Architecture Commons^™

Design By Rwu Professor’S Architectural Firm Among Finalists For Mlk Memorial In Boston, Juan Siliezar

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RWU Professor of Architecture Julian Bonder’s architectural firm is among five finalists to design a multimillion-dollar memorial to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King on the Boston Common.

A Behind The Scenes Look At Building An Architecture Model, Juan Siliezar

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On weekdays during the summer, Gabrielle Porter '20 spent most of her time focused on perfection. It came with the nature of her internship at a small architecture firm consistently ranked among the top in the nation where her main responsibility was building scaled models of the some of the firms current architecture projects.

Marching Toward The Finish​, Juan Siliezar

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A quick look at the work master's of architecture students are presenting as part of their graduate thesis.

Draft Programmatic Agreement For Buildings And Structures At Cold War Era Dedicated Instrumentation Sites: White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, Phillip S. Esser

Historic Preservation Capstone Projects

Since 1966, when the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) was signed into law, federal agencies have been required to consider their impact to known or potential historic resources under their jurisdiction. As a potentially costly and onerous process for large government installations such as the military, the law allows for procedures known as “program alternatives” which allow federal agencies to streamline the requirements for inventorying and evaluating categories of, or similar resources (in this case, buildings and structures) for their potential as historic resources.

This Capstone project seeks to capture a category of such resources, building and structures at Cold ...

Designing Efficiently For Natural Disaster Relief: Cultural Integration And Prevention Methods, Bryan Smith

Architecture Theses

Our world is more separated now than it has ever been. We pride ourselves on the technologies that we create, and the feats that we have accomplished, but we seldom stop to think about what the implications are. More than often we design to fit what we think we “need”, however, we need to design and build to a better future.

Natural disasters have become something that designers cannot ignore anymore due to the fact that nearly one tenth of the world’s population lives in low lying coastal areas and the rising sea levels are being seen throughout the ...

Community Connections: Relief Through Athletics, Joshua Arthur

Architecture Theses

A sports based recreation facility can significantly enhance the quality of life in a community. Activities held within these facilities can encourage participation, promote health and well-being, and foster a sense of community and togetherness. Today with crime and obesity being increasingly troublesome in the US a space focused on athletics, health, and wellness would allow for kids to have a plethora of activities to do after school and on weekends. There they can make friends, learn about health, and stay off of the streets. Sports and recreation can demonstrate and contribute to the sustainable use of natural resources. They ...

Bioharvest: Energy Efficient Design For The Standardization Of Biomimetic Technologies At Stanford University In Palo Alto, Ca, Usa, Gabriella Santostefano

Architecture Theses

The thesis serves as an investigation of the possibilities of biomimicry as well as an exploration of harvesting energy from the sun, the wind, the rain, and the earth.

Biomimicry, derived from the Greek words bios meaning “life” and mimesis meaning “imitate,” is the examination of nature in order to create systems that are derived from the natural world and provide sophisticated solutions to human problems.

Biomimicry asks the question. “What in nature has already solved what I am trying to solve?” In the case of this project, nature will inspire the creation of a new building typology, Bio-Inspired Solutions ...

New England Pathway To Recovery: Drug And Alcohol Addiction Treatment Center Around Nature In Rocky Hill, Connecticut, Michael P. Lombardi Jr.

Architecture Theses

In the United States, particularly in New England region, there has been an increase in drug overdoses. This drug epidemic includes an escalation in heroin use and rise in the number of opioid deaths each year. In order to improve the situation there needs to be a change in the way individuals with drug and addiction problems receive treatment through counseling and therapy, as well as other programs and activities. This change would create a positive influence and make the world a better place and allow everyone to enjoy life everyday.

The purpose of this project is to create drug ...

