Architecture Commons^™

Characteristics Of Social Capital In Informal Housing Settlements, Lena Parsons

University Honors Theses

Many cities see growth of informal housing settlements as urban populations rise across the globe. Residents of informal settlements are observed to use robust networks of social capital to support themselves in an environment of resource scarcity and marginalization. This review synthesizes research examining characteristics of social capital in informal housing settlements, finding that (1) social capital influences residents' acquisition of basic needs, (2) the structure of social capital networks depend on the context of the settlement, and (3) the built environment of informal settlements has a cyclical relationship to their social capital networks. This synthesis concludes that formal solutions …

Assessment Of The Readiness Of Architectural Design Companies To Adopt Eco-Friendly Nanotechnologies In Sustainable Building Design, Ashwaq Essa Al Khalil

Dissertations and Theses

Nanotechnology is emerging as a promising innovation in sustainable architectural design, although its adoption remains slow. Research highlights the advantages of incorporating nanotechnologies in architecture, including improved material performance, enhanced thermal efficiency, reduced energy consumption, improved durability, and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These advantages make nanomaterials a promising solution for sustainable building design, particularly in hot-climate regions where energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with conventional building design practices remain major concerns.

Despite this potential, nanotechnology adoption in architecture faces several challenges, including limited real-world applications, slow diffusion in practice, and persistent organizational, economic, and regulatory barriers. …

Foundations' Deep, Emily Williams, Morgan Williams

University Honors Theses

Most historic buildings do not survive as they were built, yet preservation frameworks still tend to evaluate them as if they did.

Foundations' Deep begins with a structure located in Helena, Montana 59602, a building that sits uneasily within the categories it has been asked to meet. Built in the early twentieth century, it has persisted through alteration, abandonment, and use. What remains is not a stable artifact but a record of accumulated decisions, some careful and many indifferent, now embedded in the fabric of the building itself.

The thesis grows from this condition and from the limits of the …

Rooted In Hillsboro: An Urban Tree Protection Project, Leandre Mills, Aidan Mcclinton, Aria Shopbell, Karl Coppock, Wally Mcallister

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The Canopi team and the City of Hillsboro Urban Forestry Program completed this project to evaluate and strengthen municipal tree protection policies. Current regulations rely heavily on tree replacement rather than retention, contributing to loss of mature canopy and reduced climate, infrastructure, and equity benefits. In many cases, mature trees removed during development or infrastructure projects are replaced with small-caliper plantings that do not provide equivalent environmental or community value for decades.

As Hillsboro grows, the city faces increasing climate pressures, including urban heat island effects, stormwater impacts, invasive pests, and uneven canopy distribution across historically underserved neighborhoods. These challenges …

The U.S. Shopping Mall: Opportunities For Preservation And Transformation Through Adaptive Reuse, Sophia Janzen

University Honors Theses

The U.S. shopping mall, once an integral part of suburban living and community, has slowly disappeared from cities nationwide. What used to be thousands of malls sprinkled throughout America in the 20th century is estimated to be 900 by 2028. A mall's programming of the past is lacking a place in the future, but their architecture leaves a desolate structure in the midst of our cities. Through adaptive reuse, the intentional redevelopment of a preexisting structure, how can malls be thoughtfully revitalized and given a greater purpose within their surroundings?

This research analyzes successful adaptive reuse strategies implemented in few …

More Than A Ramp: Rethinking School Design For Sensory And Cognitive Inclusion, Andrew Ho

University Honors Theses

This thesis advocates for the integration of the ASPECTSS framework, developed by Magda Mostafa, into legislative standards that would govern the design of educational environments that accommodate students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Drawing on evidence from a case study demonstrating significant improvements in student behavior and overall satisfaction through ASPECTSS-based interventions, the thesis highlights the urgent need for these principles to move beyond voluntary adoption and rather, toward enforceable design mandates.

