ISSU portfolio

M A T T H E W R O N G A
P O R T F O L I O

F I R E H O U S E
The objective of this project was to develop the new Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, Station
44 in the Hill district. The facility was required to house a crew of 30 firefighters as well
as three fire chiefs and three lieutenants. The new station needed to serve as a
gathering point, landmark, and safe haven for the area residents and surrounding
neighborhoods and provide an inclusive, welcoming space of civic and community
pride.
My project underwent many revisions over the course of the semester as I strived to
create a space in the core of the fire house that would embody these elements of
community, breeding social interaction among firefighters, chiefs, lieutenants, and
members of the community visiting the space. This space ended up manifesting in the
form of a multitstory, multipurpose amenity space in the heart of the station. Once this
feature was established the rest of the project soon fell into place with a heavy focus
on site design as well as circulation.

Apparatus Bay
5 1

+1132
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1:11
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7
6 Bioretention Garden
5
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1
F I R E H O U S E
+1162' - 0"
+1159' - 3"
Outdoor Recreation Area
F.F Residential
+1149' - 6"
Apparatus Bay
+1135' - 6"
+1126' - 0"
ighter ammenity, and community spaces
+1132
Community Parking
1:40
+1132
+1130 1/2
1:5
+1132 1/2
+1126
+1126 +1135
Firefighter entrance
Community entrance 1 (to intermediary floor above bathrooms)
Workshop (162 sqft)
Decontamination Laundry
+1126 +1126
Emergency medical supply/
SCBA
+1126
Dining
+1126
Bathroom 1
Bathroom 2
Quiet room/office +1126
+1126
+1126
+1135
+1136 1/2
Community entrance 2 (to intermediary floor above bathrooms)
+1138
Kitchen
+1126
Storage
+1126
+1126
Lobby
+1126
Apparatus Bay
+1126
Community
+1126
Fitness
+1126 Community entry vestibule
Firefigther entry vestibule
+1126
Alarm Room
+1126
Laundry
+1126
Basketball
+1126
1:5
Bus Stop
Site Plan
1/16" = 1'
5 10
20
40

+1148 3/4
Officer Suite Bathroom
Seating/Rest Area
Reading Room
Second Level Community
Lockable Storage
Kitchen
Heat Pump Room
1/16 Building Model
Bioretention Garden
+1126
Fire fighter entrance
+1126
+1135
Community entrance 1
Office
+1148 3/4
Bedroom
+1148 3/4
+
F.F Sleeping Quarters
+1148 3/4
F.F Sleeping Quarters
+1148 3/4
Lockable storage
Bathroom
+1148 3/4
Amenity space
+1148 3/4
+1126
Bathroom
+1148 3/4
Bathrooms
+1148 3/4
Lockable storage
+1148 3/4
F.F Sleeping Quarters
+1148 3/4
Office
+1148 3/4
Bedroom
Firefigther entry vestibule
+1126
F.F Sleeping Quarters
+1148 3/4
F.F Sleeping Quarters
+1148 3/4
1/8 Structural Model
Second Floor Plan
1/16" = 1'
1:11
Basketball
+1126
5 10
20
40

F I R E H O U S E

B A T H O U S E

The objective of this project was to create a bathhouse in New York City that would
appeal to residents in the surrounding neighborhood as well attract non-residents. The
site is located on the East River, in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan; a
neighborhood which, from my observations on site, could be characterized by the narrow
streets consisting of long stretches of continuous brick facade.
Taking this into consideration, I wanted to symbolically open up this facade to expose a
more natural space, one that I hoped would provide a striking contrast to the
surrounding buildings.

B A T H O U S E

4th Floor
3rd Floor
2nd Floor
1st Floor

B O A T H O U S E
The objective for this project was to create a boathouse from
which visitors could rent and launch boats. The site assigned was
located in Bald Eagle State Park, a park local to State College,
which consists of a large lake surrounded by miles of forests. The
boathouse was to be built on a small strip of land on the edge of
the lake, accompanied by a dock and/or boat launch. As this may
imply, one of the challenges we were faced with when designing
was having to find a way to incorporate the essence of the lake
into our building through the form of our structure.
I looked to approach this challenge in my design by creating a
structural system that would allow me to cantilever large CLT
members on top of the two buildings, in hopes of creating the
illusion that the buildings were hovering above the water's
surface, similar to a Bald Eagle hovering above the surface of a
lake.

