Digital Commons Network^™

Fields Of Home: Dignified Housing Design For Migrant Farmworkers In Rural North Dakota And Rural Minnesota, Kenady Slominski

Architecture Theses

Migrant agricultural workers are often faced with challenges regarding their housing. These housing conditions lack privacy, permanence, and a connection to the community. Existing solutions tend to prioritize efficiency and cost over the emotional, social, and cultural needs of residents. Therefore, the existing solutions are unable to create a sense of dignity. Additionally, there is limited regional research addressing migrant worker housing conditions in Minnesota and North Dakota specifically.

This project explores how architectural design can improve living conditions through a focus on dignity and community integration. The proposed development consists of duplex homes in one- and two-bedroom units with …

Creative Placemaking: Using Makerspace Infrastructure To Support Circular Communities, Grace Dejong

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates how makerspaces can function as critical social and economic infrastructure within processes of urban regeneration, particularly in post-industrial contexts. Drawing from creative placemaking scholarship, and quantitative and qualitative data on entrepreneurship and making cultures, the research examines making as both a cultural practice and an economic catalyst. Centered on a vacant industrial infill site, the project explores how spaces for production, learning, and gathering can support creative labor, small-scale manufacturing, and community resilience. By bridging societal issues with architectural application, the thesis addresses gaps between discussions of creativity, sustainability, and their spatial implementation. Through an integrated program …

Right Up Your Alley: Integrating Affordable Housing And Walkable Infrastructure To Revitalize Denver's Neighborhoods, Mason Anchondo

Architecture Theses

This thesis examines how existing single-family neighborhoods in Denver, Colorado can be transformed into more walkable, socially connected, and affordable communities by reactivating the city’s underutilized mid-block alleyways. Through policy analysis, GIS-based spatial research, and on-site neighborhood observation, the study identifies opportunities to introduce accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and pedestrian-oriented design strategies that improve connectivity and housing diversity without displacing existing residents. A multi-scalar site selection process ultimately focuses on the Barnum and West Barnum neighborhoods, where intact alley networks and demographic conditions support a replicable framework for gentle density. Informed by case studies and interdisciplinary research on walkability, human-scale …

Re:Grain: Elevating Community Through The Adaptive Reuse Of Grain Structures As A Catalyst For Downtown Development And Cultural Identity In Horace, North Dakota, Gracie Mae Erickstad

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores how the adaptive reuse of wooden grain elevators can preserve living heritage, sustain cultural identity, and anchor downtowns in small towns facing rapid suburban expansion. Centered on Horace, North Dakota, the study positions grain elevators as evolving typologies that respond to contemporary community needs while maintaining symbolic and material ties to the agrarian landscape. Through design research, site analysis, and comparative case studies, it develops strategies that integrate preservation, sustainability, and public engagement. Findings demonstrate that reimagined grain elevators can serve as multi-use civic anchors, fostering social cohesion, economic activity, and a sense of place amid dispersed …

Curating Sense-Of-Place In Residential Development: The Development Of A Strategy For Residential Construction, Ryan Anthony Calhoun

Architecture Theses

This thesis addresses the dual-faceted United States housing crisis, characterized by economic inaccessibility and a deteriorating sense-of-place due to urban sprawl and homogenous tract housing. The research investigates how architectural intervention can create a profound sense-of-place within the contemporary residential landscape despite escalating construction costs. By synthesizing phenomenology, housing economics, and urban planning, the study develops a new residential construction stratagem. This strategy utilizes social, economic, and ecological optimizations, such as shared liminal spaces, mass customization, and vernacular design, to foster community and identity. The research culminates in the design of "Prairie Haven,” a 174-lot medium-density neighborhood in Forest Lake, …

Farming The Future: Urbanizing The Naturhus For Small Scale Food Cultivation, Madysen Brooke Rath

Architecture Theses

Modern urban centers face the pressures of rapidly rising populations and food insecurity, leaving a landscape of “urban voids”-underutilized lots that remain dormant and unproductive. While the Naturhus typology offers a potential solution for symbiotic, glass-encased green living and food production in rural settings, it has yet to be adapted as a viable infill solution for the American urban grid. This thesis investigates the potential for urbanizing the Naturhus concept by reinterpreting a row-house typology as an infill strategy to create “greenhouse villages,” where residents actively participate in their own food production. It focuses on the cold-climate urban fabric of …

From Steel To Sanctuary: Rethinking Sustainable Architecture Through Passive Design, Trent O'Neill

