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PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

PORTFOLIOMahzad Tashakori

architecture

2012

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Pennsylvania State University [State College, PA] 2010 - present- Master of Architecture – Digital DesignFinal project: Design of a computer controlled interactive façade system

University of Tehran [Tehran, Iran] 2008 - 2010- Master of Architectural Technology

University of Tehran [Tehran, Iran] 2003 –2008- Bachelor of Arts in Architecture

Raheminejad Architects, Tehran, Iran May 2008 to Aug 2009[Junior Designer]Work on commercial complex projects in Arak and Boroujerd, Iran: design of alternatives for structural and technological elements, architectural drawing, 3D modelling, v-ray renderingInterior design projects in Tehran: detailing, architectural drawing, 3D modelling, rendering and presentation

Peykade Consulting Engineers, Tehran, Iran June 2005 – May 2008[Architectural Technician, Part time]Work on residential building complexes, transportation projects (Hashtgerd metro station) and interior restoration projects. Schematic design, conceptual alternatives, architectural drawings, 3D modelling and presentation

Payest Consultants, Tehran, Iran June 2004 to June 2005[Architectural Draftsperson]Work on residential and office projects, Architectural drawings

- Autodesk Revit Architecture - Google Sketchup- Rhinoceros (GrassHopper) - 3D Studio Max - Auto CAD - Vray Rendering- Ecotect Analysis - Vasari Proejct

Computer: Adobe Photoshop - Adobe InDesign - Microsoft Office Suite [Word, Excel, Pow-erpoint]Language: English [fluent in writing and speaking] - Persian [fluent in writing and speaking] - French [intermediate speaker]Others: Freehand drawing and sketching

* Legally authorized to work in the United States starting May 2012.* Reference is available upon request.

MAHZAD TASHAKORI

[Education]

[Work Experience]

[Design Skills]

[Other Skills]

[814] 954 . 2214 mahzad. netmahzad.tashakori@gmail.com

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2005

2007

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2011

2012

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2007

2011

2011

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Zero-Energy House Fall 2011Environmentally Conscious Design

[Concept] Cozy House in winter•Winter sun penetrates all living spaces• The form has maximum south facing surfaces and minimum volume• South façade is mostly glazed and angled to let more sun inside• South façade and south facing roof can be used for using PV cells• Storage and secondary spaces work as barriers in west sides• Thick super insulated walls help keeping the masses warm in winter• Kitchen and living area are design open to provide maximum flex-

ibility

Vasari Results

Electricity EUI: 7 kWh/sf/yrFuel EUI: 4 kWh/sf/yrTotal EUI: 27 kWh/sf/yr

Low Energy Use Intensity is a result of maximum south facing surface, minimum volume inside and proper HVAC system.

Ecotect Results

• Annual Resource Consumption 16 kBtu/sf [below 2030 goal]• Potential PV power output 26 kWh/yr• Calculated household power demand 14 kWh/yr• Grid Feed-in potential 12 kWh/yr

6Vasari model on the Google street view

6Vasari model and wind rose study

6Daylight study in Ecotect for bedrooms

6Sun light penetration in winter solistice

6Shading effect in summer solistice

6Annual Resource Consumption

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5 View from the west showing the trees as barriers to the prevailing winds. The garage and storage spaces are also working as barrier spaces. A green house is designed in front of the garage with south facing windows and skylights that heats up in the winter.

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Mt. Nittany Elementary School

Team Creative.logic

Architecture Mahzad TashakoriLandscape Architecture Laurie DonnachieStructural Engineer Josh ProgarMechanical Engineer Josh WentzLighting/Electrical Engineer Asher HarderConstruction Manager Patrick Laninger

Spring 2011BIM Stuido

The project started with my schematic design and moved through each discipline’s filter to reach to the design development phase. The school is designed with regards to energy efficient strategies to meet LEED Platinum. Energy efficiency has not stopped the building from looking innovative. Its colorful structural fins and the curved shape resembles a playful xylophone.

