This document provides information about Nolan Daniel Fike, including his education, employment history, skills, and architectural projects. It summarizes his role in building Alaska's first rammed earth structure in 2015 as part of a student team. It also outlines his current role on the Studio 804 design/build team constructing a residential project in Lawrence, Kansas pursuing LEED Platinum certification. His responsibilities for the project include thermal and moisture protection.

1. n o l a n d a n i e l f i k e
design and construction portfolio

2. nolan
daniel
fike
graduate architecture student
.
m. arch candidate 2016
.
unversity of kansas
.
785.477.3344
.
nolandfike@gmail.com
.
address_1414tennessee apt b
lawrence, ks 66044

3. employment
studio_804 design build
designing and building an innovative and sustainable residence
thermal+moisture protection specialist . LEED certification leader
lawrence, kansas
08.2015 - current
rammed earth technician
assistant in the first rammed earth structure in alaska
mix specialist . earth ram specialist
palmer, alaska
06.2015 - 08.2015
school of architecture shop technician
assisting students use university tools
carpentry shop . laser cutter . cnc milling machine . 3d printer
university of kansas lawrence campus
02.2013 - current
maintenance technician
preservation of rock bottom farms
masonry . drywall . landscape . carpentry
tecumseh, kansas
05.2013 - current
butte rammed earth house . 2015
1200 penn (current project) . 2016
designbuild interactive installation . 2013
KU sustainable prototype . 2015
c o n t e n t s
2015 winner of the people’s choice
award water charrette
1301 new york LEED platinum
certified in 2015
1301 new york PHIUS certified
certified in 2016
marvin hall forum LEED platinum
certified in 2016
1200 pennsylvania LEED
currently pursuing platinum
certification
project is to be completed 05.2016
volunteer judge at seven different
high school forensics tournaments
volunteer at greenbuild 2014 and
greenbuild 2015
volunteer in historic green’s
rennovation of the lower 9th ward,
new orleans
previous president of the KU chapter
USGBC
previous events coordinator of the
KU chapter USGBC
volunteer radio dj at kjhk
volunteeringawards/certifications
skills
adobe illustrator
adobe indesign
adobe photoshop
autocad
autocad revit
google sketchup
rhino
microsoft office
carpentry
drawing
digital fabrication
steve padget
university of kansas architecture professor
spadget@ku.edu
paola sanguinetti
chair of the school of architecture, design,
and planning at the university of kansas
paolas@ku.edu
bly windstorm
president at earth dwell ltd.
bly@earthdwell.com
references

4. b u t t e r a m m e d e a r t h h o u s e

5. in 2012, the aleutian housing authority of anchorage,
alaskasetacompetitiontoarchitectsanddesignersin
north america to create a prototype for housing that
would meet the living building challenge standards.
the winning project would be built and tested if
suitable for housing on the aleutian islands.
bly windstorm’s proposal was the clear winner.
his use of rammed earth would cut down on material
transportation to the islands and reduce the carbon
footprint of construct through limited use of cement.
in 2015, eight students were selected to build alaska’s
first rammed earth structure.
the prototype would test the thermal qualities of
rammed earth in alaska’s unusual climate, material
durability, and project duration.
p a l m e r , a k
client: aleutian housing authority
contractor: bly windstorm
interns:
nolan d fike
michael burch
kim mckeever
alex wolfrum
maria guerrero
maryam al-taweel
jon harper
zane troutman

6. palmer, ak
the project site is nestled between
mountains, on the crux of two rivers, 40
miles northeast of anchorage, ak.
it is known as the matanuska valley area.
site condition upon arrival.
the soil below the organic level matched
the color of the concrete footings.
thousands of years of running water had
turned the soil into a cobbly, silt loam.

