storage, are tucked away at the ends or behind the loop

EXAM ROOM - FGI GUIDLINES

INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY THEATER

This space is available for town hall meetings, plays, dance, workshops, and other gatherings. Its adaptable layout and facilities support a wide range of activities.

KIDS CORNER

Modular doors that can close or be folded completely into the wall for large community events

Stage has back ramp access that leads to backstage, providing easy and accessible performance entry.

INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVITY SPACE

The radial ceiling, with a central skylight, represents sunbeams shining down, while the life below - people and greenery reflects growth and vitality

Structural elements into opportunities for intimate seating, encouraging quiet reading, exploration, and a sense of retreat within the larger, active environment. Reading Spot

This central activity space serves as the heart of the facility, featuring a learning lab, community kitchen, and a versatile studio for exercise, dance, and other programs.

HOXTON GEMENS

Hotel

HO TON GEMENS

PROJECT BRIEF

The National Gateway office building is largely underused and can be revitalized through adaptive reuse. Feedback from local residents and stakeholders indicates a desire for more engaging and interactive spaces within the building and its surrounding. This project proposes transforming the existing structure into a hotel inspired by the Hoxton brand, reinterpreted to suit its context. The goal is to introduce a lively destination that activates the site and contributes energy, character, and community connection to the neighborhood.

ADAPTIVE REUSE

leasing information, approximately 247,595 square feet of office space is currently available across multiple floors. This availability indicates that while the building is not entirely vacant, there is substantial unoccupied space, making it a good candidate for adaptive reuse projects.

SOLAR PANELS

Generates clean, renewable energy, reducing fossil and carbon emissions

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING ADDITIONS

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING ADDITIONS

energy, fossil fuel use emissions

Rain Water Collection (Non-Potable Use)

Rain Water Collection (Non-Potable Use)

HEALTHY MATERIALS:

Low-VOC finishes, formaldehyde-free millwork, and natural durable materials that support wellness.

with mild detergent or shampoo, foam, or water-free solvents as desired. Do not saturate with liquid. Refer to the Cleaning Document PDF California Technical Bulletin 117-2013; NFPA 260 Class 1

Climate Health CARB Compliant|Certified B Corporation|LEED Compliant

Human Health Declare Product Label|Declare Product LabelLBC Red List Free|Health Product Declaration (HPD)|Healthier Hospitals Compliant|LEED Compliant|Low https://www.ma terialbank.com/ carnegiepigment856236?activeC Restaurant A plush, low pile velvet upholstery fabric with a subtle texture and low sheen

Captures and reuses rainwater for nonpotable purposes, reducing water waste

Captures and reuses rainwater for nonpotable purposes, reducing water waste and demand on municipal

Bar, Lobby Leather/Faux Leather; Textiles/Upholstery/Leather; Textiles/Upholstery/NonWoven; Textiles/Upholstery/PVC Free

Bar,Lobby, Apartment Textiles/Upholstery; Textiles/Drapery

Contract

Consult a professional prior to cleaning. For ordinary cleaning, use mild soap and water. For more severe soiling, remove CAL 117-2013; NFPA 260

WS, 20% Bleach CAL TB 117; ASTM E84 Adhered; UFAC Class 1; MVSS 302

Climate Health CARB Compliant

Human Health Oeko-Tex Certified

Climate Health CARB Compliant|LEED Compliant

Human Health Formaldehyde Free|LEED Compliant|Low Emitting/Low VOC|PVC free|UL GREENGUARD

Social Health & Equity LEED Compliant

https://www.ma terialbank.com/l

ebatex-camila1100000?active

Child=673159

https://www.ma terialbank.com/ architex-classic642067?activeC hild=297415&ite

Oeko-Tex Certified, 89% recycled polyester, Eco / Environment Plus, AB2998 Compliant – Chem Free

https://www.ma terialbank.com/f abricut-contractinfinity-velvet2830098?active Lobby Textiles/Upholstery; Textiles/Drapery