Northern playground6

BIM studio is an exceptional multi-disciplinary studio project in PennState that involves teams of students from architecture and architectural engineering department. The main goal is to practice cross discipline coordination through using BIM technologies such as Revit suite.

Design of daylighted, vibrant and comfortable spaces for children interactions needed remarkable work on design integration with structure, mechanical systems, lighting design and cost management. The final product of the team is within budget limits, energy efficient, strongly tied with the landscape and visually engaging.

5Xylophone Conept

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Integrated Project Delivery

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The classrooms are the elements a school building is formed around.

Providing appropriate space, easy access for children, uniform daylight as well as an engaging space is of significant importance.

In this design classes are designed along northern and southern wings of the building to supply enough daylight.

The proportion of the classroom rectangle was optimized to provide sufficient daylight depth and provide optimum total length in the building.

The orientation of the classes enabled the designer to create an activity (playing and story telling) area in front and study area and teacher area in the back, further from the possible noise from recess grounds outside.

The ceilings are perforated in a way to accomodate artificial lights and also expose structural and mechanical elements for educational purposes.

The lightshelves and openings towards the atrium improve the light levels and ventilation inside.

5Section perspective through classrooms, utility room in the basement and the atrium 5View to the gathering area in the atrium on the second floor 5View through one of the structutal fins in the play ground showing sun louvers and shades

View to one of the south facing classrooms showing the activity

and study area and the teacher desk in the back6

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Blooming Facade SystemThe Idea is to create solar shading modules that make a second layer of façade for buildings in arid climate of Iran. This system can be mounted on existing mullions of glazing or be built as a twin layered façade.Mechanism- Solar panels can open up and close manually from inside based on the amount of desired shading. Ropes pull the panels out. They are also actuated in the model by SMA wires. In this method heat censors or computers can run the system too.Potentials- are to use PV cells as the panels themselves to store energy and also use thermal sensors in a building management system to control the blooming based on the solar angle in different time and climate. The stored solar energy would run the motor that opens up the panels.Arduino as environmental censor can be effectively used in this system to capture the environmental data and affect the computational model of the facade in the building management system and thus operate the modules.

Spring 2011Facade Systems

5Sectional diagram showing the double skin holding the blooming solar facade modules. Dynamic flaps provide light, shading and ventilation.

5Computer model of the responsive blooming skin

6Detail of the continuous hinge and control mechanism6Plan Detail

6Elevation

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Solar-tracking Building Envelope

Spring 2012Thesis Study

The study on the responsive facade systems developed into the thesis proposal for a sun-tracking building envelope that explores integrating computer-controlled sun-tracking devices into a double-layered facade system.

The parametric computer model is produced in Rhinoceros by Grass-hopper. The light studies are implemented using Geco that integrates Ecotect information in Grasshopper platform.

The system consists of circular PV panels tracking sun three dimension-ally. The panels are connected to the frame with translucent stretchy fabric to create an indirectly lit space inside.

To create a flexible three dimensional tilting PV panel a model was made holding a panel in the center with four steel springs. The panel is fixed at 20 degrees vertical since the sun path is always below a certain level. To control the motion of the panel, plastic strings pull four points of the panel. The strings are directed to the servo through two different reels. By actutating each of four servos the panel tilts to four directions. To ideally control the panel a copmbination of two or three servos should be actuated at the same time.To sense the sun light simple photo sensors are integrated with an Arduino (micro processor) that controls servos. The codes for servo rotation and analog data are taken from open source Arduino codes and is customized for the project.

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Music Center

Each of the three performance halls in this building is designed based on the acoustic requirements of the music played there. The conceptual design is influenced by the abstract concepts of sound waves. Primary sketches are based on three independent sound source representing each hall. The free form and smooth surfaces represent the flexibility and rhythm of the Iranian music in conjunction with fixed structures.Arching tubes work as exterior structual frames holding the shells that enclose the whole building.

