Architecture Commons^™

Creating A Successful Wayfinding System: Lessons Learned From Springfield, Massachusetts, Yanhua Lu

Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Masters Projects

The masters project presents findings from recent work the author completed related to wayfinding, and wayfinding systems. This work began as part of a graduate urban design studio, followed by work as a research assistant at the UMass Design Center in Springfield, on a new “demonstration” wayfinding system installed in Springfield, Massachusetts. The wayfinding project was done in association with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the Springfield Office of Planning and Community Development, was implemented with the main goals of improving public health by encouraging more people to walk.

Wayfinding systems are increasingly seen as an important part of …

Situated Architecture In The Digital Age: Adaptation Of A Textile Mill In Holyoke, Massachusetts, Dorcas A. Brooks

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

The City of Holyoke, Massachusetts is one of many aging, industrial cities striving to revitalize its economy based on the promise of increased digital connectivity and clean energy resources. But how do you renovate 19th century mills to meet the demands of the information age? This architectural study explores the potential impact of sensing technologies and information networks on the definition and function of buildings in the 21st century. It explores the changes that have taken place in industrial architecture since 1850 and argues for an architecture that supports local relationships and environmental awareness. The author explores the industrial history …

Telecommunications And Its Practical Application, Athol, Massachusetts, Center For Economic Development

Center for Economic Development Technical Reports

Rural areas have been experiencing a transition in their economic and social structure. Traditional industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and resource extraction have been declining. The result has been a displacement of labor in rural areas and instability within rural economies. Upwards of three quarters of rural counties have experienced outmigration in the last decade. Per capita income in rural areas is only two-thirds that of their urban counterparts, and rural poverty rates exceed those in urban areas. Rural areas have traditionally considering how the quality of their education, health, and government services can be incorporated into their overall development …