Architecture Theses

Architects, innovators, and the entire construction industry continue to push the newest, most expensive, high-tech solutions to problems that technology itself has caused. The broader public, however, seems to have little interest or support in investing in such endeavors. From Steel to Sanctuary presents a different solution, one with roots thousands of years in the making. Sustainable design is not a new way of thinking. Our ancestors had subsisted as active participants, rather than simply as a spectator to nature for millennia before the rise of the technological age. Today, we coin the strategies they employed as ‘passive’ architecture; Systems …

Resilience By Design, Mckenzy Thoreson

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates the development of a rapidly deployable modular shelter system designed to support post-disaster recovery efforts in vulnerable rural regions of Tennessee. Tennessee’s exposure to flooding, tornadoes, severe storms, and infrastructure vulnerability highlights the need for temporary housing solutions that extend beyond conventional trailer-based emergency shelters. Existing systems often lack climate responsiveness, accessibility, adaptability, and long-term sustainability. In response, this project proposes a compact modular housing system that integrates prefabricated construction, ADA accessibility standards, passive environmental strategies, and climate-responsive design principles tailored to Tennessee’s humid subtropical environment. The shelter incorporates operable windows, cross ventilation, daylighting strategies, elevated construction, …

Reclaiming The Street: Designing Suburban Regional Corridors For Public Life And Multimodal Transit In Mounds View, Mn, Brayden Michael Kirk

Architecture Theses

In the United States, and overdependence on private vehicles has led to an urban landscape that hasn’t prioritized other modes of transportation. This thesis seeks to address the entrenched overdependence on the car, and the separated land uses it encourages, by rethinking the role that regional transportation corridors play in suburban development. An investigation of suburban development patterns, the historical and cultural evolution of streets, and contemporary trends in planning and design highlights the need for alternatives to existing suburban regional corridors. The resulting design aims to address car dependency by offering flexible, context-sensitive alternatives that emphasize the importance of …

Ageless Village: A Cohousing Retirement Community Focused On Connection And Wellness, Madison Peterson

Architecture Theses

Ageless Village is an innovative cohousing community in New London, Minnesota, designed to support aging in place through accessible architecture, intergenerational engagement, and wellness-focused amenities. Comprising 48 residential units and a network of communal spaces, the project integrates private living with shared resources, fostering autonomy and social connection for older adults. The site’s organization on an isometric grid enhances safety and walkability, while connections to local schools and an adjacent assisted living center promote intergenerational interaction and care continuity. Drawing on international precedents and best practices in gerontology and design, Ageless Village addresses the limitations of traditional senior housing by …

Cultural Sustainability In Architecture: A Reinterpretation Of Kensington's Narrative, Madeline Elizabeth Knoll

Architecture Theses

Kensington is often defined by a narrative of crisis and neglect, yet beneath this surface lies a resilient, creative community. This thesis reframes Kensington through cultural sustainability, envisioning the neighborhood as a mosaic of identities shaped by reflection, learning, and growth. The architecture becomes a living palimpsest, where history and resilience converge. Strategies like cross-cultural variation, social design, place attachment, and well-being inform every spatial and programmatic decision. The Kensington Cultural Center is conceived as a mosaic, with each space expressing spirit and identity, and connective paths binding the whole. Materials reference the area’s industrial past, while the carved exterior …

Redevelopment Of The Administration Block Of The Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex For The New Bitzero Community, Hunter James Haider

Architecture Theses

The focus of this Thesis is to examine the proposal for the redevelopment of the Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex administration block, by presenting an analysis of its transformation into a sustainable community development for the BitZero data mining center. Initially constructed as a missile defense installation during the Cold War, the site has since become obsolete, creating an opportunity for revitalization. The primary objective is to emphasize sustainable practices, integrating renewable energy sources and promoting green infrastructure while preserving the site's historical significance. Additionally, this study will explore potential challenges, including contamination remediation and infrastructure development, proposing practical solutions …

Kibera Public School: Empowering Kenya Through The Use Of Local Materials And Labor, Caleb Marty Springfield

Architecture Theses

Kibera Public School seeks to empower the individuals living in Kibera Slum, Kenya, through the use of local materials and labor. Due to Kibera’s substantial percentage of children who are not attending school, Kibera Public School provides an affordable, comfortable, safe, and sustainable environment for the students living in Kibera Slum, who cannot afford to attend a private school. Furthermore, this school is dependent on the use of local materials and labor and through the utilization of these resources, it provides the community of Kibera with valuable construction skills that can be used elsewhere and a sense of ownership in …

Benefiting Youth And The Natural Environment: Integration Of Biophilic Design In A Youth Center, Abbigail Ann Miner