The ASPECTSS framework includes the seven following criterias; Acoustics, Spatial Sequencing, Escape Spaces, Compartmentalization, Transitions, Sensory Zoning, and Safety. This model provides a comprehensive and actionable approach to …

Freeing The Fremont: Visions Of A Post-Automobile Portland Highway Bridge, Henry Senters

University Honors Theses

The Fremont Bridge is an iconic piece of highway transportation infrastructure in the city of Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately, it is one of only three Willamette bridges in the city that does not allow any pedestrian access, except for a single day every year during an annual bicycling event. Consider, however: what if that were to change, in a future less dependent on private automobile usage? Drawing on historical precedents of pedestrian and car-free bridges, this thesis proposes three types of pedestrian-focused programs which a car-free Fremont Bridge could host, each of which speaks to a current aspect of civic life …

Form Follows Function: An Analysis Of De Architectura And Its Influence, Weston Klein

Young Historians Conference

Over 2000 years ago, the Roman architect and engineer, Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, scribed De Architectura, a multi-volume work unearthed in the 15th century, in St. Gallen, Switzerland. As the only surviving architectural source from antiquity, the book has been indispensable in the study of Greco-Roman architecture, positioning Vitruvian and Greco-Roman architectural concepts in many ways as one in the same. Additionally, Vitruvian ideas, as expressed in De Architectura, regarding architectural form, materials, location, and process have been foundational to the evolution of Western architecture. This paper explores De Architectura’s impact on Western architectural theory and practice spanning the Early Middle …

Behind The Walls: The Implications Of Assisted Living Building Codes On Resident Safety, Adam Pennavaria, Lindsey Smith, Paula Carder, Cassandra Hua, Eric Jutkowitz, Kali Thomas

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

As the US population collectively ages, issues related to assisted living (AL) resident safety have become an increasingly pressing issue for the general public, reflected by major media reporting in the last year. The building codes that govern ALs play an important role in mitigating the risks associated with falls, wandering, and other hazards, especially for residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. We sought to understand how states vary in their approaches to building code regulations that might impact resident safety. We used search term-based text retrieval to identify areas of text relevant to locks, alarms, and egress …

Minoru’S Mecca: The World Trade Center, 9/11, And The End Of Architectural Modernism, Henry D. Senters

Anthós

From 1966 until 2001, the World Trade Center complex and its skyscraper Twin Towers were a defining architectural feature of New York City and a landmark in architectural modernism. Minoru Yamasaki, the project’s architect, intended the massive complex to be a “mecca” that drew in and inspired urban workers, exemplifying the Islamic architectural language that he incorporated into his architecture. In this article, Senters examines how architectural criticism evolved while the towers stood and after they were destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attack. Tracking early reviews, hopeful about the complex’s trade-promoting purpose, and the perennial—though limited—negative reception of the complex’s …

Biophilic Design Strategies In Healthcare: Using Nature To Promote Wellness In Small-Scale Mental And Behavioral Health Facilities, Skyler Peckham

University Honors Theses

Designing spaces that promote the health and well-being of the general public has been a highly debated topic for several centuries within the disciplines of architecture, urban planning, and other similar fields. As more research has been done throughout the years, the notion of utilizing nature to promote wellness has become a prominent design strategy. Through the examination of a wide range of scholarship regarding the benefits that nature has for human health and connecting this research to the biophilic evidence-based design strategies of healthcare facilities, I aim to highlight what design aspects truly promote wellness for patients in small-scale …

Wasted Space: Using Parking Lots & Vacant Land To Improve Neighborhood Completeness, Ryan Martyn

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

This study conducts a spatial analysis of Portland, Oregon, focusing on leveraging underutilized areas like parking lots and vacant land—termed "wasted space"—to improve the city's completeness. Central to this investigation is the concept of a "complete neighborhood," characterized by access to daily necessities within convenient active transportation trip. This comprehensive idea encompasses walkability, equitable access to services, and sustainability.

This paper aims to redefine the concept of a complete neighborhood with precision and delve into its implications. The research looks at five regional, town, and neighborhood centers as defined by the city of Portland. These centers act as pivotal hubs …

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 …

Redesigning Secure School Entry Thresholds To Create Inclusive And Welcoming Environments, Alex Yarovaya

University Honors Theses

Schools are known to have been one of the largest assets to communities, providing folks with integral resources and accessible spaces that can foster a variety of activities. Over the last decade, however, our perspective of schools has undergone significant changes. Schools have eagerly been undergoing the process of "hardening" by implementing safety and violence prevention tactics with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) as a response to the staggering increase of gun violence incidents and safety & security issues today. Schools have been scrambling to accommodate this change in reality by retrofitting with security systems, implementing high security measures …

Leed Buildings And Green Gentrification: Portland As A Case Study, Jordan Macintosh

Dissertations and Theses

LEED certification has become highly popular in the United State under the current political climate of addressing climate change, however in the implementation of green initiatives like LEED, social and economic impacts are not being considered. "Green gentrification" through the implementation of green initiatives such as LEED can cause displacement to highly vulnerable groups of people, disproportionately dealing the environmental goods to the wealthy and the environmental bads to the low income groups.

