An enthusiastic architectural designer with a passion for creating narrative design, Samuvel Benhursha has an impressive journey of remarkable achievements in the field of architecture. His understanding of the importance of conceptual storytelling in architectural projects has been instrumental in the success of his career.

One of Samuvel's notable achievements was his key role at Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB), a top architectural firm renowned for its expertise in design, urban planning and urban planning. During his tenure at SCB, Samuvel played a key role in advancing the 533 Kirkham project in West Oakland, California, from concept through the schematic design phase. This 1.17-acre project, which aimed to transform a surface parking lot near the West Oakland BART station into a vibrant mixed-use district, showcased Samuvel's ability to connect architectural concepts with a site's history, culture and lifestyle. The 85-foot-tall building would include approximately 254,850 square feet, with 237,860 square feet set aside for residential use, 2,990 square feet for retail and 8,940 square feet set aside for a garage on the ground floor. Unit sizes will vary, with 52 studios, 74 junior one-bedrooms, 58 one-bedrooms and 104 two-bedrooms. Of the 289 apartments, 13 will be designated as affordable for households with very low incomes.

The project concept was inspired by West Oakland's rich musical heritage, particularly its role in the birth of West Coast jazz. Samuvel accepted the challenge of translating West Coast jazz into architectural expressions using artificial intelligence programs. This innovative approach allowed him to infuse the facade design with elements such as syncopation and beats, creating a unique and engaging architectural story. The facade of the project was carefully designed to achieve a harmonious balance between the conceptual story and the functional requirements. Although the estimated cost of the project was in the several million due to the expensive system of prefabricated panels, every effort was made to ensure that the design did not resemble haphazard podium-style apartments.

Instead, a well-organized approach was adopted, characterized by a grid pattern of posts and lintels and a uniform palette of natural stone. The exterior finish included textured gray or green granite panels topped with Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems and metal panels were skillfully integrated to create Juliet balconies. The ground floor was characterized by the use of full-surface glass, especially around the commercial areas, increasing transparency and modern aesthetics.

A key challenge that Samuvel faced during this project was the in-depth research on prefabricated panel systems and EIFS for the design of facades. To overcome this obstacle, he devoted considerable effort to studying various prefabricated panel systems, industry trends and construction techniques. This research was the basis for the project decision and resulted in a facade design that met not only aesthetic criteria, but also functional and structural requirements.

Another key factor in Samuvel's success was understanding the context of the project, including cultural and social aspects. His deep research into local culture and lifestyle allowed him to create a design that resonated with the community and met the client's expectations.

Samuvel's expertise in 3D modeling and visualization tools such as SketchUp, Rhino, Revit and Enscape was essential in accurately communicating design concepts. He worked closely with the visualization teams to ensure designs were well represented in 3D, making them more accessible to both clients and design review boards.

Effective communication was essential to Samuvel's architectural success. He honed his presentation skills and used software tools like Adobe InDesign and Affinity Suite to create compelling visuals that clearly communicate design concepts.

In addition, Samuvel strategically planned the precast panel systems to ensure cost efficiency and conducted a value engineering exercise to optimize the design while remaining within budget constraints.

In addition to his professional achievements, Samuvel has also won recognition in architectural competitions, both in his academic and professional career. His architectural journey began with the remarkable success of his thesis, which was shortlisted for the best thesis award. He received a Design Excellence Award from the Arizona State University Design School for his innovative work in adaptive reuse, and additional awards for honorable mentions in AI architectural competitions where he demonstrated his innovative thinking and design prowess.

As he continues his architectural journey, Samuvel remains committed to the profession and strives to contribute to a better world through his architectural endeavors. His dedication to the field and impressive results make him push the boundaries in the world of architecture.