The WSU Trimble Technology Lab is pleased to feature a student project by Victoria (Tori) Weingarz, a Landscape Architecture major in the School of Design and Construction, graduating in Spring 2027. Her design, developed in LAND 297, an introductory digital design course, taught by Dr. Dan Cronan, was selected for display for its thoughtful integration of spatial form, user experience, and digital modeling.
Tori’s Pavilion Project explores the concept of “portals”—architectural transitions that guide explorers through a sequence of partially covered spaces. Featuring a series of archways, her design aims to evoke both a sense of calm and a feeling of discovery. “I am fascinated with the idea of ‘“’portals,’” she explained. “I wanted the experience to evoke feelings of calmness and security, as well as bring the fascination of discovery to life.”
SketchUp was central to the development and refinement of the project. Tori used the platform to iterate through multiple versions of her design, moving from initial physical drafting with wooden cubes to precise, scaled digital models.
SketchUp was used to play with the creative process of the project. It helped me create multiple detailed visual representations and assisted me with the final images produced.
“SketchUp saved a vast amount of time during the editing and revision phases of the project,” she noted. “It helped me create multiple detailed visual representations and finalize choices in a clean, organized way.”
Reflecting on the learning process, Tori emphasized that the most important insight she gained was the development of “designer thinking”—the ability to consider how people interact with space and to respond to their behaviors and emotions through design.
SketchUp is an infinitely powerful tool that you can use to create whatever you think of. The most impressive thing I had to absorb was how expansive SketchUp is; I had never worked with a program like it before.
To new users of SketchUp, she offers this advice: “Be patient with yourself, and the quality of your work will reflect it.”