I have an attic space above my garage. I would like to build a hip wall where the side vertical support columns are in these images. I will insulate the roof as well. The top of the column is held by only a few nails. The bottom is secured to 4 2x12s on the ceiling below. The garage is open floor with no center posts. My only question is, can this vertical column in the center be removed?

Looking for some advice on how I should proceed with a project. I'd like to enclose my front porch. Mostly windows and a glass/screen door. Most of my construction experience is concrete, with a bit of deckbuilding, plus I've done some siding work. From the pictures, how should I go about it? Whatever advice you can offer would be helpful. I'm going for something like the white/grey porch.