Issuu

ZENAYAH CORTEZ PORTFOLIO 2026 | USC SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

My name is Zenayah Cortez and I am a M.ARCH +2 Candidate at the University of Southern California. My passion for architecture lies in the intersection between architecture and storytelling where spaces are not just functional but act as vessels for narrative and creativity. Outside of architecture, I channel my creativity through photography, painting, and drawing, which has deepened my appreciation for composition, color, and visual storytelling. I also play basketball competitively for the USC women’s club team, an experience that has strengthened my ability to collaborate, adapt, and perform under pressure. Through my work, I am eager to apply this passion where I can contribute creatively while further developing my skills in crafting immersive and meaningful spaces.

Education

University of Southern California | Master of Architecture August 2024 - May 2026, Los Angeles, CA, 3.5 GPA Expected Graduate in May 2026 Arizona State University | Bachelor of Science in Design

August 2022 - May 2024, Tempe, AZ, 3.8 GPA Graduate in May 2024 | Major in Architectural Studies | Magna Cum Laude

Professional Experience

Architectural Design Intern MRT Design LLC | Phoenix, AZ | May 2024 - Present

● Assisted in the development of schematic designs, site planning, site visits, and construction documentation, contributing to the successful progression of multiple projects ● Created detailed 3D printed physical models that refined architectural concepts and facilitated client understanding, leading to more informed design decisions ● Conducted architectural photography to document project progress, enhancing marketing materials ● Assisted in promotional and marketing materials that supported business development, resulting in increased client engagement and project inquiries ● Managed administrative tasks efficiently, improving team workflow and enhancing project organization in a fast-paced architectural environment Sun Devil Athletic Facilities Assistant Arizona State University Sun Devil Athletics | Tempe, AZ | August 2022 - May 2024 ● Coordinated logistics to ensure efficient facility operations during NCAA D1 events ● Collaborated with a team to maintain multiple athletic venues, strengthening communication, teamwork, and adaptability in a fast-paced environment ● Managed time-sensitive tasks to meet event deadlines, enhancing organizational skills and ability to work under pressure

Skills

Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Lightroom, Sketchup, Rhinocerous 3D, BIM Revit, Zbrush, Laser Cutting, 3D Printing, Physical Model Making, Parametric Design, Bilingual (Spanish), Strong Communication, Strong Work Ethic, Time Management, Organization, Adaptability, Collabora tion, Public Speaking, Fast Learner

Involvement

- American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)

- National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) - Themed Entertainment Association @ USC (TEA) - Theme Park Engineering and Design Club @ ASU (TPEAD) - Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure Initiative (IPAL) - Womens Club Basketball @ USC (previously @ASU) - Keep Tempe Beautiful Volunteer

Selected Works 01

Street Smart

1 - 14

interLAce

15 - 24

Corita Kent Art Foundation

25 - 28

Karakum Desert Botanical Garden

29 - 34

USC Guild Design Charrette

35 - 38

The Jade

39 - 44

Architectural Photography

45- 46

STREET SMART

University of Southern California ARCH 705 The Money Train Professor: Kevin Sherrod

Street Smart began as a card game designed to teach players, through humor, chance, and strategy, how precarious everyday survival in Los Angeles can be. The game translated complex systems such as housing instability, inspections, displacement, and mutual aid into simple mechanics, making structural inequality legible through play rather than lectures. This project expands that game into architecture. Reimagined as a multi-level transit-integrated building at 7th Street and Figueroa, Street Smart transforms the rules of the original card game into spatial systems. Cards become floors, turns become movement, and rewards become food. Commuters interact with the system by ordering food, collecting Street Smart cards, and redeeming them for groceries, embedding participation directly into daily routines. Rather than separating production, distribution, and consumption, the building collapses these processes into a visible, playable loop. Glass-walled hydroponic galleries expose food production as public infrastructure, while graphic murals, kiosks, and card-based rewards transform the station into an educational environment that operates without instruction or supervision. The project reframes food not as a commodity but as a form of access, earned through movement, visibility, and participation. Street Smart ultimately proposes architecture as a medium for learning through experience. What began as a tabletop game about surviving Los Angeles becomes a built system that feeds people, teaches systems thinking, and turns everyday transit into an opportunity for agency, care, and play.

