Digital Commons Network^™

Redefining An Icon: Stadium Integration Into The Urban Center To Promote Community Engagement, Culture, And Identity In Dallas, Texas, Brandon Lee Peterson

Architecture Theses

This thesis is an exploration into how stadium design can foster community engagement, cultural identity, and urban vibrancy in the United States. While many American stadiums often remain isolated from the urban fabric, located on city outskirts or suburbs and used solely for events, European models demonstrate the value of walkable, accessible, and integrated stadiums within mixed-use neighborhoods. Through a multidisciplinary review of urban design theory, economic factors, and programming needs, this research highlights the limitations of current U.S. stadium developments, such as issues of accessibility and underutilized public investment. Using a proposed downtown Dallas soccer stadium, the thesis offers …

Reminiscing: Architectural Impressions That Last, Ryann Vetsch

Architecture Theses

This research explores the relatively unknown intersection of human memory and architectural design to determine the characteristics of a memorable place. Through synthesis of psychological literature on memory and architectural theory, in conjunction with case study analysis, a “Hypothetical Memorability Network" was established. Within this network, five psychological characteristics act in sequence to provide the necessary tools for creating a long-term episodic memory: attention, emotion, place, meaning, and story.

These psychological characteristics were developed into a Memorable Design Framework to be used as a guide to creating memorable architectural projects. Testing the design framework, the research found is applied to …

Cultivating Wellness Through Architecture: A Community-Focused Approach, Olivia Marie Haakonson

Architecture Theses

This thesis addresses the deficit of nature-integrated, accessible public wellness infrastructure in the United States, often threatened by the commercialization of wellness and harsh winter conditions in northern climates. Through an analysis of global wellness rituals, “Winter City” design strategies, the importance of social infrastructure and “third places”, the health benefits of nature, and urban policy logistics, this research culminates in a design framework to recenter holistic health in the public realm. This project integrates architectural interventions, programmatic activation strategies, and urban policy recommendations to create a holistic, accessible, and nature-integrated building to serve as a hub for urban activity.

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 …

The Oasis: Decompression For Urban Living, Gabrielle Moede

Architecture Theses

The modern metropolis has evolved into a landscape of sensory bombardment, where chronic noise and visual clutter trigger a state of constant psychological strain for its inhabitants. Despite the density of these environments, there remains a critical deficiency in intentional architectural interventions that offer accessible, high-impact relief from urban alienation. This project challenges the convention of water as a decorative feature, instead re-engineering it into an active therapeutic tool designed to trigger specific restorative neurological responses. By meticulously layering the auditory, tactile, and visual properties of aqueous elements, the design creates a sequenced sensory journey that transitions from urban chaos …

Finding Home: Evidence For Change, Ellie E. Eichhorn

Architecture Theses

In the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area there are an average of 957 people who are facing homelessness on any given night. On their journey to permanent housing they usually start at emergency shelters, which provide short-term housing and stability. Though these shelters work for some, most people leave without getting the permanence they need, causing a revolving door effect. So what is a possible solution? The problem of homelessness has inflicted the modern world for as long as it’s been around with very few solutions being 100% effective. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep trying for those in need. This …

Building On Memory: Towards A Digital Future Informed By Historical Theory, Lucas Laskow

Architecture Theses

This project synthesizes 2,000 years of architectural theory to establish an ethical framework for integrating artificial intelligence into contemporary design. The research culminates in “The Chandler,” demonstrating how AI can enhance, rather than replace, human-driven spatial and cultural values.

The assertion that human design is inherently superior to artificial intelligence relies on the flawed premise that intuitive leaps outweigh data-driven synthesis. Rather than diminishing the architect’s role, the evolution of AI demands that designers become ethical interpreters who ask the right questions. This project investigates how past architectural theorists, from Vitruvius’s foundational triad to Bruce Allsopp’s humanist return, provide a …

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, …

Adaptive Reuse At The Hmongtown Marketplace: Using Food As An Agent For Gathering Through A Closed-Loop Circular Food System, Sulia Sheng Lee

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores the built environment through social and architectural lenses: examining how food connects communities, particularly ethnic and diasporic groups like the Hmong, and how adaptive interventions can create spaces that foster closed-loop food systems.

