*St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church, Covina, CA
Presentation model that help congregation to visualize the project.
Stratosphere Observatory NASA, Palo Alto, CA
Had to find the kit for a Boeing 747 and a high school student to put the airplane together. A 747 out fitted with a large telescope would fly at high altitudes a door will open once the plane reaches a height. The telescope would then observe the cosmos. Not sure what happened with this project but, this was the model that showed the airplane and it’s hanger shown as a cut away.
Holy Trinity, SF, CA
I grew up here, the church was nearby the house and I spent much time here. It has become a special place for me and even though I live in Chicago now I still think about the experiences and memories growing up there. Was just starting my architectural career of building architectural models and was at church one day and found the drawings. Borrowed them and a year later this model was completed. I needed the experience and wanted to practice, no better way to make things that you love. When the project was completed it was donated to church.
I remember discussing my plans with my dad if I should make a cut-away model and my dad say’s to me…if people want to see what the inside looks like they’ll go up to the model, he cupped his hand and motioned to how people would do this..that’s when I decided I didn’t want people touching the model to make a cut away. The inside architecture is just as important as the outside. A study of white board was made first then the colored one with much detail that included sketches of the iconography inside the church, pews, and candles.
This model was built in the early 90’s. About twenty years later the church asked me to build a Tabernacle. The Orthodox tradition is to have the Tabernacle reflect the current structure of the church. Without the card board model experience I would have not know to put a Tabernacle together made out of brass. I was able to find a method of construction to achieve this.
*Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, Belmont, CA
Holy Cross was the first architectural model that was built.
Los Altos Condominiums, CA
First large condominium model that I build were the Potereo Square Lofts in San Francisco. Two friends both architects were working on that project that went their separate ways when the project was done. Each did build their own project and hired me to build them each a presentation model. This one is Los Altos is one architect and the other was built in San Francisco located at 81 Lansing St.
*St. Demetrios, Saco, Maine
The architect requested an architectural model for presentation to the congregation for clarity and ideas. For this particular church, the design ended up being all together something else.
Chestnut Square, Glenview, IL
Chestnut square site model was built first and used in the sales trailer. It’s important that prospective buyers understand all the is being proposed. Drawings and renderings are not enough.
*St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, St. Paul, Minnesota
A good idea for these types of models is to use the same colors that are used for the model and presentation boards. Viewers are more likely to remember colors that they look at both communication mediums. Scale 1/16″
*St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, Elk Grove, CA
For fund-raising and client understanding. Scale 1/8″
81 Lansing St., San Francisco, CA
Sometimes building models prior to actual construction saves a later headache. The developer was grateful to learn that the elevators were running diagonally instead of vertically…an expensive change order waiting to happen. Two developers were working together on the Potereo Square project they hired me to build several models. When this project was completed the developers went on to separate projects. Both developers hired me separately to build their presentation model, this was one of them.
*Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Theotokos the Life Giving Spring, Dunlap, CA
For fund raising and client understanding. Scale 1/16″
CCSF Campus Library, CA
This model was built in-house at the architects office. First a smaller overall model was built then another large one of the spine. Inside the spine, as I call it, was a large atrium space with one side an adjacent wall and windows above. At that time it was the intention to move Diego Riviera’s, Pan American Unity mural inside this space. It would have been spectacular to see it in this natural light space.
Willow Creek Community Church, Barrington, IL
A model was made for easy understanding of this large and complicated project. This model was used primarily as a communication tool when meeting were taking place with architects and engineers. It’s much easier to point to something on the model then look at drawings that could be confusing.
Kimissis Greek Orthodox Church, Racine, WI
This small church was looking to update it’s facilities to include larger hall and kitchen. The model was very simple. All existing construction was shown in the color and the new additions were shown in white. This model was built to the scale of 1/8″ =1’0″ and had enough detail to convince church leaders and congregation to proceed with this plan.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, San Francisco, CA
A presentation model of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral was built and shown to the public during a ground breaking ceremony and visit from Bartholomew of Constantinople during November 1992. This large model was built to the scale of 1/8″ =1’0″, measuring about 60″ x 28″ in size. Phase one was completed that included the large hall, kitchen, chapel and courtyard. Currently church is raising funds to complete phase 2, the church itself. Architects have since changed the design of the church and the new church design was not updated on the model unfortunately. Hopefully, it won’t confuse and stop people from donating.
St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, Des Paines, IL
This architectural model helped the community of St. John visualize the new improvements to their church, the addition of a small chapel and expansion of their school facilities . The model is divided into zones, one shows the existing structure in a mono-chromatic color and the second shows the new additions in color. As one parishioner told me the architectural model was more valuable then the computer animation walk through. It was a constant and always visible reminder of the task at hand.
