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Kurt Nelson

Kurt Nelson

Philadelphia, PA, US

 
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About 

I will be graduating with my Masters of Architecture degree from University of Pennsylvania in May 2019, and previously graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Architecture from Kent State University.

Professionally, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of types of firms during my summers and have experience working on buildings from small retail locations to sports stadiums and hospital master plans.

While at PennDesign I have had the opportunity to work as both a research and teaching assistant, working towards my goal of better understanding how people interact with the built environment and what it can do to make our lives better.

Employment 

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, US, Research Assistant

I am currently working for Andrew Saunders on research sponsored by Autodesk and Faro Technologies, assisting with the design and publication of Re-Imaging the Baroque. I also helped clean, 3D print, render, and make drawings from 3D scans of Baroque churches for multiple exhibitions of the work.

May 2017 - current
 

Contemporary Architecture Practice, New York, NY, US, Designer

As a designer I worked with a small team to design and put together a presentation of a new headquarters for Mango TV in Changsha, China. I also took on the role of managing website and Instagram pages, updating project information and initiating a more active presence on social media

May 2018 - Sep 2018
 

EwingCole, Philadelphia, PA, US, Architectural Intern

While at EwingCole I worked with the Healthcare Architecture team on Schematic Designs for a Master Plan of the Essentia Health campus in Duluth, MN. I also had the opportunity to assist with developing construction drawings and details for Hershey Medical Center renovations, and work on a small team designing a package for the City of Camden as a part New Jersey’s proposal for Amazon HQ2.

May 2017 - Aug 2017
 

Weber Murphy Fox, Cleveland, OH, US, Architectural Intern

As a summer intern I assisted in site measuring, design development, renderings, and construction documentation for Progressive Field renovations, Crawford County Courthouse, and Answers Cleveland office renovations. I also had the opportunity to work with the business development team as well in working to expand our higher education portfolio.

May 2015 - Sep 2015
 

Education 

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, US, MArch, Master of Architecture

While at PennDesign I have had the chance to encounter architecture in a broader context, refining my ability to design buildings that have a careful impact on those who inhabit and interact with them. I also had the opportunity to more closely study the history of architecture, specifically the Baroque as I worked with one of my professors on 3D scanning and visualizing the interiors of Roman Baroque churches.

Currently I am in my last semester here, and after being accepted into the thesis program I am looking into the future of the form of suburban housing.

Sep 2016 - current
 

Kent State University, Kent, OH, US, Bachelors, Bachelor of Science in Architecture

While at the CAED I had the opportunity to better understand the foundations of architecture as a design profession. My last project there was a finalist in their Integrated Design Competition, and I was able to study abroad in Florence on the Michael Domokur Scholarship. I also completed a minor in Business Management during my time in Kent.

Sep 2012 - May 2016
 

Awards 

Mellon H+U+D Student Research Grant, Grant

This award enabled me to build on my Baroque scholarship by travelling to Rome to study the architecture of Bernini, culminating in a series of drawings to be published Summer 2019.

2018
 

HOK Design Futures Competition, 3rd Place

HOK’s design competition challenged students to create architectural and interior design solutions for the Viaduct Rail Park site in Philadelphia’s Center City District. Architecture entrants were asked to design a 100,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use building with corporate, retail, residential and public amenities, as well as a pedestrian connection to the elevated Rail Park. Interiors participants designed a 19,000-sq.-ft. brewery and distillery to serve as the anchor tenant in a new mixed-use building.

2017
 

Warren Powers Laird Award, Scholarship

Given to the student with the highest GPA in their first year of the Master of Architecture program at PennDesign

2017
 

Dales Travel Fellowship, Grant

The result of a portfolio competition, this grant was used in combination with my H+U+D grant to enable me to study Baroque Architecture in Italy.

2017
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills