Architecture Commons^™

A Living Storyscape, Vivian Combariza

Masters Theses

Advocating for a transformative shift, the following proposes a new cultural setting that fosters diverse voices and dialogue, moving away from the singular narratives imposed by traditional curator-visitor dynamics. By drawing inspiration from nature's complexity and mirroring museums with ecosystems, the aim of this thesis is to emulate the adaptability and interconnectedness of natural ecosystems to develop flexible and inclusive environments, encouraging community engagement and shared learning experiences. This new design paradigm fosters a deeper connection with nature and other beings despite the physical separation. Embracing the collaboration and flexibility of nature, cultural institutions can regain relevance as vibrant centers …

Evaluating The Impact Of Sb 684 In San Luis Obispo, Andrew Darrell

City and Regional Planning

This study evaluates the impact of California Senate Bill 684 (SB 684) on housing development in San Luis Obispo. SB 684 aims to streamline the approval process for small-scale residential projects to address the state's housing shortage by promoting affordable housing construction. The aim of this report will be to examine the provisions of SB 684 and evaluate the feasibility of development under it. A general overview of the legislative provisions accompanied by legal context will provide a background to the law. Case studies of small lot development will illustrate design decisions that can be incorporated into new SB 684 …

Provisioning The 21st Century City: Community And School Gardens As Food Centers, Charleen L. Kepner

Anthós

This essay explores the potential impact of urban agriculture and community gardens as sources of education and sustainable and environmentally-sound food production. Using an analysis of case studies and academic research, I argue for the viability of community gardens and urban agriculture as educational hubs and future food production sources. I examine previous research which shows that small scale effort can make lasting impacts in communities. I argue that the research is promising as it highlights that the efforts of people in their everyday lives, can and do contribute to positive change. This essay contributes to the ongoing discussion of …

Outside_In, Zixuan Zhang

Masters Theses

In the post-COVID era, the importance of maintaining a connection with the external environment has become even more prominent. Outside_in is a series of ongoing installations located at the openings of modern buildings (spaces in between the interior and exterior) that can connect with or receive climatic resources such as wind, rainwater, sunlight, and more. Its purpose is to rethink and challenge how we can enhance the relationship with and awareness of climate and nature in our future indoor spaces through innovative experiential methods. This approach prioritizes the use of natural materials, supplemented by modern materials, and emphasizes the empathic …

Modeling And Design Parameter Optimization To Improve The Sensitivity Of A Bimorph Polysilicon-Based Mems Sensor For Helium Detection, Sulaiman Mohaidat, F. M. Alsaleem

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Helium is integral in several industries, including nuclear waste management and semiconductors. Thus, developing a sensing method for detecting helium is essential to ensure the proper operation of such facilities. Several approaches can be used for helium detection, including based on the high thermal conductivity of helium, which is several times higher than air. This work utilizes the high thermal conductivity of helium to design and analyze a bimorph MEMS sensor for helium sensing applications. COMSOL Multiphysics software (version 6.2) is used to carry out this investigation. The sensor is constructed from poly-silicon and SiO₂ materials with a trenched …

Chioma Di Ulivo - Courtyard Canopy, Lilla J. Vigh, Claudia A. Geist

Architectural Engineering

Chioma di Ulivo ("Olive Tree Canopy") is the investigation and design of a canopy structure in the Engineering West (Bldg. 21) Hasslein Courtyard. The canopy will serve as a filtration system for both water and fallen olives from the olive tree on site, while providing a functional collaboration space for faculty and students alike. The goal of this project was to construct a quality diorama built by Lilla Vigh and Claudia Geist under the supervision of Dr. Craig Baltimore.

Polypropylene As Partial Fine Aggregate Substitute In Concrete, Samuel E. Royston, Chrisitan G. Achkar, Nicholas B. Tabarez

Architectural Engineering

The objective of this project is to discover a structurally effective method in repurposing recyclable plastic waste through its partial substitution for traditional fine aggregate in concrete.

Results obtained from analysis indicate a 25 percent compressive strength reduction with polypropylene at a 10 percent partial substitution for total sand content. This material successfully performed as an alternative, presenting a ductile mode of failure.

