Architecture Commons^™

A Sustainable Design For The American Commercial Strip Mall, L. Carl Fiocchi, Jr.

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

The purpose of this project is to present an alternative in form, materials, and energy performance to the existing building type that has been the staple used in construction of American Commercial Strip Malls since the latter part of the nineteenth century. The project progresses through two phases. The initial phase is the designing of an energy efficient structure that is the basic unit in a system of modularity. This structure permits joining itself together with similar units to form an assortment of assemblies with different possible geometries that are in turn able to respond to various site geometries and …

Rethinking Reiche, Tracie J. Reed

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Part I of the study examines the differences between two environmental assessment methods for the K‐12 education sector: the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED Schools Version 3.0 and the British Research Establishment’s (BRE) BREEAM Education issue 2.0. Credit requirements are compared side‐by‐side and against recommendations from researchers in areas such as acoustics, lighting and indoor environment quality. Strengths in the two schemes and areas for improvement are highlighted, with acknowledgement that each scheme offers components and techniques from which the other could benefit. Part II of the study introduces the Howard C. Reiche Community School in Portland, Maine. …

Regenerative Agriculture Infrastructure Design: The Built Environment Of Food, Culture, & Soil, Jesse Jw Selman

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

The goal of this work is to explore the built context of our food system as a manifestation of a set of social and environmental conditions that are antithetical to the long-term health and survival of human life on this planet. The specific focus of this work is the small-scale, integrated farm. The farm is but one piece of the puzzle of how we eat and resides within the larger context of storage, distribution, economy, culture etc. Using precedents, both past and present, and through design explorations this work seeks to develop a positive course forward that will enable humanity …

Evaluating Strategies To Create Successful Business Incubators In Massachusetts Gateway Cities, Sonya C. Smith

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

This thesis evaluates economic development, planning, public policy, and business strategies to create successful business incubators in Massachusetts’ post-industrial cities. These post-industrial cities in Massachusetts are dubbed “Gateway Cities” because they were once the economic engines of the region as well as areas of entry for many foreign-born residences to live and work. These cities have been recently plagued by high unemployment, poverty, and low business investment as many businesses, especially manufacturing, have located elsewhere. Legislation and policies involving redistribution of wealth to these Gateway Cities has recently been enacted to strengthen these communities. Although there currently isn’t a cohesive …

Reworking: Transforming A Textile Mill, Jennifer M. Hayes

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

This project examines the adaptive reuse of a disused nineteenth century textile mill building in Gilbertville, Massachusetts. While the original form and structure of the building type was conducive to maximum production of goods, contemporary uses require different forms. Although other mills in New England have been reused for housing, museums, or professional offices, my goal was to propose a program that related to the building’s original function as a place where people worked. Because the unemployment rate is rising in Massachusetts in 2010, I propose that the mill be reused as a training center where people learn green building …

Socio-Spatial Constructs Of The Local Retail Food Environment: A Case Study Of Holyoke, Massachusetts, Walter F. Ramsey

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

This mixed-methods study addresses the relationship between the availability of food and realized food access by studying the retail food landscape of Holyoke, Massachusetts – a small, socio-economically diverse city. While a large body of empirical research finds that low-income communities and communities of color are especially likely to lack adequate access to healthy foods and experience increased vulnerability to food insecurity, few studies explore urban food environments through a mixed-methods case study approach. Through the use of food store mapping, store audits, and resident interviews, this research is a nascent attempt to articulate how the unique development histories and …

Human Capital In The City: Exploring The Relationship Between Skill And Productivity In Us Metropolitan Areas, Ryan Wallace

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

In economics, new growth theory suggests that knowledge creation and innovation are key drivers of growth. As a result, the ‘new economy’ is increasingly reliant upon the knowledge, skills, and abilities embodied in its workforce, also known as human capital, that facilitate the stimulation and generation of new ideas (Romer 1986, 1990 and Lucas 1988). This research contributes to the understanding of the relationship between stocks of human capital and economic output. I construct metrics to measure concentrations of basic worker skills using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Information Network (O*NET) and employment estimates for 353 US metropolitan areas. …

Civic Center For Municipal Corporation Of Delhi, Akanksha Sharma

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

The thesis project proposes to explore into the design possibilities for the Civic Center for Municipal Corporation of Delhi and extract the richness of the site conditions into architecture through means of computational design. The computational design approach will provide a degree of variance which will be an interesting thing to explore in terms of defining spaces, program and systems.. The design would hinge on to one of the major centers of Delhi and aim to enhance social permeability through means of forms and articulation of spaces. It would cater to all classes of people and help in promoting small …

Planning For Passenger Rail In Small Cities And Towns, Alyssa R. Larose

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Projects to expand the passenger rail network in the United States will connect major metropolitan areas over long distances, travelling through smaller communities along the way. Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a concept for planning around stations to support transit and allow the development of dense, mixed use, walkable places. TOD literature focuses largely on developing around transit in metropolitan areas. Guidance for small towns and cities in rural areas is lacking.