7. exterior walls were to be 2’ thick, consisting of two 8”
layers of structural rammed earth with two layers of 4”
rigid foam insulation between.
electrical conduit and imbedded thermal sensors ran
through the interior rammed earth layer, terminating at
the top of the wall, to be continued through the ceiling of
the house.
the exterior walls were completed under the contractor
bly windstorm and the interns. the remainder of the
construction was completed by another party.
each corner was completed first, with the infill following.
walls were completed in segments, for a total of eleven
segments.

8. prior to construction, several color and
compression tests were executed.
red and yellow pigments were added to determine
the desired pallette for the walls. once a specific
ratio and amount of pigment was configured, a
larger prototype was constructed and rammed to
confirm the desired color.
once the mix was conceived, several cyllinders of
the rammed mix were sent to a local university
to undergo compression testing. with each batch
of soil delivered, new compression tests were
required to assure the strenth of the wall would
remain the same.
the recipe:
aggregate 3/8” (9 parts)
sand (11 parts)
fines/rock dust (2 parts)
cement (1.5 parts)
red and yellow pigments (6 lbs)
xypex/sealant (1 lbs)
water (added by touch and sense)
* 1 part is ~2.5ga

10. the rammed earth portion of the
residence was completed in late
september, 2015. for the next two
years, the insulative quality of the
walls will be monitored and studied.

11. 1 2 0 0 p e n n _ s t u d i o 8 0 4

12. dan rockhill has taught studio 804 for over 20 years.
primarily residential and university projects, this
studio has been recognized globally for both design,
innovation, and sustainability. in the program’s 21st
year, 18 students under the guidance of professor
rockhill have started construction on a residence in
east lawrence while pursuing their 9th straight LEED
platinum home.
“1200 penn” is the unofficial name given to the house
by the students, located at the corner of 12th and
pennsylvania street in a historic neighborhood of
lawrence, kansas.
each student is given multiple responsibilities on the
firstdayofwork.allresponsibilitiesoftheconstruction
need to be covered, including finances, marketing,
certfication, and each element of the project.
the responsibilities chosen by me include thermal
protection, moisture protection, and LEED
certification.
l a w r e n c e , k s professor: dan rockhill
students:
nolan d fike
christopher crawford
chandler hanna
ragan allen
vincent graceffa
max wurster
alyssa johnston
alison wilke
taylor pickman
kashish syeda
suraiya mymuna
justin morgan
cammie lewis-holiday
michael lavanier
james defries
peter ryan
michael defries
kayleen lindstrom

13. in the studio 804 program,
each student is responsible for engaging in every
debate, decision, discussion, and design of the
project.
each student is to be held accountable for their
selected responsibilites of the project.
each student is to be of assistance in any way possible
during each phase of design and construction.
without communication and cooperation, this studio
would fail.

14. the 1200 penn is a 75’x117’ corner lot, allowing the studio to incorporate
southern exposure, a gracious courtyard, and copious street appeal.
one long form connects to a smaller enclosure with a detached garage
to frame an interior courtyard.
strategically locating window placement in each room in addition to a
thin layout encourages cross ventilation in each room. large windows
with no overhanging shades on the south side provides passive solar
gain during the winter months.

15. as a new construction project in a historic neighborhood, students
of 804 needed to submit the final form of the house to the historic
resources committtee. from the exterior, the home is designed with
the intention of conforming to the local venacular with a modern twist.
a gable roof with standing-seam metal roofing and wooden siding was
agreed upon among the students, as several houses in the immediate
vicinity held the same properties. this house individualizes itself
through intricate design of detail and attention to material.

16. due to the extreme variation of kansas weather and high humidity,
a complex wall section was developed with multiple layers. from the
interior, a smart vapor retarder is installed that contracts in the winter
to protect from condensation and expands during the summer to
alleviate moisture in the walls.
the vapor retarder provides support for the dry-blown cellulose in the
2x6” stud wall, sheathed with OSB. the sheathing is coated in a liquid
applied air and water barrier to prevent moisture in the stud wall. foil-
faced polyiso insulation is attached to the coated sheathing, with a
protective vaproshield that acts a drainage plane for the rainscreen.
responsibilities:
understand moisture protection in all elements of construction
design a wall section that withstands the kansas climate
design a wall section with high insulative properties
research various products
acquire appropriate products
lead the studio in the installation of each product and layer
thermal and moisture protection

