Samira Marjaei Portfolio

The LS Skaggs Applied Science Building, part of the Crocker Sciences Complex, is the new cornerstone of the University of Utah’s educational and research mission. It embodies a commitment to excellence, innovation and a bright future for the University of Utah’s academic and research pursuits. Student success is supported by a high-quality classroom experience, training in modern scientific and technological methods and a signature research experience for each major in the program. With a focus on accommodating the instructional needs of over 5,600 undergraduate and graduate students in STEM courses, the facility combines a thoughtful 40,000+ SF renovation of the historic Stewart Building with a contemporary 100,000+ SF addition.

Currently in design, Wasatch County’s new Administration Building brings departments and the public together in a civic space rooted in clarity, sustainability and connection. The purpose-built facility consolidates County services and the Council Chambers with intuitive wayfinding and thoughtful adjacencies that streamline public access while supporting staff collaboration. Warm materials, natural light and distinct circulation paths elevate the visitor experience. Designed to meet the AIA 2030 Challenge, the building features a Mass Timber structure, high-performance envelope and energy-efficient ground source heat pump system -- a future-ready design that reflects Wasatch County’s commitment to service and stewardship.

Melding tradition with modernity, we balanced dedicated spaces with fundamental science education and adaptable layouts to provide a hub for scientific education, exploration and collaboration. To prepare students for the challenges of the future, we took great care in our design of specialized chemistry, biology and bio-tech, tools and nature lab spaces. 

Outdoor classroom and a dedicated computer science space further the capacity to support diverse educational pursuits and hands-on learning experiences. Advancing the “Building-As-Teacher” concept, we exposed and color-coded piping in classrooms to explain fluid movement throughout the building, fostering a connection between the building and students’ learning experiences.

The second phase of the EDA Utah Veterans Memorial pays tribute to Utahn veterans who served and sacrificed their lives during World War II.

At the centerpiece of the memorial stands a steel Corona -- six towering columns that rise together to form a unified canopy overhead. The corona serves as a wreath symbolizing honor and remembrance. Each column represents a different branch of the military, standing independently yet joining at the top to symbolize the strength found in unity and collaboration across all service branches. Centered in the Corona is a donated chalice carved on a lathe from a single Little Cottonwood Canyon granite boulder.

Of special significance is a tribute recognizing the contribution of the Navajo Code Talkers - an elite military group whose unbreakable military code served as a vital form of communication and contributed to the success of the Allied victories. Bronze wall plaques mounted to stone panels remember the beach landing at Normandy and Operation Halyard - a mission to rescue 432 American airmen and 80 other Allied personnel in Axis-occupied Serbia. 

Throughout the memorial are four stone benches commemorating Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Four Freedoms: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear.

To evaluate the feasibility of developing a new Valley Recreation and Community Center centered between the two communities it intends to serve we conducted the community survey to gauge interest and support. Our conceptual designs reflected spaces for the Center’s diverse needs including flexible, multiuse spaces.