Contract

Lobby, Bar polyester velvet Carnegie Pigment

CA TB 117-2013, UFAC Class I, IMO FTPC Part 7 (Drapery), AB2998

CA TB 117-2013, UFAC Class I, IMO FTPC Part 7 (Drapery), AB2998

Clean with mild detergent or shampoo, foam, or water-free solvents as desired. Do not saturate with liquid. Refer to the Cleaning Document PDF for more information California Technical Bulletin 117-2013; NFPA 260 Class 1

Oeko-Tex Certified, 89% recycled polyester, Eco / Environment Plus, AB2998 Compliant – Chem Free

Climate Health CARB Compliant|Certified B Corporation|LEED Compliant

Human Health Declare Product Label|Declare Product LabelLBC Red List Free|Health Product Declaration (HPD)|Healthier Hospitals Compliant|LEED Compliant|Low Emitting/Low VOC

https://www.ma terialbank.com/f abricut-contract-

infinity-velvet2830098?active

https://www.ma terialbank.com/ carnegiepigment-856236

, Grey natural clay products Dense, nonporous, and heatresistant

Made from natural, abundant materials (clay, minerals) Extremely durable and long-lasting, reducing replacements Low-maintenance and VOC-free

https://www.old eenglishtiles.co. uk/tile-designs/

Made from natural, abundant materials (clay, minerals) Extremely durable and long-lasting, reducing replacements Low-maintenance and VOC-free

ile.com/classicparquet-chiaro36x36/

https://www.old eenglishtiles.co. uk/

BRAND

The Hoxton aims to create welcoming, designled spaces that feel like home, brining together local culture with modern comforts. Their vision is to provide accessible, sustainable community-focused hospitality, encouraging both travelers and locals to engage with the hotel as a social spot.

The name hotel brands name “Hoxton” is old english and taken from a neighborhood in East London, historically known for its creative, artsy, and community driven vibe.

This project site, located in Arlington adopted its name from Arlington House, which was named after Arlington House in England.

The name Gemens is Old English: translating to a “shared, common, or held together” also conveys fellowship or community, which the the Hoxton aims to impose.

Concept & Solution

This design draws from classic English influences, honoring the shared roots between the Arlington and Hoxton name, while introducing a modern sensibility that aligns with Arlington’s fast-paced, contemporary lifestyle. The plan organization aims to emulate thel original Hoxton neighborhood in London, where passersby wander past local shops and naturally drift inside, the street-facing windows reveal active gathering spaces that welcome the community - Exactly what the national gateway community is in need of.

The reception is styled like a traditional English country home, creating a warm, homely atmosphere. The desk sits off to the side to avoid feeling intimidating, and the connected Hox Shop sells Hoxton merchandise alongside local community creations. These three elements are key staples of the Hoxton brand and design.

APARTMENT

The Apartment s a meeting & events space that’s part of many Hoxton hotels worldwide.

It is centered around a communal pantry / kitchen area stocked with free -to-grab teas, coffee, snacks and fruit by day, which in the evening can transform into a private bar.

The space is designed for flexibility, accommodating meetings, private dinners, social gatherings, celebrations.

Individual rooms may be rented separately, or the full apartment can be hired for larger events.

GUEST ROOM

The guest bedroom is elegantly appointed with a built-in mini fridge, an expresso, coffee and tea station, a microwave, and a wall-mounted flat-screen television, convenience

The bar is located directly off the lobby and connects to the restaurant. The bar features white marble countertops, a custom liquor display, a dedicated staff backbar, and a built-in foot rail. Other details include a ceiling with English tile motifs and exposed wood beams

RESTAURANT

The restaurant occupies the street-facing window wall, where modular, fully opening doors blur the boundary between indoors and outdoorsencouraging passersby to enter and activating the hotel’s connection to the neighborhood.

THANK YOU!