Architecture Theses

This thesis will entertain the idea of integrating biophilic design principles into a youth center. First there is a discussion of biophilic design, community centers, and youth centers with the intent to understand what they are and the benefits of each. Seven case studies are examined next to provide examples of how biophilic design has been applied to community centers, youth centers, and preschools. The design of a youth center that uses biophilic design principles to foster a relationship with children and nature is presented as a solution. The created youth center is titled Elk River Community Center. There is …

The Refugee Camp Evolved: Hyper-Modern Urbanism Vs. Vernacular Urbanism, Jacob Jay Meidinger

Architecture Theses

With an ever-increasing number of displaced people, the world has seen a constant need for basic human necessities such as food, water, and shelter. Refugee camps are intended to be necessary, quick solutions to house displaced people. However, many camps can turn into human storage facilities and living conditions can feel like a prison. Tradition and culture are often overlooked when setting up refugee camps. Over time, the refugee camp may evolve into a more permanent settlement. How can we guide the hyper-modern urban evolution of a refugee camp into a more sustainable, culturally sensitive refugee settlement? My thesis explores …

Habitat Ukraine: A Modular, Mass Timber Housing Approach To Help Rebuild Ukraine, Andrew Tovsen

Architecture Theses

Fear. Destruction. Suffering. These are the words that come to mind upon the mention of the current conflict that the nation and people of Ukraine are submerged in. Millions of them have been forced to leave behind their livelihoods for safety, greatly damaging their financial and general well-being. Though the fighting still rages on, one day it will come to an end. This begs the question: how will these individuals and families be able to return to their native places from which they have been suddenly torn? Habitat Ukraine explores and proposes a permanent, semi-modular housing design approach focused on …

Multi-Minimal, Tucker Darwin Schoenfish

Architecture Theses

The cost of living has started to increase quite drastically over the recent years. From renting an apartment, to buying or building a home. Land and material prices have skyrocketed, especially during and after the pandemic. There are many people these days that have a job, but still have a hard time paying rent or a mortgage on a home. With the cost of living increasing, the amount of habitable space is decreasing. Intelligently reusing and reducing material usage as well as building footprint will be what brings living cost back down and ensure for less urban sprawl with more …

Innovations Of Health: The Reimagination Of Gathering Places Within Communities Today, Ella Paul

Architecture Theses

Costa Rica is a country rich in history and cultural heritage. However, in the remote areas of Guanacaste, a province in the country’s northwest region, citizens face challenges in achieving comprehensive health and wellness for their communities. In addition, the traditional way of life in these regions, where community members are solely responsible for their collective welfare, has resulted in limited opportunities for growth and prosperity. This thesis aims to shed light on certain neglected aspects of community wellness in the Guanacaste region. The seven dimensions of health - mental, physical, social, financial, spiritual, environmental, and vocational - are crucial …

Living Lightly On Earth: The Urban Eco Village, Sidney Angell

Architecture Theses

Imaging living a low-impact lifestyle surrounded by nature, food, freshwater and air, wildlife, and a community with a common desire. An eco village is a community with shared land that promotes positive values including ecology, solidarity, quality, tolerance, generosity, diversity, hospitality, respect, and collaboration all while being self-sufficient. These communities are more commonly found in rural and off-grid locations and have numerous benefits that should be shared on a larger scale. Although living off grid is a desirable lifestyle for some, a large amount of the population strive to live in urban settings. With sustainable living becoming a growing desire, …

Cleaning By Greening: Adaptive Reuse Of America's Open-Pit Mines, Jacob Edwards

Architecture Theses

Surface mines are a common sight in mineral-rich areas. One such area is the Mesabi Iron Range in northern Minnesota. These mines will eventually become abandoned, as many in the eastern United States, as well as many along the Mesabi Iron Range already have. Abandoned surface mines can be hazardous if they are allowed to erode, settle, or even collapse. As the United States becomes increasingly environmentally aware, this research may act as a partial solution to deforestation that occurs to expand our communities near these mines. The mines have already taken out forests, so why not build within them …

The Other Side Of Paradise: How Architectural Design Can Impact The Recovery Of Suicidal Individuals, Survivors, And Bereaved Families, Mary Nyaronga

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores how architectural design can impact the recovery process in individuals with suicidal thoughts, survivors of suicide, and the bereaved. Research on precedents, writings, and studies on psychological and biophilic elements will guide in creating a design that bridges the disconnect between human beings and nature. This disconnect has been created by mental illness and isolation despite networking and digital connection through social media.

