The document describes Xu Zhang's portfolio of architecture projects. It includes 5 projects from their academic studies: a renovation of the Harold Washington Library incorporating a "tree" concept with roots, trunk and crown functions; a study of woodworking and brick/concrete materials; a community center design for Garfield Park, Chicago to reduce crime; and a path design along the ancient Roman Aurelian Wall inspired by epic poetry form. The portfolio demonstrates the student's growing skills and knowledge in architecture through academic coursework focusing on materials, community design, and engaging with historical context.

1. Xu Zhang
Architecture
P o r t f o l i o

2. CONTENTS
01
GROWING TREE
No matter at dusk how long the tree shadow is,
the shadow is always together with the root.
02
ARCHITECTURE AND CRAFT
If you are ever stuck for inspiration,
ask your materials for advice.
03
GARFIELD PARK COMMUNITY CENTER
There comes a time when sun’s advancing,
dispels the dark night and brings the light.
04
ODE IN ROME
Rome was not built in a day.
05
OTHER WORKS

3. 4 5
Growing Tree
Harold Washington Library Renovation
No matter at dusk how long the tree shadow is, the shadow is always together with the root. -Rabindranath Tagore
Chicago, Illinois.
Architecture Studio 8
Time: 2015.01- 2015.04
Category: Academic Design, Team Work
Collaborator: Yoeun Chung, Xu Zhang, Weijia Wu, Jihun Kwon
Instructor: Peter Landon
Harold Washington Library is an existing library sitting on the State Street, Chicago,
Illinois. To renovate the library and make it advance with the times, it was redesigned
in a sustainable ‘tree’ concept. The tree has the root to glean nutrition from the earth,
the trunk to support the whole structure, and the crown to serve the earth and create
the sustainable cycle. For the library, the public space on the lower floor and the
underground archive museum work as the root, the library middle core works as the
trunk, and the upper floor for hostels and art studios works as the crown.
To renovate the library with the traditional facade, opening small
windows is one of the methods. When considering the big change of the
building exterior, the facade of seattle public library was compared to
our project.
Case study is always an important preparing progress before starting
the design. By dividing the library vertically into 6 parts, there are 6
different exsiting works to look at. For example, seattle public library is a
successful case because of the opening public space.
54

4. 6 7
SITE
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
Third Floor Plan
The Harold Washington Library is located on the State St, Chicago,
IL. The State Street is one of the main street in Chicago, which has
the commercial shopping area along the street. Also within 10
minutes walk, the main area for tourists with Art Institute of
Chicago and Millenium Park is easy to access to. Its location
brings not only the surrounding neighborhoods,
but also tourists and residents from the other
areas in the city to the library.
1. STUDY ROOM 2. MEETING AREA 3. PASSAGE 4. CLASSROOM 5. LOUNGE 6.BOOKSHELVES 7.OFFICE 8.CAFETERIA
1. EXHIBITION 2. LECTURE ROOM 3. LOUNGE 4. MEETING AREA 5. RESTING AREA 6.BOOKSHELVES 7.OFFICE 8.CAFETERIA
1. BOOKSHELVES 2. SITTING AREA 3. CLASSROOM 4. LOUNGE 5.OFFICE

5. 8 9
GATHERING PLATFORM
Top floor includes the artist
studios, the reading garden and
the small scale classrooms. The
classrooms are flexible in their size
s and provide various programs
involving the artists.
PERFORMANCE PLATFORM
Per formance space is used
mainly as a classic music play
or silent dancing regularly. The
stage is sometimes rented to the
community high school for the
school play.
EVENT PLATFORM
Special lecture or small scale
event happens here. When there
is no event, the space is used as a
reading space.
EXHIBITION PLATFORM
Various type of exhibitions which
are opened to public happens
regularly.
READING PLATFORM
Reading platform connects with
the upper roof top garden. The
space is utilized mostly as a
reading space.
CINEMA PLATFORM
Media art/ films are played at the
small auditorium in the middle. It
is also used as a lecture room or
a reading space when there is no
event.
Main Library Core
Cafeteria and Resting Area
Children's Activity Stair