Portland has a fairly large amount of LEED buildings, and the city and state emphasizes its goals for sustainability through the use of green initiatives such as …

Wasted Space, Ryan Martyn

Dissertations and Theses

This paper performs a spatial analysis of Portland, Oregon, with a focus on identifying and utilizing "wasted space," such as parking lots and vacant land, as strategic opportunities to enhance the completeness of the city. The planning concept of a "complete neighborhood" is defined as a locality that offers residents access to all essential aspects of daily life within a convenient walking distance. This notion encompasses elements, such as walkability, accessibility to essential services and amenities, sustainability, and equity. The objective of this study is to provide a more precise definition of the planning concept of a complete neighborhood and …

Proxies Of Design: A Case Study And Analysis Of Place And Commercial Real Estate In Seattle, Nicholas Miranda

University Honors Theses

What kinds of relationships exist between individual buildings and greater society in Seattle? Focusing on the role of design in shaping the value and desirability of commercial properties, the study examines and utilizes a large temporal and spatial dataset to test price analogs between common building attributes and metrics. By employing a hedonic pricing model, the study seeks to identify the impact of these attributes on property values and ultimately relate them to architectural and contextual design, from a micro to a macro level. The empirical findings are not necessarily novel or groundbreaking, but rather, they shed light on the …

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations And Oregon Federal Lands: A Prospective Policy Analysis, Cole P. Grisham

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

In 2022, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) committed $100M towards expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging stations statewide. The policy goal is to provide EV fast-charging capacity[1] for four vehicles per station over the Interstate 5 and 84 corridors, along with the US 101, 97, 26, and 20 corridors. ODOT’s investment establishes clear statewide EV charging corridors for the traveling public, not only in the most populated corridors but also across the more rural parts of Oregon and connecting to neighboring states. In order for the travelling public to access public lands for recreation, economic, and other purposes by …

Preserving Healing: Understanding Historic Preservation Through The Lens Of Restorative Justice In Portland, Oregon, Bri Brady

University Honors Theses

This essay explores historic preservation through a lens of restorative justice focusing on community inclusion practices. Portland, Oregon serves as the case study for the research, and aims to better understand how the past examples of preservation have carried into our preservation practices today. This essay concludes with world building ideas that focus on restoring community impact and voice in preservation practices.

Reviving Knowledges Through Play And Resistance: The Case Of Navajo Conceptions Of Space, Daniel Ness, Richard D. Sawyer

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

The authors explore a possible cause of epistemicidal predispositions of the dominant Eurocentric curricula. They posit that one way to determine a plausible contributing factor of this increasing devastation is to consider epistemicide through the lens of intellectual development. To do this, the authors examine parallel patterns of behavior in the domains of developmental and cognitive psychology. The authors then discuss an alternative framework to the Western conception of space within formal K-12 education by presenting the Navajo conception of space and play. Throughout the paper, the authors argue that all students—and especially those living in poverty in commercially constructed, …

Regional Growth Concept To Promote Densification And Mixed Land-Use In The Suburbs Of The Portland Metropolitan Area, Sangwan Lee

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

This study attempts to address two questions. First, what factors influence the categorization of neighborhoods into regional and town centers under a regional planning framework (the 2040 Growth Concept) for the Portland Metropolitan region? Second, have the regional and town centers fulfilled their goals of fostering densification and diverse land use, as indicated in their strategic plans, or have they fallen short of these goals? The multinomial logit model was used to answer the first research question, and propensity score matching and a paired t-test were used to answer the second research question in this study. This paper found that …

Basic Concepts Of Structural Design For Architecture Students, Anahita Khodadadi

PDXOpen: Open Educational Resources

This book aims to narrate fundamental concepts of structural design to architecture students such that they have minimum involvement with math problem-solving. Within this book, students learn about different types of loads, forces and vector addition, the concept of equilibrium, internal forces, geometrical and material properties of structural elements, and rules of thumb for estimating the proportion of some structural systems such as catenary cables and arches, trusses, and frame structures.

Please see the Open Textbook Library for faculty reviews of this textbook

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How Can Biomimicry Inform A Sustainable, Ethical Future In Architecture And Design?, Chloe Hanf

University Honors Theses

This publication traces effects of systems theory and assemblage thinking on American architecture and design since the 1960's in relation to contemporary ecological thought and biological discoveries. Building upon these observations, the author concludes that biomimicry belongs at the forefront of contemporary theory and praxis in architecture and design.