This thesis compares best planning practices from TOD literature to the planning practices of small cities located in rural areas of New England where new passenger rail service or …

Disaster Rehabilitative Housing In India, Shehla Hussain

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

The project explores the design development of housing within the scenario of Post Disaster Rehabilitation of populations displaced by natural disasters. By looking at the house as a system that combines two distinct phases of rehabilitative housing, namely Transitional Housing and Durable Housing, the design seeks to reduce the complications of relocation every time there is a need to move on to the next phase of shelter aid.

To truly make the house construction an owner driven experience, the system aims to be designed such that it can manipulated by the owner/user to suit their long term needs and personal …

Design Studio Involvement Of Real-World Stakeholders In The Fay Jones School Of Architecture, University Of Arkansas, Robert Jackson

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

There is evidence that architecture students are increasingly unprepared to enter the architectural workforce upon graduation. Some research has identified a growing gap between architectural education and architectural practice in terms of real-world concerns as the reason for students’ unpreparedness. By involving real-world stakeholders in architectural design studios – by which I mean individuals drawn from outside the academy with a professional, financial, or emotional investment in a project – educators may be able to create a more authentic learning environment that will better prepare students for architectural practice. This study describes my personal experiences as a student working on …

Sustainability Initiatives In East Bayside Neighborhood Portland, Maine, Garvan Donegan, Henry Heyburn, Caitlyn Horose, Matt Klebes, Jennifer Riley, Damon Yakovleff, New England Environmental Finance Center

Planning

This is a bundle containing research on sustainability initiatives that could be implemented in the East Bayside neighborhood of Portland, ME. These six essays were prepared by the Spring, 2010 Sustainable Communities Class known as CPD 602 at the University of Southern Maine. The class is part of the core curriculum of the Community Planning and Development program of the Muskie School of Public Service at the university. The instructor for the class was Samuel Merrill, Ph. D. who is also director of the New England Environmental Finance Center at the University. These papers were prepared in conjunction with Alan …

Toledo Museum Of Art, Sanaa

Building Case Studies

No abstract provided.

Q1 Building, Jswd Architekten, Chaix & Morel Et Associés

Building Case Studies

400,000 metal “feathers” are anchored into 3,150 routered stainless steel moveable stalks, which can be mechanically controlled to transform the façade to allow more or less light into the building. The 1,280 motorized elements can be closed to create a more solid enclosure, follow the position of the sun, or be entirely open to allow maximum solar exposure.

Pixel Building, Studio 505

Building Case Studies

The panels are supported by the Living Edge spandrels which create shading and grey water treatment as well as providing immediate personal greenery to all floors

Archi-Union Architects Office, Archi-Union Architects

Building Case Studies

This is a low-tech, simple material applied to create an undulating surface

Windsor Police Department, Roth Sheppard Architects

Building Case Studies

It is composed of two sloped metal structures that contain separate programs within the police department. A pre-engineered metal building is the location of “nonessential” storage and support, while the “essential” operations and offices are held within a metal building with an eye-catching transparent lobby and masonry base.

World Expo 2010-Wanke (2049), Xiang Lu

Building Case Studies

The first impression of this building would be seven golden wheat buttresses. And the actural material of this building is wheat straws. Known as agricultural discards, 95% of wheat straws and 5% environmental friendly adhesive made this unique material. And instead of burning these wheat straws and producing more CO2, it is more sustainable to make them into building materials.

Babbio Center, Ecoplan, P.A.

Building Case Studies

Resists weathering and vandalism. The durability and minimum maintenance extend a building’s useful life, providing an enduring, high-quality appearance.

The Crystal, Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects

Building Case Studies

The double-glazed façade has integrated solar screens and is decorated by a subtle silk screen frit design that mitigates solar ingress, reflects daylight, and gives the building a homogenous expression which enhances its sculptural form.