Brian Chanda's Portfolio

The Blacksburg House is situated on an open farm site providing ample views of the Appalachian Mountains. Through individual exploration, the process of making stained glass was studied. As a result, the house’s structure relates to framing used in stained glass. The house was designed for “retreat” and “gather” spaces with all rooms having a spatial relationship to the main living room.

Floyd Art Center incorporates a vision that speaks to the heritage of the city by incorporating the design of an urban staircase. Floyd’s Friday Night Jamboree draws musicians and listeners into the city every Friday night to listen and partake in traditional Appalachian music and dancing. The design at Spectrum enhances the Friday Night Jamboree by giving musicians and listeners an opportunity to sit on the stairs to listen or play music. These staircases create an opportunity for people to enjoy outdoor performances while having a chance to sit and relax on the steps.

The Heart Hub Sustainable Center for Canton, Ohio is designed to be a central hub linking North and South Canton by means of a trail. The trail is to link back to the existing bike trail that services Canton with this site serving as the sustainable extension for trail-goers to use in addition to anyone else visiting the site. The plazas created through this design allow the spaces to be used entirely through different seasons by adapting to the changing weather, making this site usable all throughout the year.