6. 10 1110
Before renovation, the library is a
closed building with completely
finished facade and huge doors.
After renovation, the first two floors
are open to the public. The materials
are changed from stone and brick
to glass and steel. It will provide the
better human scale to the users.
The exterior facade of the library is
redesigned from the traditional wall
with arches to the new modern glass
wall. It saves parts of the old blocks
of the old wall and creates a gradient
facade.
As the old Harold Washington
Library has an classical iconic
roof, the new design has a modern
iconic roof constructed by clean
geometries.
After making the lower floors of the
library open to the streets, people
can access to the library from
different directions.
The program is divided into 3 cores:
basic library core, technical core
and art core. The basic library core
is used as the basic reading area.
The technical core contains more
advanced methods to transit the
information. The art core is a free
space for art creation.
The park which is connected to
the library is redesigned to be an
underground archive library. And
the library also has the path to access
to the library below the streets.
11

7. 12 13
From opening spaces
between the floors, people
can see the activities
of each other and the
communication increases.
The library is connected
to the CTA platform with
the program of cafeteria in
between.
The facade facing the
CTA station is replaced
by the opening glass
wall.
An archive library
is designed under
the original park
connected to library.
The library has the
opening space on the
lower floor for different
possible activities.
The space connected
to the top floor of the
building is mostly used
for art purpose.

8. 14 15
Architecture and Craft
Part 1: Wood
If you are ever stuck for inspiration, ask your materials for advice. -Louis Kahn
Chicago, Illinois.
Architecture Studio 3
Time: 2012.09- 2014.11
Category: Academic Design, Individual Work
Instructor: Elizabeth Williams
In the College of Architecture in IIT, it continues the old teaching tradition
brought by Mies van de Rohe from Bauhaus, Germany- Students start learning
architecture from learning materials. Wood is the first material for IIT students
to learn. During the progress of working with the real wood material and
studying at the wood structure, the cognition of architecture started to be built.
After one-year professional training in woodshop, woodwork also becomes the
strongest modeling method. Bauhaus Architecture Teaching System
Project 1: Wood Joints
Workshop1: Wood Case Study
Workshop2: Light Wood Framing
Project 2: A Hide Blind in Burnham Park
Project 3: A Cabin in Woods a. Tenon and Mortise Joint b. Basic Tenon and Mortise Joint c. Chinese Tenon and Mortise Joint for Corner of Wood Table
a b c

9. 16 17
Architecture and Craft
Part 2: Brick+ Concrete
If you are ever stuck for inspiration, ask your materials for advice. -Louis Kahn
Chicago, Illinois.
Architecture Studio 4
Time: 2013.01- 2013.04
Category: Academic Design, Individual Work
Instructor: Michael Glynn
In College of Architecture in IIT, it continues the old teaching tradition
brought by Mies van de Rohe from Bauhaus, Germany- Students start learning
architecture from learning materials. Brick is the second material for IIT
students to learn.
It is the last semester of material studying. In fall 2013, architect Wiel Arets
became the new dean of the college. Since he changed the teaching system, the
topics on materials were replaced.
Wookshop: Brick Masonry
Project 2: A Place for Reflection
Project 1: A House over the ShopPhoto of 'Visiting Masonry Company' Activity
Terrace Corner Detail
Green Roof Detail

10. 18 19
Garfield Park is a historical neighborhood in Chicago, IL. Most residents
in the area are African American, and it has the 2nd highest crime rate in
Chicago city. To improve the safety condition and create a better living space
for the surrounding residents, a community center near the CTA green line
is under designing. The main concept of the design is to increase the positive
human activities in the area by bringing multiple interlaced routines for
human activities into the volume of community center including the new
transportation lines.
Interlace
Garfield Park Community Center
There comes a time when sun’s advancing, dispels the dark night and brings the light. -Goethe
Chicago, Illinois.
Architecture Studio 6
Time: 2014.01- 2014.04
Category: Academic Design, Individual Work
Instructor: Martin Klaschen
1918

11. 20 21
SITE
The GIS map of crime before the community center is designed in the Garfield Park area. The area has the high crime
rate mainly because of the lack of the human activities resulted from the high speed traffic and the big amout of vacant
spaces.
Subway Subway
Urban Urban
The GIS map of crime after the community center is designed in the Garfield Park area. The community center is
designed with interlaced new transportations. The crime rate decreases when the human activities increase.
The design concept is to
find a method to reduce
the crime rate from
changing the public space
and human activities. By
creating new topic focus
in the city,improving the
people's attitude towards
the controversial area.
In public area such as park,
the crime rate is almost 0.
In the narrow ends of
the streets, the crime rate
increases.
The crime rate in the open
public area is different
from surroundings.
Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n i s a
constituent part with high
publicity in the city.
The site is located in the
middle of the CTA station
a n d t h e p a r k , w h i c h
combines their publicities.
The area that architecture
influences the crime rate
is about 1km.
P r o v i d i n g t h e w o r k
opportunities can reduce the
crime rate in related areas.