17. products acquired and installed:
underslab vapor barrier:
stego vapor barrier
interior vapor retarder:
intello plus
air and water barrier:
prosoco cat-5 system
ice and water shield:
wr grace ice&water ht
drainage plane:
vaproshieldrevealshield
interior insulation:
central fiber cellulose
exterior insulation:
hunter xci foil
roof insulation:
hunter xci nb

18. products donated:
underslab vapor barrier:
stego vapor barrier
interior vapor retarder:
intello plus
air and water barrier:
prosoco cat-5 system
ice and water shield:
wr grace ice&water ht
drainage plane:
vaproshieldrevealshield
exterior insulation:
hunter xci foil
roof insulation:
hunter xci nb
responsibilities fulfilled:
• an understanding of moisture protection in the kansas climate
• a developed wall system to withstand kansas climate
• acquired donations of all products
• successful installations:
underslab vapor barrier
ice and water shield
air and water barrier
exterior insulation
rainscreen drainage plane
interior vapor retarder
blown-in cellulose
projected r-values:
walls - R32
roof - R52
projected product savings:
$7,200

19. responsibilities:
understand the LEED reference guide for homes v4
research sustainable systems listed in the guide
collaborate with teams to incorporate sustainable systems in their designs
complete a preliminary scorecard for a projected score
contact a local green rater and set meeting times
register the 1200 penn project online
collaborate with selected green rater and other LEED AP architects
maximize potential points for the 1200 penn project
ensuresustainablemeasuresaretakenandimplementedduringconstruction
document each effort during the construction process
complete the homes v4 workbook
finalize documentation for each credit
submit final workbook with documentation
*finalize certification for previous projects (see next page)
1301 new york
project type: residence
certification: LEED platinum, PHIUS certified
year: 2015
assistance:
submission of material transactions
finalized workbook for LEED
correspondance with LEED official from the project
correspondance with LEED green rater
completed solar pathfinder study with analysis
correspondance with PHIUS offical from the project
LEED platinum certification 09.2015
PHIUS cerftification 02.2016
the forum
project type: university auditorium
certification: LEED platinum
year: 2014
assistance:
submission of material database index
submission of furniture documentation
finalized workbook for LEED
correspondance with LEED official from the project
correspondance with LEED green rater
LEED platinum certification 01.2016
LEED certification

20. located in a densely populated neighborhood
walking/cycling access to over 20 community resources
access to public transit
built on a previously developed site
no invasive plants
native midwest plantings
reduced heat island effect
integrated bioswale for rainwater management
reduced construction pollution
low-flow water fixtures
xeriscaped landscaping
reduced energy use
cross-ventilated design
advanced utility tracking
ENERGYSTAR rated appliances
high efficiency lighting
integrated solar panels
salvaged marble countertops and western red cedar siding
FSC certified wood for all framing
locally sourced concrete and insulation
postconsumer recycled cellulose insulation
reduced construction waste
enhanced whole-house ventilation
low-emitting products and finishes
sustainable features

21. responsibilities fulfilled:
• educated fellow students about the LEED reference guide for homes v4
• researched sustainable systems to be implemented
• integrated LEED measures into every aspect of the project
• completed a preliminary scorecard (projected score 84/110)
• appointed a green rater for the project
• registered 1200 penn project at leedonline.com
• held a meeting with local LEED APs to discuss ideas
• increased total points on scorecard to 92.5/110
• currenton-goingdocumentationandimplementationofLEEDstrategies
• finalized two LEED platinum projects and one PHIUS project
• implemented sustainable features (so far):
located in a densely populated neighborhood
access to over 20 community resources
access to public transit
built on a previously developed site
reduced heat island effect through high albedo roof and concrete
integrated bioswale through gutter system
reduced construction pollution through silt fencing
reducedenergyusethroughpassivesolardesignandheavyinsulation
cross-ventilated design with operable windows
donated ENERGYSTAR appliances
installation of salvaged western red cedar siding
FSC certified wood through local lumber yard
aggregate in concrete sourced within 30 miles of site
cellulose insulation sourced within 30 miles of site
reduced waste through university recycling center
projected score : 92.5/110
pursuing a LEED platinum certification

22. 1200 penn is still under construction.
it is expected to be complete at the end of april, 2016.

