Architecture Commons^™

Sir Walter Scott And Kenilworth Castle: Ruins Restored By Historical Imagination, Rumiko Handa

Architecture Program: Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity

This is a study of how the architectural ruins of Kenilworth Castle contributed to the historical imagination of Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) and how he forged their literary restoration. The castle, located between Warwick and Coventry, was first constructed in the early twelfth century by Geoffrey de Clinton, the royal chamberlain to King Henry I (r. 1100-1135). Major additions were made by King Henry II (r. 1154-1189); King John (r. 1199-1216); John of Gaunt (1340-1399), son of King Edward III and Duke of Lancaster; and Robert Dudley (1532-1588), Earl of Leicester. The castle played a number of important roles throughout …

An Update Of The 1984 Haymarket Redevelopment Plan: Lincoln, Nebraska, Stephanie Rouse

Community and Regional Planning Program: Professional Projects

In 1984, Lincoln, Nebraska committed resources to renovating the Haymarket District to change it from a decayed manufacturing center into a viable business district. They successfully created a historic landmark district, commissioned a blight study and declared the area blighted, and then created a redevelopment plan. The 1984 Haymarket Redevelopment Plan examined the thencurrent district conditions and proposed future development that would support a thriving business district. Twenty-eight years later, that plan is being re-examined to determine what parts of the plan were realized, what the current district looks like, and how the current environment creates the need for an …

Building Healthy Communities: Integrating Walkability Concepts Into Local Land Use Planning, Jenna Danelle Muhlbach

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses and Student Projects

In recent years, American communities have been diagnosed with several chronic health diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Several researchers attribute sedentary lifestyles as one of the contributing factors to chronic diseases. The lack of physical exercise can be blamed by the auto-dependent suburbia lifestyle that many generations have become accustomed to. Poor land use developments have roads and freeways dominating the use of space, with the intent of having an automobile get from one place to another as efficiently as possible. This has allowed places to be much further apart therefore it has had a negative impact …

From Carson Pirie Scott To City Target: A Case Study On The Adaptive Reuse Of Louis Sullivan’S Historic Sullivan Center, Lisa M. Switzer

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

This study provides an in-depth exploration of the adaptive reuse of one of Chicago’s most iconic structures over the course of a year from the Summer of 2011 to the Summer of 2012. The Sullivan Center was converted from a mid-scale retailer to City Target. Through extensive interviews with the Target development team, Chicago city officials, historians and Landmark Commission representatives this study documents the conversion and identifies the successes and opportunities of the project. The study follows the project from design development to completion, and provides insight on the local community perspective on the development.

Advisor: Mark Hinchman

Towards Net-Zero Energy Communities: Evaluating Capacity Of Local Comprehensive Plans For Energy Efficiency In Oregon, Nan Zhao

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses and Student Projects

While energy-related issue is conventionally recognized as a large-scale issue to human and natural environment, few researches directly focus on local-level policies and strategies on energy efficiency. This thesis mainly aims to explain how to establish Net-Zero Energy Communities (NZECs) in the respective of local planning and policy. Based on the innovation adoption theory and key factors of NZECs, this study firstly establishes a practical protocol to assist local jurisdictions to develop high-quality local comprehensive plans (LCPs) to promote the development of NZECs. Then, through assessing the capacities of LCPs for local energy efficiency in Oregon, the strengths and weaknesses …

Lifecycle Energy Consumption Prediction Of Residential Buildings By Incorporating Longitudinal Uncertainties, Endong Wang, Zhigang Shen

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Accurate prediction of buildings’ lifecycle energy consumption is a critical part in lifecycle assessment of residential buildings. Longitudinal variations in building conditions, weather conditions and building’s service life can cause significant deviation of the prediction from the real lifecycle energy consumption. The objective is to improve the accuracy of lifecycle energy consumption prediction by properly modelling the longitudinal variations in residential energy consumption model using Markov chain based stochastic approach. A stochastic Markov model considering longitudinal uncertainties in building condition, degree days, and service life is developed: 1) Building’s service life is estimated through Markov deterioration curve derived from actual …

Developing A Restorable Wetland Index For Rainwater Basin Wetlands In South-Central Nebraska: A Multi-Criteria Spatial Analysis, Zhenghong Tang, Xu Li, Nan Zhao, Ruopu Li, F. Edwin Harvey

Community and Regional Planning Program: Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity

