This is Spaceship Earth. It is an Epcot attraction at Disney World, but it is marvelous on its own. One summer, for the first time ever, both of my half-siblings were staying with my dad, my full sister, and me. My dad wanted to do something special to make sure they enjoyed it, so he took us all to Disney World. We all packed into a camper and drove from Oklahoma to Florida. We spent a few days at Disney World and the first time I saw Spaceship Earth, I was amazed. I had never seen anything like it. I had been to New York and seen skyscrapers, but this way different and, in my opinion, better. We immediately stopped and we all started taking pictures together and of each other. It was one of the best parts of the trip, and though we haven’t been together like that again, I will always remember how happy everyone was. The ride inside was also pretty great.

In 2012 I moved again. This was nothing new to me, as my father was in the military and we moved quite a bit. I spent four years in this house, the entirety of my high school experience, four times longer than anywhere else. When I first saw it, I was unimpressed. It doesn’t look like much, just a long brick building. Once you enter it though, you see much more. There is an addition on the house that you can only see from the back or inside and it makes the house seem so open and large. I loved how many windows it had, there as always light in the living room as both walls were mostly windows. A wall in my bedroom was the same way. That wall had windows taller than me that covered the majority of it. I never look at houses the same, this one became my home, and when I find my next one I want it to have just as many windows. They make the space seem open and happy.

In the summer of 2019, My family and I visited Vietnam for a month. During that month, we traveled everywhere in Vietnam visiting relatives, exploring the country, and sightseeing. One of the many locations we visited is the Golden Bridge in Da Nang, Vietnam.

This bridge has a breathtaking view of the forest it is situated in. On this bridge, we were able to see the mountains, trees, and other buildings that may have been hidden in plain view if not for this height we reached. The hands holding the bridge is what made this bridge even more gorgeous and aesthetically pleasing to the eyes.

The Louvre Museum in Paris, France has to be one of the most gorgeous architecture feat in the history of museums in the world. In the winter of 2019, I went to the Louvre with my family and the moment I saw this building, I knew I had to go in.

Inside the museum, we went under the pyramid and saw many famous pieces of art such as the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and many more. Everywhere we went in there, there was always something bound to amaze our eyes wether it be the designs of the rooms, hallways, or the art pieces. We spent hours in there observing what the Louvre had to offer.

At night time, we left and the Louvre was even more beautiful to look at. The museum gave off an illuminating light that radiated around the complex that the museum was situated. It was truly a memorable experience that led us through the history of French art and architecture.

As a high school graduation gift, my grandparents took me on a trip through the northwestern Mediterranean. Our first stop was Barcelona, Spain, home of La Sagrada Familia, one of my favorite works of architecture I’ve ever had the privilege of visiting. It’s still a work in progress, but it should be completed by about 2026.

The exterior is covered with highly intricate stonework depicting the life story of Jesus, with one side focusing on the Nativity and his birth, and the other side his crucifixion and death. I thought the crucifixion sculptures had an almost cartoonish quality to them, but it was clearly by intention rather than any shortcoming in skill.

As impressive as the exterior of the basilica is, the interior is really what made my jaw drop in awe. Columns taller than I’ve ever seen supported a ceiling of dizzying height, and as they climbed they branched out like trees into the ceiling. Adding to the foliage imagery, stone rings of leaves projected back down from the tops of the columns. It was my first time seeing stonework that looked like it could be alive.

It was mid morning when I visited, so the sun shone through the stained glass windows and cast vibrant colors on the floor. I had never seen such strong colors from stained glass. With the stained glass and tree like columns I almost felt like I was standing in a magical stone forest.

I find it difficult to be moved by non-musical works of art. La Sagrada Familia is one of the few exceptions. It is completely awe inspiring, and to this day I’ve never seen anything that matches it’s splendor.

The REPF is where engineering competition teams work. It’s become the most important building on campus for myself and where I spend most of my time. Even with the changes due to covid this building carries something special. I’ve made many memories here along with three race cars over my tenor at the university. When I think about the REPF I see a group of like-minded students who have sacrificed their time and energy to grow and build together. Despite differences our comradery grows.

At first glance the open area and clean modern style is breathtaking, especially in comparison to the facilities at competing universities. The large bay doors open up to the inviting large open space for engineering design and fabrication. The pillars accentuate the doors and the buildings with large windows. With the doors opening to the busiest street around the building everyone peers in which showcases each teams work.

JW Marriot Downtown Nashville

Me and my family took a trip to Tennessee last month. We stayed in Nashville for a few nights where we rode one of those busses that take you on a tour through the city. On our tour we passed this hotel, the JW Marriot built in 2018. Of course this building stands out because it is tall and sleek since it is totally covered in windows, but what really stood out to me that I thought was really cool was that the entrance was designed to look like a baby grand piano. Nashville is known as the “Music City” and this is where many country singers got their start. Since music is so important to the city of Nashville I thought it was so cool that the architects added this personalized touch to the sky scraper. JW Marriot was designed by the architecture firm Arquitectonia. You can tell it looks like a piano more in person but the bus was moving too fast for me to get a picture and they don’t have very many online, these are the best i could find. I just really liked how they took the classic luxury hotel skyscraper and added this unique feature to remind you that you’re in music city!

Barre3 is a workout studio that combines the elements of dance, pilates, and yoga. I have been going to barre3 since I was 14 and have always loved it. I enjoy staying active and healthy and this studio helps me do that. I usually go to the studio in Oklahoma City, but there are Barre3 studios all around the United States. The classes are an hour long and I always feel rejuvenated after each class. I feel like I worked hard and feel stronger. I love this building because the barre room has a wall that is a full window so it feels more open.