STREET SMART

THE RULES PLAYERS 2 - 5 CONTENTS: 72 CARDS

HOW IT WORKS In the deck are some Uh Oh! Life Happens cards. You play the game by putting the deck face down and taking turns drawing cards until someone draws an Uh Oh! Life Happens card.

SETUP

1 2

To start, remove all the Uh Oh! Life Happens cards from the deck and set the aside.

Remove all the Bounce Back cards from the deck and deal 1 to each player. Insert the extra Bounce Back cards into the deck.

Bounce Back cards are the most powerful card in the game. These are the only cards that can save you from becoming unhoused. If you draw an Uh Oh! Life Happens card, instead of loosing, you can play a Bounce Back card and reinsert the Uh Oh! Life Happens card back into the Draw Pile anywhere you’d like in secret. Try to get as many Bounce Back cards as you can.

All the other cards will give you powerful tools to help you avoid loosing!

3 4

This process continues until there’s only 1 player left, who wins the game

BASICALLY IF YOU BECOME UNHOUSED, YOU LOSE. AND YOU ARE FULL OF INCENDIARY LOSER SADSAUCE

IF YOU DON’T BECOME UNHOUSED, YOU WIN.

Shuffle the deck and deal 7 cards face down to each player. Everyone now has a hand of 8 cards total (7 + Bounce Back card). Look at your cards but keep them secret. Insert enough Uh Oh! Life Happens cards back into the deck so that there is 1 fewer than the number of people playing. Remove any extra Uh Oh! Life Happens cards from the game.

FOR EXAMPLE For a 4 player game, insert 3 Uh Oh! Life Happens cards. For a 3 player game, insert 2 Uh Oh! Life Happens cards. This ensures that everyone eventually becomes unhoused except for 1 person.

AND YOU ARE FULL OF GREATNESS. GOOD JOB BUDDY.

AND ALL OF THE OTHER CARDS

WILL LESSEN YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING UNHOUSED BY THE UH OH! LIFE HAPPENS CARDS

Shuffle the deck, and put it face down in the middle of the table.

Play a card from your hand by placing it FACE UP on top of the Discard Pile. Follow the instructions on the card. Read the text on a card to learn what it does. After you follow the instructions on the card, you can play another card. You can play as many cards as you’d like.

PASS

Play no cards.

End your turn by drawing a card from the top of the Draw Pile into your hand and hoping it’s not an Uh Oh! Life Happens card.

Play continues clockwise around the table.

REMEMBER Play as many or as few cards as you’d like, then draw a card to end your turn.

ENDING THE GAME Eventually every player will become unhoused except for one, who wins the game! You won’t ever run out of cards in the draw pile because you inserted enough Uh Oh! Life Happens cards to unhouse all but 1 player.

THREE MORE THINGS

A good strategy generally is to save your cards early in the game while your chance of exploding is low. You can always count the cards left in the Draw Pile to figure out the odds of exploding.

FOR EXAMPLE You could use a City Hall Meeting (See the Future) card to peek at the top few cards in the draw pile. If that reveals an Uh Oh! Life Happens card, you could then use a Shelter Night (Skip) to end your turn and avoid drawing it.

Gather all 8 of your cards into your hand and look at them. Do the following:

PLAY

BOUNCE BACK CARDS

When that happens, the person becomes unhoused, looses their keys and they are out of the game.

TAKING YOUR TURN

There is no maximum or minimum hand size. If you run out of cards in your hand there is no special action to take. Keep playing, You’ll draw at least 1 more card on your next turn.

Pick a player to go first. (Some sample criteria: most excited to go first, most intimidating odor, shortest spleen, etc.)

STOP READING! GO PLAY! IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC CARDS, FLIP THIS SHEET OVER.

STREET SMART FIELD GUIDE YOU ONLY NEED THIS IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC CARDS UH OH! LIFE HAPPENS You must show this card immediately. Unless you have a Bounce Back card, your unhoused. When you become unhoused, put that Uh Oh! Life Happens card in front of you so everyone can see that you are unhoused, and put the rest of your cards at the bottom of the draw pile.

CITY PLANNER Congrats! As a city planner you can Alter the Future. Privately view the top 3 cards from the Draw Pile and rearrange them in any order you’d like. Return them to the top of the Draw Pile face down. Don’t show the cards to the other players.

REDISTRCTING BOUNCE BACK If you drew an Uh Oh! Life Happens card, you can still play this card instead of becoming unhoused. Place your Bounce Back card in the Discard Pile.