12. 22 23
h=8.3 m
site=1900 sqm
h=8.3 m
site=1900 sqm
h=8.3 m
site=1900 sqm
h=8.3 m
site=1900 sqm
h=8.3 m
site=1900 sqm
h=8.3 m
site=1900 sqm
Typologies Subway Line
Bicycle Line
Walk Line
Bus Line
E-Car leases
The basic information of the site
The basic function of the building is to
connect the site with the CTA station.
The lower floor is open to the city.
The polygon outline shows the friendly
attitude to the surroundings.
The spiral ramps make the interior space
more open.
The ironic roof creates the more attractive
space.

13. 24 25
Bicycle Leases + Deposit
Coffee + Open seats
Stairs + Spiral Floor
E-Car Leases + Charge
Public Park
Locate the integrated facilities of bicycle
rent and storage to maximize the
convinience of transportation tranfer.
Increase the possibilities that the residents
stay and provide the resting space as much
as possible.
Increase the possibilities that the residents
stay and and provide the resting space as
much as possible.
Provide the rent and charge station for
the electric vehicle to provide the new
transportation for the city and increase the
publicity of the community center.
Green area and city park can reduce the
crime rate in the area efficiently.

14. 26 27
Ode in Rome
Roman Wall Renovation
Rome was not built in a day. -Medieval French Phrase
Rome, Italy.
Architecture Studio 7
Time: 2014.9- 2014.11
Category: Academic Design, Individual Work
Instructor: Carolina Vaccaro
As one part of the historical remains of Roman Aurelian Wall, the site has a
museum and a hill with clear view on its surroundings. However, the site area
does not have enough necessary facilities for tourists. To solve this problem,
the wall walk is designed as the connecttion between the museum and the
hill. And the hill has a visiting center on the top. The inspiration of the design
comes from the ‘hexameter’ in common Roman epic.

15. 28 29
HISTORY MUSEUM CITY HILLS
Dactylic Hexameter in A Roman Poem
Path Tendency From the HexameterChange of Path Materials
Frontside of Rome Wall
Backside of Rome Wall
TypologiesStrategy of Path
Axon of Path
Hexameter is one type of rhythm usually
used in Epic in Ancient Rome. The
geometry of the path comes out from the
'hexameter', which represents the rhythms
of the ancient epics twist the wall.
The paths near the hill mostly use newly-
built steel structure, when the paths close
to the museum mostly use original wall
material to protect its historical atmosphere.
The flowing circulation is constructed by
2 parts: the wall walk supported by steel
structure and the ancient wall. The new
structure provides more possiblities for the
exhibition paths, and the participation of
the original wall helps the visitors better
integrate into the architectual context.