It is always challenging for decision makers to prioritize wetland conservation programs at the landscape scale. This study employed a GIS-based multi-criteria spatial decision support tool that identified locations with the highest restoration potential for wetland conservation programs in the Rainwater Basin in south-central Nebraska. Five indicators were considered to assess wetland restoration potential: (1) Vegetation characteristics; (2) Soil characteristics; (3) Water volume released from hydrological modification of agricultural irrigation pits; (4) Topographical depression status; and (5) Habitat condition. The results suggested 192 (1.6% of the total) hydric soil footprints as the highest prioritized locations for future wetland restoration programs. …

Investigating Self-Cooling Effects Of Ventilated Attics Under Different Roof And Ambient Temperatures In Summer, Zhigang Shen, Shimin Wang

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

An unsteady computational fluid dynamics model is employed to simulate summer-time buoyancy-driven turbulent ventilation in gable-roof attics of residential buildings. The energy performance of vented attics is assessed by comparing their performance to sealed attics with the same geometry and insulation configurations. The simulated boundary conditions of the roof-top temperature ranging between 295.15 K and 345.15 K, coupled with an ambient temperature ranging between 295.15 K and 315.15 K, resemble the summer attic conditions with effects of solar irradiance on the roofs. Simulation results indicate that both the vented and sealed attics are dominated by thermal stratification. The cooling load …

An Innovative Solution Set Of Algorithm For Converting Architectural Drawings To Vector-Based Computer Graphics, Yuye Peng

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Thesis, and Student Research

Appraisal Floor Plan Sketch (AFPS) as a simplified architectural floor plan shows the bird's eye view of a building’s spatial arrangement. An efficient automated vectorization system of AFPS not only fulfills AFPS’s preservation and dissemination purposes but also helps extract the building’s geometric information, which can be used to create 3D models of the building and improve building energy efficiency. The purpose of this study is to develop an automated system for converting scanned AFPS into vector based computer graphics.

Text/graphic separation and corner detection are two essential components in this vectorization system. Text/graphic separation ensures that only graphic data …

Effects Of Short Noise Bursts On Human Performance And Perception, Christopher Ainley

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Thesis, and Student Research

The goal of this research project is to better quantify human reactions to short bursts of noise, to complement research at NASA Langley Research Center on evaluating human response inside buildings to low-level sonic booms. The project involved exposing participants over 30-minute sessions to a number of 250 ms broadband noise bursts of certain levels, presented in a controlled yet randomized fashion throughout the session, and gathering responses on human perception and performance on an arithmetic task dealing with short-term memory. While previous research has demonstrated effects of noise bursts of varying amplitudes on other types of tasks that study …

Effects Of Acoustic Environments On Speech Comprehension By Native-English-Speaking Listeners, Zhao Peng, Lily M. Wang, Siu Kit Lau

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This study investigates the effects of acoustic conditions on speech comprehension, rather than speech intelligibility as often reported in existing literature. Sets of 15-minute-long listening comprehension tests were developed based on the format of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC). Each test set includes four types of tasks: matching aural phrases to photographs, selecting appropriate responses to aural questions, and answering questions after listening to conversations (between two talkers) and talks (single talker). Within the Nebraska acoustics test chamber, native-English-speaking participants are asked to perform these tests under 15 acoustic conditions, from combinations of three background noise levels …

The Effectiveness Of Distance Delivery Studios In Interior Design Education, Tracy A. Fichera

Interior Design Program: Theses

Technology has affected the way in which we live and work and many Interior Design programs have transitioned at least a portion of their curriculum to an online format; however, for many reasons most have been hesitant to convert the studio. One concern many faculty have is that distance education cannot facilitate the same environment or provide the individualized attention that face-to-face studio offers. In this study, the effectiveness of distance delivery studio courses in interior design education will be explored to find out if they can be as successful as face-to-face studio courses. Standards set forth by the Council …

Zoning Barriers To The Implementation Of New Urbanist Land Use Principles In Lincoln, Nebraska, Rachel K. Jones

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses and Student Projects

Euclidean land use regulations that segregate different kinds of uses from one another can present significant barriers to achieving the land use-related principles of New Urbanism on a foundational level. This research evaluated the zoning ordinance of the city of Lincoln, Nebraska, with a special focus on the Community Unit Plan and Planned Unit Development processes, in order to determine its openness to mixed housing and mixed uses, using a combination of policy analysis and Geographic Information System (GIS). It was found that a number of Lincoln’s zoning districts as well as a significant amount of land are restricted in …

The Leadership Of Sustainable Cities: A Multiple-Case Study Of Two Oregon Cities, Kenneth L. Weaver