Redraw the lines and shuffle the deck until the next player tell you to stop. Useful when you know there’s an Uh Oh! Life Happens card is coming.

BACKDOOR DRAW Instead of pulling from the top like everyone else, grab the bottom card. Who knows what you’ll find a blessing, a disaster, or someone’s forgotten takeout menu.

EXAMPLE TURN YOU SUSPECT THE TOP CARD IN THE DRAW PILE IS AN “UH OH! LIFE HAPPENS.” SO INSTEAD OF PASSING AND THEN DRAWING A CARD TO END YOUR TURN, YOU DECIDE TO PLAY A “CITY HALL MEETING” ALLOWING YOU TO SEE THE FUTURE AND PRIVATELY VIEW THE TOP 3 CARDS FROM THE DRAW PILE.

WHILE VIEWING THE TOP 3 CARDS YOU SEE THAT YOU WERE RIGHT, AND THE TOP CARD (THE CARD YOU’RE ABOUT TO DRAW) IS AN “UH OH! LIFE HAPPENS.” YOU DECIDE TO PLAY AN “INSPECTION BLITZ” TO END YOUR TURN AND FORCE THE NEXT PLAYER TO TAKE 2 TURNS.

MUTUAL AID Then take the Uh Oh! Life Happens card, and without reordering or viewing the other cards, secretly put it back in the Draw Pile anywhere you’d like.

Ask any player to give you card from their hand. They must give you a card and choose which card to give.

INJUNCTION Stop any action except for an Uh Oh! Life Happens or a Bounce Back. It’s as if the card beneath the Injuction never existed.

Your turn is over after playing this card. Want to hurt the player right after you? Put the Uh Oh! Life Happens card right on top of the deck. If you’d like, hold the deck under the table so no one can see where you put it.

INSPECTION BLITZ Attack!! End your turn without drawing a card, and immediately force the next player to take 2 turn in a row. If the victim of an Inspection Blitz plays this card on any of their turns, the Inspection Blitz “stack” and their turn are immediately transferred to the next player, who must take the attacker’s current and remaining untaken turn(s) PLUS 2 additional turns. For example: If the victim of an Attack plays another Attack, the next player must take 4 turns. However, if the victim completes 1 turn, and THEN plays an attack on their second turn, the player must take only 3 turns.

TARGETED INSPECTION BLITZ Attack!! End your turn without drawing a card, and immediately choose any player (including yourself) to take 2 turn in a row.

BUT THEN, ANOTHER PLAYER PLAYS A “COMMUNITY VETO” WHICH CANCELS YOUR “INSPECTION BLITZ” SO ITS STILL YOUR TURN.

You can also play an Injunction on another Injunction to negate it and create an Approval, and so on.

YOU DON’T WANT TO DRAW THAT TOP CARD AND BECOME UNHOUSED SO YOU PLAY A “REDISTRICTING” CARD AND RANDOMLY SHUFFLE THE DRAW PILE.

You can play an Injunction when it is your turn or when you are attacked. Any cards that have been injunct are lost. Leave them in the Discard Pile.

COMMUNITY VETO Stop any action except for an Uh Oh! Life Happens or a Bounce Back. It’s as if the card beneath the Community Veto never existed. You can also play a Community Veto on another Community Veto or an Injunction, this is the Ultimate Nope! You can play a Community Veto at any time before an action has begun, even if its not your turn. Any cards that have been vetoed are left in the Discard Pile.

SMOG ALERT! When someone drops a Culture Card:Port of LA, they suffer the consequences of smog and must take 2 turns. Play this card at any time.

CULTURE CARDS These cards are powerless on their own, but if you can collect any 2 matching Culture Cards, you can play them as a pair to steal a random card from any player. They can also be used in Special Combos.

WITH THE DECK FRESHLY SHUFFLED, YOU DRAW THE TOP CARD TO END YOUR TURN AND HOPE ITS NOT AN “UH OH! LIFE HAPPENS”

SPECIAL COMBOS TWO OF A KIND Playing matching pairs of Culture Cards (where you get to steal a random card from another player.) no longer applies to Cat Cards. It now applies to ANY pair of cards with the same title. (A pair of Redistricting, a pair of Shelter Night, etc.) Ignore the instructions on the cards when you play them as a Special Combo.