Research into the Hmong diasporic journey has shown that growing, making, and sharing food has been a central aspect to the community. The Hmong community's food assimilation in the United States has replaced traditional agrarian lifestyles with reliance on local American grocery stores. These stores operate within linear "take, make, use, waste" systems that disconnect consumers from food origins. However, spaces like the HmongTown …

Wellness Through Architecture: Connecting Nordic Wellness Traditions With Architecture To Promote Human Well-Being, Morgan Mae Klimpel

Architecture Theses

In society, the need for spaces that promote wellbeing has become increasingly pressing. Modern lifestyles are often defined by constant stimulation and high stress, leaving us with limited opportunities to truly recharge. Since architecture is the framework for how we experience the built environment, it plays a critical role in shaping our mental, physical, and emotional health. The historic Lutsen Lodge site currently sits undeveloped after being destroyed by a fire in February 2024. Representing a key extension of the Lutsen Resort, this location embodies a long-standing tradition of hospitality and the unique cultural heritage of the North Shore. This …

The Ethics Of It All: My Values As They Pertain To Architecture, Piper Thorson

Architecture Theses

Through careful contemplation I have determined that the most impactful topic for this thesis is the improvement of myself. If I become a better architect now, then the impact I'll have through my career will be greater than any other project I could do this year.

So how do I improve myself?

I thoroughly examined my deep-seated beliefs and explored the beliefs of others. This exploration concluded with the establishment of a personal code of values. Which consists of three core values, each with three subcategories: Ethics (Commitment, Altruism, Integrity), Sustainability (Eco-nomical, Small, Symbiotic), and Artistry (Detail, Craft, Beauty), all …

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 …

The Built Environment Effects On Pediatric Mental Health, Ashley Olson

Architecture Theses

Mental health is how a person’s psychological and social well-being affects their ability to cope with stress and contribute to society. Mental health disorders can manifest children typically worsen and become more difficult to treat as they age. Treating mental health disorders as soon as symptoms emerge allows for optimal treatment. Environment facilitates the worsening or improvement of mental health. A patient’s environment could be manipulated to promote treatment of mental health disorders. The built environment cannot heal anyone’s mental health alone, but there are several ways in which design can positively contribute to the healing process. Creating a holistic, …

Fixed Perimeter Analogues Of Some Partition Results, Gabriel Gray, Emily Payne, Holly Swisher, Ren Watson

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Euler's partition identity states that the number of partitions of n into odd parts is equal to the number of partitions of n into distinct parts. Strikingly, Straub proved in 2016 that this identity also holds when counting partitions of any size with largest hook length (perimeter) n. This has inspired further investigation of partition identities and inequalities in the fixed perimeter setting. Here, we explore fixed perimeter analogues of some well-known partition results inspired by Euler's partition identity.

The Architecture Of Water Consciousness: Revealing Water, Culture, And Dwelling In Phoenix, Arizona, Luke Wendel

Architecture Theses

In the desert, water has always shaped how people dwell, build, gather, and survive. In Phoenix, Arizona, this relationship has become increasingly hidden behind canals, infrastructure, policy, and control. The river that once supported settlement is now often dry, and water is understood more as a managed resource than a visible presence in daily life. A reimagining is needed, as the future of desert cities depends not only on conserving water, but on changing how people experience and value it. Can architecture reveal water as something seen, felt, remembered, and shared? Located along the Rio Salado, this thesis proposes a …

August Heart, Jack Weber

Architecture Theses

This paper is a showcase on combining traditional, literary storytelling and architecture. Traditional being writing a book, and architecture being the pencil and paper. Many ideas go into crafting a narrative, this one in particular will use concepts from utopia, climate change, political papers, worldbuilding, and more. Here is a sneak peek of what is to come.