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

In order for cities to become more sustainable it is necessary for the leaders of the efforts to change the organizations and governments so that they understand and embrace what it means to be more sustainable. This study examined the change processes of two Oregon Cities, Corvallis and Eugene, that had made the choice to become more sustainable as a community. The approaches that the participant leaders used demonstrated the use of different ways of thinking about the leadership of change. The ways of thinking of the community leaders were formed by their unique personal backgrounds, knowledge, skills, and abilities. …

In Light Of Light The Secular Sacred In Architecture, Jessica L. Graves

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Humankind’s fascination and experimentation with light is as old as the built environment itself. Consciously or unconsciously, architecture and light share a distinctive relationship. This has created rich situations in the past and it can create new ones in the future as well. To address the potential of this relationship in a design thesis, one must realize that there is a crucial difference between an objective description of light and what we perceive.

The measure of light can be quantitatively described in luminous flux, radiant energy, or even directionally in relation to time. This way of approaching light produces standard …

A Computational Response To Arrested Development, Nay Z. Soe

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Current improvements in transportation, communication technology, and a steady rise in globalization has lead to the effect of suburbanization. While the exact effects and implications of suburbanization remain a matter of great controversy, it is undeniable that substantial qualitative changes are taking place in the world economy, with major spatial and social implications. These conditions pose significant challenges to the normative design practices in concern to planning and housing, requiring an approach that operates beyond the quick fix or the local solution.

In order to operate critically and design effectively to these conditions, an examination of socio-spatial urban processes and …

Boundless Boundaries, Amanda C. Kottas

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Humans dealing with physical and mental ailments can benefit from improvements in condition that many types of therapy can offer. One of these is equestrian-aided therapy. Its techniques offer a unique range of tools that are both mentally and physically beneficial to the patient.

“The activity of riding closely simulates human gait. The warmth from the horse and the rhythmical motion provides relaxation to spastic muscles. Exercises done on the horse are designed to improve balance, endurance, range of motion and strength” (HETRA, 2011).

In physical therapy with the horse, humans form a bond with the animal. The patients learn …

Self-Fixturing Architecture, Darin C. Russell

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

“Fixturing” as a concept and practice is applied almost exclusively to manufacturing. Mass production utilizes the fixture to assemble volumes of identical parts into volumes of identical assemblies via holding and locating. This results in accurate and repeatable assembly of parts. Typically, the fixture is only economical when a large enough volume of assemblies exist - a small number of assemblies does not warrant the design and fabrication of a fixture. In this context, the fixture is external from the assembly - that is, the parts do not intrinsically locate and hold themselves within the assembly. It is arguably more …

Data Driven Architecture, Zachary S. Soflin

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

There is a change in the paradigm of architecture and the approach toward the development of forms. A change that strives to get past the shallow ascetic of Post modernism and its view of architects as the generators of forms whose priority is appearance not performance. This change continues the movement away from the shallow facade of Post modernism toward a priority of performance and accuracy in architecture. By this, I mean an architecture that serves its users better, and attempts to accurately address the issues & needs of the user.

While performance based design is not a new concept, …

Into The Seam: The Architecture Of Boundary, Erik T. Leahy

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

The current conflict occurring in the State of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories is representative of a trend which is becoming common in the modern political era: the walling off of the ‘first world’ from the ‘third world’; ‘civilization’ from ‘wilderness’. Examples of this include (but not limited to) the US-Mexico border, the 38th Parallel between North and South Korea, the economic remnants of the Iron Curtain, the subdivision of the Balkans, and the division and nationalization of the Indian Subcontinent. These border zones reflect cultural, political, and economic differences. Recently, however, through infrastructural definition and physical manifestation, many …

Rail (Re) Connection, Benton J. Cooper

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

The primary goal of this project is understand why the passenger rail industry in the United States has fallen short of the rest of the world over the last several decades and to promote the revitalization and re-connection of the passenger rail industry within the United States, with the focus starting in the Midwest. The overall scope of the project is to use existing rail infrastructure, track and existing smaller depots, and new hub terminals to integrate passenger traffic back into the rail industry. As the existing infrastructure becomes outdated and/or worn new infrastructure to support new rail technology will …

Design Capitalism, Emily Van Court

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Social business examples are few in the architecture profession. In fact, humanitarian architecture as a concept is new to the field. Left to non-profits and academics (Architecture for Humanity and Rural Studio respectively), humanitarian architecture is not traditionally regarded as a profitable business.

