Architecture Commons^™

Birdscape Programming, Rebecca Shen

2019 Spring Undergraduate Landscape Architecture Studio

In this landscape-based studio, senior lecturer Jacqueline Margetts led a group of undergraduate architecture students in exploring ecological and public open space networks through the West End neighborhood in the City of St. Louis, focusing along the historic Hodiamont Tracks. The former streetcar line, which remains as a neglected service alley, will be converted to a greenway by Great Rivers Greenway.

The studio was sited in the West End neighborhood in part due to its high number of native bee species, a vital component in maintaining biodiverse ecosystems and key indicator of environmental health. Students were charged with transforming sites …

A Street-Scape Named Remembrance, Michele Chen

2019 Spring Undergraduate Landscape Architecture Studio

On May 21, 1996, streetcars rattled through the West End neighborhood for the very last time as #15 Hodiamont line, the only remaining streetcar route in St. Louis, ceased operation. Memory, however, persists and this intervention honors the Hodiamont service by creating an ecologically rich trailhead to the track's new life as a Greenway. Streetcars are celebrated through embedded track lanes, vertical handhold like insect hotels, and transformable furniture along tracks inserted into Gwen B. Giles park. Existing pavement cracks at the intersection of the Greenway and Hodiamont Avenue are seeded with Virginia mountain mint. As the mint spreads the …

Grandparenting Center: Connecting The Generations, Jessica Deangelo

2019 Spring Shared Sites: Design for Intergenerational Aging

Site: Hong Kong

Grandparenting Center: Connecting the Generations

This building represents a Grandparenting Center, a place with a variety of activities where grandparents or older guardians can take children for the day. One in three older adults in Hong Kong are caretakers for children at least one day a week, and in most cases much longer. This center is a space where grandparents can connect with their grandchildren while also building a community of peers with similar responsibilities and demands.

A chief complaint of older adults caring for children is the physical demands of keeping up with a child. In …

Shared Sites - Design For Inter Gernerational Aging: Movement Around Water, Teresa Lu

2019 Spring Shared Sites: Design for Intergenerational Aging

Site: St. Louis

Environmental press plays an important role in both a person's physical and mental development. Research shows that children and older adults' walking speed are both in the lower range of all age groups and are quite similar to one another. Even for a healthy senior, their mobility will most likely decrease in a gradual but stable pattern as they age. A healthy environment should be able to encourage mobility in a safe surrounding, while a completely safe space is often unenterprising.

The program proposed is a physical health center with a pool in the center of activities. …

Intergenerational Touch, Heewoong Yang

2019 Spring Shared Sites: Design for Intergenerational Aging

Site: St. Louis

Intergenerational exchanges are becoming more and more important as the society ages. Throughout this studio, I have tried to figure out what are the walls between generations and how to tear down the barriers with architectural languages.

Between two generations, there are a lot of strong stereotypes which make more difficult to interact with each other.

If we just ignore these stereotypes and try to make them interact, it might bring many side effects.

According to research conducted by Taiwan civil organization, they tried to give a particular preparation stage before making two different aging groups meet. …

Cicada Grove, Helen Han

2019 Spring Undergraduate Landscape Architecture Studio

The gentle throb of cicada song is an essential element of hot summer nights. The annual performance not only reminds people of a carefree childhood, but also signals a rich ecosystem. The cycle of cicada emergence is emblematic of the natural cycles of growth and decay.

This project proposes a neighborhood hub—an epicenter of cicada habitat and social activities. Located in the heart of the historical West End neighborhood and sited between apartment complexes, parking lots, and a playground, Cicada Grove is both a productive garden, a gathering space, and a place of repose where the song of the cicada …

Musical Therapy Center For Parkinson's Disease, Howie Chen

2019 Spring Shared Sites: Design for Intergenerational Aging

Site: Hong Kong

Design Intention for Uncle Shan and Nephew Justin:

This simple space tends to establish a kind of space prototype for intergenerational people living and working together. The space is designed mainly for two of my relatives including my 68-year-old uncle—Shan, and my 7-year-old nephew—Justin. Shan has been retired for almost ten years and developed his stable daily schedule throughout these years, while Justin is still a young kid who always kept being curious about the exterior world and whose schedule might be more flexible. the space should serve them both and fulfill their spatial needs either simultaneously …