The year is 2407, humanity’s high heat producing industries have taken to the skies. Many people have moved with their work and are now living on Earth’s Haven Ring. On paper, Haven looks like a utopia, but in reality, it is an illusion. …

Sanctuary: Caring For The Whole Person In A Fragmented World, Hazel Elizabeth Chvatal

Architecture Theses

Drawing especially upon the writings of Alberto Perez-Gomez, this thesis claims that today’s built environment neglects social and spiritual wellbeing. Efficiency and productivity take priority over meaning and wellbeing, and many spaces fail to provide any context about relationship to a larger reality. Taking inspiration from the traditions of Benedictine monks and nuns, this architecture thesis proposes ritual as a means to invite participation and emphasize connection. A design process of artefactual making grounds the embodied experience in layers of authentic cultural, historical, and scientific realities. Through a layered, narrative-driven design approach, this thesis seeks to address social and spiritual …

Confluence: From Barrier To Connection: Reconnecting The Lower Ninth Ward To The Industrial Canal Through An Inhabitable Water Edge, Ciara Albrecht

Architecture Theses

Confluence reimagines the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans as a resilient waterfront community shaped by memory, ecology, and adaptive housing. Located along the Industrial Canal at the site of the 2005 levee breach, the project replaces defensive separation with an inhabitable water edge composed of amphibious housing, public circulation, constructed wetlands, visible water systems, and an underground memorial. The thesis argues that post-disaster rebuilding cannot be measured only by infrastructure or replacement housing, but by dignity, return, cultural identity, public health, and long-term stewardship. Through buoyant foundations, concealed mooring systems, passive climate strategies, and a spatial sequence that moves …

Re:Place: Leveraging Cultural Memory To Transform Communities Through Adaptive Reuse, Olivia Leingang

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates how adaptive reuse can leverage cultural memory to transform declining small-town economies, specifically addressing the socio-economic erosion in Mandan, North Dakota. By reimagining the 1958 Mandan High School as the "Mandan Marketplace," the research proposes a 165,000-square-foot multi-use commercial hub designed to reverse regional retail leakage and density imbalances. The project utilizes a research-driven Design Framework and Strategic Building Program to integrate 23 new amenities, including a food hall, business incubator, and wellness center, into the local fabric. Through a methodology of six adaptive reuse types, the design preserves the building’s role as a "custodian of memory" …

Erasing Boundaries: Strategies For Universities And Cities In Developing Integrated Planning, Jack Quinn

Architecture Theses

The population of the Fargo-Moorhead area is steadily growing per year, however since 2010 both Concordia and Minnesota State University Moorhead have seen a steady decrease in students. Factors such as President Trump’s immigration policies, lower birth rates, and high school students who are doubting the value of a college education has set the stage for a difficult future for universities in the United States of America. This thesis will explore Town-Gown relations, studentification, and the strategies behind the best designed campuses in America. It will explore the relationship between neighboring schools, P3 developments, dive into what the Metro college …

Architecture As A Camera: Utilizing Photographic Principles To Tell Stories Through Design, Ryan Gabriel Scherf

Architecture Theses

This thesis examines the relationship between memory, photography, and architecture as a framework for spatial design, framing memory as a fragmented phenomenon contingent upon light and time. Drawing on the theoretical work of Goffi, Barthes, and Bordeleau, it positions architecture as a temporal montage in which meaning emerges through layered absences, material “puncta,” and the interpretive gaps between fragments. Situated at the Botallack Mines in England, the project explores the intersection of photographic logic and industrial ruin by treating the site’s extractive history as a series of active fragments. Through compressed volumes and curated views, it translates photographic principles into …

Range Children's Therapy And Learning Center, Medea Clusiau

Architecture Theses

The rise in childhood developmental disabilities coupled with co-occurring emotional disorders is placing significant stress on current support structures and hindering students’ academic potential (Zablotsky et al., 2023; Leeb et al., 2024). While the need for intervention is critical, available resources are often insufficient. This thesis proposes the Range Children’s Therapy and Learning Center (RCTLC) as a comprehensive, centralized facility dedicated to ensuring every child recieves holistic suppport for academic and life success. The center integrates a wide spectrum of interventions across three areas: Developmental, Behavioral & Emotional, and Cognitive therapies. This approach is designed to build foundational learning strategies. …

Threads Of Recovery: Transforming Youth Residential Treatment Centers, Kathryn Fitzsimmons

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores how architecture can support adolescent mental health treatment through the design of a residential treatment center for youth ages ten to eighteen experiencing mental health crises. In response to increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among adolescents, the project examines the relationship between the built environment and emotional well being. The research critiques the legacy of the troubled teen industry, where institutional architecture often reinforced isolation and control rather than healing. Drawing from environmental psychology and analysis, the project proposes an alternative campus centered on safety, reflection, and community. The design, titled Threads of Recovery, …

