Architecture Commons^™

Reorientation, Soleil Nguyen

Masters Theses

A non-linear narrative to understand the place and character of my neighborhood.

The Story Of Market House, Patrick Spence

Masters Theses

Our encounters of space are charged with narratives of the past. These narratives help us define who we are, speaking to our values and providing us with our identity.

The Story of Market House is an exploration into the narratives of the 245-year-old Market House of Providence, Rhode Island. Like the additions and alterations to its form, Market House is layered with generations of unique Providence history.

This project aims to remember and tell an unbiased and empathetic narrative, true to the comprehensive histories of this unique place; and from this present an architectural proposal that projects a new chapter …

Moments Of Rotary Motion : Temporary Use In Vacant Industrial Heritage Architecture, Xuecheng He

Masters Theses

The vacant industrial historic building at 145 Globe Street within the Jewelry District in Providence, Rhode Island is designated one of the ten most endangered historic properties in the city. After surviving many stalled plans for renovation there are no efforts underway to save it, and deterioration from natural elements and vandalism continues. Many Industrial heritage buildings wait in a similar limbo. When there are no definite plans for renewal, often these buildings are left vacant for years without routine maintenance, causing severe damage and posing a threat to public safety. These buildings should be used as a resource in …

A Place For Family: Support Health Through Community, Jiaqi Li

Masters Theses

Traditional hospital care and medical treatment view patients as individuals, without considering the network of family members or friends who that person relies on for health, or who may themselves rely on the patient for wellbeing. Hospitals focus on healing in a vacuum, and hospital architecture plays a negative role in separating patients from friends and family. As a result, a single person’s illness can break networks of support. There is need for a new kind of program that considers the most important part of this network, family, as a whole. A system of buildings within a single neighborhood surrounding …

Youthbuild Providence Sustainability Learning Center Design, Renee Bilodeau, Jake Bochese, Boris Dafov, Matt Diack, Alison Divenere, Jessica Gross, Andrea Krefsky, Phil Lane, Kelly Papa, Colin Pottbecker, Dominic Skrajewski, Roseann Evans, Arnold Robinson

Architecture and Urban Design

Renee integrated coarse stucco and horizontal

corrugated metal in white and black as a pattern

signifying the major spaces. Over the entry and

in the main construction space, she played with

pattern in the curtain walls by replacing some

glass panels with metal panels that are orange, the

YouthBuild school color. The orange color is very

prominent in the main entry and the construction

facility, emphasizing the importance of construction

to the YouthBuild philosophy.

Downtown Providence Farmers Market Design, Lindsay Dansereau, Matthew Eckel, Kate Ford, Joanna Grocott, Tyler Harriott, Zachary Nelson, Amanda O'Malley, Jessica Palmer, David Sanchez, Eric Schall, Sarah Thompson, Anthony Piermarini, Lindsay Guastafeste, Arnold Robinson

Architecture and Urban Design

This market essentially combines a marketplace with an existing or new industrial building. The hybrid created results in space that has daily retail sales and hours, as well as other goods available at other times. The industrial aspect typically acts as the anchor, as the market’s activities help attract a different group of consumers at other business times. An example of this would be a seafood supply warehouse that also provides dining and entertainment as a nightlife destination.

Trinity Restoration Inc. Theater Design, Arnold Robinson

Architecture and Urban Design

Problems: (1) Sound travels very quick around the curve of the wall creating a disproportional amount of sound on the opposite ends of the arc. (2) Sounds that start in front of the curve gets reflected back to a focal point. The location of that focal point moves depending on where the sound is located. As a result, loud refocused echoes are created at the focal point. When heard, the sounds seem to come from a mysterious place. The effects of the curved walls are extremely strong and need to be addressed. One common mistake is over applying absorptive material …

Sophia Academy Roof Garden, Ryan Bonassar, Paul Clark, Robert Clarke, Lisa Fasciglione, April Gaddis, Heather Gillock, Cassidhe Griffiths, Leslie Hulbert, Aexandra Reilly, Chelsea Weibust, Ginna Johnson, Ellen Hasset, Meghan Spratt, Arnold Robinson

Architecture and Urban Design

Concept: The Bay

Taking inspiration from the water around Rhode Island, washed wood decking appears as water with the surrounding plants as the shore. Includes pergola, gathering spaces and vegetable garden.

Meeting Street Needs Assessment And Space Planning, Jacob Cutillo, Sarah Finch, Vincent Lemma, Nicholas Musilli, Alexandra Whipple, Matthew Eckel, Christopher Winkler, Kristin Belmore, Andrew Tamblyn, Bob Miklos, Sam Catchelor, Kelly Ard, Arnold Robinson

Architecture and Urban Design

A community space is a multigenerational gathering place in which a variety of activities, programs and services are offered for the benefit of the public. This space should be a pillar of the community. Just like in a family unit, a community that overcomes hard times, controversial issues and challenging obstacles together will grow closer.