Three material alternatives - polypropylene, polyethylene, and rubber - were substituted for a percentage of sand. These materials underwent concrete cylinder crushing tests to determine their ultimate crushing strength, with the intent of identifying the most effective …

The Wall Group, Richard Antablin, Sara Engmyr, Michelle Griffith, Jora Leigh, Jesse Rainsdon

Architectural Engineering

This project aimed to design and construct an art wall in Poly Canyon to deter graffiti on existing structures and provide a designated area for student expression. However, after prolonged iterative revisions, it became evident that the project was significantly behind the original timeline.

It was recommended that the wall proposal be submitted for future student implementation. Instead of constructing the wall, an alternative course of action was proposed: restoring an existing structure in Poly Canyon to provide the desired hands-on experience.

After careful consideration, the Techite Bridge was selected for restoration. The proposed plan involves thorough cleaning, repairing chipped …

Smith Property Pre-Engineered Metal Barn, Trent Arjay Olmstead

Architectural Engineering

The Smith Residence Barn is a pre-engineered metal building designed to provide additional storage and workspace. The Architectural design was created by the Nunno Corporation, a San Luis Obispo based steel building general contractor. The soils report was created by Mid-Coast Geotechnical, INC. and the report’s conclusions were used for determining site conditions related to the foundation and lateral force system design. The structural calculations and plans were created by Trent Olmstead and reviewed by Brian Marc-Aurele, SE and Chris Murphy, SE. All calculations were done in accordance with the 2022 CBC, ASCE 7-16, 2023 AISC, ACI 318-19, and AISI …

Earning Engagement As A Graduate Student Instructor, Matthew Sloss

Architectural Engineering

One of the key benefits of a Cal Poly education is access to experienced instructors in a small classroom setting. In my final quarter at Cal Poly, I had the opportunity to glance behind the curtain and fill the significant shoes of an instructor of an introductory structural statics class. What initially was a chance to lend a hand to the department by sharing my limited experience turned into a thorough exploration of what it means to be productively engaging and of how to utilize the underrealized power of asking questions in the classroom setting. This report documents my experiences …

Cardboard Concrete Column Formwork, Danny Shrestha, Joelle Schalesky

Architectural Engineering

This project is an exploration of cardboard as a potential material for construction formwork for concrete columns. Multiple material tests were conducted to explore the behavior of cardboard and concrete. Multiple specimens of cardboard were tested for modulus of elasticity, moment of inertia, and tensile strength. Concrete was tested for its apparent lateral fluid pressure under vibration. Cardboard formwork was then designed and constructed based on these tested behaviors. The final design of the formwork consisted of folding cardboard sheets lined with hardboard, supported by wood studs, and tied by plastic banding straps.

Ultimately, two concrete columns―8' and 10' in …

Santa Maria Climate Action Plan Recommendations: Building Energy And Transportation, Thomas Zimmerman, Elena Blewett

City and Regional Planning

The Santa Maria Climate Action Plan Recommendations addresses GHG emissions reduction for the largest sectors in the City of Santa Maria- Building Energy and Transportation. The project includes GHG forecasts and reduction targets from the City’s Draft 2020 Community-Wide Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report. The reduction targets are met through a series of actionable measures to help the City meet aggressive reduction targets by 2030 and 2045.

Urban Design Guidelines: San Antonio Road Corridor, Palo Alto, Ca, Cassidy T. Charles, Madeleine Emeric

City and Regional Planning

Urban design guidelines are a set of principles, standards, and recommendations that guide the planning, development, and construction of urban spaces. The guidelines aim to enhance the physical environment of cities and communities, improving functionality, aesthetics, sustainability, and overall quality of life. They provide a basis for making design decisions that are consistent with the City’s needs and the community’s interest.