Snacking In Bed: Blending Residential And Agricultural Typologies, Taylor Chin

Architecture Theses

The project will explore the generation of a productive residence in an urban setting. The thesis analyzes the cultural conditions of such a building and how it might fit into the urban fabric of a city. In addition, it will investigate the scaling of such a building and how a plot of land will answer to population density as well as agricultural use. A standardized set of building layers will be clearly defined as a rationale for designing a building that conforms to the site and cultural concerns. The summation of these considerations and intents will be a building that ...

Impermanence Materialized: Exploration Of Temporary Architecture At The Kumbh Mela In Allahabad, India, Taylor Sutherland

Architecture Theses

This thesis project will explore and implement a system of structure and construction that can be assembled and disassembled with extremely efficient labor and production of materials. The design and specifications will engage lightweight, sustainable materials, a system of spaces or buildings can be erected, deconstructed, and transported efficiently. Locally sourced materials contribute to both the constructability and authenticity of the architecture. Especially in projects that can be applied to multiple sites, it is imperative that the context and vernacular are considered and respected.

Becoming The Preservation Executive Director: A Journey Through The Educational And Professional Development Of Preservation Nonprofit Leaders, Allison G. Bacon

Historic Preservation Theses

Historic preservation executive directors are tasked with using their preservation skills and knowledge to preserve and protect the built environment. However, they are also responsible for running a business, in the form of nonprofit organization, where they manage people, projects and budgets to keep the organization functioning. This thesis explores the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOCs) required of historic preservation executive directors to lead preservation nonprofits using the method of job analysis. Preservation graduate programs and educational standards are analyzed to demonstrate the gap in preservation academic programs to prepare professionals to lead nonprofit organizations. Recommendations are ...

Where Do We Go From Here? Best Practices For Adapting Historic Buildings For Climate Resiliency In Newport, Rhode Island, Olivia Katherine Needham

Historic Preservation Theses

When looking to the future, it is hard to ignore the significant effects climate change will have on our historic built environment. Roughly 2,459.32 acres of land throughout the historic City of Newport, Rhode Island fall within the hundred-year floodplain associated with sea level rise. Through examination of precedents in Louisiana and Charleston, South Carolina, this study analyzes best practices and government policies for adapting historic structures to be more climate-change resilient. The goal is to identify best practices from the precedent areas and use them as guidance for the creation of new initiatives to protect historic structures ...

Preserving Historic Qilou Districts In Southern China: Consideration Of Western Models, Qiming Li

Historic Preservation Theses

The historic qilou buildings are essential to the people in Southern China. Unfortunately, due to some of the urban renewal policies, many of the qilou districts have been either demolished or abandoned. For years, many scholars had written books and articles about how to preserve these significant historic urban elements. However, these studies failed to include examinations of the historic preservation program in other countries or the existing ones in China. This thesis was written in the hope of filling the gap. This study discusses the historical developments of the qilou buildings and their significances in four selected cities: Guangzhou ...

The Democratic Architecture Of George W. Maher: A Preservation Perspective, Cody Chase

Historic Preservation Theses

As a branch of the international Arts and Crafts Movement, American Prairie Style architecture was a nostalgic ode to the horizontality and natural landscape of the Midwestern prairie and a departure from European design. Today, the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan comprise the most memorable examples of the era, leaving a considerable number of architects largely understudied. One of these architects was the prolific theoretician and designer George W. Maher.

Ambitious from a young age, Maher had his own firm by his mid-twenties and produced over 160 structures in his thirty-eight-year career. During that time he was ...

The Andrews Complex Development Feasability Study For Newport Art House’S “Residency 2020” Project, Tracy Jonsson

Historic Preservation Theses

This paper is a needs-driven feasibility study for acquiring and rehabilitating the Andrews Complex, located at 7-10 Fir Street, Newport RI for use in Newport Art House’s Residency 2020 Project.

Newport Art House (NAH) commissioned this study responding to the need for affordable housing and studios within Newport’s artist community in the face of social change resulting from years of municipal economic investment in seasonal tourism. The Residency 2020 Project is one solution addressing equity, sustainability, and community authenticity issues identified by the City of Newport. It is an example of innovation at the intersection of historic preservation ...