23. d e s i g n b u i l d i n t e r a c t i v e i n s t a l l a t i o n

24. in the summerof 2012,the university of kansas school
of architecture, proposed the idea of constructing a
new facade onto one of the school’s facilities.
school of architecture, design, and planning
chairperson, paola sanguinetti entered an agreement
with zahner metals of kansas city.
zahner partnered with an architecture studio to assist
in fabricating a metal facade in accordance to their
designs.
under paola’s instruction, a studio of sixteen students
conceived three metal facade proposals to zahner
over the course of eight weeks.
following their guidance, the three designs
consolidated into one and produced an interactive
installation on university of kansas’ campus.
l a w r e n c e , k s professor: paola sanguinetti
partner: zahner metals
seating:
morgan tade
stephen howell
nolan d fike
colleen goodwin
jessica rae
structure:
connor rollins
jake banton
andrew mechler
ashley weber
taylor monsees
perforations and lighting:
daniel gregory
macrina abdouch
ashley parks
turbine development:
kathleen ireland
bakary suso
nathaniel flanagin

26. 1/8”
SCREWS
L BRACKET
TURBO SYSTEM
CURVED WALL
INSTALLATION
SCHOOL OF
ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN AND
PLANNING
DESIGN FOR
FABRICATION
STUDIO
IN COLLABORATION WITH
Z A H N E R
PROJECT NAME
DATE
DRAWN BY
SHEET NUMBER
PAOLA SANGUINETTI
A35
A R C H 4 0 9
1 KU BENCH FIN TO FIN CONNECTION DIAGRAMS
NOT TO SCALE
17”
27”
13.5”
17”
115
2 1/2”
1 13/16”
1 1/2X1 1/2”
11/2”
1 1/2”
17”
2 BENCH PLY. GRIDDED 1X1”PROFILE
SCALE: 2”= 1’
3 KU BENCH MIDDLE PROFILE CUTOUTS
SCALE: 2”= 1’
4 KU BENCH BRACING DIMENSIONS
SCALE: 2”= 1’
1/8”
SCREWS
1/8”
SCREWS
5 KU BENCH PROFILE ELEVATION SECTION
(NOT TO SCALE)
8 KU BENCH PLAN
(NOT TO SCALE)
6 KU BENCH FRONT ELEVATION
(NOT TO SCALE)
7 KU BENCH PROFILE ELEVATION
(NOT TO SCALE)
9 KU BENCH FRONT ELEVATION EXPLODED
(NOT TO SCALE)
NOLAN FIKE
SPRING 2013

28. PLACE
MATERIALS
EQUITY
HEALTH
+
HAPPINESS
ENERGY
WATER
BEAUTY
K U s u s t a i n a b l e p r o t o t y p e

29. spring of 2015 included the comprehensive studio
every student needs to take before their final year. in
the studio, students are to learn as much as possible
in order to attain the education necessary before
professional practice.
under the guidance of steve padget, fourteen
students designed three separate multi-use facilities
to be utilized by the university of kansas.
theproposedbuildingisintendedtobeanambassador
for the sustainable goals set by the university of
kansas.
the project must meet the living building challenge
standards.
the project must comply with the sustainable goals
set by “Building Sustainable Traditions”, a document
written by the university center for sustainability.
l a w r e n c e , k s
professor: steve padget
team members:
nolan d fike
christopher crawford
chandler hanna
taylor pickman
josh ostermann
SITE

34. t h a n k y o u .