This document is specifically tailored to the San Antonio Road Corridor in Palo Alto. Each section is supported by extensive research on existing conditions, case studies, and best practices. The document includes an introduction, a brief overview of existing …

City Sonatas, Duoduo Lin

Masters Theses

Countries like the UK and France, as shown in Statista's 2023 report, benefit from significant national cultural attractions and monuments that boost museum attendance by attracting tourists. The data suggests a positive correlation between museum attendance and the historical significance, as well as the suitability for tourism, of the institutions2. However, faced with rapid societal advancements, most museums' responses to these challenges have been varied and slow. Contemporary museums, as crucial conduits for the dissemination and exchange of artistic culture, continue to face persistent challenges of low engagement and levels of attention in many countries. Furthermore, a series of remarkably …

Witnessing Timelessness: Revitalizing Heritage Tourism In The Ruins Of Saudi Arabia, Reem Habis

Masters Theses

Well-known historic sites in Saudi Arabia, such as Historic Jeddah, are designated as heritage, meaning they are protected from deterioration over time. However, in the Aseer region, there are over 4500 unprotected modest sites that provide an integral sense of identity and authenticity to the culture of not just this region, but the entire Kingdom. The absence of preservation guidelines has left these sites vulnerable to indiscriminate developments attempting revitalization. Undesignated heritage sites must be safeguarded and rehabilitated rather than neglected and left at risk of further decay, especially with the encroachment of tourism.

To preserve the sites’ authenticity and …

Atelier Interloper, Isabel Jane Marvel

Masters Theses

Architects frequently specify toxic materials, like fiberglass insulation, for construction projects, materials they would never touch with bare hands, let alone wear as garments. So why incorporate such harmful substances into our buildings? Atelier Interloper, a nimble fabrication studio, intervenes in job sites and manufacturer waste streams, reclaiming industrial materials that are no longer usable at building scale but are suitable for clothing. The premier collection of garments draws inspiration from workwear and is crafted from industrial materials such as Tyvek and 100% recycled denim insulation. In outfitting the body with these materials, this thesis work brings visibility to substances …

Building The Body, Jasmine Flowers

Masters Theses

Bodies and space co-produce each other and the process of co-production originates racializing and gendering work.

The concept, thesis, and subsequent design are informed by the historical context around the House for Josephine Baker by Adolf Loos. Presented here is the culmination of research which grounds itself in the relationship between Primitivism and Modernism, theory on the body and flesh, architectural graphic standards, spectacle, gaze, surveillance, hypervisibility, invisibility, implications of privacy versus publicity, expressions of Blackness and its place in femmehood (a neologism that expands “womanhood” to be trans-inclusive), all of which directly engage in co-production.

This co-production changes how …

“Modern Nomads”: Unfolding Domesticity, Yifan Hu

Masters Theses

Abstract: A project that rethinks domesticity through the lens of mobility, focusing on curating and unfolding personal narratives within the confines of a suitcase. Domesticity, as I perceive it, transcends static locations and is a dynamic accumulation of individual and collective histories shaped by intimate connections between, but not limited to, human and non-humans. In this context, the suitcase symbolizes both confinement and autonomy, embodying the transient nature and fluidity of modern life. The project draws inspiration from the scrutiny of x-ray security checks, where individuals and their suitcases undergo examination. The suitcase becomes a focal point for exploring identity …

House Calls, Gregory Goldstone

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the unique architectural challenges and opportunities present in rural communities, with a focus on addressing the crisis of affordable housing. Grounding the discussion in the author's personal experiences growing up in the rural town of Cambridge, New York, the thesis illuminates the diversity of identities, needs, and values that coexist within the rural context.

The thesis critically examines the architectural academy and its urban-centric biases, which have led to a neglect of rural design issues. It highlights the shortcomings of standard affordable housing approaches, such as public housing and mobile homes, in meeting the independent spirit and …

A Dispatch From The Site Office, Adrian Pelliccia

Masters Theses

In the middle of the 20th century, a rare confluence of political, economic, and cultural forces aligned to produce a slate of highly progressive policy and design agendas for social housing in the United Kingdom. A widely shared utopian ambition to house all people with dignity was made real by a motivated government and its well-resourced planning and architecture offices, tasked with bringing this vision to bear in the built environment. In London, the London County Council Architect’s Office and later local council-led architecture and planning offices were at the forefront of designing and delivering high quality, formally ambitious housing …