Open Source Architecture: Redefining Residential Architecture In Islamabad, Mariam Yaqub

Architecture Theses

Islamabad, a planned city, has grown rapidly since its conception in the 1960’s but it has not followed its predetermined fate but rather grown haphazardly due to the lack of infrastructure available to implement Doxiadis’s master plan. The city was unable to meet the housing requirements of the people causing them to build gated communities on the outskirts of Islamabad and its sister city, Rawalpindi. The market demands caused city prices to rise exponentially, increasing the economic divide between the social classes. The city which was once supposed to reflect diversity of social classes became home to the ...

St. Mary’S Episcopal Church: Architectural History And Preservation Possibilities, Anastasia O’Neill

Historic Preservation Capstone Projects

This thesis focuses on the architectural and historical significance of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. It comprises two major sections: a historical narrative and a research narrative. Thus, it is meant to illuminate the history of St. Mary’s and to guide future research. The historical narrative contains information regarding the context into which the church was built, the founding of the parish, the construction of the church building, and selected significant changes. The research narrative contains a list of archives consulted, suggestions of uses for the information obtained, and a description of the necessary steps ...

Clean Venice: Infrastructure & Place-Making In Venice, Italy, Nicholas Musilli

Architecture Theses

Venice is deteriorating. The fragile city is crumbling, and eventually will be swallowed into the water which surrounds it. Besides the prospect of sinking, the infrastructure is damaged weekly by the cruise ships which visit the city and account for about 2 million tourists every year. Typically, these ships produce 50 tons of garbage, 210,000 gallons of sewage, and 35,000 gallons of oil-contaminated water. That being said, these floating cities contribute to about 20% of harmful emissions in coastal and port cities. In an already damaged state, Venice is negatively affected by traffic and pollution from these vessels ...

Notre Dame Des Canadiens 5 Salem Square, Worcester, Ma 01608, Amy M. Skrzek

Historic Preservation Capstone Projects

Notre Dame des Canadiens is an Exotic Style church located in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts at 5 Salem Square. The church was built in 1929 and was designed by architect, Donat R. Baribault of Springfield, Massachusetts. It is significant under Criteria A and C for the French Canadian community it represented and due to its architecture. The French Canadian community was one of the largest immigrant populations in Worcester contributing to the culture of the city. This church stands as a testament to the will of the French Canadian people to establish their own, French-speaking, parish and in doing so established ...

Continuation Of A Life Worth Living: Empathetic Design For The Alzheimer’S Community, Leslie Hulbert

Architecture Theses

This thesis’ mission is to create a comfortable environment for those suffering with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The institutional environments of the past are not sufficient for such individuals and their families. A community atmosphere is what they need; an entire complex just for them. The victims of this terrible memory defeating disease just want to go home. For many, this is not possible, therefore they should be given an environment that reminds them of home. They should have their own space that is customizable and warm. They should also be free to wander at their leisure. Their freedom should ...

An Architecture Of Movement: The New Headquarters For Usa Dance, Bethany Robertson

Architecture Theses

By providing a headquarters for the national ballroom dance organization in the United States, this project will provide a practice, performance, and interaction space for all levels of dancers. Furthermore, this building can also provide a social space both inside and out not only for the dancers who use the building, but for the local residents.

A Floating Community: A ‘Platform’ For Future Sustainable Development, Christopher M. Rossi

Architecture Theses

With the environment of our planet changing for the worse, there is a need for an economical and sustainable solution. As we become more aware of the effects our actions have on our ecosystem, we have the opportunity to implement ways to alleviate some of stress we are causing on our planet. The population is growing exponentially and, with climate change being felt around the world, sea levels are rising at a faster rate than ever before. With these two situations alone, we are faced with an extreme complication; where do ‘we’ put all of these people and how do ...

