Lauren Davis is a designer and artist currently earning a Masters in Architecture (MArch) at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).

She is interested in pursuing innovative, community driven architecture through a design build lens. She takes excitement in her work being thoughtful and highly crafted in all aspects of a project. Her work hopes to builds to a future that addresses inequities and responds to the challenges brought on by the climate crisis.

In her art, she takes an observational lens to find both a lightness and reverence in everything from the mundanity of daily life to her extended treks across the country. She shares these thoughts and journeys in the form of zines, prints, and stickers.


EDUCATION


RISD (Rhode Island School of Design)
Fall 2024 - Spring of 2026
Enrolled in the advanced standing track of the Masters in Architecture program, one of the few programs in the US embedded in a college of art and design
Wood shop technician from Fall 2024 - Current
Current GPA: 4.0 

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
Fall 2016 - Spring 2020
B.A Architecture, Art History Minor, GPA 3.7, Cum Laude
Dean’s List: Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Spring & Fall 2018
President’s List: Spring and Fall 2019, Spring 2020

BARCELONA ARCHITECTURE CENTER
Spring 2019 (4 Months)
Study abroad program focused on training architects in the frame of European urban and landscape design tendencies

CLEMSON DESIGN CENTER CHARLESTON
Fall 2019 (4 Months)
Program bridging academia and practice by teaching in a hybrid environment, focused in community service


EXPERIENCE

WORKS PROGRESS ARCHITECTURE - PORTLAND, OR Design Team Member | Feb 2022 - Current
Conducted design, documentation, and management from schematic design to permitting on a 60,000 SF, 4,000 occupant venue in Santa Ana, CA. The venue was a part of a larger redevelopment of the Main Place Mall. It is designed to be a flexible space depending on what capacity and event is needed, utilizing a large main hall, VIP areas, bars, and a roof deck. Worked from schematic design to final construction document submittals. Collaborated directly with clients, structural engineers, contractors, acoustic engineers, landscape architects, civil engineers, and interior designers.

MENT ARCHITECTURE - PORTLAND, OR
Architectural Designer | Aug 2020 - Jan 2022
Conducted project design, documentation, and management on custom single family homes and renovations on all stages of design including initial schematics, interior and exterior construction details, spec writing, material selection, and permitting services. Collaborated directly with clients, structural engineers, contractors and interior designers. Assisted in setting up project schedules and writing proposals. Improved and established graphic standards from client presentations, to renderings and marketing.

SOUTH CAROLINA RILEY MAYORS DESIGN FELLOWSHIP - CHARLESTON, SC
Resource Team | Aug 2019 - April 2020 Graduate level design research that educated selected mayors of small towns in South Carolina with the tools to solve problems with urban design solutions, implement projects that positively impact the built environment, and generate econimic opportunity

METANOIA - NORTH CHARLESTON, SC
Contractor Intern | Aug - Dec 2019
Worked closely under a contractor to coordinate pricing, develop design solutions, and oversee construction for new affordable housing as well as a restaurant. Completed an analysis and presentation that inventoried opportunities for affordable housing, blight reduction, and owner occupied emergency repair in 5 historic neighborhoods.

SYNCHRONICITY - CHARLESTON, SC
Architecture Intern |  May - Aug 2019
Participated in all phases of design on mixed-use urban infill projects in the dense historic district of downtown Charleston including: restaurants, single-family, and multi-family housing. Collaborated with landscape architecture consultants within firm.

ARCOSANTI - MAYER, AZ
Planning Intern | May - Aug 2018
Completed a five week construction workshop; interned with an architect to assist with construction projects on site, field work, and archival research projects that seek alternatives to urban sprawl. Worked as an architectural tour guide in spare time.


AWARDS


CLEMSON ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION STUDENT PRIZE
Spring 2020
5,000 dollar travel grant recognizing an outstanding student with professional promise and a clear plan to enrich their post-grad education through travel, awarded through an essay and portfolio compitition Winning Essay Here

UNDERGRADUATE PRIZE IN DESIGN
Spring 2020
Outstanding design work for senior studio design project, tied for second

RUDOLPH E. LEE AWARD PROFESSIONAL PROMISE AWARD
Fall 2018
Nominee, awarded to a third year student with clear professional promise


PUBLICATIONS

EPHEMERAL 
Fall 2024
Contributed a series of illustrations for Ephemeral, a storytelling collective based in the Colorado Plateau, highlighting themes of place, memory, and identity

v.1
Fall 2024
Featured illustrations for the fall edition of v.1, the RISD student-run publication dedicated to showcasing the work, ideas, and creative discussions of RISD students

POWELL’S BOOKSTORE - PORTLAND, OR
Summer 2022
Self-published and sold a zine entitled Things I Saw on My Bike Ride at Powell’s, the largest independent book store in the country, to raise money for Drift West - a service bike ride I completed in August 2022


COMMUNITY INVOLVMENT

BIKE AND BUILD DRIFT WEST
August 2022
Spent 30 days biking 1,000 miles across the state of Washington, with 10 days building affordable homes with organizations like Habitat for Humanity; raised funds (90,000$ as a team) and awareness for the affordable housing crisis

STUDIO V
Fall 2019
Participated in a community build studio to build a farm stand for a a site under the National Registry of historic places in Charleston, South Carolina that benefitted an affordable housing neighborhood with a community garden, partnered with the nonprofit Green Heart

AIAS BOARD MEMBER
2016-2020
Events planner, assisted in planning the South Quad forum in 2020

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
2016-2018
Club Member, Assisted in a Virtual Reality Model for the Clemson Habitat for Humanity house project in 2018

KONNAROCK TRAIL CREW
Summer 2017
Worked with a team to restore wildfire destroyed trails in the Nantahala National Forest

SALAMANDER SPRINGS (WOOF)
Summer 2017
Volunteered on a permaculture farm in Millidgeville, Georgia to learn its principles of organic farming and sustainability



PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
April-September 2023
Completed a 2,653-mile through-hike from Mexico to Canada along the PCT, fostering an appreciation for the natural environment and sustainable design principles and developing a strong sense of self-reliance