Salem-Gateway Asset-Based Community Development, Portland State University. Center For Public Interest Design, Sergio Palleroni, Todd Ferry, Kaylyn Berry, Hannah Lopez, Danette Papke, Sean Silverstein

Center for Public Interest Design Projects

The Salem-Gateway project, developed by Community Development Partners (CDP), will address the community’s need for high-quality, affordable housing. The project aspires to support an intergenerational community for all ages (CFAA) and an intercultural community. The project will be a hub for residents and the broader Salem-Gateway community by providing a large community center with robust programming. The abundant green space provides outdoor amenities and recreational opportunities at the heart of the site, echoing a Central Park sentiment to be enjoyed by residents and surrounding neighbors.

As an initiative of the Center for Public Interest Design (CPID), this report aims to …

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Of Mass Timber And Concrete Residential Buildings: A Case Study In China, Cindy Chen, Francesca Pierobon, Susan Jones, Ian Maples, Yingchun Gong, Indroneil Ganguly

Publications, Reports and Presentations

As the population continues to grow in China’s urban settings, the building sector contributes to increasing levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Concrete and steel are the two most common construction materials used in China and account for 60% of the carbon emissions among all building components. Mass timber is recognized as an alternative building material to concrete and steel, characterized by better environmental performance and unique structural features. Nonetheless, research associated with mass timber buildings is still lacking in China. Quantifying the emission mitigation potentials of using mass timber in new buildings can help accelerate associated policy development and …

Timber Constructed: Towards An Alternative Material History, Laila Seewang, Irina Davidovici

School of Architecture Faculty Publication and Presentations

Editorial:

This issue of Architectural Theory Review proposes an alternative intellectual history of timber architecture. It foregrounds the relationships that tie the natural resource to the cultural artefact, its processing into construction material and, with it, the production of associated disciplinary expertise. The essays explore the spatial and symbolic possibilities of timber in historical and contemporary discourse by highlighting its simultaneity as cultural artefact, material commodity, environmental resource, and structural element. Thus, the material’s appearance and representation are positioned within perennial oscillations between globalism and locality, natural and man-made, industry and craft, innovation and tradition, material and ideology, modernity and …

Biophilia X Jedi, Nyaz Addison, Martha Dane, Maddy Capizzi, Opsis Architecture

Research-Based Design Initiative

The intersection of biophilic design, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion provides a unique vantage point from which to design. When viewed as intersecting lenses to design the human state becomes more than utility, health, or productivity and more sustainable designs emerge. How can Biophilic design improve by becoming more inclusive in its process and more inviting to a diverse audience? How can Opsis’s initiatives improve by looking to nature for clues on how to move together toward a common purpose in unison? By creating a diverse culture influenced by nature and a nature-based, design process influenced by a diverse culture, …

Spatial Daylight Autonomy Study, Portland State University. School Of Architecture, Srg Architects

Research-Based Design Initiative

SRG has run into a problem with the current LEED V4.I when it comes to achieving daylighting credits for mid-rise buildings in the Pacific Northwest. The higher in latitude a structure is on the globe, the less potential sunlight will reach it. In order to calculate how much sunlight enters a space we partnered with SRG to create a tool to help determine how much usable daylighting enters a space. From this tool, we want to collect data from different latitudes to show discrepancies in the possible daylighting conditions in these locations, and then finally organize this data in a …

Wood Red/Green List, Aaron Mayers, Fatemeh Sheikholya Lavasani, Salix Sampson, Hacker Architects

Research-Based Design Initiative

Heavy timber construction is gaining momentum within the architectural community because of its aesthetic and perceived sustainable qualities. But where exactly does the wood come from and how sustainable are these forestry practices?

Through research, we seek to analyze the forestry practices, social impacts, and biological aspects of temperate wood species in the Pacific Northwest used for structural lumber to then create a red/green list that displays and compares the sustainability of the forestry practices. The intent is to create a widely available and transparent document that architects and engineers can reference when making decisions on projects.

Facade Optimization, Brandi Barlow, Bryan Ortiz, Matt Wiste, Madeline Peck, Bora Architecture

Research-Based Design Initiative

As part of Bora’s renovation of Portland State’s Science Building One [SB1], we have been tasked with helping research how to optimize the building envelope through multiple methods, including optimizing daylighting and maximizing insulation, while staying within budget. The PSU team has worked with the BORA team to expand an existing Thermal Flux Calculator to include all four facades of the Existing condition, the Schematic Design, and an Optimized version based on our own design. This calculator is used to determine the best wall-to-glazing ratio to increase the thermal efficiency of the envelope without compromising the visual experience. We focused …