If the victim of a Targeted Inspection Blitz plays any type of Inspection Blitz, the attacks “stack”. (See the “Inspection Blitz” rules for more details)

SHELTER NIGHT

THREE OF A KIND

Stay the Night, Skip your Draw. Immediately end your turn without drawing a card. If you play Shelter Night as a defense to an Inspection Blitz, it only end 1 of the 2 turns.

CITY HALL MEETING Let’s see what the city is up to! Privately view the top 3 cards and see the future from the Draw Pile and put them back in the same order. Don’t show the cards to the others players.

STREET VENDOR Use as any Culture Card.

Exactly the same thing as the Two of a Kind, but you get to name the card you want from the other player. If they have it, you get to take it. If not, you get nothing. Ignore the instructions on the cards when you play them as a Special Combo.

This card cannot be used as a non-Culture Card (Inspection Blitz, Community Veto, etc.)

ATLANTIC AVE

ROSECRANS AVE

ALONDRA BLVD

CALDWELL ST

LONG BEACH BLVD

BUTLER AVE

WILMINGTON AVE

GREENLEAF BLVD

SANTA FE AVENUE

COMPTON BLVD

HOW IT WORKS This project originates from Street Smart, a card based educational game I designed to communicate the precarity of housing, food access, and survival in Los Angeles through play. The game abstracts complex social systems, rent, inspections, displacement, and mutual aid into simple, legible mechanics.

The train station translates those mechanics into spatial systems. Each floor becomes a playable layer, where production, exchange, visibility, and reward replace traditional programmatic separation. BACK

FRONT

TOP VIEW

LEFT VIEW

RIGHT VIEW

Architecture becomes an interface for understanding survival through movement, participation, and access to food. Instead of separating production, distribution, and consumption, this building merges all three into a continuous public loop.

BASICALLY IT STARTED AS A CARD GAME ABOUT SURVIVAL IN LA IT TURNED INTO A GAME ABOUT GAINING FOOD

CARDS BECAME FLOORS, TURNS BECAME MOVEMENT AND REWARDS BECAME GROCERIES... EVERYTHING IS STILL FUNNY TOO

THE RULES DIDN’T CHANGE JUST THE SCALE DID

STREET SMART

HYDROPONICS EDITION

NOT IN SCOPE

NOT IN SCOPE STREET SMART HYDROPONICS EDITION

STREET SMART HYDROPONICS EDITION

NOT IN SCOPE C

NOT IN SCOPE

NOT IN SCOPE PARKING GARAGE

STREET SMART HYDROPONICS EDITION

NOT IN SCOPE

interLAce University of Southern California ARCH 605a Housing Studio Site: Boyle Heights Sports Center & Park Teammate: Htet OO Wai Yan

InterLAce is a dynamic co-living and co-housing community designed to combat gentrification by fostering local engagement and supporting small businesses. The ground floor features pop-up studios, providing flexible spaces for residents and entrepreneurs to activate the neighborhood with ever-changing creative and commercial opportunities. InterLAce prioritizes community interaction without sacrificing privacy, incorporating a unique "nosy neighbors" concept—bar-style seating along sliding windows allows residents to engage with neighbors and the courtyard while maintaining a comfortable level of separation. The design revolves around vibrant outdoor spaces, with communal areas like a coffee shop, library, gym, and gardens that serve as gathering points. A key aspect of the design is its site-specific approach to Boyle Heights, utilizing the adjacent sports center and park to reinforce the idea of community. The central units are carefully angled to maximize views, offering residents a direct connection to either the sports field or the city skyline. Additionally, stadium-like seating is integrated into the architecture, allowing residents to gather and watch games. By seamlessly blending private residences with public engagement zones, InterLAce reimagines urban living, ensuring a vibrant, inclusive, and ever-evolving environment that strengthens community bonds.

roof

CEILING PLAN outdoor spaces INTERIOR SPACES outdoor spaces outdoorspaces spaces outdoor outdoor spaces outdoor spaces interior spaces interior spaces EXTERIOR SPACES

outdoor vs interior clusters outdoor vs interior clusters

interiorspaces spaces interior

outdoor interior clusters INTERIOR SPACES outdoor vsvsinterior clusters

interior spaces

outdoor vs interior clusters

interior spaces groups/communities

outdoor vs interior clusters

groups/communities groups/communities groups/communities

GROUPS

groups/communities groups/communities groups/communities groups/communities groups/communities groups/communities groups/communities

