Hi, my name is Samuel Mortimer and I'm the co-owner of a small, award-winning office called the Planning Agency focused on delivering thoughtful, contextual architecture.
I hold a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Tennessee. Following graduation, I helped lead a design-build project called the New Norris House, and was critical to overseeing the project’s total sustainability effort, systems integration, and receipt of a plethora of honors (2013 AIA Top-10 Green Award, 2013 ACSA Design-Build Award, 2014 ALSA National Honor Award for Research, etc). My research related to building science in the residential sector and academic design-build pedagogy has been presented and published internationally, and in 2015 I was selected by the AIA Dallas Young Architects Forum as a "10 under 10" recipient in a state-wide competition recognizing Architects licensed under 10 years.
My professional and academic interests focus on high performance design, integrated project delivery and evaluation, and the evolving relationship of sustainable design with market driven models. After work, I enjoy reading, cooking pizzas, riding my bike, and generally doing "outdoor cat" things. I think I'm really funny.
Nice to meet you.
Samuel's School Blog on Archinect:
A New Norris House: Phase IV : Live-In Evaluation and Monitoring of a design/build effort
The New Norris House is a design/build effort from the University of Tennessee's College of Architecture and Design. Began in 2009, the home was designed and built by UT students in collaboration with Clayton Homes.
The built project is now complete and the final phase of the project has begun. A team of 4 people (2 living in the home, and 2 graduate researchers) will rigorously document the experience via qualitative assessments and quantitative measurements, posting results to this blog.
Samuel's School Blog on Archinect:
School blog of BArch student Samuel Mortimer kept from 2008 - 2011. Mostly late-night musings of the studio, but with an emphasis of the events of the College of Architecture and Design and University of Tennessee on the whole.
Later blogs discuss participation in the New Norris House project, as both a student and researcher hired after graduation.
Samuel's School Blog on Archinect:
The Planning Agency, Dallas, TX, US, Architect and Managing Partner
The Planning Agency is a small, award-winning office focused on delivering thoughtful, contextual architecture. I am currently working on projects in Austin, Dallas, California, and East Tennessee.
GFF Architects, Dallas, TX, US, Project Leader / Architect
I joined GFF in 2013 and focused on a wide variety of project types (residential, fitness, automotive, healthcare, institutional, etc). Outside of my project load, I helped lead a variety of other efforts, namely: development of marketing materials, recruiting, internal continuing education series, intern development and education, and GFF's 2030 Action Plan.
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, US, Design-Build Project Manager in the College of Architecture and Design
As a member of the original student design team, I worked on the project continuously from Spring 2009 - Fall 2013. I performed many roles and had a hand in most processes, but primarily my responsibilities included coordinating with Clayton’s design team to complete the construction document set for initial modular fabrication; coordination and oversight of building systems and MEP sub-contractors; coordination and oversight of the LEED for Homes submission and corresponding work on-site; aiding in regulatory and permitting needs; and aiding in the management of on- and off-site personnel and scheduling.
At the conclusion of construction, I helped begin and later led a sophisticated monitoring and evaluation effort focused around a two year post-occupancy period of the home and landscape. Based on this studies, I authored multiple peer-reviewed articles and helped compose a plethora of successful design award submissions. As part of these efforts, I aided with development and management efforts of the college's larger design/build program, and acted as a critic and studio assistant to a 3rd year architectural design/build studio in the early design phases of a primary school in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Sanders Pace Architecture, Knoxville, TN, US, Architectural Intern
My time at Sanders Pace was short-lived, but meaningful. I was hired to help fill in gaps during the end of the economic downturn and benefited greatly from exposure to a variety of project types and scales (infill, single-family residential, retail renovation, non-profit work). My responsibilities were helping complete contract documents, performing remote construction administration of an out of state project, presentation design, and some limited interface with jurisdictional bodies.
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville, BArch, Architecture
Received 5 year BArch degree in the spring of 2010.
Spent one semester abroad at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH) studying under the Chair of Professor Josep Lluís Mateo.
