Education
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Fall 2020 - Spring 2024, Cambridge, MA
M.Arch + Master of Science in Building Technology (SMBT)
M.Arch Thesis: Tectonics of the semi-permanent: Reassembling fit-out architecture in the utopia of the closed loop
SMBT Thesis: Up-front carbon savings and high resolution, semi-constrained inventory assignment: Reusing optimized structural elements in the circular economy
Washington University in St. Louis (Sam Fox School of Visual Arts)
Fall 2015 - Spring 2019, St. Louis, MO
Bachelor of Science in Architecture + Minor in Environmental Studies, GPA: 3.92
Summa Cum Laude
Santa Reparata International School of Art
Summer 2017, Florence, Italy
Summer Intensive in Architecture, GPA: 4.00
Skills
Rhino, Grasshopper (+Karamba3D, +Design Space Exploration), AutoCAD, Revit, ArcGIS, DIVA, Climate Studio, Analog + Digital Fabrication, Adobe Suite
Credentials
LEED Green Associate
Awards
Rosemary Grimshaw Award (M.Arch thesis proposal award) winner 2023
Harold Horowitz (1951) Student Research Fund award recipient 2023
MIT Graduate Fellowship
Excellence in Craft Award 2019
Fitzgibbon Charrette Winner 2019
Philip Richardson Shepley Memorial Scholarship 2017 - 2019
Laskey Charrette Design Competition Winner 2017
Vicki and Stuart Match Suna Scholarship 2016
Peer-Reviewed Publications
J. Schnitzler, I. Donovan, M.A. Ismail, and C.T. Mueller, The technics of elegance: negotiating efficiency and standardization in three prestressed concrete systems by Aldo Favini and Angelo Mangiarotti. 8th International Congress on Construction History, Zurich 2024
I. Donovan, J. Schnitzler, K.J. Lee, P. Wongsittikan, Y. Liu and C.T. Mueller, PixelFrame: A reconfigurable, precast, post-tensioned concrete structural system for a circular building economy. CISBAT 2023, The Built Environment in Transition, Lausanne, 13-15 September 2023
J. Schnitzler, I. Donovan, and C.T. Mueller, Design tool for high resolution, semi-constrained inventory assignment: Reusing structural elements in the circular economy.
(in preparation)
P. Wongsittikan, K.J. Lee, J. Schnitzler, I. Donovan, and C.T. Mueller, Design and analysis for post-tensioned segmental concrete structures.
(in preparation)
K.J. Lee, P. Wongsittikan, I. Donovan, J. Schnitzler, and C.T. Mueller, Projection of building load demands and standardization via directional centroid clustering.
(in preparation)
Exhibitions and Media
MIT SA+P IMPRINT Publication, 2021-2022
Selection for Widmann Prize Exhibition, Washington University in St. Louis, 2019
Year End Show, Washington University in St. Louis, 2019
“A Case for St. Louis,” Washington University in St. Louis, 2019
“Liquid Tectonics: Junior Studio Exhibition,” Washington University in St. Louis, 2017
Selection for Undergraduate Archive + Approach Publication 2015 - 2019
Experience
MIT Department of Architecture
Research Assistant, Digital Structures research group (Prof. Caitlin Mueller)
Summer 2022 - present, Cambridge, MA (current)
With the Digital Structures research group, developing design and analysis for a reconfigurable and reusable post-tensioned concrete structural system with a small team of architects and structural engineers in partnership with MIT’s Climate and Sustainability Consortium (MCSC). Creating prototypes and performing structural testing, structural design detailing, analytical calculations, and parametric design tools for scaled up production and user interface.
Research Assistant, Prof. Timothy Hyde
Spring 2022, Cambridge, MA
Performed retroactive operational and embodied energy calculations for the construction of Shackleton’s Hut at Cape Royce, Antarctica. Materials research and analysis, and calculations related to materials and transportation related to current preservation efforts. Prepared visual representations of the resulting data.
Trivers + Associates
Architectural Designer
Summer 2019 - Summer 2022, St. Louis, MO
Designer and BIM manager for multiple historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects in the civic, commercial, and multi-family housing sectors, including accessibility improvements to the Old St. Louis County Courthouse and the transformation of the St. Louis Post Dispatch building and Butler Brothers warehouse into new tenant space. Led construction administration for the restoration of the Missouri State Capitol building, responsible for BIM coordination (Navisworks clash detection, COBie data, nested model synchronization) for the Bean Federal Center and seismic retrofit detailing for the Moss US Courthouse.
Sam Fox School
Teaching Assistant, Building Systems
Fall 2018, Washington University in St. Louis
Selected as TA for the required undergraduate and graduate course covering foundational knowledge of building tectonics and construction methods. Provided critique for student models + construction documents, directed interactive discussion sections, and led review sessions.
Restoration St. Louis - Checkmate Design
Architecture Intern
Summer 2018, St. Louis, MO
Proposed schematic designs for the renovation of existing duplexes and four family homes, produced construction documents for redeveloping historic buildings - including the Sullivan + Adler Union Trust Building. Developed methodology for tracking unused material inventory from large scale projects and optimizing use of existing inventory in housing projects.
WUSTL Office of Sustainability
Alternative Transportation Intern