B O A T H O U S E

E U R O P E A N
C A F E
The objective of this project was to create a cafe that would bridge the gap between the academic and residential p
College. The site is located between these two parts of town, on College Avenue, a street that runs through the
downtown area. As a result, one of the challenges we were faced with when designing was having both the univers
residential scale in mind, bringing people from both areas together in a cohesive space.
I took on this challenge by creating a cafe made up of two very distinct sections. The side closer to the university re
campus, with the ceiling raised higher and the plan allowing for the free flow of people through the space. The side
residential part of town reflects aspects of the residential neighborhoods, following a more rigid separation of spac
ceilings. I chose to unite these two spaces by creating a staircase/ramp system that would ease the difference in he
while also creating a space for performers and the general gathering of people.

arts of State
ity and
flects aspects of
closer to the
e and lower
ight on the site,

E U R O P E A N
C A F E
CAFE del MONDO

Bathroom 2
Bathroom 1
Urban Outfitters
Harpers
Office
Pantry
Kitchen
Counter
College Avenue

T R A I N
S T A T I O N
The objective of this project was to create a train station in the city of Pueblo, Colorado that would not
only replace the historic Pueblo Union Depot, damaged beyond repair in the Pueblo Flood of 1921, but
also serve as a hub for the community. I decided that I would keep both of these factors in mind when
creating my proposal and really wanted to find a way to both physically and symbolically connect the
Arkansas River (the catalyst in the Pueblo Flood of 1921) to downtown Pueblo.
I decided that the simplest way to achieve this would be to model my building after a traditional truss
bridge, notorious for helping to expand the rail system in the United States. This form proved to be
beneficial in that it allowed for easy circulation from the street to the second track, which according to
the brief could only be accessed from above or below, via tunnel.
One of the other interesting design choices I made was adding a shallow reflecting pool below the
upper portion of the building and underneath part of the program on the first floor. I made this choice in
hopes of reinforcing the symbolism of the bridge as well as creating a source of passive cooling through
the use of evaporative cooling. I chose to designate the area surrounding this water feature as retail
space in the form of light weight booths that can be occupied seasonally by local vendors.

5'
1
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3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
5'
5'
36 37 38 39 40
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10
5'
1
1
2
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5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
27 28 29 30 31 32 33
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
5'
5'
34
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A B C D E F G H
A B C
D E F G H
1
1
Restaurant
+4787
2
2
3
3
4
4
Ticket sales
+4754
1:12 Up
5
5
6
8
Up 7:12
6
8
10
Bathroom
+4754
Up
1:12
10
Bathroom
+4787
Up 1:12
Seasonal Retail
+4754
Seasonal Retail
+4754
Seasonal Retail
+4754
Seasonal Retail
+4754
Bathroom
+4754
Seasonal Retail
+4754
Seasonal Retail
+4754
Bathroom
+4787
11
11
11
11
Mechanical Room
(for AHUs)
+4787
Up 7:12
12
12
Entrance Hall
+4787
Entrance Hall
+4754
Seasonal Retail
+4754
Seasonal Retail
+4754
13
13
Pueblo Railway M
14
14
15
15
Seasonal Retail
+4754
Seasonal Retail
+4754
16
Security
+4754
Up 7:12
16
Up 7:12
Security
+4787
17
17
18
18
19
Waiting
+4754
19
Mechanical Room
(heat pump for R.F)
Security
+4787
20
20
Up 7:12
21
Up 7:12
21
Up 7:12
22
Up 7:12
22
S.W Chief Line
23
23
24
24
Front Range Line 1
1
Up 7:12
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Up 7:12
25
26
12
13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
27
40
Up 7:12
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39
Up 7:12
1 2 3 4 5
25
26
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 38 39
27
40
40
28
28
29
Front Range Line 2
29
30
30
Scale 1/8th
Scale 1/8th
N
N
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan

T R A I N
S T A T I O N
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12
4791' - 0"
4781' - 0"
4777' - 0"
4764' - 0"
4758' - 6"
Scale 1/8th
N
31 28 27 26 25 24
23
22
21
20 19
18 17 16 15
4791' - 0"
4781' - 0"
Outdoor obsevation deck
Waiting
Stairs to Front Range
Platforms
Waiting
Stairs to Southwest
Cheif Platform
Mechanical
4777' - 0"
4764' - 0"
4758' - 6"
Waiting
Scale 1/8th
N

13
T R A I N S T A T I O N
A B
C D E F G H
A B C D E F G H
A B C D E F G
7' - 0" 9' - 8" 4' - 8" 5' - 4" 3' - 0" 6' - 6" 7' - 0"
7' - 0" 9' - 8" 4' - 8" 5' - 4" 3' - 0" 6' - 6" 7' - 0"
7' - 0" 9' - 8" 4' - 8" 5' - 4" 3' - 0" 6' - 6"
1
1
1
H
7' - 0"
12' - 6"
12' - 6"
12' - 6"
2
2
2
9' - 8"
9' - 8"
T.O Slab
4760' - 0"
9' - 8"
T.O Slab
4777' - 0"
3
3
W 16 by 26
3
6' - 3"
4
16' - 0"
5
9' - 0"
6
6' - 3"
4
16' - 0"
5
9' - 0"
6
T.O.C 4759" - 6"
W 10x50
T.O.C 4759" - 6"
W 10x50
T.O.C 4759" - 6"
W 10x50
W 16 by 26
4" corrugated
metal deck w.
2" concrete
topping
T.O.C 4759" - 6"
W 10x50
W 16 by 26
6' - 3"
4
16' - 0"
5
9' - 0"
6
4 foot deep truss
16" prestressed
hollowcore
planks
4" by 45"
4 foot deep truss
7' - 0"
T.O Slab
4750' - 0"
7' - 0"
T.O Slab
4760' - 0"
7' - 0"
T.O Slab
4777' - 0"
8
8
8
16' - 0"
10
16' - 0"
10
W 16 by 26
16' - 0"
10
16' - 0"
11
3' - 0"
11
All footings in this portion of
the foundation plan are 6 and
a half feet below the rest of
the footings. This accounts for
2 and a half feet of water, a
foot of concrete at the bottom
of the water feature, and
another 3 feet seperating the
footings from the bottom of
concrete bathtub above.
16' - 0"
11
3' - 0"
11
W 16 by 26
16' - 0"
11
3' - 0"
11
12
13' - 0"
12
13' - 0"
W 16 by 26
W 16 by 26
12
13' - 0"
16' - 0"
T.O Slab
4750' - 0"
16' - 0"
13
T.O.C 4759" - 6"
W 10x50
W 16 by 26
W 16 by 26
T.O Slab
4760' - 0"
16' - 0"
13
T.O Slab
4777' - 0"
13' - 0"
14
3' - 0"
15
13' - 0"
14
3' - 0"
15
T.O.C 4759" - 6"
W 10x50
W 16 by 26
W 16 by 26
13' - 0"
14
3' - 0"
15
4 foot deep truss
4 foot deep truss
16' - 0"
16' - 0"
16' - 0"
16
4' - 0"
17
2' - 6"
18
16
4' - 0"
17
2' - 6"
18
W 16 by 26
W 16 by 26
16
4' - 0"
17
2' - 6"
18
9' - 8"
9' - 8"
9' - 8"
19
19
T.O Slab
19
T.O Slab
4760' - 0"
4777' - 0"
16' - 0"
20
3' - 0"
21
16' - 0"
20
3' - 0"
21
16' - 0"
20
3' - 0"
21
4 foot deep truss
4 foot deep truss
14' - 0"
14' - 0"
14' - 0"
22
22
22
15' - 3"
15' - 3"
15' - 3"
23
23
23
16' - 0"
16' - 0"
T.O Slab
4760' - 0"
16' - 0"
T.O Slab
4777' - 0"
24
24
24
14' - 0"
25
3' - 0"
26
14' - 0"
25
3' - 0"
26
4" corrugated
metal deck w.
2" concrete
topping
14' - 0"
25
3' - 0"
26
16" prestressed
hollowcore
planks
4" by 45"
9' - 0"
9' - 0"
9' - 0"
27
3' - 0"
28
3' - 0"
29
27
3' - 0"
28
3' - 0"
29
27
3' - 0"
28
3' - 0"
29
16' - 0"
16' - 0"
16' - 0"
30
30
30
Foundation Plan
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan

7' - 0"
A
7' - 0"
B
9' - 8"
C D E F G H
4' - 8" 5' - 4" 3' - 0" 6' - 6" 7' - 0"
Structural Strategy
1
12' - 6"
2
9' - 8"
3
6' - 3"
4
10 foot tall perimeter truss
W 16 by 26
T.O.C 4786" - 6"
W 10x50
T.O Slab
4787' - 0"
The first floor my proposal is structured independently of the second floor. The first floor structure consist
of of W 10 by 50 steel columns with W 16 by 26 steel beams.
The second floor is supported by reinforced concrete cores rather than columns. And rather than
spanning the short dimension using steel beams I chose to use 45 by 4 foot 16 in thick hollowcore
planks. These planks rest on top of steel trusses positioned inbetween the concrete cores in the long
direction.
The roof of the second floor is supported by two large steel and or concrete trusses that runs along the
perimeter of the second floor in the long direction.
16' - 0"
5
9' - 0"
6
8
16' - 0"
10
16' - 0"
11
3' - 0"
11
W 16 by 26
W 16 by 26
W 16 by 26
W 16 by 26
T.O.C 4786" - 6"
W 10x50
T.O.C 4786" - 6"
W 10x50
4" corrugated
metal deck w.
2" concrete
topping
T.O Slab
4787' - 0"
I also have yet to decide whether or not I want to use the hollowcore planks again for the roof to remove
the need for columns or whether a thinner metal deck would be more appropriate. If I chose metal deck
for the roof this would obviously require me to add columns.
Hollowore Plank
I like the choice of prestressed hollowcore plank to support the second level because it reduces the
need to for steel beams and allows for a more compact section.
The typical size of each plank is 4 by 50 with the exception of a few planks that vary. While this may
seem too big for transport I figure that there may be some way trains can be used to transport these
pieces to the site.
1' - 4"
0' - 1" 0' - 6" 0' - 11" 2' - 6"
13' - 0"
12
W 16 by 26
16' - 0"
T.O.C 4786" - 6"
W 10x50
T.O Slab
4787' - 0"
13
W 16 by 26
13' - 0"
14
3' - 0"
15
W 16 by 26
T.O.C 4786" - 6"
W 10x50
16' - 0"
T.O.C 4786" - 6"
W 10x50
16
4' - 0"
17
2' - 6"
18
9' - 8"
19
W 16 by 26
W 16 by 26
T.O.C 4786" - 6"
W 10x50
T.O Slab
4787' - 0"
16' - 0"
W 16 by 26
20
3' - 0"
21
10 foot tall perimeter truss
14' - 0"
22
15' - 3"
W 16 by 26
23
16' - 0"
W 16 by 26
24
10 foot tall perimeter truss
14' - 0"
4" corrugated
metal deck w.
2" concrete
topping
25
3' - 0"
26
9' - 0"
27
3' - 0"
28
3' - 0" W 16 by 26
29
16' - 0"
W 16 by 26
30
Roof Plan
T.O.C 4786" - 6"
W 10x50
T.O.C 4786" - 6"
W 10x50
T.O.C 4786" - 6"
W 10x50
T.O Slab
4787' - 0"
Assignment 4 Structure

13 14
15 16 17
18 19 20 21
22 4
24 25 26 27 28 31
Southeast Elevation
14 13 12 11
10 9
8 7 6
5 4 3 2
1
Mechanical
Bathrooms
Lobby for elevator and ramp
Restaurant
Bathrooms
Ticket sales
Entry
Vestibule
Section from Road to River

O T H E R
PRECEDENT STUDY
The following are documents from a group precedent study of a sauna in Gothenburg,
Sweden. My contribution to the group consisted of documents that analyzed the
materiality and structure of the buildings within the complex.

CHAIR DESIGN
The objective of this project was to create and produce a chair made of laminated
wood members. The document below shows the joinery and members that were
required for our chair as well as the assembly of each component. Below that are two
of the laminated wooden members we produced as a group.