Architecture Commons^™

Community Service Learning Through The Lens Of Applied Field Studies In Guatemala, Central America, Travis Shultz, Adam Monroy, Jason Dell'orfano, Brian Giggey, Tamzeena Hutchinson, Megan Reagon, Dan Shaw, Seth Morrow

Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Studio and Student Research and Creative Activity

How can landscape architects and planners apply the skills acquired through our academic training – and in the work we pursue in our careers – with the needs of underprivileged communities? This research proposed to answer this question through the lens of Community Service Learning (CSL) in Guatemala City, Central America. Specifically, a professor of landscape architecture and regional planning carried out an applied field studies class with eight graduate and undergraduate students to test principles of CSL. The work focused on the research, design, and application of a unique project; the start-up of a municipal composting facility that would …

Modes, Means And Measures: Adapting Sustainability Indicators To Assess Preservation Activity's Impact On Community Equity, Mackenzie M. Greer

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Preservation of and reinvestment in the built environment as a redevelopment tool has been used by cities and towns across the country, in many cases providing significant social, economic and environmental benefits. Potential social effects have often been the least explored aspect of sustainable development, especially with regard to preservation, yet they are often the most challenging, particularly given the potential for displacement.

This thesis reviews literature where the issues of preservation, redevelopment and sustainability intersect. A set of best practices was developed that can be applied to other cities and towns to help balance preservation- and equity- enhancing activities. …

Three State-Run Green Building Programs: A Comparative Case Study Analysis And Assessment, Haidee N. Janak

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

This thesis explores three state-run green building programs (California, Minnesota and New York) through comparative case-study analysis. Main topics discussed include cost benefits, health benefits, certification (i.e. LEED or other), and lessons learned from direct interviews with program staff.

Parking Regulation Strategies And Policies To Support Transit-Oriented Development, Ryan W. Lundergan

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

This thesis identifies and explores the effects that new parking strategies and policies could have on transit-oriented development (TOD) success levels. Additionally, it makes the case for TOD parking regulation reform, and is designed to educate planners and stakeholders on how to successfully and responsibly shape parking regulation in the planning and implementation process, so that land use in the region allows the synergistic provision of sustainable transportation specifically to the Boston region.

Transit-Oriented Development is viewed and defined differently throughout research and literature, with its most common traits being compact, mixed use development near transit facilities and high-quality walking …

Summary Report: Population Estimates In Massachusetts: A Report To The Secretary Of The Commonwealth, Henry C. Renski, Susan Strate, Ludgarda Simmonds

Center for Economic Development Technical Reports

This report summarizes the 2009 estimates results from the UMass Donahue Institute’s Population

Estimates Program (UMDI-PEP). These population estimates are developed in tandem with the

Donahue Institute’s data collection efforts, namely our group quarters and housing unit surveys.

There are several reasons why it is necessary for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to develop its own population estimates. First, county and sub-county population estimates are a key resource for state and local governments, non-profits, and the private sector which use these estimates to prepare reports, grant applications, business plans, and state and federal compliance documents. At present, public agencies in Massachusetts …

Workforce Flows In The Maine Marine Trades Cluster - An Analysis Of The Uses Of Matched Establishment-Employee Databases In Understanding Labor Market Dynamics, Henry C. Renski

Center for Economic Development Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Using Secondary Data Sources To Identify Industrial Synergies Among Precision Manufacturing Firms In The Pioneer Valley, Henry C. Renski

Center for Economic Development Technical Reports

The purpose of this memo is to report the findings from an exploratory analysis of trade and occupational relationships among businesses in the Pioneer Valley’s Precision Manufacturing sector. The motivation for this work is the interest among economic development professionals in developing an information system that can identify local companies with common interest and needs by examining underlying commonalities in their workforce skills, technological foundations, markets and other types of complimentary attributes. These commonalities may then serve as a common platform upon which to build future inter-firm partnerships. One possible application for this information system is to design more effectively …