However, other fields have found ways to combine a social initiative and a profitable business. Grameen Bank founder Dr. Muhammad Yunus not only defined the term, but created the model for social business. Subsequently, many non-profits have followed suit and applied the successful system, increasing the capacity for social change within their fields.

My thesis will aim …

Designing Resilience To The Potential Failure Of An Oil-Dependent System, Michelle A. Morehead

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

American, post--World War II suburbia exists in a unique form different from previous development in the U.S. and the rest of the world. While suburbs in European countries are typically defined as outlying areas within a city’s limits, American suburbs have no legal definition, and are frequently within a metropolitan area, but outside of the main city’s limits. Suburbs are independent in land-use, taxing and regulatory powers, and therefore may have separate governing bodies and interests than the city they have proximity to. With post-war wealth, credit, and mass production of the automobile, Americans in the 50s were able to …

Fused, Abby A. Baumert

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Since the 1800’s, the consolidation of rural schools in the United States has been a controversial topic for policymakers, school administrators, and rural communities. Primary concerns with consolidation include budget, efficiency, student achievement levels, school size, and community identity. In the history of American education, consolidation has been an alternative way to solve rural issues. Currently, rural schools and communities facing declining enrollments and financial cutbacks are challenged by the growing trend of consolidation and school reorganization.

Debates continue today, whether the consolidation movement is considered a success. Opponents of school consolidation point to research that suggests consolidation may not …

Intuition In The Design Process, Tyson C. Fiscus

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

The vast spectrum of unique outcomes and innovative solutions found within the realm of architectural design suggests the field of architecture to be stirring with creative potential. When one first looks at these creative outcomes, it would appear that the designer arrived at a creative solution instinctively or intuitively. The designer often explains the process as intuitive or derived from a natural, unintentional sequence. The intention of this design thesis is to explicitly research intuition, understand intuition’s role in creativity, and critically apply these findings to an architectural design process.

In order to research the seemingly inexplicable realm of intuition, …

Haptic Vision, Adam H. Donner

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Haptic Vision is an investigation into the idea that the experience of architecture is lacking because of the bias Western society has placed on vision, that the other senses are stifled by this and that it is a result of us living in an occularcentric society. Architect and theorist Juhani Pallasmaa has said that, “While our experience of the world is formulated by a combination of five senses, much architecture is produced under consideration of only one - sight. The suppression of the other sensory realms has led to an impoverishment of our environment, causing a feeling of detachment and …

Ecotourism, Grant M. Ronchi

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

The idea to design a fully functioning ecotourism lodge was conceived as a result of two projects, the first being an academically organized team assignment and the second, an actual venture of one of my relatives. The challenges that arise in designing solutions for an environmentally-conscious uniform facility are especially stimulating when they are to be executed abroad. The marketability of such a facility needs to be contemplated carefully, respecting a well established culture. Deliberate attention to a triangle of three components will drive this design as a thesis project: the natives and their culture, construction methods and materials, and …

Digital Morphogenesis: A Computational Housing Typology, Bryce R. Willis

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Architects have integrated computers into firms to streamline the documentation process and which has allowed for the integration of rapid prototyping and digitally driven technologies and tools. Although this has increased the efficiency of the traditional approach to architecture, an alternative methodology has the potential to adapt the computer’s role in architecture, making it a more integrated part of the design process. Within a traditional process, software allows a designer to build the documentation of his designs around the relationships between elements. Instead, new methodologies can be used to imbed the nature of an architectural design within a system of …

Adaptive Value: Design For Changing Economies, Adam S. Post

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

The intent of this thesis is to better understand how architects can increase the value of under utilized sites amidst changing economies. Initial explorations of material reuse, reconstruction, deconstruction, and adaptive reuse have culminated in a better understanding of the value of architecture.

Inherent to any building design is the initial program for its construction. These programs help define the building and set up parameters upon which architects base their designs. The problem that often arises is that nothing happens to these spaces once the programs have changed. This thesis looks to examine how an adaptive reconstruction process can take …

Building Performance, Aaron K. Wong

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

This project is a critique on current sustainable practices and looks to create a better system for sustainability that can build upon itself, serve as a progressive system for future use, and ultimately offer a means for self sustaining cities. The current standards for sustainability are far from being progressive or even par for current needs. The means in which buildings are evaluated and means in which sustainability is thought of is very limited, and has lost sight of fundamental goals. A new system in which sustainability is not thought of on as a one off building, but on a …