Reviving The Mall: Adaptive Reuse Strategies For Transforming 1970s Shopping Mall Into Community Third Places In Willmar, Mn, Holly Anna Carlson

Architecture Theses

The decline of 1970s-era shopping malls across the United States has left behind large, underutilized spaces that no longer serve their original purpose. Once important centers of community life, many malls now reflect the social, economic, and spatial challenges created by suburban decline and changing consumer habits. This thesis explores how adaptive reuse strategies can transform failing malls into community-centered “third places,” informal gathering spaces outside of home and work that encourage social interaction and civic engagement. Through the analysis of mall redevelopment case studies across the United States, this research examines design interventions that promote inclusivity, resilience, and environmental …

Behind The Badge: Rethinking The Police Department As A Functional Workplace, Benjamin Michael

Architecture Theses

While traditional design approaches often emphasize public engagement and community visibility, this project centers on the needs of law enforcement personnel, recognizing the high-stress, high-stakes nature of their work. By integrating architectural strategies that reduce stress, foster relaxation, and support daily workflows, the design aims to improve officer morale, enhance focus, and increase job retention. Key features include dedicated decompression zones, wellness and fitness facilities, natural lighting and biophilic elements, and spatial layouts that support efficient operations while promoting a sense of safety and comfort.

Transformall: Redeveloping The Suburban Retail Space To Save It From Decay, Tate Trushenski

Architecture Theses

The decline of traditional retail has left behind expansive "Greyfield" sites underutilized shopping malls that disrupt the suburban fabric. This thesis presents Transformall, a comprehensive master plan for the Albertville Mall site in Minnesota, reimagining the 430,000 square foot footprint as a resilient, mixed-use town center. By employing adaptive reuse and strategic densification, the project transitions the site from a car-centric retail island into a walkable, community-oriented district.

Key interventions include the preservation of existing structural grids, the introduction of diverse housing typologies, and the implementation of green infrastructure. The resulting master plan demonstrates that suburban redevelopment can move beyond …

Renewal: Connecting The University Campus To Improve Student Success, Micah L. Wood

Architecture Theses

The modern university increasingly faces many challenges such as competition to get and maintain students, relevance in a digital world and beyond. But what if we take a deeper look into how the built environment influences and has potential to improve student success. To do this, we must understand one of the main reasons campuses still exist beyond education, which is community. Most things that can be achieved from a university could be received in a digital format, but human connection is increasingly important. It is important to realize that, through the built environment, we can help empower campus communities. …

Architecture Of Healing Beyond The Institution: A New Model For Veteran Care, Megan Lyn Welk

Architecture Theses

The transition from military to civilian life presents unique challenges for veterans navigating trauma, yet traditional clinical settings often aggravate anxiety and disconnection through sterile, institutional design. This thesis addresses the critical “mismatch” between current healthcare environments and the neurological needs of veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Arguing that architecture must evolve from a passive vessel to an active therapeutic partner, this research proposes a comprehensive rehabilitation center located on O’ahu, Hawai’i, which integrates the island’s profound cultural connection to the ‘aina (land) with evidence-based design strategies.

The design methodology synthesizes three core …

Reviving The Mill District: Post-Industrial Revitalization Through Recreational Development, Kylee Frisbie

Architecture Theses

Transforming post-industrial cities through recreational development examines how medium-sized communities can transition from declining industries to new economic identities by expanding sports and recreation infrastructure. Centered on Sartell, Minnesota, this study addresses the civic and economic void left behind from the destruction of the Verso Paper Mill in 2012. Using the “research by design” method utilizes qualitative analysis, a community-focused survey, and case studies showing how a hybrid sports complex can function as an economic engine and replace a community’s lost identity. The findings show that these facilities activate “sports-led regeneration” by attracting regional engagement, generating annual economic impact while …

Weaving The Intangible: Architecture For Cultural Continuity, Eden Tesfaye

Architecture Theses

Weaving the Intangible begins with the understanding that culture is both carried and transformed when people move. It can create a sense of grounding in new places, yet it may also fade into memory when shared spaces to sustain it are absent. In diaspora, the difference between traditions that are still practiced and those that exist mainly in memory influences how younger generations understand and carry their cultural identity. This project explores how architecture can act as a medium for cultural continuity by giving spatial form to intangible heritage. Using the Ethiopian community in Alexandria, VA as the primary focus, …