GROUPS

groups/communities private spaces private spaces privatespaces spaces private

private spaces clusters private spaces clusters privatespaces spaces clusters private clusters PRIVATE SPACES private spaces clusters private spaces clusters

private spaces private spaces PRIVATE SPACES

PLAN

SECTION

Scale: 1’ = 1/8”

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

THIRD FLOOR PLAN

Scale: 1’ = 1/8”

LONGITUDINAL SECTION

CORITA KENT ART FOUNDATION UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Professor:Alejandra Lillo Site: Los Angeles, CA

This project reimagines Corita Kent's 1972 artwork Birth to a Dancing Star as an architectural experience using her expressive brushstrokes to carve circulation paths and form each floor through subtractive massing. A white block is deeply cut and angled to reveal hidden layers of color, transforming the viewers perception as they move. These voids reflect Corita's method of layering meaning, while a fragmented facade resolves into her portrait from a single perspective, turning the building itself into a living canvas. The museum doesn't just house her work but it curates an experience of discovery, joy, and transformation that echoes her artistic voice.

Conservation Lab 1000 sf

Artwork Storage 2000 sf

Conservation Lab 1000 sf

Archival Storage 1000 sf

Mech.

Archival Research 1000 sf

Elevator

Artwork Storage 2000 sf

Artwork Storage 2000 sf Womens Artwork Mens Restroom Storage Restroom 270 sf 270 2000 sf

Conservation Lab 1000 sf

Archival Storage 1000 sf

Conservation Lab 1000 sf Conservation Lab 1000 sf

Recieving/ Conservation Lab Requisitions 1000 sf Area Curators 150 sf Directo Office Office 200 s 200 sf

Archival Storage 1000 sf Archival Storage 1000 sf

Outdoor Balcony 1500 sf

Theatre/Lecture Hall 1700 sf

Recepti to 1

Small Conference Room 350 sf Mech. Mech.

Mech.

Archival Research 1000 sf

Mech.

Archival Research 1000 sf

Elevator

Mech. Elevator Elevator

Gallery Space 700 sf

Elevator

Community Art Space 1500 sf

Mech.

Archival Research 1000 sf

Mech. Elevator

Elevator

Elevator Gallery Space 1400 sf

21 21

30 9

Gallery Space 500 sf

29 29

35 14

Open Office 1350 sf 17

Elevator

Gallery Space 2000 sf

Gallery Space 2,200 sf

580 sf

24 Large Conference 3 Room

Open to Gallery Space Below

Mech.

Lunch/Break Room 500 sf

Conservation Lab 1000 sf

Artwork Storage 2000 sf Womens Restroom 270 sf

Conservation Lab 1000 sf Curators Office 200 sf

Archival Storage 1000 sf

Mens Restroom 270

Theatre/Lecture Hall 1700 sf

Elevator Elevator Gallery Space 700 sf

Theatre/Lecture Hall 1700 sf

Gallery Space 500 sf

Elevator

Gallery Space 2,200 sf

Gallery Space 1,300 sf

Large Conference 3 Room

580 sf

Large Conference Room 580 sf

Mech.

Gallery Space 1400 sf

Community Art Space 1500 sf

Mech. Mech.

Elevator Elevator

Gallery Space 2,200 sf

Reception/As to Direc 150 sf

Small Conference Room 350 sf

Lounge/Waiting Area 250 sf

Gallery Space 700 sf

Elevator

22 Gallery Space 500 sf

Theatre/Lecture Hall 1700 sf

Archival Research 1000 sf Mech.

Gallery Space 1400 sf

Recieving/ Tr Requisitions Area Directors Curators 150 sf Office Office 200 sf 200 sf

Archival Storage 1000 sf

Mens Restroom 270

Mech. Mech.

Archival Research 1000 sf Mech.

Elevator

Mens Restroom 270

Artwork Storage 2000 sf Womens Restroom 270 sf

Reception/Assistant to Director 150 sf

Small Conference Room 350 sf

Mech.

Elevator

Womens Restroom 270 sf

HR/ Adminstrative Office 160 sf

Directors Office 200 sf

Outdoor Balcony 1500 sf

Sitting Window

Open Office 1350 sf 17

Open Office 1350 sf Gallery Space 2000 sf Gallery Space 2000 sf

Elevator

Open to Gallery Space Below

Mech.

Open to Gallery Space Below

Mech. Elevator

Mech.