6Bird View

Site Plan5

Lobby65Balance in nature and music

Tehran, IranSpring 2009

5Monophonic and Polyphonic Music Graphs

Entrance View 6

First Floor Plan5Three individual sound sources form the halls5

6Formic resemblance to musical waves

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Commercial TowerIn order to accomodiate more light and space in a densely populated building, the

tower is separated into two blocks. The 43 story office building uses two frames of tubular space-frames. Floors above the ground are suspended from

the main frames using large cables instead of conventional columns. This method provided larger clear spans for open office spaces. The frames are separated by a two meter seismic joint, but interior spaces are continuous. There are 12 floors underground accommodating 2,600 parking spaces with four separate ramps and two car elevators. First three floors are designated

to restaurants, shopping center and convention halls. Mechanical facilities are located in the middle of the building on 15th floor for optimum piping and less energy loss.

5Bird View

Cross Section5

3Natural air ventilation and light infiltration through void

Continuous green space from park to street 6

5Specification of the elevation layout

Street view 6

Site Plan 5

Tehran, IranFall 2008

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Tehran, IranSummer 2008

5Open-air Amphitheater5Entrance View

5Brick Assembly 5Wall Section

6Section View

First Floor Plan5

Art MediaCenter

The wave form of this design is influenced by the dynamism and changing nature of media. Two continuous strips are swept and rised up from one side to the other.

The form is consistent with natural elements of the site and therefore, can be used as an urban monument. The main entrance is formed by a transparent link between two strips. Digital library and the lecture hall are under one strip and circular theater, the museum and coffee shops are under the other one. Bricks, a symbol of traditional structures are used in this design using a unique technology. Large precast bricks are reinforced together by post tensioned cable. Insulating layers under the brick surface, control the heat flow and fill in the gaps between bricks.

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Eight EdensCommercial Complex

This complex located in a cold region in West of Iran has an introvert design with very few exterior openings. Lighting is provided through a glass roof over the centeral atrium. Form of the glazing is inspired by an adjacent river. The roof structure is stabilized over a steel trussed arch.Retail units are designed peripheral and linked together with the corridors. The corridors embrace the central atrium. The central atrium provides light, ventilation and visual contact between different floors.

6Section A-A

6First floor plan

6Street View

Boroujerd, IranFall 2008 - Teamwork design / Raheminejad Architects

6Cross Section

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Eight EdensCommercial Complex

6Longitudinal Section

This design was implemented for a conceptual architecture contest in Iran. The main objective was to provide an innovative concept that accomodate various retail/commercial functions within the size and construction restrictions of the urban area. The construction site is a 20,000 square meters land surrounded by residential buildings adjacent to a road and a river. The main circulation axis is inspired by Iranian Bazar layout and openings. The layout brings in more daylight and creates additional social spaces inside the complex.

Karaj, IranWinter 2007 - Teamwork design / Award Winner

6Interior View

5Continuous rise 5Iranian Bazaar

5Public circulation inspired by Bazar model and the urben

texture

5Geometry

6Bird View

6Section D-D

Azimieh Commercial Complex

5Thrid floor plan

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This residential complex located at Elahieh neighborhood in Tehran provides housing to about

200 people in units with one, two and three bedrooms covering a total area of 4,000 square meters. The 72 units are designed in 10 blocks and an entertainment facility. Due to the ground slope, a big challenge was to design the vertical

access, mechanical facilities and to provide enough parkings.

J Block Plan, Two Bedrooms

Tehran, Iran - Elahieh NeighborhoodSpring 2007

Section

Z Form Characteristics

5Indirect View

Sun and Wind Exposure

5Different Living Zones

Residential Complex

5Court yard

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Hand Sketches 2002-2005

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MAHZAD TASHAKORI [814]954.2214mahzad.netmahzad.tashakori@gmail.com

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