Urban, Community and Regional Planning Commons^™

Reconnect: A New Identity For Suburban Commercial Space, Robert Michael Thew

Masters Theses

In this thesis, I address a critical situation found today within the American suburbs. Many suburban developments lack human scale and places for community interaction traditionally found in the downtown model of the city. The places of interaction, or forums, are inherent in the downtown model and are built into the block structure, and close to where people live. They promote multiple uses and the healthy interaction of the residents of the community. In the suburban model, the places of interaction are separated from neighborhoods and residences, they are highly insular and geared towards a single purpose, usually shopping.

This …

Space, Ritual, Event: Constantine's Jubilee Of 326 And Its Implications On Urban Space, Brian Christopher Doherty

Masters Theses

Architecture has been characterized as the study of space. But this notion presupposes that the edifices created are not irrevocably tied to the activities, the rituals that activate them as part of a greater whole. As a historical example, Constantine's triumph of 312 and the subsequent jubilee celebrations of 326 will be examined in order to illustrate the way in which architecture, literature, and history coincide to further Constantine's imperial legitimacy and usher in a return to solitary rule within the Roman Empire.

Main Street: An Avenue Of Culture And Commerce, Gregory Ralph Morrison

Masters Theses

Influenced by theme parks and a desire to “revive” the past, we often nostalgically consider Main Street as a homogeneous entity, relegating its existence to the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries alone. Investigation into the history of Main Streets across the United States, as well as more specific analysis of Main Street in Memphis, TN reveals the fallacy of this assumption. Main Street has had a rich and complex history. Strengthening the presence of this true past, rather than relying solely on its fabricated history, offers a tremendous opportunity for cities to capitalize on their history. To build in a way …