Greenway Development, Makio Yamamoto

2019 Spring Undergraduate Landscape Architecture Studio

In this landscape-based studio, senior lecturer Jacqueline Margetts led a group of undergraduate architecture students in exploring ecological and public open space networks through the West End neighborhood in the City of St. Louis, focusing along the historic Hodiamont Tracks. The former streetcar line, which remains as a neglected service alley, will be converted to a greenway by Great Rivers Greenway. The studio was sited in the West End neighborhood in part due to its high number of native bee species, a vital component in maintaining biodiverse ecosystems and key indicator of environmental health. Students were charged with transforming sites …

A Space For Making, Making One's Own Space, Samuel Bell-Hart

2019 Spring Shared Sites: Design for Intergenerational Aging

Site: Hong Kong

The programming is focused around the supporting of activities that broadly involve making and working with one's hands. Specifically, woodworking and gardening are chosen as activities that can be engaged in at varying levels of difficulty and enjoyed by a wide range of age groups. The first means through which multiple generations interact is the mentor/student relationship, where someone with previous skills in either area acts as a facilitator for an older or younger student to learn. There are two "higher level" activities, dragon-boat building and orchid gardening, that comprise the long-term work of the space and …

Will Miami's Growth Be Cut Short By Sea-Level Rise?, Richard Florida, Alejandro Portes, Miami Urban Future Initiative, Florida International University

Miami Urban Future Initiative

A conversation with sociologist Alejandro Portes about his new book: Is Miami a global city, or a superstar Latin-American city? And is it going to sink?

Miami After Hq2, Richard Florida, Steven Pedigo, Miami Urban Future Initiative, Florida International University

Miami Urban Future Initiative

With Amazon’s search for its second headquarters or “HQ2” finally over, it’s time for Greater Miami to get back to the business of building its own economy. The fact that Miami was selected as one of 20 finalists out of the 238 cities that applied to the original request for proposals reflects the tremendous strides the region has made in the economic development arena. And, the region’s effort to come together to offer eight potential site locations across the three county mega-region—with the leadership of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council and support from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and the Business …

Miami’S Housing Affordability Crisis, Richard Florida, Steven Pedigo, Miami Urban Future Initiative, Florida International University

Miami Urban Future Initiative

"Miami’s downtown skyline is dotted with construction cranes, as endless new condos and apartments are built throughout the city. But the new construction is misleading: Greater Miami—the tri-county metropolitan region spanning MiamiDade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties—faces a severe crisis of housing unaffordability that stems from the dual problem of high housing costs and low wages."

Stuck In Traffic: For Greater Miami To Become A Leading Startup Hub, Better Mobility Is A Must, Richard Florida, Steven Pedigo, Miami Urban Future Initiative, Florida International University

Miami Urban Future Initiative

"The world is abuzz with talk of a mobility revolution. This encompasses new modes of transportation, from ride sharing and electric cars to bike sharing, scooters, and even self-driving cars. But how much of that is hype, and how much is reality? In Greater Miami—as in much of rest of the country—the vast majority of people still depend on their cars to get around."

Toward A More Inclusive Region: Inequality And Poverty In Greater Miami, Richard Florida, Steven Pedigo, Miami Urban Future Initiative, Florida International University

Miami Urban Future Initiative

Greater Miami has many things going for it: beautiful weather, a thriving economy, and a unique, international culture. Also known as the Miami metro, the tri-county region that spans Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties is the nation’s eighth-largest metro. With an economic output of $300 billion, it’s about the size of Singapore and Hong Kong. The region is attracting people from the U.S. and abroad and boasts a foreign-born population three times larger than the U.S. average.1 Its renewed downtown skyline is filled with gleaming new high-rise condos and office towers. And its rapidly growing startup ecosystem is one …

Oases For Ministry: A Proposal For Colegio Adventista Túpac Amaru Juliaca, Perú, The 2018 Urban Design Studio, Andrew C. Von Maur, Christopher Perry, Troy Homenchuk