Gallery Space 2500 sf Lunch/Break Room 500 sf

Lunch/Break Room 500 sf

Womens Restroom 270 sf

Directors Office 200 sf

Curators Office 200 sf

Mens Restroom 270

Outdoor Balcony 1500 sf

Theatre/Lecture Hall 1700 sf

Mech.

HR/ Adminstrative Office 160 sf

Womens Restroom 270 sf

Mens Restroom 270

Theatre/Lecture Hall 1700 sf

Reception/Assistant to Director 150 sf

Small Conference Room 350 sf

Lounge/Waiting Area 250 sf

Mech.

Gallery Space 700 sf

Elevator

Elevator Gallery Space 1400 sf

Gallery Space 1,300 sf

Gallery Space 2,200 sf

Sitting Window

Large Conference Room 580 sf

Gallery Space 500 sf

Open Office 1350 sf

Gallery Space 2000 sf

Elevator

Open to Gallery Space Below

Mech.

Elevator

Mech.

Gallery Space 2500 sf

Lunch/Break Room 500 sf

Conservation Conservation Lab Lab 10001000 sf sf

Artwork Artwork Storage Storage 20002000 sf sf

Conservation Conservation Lab Lab 10001000 sf sf

Archival Archival Storage Storage 10001000 sf sf

Mech. Mech.

Recieving/ Recieving/ Requisitions Requisitions AreaArea 150 sf 150 sf

Artwork Artwork Storage Storage 20002000 sf sf

Mech. Mech.

Archival Archival Research Research 10001000 sf sf

Elevator Elevator

Trash/Recycling Trash/Recycling AreaArea 200 sf 200 sf

Archival Archival Storage Storage 10001000 sf sf

Mech. Mech.

Archival Archival Research Research 10001000 sf sf

Elevator Elevator

Art Delivery Art Delivery DockDock 300 sf 300 sf

Facility Facility Delivery Delivery DockDock 300 sf 300 sf

Facility Facility Storage Storage Room Room 350 sf 350 sf

Security Security Office Office 150 sf 150 sf

Outdoor Outdoor Seating Seating AreaArea

Community Community Art Space Art Space 15001500 sf sf

Restaurant/ Restaurant/ CafeCafe 1,000 1,000 sf sf

Elevator Elevator

Shop Gift Gift Shop 10001000 sf sf

21 21

29 29

30 30

31 31

22 22

32 32

33 33

34 34

23 23

35 35

24 24

36 36

25 25

26 26

37 37

38 38

27 27

39 39

28 28

40 40

10 10

11 11

12 12

13 13

14 14

15 15

16 16

17 17

18 18

19 19

20 20

Elevator Mech. Elevator Mech.

MainMain Entrance Entrance 10001000 sf sf

Womens Womens Restroom Restroom 270 sf 270 sf

Curators Curators Office Office 200 sf 200 sf

Mens Mens Restroom Restroom 270 270

Outdoor Outdoor Balcony Balcony 15001500 sf sf

Theatre/Lecture Theatre/Lecture Hall Hall 17001700 sf sf Small Conference Small Conference Room Room 350 sf 350 sf

Mech. Mech.

Elevator Elevator

Directors Directors Office Office 200 sf 200 sf

HR/ HR/ Adminstrative Adminstrative Office Office 160 sf 160 sf

Womens Womens Restroom Restroom 270 sf 270 sf

Mens Mens Restroom Restroom 270 270

Theatre/Lecture Theatre/Lecture Hall Hall 17001700 sf sf

Reception/Assistant Reception/Assistant to Director to Director 150 sf 150 sf

Lounge/Waiting Lounge/Waiting AreaArea 250 sf 250 sf

Mech. Mech.

Gallery Space Gallery Space 700 sf 700 sf

Elevator Elevator

Elevator Elevator Gallery Space Gallery Space 14001400 sf sf

Gallery Gallery Space Space 500 sf 500 sf

Gallery Gallery Space Space 1,300 1,300 sf sf

Gallery Gallery Space Space 2,200 2,200 sf sf

Sitting Sitting Window Window

Large Large Conference Conference Room Room 580 sf 580 sf

Extra Extra 2,000 2,000 sf sf

Open Office Open Office 13501350 sf sf

Gallery Gallery Space Space 20002000 sf sf

Reception Reception 300 sf 300 sf

Open Open to to

Gallery Gallery Space Below Space Below

Elevator Mech. Elevator Mech.