In areas that are facing poor education, low income and a general decomposition of core values, a community center that encompasses resources for family, education, guidance, arts and entertainment, and technology can act as the catalyst for overall community improvement and a new cycle of …

Roger Williams Park Edible Forest Garden, Mark S. Scialla

Senior Honors Projects

An edible forest garden is a low-maintenance system that uses edible native and regionally-adapted plants arranged in beneficial relationships to meet human, wildlife and ecosystem needs. The forest garden in Roger Williams Park will transform underutilized urban land into a highly productive parcel producing market-viable fruits, nuts, vegetables, medicine and fiber. Forest gardens mimic natural forest systems in architecture and complexity. The design follows ecological principles to create a system that promotes biodiversity and enhances the surrounding ecosystem. This project also demonstrates the potential to grow food and create land-based livelihoods in the city.

Located on the edge of a …

Matthewson St. United Methodist Church: Rehabilitation Feasiblity Report, Catherine Varnas, Jonathan Hopkins, Dylan Peacock, Joshua Lentz, Arnold Robinson

Historic Preservation

The first-story floor plan was altered significantly during the 1951 renovations, and the entry vestibule is adorned with Neo-Gothic panelling. The chapel on the first floor is handsomely finished. The two-story sanctuary space has a semi-circular configuration with pews radiating from the altar, a balcony and substantial crown moulding.

Washington Park Main Street Plan, Benjamin Bergenholtz, Derek Dandurand, Valerie Fram, Tracy Jonsson, Kimberly Lindner, Carolyn Reid, D.J. Sevigny, Alexandra Skerry, Timothy Guimond, Brooke Kourafas, Elise Murphy, Matt Berry, Erik Butler, Kayla Nerone, Arnold Robinson, Jeremy Wells, Julie Coon, Joel Cooper

Historic Preservation

There is an immense variety of privately owned businesses. They will be stakeholders because their businesses are located there, but they will also be assets in themselves in drawing people to the area. There is basically everything anyone could possible want or need in this area. There are two gas stations, a Family Dollar, a liquor store, a few sit down restaurants, numerous places where one can get a quick bite to eat, a frame shop, a clothing store, a pawn shop, a store with fresh produce (which is hard to find in urban areas), a store that sells sports …

Environmental Architecture: Environmental Discovery Center On The Woonasquatucket River, Nathan Bonaiuto

Architecture Theses

The Woonasquatucket River Environmental Discovery Center (WREDC) is a place where students of the environment can enjoy a natural space within their own community. It provides a much needed connection to a site which, for far too long has been off limits to the community. As a potential learning environment for young students, the WREDC becomes a platform for a sustainable lifestyle. In this place we learn about the past, connect it to the present, and allow for change in the future.

This thesis is about making these connections of past and future through the current constructs of the Social, …

Rising Architecture, Erica M. Wiggin

Architecture Theses

Many cities have experienced shrinkage in their city centers, leaving behind abandoned lots and buildings throughout the city streets. The historic city of Providence was split after the construction of I-95, leaving the west side of the city separated and in some cases abandoned from downtown. Creating a couple living communities that work together to live sustainably by producing necessities such as electricity, clean water, food and medicine will be contributing to the quality of the city as well as improving their lives by learning, developing and teaching new means of living to the rest of the community in their …

Mother Building: Communal Architecture Incubator, Richmond Downey Jeffrey

Architecture Theses

The Mother Building is an architecturally-themed social experiment in most respects. It is an endeavor into understanding the mind of the architect, the creative drive and the particular aspect of motivation. Meanwhile, it is also an enterprise to reestablish high architecture as a primarily public art: to remove the more grandiose aspects of our practice from the ivory tower and back to the streets, to create a new dialogue between architect and society. In other words, how do we put together a building that acts to best facilitate the genesis of more buildings and stimulates public interest in a practice? …

Community Wellness Center: Providence, Rhode Islan, Eva Marie Mercurio

Architecture Theses

The Wellness Center in Providence, Rhode Island incorporates alternative medicine, medical, and dental facilities for the benefit and education of patients within and around surrounding neighborhoods as well as for others who reside outside the immediate area. These services, all of which are available in one centrally located area have the potential to captivate and entice those who are interested in creating a better lifestyle for themselves. A predominant focus of this facility is to instill and promote healthy lifestyles while at the same time educating the public who can contribute to a society and become capable of addressing and …

From Peripheral To Central: An Urban Reintegration Of The Elderly Community, Anne Mcgee

Architecture Thesis Prep

"Throughout time, suburban sprawl has nullified the town center through the creation of satellite centers which cater to specific architectural typologies, programs, and demographic groups. The contention of this project is that the lost city center is an integral part of urban life, both architecturally and socially. A center shall be reestablished through combining typologically unrelated programs and urban conditions, while also bringing together otherwise isolated social groups."