All Books

Colegio Adventista Túpac Amaru (CATA) is playing a leading role in the efforts to extendthe transformational impact of Seventh-day Adventist education. Located in Puno’s economichub of Juliaca–about 70 km northwest of Plateria–CATA is following in the footsteps ofthe pioneers. By God’s grace, CATA is working for personal and social transformation in thisbooming, modern city. Ellen G. White writes that “the true object of education is to restore theimage of God in the soul” (Patriarchs & Prophets, p. 595). The proposed plans and designs inthis document are intended to support this purpose. They are inspired by the principles andlessons of the …

Intsaba: A Mountain Home, Andrew C. Von Maur, Christopher Perry, Troy Homenchuk, 2019 Urban Design Studio, Andrews University

All Books

The quality of the work in this book is all that was expected and more. This is the beginning of a journey that will impact all eSwatini. The Architecture School at Andrews University will remain a significant companion on this wonderful journey. We consider these children as Hope Seekers and our coffee table book about them shows the courage and ingenuity they display as they strive to survive. We are indeed all ‘hope seekers,’ except that we have options and they don’t. We praise God that there is now an open window to bring real hope to a population of …

Man Vs Car: The Ultimate Clash Designing A Safer Walking Experience For Las Vegas Pedestrians, Jenn Wong

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

The car has become a common weapon of choice for terrorists and others hoping to do harm to unsuspecting pedestrians. There is a pressing need for the development of effective, preventive design strategies to stop vehicular attacks before they cause pedestrian fatalities. Vehicular violence has broader consequences beyond the pedestrians directly involved in specific incidents. The fear created by vehicular attacks undermines public trust and unity, resulting in harm that is less obvious than the immediate casualties, but is just as damaging. Is it possible to design the fear away? Do street safety devices enhance pedestrians feelings of safety?

Integrated Stadium Design, Nolberto Fu

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

Several stadiums today surround themselves with hundreds of acres of parking. The Los Angeles Dodger Stadium for example, takes up over 17 million sq ft (400 acres) of parking space. That is roughly the size of Grand Central Station. This inefficient use of space creates a disconnect between the stadium and the city. In an attempt to avoid this disconnect from the city, the stadium must: Activate the stadiums street front and surrounding context, provide multiple programmatic functions for daily interactions and blur the lines between stadium and community.

Miami’S New Urban Crisis, Richard Florida, Miami Urban Future Initiative, Florida International University

Miami Urban Future Initiative

Greater Miami has experienced remarkable economic success in recent years. The metro area—which spans Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties—is now the eighth-largest in the United States, with around 6.1 million residents and economic output that exceeds that of many nations. As a symbol of Miami’s dramatic growth, its downtown has been stunningly transformed into a bustling area featuring new restaurants and hotels, an expanding cluster of startup companies, and a twenty-first century skyline of high-rise offices and condo towers.

Benchmarking Miami’S Talent Base, Richard Florida, Steven Pedigo, Miami Urban Future Initiative, Florida International University

Miami Urban Future Initiative

Talent is a key driver of advanced economies. Highly educated and skilled individuals drive income, wages, and economic growth in cities and metros across the globe1 . As Miami aspires to the ranks of leading global cities, how does its talent base stack up?

Benchmarking Miami’S Innovation And Entrepreneurship, Richard Florida, Steven Pedigo, Miami Urban Future Initiative, Florida International University

Miami Urban Future Initiative

The Miami metro—which spans Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties—is an aspiring hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. While Miami has long been a breeding ground for small businesses, the economic value of these businesses has historically trailed behind that of leading tech hubs like the San Francisco Bay Area, Austin, Seattle, and Boston-Cambridge. But the tide appears to be turning in Miami’s favor.

Benchmarking Miami’S Globalization, Richard Florida, Steven Pedigo, Miami Urban Future Initiative, Florida International University

Miami Urban Future Initiative

The Miami Metro—which spans Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties—has quickly ascended the ranks of global powerhouses. In 2017, Miami ranked 30th on A.T. Kearney’s Global Cities Index, just behind Frankfurt and Dubai. With its enviable location, prominent international airport, and major port, Miami now serves as an economic and financial hub for Latin America and a gateway to Europe and the rest of the world.