The Visitor Experience: Reimagining The 21st Century Visitor, Christina Coleman

Historic Preservation Theses

This thesis explores a challenge that living history museums currently face of being tied to a specific time and place but needing to attract and interact with changing 21st century visitors. One way that museums combat this challenge is through an engaging visitor experience. To explore this issue, Old Sturbridge Village is used as a case study. It is a living history museum, depicting the 1830s, that is located in central Massachusetts. OSV was founded in 1946. The research is coupled with literature on museum visitor experiences. This mixed methods study utilizes interviews of employees at the museum, participant observation ...

Values Enhanced Design Guidelines: Balancing Expert Knowledge With Community Values When Regulating New Construction In Historic Districts, Corey B. Pacheco

Historic Preservation Theses

Research Question: This thesis intends to answer if non-professional stakeholder meanings can assess what is appropriate for new construction in historic districts, and whether those meanings coincide with the goals of the design review guidelines for Falmouth’s historic districts.

Results: The meanings extrapolated from the non-professional Informants interviews, suggest new construction should be compatible with the surrounding streetscape, as suggested in the Falmouth’s design review guidelines

Practical Implications: The study highlights that stakeholders with little or no background in the process of historic preservation design review can carefully understand and verbalize design criteria; and in addition, make decisions ...

The Zoning In And The Zoning Out Of The Elderly: Emerging Community And Communication Patterns, Susan J. Drucker

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Increasingly, senior only residences are zoning seniors out of mainstream residential areas and into segregated living and mature communities. Senior gated communities are variations on a theme of gated communities in which lifestyle is packaged and sold. Active adult retirement communities exclude the young and offer active lifestyle living, with diverse levels of senior living choices. Such an approach contrasts with policies designed to encourage aging in place. It is also distinct from Golden Age Zoning districts designed to allow affordable housing for senior citizens in a public/private partnership. Some towns have zoned public parks to establish areas for ...

Plotinus And The Artistic Imagination, John S. Hendrix

School of Architecture, Art, and Historic Preservation Faculty Publications

In the thought of Plotinus, the imagination is responsible for the apprehension of the activity of Intellect. If creativity in the arts involves an exercise of the imagination, the image-making power that links sense perception to noetic thought and the nous poietikos, the poetic or creative intellect, then the arts exercise the apprehension of intellectual activity. According to John Dillon in “Plotinus and the Transcendental Imagination,” Plotinus’ conception of the imagination led to the formulation of the imagination as a basis of artistic creativity. In Plotinus, imagination operates on several different levels: it produces images in sense perception, it synthesizes ...

Tropic Architecture, John S. Hendrix

School of Architecture, Art, and Historic Preservation Faculty Publications

Mannerist architects in the Cinquecento created what can be called “tropic architecture.” They set out to break the rules of classical architecture, but the rule-breaking was done systematically, by applying rhetorical tropes, or figures of speech, to architectural composition, the four most common being metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and irony. According to Paul Oskar Kristeller, rhetoric was an important basis of Renaissance humanism. Students learned tropes and other figures of speech from well-circulated classical texts such as the Rhetorica ad Herennium and Quintilian’s Institutio oratorio. Examples of tropic devices can be found in works such as Giulio Romano’s Palazzo ...

A Model Policy For The City Of New Orleans To Protect Historic Properties From Demolition After Flooding Disasters, Natalie Holy

Historic Preservation Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

National Register Nomination, Linden Place, 500 Hope Street, Bristol, Ri 02809, Eric Deitz

Historic Preservation Capstone Projects

Linden Place is a Federal-style residence located in Bristol, Rhode Island on 1.8 acres of land, including three outbuildings. The mansion was constructed in 1810 by Russell Warren and is significant under Criteria B and C in the areas of two of its residents and its architecture. Original owner, George DeWolf and his family had strong ties to the triangle trade and was one of the largest importer of slaves in the country during the nineteenth century. Samuel Colt, grandson of DeWolf, was a respected business man who played an important role in the rubber industry in Bristol and ...

A Policy Analysis Of The City Of Newton, Massachusetts’ Demolition Delay Ordinance, Valerie Fram

Historic Preservation Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.