Regenerating Space For Community Enhancement, Emily Kreil

Architecture Theses

Urban development and master planning of a large site that lies within a growing city can unify and influence expansion in a community, if done so in a strategic and deliberate way. My thesis project will analyze the community benefits, best methods for urban regeneration, and eco-friendly improvements that can be made when transforming a vacant site into an innovation district. Innovation districts adjacent to university campuses are becoming more and more prominent throughout the United States, allowing for the sharing of facilities and resources needed to discover and create new ideas. Research of other large regeneration projects, as well …

Architectural Gastronomy: Connecting The Art Of Architecture And Food, Alysse Ogaard

Architecture Theses

Food and shelter are two constants that have been vital to survival throughout human history. These two facets of life must co emerge to enhance the world for future prosperity of resources and human connections. Architecture and the Food Industry need to work hand-in-hand to show and create a maximized effort to optimize impacts on climate change. To utilize correlations between food, culture, and human relationships found between the two fields by creating and defining a clear and distinct relationship between architecture and food. The design and project typology demonstrates an interactive location where collaboration can be facilitated to help …

Chronically Sustainable: Creating A Sustainable Community For The Chronically Ill, Nicole Mathiowetz

Architecture Theses

In a world that is rapidly changing due to climate change, there is a group of people that are being left behind in the “green” movement. This is not new for these people; the group has often been forgotten and under served by society throughout history. This group is the chronically ill. With a variety of abilities and needs, society has failed to give them the same opportunities in life as the abled body. Buildings are required to have accessible entrances but often time they are far from the main entrances and highlight a person’s disabilities by inconveniencing not just …

Wellness Through Adaptive Reuse, Jared Kramer

Architecture Theses

The International Existing Building Code (IEBC) was first created alongside the International Building Code (IBC) in 1997 to address health and safety concerns in the built environment based upon prescriptive and performance related requirements. Used as a base code standard by most of the United States, the IEBC ensures that existing buildings that are being altered in some significant way are safe and accessible for all occupants. However, little consideration is given to the effects that the built environment has on human wellness in its entirety. Physical and mental wellness are essential aspects of a healthy lifestyle and are even …

Arcology, Jack Peterson

Architecture Theses

Arcology is an approximately 30,000 square foot transit center located within the Ford Site redevelopment plan in St. Paul, MN. The core concept of the project lies in its incorporation of algae, a diverse group of water-based photosynthetic organisms, into the architectural framework. By exploring the vast potential of algae to provide energy, cleanse water, sequester CO2, and create a quilted mosaic of color, Arcology showcases a vision for the future of architecture that is both functionally, and quite literally, green. In this future, algae along with further research into biological sciences, help develop a symbiotic relationship between architecture and …

Borrowed Past: Reexamining High-Density Housing In South Korea, Elliott Klinger

Architecture Theses

South Korea has made a lot of progress in the last 6 decades; from being one of the poorest countries to having the 11th largest economy in the world. The country transformed rapidly after the Korean War and today represents one of the most technological and modern countries on earth. However, this transformation did not happen without sacrifices. The rapid economic growth and urbanization led to a shortage in housing within the cities. To accommodate the influx of new residents, traditional Korean homes, called Hanoks, were leveled, along with thousands of years of history, to make room for faceless apartment …

Together Belize, Dylan Neururer

Architecture Theses

Developing countries are at times plagued by natural disasters, struggling economies, and inadequate housing. Many times other nations send support such as food, workers and/or supplies. Although this aid is sent with good intentions and can help; it often does have some unintended negative consequences. These negative consequences are caused by a lack of understanding unique cultural factors that are intensely intertwined with every society. Belize, a Central American country is known for it’s high crime rates, dense gang population and poor building quality in the more southern portion of Belize City. These gangs comprise of school dropouts, non-working members …

Main Street Visual & Performing Art Center, Jennifer Watters

Architecture Theses

The community of North Branch, Minnesota lacks a suitable fine art culture. The school district is unable to provide a quality fine art education due to lack of funding. There are few opportunities for locals to become involved in the community, resulting in a lack of community pride. North Branch needs a focal point that will bring people and their ideas together to restore the sense of pride in the community at a minimal operating cost. The integration of art, architecture, and sustainability in this project aims to provide a supplemental fine arts education, a cultural hub with a specific …

Environments For Aging, Stephen Lagrange

Architecture Theses

This thesis examines alternative living environments for the fast growing population of baby boomers heading into retirement. The main idea is to use sustainable design within a natural environment to stimulate the well being of this new generation of aging adults. This project will be explored through the typology of an assisted living facility. The size of the project is 22,250 square feet and the site is located in Eden Prairie, MN.