Selected as "Ten under Ten" Recipient - AIA Dallas Young Architects Forum, Other
State-wide competition to select ten architects "recognized by their peers for their innovation, leadership and emerging practices that continue to shape our community".
Finalist - A:CIRCUMFERENCE: Baywatch Kit Design Competition, Other
Our design was selected as a finalist and was later displayed as part of this international design competition.
Finalist - Sefaira PER/FORM Design Competition, Other
My entry was selected as a Finalist to compete in this live, performance based design competition.
National Honor Award (A New Norris House) - ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects), Other
I coordinated the total sustainability effort as part of a large team during this multi-year effort and served as the lead researcher in charge of the post-occupancy evaluation of the New Norris House, landscape, and water systems. I authored (and co-authored) several peer-reviewed papers on these subjects.
COTE Top-10 Green Projects (A New Norris House) - AIA (American Institute of Architects), Other
I coordinated the total sustainability effort as part of a large team during this multi-year effort and served as the lead researcher in charge of the post-occupancy evaluation of the New Norris House, landscape, and water systems. I authored (and co-authored) several peer-reviewed papers on these subjects.
Award of Excellence (A New Norris House) - AIA Tennessee Design Awards, Other
I served as a leading member of this multi-year project team (part of original student design team and later as faculty researcher during construction / post-occupancy evaluation).
Design-Build Award (A New Norris House) - ACSA (Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture), Other
I served as a leading member of this multi-year project team (part of original student design team and later as faculty researcher during construction / post-occupancy evaluation).
Merit Award (A New Norris House) - AIA Gulf States Design Awards, Other
I served as a leading member of this multi-year project team (part of original student design team and later as faculty researcher during construction / post-occupancy evaluation).
Merit Award, Single Family Housing (A New Norris House) - Residential Architect Design Awards, Other
I served as a leading member of this multi-year project team (part of original student design team and later as faculty researcher during construction / post-occupancy evaluation).
NCARB Prize for Creative Integration of Research and Practice (A New Norris House), Award
The NCARB Prize is awarded annually to academic projects in recognition of the creative integration of practice and the academy. I served as a leading member of this multi-year project team (part of original student design team and later as faculty researcher during construction / post-occupancy evaluation).
Honor Award (A New Norris House) - AIA East Tennessee Design Awards, Other
I served as a leading member of this multi-year project team (part of original student design team and later as faculty researcher during construction / post-occupancy evaluation).
Torchbearer, Award
"The Torchbearer is the highest student honor conferred by the University of Tennessee. Torchbearers are Seniors who have served their Alma Mater with overall excellence. It is award for academic achievements and outstanding commitments to others as demonstrated by various activities and significant contributions to the University and the community. Students chosen for this award embody the Volunteer spirit, displaying initiative and service in the best interest of both the University and their fellow student."
Alpha Rho Chi Medal, Award
"In 1931, the Grand Council of Alpha Rho Chi established the Alpha Rho Chi Medal to 'encourage professional leadership by rewarding student accomplishment.' The Fraternity provides the medal to selected schools of architecture throughout the country to be awarded to the graduating senior who has shown an affinity for leadership, performed willing service for the school or department, and gives promise of real professional merit through his or her attitude and personality."
EPA P3 Phase I and II Awards, Grant
I served as a leading member of this multi-year project team (part of original student design team and later as faculty researcher during construction / post-occupancy evaluation). Awarded $85,000 in seed funding as part of a small student team to design and build the New Norris House within the University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design.
"EPA's P3 – People, Prosperity, and the Planet—Program is a unique college competition for designing solutions for a sustainable future. P3 offers students quality hands-on experience that brings their classroom learning to life.
The competition has two phases. For the first phase of the competition, teams are awarded a $10,000 grant to develop their idea. They bring the design in April to the National Sustainable Design Expo in Washington DC to compete for the P3 Award and a grant of $75,000 to take their design to real world application. "
EUReCA Top Undergraduate Research Award, Award
As part of a small student design team, the New Norris House project was recognized with the Top Undergraduate Research Award in 2009 at the University of Tennessee's annual Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement.
This honor has never been achieved by another project in the College of Architecture and Design.