Lunch/Break Lunch/Break Room Room 500 sf 500 sf

Elevator Mech. Elevator Mech.

Elevator Mech. Elevator Mech. Gallery Gallery Space Space 25002500 sf sf

Community Community Art Studio Art Studio 15001500 sf sf

CORITA KENT ART CENTER

KARAKUM DESERT, ASIA BOTANICAL GARDEN Arizona State University ARC 402 Professor: Felipe Mesa Site: Phoenix, Arizona

The Karakum Desert, one of Central Asia’s largest deserts, spans parts of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, covering approximately 135 square miles (350,000 sq km). It lies south of the Aral Sea and west of the Caspian Sea, with elevations ranging from sea level to a few hundred meters. A botanical garden in Phoenix, Arizona, was designed to showcase native Karakum flora, which are well-adapted to arid environments and saline soils. The design incorporated sand dunes with saline soil to support these plants. Additionally, an outdoor documentary area was included to educate visitors about the desert’s history. A sustainable shading system using algae panels was integrated, leveraging their ability to generate biofuels, improve air quality, and regulate temperatures, reducing energy consumption.

PERSPECTIVE VIEW

GROUND PLAN

ROOF PLAN

ENVELOPE SUBSTRUCTURE SYSTEMS

STRUCTURE

PLATFORMS

KARAKUM DESERT & MOVIES

GROUND

STUDIO URBAN PLAN

LONGITUDINAL SECTION

USC GUILD DESIGN CHARRETTE USC Architectural Guild Teammates: Angelina Ludena & Aachal Katwa Site: Los Angeles, CA COMPETITION AWARD, TOP 5

In 48 hours, we developed a concept for an Olympic Pavilion at Exposition Park, celebrating the history and legacy of the Olympics while highlighting Los Angeles’ role as a host city. The pavilion features five experiential hubs that showcase key Olympic moments, with a focus on sustainability using cross-laminated timber. It will honor the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the city’s connection to USC. Designed as a modular, pop-up museum, the pavilion will offer a dynamic, educational, and sustainable experience for visitors.

RING 5

RING 1

RING 4

RING 3

PERSPECTIVE SECTION

A ENTRANCE B CABLE DISPLAYS C IMMERSIVE HUBS D FRAMED VIEW E DISPLAY WALL F EXIT

FLOOR PLAN

THE JADE Arizona State University ARC 401 Professor: Mauricio Underwood Partner: Gemma Roman Site: Scottsdale, Arizona

This project encourages students to draw design inspiration from everyday visuals like music videos, movies, and photography. After gathering precedents, a third program was integrated to enhance the luxury restaurant, rooftop bar, and pool hall concept. The selected third program is an underground nightclub featuring jazz and comedy shows, live bands, and a luxury car display with high-end brands like Lamborghini and Ferrari. The underground level includes the nightclub, a wraparound bar, and a glass-walled car showcase. The first floor is divided into a reception area and an indoor/outdoor pool with cabanas, hot tubs, and an outdoor kitchen. The second floor houses a billiards hall with 14 pool tables, a bar, and a balcony overlooking the courtyard and pool. A mezzanine VIP lounge offers an exclusive bar and overlooks the billiards hall. The project was developed using SketchUp, Rhino, Photoshop, Illustrator, and LookXAI, creating a cohesive, high-end experience blending luxury entertainment and design.

PLAN - GROUND LEVEL

PLAN - SECOND LEVEL

Roof

Mezzanine Lounge

Billiards Hall

Reception & Indoor/Outdoor Pool

Underground Nightclub & Car Showcase

UNDERGROUND NIGHTCLUB RENDER

Billiards Hall RENDER

DOWNTOWN EL PASO, TX

ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY University of Southern California ARCH 421 | Fall 2024 Professor: Stephen Schafer

Photography has sharpened my ability to see space, light, and composition in a way that directly influences my approach to architecture. Through the lens, I’ve learned how light transforms materials, how angles change perception, and how spaces can tell a story. This practice helps me design with a stronger sense of atmosphere, ensuring that my design is not just functional but also visually and experientially engaging.

THE GRAND BY GEHRY| LOS ANGELES, CA

WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL| LOS ANGELES, CA

FELIX CHEVROLET| LOS ANGELES, CA

Zenayah Cortez Master of Architecture ‘26 Bachelor of Science in Design ‘24 915 - 588 - 1663 zenayah.cortez@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/zenayah-cortez-825b7a25a