Re-Live Downtown Pine Bluff, Community Design Center

Project Reports

Once a prosperous cultural urban center in the Mississippi River delta, but now the nation’s second fastest shrinking city, Pine Bluff (population: 42,700) is Arkansas’ Detroit. Indeed, a study of black wealth conducted by famed sociologist W. E. B. Du Bois in 1899 found that Pine Bluff had the fourth highest rate of black wealth in the nation behind Charleston, Richmond, and New York City. The school’s community design center prepared a downtown revitalization plan, Re-Live Downtown Pine Bluff, a housing-first initiative focused on building neighborhoods around downtown “centers of strength”. While the revitalization approach is triaged around a …

Center For Farm And Food System Entrepreneurship, Community Design Center

Project Reports

The average age of the American farmer is 58. Since communities are not reproducing the next generation of farmers, universities are establishing training centers to model new concepts and technologies in farming. The Farmers Training Center is both an immersive program in the rhythms of farm life and a public facility for hosting gatherings that celebrate value-added food products. Part of the University of Arkansas’ farm operations near campus, the center is the public face of agriculture where farmers and the public meet. Student farmers learn by farming, from organic vegetable production in fields and greenhouses, to machine repair, marketing, …

Willow Heights Livability Improvement Plan, Community Design Center

Project Reports

Willow Heights is a 43-year old public housing complex owned by the Fayetteville Housing Authority (FHA) within the federal public housing portfolio administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The school’s design center was commissioned by a local foundation to study an alternative to the FHA’s plan to sell the downtown Willow Heights complex to a developer of high-income housing, necessitating relocation of low-income residents to another complex outside of downtown. Using equity as a driver of decision making, the studio introduced scenario planning to organize reluctant stakeholders in considering transformations to the five-acre complex.

New Beginnings Homeless Transition Village, Community Design Center

Project Reports

More than three million Americans experience homelessness annually. Emergency shelter capacity is limited while local governments are unable to provide even temporary housing. Informal housing involving interim self-help solutions are now popular adaptive actions for obtaining shelter despite nonconformance with city codes. Unfortunately, most informal solutions have resulted in objectionable tent cities and squatter campgrounds where the local response has simply been to move the problem around. Our homeless transition village plan prototypes a shelter-first solution using a kit-of-parts that can be replicated in other communities. Village design reconciles key gaps between informal building practices and formal sector regulations, creating …

Ubuntu In Umbumbulu: Opportunity In The Hills Of Ethekwini, Andrew C. Von Maur, Troy Homenchuk, Andrews University School Of Architecture & Design

All Books

Umbumbulu is positioned to be a model for strong rural communities and offers opportunities much of Durban can’t offer: a place to grow food, a place to retreat and be refreshed by nature, and a place to build a prosperous future for self-reliant young people authentically rooted in their traditional culture and community. Umbumbulu is the future of eThekwini.

Baden Community Open Space Plan, Rod Barnett

Books and Monographs

A team led by professor Rod Barnett has completed the Baden Community Open Space Plan. In summer 2016, Barnett and a team of research assistants collaborated with the on-the-ground team to engage residents to understand their needs. This data, combined with ecological data points, and public health assessments collected in the community, informed the proposed masterplan. In the voids created by voluntary buyout and demolition, the Baden neighborhood has an opportunity to redefine how infrastructure and greenspace can come together to create a space that serves residents. The team of partners has included the Green City Coalition, the City of …

Mufi 2017-2018 Reports, Miami Urban Future Initiative, Florida International University

Miami Urban Future Initiative

Greater Miami has experienced remarkable economic success in recent years. The metro area—which spans Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties—is now the eighth-largest in the United States, with around 6.1 million residents and economic output that exceeds that of many nations. As a symbol of Miami’s dramatic growth, its downtown has been stunningly transformed into a bustling area featuring new restaurants and hotels, an expanding cluster of startup companies, and a twenty-first century skyline of high-rise offices and condo towers.

The Freeman Performing Arts Center, Community Design Center

Project Reports

The Freeman Performing Arts Center marks the threshold between prairie and civic life. This small agricultural community of 1,300 has an outsized Anabaptist music tradition recognized nationally. The 37,000 sf hall-type building unifies a miscellaneous collection of public buildings and landscapes at the southwest corner of the town’s one-mile grid. The center’s massing projects an ascending system of familiar gable roofs, which absorb the fly tower into a composition reflective of pragmatic building forms. The principal face of the building is a translucent curtain wall that illuminates interior massing—a beacon on the prairie. A thru-Porch celebrates transitions between the prairie’s …