16. 30 31
Throught In-Between Cross Paraller Above Follow
城墙上的金字塔处：
步道跟随城墙的形态改变方向。
塔楼类型的城墙：
步道从高处穿越，并形成高处的观
景台。
简单的城墙：
步道将与之保持互相尊重的平行关
系。
带有射击孔的城墙：
步道将发挥垂直交通的作用，同时
带来景观变化。
带有支撑肋的城墙处：
砖拱形成的空间与步道融合，形成
休息空间。
双层拱券的城门处：
步道穿过上层拱券的孔洞，提供观
景台。
基地
视野
客服
设计
山丘
心）
的六
In-BetweenThrough Vertical Parallel
The gate with double arch:
The wall walk goes through the
upper arch to provide the space for
the observation deck.
The wall with support pillars:
The space below the arch integrates
with the wall walk to provide the
resting area.
The fortified wall with openings:
The wall walk will work as the ramp
for the vertical transport, and bring the
difference in landscape.
The clean wall:
The wall walk will keep the
respectful parallel relationship to
the original wall.
Throught In-Between Cross Paraller Above Follow
城墙上的金字塔处：
步道跟随城墙的形态改变方向。
塔楼类型的城墙：
步道从高处穿越，并形成高处的观
景台。
简单的城墙：
步道将与之保持互相尊重的平行关
系。
带有射击孔的城墙：
步道将发挥垂直交通的作用，同时
带来景观变化。
带有支撑肋的城墙处：
砖拱形成的空间与步道融合，形成
休息空间。
双层拱券的城门处：
步道穿过上层拱券的孔洞，提供观
景台。
简述：
作为罗马古城墙遗迹的一段，基地
周围有一个历史博物馆和一处视野
广阔的山丘，但缺乏必要的游客服
务设施。为了解决这个问题，设计
的步道的两端连接了博物馆和山丘
，（山丘高地上布置了游客中心）
，起伏的灵感来自于罗马史诗的六
音步旋律。
Throught In-Between Cross Paraller Above Follow
城墙上的金字塔处：
步道跟随城墙的形态改变方向。
塔楼类型的城墙：
步道从高处穿越，并形成高处的观
景台。
简单的城墙：
步道将与之保持互相尊重的平行关
系。
带有射击孔的城墙：
步道将发挥垂直交通的作用，同时
带来景观变化。
带有支撑肋的城墙处：
砖拱形成的空间与步道融合，形成
休息空间。
双层拱券的城门处：
步道穿过上层拱券的孔洞，提供观
景台。
简述：
作为罗马古城墙遗迹的一段，基地
周围有一个历史博物馆和一处视野
广阔的山丘，但缺乏必要的游客服
务设施。为了解决这个问题，设计
的步道的两端连接了博物馆和山丘
，（山丘高地上布置了游客中心）
，起伏的灵感来自于罗马史诗的六
音步旋律。 Relationships
Above Follow
The wall with towers:
The wall walk crosses above the wall
and creates the space for the higher
obeservation deck .
The wall to the pyramid:
The wall walk changes the
directions following the surface of
the original wall.
between wall and path
How to deal with the relationships between the
wall and the path is the most important part of
the design. According to the 6 different basic
types of the wall, the 6 different wall walks are
designed, and their functions also come out from
the spaces created by those relationships. To make
the paths on the wall look like the rhythm on the
paper, those wall walks are carefully connected to
each other.

17. 32 33

18. 34 35
OTHER WORKS
DRAWING & PHOTOGRAPHY
01 xxxxx
ARCHITECTURE IS A VISUAL
ART, AND THE BUILDINGS
SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES."
"
01 Museo Nacional Centro de
Arte Reina Sofía，Jean Nouvel，
Madrid，Spain. 10/14
02 Casa Batllo, Antoni Gaudi,
Barcelona, Spain. 10/14
03 Salk Institute, Louis Kahn, La
Jolla, USA. 03/14
04 Church of Light, Tadao Ando,
Osaka, Japan. 05/14
01
03
02
04

19. 36 37
01
02
03
01 Chapel of Reconciliation,
Martin Rauch, Berlin,
Germany. 06/13
02 Heidi Weber Museum,
Le Corbusier, Zurich,
Switherland. 11/14
03 DR Town, VLA,
Copenhagen, Denmark. 06/13

20. 38 39
Xu Zhang
3201 S State St, 1(515)-708-6872
Chicago, IL, US. 60616 xzhang90@hawk.iit.edu
KEY COMPETENCIES
Creative and patient
Good at architecture modeling in different materials
Has extensive knowledge of structures
Has reliable skill on architecture software
Personally accountable and always pay attention to details
Effectively manages multiple projects, meets challenging deadlines and carries out repetitive tasks with a positive,
can-do attitude
EDUCATION
Professional Bachelor of Architecture, College of Architecture, Illinois Institute of Technology, Completion 2016
Fifth Year Student
Currently taking 10th studio of 10 in total
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Illinois Institute of Technology Scholarship, $11500 per year 2010-present
Dean’s List, GPA 3.80 Spring 2015
Dean’s List, GPA 3.80 Fall 2015
WORK EXPERIENCE
Volunteer, Yangzhou Special Education School, Yangzhou, China. Summer 2012
Volunteer, TED*IIT 2013, Chicago, IL, US. Spring 2013
Internship, PURE ARCHITECTURE CORPORATION, Shanghai, China. Summer2014
Internship, CALLISON CHINA GUANGZHOU OFFICE, Guangzhou, China. Winter2014
SKILLS
Architecture Software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Illustrator, Google Sketchup, Rhinoceros
Hand Drafting
Shop Work- 2D laser machine, over 30 factory devices on wood, steel, plastic, acrylic, etc. including table saw, band
saw, drill, electric sander, etc.
Architecture Modeling
Language: Mandarin, English and Italian

21. C o n t a c t
Illinois Institute of Technology
3201 S State St，Chicago，IL，60616
TEL: 1(515)-708-6872
E-MAIL: xzhang90@hawk.iit.edu
Xu Zhang
Architecture
P o r t f o l i o