The Providence Public Library At Waterplace Park: Modifying The Public Library To Engage With The Civic Realm, Nicole Lecuivre

Architecture Thesis Prep

"A new library and park placed into an underdeveloped parcel of urban fabric in Providence, Rhode Island will create a new public architecture that reflects the modification of the public library type and engages the civic realm at a greater capacity. A library that functions through indoor and outdoor space will strengthen future urban development of the city center a well as serving as 'the community living room' and an icon of Providence."

Providence Place: The Development Of A Downtown Mall, Center For Economic Development

Center for Economic Development Technical Reports

This study examines the history of urban mall development in the United States and the role of such sites in widespread revitalization efforts that are intended to protect the city from further decline and bring it back to its once thriving existence, before the mass relocations to the suburbs.

Providence Place in downtown Providence, Rhode Island is the primary focus of the study which has three objectives. The first objective is to analyze the development patterns of suburban malls in the Providence region. The second is to identify the economic factors that prompted the development of a large scale downtown …

The Providence Renaissance Center, Dante J. Boffi

Architecture Thesis Prep

"The intent of this thesis is to create an urban gateway through the architectural manipulation of a city's edge. Physical and visual linkages will be carried from an urban center to the surrounding context by using a specific piece of architecture as the focal point. Issues such as the pedestrian/city relationship and the notion of architecture as a cultural symbol will help to inform and direct the thesis."

The Landmarks Of Federal Hill: A Walking Tour Of Federal Hill, Joseph R. Muratore

Joseph Muratore papers: Newspaper Columns

The following are but a few of the many landmarks of Federal Hill, that are deeply rooted with the development of Federal Hill. There are many other notable landmarks on many of the side streets of Federal Hill, connecting Atwells Avenue to Broadway. However, the following are typical of the more prominent landmarks that have endured the elements of time and weather.

The Landmarks Of Federal Hill: Barrington Italo-American Community, Gasbarro's Liquors, Arthur Avenue, And Depasquale Plaza, Joseph R. Muratore

Joseph Muratore papers: Newspaper Columns

No abstract provided.

The Landmarks Of Federal Hill: "The Broadway-Armory Historic District" (February 28, 1980), Joseph R. Muratore

Joseph Muratore papers: Newspaper Columns

This week we continue with a series of pictures and descriptions of homes along the Broadway-Armory Historic District. These pictures are of the more elaborate and well-designed homes of the outlying district of Federal Hill. These homes indicate the pattern of growth that radiated, on which these dwellings were built. The homes, not only reflect the beauty of the houses that were erected, but also indicate the opulence of the era.

The Landmarks Of Federal Hill: "The Broadway-Armory Historic District" (February 21, 1980), Joseph R. Muratore

Joseph Muratore papers: Newspaper Columns

No abstract provided.

The Landmarks Of Federal Hill: Historic Districts Of Federal Hill, Joseph R. Muratore

Joseph Muratore papers: Newspaper Columns

I have dwelt at length with the Historic Districts of Federal Hill, because of the importance of the dwellings that are still in existence, which are a carryover of the first homes erected in this area. These homes are structures which represent a period of the past, and fortunately, have been preserved to this date. They should continue to be preserved, in order that the fine architecture, the opulence of the era, and the pattern of development of the past, can still be seen, and to the direction that Federal Hill developed, and how it radiated from certain focal points.

The Landmarks Of Federal Hill: Historical Broadway Armory, Joseph R. Muratore

Joseph Muratore papers: Newspaper Columns

As we mentioned in our previous article, we would give in further detail, the inventory of those structures which are, or have been, proposed to be registered on the National Register of Historic Places, in the Broadway-Armory Historic District. The following is a list of those homes by street names and addresses.

The Landmarks Of Federal Hill: "The Broadway Armory Historic Distinct", Joseph R. Muratore

Joseph Muratore papers: Newspaper Columns

No abstract provided.

The Landmarks Of Federal Hill: Post Civil War: A Time Of Development, Joseph R. Muratore

Joseph Muratore papers: Newspaper Columns

The estates along Broadway, of the post-Civil War period were large and of varied designs and type, in contrast to the more conservative East Side homes of Providence. Their owners strove to have flamboyant and pretentious structures which were similar to the comtemporary villas of Newport, only being miniatures of them.

The Landmarks Of Federal Hill: "The Development Of Federal Hill", Joseph R. Muratore

Joseph Muratore papers: Newspaper Columns

No abstract provided.

The Landmarks Of Federal Hill: "The Hospital Trust Tower. A Tower Of Italian Travertine Marble", Joseph R. Muratore

Joseph Muratore papers: Newspaper Columns

No abstract provided.